The Good Stuff .518

By Bright Sighted MediaNews Education Self-Improvement Entertainment News

The Good Stuff .518 episodes

June 30 SRYMCA and Stewart's Shops Make Summer Camp Possible
Every child deserves the change to experience summer camp, but for many families, cost can be a barrier. Thanks to a partnership that's been growing for more than 30 years, Stewart's Shops and the Saratoga Regional YMCA are helping make summer camp possible for hundreds of local kids through scholarships and community support.
In this episode, Allison D'Antonio, CEO of the Saratoga Regional YMCA, sits down with Lanyel Brandon, Category Manager at Stewart's Shops, to discuss the partnership behind the YMCA's annual Charity Golf Tournament, which raised $110,000 this year to support summer camp scholarships.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Charity Golf Tournament
02:58 Impact of Fundraising on Summer Camp Scholarships
05:50 Partnerships and Community Support
09:13 The Importance of Summer Camp Experiences
12:06 Building Relationships and Future Collaborations
16 min
June 23 Maggie the Mold Dog: The Hidden Epidemic Inside Our Homes
After years of unexplained health issues, Jennie Jabaut discovered mold was making her family sick.
Today, she and her specially trained mold detection dog, Maggie, help families uncover hidden mold that traditional inspections often miss.
Hear how one family's struggle became a mission to help others find answers.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Maggie and her unique role
01:59 Jennie's personal health journey and mold exposure
03:57 How Maggie was trained to detect mold
08:02 The importance of early detection and remediation
12:05 Maggie's work in new and old buildings
15:54 The community impact and spreading awareness
19:58 How to connect with Maggie and resources available
24:53 The breeds that make up Maggie and her special skills
27:59 Closing thoughts and the importance of education
This episode is brought to you by Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region.
32 min
June 18 The Winners Circle: Building the next Modern Social Fitness Club
The best weekends usually start with a text that says, "You in?"
What started as a few friends getting together for runs, bike rides, workouts, and outdoor adventures has quickly grown into one of the Capital Region's most talked-about communities.
The Winners Circle is built around a simple idea: life is more fun when you do it with other people. Through group runs, fitness events, coffee meetups, and community gatherings, they're creating opportunities for people to get outside, try something new, and meet others who share their interests.
Hear how it all started, why it has grown into such a vibrant community so quickly, and what's next.

Chapters:
01:12 Introduction of the Winner Circle Team
02:00 Origin of the social wellness club
05:45 Weekly event structure and planning
08:21 Team collaboration and idea sharing
10:06 Social media impact and growth
13:36 First event experience and nerves
17:19 Living in the moment and future goals
20:33 Handling criticism and negativity
24:40 Upcoming fitness events and ideas
34 min
June 09 How Two Engineers Built Aisling Farm
On this week's episode, we have Sara Kelly of Practical Hug in the studio as a guest host, interviewing Kateri and Cody Sargen of Aisling Farms!
They share the story of how the farm they started in 2019 in Michigan has been thriving now in Greenfield Center, on the land that dates back 8 generations in Cody's family.
Chapter:
00:00 Introduction and Farm Background
01:20 Farm History and Historical Society Interview
02:12 The Farm's Heritage and Family Legacy
03:16 Balancing Full-Time Jobs and Farming
09:18 Farm's Move from Michigan to New York
11:29 Live Streaming and Educational Content Ideas
13:16 Saratoga County Fair and Event Schedule
16:59 Leasing Goats for 4-H and Community Programs
19:08 Farm Economics and Cost Management
20:29 Training Goats for Draft and Pack Activities
25:42 Marriage, Farming, and Teamwork
37:50 Reflecting on Community Impact and Future Goals
40:12 Farm Challenges and Lessons Learned
Special thanks to Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region for sponsoring this show!
43 min
June 04 When Did We Become So Self-Conscious About Dancing?
Learning From the Kids Who Dance Like Nobody's Watching
In Part 2 of our conversation with Mary Beth of The Dance Lab Saratoga, we talk about confidence, dance, social media, and why creating spaces where people can simply be themselves matters now more than ever.
Chapters:
00:00 The Evolution of Dance in Social Media
03:01 The Importance of Hard and Soft Skills
06:04 The Role of Dance in Personal Development
08:57 Community Impact Through Dance
11:53 Celebrating Young Talent
15:12 The Joy of Dance and Self-Expression
This episode is brought to you by Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region.
23 min
June 02 Phones Down, Eyes Up: A Drowning Prevention Campaign
Learn key swimming safety tips for parents to ensure their children enjoy a safe summer in the pool. Essential insights for every caregiver.
As summer rolls in, many families are excited to spend time by the pool or at lakes and rivers. However, with this joy comes the responsibility of ensuring children’s safety around water. In this post, we’ll discuss vital swimming safety tips that every parent should know, including insights from a conversation with Allison, CEO of the Saratoga YMCA. By the end, you’ll be better prepared to keep your kids safe while they enjoy the water.
11 min
May 26 Someday Doesn’t Just Happen
How The Dance Lab became a community of 600 dancers.
Mary Beth is the founder of The Dance Lab in Saratoga Springs, where she has built a studio centered on joy over competition and creating a space where dancers can feel like themselves. After years of working in accounting while continuing to teach dance on the side, she reached a point where she decided to fully step into what she had always wanted to create.
She has since become deeply connected to the families and dancers she works with, with over 600 students and a reputation for being approachable, present, and genuinely invested in every person in her building. Parents and students alike describe her as someone who knows her community, shows up, and creates an environment where kids feel supported both on and off the dance floor.
A story about timing, purpose, and what it looks like when you finally decide to go for it.
Chapters
00:00 The Journey Begins: Following Dreams
10:30 Creating The Dance Lab: A Dream Realized
15:06 Navigating Challenges: The Reality of Business Ownership
23:18 Fostering a Fun Environment: The Dance Lab Philosophy
31:34 Community and Connection: The Heart of The Dance Lab
This episode is brought to you by Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region.

32 min
May 19 Meet Your Producer: Renee Madcharo
She’s usually behind the camera, but this week we’re putting Renee in front of it. After earning her master’s in Entertainment and Media Management from Ithaca College, Renee found her way to Bright Sighted. She shares what it’s been like bringing this show to life behind the scenes, coaching talent and guiding interviews, and what it’s like to redefine yourself while living in your hometown.

Chapters:
00:00 Creating Comfort in Interviews
08:15 The Journey of Podcasting
16:19 Building Community Through Storytelling
20:38 Navigating Life in Your 20s and 30s

This episode is brought to you by Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region.

23 min
May 12 We Were Never Meant to Heal Alone
Healing started the moment I stopped isolating myself.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed by doctors, overwhelmed by stress, or like you’re navigating your family’s health alone, this episode will hit home. Logan Springs of @Consciously Curly sits down with the founders of The Outlet to share raw stories of cancer survival, obesity, anxiety, and burnout and how the Capital Region is redefining wellness through connection, advocacy, and community.

Chapters
00:00 The Birth of The Outlet: A New Wellness Platform
03:01 Personal Transformations: Stories of Struggle and Triumph
06:03 The Role of Community in Wellness
09:04 The Outlet vs. Traditional Healthcare
12:11 Vetting Wellness Practitioners and Brands
15:03 Integrative Approaches to Wellness
18:03 Bridging the Gap: East Meets West in Healthcare
21:07 Navigating Healthcare Advocacy
23:19 Transforming Wellness Perspectives
31:43 Integrative Medicine and Comprehensive Care
32:12 Community Impact Through Nonprofit Initiatives

This episode is brought to you by Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region.
37 min
May 05 Saratoga YMCA: "Get Out, Get Active, Make a Friend"
Saratoga YMCA CEO Allison D’Antonio “The Y brings people together, and what they do with it is everything.” Saratoga YMCA CEO Allison D’Antonio shares how that connection turns into real impact across the 518, where kids grow confidence, families find support, and everyday moments quietly build something bigger.
This episode is sponsored by Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region.
Nominate someone to be on the show: click here
38 min

About The Good Stuff .518

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In a world that feels heavy; and as the next generation grows up surrounded by AI and constant noise; something powerful is happening right here in Saratoga Springs.

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The Good Stuff .518

The Good Stuff .518 episodes

About The Good Stuff .518