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/

Hartford Stage has been a fixture of downtown Hartford since 1963, and for Connecticut theater buffs, few places are better to catch a show. But what does it take to put a season together? We sit down with Managing Director Cynthia Rider to discuss their new rendition of Dracula and this season's new slate of shows, what it takes to build a season, producing every show in-house, and the wide range of programs and classes it offers kids and adults. Rider and Artistic Director Melia Bensussen form the first all-female leadership team at Hartford Stage.

For more info about Hartford Stage, visit https://www.hartfordstage.org/

Think libraries are just about books? Think again. Need help becoming a U.S. citizen? Learning English? Looking for activities for your kids? Homework help? Want to learn how to quilt? Hartford Public Library has you covered. Bridget E. Quinn, President & CEO of Hartford Public Library, joins me to talk about the incredible variety of programs and services available and why libraries continue to be such an important part of the community. September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. If you live in Hartford and don't have a library card, there's no better time to get one! (But you should be going all year round!)

For more info about the Hartford Public Library visit https://www.hplct.org/

Why wouldn’t television and movie productions come to Connecticut? From the grit of Hartford, Bridgeport, and New Haven to the small-town charm of Bethel and the waterfronts of Mystic, New London, and Old Lyme, Connecticut has plenty to offer. Bob Korin and Matthew Troy are part of the Bethel Film Committee working to attract location managers, production scouts, and directors to the area. Both have backgrounds in film, and both are volunteer firefighters. We discuss what makes Bethel an ideal filming location, their efforts to bring more productions to Bethel, and their time as firefighters.

For more info about the Bethel Film Committee visit https://bethel-ct.gov/ and search for Bethel Film Committee.

You can also email the film committee directly at: film@bethel-ct.gov

Former owner of his own construction company, volunteer at The Durham Fair, Membership Chairman for the New Haven Racoon Club, DJ, and potential radio personality, Hans Pedersen is many things. But Durham’s biggest supporter may top them all. If you think your city or town is better, Hans is here to tell you one thing: you’re wrong.

For info about The Durham Fair visit https://www.durhamfair.com/

For info about the New Haven Racoon Club visit https://www.nhraccoonclub.com/

If you can make it in Canton, you can make it anywhere! Kathy Taylor wears many hats: town historian, President of Make It Canton, and Justice of the Peace. After living and working in communities across Connecticut, she put down roots in Canton. Kathy joins me to talk about what makes the town special—including the historic village of Collinsville—and why it’s a great place to live, work, and play.

For more information about the Canton Historical Museum go to https://cantonmuseum.org/

For more information about Make It Canton go to https://mainstreetcanton.org/enhancing-canton/make-it-canton/