What's Happening MoCo?

Send us Fan Mail A split-second glance at a phone, a rushed right turn, a crosswalk you “didn’t see” because of sun glare, that’s how ordinary trips turn into life-changing crashes. We talk with Wade Holland, Montgomery County’s Vision Zero coordinator, about what the county is doing right now to make walking, jogging, biking, and driving safer and what “Vision Zero” really means beyond the name....

Send us Fan Mail Rockville keeps landing on “best places to live” lists, but the price tag can make it feel like only a few people get to enjoy it. We sit down with Dr. James Hedrick, interim executive director of Rockville Housing Enterprises, to pull back the curtain on how affordable housing in Rockville, Maryland actually works and how to get started if you’re feeling stuck. We talk plainly ab...

Send us Fan Mail How do you get solar on your home without the sales pitch, the confusing quotes, and the fear that someone is about to drill holes in your roof? We talk with Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection staff to make solar power feel practical, understandable, and worth your time, whether your goal is lowering your electric bill or doing your part on climate.  We start...

Send us Fan Mail Glenstone Museum in Potomac, Maryland celebrates its 20th anniversary. Over the year's it has redefined what a museum can be.  With modern architecture, serene landscapes, and galleries shaped with input from living artists, it’s one of Montgomery County’s most distinctive places to slow down and explore. We sat down with Valentina Nahon, Senior Director of Public Engagement,...

Send us Fan Mail Wearing blue sounds small until you see what it does for people who have been carrying this alone. We sit down with Marina Thompson, Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), to talk about suicide prevention in a way that is honest, practical, and grounded in community. She explains the meaning behind the Out of the Darkness Community Walk bead color...

Send us Fan Mail Live from the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, Hannah and Lela share what it’s really like to work with horses, why miniature horses are measured differently, and how caring for animals builds calm, focus, and responsibility. We also talk with Anthony from the Ag Fair Junior Board about youth leadership, building a legacy as a first‑generation fair volunteer, and his practical...

Send us Fan Mail A 150-year-old compound sounds like the last place you’d look for modern innovation, yet methylene blue is at the center of one of Montgomery County Maryland’s most fascinating biotech beauty stories. We talk with Jasmin El Kordi, CEO of MBlue Labs, about how a University of Maryland discovery turned into a real-world product line aimed at longevity, anti-aging skincare, and hair...

Send us Fan Mail We’re on site at this historic Montgomery County, Maryland landmark with Ama Mills-Robertson, Chief Program Officer at Glen Echo Park, to unpack what’s really happening beyond the nostalgia: galleries, classes, camps, dances, theater, and hands-on studios where you can actually learn to make things. We talk about what visitors can do today, from pottery, painting, drawing, photogr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we talk with Montgomery County Department of Recreation Director Gabe Albornoz about summer fun offerings from Montgomery County Recreation including what's new at recreation centers and aquatic centers. He also shares why he returned to lead the recreation department. Then the energy shifts to a look back to the Juneteenth Celebration at BlackRock Center for...

Send us Fan Mail Mail-in voting feels like a modern convenience, but the rules behind it are older and more rigorous than most people realize, and one small mistake can create big headaches. We sit down with Dr. Gilberto “Dr. Z” Zelaya from the Montgomery County Board of Elections to make vote by mail in Montgomery County, Maryland feel straightforward, practical, and stress-free. We talk about ho...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Dr. Gilberto Zalaya from the Montgomery County Board of Elections to turn voting season into a simple plan you can actually follow. We break down the 2026 primary timeline, every way to vote, and the fast text tools that help you register, find locations, and avoid last-minute mistakes. Be sure to like, subscribe, and share this very important episode of the What&...

Send us Fan Mail We visit the Brookside Gardens Butterfly Exhibit and talk with conservatory manager Raymond Carter about how a glasshouse full of butterflies runs safely, legally, and beautifully. Along the way, we dig into butterfly biology, horticulture, and how this local attraction connects to real conservation work around the world.  • what a butterfly exhibit is and what visitors can expect...

Send us Fan Mail We recorded this episode from the Montgomery County Recycling Center to answer a resident’s question people ask all the time: does recycling get separated after you toss it together? Along the way, we learn why Montgomery County, Maryland runs a dual stream recycling program, keeping mixed paper and cardboard separate from commingled containers like glass, metal, and plastic to re...

Send us Fan Mail This Woman's History Month, learn about one of the most powerful women in Maryland.  She was an undocumented, 16-year-old that could not speak English when she and her mother came to the U.S. from Venezuela. Today, Council President Natali Fani-Gonzalez joins us to talk about how that experience shaped her into a leader who treats public office like a responsibility to use po...

Send us Fan Mail We talk with Mitsi Herrera about Montgomery Connects, Montgomery County Maryland’s digital opportunity program built around three essentials: affordable broadband, access to a device, and the skills to use it safely and confidently. From COVID era device distribution to the everyday reality of paying bills, applying for benefits, and scheduling health care online, we dig into why...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Frederick Hawkins—Montgomery County’s African American community liaison and podcast host for a candid discussion that follows his journey of service to the African American community and reviews his first year and a half in his position.  Along the way we give advice to youth, talk about the Black Coffee podcast, and Black History Month. If you c...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with MoCo Pride Center’s leadership to unpack what a physical location means for health, safety, and belonging: Testing Tuesdays with full-spectrum STI screenings, a lending library of inclusive books, growing support groups, and rotating health services. Everything is free, open to all county residents, and designed to lift up those most underserved. Then the magic co...

Send us Fan Mail Eight hours changed everything. Coach Joseph Hooks took 480 minutes of winter training and turned it into a movement that helps Montgomery County youth grow through sport, mentorship, and mental wellness. We sit with Coach Hooks to unpack how a grassroots idea became a reliable network that reaches kids where they are—schools, apartment communities, rec centers, and the fields the...

Send us Fan Mail A major winter storm doesn’t have to become a household emergency. We sat down with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue’s Pete Piringer to unpack clear, no-nonsense steps for staying safe when the snow and ice arrive—starting with what to do today. From smoke alarms and escape plans to smart heating, our conversation focuses on the real risks people face when they hunker down: unatt...

Send us Fan Mail A winter storm is closing in, and we’re pulling back the curtain on how Montgomery County keeps people moving when snow stacks up and temperatures plunge. With Storm Operations Center manager Tim Serano, we walk through the real plan: early weather briefings, staffing and contractor call-ups, and why brining primaries and feeders changes the game before the first flake lands. You’...

Send us Fan Mail On January 19th, at 9:30 am we’re inviting you to join the Montgomery County Volunteer Center in a celebration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr at the Silver Spring Civic Building, where volunteers, students, families, and neighbors roll up their sleeves alongside 50+ nonprofits to turn care into action.  Faith McNeil from the Montgomery County Volunteer Center walk...

Send us Fan Mail Ready for a fitness reset that’s real, local, and doable? Kayla Kavoukas with Montgomery County's Department of Recreation dives into how Montgomery County residents can use free Rec Fit Pass access for gyms, open courts, and family-friendly spaces across 21+ recreation centers—plus rotating free offerings like indoor cycling and urban line dancing.  We explore movement that...

Send us Fan Mail Want a clearer way to give that actually moves the needle in Montgomery County? We sit down with Anna Hargrave, Executive Director for the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Montgomery County branch, to unpack how smart philanthropy turns good intentions into measurable local impact.  Anna also opens the curtain on the annual open call for nonprofit applications, the rigoro...

Send us Fan Mail Paychecks paused, budgets stretched, stress rising—when a shutdown hits home, the first question is simple: where can I get help today? We invited Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard to walk us through the fastest, most reliable ways Montgomery County residents can find support for food, rent, mental health, and work options, all without getting lost in red tape....

Send us Fan Mail The health disparities affecting minority communities in Montgomery County demand urgent attention and innovative solutions. In this candid conversation, Councilmember Lori Ann Sales—the first Jamaican American and Black woman to serve in countywide office—brings her unique background in public health to address the systemic challenges facing underserved populations. In the second...