Brew's Cafe

Ironically, it all started with the Girl Scouts. When Marit Molin couldn't find a scout troop for her daughter on the east end, she started her own. Now, many years later, she is the ultimate girl scout. Marit's organization is called Hamptons Community Outreach. Their mission is simple. If someone in our community needs something, Marit and her team find a way to fill the need. Sometimes it's fixing a roof, or a floor, or a heating system. Sometimes it's finding housing to begin with. It's always about providing food-- her operation handles 20 tons of food at a time and distributes it to those who need it. More and more, it's helping young people get the resources they need to succeed in school-- things like tutoring, supplies, college counseling and the like. It's shocking to many of us how much need there is in this community, particularly with the backdrop of so much abundance and even excess. But the need is there, and Marit, her organization and their volunteers, are there to help bridge the gap. Her story is amazing, but what she manages to do, and how much she and her group provide is nothing short of fascinating. So tune in and hear her story of starting a girl scout troop, and becoming a grown up girl scout gone nuclear

Paul Anthony is a funny guy. That's not just me saying that. Paul is one of those rare humans who makes their living in comedy, stand-up comedy, to be exact. Paul is the producer of The Long Island Comedy Festival, now in its 20th year. But that's an umbrella company of a lot of productions including Mom's Night Out, The 50+ Comedy Tour among others, and now The Ha Ha HAmptons Comedy Tour. All of these shows take place in a theater, locally that theater is Bay Street in Sag Harbor. I have come to know Paul as the "professor" of the "Think Your Funny" standup comedy class at Bay Street in Sag Harbor. In it, 10 civilians write and perform a five minute comedy set on the stage at Bay Street (Nov 25 8pm, tickets available on Bay Street Website), after six weeks of intensive instruction. Paul and I expound on many subjects in this episode, though most revolve around comedy and stand up. 

If print is dead, apparently Gavin Menu didn't get the death notice. Gavin is a newspaper guy. And he has no intention to change. As the owner, with his wife Kathryn Menu, of the Southampton Press, East Hampton Press, and the Sag Harbor Express, Gavin believes in the power of printed news. As much into modern media as I am, I gotta admit, there's still something special about picking up a paper, especially a local one, and reading all about it. It's more than news, information and opinion. It's connection. Connection is what makes community, and if there's anything that Gavin believes in more than local print media, it's community, this one in particular. We have issues, no doubt,  some may even seem insurmountable. But we also have an involved and well informed community. That community has opinions and viewpoints about these issues and are not afraid to voice them. It's Gavin's job to give them the information to do it responsibly. Now, lest you think he's a complete dinosaur, take comfort knowing that they also own 27East.com, the go to website for local news and information. Gavin and I have a wonderful conversation, chatting about local issues, the value of an involved community, and the importance of kids playing sports. Check it out. It's a fun one.

WE'RE BACK!! Kicking off Season 5 with a timely episode featuring JP Foster. JP recently retired from public service at the East Hampton Village 911 Call Center as Chief of Dispatch. On top of that, he's been President of the East Hampton School District Board of Education for 12 years, with a total of 13 years on the Board...  And now he's running for MORE public service, as he's currently on the slate for East Hampton Town Board Member, to be decided on Election Day, November 4, 2025.  JP and I eventually get into town issues, but not before going deep on the workings of the East Hampton town wide emergency services, and how it all works together. Then, of course, we get into what he thinks he can do for the town as the newest member of the Board, and why he wants to do it. So jump in, and catch up with JP and me and remember to vote on November 4!!

For our 100th episode we have a very special guest. If you don't know Brian Cosgrove by name, chances are very good you'll recognize his voice. As a long time on air personality and DJ for local radio stations, his sound, his musical style and his personality are a fixture on east end airwaves. How did he get started in radio? How does he select his playlist? What's great about public radio? All of these questions get answered in this episode. But as usual with my best guests, we veer sharply off course and cover all sorts of fascinating topics from The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to surge pricing on concert tickets to the most recent trends in country music. Brian is a natural conversationalist and storyteller, and he and I can chat for hours. So while I definitely expect to have him back on the show, don't miss this very special episode with this very special guest.

If the best things in life come with some difficulty, this should be an amazing episode!! As most listeners know, I do everything myself: scheduling guests and locations, setting up the recording equipment, recording, editing, publishing, promoting... Everything. Which, while economical, sometimes leads to difficulty. This episode is the second recording, since the audio in the first attempt was so poor. Unfortunately, I mistakenly published the first recording, and if you listened to any of it, was awful. The content was fabulous but the sound quality was abysmal. So here she is, Dawn Watson, the Hamptons Party Girl, though not really a partier, and rising star real estate agent, though we barely touch on the topic. But a conversation with Dawn is an utter delight, and if anything good came of having had to record this twice, it's that I got to spend another hour chatting with Dawn about her experience in the magazine publishing world, how she became the Party Girl, her views on life in the Hamptons as we know it and lots of other topics. So please, enjoy this episode. It got here the hard way.

For many, the mother daughter relationship is fraught with all kinds of difficulty and dysfunction. But sometimes when it works, it really works. For Jessica Ambrose and Mansell Beverage (nee Ambrose), it works so well, that they've decided to turn it into a podcast. "Let Me Ask My Mom" will debut very soon on popular platforms, and you'll get to hear some of the many ways in which these two depend so firmly on one another. As you'll hear on this episode, though, the relationship was borne out of difficulty-- as an 11 year old, Mansell was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that required immediate and aggressive treatment, as well as a long series of reconstructive surgeries that lasted for years. Many of those years were spent in the car, just the two of them, on the way to or from one of those procedures. It has formed an unshakeable bond that Jessica and Mansell can't wait to share with the podcast world.

Bob Sullivan, a school bus driver from East Hampton and former corporate advertising executive, shares his gripping tale of surviving a terrifying home invasion. He discusses his unconventional career journey—from the fast-paced fashion industry to the calm of the bus route—before diving into the chaos of that fateful night. Bob reveals how the trauma led to struggles with addiction and his inspiring path to recovery. Through anecdotes about art, community, and resilience, Bob's story exemplifies courage and transformation.

Corey Senese, co-owner of Corey's Wave, is a passionate surfer dedicated to sharing his love for the sport. In this engaging conversation, Corey discusses the evolution of surf instruction and the thrill of teaching beginners. He delves into the balance of fear and courage while tackling larger waves and shares memorable surfing adventures in California and Mexico. Corey also emphasizes the sentimental value of surfboards and the vital role of community in enhancing the surfing experience. Perfect for surf enthusiasts and curious listeners alike!

In this engaging conversation, chef Damien O'Donnell, partner at Bostwick's on the Harbor, shares his undeniable passion for the restaurant industry. He describes the exhilarating sense of achievement that comes from a night 'on the line.' O'Donnell reflects on the camaraderie and unforgettable experiences, like meeting his future wife in a bustling kitchen. He also candidly discusses the chaotic yet rewarding realities of culinary life, from inspiring mentors to the intricate art of cooking the perfect burger, showcasing the beauty in this demanding profession.