So New England with Ian Brownhill

It started with one random request at a dive bar — and turned Brian Daly into New England's beloved "Seger Bar Guy." This week, Ian and RJ sit down with Brian Daly ( @wickedfast ), the Watertown native who went viral asking Boston bars whether they'll throw on a little Bob Seger. Brian shares how his cousin's offhand suggestion accidentally became his whole identity, how to spot a real "Seger bar,...

What happens when a Georgia girl moves to Boston and never looks back? You get Caroline Barry. This week, Ian and RJ sit down with the Make Boston Home creator (nearly 200K followers) for a fresh-eyes take on New England. She ranks all six states, explains why "bless your heart" would start a fight in Boston, reveals how she built her entire real estate business on Instagram, and tells t...

A floor-sweeper made a handshake deal to save a failing dealership, then lied about his age to become the youngest Volkswagen dealer in America. That was 1948 — and his family still runs the business today. This week on the So New England Business Spotlight, Ian Brownhill sits down with Brad Scott, owner of Scott's Volkswagen in East Providence, Rhode Island, for the full 78-year, three-genera...

Boston content creator Marc Lewis doesn't hold back — and this episode proves it. This week on the So New England Podcast, Ian Brownhill and RJ sit down with Marc Lewis, one of New England's most prolific and unfiltered content creators, known for his food reviews, honest takes, and golf course reviews you can actually trust. Marc gets candid about the road that got him here, including the...

What if picking up a stone could connect you to thousands of years of history? That's the idea behind the No Fame Games — and on June 13th, it's coming to New England. This week on the So New England Business Spotlight, Ian Brownhill and RJ sit down with Josh Mackintosh, the private chef and cultural steward behind the first-ever Celtic Strength World Championship in Milford, Massachusetts...

Bob Dylan went electric on this property in 1965. Now it's home to one of only 275 craft "brew-stilleries" in America — and Brendan O'Donnell is the man running it. This week on the So New England Podcast Business Spotlight Series, Ian Brownhill and RJ go on-site at Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. to sit down with CEO Brendan O'Donnell. Brendan moved to Newport from New Jersey in 2014 a...

"You're not gonna win the race. You've already won. You showed up." Those were the words Sandy Delli Carpini's father said to her at the starting line of her first 5K — and they've shaped everything she's done since. This week on the So New England Podcast Business Spotlight Series, Ian Brownhill sits down with Sandra "Sandy" Delli Carpini, the woman behind...

"It's basically a way to make work suck less." That's how Paul Critchley explains his job at backyard barbecues — and after this episode, you'll understand exactly what he means. This week on the So New England Podcast Business Spotlight Series, Ian Brownhill and RJ sit down with Paul Critchley, owner of New England Lean Consulting — a regional firm helping manufacturers, mac...

"New England is better than Old England" — a British couple just said it on the podcast, and we're never letting them take it back. This week on the So New England Podcast, host Ian Brownhill and co-host RJ welcome Juliette and Ollie — aka The Brits in Boston — for a deep, funny, and surprisingly emotional conversation about what it's like to move from East London to the United States and fall in...

Gianna, aka New England Guidebook, joins the pod to talk all things New England travel, food, hidden gems, and local adventures. From Acadia and Southwest Harbor to Bristol, Vermont, Newport, Providence, Newburyport, Cambridge, and the White Mountains, Gianna shares her favorite places to visit across the region. The crew also gets into New England state rankings, why Maine might have it all, why...

Vermont isn’t just foliage and maple syrup… 🍁 On this episode of the So New England Podcast, we sit down with Erin Torres from Travel Like A Local Vermont to break down what Vermont is REALLY like — from hidden gems and backroad adventures to small-town culture, local food, and the lifestyle that keeps people coming back. We get into: The most underrated things to do in Vermont Why “just drive” m...

Dating today feels like a game—and not a fun one. Apps, ghosting, unrealistic expectations… it’s no wonder people are frustrated. In this episode, we sit down with the creator of Stoop Dating, a viral New England dating experience bringing real, face-to-face connection back into the spotlight. We dive into why dating apps are failing, how social media has changed relationships, and what it actuall...

On episode 2 of So New England Business Spotlight , Ian and RJ sit down with Ted and Jon Stricklin from Experience RI to talk all things Rhode Island travel, history, tourism, and local experiences. From Providence and Newport to Block Island, scenic day trips, hidden gems, and the stories that make Little Rhody such a unique place, this episode is a full look at why Rhode Island has way more to o...

On the very first episode of So New England Business Spotlight , Ian Brownhill sits down with Cortney Nicolato , President and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island , to talk about 401 Gives and the real impact it has on nonprofits across the state. They break down how 401 Gives works, why Rhode Island nonprofits need support more than ever, how even a small donation can make a difference, and what Rh...

Boston’s food scene is one of the best in the country… but is it overrated? This week, we sit down with Tommy DeVito of DeVito Food Reviews to talk about his rise as one of New England’s fastest-growing food creators. With over 100K followers, Tommy has built his platform by staying authentic, supporting local businesses, and giving honest takes on what’s actually worth eating. We dive into his or...

On this episode of the So New England Podcast, we sit down with Jordan Brocklesby , the creator behind Plates of Portland Maine, to break down why Portland has become one of the most talked-about food cities in New England. We get into what makes the Portland Maine food scene so unique, from standout restaurants and bakeries to food trucks, sushi spots, and the local culture that ties it all toget...

Mirna Valerio — known as The Mirnavator — joins So New England to share her remarkable journey from Brooklyn teacher to globally recognized ultrarunner and outdoor advocate. After a health scare in 2008, Mirna rediscovered running and began documenting her experiences as a fat Black woman in endurance sports. What started as a blog quickly grew into a national platform inspiring thousands of athle...

This week we’re joined by  Andy Ferg (North Shore Beefs) , the man responsible for turning a “roast beef sandwich” into an entire culture. We get into the  real rules of a North Shore beef , what a  Super 3-Way  actually means, how  Beef Madness  became a yearly tournament with cheating allegations (naturally), and why  cheese on the bottom  is the only way the sandwich survives. Plus: Andy ranks...

Jake Polino (Kizo Kicks) joins Ian Brownhill and RJ Travisano to discuss building a global sneaker brand, why he really moved to Florida, and why he still picks furniture out of the trash. In this episode, we sit down with the "Jake of All Trades" himself to talk about the transition from dyeing sneakers in a Massachusetts kitchen to running a multi-million follower brand. Jake reveals t...

Former college and minor-league hockey player  Pat Shea  joins the So New England Podcast to talk about hockey culture, viral comedy, and why he walked away from pro hockey to chase creativity. We break down the “Boy Aquarium” trend, the realities of college hockey, creating  Full Ride  with zero budget, and what it takes to bet on yourself when everyone expects you to stay in your lane. Raw, funn...

Boston food grader  Key Henson  joins the  So New England Podcast  to break down New England food culture from a transplant’s point of view—and it starts with a hot take: crab might be better than lobster. In this episode, we talk lobster rolls, chowder, oysters, donuts, Boston food culture, and why New Englanders argue about food like it’s a personality trait. Key shares how he built a loyal foll...

What does it take to cook for celebrities, raise $20K for charity, and still make it home for your kids? Chef Kevin Des Chenes breaks it all down. From Food Network fame to private chef dinners across the country, Kevin shares how he built a career on hospitality, hustle, and New England grit. We talk charity work with Make-A-Wish, cooking outside restaurant kitchens, balancing family life, and wh...

Clinton Sparks joins the So New England Podcast for one of our most powerful conversations yet. Born and raised in Dorchester, Clinton breaks down how growing up in Boston shaped his mindset, his work ethic, and his ability to build real value across music, entertainment, and gaming. From working with some of the biggest names in the world to launching the Global Gaming League, this episode is a m...

On this episode of the So New England Podcast, we sit down with Brittany DiCapua from Boston Food Journal to talk food, Maine roots, and what really makes New England special. We get into Boston’s food scene, hidden gems, Michelin star drama, omakase experiences, and why Cape Cod might not deserve the hype. Brittany shares her journey from engineering and IT to becoming one of Boston’s first food...

On this episode of the So New England Podcast , we’re joined by Steve D’Amato , better known as The Wicked Snackah from Wicked Bites on NESN . A Boston native with a real accent and an even realer food obsession, Steve breaks down how Boston Pizza Wars blew up during COVID, how he landed on NESN, and why the best food in New England isn’t always in Boston. We get into Boston culture, North Shore f...