What do golf, Hawaii, and thousands of buzzing bees have in common? They're all part of Ryan Forster's unlikely journey back home to Ashford, Connecticut.

After growing up in Ashford, Ryan headed to Hawaii to pursue a career in golf. But somewhere along the way, he discovered bees, developed a fascination with their therapeutic properties, and became interested in apitherapy, the therapeutic use of products created by honeybees to support health and healing. That interest eventually brought Ryan back to his hometown, where he opened Hive In The Hut, offering visitors a chance to experience something a little different: breathing in air from thousands of buzzing bees, an experience known as "hive air therapy."

For more info about Hive In The Hut, visit https://hiveinthehut.org/

A Washington, Connecticut, resident for more than 40 years, Denise Arturi has dedicated countless hours to her community. From volunteering with local organizations and coaching youth hockey to sending care packages to troops overseas, her service earned her the 2017 Major Stephen Reich Award for Exceptional Citizenship. Today, she continues to give back as Washington’s Registrar of Voters.

On this episode, Denise discusses the mission of the Steep Rock Association, which protects more than 6,000 acres of land, and why preserving open space, wildlife, and natural resources matters. We also celebrate a lifetime of service to the people and places that make Washington special.

For more info about Steep Rock Association visit https://steeprockassoc.org/

How can 73% of Connecticut residents rank the state as a great place to live, but only 21% recommend it to others? And why did WalletHub rank Connecticut the 44th most fun state in the country? 44th?!

Morgan Nyerick, Director of Statewide Marketing and Tourism for the State of Connecticut, and I take issue with these numbers! The Nutmeg State is spectacular year-round, with plenty to see and do--and eat. Hartford, New Haven, and Mystic are great places to start, but as Morgan points out, there are plenty of other gems to explore, including Morris, Chester, East Haddam, and Clinton. And shoutout to Rocky Hill for staking their claim as Connecticut's Food Capital!

So get out there, explore your state, and show Connecticut some love, Nutmeggers!

For more info about Connecticut Tourism visit https://ctvisit.com/ And to learn more about Connecticut Make It Here, visit https://www.ctmakeithere.com/