Off Track Saratoga Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Zac is away, so Noel has a new co-host for this episode—and she is ready to talk. Meet Morgan, aka Your Hot Disabled Bestie , a Saratoga resident, disability advocate, and unapologetic professional yapper who joins Noel for a very honest, funny, and completely Off Track conversation. Morgan opens up about living with Adams Oliver Syndrome , a rare genetic condition, and what it&ap...

Send us Fan Mail Is Saratoga haunted? 👻 We’re asking a psychic medium! Katie Manning Hilton joins Noel and Zac for a seriously fun—and occasionally very spooky—conversation about Saratoga’s most haunted places, psychic abilities, haunted mirrors, spirits, signs from loved ones, and the incredible things kids sometimes say. Plus, Katie gets personal with Noel and Zac, shares some unexpected insigh...

Send us Fan Mail Glisten Up... Do you ever walk into a workout class and immediately think, Do I even belong here? 😬 That’s exactly what Meghan McFerran, founder of Glisten Studio in Saratoga Springs, wanted to change. On this episode of Off-Track Saratoga , Noel and Zac head to Glisten for a conversation about making fitness feel less intimidating, more inclusive—and a whole lot more fun. Meghan...

Send us Fan Mail What do you get when you mix a beautiful Saratoga farm, wine, whiskey, flowers, horses, fall vibes… and two podcast hosts attempting to stomp grapes? A riveting episode of Off Track Saratoga Podcast! This week, Noel and Zac head to Old Tavern Farm in Stillwater for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the Capital Region’s most unique destinations. We talk with Nicole Borisenok about...

Send us Fan Mail Saratoga County Animal Shelter is at capacity, and they need some help from the 518! Noel and Zac sit down with Carly from the Saratoga County Animal Shelter to talk about what’s behind the backlog, and—most importantly—how the community can help. We’re talking fostering, volunteering, adopting, and the surprisingly adorable program where kids can read to shelter cats . We also le...

Send us Fan Mail Noel and Zac take Off Track on Track...but do they ever really stay on task?  This week the duo welcomes Jene Sena of WNYT's Capital Region Lifestyle after appearing on her show. They talk the Spa Summer's grand finale, Track Fashion, and once again, Zac's issue with Crocs. Did he find a better alternative? Plus, a special track edition of Off Track's favorite...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you go back through the archives and pull together some of the best, funniest, most unexpected moments from Off Track Saratoga ? You get this episode.  This week, Noel McLaren and Zac Denham are doing things a little differently and taking a trip through some of their favorite moments from the first two seasons of the podcast — from Saratoga stories and local his...

Send us Fan Mail Summer is winding down in Saratoga, and Noel and Zac are feeling all the feelings. From celebrating Standard Fare’s first birthday and trying to embrace a little summer whimsy to the return of puzzles, bedazzling, family computers and other ways to escape the doom scroll, this episode is all about slowing down and enjoying what’s right in front of us. Then things take an Off Track...

Send us Fan Mail What happens to journalism when AI can create convincing images, videos and even “evidence”? And in a world where social media algorithms increasingly decide what we see, how do we know what’s actually real? This week on Off Track Saratoga , Noel and Zac sit down with journalist and Saratoga Dispatch founder and editor Abby Tegnelia for a fascinating conversation about the changin...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Off Track Saratoga , Noel and Zac sit down with Kristen , owner of Afterglow Sunless Tan , for one of the funniest and most surprisingly heartfelt conversations of the season. Kristen shares what it's like to have one of the most unique jobs in Saratoga—including why she jokes she's seen half the town naked. But beyond the laughs, she opens up about the trus...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to bring one of the country's most iconic performing arts venues to life? In this episode of Off Track Saratoga , Noel and Zac get an exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. Joined by SPAC President Chris Shiley, we go backstage to explore the remarkable history, traditions, and...

Send us Fan Mail Is the "90s Summer" making a comeback? In this episode of Off Track Saratoga , Noel and Zac talk about slowing life down, letting kids be kids, and why an unstructured summer might be exactly what families/ all people need. Noel shares stories from the Jersey Shore, a commercial-grade waterslide that almost took over her front porch, and the joys (and occasional hornet s...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back! Season 2 of Off Track Saratoga is officially underway, and Noel and Zac are kicking things off from the porch of the National Racing Hall of Fame with two of Saratoga's most recognizable voices—the Saratoga Buglers, Tony and Carson Gambaro. Every racing day, thousands of fans hear their iconic "Call to the Post," but few know the incredible father-son...

Scallions may be gone, but something exciting is taking its place. In the Season 1 Finale of the pod, Noel and Zac go Off Track with local restaurateur Ronnie Solevo for an exclusive first look inside The Pearl, the highly anticipated seafood restaurant and raw bar opening at the former Scallions location on Lake Avenue. Ronnie shares the inspiration behind the concept, how fresh oysters and seafo...

Noel and Zac go Off Track with Saratoga Living fashion editor Tiina Loite for a funny, honest, and relatable conversation about fashion, confidence, and personal style. From The Devil Wears Prada 2 and quiet luxury to Saratoga track fashion, denim struggles, athleisure, vintage shopping, and finding your style through different stages of life — nothing is off limits. Plus: strong opinions on Crocs...

The weather has been all over the place, but Saratoga summer is finally around the corner — and we’re kicking things off with a FIRST LOOK at the newly reimagined Adelphi Gardens courtyard at the The Adelphi Hotel. 🌿🥂 In this episode, Noel and Zac settle in fireside to talk about:  The return of one of Saratoga’s most nostalgic hidden gems   The big reveal during Belmont week and the return of l...

This week on Off-Track Saratoga , Noel & Zac sit down with Michael Panza of Panza's Restaurant to celebrate 88 years of one of Saratoga’s most iconic family restaurants. Michael shares stories from generations in the business—from opening the doors at age five to serving legends like Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Walter Cronkite (just to name a few)—and what it takes to keep a legacy restauran...

Are we approaching youth sports the right way? This week, Noel and Zac head to Troy, NY to sit down with Team USA Coach Joe Uccellini—owner of Curby Training Center and a respected leader in youth athlete development.  From coaching beginners to working with state champions and international-level athletes, Joe shares his perspective on building confidence, handling pressure, and creating an envir...

Ready for takeoff? ✈️ In this episode of Off-Track Saratoga Podcast , we’re bringing you inside one of the Capital Region’s most unique new destinations— Sunset at Saratoga , the brand-new restaurant located inside the Saratoga County Airport. Hosts Noel McLaren and Zac Denham sit down with owner Mike Speranza, and local creator Pat Fleming (aka the “local diner guy”) to talk about how they'r...

Gaffney’s is back—and you’re getting the first look inside! In this special bonus episode, Noel & Zac sit down at the newly renovated Gaffney’s with marketing director Steph Curtis. They talk about what's staying, what’s changing, and what Saratoga can expect from this iconic spot’s next chapter. From nostalgic nods and major renovations to new menus, multiple bar spaces, live entertainme...

This week on Off Track Saratoga , Noel and Zac sit down with local food and lifestyle influencer Kristen Suraci—better known as Saucy . What started as casually sharing where she eats has grown into a platform that spotlights small businesses across the 518. Kristen opens up about her unexpected rise, the realities of being a full-time influencer, and why she’s committed to keeping her content pos...

We’re coming to you live from the final Overdress to Impress —and Saratoga showed UP 💃 This week on Off Track Saratoga Podcast , Noel and Zac hit the floor to talk to some of the best dressed in the room, uncovering the stories behind the outfits—from last-minute looks and reworn favorites to sentimental pieces years in the making. Did you catch this years winners? We chat with first place winner...

Recorded from the historic Adelphi Hotel, Zac and Noel are spilling Saratoga’s local tea ☕️. This week: emotional support water bottles, Target’s long-awaited cart upgrade (yes, cup holders), Lincoln Baths updates, and the tree controversy everyone’s talking about. Plus, Zac debuts a new segment— Opinions —where nothing is off limits. Local, unfiltered, and a little off track… just how we like it...

From Saratoga to the runway… and behind the scenes of reality TV 👀 This week on Off Track Saratoga , Zac and Noel sit down with local standout Jenna Hotaling, who takes us inside her experience on America’s Next Top Model —just as the new Netflix documentary “Reality Check: America’s Next Top Model” has everyone talking. Jenna gets real about what it was actually like behind the cameras—from bein...

What would Saratoga be like if it were a person? In this episode of Off Track Saratoga , Noel and Zac kick things off by personifying the city.  From there, the conversation goes… well, a little off track. They talk about the Southern tradition of “front porch sittin’,” why Saratoga feels like home to so many people who didn’t grow up here, and how the community has a way of pulling visitors in fo...