Notable New England
A podcast about the people, places, and things that make New England so noteworthy.

Notable New England
Welcome to the Notable New England podcast. I'm your host, Gretchen B. I'm a lifelong New Englander and I'm excited to share with you the people, places, and things that make New England so noteworthy. Subscribe, tell a friend, grab a "regulah" and a Boston cream, and tune in. Episodes are released bi-weekly on Sundays.
Support the Podcast
Want to get early, ad-free access to Notable New England episodes as well as other cool perks? Join our Patreon community as a paid member for as low as $2/month. Your contribution helps to fund production costs, create engaging episodes, and ensures the long-term sustainability of the podcast. I offer a variety of tiered membership levels with exclusive rewards tailored to your support. Join the Notable New England community today and be a part of what makes this podcast possible! Find out more at: patreon.com/notablenewengland
Want to make a one-time contribution to the podcast? You can do so at: buymeacoffee.com/notablenewengland
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Episodes

6 hours ago
6 hours ago
29 min
Ready for a little Halloween mystery? Explore six haunted houses and historic sites across New England known for ghost stories, paranormal sightings, and chilling legends. From a haunted Victorian mansion in Massachusetts to a lighthouse on a Rhode Island island, discover the eerie histories and unexplained happenings that make these places worth a visit. You might even find yourself wondering what goes bump in the night!
CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Notable New England does have some mentions of death and content that might be a bit scary for young ears or those sensitive to subjects involving death, causes of death, or paranormal activity. Listener discretion is advised.
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Oct 11, 2026
Oct 11, 2026
37 min
Singer, composer, and producer Frank Maza joins Notable New England to talk about his musical journey between Madrid and Boston, blending flamenco, Latin music, jazz, and American songwriting. We discuss his album Back Then, collaborations with acclaimed international musicians, and his upcoming November 5 performance at City Winery Boston—and his hopes for bringing Boston’s diverse musical and cultural communities together.
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Sep 13, 2026
Sep 13, 2026
31 min
It's time for Notable New England's Fall Arts Preview, featuring arts and culture happenings in New England this fall and beyond. Each fall, many arts organizations in New England begin their annual seasons and I've got the scoop on a variety of arts and culture from music to museums to dance and more for the 2026-2027 season.
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Aug 30, 2026
Aug 30, 2026
37 min
Learn about some incredible events & happenings coming up this fall all over New England. May it serve as a springboard for you to explore even more fun, fall opportunities our beautiful area of the country offers.
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Aug 16, 2026
Aug 16, 2026
50 min
Storytelling has the power to build community, preserve history, and bring people together. In this episode of Notable New England, I speak with writer and storyteller ChaChanna Simpson about her Storytelling Sundays series at the Westport Public Library in Westport, CT, a bi-monthly open mic that welcomes storytellers from all backgrounds to share their voices. We also discuss the vibrant storytelling community in New England and why sharing our stories matters.
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Aug 2, 2026
Aug 2, 2026
29 min
In this episode of Notable New England, I sit down with Larry Claflin, Executive Director of the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival, to talk about this year’s lineup, the history behind the festival, and how it supports music education across the North Shore. Learn how this beloved Salem event brings together incredible artists while giving back to the community.
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Jul 19, 2026
Jul 19, 2026
1 hr 13 min
As September 1st, Boston’s busiest moving day, approaches, I speak with Larry O’Toole, founder of Gentle Giant Moving Company which was started in Boston and has expanded to other regions outside of New England.
Larry shares the story behind building a people-first business, lessons from his memoir Heavy Lifting: Building a Business with a Giant Heart, and how Gentle Giant helped transform the moving industry.
*There is a very brief mention about suicide in the interview (29:56-30:45). If that is triggering to you, you may want to skip over that part of the interview and continue after. Listener discretion is advised.*
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Jul 5, 2026
Jul 5, 2026
23 min
This past week’s extreme heat across New England had many of us reaching for the AC, but it’s nothing compared to the devastating heat wave of 1911.
In this episode of Notable New England, we explore one of the region’s deadliest weather disasters: an 11-day stretch of record-breaking temperatures, limited forecasting, and no modern cooling systems. From people sleeping in the Boston Common to train tracks bending in the heat, and even many going insane, the stories are sobering.
With over 300 deaths in New England alone and over 2,000 deaths in the Northeast, the Great Heat Wave of 1911 is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come, and why we shouldn’t take modern comforts for granted.
If you’ve ever complained about the heat, this story will give you a whole new perspective.
**IF YOU FIND THE TOPICS OF WEATHER DISASTERS AND DEATH TRIGGERING, YOU MAY WANT TO SKIP THIS EPISODE AFTER THE WICKED LITE BITES SEGMENT. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.**
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Jun 21, 2026
Jun 21, 2026
31 min
Summertime in New England is made for getting outside! In this episode, I’m sharing some beautiful walks you can take across the region this summer. From coastal paths and wildlife sanctuaries to scenic strolls, these spots offer beautiful views, local history, and a chance to slow down and explore. If you’re looking for inspiration to get out there, this one’s for you.
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com

Jun 7, 2026
Jun 7, 2026
1 hr 2 min
Author Julie Gerstenblatt joins the podcast to discuss her new historical fiction novel, The Stargazer of Nantucket (out June 9).
In this episode, we talk about what inspired the story, her connection to Nantucket, and the real history behind the book—including the Starbuck family and the legendary clipper ship Flying Cloud. The novel follows 18-year-old Winifred, who secretly stows away on her parents’ voyage, leading to a journey filled with adventure, danger, and long-buried family secrets.
We also dive into women in maritime history, Julie’s research process, and a few Nantucket spots you can visit to bring the story to life.
If you love historical fiction, New England history, and exciting, page-turning reads, this episode is for you.
🎧 Links to purchase The Stargazer of Nantucket and learn more about Julie are in the show notes & resources below.
📌 Show Notes & Resources:
🔹 Episode Sources, References & Featured Links🔹 Music licensing & credits
💙 Support Notable New England:
Join our Notable New England Patreon community for a dedicated space to connect, explore New England history, hidden gems, and local stories without the distractions of traditional social media! Get early, ad-free episodes and exclusive perks starting at just $2 a month. Your support helps cover production costs and keeps engaging episodes coming! Or, sign up for free and connect with other lovely listeners. 👉 Join here
Gift someone a Notable New England Patreon membership by clicking here.
To make a one-time donation to Notable New England, head over to buymeacoffee.com/notablenewenglandYou'll get an on-air shout out of thanks for your donation.
📢 Follow Notable New England:
🔹 Patreon🔹 BuyMeaCoffee🔹 Substack🔹 Facebook🔹 Instagram🔹 Threads🔹 Bluesky🔹 YouTube🔹 Reddit
🎙️ Podcast Website: notablene.podbean.com📩 Contact: gbossmusicco@gmail.com







