Podcasts about southington

Today on Black Dragon Biker TV: Update on the Shootout at Cadillac Ranch Biker Night in Southington, CT.New information is coming in from anonymous sources. According to tips:The incident may have started over an unsatisfied customer regarding motorcycle repair or customization work.The customer and his associates allegedly attacked the shop owner.During the struggle, a gun was pulled and accidentally fired.One man was shot in the stomach (not the chest as initially reported). His name is Jason and he is reportedly doing much better than expected after surgery.Retaliation has already taken place.Once again, this appears to be a case of bikers handling "club business" in public — something that continues to damage the image of the entire motorcycle community.Join us as we break it down.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dragon-s-lair-motorcycle-chaos--3267493/support.Sponsor the channel by signing up for our channel memberships. You can also support us by signing up for our podcast channel membership for $9.99 per month, where 100% of the membership price goes directly to us at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-.... Follow us on:Instagram: BlackDragonBikerTV TikTok: BlackDragonBikertv Twitter: jbunchiiFacebook: BlackDragonBikerBuy Black Dragon Merchandise, Mugs, Hats, T-Shirts Books: https://blackdragonsgear.comDonate to our cause:Cashapp: $BikerPrezPayPal: jbunchii Zelle: jbunchii@aol.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BlackDragonNPSubscribe to our new discord server https://discord.gg/dshaTSTSubscribe to our online news magazine www.bikerliberty.comGet 20% off Gothic biker rings by using my special discount code: blackdragon go to http://gthic.com?aff=147Join my News Letter to get the latest in MC protocol, biker club content, and my best picks for every day carry. https://johns-newsletter-43af29.beehi... Get my Audio Book Prospect's Bible an Audible: https://adbl.co/3OBsfl5Help us get to 30,000 subscribers on www.instagram.com/BlackDragonBikerTV on Instagram. Thank you!We at Black Dragon Biker TV are dedicated to bringing you the latest news, updates, and analysis from the world of bikers and motorcycle clubs. Our content is created for news reporting, commentary, and discussion purposes. Under Section 107 of the Copyright

Modern work is getting weird. In this episode, Erin and Nicole talk about career envy, AI "bot sitting," Gen Z's job search chaos, parents overstepping in the hiring process, airport drama, bathroom hideouts, and the deeply human ways people are trying to stand out, stay sane, and survive work right now. They also unpack one of Erin's favorite new questions for killing comparison: "Would I actually want their life?" Because chasing someone else's version of success only works if you're willing to take the whole life that comes with it. In this episode you'll hear: Why career envy gets a lot less powerful when you zoom out How AI slop is changing resumes, hiring, and the way we try to stand out What "bot sitting" says about the strange new reality of work Why parents need to step away from the hiring manager The hilarious and slightly unhinged ways people cope at work This one is part workplace commentary, part group therapy, part "what the hell is happening out there?" And honestly? We need all three.   Anya Roodnitsky Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU6VPHhEgGn/ Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Take our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ish Throw out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule. Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "You cannot compare yourself to somebody else without first asking: would I actually want their life?" "We do make shit up all the time. It's just usually bad shit about us and good shit about other people. You have the right to flip that." "You're creating an entire life you don't have to escape from." "If you want to be heard, stand out, picked, chosen, or done business with, AI slop is going to kill you." Editor's note: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity, readability, and flow while preserving the core conversation and strongest takeaways. In this episode, Erin Hatzikostas and Nicole Licata unpack the weird, wild, and deeply human ways people are surviving modern work. From career envy and AI "bot sitting" to Gen Z's job search chaos, parents overstepping in hiring, airport drama, bathroom hideouts, and the pressure to stand out in a world full of sameness, this conversation is part workplace commentary, part group therapy, and part "what the hell is happening out there?" Women, Work, and the Underground Network Erin: I have some updates. The first one is related to something you just said. I have to laugh at how freaking amazing working women are at multitasking. This morning, I drove 45 minutes to Southington for an 8:30 coffee meeting with a former client who is now a current client because they're bringing me back again. But before that, I had placed a BJ's Warehouse order at the Southington location because we have a graduation party coming up. So I had the coffee meeting, got gas under $4, picked up a ridiculous amount of party supplies, came home, sweated my ass off putting it all away, and thought, this is how women work. People underestimate not only how efficient we are, but also how connected we are. That reminded me of something else. A few weeks ago, our financial advisors decided to move to another bank for the second time in six years. The first time, we followed them. The second time, we paused. I happen to use the same financial advisor as my woman work crush, Jean LaTour, who is a former chief investment officer for CBS and Aetna. She is a big deal, authentic as hell, and I'm proud to call her a friend. When we both got the news, we immediately started texting. I told her the deal Morgan Stanley offered us to incentivize us to stay, which was different from hers. We were sent to different people. We've had lunch. We've compared notes on how the transition has gone. So story number one is this: do not underestimate women and our ability to get all the things done, whether it's picking up BJ's after a business meeting or quietly sharing information behind the scenes to make sure we get the best deal possible. Nicole: That reminds me of one of our early episodes about the things women don't talk about. One of the big ones was finances. It's a mistake I still make sometimes. When things are changing, it can feel overwhelming. You want to trust what's happening. You get comfortable. But these are businesses. These are deal makers. You're their client, and you're paying them. The more information you have, the better. I applaud you for asking, "Who else is in this with me? Let's have some conversations," instead of blindly going along with a deal that sounded good enough. Erin: Exactly. And I know we have a lot of male listeners, so I'm not saying women are better. But get women into leadership positions because we are doing this at work too. We're multitasking, sharing information, and doing business differently. Sometimes that women's network is working under the covers more than people think. And I mean that in the least weird way possible. The Question That Kills Career Envy Erin: My second thought is something that has been helping me a lot lately. I've been feeling really good about a mindset shift I've made around jealousy, comparison, and chasing things I don't actually want. The speaking business can be ego-driven. I'm not selling widgets. I'm selling myself. So it's easy to get caught up in the idea that more bookings equal more validation. But I don't want to be a speaker who does 40, 60, or 80 gigs a year. I used to think that was mostly because I didn't want to be on the road that much or because it was too much to balance with family. But it's also because I can't give fully to clients if I'm doing that much. I have eight gigs between June and September, and I'm at capacity in terms of my ability to customize, understand each client, and not come in with a cookie-cutter talk. So here's the question that has helped me when I see another speaker's amazing new reel or big event announcement: Would I want their life? And I don't mean, "That probably sucks because they're on the road so much." I mean literally: would I want their whole life? Sometimes I know these people and their backgrounds, and sometimes I don't. But I ask myself, would I want the entire life that comes with that thing I'm jealous of? The answer is almost always no. I want my life. I want time with my husband. I want time with my kids. I want breathing room on a Friday. I don't want to take one thing and give up everything else. You cannot compare yourself to somebody else without first asking, "Would I actually want their life?" Maybe once in a while the answer will be yes. But even with celebrities, ask yourself: would I want their life? You don't get to have the thing you're jealous of and keep everything you already have. You can't say, "I want that event with 3,000 people on a stage in Hawaii," without also taking the number of gigs, sacrifices, relationships, lifestyle, location, and everything else that comes with it. You cannot pick and choose. That has put me in this place of gratitude for the holistic picture of my life. When speaker friends ask, "How's it going?" there is often this undertone of, "How many bookings are you doing?" And I've started answering differently. I say, "I really fucking love my life." Yes, this is the busiest summer I've had speaking. But when you ask how I'm doing, I'm thinking about my daughter having the time of her life in her senior year, my husband and I getting along great, the weather being beautiful, visiting family, and building a life I actually want. Nicole: What you're saying is interesting because you're not saying don't change or don't evolve. You're saying look at the landscape, the tools, the opportunities, and the framework you actually have. Don't look at someone else's life with no context about who they are, how they got there, or what sacrifices they made, and assume you can just import one piece of it. Erin: Yes. And I'm also giving people permission to make shit up. Let's say someone's title comes across your feed and you think, "I always thought I wanted that role." You don't know that person. So you have the right to create a different narrative. We make shit up all the time. It's just usually bad shit about us and good shit about other people. You have the right to flip that. If you're going to tell stories in your head, tell great stories about yourself too. Nicole: As long as the narrative gives you balance and helps you dig into where you are instead of making you feel terrible about yourself, it can create growth. Erin: Exactly. Because when you stop spending so much energy being depressed about where you are, you can actually grow. And this is where the 50% Rule helps too. Once you do things half-normal, half-you, it becomes almost impossible to compare because you're not trying to do it the same way anyway. I've told the universe something different. I've said I want around 25 gigs a year. I want balance. I want this life. And the universe has started to deliver exactly what is perfect for me. Nicole: It goes back to what you said. You're creating an entire life you don't have to escape from. Erin: Yes. This is not the time in my 50s to create something that looks good on paper but feels terrible in reality. I'm creating a lifestyle. Authenticity as a Business Differentiator Erin: My third thought is something I'm still processing. I had a repeat client who brought me in specifically for their sales organization, which I love because authenticity can sometimes sound like an HR thing. But where I get really excited is when it becomes about differentiation, growing your business, and doing things differently in a tangible way. This client brought me in for a leadership keynote, and then we worked together for six months doing real-time group coaching with their sales team. We took actual scenarios and worked on making their responses, proposals, and communication more authentic. Recently, I learned they had their best sales year ever by far. And they are going through DOJ approval for an acquisition at a 20X EBITDA, which is hard to come by these days. They're not an AI company. The investment community is very focused on AI right now, so this was a big deal. I am not taking full credit. There are always many factors. But I also don't believe in coincidences. They invested in differentiating and doubling down on authenticity as their advantage. Then they had a huge sales year, which contributed to the valuation and the sale. That was pretty freaking cool. Nicole: They found their mantra, put it into action, and got results. Weird how that works. Airport Drama Nicole: I want to share the latest reason I got stopped at the airport, because there is always something. I was coming back into the United States, and my luggage got flagged. I've been traveling only with carry-on luggage because I'm constantly booking multiple flights with different airlines to maximize scheduling and pricing. The travel market is crazy, and I am not a bazillionaire. So first, my known traveler ID and redress number disappeared off my ticket. I get sent through multiple lines at JetBlue. They finally put the information back in, and I go to the TSA PreCheck line. Then they tell me I have to go to the special TSA PreCheck line. Erin: Who knew those even existed? Nicole: Exactly. I had already given myself a lot of time, and I had already passed USDA inspection, so no fruit and vegetable jail this time. Then they immediately flag my bags. They pull them aside. There are officers, dogs, everything. An agent comes up to me and says, "Ma'am, we've seen some unknown powders in here. Do you have coffee?" I said, "I do have coffee, but it's in this bag," meaning the backpack he had already handed back to me. Then he starts going through my suitcase and pulls out a packing cube. He says, "Ma'am, the issue is that your luggage is too well packed. It is too dense." I was like, "My bathing suit and underwear?" Then he finds some lady products because I'm a woman in menopause. He asks, "What is this syringe?" I told him to read the label. He opens it, pushes it out, and realizes it's Lady Lube. He starts calling over officers and saying it's illegal. Then a woman walks up out of nowhere, slams the suitcase shut, and says, "You're free to go." Erin: Women to the rescue. Nicole: Pink underwear, coffee, unknown powders, densely packed luggage, Lady Lube. I was done. Bot Sitting and the Strange New Reality of Work Erin: Let's dive into some of the craziest recent workplace stories. Will there be lessons that inspire you and make you a better person? Probably not. Possibly. But mostly, we're here to laugh. The first one I came across was the concept of bot sitting. Have you heard this term? Nicole: I have, but explain it. Erin: It's basically babysitting AI. I've seen it with my 15-year-old, Mick, who has become really talented with AI, especially coding and building things. But he'll set something up, and then I'll walk into his room and see his laptop out while he's on his phone scrolling videos because he's bot sitting. He's waiting for AI to crank something out or process. This article was talking about how AI is supposed to make everyone more efficient, but in companies, people are using AI and then waiting two hours for it to process. So they're basically being paid to scroll their phones and bot sit. Nicole: I know someone from the art world who just lost his job. He's a young medical researcher, and the only jobs he's being offered are essentially bot sitting jobs. These are entry-level roles where he helps internal AI systems learn inside research companies. His job is to feed data into the bot, help it spit things out more efficiently, check the results, and fix errors. That's what he's being offered as a PhD researcher. Erin: Wow. Bot sitting. Gen Z, Job Search Chaos, and the Resume That Actually Worked Erin: That's a good segue into one of my favorite articles: Anya Roodnitsky and her resume. Anya is a recent Dartmouth grad with a mathematical physics degree. Not a slouch. But the job market is tough, especially for new grads. She sent out hundreds of resumes, and she didn't just phone it in. She customized them. She did all the things HR people tell you to do. And she got nothing. So out of frustration and fun, she made a simple, authentic PowerPoint-style resume and posted it on social media. She did exactly what I talk about all the time: she exposed who she was and her flaws right away. She didn't pretend. She said, basically, "I've been doing hundreds of these, and it's rough out there, so here's what I'm going to do." She talked about working with nuclear reactors and joked that she was basically Oppenheimer. She included competence, personality, and humor. She even promised to bring in baked goods. The video got hundreds of thousands of views. She got 52 introductions or coffee chats, 20 referrals, 10 interviews, and landed a job. Yes. Different is better than better. If you're going through the same thing every day, whether it's resumes, sales presentations, town halls, or HR emails nobody reads, it is your fault if people aren't paying attention. You're not pattern interrupting. You're not being authentic. You're not giving people a reason to stop and notice. In this day and age, especially if you're trying to get hired, AI slop is going to kill you if you want to be heard, stand out, picked, chosen, or done business with. Nicole: It's also disheartening that we can't trust these giant systems we've created. It feels like you have to be a disruptor just to access society and get a job. I love her, but it's also fully disheartening for someone like me who would never do that. Erin: Right. Her example was outlandish, but the broader point is that Gen Z is taking to content and social media because that's what they know. They're frustrated and saying, "Fuck it." And honestly, this is what I'm saying. This is the future. Parents, Please Step Away From the Hiring Manager Nicole: One thing I'm finding as a hiring manager is that students are getting more tools, encouragement, and guidance around networking and mentoring than we had. That part is good. But with that, I'm having a total Step Brothers moment because I'm getting emails from parents. Erin: Oh no. When we say work networks, we are not talking about your parents. Nicole: Do not call me and say, "What does my kid need to do?" Erin: Are you kidding me? Nicole: I'm not. Parents are engaged in their kids' lives and professional development in a way our families weren't because the world has changed. But I cannot take that seriously. It's unfair to the student too. Maybe they're lazy, or maybe they have an overbearing parent. Either way, it makes them look bad. Erin: It's a red flag. A disqualifying red flag. And if a parent did contact me, I'd be tempted to ask, "Is this how you've operated throughout their schooling? Have you been stepping in like this?" Because if the answer is yes, there's your reason. You are the problem. Not just because you picked up the phone now, but because you've probably spent years enabling them instead of slowly stepping back and letting them figure things out. Nicole: We all understand networks. We all understand nepotism exists. But cold-calling nepotism is a whole different world. If you're engaging with a hiring manager, make sure it's for a job you want. And ask yourself: if your child were dating someone, would you call that person and ask 27 questions? Professional and personal relationships are not in totally different universes. They're on the same spectrum. So from the hiring desk of Nicole: if you're a parent, don't call me. Workplace Weirdness, Government Voicemails, and HR Stories Nicole: One of my favorite stories you sent was about the Washington State DMV. The story was that when people called the DMV and chose Spanish language support, instead of getting Spanish, they got heavily accented English. I don't know if it's real, but because I work for a government agency, I can absolutely see how this could happen. Government tech systems are constantly evolving, and agencies don't always have access to all of their own systems. Voicemails are not always recorded by voice actors or vendors. Sometimes it's just someone in IT with a nice voice. Erin: And maybe they were trying to save money and decided Rosario down the hall would do it. Nicole: Exactly. Someone says, "She speaks clearly." And suddenly that's the voicemail. Erin: I think it's real. I tried to look it up, and it didn't immediately flag as fake. I did have another article on the list about a woman supposedly working three full-time remote jobs, but that one appears to be fake. Listeners, you'll have to tell us: do you know if the DMV story is real? The Bathroom Popsicle Bandit and Where People Hide at Work Nicole: The random HR stories also had me dying. My favorite was the Bathroom Popsicle Bandit. Apparently, an employee would sit in the bathroom all day eating freeze pops and reading a book on her phone. She was in there so long that someone found her and thought she was dead. There were freeze pop wrappers all over the floor. Erin: You can picture it. Nicole: I can picture it because our bathroom situation at work is not great. We have one stall for a lot of people. The light goes out. The toilet doesn't flush well. And if you sit there too long, it keeps flushing, so people know you're in there. But sometimes when people are constantly walking into my office, I hide in there. Or I hide in the old lactation room/mail room/storage room. I push the chairs aside just enough to slip in and sit there for 20 minutes with my phone flashlight. There's no air. No ventilation. But sometimes you need a moment. Erin: It's mental health. It's better than putting in a mental health claim. Nicole: I want to know where people hide at work. What are your work hide-and-seek spots? Mine is the mail room/lactation room/storage room, sometimes the bathroom, near the emergency exit no one uses. Erin: That reminds me of when my kids were young and wanted to play hide-and-seek. I would grab a glass of wine and go to the hardest place for them to find me. They would eventually say, "Mom, we give up," and I would just sit there drinking wine. Best game ever. Substance Coping and Surviving Modern Work Nicole: A lot of those HR stories involved substance use too. People coming into the office drunk or medicated. And I'll be honest: people seem much more medicated or open about their medication at work now than I'm used to. I'm not always sure what counts as substance abuse versus substance coping these days. Sometimes I like people better on their coping substances than off them. I'm not saying I condone it, but sometimes I'm like, please come to this meeting chilled out. Erin: Can you blame them with the current workplace? Nicole: I cannot. Erin: That's why we share these stories. That's why we share this podcast. It's all part of your medication. Nicole: We are all living this dream together and showing up every damn day because we've chosen it. And sometimes you just have to call your squad and ask, "Am I getting the best deal where I am?" Have that conversation. Erin: Work the underground tunnel. Nicole: Exactly. Final Thought Erin: Modern work is weird. AI is changing the way people apply for jobs, companies are asking people to bot sit, parents are emailing hiring managers, employees are hiding in bathrooms, and everyone is trying to stand out without losing their minds. But underneath all of it is something deeply human. We're trying to build lives we don't have to escape from. We're trying to stop comparing ourselves to people whose lives we don't actually want. We're trying to be seen, chosen, trusted, and remembered in a world full of AI slop and workplace noise. And honestly? Sometimes the best thing we can do is laugh, call our people, and ask better questions about what we actually want.

Modern work is getting weird. In this episode, Erin and Nicole talk about career envy, AI "bot sitting," Gen Z's job search chaos, parents overstepping in the hiring process, airport drama, bathroom hideouts, and the deeply human ways people are trying to stand out, stay sane, and survive work right now. They also unpack one of Erin's favorite new questions for killing comparison: "Would I actually want their life?" Because chasing someone else's version of success only works if you're willing to take the whole life that comes with it. In this episode you'll hear: Why career envy gets a lot less powerful when you zoom out How AI slop is changing resumes, hiring, and the way we try to stand out What "bot sitting" says about the strange new reality of work Why parents need to step away from the hiring manager The hilarious and slightly unhinged ways people cope at work This one is part workplace commentary, part group therapy, part "what the hell is happening out there?" And honestly? We need all three.   Anya Roodnitsky Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU6VPHhEgGn/ Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Take our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ish Throw out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule. Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "You cannot compare yourself to somebody else without first asking: would I actually want their life?" "We do make shit up all the time. It's just usually bad shit about us and good shit about other people. You have the right to flip that." "You're creating an entire life you don't have to escape from." "If you want to be heard, stand out, picked, chosen, or done business with, AI slop is going to kill you." Editor's note: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity, readability, and flow while preserving the core conversation and strongest takeaways. In this episode, Erin Hatzikostas and Nicole Licata unpack the weird, wild, and deeply human ways people are surviving modern work. From career envy and AI "bot sitting" to Gen Z's job search chaos, parents overstepping in hiring, airport drama, bathroom hideouts, and the pressure to stand out in a world full of sameness, this conversation is part workplace commentary, part group therapy, and part "what the hell is happening out there?" Women, Work, and the Underground Network Erin: I have some updates. The first one is related to something you just said. I have to laugh at how freaking amazing working women are at multitasking. This morning, I drove 45 minutes to Southington for an 8:30 coffee meeting with a former client who is now a current client because they're bringing me back again. But before that, I had placed a BJ's Warehouse order at the Southington location because we have a graduation party coming up. So I had the coffee meeting, got gas under $4, picked up a ridiculous amount of party supplies, came home, sweated my ass off putting it all away, and thought, this is how women work. People underestimate not only how efficient we are, but also how connected we are. That reminded me of something else. A few weeks ago, our financial advisors decided to move to another bank for the second time in six years. The first time, we followed them. The second time, we paused. I happen to use the same financial advisor as my woman work crush, Jean LaTour, who is a former chief investment officer for CBS and Aetna. She is a big deal, authentic as hell, and I'm proud to call her a friend. When we both got the news, we immediately started texting. I told her the deal Morgan Stanley offered us to incentivize us to stay, which was different from hers. We were sent to different people. We've had lunch. We've compared notes on how the transition has gone. So story number one is this: do not underestimate women and our ability to get all the things done, whether it's picking up BJ's after a business meeting or quietly sharing information behind the scenes to make sure we get the best deal possible. Nicole: That reminds me of one of our early episodes about the things women don't talk about. One of the big ones was finances. It's a mistake I still make sometimes. When things are changing, it can feel overwhelming. You want to trust what's happening. You get comfortable. But these are businesses. These are deal makers. You're their client, and you're paying them. The more information you have, the better. I applaud you for asking, "Who else is in this with me? Let's have some conversations," instead of blindly going along with a deal that sounded good enough. Erin: Exactly. And I know we have a lot of male listeners, so I'm not saying women are better. But get women into leadership positions because we are doing this at work too. We're multitasking, sharing information, and doing business differently. Sometimes that women's network is working under the covers more than people think. And I mean that in the least weird way possible. The Question That Kills Career Envy Erin: My second thought is something that has been helping me a lot lately. I've been feeling really good about a mindset shift I've made around jealousy, comparison, and chasing things I don't actually want. The speaking business can be ego-driven. I'm not selling widgets. I'm selling myself. So it's easy to get caught up in the idea that more bookings equal more validation. But I don't want to be a speaker who does 40, 60, or 80 gigs a year. I used to think that was mostly because I didn't want to be on the road that much or because it was too much to balance with family. But it's also because I can't give fully to clients if I'm doing that much. I have eight gigs between June and September, and I'm at capacity in terms of my ability to customize, understand each client, and not come in with a cookie-cutter talk. So here's the question that has helped me when I see another speaker's amazing new reel or big event announcement: Would I want their life? And I don't mean, "That probably sucks because they're on the road so much." I mean literally: would I want their whole life? Sometimes I know these people and their backgrounds, and sometimes I don't. But I ask myself, would I want the entire life that comes with that thing I'm jealous of? The answer is almost always no. I want my life. I want time with my husband. I want time with my kids. I want breathing room on a Friday. I don't want to take one thing and give up everything else. You cannot compare yourself to somebody else without first asking, "Would I actually want their life?" Maybe once in a while the answer will be yes. But even with celebrities, ask yourself: would I want their life? You don't get to have the thing you're jealous of and keep everything you already have. You can't say, "I want that event with 3,000 people on a stage in Hawaii," without also taking the number of gigs, sacrifices, relationships, lifestyle, location, and everything else that comes with it. You cannot pick and choose. That has put me in this place of gratitude for the holistic picture of my life. When speaker friends ask, "How's it going?" there is often this undertone of, "How many bookings are you doing?" And I've started answering differently. I say, "I really fucking love my life." Yes, this is the busiest summer I've had speaking. But when you ask how I'm doing, I'm thinking about my daughter having the time of her life in her senior year, my husband and I getting along great, the weather being beautiful, visiting family, and building a life I actually want. Nicole: What you're saying is interesting because you're not saying don't change or don't evolve. You're saying look at the landscape, the tools, the opportunities, and the framework you actually have. Don't look at someone else's life with no context about who they are, how they got there, or what sacrifices they made, and assume you can just import one piece of it. Erin: Yes. And I'm also giving people permission to make shit up. Let's say someone's title comes across your feed and you think, "I always thought I wanted that role." You don't know that person. So you have the right to create a different narrative. We make shit up all the time. It's just usually bad shit about us and good shit about other people. You have the right to flip that. If you're going to tell stories in your head, tell great stories about yourself too. Nicole: As long as the narrative gives you balance and helps you dig into where you are instead of making you feel terrible about yourself, it can create growth. Erin: Exactly. Because when you stop spending so much energy being depressed about where you are, you can actually grow. And this is where the 50% Rule helps too. Once you do things half-normal, half-you, it becomes almost impossible to compare because you're not trying to do it the same way anyway. I've told the universe something different. I've said I want around 25 gigs a year. I want balance. I want this life. And the universe has started to deliver exactly what is perfect for me. Nicole: It goes back to what you said. You're creating an entire life you don't have to escape from. Erin: Yes. This is not the time in my 50s to create something that looks good on paper but feels terrible in reality. I'm creating a lifestyle. Authenticity as a Business Differentiator Erin: My third thought is something I'm still processing. I had a repeat client who brought me in specifically for their sales organization, which I love because authenticity can sometimes sound like an HR thing. But where I get really excited is when it becomes about differentiation, growing your business, and doing things differently in a tangible way. This client brought me in for a leadership keynote, and then we worked together for six months doing real-time group coaching with their sales team. We took actual scenarios and worked on making their responses, proposals, and communication more authentic. Recently, I learned they had their best sales year ever by far. And they are going through DOJ approval for an acquisition at a 20X EBITDA, which is hard to come by these days. They're not an AI company. The investment community is very focused on AI right now, so this was a big deal. I am not taking full credit. There are always many factors. But I also don't believe in coincidences. They invested in differentiating and doubling down on authenticity as their advantage. Then they had a huge sales year, which contributed to the valuation and the sale. That was pretty freaking cool. Nicole: They found their mantra, put it into action, and got results. Weird how that works. Airport Drama Nicole: I want to share the latest reason I got stopped at the airport, because there is always something. I was coming back into the United States, and my luggage got flagged. I've been traveling only with carry-on luggage because I'm constantly booking multiple flights with different airlines to maximize scheduling and pricing. The travel market is crazy, and I am not a bazillionaire. So first, my known traveler ID and redress number disappeared off my ticket. I get sent through multiple lines at JetBlue. They finally put the information back in, and I go to the TSA PreCheck line. Then they tell me I have to go to the special TSA PreCheck line. Erin: Who knew those even existed? Nicole: Exactly. I had already given myself a lot of time, and I had already passed USDA inspection, so no fruit and vegetable jail this time. Then they immediately flag my bags. They pull them aside. There are officers, dogs, everything. An agent comes up to me and says, "Ma'am, we've seen some unknown powders in here. Do you have coffee?" I said, "I do have coffee, but it's in this bag," meaning the backpack he had already handed back to me. Then he starts going through my suitcase and pulls out a packing cube. He says, "Ma'am, the issue is that your luggage is too well packed. It is too dense." I was like, "My bathing suit and underwear?" Then he finds some lady products because I'm a woman in menopause. He asks, "What is this syringe?" I told him to read the label. He opens it, pushes it out, and realizes it's Lady Lube. He starts calling over officers and saying it's illegal. Then a woman walks up out of nowhere, slams the suitcase shut, and says, "You're free to go." Erin: Women to the rescue. Nicole: Pink underwear, coffee, unknown powders, densely packed luggage, Lady Lube. I was done. Bot Sitting and the Strange New Reality of Work Erin: Let's dive into some of the craziest recent workplace stories. Will there be lessons that inspire you and make you a better person? Probably not. Possibly. But mostly, we're here to laugh. The first one I came across was the concept of bot sitting. Have you heard this term? Nicole: I have, but explain it. Erin: It's basically babysitting AI. I've seen it with my 15-year-old, Mick, who has become really talented with AI, especially coding and building things. But he'll set something up, and then I'll walk into his room and see his laptop out while he's on his phone scrolling videos because he's bot sitting. He's waiting for AI to crank something out or process. This article was talking about how AI is supposed to make everyone more efficient, but in companies, people are using AI and then waiting two hours for it to process. So they're basically being paid to scroll their phones and bot sit. Nicole: I know someone from the art world who just lost his job. He's a young medical researcher, and the only jobs he's being offered are essentially bot sitting jobs. These are entry-level roles where he helps internal AI systems learn inside research companies. His job is to feed data into the bot, help it spit things out more efficiently, check the results, and fix errors. That's what he's being offered as a PhD researcher. Erin: Wow. Bot sitting. Gen Z, Job Search Chaos, and the Resume That Actually Worked Erin: That's a good segue into one of my favorite articles: Anya Roodnitsky and her resume. Anya is a recent Dartmouth grad with a mathematical physics degree. Not a slouch. But the job market is tough, especially for new grads. She sent out hundreds of resumes, and she didn't just phone it in. She customized them. She did all the things HR people tell you to do. And she got nothing. So out of frustration and fun, she made a simple, authentic PowerPoint-style resume and posted it on social media. She did exactly what I talk about all the time: she exposed who she was and her flaws right away. She didn't pretend. She said, basically, "I've been doing hundreds of these, and it's rough out there, so here's what I'm going to do." She talked about working with nuclear reactors and joked that she was basically Oppenheimer. She included competence, personality, and humor. She even promised to bring in baked goods. The video got hundreds of thousands of views. She got 52 introductions or coffee chats, 20 referrals, 10 interviews, and landed a job. Yes. Different is better than better. If you're going through the same thing every day, whether it's resumes, sales presentations, town halls, or HR emails nobody reads, it is your fault if people aren't paying attention. You're not pattern interrupting. You're not being authentic. You're not giving people a reason to stop and notice. In this day and age, especially if you're trying to get hired, AI slop is going to kill you if you want to be heard, stand out, picked, chosen, or done business with. Nicole: It's also disheartening that we can't trust these giant systems we've created. It feels like you have to be a disruptor just to access society and get a job. I love her, but it's also fully disheartening for someone like me who would never do that. Erin: Right. Her example was outlandish, but the broader point is that Gen Z is taking to content and social media because that's what they know. They're frustrated and saying, "Fuck it." And honestly, this is what I'm saying. This is the future. Parents, Please Step Away From the Hiring Manager Nicole: One thing I'm finding as a hiring manager is that students are getting more tools, encouragement, and guidance around networking and mentoring than we had. That part is good. But with that, I'm having a total Step Brothers moment because I'm getting emails from parents. Erin: Oh no. When we say work networks, we are not talking about your parents. Nicole: Do not call me and say, "What does my kid need to do?" Erin: Are you kidding me? Nicole: I'm not. Parents are engaged in their kids' lives and professional development in a way our families weren't because the world has changed. But I cannot take that seriously. It's unfair to the student too. Maybe they're lazy, or maybe they have an overbearing parent. Either way, it makes them look bad. Erin: It's a red flag. A disqualifying red flag. And if a parent did contact me, I'd be tempted to ask, "Is this how you've operated throughout their schooling? Have you been stepping in like this?" Because if the answer is yes, there's your reason. You are the problem. Not just because you picked up the phone now, but because you've probably spent years enabling them instead of slowly stepping back and letting them figure things out. Nicole: We all understand networks. We all understand nepotism exists. But cold-calling nepotism is a whole different world. If you're engaging with a hiring manager, make sure it's for a job you want. And ask yourself: if your child were dating someone, would you call that person and ask 27 questions? Professional and personal relationships are not in totally different universes. They're on the same spectrum. So from the hiring desk of Nicole: if you're a parent, don't call me. Workplace Weirdness, Government Voicemails, and HR Stories Nicole: One of my favorite stories you sent was about the Washington State DMV. The story was that when people called the DMV and chose Spanish language support, instead of getting Spanish, they got heavily accented English. I don't know if it's real, but because I work for a government agency, I can absolutely see how this could happen. Government tech systems are constantly evolving, and agencies don't always have access to all of their own systems. Voicemails are not always recorded by voice actors or vendors. Sometimes it's just someone in IT with a nice voice. Erin: And maybe they were trying to save money and decided Rosario down the hall would do it. Nicole: Exactly. Someone says, "She speaks clearly." And suddenly that's the voicemail. Erin: I think it's real. I tried to look it up, and it didn't immediately flag as fake. I did have another article on the list about a woman supposedly working three full-time remote jobs, but that one appears to be fake. Listeners, you'll have to tell us: do you know if the DMV story is real? The Bathroom Popsicle Bandit and Where People Hide at Work Nicole: The random HR stories also had me dying. My favorite was the Bathroom Popsicle Bandit. Apparently, an employee would sit in the bathroom all day eating freeze pops and reading a book on her phone. She was in there so long that someone found her and thought she was dead. There were freeze pop wrappers all over the floor. Erin: You can picture it. Nicole: I can picture it because our bathroom situation at work is not great. We have one stall for a lot of people. The light goes out. The toilet doesn't flush well. And if you sit there too long, it keeps flushing, so people know you're in there. But sometimes when people are constantly walking into my office, I hide in there. Or I hide in the old lactation room/mail room/storage room. I push the chairs aside just enough to slip in and sit there for 20 minutes with my phone flashlight. There's no air. No ventilation. But sometimes you need a moment. Erin: It's mental health. It's better than putting in a mental health claim. Nicole: I want to know where people hide at work. What are your work hide-and-seek spots? Mine is the mail room/lactation room/storage room, sometimes the bathroom, near the emergency exit no one uses. Erin: That reminds me of when my kids were young and wanted to play hide-and-seek. I would grab a glass of wine and go to the hardest place for them to find me. They would eventually say, "Mom, we give up," and I would just sit there drinking wine. Best game ever. Substance Coping and Surviving Modern Work Nicole: A lot of those HR stories involved substance use too. People coming into the office drunk or medicated. And I'll be honest: people seem much more medicated or open about their medication at work now than I'm used to. I'm not always sure what counts as substance abuse versus substance coping these days. Sometimes I like people better on their coping substances than off them. I'm not saying I condone it, but sometimes I'm like, please come to this meeting chilled out. Erin: Can you blame them with the current workplace? Nicole: I cannot. Erin: That's why we share these stories. That's why we share this podcast. It's all part of your medication. Nicole: We are all living this dream together and showing up every damn day because we've chosen it. And sometimes you just have to call your squad and ask, "Am I getting the best deal where I am?" Have that conversation. Erin: Work the underground tunnel. Nicole: Exactly. Final Thought Erin: Modern work is weird. AI is changing the way people apply for jobs, companies are asking people to bot sit, parents are emailing hiring managers, employees are hiding in bathrooms, and everyone is trying to stand out without losing their minds. But underneath all of it is something deeply human. We're trying to build lives we don't have to escape from. We're trying to stop comparing ourselves to people whose lives we don't actually want. We're trying to be seen, chosen, trusted, and remembered in a world full of AI slop and workplace noise. And honestly? Sometimes the best thing we can do is laugh, call our people, and ask better questions about what we actually want.

Founder of EMPOWER                       weareempower.org  Here's what my dad did for me after my mother died:  He told me he loved me every single day. It wasn't his job to teach me how to grieve. It was his job to love me. -Cara Belvin This episode features Cara Belvin, one of the first women to share her story on The Story Behind Her Success when we launched the show back in 2018.  She's the founder of a charity called EMPOWER, which creates community for children grieving the loss of a parent.  Raised in Southington, Connecticut, Cara's mother, Kit, died of breast cancer when she was only 37 years old, leaving a grieving husband and two young children.  Cara was only 9 years old when this life-changing experience happened to her, and in this interview, she explains that it was her father and a large extended family who surrounded her with love and support. The loss of our mothers early in our lives is what initially connected us.  We grew up about 10 miles apart in Connecticut, and if I had met her back then, I would have taken her by the hand and shown her the way.  My 18-year-old self would have reassured her that she would survive.    EMPOWER is Cara's homage to her mother; originally created to connect girls with female mentors who have also experienced motherloss, EMPOWER now includes boys and nonbinary kids, connecting them to mentors who know firsthand how it feels to lose a parent. In this interview, we learn that Cara has raised 10 million dollars in 13 years .   What started as a bereavement program with only 7 girls in Boston is now a national non-profit that helped more than 1000 children in 2025.  This Father's Day, we acknowledge the love of our fathers during the most difficult time of our lives.  “Grief is like a tattoo, says Cara, it will fade, but it's not going anywhere.  I see the weight of the world on the shoulders of a lot of dads who are parenting alone after the loss of a partner.  I have a lot of empathy for them, because they look just like my dad.”  For 27 minutes of #fathersday inspiration, just hit that download button.  #womeninspiringwomen #motherloss #fatherloss #bereavement #children

Austin Florian, Olympic skeleton racer. Austin calls in to discuss his upcoming golf fundraiser event. July 11, 2026 Hawks Landing Country Club, Southington, birdease.com/headfirstscramble

Brian and Heath talk about an event coming up this Thursday night at the Aqua Turf in Southington that Johnson Brunetti is hosting for more than 600 people – it is called “Road to Retirement Success” and will feature a panel discussion with: Johnson Brunetti financial advisors, A licensed CPA, An estate planning attorney, A Medicare professional, An assisted living specialist, A Social Security specialist from the Social Security Administration.

Confirmation Sunday “Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted, but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” ~Isaiah 40:30-31 On Confirmation Sunday, we celebrate ten youth taking an important step in their faith journey at First Congregational Church of Southington. Drawing from Isaiah 40:21–31, this sermon explores the promise that “they shall run and not grow weary.” But what does that really mean in everyday life? Faith isn't about having all the answers or never feeling tired, doubtful, or uncertain. Instead, it's about learning to keep going—trusting that God renews our strength along the way. Inspired by the discipline of running, we'll reflect on endurance, pacing, and the courage to continue even when the path feels difficult. Confirmation isn't the finish line; it's the starting point of a lifelong journey of faith, supported by community and grounded in God's steady presence.

We sat down with Vinnie Infante, owner of Lion's Den Coffee in Southington, to talk about his inspiring journey from longtime Bristol police officer to local small‑business success story.

Longtime Teacher Francesca Daniele is starting her own school called The Legacy Community School in Southington. She discusses what it is all about and how you can enroll your kids soon!

Darting Across CT brought us to Southington and The Town Historian Randy Borovsky tells us the rich history of Southington.

This year will mark the 57th Annual Southington Apple Harvest Festival in Downtown Southington. The Fritters, the Vendors, the rides and family fun... Chris Palmeri runs it all down for us.

Mindset Winery and Lounge is in Southington, and the Owner Michael Melninkaitis joins us to discuss the business as well as wine in a can!

Southington Town Manager Alex Ricciardone joins us at Mama's House to discuss everything Southington.

Carlos Juarez is the Owner of Mama's House in Southington, CT. He discusses the business and welcomes us in for the morning.

Paige from Southington thinks her husband is cheating after finding lip gloss in his truck. Its's not hers, and she wants to know where it came from. 

Paige from Southington thinks her husband is cheating after finding lip gloss in his truck. Its's not hers, and she wants to know where it came from. 

Brian Shactman interviews Austin Florian, an Olympic skeleton athlete from Southington, about his experiences and future plans. Florian describes the Olympic Games as a dream come true, highlighting the lack of interaction with other athletes due to different clusters. He shares his journey from skiing at Mount Southington to becoming a top skeleton racer, emphasizing the importance of physical combines and driving by feel. Florian discusses the challenges of funding and equipment in the sport, his offseason training routines, and his aspirations for future Olympic participation. He also mentions the support from his community and the importance of mental resilience in overcoming setbacks.

Kevin Begley chats with CT Food Girly about the best Christmas-decorated restaurants across Connecticut. They break down where to eat, drink, and soak in the holiday magic all over the state at standout spots in Milford, Stratford, New Haven, Westport, and Southington. If you want to plan the ultimate holiday night out, this is your go-to guide. 

Taylor from Southington thinks her boyfriend is cheating after finding a cute love note in his gym bag. 

Taylor from Southington thinks her boyfriend is cheating after finding a cute love note in his gym bag. 

The owner of Sign Pro in Southington Pete Rappoccio discusses some issues he has had with the town of Southington that has led to court dates.

This week on Mountain Murders, we're diving into one of the most chilling and controversial haunting cases in American history — A Haunting in Connecticut. The 2009 horror film was inspired by the real-life experiences of the Snedeker family, who moved into a former funeral home in Southington, Connecticut, in the 1980s. Soon after settling in, they claimed to encounter terrifying paranormal activity — from ghostly apparitions to violent poltergeist attacks.But what's fact, what's fiction, and what really happened inside that house? Join us as we separate the Hollywood horror from the real-life mystery, explore the role of famed investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, and discuss the skeptical backlash that followed. Was the Snedeker haunting a genuine case of supernatural terror… or a cash grab much like the Amityville horror case.Hosts Heather and Dylanwww.mountainmurderspodcast.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mountain-murders--3281847/support.

WTNH Anchor Dennis House won an award at last night's CBA Awards. His wife also joined the CBA Hall of Fame. Dennis joins us to discuss a big family night in Southington.

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DO6fzl7DKF3/The allergens include almonds, sesame, and certain food dyes. The affected cookies include Italian Mixed Vanilla Cookies, Italian Sesame Cookies, Vanilla Chocolate Dipped Cookies, Vanilla with Apricot Jam Cookies, Toasted Almond & Cherry Biscotti, and Vanilla Cookies with Raspberry Peach Jam.These recalled cookies were sold at Big Y stores in Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts; Stop and Shop stores in Connecticut; and all Nardelli's Connecticut stores with a Nardelli's label.  The other Connecticut stores include: Labonne's Supermarkets in Watertown and Prospect; Adam's Markets in Milford and Watertown; Highland Park Markets in Glastonbury, Manchester, and Farmington; Price Chopper in Newington, Bristol, and Middletown; T+K Supermarket in East Haven; Kensington Market in Kensington; Public Market of Newington; Raggozzino's in Plantsville; Lewis Farms in Southington; Durham Market in Durham; Liuzzi Gourmet Food Market in North Haven; Cappetta in West Haven; Roma Importing Market in Shelton; Walsh Market in Wolcott; Tops Market in Plantsville; The Local Gourmet in Southbury; CT Fresh Fruit and Produce in Wallingford; Wayside Market in Waterbury; Jimmy's Store in Torrington; La Molisana Sausage in Waterbury; New Fairfield Food Center Market in New Fairfield; Pat's IGA in Wolcott; Watertown Meat Center in Watertown; Tommy's Place and Market in Bristol; Cavallo's Deli and Imported Italian Food in Waterbury; and La Strega Italian Deli in Middlebury.Return these cookies to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, contact Gina Marie Bakery at 1-203-596-8007.https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gina-marie-bakery-waterbury-issues-recall-cookies-due-undeclared-almonds-sesame-and-food-dyes#ginamarie #cookies #allergens #almonds #sesame #foodcoloring #recall

In the 1980s, the Snedeker family moved into a seemingly ordinary house in Southington, Connecticut—only to discover it was a former funeral home. Almost immediately, they were plagued by terrifying paranormal activity: unexplained voices, shadow figures, and physical attacks. Desperate for help, the family turned to famed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, who declared the house to be infested with demonic forces. The Warrens claimed it was one of the most powerful cases of possession and haunting they'd ever encountered... But was it truly supernatural—or something else entirely? Join us as we explore the chilling events behind the Snedeker haunting, the Warrens' investigation, and the controversy that followed—including claims of hoaxes and Hollywood exaggeration... Based on the case that inspired The Haunting in Connecticut, this is one ghost story you won't forget Join the Membership on Youtube! Click HERE Business Inquires | averyannross@gmail.com Want this episode EARLY & AD FREE? Join the PATREON Make sure you are following along for all the latest! INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK TIKTOK 

Why does union membership matter? In this episode, Southington teacher Shawn Grindle shares the value he sees in union membership with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey. From strong contracts, legal protections, and discounts to victories for Connecticut teachers—including improvements to teacher evaluation and WEP/GPO repeal—Grindle says every teacher benefits from CEA membership. View the Instagram reel Grindle created for the Southington Education Association.

This Sunday, we celebrate the Spirit at work through service and Scripture. Dan Gabree, Janet Kirkby and Jen Thomas will share stories and reflections from their journey — offering a glimpse into the partnerships and faith that continue to grow from Southington to Guayaquil, Ecuador. We'll also conclude our summer sermon series on the Bible and Economic Justice, reflecting on what we've learned about God's call to build communities rooted in fairness, compassion, and equity. Join us for a Sunday filled with gratitude, testimony, and a vision for justice.

We continue in our summer worship series, The Bible and Economic Justice, with a different voice in the pulpit. Thank you to Steve Palmieri who will be the guest preacher this Sunday while Pastor Ron and I are in Ecuador. Steve has prepared a powerful reflection on how the words of Jesus invite us to consider poverty. Jesus brings good news to the poor. But what does this mean for those of us who are living comfortably in a community like Southington? Steve will lead the worship service alongside several Deacons.

Maggie from Southington went on a great first date. She went out for dinner and drinks and had a blast. She wants to know why she's being ghosted. 

In 1986, the town of Southington, Connecticut, was in an uproar. Normally, a place known for its perfect small-town charm, it had been thrown into a frenzy of media chaos, thanks to a family that was reporting that their new house was haunted.A check of real estate records in town revealed that the house was indeed the former Hallahan Funeral Home. The idea of living in what was once a funeral home did cause some concerns for the Snedekers but what were they supposed to do? They were nearly broke and every cent they had was being committed to Phillip's cancer treatment. It would be fine. It was just an old funeral home. What could go wrong?Have a question or comment? Text us on the Haunt Line @ 217-791-7859New Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/troytaylorodditiesCheck out our updated website and sign up for our newsletter at AmericanHauntingsPodcast.comWant an episode every week, plus other awesome perks and discounts? Check out our Patreon pageFind out merch at AmericanHauntingsClothing.comFollow us on Twitter @AmerHauntsPod, @TroyTaylor13, @CodyBeckSTLFollow us on Instagram @AmericanHauntingsPodcast, @TroyTaylorgram, @CodyBeckSTLThis episode was written by Troy TaylorProduced and edited by Cody BeckOur Sponsors:* Check out Shopify: https://shopify.com/hauntingsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/american-hauntings-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Managing Partner at Johnson Brunetti, Joel Johnson speaks to Brian about Tariffs, The Stock Market and a great event coming up on May 1st at the Aqua Turf in Southington to help you as you enter into retirement.

Fan Mail Me BrrrruuuuunnndenWe dive into the great DIY vs professional contractor debate, sharing real-life stories and insider knowledge on why trying to save money might actually cost you more in the long run.• DIY horror stories including improperly installed insulation and electrical mishaps that resulted in injury• Why hiring a professional often costs less when you factor in your time and potential mistakes• How reputable contractors price jobs with cushions to avoid asking for more money later• The truth about home improvement TV shows and their unrealistic timelines• Red flags to watch for when hiring contractors, including those who pressure for immediate decisions• Tips for finding reliable professionals through local lumber yards rather than big box stores• Why major plumbing, electrical work, and projects requiring permits should always be handled by pros• Real-world examples of predatory pricing, especially targeting elderly homeownersNeed help with furniture assembly? Check out Some Assembly at someassembly.net. For HVAC needs in Southington, Connecticut, contact True Comfort and ask for Eric.Support the showCome back every Tuesday for a new episode each week. You won't be dissappointed, I'll tell you that for free. Subscribe and like us over at sockeytome.com as we begin the best part of our journey into podcasting yet, interacting with all of you. Give us your email as we begin to have more promotions and contests along with my personal favorite, trivia. Thanks everyone and as always, be good.

In 1992, the Snedeker family appeared on the Sally Jessy Raphael show to share the horrors that resided inside their Southington, Connecticut home. This now infamous TV interview catapulted the already controversial family into every living room in America. The family moved into the former funeral parlour in 1986, and experienced such horrendous paranormal activity they turned to famed ghost hunter Ed and Lorrain Warren for help. Their story was so iconic and notorious that it was the subject of the 1992 book "In A Dark Place", as well as the inspiration for the 2009 movie "The Haunting In Connecticut", and endless TV shows, documentaries, and articles. However, as famous as the story is, it has never been told the same way twice. In this episode Ed and Lorraine's grandson, Chris shares with us, his firsthand account of working on the Snedeker case. You may think you know the story, but have you heard it told by someone who was actually there?

Channel 3 WFSB's Scot Haney was on the phone with Chaz and AJ to talk about some commercials that will never leave his memory. Plus, the co-worker Scot would go after if he were not gay. (0:00)  Micaela Sweeney, a bartender from the Salty Dog in Southington went viral on social media, and called Chaz and AJ to talk about the online response. (18:50)   Comedian Anthony Rodia was on the phone this morning, despite having 4 sold-out shows in the state. He talked to Chaz and AJ about the expensive Super Bowl squares he participates in each year. (32:53)  In Dumb Ass News, a massive fight broke out at a Waffle House, that had employees throwing ceramic plates at patrons. (49:24)   Boss Keith's Top 5 (no longer sponsored) was a positive list today! He shared the 5 things he thinks has made life better in recent years, and still found a way to yell at everyone about Venmo. (55:21)

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” ~Luke 6:9 During the three months that Pastor Laura will be away on sabbatical, I have invited some friends to preach at FCC. This week, we welcome the Rev. Kathy Peters to the pulpit. Kathy is no stranger to Southington. She and her husband, Stanley, lived for many years in Plantsville. As she prepared for ministry at Yale Divinity School, Kathy was an active member of the Plantsville Congregational Church. Since finishing YDS, Kathy served as the Associate Pastor of the Spring Glen Church in Hamden, on the staff of the historic Connecticut Conference, and as the Pastor of the United Church of Chester. Kathy and Stanley tried to retire to Florida but missed New England too much, so they returned to Connecticut this year and joined FCC. I look forward to hearing from Kathy on Sunday!

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Nov. 30. It dropped for free subscribers on Dec. 7. To receive future episodes as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:WhoMike Taylor, Owner of Holiday Mountain, New YorkRecorded onNovember 18, 2024About Holiday MountainClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Mike TaylorLocated in: Monticello, New YorkYear founded: 1957Pass affiliations: NoneClosest neighboring ski areas: Villa Roma (:37), Ski Big Bear (:56), Mt. Peter (:48), Mountain Creek (:52), Victor Constant (:54)Base elevation: 900 feetSummit elevation: 1,300 feetVertical drop: 400 feetSkiable acres: 60Average annual snowfall: 66 inchesTrail count: 9 (5 beginner, 2 intermediate, 2 advanced)Lift count: 3 (1 fixed-grip quad, 1 triple, 1 carpet - view Lift Blog's inventory of Holiday Mountain's lift fleet)Why I interviewed himNot so long ago, U.S. ski areas swung wrecking ball-like from the necks of founders who wore them like amulets. Mountain and man fused as one, each anchored to and propelled by the other, twin forces mirrored and set aglow, forged in some burbling cauldron and unleashed upon the public as an Experience. This was Killington and this was Mammoth and this was Vail and this was Squaw and this was Taos, each at once a mountain and a manifestation of psyche and soul, as though some god's hand had scooped from Pres and Dave and Pete and Al and Ernie their whimsy and hubris and willfulness and fashioned them into a cackling live thing on this earth. The men were the mountains and the mountains were the men. Everybody knew this and everybody felt this and that's why we named lifts and trails after them.This is what we've lost in the collect-them-all corporate roll-up of our current moment. I'm skeptical of applying an asteroid-ate-the-dinosaurs theory to skiing, but even I'll acknowledge this bit. When the caped founder, who stepped into raw wilderness and said “here I will build an organized snowskiing facility” and proceeded to do so, steps aside or sells to SnowCo or dies, some essence of the mountain evaporates with him. The snow still hammers and the skiers still come and the mountain still lets gravity run things. The trails remain and the fall lines still fall. The mountain is mostly the same. But nobody knows why it is that way, and the ski area becomes a disembodied thing, untethered from a human host. This, I think, is a big part of the appeal of Michigan's Mount Bohemia. Ungroomed, untamed, absent green runs and snowguns, accessible all winter on a $109 season pass, Boho is the impossible storybook of the maniac who willed it into existence against all advice and instinct: Lonie Glieberman, who hacked this thing from the wilderness not in some lost postwar decade, but in 2000. He lives there all winter and everybody knows him and they all know that this place that is the place would not exist had he not insisted that it be so. For the purposes of how skiers consider the joint, Lonie is Mount Bohemia. And someday when he goes away the mountain will make less sense than it does right now.I could write a similar paragraph about Chip Chase at White Grass Touring Center in West Virginia. But there aren't many of those fellas left. Since most of our ski areas are old, most of our founders are gone. They're not coming back, and we're not getting more ski areas. But that doesn't mean the era of the owner-soul keeper is finished. They just need to climb a different set of monkey bars to get there. Rather than trekking into the mountains to stake out and transform a raw wilderness into a piste digestible to the masses, the modern mountain incarnate needs to drive up to the ski area with a dump truck full of hundred dollar bills, pour it out onto the ground, and hope the planted seeds sprout money trees.And this is Mike Taylor. He has resources. He has energy. He has manpower. And he's going to transform this dysfunctional junkpile of a ski area into something modern, something nice, something that will last. And everyone knows it wouldn't be happening without him.What we talked aboutThe Turkey Trot chairlift upgrade; why Taylor re-engineered and renovated a mothballed double chair just to run it for a handful of days last winter before demolishing it this summer; Partek and why skiing needs an independent lift manufacturer; a gesture from Massanutten; how you build a chairlift when your chairlift doesn't come with a bottom terminal; Holiday Mountain's two new ski trails for this winter; the story behind Holiday Mountain's trail names; why a rock quarry is “the greatest neighbors we could ever ask for”; big potential future ski expansion opportunities; massive snowmaking upgrades; snowmaking is hard; how a state highway spurred the development of Holiday Mountain; “I think we've lost a generation of skiers”; vintage Holiday Mountain; the ski area's long, sad decline; pillage by flood; restoring abandoned terrain above the Fun Park; the chairlift you see from Route 17 is not actually a chairlift; considering a future when 17 converts into Interstate 86; what would have happened to Holiday had the other bidders purchased it; “how do we get kids off their phones and out recreating again?”; advice from Plattekill; buying a broken ski area in May and getting it open by Christmas (or trying); what translates well from the business world into running a ski area; how to finance the rebuild and modernization of a failing ski area; “when you talk to a bank and use the word ‘ski area,' they want nothing to do with it”; how to make a ski area make money; why summer business is hard; Holiday's incredible social media presence; “I always thought good grooming was easy, like mowing a lawn”; how to get big things done quickly but well; ski racing returns; “I don't want to do things half-assed and pay for it in the long run”; why season two should be better than season one; “you can't make me happier than to see busloads of kids, improving their skills, and enjoying something they're going to do for the rest of their life”; why New York State has a challenging business environment, and how to get things done anyway; the surprise labor audit that shocked New York skiing last February – “we didn't realize the mistakes we were making”; kids these days; the State of New York owns and subsidizes three ski areas – how does that complicate things?; why the state subsidizing independent ski areas isn't the answer; the problem with bussing kids to ski areas; and why Holiday Mountain doesn't feel ready to join the Indy Pass.Why I thought that now was a good time for this interviewI met Taylor in a Savannah bar last year, five minutes after he'd bought a ski area and seven months before he needed to turn that ski area into a functional business. Here was the new owner of Holiday Mountain, rolling with the Plattekill gang, more or less openly saying, “I have no idea what the hell I'm doing, but I'm going to do it. I'm going to save Holiday Mountain.”The National Ski Areas Association's annual show, tucked across the river that week, seemed like a good place to start. Here were hundreds of people who could tell Taylor exactly how hard it was to run a ski area, and why. And here was this guy, accomplished in so many businesses, ready to learn. And all I could think, having skied the disaster that was Holiday Mountain in recent years, was thank God this dude is here. Here's my card. Let's talk.I connected with Taylor the next month and wrote a story about his grand plans for Holiday. Then I stepped back and let that first winter happen. It was, by Taylor's own account, humbling. But it did not seem to be humiliating, which is key. Pride is the quickest path to failure in skiing. Instead of kicking things, Taylor seemed to regard the whole endeavor as a grand and amusing puzzle. “Well let's see here, turns out snowmaking is hard, grooming is hard, managing teenagers is hard… isn't that interesting and how can I make this work even though I already had too much else to do at my other 10 jobs?”Life may be attitude above all else. And when I look at ski area operators who have recycled garbage into gold, this is the attribute that seems to steer all others. That's people like Rick Schmitz, who talked two Wisconsin ski areas off the ledge and brought another back from its grave; Justin Hoppe, who just traded his life in to save a lost UP ski area; James Coleman, whose bandolier of saved ski areas could fill an egg carton; and Danielle and Laszlo Vajtay, who for 31 years have modernized their ridiculously steep and remote Catskills ski area one snowgun at a time.There are always plenty of people who will tell you why a thing is impossible. These people are boring. They lack creativity or vision, an ability to see the world as something other than what it is. Taylor is the opposite. All he does is envision how things can be better, and then work to make them that way. That was clear to me immediately. It just took him a minute to prove he could do it. And he did.What I got wrong* Mike said he needed a chairlift with “about 1,000 feet of vertical rise” to replace the severed double chair visible from Route 17. He meant length. According to Lift Blog, the legacy lift rose 232 vertical feet over 1,248 linear feet.* We talk a bit about New York's declining population, but the real-world picture is fuzzier. While the state's population did fall considerably, from 20.1 million to 19.6 million over the past four years, those numbers include a big pandemic-driven population spike in 2020, when the state's population rose 3.3 percent, from 19.5 million to that 20.1 million number (likely from city refugees camping out in New York's vast and bucolic rural reaches). The state's current population of 19,571,216 million is still larger than it was at any point before 2012, and not far off its pre-pandemic peak of 19,657,321.* I noted that Gore's new Hudson high-speed quad cost “about $10 million.” That is probably a fair estimate based upon the initial budget between $8 and $9 million, but an ORDA representative did not immediately respond to a request for the final number.Why you should ski Holiday MountainI've been reconsidering my television pitch for Who Wants to Own a Ski Area? Not because the answer is probably “everybody reading this newsletter except for the ones that already own a ski area, because they are smart enough to know better.” But because I think the follow-up series, Ski Resort Rebuild, would be even more entertaining. It would contain all the elements of successful unscripted television: a novel environment, large and expensive machinery, demolition, shouting, meddlesome authorities, and an endless sequence of puzzles confronting a charismatic leader and his band of chain-smoking hourlies.The rainbow arcing over all of this would of course be reinvention. Take something teetering on apocalyptic set-piece and transform it into an ordered enterprise that makes the kids go “wheeeeee!” Raw optimism and self-aware naivete would slide into exasperation and despair, the launchpad for stubborn triumphalism tempered by humility. Cut to teaser for season two.Though I envision a six- or eight-episode season, the template here is the concise and satisfying Hoarders, which condenses a days-long home dejunking into a half-hour of television. One minute, Uncle Frank's four-story house is filled with his pizza box collection and every edition of the Tampa Bay Bugle dating back to 1904. But as 15 dumpster trucks from TakeMyCrap.com drive off in convoy, the home that could only be navigated with sonar and wayfinding canines has been transformed into a Flintstones set piece, a couch and a wooly mammoth rug accenting otherwise empty rooms. I can watch these chaos-into-order transformations all day long.Roll into Holiday Mountain this winter, and you'll essentially be stepping into episode four of this eight-part series. The ski area's most atrocious failures have been bulldozed, blown-up, regraded, covered in snow. The two-seater chairlift that Columbus shipped in pieces on the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria has finally been scrapped and replaced with a machine that does not predate modern democracy. The snowguns are no longer powered by hand-cranks. A ski area that, just 18 months ago, was shrinking like an island in rising water is actually debuting two brand-new trails this winter.But the job's not finished. On your left as you drive in is a wide abandoned ridge where four ski lifts once spun. On the open hills, new snowguns glimmer and new-used chairlifts and cats hum, but by Taylor's own admission, his teams are still figuring out how to use all these fancy gadgets. Change is the tide climbing up the beach, but we haven't fully smoothed out the tracked sand yet, and it will take a few more hours to get there.It's fun to be part of something like this, even as an observer. I'll tell you to visit Holiday Mountain this winter for the same reason I'll tell you to go ride Chair 2 at Alpental or the triple at Bluewood or the Primo and Segundo Riblet doubles at Sunlight. By next autumn, each of these lifts, which have dressed their mountains for decades, will make way for modern machines. This is good, and healthy, and necessary for skiing's long-term viability. But experiencing the same place in different forms offers useful lessons in imagination, evolution, and the utility of persistence and willpower. It's already hard to picture that Holiday Mountain that teetered on the edge of collapse just two years ago. In two more years, it could be impossible, so thorough is the current renovation. So go. Bonus: they have skiing.Podcast NotesOn indies sticking togetherDespite the facile headlines, conglomerates are not taking over American skiing. As of my last count, about 73 percent of U.S. ski areas are still independently operated. And while these approximately three-quarters of active ski areas likely account for less than half of all skier visits, consumers do still have plenty of choice if they don't want to go Epkonic.New York, in particular, is a redoubt of family-owned and -operated mountains. Other than Vail-owned Hunter and state-owned Belleayre, Gore, and Whiteface, every single one of the state's 51 ski areas is under independent management. Taylor calls out several of these New York owners in our conversation, including many past podcast guests. These are all tremendous conversations, all streaked with the same sincere determination and grit that's obvious in Taylor's pod.Massachusetts is also a land of independent ski areas, including the Swiss watch known as Wachusett:On PartekPartek is one of the delightful secrets of U.S. skiing. The company, founded in 1993 by Hagen Schulz, son of the defunct Borvig lifts President Gary Schulz, installs one or two or zero new chairlifts in a typical year. Last year, it was a fixed-grip quad at Trollhaugen, Wisconsin and a triple at Mt. Southington, Connecticut. The year before, it was the new Sandy quad at Saddleback. Everyone raves about the quality of the lifts and the experience of working with Partek's team. Saddleback GM Jim Quimby laid this out for us in detail when he joined me on the podcast last year:Trollhaugen owner and GM Jim Rochford, Jr. was similarly effusive:I'm underscoring this point because if you visit Partek's website, you'll be like “I hope they have this thing ready for Y2K.” But this is your stop if you need a new SKF 6206-2RS1, which is only $17!On the old Catskills resort hotels with ski areasNew York is home to more ski areas (51) than any state in America, but there are still far more lost ski areas here than active ones. The New York Lost Ski Areas Project estimates that the ghosts of up to 350 onetime ski hills haunt the state. This is not so tragic as it sounds, as the vast majority of these operations consisted of a goat pulling a toboggan up 50 vertical feet beside Fiesty Pete's dairy barn. These operated for the lifespan of a housefly and no one missed them when they disappeared. On the opposite end were a handful of well-developed, multi-lift ski areas that have died in modernity: Scotch Valley (1988), Shu Maker (1999), Cortina (mid-90s), and Big Tupper (2012). But in the middle sat dozens of now-defunct surface-tow bumps, some with snowmaking, some attached to the famous and famously extinct Borsch Belt Catskills resorts.It is this last group that Taylor and I discuss in the podcast. He estimates that “probably a dozen” ski areas once operated in Sullivan County. Some of these were standalone operations like Holiday, but many were stapled to large resort hotels like The Nevele and Grossingers. I couldn't find a list of the extinct Catskills resorts that once offered skiing, and none appeared to have bothered drawing a trailmap.While these add-on ski areas are a footnote in the overall story of U.S. skiing, an activity-laying-around-to-do-at-a-resort can have a powerful multiplier effect. Here are some things that I only do if I happen across a readymade setup: shoot pool, ice skate, jet ski, play basketball, fish, play minigolf, toss cornhole bags. I enjoy all of these things, but I won't plan ahead to do them on purpose. I imagine skiing acted in this fashion for much of the Bortsch Belt crowd, like “oh let's go try that snowskiing thing between breakfast and our 11:00 baccarat game.” And with some of these folks, skiing probably became something they did on purpose.The closest thing modernity delivers to this is indoor skiing, which, attached to a mall – as Big Snow is in New Jersey – presents itself as Something To Do. Which is why I believe we need a lot more such centers, and soon.On shrinking Holiday MountainSome ski areas die all at once. Holiday Mountain curdled over decades, to the husk Taylor purchased last year. Check the place out in 2000, with lifts zinging all over the place across multiple faces:A 2003 flood smashed the terrain near the entrance, and by 2007, Holiday ran just two lifts:At some indeterminant point, the ski area also abandoned the Turkey Trot double. This 2023 trailmap shows the area dedicated to snowtubing, though to my knowledge no such activity was ever conducted there at scale.On the lift you see from Route 17Anyone cruising NY State 17 can see this chairlift rising off the northwest corner of the ski area:This is essentially a billboard, as Taylor left the terminal in place after demolishing the lower part of the long-inactive lift.Taylor intends to run a lift back up this hill and re-open all the old terrain. But first he has to restore the slopes, which eroded significantly in their last life as a Motocross course. There is no timeline for this, but Taylor works fast, and I wouldn't be shocked to see the terrain come back online as soon as 2025.On NY 17's transformation into I-86New York 17 is in the midst of a decades-long evolution into Interstate 86, with long stretches of the route that spans southern New York already signed as such. But the interstate designation comes with standards that define lane number and width, bridge height, shoulder dimensions, and maximum grade, among many other particulars, including the placement and length of exit and entrance ramps. Exit 108, which provides direct eastbound access to and egress from Holiday Mountain, is fated to close whenever the highway gods close the gap that currently splits I-86 into segments.On Norway MountainHoliday is the second ski area comeback story featured on the pod in recent months, following the tale of dormant-since-2017 Norway Mountain, Michigan:On Holiday's high-energy social media accountsTaylor has breathlessly documented Holiday's comeback on the ski area's Instagram and Facebook accounts. They're incredible. Follow recommended. On Tuxedo RidgeThis place frustrates me. Once a proud beginners-oriented ski center with four chairlifts and a 450-foot vertical drop, the bump dropped dead around 2014 without warning or explanation, despite a prime location less than an hour from New York City.I hiked the place in 2020, and wrote about it:On Ski Areas of New YorkSki Areas of New York, or SANY, is one of America's most effective state ski area organizations. I've hosted the organization's president, Scott Brandi, on the podcast a couple of times:Compulsory mention of ORDAThe Olympic Regional Development Authority, which manages New York State-owned Belleayre, Gore, and Whiteface mountains, lost $47.3 million in its last fiscal year. One ORDA board member, in response to the report, said that it's “amazing how well we are doing,” according to the Adirondack Explorer. Which makes a lot of the state's independent ski area operators say things like, “Huh?” That's probably a fair response, since $47.3 million would likely be sufficient for the state to simply purchase every ski area in New York other than Hunter, Windham, Holiday Valley, and Bristol.On high-speed ropetowsI'll keep writing about these forever because they are truly amazing and there should be 10 of them at every ski area in America:Welch Village, Minnesota. Video by Stuart Winchester.The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us.The Storm publishes year-round, and guarantees 100 articles per year. This is article 82/100 in 2024, and number 582 since launching on Oct. 13, 2019. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Ryan from Southington went on a great first date and now he's being ghosted. He said the night was magical. We will call his date and find out why she's not returning his text. 

Join Katie and Liz on 2024's last episode for the spooky Halloween season! This week, the girls keep an annual tradition going and discuss a case with two special guests… Ed and Lorraine Warren! In the late 1980s, the paranormal investigative pair were called into the Southington, Connecticut home of the Snedeker's, who had been experiencing some hauntingly creepy happenings. The oldest son, Philip, even had a complete personality change and had become violent, and this was blamed entirely on the demonic possession of the home itself after he began seeing spirits and having disturbing experiences and nightmares. Tune in to this Halloween-y tale and hear of all the spooky accounts of a family living with ghosts in a former funeral home.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truecrimene/support

When Al and Carmen Snedeker found out that their son Phillip was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, the treatment plan required the family to relocate into a three floor home in Southington, Connecticut. The second floor apartment quickly became a nightmare for the inhabitants, with attacks escalating to demonic assault. Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and writing support!ReferencesCarpenter, B. (1988, September 15). Exorcism performed in 'spirited' home. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 37.Carpenter, B. (1988, August 18). Researcher says home haunted by evil presence. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 33.Carpenter, B. (1988, August 13). Southington haunting is daunting . Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 1.Cohen, J. (1992, October 27). Their Southington haunt was hellish, couple tell Sally Jessy. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 1.Garton, R., & Warren, E. (1992). In a Dark Place: The True Story of a Haunting. New York, NY: Villard Books.I was raped by a ghost (1992). [Motion Picture].Nickel, J. (2009). Demons in Connecticut. Skeptical Inquirer, 25-27.Schmidt, K. (1992, October 30). Couple sees ghost; skeptics see through it. Hartford Courant, p. 126.Smith, G. (1991, May 15). Family still haunted by ghastly experience. Record-Journal (Meriden, CT), p. 1.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome Back B-oo's Crew! This week we head to Southington, Ct to talk about the Snedeker family haunting that inspired the 2009 movie, The Haunting In Connecticut. The year was 1986 and the Snedekers had fallen on hard times. When thier son Philip got cancer, the family moved closer to the hospital for philips cancer treatment. Little did the family know, the new home would go from a dream, to a nightmare within the first 3 hours. Mental illness, spectral attacks, hallucinations, foul odors, S.A and so much more would plague this family until they left just 2 years later. Get ready B-oo's Crew for the family haunting to end all family hauntings. A story so unbelievable, they had to make a motion picture from the story!Do you have a story you'd like read or played on the show? Are you part of an investigation team that would like to come on and tell your story and experiences? Maybe you have a show suggestion! Email us at fortheboos12@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter @fortheboosAnd on Instagram @forthboos-podcastFollow us Tik Tok @fortheboos_podcastHelp support the show on Patreon for early access ad free shows and an exclusive patreon only podcast!patreon.com/forthboos_podcastYou can also find us on Facebook at For The BoosAnd on YouTube at For The BoosRemember to Follow, Subscribe, and Rate the show...it really does help!For The B-oo's uses strong language and may not be suitable for all audiences, listener discretion is advised!https://linktr.ee/fortheboosSources for this episode: Southington.org, Wikipedia.com, frightfind.com, collider.com, chasingthefrog.com, allthatsinteresting.comAll music and sound effects courtesy of http://www.pixabay.com and freesound.org#paranormal #ghost #haunted #ghosts #paranormalactivity #horror #creepy #paranormalinvestigation #scary #spooky #ghosthunting #spiritual #supernatural #ufo #halloween #spirit #spirits #ghosthunters #podcast #paranormalinvestigator #terror #ghoststories #hauntedhouse #aliens #haunting #alien #supranatural #pengasihan #ghosthunter #ghostadventures

On this weeks episode, Blake covers the true story behind the film The Haunting in Connecticut! If YOU have a paranormal experience you'd like read on Haunted Hometowns email it to hauntedhometownspodcast@gmail.com cause everyone loves a ghost story!!

On this episode, Tine from Fable in Southington, CT joins us for a chat about storytelling and tea! Fable - ctfable.com Instagram - @ctfable & @fable_underworld Have any questions, comments, or concerns? Maybe All three? Email us at amirightwitches@gmail.com Rate us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! And while you're over there, leave a comment! Follow Us on Instagram! @AmIRightWitches Matt - @mattatarot Andrea - @andreahoyt --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amirightwitches/support

On Eavesdroppin' comedy podcast this week, Geordie & Michelle look at supernatural stuff – the Snedecker haunting and the mass UFO sighting at Broad Haven...Would you move into a house that used to be a funeral parlour? In 1986, the Snedeker family were excited to move into their new home in Southington, Connecticut. Except the real estate agent hadn't told them that the house was full of funeral-home paraphernalia and GHOSTS and two years later, paranormal activity forced the family to flee their home. What happened to the family? Was it real? And why are there Hollywood films about it all? Geordie investigates - listen now to find out!Michelle then goes back in time to the 70s to a mass UFO sighting by a bunch of school kids in Broad Haven in Pembrokeshire… OnFebruary 4 1977, a bunch of kids were playing footy during their lunchbreak when they saw a cigar-shaped object obscured by trees in the woods. What's more, they also saw a spaceman in a silver suit standing right next to it! Did they see a UFO? Was it sewerage tank? Or a harrier jet? Or just a giant hoax? Listen now to make up your own mind!So pop on your headphones, grab a brown lemonade and join Geordie & Michelle for this week's episode, plus chit-chat about Avicii, Celine Dion and more, only on Eavesdroppin' podcast. And remember, wherever you are, whatever you do, just keep Eavesdroppin'!*Disclaimer: We don't claim to have any factual info about anything ever and our opinions are just opinions not fact, sooorrrryyy! Don't sue us!Please rate, review, share and subscribe in all the usual places – we love it when you do!Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/eavesdroppinDo write in with your stories at hello@eavesdroppinpodcast.com or send us a Voice Note!Listen: www.eavesdroppinpodcast.com or https://podfollow.com/eavesdroppinYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqcuzv-EXizUo4emmt9PgfwFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eavesdroppinpodcast#connecticuthaunting #broadhaven #UFO #hoax #masssighting #supernatural #snedeckerfamily #theconjuring #edandvaleriewarren #reallife #podcast #comedy#comedypodcast #truestories #storytellingpodcast #eavesdroppin #eavesdroppinpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer in Southington thinks her boyfriend is cheating on her after they took a break. He's been after strange and she wants to know if he's hooking up with another woman. 

@LockedOnUConn Follow Mark on any of his socials here: https://linktr.ee/LockedonUconnIn  this episode of  @LockedOnUConn   host Mark Zanetto dives into why UConn's depth will be the key factor in their quest for a historic 3PEAT. Special guest David Borges from CT Insider joins the discussion to provide expert insights. They explore the team's roster, standout players, and how the depth chart will play a crucial role this season. Plus, they touch on recent recruiting efforts and Dan Hurley's unique connection with the fans. Don't miss this comprehensive look at what makes UConn a formidable contender this season. Show Notes:Introduction: Host: Mark ZanettoTopic: UConn's depth and its impact on their 3PEAT chancesSpecial Guest: David Borges, CT InsiderHousekeeping: Reminder to subscribe to the YouTube channel and follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Importance of leaving a 5-star review for audience growth.Main Discussion: UConn's Depth and 3PEAT Chances: Discussion on how UConn's depth will be the difference this season.David Borges' perspective on the impact of depth on UConn's chances for a 3PEAT.Champion's Dinner Insights: David's experience at the Champions Dinner in Southington.Conversation with Jayden Ross and his potential breakout season.Team Roster Analysis: Comparison of the current team's talent with past seasons.Depth and talent from top to bottom of the roster.Recruiting and Relationships: Recruiting Updates: Insights on AJ Dybantsa, Meleek Thomas, and Acaden Lewis.Dan Hurley's approach to recruiting and vetting players and parents.Fan Relationships: Discussion on Hurley's unique relationship with the UConn fans.Why this relationship is effective and important for the team.Fun Segment: "Who Do You Want on a Road Trip?" – Choosing four players/coaches for a hypothetical road trip.Closing: Announcement of Locked On's 24/7 streaming channel on YouTube and Amazon Fire TV.Final remarks from Mark Zanetto:Stay locked in, stay connected, keep your toughness meter rising, and Go Huskies!Outro: Host: Mark ZanettoReminder to tune in for more episodes and keep supporting Locked On UConn. #DanHurley#UConnBasketball#UConn3Peat#UConnDynasty#JohnWooden#CollegeBasketball#NCAAChampionship#BasketballDynasty#TransferPortal#BasketballRecruiting#UConnHuskies#HuskiesBasketball#DanHurleyUConn#3PeatChances#BasketballDepth#NCAA3Peat#UConnCoach#DynastyWatch#NCAADynasty#RecruitingTrail#BasketballTransfers#TeamDepth#CollegeHoops#UConnFans#UConnSeason#DanHurleyCoach#UConnRoster#Huskies3Peat#BasketballDynasties#RecruitingNews#TransferNews#NCAARecruiting#BasketballSeason#UConnChampions#HurleyHuskies#BasketballInsights#NCAATournament#BasketballExperts#CollegeBasketballTalk#SportsPodcast#LockedOnUConn#BasketballAnalysis#HoopsRecruiting#CollegeRecruiting#UConnUpdates#BasketballFuture#DanHurleyInsights#UConnStrategies#DynastyChase#WinningCulture

Tolland Town Manager Brian Foley called Chaz & AJ to give updates and details on a tragic highway stop in Southington. (0:00) Dumb Ass News - Chaz, AJ and comedian Vince Berry explored the emotional reactions people have to insects. (8:53) In the on-going saga of AJ's challenges with the DMV, the Tribe called in with their own (mostly positive!) experiences and advice. (13:04) Boss Keith joined Chaz & AJ for his weekly Top Five list of "Things Wrong with Summer". (29:47)

In 1986 Carmen and Al Snedeker moved to the small town of Southington, Connecticut, with the purpose of being closer to the hospital at which their oldest son was being treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Having fallen on hard financial times, the family jumped at the chance to rent what appeared to be the perfect house. It was large enough for their family, which included three children and a cousin, and the rent was in their affordable price range. It was while they were moving in that Al made a startling discovery: In the basement was a peculiar room that was complete with embalming tables and tools. The house, it turned out, used to be a funeral home.Anne & Renata jump into the famous case of the Haunting in Connecticut.Haunting in Connecticut - A True Hauntings PodcastSUPPORT THE SPONSORS THAT SUPPORT THIS SHOW This Show is Sponsored by BetterHelp - Visit www.BetterHelp.com/P60 for 10% off your first month.Mint Mobile - To get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to www.MintMobile.com/P60Rocket Money - Start saving money and reclaim control over your finances with www.RocketMoney.com/P60 Follow Anne and Renata:Facebook: @AnneAndRenataInstagram: @AnneAndRenataYouTube: @AnneAndRenataTikTok: @AnneAndRenataSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to another thrilling edition of The Meat Grinder, your weekly dose of high school football in Connecticut with GameTimeCT's Sean Patrick Bowley and Pete Paguaga, and the weekly GameTimeCT Pick'ems Podcas: CIAC quarterfinal edition. And what a Thanksgiving week it was as we completed the CIAC state playoff field. There were upsets galore in the final Class S standings; a stunning revival for Fairfield Prep, which toppled West Haven to become the first losing team to qualify; Jett Hall's legendary Valley performances as Naugatuck toppled Ansonia in a battle of unbeatens. But the best game of Thanksgiving belonged to the Apple Valley Classic, where — at long last — Notre Dame recruit Matt Jeffery, injured for the better part of the last seven weeks, made his triumphant return to the gridiron and led Cheshire past rival Southington in a ride-or-die scenario in a game it hadn't won since 2011. SPB takes you through that thriller at Fontana Field and all the rest as we put a bow on the 2023 regular season.  And now we're onto the playoffs. First 45 is your annual Thanksgiving recap with highlights of impactful games from last week. The second 45 is the pick'ems, where Pete and Sean predict all 24 quarterfinal games, not to mention take a few stabs at predicting the state champions. You won't want to miss a minute. So join us, won't you? RUNDOWN  0:00 — Opening Montage: Matt Jeffery, the return 1:55 — Introduction: CIAC playoff (and website) probs 10:15 —Thanksgiving week wrap: Tuesday night 11:59 — Thanksgiving week wrap: Wednesday night (Masuk, Hand, Fairfield Prep) 20:47 —Thanksgiving Day wrap: Smith, Staples knock off No. 1 Greenwich 27:56 — Thanksgiving Day wrap: Jeffery goes off as Cheshire topples Southington 39:29 — Jett Hall. Naugatuck run past Ansonia, to 10-0 record 43:55 — Wrapping up Thanksgiving. 45:12 — Flip over your record, it's the pick section. 49:20 — CLASS S bracket and picks 55:06 — CLASS SS bracket and picks 1:04:08 — CLASS M bracket and picks 1:15:01 — CLASS MM bracket and picks 1:20:58 — CLASS L bracket and picks 1:28:15 — Class LL bracket and picks #cthsfb #highschoolfootball #connecticut #football #notredamefightingirish #ctfootball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We knew it was coming and here it is. The Alliance brass has interrupted the season with their latest call to remove Thanksgiving Day as Connecticut's crown jewel of sporting events. The idea: Dump a century's worth tradition in favor of a balanaced schedule based on class, 50% more (whyyy??) playoff teams, the ending the season before the wrestling mats get rolled out. A win for 12 schools' winter programs and 24 middling football teams, perhaps. Naturally, our intrepid podcast hosts have their own opinions on this latest move to remove Thanksgiving Day football, and they lay out their pros and cons of this budding tradition of yearly CT high school football playoff ideas. This week's special guest star is none other than JOE STOCHMAL, the only coach Oxford's ever known. His program is 8-0 for the first time and on pace to reach the state playoffs for the first time, even as they head to Jarvis Stadium to face unbeaten NVL rival Ansonia on Thursday night.  Stox gives us the lowdown on his program and, as a member of the CIAC football committee, shows us the roadmap on how playoff proposals become CIAC law. He also gives us his personal opinion on the Alliance proposal.  In the meantime, check out highights from a handful of Week 9's biggest games, including: No. 3 Maloney rallying past Southington; North Haven, sans coach Tony Sagnella, knocking off Matt Jeffery-less No. 2 Cheshire; and, finally, Choate's 17-14 victory over Avon Old Farms in the most anticipated Prep school game of the year, since last year. It's a jam-packed and long episode. But, with this last full week of non-Thanksgiving football, why not spread our wings a bit? So join us, won't you? RUNDOWN  0:00 — Introduction. 2:00 — Turkey Day games in September?? No, Thanks: The Alliance playoff proposal. 20:07 — The Week 10 GameTimeCT Top 10 Poll (Nos. 10-8) 21:30 — Sagnella-less North Haven takes out Jeffery-less No. 2 Cheshire 28:33 — GTCT Top 10 Poll (Nos. 5-1) 29:55 — No. 3 Maloney rallies, holds off Southington 37:09 — Bunnell knocks off Notre Dame-Fairfield 38:27 — CLASS S playoff update:  39:40 — CLASS SS playoff update:  41:44 — CLASS M playoff update:  44:19 — CLASS MM playoff update:  46:36 — CLASS L playoff update 48:28 — CLASS LL playoff update 54:34 — Interview with OXFORD coach JOE STOCHMAL 1:31:24 — Shoutouts! 1:38:40 — Choate beats Avon Old Farms in anticipated NEPSAC unbeaten showdown 1:46:07 — Wrapping up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GameTimeCT's Pete Paguaga and Sean Patrick Bowley are back for Week 9 of the staff pick'ems for the 2023 football season. Each and every week the duo will be selecting 10 games from across the state. THE RUNDOWN 0:00 - 4:10 — Intro  4:10 - 6:02 — CCC: Maloney (6-1) at Southington (5-2) 6:03 - 7:05 — Bullard Havens (5-2) at Wilcox Tech (3-3) 7:06 - 8:53 — Griswold/Wheeler (6-1) at Stonington (6-1) 8:54 - 10:25 — Trumbull (3-4) at Staples (6-1) 10:26 - 11:26 — Kennedy (3-4) at Wilby (0-7) 11:27 - 13:31 — Granby/Canton (6-1) at Cromwell/Portland (5-1) 13:32 - 17:33 — Cheshire (7-0) at North Haven (5-2) 17:34 - 19:51 — Stratford (0-7) at Bethel (1-6) 19:52 - 21:04 — Hillhouse (2-5) at East Haven (2-5)  21:05 - 23:23 — Manchester (5-1) at Windsor (6-1)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices