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Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City

Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City

By: John Salka
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 Understanding Troy’s past, present, and future through conversations with Trojans involved in civic affairs, local government, politics, arts, music, and community. Produced and hosted by John Salka.2024 - Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City Political Science Politics & Government World
Episodes
  • 25: To Abstain, or Not to Abstain

    25: To Abstain, or Not to Abstain
    Jul 31 2025

    On June 16, 2025, Troy’s city council gathered at city hall in the historic Hedley Building, located along New York's iconic Hudson River in upstate New York, to consider legislation which allows the city to borrow money for investments in Troy’s fire department.

    While the council ultimately approved nearly all the borrowing requests that evening, Troy's mayor Carmella Mantello decided to single out a council member for their decision to abstain from votes due to a potential conflict of interest.

    Using public records, videos of public meetings, and news reporting from the last decade, we scrutinize the mayor's claims and take a closer look at her own rationale for abstaining from votes when serving as council president between 2016 and 2023.

    Episode Notes:

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GX01VLzhfY (Council Meeting, June 16, 2025)
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kislTE9xI_w (Council Finance Committee Meeting Aug. 1, 2019)
    • https://www.youtube.com/live/_EaCER9Ji88 (Regular City Council Meeting, Aug. 1, 2019)
    • Troy Record: Troy City Council reluctantly signs off on new police contract (Oct. 19, 2017)

    Credits:

    Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
    Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

    Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

    Connect with Troy Story on:

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Threads
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
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    9 mins
  • Were You There? Ozzy Osbourne, RPI Field House (1996)

    Were You There? Ozzy Osbourne, RPI Field House (1996)
    Jul 12 2025
    Millions of metal fans celebrated the final live performance of Ozzy Osbourne during the "Back to the Beginning” global concert event this summer. The celebration culminated with the last-ever reunion of Black Sabbath's original lineup of Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi, and drummer Bill Ward.But, did you know Ozzy's first short-lived "retirement" in the 1990s ended with a major worldwide tour which included a stop at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Houston Field House in Troy, New York?On January 27, 1996, the Prince of Darkness brought his "Retirement Sucks!" tour to the Collar City with modern metal heavies Korn and Life Of Agony in tow.Backing Ozzy in Troy that evening was an all-star lineup featuring drummer Randy Castillo, bassist Mike Inez of Alice in Chains, and guitar virtuoso Joe Holmes, tearing through a setlist of classic Sabbath and Ozzy tracks to a nearly-sold out arena of heavy metal fanatics.Did you see Ozzy at the Houston Field House in Troy, New York in 1996? We’d love to hear your story for a future episode of Troy Story: A Podcast for the Collar City.Visit https://troystorypod.com/ozzy to find out how you can contribute to another special installment of the show.Don’t forget to check out our previous episodes on legendary era concerts at the RPI Field House by Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, and Slayer, featuring the voices of world-renowned drummer Jason Bittner, journalist and sports columnist Joyce Bassett, former Field House security staffer and RPI student Eric Haskins, then-teenage metal fan Kevin O’Connell, and Brick by Brick guitarist and owner of Upstate Black n Blue Productions owner Mike Valente.Artwork sources:https://rocktourdatabase.com/sites/rocktourdatabase.com/files/1996-06-06ozzy.jpgHouston Field House (CC-BY-SA-3.0/Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia)Audio Sources:Back to the Beginning - Black Sabbath - Paranoid - live in BirminghamOzzy Osbourne - RPI Field House, Troy NY (1996) Credits:Produced, edited, and hosted by John SalkaTheme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs RecordsVisit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.Connect with Troy Story on:FacebookInstagramThreadsYouTubeBluesky
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    5 mins
  • 24: Pride Month in Troy

    24: Pride Month in Troy
    Jun 24 2025

    On the evening of June 5, 2025, Troy's city council held a symbolic vote on the annual resolution recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month. For many reasons, this year's vote had a heightened sense of importance for Troy's LGBTQ+ community and allies from across the Collar City and Capital Region, including a local councilmember's opposition to the resolution which drew the attention of residents and advocates who sought to change his mind.

    This episode draws heavily on the public comment of countless Troy residents who spoke out that evening. The original audio source is here.

    Listen to our 2024 interview with Meagon Nolasco (Collar City Pride): https://troystorypod.com/chapter-08

    Show Notes:

    • Troy councilman votes against Pride Month support resolution (Albany Times Union, June 7, 2025)
    • Tensions over Pride in Troy on display at latest council meeting (WAMC, June 6, 2025)
    • Video: A Message from Collar City Pride (Instagram)
    • Collar City Pride to Move Festival from Troy (Albany Times Union, April 27, 2025)
    • Collar City Pride Festival plans to leave Troy, orgs pull out of city-sponsored Pride events (Troy Record, April 29, 2025)
    • Mayor Madden Signs First-Ever Pride Month Proclamation, June 2019
    • Stonewall Uprising (Documentary) - AMERICAN EXPERIENCE | PBS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLwE45vd80A

    Credits:

    Produced, edited, and hosted by John Salka
    Theme music by Steven J. Goldman, Four Legs Records

    Visit troystorypod.com for upcoming episodes, guests, and bonus content.

    Connect with Troy Story on:

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Threads
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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