Today I’m joined by Carole Monsell for a conversation deeply rooted in the history and spirit of Greenport. We talk about her family ancestry and the generations of connections her family has to the village, along with what it was like growing up in Greenport and watching the area evolve into what it is today.

Carole shares memories from her school years, the changes she’s witnessed throughout the North Fork over the decades, and how her lifelong love of local history eventually led her to become president of the Stirling Historical Society. We also discuss the important work the organization is doing today, from preserving Greenport’s history to creating new programs, events, and opportunities that connect the community to its past.

Today I'm joined by Marc Sokol, a longtime technology entrepreneur, investor, and community leader whose career spans some of the most transformative decades in the history of computing. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Commack and Silver Spring, Marc began programming at just 15 years old, eventually leaving the Illinois Institute of Technology at 19 to work as a software engineer during the early rise of the software industry.

Over the years, he co-founded the software company Realia, later worked with Computer Associates, and eventually moved into venture capital, helping support and invest in emerging technology companies. Along the way, he experienced the evolution of computing firsthand, from the early programming era to the modern tech world we know today.

In more recent years, Marc has become deeply involved in the North Fork community through CAST, the Center for Advocacy, Support and Transformation, where he has served as board president since 2017. Through that role, he has helped guide one of the region’s most important organizations addressing food insecurity, housing instability, and support services for local residents.

Today I’m joined by DJ Henry Eau, a familiar presence across the North Fork’s music scene, someone whose work has quietly become part of the rhythm of the place.

But before the late nights and packed dance floors, there’s a deeper story, rooted in family, small business, and growing up on the North Fork, in a community where people tend to know each other.

In this conversation, Henry reflects on his early life, his time at Mattituck High School, and the path that led him from an interest in music into something more serious. He talks about building a name locally, finding his sound, and what it means to work in a scene that’s constantly shifting, especially out here, where the seasons change everything

Today, I’m joined by David Higbee, who was born and raised in Greenport and whose roots in the village run deep. In our conversation, we talk about his family ancestry, his memories of growing up in Greenport, and the path that eventually took him away.

We also explore his return in the 1990s and how the village had changed in his absence, what felt familiar, what didn’t and his reflections on what Greenport has become today.

Along the way, we also touch on his involvement with the North Fork’s “Tuesday Crew,” a group of local volunteers who have spent decades restoring and preserving historic sites across the region, quietly shaping the very landscape they call home.

It’s a conversation grounded in memory, history, and a clear-eyed look at change.

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Janice Claudio, Chair of the Greenport Historic Preservation Commission.

Greenport is a place where history isn’t just something you read about, it’s something you walk through. From its maritime roots to its architecture, the village carries layers of its past in plain sight. But preserving that history, while also allowing a community to grow and change, is no simple task.

In this conversation, we talk about the role of the Historic Preservation Commission, what it does, how it works, and why it matters. We also get into the ongoing discussion about potentially expanding the historic district village-wide, what that could mean for property owners, and some of the common misconceptions surrounding historic designation.

Janice offers a clear and thoughtful perspective on how Greenport can balance preservation with progress, and why this moment is an important one for residents to be paying attention.

This is a conversation about place, identity, and the responsibility of shaping what a community looks like, not just today, but for generations to come.

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by writer Caroline Sutton, author of the essay collection Eyes in the Soles of My Feet.

In this book, Sutton invites us to slow down and reconsider the natural world, not as something distant or separate, but as something we’re constantly moving through, often without noticing. Her essays ask deceptively simple questions, when is a weed not a weed, when is a pest not a pest and in doing so, they open up a much larger way of seeing.

Drawing from her life here on the East End, as well as her work as a teacher and observer of the everyday, Sutton brings attention to the overlooked: horseshoe crabs, trees, shifting light, and the quiet relationships that connect them all. Her writing lives somewhere between science, memoir, and reflection, grounded, curious, and deeply attentive.

In our conversation, we talk about how she began writing about the natural world, how small moments become meaningful on the page, and what it takes to truly notice what’s around us. We also get into the challenge and the joy of essay writing, and how reconnecting with nature might begin with something as simple as paying closer attention.

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Captain Matt Ketcham, Owner of Peconic Gold Oysters.

Matt grew up on Long Island and developed an early connection to the water through fishing and boating. After studying at the University of Rhode Island and spending time working as a charter boat captain in Peconic Bay, he eventually turned his focus to aquaculture, launching Peconic Gold and becoming part of the growing oyster farming community on the East End.

In this conversation, we talk about how he got started in oyster farming, the challenges of building an aquaculture business, the techniques behind growing oysters, and the role oyster farming plays in maintaining the health of the bay. Matt also shares his thoughts on the future of aquaculture on the North Fork.

Today’s guest is someone whose story truly reflects the spirit of hard work, creativity, and community that defines the North Fork.

Born in Pakistan and raised half a world away from the East End, Choudry Ali eventually made his way to the North Fork, and in 2007 took a leap of faith that would forever change a beloved local institution in Mattituck.

When he purchased Magic Fountain, a summertime staple dating back to the 1960s, he didn’t just keep it going, he reinvented it. With bold, inventive flavors like goat cheese, Guinness, and honey-lavender, a commitment to vegan and sugar-free options, and a work ethic that can stretch 80 to 100 hours a week, Choudry transformed a nostalgic ice cream stand into a year-round destination.

In this episode, we talk about his journey from Pakistan to the North Fork, the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship, the emotional power of something as simple as ice cream, and what it truly means to serve, and belong to, a community.