Light Hearted

Light Hearted ep 339 – Travis Gilbert and Logan Merchant, Old Baldy, NC

[https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bald-Head-NC-2001-by-JCC-3.jpg]Old Baldy Lighthouse, USLHS photo by J. Candace Clifford There’s been a lighthouse standing on Bald Head Island at the entrance to the Cape Fear River in the southeast corner of North Carolina for more than two centuries. The original lighthouse began service in 1795 and was the first lighthouse in the state. The Old Baldy Lighthouse that stands today—officially known as Bald Head Island Lighthouse—was built in 1817. The 110-foot tower is constructed of soft red bricks and covered with stucco. Today, after taking the ferry from the mainland, visitors can climb the lighthouse for a view of Bald Head Island. Next to the lighthouse, the Smith Island Museum offers more information about the lighthouse, pirates, surfmen of the United States Lifesaving Service, and other island history. We have two guests in this episode. Travis Gilbert is a public historian and preservationist and the director of philanthropy for the Old Baldy Foundation. Logan Merchant is on the board of directors of the Old Baldy Foundation and is also an educator in the Wake County Public School System. [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bald-Head-NC-NA-26-lg-26-08-2015-001-ac-1024x814.jpg]Nineteenth century view of Bald Head Island Light Station from the National Archives.

Light Hearted Live #1: Virginia’s Historic Cape Henry Lighthouse

This episode consists of audio from the first live streaming edition of our podcast, broadcast live on YouTube on February 26, 2026. The complete video of the live stream can be seen on our YouTube channel. [https://www.youtube.com/live/rev9cnnJd34?si=LmhoDfihc2LnEMRk] The guests are Colby Thomas and Billy Simmons, who are historic interpreters at Old Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia – the first lighthouse commissioned by the federal government. [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_3649adj-1024x683.jpg]Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D’Entremo There are two lighthouses at Cape Henry, marking the south side of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. The older of the two lighthouses was built in 1792, and the sandstone tower stands 92 feet tall. The 1792 lighthouse eventually developed some cracks and a new, taller lighthouse was built in 1881. Since 1930, the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse has been owned and operated by Preservation Virginia. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and in 2002 the American Society of Civil Engineers designated it lighthouse a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/light-hearted-live-screenshot-1024x575.jpg]Host Jeremy D’Entremont, co-host Sarah MacHugh, and guests Colby Thomas and Billy Simmons.

Light Hearted ep 338 – Knotbrook Taylor’s Scottish lighthouse poems

[https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/screenshot_1277-739x1024.png] [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/309906161_436036911969793_1966983147790872388_n-844x1024.jpg]Knotbrook Taylor Knotbrook Taylor is originally from England and now lives in Scotland. He has been writing poetry for more than 25 years. His first published collection of poetry, Beatitudes, was launched in 2007 by Blue Salt Publishing. In 2014 he won the Erbacce prize for his collection Ping-Pong in the Rain. Erbacce is a publisher that holds an annual worldwide poetry contest. The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses commissioned Taylor to write a book of Scottish lighthouse poems. It was published in 2010 and he was also the poet in residence for a time at the museum. Here is a quote from the Erbacce website about Knotbrook: “Knotbrook delights in language, it is almost as though he is in love with words and needs to both cherish and almost worship each one.” [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/14.-rhua-re-light-1024x681.jpg]Rua Reidh Lighthouse, Scotland. Photo by Knotbrook Taylor.

Light Hearted ep 337 – Two special lighthouse cruises on the Maine coast

[https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1-1024x768.png]Bar Harbor Whale Watch’s lighthouse cruise on September 5 will be aboard the Friendship V. This episode focuses on two very special experiences available to lighthouse lovers and lovers of the rocky coast of Maine. The first segment highlights an all-day “Mid-Coast & Monhegan Island 19 Lighthouse Cruise” [https://www.barharborwhales.com/midcoast19lighthousecruise2026/]with Bar Harbor Whale Watch this coming September 5. Interviewed in the segment are Julie Taylor, lead naturalist for Bar Harbor Whale Watch; Zack Klyver, marine mammal scientist, educator, and conservationist; and Bob Trapani Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation. Together with U.S. Lighthouse Society Historian Jeremy D’Entremont and photographer Mike Leonard, this team will narrate the September 5th cruise. [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/DSC1592adj-1024x683.jpg]Saddleback [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/DSC_2670adj-1024x683.jpg]Bass Harbor Head [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_0882adj-1024x683.jpg]Egg Rock Next is an interview with Captain Barry King of the schooner Mary Day [https://www.schoonermaryday.com/], which is homeported in Camden, Maine. Jeremy D’Entremont will be on board to help narrate a 6-day lighthouse cruise, [https://www.wetravel.com/trips/6-day-cruise-lighthouse-cruises-schooner-mary-day-0362221936] July 26 to August 1. A Maine sailing legend, the Mary Day, a two-masted gaff topsail schooner, was built in 1962 by the famous Harvey Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine. Unlike earlier schooners that were built to fish or to carry cargo, Mary Day was designed and built to carry passengers. [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image-1024x554.png]The schooner Mary Day [https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_0138adj-1024x683.jpg]Curtis Island Lighthouse in Camden, Maine, and the Camden Hills ----------------------------------------

Be the Light with Sarah MacHugh episode 2 – The Power of Positivity with Helena of Thoughts with H

[https://news.uslhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/00217D2E-BA97-42D8-A118-3BAF48D24202-576x1024.jpeg]Helena, founder of Thoughts with H In this episode, we explore the power of positivity, reframing life’s inconveniences, building community, and how small reminders of encouragement can create a butterfly effect of gratitude. Sarah is joined by Helena, Licensed Mental Health Clinician and Founder of Thoughts with H, which is a daily inspiration platform rooted in mindfulness, connection, and showing up with purpose. Tune in for an uplifting conversation about how small actions can create meaningful impact. Notes: For information on Andy Smeaton, who is discussed in this episode: * Boston 25News Article [https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/quincy-man-travels-into-ukraine-rescue-co-worker-family/TE437P3DCRDTRBN5TIVPC3XDZE/] * GoFundMe page [https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-andys-life-and-helping-his-family]