Small Town Sunshine

What would you do if your teenage son came home and suggested you buy his after school job? Would you take him seriously? What if that job was a cozy bookstore in the quaint, seaside town of Mystic, Connecticut? Sounds fabulous. When Annie Philbrick's son came home and suggested exactly that, she knew owning a bookstore would be more than reading and talking books all day. Still, she jumped in with both feet. Thirteen years later, she owns two bookstores: Bank Square Books in Mystic and Savoy Bookstore in Westerly, Rhode Island. She serves on the American Booksellers Association board and has sat on some prestigious judging panels such as the National Book Award.

On this episode, hear the real story of what it's like to own a bookstore and get some book recommendations from a professional.

Dani Marten knows how to run a business. For years she traveled the country as a management consultant helping others improve their businesses. Then, she took up an unlikely hobby that changed her life. She now lives in Bryant, Arkansas and owns the Cotton Shed Vintage Market, a 32,000 square foot market housing hundreds of vendors. The Cotton Shed vendors benefit from her lifetime of experience, as shoppers get the best of local shopping. 

In this episode, Dani and I discuss how she dedicates her time to helping her local vendors succeed. She gives us tips on running a small business and how to get going on social media. We also talk about some of the lost joys of hunting for that special item. Whether you own a local business or like to shop, you won't want to miss our chat!

Over fifty years ago, in a bar in icey Cordova, Alaska, patrons decided to fight the winter blues with a festival. They'd have pageants, games, and feats of Alaskan-style strenghth. They needed a theme. In a state known for bears, moose, and deadly fishing expeditions, the group turned to the mighty....iceworm? The iceworm might be the most harmless creature in all of Alaska, but it makes for an excellent festival mascot. 

This episode I talk to Kelsey Hayden, member of the Iceworm committee. She tells us what it's like to live in Cordova and why the Iceworm Festival is such a fun event.

When Matt Seale visited Ocilla, Georgia with his Georgia Tech fraternity brother, he never imagined he'd find himself the town mayor years later. But as he puts it, "life is a journey." Listen as Matt tells us how he ended up in the rural town of 3400 people. He not only gives us insights on what it's like to run a small town, but maybe even more importantly he explains how you can get the attention of your local leaders. Matt's a fun storyteller and as the host of his own podcast (Small Town Podcast) an advocate for small town's everywhere.

Karyn Sylak has been playing in bands around Southwest Florida since the 1980s. We talk about working with other musicians, the state of popular music today, and the best place to see bands today. (Hint: It's a type of venue I had never heard of.) Whether you are a musician or a music fan, you will want to hear this conversation.

Small Town Sunshine celebrates America's small towns and the people that make them great. In this episode, I talk to Lu Lippold, interim executive director of the Flyway Film festival in Pepin, Wisconsin. Think film festivals happen only in big cities? Think again. We talk about why going to a film festival is better than just hitting the movies, what it takes to put on a festival, and why you should love Pepin, Wisconsin.