The Montclair Pod

Why doesn’t Montclair have any legal weed stores? This week on The Montclair Pod, we tackle a question that has floated around town for years, with a deep look at Montclair’s cannabis landscape, tracing how a town that once hosted New Jersey’s first medical dispensary now has zero open shops. Farnoosh and Mike walk through the long, complicated road to legalization in New Jersey, the zoning bottlenecks in Montclair, and the Catch-22 of opening a dispensary in a system where you need a lease before you have a license.We unpack:• How state and municipal approvals have slowed Montclair’s cannabis rollout.• Why the town may be missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual tax revenue.• The real numbers behind dispensary sales in New Jersey.• An in-depth conversation with Jake Kushner, founder of Kush Connection on Bloomfield Avenue, who shares the multi-year, financially draining journey to opening a dispensary in his hometown.• A behind-the-scenes look at Genuine Grow, Montclair’s first legal cultivation facility, with founder Andrew Marshall explaining the three-and-a-half-year road from idea to harvest, and why he’s betting on small-batch, craft cannabis grown right on Pine Street.Also: Montclair’s special election is off. A Superior Court judge has invalidated the December 9 ballot questions, ruling the wording unclear and legally insufficient. We break down what the ruling means, why the ballot language failed, and how the district might navigate a shortfall with layoffs already underway.In lieu of Farnoosh & Mike Eat Food this week, we explore the psychology of giving and receiving feedback, as part of our series sponsored by Twocents. The hosts chat with Montclair customers and business owners about what makes helpful feedback, how often people leave reviews, and why private, measured comments often matter more than public criticism.In Ask Our Agent segment, sponsor and real estate agent Karin Diana of Compass returns to explain what sellers should actually look for during a bidding war. She breaks down why the highest price doesn’t always win, which terms matter most, and how contingencies, lenders, and even an agent’s reputation influence a seller’s decision.We wrap with local headlines, including a state grant to redesign Church Street, a new community survey on weekend transit service to New York City, and the Montclair-born musical Spiral Bound heading to Lincoln Center. Plus: Farnoosh’s long-awaited tickets to see Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert, and Mike’s search for a gym that won’t leave him gasping on day one.

This week on The Montclair Pod, we drop the episode a little early because Montclair’s school deficit story is moving at warp speed, and because some of us need something to listen to while hiding from relatives in the bathroom.In our roundtable, we bring in Matt Kadosh and Asad Jung, two Montclair Local reporters who’ve been working around the clock to cover the town’s $19.6 million school deficit, the December 9 special election, and the sudden flurry of lawsuits, claims, and shifting narratives.We unpack:The human side of reporting the crisis. What it’s been like to chase constant updates, untangle confusing information, and manage the temperature of the town.The lawsuit challenging the December 9 ballot, which alleges the wording is “confusing” and “misleading.” Could it derail the vote?The new claim against former Business Administrator Christina Hunt, including allegations she mishandled a food-services contract.The broader systemic issues: years of turnover, fragile financial controls, and the question of whether it’s fair, or even correct, to pin this moment on one person.What comes next, including more litigation, more scrutiny, and how residents might better understand the scale and origins of the crisis.Farnoosh & Mike Eat Food, sponsored by Twocents, takes you inside Qahwah House, the Yemeni coffee spot drawing crowds for its honey-soaked desserts and cardamom-spiced brews. And in Ask Our Agent, Compass agent (and pod sponsor) Karin Diana breaks down the most common bidding mistakes that cost buyers homes in Montclair’s ultra-competitive market. Learn about Montclair's Budget Hearings Here. And donate to Toni's Kitchen here and here.More from The Montclair Local:Lawsuit Challenges Montclair School Referendum, Calls Questions "Misleading"Former Montclair School Official's Action Cost District Over $500K, Claim SaysSignificant Achievement Gap Persists in Montclair Schools, Data Shows

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: hello@montclairpod.com.Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill sits down with The Montclair Pod for one of her first interviews since the election. She delivers a candid, forceful take on Montclair’s deepening school budget crisis. Sherrill, a longtime Montclair resident and parent of public-school students, voices fury and frustration over what she calls a “breakdown in fiscal management,” questioning how the district ended up with a $20+ million deficit and why taxpayers are being asked to contribute more without a full accounting of what went wrong. Note: This conversation was recorded before the district’s major plot twist this week: the state signaling it will extend an advance on next year’s state aid if Question 2 on the December 9th ballot fails — avoiding immediate catastrophic cuts but triggering long-term consequences, including reduced future aid and the likely arrival of a state fiscal monitor.We break down what the new scenario means for taxpayers, schools, staffing, extracurriculars, and the future of Montclair’s magnet system. We also clarify key points from the interview, including the difference between a forensic audit and a fiscal monitor.Beyond education, Sherrill discusses the state’s affordability crisis, her plan to freeze utility rate hikes on day one, school district consolidation, and the economic pressures facing families across New Jersey.Later in the episode, Farnoosh and Mike head to Jalwa on Glenridge Avenue for their latest “Farnoosh & Mike Eat Food” segment, sponsored by Twocents, the app lets you leave feedback for any NJ business—anonymously if you want. Then in “Ask Our Agent,” sponsor Karin Diana of Compass Montclair shares how to begin prepping for a home purchase in 2026. Plus: The Montclair Bridge Fund launches to support neighbors following the referendum. Local sports and arts highlights, and more.

In her most candid interview yet, Superintendent Ruth B. Turner discusses accountability, fiscal discipline, and the tough choices facing Montclair schools, as the district faces a $19.6 million deficit and a pivotal special election on December 9.In the interview, Turner explains:Why Question 1 leaves out mention of the state loan and monitorWhy Question 2 makes the tax hike permanentWhat a fiscal monitor could and couldn’t do in MontclairWhy the forensic audit is tied to Question 2Whether teachers and nurses could be reinstated if new funds passHow the district plans to avoid another deficit and restore transparencyPlus, a look at where the “missing $12 million” actually went and what happens if the town must take a short-term bridge loan just to make payroll.Later in the episode, Farnoosh and Mike head to Bao Dumplings and Bao Tea in Verona for their latest “Farnoosh & Mike Eat Food” adventure, sponsored by Twocents, the app lets you leave feedback for any NJ business—anonymously if you want.Then in “Ask Our Agent,” Karin Diana of Compass Montclair shares how smart, high-impact staging can make a home shine—even in a brisk market—and what today’s HGTV-raised buyers are really looking for.Plus: a quick round of Montclair headlines, from Board of Ed election results and the Imani 25th Anniversary Gala, to the town’s latest openings and events. 

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: hello@montclairpod.com.This week on The Montclair Pod, Farnoosh and Mike put two of Montclair’s favorite topics under the microscope: schools and real estate. With a nearly 20 million dollar school deficit, a December 9 referendum, and talk of a possible state monitor, they ask the question everyone is whispering at open houses: Could this hurt Montclair’s reputation and even our property values?They revisit their interview with Town Manager Stephen Marks, who says the housing market is still strong by the numbers, then layer in fresh data and social media reactions. Local real estate attorney and 18 year Montclair resident Jen Metzger joins to explain what she is seeing in contracts, buyer behavior, and how much school headlines really factor into closing day.NJ also has a new governor. Political reporter Terrence McDonald of the New Jersey Monitor stops by with quick reactions to Mikie Sherrill’s decisive statewide win, why flipping several Trump leaning counties matters, and how a governor who raised her family here might show up for towns like Montclair that are wrestling with school funding and affordability.Farnoosh and Mike then pull back the curtain on their decision to run an anonymous No No op-ed about the referendum on MontclairPod.com.In Ask Our Agent, sponsor and Compass agent Karin Diana answers a question many Brooklyn and Manhattan buyers have: What is the toughest part of adjusting to Montclair life and how do you ease the shift from walkable city to car seats, commutes, and home repairs?For Farnoosh and Mike Eat Food, brought to you by Twocents, the hosts head to La Fontaine, a charming café blending French, Italian, and Turkish flavors, and talk about why it has become a neighborhood favorite.And if you have ever wanted to rent your house to a movie crew, this one is for you. Former Upper Montclair homeowner Kim Amirata shares what it was like to have her house used in the new Bruce Springsteen biopic, and Glenn Schuster of Film Friendly Locations explains how productions find Montclair homes and what homeowners can expect.The episode wraps with a quick local news rundown, from township email scams to school clubs losing funding to the upcoming Montclair Comedy Festival, plus the one big thing each host is doing this weekend.

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: hello@montclairpod.com.This week on The Montclair Pod, Farnoosh and Mike head straight into Montclair’s creative heart, from film to storytelling to live theater, before zooming out to the pressing issue shaping our town right now: the future of our schools.Montclair Film FestivalWe begin at the Montclair Film Festival, where Farnoosh and Mike hosted a live conversation with the filmmakers behind Brenda, a moving short documentary about a Montclair woman’s journey from Honduras seeking asylum for herself and her children.Montclair Story SalonFarnoosh catches up with actor and storyteller Liz Samuel, the founder of Montclair Story Salon, a growing community event where residents share personal stories, songs, and art, all in support of local nonprofits. Liz shares how creativity, connection, and giving back intertwine in these intimate gatherings that have become a Montclair favorite.At Luna StageMike brings us to Luna Stage in West Orange for a look at Mrs. Stern Wanders the Prussian Library, a riveting play inspired by philosopher Hannah Arendt’s arrest in 1933 Berlin. He connects the story’s themes of courage, censorship, and resistance to our current cultural and political moment.Farnoosh & Mike Eat FoodIn this week’s Eat Food segment, sponsored by Twocents, the hosts grab breakfast at Ray’s Luncheonette on Walnut Street. Expect iced coffee, secret menu finds, and some serious bacon envy.The School Deficit DebateFinally, Farnoosh and Mike break down the latest on the district’s $19.6 million budget shortfall and the upcoming December 9 referendum with insights from Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, who shares how Montclair’s crisis fits into the wider county picture and what’s at stake for local control.Ask Our AgentCompass real estate agent Karin Diana answers whether renting your home to a film crew is worth it, and how to tap into New Jersey’s booming production scene without losing your sanity (or your floors).Episode Credits:Hosted by Farnoosh Torabi and Mike SchreiberEdited by Bob Raynor

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: hello@montclairpod.com.This episode dives into how residents are navigating modern relationships in all their forms: gay, straight, open, and swinging. The hosts examine how political views, community culture, and midlife realities shape connection and commitment in town.The pod also continues its coverage of Montclair’s ongoing school budget crisis, unpacking what’s at stake in the upcoming “Yes-Yes” vs. “No-No” vote and how it could reshape the district’s financial future.This week's Farnoosh and Mike Eat Food features La Couronne, an Italian restaurant in Watchung Plaza.And in Ask Our Agent, we learn why some homes have a much harder time selling than others.Junie Moon, relationship expert and Montclair’s own love coachElizabeth and Jason, single parents share their experiences dating in MontclairGrace L. Williams, journalist and Montclair Pod special assignment reporterMishiko Passikoff, therapist on tension in relationships over politicsReubena Spence, co-founder of Out Montclair, on the LGBTQ+ dating sceneRich Reynics and Corey Pierson, organizers behind SaveMontclairSchools.com, advocating for a “Yes/Yes” vote on the school budgetHosted by Farnoosh Torabi and Mike SchreiberEdited by Bob RaynorSponsored by Twocents, Glen Ridge Taekwondo, Luna Stage, and Karin Diana, Compass Montclair

Subscribe, leave a review below, and please share your thoughts at MontclairPod.com. Follow on Instagram and send us a tip: hello@montclairpod.com.In this episode, we dig into the cost of living in Montclair and ask, is it worth it? We start at the Farmers Market, where residents share how rising prices are changing their day-to-day lives. Then, we meet a renter who dreams of buying in town but feels priced out, and hear from Councilor-at-Large and Deputy Mayor Susan Shin Andersen on what the township is doing to address affordability.In our Ask Your Agent series with Karin Diana of Compass, we uncover the hidden costs of homeownership. At the same time, our Montclair grocery showdown—Kings vs. ACME vs. Whole Foods—reveals a surprising winner. Plus, a rooftop visit to The Splendid at the MC Hotel, local election updates, and One Big Thing to end the week.Our SponsorsTwocentsKarin Diana of Compass MontclairResources and LinksDeputy Mayor Susan Shin Andersen on InstagramSeedArtistsOur IG Post on The Cost of Living in Montclair