An experiment gone wrong, but everything went perfectly, well, almost, as Stan and Friends returned to the podcast studio to welcome first-time SLOC show director Jake Goodman and SLCO centennial chairperson Heather-Liz Copps to talk about the 100th season of Schenectady Light Opera Company.

The two actors, directors, and very talented individuals had a moment before the 100th season premiere to talk about theater, the process, the joy and challenges in performing, while Stan sat there in awe... all well before the proverbial curtain was raised.

My two guests are not to be missed, as is this year's premiere show, Jekyll & Hyde.

• (00:00:00) - Cold open: Jekyll and Hyde parallels to today
• (00:00:26) - Welcome back and guest introductions
• (00:02:19) - Jake Goodman's journey through SLOC youth program
• (00:04:06) - Jake's directorial debut and creative team
• (00:04:54) - Heather's theater background and origin story
• (00:08:03) - Heather's favorite roles at SLOC
• (00:10:11) - Heather as Centennial Chair and accessibility campaign
• (00:12:03) - State funding story and husband's involvement
• (00:13:31) - How Jake got selected as director
• (00:15:25) - Season selection process for the centennial year
• (00:17:52) - Recap and full 100th season lineup
• (00:19:34) - Why the committee chose Jake
• (00:21:21) - Audition turnout and casting logistics
• (00:22:09) - Getting the call and building the creative team
• (00:24:56) - Learning to direct and cast without bias
• (00:27:22) - Capital Region theater talent boom discussion
• (00:30:30) - Oversaturation of local theater companies
• (00:31:55) - Show recap commercial break and ticket info
• (00:33:22) - Fanboying over past SLOC performers
• (00:37:21) - Story of Jekyll and Hyde's plot and themes
• (00:39:12) - Jaden's take on working with Jake
• (00:40:34) - Why Jekyll and Hyde became the season opener
• (00:43:53) - Casting standouts James, Blake, and Hannah
• (00:45:45) - Nerves before opening night
• (00:47:05) - Opening night party and Vice and Virtue partnership
• (00:48:51) - Co-producers and relationships born at SLOC
• (00:52:47) - How to support SLOC's centennial campaign
• (00:56:44) - Closing thanks and break a leg origins

Voters throughout New York State went to the polls during Tuesday's primary election and the Gazette News Group staff was out in force.

After a late night, I caught up with two of the election warriors, Schenectady reporter Erika Bouska and the Community Journalism Fund government and politics reporter Ted Remsnyder to talk about their travels.

Bouska was tracking two Democratic primaries, the Schenectady City Council and the New York State Senate races, while Remsnyder was at the Anthony Constantino watch-party for the NY-21 Republican primary. \

Both reflected on the night's events, the news, along with a look ahead at the general election in November.

• (00:00:00) - election hangover with Gazette News Group reporters
• (00:00:44) - Sarah Rogerson Wins her Senate Race!
• (00:07:35) - Caffeine at the Olympics
• (00:08:46) - Anthony Constantino Wins Election in New York
• (00:12:53) - Bob Small on If He as an Independent
• (00:14:47) - Anthony Constantino Declares Victory at Win
• (00:16:40) - The Constantino Blake vs Rogerson Tedesco Race
• (00:20:57) - Ted Wright's Community Journalism Fund

The youngest guest to date flew back to his hometown for the holidays, and I had a chance to catch up with 13-year-old Rory Greth, who currently has three YouTube channels under his name with more than 36,000 views.

https://www.youtube.com/@MRSmokehouse

https://www.youtube.com/@RorysGarage

https://www.youtube.com/@NYPlates

Rory and I go way back.... in fact... to his birth.

There is a lot of family history shared as I kick off 2026 with this impressive young man.

We talked about when I worked for his grandfather, joked about his father, my first godson, and offered a lot of shoutouts to the rest of the family.

It's a holiday podcast with a lot of laughs, a lot of family talk, and how hot Arkansas really is for Rory, a Ballston Spa native.

He hasn't disappointed any of us for the past 13 years, and I guarantee that he didn't on his first visit on the Stan and Friends Show podcast.