When the pandemic hit, Taina Asili, like many others, had to clear her calendar of in-person events. On June 2, 2021, Taina will return to the live stage for a free event by Pops Up at the Empire Plaza. She is also celebrating the release of a new song and music video that was commissioned by Troy City Music Hall, which you'll hear at the very beginning of this interview. To see the music video for "The Struggle Carries On,” visit the Troy Music Hall YouTube page. Find more information about Taina Asili at www.TainaAsili.com

The WGXC Morning Show is a radio magazine show featuring local news, interviews with community leaders and personalities, reports on cultural issues, a rundown of public meetings and local and regional events, with weather updates, and more about and for the community, made mostly through volunteers in the community through WGXC. The Catskill Makers Syndicate produce the "Better Weather" for the show. Rob Gelles produces the Columbia County history segment "Rob Around The County" and "This Month in History" for the show. Julia Joern produced the "Hudson Valley Word of Mouth" interview segment each week. The "WGXC Congressional Report" also airs here. Some reports come from our partner station, WOOC-LP in Troy, out of The Sanctuary for Independent Media. Tom Roe also cuts up local and national news with songs and sounds for the show. At 9 a.m. "The WGXC Daily," with local headlines, weather, and previews of community events, airs. At 10 a.m., national headlines from Public News Service are on WGXC. Sometimes national, state, or local press conferences, meetings, or events are broadcast live here.