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The Adirondacks are more than mountains, lakes, and spectacular scenery. They're also home to the people who run the restaurants, maintain the roads, staff the hospitals, operate the farms, and keep small towns alive. And the challenges facing those year-round communities affect everyone who loves spending time here. Why is your favorite restaurant closed several days a week? Why are housing and healthcare increasingly difficult to access? And what will it take to ensure the next generation can afford to build a life in the North Country? In this episode of ADK Talks, Jane and Steve welcome Blake Gendebien, a second-generation dairy farmer, owner of Twin Mill Farms, and Democratic congressional candidate in New York's 21st District. NY-21 covers roughly 16,000 square miles, including the entire Adirondack Park. From the St. Lawrence River and Canadian border to Lake Champlain, Lake George, the Mohawk Valley, and communities such as Rome and Glens Falls, it encompasses remarkably different places facing many of the same challenges. For perspective, that's bigger than the states of Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Drawing on his experiences running Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon and traveling extensively across the district, Blake shares what he's learned from farmers, small business owners, families, seniors, veterans, and young people throughout the North Country. The conversation explores the economic realities behind the Adirondack experience, from housing and workforce shortages to rural healthcare, the skilled trades, Canadian trade, and the opportunities and challenges presented by new technologies. And, as always, there's an Adirondack Gem—this one with a special family connection to Higley Flow. What you'll hear in this episode How Blake's journey took him from the family farm to Germany and back to the North Country.What connects communities across a congressional district larger than several U.S. states.Why housing, healthcare, transportation, and workforce challenges matter to Adirondack residents and visitors alike.How Canadian trade, artificial intelligence, and economic development are shaping the region's future.What the next generation needs to thrive in the North Country—and Blake's favorite Adirondack family memories.Whether you live in the Adirondacks, own a camp, visit every summer, or simply care about the region's future, this conversation offers a different perspective on the people and communities behind the landscape. Learn more about our guest. Blake Gendebien is a second-generation dairy farmer and owner of Twin Mill Farms in Lisbon, New York. He is also the Democratic candidate for Congress in New York's 21st Congressional District. Learn more about his agricultural business at Twin Mill Farms or visit his campaign website for information about his candidacy and policy positions. Mentioned in this episode: Washboard Donut ShoppeHigley FlowThe Wild Center, Tupper LakeTROLLS: Save the Humans at The Wild CenterTwin Mill Farms Produced by NOVA

James Bond in the Adirondacks? Believe it or not, 007 once traded the glamour of London and Monte Carlo for Route 9 and Lake George. In Ian Fleming’s 1962 novel The Spy Who Loved Me, a young woman named Vivienne Michel sets off from Montreal on a Vespa, eventually landing at a lonely Adirondack motor court near Lake George. That’s where Bond finally enters the story, in one of Fleming’s strangest and most fascinating departures from the usual 007 formula. We sat down with Adirondack local and internationally recognized James Bond scholar Frieda Toth, who took her fascination with the book one step further: she retraced Vivienne’s journey through the Adirondacks herself on a vintage motor scooter. Along the way, we explore the real Adirondack places Fleming worked into the novel, from Storytown and Route 9 to Glens Falls and Lake George. Frieda helps us separate Fleming’s remarkably accurate local details from the things he got hilariously wrong. October in the Adirondacks on a Vespa, anyone? Whether you’re a James Bond fan, a Lake George history buff, or someone who loves discovering an unexpected Adirondack connection, this episode may change the way you look at Route 9. What you’ll hear in this episode Why Ian Fleming set The Spy Who Loved Me in the Adirondacks.How the novel broke nearly every rule of the usual James Bond formula.What Fleming got surprisingly right, and wrong, about Lake George and Route 9.Why Frieda retraced Viv’s journey on a vintage motor scooter.The classic Adirondack attractions she discovered along the way.Why Fleming’s Adirondacks make more sense in August than October.How Lake George’s motels, roadside attractions, and pre-Northway traffic shaped the story.Why The Spy Who Loved Me deserves another look from Bond fans. Resources: Ian Fleming FoundationThe Spy Who Loved MeJames Bond in the AdirondacksStorytown, Motels, and Summer Memories: How Lake George Became America's Vacation Paradise Produced by NOVA

Pointed hats. Decorated broomsticks. Classic rock. And a whole lot of Adirondack joy. If you’ve been to a fall festival, parade, or community celebration around North Creek, Indian Lake, Lake George, or Gore Mountain, there’s a good chance you’ve spotted the Adirondack Dancing Witches. But what looks like a wonderfully quirky performance from the crowd has a much bigger story behind it. We sit down with Crystal, Raven, and Shabby to find out how an international dancing-witch phenomenon inspired their Adirondack group, how 18 women ranging in age from 45 to 85 put their own rock-and-roll spin on the tradition, and why becoming a witch can mean much more than putting on a costume. There’s plenty of fun here, from witch names and glowing broomsticks to dancing at Gore Mountain. But there’s also something deeper: friendship, healing, freedom, and the simple pleasure of giving grown-ups permission to play. And if you’re planning a fall trip to the Adirondacks, you’ll hear where you can catch the Dancing Witches in action. What you’ll hear in this episode How the Dancing Witches found their way to the Adirondacks.Why every witch chooses her own name and costume.How classic rock became part of their signature performance.Why the group has become a genuine sisterhood.The unforgettable moments they’ve shared with children, seniors, and longtime fans.Where to see the Dancing Witches around the Adirondacks this fall. Resources: Adirondack Dancing Witches / Gem Radio TheaterGore MountainTannery Pond CenterWiawaka Women’s Center Produced by NOVA

Fifty years after Woodswoman introduced readers to a woman building an independent life in a remote Adirondack cabin, Anne LaBastille still captures the imagination. But the cabin on Twitchell Lake was only one part of her remarkable story. We talk with seventh-generation Adirondacker and author Penny Harr about her new book, Anne LaBastille: A Biography of the Woodswoman, and the woman she discovered through years of interviews and archival research. Anne was a wildlife ecologist, writer, licensed Adirondack guide, Adirondack Park Agency commissioner and international conservationist. She earned her Ph.D. from Cornell, conducted environmental work in Guatemala and elsewhere around the world, and built a career in fields where women were often expected to stay on the sidelines. Penny takes us beyond the familiar legend to explore Anne’s fierce independence, complicated personality, relentless work ethic and lasting influence on the Adirondacks. We also visit the story behind her famous cabin, now preserved at Adirondack Experience in Blue Mountain Lake, and consider why her ideas about wilderness, silence, conservation and slowing down outdoors still feel so relevant 50 years later. What you’ll hear in this episode How Anne LaBastille found her way to the Adirondacks.The reality behind building and living in her Twitchell Lake cabin.The scientist and conservationist behind the Woodswoman legend.How she broke barriers in male-dominated fields.Why Woodswoman became a symbol of independence for generations of women.How Anne’s cabin and conservation legacy are being preserved today.Why her message about wilderness, silence and protecting the Adirondacks still resonates. Resources: Anne LaBastille: A Biography of the WoodswomanAnne LaBastille’s Cabin at Adirondack Experience Woodswoman by Anne LaBastilleAdirondack Center for Writing Produced by NOVA

What if your next Adirondack adventure had no summit, mileage goal, or destination at all? We sit down with New York State outdoor guide Nathan June, founder of Nathan’s Nature Navigations, to explore forest bathing and the simple practice of slowing down enough to really notice the woods around you. Nathan’s relationship with nature changed dramatically after a major health crisis and liver transplant in 2016. During his recovery, quiet visits to parks and places around Lake George helped him experience the outdoors differently. That eventually led him to forest bathing, mindful outdoor guiding, and training through Kripalu’s School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership. From “soft fascination” and sit spots to unexpected encounters with Adirondack wildlife, Nathan shares ways to experience the forest without worrying about conquering it. And you don’t need to disappear deep into the High Peaks to try it. A patch of woods, a local park, or even a quiet spot beneath a few trees can be enough to begin. Whether you’re planning an Adirondack getaway, looking for a gentler outdoor experience, or simply curious about experiencing familiar trails differently, this conversation might convince you to leave the summit goals behind for an afternoon. What you’ll hear in this episode What forest bathing actually looks like.How Nathan’s recovery changed his relationship with nature.Why slowing down outdoors can feel surprisingly difficult.The idea of “soft fascination” and learning to notice more.How sit spots can change the way you experience Adirondack wildlife.Why Inman Pond on Lake George’s east side remains special to Nathan. Resources: Nathan’s Nature NavigationsInman Pond / Lake George Wild ForestKripalu School of Mindful Outdoor LeadershipSUNY Adirondack Outdoor EducationAssociation of Nature and Forest Therapy Produced by NOVA

What if the Adirondacks’ most famous mystery isn’t hiding in the history books, but somewhere just off the trail? We’re heading back into Bigfoot country with John Sheridan, creator of Adirondack Bigfoot, who investigates eyewitness reports across the Adirondack Park. John talks with the people behind the encounters, visits the locations where they happened, and documents what he finds through video, audio, trail cameras, footprint casts and plenty of time in the woods. From Whitehall and Lake George to Wells, Ticonderoga, Keeseville and the Lake Champlain corridor, John has collected stories that range from strange wood knocks and unexplained tracks to alleged roadside encounters and something throwing rocks at Adirondack campers. And he has a theory about why so much of the activity seems to cluster along the eastern edge of the Adirondack Park. What you’ll hear in this episode Why eyewitnesses sometimes wait decades to share their Bigfoot encounters.The Adirondack evidence John looks for, from footprints and wood knocks to trail-camera images.John’s theory about a Bigfoot migration route through the Lake Champlain corridor.Strange encounters from Whitehall, Wells, Lake George and beyond.Why caves, old mines and remote Adirondack terrain keep coming up in his investigations.What believers, skeptics and the Bigfoot-curious can discover by slowing down in the woods. Resources: Adirondack BigfootWhitehall Sasquatch Festival & Calling ContestTracking Legends: Sasquatch in the AdirondacksSasquatch in the Adirondacks Produced by NOVA

Ever wonder how a New York apple picked in October can still taste crisp the following summer? We’re heading to Peru, New York, in the Champlain Valley to meet Jenna Mulbury, third-generation co-owner of Northern Orchard and our latest guest in the Women in Agriculture series with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County. Northern Orchard has been growing apples since 1906, and today its fruit travels from the Adirondack Coast to grocery stores across the country. Jenna takes us beyond the farm stand and into the surprisingly scientific world of commercial apple growing. We learn how enormous low-oxygen storage rooms essentially put apples “to sleep,” why warm days and cool Adirondack nights help create that perfect red blush, and just how much work goes into growing the flawless fruit shoppers expect. There’s plenty here for anyone planning a fall trip to the Adirondacks, too. Jenna shares what’s growing at the Northern Orchard Farm Stand, why you should venture beyond your usual Honeycrisp, and a few apple varieties worth hunting down this season. What you’ll hear in this episode How Northern Orchard has grown apples since 1906How apples stay fresh nearly year-roundWhy the Champlain Valley is ideal for apple growingJenna’s experience as a woman in agricultureNew apple varieties worth tryingHow to choose and store apples at homeWhat’s fresh at the Northern Orchard Farm StandWhy the Adirondacks extend beyond the Blue Line Resources: Northern OrchardCornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton CountyNew York State Horticultural SocietySUNY CobleskillNew York Apple Association Produced by NOVA

Long before family vacations meant airport security and resort apps, there was Lake George. In the 1950s and ’60s, families piled into their cars and headed north to the Adirondacks for cottage colonies, roadside attractions, speedboats, theme parks, elaborate nightlife and days spent on the Queen of American Lakes. In this episode of ADK Talks, we visit Bolton Landing and the Bolton Museum’s “Welcome to Lake George: Vacation Paradise of the 50s & 60s” exhibit with curator Lisa Hall and Lake George Mirror publisher Toni Hall. It’s a trip back to an era when Lake George was reinventing itself for America’s newly mobile middle class. Victorian hotels and private estates gave way to motels and vacation cottages. Story Town and Frontier Town became family destinations. Restaurants and nightclubs stayed open into the early morning. And projects like the Adirondack Northway and Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway made the region easier to reach than ever before. But there’s more here than nostalgia. Lisa and Toni reveal how that tourism boom changed Lake George, why the excitement surrounding massive development projects eventually began to fade, and how concerns about growth helped fuel a new appreciation for protecting the Adirondacks. What you’ll hear in this episode How Lake George became a family vacation hotspotThe motels, cottage colonies and attractions of the ’50s and ’60sLake George nightlife during its mid-century heydayHow the Northway reshaped Adirondack tourismThe story behind the Bolton Museum exhibitWhy Lake George history still sparks strong memories today Resources: Lake GeorgeThe Bolton MuseumThe Sembrich Opera Museum Produced by NOVA

What happens when hundreds of hikers spread out across Lake George on the same summer morning? We took the ADK Talks mobile studio to the Lake George Land Conservancy’s annual Hike-A-Thon after party to find out. The result is a collection of field reports from around one of the Adirondacks’ most beautiful lakes. Some hikers discovered trails they had somehow missed after decades of visiting Lake George. Others spotted rare birds, introduced kids and grandkids to the mountains, found a new appreciation for protected land, or came face to face with a timber rattlesnake. You’ll hear from lifelong Adirondackers, first-time hikers, photographers, conservationists, nurses, families, and people who travel hundreds of miles each year because Lake George keeps calling them back. Along the way, we visit places like Pilot Knob, Amy’s Park, Sucker Brook Preserve, Up Yonda Farm, Wiawaka, Cat and Thomas Mountains, and some quieter corners of the northern lake. What you’ll hear in this episode How Lake George can look completely different from the opposite shoreA memorable timber rattlesnake encounter on the trailWhy Amy’s Park is a hidden gem for Adirondack birdingHow hiking helped Glens Falls Hospital staff through the COVID yearsWhat 800 Hike-A-Thon participants look like from a helicopterWhy protecting the land around Lake George helps protect the lake itself Resources: Lake George Land Conservancy2026 Lake George Hike-A-Thon Produced by NOVA

What if sheep could help preserve farmland, support renewable energy, and make family farming more sustainable? We’re kicking off our Women in Agriculture series with Rebekah Pierce, co-owner of J&R Pierce Family Farm in West Chazy, New York. Rebekah and her husband, Josh, never planned to become farmers. What began with a few chickens grew into a pasture-based farm raising sheep, cattle, pigs, and poultry across Northern New York. Their turning point was solar grazing. Instead of using mowers to control vegetation around solar panels, energy companies hire farmers to bring in sheep. The animals gain access to fresh pasture, the panels remain clear, and farmland continues producing food while generating renewable energy. Listen for a hopeful look at the future of Adirondack agriculture, where sheep, sunshine, local food, and creative thinking can all share the same field. What you’ll hear in this episode How an accidental farm became a full-time business.Why land access changes everything for new farmers.How sheep keep solar sites productive.Why shade can improve pasture quality.How solar grazing created financial stability.What this model could mean for Adirondack farming.Simple ways to support local agriculture. Resources: J&R Pierce Family FarmAmerican Solar Grazing AssociationAdirondack Harvest and Year-Round Local Food Produced by NOVA

In September 1901, Theodore Roosevelt began the day near the summit of Mount Marcy. By the following morning, he was president of the United States. Now, 125 years later, Newcomb and neighboring Adirondack communities are bringing that dramatic journey back to life. The world’s premier Theodore Roosevelt repriser, Joe Wiegand, returns to ADK Talks with Mary Monaghan, chair of Newcomb’s 2026 Teddy Roosevelt Weekend. Together, they offer an insider’s guide to one of the Adirondacks’ most remarkable history celebrations, taking place September 11–13, 2026. Listen before planning your trip to Newcomb, Great Camp Santanoni, Tahawus, Minerva, North Creek and the central Adirondacks. What you’ll hear in this episode Follow Roosevelt’s urgent nighttime journey from the slopes of Mount Marcy to the North Creek train station.Discover where Roosevelt may have been when President William McKinley died and the vice president became America’s youngest president.Preview the 125th-anniversary inauguration reenactment, Midnight Ride bus tour, Santanoni wagon rides and family activities.Hear why the Adirondacks shaped Roosevelt’s love of wildlife, wilderness and conservation.Get local recommendations for Goodnow Mountain, Overlook Park and the Adirondack Interpretive Center. Resources: Joe Wiegand’s Teddy Roosevelt Show2026 Teddy Roosevelt Weekend in NewcombTheodore Roosevelt’s Midnight Ride on ADK TalksTheodore Roosevelt’s Adirondack Ride to the Presidency Produced by NOVA

What does Adirondack food taste like? Chef, author, forager, and wine expert Susi Gott Séguret answers that question in Adirondack Appetite, a new cookbook featuring 150 recipes inspired by Adirondack camps, cabins, forests, farms, and family tables. In this episode of ADK Talks, discover how Indigenous traditions, French-Canadian influences, logging camps, Great Camps, wild ingredients, and modern Adirondack farmers have shaped the way people eat across Upstate New York. Whether you’re planning a campfire dinner, feeding hungry hikers at a lakeside cabin, or recreating an Adirondack vacation at home, this conversation will leave you ready to cook, explore, and taste more of the region. What you’ll hear in this episode What makes Adirondack cuisine different from Southern, New England, and Appalachian cooking.The surprising foods once served in Adirondack logging camps and why those meals had to be enormous.How Great Camp elegance and rustic campfire cooking belong at the same table.Approachable Adirondack recipes, from an upgraded PB&J to shortcut camp cassoulet, sawdust pie, and sawmill gravy.Why wild mushrooms, maple syrup, local cheeses, berries, game, and farm-grown produce tell the story of the Adirondacks.The connection between food, memory, family traditions, camp songs, and a lasting sense of place.Susi’s dream July dinner beside Indian Lake, complete with lake bass, chanterelles, maple walnut ice cream, and an Adirondack sunset. Resources: The Quintessential TableAdirondack Appetite Find the Best Places to Eat in the Adirondacks  Produced by NOVA

This summer, Glens Falls becomes an open-air art studio. The Hyde Collection’s first Glens Falls Plein Air Festival invites more than 30 artists to capture the Southern Adirondacks as it happens, from the changing light on Lake George to the energy of downtown streets, historic buildings, gardens, bike paths, and summer gatherings. In this episode of ADK Talks, Caitlin Foley, Curator of Education and Engagement at The Hyde Collection, explains how plein air painting turns an ordinary moment into a work of art and why you do not need to be an art expert to enjoy watching it happen. Listen before visiting Glens Falls for a behind-the-scenes guide to the festival, the best places to find artists at work, and the public exhibition where the week’s paintings will come together. The Glens Falls Plein Air Festival runs July 27 through August 2, 2026. The week concludes with an exhibition, awards, Community Day, and a high-speed painting challenge at The Hyde Collection. What you’ll hear in this episode Discover what plein air painting means and why Impressionist artists left their studios to capture light, movement, and everyday life.Find out where artists may set up their easels, including downtown Glens Falls, The Hyde Collection, The Shirt Factory, Lake George, Bolton Landing, and the Warren County Bikeway.Learn the etiquette for watching an artist work outdoors and why visitors should not be afraid to stop, ask questions, and take a closer look.Hear how a blank canvas can become a finished Adirondack landscape in just a few hours, even when wind, rain, bugs, and changing light refuse to cooperate.Plan a Glens Falls arts getaway with museums, murals, restaurants, historic architecture, local events, and creative spaces all within easy reach. Resources: Glens Falls Plein Air FestivalThe Hyde Collection: World-Class Art Museum in Glens Falls Produced by NOVA

Looking for one of the most unforgettable ways to experience the Adirondacks? Start on the water. The Northern Forest Canoe Trail begins in Old Forge, New York, and travels 740 miles through the Adirondacks, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine. Along the way, it connects wild lakes, winding rivers, historic travel routes, welcoming small towns, remote campsites, and some of the most scenic paddling in the Northeast. In this episode of ADK Talks, we talk with Karrie Thomas, Executive Director of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, about why this remarkable water trail belongs on every Adirondack paddler’s radar, whether you are planning a family-friendly day trip, dreaming about the Adirondack Canoe Classic 90-Miler, or looking for a deeper connection to the lakes and communities that make this region so special. From Old Forge to Long Lake, Tupper Lake, the Raquette River, Saranac Lake, Forked Lake, and beyond, this conversation is packed with inspiration for paddlers, outdoor lovers, history buffs, and anyone planning an Adirondack getaway. What you’ll hear in this episode Discover why the Adirondacks are the gateway to the longest inland water trail in the United States.Hear what makes the 90-Miler from Old Forge to Saranac Lake such an unforgettable paddling tradition.Find beautiful Adirondack paddling ideas near Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Forked Lake, and the Raquette River.Turn one canoe trip into a full Adirondack getaway with biking, rail trails, restaurants, historic hotels, family attractions, and small-town exploring.Learn why September may be the sweet spot for paddling the Adirondacks.What surprises paddlers most after days on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail? Resources: Northern Forest Canoe TrailAdirondack Canoe Classic | The 90-MilerCycling the Adirondacks with Bike ADKHotel Saranacvoco Saranac Lake NY – Waterfront Produced by NOVA

In this episode of ADK Talks, we head to Tupper Lake to celebrate 20 years of The Wild Center with Nick Gunn, Director of Marketing and Visitor Experience. Part natural history museum, part science center, part aquarium, part outdoor adventure, The Wild Center has become one of the Adirondacks’ signature destinations. Nick shares how the idea grew from post-ice storm interpretive exhibits into a nationally recognized museum rooted in the Adirondack landscape. We talk about why Tupper Lake became the perfect home, how Wild Walk changed everything, and why experiences like Wild Lights, Forest Music, Raquette River Roll, and the new Trolls: Save the Humans exhibit help visitors connect with nature in playful, memorable ways. What you’ll hear in this episode How The Wild Center began and why Tupper Lake was the right fit.Why Wild Walk helped launch the museum into a new era of national recognition.How Wild Lights turned winter into one of The Wild Center’s busiest seasons.What visitors can expect from Thomas Dambo’s giant recycled-material trolls.Nick’s insider tips for visiting The Wild Center, exploring Tupper Lake, and finding his favorite Adirondack walk. Resources: The Wild Center The Wild Center in Tupper LakeTROLLS: Save the Humans at The Wild CenterWild Lights at The Wild CenterThe Wild Center 20th Anniversary CelebrationThomas Dambo Produced by NOVA