The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

Latest Episodes:

Chris Matthews Nov 12, 2022

Show notes

Chris Matthews is an award-winning journalist, columnist, author, political commentator, television host and professor. His 15 years in politics and government includes serving as speechwriter for president Jimmy Carter and administrative assistant to House Speaker Tip O’Neil. He was a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle; syndicated columnist and Washington Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Examiner; and host of MSNBC’s Hardball. His books include Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero and his 2021 memoir This Country: My Life in Politics and History.

Join us for a lively, insightful, thought-provoking chat about the midterms, Trump and Trumpism, DeSantis, Biden, the Democratic and Republican Parties, the overall political landscape and the 2024 outlook. Chris also shares whether he's a cat or dog person and offers his Top 5 musical artists of all-time!

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Andy Ostroy and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Associate producer Jennifer Hammoud Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Mary Trump Nov 05, 2022

Show notes

Mary L Trump is a trained Clinical Psychologist with a PhD from The Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies. She also has a Master’s degree in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. As an adjunct professor at Adelphi University, she taught graduate level courses in developmental psychology, psychopathology, and trauma.

In 2017 Mary provided over 40,000 pages of documents to The New York Times, becoming a source for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning article written by Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner. She is the author of two New York Times best-selling books. The first, Too Much and Never Enough, published in July 2020, sold a million copies on its first day of publication. Her second book, The Reckoning, was published in August 2021.

Join us for a fun, fascinating and brutally honest chat about her life; her Uncle Donald, her cousins Ivanka, Eric and Don Jr and her grandparents Fred Sr and Mary Anne; her dysfunctional childhood; the current political landscape; the midterms; Trumpism; racism; and the future of American democracy. You'll also learn whether she's a cat or dog person, and hear her Top 5 musical artists of all-time!

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Andy Ostroy and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Associate producer Jennifer Hammoud Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Stuart Stevens; Rep. Pat Ryan Oct 29, 2022

Show notes

Stuart Stevens is a Senior Advisor to the Lincoln Project. For twenty-five years he was the lead strategist and media consultant for some of the nation's toughest political campaigns including the presidential bids of Bob Dole, George W. Bush and Mitt Romney.

He is the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestseller It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump (2020). His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Esquire and Outside, among other publications. He has written extensively for television shows, including Northern Exposure, Commander in Chief, and K Street.

Join us for fascinating, in-depth political chat with Stuart about Trump, Trumpism, Democrats & Republicans, the midterms & the existential threat to our democracy. And, a brief campaign update from NY-18 candidate Rep. Pat Ryan.

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Andy Ostroy and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Associate producer Jennifer Hammoud Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Michael Fanone Oct 22, 2022

Show notes

Michael Fanone served as a DC Metropolitan Police Department Officer for twenty years. He spent the majority of his career as a vice cop, participating in over 2,000 arrests for violent crimes and narcotics trafficking. He served as a special task force officer for the FBI, ATF, and DEA and has earned over three dozen commendations for his work.

But Michael's best known as one of the many law enforcement heroes who nearly lost his life defending our Congresspeople, Capitol and democracy during the insurrection of January 6, 2021. He’s the author of the new book, “Hold the Line: The Insurrection and One Cop's Battle for America's Soul”. He currently serves as an analyst for CNN, a security consultant and a firearms instructor.

Hear Michael's personal story as never told before.

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Andy Ostroy and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Associate producer Jennifer Hammoud Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Soledad O'Brien Oct 15, 2022

Show notes

Soledad O’Brien is a multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, speaker, author, philanthropist and founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions, a multi-platform media production company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories on a range of social issues. She anchors and produces the Hearst TV political magazine program "Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien" and is a correspondent for HBO Real Sports.

Soledad's documentaries have appeared on HBO, Discovery Plus, Peacock, BET, PBS and elsewhere. She has over 1.3-million followers on Twitter, where she’s a frequent critic of the mainstream media. Her Op-Eds have appeared in the New York Times and Huffington Post. She's anchored shows on CNN, MSNBC and NBC, and reported specials for Fox, BET, A&E and others. She's won three Emmy awards, two George Foster Peabody Awards, three Gracie Awards, two Cine Awards and an Alfred I. DuPont Award. Her most recent series, “Black and Missing” available on HBO, won an Independent Spirit Award.

Join us for a truly entertaining, insightful, thought-provoking chat on subjects including family, the media, politics, the fate of our democracy and the October 19 Peacock release of the documentary "The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks", on which she serves as Executive Producer.

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Andy Ostroy and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Associate producer Jennifer Hammoud Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman & Rachel Vindman Oct 08, 2022

Show notes

Alexander Vindman is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who most recently served on the National Security Council. He was thrust into the national spotlight in October 2019 when he testified before Congress during former president Donald Trump's first impeachment hearing. He is the author of the book "Here, Right Matters: An American Story".

Rachel Vindman is an opinion columnist at USA TODAY and a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors. She's an activist and political commentator and also co-hosts the Suburban Women Problem podcast.

Join me and this smart, fascinating, funny, charming dynamic power-couple as we talk about life, love, family, the Republican Party, Trump, Biden, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, Curb Your Enthusiasm/Larry David, Harry Styles and more!

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Andy Ostroy and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Associate producer Jennifer Hammoud Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Matt Friend Oct 01, 2022

Show notes

Join us this week for an incredibly entertaining chat with the very talented, very funny comedian and impressionist Matt Friend! Matt, just 24-years-old, is an indisputable comedy sensation, having launched like a rocket from social media apps TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter where he's built a loyal following that'll soon reach 1-million fans.

In addition to his transcendent Donald Trump impression, Matt has an impressive repertoire of 250 flawless political and celebrity impressions including Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, Ron DeSantis, Barack Obama, Gavin Newsom, Bernie Sanders, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Howard Stern, Liev Schreiber, Rami Malek, Jennifer Coolidge, Timothee Chalamet, Sebastian Maniscalco, John Oliver, Paul Giamatti, Andy Cohen, Johnny Carson and Jeff Goldblum. And he does a ton of them in this week's episode!

Matt's appeared everywhere from The Today Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live to Good Day LA. He performs stand-up across the country and will be headlining November 10 at The Stand as part of the 2022 New York Comedy Festival. And he'll be voicing the role of Baby Goldblum on an upcoming episode of The Simpsons.

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Radio Free Rhinecliff and Andy Ostroy

Music by Andrew Hollander

Design by Cricket Lengyel

Finneas Sep 24, 2022

Show notes

Finneas is a singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. His sister is Billie Eilish, with whom he co-writes, produces and collaborates. Their 2020 theme song "No Time to Die" for the James Bond film of the same name is a Grammy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Academy Award winner for best film song. Overall he's won eight Grammys and received 13 nominations.

Join us for a truly fun chat about his childhood musical journey, the songwriting process, his passion for women's rights, gun reform and climate and his thoughts about Twitter.

And, you'll also find out whether he's a dog or cat person, who his top 5 comedians are and what he secretly wishes he could do all day long...

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Radio Free Rhinecliff and Andy Ostroy

Music by Andrew Hollander

Design by Cricket Lengyel

Rick Wilson Sep 17, 2022

Show notes

Rick Wilson is a renowned political strategist, infamous ad-maker, writer, speaker, political commentator and co-founder of the political action committee the Lincoln Project. He’s the author of two New York Times bestsellers, writes for The Washington Post, Politico, Rolling Stone, The Hill, The Bulwark and the London Spectator and frequently appears on CNN, MSNBC, NPR and HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher.

The inimitable, irrepressible former Republican heats up The Back Room with his brutally honest, penetrating insights and razor-sharp witticisms on Trump, Trumpism, the GOP, the midterms, the existential threat to democracy and his personal journey in choosing country over party.

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by Radio Free Rhinecliff and Andy Ostroy

Music by Andrew Hollander

Design by Cricket Lengyel

Stephanie Grisham Sep 10, 2022

Show notes

Join us this week in The Back Room for a brutally honest, insightful, lively chat with Stephanie Grisham, former Trump White House Press Secretary and Communications Director for both the former president and First Lady. She also served as Melania's Chief of Staff.

Through genuine contrition and a true desire to prevent the Trump era's ugly history from repeating itself, Stephanie pulls no punches in sharing her thoughts and experiences working in the most unethical, corrupt, treasonous, batshit crazy administration in American history and what needs to happen going forward.

We also learn the truth about my awesome viral moment five years ago when Melania "liked" my tweet which mocked her husband and their troubled marriage!

Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy

Produced by radiofreerhinecliff.org and Andy Ostroy

Music by Andrew Hollander

Design by Cricket Lengyel

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected