The Jiffy: Stories From Upstate New York

A Postcard From Pinkster Fest (Re-Jiffy)

Send a textThe podcast is still on a bit of a hiatus while I produce "Little Pod" (a limited series with Olivia Muenter).I'll be back with new episodes here soon, but in the meantime, I'm re-sharing this episode about Pinkster Festival – a Black cultural celebration with Dutch colonial roots – which was revived for the first time in more than 200 years last year.Pinkster began as a Dutch Christian holiday but evolved into a vital gathering for enslaved and free Black New Yorkers in the 18th and 19th centuries. This episode follows the festival’s modern-day return, in partnership with the African American Archive of Columbia County and local organizations working to reconnect descendants, reanimate memory, and reclaim a once-forgotten holiday.You’ll hear from festival organizers, historians, community members, and King Charley, as they honor ancestors through the libations ceremony and explore the unique shape of slavery in the Northeast.We also reflect on what it means to hold this celebration just steps from the historic Persons of Color Cemetery, and how genealogy and place are being used to build one of the largest known Black family trees in New York State.If you found this episode interesting, text it to someone who might like to hear it! Word of mouth really helps this show grow.And if you'd like to hear my earlier episode with the Archive where we visited the Jan Van Hoesen-Charles Marriott House, you can find that here.To learn more about the African American Archive of Columbia County, visit them at: https://www.afamarchivecc.orgYou can hear "Little Pod" wherever you find podcasts.Support the show"The Jiffy Audio Newsletter Podcast" is an audio documentary zine – the official podcast of The Jiffy – exploring the odd histories, cozy mysteries, and surprising characters of upstate New York. Each episode is an adventure, and new episodes drop every other week. Subscribe, share, and take the scenic route with us. Follow James on Instagram: @jamescave Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Shaker Mother Ann Lee: A 'True Legend'

Send us a textMother Ann Lee is one of the most consequential (and least understood) figures in early American religious history.In just ten years in the colonies, during the chaos of the American Revolution, she helped give rise to a movement that would shape communal life, labor, design, music, and belief across America (and even Europe) for generations.This episode of The Jiffy traces Ann Lee's life from industrial Manchester to upstate New York, from persecution and imprisonment to the founding of the Shakers' first American settlement near Albany and across New England.With guidance from Kathleen Lynch, curator and director of collections at Hancock Shaker Village, we examine what can be known about Mother Ann, and what survives only as testimony, memory, myth, and legend.As renewed attention turns toward Ann's life, this episode offers the long view that intends to place her where she belongs: not as an abstraction or aesthetic, but as a human being whose convictions helped shape a country still defining itself.By the way, Kathleen took me on a tour of the 1830 Brick Dwelling in 2024 for my series, "This Old Vibe," and showed me the Shaker concept of borrowed light. You can watch that video here.You can visit Hancock Shaker Village at: https://hancockshakervillage.orgHere's more info on "Ann the Word: the Story of Ann Lee, Female Messiah, Mother of the Shakers, the Woman Clothed with the Sun," by Richard FrancisThis is part of my series throughout 2026 looking at how New York looks at itself during the Semiquincentennial: The Jiffty250. Support the show"The Jiffy Audio Newsletter Podcast" is an audio documentary zine – the official podcast of The Jiffy – exploring the odd histories, cozy mysteries, and surprising characters of upstate New York. Each episode is an adventure, and new episodes drop every other week. Subscribe, share, and take the scenic route with us. Follow James on Instagram: @jamescave Subscribe to the newsletter here.

To The Clock Tower!!

Send us a textIn the first episode of the New Year, we get as close to the concept of time as possible: by climbing into Chatham’s 1872 clock tower with village timekeeper Stephen Piazza.Here are some things we learned:It's very steep to the top and hard to do with a microphone and really large headphones.Don't touch the pendulum.Why heat and cold change a pendulum’s paceHow gravity pulls on the gear train differently from 12 to 6And why a tiny turn smaller than a 64th of an inch can mean minutes gained or lost. We talk through the choreography of daylight saving, from stopping the clock to avoid “fall back” confusion to advancing the hands ever so gently in spring so the village sees the new time without phantom bells throwing everything into disarray.We also made it into the Village Timekeeper's Logbook for all of time to see!Here's more on "Selling the True Time," by Ian R. BartkyHere's more on the Chatham Clock Tower from the Chatham Village Historical SocietyHere's my previous "Guide To The Many Chathams" episodeSupport the show"The Jiffy Audio Newsletter Podcast" is an audio documentary zine – the official podcast of The Jiffy – exploring the odd histories, cozy mysteries, and surprising characters of upstate New York. Each episode is an adventure, and new episodes drop every other week. Subscribe, share, and take the scenic route with us. Follow James on Instagram: @jamescave Subscribe to the newsletter here.

Friend of The Jiffy: "Music Person" Presents A Postcard From The Hudson Valley

Send us a textDylan Tupper Rupert joins the show today in my first-ever feed drop to take us on a ride-along with her podcast "Music Person!"It's the first part in a three-part series for her show, dedicated to mapping out how the Hudson Valley’s history, density, and seasons shape a vibrant indie music scene today. In part 1, which we feature here, Dylan visits Hannah Cohen, Sam Evian, Flying Cloud Studios, and Big Pink (and Jenn Pelly and Olivia Bee make some cameos).Go check out Dylan's full series here: https://www.talkhouse.com/artist/music-personListen ad-free and support her show here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/musicpersonAnd follow Dylan on Instagram here! @yaydylanSupport the show"The Jiffy Audio Newsletter Podcast" is an audio documentary zine – the official podcast of The Jiffy – exploring the odd histories, cozy mysteries, and surprising characters of upstate New York. Each episode is an adventure, and new episodes drop every other week. Subscribe, share, and take the scenic route with us. Follow James on Instagram: @jamescave Subscribe to the newsletter here.

A Break For Local Holiday News And Gossip

Send us a textWhile on a holiday break in December, I'm sharing this special episode featuring local news and gossip from the Rhinebeck Gazette of the 1800s, available through the Hudson River Valley Heritage Historical Newspapers Archive.I'll be back to normal programming soon. In the meantime, be sure to stock up on your boots, shoes, and rubbers!These news items are from the following issues:Rhinebeck Gazette: Dec. 1, 1857Rhinebeck Gazette, Dec. 8, 1857Rhinebeck Gazette, Dec. 22, 1857Rhinebeck Gazette, Dec. 21, 1858Rhinebeck Gazette, Dec. 27, 1859Rhinebeck Gazette: Dec. 5, 1865To support my end of year fund drive and keep The Jiffy going into 2026, you can become a sustaining member, or (and??) make a one-time donation here:Become a sustaining member hereDonate hereSupport the show"The Jiffy Audio Newsletter Podcast" is an audio documentary zine – the official podcast of The Jiffy – exploring the odd histories, cozy mysteries, and surprising characters of upstate New York. Each episode is a small adventure, told with curiosity, humor, and the occasional text message from a stranger.New episodes drop every other week. Subscribe, share, and take the scenic route with us.Support the show"The Jiffy Audio Newsletter Podcast" is an audio documentary zine – the official podcast of The Jiffy – exploring the odd histories, cozy mysteries, and surprising characters of upstate New York. Each episode is an adventure, and new episodes drop every other week. Subscribe, share, and take the scenic route with us. Follow James on Instagram: @jamescave Subscribe to the newsletter here.