In this episode, we discuss the art of presidential speechwriting with Cody Keenan, who served 8 years in the Obama White House. Author of the New York Times bestselling book “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America," Cody shares his insights on writing an effective speech, the challenges facing the Obama administration in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, and the collaborative relationship with the president on some of his most notable addresses.

We also analyze speeches by then-Senator John F. Kennedy and then-Vice President Richard Nixon delivered during two back-to-back presidential campaign stops in Troy's iconic Monument Square on September 29 and 30, 1960.

Our earlier episode with former Rensselaer County Democratic Committee chairman Tom Wade reflecting on President Obama's visit to Troy is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and our official website.

Notes:

• https://codykeenan.com/
• Interview: Former Troy mayor Mark Pattison (Part 1 / Part 2)
• https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/video/President-Obama-Speaks-to-Hudson-Valley-Community-College
• https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2009/09/22/a-day-well-spent
• Times Union: When John F. Kennedy campaigned in the Capital Region

Credits:

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

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In 2016, the fate of Troy's firefighters union contract was saved by the last-minute arrival of former Troy councilmember Lynn Kopka, thanks to a little help from then-Troy Democratic Committee chairwoman Carole Weaver.

Notes:

• Spectrum News: Budget Battle Begins with Fire­fighter Contract https://spectrumlocalnews.com/news/2016/10/13/troy-budget-battle-begins-with-firefighter-union-contract-proposal
• Troy Record: Divided Troy Council Approves Firefighters Contract https://www.troyrecord.com/2016/11/04/divided-troy-council-approves-firefighters-contract/
• Troy Record: Troy Firefighters Union Ratifies Short-Term Contract https://www.troyrecord.com/2016/09/23/troy-firefighters-union-ratifies-short-term-contract/
• Troy Record: Between the Lines: Dysfunction Fractures GOP Council Majority https://www.troyrecord.com/2017/03/06/between-the-lines-dysfunction-fractures-gop-council-majority/

Credits:

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

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We're thrilled to host Scott Womer, songwriter, musician, event producer and founder of Song City, a creative venture focused on the local songwriting community which kicks off their fourth season in the Collar City on September 9, 2025.

During the episode, we discuss Scott's life growing up in the Capital Region, working in Nashville in the Christian music industry in the 1990s and early 2000s (and a chance encounter with M.C. Hammer), his musical output as Fenton Hardy, and the story behind the creation of Song City to support the area's eclectic songwriting community.

Episode Notes:

• Song City
• Fenton Hardy - The Ghost EP (Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud)

Credits:

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

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Listened to the radio during the last 37 years? Then it's likely you've heard the voice of Ralph Renna transmitting across the airwaves. In this episode, the WABY DJ and singer/songwriter shares his memories of growing up in Troy, life in the Capital Region's hardcore music scene, and his encyclopedic knowledge of heavy music.

Watch the video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_p2ooJHYV6w

From his early years booking Type O Negative and Life of Agony at the South Troy Community Center, sharing the stage with Anthrax, Sebastian Bach, Agnostic Front, Prong, Dragonforce, Kittie, Atreyu, and Unearth as front man of Troy-based hardcore band Last Call, or decades promoting heavy music on WVCR, 104.9 The Edge, and now WABY, Ralph Renna has some incredible stories to share.

Episode Notes:

• 93.9-FM WABY
• Biohazard - South Troy Community Center, July 10, 1993 https://www.instagram.com/albany_hardcore_archives/p/CJvxDH_JkKD/?img_index=1
• South Troy Community Center hardcore shows https://www.setlist.fm/venue/the-south-troy-community-center-troy-ny-usa-53d16b71.html
• Last Call "Wings Of The Northforce" - Live @ Altamont Fairgrounds EDGEFEST (Sept. 22, 2007)
• War-Time Manner - Preppers

Credits:

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

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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

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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

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In this episode, we take a closer look at the life and accomplishments of Garnet Douglass Baltimore, one of Troy's most famous Black citizens. Baltimore, a civil engineer and landscape architect, was the first Black graduate of RPI (1881) and designed Troy's Prospect Park.

Many thanks to Suzanne Spellen for sharing her research and archive of materials for this episode.

Episode Notes:

• Spellen of Troy
• Video: Suzanne Spellen on Garnet Douglass Baltimore
• Hart Cluett Museum

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:

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