Grounded in Granite

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to Portsmouth, England, to explore the origins of the Hampshire name and the rich history inside Ye Spotted Dogge, which was once the home of New Hampshire founder Capt. John Mason. With roots tracing back to the 1500s, the building has seen its fair share of historical events, including the infamous murder of the 1st Duke of Buc...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber visits the American Independence Center in Exeter, N.H., where history comes alive through rare artifacts and hidden stories of America's founding. As America celebrates its 250th birthday this year, Executive Director Joe Pace shares the story of the center, which was created after an original, perfectly preserved broadside of the f...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to Pittsburg, N.H. to sit down with Alan Ard, who is better known as the "Old Man at Lopstick."The northernmost town in New Hampshire's Great North Woods, Pittsburg is a destination for fly fishing, but for Ard, it isn't just a sport; it's a way of life. After spending decades fishing in the Great North Woods, he decided to leave...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to historic Ruggles Mine in Grafton, N.H., to sit down with owner Joe Bodge -- known as Prospector Joe -- who shares the captivating story of his unlikely journey to bring this 200-year-old mica mine back to life as a local attraction. Prospector Joe bought Ruggles Mine -- the oldest and largest mica mine in the United States --...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber stops by the New England Santa Society's monthly Santa Supper in Manchester, N.H., to explore what life is really like year-round for professional Santas.  The supper is held at the Common Man Roadside Millyard and attracts Santas from across New Hampshire and New England who come together for casual conversations and to share experi...

In this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to the New Hampshire Seacoast to get the scoop on Lago's Homemade Ice Cream in Rye, N.H. -- a summertime destination for the past 45 years. What he learned is that ice cream is more than just a sweet treat; it's a canvas for creativity and tradition. During their conversation, Steve Grenier, who runs the popular ice cream...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber visits the headquarters of iHeart New Hampshire in Manchester, N.H., to sit down with legendary New Hampshire radio host Greg Kretschmar, host of the popular long-running radio show "Greg & the Morning Buzz." During their conversation, Kretschmar, who's been a staple of New Hampshire radio for more than 40 years, shares...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to Warner, N.H., to get a look inside one of New Hampshire's most unusual museums: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum. Graham Gifford, the museum's executive director, shares the history of communication gadgets, from early wall-mounted phones to modern smartphones, and the fascinating stories behind the artifacts and the...

As I celebrate the sixth-month mark for my weekly podcast Grounded in Granite, I thought I would share a video reflecting on my experience so far producing a weekly podcast about people and places in New Hampshire that's recorded on location with guests all around this great state. It's been quite the journey. I've learned a lot, but I've got a long way to go.

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber heads to Franklin, N.H., for a look inside the fascinating world of staples at New Hampshire's staple factory. Acme Staple Company owner Tom Gold sits down to share the story behind this unique business, which may be small and unknown to many Granite Staters, but it plays a big role in the industry as it's one of only three major...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber visits the McDonald's in Raymond, N.H., for a chat with Ray Kearns, who is one of the most positive workers you'll ever meet. Ray, a New Hampshire man with Down syndrome, is a custodian who brings smiles to the workplace every day and has been the friendly face of this McDonald’s for 10 years. He’s not just cleaning; he’s building connec...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber sits down with Coleman Cawley, owner of Turdle's Septic Service in Thornton, N.H., to get all the dirt on what it's REALLY like cleaning septic tanks in New Hampshire. Their chat takes place at a job site at Owl's Retreat, an Airbnb located at 383 Owl St. in Campton, N.H. Coleman shares his experiences and insights on this stinky line of...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber boards the USS Albacore at Albacore Park in Portsmouth, N.H., to discover the fascinating history and innovations of this one-of-a-kind research submarine that is now a major attraction for visitors to the New Hampshire Seacoast. Built at the nearby Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and launched in 1953, the Albacore is a unique piece of maritim...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to Blue Ribbon Dry Cleaners in Exeter, N.H. to unlock the fascinating history behind New Hampshire's oldest dry cleaner ... where family tradition meets innovation, and every stain has a story. Owner Brian Fieldsend shares how this family-run dry cleaning business has been woven into the community's fabric since 1929. Dis...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to Littleton, N.H., to take you inside the iconic Jax Jr. Cinemas. Littleton native and local restaurant owner John Alberini shares the story of how he rescued the once shuttered small-town cinema that's been a downtown landmark for more than a century in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. From nostalgic memories as a kid to...

President and CEO Lisa Dennison shares the story of her 32-year journey leading the state's largest animal welfare organization and transforming it from a humble shelter in Stratham, N.H., into a comprehensive nonprofit that has rescued hundreds of thousands of animals during her time. During their conversation, Dennison highlights her legacy, the evolution of animal care, and the community&#3...

BONUS EPISODE: In this special edition of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to Dover, N.H., to catch up with 109-year-old Dick Durette, a supercentenarian who resides at Langdon Place of Dover and is believed to be New Hampshire's oldest resident and the oldest living graduate of the University of New Hampshire. From the livingroom of his apartment, Dick reflects on his remarka...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber travels to Manchester, N.H., to hear Amy Cloutier's inspiring story of overcoming addiction, transforming pain into purpose, and building community-based recovery programs in New Hampshire. During the conversation, Amy shares her deeply personal journey from being addicted to heroin while homeless on the streets of Manchester to foun...

In this episode of Grounded in Granite, host Jason Schreiber takes us behind the scenes of New Hampshire's maple season with a visit to Ken St. Pierre's sugar house in Wolfeboro, N.H. Discover the fascinating process of maple sugaring through the eyes of St. Pierre, a small-scale maple syrup producer and conservation officer with New Hampshire Fish and Game. Their conversation inside the s...

In this episode, host Jason Schreiber stops by the firehouse in Gilmanton Iron Works, N.H. and sits down with Firefighter/Paramedic Matt Greene, better known as New Hampshire's "Fiddling Firefighter." Matt shares how he uses his love for fiddle playing to stay grounded amid the chaos of emergency response. The episode explores the powerful intersection of music, mental health, and fi...

"Please give us room and go slow." Those are the words of Jim Eckert, a seasoned plow driver for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation who shares his story of what life is REALLY like behind the wheel of the plow truck on this episode of Grounded in Granite. During the conversation with host Jason Schreiber at the DOT's highway shed in New Hampton, N.H., Eckert, provides ins...

In this episode of Grounded in Granite, we visit a hidden gem for families: The Creative Duckling, a children's art and activity studio in the heart of Pembroke, N.H., where owner Anita Wolcott showcases her extraordinary collection of 2,266 rubber ducks. Anita shares the quirky story behind this unique collection, which grows by the hundreds every year; her journey in creating a delightful sp...

In this episode of Grounded in Granite, we sit down for a chat with long-time New Hampshire farmer John Hutton inside the horse barn at Coppal House Farm in Lee, N.H. Farmer John, as he is known to most, shares the story of year-round life on this popular farm, from the horse-drawn sleigh rides during the winter to the Sunflower Festival and professionally designed corn mazes that draw thousands o...

On this episode of Grounded in Granite, we travel to Brapsard's Powder Coating in Franklin, N.H., where owner Jason Brassard shares the powerful story behind his unique method of memorializing loved ones by incorporating their ashes into powder coating. For many, Brassard is providing a meaningful path to healing for those who are grieving. Through heartfelt anecdotes and reflections on grief,...

In this episode of Grounded in Granite, we head to Van Otis Chocolates in Manchester, N.H., to check out the sweet scene just in time for Valentine's Day. Melissa Balon, who manages the marketing for this iconic chocolate shop renowned for its Swiss fudge, shares insight into the busy holiday season, how Valentine's Day ranks, the production process, and the success story behind this downt...