Jeff Simmons and Celeste Katz Marston discuss workers' rights and protections with special guests Rafael Espinal, executive director of the Freelancers Union, and Ligia Guallpa, executive director of the Worker’s Justice Project -- plus your calls. Original air date: July 13, 2023.

Driving Forces 07132023 Working For Workers' Rights

Celeste and Jeff talk to Guardian Angels Founder Curtis Sliwa about his protests against NYC's handling of the asylum seeker crisis, with listener calls. Support free speech radio: Become a BAI Buddy in the name of Driving Forces at https://wbai.wedid.it/

Driving Forces 08312023 Curtis Sliwa, Migrants, And You

Celeste Katz Marston talks about antisemitism with Arno Rosenfeld, reporter for The Forward, and artists Nitzan Mintz and Dede Bandaid, creators of the "Kidnapped From Israel" poster campaign. Original air date: November 9, 2023.

Driving Forces 1109 We Need To Talk About Antisemitism

Celeste and Jeff run down some of New York's biggest political and criminal justice stories of 2023 with special guests Emily Ngo of POLITICO and Reuven Blau of THE CITY. Original air date: December 14, 2023.

Driving Forces 12142023 The Year In Politics And Justice

Celeste Katz Marston discusses the latest in U.S. news with Tim Webster of Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio, December 28, 2023.

CKM ABC 12282023

Celeste and Jeff ring out 2023 with a look back at some of their most compelling interviews of the year. Original air date: December 28, 2023.

Driving Forces 12282023 Year In Radio Retrospective

Jeff and Celeste catch up with NYC Councilmember and former Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, plus your calls. Original FM airdate: January 4, 2024.

Driving Forces 01042024 Gale Brewer And More

Celeste Katz Marston and Jeff Simmons discuss long Covid with political reporter and long Covid patient Erin Durkin and Betsy Ladyzhets, co-founder of the investigative news site The Sick Times. Original FM air date: January 18, 2024.

Driving Forces 01182024 Long Covid, Seriously

Jeff and Celeste speak with New York Rep. Dan Goldman, plus your calls. Original FM air date: January 25, 2024.

Driving Forces 01252024 Congressman Dan Goldman

Celeste Katz Marston discusses the latest in U.S. news with Tim Webster of Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio, January 25, 2024.

CKM ABC 01252024

Celeste and Jeff look at ongoing labor issues at the New York Daily News -- and beyond -- with special guests Claudia Irizarry Aponte of THE CITY NY and Michael Sheridan of the NYDN Union. Original FM air date: February 1, 2024.

Driving Forces 02012024 Daily News Blues

Jeff and Celeste discuss renewal of mayoral control of NYC schools with Chancellor David Banks, followed by a talk with New York Solidarity Network Executive Director Sara Forman. Original FM air date: February 8, 2024.

Driving Forces 02082024 Chancellor Banks And NY Solidarity Network

Celeste Katz Marston discusses the latest in U.S. news with Rod Quinn of Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio, February 8, 2024.

CKM ABC 02082024

Celeste and Jeff discuss the HUGE corruption bust at NYCHA with investigative reporter Greg B. Smith of the nonprofit newsroom THE CITY... plus your calls. Original air date: February 15, 2024.

Driving Forces 02152024 NYCHA Corruption

Jeff and Celeste discuss aging in New York with City Councilmember Crystal Hudson and AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel, plus your calls. Original air date: February 22, 2024.

Driving Forces 02222024 Aging In New York

Celeste Katz Marston discusses the latest in U.S. news with Rod Quinn of Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio, February 22, 2024.

CKM ABC 02222024

Celeste and Jeff discuss the promise and perils of local news with Dan Kennedy, co-author with Ellen Clegg of the new book, "What Works in Community News," and then Nic Dawes, executive director of THE CITY NY. Original FM air date: March 7, 2024.

Driving Forces 03072024 Local News on the Line

Celeste and Jeff catch up with veteran journalist and political commentator Gerson Borrero, plus your calls. Original FM air date: March 21, 2024.

Driving Forces 03212024 Gerson Borrero Breaks It All Down

Jeff and Celeste talk with MTA Chair/CEO Janno Lieber about congestion pricing, subway crime and more, plus your calls. Original FM air date: March 28, 2024.

Driving Forces 03282024 Catching Up With MTA's Janno Lieber

Jeff and Celeste speak with Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), plus your calls. Original FM air date: April 18, 2024.

Driving Forces 04182024 Rep. Gregory Meeks And More

In the show's FINAL episode, Celeste and Jeff speak with Jonthan Vigliotti, author of "Before It's Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America," plus your calls. Original FM air date: April 25, 2024. Thanks for listening!

Driving Forces 04252024 See You On The Radio!

Celeste and Jeff speak with former Vermont Gov. and ex-DNC Chairman Howard Dean and strategist Susan Del Percio about Sen. Bernie Sanders taking a second run at the White House, plus your calls.

Bernie Sanders 2020 ?

It's a special two-hour edition of Driving Forces! Hour 1: Celeste speaks to Darrell West of the Brookings Institution about his memoir, "Divided Politics, Divided Nation," followed by a breakdown of Election 2020 with Lee Miringoff of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. Hour 2: Jeff and Celeste talk about Bill de Blasio for president (?) with Anna Sanders of the New York Daily News and then welcome California Congressman and presidential candidate Eric Swalwell to the program.

Election 2020 Special Hour One

You can help stop the spread of coronavirus: A public service message from WBAI New York. Voice: Celeste Katz Marston.

CKM WBAI COVID PSA 1

New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the planet. The battle against the virus has profoundly changed Americans’ way of life. For some, it means death. WBAI's Celeste Katz Marston is collecting the stories of New Yorkers fighting their way through the storm. Episode 2: Juan Galloway, president and CEO of New York City Relief, a non-profit which serves the homeless.

New York in Crisis: WBAI's Coronavirus Diary Episode 2, New York City Relief

New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the planet. The battle against the virus has profoundly changed Americans’ way of life. WBAI is collecting the stories of New Yorkers fighting their way through the storm. Episode 7: Alex Aronovich, a married gay man who lives in Manhattan, talks about being turned away after being asked to donate plasma after recovering from Covid-19.

New York in Crisis: WBAI's Coronavirus Diary Episode 7 - Alex Aronovich

Celeste Katz Marston speaks with Rod Quinn of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, April 30, 2020.

CKM ABC Radio 04302020

New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the planet. WBAI Correspondent Celeste Katz Marston is collecting the stories of New Yorkers fighting their way through the storm. Episode 10: Danielle Oteri, founder of Arthur Avenue Food Tours, talks about adapting a business in the Bronx to a changed world.

New York in Crisis: WBAI's Coronavirus Diary Episode 10, Danielle Oteri

On May 7, 2020, WBAI 99.5 FM Driving Forces Host Jeff Simmons spoke with Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, and  Elinor Tatum, Publisher and Editor on Chief of the New York Amsterdam News. The show also features a coronavirus diary dispatch from WBAI Correspondent Celeste Katz Marston, an interview with Dr. Rafael Hernandez, who agreed to go straight from graduating medical school to caring for #Covid patients as a junior physician at NYU Winthrop Hospital.

Dr. Mitchell Katz and NY Amsterdam News Publisher Elinor Tatum on WBAI

New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the planet. WBAI Correspondent Celeste Katz Marston is collecting the stories of New Yorkers fighting their way through the storm. Episode 13: Alisha Joseph, a high school senior from Brooklyn, talks about maintaining a positive attitude even as students' treasured graduation traditions are delayed or derailed.

New York in Crisis: WBAI's Coronavirus Diary Episode 13, Alisha Joseph

Politics. Policy. The truth matters. Celeste Katz Marston and Jeff Simmons tackle the biggest and best stories on "Driving Forces." WBAI 99.5 FM New York and worldwide at WBAI.org. @CelesteKatzNYC and @JackHites on Twitter.

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