ACK FM in the Morning

Doug speaks with Anna P. Jay about her unique path into fine jewelry. With a background in geology from the College of William & Mary and advanced training from the Gemological Institute of America , Anna shares how science shapes her passion for colored gemstones. She discusses her boutique’s focus on vibrant stones, what is new in its fourth season, and why trying on jewelry in person matter...

Doug sits down with Hayden Arnot of the Nantucket Music Foundation to discuss the highly anticipated return of the summer concert series at The Muse , one of Nantucket’s most distinctive live music venues. Reflecting on last year’s success and the strong community response, Hayden shares the inspiration behind launching the series and why fostering a vibrant, accessible music scene on the island m...

Doug sits down with Anne Kuszpa of Housing Nantucket for an in-depth conversation on the nonprofit’s latest efforts to expand year-round housing opportunities on the island. Kuszpa spotlights the current Sandpiper lottery, where six homes are now available and applications are actively being accepted, and she breaks down in detail the eligibility requirements, giving listeners a clear understandin...

 Doug chats with filmmaker and musician Todd Anders Johnson about bringing his climate-focused documentary Cresta Alta back to Cape Cod and Nantucket, places deeply tied to his personal and creative roots. As the film tour makes local stops, including a special Earth Day screening at Nantucket Dreamland and a Hyannis event, Todd reflects on the significance of connecting global climate stories, fr...

Doug chats with Keely Farrell and Renee Ceely from the Egan Maritime Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum about their upcoming “ What’s In Your Attic? ” event happening Saturday, April 18th from 3 to 4:30 pm. They explain how the community is invited to bring in personal artifacts, photos, and heirlooms to uncover the stories behind them, connect with Nantucket’s rich maritime history, and even get i...

Doug chats with Peter Burke of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce to preview the upcoming 50th Annual Nantucket Daffodil Festival , happening Friday, April 24th through Sunday, April 26th. Peter highlights some of the weekend’s signature traditions, including the Origins of the Festival, the Flower Show at the Nantucket Inn , the antique car show on Main Street, and the always popular car pa...

Doug sits down with Anne Kuszpa from Housing Nantucket about the latest updates from the nonprofit focused on creating year-round housing opportunities on the island. She highlighted several upcoming initiatives including homes in the Sandpiper development that will soon be available through a lottery, the recent completion of another round of First Time Homebuyer Education classes designed to hel...

Doug Risher speaks with Libby Buck of the Linda Loring Nature Foundation about the upcoming return of ospreys to Nantucket and the community science effort known as the Nantucket Osprey Watch . Libby explains when islanders typically see the first osprey of the season and why their arrival is such an exciting sign of spring. She also discusses how the Osprey Watch program allows residents and visi...

Doug sits down with Peter Burke , Executive Director of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce , to talk about one of the island’s most beloved holiday traditions, the Red Ticket Drawing, happening Christmas Eve on Main Street at 1 pm. Peter explains how the Red Ticket program works, why shoppers need to be present to win, and how the event supports local businesses while encouraging holiday sho...

Doug sits down in studio with Anne Kuszpa , Executive Director of Housing Nantucket , to discuss one of the most urgent challenges facing the island, the shortage of year round housing for working families. Anne offers a clear snapshot of where housing availability stands as the year comes to a close, outlines the financial and regulatory hurdles involved in creating and preserving affordable home...

Doug sits down with Detective Keith Mansfield and Officer Andrew McNeilly of the Nantucket Police Department to introduce the community to the new Citizen Police Academy , an engaging program designed to give residents an inside look at how the department operates. Detective Mansfield explains what the Academy is, who is eligible to participate, and how long the program has been offered, along wit...

Doug sits down with Mary Casey , Executive Director of the Hospital Thrift Shop on Nantucket, to discuss how this beloved island institution turns donated goods into meaningful support for Nantucket Cottage Hospital . Mary shares the mission of the thrift shop, details about the return of donation days starting in January, and what items the shop is most excited to receive. She explains how donati...

Doug sits down with Heather Woodbury of Wicked Island Bakery and Lisa Wisentaner of Nantucket Cycling and Fitness , the founders of Sneaky Santa , a heartfelt island tradition launched in 2020. Together, they share how this community-powered project partners with the Nantucket Hotel , local businesses, and generous donors to give a deserving family an unforgettable Christmas, complete with a two n...

Doug sits down with Libby Buck from the Linda Loring Nature Foundation to talk about the 71st Nantucket Christmas Bird Count , happening December 28. This 24-hour tradition brings volunteers together to record every bird spotted across the island, with last year’s effort tallying 138 species and more than 40,000 individual birds. Libby shares how the count has grown since 1954, how the island is d...

Doug sits down with Peter Burke , Executive Director of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce , for a festive look at the island’s holiday season and the beloved Nantucket Christmas Stroll . They talk about what’s included in this year’s Nantucket Noel and how Stroll fits into the larger celebration, the meaning behind the theme Shine On, Nantucket, and the exciting new events visitors and loca...

Doug spotlights a true island tradition with a look at the Milestone Cranberry Bog, one of Nantucket’s most iconic agricultural landscapes cared for by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. He’s joined by Nick Larabee , NCF’s Director of Land Management and a third-generation cranberry farmer, to talk about his family’s deep roots at the bog, the legacy of cranberry farming on the island, and wha...

Doug speaks with Anne Kuszpa , Executive Director of Housing Nantucket , about one of the island’s most urgent challenges, year-round housing for working families. Anne shares a snapshot of the current housing landscape and the barriers to creating and preserving affordable homes, from financial and regulatory hurdles to community resistance. She also discusses Housing Nantucket’s newly released H...

Doug sits down with Zahra Kasza , Director of Development of The Warming Place , to talk about a vital community effort that opens its doors this weekend. The Warming Place provides more than just a warm bed during the cold months—it offers connection, care, and support for Nantucketer’s experiencing homelessness. Zahra shares insight into the organization’s mission, the unique challenges of homel...

Doug is joined by Seth Engelbourg from the Linda Loring Nature Foundation to celebrate a very special milestone….the 10th anniversary of Trails and Treats ! This beloved family-friendly fall tradition takes place Friday, October 24th from 3 to 5 PM at LLNF, offering an afternoon of costumes, candy, and nature-filled fun. Seth shares how the event has grown over the past decade, what families can l...

Doug sits down with Laura Gallagher Byrne , founder and executive artistic director of the Nantucket Stage Company . Laura shares her journey from arts educator to theater visionary, reflecting on a career spent inspiring island youth and building creative community through performance. They discuss what motivated her to dedicate her life to teaching and the arts, who continues to inspire her toda...

Doug welcomes Frank McGillin from the Nantucket Athletic Association to talk about one of the island’s favorite fall traditions…..the 14th Annual Nantucket Half Marathon . Recognized by Runner’s World as one of North America’s top coastal courses, the event showcases Nantucket’s beauty and community spirit, starting and finishing at Bartlett’s Farm. Frank shares how the race has grown over 14 year...

Doug is joined by singer-songwriter Steve Kunzman to talk about his brand-new album Under the Moon , now streaming everywhere. Steve shares the inspiration behind the record’s title and songwriting, his creative collaboration with producer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Wisch , and the stellar lineup of musicians that include Kevin Barry, Zev Katz, Cameron Wisch, and Patty Antol who helped bring th...

Doug sits down with Bianca Brown , Events Manager at the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce , to talk about one of the island’s most stylish weekends….it’s Cobblestones and Catwalks , happening over Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend. This celebration of local fashion, shopping, and community features the 3rd annual Fashion Show on Friday, October 10th at the Nantucket Hotel , and the fan-favorite...

Doug sits down with Anne Kuszpa, Executive Director of Housing Nantucket , to discuss the organization’s mission and a new $25,000 matching grant that doubles community support. Anne previews the October 20th event at the Atheneum (2–3:30pm) where the results of the latest housing needs assessment will be shared, along with details on First-Time Homebuyers Education Classes happening October 9, 16...

Singer-songwriter Stewart Lewis , best known as the founding member of Acoustic Junction , joins Doug in studio to share his musical journey and his latest project, the Stewart Lewis Trio . Ahead of their live performance at The Gaslight on Nantucket this Thursday, October 2nd at 9pm, Stewart talks about the evolution of his sound, the unique energy the Trio brings to the stage, and the inspiratio...