Tag Archives: “06880” podcast

“06880” Podcast: Ayotunde Ayobello

Posted on December 30, 2024 | Comments Off on “06880” Podcast: Ayotunde Ayobello

Dr. Ayotunde Ayobello is a psychiatrist at Yale Child Study Center’s new Westport location.

He helps evaluate and treat anxiety, ADHD and executive functioning issues. His specialty is young athletes.

Dr. Ayo is well suited to that specialty. In addition to his medical and therapeutic training, he is a former high-level athlete himself. He knows what makes athletes succeed — and where they can stumble.

The other day, Dr. Ayo and I chatted, at the Westport Library. Our podcast covers his background in athletics, the issues he sees in young athlete, his work with parents as well as athletes, and trends in youth sports.

Click below, to learn more about this very timely subject.

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Posted in Library, Media

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“06880” Podcast: Pierrepont School

Posted on December 17, 2024 | Comments Off on “06880” Podcast: Pierrepont School

Pierrepont is one of Westport’s best-kept secrets.

The small (152 students) school has a student-teacher-ratio of 3:1.

It’s rated the #1 private K-12 school in Connecticut, according to Niche.

Yet despite being in the Mediterranean-style building on the corner of Sylvan Road and Post Road West since 2002 — Pierrepont School is hidden in plain sight.

The other day, interim co-heads Anna Alemani and Liam O’Rourke came to the Westport Library’s Verso Studios to talk about Pierrepont.

We chatted about the school’s founding, philosophy, students and staff, along with its presence in Westport, and what’s ahead.

It was a fascinating discussion, about an intriguing, important, yet virtually unknown Westport institution.

Click below to hear Pierrepont’s story.

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Posted in Education, Media

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“06880” Podcast: 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker

Posted on November 4, 2024 | 20 comments

It’s been 3 years since Jen Tooker was elected 1st Selectwoman.

Exactly 3/4 of the way through her term, now is a great time to welcome her back to “06880: The Podcast.”

Last week, she stopped by the Westport Library to chat. Our conversation ranged from the general (what’s surprised you about the job? what have you learned about the town? what are the challenges?) to the specifics: the capital plan (and how to pay for it), affordable housing (and where it will be built), and of course traffic (what can we do about it?).

Click below to hear the town’s top elected official talk about what’s on the top of her mind.

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Posted in Local politics, Media

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“06880” Podcast: Kitt Shapiro

Posted on September 9, 2024 | 6 comments

Kitt Shapiro is a longtime Westport resident. She has an eclectic background, including owning WEST — the women’s boutique on Post Road East — and writing a book about her mother, the legendary Eartha Kitt.

She also produced Eartha Kitt shows and projects around the world. And she honors her mother’s legacy by raising awareness of colon cancer, and women’s health issues.

The other day, Kitt stopped by for an “06880” podcast chat on the Westport Library stage. We talked about WEST, women-owned small businesses here, and Westport in general; growing up as Eartha Kitt’s daughter, and much more.

Click below to see:

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Posted in Entertainment, Local business, Media

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“06880” Podcast: Peter Propp & Cliff Sirlin (Startup Westport)

Posted on August 26, 2024 | 1 comment

In just 2 years, Startup Westport has gone from a concept, to a thriving, well-known and high-achieving entity.

Just like the ideas it hopes to spawn.

Startup Westport is the town’s public/private tech and innovation partnership. Its events, programs and online presence, draw entrepreneurs and investors together.

The other day, Peter Propp and Cliff Sirlin — 2 of the group’s founders — stopped by the Westport Library.

There — on the same stage where several of their presentations have drawn SRO crowds — we chatted about Startup Westport.

What makes Westport a tech and innovation hub? Who makes up that segment of our population, and what exactly are they doing? How is Startup Westport helping, and what’s ahead?

Click below for our wide-ranging discussion. You’ll see why Cliff and Peter — and so many others — are so excited about the future.

(Click here for information about Startup Westport’s next forum on September 24: “Sustainable Success: Start-up and Investor Perspectives on B Corp and Public Benefit Corporations.)

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Posted in Library, Media, technology

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“06880” Podcast: Westport Moms

Posted on August 12, 2024 | Comments Off on “06880” Podcast: Westport Moms

There are thousands of Westport moms. But only Megan Rutstein and Melissa Post are Westport Moms, with a capital “W” and “M.”

They’re the founders of Westport Moms, a multi-platform site for anything and everything involving Westport kids, and their moms.

Oh, yeah: Westport dads too.

Westport Moms is followed avidly by nearly every Westport mom. Plenty of others too — including me, and I am definitely not a Westport mom.

The other day, Megan and Melissa took time from their very busy lives to chat with me, for the “06880” post. Here’s what we talked about, on the Westport Library stage:

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Posted in Children, Library, Westport life

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“06880” Podcast: Rich Failla

Posted on July 29, 2024 | 2 comments

Rich Failla spent nearly 30 years as a Westport police officer, with a variety of units. They included patrol, bicycle, scuba, boat, motorcycle, traffic and K-9.

He volunteered at Ground Zero after 9/11. He started a business — Hot Yoga — and now works at Town Hall (he’s the first person visitors see as they walk in).

Rich has spent his adult life serving Westport. The other day, he chatted about his career, and the town, for the “06880” podcast. Click below, for our conversation.

 

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Posted in Local business, Media, Police

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“06880” Podcast: Dominique Johnson

Posted on July 1, 2024 | 1 comment

Dominique Johnson was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in 2022, to represent parts of Westport and Norwalk in the 143rd District.

The Democratic representative serves as deputy majority caucus chair and assistant majority leader. Representative Johnson sits on the Education, Higher Education & Employment Advancement, and Judiciary Committees.

Before joining the legislature, Johnson serve on Norwalk’s Common Council. Last week, she joined me at the Westport Library for “06880: The Podcast.”

Our wide-ranging conversation included how she ended up in Hartford; what she’s learned and done since arriving there; the differences and similarities between Westport and Norwalk; her take on Westport, and much more.

Click below to see:

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Posted in Media, Politics

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“06880” Podcast: Nick Marsan

Posted on June 18, 2024 | 1 comment

On July 1, Nick Marsan becomes Westport’s new fire chief.

A member of the Fire Department since 2007, he is also a nationally certified fire service instructor. He has won 2 Westport Rotary Public Safety Awards, and several other commendations.

Nick is a veteran of the US Army and Connecticut Army National Guard. He received the Army Commendation Medal for Valor for his actions in Afghanistan.

The other day, our soon-to-be chief and I chatted at the Westport Library’s Verso Studios. It was a fascinating conversation, ranging from his route to firefighting (after earning a degree in history)m, and what makes our town’s department special, to his dual role as town emergency management director, and his take on the Westport many of us never see.

Click below, for this intriguing interview:

 

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Posted in Library, Media

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“06880” Podcast: Barbara Kellerman

Posted on June 4, 2024 | 1 comment

Everyone is talking about leadership.

Political leaders, business leaders, who leads and who follows, where our future leaders will come from — all are crucial issues, in Westport, the nation and the world.

No one knows more about leadership than Barbara Kellerman. The longtime Westport resident was the founding executive director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. She served on its faculty for over 20 years, after teaching at other schools including George Washington, Dartmouth and Maryland.

Professor Kellerman was awarded 3 Fulbright Fellowships, authored numerous books, has written for the New York Times and Washington Post, appears regularly on TV, and has lectured all over the world.

Yesterday, she and I chatted on the Westport Library stage. Our conversation about leadership ranged far and wide, from the US presidency and British government to why Westporters have become so rude to our leaders (who are also our neighbors).

Click below to view this fascinating half hour.

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