ACK FM in the Morning

Doug sits down with Peter Burke from the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce to preview a packed fall season on the island. From Restaurant Week, running September 29th through October 5th, to the newly reimagined Cobblestones and Catwalks weekend featuring the 3rd Annual Fashion Show and shopping bingo, there’s plenty to look forward to. Peter also shares details on an important energy discussio...

Doug sits down with Meg Browers, Director at Nourish Nantucket , to discuss how the organization is reshaping food security on the island. In the conversation, Meg shares the story behind Nourish Nantucket’s rebrand, the surprising scope of food insecurity in a place often seen as affluent, and how uniting 12 food programs with over 20 service organizations strengthens the safety net for island fa...

Doug sits down with Abby Slosek to talk about the upcoming Nantucket Island Fair , happening September 13–14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tom Nevers Field. Abby shares how the fair brings the community together with a mix of island traditions and family fun. Listeners will hear about highlights like the Artisans Alley, Community Tent, Gertrude’s Harvest Exhibition, and fun contests including bake-off...

Doug welcomes Janet Conner , Luke Thornwell , and Gabby Fee to the studio to talk about the 3rd Annual Nantucket Open Tennis Tournament , happening September 11–14 at the Nantucket Yacht Club . They share the tournament’s origin story, the inspiring Angel Warriors message it promotes, and how the event benefits the Nantucket Whalers High School Tennis program. With men’s, women’s, and mixed double...

Doug sits down with Pastor Chuck Holtry and Jessica Trimble from Best of Care to talk about the upcoming 3rd Annual Community Health Fair, hosted by Nantucket’s Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday, August 24th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marine Home Center . Together, they explore how the fair began, what the theme “Your Health is Your Greatest Wealth” means, and the variety of resources availab...

Doug sits down with some special guest and discuss a night of live music that’s set to rock Nantucket. On Thursday, August 21st, from 7 to 9pm, the Dreamland hosts Corky Laing & The Sleighride , an all-star concert featuring legendary musicians, a special tribute to Peter Frampton, and local favorites sharing the stage. Joining Doug in studio is Jon Shea , Jeff Ross and Jake Vohs to talk about...

Doug speaks with Anne Kuszpa, Executive Director of Housing Nantucket , about the island’s year-round housing crisis and the organization’s efforts to create more affordable options for working families. She highlights two key upcoming events: the world premiere of Room For Us on Monday, August 11th at 7 p.m. at The Dreamland Theatre —followed by a filmmaker talkback—and Raise the Roof on August 1...

Doug is joined by Dr. Sarah Bois , Director of Research and Conservation at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation , to explore the 2025 Nantucket BioBlitz, an island-wide community science event inviting residents and visitors to help document local biodiversity throughout the summer. Dr. Bois discusses what makes this year’s BioBlitz unique, including guided nature walks, the use of the iNaturalist...

Doug sits down with Meg Browers, Director at Nourish Nantucket , to explore Feed Nantucket which is a smart, community-driven initiative tackling two big challenges at once: food waste and food insecurity. Launched this summer, the program collects unused, unopened groceries from short-term rental properties and redirects them to islanders in need, rather than letting them end up in the landfill....

Doug welcomes Nantucket Garden Club co-chairs Robin Kelly and Elizabeth Shepard to the studio for a conversation about one of the island’s most beloved summer traditions: the 2025 Annual House and Garden Walking Tour . This year’s theme, “A Scenic Sconset Stroll,” invites guests to explore the charming streets and stunning private gardens of ‘Sconset on Wednesday, August 6th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m...

Doug talks with Olympic gold and silver medalist AJ Mleczko Griswold about the fifth annual Ice Out ALZ , happening Thursday, August 7th from 7:30 to 9:30 PM at Cisco Brewers . This inspiring Nantucket event unites the island and sports communities to support the Alzheimer’s Association with an evening of food, drinks, a spirited cornhole tournament, and special guests—including NHL veteran Hal Gi...

Doug sits down with BJ Ganem , founder of Sierra Delta , to talk about “Nantucket Week,” a three-day series of events running July 24th through 27th, all aimed at supporting Sierra Delta’s mission of pairing veterans with life-saving service dogs. BJ shares the inspiration behind each event, from Thursday’s high-energy “Party for a Purpose” at The Chicken Box —where music meets philanthropy—to Sat...

Doug talks with Haroula Rose — the only artist to have participated in Almanack Arts as both a screenwriter and a songwriter. Haroula reflects on how that rare crossover has shaped her creative process and why it makes her the perfect bridge for this Friday’s Almanack Arts and Almanack Screenwriters Summer Soiree . She previews her live set, talks about collaborating with fellow performers like Ca...

Doug speaks with Jim Pignato and Jill Roethke , co-event directors of Swim Across America on Nantucket, as they gear up for the 2025 swim happening this Saturday, July 26th at Jetties Beach. They share the history of the event, which raises funds to support local cancer treatment and care, and explain how swimmers, volunteers, and supporters can still get involved. Jim reflects on his long-standin...

In this interview, Doug chats with Mark Norris , owner of Island Flagpoles , about how his local business got started and what inspired him to specialize in flagpoles on Nantucket. Mark shares insights into the different types of flagpoles he offers—wooden, aluminum, residential, and commercial—and explains how he helps customers choose the right option for their homes or businesses. He also talks...

Doug talks with Lauren Murray-Soverino and Conner Soverino of Murray’s Toggery Shop as the iconic Nantucket store celebrates its 80th year in business. They reflect on the legacy of the Murray family, the impact of Nantucket Reds on the brand’s identity, and their vision for the future. Plus, hear about their special Trunk Show happening this Saturday, July 19th from 1 to 6:30pm, along with Specia...

Doug sits down with acclaimed actors Nina Hellman and Jeremy Shamos to talk about their powerful new production What the Constitution Means to Me , now playing at the Nantucket Performing Arts Center through July 17th. They discuss the show's timely themes, their personal connections to the material, and what it’s like bringing this award-winning play to the island stage. For tickets and more...

Doug chats with Kevin Flynn , founder of the Nantucket Comedy Festival , about this year’s three-night laugh fest at the Dreamland Theater. Kevin breaks down each night—from Thursday’s Women’s Night of Comedy , to Friday’s Canadian comic showcase O' Canada! and student performers, to Saturday’s epic NYC vs. Boston Comedy Smackdown . It’s a weekend full of top-tier talent and nonstop laughs! T...

Doug catches up with AG of Clover County , the up and coming group behind the rising hit “Ultraviolet” which is currently in rotation on 97.7 ACK FM. AG joins Doug live from Nantucket ahead of a private performance at the Almanack Arts Colony on Tuesday, July 8th. The two chat about the band’s first impressions of the island, the creative process behind “Ultraviolet” , and what it’s like performin...

Anne Kuszpa , Executive Director of Housing Nantucket , joins Doug Risher in the studio for a deep dive into the innovative work her organization is doing to tackle the island’s housing crisis. Anne tells us about their upcoming exciting event at the Gaslight! It's their annual Fundraising event for Housing Nantucket on Friday August 15th! People will enjoy cocktail's, lite bites and liv...

Doug talks with Seth Engelbourg of the Linda Loring Nature Foundation about their upcoming “Ecologist in Training” workshop focused on vegetation monitoring, happening July 15th from 9 AM to noon. Seth shares how participants will get hands-on experience identifying rare plant species, learning scientific field methods like vegetation transects, GPS mapping, and photo-monitoring—all while explorin...

Doug chats with directors Guy Mossman and Jen Tiexiera about their documentary Speak. , which follows five high school speech competitors tackling timely topics like book bans, gun violence, and LGBTQ+ rights. The filmmakers share how they captured the emotional highs and lows of competition while spotlighting young voices shaping the future. Speak. is this year’s Closing Night Film at the Nantuck...

Doug sits down with acclaimed directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine to talk about their new documentary Middletown , screening at this year’s Nantucket Film Festival. The film revisits a riveting true story from the early 1990s, when a group of high school students in upstate New York uncovered a web of corruption and environmental danger in their hometown. Doug and the filmmakers discuss the fi...

Doug sits down with indie rock powerhouse Mo Lowda & the Humble ahead of their highly anticipated two-night run at The Gaslight on Nantucket, happening June 25th and 26th. The Philly-based trio talk about their relentless touring, their loyal fanbase, and the process of writing and self-producing their brand new album "Tailing the Ghost," which just dropped on June 20th. Hear stories...

Doug welcomes a dynamic trio from the Nantucket Film Festival into the studio— Executive Director Mystelle Brabbée , Director of Programming Anita Raswant , and Director of Signature Programs Jaclyn Wohl . With the festival set to run June 25 through June 30, the conversation dives into this year’s most anticipated spotlight films, unique signature events and readings, and the big 30th Anniversary...