Pop It

AJ Setaro of Sweet Jane's helps us explore how the year's top stories will translate into Halloween costumes. We discuss pregnant Meghan Markle , the hot Fleabag priest , distressed  Lori Loughlin , Jonas bros, and besties: Ja Rule and Billy  (and possibly the Situation .) We only brush the surface when it comes to saying goodbye to Worcester's official 'third space' The Dive Bar .

Can you hear the commotion? She never stops. In between scoops, we caught up with WooBerry co-owner Iris Lyons who specializes in making  small batch ice cream with locally sourced milk, cream, and Goat Cheese.  I n addition to her role as a small business owner, Iris is also a project manager at UMASS and a yoga teacher at Central Rock Climbing Gym. We close out the show with some love for both J...

We discuss the 2019 Emmy Awards including Julia Louis-Dreyfus' loss to Phoebe Waller-Bridge of Fleabag, the rise of Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, and a  Game of Thrones  group photo—minus Bran. Our friends from Seltzer Time break some news about an  elusive social media personality in our midst who goes by the moniker: @ipeelorangesverywell. Finally, we preview the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auct...

We're recapping muralist Allison Bamcat's workshop with a group of Worcester Public School 7th graders. We also discuss this year's most surprising September issues and take a moment to draw some parallels between two recent profiles: Harry Styles for Rolling Stone and Brad Pitt for GQ.

Nicole Boucher and Shelby Reynolds are the women of Axe to Grind barbershop. Too often, we think of barbershops as traditional "third spaces" for men to congregate, separate from work or home. The Axe to Grind team is breaking that mold one cut at a time by cultivating a diverse and creative presence in the community. We discuss Ariana Grande's lawsuit with Forever 21 , Rosie O'Donnell's gorgeous...

We're recapping the Aloha Worcester panel hosted by Arts Worcester during the  POW! WOW! festival last week. The panel, moderated by Arts Worcester's own Ryan Hacker, featured three artists based out of Hawaii:  Kaplan/Kapache  and Roxanne and Matt Ortiz of Wooden Wave .  We discuss our students' reactions to the new murals along with the week in pop culture. What do you think of Taylor Swift's ne...

Over the next week, Natasha Lillipore will paint a mural in Worcester's Great Brook Valley neighborhood as part of the POW! WOW! Worcester festival . Lillipore is a contemporary illustrator based out of Southern California who has designed emojis for Topshop, live-painted at Rihanna's Fenty Puma pop-up, and released a major cosmetics collection. You can catch a glimpse of her on the dance floor at...

Recommerce may be one of the hottest trends of 2019, but Molly McGrath has been curating unique retail experiences at Grime in Worcester for a long time. Molly's personal style and fearless attitude are proof that sometimes the shopkeeper is just as important as the shop. She is organizing this year's Film Wars at Wormtown Brewery. Round up your friends and make a movie from 9/19-9/22 for a 9/28 p...

Do you have your  WWE Smackdown LIVE! tickets yet? Molly talked to Elias "the Drifter" about his rise as an American professional wrestler, the women making WrestleMania milestones, and the strict diet of a superstar athlete. Get to know the sinister songsmith through a series of 'would you rathers.'

Thank you for supporting this project over the last year. We take a lot of pride in elevating women's voices in the city of Worcester and we never imagined how quickly this community would embrace our efforts to do so. For our 50th episode, we answered 20 questions submitted by teenage girls from Central Mass. We did our best to speak with with honesty and vulnerability. We'll be back in August! U...

Aussie researcher Clare Smith and local veterinarian Whitney Allen discuss their scientific paths on this episode of Pop It, taped at the AC Hotel. Clare is chasing a question: 'What makes us sick?' while Whitney strives to educate pet owners across New England. We talk Steve Irwin, cube-shaped feces, and exotic critters. 

Sub Pop CEO Megan Jasper is a Worcester native with a passion for punks and pranks. She began as an intern for the iconic Seattle record label and has worked her way up.  Some of Sub Pop's recent releases include albums by Iron and Wine, The Postal Service, Band of Horses, Flight of the Conchords, Fleet Foxes, The Head and the Heart, The Shins and Father John Misty. Sub Pop's first certified plati...

Nikki Bell is the CEO and Founder of LIFT, Living in Freedom Together. LIFT is a survivor-led organization working to end prostitution and empower individuals to exit and recover from the impacts of commercial sexual exploitation. Nikki reminds us that as long as there's a price on one woman's head, there's a price on every woman's head. She critiques S.I. Rosenbaum's recent Globe piece " The case...

Anita Amin talks Indian weddings, melted frosting, and three legged dogs on this week's episode of Pop It, taped at the AC Hotel. Anita has patterned her friendships after Leslie Knope and her pets after April Ludgate. She loves Worcester's rebirth almost as much as she appreciates its gritty past. When was the last time you dusted off your Boxcar Children Cookbook ?

We are joined by our guest Michelle Miller, Director of the Center for Women in Enterprise. This week, we're hosted at Worcester's posh AC Hotel. Michele helps women increase their personal growth, professional success, and financial independence. We imagine what it would be like to own a shop in the Canal District. Michelle talks Sarah through the Strategyzer business canvas, determining value pr...

This week we're joined by Ashley Troy of The Trunk n' Disorderly and Emily Briggs of Bloom and Barter. We're talking about Brimfield Antique Fair, America's oldest outdoor antiques flea market. Ashley and Emily are known at Brimfield for their curated collection of vintage and handmade items. Find them under the striped tent in Central Park and make sure to ask them "what's the best you can do?"

We're on site at Sparkle on Park with owner Ari Phillippi. Sparkle is part flowers, part art, and part local wonder. We're chatting with Ari about what it feels like to make a name for herself as a new retail option in an established Worcester neighborhood. She's an aphishianado, a florist, and a creative. Hear why Birchtree Bread Co. is the best spot in the city for public breastfeeding and why K...

We're on the 19th floor at Webster Five Bank with Vice President Monica Thomas-Bonnick. Monica brings over 20 years of experience providing financing solutions for start-ups, women-owned businesses and franchises. Her career trajectory has spanned from the role of non-profit CFO to landing her a spot on Crain's New York "Business 40 under 40" list. Don't forget her stint as a white water canoe ins...

This week on Pop It, we're on site at NKD Lashes, Waxing, and Makeup with estheticians Kristie-Lee Laskes and Crystal Whittemore. Per usual, we are joined by photographer Unity Mike Hendrickson , but this time he's not behind the camera. We're talking event logistics, wedding days, and the means by which a professional image can lead to women's empowerment. NKD and Mike want to party with you like...

When Stacey Luster was elected in 1997, she was the first African American to serve on the Worcester City Council in over six decades. Now, she is the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources, Payroll, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity at Worcester State University. We're discussing diversity, the gender pay gap, and advice for women looking to run for local office. Stacey received her...

This week, we're on site at Pageboy Inc. where a team of craft hairdressers aim to elevate Worcester's hair industry. We are joined by owners Brie Brooks and Carissa Clearwater along with stylist Leanne Rowe. Pageboy is quickly becoming a valuable meeting place for creatives throughout the city, including TRVST Collective, a group of artists, musicians, and craftsmen dedicated to honesty and freed...

This week on Pop It, we're on site at Greater Good , America's First All-Imperial Brewing Company. We are joined by beer and brand specialist JT Ethier, *startender* Katie Mahoney, and front of house manager Melissa Sherry. We're talking abv's, beer scandals, and conflicts of interest. How do you deal with the Carlas in your life? We sample the latest from Hella Cocktail Co. and dive into Bieber's...

This week, we're on stage at Hanover Theater with Anna MacInnis of the Baphomettes burlesque troupe and Erin Hockey who recently appeared in the all-female butcher episode of Chopped . Anna and Erin are womb-level bff's. We hear their beautiful origin story and then discuss the difficult realities of friend-breakups. Sitting alone in a 2,300 seat theater makes honesty come easily. We cover body po...

We're on site at North Main Provisions with owners Alexis Kelleher and Nate Rossi—the duo responsible for Crust Bakeshop . Alexis grew up working at Worcester's most iconic eatery, Coney Island , alongside her mother and great-grandmother. Nate was the sous-chef at Armsby Abbey before joining Alexis at Crust and helping her launch North Main Provisions. For the record, this crew is pro-Jenny from...

We're on site at the Ivy Corset Building with photographer Joe Gonzalez-Dufresne . As an expert third wheel for engaged couples or newlyweds and a wild visionary on commercial shoots, Joe has become one of the most sought-after creatives in Worcester. His signature storytelling style is noted for its sense of natural movement and energy. Photos by our old friend Unity Mike Hendrickson and sound pr...