Speonk vs Remsenburg!

Sip n Soda, Southampton with Mark Parash

Esperanza and Irwin welcome Mark Parash, the owner of Southampton’s beloved Sip N Soda. Mark shares what it takes to keep the rich tradition alive in an ever changing eastern Long Island. Mark shares the family's history, going back a few generations, to the stories behind its loyal following, and how essential Sip N Soda is to the Southampton community. Listening is Believing.

Speonk vs Remsenburg!

Esperanza and Irwin explore the intertwined histories of Speonk and Remsenburg—two neighboring hamlets whose stories reveal a deeper, often overlooked side of the East End. From Speonk’s roots as a railroad hub and working-class community to Remsenburg’s evolution into a quiet waterfront enclave, we trace how geography, class, and development shaped their distinct identities. Along the way, we uncover how these communities grew in tandem, influencing one another through shared infrastructure, shifting demographics, and a common connection to the land and waterways. It’s a nuanced look at how two places, often considered separately, are in many ways inseparable—linked by history, culture, and change.

Jeremy Dennis, Artist and Ma's House Founder

Esperanza and Irwin welcome Jeremy Dennis for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about art, identity, and reclaiming space. A Shinnecock Indian Nation artist and the founder of Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, Dennis shares how his work challenges long-held narratives about the Hamptons while centering Indigenous presence, history, and creativity. In this episode, we explore Dennis’s photography practice, his journey building Ma’s House into a vital cultural hub, and the importance of creating platforms for underrepresented artists. He reflects on storytelling through visual art, the intersections of community and land, and what it means to reshape the cultural landscape of a place so often defined by exclusivity. This is a thoughtful, inspiring conversation about visibility, belonging, and the power of art to honor the past while building a more inclusive future.

When Georgica Pond Disappeared, 2003.

Esperanza and Irwin look back on the summer of 2003. That year, Georgica Pond stunned locals when it seemed to “disappear” almost overnight. After a sudden breach of the ocean barrier, the pond rapidly drained into the Atlantic, exposing vast stretches of muddy bottom that hadn’t been seen in decades. While officials pointed to water management and environmental concerns, the speed and timing of the breach sparked lingering mystery—some residents suspected it may have been quietly carried out, or at least hastened, by locals eager to protect their waterfront properties from rising waters. In this episode, we dig into the competing narratives, the whispers of behind-the-scenes intervention, and what this strange moment revealed about the delicate—and sometimes contentious—relationship between the Hamptons’ waterways, its residents, and the sea.

Great Gull Island, Southhold

Esperanza and Irwin never heard of Great Gull Island before stumbling on a 2025 NY Times article about it. Located within 2.5 miles of Plum Island within the Town of Southold, the island's early history is as Fort Michie, a military outpost, dating back to 1886. But our focus is more on its role as a massive wildlife sanctuary, home to the Western Hemisphere’s largest Tern colony. It's also the story of Helen Hays, who for 50 years, made Great Gull Island her life's work. Listening is Believing.