ACK FM in the Morning

Doug sits down with Sean Allen , President of Nantucket Pride , for a spirited conversation about this year’s highly anticipated Tea Dance event. Taking place Sunday, June 22nd from 3 to 5 PM at the Nantucket Inn , the Tea Dance promises music, celebration, and community — all in support of inclusion and love on the island. Sean shares what guests can expect at the event, how it fits into the broa...

Doug chats with Tom McCann , organizer of the upcoming Nantucket VFW Blood Drive, happening Tuesday, June 10th and Wednesday, June 11th. Tom shares why giving blood is so critical—how just one pint can save up to five lives—and clears up common misconceptions about donating, especially when it comes to concerns like tick-borne illnesses on the island. With a goal of collecting 300 pints, Tom still...

Doug is joined in studio with Elise Norton to discuss the 3rd annual " Ride For Baxter " Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser and community event for all! The upcoming motorcycle charity ride and community fundraising event takes place Sunday June 1, 2025. The charity ride starts at 10am at the Nantucket VFW and the community event follows from 11am till 2pm. The proceeds from the charity rid...

In this interview Doug Risher speaks with Steph Serra , Director of Programming for NCTV and the visionary behind the inaugural New Moon Fest , happening May 24th on Nantucket. Steph dives into the mission of the festival, which is all about empowering women and amplifying their voices, while also spotlighting the creators through an inspiring lineup of film, live performance, storytelling, and co...

Doug is joined by Steven Holdgate, President of the Nantucket Hunting Association, and Jon Green, Director of Education and Training for the Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL), to preview an important upcoming event: the Massachusetts Gun Law Seminar, happening Tuesday, May 6th at 6 p.m. at the Nantucket Inn. The discussion covers recent changes to state gun laws and what they mean for both current...

Massachusetts Senator Julian Cyr and newly appointed Cape and Islands Representative Thomas Moakley join Karen Hill and Doug Risher in the studio for a wide-ranging conversation. Representative Moakley shares what he’s learning about Nantucket’s unique challenges and opportunities, and how working closely with Senator Cyr is already helping to streamline solutions. Senator Cyr reflects on his nine...

Doug Risher catches up with Massachusetts Inspector General Jeff Shapiro during his visit to Nantucket. While on the island, Shapiro spent the day meeting with local leaders—from the town administrator to airport staff and state police—as part of his “listening tour” around the state. He’s the only statewide Inspector General in the country who looks at both state and local government, and he make...

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. She discusses the creation of a "parallel real estate market" designed to keep housing attainable for islanders, shares an update on their successful house recycling project recently completed on...

Doug sits down with Peter Burke , Executive Director of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce , to preview the 49th Annual Daffodil Festival happening Thursday, April 24th through Sunday, April 27th. Peter shares highlights of this cherished island tradition, from the whimsical Flower Crown Party at The Dreamland and the Chamber’s Daffodil Bazaar at Preservation Hall, to the groovy Flower Power...

Doug welcomes Libby Buck and Seth Engelbourg from the Linda Loring Nature Foundation to the studio for a lively conversation about all things nature on Nantucket . Libby and Seth share insights into their roles at LLNF and highlight an exciting lineup of spring programming. From the return of Osprey Watch and the brand-new Feeder Watch project to a special "Science Pub" bird banding talk...

Anne Kuszpa , Executive Director of Housing Nantucket , stops by to chat with Doug. She offers an in-depth look at the organization’s current projects, including the innovative house recycling initiative on Pochick Street in Surfside, aimed at addressing the island’s housing challenges in a sustainable way. Anne also provides updates on the highly anticipated Wiggles Way project, which promises to...

Doug Risher sits down with Mary Casey who is the Executive Director of the Hospital Thrift Shop. Mary stops by the studios to talk about everything going on for their 96th year here on Nantucket including their next winter donation drop-off day which is Saturday February 15th from 10am to 11:30am at 17 India Street. They will also have two more donation days coming up in March. Mary also tells us...

Join Doug as he chats with Rock O’Leary and Chris Anderson from Ezia Athletic Club to explore getting fit and healthy for 2025 Chris and Rockne talk about how they can help you achieve your goals for the new year and how group training can help you stay accountable and motivated.  Rockne also talks about the incredible work of the Flagship Foundation at Ezia. This initiative is tailored for teens...

Anne Kuszpa from Housing Nantucket joins Doug in the studio to share exciting updates following their successful year-end donation campaign. Anne is thrilled to announce that they have surpassed their fundraising goal, thanks to the incredible generosity of the community. She also highlights two key job openings at Housing Nantucket: Assistant Director and Real Estate Project Manager. For those in...

Anne Kuszpa from Housing Nantucket joins Doug in studio to share  updates about all the impactful work on being done here on island! Anne discusses the vital role that your donations play in Housing Nantucket’s mission, which has supported the community for now over 30 years. Housing Nantucket has now provided housing for 635 Nantucket residents! This holiday season, consider giving a gift that ke...

Doug Risher sits down with Libby Buck of the Linda Loring Nature Foundation and Yvonne Vaillancourt , Director of UMass Boston’s Nantucket Field Station , to discuss the upcoming 2024 Nantucket Christmas Bird Count . Taking place on Sunday, December 29, the event is seeking volunteers to help with this annual tradition. Those interested in participating are encouraged to sign up by December 20 by...

Join Doug as he chats with Rock O’Leary and Chris Anderson from Ezia Athletic Club to explore all the exciting offerings happening on Orange Street this December. This month, new members can join for just $25, and your first month is only $25 too! Plus, bring a friend along, and you’ll earn a free training session. Doug also dives into the incredible work of the Flagship Foundation at Ezia. This i...

Doug sits down with Peter Burke , Executive Director of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce , to discuss all the excitement surrounding this year’s 50th Annual Christmas Stroll . Kicking off Friday, December 6th, Peter shares insider tips on how to "Stroll like a pro," whether you're a local or visiting from off-island. Highlights include updates on lot closures, the extended p...

Anne Kuszpa from Housing Nantucket joins Doug in studio to share exciting updates about the organization's impactful work on the island! Anne discusses the vital role donations play in Housing Nantucket’s mission, which has supported the community for over 30 years. With 120 Covenant homes across Nantucket, the nonprofit continues to provide affordable housing solutions. Now, with the additio...

Doug welcomes Anastasia Tumash and Maggie O'Reilly from the Nantucket Atheneum to the studio to dive into the details of the 23rd annual Turkey Plunge. This beloved Thanksgiving tradition takes place on November 28th at 10 a.m. at Children's Beach. They share the excitement and fun awaiting participants of all ages, making it the perfect way to kick off your holiday! Discover why familie...

Doug sits down with Rob Sennott , the Executive Producer of the documentary 76 Days Adrift , for an in-depth conversation about his journey with the project and the story behind bringing it to life. 76 Days Adrift is a gripping adaptation of Steven Callahan's New York Times bestselling memoir Adrift: 76 Days Lost At Sea , offering a powerful first-hand account of survival against the odds. Th...

Doug is joined by Tom McCann , the organizer of the recent blood drive at the Nantucket VFW, and Jeff Hall , Communications Manager and Spokesperson for the Massachusetts American Red Cross . They share the exciting details behind the success of the first blood drive on Nantucket in 28 years, which took place this past Wednesday. They also address common misconceptions about blood donation on the...

Doug is joined in studio with Jim Meehan of the Nantucket Half Marathon and 10K . This is the 13th year for the event which is taking place on Sunday October 13th starting at 8am at Bartlett Farm . Registration is closed, but they are still looking for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer, email Jim at jmeehan207@gmail.com.  You can find out more and still donate at  https://nantuckethalfmar...

Doug welcomes Peter Burke, Executive Director of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, to the studio . In this engaging conversation, Peter shares insights on the Chamber's exciting lineup of upcoming events and initiatives. From networking at Business After Hours to the charming Cobblestones and Cranberries celebration, and the highly anticipated Fall Fashion Show , Peter covers it all!...

In this interview, Doug sits down with Scott Capizzo , a well-known Nantucket native with deep ties to the island. A lifelong resident, Scott has made his mark as a passionate musician, local personality, and a dedicated supporter of the Nantucket football community. His connection to the sport runs deep, with his father, Vito Capizzo , being the legendary Whalers coach. Scott joins Doug to talk a...