Thaddeus Hink stopped by the studio in the Fall of 2025. We had a meaningful, meandering and thoughtful conversation about photography, writing, music and family. I was surprised to find out he played tuba in high school (with Stone) and he was also a founder of the Anacortes Music Project. Before he heads north to Alaska (and jump starts that music scene), catch him at a show taking pictures or enjoy his well written social media posts (until his Substack is set up). 

I appreciate Thaddeus for being open and honest during our recording and I'm forever grateful that I get to do this work. 

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my writings on Substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

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Kellen Murphy dropped by the studio in September of last year (you'll hear us talk about Washingtones Fest, so don't show up at Larrabee for his set, because it happened months ago). He was born in Anacortes and has since relocated to Bellingham to attend Western where his ultimate goal is to become a highschool teacher. You can find his music on all the streaming platforms, and you can find his entire catalogue on Bandcamp at Kellenmurphy.bandcamp.com

As we mentioned in the episode, Kellen and I are both big fans of Hernamewasprincess. I want to thank Clay for suggesting I get him on the podcast. Clay is not only a fine musician himself, but he is always promoting his friends and other talented people (He also started a non-profit in Skagit called The SWAMP).  Check out the SWAMP's facebook page, or their IG account (@theswamp.wa) for all they have to offer, including a space for loud jamming and monthly performances.

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my writings on Substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

Support us on PayPal!

Matney Cook returned to her roots of Sedro-Woolley and visited the studio back in October. We instantly dove into our stories with detail, humor and passion (and we laughed, a lot). I would describe Matney as a unique woman who is equally powerful, soft and confident and she's a fabulous musician. You can find her solo, strumming her acoustic guitar and telling stories, or as the lead in her band Nobody's Peach (No matter what she's playing on stage, she will 100% have a big smile on her face). She's hosting an amazing event at the Honeymoon in Bellingham with her friends Stone Jones, Tom McKay and Ted Madden this Friday, January 2nd. Find her music everywhere, like Bandcamp, and be sure to grab some merch when you're at one of her shows.

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

@misuz.matney @nobodyspeachband

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It's the holiday season in the Skagit Valley and you know what that means... driving around to all your various parties, shindigs and dinners. Spice up your experience by sneaking in a wireless earbud and listen to your favorite local musicians Jack Mattingly and Shane Gildnes as they dole out advice, a jingle or two, and share some fun local music lore.

Enjoy this festive time, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my writings on Substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

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Haley Suiter stopped by the studio near the end of the summer and we had an enjoyable, meaningful conversation. It blew me away when I learned she was only 15 years old. From her website: "I am a faith-filled, old soul with an insatiable love for the timeless melodies of classic rock. Music is my passion, my soul feeds off the lyrics, tone, and beat resonating deeply within me. I feel music is the solution to everything. Living a life of abundance and seeking endless possibilities is my mantra. I believe in embracing every opportunity and uncovering all that life has to offer. With a curious spirit and an open mind. I have given myself permission to live a life of authenticity and purpose. By doing so, I hope to inspire others to do the same. I firmly believe that when we grant ourselves the freedom to be true to ourselves, we create a ripple effect, empowering others to do the same."

Check out her website or her socials for upcoming gigs.

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my writings on Substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

Support us on PayPal!

Brandon stopped by the studio last summer. We laughed and shared stories for a couple of hours and found out we had a lot in common: We are both Canadian, coached middle school basketball, love Lopez Island, don't love BC Ferries (get it to together guys), and we are both teachers. He tells me about his love for the Grateful Dead, his rap album and the vision he has for music at his school. Passionate, kind and talented folks are my jam and Brandon is all three (x100). Speaking of jam, his band Only Tree has the most creative merch I've seen at local shows. Thanks for the puzzle and I look forward to hocking some OT lot merch at your next show 🙂 When is there next show? Check out their Instagram page for all the details: instagram.com/onlytree_band/ 

Lastly, here is a project that Brandon is spearheading: Hindsight 2025 is a crazy mind bender event coming in December! A double CD/streaming download PLUS a huge festival featuring 25 of Bellingham's bands. Food trucks, beer tent, musical gear raffles, 3 stages... all to raise money for the Mr. Peabody Scholarship for the Bellinghome School Of Music & The Joy Of Music. These scholarships assist in music lessons & instruments for those that can't afford it!

Stay tuned for more details

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my writings on Substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

Support us on PayPal!

Quinn visited the studio last summer and entertained me for quite a while. His stories are gloriously long and full of so many great tangents (due to his Attention Detention Efficit Order). He talks about his previous bands (there's a lot), his cats nicknames (they are long) and name drops at least 100 fantastic local folks. His band Fanny Alger posts their upcoming Revivals on Facebook, and their next show is the 2025 Rockin' Yule Bizarre on December 20th at Buxton's in Anacortes. 

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my writings on Substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

Support us on PayPal!

Three years ago, Tessa and I sat down and recorded my very first Skagit Storytellers Podcast episode. I can't thank Tessa enough for sharing her story with me the first time and I am incredibly excited to share her updates. Join me on Tuesday, November 11th at the Local Shop in Sedro-Woolley at 5:30pm for her Book Launch Party. "If your life feels like a sideline sprint—between practices, parent-teacher meetings, and trying to remember what “self-care” even means—this night’s for YOU." Tessa surrounds herself with a strong group of women and professional coaches who supported her to self publish her book. If you want to take control of your life are looking for a group of women to support you, check out Mari Wuellner's coaching collective, The Crew. 

Check out Tessa's program and book here.

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

Support us on PayPal!

Last August, local musician Zach Hamer stopped by the studio to share his incredible story with me. Our conversation was fascinating, informative, funny and authentic. We discuss haunted houses, breaking the law, music in the Valley (Zach and I may have met in 2016) and his various projects you can find online (Like his 2024 movie, "Dragons on the Hill" or his podcast "History's a Joke"). He plays one of his newest songs, "So Sad" from his solo project Forest Stoke. Check out his Instagram account for his upcoming shows *and* head to Hidden Hall in Seattle on 11/22 for his band Kuinka.

If you're listening to this on the day it's published (11/1/25), come out to the Honeymoon in Bellingham to see Forest Stoke with Natural Israel (fun fact: Local music fan and talented drummer Luke Deryckx will be on the kit for both performances that night!). 

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

Support us on PayPal!

Kamriell Welty and I crossed paths in 2024 when I taught her youngest child. I quickly learned how much we had in common (enthusiastic curiosity, over the top positive attitude, and a love of challenges) and knew she'd be a fun podcast guest. Listen in for travel and ticket hacks, Swifty-lore, old tales of kids selling berries in the Valley and some golf stories too. I credit my latest adventures to her simple two word life motto, "Why not?". I encourage you to hear this episode, channel your inner Kamriell and do something slightly out of your comfort zone. 
Need a photographer? DM her on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/kamriellwelty/

Enjoy your weekend, be of use, and go do something hard.

If you love music, go see some rad live music at the Arcadian Public House.
Love my intro song and my logo? Check out Clay Work. He is incredibly talented. He also hosts Trivia at Lyman Tavern on Tuesdays, and at District Brewing on Wednesdays. My kid and I like to draw and write. Check out my substack, radio show, all of our books and merch here: www.linktr.ee/lizduffy

Disclaimer: Skagit Storytellers is a personal podcast and any views and opinions belong only to the host (or guests) and do not represent views and opinions of people, institutions or organizations that the host (or guests) may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.

Support us on PayPal!