Cidiot – Details, episodes & analysis

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Cidiot

Mat Zucker - Living in the Hudson Valley

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/60d. Total Eps: 141

Learning to live and love life in the Hudson Valley. Hosted by Mat Zucker. Have you fantasized about living in the country? Curious what the transition is like? Or are you a local and want to see a different side of the folks who've invaded your land? The award-winning podcast Cidiot® has been featured in The Albany Times-Union, Chronogram, Country Living, Hudson Valley Magazine, The Poughkeepsie Journal, NBC's Today.com, and more. For updates visit cidiot.com and follow @cidiot.hv on Instagram. Email: cidiotpodcast@gmail.com © MCZ Media LLC 2018-2026. Cidiot is a ® trademark.

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141 shares
https://www.cidiot.com/
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http://cidiot.com/
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https://www.instagram.com/cidiot.hv
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https://www.instagram.com/sunflower___market
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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 72%

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140. Deer Are Like Pigeons (and Other Things I Learned About Hunting)

Season 9 · Episode 140

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 • Duration 33:36

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“Deer for city people are like pigeons.” My neighbor’s wife told me that at her house, without apologizing, and I didn’t know what to do with it. Until then, my whole view of hunting was “guns bad, hunting weird.”

This episode, Cidiot speaks to Jeffrey Kiplinger. He hosts The Claverack Podcast, has been a conservationist all his life, and yes, he’s a bowhunter. We talk about invasive honeysuckle choking our forests, and about Columbia County having up to 150 deer per square mile on land that can support about five. We talk about a new generation of hunters who are more interested in forest health and food than trophy bucks. And we get to the question I was honestly too scared to ask: what happens after you take the shot?

Nine seasons and more than 130 episodes in, it’s time Cidiot finally talked about hunting.

(Plus Jeffrey has simultaneously released an episode of The Claverack Podcast with me, so tune in there as well).

Chapters

00:00 – Cold open: “Deer for city people are like pigeons”
02:00 – Meet Jeffrey: from 3 homes to full-time in Claverack
04:20 – How The Claverack Podcast started (hint: a 140-page comprehensive plan)
05:55 – Conservation close to home: Loomis Creek, old orchards and 250 new trees
09:15 – The bigger picture: too many deer, more bears, fewer birds and pollinators
09:55 – Trail cams, coyotes and the night shift
10:45 – OK, let’s talk about hunting
11:45 – Why the deer are the problem: invasive plants and the Taconic Community Forest
15:00 – By the numbers: 5 deer per square mile vs. 150, and a new kind of hunter
17:00 – A day in the woods: crossbows, blinds, camo, and when to wear orange
19:00 – What happens after the shot: field dressing, gut piles and bald eagles
22:20 – Beavers: the good and the bad
23:35 – Venison as a fix for food insecurity (and how to cook it)
25:45 – Old laws, food banks, and why you can’t buy local venison
27:30 – The new hunting community: Hudson Fish and Game Club, Forest Defense, Queers in Camo, Hunters of Color
29:35 – “The icky part,” and a class in seam butchery
32:30 – Wrap-up: will Mat actually go hunting?

Mentioned in this episode:

The Claverack Podcast (There's a new episode with Mat Zucker!)
Taconic Community Forest (Columbia Land Conservancy)
Hudson Fish and Game Club
Forest Defense
Queers in Camo
Hunters of Color
Columbia Kitchen

Thanks to editor Brett Barry of Silver Hollow Audio and the Kaatscast podcast.

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137. Empire Rye: New York's Own Whiskey

Season 9 · Episode 137

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 • Duration 34:30

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Head north to Old Chatham in the Hudson Valley with us for another walk-and-talk adventure — this time at Silver Brothers Distillery, set on a beautiful former sheep farm with rolling hills, open vistas, and serious "old money" energy.

Host Mat Zucker sits down (and walks around) with founder Matt Greitzer — yes, two Matts for the price of one — who traded 25 years of NYC marketing and advertising for full-time farm life and a whiskey business named after his twin sons.

Matt G. gives us the full grain-to-glass tour: the milling room, the mash tun, an echoey barrel room holding 610 barrels, and the difference between a hammer mill and a roller mill (it matters more than you'd think). We get into what makes New York whiskey distinct, the Empire Rye designation, why Matt's rye is naturally gluten-safe, and how climate shapes flavor from the Hudson Valley to Kentucky to Scotland. Then it's tasting time: the American Single Malt, the three-year rye, and the very limited Single Barrel Rye #8 — plus new vocabulary for your next tasting room visit, including "grapefruit pith" and "distiller's beer."

🥃 Special offer for Cidiot listeners: Silver Brothers is offering a complimentary tour and tasting, just like the one Cidiot took. Head to silverbrothers.com, select "Tours and Tastings," book a tour, add it to your cart, and enter the discount code CIDIOT at checkout to make it free. The offer is for first-time customers only and available for a limited time — so book soon.

And while you're at it, head to the Cidiot.com blog for a tasting guide so you can pour like a pro at home.

136. Moving and Storage in the Hudson Valley

Season 9 · Episode 136

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 • Duration 33:00

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Whether you are packing up a one-bedroom apartment or hauling a heavy, beloved upright piano between boroughs, moving is a massive, stressful milestone. In this episode of Cidiot, we are pulling back the curtain on the moving industry to unpack the mysteries of proper packing, budgeting, and storage.

Mat sits down with Ryan Hart from Mabey’s Moving & Storage—Columbia County's newly crowned best moving company by the Register Star—to deliver the ultimate guide for cidiots on the move.

Fun fact: Ryan was actually on the crew that moved Mat into his own Hudson home (though Mat admits his official moving strategy is total abandonment until the dust settles!).

What We Unbox in This Episode:

Pack Like a Pro: Why paper is your best friend over bubble wrap, and how to use the "blue tape" method to streamline your next local move.
The Reality of Rates: What to actually expect from an estimate, and what a "white glove" service really adds to your timeline.
Storage Secrets: The critical importance of climate control for your household goods (and your couple hundred missing books).
Broker Beware: The massive red flags that signal you are dealing with a moving broker instead of a real, local brick-and-mortar company.
Local Gems: Ryan shares his favorite escape in the Adirondacks and the absolute best cider donut/distillery combo in Columbia County.

Special Live Read: We kick off the episode with a beautiful, moving live reading from Tony Barnstone, poet, author, and professor of literature and creative writing at Whittier College. Be sure to check out his beautifully illustrated book, , linked below.

135. Navigating the Hudson with Freedom Boat Club

Season 9 · Episode 135

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 29:39

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Ah, there is nothing quite like being out on the water—especially on our beloved Hudson River! 🌊

In this episode of Cidiot®, we are diving headfirst into the boating lifestyle. I’m joined by Josh Rosella of Freedom Boat Club to talk about how they are making waves right here in the region. As the world’s largest boat club, they are opening up the water to everyone with three fantastic Hudson Valley locations spanning both sides of the river—Ossining, Haverstraw, and Piermont—plus a spot at Liberty Landing in Jersey City for our New Jersey listeners.

We talk all about the incredible local boating lifestyle, including my absolute new obsession: "dock and dine" (because what is cooler than pulling up to a restaurant by boat?). Plus, Josh fills me in on what it actually means to go "sandbarring."

🎁 Special Offer for Cidiot Listeners!

Ready to get out on the water yourself? Save $500 off your membership fee to Freedom Boat Club!

Text “Cidiot” to Membership Director Vince at 845-271-2999, or email lowerhudsonvalley@freedomboatclub.com and mention the Cidiot podcast.

The offer is available to new members only and expires at the end of the 2026 boating season, in October.

Thank you, Freedom Boat Club, and Brett Barry of Silver Hollow Audio and host of Kaatscast: The Catskills Podcast.

134. Summer Like A Local: Visit Columbia County

Season 9 · Episode 134

Monday, June 15, 2026 • Duration 24:37

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New York City has the energy, but Columbia County has the air.

Two years moving here from just 20 minutes south in the Hudson Valley, host Mat Zucker still feels like a bit of a "cidiot" sometimes—always eager to explore more of the incredible 635 square miles of valley, hills, farms, and villages right in his backyard.

In this special episode, produced in collaboration with Columbia County Tourism, Mat serves up a very personal seasonal guide.

Whether you're a foodie chasing the ultimate farm-to-table breakfast slot, an outdoor enthusiast hunting for hidden trails (and accessible restrooms!), or a shopper looking to bring a piece of the Hudson Valley home with you, we’ve got you covered.

Best of all, you won't just hear from Mat. This episode features a collection of local voices dropping in via "audio postcards" to share their own favorite spots and neighborhood pride.

Thanks for the audio postcards to: Chef Jonas at Serre (Hudson); Emily at Woodlife Market (New Lebanon); Matthew at Hillsdale General Store (Hillsdale); Bill from Kinderhook; and Emily at Clermont Historic Site.

Consider this an open invitation from an entire county that’s ready for its close-up. Below are the places and links mentioned:

Part 1 For Foodies:

Cafes and Coffee Shops:

Kitty’s (Hudson)
The Maker Cafe (Hudson)

133. Walking Olana: Exploring the Iconic Hudson Valley Landmark

Season 9 · Episode 133

Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 30:07

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Just in time for Frederic Church’s 200th birthday, we’re taking you along for a "boots on" tour of the moving landscape he spent decades designing here in the Hudson Valley.

I’m walking the carriage roads of the Olana Historic Site with Annik LaFarge, author of the new book Composing Olana: A Journey on Foot Through Frederic Church's Greatest Work of Art. It’s the first book about this thoughtful and artful landscape.

You’ll hear the wind in the trees and the crunch of the gravel as we discover how Church used the earth itself as his canvas—from a man-made lake that mirrors the Hudson to the "erratic" boulders left behind by glaciers. Walking Olana, you’ll hear, is like "standing inside a painting." It’s an episode about seeing the hidden layers of the valley we love, sponsored by our friends at the Olana Partnership.

We’ll learn a ton about Olana and about Frederic Church, who wasn’t necessarily a weekender but just might have been a cidiot. Annik and I also came up with a new sitcom idea: “Cole & Church.”

Grab your walking shoes, let’s head outside.

Links to Highlights:

Olana Partnership Frederic Church 200th: (OLANA.org/FC200)
Composing Olana: A Journey On Foot Through Frederic Church’s Greatest Work of Art (Cidiot Bookshop on Bookshop dot org)
Germantown Boat Launch

132. Chocolate is a Fruit? Bryan Graham of Fruition Chocolate Works

Season 9 · Episode 132

Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 31:28

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Let's go bean-to-bar.

In this episode of Cidiot,® Mat Zucker dives into the world of world-class indulgence right here in the Hudson Valley.

Joining the show is Bryan Graham, the award-winning chocolatier and co-founder of Fruition Chocolate Works.

From his roots in the Catskills to the kitchens of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Bryan shares his journey of building a bean-to-bar empire. We talk about the "American craft chocolate movement," why milk chocolate is making a massive comeback, and the surprising truth about where those cacao beans actually come from.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The Fruit Factor: Why your favorite chocolate bar actually starts as a tropical fruit seed.
Local Collaborations: How Fruition incorporates Hudson Valley flavors, from West Wind Orchard raspberries to Tuthilltown Distillery bourbon.
The Tasting Notes: What to look for in a high-quality bar (and why "cocoa" vs. "cacao" isn't as scary as it sounds).
Inside the Shop: The scoop on Fruition’s locations in Shokan, Poughkeepsie, and their new pop-up in Cambridge, MA.

Whether you're a dark chocolate purist or a fan of "adult chocolate milk," this episode is a sweet celebration of local craft.

Special Offer for Cidiot Listeners

Fruition Chocolate Works is offering 20% off for the Cidiot community! Use code CIDIOT20 at checkout.

131. Bridges of the Hudson Valley

Season 9 · Episode 131

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 • Duration 45:28

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In this episode of Cidiot®, we explore the literal "connective tissue" of our region: the bridges.

Host Mat Zucker is joined by Chris Steber, Public Information Officer for the New York State Bridge Authority, to discuss the five major vehicular crossings—from the "grand-daddy" Bear Mountain Bridge to the Rip Van Winkle.

We dive into the fascinating history of these landmarks, including why Franklin D. Roosevelt vetoed the first attempt at a northern bridge, the "engineering epic" of the Mid-Hudson Bridge construction, and the mystery of why the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge doesn't actually land in Rhinecliff or Kingston.

The episode also highlights a truly unique marriage of infrastructure and art: Bridge Music. Composer Joseph Bertolozzi transformed the Mid-Hudson Bridge into a massive percussion instrument by recording the sounds of its cables and railings. If you're walking the bridge between April and October, look for the listening stations at each tower to hear the bridge's own soundtrack!

Episode Highlights & Resources:

Engineering History: Insights into the Bear Mountain Bridge Centennial Page and archival 1924 Fox Newsreel Footage of Bear Mountain Bridge of its construction. (Note: This footage was provided courtesy of the Moving Image Research Collection at the University of South Carolina.)

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Cidiot – Details, episodes & analysis

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