{"podcast":{"title":"The Montclair Pod","slug":"the-montclair-pod-7145507","podcast_index_feed_id":7145507,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/6753786ea8461f164e67bf3a","website_url":"http://montclairpod.com","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1733523283425-1bc2fce8-9722-407f-a136-49207b766599.jpeg","author":"Montclair Pod LLC","episode_count":81,"summary":"The Montclair Pod is an award-winning podcast that offers a deep dive into the stories, issues, and buzz shaping Montclair, NJ. Hosted by local friends—journalist and financial expert Farnoosh Torabi and MediaFeed co-founder Michael Schreiber—we’re here to explore the heart of our vibrant community with curiosity and a dose of neighborly chatter. From the latest drama in Montclair schools to the tangled web of local politics and even the mysteries of our rollercoaster real estate market, we cover the topics you’re already chatting about at the bus stop, the farmer’s market, or over a drink at Tierney’s. Each episode features thought-provoking conversations and special guests, from community leaders to movers and shakers making waves in town. This is your show, too! Share your questions, opinions, critiques, and compliments at MontclairPod.com; you might hear them on an upcoming episode. Subscribe now to The Montclair Pod and join us in spotlighting the culture, stories, and spirited debates that make Montclair more than just a town—it’s home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-02T18:19:54.567698+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-montclair-pod-7145507"},"episode":{"title":"Farnoosh's Commencement Speech, a Brookdale Park Surprise & Montclair's $4 Million Market","slug":"farnoosh-s-commencement-speech-a-brookdale-park-surprise-montclair-s-4-million-market","published_at":"2026-07-02T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-montclair-pod-7145507/farnoosh-s-commencement-speech-a-brookdale-park-surprise-montclair-s-4-million-market","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-montclair-pod-7145507","url":"https://shows.acast.com/the-montclair-pod/episodes/farnooshs-commencement-speech-a-brookdale-park-surprise-mont","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6753786ea8461f164e67bf3a/e/6a45c435e80d75fcb8a2baf4/media.mp3","summary":"With 36 hours' notice, Farnoosh was asked to deliver the commencement address at Montclair High School — and we play you the full speech. We also debrief all the \"this is so Montclair\" moments from graduation day, debut our new Saturdays in the Park series with a remarkable chance encounter at Brookdale Park, and catch up on spiking real estate prices, a school principal shuffle, a stolen car on Bloomfield Ave, new e-bike rules, and everything happening this Fourth of July. In this episode: Principal Freeman called Farnoosh 36 hours before graduation and asked her to give the commencement speech — her first thought was that she was in trouble Farnoosh's full address to the Class of 2026: the theme was \"don't hang up on yourself,\" drawing on her own stories of nearly leaving Penn State, being told to change her name to Tina, and getting laid off ...twice. Graduation day chaos: a two-line debacle at the amphitheater, a photographer form emailed at 4:26 p.m. for a 6 p.m. ceremony, a wave of graduating seniors smoking cigars, and a mystery bus ride to an adventure park in Williamsburg that ran until 4 a.m. — Project Graduation turns 46 this year New series: Saturdays in the Park — Mike kicks it off at Brookdale Park (formerly a golf course) and has a chance encounter with a veteran named Michael Jackson who is walking the park as part of his rehabilitation after six strokes, and who it turns out may have been aboard the USS Kennedy the same day Mike toured it as a kid Mike rode the elevator at the MC Hotel with members of the German national team, corrected one player on the difference between New York and New Jersey, and his stepdad Barry sent them off with an Auf Wiedersehen — Germany lost the next day Next week: what the hell is going on with the lack of World Cup marke…","meta_description":"With 36 hours' notice, Farnoosh was asked to deliver the commencement address at Montclair High School — and we play you the full speech. We also debrief…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3461,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-montclair-pod-7145507/episodes/farnoosh-s-commencement-speech-a-brookdale-park-surprise-montclair-s-4-million-market/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-montclair-pod-7145507/farnoosh-s-commencement-speech-a-brookdale-park-surprise-montclair-s-4-million-market.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}