Join the Herald and Seneca Scene as they trace one of the most altering times in America and its effect on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Beginning in 1968 and continuing until 1972, Tommy Tongyai went to campuses all across upstate New York, riling up students and inciting violence. It wasn’t until he arrived on the HWS campus that the violence really started. Tongyai, better known as Tommy the Traveler, came during a time of Vietnam War protests and the counter-culture movement. It was a critical culture moment, one that would forever change Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Join us for this ten-part miniseries that chronicles the history of Tommy the Traveler, Hobart and William Smith, and the nation with twenty-one first-hand interviews and archival research.
Available now below and wherever you get your podcasts!
Miniseries Credits
The Tommy the Traveler miniseries was created by Alex Kerai. Our team on this series is Grace Ruble, Henry Duerr, Russell Payne, Albright Dwarka, and Alex Kerai. The show is produced by Alex Kerai. This series was written by Alex Kerai, Grace Ruble, and Russell Payne. Our show is hosted by Alex Kerai with Russell Payne and Henry Duerr. Archival research was done by Russell Payne and Henry Duerr. Additional research by Grace Ruble. Additional materials were provided by Henry Lenz, members of the ‘Classes of 1972 or Thereabouts’ Facebook group, Andrew Wickenden, and Professor Ani Mukherji. Interviews were conducted and recorded by Alex Kerai. Interviews compiled by Henry Duerr, Russell Payne, Alex Kerai, and Albright Dwarka. Video materials compiled by Albright Dwarka and Alex Kerai. Guests that appear on this episode series are (in alphabetical order) Shirley Napolitano Banker, Bill Banker, Steve Bromberg, Joseph Curley, Bruce Davis, George Drosdowich, Joanne Dunne, Walter Gage, Joe Di Gangi, John Hennessy, Henry Lenz, Patrick McGuire, Nancy Nowak Rutherford, Bill Ryder, Jim Sterling, Richard Wasserman, Dan Watkins, Marc Weiss, Andrew Wickenden, Tim Yolen, and Maureen Collins Zupan. We also use audio from the 1971 documentary The Revolutionary Was a Cop, directed by Marc Weiss. This series was edited by Albright Dwarka and Alex Kerai. Sound engineering and podcast recording by Alex Kerai in the WEOS studio at the Scandling Campus Center of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Our partners at WEOS are Kelly Walker and Greg Cotterill. Music composed by Alex Kerai. This show was funded by an Elliot Grant from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Our thanks to Maureen Collins Zupan, Henry Lenz, Andrew Wickenden, and Susan Hess for their help and guidance. This show is a production of the Herald, the campus newspaper of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
The Seneca Scene is the podcast for the Herald and is recorded each week on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
