Terri Thal: The Queen of Greenwich Village

Terri Thal: The Queen of Greenwich Village

Author: WPKN, Jim Motavalli May 7, 2026 Duration: 27:39

Terri Thal (third from right in the photo) was married to Dave Van Ronk (at far right), managed Bob Dylan (second from right) and was a friend of Dylan's then-girlfriend Suze Rotolo (second from left). She has written about that time in her book My Greenwich Village: Dave, Bob and Me. We talked about those times, about her close friend Patrick Sky (not as well remembered as Van Ronk) and about the politics of the era. Dylan said of Terri in his book Chronicles, "Van Ronk’s wife, Terri, definitely not a minor character, took care of Dave’s bookings, especially out of town, and she began trying to help me out. She was just as outspoken and opinionated as Dave was, especially about politics — not so much the political issues but rather the highfalutin’ theological ideas behind political systems."


Tune into The Jim Motavalli Interview Podcast for a deep and engaging archive of conversations pulled from the airwaves of WPKN. Hosted by Jim Motavalli, this series moves beyond simple Q&A, offering a curated space where the voices of artists and influential figures from various fields are given room to breathe and reflect. You'll hear a compelling mix of recent discussions and carefully selected archival material, each episode serving as a time capsule of creative thought and cultural insight. The focus here is on genuine dialogue, whether Jim is speaking with a musician about their process or a thinker about their work, capturing the stories of movers and shakers in their own words. This podcast thrives on the depth and authenticity of these encounters, building a library of interviews that feel both immediate and timeless. Listen for thoughtful, meandering conversations that often uncover unexpected connections and personal histories, all guided by Jim's experienced and curious approach. It's a collection built for anyone interested in the people behind the art and the ideas that shape our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Jim Motavalli Interview Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Derek and Hannah Jeter Talk Family--and Cars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:17
Derek and Hannah Jeter were interviewed in upstate New York on the set of a commercial they were making for the Jeep Grand Wagoneer Obsidian Edition. They talked about family, and cars.
Phoebe White: African-American Country Yodeler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:53
Phoebe White is an accomplished yodeler, and demonstrates her skills in this WPKN interview. Her album is Cowgirl's Delight, and it includes appearances from Riders in the Sky and Suzy Bogguss. Six of the 10 tunes are he…
Roots Music Exemplar Miss Tess in Louisiana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:06
Miss Tess, one of our most talented roots singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, has just put out Cher Rêve, an album dedicated to exploring Louisiana's southern Acadiana region and in specific the "magical" ci…
Irish Singer Karan Casey's World View [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:11
The Irish singer Karan Casey's most recent album is Nine Apples of Gold. She tours regularly in the US, where Irish music has a huge audience. Casey was a member of the popular band Solas, and is a founder of Fairplé, wh…
Syrian Clarinetist Kinan Azmeh Blends Jazz, World and Classical Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:41
The Syrian-born master clarinet player is now based in Brooklyn, and making his hard-to-characterize music--a meld of jazz, Middle Eastern and classical influences--with the CityBand. His latest album was recorded live i…
The Chatham Rabbits: Americana Down on the Family Farm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:34
The Chatham Rabbits, Austin and Sarah McCombie, live on a working farm in rural North Carolina. Their original songs reflect their dedication to the land, and to each other. Be Real With Me is their latest album, evenly…
Jim White and Trey Blake: The Haunted Face of Country Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:53
Jim White is an outsider Americana artist, who uses country music as a jumping off point to explore the psyche in ways that sometimes recall the author Cormac McCarthy. He found a kindred spirit in Trey Blake, an autisti…
Guitarist Bill Frisell on his Jazz-Meets-Country Synthesis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:46
One of the most admired guitarists in jazz, Bill Frisell has never recognized boundaries and his music--while always remaining jazz--reflects his deep study of Americana and country music's roots. He spoke in advance of…