The 495: Recent Episodes
Merrimack Valley Magazine
The 495 is a community and culture podcast centered on the Merrimack Valley. Every week starting in January 2020, The 495 podcast brings you whatever is best about our region. That means leaders, writers, teachers, thinkers, artists and doers.
This week on The 495, we’re joined by Marquis Victor, the founding executive director of Elevated Thought, an art and social justice organization based in Lawrence. Mass. He’s also an educator, photographer, and poet. Join us Wednesday, live at 12:30 to learn more, or listen on your favorite streaming platform.
This week, The 495 goes cosmic! We’re joined by Noureddine Melikechi, a member of the Mars Science Laboratory, NASA’s Mars space probe mission. He’s also a physicist, an inventor, an educator, and even an amateur chef. We’ll talk everything from the Mars rover to the folk music of Maghreb.
This week on The 495, we’re joined by artist Paula Estey, owner of Newburyport’s PEG Center for Art & Activism. We’ll discuss how art might help us heal cultural divides.
This week on The 495! We’re joined by photographer Karen Jerzyk Photo, whose work was profiled in the January issue of MVM. You can find Jerzyk prints at Hive & Forge in Lowell.
Chocolate fans unite! This Wed. on The 495 we’re talking with yummy food expert and Northern Essex Community College chemistry professor Mike Cross about theobromines, Mayan history, and the time he went undercover as a student to better understand the challenges they face.
Hungry? Join us this week on The 495 as we sit down with restaurateur Caroline Jolliffe, whose just-opened Newburyport restaurant The Joy Nest promises live jazz, boozy cocktails, and a classic speakeasy environment.
This week on The 495, host Doug Sparks talks (and brews a cup of coffee) with Jon Santos and Kate Cutlip of Tiny Arms Coffee Roasters of Lowell.
Sex. Weed. Revolution. Grilled tuna. Richard Ravin joins us to discuss his wild debut novel, “Nothing to Declare.” Ravin, a Newbury resident, has written for Salon and the San Francisco Examiner, and his work has earned high praise from his fellow writers.
This week on The 495, we’re joined by very special guest U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan. We’ll discuss the Jan. 6 siege on the Capitol, as well as forthcoming internet legislation and the recently passed Great American Outdoors Act.
Merrimack fans take note! This week on The 495, we discuss the state of our favorite river with Matthew Thorne from the Merrimack River Watershed Council. Then, we’re joined by Dr. Lien-Thu Dao of Haverhill Family Eye Care. Join us live on The 495!
Local restaurants have taken a huge hit. The host of The 495, Doug Sparks is joined by Purple Carrot Bread Co. owners Alaina and Doug Brackett to find out what their Lowell bakery is doing to survive in the age of COVID.
The 495 is back! Host Doug Sparks opens 2021 talking with Rachel and the teams from Red Antler Apothecary in Lowell. See how this Valley business is adapting and aiding in the Covid crisis and hear tales of pine tar soap and beaver skulls.
On this edition of The 495, your host Doug Sparks talks with noted Cambodian American poet, painter and humanitarian, Chath Piersath.
Host Doug Sparks talks with Scott Plath of Cobblestones of Lowell and Moonstones of Chelmsford about the state of the restaurant industry in Massachusetts as we approach the Covid Holidays
Host Doug Sparks catches up with Lane Glenn, who is both the President of Northern Essex Community College and an all-around fascinating guy.
This week, host Doug Sparks talks with HamdAllah Olona from GoodieKrunch, a delicious coconut snack produced in Haverhill, but inspired by a traditional authentic signature recipe of Olana's grandmother from Ọ̀yọ́ Kingdom, Yorùbá Land, in West Africa. Don't miss this fascinating story.
On the day before Thanksgiving, host Doug Sparks, talks with one of the Merrimack Valley's most well-known chefs! You've seen Brendan Pelley on Hell’s Kitchen, Beat Bobby Flay, and the WGBH Food Fight, and the Chelmsford native is the Executive Chef at Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton. Join us for a high-profile culinary episode!
This week on The 495, we’re joined by UMass Lowell professor Carol Hay, whose latest book, “Think Like a Feminist,” takes a look at the philosophy behind the women’s movement.
Coffee fans rejoice! This week on The 495 hoist Doug Sparks will be discussing everyone’s favorite bean with JP and Lauren, the owners of Dancing Ox Coffee Roasters. These two former professional dancers now run a North Carolina roastery with Merrimack Valley roots.
On this edition of The 495, host Doug Sparks talks mead with the good folks at House Bear Brewing in Newburyport!
Host Doug Sparks gets in the Halloween mood and talks with New England's Scary Godmother, Roxie Zwicker from New England Curiosities about ghost stories from the Valley!
This week on The 495, host Doug Sparks talks with State Senator Diana DiZoglio as she continues her 159-mile March Across Massachusetts to raise money for The Methuen Youth Center. Then he previews the November/December issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine!
This week host Doug Sparks talks with Irish Author Aine Greaney about her five books, her personal journey of immigration here in the US, and her writing workshops.
Lysa Pelletier has worked as a fashion, lifestyle, and product stylist for more than 25 years. She’s also the style editor at Merrimack Valley Magazine. This week on The 495, she’ll sit down with publisher Glenn Prezzano to talk about things you can do to spice up your fall.
This week on The 495 host Doug Sparks is joined by filmmaker, photographer, and conservationist Jerry Monkman. Monkman recently directed “The Merrimack: River at Risk,” a documentary about this critical waterway’s past, present and possible future.
John Broderick has been a chief justice with the N.H. state court, law school dean, and senior director at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. In 2002, he was the victim of an assault that nearly took his life. The experience changed the way he thought about mental illness forever. You won’t want to miss this episode of The 495.
Dawn Aurora Hunt is known as “The Kitchen Witch.” Find out why on The 495 as we talk about her recent cookbook, how to bring a little magic into your kitchen, and the company she founded, Cucina Aurora Kitchen Witchery.
This week on The 495, we chat about the recently passed Great American Outdoors Act and how it affects our region with Amy Lindholm, of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and John Judge, CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club.
This week on The 495, host Doug Sparks talks with Renay Wolterding, owner at Mill City BBQ and Brew!
Join us on The 495 this week, as host Doug Sparks talks with Dr. James Mabry, President of Middlesex Community College.
It is hot out, there's no doubt. But it is never too hot for hot sauce! This week, host Doug Sparks talks with the Founder of Craft Hot Sauce, Brian Ruhlmann!
This week on The 495, we are joined by Ryan Turner. He’s the new music director of the Newburyport Choral Society, one of the oldest choral groups in the nation. Music fans won’t want to miss this one!
On this week's The 495, host Doug Sparks talks with Phil Mastroianni, the co-owner of Fabrizia Spirits – they make traditional limoncello (and, in the age of the pandemic, sanitizer).
This week on The 495, host Doug Sparks talks with Susan Sirois, executive director of Bread and Roses about the effects of the pandemic on her organization and its mission to feed those in need.
Doug Spark's guest on this week's The 495 podcast is UMass Lowell professor John Kaag whose “Sick Souls, Healthy Minds,” combines biography, memoir and self-help guide in one concise, inviting package. In other words, don’t be put off if you struggle to remember anything from your Philosophy 101 class.
This week on The 495, host Doug Sparks talks with Courtney Sale, the new Artistic Director for the Merrimack Repertory Theatre on what it's like to take over during a pandemic and the future of local theater.
On this edition of The 495, host Doug Sparks talks with the Artistic Director of Mistral Music, Julie Scolnik!
The 495's 25th episode features host Doug Sparks talking with Dougan Sherwood, President of the Greater Haverhill Chamber, about his aspirations to make Haverhill a world-class city.
This week on The 495, host Doug Sparks will talk with Henri Marchand. He’s retiring from his position as cultural director of Lowell after many years of serving the city. He’s also a practicing magician, so expect a wide-ranging discussion. Like Lowell
Host Doug Sparks talks with Lowell blogger and historian Richard Howe about citizen blogging, social media, and his history walking tours of Lowell.
Doug's guest is T. R. Monaghan. Her debut novel is set in the gritty underworld of Lowell in the early ‘70s. We’ll talk crime, writing, and Lowell past and present.
This week on The 495 podcast, host Doug Sparks talks all things beer with the Merrimack Valley Homebrew Club: The importance of using good water; Where to pick the best Dandelions; And ... do NOT stress out your yeast.
This week's episode of The 495 has host Doug Sparks talking with Lowell musician Melvern Taylor and his ukulele!
Make sure you join us on The 495 podcast this week as host Doug Sparks talks with David Moloney, author of the newly released "Barker House" from Bloomsbury Publishing USA!
Host Doug Sparks talks with Science Educator Metric Mark who is approaching COVID-induced homeschooling by showing parents and kids how to do simple hands-on science experiments, with only the materials they have on hand.
This week on The 495, Doug Sparks chats with Amy Tee from Experimental Comedy Therapy. Like many comedians, Amy has gone through many ups and downs, which reflect in her unique brand of comedy laced with stigma-busting honesty.
Doug interviews Christa Brown - an actress, storyteller, content creator and non-profit leader based in Lowell. She creates and promotes art that reflects the richness of the local community. The Free Soil Arts Collective Entrepreneurship for All - EforAll
Host Doug Sparks talks red wigglers with Kesiah Bascom, the owner/founder of Off Beet Compost.
Scott Plath, founder of Cobblestones of Lowell and Moonstones discusses, with host Doug Sparks, the current and future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry / Tips for getting your take-out safely / Plus, his favorite stories from decades in and around the kitchen.
Doug talks with Linda Shottes-Bouchard of SHED Children's Campus this week on The 495. They discuss this new reality of online education, curiosity-driven learning, and helping kids achieve mindfulness.
We hope to give you a brief respite on this week's The 495 podcast. Host Doug Sparks talks with writer and poet Paul Marion from Loom Press on several books that you may enjoy during the upcoming weeks.
Host Doug Sparks talks with professor Brenda Bond-Fortier about how he book detailing how the Lowell Police Department and others adapted to changing communities, policies, and public needs, and what policing is facing in the current political environment.
On this week's episode of The 495 podcast, host Doug Sparks talks calligraphy, spirit books and the space between letters with artist and author Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord
Host Doug Sparks talks with Merrimack Valley-based mystery author Edith Maxwell about her unique brand of storytelling that often includes murders with recipes!
Doug Sparks talks with Ken Taylor of Plum Island Kayak about kayak adventures on the Merrimack River and beyond. (Of course he asked about sharks!)
Doug talks natural remedies, cleaning, CBD, homesteading and more with Rachel Chandler and Rick Stec from Red Antler Apothecary on this week's episode of The 495.
Doug Sparks talks with Jamie Berard, a Central Catholic alum who now works as a LEGO architect. Jamie will be a judge in the new series LEGO Masters on FOX.
Host Doug Sparks talk with Dan Graovac of the Merrimack River Watershed Council about sewage overflows, PFAS pollution, microplastics and climate change and how they affect the Merrimack River and it's communities. More importantly, they discuss what is being done and what needs to be done.
Guest host Glenn Prezzano welcomes Lane Glenn, the President of Northern Essex Community College. He’s just returned from a trip hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro!
He's photographed almost everyone and everything in the Merrimack Valley, plus a who's who of celebrities. Doug chats with renowned photographer Kevin Harkins - today's guest on the 495 Podcast.
Doug Sparks talks with our own Dean Johnson about his illustrious career in New England media. Starting with his days reviewing concerts for The Herald, Dean talks about his time with WBZ and his freelance writing, including reviewing food and restaurants for Merrimack Valley Magazine. Doug tells us Eight Great Things To Do This Weekend and leads us to the best cup of coffee in the Valley.
There a lot of trails to explore in Doug's background. In this episode of "Ask Me Any Thing" answers questions about caffeine and coffee and tells you things about tea that you didn't even know you wanted to know!
In this edition of "Ask Me Anything" Dougs answers questions about editing a magazine. Styles and practices may evolve but and editor must decide when to hold the line.
We are warming up for our podcast debut. In this episode we debut "Ask Me Anything" and this time the subject is our host Doug Sparks.
Have you just found The 495 Pod? Start here and meet your host Doug Sparks and see what's down the road on The 495.