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.

Daily Gazette Pint-Sized writer John Norris talks about the final match-up for the inaugural Brew Brawl showdown in the Capital Region.

From a tasty bracket of 16 breweries, we are down to the final two - and every vote counts!

It is a battle of East vs. West - Stump City Brewery, representing Fulton County vs. perennial powerhouse Wolf Hollow Brewing, representing Schenectady County.

John has visited both locations, sampled their beers and talks about his favorites.

The two also brainstormed about a NEW feature to bring to the Pint-Sized segment of the show.

Sydney Worthley is a Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Award winner, a talented singer/songwriter/musician, and I am fortunate enough to call her a friend of the podcast.

She is making a triumphant return to Schenectady this Saturday after performing at Freedom Park in the summer heat in 2024, taking the stage to open up this year's Summer Night on State Street, and she will own the stage, highlighting the 56th annual Schenectady County Holiday Parade block party at 3 p.m.

I caught up with Sydney on the eve of the holiday parade to talk about her travels, her set list for the block party, what she is working on, along with a few laughs about the holiday and the Schenectady County Holiday Parade

Just before you see the star of the 56th annual Schenectady County Holiday Parade, you will see the other half of the Christmas Spirit duo, Mrs. Claus.

I had a chance to talk to the fantastic Mrs. Claus after she put the finishing touches on the Daily Gazette Santa parade float earlier in the week with help from the Daily Gazette Newspaper mascot, 'Newsie'.

She talked about the upcoming parade, the importance of being Mrs. Claus and what the parade means to her as it kicks off the holiday season.

Mrs. Claus is not a solo act as the elves' ensemble has expanded for this year's parade.

Mrs. Claus also has a special place in her heart and spoke about the importance of the sensory room at Proctors GE Theater.

Even Mrs. Claus has a list for Christmas - a request from block party musical guest Sydney Worthley - for her and her elves.

The 56th annual Schenectady County Holiday Parade is right around the corner, and I had the opportunity to talk to two of the movers and shakers who helped create this great event before the big guy, Santa himself, rides down State Street Saturday night.

MVP senior relationship manager Jackie Marciniak stopped by the podcast studio to talk about her company's role in the annual event, along with her own history of watching the largest nighttime parade in the Northeast.

She was followed by Schenectady County Legislature Vice Chair Kathy Gatta, who is no stranger to the podcast studio and shared some of the work that goes on behind the scenes, along with more than a few laughs.

It's a bit of old and new this week as Kayla Ek, the curator of the Nightmare Market, returns to The Daily Gazette podcast studio to talk about this fall's installment on Oct. 18.

She was joined by former co-worker, Shenandoah Briere, who has a new role as promotions director with Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp.

John Norris returns with a conversation about his weekly Pint-Sized column, this time visiting Brown's Brewing as we talk about beer and the legacy of the Browns, including former photographer, Sid Brown.

Thomas Dimopolous makes his first appearance in the podcast studio talking about the close of summer's rock concerts at Saratoga Performing Arts Center with co-headliners Judas Priest and Alice Cooper.

You can listen to the full interview with Kayla Ek at The Stan and Shen Show podcast on all your listening platforms.