Alyssa Pine felt like a fraud.

While running the first Live Freely Fest at Smuttynose Brewing last fall, Alyssa was quietly closing her own shop, a storefront in Hampton where she sold her Live Freely merchandise.

But after seeing the success of the market, one of the most boomin' business days in Smuttynose history, Alyssa had accidentally stumbled upon her next project: The Live Freely Market.

The Market, which has quickly garnered the attention of the Seacoast masses, is an indoor retail collaborative in Hampton. Every weekend, 30+ businesses of all genres sell their goodies to enthusiastic customers who eagerly arrive wondering which Seacoast businesses are on display.

For Alyssa, the 31-year-old entrepreneurial daughter of Hampton restaurateur Shane Pine (The Community Oven, Shane's Texas Pit, Backyard Burgers & Wings, etc.), this Market represents everything she stands for:

The murals on the walls? She painted them. She actually has 75+ murals splattered across the walls of New England, including at Blue Harbor Coffee in Hampton.

The collection of small businesses? It's a celebration of her lifelong mission to support local at all costs.

And of course, her own mini-store for selling Live Freely hats, shirts, and mugs that inspire customers to be their most authentic selves.

From inside the walls of this 9,000 square foot facility, Alyssa joins host Troy Farkas to discuss growing up in the restaurant business alongside her father, the inspiration behind the Live Freely brand, advice for Seacoast business owners, why the Market has attracted so much attention so quickly, the failure that led to the most successful and fulfilling venture of her life, and more.

CHAPTERS:

• Building several Hampton restaurants alongside her father (00:00)
• Biggest business lessons she's learned (11:34)

• Opening the Live Freely store (18:15)
• SPONSOR: JOBTALK LLC (23:17)
• SPONSOR: 3 BRIDGES YOGA (24:40)
• Why she knew the Live Freely Market would work (25:45)
• The incredible support she's received from the community (36:30)
• What makes the Market special (44:06)
• Dealing with anxiety (49:15)
• Why she credits the universe for the Market's success (55:30)

• Advice to younger self (59:58)

To learn more about the Live Freely Market, visit their website LiveFreelyNH.com or follow them on Instagram @LiveFreelyMarket. If you'd like to become a vendor at the market, you can email [email protected].

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS FOR SUPPORTING OUR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH PROGRAMMING:

• ⁠⁠JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2025!
• ⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠: New members get one FREE class with code "STORIES" at digital checkout all March! If you're an existing customer, email [email protected] to arrange a custom discount with Stephanie.

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Send us a DM @seacoaststories on Instagram.

For more "Seacoast Stories" episodes straight to your phone every Monday, FOLLOW the show for free here on our ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠⁠pages.

Ashley Ryall wanted to get the f*ck out.

A native of the small town of Weare, N.H., she dreamt of escaping small-town life as soon as possible. When college in Connecticut offered that opportunity, she took it and ran with it. And after studying abroad in Australia, an experience that completely opened up her worldview, Ashley vowed to live a life of adventure from that point forward.

Except it didn't pan out that way.

From the Portsmouth Public Library, Ashley Ryall joins host Troy Farkas⁠⁠ to discuss the trap she fell into in her 20s, how her marriage fell apart, what escaping New England taught her about belonging, how the Seacoast gave her everything she was searching for, and why she's now writing a memoir about her lifelong journey toward self-discovery.

CHAPTERS:

• Ashley Ryall's life-changing trip (00:00)
• How Ashley's life became boring (06:25)
• Debating having children (14:46)
• Getting a divorce (17:04)
• SPONSOR: 3 Bridges Yoga (23:26)
• SPONSOR: JOBTALK LLC (24:49)
• Ashley's cross-country adventures (26:20)
• How the Seacoast became home (34:17)

• Advice to younger self (46:35)

For more "Seacoast Stories" episodes straight to your phone every Monday, FOLLOW the show for free here on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠⁠⁠pages.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS FOR SUPPORTING OUR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH PROGRAMMING:

• ⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠: New members get one FREE class with code "STORIES" at digital checkout all March! If you're an existing customer, email [email protected] to arrange a custom discount with Stephanie.
• ⁠⁠JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2025!

Alexis Morton wanted to get together with other women on the Seacoast.

However, as a stay-at-home mom during the pandemic, she couldn't find any groups of women who wanted to partake in fun Seacoast activities.

So she started that group herself: Well Lived Women, a Seacoast-based women's group that's attracted nearly 1500 attendees since 2022. In this group, women of all demographics gather at various Seacoast businesses to support local, have fun, and most importantly, realize how powerful a room can get when it's filled with well-intentioned women.

From her estate in Stratham, Lex -- who has 33,000 Instagram followers -- joins ⁠host Troy Farkas⁠ to discuss the Well Lived Women origin story, the magic that happens when women gather, the playful way she met her husband, the painstaking process of undergoing IVF, dealing with negative comments online, living in New York City, and more.

CHAPTERS:

• How Lex met her husband (00:00)

• Lex's hellish IVF journey (06:30)
• Successfully having two kids (21:17)
• Sponsor: 3 Bridges Yoga (24:16)
• Sponsor: JOBTALK LLC (25:44)
• Amassing 33K IG followers (27:28)

• The origins of Well Lived Women (35:50)
• Well Lived Women's mission (42:32)
• Advice to younger self (55:21)

To learn more about upcoming Well Lived Women events, visit WellLivedWomen.org or give them a follow @welllivedwomen on Instagram.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS FOR SUPPORTING OUR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH PROGRAMMING:

• ⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠: New members get one FREE class with code "STORIES" at digital checkout all March! If you're an existing customer, email [email protected] to arrange a custom discount with Stephanie.
• ⁠JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2025!

There's still a few tickets left to our "Seacoast Stories" dinner Thursday at Ore Nell's Barbecue! Learn more information and snag your ticket here.

For more "Seacoast Stories" episodes straight to your phone every Monday, FOLLOW the show for free here on our ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠pages.

Kira Lew wanted out of radio.

After working in an environment that didn't bring out the best in her, she considered leaving the industry she had fallen in love with a few years prior.

But she decided to stick it out. And then everything started falling into place. A few years later, Kira made history by becoming the first female morning show lead in the 54-year history of WOKQ, the Seacoast's No. 1 country music station. Alongside Logan Sherwood, she co-hosts "Kira and Logan in the Morning," and it's one of the most popular radio shows in the region.

From her estate in Hampton, Kira joins host Troy Farkas to discuss her untraditional path, navigating a male-dominated industry as a woman, toxic work conditions, podcasting vs. radio, Taylor Swift's historic performance at Gaslight (and why she thinks Taylor doesn't like Travis Kelce), and of course, her favorite Seacoast spots for pizza, Mexican food, cocktails, and more.

CHAPTERS:

• Kira Lew's radio path (00:00)
• The harsh realities of show business (11:30)
• Why "Kira and Logan in the Morning" works so well (17:46)
• Taylor Swift's performance at Gaslight (25:57)
• Sponsor: JOBTALK LLC (30:04)
• Sponsor: 3 Bridges Yoga (31:58)
• Favorite Seacoast Italian joints, cocktails, etc. (33:23)
• WTF is beach pizza? (42:23)
• Why does N.H. hate Mass.? (51:00)
• Advice to younger self (56:15)

To support Kira, listen live to "Kira & Logan in the Morning" every weekday from 5:30 - 10am on 97.5 WOKQ. You can also follow her on Instagram @kiralewwho.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS FOR SUPPORTING OUR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH PROGRAMMING!

• JOBTALK LLC: Get 50% off JOBTALK Academy courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2025!
• 3 Bridges Yoga: New members get one FREE class with code "STORIES" at digital checkout all March! If you're an existing customer, email [email protected] to arrange a custom discount with Stephanie.

For more "Seacoast Stories" episodes straight to your phone every Monday, FOLLOW the show here on our ⁠Spotify⁠ or ⁠Apple Podcasts ⁠pages.

Will Myska always wanted to be an executive chef.

But with three kids at home, he doubted whether he'd have the ability to go all in on the restaurant of his dreams. So instead, he stayed the course, choosing to work and learn under some of the top chefs on the Seacoast perhaps longer than he needed to.

Until one day, chef David Vargas (Vida Cantina) sat Will down and asked him, "What's next for you?"

And that was the day everything changed for Will.

From Ore Nell's Barbecue in Kittery, M.E., ⁠host Troy Farkas⁠⁠ sits down with Will to discuss his love for cooking, what it was like working alongside top Seacoast chefs Evan Hennessey (Stages), Jethro Loichle (Ristorante Massimo) and Vargas, the tough conversation that led Will to open Ore Nell's BBQ in 2018, the keys to making authentic Texas brisket, meeting boxing legend Mike Tyson at The Wilder, and more.

CHAPTERS:

• Will Myska's Texas cooking background (00:00)
• Working at Ristorante Massimo, Vida Cantina & Stages (07:18)
• Opening Ore Nell's BBQ in 2018 (18:44)

• Tell a friend about the show! (27:25)
• The day-to-day of Ore Nell's (28:27)

• How to make authentic Texas brisket & chili (33:23)

• Ore Nell's catering services (42:32)
• The toll of Ore Nell's on Will's personal life (46:55)
• Meeting Mike Tyson (49:53)
• Advice to younger self (55:30)

Born outside of Houston, Ore Nell's Barbecue chef owner Will Myska spent the first 19 years of his life in Texas. After attending culinary school in Dover, N.H., he worked at Seacoast staples like Stages, Ristorante Massimo, and La Vida Cantina. In 2018, he partnered with Jay McSharry to open the first Ore Nell's Barbecue location in Kittery, M.E. The father of three children, Will is also a massive sports fan.

To learn more about Ore Nell's menu, community nights, catering services, or second location in Biddeford, M.E., visit OreNellsBBQ.com or follow them on Instagram @OreNellsBBQ.

For more "Seacoast Stories" episodes straight to your phone every Monday, FOLLOW the show here on our Spotify or Apple Podcasts pages.

Ankati Day gave up the blueprint.

After years spent searching for her purpose in the deep woods of The White Mountains, the open fields of Missoula, Mont., and the jungles of Costa Rica, the now-yoga teacher eventually returned home to Maine with the realization that the linear path society bred her to take was simply not for her.

From Shiloh Farm in Eliot, Maine, host Troy Farkas⁠ sits down with Ankati to candidly discuss her many lives, and how the road led her to become a spiritual force in the area. Plus, Troy tells Ankati about his bizarre experience at her ecstatic dance, and why modalities like ecstatic dance may just be the cure to some of society's problems.

CHAPTERS:

• Who is Ankati Day? (00:00)
• Eating disorder battles (02:00)
• Working for the AMC (08:34)
• Moving to Montana (13:36)
• A life-changing yoga experience in Costa Rica (17:23)
• "Seacoast Stories" merch! (32:28)
• Teaching yoga on the Seacoast (33:55)
• What is ecstatic dance? (41:00)
• Troy's ecstatic dance experience (45:12)
• Why we're so lonely (57:22)
• How to know yourself better (01:02:50)

• Advice to younger self (01:10:07)

Born and raised in Maine, Ankati Day is a beloved Seacoast yoga teacher (Barre & Soul, 3 Bridges Yoga, Shiloh Farm) who also leads yoga retreats, sound healings, cacao ceremonies, and ecstatic dance.

To learn more about Ankati's many healing offerings, please visit AnkatiDay.com.

To acquire some "Seacoast Stories" merchandise, shoot us a DM on Instagram @SeacoastStories.

In this special Valentine's Day bonus video episode, host Troy Farkas welcomes Dover's own Kelly Anderson of the "Significant Lovers" podcast to talk all things love, dating, breakups, relationships, and of course, Seacoast coffee shops.

From the cozy confines of the Portsmouth Public Library, the two discuss:

• Seacoast networking (00:00)
• Why we LOVE love (02:40)
• Why breakups suck (07:24)
• Dating red flags (12:10)
• Keys to successful relationships (17:00)
• Favorite famous couples (22:30)
• Top Seacoast coffee shops (24:34)

To hear more stories of famous couples, check out the "Significant Lovers" podcast on Spotify. They're also on Instagram @significantlovers.

Kelly Anderson is the co-host of the very popular "Significant Lovers" podcast, a show where Kelly -- alongside her cousin and sister -- conduct extensive deep dives into the relationships of famous couples, including pairs like Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, Olivia Rodrigo and Josh Bassett, and so many more. After spending several years in Boston and then New York City, Kelly now lives in Dover, N.H.

Will you help us make "Seacoast Stories" the Seacoast's go-to destination for hearing stories? To do so, please consider FOLLOWING the show on our⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠⁠pages.

Nissa Bagelman grew up in the book business. In fact, she spent many childhood days at a popular indie bookstore, Reedmor Books, in Center City Philadelphia in the early 90s.

It was the family business. Her great grandfather opened Reedmor in 1928, and he passed it down to generations of Bagelmans.

But when buying books online became commonplace, the Reedmor business suffered. In the early 2000s, the Bagelmans made the difficult decision to close down their stores.

Now, 20+ years later, Reedmor is back ... with a twist.

From the brand new Reedmor Books & Brews in downtown Portsmouth,host Troy Farkas sits down with Nissa to discuss how and why she's reopened the family business in Portmouth, the nitty-gritty of the book business, why it's so difficult for indie bookstores to survive (and why this store will buck the trend), and so much more.

CHAPTERS:

• Reedmor's extensive history (00:00)
• Nissa's work in the publishing industry (02:50)
• Why indie bookstores fail (16:25)
• The motivation for re-opening Reedmor (20:02)
• How Book 'N Bar's end led to Reedmor's rebirth (24:14)

• The chaotic re-opening of Reedmor (28:50)
• The Seacoastonline article that blew up Reedmor (32:16)
• Reedmor's break from traditional bookstores (34:25)
• How the Seacoast has received Reedmor so far (44:00)
• Reedmor's big plans for 2025 (47:15)
• Advice to younger self (53:51)

Nissa Bagelman is the owner of Reedmor Books & Brews, a popular new bookstore located in the former Raleigh Wine Bar in downtown Portsmouth. The great granddaughter of the original founder of Reedmor in Philadelphia, Nissa reopened Reedmor late last year following the closure of Book 'N Bar. A veteran of the publishing industry, Nissa dreamt for years about opening her own indie bookstore.

To stay up-to-date with the latest from Reedmor, give them a follow on Instagram@reedmor_books or visittheir web site.

For future "Seacoast Stories" events, please follow us onour new Eventbrite page.

Will you help us make "Seacoast Stories" the Seacoast's go-to destination for hearing stories? To do so, please consider FOLLOWING the show on our⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ or⁠⁠Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠pages.

RELEVANT LINKS:

• TheSeacoastonline article on Reedmor
• Extensive Reedmor backstory
• The Press Room live podcast

Paige Lindsey is ... a lot.

(Those are her words.)

The 34-year-old, who has nearly 18,000 Instagram followers, is a self-described member of Gen Z trapped in a millennial body. She's full of energy, feels deeply, loves intensely, and is unlike anyone you've ever met before.

And on today's episode, the Exeter-based artist tells host Troy Farkas about the rollercoaster that's led her to become one of the most popular artists on the Seacoast. The two discuss the many obstacles placed in Paige's way, from a failed college art class, to complicated family dynamics, to falling out of love with painting, and also a miscarriage.

But, perhaps because of her stubborn New Jersey roots, Paige never allowed any of these obstacles to prevent her from creating her dream life, a life she's now living with her little family unit on the Seacoast.

CHAPTERS:

Paige Lindsey is a popular Seacoast artist, workshop planner, live event painter, and podcast host. A New Jersey girl at heart, Paige studied art at the University of New Hampshire. She's lived in Boston, Seattle, and now resides in Exeter with her husband Sam and son Bodhi. Loved for her flamboyant behavior, Paige also creates content on Instagram for her fast-growing audience of nearly 18,000 followers.

To stay up-to-date with Paige's crazy life, you can follow her on Instagram @paigelindseydesign, visit her web site, subscribe to her Substack newsletter, or follow "Paige's Pod" on Spotify.

Will you help us make "Seacoast Stories" the Seacoast's go-to destination for hearing stories? To do so, please consider FOLLOWING the show on our ⁠Spotify⁠ or ⁠Apple Podcasts ⁠pages.

Jay Collins left his house every morning at 2:45 to get to work.

In his eyes, that's what obsessed people do.

And it's that grit and dedication which led him to create MaxEdge Fitness, a beloved Seacoast gym that lasted 11 years before the pandemic wiped it away.

Then, standing in the ruins of the business he and his family poured everything into, Jay emerged from the pandemic with a vision. A vision that was bigger and better than anything he'd ever done before:

Flight House Gym, a one-of-a-kind workout facility in Rye that houses state-of-the-art equipment unlike anything you've ever come across before.

And on today's episode, Jay joins the show to tell host Troy Farkas about the obsessive early days of MaxEdge, why he believes in betting on himself, the toll his dedication took on his family, learning how to delegate, navigating the pandemic, the challenges of starting Flight House, why he thinks he's the Seacoast's biggest psychopath, and so much more.

CHAPTERS:

Jay's intro to group training (00:00) Reinventing himself at 40 (03:50) Starting MaxEdge Fitness (10:45) When MaxEdge took off (20:15) The end of MaxEdge (26:52) The birth of Flight House (32:00) Why exercise is essential (38:38) Advice to younger self (49:40)

Jay Collins is the founder and owner of Flight House Gym, a massive fitness facility located at 6 Airfield Dr. in Rye, N.H. Formerly the owner of beloved gym MaxEdge Fitness, Jay has also served in the military, coached football, and worked as a mortgage broker. A lifelong New Hampshire resident, the father of seven operates Flight House alongside his wife, Nancy, and son, Jack.

Check out FlightHouseGym.com for information on memberships, class schedules, and more.

Will you help us make "Seacoast Stories" the Seacoast's go-to destination for hearing stories? To do so, please consider FOLLOWING the show on our Spotify or Apple Podcasts pages.