The West Hartford aka Experience WeHa Podcast

recorded Feb 2020 - Important issues need to be advanced at the State Capitol and West Hartford’s own, Derek Slap, is at the forefront fighting for the rights of contingents in our state! From age discrimination to gender pay equity to the rights of college athletes, Derek works tirelessly to help improve issues that matter to people in our state. Ryan and I had a chance to learn more about Derek’s life as a state senator, vice president of Advancement at The Village for Children and Families, and as a father.Follow State Sen., Derek Slap HERE Episode Chapters0:00 – Intro1:45 – About Derek and his work as State Senator5:00 – Derek’s work/life outside of politics6:30 – Age discrimination in the workplace12:30 – Switching gears to our youth and communication15:25 – Policymaking, legislation and “Slap Chats”24:20 – The most rewarding part of Derek’s role as State Senator – Working across the aisle30:30 – Youth in politics31:45 – Derek’s favorite We-Ha dish

Another West Hartford small business success story! Annisa Teich of West Hartford Coworking takes a great concept and business model started in West Hartford Center and now located on New Park Avenue to the next level which allows remote workers and entrepreneurs a space to work, create and collaborate. Hear Annisa’s story and find out more about West Hartford Coworking HERE and make sure to follow on Facebook.Episode Chapters0:00 – Intro/Annisa Teich2:11 – How co-working works4:00 – The evolution of West Hartford Coworking9:15 – A flexible space for every need13:00 – More than just a space to work – free events15:55 – Launch your podcast in the Creator Space18:15 – How Annisa balances it all21:20 – The future of West Hartford Coworking and being the brand33:15 – How to find out more about West Hartford Coworking34:40 – Annisa’s favorite We-Ha dish

You might think you’re “all set” because you have adequate coverage on your auto and home policies but you might want to take a second look. For over 50 years, Keating Agency Insurance has been serving the insurance needs of the local community. Mike Keating and our very own Experience We-Ha Podcast co-host, Ryan Keating share their vast knowledge of what you need to consider when purchasing a new policy or updating your existing to ensure you have the right coverage.Get your free policy review from Keating Agency Insurance by clicking HERE and make sure to follow on Facebook and InstagramEpisode Chapters0:00 – Intro3:15 – About Keating Agency5:40 – Red flags on your auto insurance10:34 – Top things to look for on your auto insurance policy13:00 – Grab an umbrella16:25 – Know what IS and what IS NOT covered on your homeowner’s policy25:15 – New technology trends in insurance28:30 – Insurance for businesses32:50 – Insuring your pet … Is it worth it and what to consider?35:50 – Changes in the insurance industry to benefit younger consumers39:25 – Mike & Ryan’s favorite We-Ha dish

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has established the West Hartford Community Fund, currently a $100,000 fund to help empower residents to make the community a better place, encourage broad civic engagement, and anchor the fund in the community of West Hartford.Ryan Keating flies solo in this week’s Experience We-Ha Podcast as he talks to Megan Burke, Jim Veneman, and Yukiyo Iida about how the fund works, the committee selection process, the purpose of the fund, and how it will benefit West Hartford.You can find out more about the Fund at a presentation on March 8, from 3-4 p.m., at the Noah Webster Library, or read more HERE on We-Ha.com.Click here for more information from the Foundation’s website.Episode Chapters0:00 – Intro/About the West Hartford Community Fund3:04 – Selection committee process10:04 – Grant awards12:00 – How the fund works and the secret donor16:45 – Find out more18:12 – About the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

One of the most popular episodes of the Experience We-Ha podcast in 2019 was our talk with Mayor Shari Cantor – so back by popular demand and coming off the heels of her State of the Town Address in late January, Ryan and I had another great conversation with our mayor. We dig deeper on some of the topics covered during the address and some others that were on our minds as well as some questions from the members of our community.We definitely covered a lot of ground as you can see in the episode chapters below, so take a listen and get up-to-speed on all that’s happening in our great town of West Hartford!You can read We-Ha.com’s full article of the State of the Town Address HERE or view the video of the full speech HERE.Episode Chapters0:00 – Intro2:50 – Taxes vs. preserving our quality of life6:05 – Initial feedback from the State of the Town address7:45 – The state of town residency10:15 – Town safety and community vigilance 14:07 – Celebrating town diversity15:40 – State of the old UConn property and “Fintech Village”18:18 – Sisters of St. Joseph’s project19:25 – Park Road Project21:30 – North Main “Road Diet”25:20 – What’s up with parking?31:30 – Food Truck Park/Elmwood/New Park Avenue projects37:15 – Entertainment in commercial zones39:00 – Renewable energy – We-Ha is going green!40:00 – The future of the mall41:28 – Special Education in West Hartford47:35 – What keeps the Mayor up at night?50:12 – The State of the Dog Park54:08 – Shari’s favorite We-Ha cocktail (and vacation spot)

The gentleman standing between Ryan and me in the picture above is lucky to be alive and well after suffering a stroke on March 20, 2017.  Bob’s frightening but amazing story tells how he suddenly lost the use of his right side and ability to speak, but thanks to the quick actions of his wife and co-workers, he received the necessary treatment to recover from his stroke. Now he is on a mission to share his story and spread the word and help other victims and caregivers quickly recognize the symptoms and get help.For more information about stokes and stroke awareness, head over to Bob’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/strokeawarenessguyEpisode Chapters0:00 – Intro1:55 – About Bob and his story and mission19:45 – The biggest changes in Bob’s life25:55 – How to recognize when you are having a stroke … B.E.F.A.S.T34:40 – Hartford Yard Goats, Strike Out Strokes May 7th36:03 – Stroke of Luck presentation and reactions38:50 – Bob’s favorite We-Ha dish

Grace Napolitano is relatively new to the West Hartford community but she’s already making waves as a business consultant for female entrepreneurs. In this podcast, I talk to Grace about her background and how she is helping women break through the many challenges they face in business and entrepreneurship to help them build a strong mindset and get them pointed in the direction of greater success.You can learn more about Grace’s coaching on her WEBSITEAlso, check out her private Facebook group, The Skirt RevolutionEpisode Chapters0:00 – Intro1:30 – About Grace3:12 – Common challenges for women in business and entrepreneurship7:40 – Coaching people through challenges11:15 – The 80/20 method to better time management13:50 – The “tools” that can help17:20 – Putting a value on your activities and tasks18:35 – Asking for help20:28 – How to get “un-stuck”23:35 – Grace’s top book recommendations26:25 – How to connect with Grace27:35 – Grace’s favorite We-Ha dish

On Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., more than 75 young entrepreneurs will have their creations on display at the West Hartford Town Hall during the town’s first-ever Pop Up Kids Market hosted by Buzz ELM. Ryan and I had the chance to talk with the founders of Buzz ELM – Elyse Fox, Laura Barash, and Melissa Geller – about the inspiration behind creating the market as a way to get kids from age 5 to 18 to exercise their business, entrepreneurial, and creative skills to work and sell their creations to the public.You can find out more about the Pop Up Kids Market HERE and make sure to read the article on We-Ha.com HEREEpisode Chapters0:00 – Intro1:53 – About Elyse, Laura & Melissa… The “ELM” in Buzz ELM7:00 – The idea behind the pop-up kids market9:00 – What the kids are making and selling12:35 – The positive response from the local community and what’s next17:30 – ELM’s kids and what they are bringing to the market20:55 – Teaching kids about business and pricing and selling their products while having fun27:40 – Local business support for the pop up market29:18 – ELM’s favorite We-Ha dishes

At the ripe young age of 23, Ben Goldman, a born and raised Hartford area local, knew EXACTLY what he wanted to do for a living by watching the news as a kid.  He became fascinated with the people who would “dress up” and tell him what was happening in the local community and the world … so that’s where his journey began.In this episode of the Experience We-Ha podcast, Ryan and I turned the microphone on Ben to learn about his story – how he achieved his dream job and became a news anchor at Fox 61. We learn about the early days of his life which included a successful battle with brain cancer, his roles and internships working with the best-of-the-best in hyperlocal and national news, and the most memorable moment in his young career.Episode Chapters0:00 – Intro2:45 – The journey to news anchor8:30 – Ben’s battle with brain cancer16:15 – Ben’s involvement with charities and his Make-A-Wish18:15 – From college internship, to apprenticeship, to Fox 6120:07 – First day as an anchor21:50 – Learning from the best – Denise D’Ascenzo and Dennis House27:54 – Ben’s most memorable moment in the business32:50 – What’s next???34:45 – Dream interview36:55 – The secret to his success40:23 – Ben’s favorite We-Ha dish

In the Major Leagues, pitchers and catchers will report to spring training camp in about a month, which means baseball fever is already catching fire! With that in mind, West Hartford Youth Baseball League (WHYBL) is already gearing themselves up for spring ball which is also right around the corner and registration is now open.Ryan and Jeff had the opportunity to sit down with WHYBL President Rob Hanawalt and Board member and coach of spring and travel teams Pat Cooney to talk about what’s in store this year as the league comes into full swing in April.  They provide the details of how the league handles learning and progressing through the ages, coaching and parenting, and about the great community of WHYBL which creates a rewarding experience for all involved.To learn more about WHYBL, check out their website http://www.whybaseball.com/Episode chapters:0:00 – Intro2:00 – About Rob and Pat6:00 – About WHYBL9:00 – Progression through youth baseball, the learning process12:50 – Getting to the World Series16:12 – Coaching19:50 – Parents24:35 – Balancing other sports27:20 – Heading to Cuba – Team Cultures Connect29:45 – Using technology in youth baseball31:40 – Upcoming clinics34:50 – Summer and Fall leagues36:50 – Pat and Rob’s favorite We-Ha dishes

We’re ALL about experiences at Experience We-Ha – and Ryan and I had the opportunity to test out weightlessness in the float tanks at the new Float Forty-One in Bishops Corner.Floatation therapy provides a zero-gravity environment that allows the mind and body to completely let go, relax, and reset. Using 1,000 pounds of Epsom Salts, the buoyancy of the water makes floating on water feel like floating on air.We chatted with owner Sarah LaTeano about her journey with floating that inspired her and her husband, Ryan LaTeano, to open Float Forty-One as a way to help people reduce stress and anxiety among many other physical and psychological benefits. We then tested it out by doing our own 1-hour floats and we talk more about our experience in the podcast so make sure to listen in to the story to find out if float therapy is right for you.  Float Forty-One officially opens on Monday, Jan. 6, and you can find out more about it and book a float session by heading to their website https://www.float41.com/ Episode chapters:0:00 – Intro2:00 – How Sarah and her husband got into floating4:30 – What is float therapy?6:30 – How floating helps7:45 – The pre-float8:40 – Sterility of floating11:12 – Types of float tanks15:10 – Pricing and memberships16:08 – The benefits of multiple floats and consistency17:34 – Floating history and today19:05 – How has floating helped Sarah most21:15 – Jeff and Ryan go floating21:30 – Review of the experience27:10 – How to find out more about Float 4128:15 – Sarah and Ryan’s (the man behind the build) favorite We-Ha dish

As we come to the end of another year (and decade), Ryan and Jeff reflect on 70 episodes of the Experience We-Ha Podcast. During this journey, not only have we learned a great deal about the medium of podcasting but more importantly about the extraordinary and wonderful things people are doing and the stories they have to tell. From our popular chefs around this culinary town to local artists and entrepreneurs and everything in between, our podcast guests are truly those who help make this great community of West Hartford what it is.Learn more about our experience – and thank you to those who have listened in to even one podcast as it makes it all worth it, and stay tuned for more exciting guests to come in 2020. Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year!Episode chapters:0:00 – Intro3:15 – How the Experience We-Ha Podcast got started6:45 – Top 5 … errr 10 episodes16:20 – Top 5 We-Ha restaurants mentioned on the podcast21:00 – Podcast stats and how we’ve grown22:00 – Our favorite episodes30:10 – What we’ve learned about podcasting34:15 – Ryan and Jeff critique each other36:46 – What we should do differently in 202040:20 – What are we most proud of in 201943:50 – Personal goals in 2020 and additional reflections52:45 – What are your goals???

The West Hartford Dog Park Coalition is making headway in establishing West Hartford’s dedicated dog park as they opened their temporary gated park at Beachland Park this past week. Jeff Lovanio and Ryan Keating chatted with coalition member Suzi Craig about the 10-year journey to open a dog park in West Hartford. This marks one step closer to building a permanent park in town for dogs to play freely off-leash as this temporary spot will be open for three months. Learn more from Suzi in this week’s podcast – and make sure to read the latest news story about the dog park on We-Ha.com HERE.For additional information visit http://westhartforddogpark.org/Episode chapters:0:00 – Intro – Ryan, Agent Von Woofenhauser, Gus3:42 – Suzi Craig -–About the West Hartford Dog Park Coalition7:57 – Beachland Park location9:00 – Pooch Plunge9:30 – History of challenges12:45 – Opening13:20 – Funding and upkeep16:30 – Keys to success20:10 – Online resources – westhartforddogpark.org24:45 – Suzi’s favorite We-Ha dish

What’s the holiday season without “The Nutcracker”?  For some reason seeing the live performance truly invigorates the Christmas spirit, and this year’s rendition by Ballet Theatre Company at the Hoffman Auditorium at The University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford is no exception!Jeff and Ryan had a chance to chat with Artistic Director and General Manager of the Ballet Theatre Company, Stephanie Dattellas, to find out what’s new for this year’s performance and how BTC adds some special nods to West Hartford to make this year’s performance special. In addition, we learn more about Stephanie and how BTC is doing local outreach to make the art of ballet accessible to more people.0:00 – Intro/About Stephanie3:45 – What makes a professional dancer6:50 – Stephanie’s role and about BTC12:25 – The Nutcracker17:55 – Putting the Hartford art scene on the map20:12 – Stephanie’s favorites as a dancer and as a choreographer26:39 – Youth in ballet31:00 – Reaching The Pointe – local outreach36:50 – Stephanie’s favorite We-Ha dish

DECA or (Distributive Education Clubs of America) prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe – and there is a chapter right here in West Hartford at Conard High School. Jeff and Ryan got to sit down with Holly Ruiz and the DECA team to talk more about how DECA is further preparing students for their futures. From building local fundraising and marketing campaigns to attending state and national conferences and competitions, the program allows students to network with others around the country while gaining valuable experience from industry professionals.  2:20 – DECA chapter at Conard High School – Holly Ruiz4:38 – The DECA state conference – Johnny Hoang6:45 – The competition10:00 – The shark tank event13:00 – Community service campaign – Jojo Rai, Rachel Son17:00 – The organization – Thao Vy Ha, Miriam Lopez-Cruz20:30 – The press release and fundraising efforts – Hunter Marotto23:15 – Sports and entertainment conference opportunity – Andrew Rosa 24:55 – Makeup of Conard DECA28:00 – DECA membership32:00 – What the students think of DECA – Rachel Son, Miriam Lopez-Cruz, Jasea Amchok, Johnny Hoang42:30 – Favorite We-Ha Dishes

As Park & Oak Restaurant celebrates three years in West Hartford, Jeff and Ryan chat with Owner/Chef David Borselle about his journey in becoming a staple restaurant in the West Hartford community. Chef David’s foray into the culinary world began on a golf course, but his growing passion led him to seek formal training both here in the U.S. and in Asti, Italy.Learn more about Chef David’s journey, his inspirations as a chef and business owner, his passions for teaching others how to make pasta, and how he balances it all with a working family and twin toddler daughters.Podcast Episode Chapters:0:00 – Intro4:45 – Chef David’s journey to become a chef 9:12 – Off to Italy to learn and train14:35 – Differences in Italian culinary 17:30 – Using ingredients from local farms21:07 – Back to the states – Ritz Carlton, Miami24:23 – From chef to business owner 25:35 – Staff matters27:20 – Beyond a place to eat – pasta classes, special dinners, and more32:15 – The inspirations behind the menu34:15 – Balancing work and life37:14 – Involvement in the community40:15 – New projects?42:57 – Chef David’s favorite We-Ha dish?

At a time of the year when friendship, togetherness, and community take a front seat during the holiday season, people are becoming more and more disconnected as human beings. According to a study by Cigna, loneliness has become an American epidemic with “One in four Americans (27 percent) rarely or never feel as though there are people who really understand them.” Brent Robertson of Fathom LLC, a leadership and future design consulting company, is tackling this issue and it has got people listening.In this episode of the Experience We-Ha Podcast, Jeff and Ryan talk to Brent about this serious problem which is leading more and more people into depression and even suicide, and talk about what people can do to fight loneliness.In addition, Brent and Fathom LLC host periodic Sip Sessions or open forums for people to exchange ideas and experiences about a myriad of topics that affect our community. To learn more about Sip Sessions, CLICK HERE.Podcast Episode Chapters:0:00 – Intro2:00 – Introducing Brent4:36 – The epidemic of loneliness9:37 – Prevalence in men11:54 – A business case for friendship13:15 – Active disengagement at work15:50 – Friendships matter26:30 – Correlation between connection and our health28:00 – The most successful drug to cure loneliness29:22 – Sip Sessions42:20 – Brent’s RECENT favorite We-Ha dish

In November the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Business & Community Showcase at the West Hartford Town Hall.  It proved to be a huge success allowing Chamber members to promote their businesses to each other and members of the community furthering the benefits of face-to-face, handshake-to-handshake networking.  Jeff and Ryan set up shop and hosted an Experience We-Ha Podcast to help showcase the members of the Chamber and get to know them a little better.Episode chapters:0:00 – Intro – Jeff/Ryan2:30 – Chris Conway – Executive Director, WHCOC12:45 – Matt Cuddy – Westfield Bank19:11 – Billy Grant IV – Ameriprise Financial28:40 – Nat Mardoc – Comcast Business36:54 – Andrew Moran – Merchant Solutions43:00 – Close/Chris Conway

In 2019, out of the 56,700 people who will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, 46,000 will not survive.  These are sobering numbers and Barbara Foley of the Ron Foley Foundation is here to raise awareness to help fight this deadly disease.In this episode of the Experience We-Ha Podcast, Jeff and Ryan learn more about Barbara and about her late husband, Ron Foley. Ron was diagnosed with the disease in 2004 and passed away a year later – which inspired her to help others in need who are diagnosed and suffering from pancreatic cancer.Listen in and learn more about Barabara’s journey and how you can get involved during World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November.Podcast Episode Chapters:0:00 – Intro1:00 – Episode Prelude4:30 – Opening6:15 – Meet Barbara Foley and about the Ron Foley Foundation7:45 – Pancreatic cancer statistics10:08 – Who is Ron Foley and about Ron’s Rescue13:45 –  Partnering with other organizations15:45 – Advances in pancreatic cancer treatment17:25 – Symptoms of pancreatic cancer18:27 – Partnering with Hartford Healthcare19:45 – Upcoming events and awareness in November24:00 – The Foundation team25:00 – Ron’s Run for the Roses Event29:50 – Show us your purple32:05 – Barbara’s favorite We-Ha dish

If we told you that you can help others in need while getting your holiday shopping done (at a discount) AND support local businesses this holiday season, would you believe it?  This is exactly what the We Care Card does and you can get yours today!Jeff and Ryan had a chance to chat with BK&Co. co-owner and West Hartford Center Business Association Board member Barbara Karsky and Foodshare Corporate and Community Giving Manager Al Marino to talk about what’s in store for this year’s We Care Card program which runs from Nov. 7-17. Check back with We-Ha.com later this week for more detailed information about this year’s program.To purchase your card today, visit the West Hartford Center Business Association website for a list of places where they are for sale (and participating businesses), or purchase a card directly online HERE.Podcast Episode Chapters:0:00 – Intro Barbara & Al2:20 – How the We Care Card came to be4:21 – How does it work?5:38 – Keeping it local6:20 – How it helps Foodshare and where the money goes11:23 – Turkey Drive16:32 – Winning the Chamber Spotlight Award18:01 – How do you get the card?19:40 – The deals21:40 – Barbara and Al’s favorite We-Ha dishes