Watertown's Open: Storytelling and Marketing for Solopreneurs

Watertown's Open: Storytelling and Marketing for Solopreneurs

This episode is from a Watertown's Open event that happened back in late March 2026 over at the WCA-TV [https://wcatv.org/] studios. The theme of this event was Storytelling and Marketing for Solopreneurs. We had a great conversation with a large panel this time. It was four panelists who were breaking down and giving advice to two featured solopreneurs who offered to be on the spot telling their perspective with what they're trying to do to with sharing their story. There was a lot of good advice in here. So if this topic is interesting to you, I think you'll get a lot out of it. Feel free to share with anyone else you think might benefit from hearing this too! Watertown's Open are live podcast events for small businesses, and it's a place to get local business owners together to discuss topics such as this. It's a three-way partnership from Little Local Conversations [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/], the City of Watertown [https://www.watertown-ma.gov/207/Economic-Development], and the Watertown Business Coalition [https://www.watertownbusinesscoalition.com/].  Panelists: Sam Dudley, Watertown Business Coalition [https://watertownbusinesscoalition.com], Director of Communications and Engagement Margo Guernsey, Time Travel Productions [https://www.timetravelproductions.com/], Director/Producer/Impact Strategist Ashley Rappa, MORE Advertising [https://www.moreadvertising.com/], Creative Director  Erin Rathe, City of Watertown [https://www.watertown-ma.gov/207/Economic-Development], Senior Planner for Economic Development  Featured Solopreneurs: Heather Caldwell, Caldwell's Miscellaneous Fancy Goods [https://caldwellsfancygoods.com/], Founder Benita Chelagat, Coffee Plus 254 [https://coffeeplus254.com/], Founder Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2322540/support] Head on over to www.littlelocalconversations.com [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/] to check out all the episodes, events, and everything else going on.  Sign up for the Little Local Conversations email newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/1ffcb9f6801e/newsletter-signup] Follow on Instagram: @littlelocalconversations [https://www.instagram.com/littlelocalconversations?igsh=MWxucDZudXIyb3d6ZQ==] Upcoming events! Click here to see upcoming live podcast events. [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/events]

Event Highlight: Watertown Pride 2026

I sat down for a conversation with Watertown Pride organizers Anna Strohmeyer, Carey Conkey-Finn, and Xin Peng about building a Pride celebration that feels like a real community home. We talk about the event’s origins as an idea from Watertown Library staff, how the organizing of the event has shifted over the years to include more groups and residents in the planning, and what you can expect to see at Watertown Pride 2026 on Saturday, June 6th (including a parade, performances, vendors, food, education and resources and more). We also get into some of their personal connections to Pride and other safe spaces, stories from previous Prides, and how it's shaped their own lives and the lives of others who interact with the event. Find out all the details for Watertown Pride 2026 at watertownpride.com [https://www.watertownpride.com/home_1] Saturday, June 6th  11am-4pm Parade starting from Moxley Park at 11am (with queer family decoration meetup at 10am) and ending at Saltonstall Park next to City Hall where the rest of the festivities will take place. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2322540/support] Head on over to www.littlelocalconversations.com [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/] to check out all the episodes, events, and everything else going on.  Sign up for the Little Local Conversations email newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/1ffcb9f6801e/newsletter-signup] Follow on Instagram: @littlelocalconversations [https://www.instagram.com/littlelocalconversations?igsh=MWxucDZudXIyb3d6ZQ==] Upcoming events! Click here to see upcoming live podcast events. [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/events]

Episode 77: Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders (2026)

Meet Arthur Ferraz, Christos Sarris, Jafar Al-Hilfy, and Zoe Tendler! They are seniors at Watertown High School and members of the Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders group. Christina Lupica and Sofia Block, orgranizers of the group from Wayside Youth and Family Support Network here in Watertown, also joined us for the conversation. We talk about what it's like building community and connections as a youth, their honest views on technology and phones, their advice for freshman, what it's like being in the transitional phase as seniors, and more. Find out more about the Watertown Youth Coaltion at watertownyouthcoalition.org [https://watertownyouthcoalition.org/]. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2322540/support] Head on over to www.littlelocalconversations.com [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/] to check out all the episodes, events, and everything else going on.  Sign up for the Little Local Conversations email newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/1ffcb9f6801e/newsletter-signup] Follow on Instagram: @littlelocalconversations [https://www.instagram.com/littlelocalconversations?igsh=MWxucDZudXIyb3d6ZQ==] Upcoming events! Click here to see upcoming live podcast events. [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/events]

Local Government Update, May 2026

Listen to the latest conversation with Tyler Cote, the Community Engagement Specialist for the City of Watertown, and Victoria Weichel from WCA-TV to discuss things that have happened during the past month in Watertown through key moments, success stories, and important numbers.  See links for things mentioned in the episode at www.littlelocalconversations.com/episodes/local-government-update-may-2026 [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/episodes/local-government-update-may-2026] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2322540/support] Head on over to www.littlelocalconversations.com [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/] to check out all the episodes, events, and everything else going on.  Sign up for the Little Local Conversations email newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/1ffcb9f6801e/newsletter-signup] Follow on Instagram: @littlelocalconversations [https://www.instagram.com/littlelocalconversations?igsh=MWxucDZudXIyb3d6ZQ==] Upcoming events! Click here to see upcoming live podcast events. [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/events]

Watertown's Open: A Discussion on Summer Tourism 2026

This episode is a special Watertown's Open episode, and this came from a live discussion that happened at the WCA-TV studios back on April 7th. It was a panel discussion about how Watertown businesses can capitalize on the tourist influx this summer. Watertown's Open are live podcast events for small businesses, and it's a place to get local business owners together to discuss topics such as this. It's a three-way partnership from Little Local Conversations, the City of Watertown, and the Watertown Business Coalition.  And if you want to see my graphic for the timeline of events or see links to things mentioned in this episode, you can listen to this over on the Little Local Conversations website, LittleLocalConversations.com, and find the episode [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/episodes/watertown-s-open-a-discussion-on-summer-tourism-2026] there.  Panelists: Andrew Holden, Branch Line [https://www.branchlinearsenal.com/], Owner Gavin Kleespies, Gore Place [https://goreplace.org/], Executive Director Steve Owens, Massachusetts State Representative, Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development [https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J30/Committees] - Vice Chair Erin Rathe, City of Watertown [http://www.watertown-ma.gov/207/Economic-Development], Senior Planner for Economic Development  Korinne Robertson, Residence Inn Boston Watertown [https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/boswx-residence-inn-boston-watertown/overview/], Director of Area Sales Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2322540/support] Head on over to www.littlelocalconversations.com [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/] to check out all the episodes, events, and everything else going on.  Sign up for the Little Local Conversations email newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/1ffcb9f6801e/newsletter-signup] Follow on Instagram: @littlelocalconversations [https://www.instagram.com/littlelocalconversations?igsh=MWxucDZudXIyb3d6ZQ==] Upcoming events! Click here to see upcoming live podcast events. [https://www.littlelocalconversations.com/events]