Hassan Stevens on Good Life Youth Foundation: Hip-Hop, Entrepreneurship, and Helping High-Risk Youth Thrive Matt Masur of Good News York interviews Hassan Stevens, a Bronx native and former radio/TV personality (Hot 97.9, Power 106.9, NewsChannel 9) who founded the Good Life Youth Foundation after the media industry downsized. The nonprofit serves high-risk, system-involved, and struggling students in Syracuse and ESM schools, using hip-hop culture to connect youth to entrepreneurship as a “survival framework” to help them thrive long-term and reduce recidivism. The organization runs programs and studios at 101 Wyoming Street (music, content creation, photography, and promotional printing) and has helped students graduate and attend college, including Syracuse University and OCC. Stevens shares funding needs, upcoming fundraisers (Aug 12 golf tournament with Impel, Aug 27 Love Handles event, Oct 3 gala at The Mitzvah), partnerships (Micron, Annie E. Casey Foundation, NYS OCFS), and a $3.2M capital campaign to create a hip-hop youth entrepreneurship center. He also discusses his ventures That Good Media and Hippoh Nation apparel with NFC-enabled hoodies. 00:00 Thriving For Life 00:21 Meet Hassan Stevens 01:05 From Radio To Purpose 02:02 Good Life Youth Mission 02:53 Youth Success Stories 03:32 Entrepreneur Paths For Kids 04:18 Studios And Startup Skills 05:08 Scale And Funding Challenges 06:18 Breaking Into Industries 07:44 How To Support The Program 09:00 Partners And National Model 10:39 Referrals And Prevention Gap 13:21 Hip Hop Center Vision 15:30 Hassan The Entrepreneur 18:07 Final Plugs And Farewell 18:56 Support Good News York

Andrea Dato on The Dusty and Dot Company, Puppetry, and The Hurt Monster Premiering in Syracuse On Good News York, host interviews Andrea Dato, president and co-founder of The Dusty and Dot Company, a central New York multidisciplinary creative studio focused on theater programming, education, and puppetry. Andrea shares the company’s origins with her husband and co-founder Brendan Malafronte, including their characters Dot and Dusty, and discusses their recent work on Syracuse Stage’s Frozen, where Brendan played Olaf and Andrea understudied and performed twice. She previews The Hurt Monster, a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant–supported world premiere at Red House Art Center on September 12–13, about a girl, Kaya, in a starless world who partners with the Hurt Monster to transform hurt into healing light. The production includes a healing-sound soundscape by Tyeesha McNeal and engineered remote-controlled illumination by Think Variant, plus a post-show talkback; details at thehurtmonster.com. 00:00 Community Powered Creativity 00:27 Meet Andrea Dato 00:42 What Is Dusty and Dot 01:17 Frozen Puppetry Stories 02:58 Hurt Monster Announcement 03:25 Story Themes And Audience 04:57 Creative Team And Sound 06:46 Engineering And Light Effects 07:42 Puppet Design And Operation 08:43 Building A Creative Career 11:09 Broadway Debut And Drive 11:22 Advice For Creatives 13:31 Show Dates And Tickets 14:58 Wrap Up And Sponsors

Good News York Celebrates 200 Episodes and Announces Sponsorship Opportunities Matt Masur hosts a special 200th episode of Good News York from their studio at the former Spaghetti Warehouse, celebrating the show’s mission to spotlight positive stories across New York State and noting the series has earned millions of views. Co-host Noah and a room of past guests briefly introduce themselves and share their work, including leadership development workshops combining performing arts and business concepts, CNY Jazz’s Jazz in the City concert series and education programs, community events like Winter Fair, Vera House services and shelter expansion plans, Senator Christopher Ryan’s perspective on highlighting nonpartisan community good, acting and coaching programs, Syracuse Actors Studio, a leadership author/podcaster’s new mission, cybersecurity podcasting and business growth at the Inspire Innovation Hub, local development and relationship-building, and Noah’s effort rebuilding Syracuse Improv with sold-out shows. Matt announces new sponsorship options at goodnewsyork.com/sponsor to fund content such as nonprofit profiles, restaurant videos, and small business features, and thanks the production team. 00:00 200th Episode Celebration 01:41 Meet Co Host Noah 02:31 Guest Intros Begin 03:02 Leadership Workshop Spotlight 05:49 CNY Jazz And Arts Impact 07:16 Events And Winter Fair 09:49 Vera House Community Support 11:15 State Senator On Good News 14:40 Acting Career And Classes 17:35 Syracuse Actors Studio Update 20:28 Transitions Of Hope Mission 22:35 Cybersecurity Podcast Growth 24:38 Building Relationships In CNY 26:30 Inspire Hub And Gratitude 28:51 Noah On Rebuilding Improv 31:29 Sponsorships Announcement 33:24 Looking Ahead To Episode 300 35:20 Highlights And Final Thanks 37:00 Episode 200 Wrap Up