LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY

This week is the second week of 're-listens' or maybe a new 'listen' for you as we start the Holiday season. This week I'm bringing back Adrienne Hawkins of Zen Esthetics in Oak Harbor. Adrienne loves living on Whidbey Island, after being transferred here with her hubs military career. I was honored to be invited to his retirement ceremony. If you have never been to one, go if you receive an invit...

This week is the first week of 're-listens' or maybe a new 'listen' for you as we start the Holiday season. This week I'm bringing back Jonathan and Mike of Whidbey Distillery. They were so fun and were my first guests.  On today's episode of Local Whidbey Podcast, we're heading straight into the heart of Crafting Spirits and Community Pride, with the new dynamic behind Whidbey Distillery Jonathan...

On this episode of Local Whidbey with Magsy, we’re taking a delicious little detour… straight from the Food Network to Bayview Corner.   If you’ve been anywhere near Langley lately, you’ve probably heard whispers — or full-volume raves — about Japonica, the new Japanese comfort-food spot created by chef Joan Samson and her sommelier husband Ed Hodson.   Joan trained in one of the toughest Japanese...

On the southern end of Whidbey Island, tucked inside 106 acres of moss-lined trails and cathedral-quiet forest, sits a place that’s been quietly shaping hearts and ideas for fifty years. It’s called The Whidbey Institute, and it’s where leaders, artists, scientists, and seekers gather to ask the kind of questions that don’t always have tidy answers — questions about belonging, purpose, resilience,...

When we think of neighborhoods, most of us picture long rows of houses, driveways, and maybe a park down the street. But what if there was a better way to live — one that put connection, belonging, and beauty at the heart of community design. Today’s guest has dedicated his life to re-imagining how we live together. Architect Ross Chapin is the visionary behind the concept of Pocket Neighborhoods ...

Hello Listener, You know those writers whose words literally shape how we live—public notices, policy briefs, the fine print that keeps a community running? For years, Janice Cummings O’Mahony was one of them. She wrote for government agencies and civic projects where every word had to be factual, clear, and airtight. And then she did something beautifully unpredictable—she crossed the line from p...

Today’s guest has truly taken life to new heights—literally. Robert DeLaurentis is not only the owner of DeLaurentis International Airport in Oak Harbor, but he’s also a record-setting aviator, accomplished author, and philanthropist. He was the first solo pilot to fly a small, single-engine plane, around the world in 2015.The flight covered 26,000 nautical miles and 23 countries in 98 days for a...

Hello Listeners—today’s guest is basically the Beyoncé of breath support. We’re talking about someone who’s turned the mysterious, often intimidating world of voice training into an open door for, well... all of us. Shower singers, Broadway hopefuls, reluctant public speakers—Jana Szabo has coached them all. She has a background that starts in New York, winds through Seattle, takes a deep detour i...

What if real estate wasn’t just about transactions—but transformation? What if the way we buy, sell, and steward land was less about square footage and more about soil health, community connection, spirit, and story? Today’s guests, Alissa and Neal Collins, are doing just that. As co-founders of Latitude Regenerative Real Estate, they specialize in life-giving, ecologically rich properties that ch...

Today on Local Whidbey with Magsy, we’re climbing aboard one of Coupeville’s most beloved maritime treasures — the Schooner Suva. My guest is Mark Saia, who not only has helped keep Suva’s sails billowing but also keeps her stories alive for the community. Suva herself is a piece of living history. Built in 1925 and designed by the renowned naval architect Ted Geary, she has sailed Puget Sound for...

Hello listener! So, here’s the scene: You’re on Whidbey Island, and have decided to stop at a few of the Island Grown Cooperative Farm and Food trail locations.  Driving just north of Clinton, hang a left on Cultus Bay Road to go to Glendale Shepherd, a beautiful property in the woods, above the Admiralty Inlet facing Mukilteo.  At the heart of these sheep lovers are Lynn and Stan Swanson, the kin...

Today on Local Whidbey, we’re welcoming someone who has been quietly (and not-so-quietly) transforming Coupeville into a cultural cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest—Lisa Bernhardt, the Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Art School and administrator of the Coupeville Creative District. Lisa isn’t just running an art school—she’s running a movement. Under her leadership, the Pacific North...

Hello folks! Today’s episode is not your average stroll down a Whidbey Island beach with a latte and a Labrador.   We are going to go global. Flamenco global. Italy-meets-Island-meets-a-guitar-that-might-just-seduce-you kind of global. Today’s audacious Islander is a world-renowned virtuoso.   Our guest is the one and only Andre Feriante, guitar maestro and expert ‘cross-over artist’.  Poet of str...

Hello, hello, my fabulous Whidbey adventurers. Today, buckle up, because I’ve got an absolute force of nature on the mic. I’m talking about Larry Mason—a man who, frankly, makes the rest of us look like we’re standing still.    Larry is the man who makes sure the music behind the Oak Harbor Music Festival actually happen. You know that 15+ year event, where thousands of people come to hear musical...

Today, we are diving into a world of music, movement, and... gut strings. Yep, you heard that right. I am beyond excited to introduce you to someone who quite literally makes classical music sing with soul and spark: the incredible Tekla Cunningham.   Tekla is the founder and artistic director of the Whidbey Island Music Festival, where world-class musicians gather to perform jaw-dropping pieces o...

Hey listener! Today I'm talking to Lexi Ochoa, the founder and floral genius behind Forage—a custom floral design company based in Oak Harbor. Now, let’s be clear: Forage is not your run-of-the-mill flower shop with sad balloons and generic roses wrapped in cellophane. Oh no. Lexi is out here creating art—lush, soulful, one-of-a-kind arrangements and wreaths that are basically emotional experience...

In this episode, Judy Feldman shares her inspiring journey from Texas to Whidbey Island, driven by a passion for nature and sustainable agriculture. Join Magsy as she explores the captivating world of the Organic Farm School, a vibrant hub dedicated to nurturing the next generation of farmers. With an emphasis on systems and regenerative practices, the school offers comprehensive training programs...

I am diving headfirst into a world of vintage glamour, timeless treasures, and, let’s be honest, the thrill of finding that perfect one-of-a-kind piece … be it clothing or home décor … that makes you feel like you just won the shopping lottery.    Join me as Marisa Sedillo shares her love for vintage treasures and her unique experience of living on Whidbey Island. Discover how her passion for anti...

If you love coffee, community, and creative magic, do I have an episode for you!    Today, we’re talking about Beaver Tales Coffee—aka the beating heart of caffeine and connection on the Coupeville Wharf.  And at the helm of this cozy, soul-warming operation? None other than Michelle Calvin and Tony Cladusbid, the brilliant duo bringing people together over perfectly brewed cups of joy, delicious...

Hello, my fellow Whidbey wanderers, nature lovers, and people who probably have at least one friend who owns a goat. Welcome back to Local Whidbey with Magsy, where we shine a light on the brilliant, bold, and occasionally bee-covered folks making magic on this island.  And today, are you in for a treat. We are talking with the fabulous Marie Fiore, the powerhouse behind Fainting Goat Farms and Wh...

Hello listeners! Welcome back to Local Whidbey, your weekly dose of small-town magic, creative brilliance, and all the reasons Whidbey Island is the ultimate place to live, love, and soak up inspiration.   I’m Magsy and today, we’re diving into the artful heart of Langley, Washington to visit with the owners of Museo, the stunning gallery that’s as much a reflection of our island’s soul as it is a...

Hello, Whidbey friends, and welcome back to Local Whidbey with Magsy! You know, there’s nothing I love more than discovering the heart, soul, and spice of Whidbey Island—and today, we’re diving into all three. If you’re ready for a conversation filled with inspiration, culture, and a little dash of entrepreneurial magic, you are in the right place.    Today’s guest is a powerhouse of passion and p...

Today’s guest is about to blow your mind, expand your horizons, and quite possibly make you wish you’d paid more attention in science class.  We are talking to the brilliant Hai Anh Vue, the powerhouse behind the Whidbey Island Language, Art, and STEM Center—or, as the cool kids say, WILASC. Now, I know what you’re thinking: ‘Wait, an educational center that combines languages, art, and STEM? That...

Welcome back to ‘Local Whidbey’ where we spotlight the people, businesses, and creativity that make Whidbey Island the special place we all love to call home. Today, we are buzzing into the vibrant world of all-around queen bee, Misty Ellis, owner, stylist, and educator of The Hive Salon … where style, community, and self-expression come together in the most fabulous way.   My interest in Misty as...

Picture this ... sweeping brushstrokes of vibrant color, stunning landscapes that feel alive, and portraits that capture the very essence of a soul. That's the magic of Kathrine Leigh Holley, a prolific oil painting artist right here on Whidbey Island. Kathrine's work is nothing short of mesmerizing. Her canvas is where stories unfold, and emotions come to life.  But wait, there's more! Kathrine i...