For more than 30 years, Mare Odhner was the heart of the Academy school store. From behind the counter, she ran more than a place to buy books and grab snacks — it became a hub of student life. A place where students came to laugh, vent, get advice, and feel at home. Generations of students knew her on a first-name basis — Mare — and if you passed through the Academy during those years, chances are you knew her too.

Mare shares her life beyond the bookstore — immigrating from Italy, growing up in South Philadelphia, blending faith traditions, and the love she shared with her late husband, Tony. We talk about what the Academy community meant to her, the realities of being a full-time caregiver for her mother today, and how cooking is reconnecting her to her Italian roots.

Plus, Mare helps bring back show-and-tell, sharing a look at her growing bourbon collection and much more...

Welcome to episode forty-two, where we unpack the life of the Queen and Heart of the Academy.

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A Note from Me

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Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!