Sounds of Health

In this heartfelt and often humorous episode, host Dave MacNiven welcomes Chris Walsh, owner of West Haven’s iconic Duffy’s Tavern, for a rich conversation about family legacy, resilience, and running a restaurant that feels like home. Chris shares his journey from washing dishes at 13 to taking the reins from his father—without telling anyone at first—and how Duffy’s survived recessions, shutdown...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host David MacNiven sits down with Traci O’Brien and Christine Brown, the passionate co-founders of Senior Promises, an organization dedicated to granting wishes to underprivileged seniors. From small comforts to life-changing experiences, Traci and Christine share the incredible impact of fulfilling wishes—from TVs and cowboy boots to community gardens. They d...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave MacNiven sits down with Kelley McShane, CEO of Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea, a business leader, philanthropist, and amateur athlete. Kelley shares her journey from mathematics and psychology to entrepreneurship, running a thriving beverage brand with a social impact—each flavor supporting a nonprofit cause. But that’s not all—Kelley is also on a r...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave MacNiven welcomes Kathleen Schomaker, Executive Director of Gray is Green, and Dan Camenga, Executive Director of Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers. Together, they explore how connecting with nature, community care, and sustainability can transform lives—especially for older adults looking to embrace elderhood with purpose. Kathleen shares how the firs...

In this episode, Exercise is the Answer, host David MacNiven sits down with Dr. Kathy Papayani-Szabo, a trained physical therapist and owner of Body Balance Physical Therapy & Wellness, to explore the profound impact of movement on health and recovery. From overcoming personal health challenges to running marathons and launching her own practice, Kathy shares her journey and expertise in ortho...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave McNiven welcomes Natalie Wisdom, a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of two private practices: Divine Resilience Psychotherapy in Connecticut and Pieces of Wisdom in New York. Natalie shares her inspiring journey from studying criminal justice to discovering her true passion for mental health, and how she built two successful therapy pra...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, we sit down with Ana Uva, board-certified family nurse practitioner and founder of Pulse IV Therapy . Ana shares her inspiring journey from working in the ICU to pioneering a business focused on preventative wellness. We dive into the science behind IV therapy, hormone optimization, and heavy metal detoxification—plus, how she managed to open multiple locations...

In this episode of Sounds of Health , host Dave MacNiven sits down with Dr. Kunal Domakonda, a board-certified cardiologist and the owner of the Heart Wellness Group, LLC . They dive into the importance of trust in healthcare—from building strong patient-doctor relationships to advancing preventative cardiology. Dr. Domakonda shares his journey from Queens, NY, to establishing his own practice, em...

Join host Dave MacNiven on Sounds of Health as he sits down with Sarah Caliendo, a certified executive and wellbeing coach, to uncover the truth about burnout. Sarah shares her personal journey from high-pressure tech roles to becoming a mental health advocate, offering insights into the signs of burnout and how to recover. Discover the importance of building your "wellbeing bank," staying connect...

Welcome to Sounds of Health, the podcast where we meet incredible people, share inspiring stories, and provide valuable resources to boost your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. In this episode, host Dave MacNiven sits down with two remarkable guests, Steven Williams and David Logan, who represent the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO). Both seasoned entrepreneurs, Steven and David share...

In this inspiring episode, host Dave MacNiven is joined by Dr. Juanita Collier and Jessica Liedke COVT, vision therapy pioneers from 4D Vision Gym and co-hosts of the podcast *It Could Be Your Eyes*. They share their journeys into vision therapy, personal stories of overcoming visual challenges, and the transformative work they do to help individuals of all ages—from infants to adults—achieve bett...

Welcome to Sounds of Health ! In this inspiring episode, host Dave McNiven sits down with Thomas Alberti, owner of multiple Connecticut Ninja Academies , New Area Gymnastics , and Newtown Gymnastics Academy . Thomas shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the Bronx to becoming a coach, entrepreneur, and advocate for physical health through gymnastics and ninja training.  This episode high...

Join host David MacNiven on this special episode of Sounds of Health as he welcomes independent Medicare insurance agent Jesslyn Pito, owner of JP Maven Insurance Benefits . Together, they explore Jesslyn's inspiring career journey—from X-ray tech to thriving business owner—and the unique opportunities available in the Medicare insurance field. Discover how this career path offers independence, fl...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave McNiven interviews Joshua Wexler, founder of Honey Plate . Joshua shares his journey from a high school student who began cooking to lose weight to a successful entrepreneur. He discusses the evolution of his business from Edibolic Kitchen to Honey Plate, emphasizing convenience, quality ingredients, and sustainability. Joshua highlights unique aspect...

This Saint Patick’s Day and during Mental Health Awareness Week, Kate Nicoll shares how “Anam Cara” means “Soul Friends” in Gaelic. Discover how her nonprofit, inspired by the concept, has touched the lives of over 10,000 children and families in Connecticut. In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave MacNiven interviews Kate Nicoll, founder of Soul Friends, an organization dedicated to promot...

Join us on Sounds of Health as we explore inspiring stories with Ethan Hershman, co-founder of Move to Heal . Discover how this non-profit empowers individuals to find balance in their physical, mental, and emotional lives. Elevate your well-being today! #WellnessJourney #MoveToHeal #MentalHealthMatters #EmotionalBalance #PhysicalHealth #InspiringStories #NonProfitImpact #HealthyLiving #SelfCareJo...

"Upgrade your life!" as Sounds of Health launches Season 2 of our podcast with SCSU Professor of Exercise and Sport Physiology and Nutrition and director of the CHAMP (Connecticut Health, Athletic and Mental Performance) Center, Dr. Bill Lunn. Dr. William Lunn has a B.S. in Chemistry from UMass Amherst, after which he worked in the pharmaceutical industry for several years.  After reading exercise...

Happy Holidays! Just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Sound of Health hosts their first brand-sponsored episode with Hoka Field Experience Representative Antonio Tovar. Tovar is a biomedical engineer, an ultra-marathon runner, and adaptive running guide.  Hoka One One makes gear for pro runners and first milers, ultra-marathoners and mountain roamers, neighborhood walkers and wild trail...

Licensed and certified professional midwife, registered nurse, lactation consultant, and CPR and BLS instructor Harmony Koelmel shares her story of owning and operating a birthing center and her new passion for hospice care as a hospice nurse. You can find Harmony on social media as Harmony Koelmel Facebook: birthharmony Instagram: harmonykoelmel Sounds of Health is brought to you by Nutmeg Insura...

Host David MacNiven sits down with business owner Ed Knight of Transference who shares how to get through the administrative red tape of wealth transfer after the passing of a loved one. Transferance helps resolve administrative issues for newly appointed executors of estates, individuals handling the affairs of a deceased loved one, and power of attorneys caring for aging parents and/or family me...

Sounds of Health welcomes Master Health Coach and Personal Trainer Julie Bailis of Mountain View Wellness. Julie helps turn the challenges of being a woman over 40 into opportunities to feel stronger and more confident in the next chapter of life. Mountain View's approach includes personalized one-on-one coaching, functional fitness training, holistic services, actionable daily steps, and communit...

Sounds of Health welcomes nurse practitioner Amanda Guarniere, MSN, NP-C of The Résumé Rx , Collaborating Docs , and the podcast Nurse Becoming to share how to have an impactful career without sacrificing your work-life balance If you're a graduationg NP, looking for employment, or want to know your worth, The Resume Rx can help you find and land your dream job so that you can be professionally an...

Sounds of Health welcomes Andrew Jambor of Amston Home Transition Solutions to share their moving and storage solutions for you or your loved ones. Offering stress-free transition solutions, their services include: decluttering, packing, moving, home repairs and modifications, and clean outs. To learn more and schedule a free consultation, visit: Website: https://guidingthemove.com/ Email: info@gu...

Host Dave MacNiven is joined by the team of Soleil Acupuncture + Naturopathic Wellness of Hamden, CT. Soleil uses both eastern and western medicine; weaving together integrative, functional, and allopathic approaches. Director Dr. Lyndsey Maher says that "Soleil was born out of this concept that it's not one or the other; it's both. And both can work together in harmony and there's no reason they...

Today's episode was recorded live from Hamden Fest on June 8th, 2024, at Town Center Park in Hamden, Connecticut. Host Dave MacNiven and producer Jason Carubia invited guests to sit down with them at the Nutmeg Insurance Advisors' booth to share in the Sounds of Health podcast on a Facebook Live . Due to the live nature of the event, some interviews contain music recorded over the discussion and m...