In My Footsteps: A Gen-X Nostalgia Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Episode 33 begins with a classic tale of old New England folklore . Could a creeping vine predict the impending deaths of a cursed family?  This is the tale of the Dummerston Vine Cemetery of Vermont. VCR's, Rotary Phones, and more! What are the Top 5 pieces of Obsolete Technology of the last 40 years?  These are the things that were huge at one point but have faded away. At...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 32 starts with one of the most infamous murder cases in American history.  Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother 40 whacks. Or did she?  Although acquitted for the murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River in 1892 the court of public opinion was far different.  Lizzie Borden's story is fascinating and goes far beyond the double-murder trial. The epic 201...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 31 begins with an overview of my amazing 2019 Road Trip .  Spanning 2,100-miles, 6 days, and 11 states, it was chock full of incredible sites I had always wanted to see.  In this episode I explain why I went, how I pulled off so many miles in such a short time, and preview some of the places I saw. We begin the journey with a trip to Hudson, New York .  Seen as one of the...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 30 is a special Bonus edition of the podcast. It is a subject I've wanted to speak on for a while and was just waiting for the appropriate time.  It is all about one of my oldest and most important friends in my life.  His name was Matt and he passed away suddenly and far too young four years ago.  This episode will deal with losing someone, the grief, and sometimes r...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 29 kicks off with my memories of my one and so far only television appearance.  I go into detail about how I got on WCVB-TV Channel 5 Boston's Award-Winning show Chronicle in 2019 and give some behind the scenes fun stories. We take a Road Trip to the small town of Middleborough, Massachusetts .  Nestled halfway between New Bedford and Plymouth it feels bigger than it...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 28 begins with a return to the Dedication to the Craft series.  This time it is a wild, fun-filled trip Steve and I took to Martha's Vineyard .  It includes alpacas, fearless skunks, Jaws filming locations, and more! The mood gets darker with the story of cannibalism on Boon Island, Maine.  A shipwreck 300 years ago led to the survivors making some difficult decisions...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 27 begins by sharing the long history of a Southern New England staple, the Benny's retail store.  Originally an automotive store it evolved into a place you could get anything you needed over its nearly a century in existence. Take a Road Trip to the little seaside resort town of Hampton Beach, New Hampshire .  It may be less than 2 square miles in size but it is pac...

Send us Fan Mail The history of the iconic supernova that was the Cape Cod Coliseum is covered in depth on a special Bonus episode of the podcast. Episode 26 covers the flash in the pan that was the Coliseum beginning with its inception as mainly a hockey rink for youth hockey and the Cape Cod Cubs .  What followed was a who's who of musical talent throughout the 1970's into the 1980&apo...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 25 has a few new and exciting changes! The debut of the Top 5 includes Cape Cod Icons , the places you have to see and experience if you have never been to the Cape, or even if you have been a thousand times. Restaurant Storytime Part II goes back to my first year in the industry.  A humble dishwasher embroiled in a food fight that ended in a TKO on a fellow coworker. We g...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 24 starts off with a special interview.  Mason Pryme is a highly-rated, award-winning chef. He is now plying his trade at the Cleat & Anchor in Dennis Port.  He shared why this is his favorite place he has worked thus far and why you should come visit(Hint: Smoked BBQ, a huge craft beer list, live entertainment) For decades a looming hulk sat out in Cape Cod Bay. Thoug...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 23 starts with a look back at one of Cape Cod's most iconic restaurants: Mildred's Chowder House .  In the shadow of the Barnstable Airport this legend spent decades delivering classic clam chowder to locals and visitors alike.  It is still looked back upon fondly more than 20 years after it closed. This episode's Road Trip is a journey to one of the most be...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 22 is another shorter bonus episode of the podcast. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this episode is a deep dive into shining a light on mental health issues, specifically depression. Chris Cornell was an extremely talented, versatile, and successful musician for more than 25 years.  In the early morning hours of May 18, 2017 after a show with his band Soundgarden...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 21 is packed!  It is the week of the launch of my 6th book Iconic Hotels and Motels of Cape Cod through Arcadia Publishing/History Press !  I go over some of what went into the creation of this book, how Covid delayed it, and where to get it!  Also join in the Book Launch Livestream Monday May 24th at 7:30pm on Instagram. In 1984 a nearly 500-foot freighter named Eldia was...

Send us Fan Mail This is a special bonus episode of the podcast.  Episode 20 falls on the 2 year anniversary of the death of my grandfather John Sullivan .  I thought what better way to honor him than by sharing who he was, what he did, and why he was the person I try to be in my own life. We start with an overview of his life.  From his childhood in Fitchburg, adulthood in Brockton, and later yea...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 19 starts off with the debut of a fun new segment.  Restaurant Storytime shares entertaining, strange, but totally true stories from my nearly 2 decades in the restaurant industry.  This first story is all about a snowball fight gone wrong . Next up is a Road Trip to Owl's Head, Maine . An absolutely quintessential Maine small town there is a lot to see but it might b...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 18 begins with the unique Storyland amusement park that stood where the Cape Cod Mall currently stands.  A beloved fixture of the 1950's and 1960's this Mother Goose inspired attraction was a destination before Hyannis became the hub of the Cape. In the picturesque beauty of Northern Vermont , placed perfectly between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains is the...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 17 starts with chicken strips and ice cream as I reminisce about lunch dates with my Nina at Friendly's .  From patty melts, Fishamajigs, Jubilee Rolls, to Jim Dandy sundaes and Fribbles there were few places I loved going more as a kid than Friendly's.  Learn some of the history of this New England/Northeast staple. Nantucket island is so filled with incredible...

Send us Fan Mail It's the Sweet 16 episode of the podcast. Raise a glass to one of Cape Cod's Prohibition -era speakeasies .  The Casa Madrid sat among the trees in a quiet village of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts however inside the unique building was a raucous party atmosphere.  The only thing bigger than the party was the raid that exposed the illegal activities going on inside. Befor...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 15 is a very bittersweet one.  I am sad yet proud to share a celebration of life for my Nina, Rosemarie Sullivan , who passed March 23.  It is a reflection of the amazing person she was, with some funny moments as well.  It is meant to bring back good memories of loved ones for anyone who has lost those who meant so much. We take a Road Trip to one of New England's mo...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 14 starts with a special introduction to photography .  Recorded on location at the Old Stone Church in West Boylston, Massachusetts I interview professional photographer Steve Drozell .  He shares some tips for those looking to get into photography and hints on how to improve your work for those that have wanted to take better photos. Springtime is here, it is a great tim...

Send us Fan Mail Lucky Episode 13 of the podcast begins with the story of The Outermost House in Eastham, Massachusetts.  The tiny dune shack known as Fo'castle was where author Henry Beston lived for a year and wrote of life on Cape Cod's Great Beach.  But what of the shack after the book was written?  We explore that here. Take a trip way Back in the Day to Chuck E Cheese's '...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 12 I share the process and results of my Ancestry DNA test.  There were definitely a few surprises but overall it was a highly informative and positive experience.  I'll let you know the nuts and bolts of the process for anyone who was thinking of purchasing a test kit for themselves. We take a look back at one of the originals of New England amusement parks, Rocky...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 11 is a loaded show!  It begins with a special interview with Katie Marks . Her clothing and apparel company Wear Your Wish launches on February 28th.  She describes her journey from single mother to business owner in an interview sure to inspire! We go Back In the Day to a fun game we used to play in my neighborhood growing up.  Whether you called it Manhunt , or somethin...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 10 marks 7 years since the very first author event for my very first book In My Footsteps: A Cape Cod Travel Guide .  I take a look back at that event, what led up to it, how it went, and how events evolved after. This week's Road Trip takes us as far east as we can go in the United States.  The tiny town of Lubec, Maine is within sight of Canada and has a special spo...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 9 of the podcast has a special interview segment: Covid In College . I interview my two oldest nieces about the changes and challenges they have faced going to college during the pandemic.  We take a look back at one of the most infamous storms to ever hit New England, the Blizzard of '78 .  This storm changed the shape of Cape Cod immensely, specifically the popular...