Connecticut Unfiltered

From Michelin-starred kitchens in France to building a career and business in Connecticut, Chef Franck’s story is about far more than food. On this episode of Connecticut Unfiltered , Ellie sits down with Chef Franck — chef, entrepreneur, hospitality consultant, speaker, and author of Relentless Growth — to talk about the realities of the restaurant industry, leadership, entrepreneurship, and what...

GameDay Conor Geary joins Connecticut Unfiltered to talk about the unconventional path that turned a love of performing into a career. From managing a Hartford comedy club and trying stand-up, to working in marketing and sponsorship sales, Conor shares how those experiences eventually led him onto the field with the Hartford Yard Goats—and then onto some of the biggest stages in sports. We get int...

Connecticut politics has rarely looked this uncertain. After nearly three decades in Congress, Congressman John Larson finds himself in the fight of his political career. For the first time in years, he's facing a competitive Democratic primary after losing the party endorsement to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, while State Representative Jillian Gilchrest also secured a spot on the ballo...

Can an underdog win one of Connecticut's biggest political races? In this episode of Connecticut Unfiltered , Ellie Doyle sits down with Jillian Gilchrest , Connecticut State Representative and candidate for Connecticut's 1st Congressional District , to discuss her long-shot campaign, what it takes to challenge a crowded Democratic field, and why she believes voters are ready for a diffe...

In this special Pride Month episode, we sit down with Cuee, a Black trans recording artist from Chicago, now living in Connecticut, whose work is rooted in music, joy, storytelling, and impact. This conversation highlights the Black trans community while also making one thing clear: Cuee is an artist above all. We talk about identity, creativity, visibility, Black trans joy, and what it means to b...

This week on Connecticut Unfiltered , I sit down with Brandon McGee, CEO of the Connecticut Social Equity Counciland former state legislator, for a conversation about opportunity, equity, and creating pathways to success in Connecticut. We talk about Brandon's journey from public service to leading the Social Equity Council, the mission behind the state's social equity efforts, what econ...

What exactly is Reiki—and why does it make so many people immediately think it's "woo"? In this episode of Connecticut Unfiltered, Ellie sits down with Ana Davis of Lighthouse Reiki Studio to break down what Reiki actually is, how energy healing works, and why so many people use it as part of their self-care routine. From stress and burnout to intuition, mindfulness, and feeling mor...

Luke Bronin recently pulled off one of the biggest surprises in Connecticut politics, defeating longtime Congressman John Larson at the Democratic convention to become the party-endorsed candidate for Connecticut's 1st Congressional District. In this episode of Connecticut Unfiltered , we talk about that unexpected victory, his decision to run for Congress, his years leading Hartford as mayor...

Most people know Arda Öcal from ESPN, the NHL, or one of the million sports moments he somehow seems to be part of, but this episode goes way beyond sports. We talk about growing up between cultures, building a career in media, internet culture, Connecticut pizza discourse (obviously), and what actually makes people feel connected to a place. Arda also opens up about identity, storytelling, and ho...

We’re sitting down with Sean Crane, National Geographic wildlife photographer and founder of Crane Wildlife Tours, and talking about what it actually feels like to step away from the noise and fully disconnect in a world that never really turns off. We get into what it’s like to go on one of his bucket-list safaris, where you’re not just experiencing wild places and animals up close, but having it...

Kathleen Roche from Connecticut Bucket List joins me to talk about a big question right now: is the influencer as we know it changing? We get honest about what being an influencer actually looks like in 2026, from social media icks and body image pressures to how brand partnerships, travel content, and audience expectations have evolved. Kathleen also shares what’s still on her Connecticut bucket...

In the first episode of Connecticut Unfiltered, we talk with Anthony Anthony, former Chief Marketing Officer for the State of Connecticut, about the strategy behind positioning Connecticut as the Pizza Capital of the Nation, what it takes to shift a state’s reputation, and why authentic storytelling drives real impact. Anthony also shares why he stepped away from public office to launch Running Cl...