My Story Vault with Dr. Dennis Rebelo

Aaron Bayer’s story begins with a childhood defined by uncertainty. Raised by a family of traveling lounge singers, he spent much of his early life moving between communities, attending multiple schools, and navigating periods of financial hardship. Aaron reflects on growing up in California, where he often felt out of place, particularly after being bused into a more affluent middle school during...

Kaitlyn Keen joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo in the Vault to reflect on a life shaped by advocacy, caregiving, curiosity, and community. Raised in Springfield, Illinois, Kaitlyn describes herself as an explorer from an early age, spending childhood weekends riding bikes, seeking adventure, and learning how to navigate environments that either nurtured or limited her sense of belonging. Through stories abo...

Jordan Callahan, a lifelong Berkshire resident, reflects on his journey from an energetic student at Pine Cobble School to Lead Manufacturing Technician at Noble Carbon, a microelectronics clean tech company developing smart circuit breakers. After choosing McCann Technical School in eighth grade, Jordan immersed himself in computer-assisted design, exploring mechanical engineering, architecture,...

Amanda Zepka joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo in the Vault to reflect on a life shaped by movement, observation, and values-driven decision-making. Born and raised in rural Savoy, Massachusetts, Amanda grew up immersed in imagination, outdoor play, reading, and film, while dancing competitively from age three through high school. Dance became both a discipline and a form of expression, shaping how she unde...

In this episode of My Story Vault , Amy Sosne joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on a life shaped by trauma, resilience, and an ongoing commitment to trauma-informed education. A medical doctor, author, and educator at Williams College, Amy traces her story from growing up in New Jersey through her academic path at Williams, Mount Sinai, and psychiatry residency, where her lived experiences began...

In this episode, Dr. Joshua Mendel, Chief of Staff at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to trace a life shaped by service, community commitment, and long-standing ties to the Berkshires. Josh begins by revisiting his early childhood in Adams, where outdoor exploration, a tight-knit community, and supportive parents helped form the foundations of curiosity and re...

In this special solo episode of My Story Vault, Dr. Dennis Rebelo steps out from behind the interviewer’s chair to reflect on the purpose and impact of the podcast series. He explains why he and the team dedicate extensive time and resources to uncovering compelling narratives—stories that guests often don’t realize hold deep professional and personal meaning. Drawing from examples such as Rich Pe...

From the Catskills to Colorado to the Berkshires, Rich Peters’ story is one of discovery, reinvention, and service. A former professional truck driver turned Chief Scientist at SABIC, Rich reflects on a life that proves learning doesn’t follow a straight line. Growing up in a working-class family where education wasn’t emphasized, Rich discovered his passion for learning later in life — after a ch...

In this episode of My Story Vault , Dr. Dennis Rebelo sits down with Peter Stasiowski, Director of Communications at Interprint in Pittsfield. A Berkshire native, Peter traces his early years from North Adams and Williamstown, where family, community, and competition shaped his worldview. He recalls learning to code on an Apple II computer, building early graphics in BASIC, and discovering Macinto...

In this episode of My Story Vault , Dr. Dennis Rebelo sits down with Roger Questel—woodcarver, sculptor, inventor, and founder of Questech—for a vivid and often humorous journey through a life shaped by curiosity, craftsmanship, and creative risk-taking. Born with dyslexia and drawn early to the visual world, Roger found his voice not in words but in wood, carving objects in a Manhattan apartment...

Hope Ross Gibaldi joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on her journey from a young parent experimenting with crafts and Mary Kay to a recognized leader in entrepreneurship and innovation. Now the Director for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the 68 Center for Career Exploration at Williams College, Hope discusses the importance of experiential learning and programmatic inclusion in liberal arts se...

In this rich and personal episode of My Story Vault , Jenny Wright—Executive Director of the North Adams Partnership—joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on the unexpected journey that brought her to community leadership in the Northern Berkshires. Raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Jenny describes a childhood marked by solitude, a love of books, and disciplined engagement with classical music and rep...

Morgan Everett joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on a multidimensional journey from law firms in Salt Lake City to the creative economy of North Adams, Massachusetts. Now the Director of Public Initiatives and Real Estate at MASS MoCA, Morgan shares how his early interests in art, architecture, and human connection eventually found expression in the nonprofit and cultural development space. Raise...

His journey is a story of innovation, leadership, and community impact. As the CEO of Boyd Biomedical, Stephen’s teams have helped design, build, and launch groundbreaking biomedical solutions. But his path began much earlier, with a childhood defined by curiosity, exploration, and an entrepreneurial spirit. From his first painting business in high school to studying psychology and religion at Mid...

In this episode of My Story Vault , we sit down with Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank—intellectual property attorney, strategist, technologist, and advocate for women in STEM. From early experiences teaching herself programming on a Commodore 64, Giovanna's path has always been about decoding complex systems—whether it’s a line of code, the U.S. patent system, or the undercurrents of what’s justice in...

Tom Thalmann’s story is one of exceptional devotion—not just to a car, but to an ethos of presence, longevity, and meaningful exploration. A biotech advisor and Porsche enthusiast, Tom joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to share how a single 911 Turbo has become both a travel companion and a mirror for life’s deeper lessons. From his early fascination with the form and function of Porsche design to his 730,0...

Entrepreneur, social worker, and person in long-term recovery, Alex Brown joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo in the Vault to reflect on a life shaped by family legacy, disruption, and deep care. Raised in the iconic Berkshire property Blantyre and immersed in hospitality from an early age, Alex shares how his mother’s attention to non-drinking guests—mocktails, hot chocolate menus, and sparkling water tastin...

Justin McKennon’s journey reflects a blend of curiosity, perseverance, and self-leadership. Growing up in Springfield, MA, Justin navigated a complex childhood, shaped by the guidance of his Big Brother - from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program - and his passion for learning. His pursuit of knowledge led him to a career as Principal Scientist at EMA, where he bridges technical innovation with le...

Daniel Bennett's journey exemplifies dedication, creativity, and adaptability. From his early days insisting on playing the saxophone to his studies at Roberts Wesleyan and the New England Conservatory, Daniel's life is a testament to following one’s passion and purpose. In this engaging episode, Daniel discusses how his spiritual beliefs and creative instincts shape his work both as a touring jaz...

Sue Mead’s life exemplifies curiosity, bravery, and determination. Her adventurous spirit, ignited in childhood through outdoor explorations and reading National Geographic magazines, led her to a remarkable path in photography, journalism, and  off-road racing. In this captivating conversation on My Story Vault, with Dr. Dennis Rebelo, Sue shares transformative moments that shaped her personal an...

Juan Rodriguez’s journey—from New York City’s boroughs to the heart of Providence—charts a powerful narrative of resilience, innovation, and service. In this episode, Juan shares how his upbringing, family influences, and life experiences led to the creation of Winner’s Circle XR Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to providing access to virtual, augmented, and mixed reality learning for students in un...

Robert’s journey blends his move to the Berkshires to help a credit union with his dream of creating a better children’s car seat. His “jump a creek” mentality—going all in, engaging fully, and using lessons to improve—shapes his approach. Get ready for a fast-paced, high-energy conversation! Links: Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerat...

Jared's journey to becoming an inventor and renewable energy co-founder began with his early creative responses to South Africa’s “rolling blackouts.” His pursuit of new environments—through school and a move to Philadelphia—led to a friendship with Wharton classmate Andrew Crane at UPenn. Their conversations rekindled his passion for engineering, inspiring a move to the Berkshires, where he joine...

Chef Pete Carvelli’s journey to becoming a James Beard Foundation Semifinalist is anything but conventional. From experimenting with film development and storytelling as a journalist to practicing ethical lawyering, his path has always been guided by a strong sense of purpose. But when the call to the culinary world became undeniable, he left it all behind to go all in—founding Foglia, a plant-bas...

Tom’s zig-zaggy trek to college led him to study engineering and applied math. Over 2 decades, Tom led teams in building out therapeutic centers for Fortune 100/500 biotech firms. After managing billions in building projects, he sought new challenges—earning an MBA in his 50s. Today, Tom consults non-biotech firms, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness. Links: Berkshire Innovation Center Accele...