Community, Connection & Making Waves for Good

Community, Connection & Making Waves for Good

What happens when a fun idea between friends turns into a movement that changes lives? In this inspiring episode, Barb Garside welcomes Jo-Ellen Erickson to discuss community, entrepreneurship, real estate, and the incredible story behind Witches on the Water. From her first summers on Cape Cod to helping lead one of the region's most successful grassroots fundraisers, Jo-Ellen shares lessons about relationships, resilience, service, and finding purpose through community involvement. Listeners will discover how local nonprofits are strengthened through creative fundraising, why organizations like Latham Centers matter, and how ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference. 🎧 Hosted by: Barb Garside 🎤 Guest: Jo-Ellen Erickson 💡 What You'll Learn: ✔️ The story behind Witches on the Water ✔️ How community relationships create opportunity ✔️ Why volunteering changes lives ✔️ The impact of local nonprofits on Cape Cod ✔️ Lessons from decades in real estate leadership ✔️ How small ideas can create lasting change ✔️ Why preserving community traditions matters 🎙 Connect with Jo-Ellen Erickson: 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jmee6029/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-ellen-m-erickson-0b1b0965/ 🎙 Connect with Barb Garside: 🌐 Website → https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/ [https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/] 🔖 Don't forget to FOLLOW ⭐ and SHARE this episode with someone who loves stories of community impact.

The Chatham Scoop: Local Buzz, Historic Charm, and Pals4Life

What if the future you're meant to create begins with a feeling of belonging long before it becomes a reality? In this powerful episode, host Barb Garside welcomes local writer and insider Amy Tagliaferri to explore the vibrant pulse of Chatham. From arrival as a teenage mother's helper to building a legacy of connection through her beloved newsletter, Amy explores the concept of community and why many of life's greatest transformations start when we intentionally choose to support those around us. This episode is a reminder for every woman navigating uncertainty, reinvention, growth, or transition that the middle of the story is not the end. Listeners will hear why local advocacy matters, the role intuition played in Amy's lifelong stay on the Cape, and how the Pals4Life Foundation provides vital assistance to hospitality workers experiencing catastrophic events. 🎧 Hosted by: Barb Garside 🎤 Guest: Amy Tagliaferri 💡 What You'll Learn: ✔️ The story behind "The Scoop" newsletter ✔️ Why intuition matters during seasons of town growth ✔️ How personal reinvention starts before certainty ✔️ Why women often thrive when leading community initiatives ✔️ The power of local hospitality networks and belonging ✔️ What to expect from future community-driven episodes ✔️ Actionable ways to move forward by volunteering in your neighborhood 🎙 Connect with Amy Tagliaferri: 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/amytag56/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-tagliaferri-3136368/ 🎙 Connect with Barb Garside: 🌐 Website → https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/ [https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/] 🔖 Don't forget to FOLLOW ⭐ and SHARE this episode with someone who needs it.

From Wall Street to Main Street Mahjong: Meet Jill Boudreau

What happens when a successful real estate professional decides to leave her comfort zone and hike 2,200 miles across America? In this episode of Chatham Coffee Tour, Barb Garside sits down with entrepreneur and adventurer Jill Boudreau to discuss her remarkable journey from banking and real estate to Appalachian Trail thru-hiker and founder of Main Street Mahjong. Jill shares memories of growing up visiting Chatham, why Cape Cod became a second home for her family, and how a simple search for mahjong tiles inspired the launch of one of Chatham’s newest small businesses. The conversation explores the lessons she learned on the Appalachian Trail, the growing popularity of mahjong, and how community, connection, and lifelong curiosity continue to shape her next chapter. If you love stories about entrepreneurship, reinvention, adventure, and Cape Cod living, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Hosted by: Barb Garside 🎤 Guest: Jill Boudreau Jill Boudreau is a longtime Chatham summer resident, entrepreneur, former banking executive, Columbia MBA graduate, and founder of Main Street Mahjong. She completed a solo thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and continues to inspire others through her willingness to embrace new challenges and adventures. 💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔️ How Chatham became a second home for Jill and her family ✔️ What inspired her Appalachian Trail thru-hike ✔️ Lessons learned from living unplugged for five months ✔️ How Main Street Mahjong came to life ✔️ Why mahjong has become such a popular social activity ✔️ The importance of supporting local businesses ✔️ Favorite places to relax and recharge in Chatham 🎙 Connect with Jill: 🌐 Website → https://mainstreetmahjong.com/ [https://mainstreetmahjong.com/] 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jillaboudreau/ 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/wellesleyluxuryrealestate/ 🎙 Connect with Barb: 🌐 Website → https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/ [https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/] 🔖 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 and leave a COMMENT 💬 below.

From Chatham to the World & Back Again: Meet Lindsay Bierwirth

What makes Chatham feel like home — even after traveling the world? In this episode of Chatham Coffee Tour, Barb Garside talks with entrepreneur and educator Lindsay Bierwirth about growing up in Chatham, exploring the world through travel and teaching, and eventually returning to Cape Cod to build a life centered around family and community. Lindsay shares stories from her years abroad, working internationally through college, and her transition from teaching Spanish to launching Chatham Works alongside her husband Fred. Together, they built a wellness and coworking space designed specifically to support year-round Cape Cod residents and local businesses. The conversation also explores Lindsay’s personal health journey, including her experiences with stomach cancer and breast cancer, and how organizations like Cape Wellness Collaborative helped support her through recovery. If you love stories about entrepreneurship, resilience, wellness, and Cape Cod community life, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Hosted by: Barb Garside 🎤 Guest: Lindsay Bierwirth Lindsay Garre Bierwirth is a Chatham native and former educator with degrees from Hobart & William Smith College and Boston College. A three-time Boston Marathon finisher and two-time cancer survivor, she is an active volunteer with the Cape Wellness Collaborative and supports local initiatives for young families. 💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔️ What year-round life in Chatham was like growing up ✔️ How international travel shaped Lindsay’s perspective ✔️ Why Chatham Works focuses on community wellness ✔️ The realities of running a year-round Cape business ✔️ How Cape Wellness Collaborative supports cancer patients ✔️ The evolution of schools and diversity in Chatham ✔️ Favorite peaceful places around town 🎙 Connect with Lindsay: 🌐 Website → https://chathamworks.com/ [https://chathamworks.com/] 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chathamworks/ [https://www.instagram.com/chathamworks/] 🎙 Connect with Barb: 🌐 Website → https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/ [https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/] 🔖 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 and leave a COMMENT 💬 below.

Blooms, Books, & Cape Cod Living: Meet Connie LaMotte

Living in Chatham year-round is a unique experience—one filled with quiet winters, bustling summers, and a tight-knit community. In this episode of Chatham Coffee Tour, Barb Garside talks with her niece and Chatham local, Connie LaMotte, about building a life and business on Cape Cod. Connie shares the inspiration behind her new business, Wilderwood Florals, which provides beautiful, classic Cape Cod floral subscriptions to summer houses and vacationers. She also dives into her love for books, working at a local independent bookstore, and finding community during the quiet winter months. The conversation highlights Connie’s incredible resilience as she discusses managing a rare blood condition, aplastic anemia, while simultaneously training for and crushing the four-day Disney Dopey Marathon Challenge. They also touch on the very real issue of local housing and what it takes for young families to stay on the Cape. If you love Cape Cod living, fresh flowers, or stories of personal resilience, this episode is for you. 🎧 Hosted by: Barb Garside 🎤 Guest: Connie LaMotte 💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔️ How a seasonal floral subscription service works ✔️ Why blue hydrangeas are the ultimate Cape Cod flower ✔️ The reality of the Chatham year-round housing market ✔️ How Connie completed a 4-day marathon challenge ✔️ Navigating life with aplastic anemia on the Cape ✔️ The best winter activities for Cape locals ✔️ Where to find the most peaceful views in Chatham 🎙 Connect with Connie: 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/wilderwoodflorals/ [https://www.instagram.com/wilderwoodflorals/] 🎙 Connect with Barb: 🌐 Website → https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/ [https://barbaragarside.exprealty.com/] 🔖 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 and leave a COMMENT 💬 below.