Conversations with Bridie

Senator Brad Hoylman, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, represents the NY’s 27th State Senate District in Manhattan. 

Senator Hoylman sponsored the Child Victims Act and the Child Victims Act extension which enables adult survivors of child sexual abuse to revive legal claims against their abusers and institutions.

Brad champions a wide range of issues, such as housing, transportation, public education, LGBTQ rights, environment and seniors.

Brad has deep roots in Manhattan but was raised in rural West Virginia, where he attended public schools through college. Brad graduated from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes scholar, and Harvard Law School. 

Brad and his husband David Sigal, a filmmaker, are the parents of two young daughters, Silvia and Lucy.

Judge Aquilina served honorably for 20 years in the Michigan Army National Guard as its first female JAG Officer.  A Civilian Judge for fifteen years, she made history allowing victims to speak over seven days in the People v Larry Nassar case in the 30^th Circuit Court for Ingham County.  She is a Law Professor at Western Michigan Law School and at Michigan State University College of Law. Judge Aquilina’s recent novel, Triple Cross Killer, was listed in Michigan’s top ten bestsellers in 2018. She has five children and two grandchildren and resides in East Lansing, Michigan.

Mitch Teich has been the station manager at North Country Public Radio in Canton, New York, since July 2019.  Prior to that, he was executive producer and co-host of “Lake Effect,” the daily interview program at WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio.  It was with Mitch, on that show, that Bridie Farrell first publicly shared her story of the sexual abuse she endured as a teenaged speedskater.  Mitch’s award-winning career in journalism also includes work at public radio stations in Arizona and Minnesota, and numerous stories that have aired on national newsmagazines such as NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered.