Granite Goodness

Kate Guerdat is the Program Team Leader for 4-H Youth Development and Education at UNH Cooperative Extension, where she oversees programming across every county in New Hampshire. Pam Shore is a Field Specialist at UNH Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program, where she helps young people discover their spark and develop skills for lives of purpose, service, and self-direction. NH Cooperative Extension...

Corinne Benfield is the Executive Director of Stay Work Play New Hampshire, where she works to showcase the Granite State as a vibrant, dynamic place where young people can build fulfilling lives and careers. Stay Work Play New Hampshire This episode was recorded in Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire Music provided by Sneaky Miles Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoo...

Amanda Grappone is the fourth-generation steward of Grappone Automotive, a regional family-owned network of automotive dealerships and service centers headquartered in NH. She is also the author of Grappone: The Founding , a family history tracing her family’s story from 1700s Italy, to their first gas station in 1924 in Concord, and onward to present-day New Hampshire. Grappone Automotive This ep...

Jenn Bakos is a Portsmouth-based photographer specializing in food, product, lifestyle, and brand photography, with clients ranging from local magazines and award-winning restaurants to New England farms and creative small businesses. She is also the host of the podcast Tell Talks Northeast, where she interviews small business owners, creatives, and artists about their career journeys. Tell New En...

Veronika Sokol is Miss Liberty 2025, a student, environmentalist, and history buff who is using her platform to inspire young women and make history in the Miss America program. Miss New Hampshire This episode was recorded at the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship in Keene, NH Music provided by Sneaky Miles Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoodness.com/subscribe

Julianna Dodson is the Executive Director of the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship in Keene, New Hampshire, where she works to reinvigorate rural communities through economic development, social capital, and support for small business owners and creatives. She is also the Executive Director of Radically Rural, a summit and movement focused on elevating solutions and positive models for rur...

Joe Sweeney is the Chairman of the Salem, NH Town Council and Rockingham District 25 Representative to the NH General Court. Links & Notes: This episode was recorded at Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, NH Music provided by Sneaky Miles Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoodness.com/subscribe

Maria Finnegan is the Director of CHICKS (the Climate and Health Initiative for Caregivers and Kids) at New Hampshire Healthy Climate, where she works to navigate the intersection of climate change and community health with a focus on action over doom. Links & notes: NH Healthy Climate This episode was recorded at the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship in Keene, NH Music provided by Sneaky...

Bryan Bessette is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Freedom Cafe. He is a minister, mentor, and advocate, using his platform to challenge injustices and inspire a future where conscious commerce and compassion go hand in hand. Links & Notes: This episode was recorded at The Freedom Cafe in Durham, NH Music provided by Sneaky Miles Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoodne...

Elizabeth Chilton is the 21st President of the University of New Hampshire. The University of New Hampshire is the state’s flagship public research institution, home to over 15,000 students and recognized with an R1 Carnegie Classification for its high research activity. As one of the few universities nationwide to hold land, sea, and space grant designations, UNH drives innovation across fields f...

Lionel Loveless is the Founder of Officially Knotted Bowties, where he creates beautiful custom bowties from vintage used fabrics. Links & Notes: This episode was recorded in Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, NH Music provided by Sneaky Miles Instagram @officiallyknottedbowties Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoodness.com/subscribe

Laura Harper-Lake and Sarah Wrightsman are the co-hosts and creators of Creative Guts, a podcast focused on the pursuit of creativity and the vibrant community of artists, makers, and creatives across greater New Hampshire. This episode was recorded at Art Up Front Street in Exeter NH. Andy was also interviewed on Creative Guts in his first podcast guest appearance— these episodes were recorded ba...

Jesse Lore is the Founder of Green Wave Electric Vehicles, New Hampshire’s first dedicated EV and Plug-In Hybrid dealership. Links & Notes Green Wave Electric Vehicles This episode was recorded at Green Wave Electric Vehicles in North Hampton, NH Music by Sneaky Miles Instagram @greenwaveev @granitegoodness Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoodness.com/subscribe

Steve Turner is the Founder at Bring Back the Trades. Shana Brunye is the Chief Operations Officer at Bring Back the Trades. The mission of Bring Back the Trades is: “To empower the next generation of skilled tradespeople by advocating for rewarding trade careers, educating parents, facilitating mentorships with professionals, and providing scholarships. Through collaboration, we elevate awareness...

Tom Irwin is a Vice President and New Hampshire Advocacy Center Director at the Conservation Law Foundation, where he directs CLF’s work in New Hampshire. Conservation Law Foundation MIT study on premature deaths from air pollution This episode was recorded at Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, NH Instagram: @conservationlawfoundation @treeline_outfitters @granitegoodness Get full access to Granit...

Shemariah Blum-Evitts is the Executive Director of Land For Good. Rachel Brice is a Program and Development Manager at Land For Good. Land For Good’s mission is “…to expand secure farmland access, tenure, and transfer. We connect, assist, and engage farmers, landowners, service providers, communities, and policymakers to grow equitable farming opportunity and sustainably keep land in agriculture....

Alex Nunn is the Manager at the Port City Makerspace. J.L. Stevens is the Director of Engagement at the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. Port City Makerspace Please watch this video of a trebuchet built at the Makerspace Chamber Collaborative This episode was recorded at Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, NH Music by Sneaky Miles Instagram @portcitymakerspace @portschamber Get full acc...

Nadja Fromm is the founder of Fromm Consulting where she utilises her 20 years in the business world to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality. Fromm Consulting This episode was recorded in Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, NH Music provided by Sneaky Miles Instagram @frommconsulting @treeline_outfitters @granitegoodness Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoodness.com/sub...

Jennifer Moore (JAM) is the creator of Project Upcycle, a sustainable fashion design competition featuring emerging designers in New England. She also started Portswap, an annual clothing swap event in Portsmouth. Jenn was a speaker at Tedx Portsmouth 2023. Project Upcycle Jenn’s Tedx Portsmouth Talk This episode was recorded in Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, NH Music provided by Sneaky Miles...

Matt Gallant is Senior Manager of Business Development at New Hampshire Housing, where he focuses on making homeownership accessible across New Hampshire, helping families and individuals navigate the housing market. He also hosts the Making Homeownership Happen podcast. New Hampshire Housing Making Homeownership Happen Podcast Matt’s Holiday Playlist (it’s actually great) This episode was recorde...

On episode 32 of Granite Goodness, Andy chats with genuine writer-in-the-woods Caroline Tremblay about wood chopping, Hallmark movies, the Radically Rural summit in Keene, and a bunch of other stuff. Caroline Tremblay is the creator and content director of Owl & Pen LLC and TheMonadnocker.com, where she covers culture, events, and all things that make the Monadnock area of NH special. TheMonadnock...

Eric Cacciatore is the creator and host of the Restaurant Unstoppable podcast, where he helps listeners understand how to become unstoppable in the restaurant business. Restaurant Unstoppable This episode was recorded in Treeline Outfitters Music provided by Sneaky Miles Instagram @restaurantunstoppablepodcast @treeline_outfitters @granitegoodness Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granite...

Charley Cummings is the Founder and CEO of Walden Mutual Bank, where he helps to enable anyone to “make positive, lasting change in our local food ecosystem Links and notes Walden Mutual Bank Walden Local Meat This episode was recorded at Walden Mutual Bank in Concord, NH Music by Sneaky Miles Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoodness.com/subscribe

Laura Cleminson is the founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club. The Pre-Dead Social Club is on a mission to foster open die-a-logue and strengthen community ties surrounding topics relating to death, dying, and end-of-life decisions. Links & Notes: Pre-Dead Social Club Laura’s Tedx Portsmouth Talk Music provided by Sneaky Miles Instagram @predeadsocialclub @granitegoodness Get full access to Granite G...

Dr. Alexandra Martin is a historical archaeologist and anthropologist at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH. She is also a faculty fellow in anthropology at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Alexandra Martin Alix’s Tedx Talk Strawbery Banke Museum Instagram: @tedxam @strawberybankemuseum @granitegoodness Get full access to Granite Goodness at www.granitegoodness.com/subscribe