WCNY

On this edition of Checkup From the Neck-Up, Psychologist Rich “Dr. Neckup” O'Neill's guest is Jim Brulé, Transformative Storyteller and Death Doula. They discuss how Jim uses transformative storytelling in caring for people and their families dealing with loss, grief, and the end-of-life. Jim then tells a classic story about a woman who celebrates her 90 th birthday with family and friends over and over. One day Mother Death arrives for the party and their dance begins. Rich talks about the surprising impact the story's various elements had on his experience and view of himself at this stage of his life

Has life ever existed on Mars? Despite attempts this question remains unanswered. A new wave of Mars exploration is coming. What will it reveal? Also this month on Science Today, a possible treatment for stiff person syndrome and black holes provide new insight in the basic theories of physics.

On this episode, we welcome a very special guest, Dave Kavney, NBT Bank's President of Central New York, the Southern Tier, and Pennsylvania. NBT Bank is the presenting sponsor for this podcast, and the entire Talk CNY team is so grateful to them for all of their support of this series. On this episode, we discuss NBT Bank's recent growth and how they're playing an active role in our community's development.

Last year, it was the County Executive on Check It Out…. and this week, we welcome Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens to the show. Tom and guest host Yona Williams sit down with the Mayor to get a look at her past growing up in Geneva, NY. We talk libraries, some exciting programs that the city and the libraries have coming up and the importance of reading for kids. All that and more on the only library podcast for kids in Central New York. So, stop reading and Check It Out!

by Lauren Easton August 17, 2026 WCNY, Central New York's public communications organization, in partnership with WSKG in

Check It Out has a special throwback guest this week. Our listeners that have seen the WCNY show Reading Buddies on TV have previously heard from hosts Dusty and Dott. But this week, we bring back one of the Alphaboteers: Reggie. Reggie was played by our friend, Greyson Merrick, and he gets us caught up on his life 4 years later. We learn about the show from behind the scenes, and find out more about the MacGyver of the cast. All of this with Maggie and Tom on another exciting edition of Check It Out.

In conjunction with Syracuse Stage's upcoming production of “Come From Away,” Syracuse restaurant owners Dan and Theresa Seely reminisce about the time they gave thanks to the entire town of Gander, Newfoundland, for the support they gave to stranded passengers on 9/11.

We usually are all laughs and jokes on Check It Out, but for this week we tackle a serious subject. Maggie and Tom talk with Nicole Hotchkiss of Contact Community Services. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and six libraries are teaming up with CCS as part of a support event called the “Chalk the Walk” Initiative. This takes place the week of September 21st and you can find out which libraries are handing out chalk totes. We hope you listen in this week to Check It Out.