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PODCAST

Little Local Conversations

Discover the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown, MA. Visit littlelocalconversations.com to see all episodes, upcoming events, and more. Join Matt Hanna as he has conversations with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work.Sign up for the email newsletter to know when new episodes are out: https://mailchi.mp/1ffcb9f6801e/newsletter-signup

society & culture

All Episodes

46:25

Episode 67: Max Ritcey (Ritcey East, Owner and Chef)

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/11/05

Meet Max Ritcey! He's the Owner and Chef at Ritcey East here in Watertown. In this conversation we talk about growing up in a four-generation family-run restaurant in Waltham, his journey through bartending and restaurant management jobs (and some of the funny stories from that era), and then finally landing his own spot here in Watertown. We dig into how it was important for his restaurant to be a welcoming space that helps people in small and big ways, from driving groceries to his employee...

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46:07

Episode 66: Jon Bockian (Community Volunteer / Author)

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/10/31

Meet Jon Bockian! He's a longtime Watertown resident with a history of community involvement and an author. In this conversation we talk about being part of the PTA, Zoning Board, the group that started the arts center at the Arsenal property, a group that pushed for a Watertown Transportation Management Association, and being one of the first members of the Community Preservation Committee. Then we change topics to his new book What Was Forbidden, and the process of researching and writing a...

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53:59

Episode 65: Jim Henderson (Attorney/Singer)

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/10/23

Meet Jim Henderson! He's an attorney and singer here in Watertown. In this wide-ranging conversation we talk about his early years in law (including winning a state supreme court case as a junior associate), the importance of different parts of his life beyond his law work such as his musical practice, how he homeschooled his kids and why the arts played a big part in that, and running for Massachusetts Secretary for State as an independent (and getting almost 3% of the vote). We do a d...

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32:21

Creative Chats With Guest Megan Ramette (The How and...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/10/17

This is a recording from a series for the podcast at the Mosesian Center for the Arts called Creative Chats. This conversation was with Megan Ramette of the Watertown Zine Fest team and we dug into everything zines and Watertown Zine Fest. Hear about: - What is a zine and why it matters - The culture and ethos of zines - Reasons to create and how to start - The origins and impact of the Watertown Zine Fest - Insights on tools, printing and the history of zines Come out to Watertown Zine Fest,...

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35:42

Local Government Update, October 2025

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/10/15

Listen to the latest conversation with Tyler Cote, the Community Engagement Specialist for the City of Watertown, and Victoria Weichel from WCA-TV to discuss things that have happened during the past month in Watertown through key moments, success stories, and important numbers. Links: City Council - Sept 9th School Building Committee - Sept 17th Trash and Recycling Info and Calendar State of the City 2025 Video State of the City Slides Election Voting Locations 2025 Election Dates and Deadli...

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82:23

Watertown's Open: Small Business Support Group

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/10/10

This is a recording from the Watertown's Open live podcast series panel discussion recorded at Get Lively Health and Fitness Studio in Watertown in September 2025. The theme was Small Business Support Group and dived into the numerous ways small business owners in Watertown are collaborating and supporting each other. Take a listen to hear stories and tips for established business and ones just starting out. The panel included (left to right, top to bottom in episode image): Liz Padula, owner...

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50:57

Episode 64: Michael Bobbitt (Mass Cultural Council)

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/10/02

Meet Michael Bobbitt! He's a Watertown resident and the Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council along with being a distinguished theater artist in many ways himself (see long bio here). In this conversation we talk about how art saved him in his early years, his early successes from being the "best Hansel" to touring nationally to perform, his time in children's theater and building Adventure Theatre in the DC area from 15,000 patrons to 100,000 patrons, co-writing musicals with Bob M...

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45:27

Creative Chats With Guests Tim Merton and Jennifer...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/09/29

This is a recording from a series for the podcast at the Mosesian Center for the Arts called Creative Chats. This conversation was with Tim Merton and Jennifer Morsches, cellists and Artistic Directors of the Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble. The topic revolved around building local history into programming and doing outreach with incarcerated teens. Find out more about Tim, Jennifer, and Sarasa at sarasamusic.org Support the show Head on over to www.littlelocalconversations.com to check out all...

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26:28

Watertown Arts & Culture Roundtable, September 2025

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/09/25

This is an arts and culture roundtable episode where we talk about things that have been going on in Watertown arts and culture recently, what's coming up, hidden gems, and more. The discussion was with Liz Helfer (City of Watertown, Public Arts and Culture Planner), Kristen Kenny (Chair of the Watertown Cultural District), and Jamie Kallestad (Communications and Design Specialist for the Watertown Free Public Library). Too many links to fit here! See all links here at littlelocalconversation...

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38:04

Episode 63: Barbara Callahan (Browne House/Historic...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/09/16

Meet Barbara Callahan! She's the Metro Boston Regional Site Administrator for Historic New England which includes overseeing the oldest house in Watertown, the Browne House on Main Street. In this conversation we talk about Barbara's own journey in managing historical houses in the area, then we dive into some of the history of the Browne family and its earliest history, and the reconstruction of the house in the early 1900s as the first well-documented restoration project in America. Barbara...

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32:08

Local Government Update, September 2025

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/09/09

Listen to the latest conversation with Tyler Cote, the Community Engagement Specialist for the City of Watertown, and Victoria Weichel from WCA-TV to discuss things that have happened during the past month in Watertown through key moments, success stories, and important numbers. Links mentioned in episode: Walker Pond August 18th School Committee Meeting ADA Self Evaluation & Transition Plan August 12th City Council Meeting What's Up Watertown Newsletter Trash and Recycling Strike Updates...

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27:51

Episode 62: Fangxue Zheng (Energy Advocate for City...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/09/05

Meet Fangxue Zheng! She's the Energy Advocate for the City of Watertown. In this conversation we talk about her backpacking across China for research, her transition to sustainability work in the US, and then we get into some of the programs and outreach work she's done in Massachusetts to help people learn about energy efficiency programs and resources, and we talk about the events and programs that have started recently in Watertown and ones to look forward to in the future. Visit the city'...

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38:07

Episode 61: Alex Patriquin (Cass School of Floral...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/08/21

Meet Alex Patriquin! He's part of the family business at the Cass School of Floral Design here in Watertown. We talk about the beginnings of the floral shop with his Armenian immigrant refugee grandmother (and her earlier venture of putting a lamp in every dorm room in Boston), some of the stories over the more than 75 year history of the three generation female-led business including growing up with his mother, Faith Cass, being the leading florist in the world (winning international floral ...

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35:41

Local Government Update, August 2025

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/08/06

This is a conversation with Tyler Cote, the Community Engagement Specialist for the City of Watertown, and Victoria Weichel from WCA-TV to discuss things that have happened during the past month in Watertown through key moments, success stories, and important numbers. Links: City Website Page for Trash Strike Updates City Manager's Interview on the Trash Strike Special City Council - July 24th WCA-TV Public Hearing - July 22nd Arsenal Park Permits Watertown Arts Market Walker Pond City's Sust...

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41:52

Episode 60: Gary Beatty (Watertown Boys and Girls Club)

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/07/28

Meet Gary Beatty! He's the Executive Director of the Watertown Boys and Girls Club. In this conversation he shares about his experience growing up in Northern Ireland, his love of football (soccer) and how it led him to the US, and his professional path that eventually landed him at the Boys and Girls Club. Then we dig into all the programming at the club, how it operates, its impact on community kids and families, and its brand new Kid Connect licensed after school program. Find out more abo...

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37:36

Episode 59: Sara Keary (Caregiver Counseling and...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/07/21

Meet Sara Keary! She runs Caregiver Counseling and Consultation here in Watertown along with being involved with the community in other ways. We talk about her early years growing up with a mother who was director of a homeless shelter and spending time around that environment, facing and overcoming her own health challenges at a young age, her path to social work and specializing in work with older adults, her turn to focusing on the caregivers of aging people and end-of-life planning with a...

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29:25

Episode 58: Rita Cleary (Brahma Kumaris Meditation...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/07/16

Meet Rita Cleary! She's the activities coordinator at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center here in Watertown. In this conversation we talk about Rita's career path in management sciences, traveling the world for her personal explorations on the big questions in life, what the Brahma Kumaris center does and how it came to be in Watertown, and it's mission and outreach to the community. Find out more about Brahma Kumaris at www.bknewengland.org Support the show Head on over to www.littlelocalco...

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39:13

Local Government Update, July 2025

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/07/08

This is a conversation with Tyler Cote, the Community Engagement Specialist for the City of Watertown, and Victoria Weichel from WCA-TV to discuss things that have happened during the past month in Watertown through key moments, success stories, and important numbers. Links: City Council - June 10th City Council - June 24th School Building - June 18th WCA-TV Public Ascertainment Hearing North Branch Library Report: https://watertown-ma.gov/1084/City-Manager-Updates Watertown 400: ...

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46:40

Creative Chats With Guest Arto Vaun (Finding Optimism...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/07/03

This is a recording from a series for the podcast at the Mosesian Center for the Arts called Creative Chats. This conversation was with Arto Vaun, Executive Director at Project Save Photograph Archive, musician, and poet. The topic revolved around finding optimism and creative opportunity in life's hardest moments. Find out more about Arto and Project Save at projectsave.org Find Arto the musician at artovaun.com Listen to my first podcast conversation with Arto here Support the show Head on...

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42:46

Episode 57: Xin Peng (Community Organizer and Human...

Little Local Conversations ·

2025/06/27

Meet Xin Peng! He's involved in many things in Watertown including chairing World in Watertown, sitting on the city's Human Rights Commission, running the Chinese American Association of Watertown, and many other things. In this conversation we dig into Xin's youth on a rural farm in China and how personal freedom and other factors led him to come to the United States, his passion for community organizing and wanting to strengthen multiple communities here in town, food justice and his ...

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95 results

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