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Seacoast Stories

Troy Farkas

Inspiring stories about the people & businesses of New Hampshire & Maine.

This weekly interview show features in-depth conversations with local business owners, creatives, entrepreneurs, and more. Hosted by former ESPN & Spotify producer Troy Farkas.

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27 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 6 min
English

Episodes 27

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Monday · 51 min
Just Ask Nora! Beloved Seacoast Native on Buying Portsmouth City Lifestyle Magazine + Building a BIG Social Media Brand!
Local media has a bad reputation these days. Nora Happny McMorran wants to do something about it. The beloved former host of "Just Ask Nora," a social media series started in the late 2010s, Happny McMorran is now on a quest to turn Portsmouth City Lifestyle magazine into a local force for storytelling. A few months after acquiring the magazine, the longtime Portsmouth resident joins host Troy Farkas to discuss her decision, and how she plans on making the magazine a desirable read. Plus, the two talk about the origins of Just Ask Nora, her dad's career as THE go-to Portsmouth blacksmith, living in Norway during her 20s, meeting her now-husband at Carl's Meat Market, the strength of the Seacoast nonprofit scene, working for HAVEN, and more! To check out the digital version of the magazine, you can visit citylifestyle.com/portsmouth. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. Join our FREE online community, ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Local Thread⁠⁠⁠⁠, here UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories PUB CRAWL in Portsmouth! Join us on Saturday, September 26 for an afternoon of connection and FUN. ⁠Get your tickets here.⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by ⁠⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth⁠⁠: We're back in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, October 7! ⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠ "Seacoast Stories LIVE feat. Victoria Arlen" at The Press Room on Tuesday, October 13! Pres. by ⁠⁠⁠⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth. ⁠⁠Get your tickets here.⁠⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Iron Cactus⁠:⁠ Kingston, N.H.'s home for yoga, infrared saunas, reiki, healthy eating, community and more. ⁠SWTHZ: ⁠Lock in your founding membership today at Portsmouth's newest home for wellness. ⁠RC Conner:⁠ The Seacoast's No. 1 home for kiln-dried firewood! Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Blinds, shades, and shutters reasonably priced, professionally installed, and done right the first time. CHAPTERS: Growing up in Portsmouth (00:00) Living in Norway in her 20s (10:10) Working in Portland, Oregon (15:30) Supply your home with firewood from RC Conner (21:40) Get your mind, body, and spirit feeling better at SWTHZ in Portsmouth (22:50) Her popular social media series "Just Ask Nora" (23:55) 2026 social media advice (33:05) Working at HAVEN & the Seacoast nonprofit scene (35:25) Visit The Iron Cactus, a magical Seacoast location (39:15 Outfit your homes with professional blinds, shades & shutters (40:22) Her plans for taking Portsmouth City Lifestyle magazine to the next level (41:35)
September 14 · 1 hr 1 min
Pre-Dead Social Club: The One Thing Every Human Has in Common (And NOBODY Wants to Discuss!)
We don't know how to talk about death. Longtime Seacoast resident Laura Cleminson wants to change that. At the Pre-Dead Social Club, Seacoast residents of all ages gather monthly for a "die-a-logue" at author talks, panel discussions, and Death Over Drinks, the club's signature event. Cleminson, who also delivered a TEDx Portsmouth talk in 2024, became fascinated with death a decade ago when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She noticed she had no tools for helping her mother through that time, a realization that eventually led her to become a death doula and the founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club. From the West End of Portsmouth, Cleminson joins host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging discussion about death - why we avoid it, her first experiences with it, how to better help our loved ones during that time, how the Pre-Dead Social Club has taken off in the last three years, and why it's welcomed nearly 1,200 people through its doors since then. To learn more about the Pre-Dead Social Club, visit predeadsocialclub.com. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. Join our FREE online community, ⁠⁠⁠The Local Thread⁠⁠⁠, here UPCOMING EVENTS: Time 4 Joy hosted by I Got Bridged: Friday, September 18 at the Portsmouth Elks Lodge. Get your tickets here. Seacoast Stories PUB CRAWL in Portsmouth! Join us on Saturday, September 26 for an afternoon of connection and FUN. Get your tickets here. Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by ⁠SWTHZ⁠: We're back in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, October 7! ⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠ "Seacoast Stories LIVE feat. Victoria Arlen" at The Press Room on Tuesday, October 13! Presented by SWTHZ. ⁠Get your tickets here.⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Iron Cactus⁠: Kingston, N.H.'s home for yoga, infrared saunas, reiki, healthy eating, community and more. SWTHZ: Lock in your founding membership today at Portsmouth's newest home for wellness. RC Conner: The Seacoast's No. 1 home for kiln-dried firewood! CHAPTERS: SS pub crawl on 9/26! (00:00) Laura's first brushes with death (02:30) Why don't we discuss death? (08:52) How her mom's death changed everything (11:45) Warm your home with firewood from RC Conner (21:15) Visit The Iron Cactus in Kingston, N.H. (22:34) Taking an extreme interest in the end-of-life space (23:55) Starting the Pre-Dead Social Club (31:00) What happens at Death Over Drinks (38:05) Lock in a founding membership at SWTHZ in Portsmouth (42:25) Troy's experience with the Pre-Dead Social Club (43:27) Turning this club into a business (53:15)
September 7 · 55 min
Inside Two BELOVED (and Wildly Successful) Seacoast Businesses: Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier + Popzup Popcorn!
Two stories in one podcast?! In this special Labor Day episode, host Troy Farkas hears the stories of two beloved Seacoast businesses. In Part One, Farkas travels to Somerworth, N.H. for a conversation with the co-founders of Popzup Popcorn, Marty and Julie Lapham. From their factory's floor, the husband-and-wife team talk about how they got started 10 years ago, the painstaking lengths they've taken to get organic & non-GMO labels, the pivotal moments that launched their company into the next stratosphere, the importance of keeping it a family business, and more. In Part Two, the show heads to Kittery Point, M.E. to talk to the longtime owner of the legendary Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, Ron Spinney. Alongside manager Cam Barrett, Spinney tells stories from Chauncey Creek's 70 years in operation - a seaside joint known for serving steaming hot lobsters, its BYOB policy, and a callback to a simpler time. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. Join our FREE online community, ⁠⁠The Local Thread⁠⁠, here UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by SWTHZ: We're back in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, October 7! ⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠ "Seacoast Stories LIVE feat. Victoria Arlen" at The Press Room on Tuesday, October 13! Presented by SWTHZ. Get your tickets here. SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠The Iron Cactus: Kingston, N.H.'s home for yoga, infrared saunas, red light therapy, reiki, sound healing, healthy eating, and more. ⁠Budget Blinds of the Seacoast⁠⁠: Custom blinds, shades, and shutters! Reasonably priced and done right the first time. CHAPTERS: Seacoast Stories LIVE on 10/13 (00:00) The health-conscious ethos of Popzup Popcorn (02:10) The insane growth trajectory of Popzup (08:20) Reflecting on Popzup's success (18:40) BTS of Popzup's massive production process (20:22) Introducing The Iron Cactus (27:00) Custom blinds, shades & shutters at Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (28:20) How Chauncey Creek started 70 years ago (29:45) Why Spinney bought the business in the 80s (33:20) What makes Chauncey Creek special (34:54) Inside the lobster-eating experience (45:32) Looking ahead to the future (51:54)
August 31 · 1 hr 6 min
"I Put My Life on the Line!" World Champion BULL RIDER on Dangerous Career + Owning a Top Seacoast Venue!
A cowboy in York, Maine? 🤠 Yes, it's true. For nearly two decades, Kenny Churchill was one of the very best bull riders in the world, competing on stages big and small across the country, including at Madison Square Garden in front of President Ronald Reagan. Now, the Boston native resides in York alongside his wife of 30+ years. Together, they own Churchill Barn and Weddings, a stunning events venue located on their private property, which houses a fully restored barn that was originally built in the 1700s! From inside the barn, Churchill joins host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging discussion about his legendary career, including what drove him to bull riding, the very serious injury risks it poses, and how the sport nearly cost him everything. To learn more about Churchill Barn and an event you could host there, please visit ChurchillBarnWeddings.com. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. Join our FREE online community, ⁠The Local Thread⁠, here SEACOAST SENIORS: Contact hello@seacoaststories.com. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Partners Bank⁠⁠⁠⁠: We return to Kittery, Maine, on Wednesday, September 16! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by SWTHZ: We're back in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, October 7! Book your seat at the table here. SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Degree Wellness Seacoast⁠⁠⁠⁠: A new all-on-one recovery center is coming to North Hampton, N.H! Learn more & lock in a discounted (FOR LIFE) founding membership ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ CHAPTERS: Opening trailer (00:00) Troy's new side business, Seacoast Seniors (01:33) The first time learning about Kenny Churchill (02:58) What is bull riding/rodeo? (04:56) Growing up as a bull rider in Boston (07:35) His relentless study of bull riding (10:52) The very serious risks involved in bull riding (14:30) Daily life as a pro bull rider (22:56) How rodeo athletes make money (26:32) Performing at Madison Square Garden (31:22) Secure your Degree Wellness founding membership today (33:47) The near-death experience that led him to retire (35:30) Moving to the Seacoast (48:00) The WILD history behind Churchill Barn (50:00) Why they started hosting weddings at the barn (53:30) What a wedding there is like (56:28) Love advice for Troy (01:01:28)
August 24 · 1 hr
From the Cutthroat Kitchens of Rome to the Idyllic Streets of Portsmouth: A BTS Look at Mamma Luca’s (Unlikely) Beginnings
Mario LaPosta had a dream (literally). Following a nightmare about a kitchen incident, paired with his deep Italian roots and love of family meals at a long dinner table, LaPosta knew a future in the kitchen awaited him. Eventually, the Connecticut native moved to Italy so he could learn the ins and outs of the Neapolitan pizza-making process. Then, after returning to the States, he started running the pizza programs at a chain of restaurants outside of New York City, and then later, in Boston. On today's episode, Mario LaPosta of Mamma Luca joins host Troy Farkas to discuss his long, winding road to Mamma Luca - from the real deal kitchens of Rome to the cobblestone streets of Portsmouth. Additionally, the guys talk about what NOT to do when opening a restaurant, why the restaurant business is notoriously difficult to survive in, the compromise you have to make when opening an authentic Italian restaurant in America, and more. To check out Mamma Luca, pay them a visit at 111 State St. in downtown Portsmouth. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. Join our FREE online community, The Local Thread, here. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: We're in Newburyport, Mass., on Wednesday, September 2. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by ⁠⁠⁠Partners Bank⁠⁠⁠: We return to Kittery, Maine, on Wednesday, September 16! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠Degree Wellness Seacoast⁠⁠⁠: A new all-on-one recovery center is coming to North Hampton, N.H! Learn more & lock in a discounted (FOR LIFE) founding membership ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Budget Blinds of the Seacoast⁠: Custom blinds, shades, and shutters! Reasonably priced and done right the first time. CHAPTERS: Introducing The Local Thread (00:00) Compromises in opening Mamma Luca (04:22) Why he wanted to become a chef (06:02) Moving to Italy to learn the art of pizza-making (10:30) What we misunderstand about making pizza (17:02) Working at Italian restaurants outside of NYC (18:20) Secure your founding membership at Degree Wellness Seacoast today! (22:18) Local blinds, shades & shutters at Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (23:55) Working in the Boston restaurant scene (25:16) Opening da LaPosta in Newton, Mass. (30:10) Why so many restaurants fail (37:10) Moving to New Hampshire (38:35) Finding a location for Mamma Luca (41:55) What he wanted Mamma Luca to be when he opened it (43:56) Becoming Portsmouth's go-to pizza location (46:36) Mamma Luca's expansive bar program (49:55) Favorite Mamma Luca menu item (52:20) The financials of owning a downtown Portsmouth restaurant (55:20)
August 17 · 1 hr 3 min
New Hampshire Has Everything Young People Want ... So Why Are They Leaving? (Portsmouth Parking UPROAR, Seacoast Housing Crisis & More!)
The future of New Hampshire is at stake. Luckily, brilliant young minds are on the case for building a better New Hampshire. In a rare roundtable discussion, popular past guests Corinne Benfield (Stay Work Play) and Andrew Samonas (Samonas Realty) join host Troy Farkas to discuss a number of topics, including the recent Portsmouth parking controversy and its effect on the local workforce, why a shortage of affordable childcare is causing big problems for families across the state, Gen Z's experience of navigating the workforce in the age of artificial intelligence, and how, weeks after a $16 million home sale in Hampton, the Seacoast's leaders are thinking about tackling the ongoing housing crisis. For more from Corinne's organization, you can follow Stay Work Play on Instagram @stayworkplay. To learn more about working with Samonas Realty, visit SamonasGroup.com. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. ⁠Visit the NEW ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SeacoastStories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our newsletter & LIMITED-TIME ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠summer merch drop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: We're in Newburyport, Mass., on Wednesday, September 3. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by ⁠⁠Partners Bank⁠⁠: We return to Kittery, Maine, on Wednesday, September 16! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠⁠Degree Wellness Seacoast⁠⁠: A new all-on-one recovery center is coming to North Hampton, N.H! Learn more & lock in a discounted (FOR LIFE) founding membership ⁠⁠here.⁠⁠ Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Custom blinds, shades, and shutters! Reasonably priced and done right the first time. CHAPTERS: Come to Seacoast Stories Dinner Club (00:00) Portsmouth parking controversy latest (00:40) Why residents pushed back against recent parking measures (06:15) Portsmouth parking hack for residents (08:45) A BIG WIN recently for addressing the childcare shortage in N.H. (09:36) How companies can help with childcare (14:25) N.H.'s "ass-backwards" way of addressing issues (18:00) Secure your founding membership at Degree Wellness Seacoast TODAY (25:27) How Gen Z is navigating the workplace (27:05) How N.H. can fight its "brand identity crisis" (32:00) Why N.H. is such an attractive state to live in (35:05) Get custom blinds made for your dream Seacoast home with Budget Blinds (46:40) Recent record home sales on the Seacoast (48:00) Three methods for addressing the Seacoast housing crisis (50:00) Why we're optimistic about New Hampshire's future (55:00) Why Seacoast Stories Dinner Club is so special (58:50) Stay Work's Plays upcoming events (01:00:30)
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August 10 · 1 hr 11 min
She Weighed ONE POUND & Grew Up In Fear. Now, She's Built the Life She Never Had! (Lauren Atwood of Otter Creek Homes)
Lauren Atwood entered the world against all odds. Thirty-three years ago, the lifelong Seacoast native was born three months early as the product of an abusive relationship between her mother and biological father. In the ensuing years, Atwood bounced around from home to home, watched her mother bring home man after man, and became estranged from her real father, all while trying to live a normal life. But Atwood refused to become a statistic. After meeting her now-husband Chris in high school, Atwood paid her way through UNH, worked in marketing at Timberland, and started a successful blog that paved the way for Otter Creek Homes, the Seacoast's go-to construction & interior design company. From her office in North Hampton, N.H., Atwood joins host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging conversation about the harrowing details surrounding her miraculous birth, why she was a "pawn in the game" between her mother and father, overcoming childhood trauma to build the business of her dreams, what sets Otter Creek Homes apart from other firms in the field, and the phone call she received last year that, for the first time in her life, made her feel free. If you or someone you know is fighting domestic and sexual violence here on the Seacoast, please find support with HAVEN. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: ⁠Visit the NEW ⁠⁠⁠⁠SeacoastStories.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our newsletter & LIMITED-TIME ⁠⁠⁠⁠summer merch drop⁠⁠⁠⁠! Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by Partners Bank: Our largest Dinner Club yet visits Portsmouth on Wednesday, August 19! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: We're in Newburyport, Mass., on Wednesday, September 3. Book your seat at the link above. SPONSOR: ⁠Degree Wellness Seacoast⁠: A new all-on-one recovery center is coming to North Hampton, N.H! Learn more & lock in a discounted (FOR LIFE) founding membership ⁠here.⁠ CHAPTERS: Lauren Atwood intro (00:00) Unbelievable story of when she was born (04:06) Her parents' abusive relationship (07:05) Being a medical miracle (10:00) Living in fear of her father (11:12) Tumultuous relationship with her mother (17:35) Legally separating from her father (23:52) The life-changing phone call she recently received (28:50) How she overcame her childhood (33:27) Her work with HAVEN (37:00) SPONSOR: Degree Wellness Seacoast. Secure your founding membership here Studying at UNH & working at Timberland (41:20) The fixer-upper home that inspired Otter Creek (45:45) What makes Otter Creek Homes different (47:10) How Otter Creek Homes took off (52:54) The BTS of working with Otter Creek Homes (55:52) What makes this work so fulfilling (58:55) Reflecting on her remarkable life story (01:00:30) Pushback against Otter Creek Homes? (01:03:50) Her relationship with her mother today (01:05:57)
August 3 · 1 hr 10 min
She Lost the Biggest Deal of Her Career ... Then Everything Clicked. Plus, TROUBLING Fitness Trends (Kick It By Eliza)
She built a global fitness brand without investors, business degree, or plans for becoming an entrepreneur. When Eliza Shirazi graduated from UMass, she thought she'd spend her career working in public health. Fitness classes were simply a side hustle—a way to make a little extra money after work. Over the next decade, that side hustle became Kick It by Eliza, a kickboxing-inspired worldwide fitness community that has transformed thousands of lives through live events, instructor certifications, social media content to her 25,000 Instagram followers, online memberships, and partnerships/appearances with brands like New Balance, NBC's "The Today Show," POPSUGAR, and more. But as is often the case, things don't always appear as they seem. In this conversation with host Troy Farkas, Portsmouth's Shirazi opens up about the rejection that's shaped her, the sponsorship deal she lost just when everything seemed to be working, the imposter syndrome she felt training in the boxing ring with George Foreman's son, the nerves she felt before making the biggest media appearances of her life, and the terrifying uncertainty of watching the pandemic threaten everything she'd spent years building. This episode, which is presented by Degree Wellness Seacoast, is about much more than fitness. It's about betting on yourself before anyone else does, learning to separate your own dreams from everyone else's expectations, embracing rejection as a competitive advantage, and discovering that the biggest opportunities often arrive disguised as your worst setbacks. In this episode, you'll learn: Why losing her biggest sponsorship became the catalyst for her greatest growth How George Foreman's son helped her overcome imposter syndromeThe surprising business lesson behind building a fiercely loyal community How one YouTube workout unexpectedly changed the trajectory of her career What the pandemic taught her about resilience and reinvention The simple goal-setting framework she uses to stay motivated during overwhelming seasons Why rejection is one of the most valuable assets an entrepreneur can have Troubling health trends and why she refuses to lean into them SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: ⁠Visit the NEW ⁠⁠⁠SeacoastStories.com⁠⁠⁠ for our newsletter & LIMITED-TIME ⁠⁠⁠summer merch drop⁠⁠⁠! Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Amesbury, Mass. on Wednesday, August 5, and back to Portsmouth on Wednesday, August 19! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: Degree Wellness Seacoast: A new all-on-one recovery center is coming to North Hampton, N.H! Learn more about becoming a founding member here. ⁠Budget Blinds of the Seacoast!⁠ Custom blinds, shades, and shutters reasonably priced and professionally installed. CHAPTERS: Introducing Eliza Shirazi (00:00) Working in public health (04:56) Instructing as a side hustle (06:15) Pursuing fitness full-time (09:16) Training boxing w/ George Foreman's son (10:25) Signing a deal with New Balance (13:40) The evolution of Kick It By Eliza (21:55) Asking New Balance for more money (26:10) The POPSUGAR video that blew her up (28:35) Full details on the Degree Wellness Seacoast founding membership (34:10) Check out Budget Blinds of the Seacoast to make your home more private (35:30) Changing her business during the pandemic (36:38) Navigating online criticism (41:35) The explosion of her virtual business (44:10) Appearing on The TODAY Show (47:12) Moving to Portsmouth in 2021 (52:20) The many revenue streams of her business (57:22) Advice for entrepreneurs in the early stages (01:01:18) Troubling health-and-wellness trends (01:03:10)
July 27 · 59 min
The Rise and Fall of Portsmouth's Most Beloved Bar! The Red Door Ex-Owner on FAMOUS Espresso Martinis & How Portsmouth Changed
How does a tiny, hidden cocktail bar with no sign, no advertising, and (almost) no rules become one of the most beloved institutions in a city's history? Cresta Smith, the co-founder of the legendary bar The Red Door, joins host Troy Farkas this week to discuss the iconic Portsmouth speakeasy that shaped an entire generation of nightlife (and espresso martini lovers) on the Seacoast. From opening night in 2003 to her departure in 2014 and the bar's closure in 2017, Smith reveals the untold story of building a business entirely on instinct and word of mouth. She shares how a chance conversation with restaurateur Jay McSharry changed her life, why she refused to put a sign on the building, the secret behind their famous espresso martinis, and how The Red Door became the place everyone ended their night. But beneath the success was another story. The pressure of running one of Portsmouth's busiest bars... the mental toll of always being "on"... the temptations that came with success... and the unlikely companion that ultimately saved her. This isn't just the story of a bar. It's about ambition, identity, addiction to momentum, knowing when to let go, and why the places we remember most are often impossible to recreate. IN THIS EPISODE: Why The Red Door never needed a sign or advertising The business philosophy that's made Jay McSharry so successful How Portsmouth transformed into a nationally recognized food destination The secret behind The Red Door's legendary espresso martinis Building a cult following before social media existed The hidden cost of success and burnout The dog that changed Cresta's life forever Why some places become legends—and why they can never truly come back CHAPTERS: (00:00) Portsmouth's Foodie Boom (01:02) Jumpin Jays Changes Game (02:06) Jay McSherry Playbook (08:48) The Red Door Origins (11:52) Designing Speakeasy Vibe (14:35) No Signs, No Advertising (18:12) Getting Through Loopholes (28:55) Big Musical Acts Who Performed There (32:00) The Physical & Mental Toll of The Red Door (34:20) The Dog Who Saved Her (36:45) SPONSORS: Budget Blinds + JOBTALK LLC (39:40) The Red Door's Famous Espresso Martinis (44:20) Leaving For New York City (50:00) How Portsmouth Has Changed SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: ⁠Visit the NEW ⁠⁠SeacoastStories.com⁠⁠ for our newsletter & LIMITED-TIME ⁠⁠summer merch drop⁠⁠! Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Amesbury, Mass. on Wednesday, August 5, and back to Portsmouth on Wednesday, August 19! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠ SPONSORS: Budget Blinds of the Seacoast! Custom blinds, shades, and shutters reasonably priced and professionally installed. ⁠JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2026!
July 20 · 1 hr 8 min
Musician Laura Fox on "Unethical" AI & Why Seacoast Locals Dislike Newcomers. Plus, Her NEW ALBUM & (One-Way) Trip to Mexico!
Laura Fox needed a change. Late last year, at our 3S Artspace live podcast, the Foxglove lead singer and Maine Fox Marketing founder announced that she'd booked a one-way trip to Mexico, with no plans for anything besides returning just in time to record her first in-studio album in May. Seven months later, in another edition of "The Follow-Up" where we speak to popular past guests, Fox joins host Troy Farkas to reveal what she learned about herself from the three-month trip to Mexico. Plus, Fox previews Foxglove's upcoming performance at Prescott Park, and she takes us inside the recording process for upcoming first album, Maybe A Daydream. She also SOUNDS OFF on musicians using AI in the songwriting process, and the Seacoast lifer also explains why locals are so critical of newbies who move to the Seacoast. To learn more about Fox's upcoming performances, visit LauraFoxMusic.com. CHAPTERS: Recapping her Mexico trip & lessons learned (00:00) Achieving a lifelong musical dream (14:38) Inside the process of recording her first album (19:42) SPONSOR: Investment advisor David Higgins (27:40) The tricky part of writing songs about past relationships (29:37) Why it's "unethical" to use AI for songwriting (36:20) Will the AI train ever slow down? (46:15) SPONSOR: JOBTALK LLC (53:08) Why Seacoast locals are hesitant to accept newcomers (54:45) SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: ⁠Visit the NEW ⁠SeacoastStories.com⁠ for our newsletter & LIMITED-TIME ⁠summer merch drop⁠! Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Amesbury, Mass. on Wednesday, August 5, and back to Portsmouth on Wednesday, August 19! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠ SPONSORS: David Higgins: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To get started on a path toward better financial investment, email our friend David Higgins ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠david.higgins@wellsfargoadvisors.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! He's a Portsmouth legend, and you won't regret it. JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2026! Investment and insurance products are Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency, Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate, Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Clearing Services (WFCS), LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. WFCS uses the trade name Wells Fargo Advisors. 1 North Jefferson, St. Louis, MO 63103.
July 13 · 1 hr 16 min
The Success Everyone Sees ... & the Pain No One Knows About (Arete Chiropractic's Dr. Mychal Beebee)
Dr. Mychal Beebee is one of the most decorated chiropractors in the industry, and patients from all over the country flock to Portsmouth's Arete Chiropractic to seek treatment from her and her team on upper cervical issues. Among her many accolades, Dr. Beebee currently serves as the Vice President of the Council on Upper Cervical Care (CUCC). She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Blair Upper Cervical Society as the director of research. But underneath all the success, Dr. Beebee has quietly been fighting battles that very few people know about. From her office in Portsmouth, Dr.Beebee joins host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging discussion about what brought her to the field two decades ago, what makes Arete one of the most sought-after practices in the country, and why Americans have lost the plot when it comes to maintaining proper spinal health. Plus, she takes us inside her very personal and emotional story of infertility, and the excruciating toll it's taken on her family physically, emotionally, and financially. To book your next chiropractic visit, you can learn more at AreteChiro.com. CHAPTERS: How Dr. Beebee found chiropractics (00:00) The changing perception of chiropractic care (18:20) Dr. Beebee's old "work hard party hard mentality (24:25) SPONSOR: JOBTALK LLC (32:40) Dr. Beebee's emotional infertility journey (34:20) Why people from all over seek out Arete (58:07) Wellness tips & navigating low back pain (01:02:17) UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Amesbury, Mass. on Wednesday, August 5, and back to Portsmouth on Wednesday, August 19! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: ⁠Subscribe to Seacoast Stories for free on YouTube⁠ for weekly videos Follow Seacoast Stories on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify to get our new episodes every week Subscribe to ⁠Seacoast Stories for free on ⁠Substack⁠⁠ for weekly newsletters and breaking Seacoast news SPONSORS: ⁠⁠JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2026!
July 6 · 1 hr 13 min
"Social Media Has Changed My Life!" The VIRAL Seacoast Sensation Whose Wooden Spoons SELL OUT in Two Minutes!
Chad Coll just wanted to be an artist. A lax bro from Maryland without any dreams beyond that, Coll moved to the Seacoast in 2009 after joining the Coast Guard. From there, he fell in love with the area, and when his Coast Guard stint ended, he pursued a variety of jobs and hobbies that all involved making things with his hands, including making wooden spoons. Despite making these spoons for 10 years, he only started selling his wooden spoons two years ago at farmer's markets in Charlottesville, V.A., where he lived for five years. But when he moved his family back to the Seacoast last year, that's when things started to take off - mainly due to C.S. Spoon Co.'s OVERWHELMING success on social media. Today, C.S. Spoon Co. has 29,000 followers on Instagram and nearly an additional 10,000 on TikTok, and social media is by far and away the biggest driver of business for the Kittery-based small family business. From his woodworking studio in Kittery, M.E., Coll joins host Troy Farkas to discuss the explosion of the brand in 2026, why he focuses on only making wooden spoons, the inspiration behind his viral social media videos, how these spoons sell out every week, and how this business is finally allowing Coll to live the life he's always dreamt of. To shop C.S. Spoon & Co. merch and to be first in the queue for their weekly restocks, you can visit their web site here. CHAPTERS: Chad's early artistic ambitions (00:00) How & why he started a wooden spoon business (08:00) Leaving the Seacoast and coming back (25:21) SPONSORS: JOBTALK LLC & Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (28:25) How his business has exploded since moving back to Maine (31:18) Why he's more content than he's ever been (51:52) What makes his wooden spoons special (01:03:40) SPONSORS: JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2026! Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Keep the Seacoast sun out of your home! ⁠⁠Get the deets here⁠⁠. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Newmarket, N.H. on Friday, July 17 & Amesbury, Mass. on Wednesday, August 5! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here before they sell out.⁠⁠ SUBSCRIBE: Seacoast Stories on YouTube for weekly videos Seacoast Stories on Substack for weekly newsletters and Seacoast news
June 29 · 1 hr 34 min
"Medical Mystery" Victoria Arlen on Surviving a 4-Year Vegetative State, Severe Mental Health Battles, & New Book
***TRIGGER WARNING*** This podcast contains discussion of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. It's a miracle that Victoria Arlen is still here. Before the age of 10, she entered into a vegetative state after getting diagnosed with two rare neurodegenerative diseases. From there, the Exeter, N.H. native lived incapacitated for four years, with doctors and nurses instructing Arlen's parents to accept that their daughter wouldn't live much longer. Then, on a day that continues to baffle medical professionals everywhere, she emerged from this state. And since then, against all odds, she's taken the world by storm in the form of gold medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games, a run on ABC's Dancing With The Stars, a stellar motivational speaking career, a 10-year tenure as an anchor for ESPN, and now, a two-time author. The 31-year-old's most recent book, The View Is Worth It, published in the spring, and it's her firsthand account of how she's navigated anxiety, depression, and the weight of expectations placed upon her when she was asked to be hero without ever having worn a cape. From The Unmuted Room in Newington, N.H., Arlen joins host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging discussion about Arlen's Seacoast roots, the experience of being "locked in" to her body for four years, the abuse she experienced at the hands of doctors and nurses, and how she miraculously emerged from the state. Plus, how she became the youngest on-air talent in ESPN history, her stint on DWTS, and the lengthy battle with mental health issues that inspired her latest book, and, in 2021, nearly led her to take her own life. CHAPTERS: Victoria's favorite Seacoast hangs (00:00) Spending four years in a vegetative state (10:37) Getting abused by doctors & nurses (31:06) SPONSOR: JOBTALK LLC (35:25) Learning how to live a normal life again (37:05) Winning gold at the 2012 Paralympics (40:50) The mental health toll of success & suicide attempt (48:53) Victoria's favorite tips & tricks for navigating mental health (01:06:36)SPONSOR: Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (01:19:05) DWTS appearance & becoming an ESPN anchor (01:20:20) SPONSORS: JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2026! Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Keep the Seacoast sun out of your home! ⁠Get the deets here⁠. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Newmarket, N.H. on Friday, July 17 & Amesbury, Mass. on Wednesday, August 5! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here before they sell out.⁠ AFFILIATE LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock a 2-week trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!
S5 · E3
June 22 · 1 hr 4 min
The Ogunquit Playhouse: Inside the WORLD-CLASS Theater That's Created Broadway Hits, Hollywood Legends, & 93 Years of Memories!
The Ogunquit Playhouse is not just some theater on the side of the road in Ogunquit, Maine. Every summer for the last 93 years, this "little white box" in one of New England's most eclectic cultural hubs has played home to world premieres of global theatrical sensations, many of which later make their way to the stages of Broadway and London's famed West End. The actors and actresses whom Ogunquit attracts have shelves filled with Tony Awards, ditto for the world-class behind-the-scenes crew members. And perhaps best of all, its $18M annual operating budget allows the Playhouse to pay above-average wages to talented artists in a field notorious for failing to provide a meaningful living. And now, as the Playhouse inches closer to its 100th season on the Seacoast, the not-for-profit entertainment venue has its eyes on the next century, and how the theater can adapt to survive an increasingly difficult artistic climate. From the historic main stage of The Ogunquit Playhouse, Technical Director Geof Dolan (20 years) and Executive Artistic Director Brad Kenney (21 years) sit down with ⁠host Troy Farkas⁠ to discuss the origins of the summer theater in America, how the Playhouse established itself as a world leader in theater, the caliber of talent they attract every summer, how they choose which shows to put on each year, what the Playhouse means to the Seacoast, the theater's ambitious plans for the next century, and more. For their full summer schedule, please visit OgunquitPlayhouse.org for more details. CHAPTERS: The decorated 93-year history of The Ogunquit Playhouse (00:00) Why Ogunquit Playhouse is an anomaly in the theater industry (16:00) Does the Seacoast understand just how world-class the Playhouse is? (21:48) SPONSOR: Avery Insurance (25:31) Selecting the shows (27:15) Who attends The Ogunquit Playhouse? (32:28) How The Ogunquit Playhouse attracts its performers (38:14) 20 years of memories working at The Ogunquit Playhouse (49:46) The future of The Ogunquit Playhouse (57:54) SPONSORS: Avery Insurance: Protecting Portsmouth families since 1899. Learn more at ⁠⁠averyinsurance.net⁠⁠. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Singles (Ages 25-45): Ready to meet the love of your life, or know someone who is? We're bringing the Seacoast's No. 1 dating show to The Press Room THIS Saturday, June 27! Snag your tickets here.⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Newmarket, N.H. on Friday, July 17! ⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here before they sell out. AFFILIATE LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock a 2-week trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!
S6 · E2
June 19 · 1 hr 1 min
"There's Something BROKEN!" Andy DeMeo of Granite Goodness on Turning a Good News Newsletter Into a Local FORCE! (BONUS)
The world is burning down. At least, that's what the modern media landscape convinces you into thinking. But what if there were a different way to present the news? What if, instead of focusing on all the negative, we actually celebrated the thousands of milestones and mini-victories happening each and every day? Andy DeMeo asked himself that question two years ago. Then, he founded Granite Goodness - a podcast, newsletter, social media brand, and fast-growing media company dedicated to telling the good news that's happening across all of New England. His work with Granite Goodness garnered DeMeo the 2025 Stay Work Play Young Person of the Year award, the 2025 Catapult Seacoast 10 to Watch award, and NH Union Leader 40 Under 40 award. He travels across New Hampshire, hosting panels and leading talks where he shouts from the rooftops about just how good the world actually is, and why we should all be more optimistic about the state of things. In this Season 5 launch week bonus episode, DeMeo FINALLY joins host Troy Farkas - exactly two years after they launched their own platforms on THE SAME DAY - for a conversation about the ethos driving Granite Goodness, how DeMeo stumbled into the world of "progress journalism," some very positive recent stories in New Hampshire and Maine, and how he's managed to turn Granite Goodness from hobby into a full-time career. To join the Optimists Club, visit GraniteGoodness.com for details. CHAPTERS: Andy DeMeo's accomplished resume (00:00) Do Troy and Andy hate each other? (03:35) The tricky dance of turning a newsletter into a full-time job (10:24) SPONSORS: Avery Insurance & Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (27:30) Focusing on good news in a "broken" modern media landscape (29:51) WILD good news happening in N.H. and Maine (42:02) Reflecting on the growth and success of Granite Goodness (49:05) UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Singles (Ages 25-45): Ready to meet the love of your life, or know someone who is? We're bringing the Seacoast's No. 1 dating show to The Press Room on Saturday, June 27. ⁠Snag your tickets here.⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Newmarket, N.H. on Friday, July 17! ⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: Avery Insurance: Protecting Portsmouth families since 1899. Learn more at ⁠averyinsurance.net⁠. Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Keep the Seacoast sun out of your home! ⁠Get the deets here⁠. AFFILIATE LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock a 2-week trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!
S5 · E1
June 15 · 1 hr 4 min
EXCLUSIVE: Cure's Julie Cutting-Kelley Spills ALL the Tea on Char, a NEW Portsmouth Restaurant!
Cure is a top-rated restaurant serving upscale comfort food in downtown Portmsouth, N.H., and now the visionary behind one of the Seacoast's most beloved establishments is setting her sights on something even bigger and better. Julie Cutting-Kelley is the owner and executive chef at Cure. A lifelong Seacoast native, she's also the co-owner of Emerald Elevation (a chef-inspired cannabis company), mother of two, Lighthouse Credit Union board member, and the owner and executive chef of a new Portsmouth restaurant, a modern steakhouse entitled Char. In the Season 5 premiere of "Seacoast Stories," Cutting-Kelley sits down with host Troy Farkas to spill the beans on Char, what it will look and feel like, the menu, expected open date, and why she feels Portsmouth is missing a place like this. Plus, she takes us behind-the-scenes of building Cure, her multiple appearances on the Food Network, and more. To learn more about Char, you can follow their new instagram page @charportsmouth. CHAPTERS: Julie Cutting-Kelley's background (00:00) All of the details for Char! (11:10) SPONSORS: Avery Insurance + Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (29:05) Working in the Seacoast restaurant scene prior to opening Cure (31:18) Appearing on Food Network's "Cutthroat Kitchen" (37:18) How Cure has become a beloved Portsmouth restaurant for over a decade (41:12) Emerald Elevation, her business venture with her chef husband (55:41) UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Singles (Ages 25-45): Ready to meet the love of your life, or know someone who is? We're bringing the Seacoast's No. 1 dating show to The Press Room on Saturday, June 27. Snag your tickets here. Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Newmarket, N.H. on Friday, July 17! ⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠ SPONSORS: Avery Insurance: Protecting Portsmouth families since 1899. Learn more at averyinsurance.net. Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Keep the Seacoast sun out of your home! Get the deets here. AFFILIATE LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock a 2-week trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!
June 14 · 1 min
TRAILER: Introducing the "Seacoast Stories" Podcast
Host Troy Farkas quickly takes you inside the past, present, and future of the 21st century media organization that's taking over New Hampshire and Maine. To stay up-to-date on all of our podcasts, events, and newsletters, you can follow along here ⬇️ Follow the "Seacoast Stories" podcast on Spotify Follow the "Seacoast Stories" podcast on Apple Podcasts Follow the "Seacoast Stories" podcast on YouTube Subscribe to the "Seacoast Stories" newsletter on Substack Visit SeacoastStories.com to learn more about our signature events ABOUT THE HOST: Troy Farkas spent seven years producing high-performing podcasts for major media organizations like ESPN, The Ringer/Spotify, HBO, and more. After moving to the Seacoast in 2023, he fell in love with the area and it's inspiring people. He started this show to learn more about these people, and to bring the Seacoast closer together one podcast at a time.
June 8 · 43 min
BIG-TIME Comedian Nick Callas on Performing in Portsmouth & the Evolution of the Comedy Industry (RE-AIR)
In the final week off before the launch of Season 5, we replay one of the very first episodes of the "Seacoast Stories" podcast. Nick Callas is a New York City-based comedian who has toured with famous comedians Bryan Callen and Chris D'elia. With over 56,000 followers on Instagram, the star of the "Wolf Pup" comedy special joins host Troy Farkas to look back on Callas' 2024 performance at The Music Hall Lounge in Portsmouth. Plus, the two type 1 diabetics discuss Callas' approach to comedy, the art of adapting on the fly, how to joke about politics in a polarized world, and more. For more from Callas, you can catch him live THIS THURSDAY (June 11, 2026) at The Comedy Studio in Cambridge, Mass. Tickets here. UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: June 17 in Hampton, N.H. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Seacoast Singles (25-45) at The Press Room! On Saturday, June 27, 16 brave singles will stand on stage in a room full of single folks. It's hilarious, wholesome, and (single or not) we'd love to see you there. Buy your ticket here. Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: July 17 in Newmarket, N.H. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠Visit Budget Blinds of the Seacoast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for local windows, shades, & creating your cozy Seacoast dream home! AFFILIATE LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock a 2-week trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!
June 1 · 1 hr 6 min
Bird Dog Cider Owner on Hyper-Local Focus, Cider's Glow-Up, & the Murder That Happened There?! (RE-AIR)
Pete Endres grew up dreaming of owning a farm. And when his mother passed away in 2011, Pete and his brothers decided they wanted to not only own a farm, but to open up a cidery on said property. Pete, who later moved to the Seacoast in the mid-2010s, spent years searching for the perfect property until, finally, he found it in 2019. That farm? It's now home to ⁠Bird Dog Cider⁠ in Greenland, N.H., which formally opened its doors in the fall of 2024. From the cozy confines of Bird Dog, Pete sits down with ⁠host Troy Farkas⁠ to discuss the blood, sweat, and tears poured into revitalizing the once-dilapidated farm, the family atmosphere that defines Bird Dog, and having lines out the door the day they opened their barn doors to the public. Plus, getting chased by a sea lion, and even the MURDER that took place on the farm!? CHAPTERS: Troy checks in from the middle of nowhere (00:00) Getting chased by a sea lion (06:00) The (sad) motivation for opening Bird Dog (08:10) America's up-and-down love affair with cider (12:06) Turning a run-down Seacoast farm into a cidery (19:34) SPONSORS: Dermatology & Skin Health + Chinburg Properties (29:20) Why Bird Dog is focused on staying local (31:54) Lines out the door in fall 2024 (38:40) Balancing Bird Dog with a full-time job (43:00) The murder that happened on the farm (01:01:40) To learn more about Bird Dog's ciders and summer plans, visit their website here. And for their upcoming collaboration with 3 Bridges Yoga on June 20, 2026, book your spot here. SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chinburg Properties⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dermatology & Skin Health⁠⁠⁠⁠: Get 15% off botox, filler, and laser treatments at all DSH locations by mentioning "Seacoast Stories" at checkout for the REST OF 2026! UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to to Hampton, N.H., on Wednesday, June 17. ⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠
May 25 · 59 min
"The DESPAIR Is Gone!" Treeline Outfitters Founders on Creating BELOVED Seacoast Space After Their Lowest Points 💙 (RE-AIR)
Cody Whelan⁠ was miserable. Feeling purposeless in his geology career, he came home after work every day tired, irritable, and wondering why he was still putting himself through this. He dreamt of a different life for himself, a life centered on purpose, service, and connection. And after seven years of business ideas gnawing at him, he finally decided to pull the plug on his stable career so he could throw himself into the unstable waters of entrepreneurship. Enter ⁠Treeline Outfitters⁠: Portsmouth's home for high-quality sustainable outdoor gear, delicious local beer, and genuine connection with like-minded human beings. Since opening their doors in February 2024, Treeline has felt the full force of the community coming out to support them, which shines through in their weekly run club, which now attracts between 60-100 people every Thursday night. From the taproom of Treeline Outfitters in the West End of Portsmouth, Cody and his wife ⁠Emily Kwesell⁠ sit down with ⁠⁠host Troy Farkas⁠⁠ to discuss why Cody began to resent his lucrative geology career, why it took him so long to take the leap, where the initial idea for Treeline came from, the explosive growth of run club, navigating the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and much more. To learn more about Treeline's gear, beer, and events, visit ⁠⁠TreelineOutfittersCo.com⁠⁠ or follow them on Instagram ⁠⁠@treeline_outfitters⁠⁠. CHAPTERS: Treeline's role in the 'Seacoast Stories' origin story (00:00) Why Cody started hating his job (07:00) What pushed them to start Treeline Outfitters (19:44) SPONSORS: Budget Blinds + Dermatology & Skin Health (30:00) How Treeline chooses their gear and beer (32:40) The growth of run club (42:14) Why Cody feels wealthier than ever (49:52) SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To get started on a path toward better financial investment, email our friend David Higgins ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠david.higgins@wellsfargoadvisors.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! He's a Portsmouth legend, and you won't regret it. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dermatology & Skin Health⁠⁠⁠: Get 15% off botox, filler, and laser treatments at all DSH locations by mentioning "Seacoast Stories" at checkout for the REST OF 2026! UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: The club that's regularly attracting ~100 people heads to Portland, Maine, on Wednesday, June 3! We also head back to Hampton, N.H., on Wednesday, June 17. ⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠ AFFILIATE LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to unlock a 2-week trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!

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