Main Street Moxie

Hosted by Thorunn Kristjansdottir and Mary B. O'Neill

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May 2026

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About the show

Main Street Moxie was born out of our love of the spoken word and constantly being inspired by people, businesses, and organizations that are mavericks in their own way. Our guests took a leap, all because they believed in themselves, and as a result, made something out of nothing. They had a vision and the necessary belief, and paved a new way – they had MOXIE! You can learn from these moxie stories. We're all capable of moxie in our lives and through our conversations with guests, you'll learn how to move your own moxie along the moxie meter.

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52 recent

May 4, 2026Episode 5249 min

Episode 52: CB Wismar

Send us Fan MailIt takes a particular kind of moxie to show up every day for someone you love, while watching them decline and diminish, and your life takes on new responsibilities and roles.CB and his wife, Kathy Wismar, were living a full life on their family farm in rural Northwest Connecticut — she painting and throwing ceramics, he writing and producing, both of them deep into a rich second act after raising two thriving kids and tag-teaming their way through over five decades of marriage. Then Kathy received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, and everything changed. CB became her full-time caregiver, joining the 63 million Americans navigating that same unexpected role in 2025.In this episode, CB talks about what he calls caregiving moxie — the quiet courage it takes to get up each morning and do hard things out of love, partnership, and loyalty. He shares what he's learned about leaning on family, friends, and healthcare professionals, sitting with a wide range of emotions, and trying to make sense of a chapter neither of them planned for.CB brings a lifetime of storytelling to this conversation. His five-decade career in communications spanned radio, television, and film. He led the events team at AARP and co-founded a creative agency that worked with Fortune 500 companies. He continues to write for Main Street Magazine and produce content for the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation. ResourcesTo read about Kathy's life and art:Kathy Wismar: A Life in Clay, Main Street Magazine, December 2016, pages 6-7Resources for CaregiversThe DataCaregiving in the U.S. 2025 — The landmark AARP/National Alliance for Caregiving report cited in this episodeFor All Family CaregiversAARP Caregiving Resource Center — Practical tools, legal checklists, local resources, and community supportNational Alliance for Caregiving — Research, advocacy, and resources for family caregivers nationwideFamily Caregiver Alliance — Fact sheets, online support groups, and state-by-state resource guidesEldercare Locator — A free government service connecting caregivers to local support (1-800-677-1116)For Alzheimer's & Dementia CaregiversAlzheimer's Association — 24/7 helpline (1-800-272-3900), support groups, and stage-by-stage guidanceAlzheimer's Foundation of America — Free helpline staffed by licensed social workers, webinars, and caregiver fact sheetsAlzheimers.gov — Federal government hub for Alzheimer's information and local referralsNational Institute on Aging — Getting Help with Alzheimer's Caregiving — Guides on home care, adult day services, hospice, and moreCaregiving in the U.S. 2025 Support the show

January 26, 2026Episode 5156 min

Episode 51: Silda Wall Spitzer

Send us Fan MailSilda’s moxie comes from a lifetime of engagement, a willingness to evolve, creativity, and a deep trust in the power of people to catalyze change when they are seen, supported, and brought together. She has a strategic approach to moxie that is purpose and service-driven.Silda Wall Spitzer has spent her life working at the intersection of civic responsibility, community, and conscience. Trained as a lawyer and shaped by decades of public service, she has long been driven by a commitment to environmental stewardship, social justice, and the belief that strong communities are built through shared responsibility and mutual care.As First Lady of New York State, Silda championed initiatives that elevated dignity in work, expanded opportunity, and highlighted the essential role of public institutions in supporting people and places. Her advocacy has always centered on listening closely, amplifying voices that are too often overlooked, and creating spaces where meaningful change can take root.That same impulse led her to found New York Makers, the first digital magazine dedicated to celebrating the artisans, growers, and entrepreneurs shaping the state’s creative economy. The magazine was born from a simple realization. Extraordinary makers were doing inspiring work across New York, yet had no shared forum to learn about one another or to be seen as part of a larger ecosystem.Silda’s Jam grew naturally from that mission. For years, Silda had a family tradition of making jam for friends and loved ones each holiday season. What began as a personal ritual became a way to support the magazine and the communities it uplifted. She turned that tradition into a small business rooted in care, craftsmanship, and connection.Made in small batches in the Hudson Valley and sweetened with local maple syrup, Silda’s Jam reflects her values. It honors local sourcing, thoughtful production, and the joy of sharing food as an act of generosity. More than a product, it is an extension of her belief that building community can start with something as simple and human as gathering around the table.ResourcesSilda's JamSilda Wall Spitzer/Tim Jones ArtSocial Media Instagram @SildasJam Facebook Silda's Jam Support the show

December 1, 2025Episode 5053 min

Episode 50: Tracy Hayhurst

Send us Fan MailTracy whips up moxie every time she steps into her kitchen. A Ballymaloe-educated chef, organic farmer, and food educator, she is passionate about mixing those ingredients to create meaningful experiences for people through her new adventure, Undermountain Pantry Cooking School and Microbakery.Tracy is a creative local food systems entrepreneur evolving her work by owning and managing CSAs for Chubby Bunny and Husky Meadows Farms, coordinating education and outreach for Plantin’ Seeds, and serving as culinary director at Seed and Spoon. All those endeavors fed into her mission to design seasonal, fun, and educational culinary workshops and meals at Undermountain Pantry. Tracy’s jam is helping people become attached to local and seasonal food, building community through sharing delicious, nutritious food, and helping her students develop culinary skills to take back into their home kitchens and make some moxie of their own. Through her farming and culinary pursuits, she has learned to listen to her gut, letting her intuition guide her to places that feel authentic and true. She has gained the gift of patience, cultivating relationships and skills that may bear fruit in the future. This way of leaning into her life is integral to her moxie. ResourcesUndermountain Pantry Cooking School and MicrobakeryBallymaloe Cookery SchoolSocial Media Undermountain Pantry InstagramSupport the show

July 28, 2025Episode 4953 min

Episode 49: The Good News Girls: Mimi Madden and Susan Wheeler

Send us Fan MailWhat do you get when you combine two moxie-fueled individuals? Moxie synergy that’s off the charts! Mimi Madden and Susan Wheeler are the driving forces behind Good News Girls, a social collective for women over 50 in northwest Connecticut. The Good News Girls started as a musing in an English pub after a long ramble in the countryside. It has evolved into a dynamic and active organization, providing enrichment and social opportunities during a phase of a woman’s life that is marked by significant change. Menopause, changes in relationship status, retirement, grown children, and aging parents can add to isolation, loneliness, and a need for connection. Enter the Good News Girls with hikes, book groups, retreats, and learning-centered dinners, creating opportunities for friendship and positivity. They prove that it’s never too late to make changes in your life!Separately, Susan and Mimi have a wealth of experience and have weathered setbacks in their own lives. Susan overcame a devastating back injury to become a marathoner, author of The Lemonade Diet, mindset speaker and coach, and successful entrepreneur. Mimi has served arts non-profit organizations for decades. She is currently a program consultant for the American Mural Project (AMP) in Winsted, CT. She is a Kinder Life Planner and a Keirsey Temperament Consultant, helping clients align their lives with their natural gifts, motivations, and dreams. Listen to their stories and draw inspiration from their wisdom. Mimi and Susan understand that in life, things happen, and obstacles and difficulties are an inevitable part of being human. However, they firmly believe that these events are easier to bear in the good company of others who can lift you up and help you get back on track.ResourcesThe Good News GirlsSusan V. WheelerWhen Life Hands You Lemons…The Lemonade DietMadden ConsultingAmerican Mural ProjectSocial MediaGood News Girls Instagram @_thegoodnewsgirlsFacebook The Good News Girls Women 50+ Get Active Meetup GroupSupport the show

April 28, 2025Episode 4853 min

Episode 48: Mary O'Neill

Send us Fan MailHappiness is a moxie job! To kick off the 4th Moxie season, Mary O’Neill, co-creator and co-host of Main Street Moxie, explores the connection between happiness and moxie. Happiness is a topic on which Mary is well-versed. She has immersed herself in the topic through the lens of multiple disciplines, and it underpins her work as an educator and life design and career coach. For Mary, rainbows and unicorns do not signify a happy life. Instead, she draws on the Ancient Greek philosophy’s emphasis on living a life of virtue and values. A happy life is one lived in alignment with qualities such as courage, moderation, honesty, humility, integrity, and, most crucially, practical wisdom, which involves knowing how and when to apply various virtues in the situations we encounter.This kind of life might not always be Insta-worthy, but it will lead to one of authenticity and coherence, which will buoy us in times of struggle and adversity.Viewing happiness in this way makes it less dependent on feelings and more rooted in action, doing, and MOXIE!In addition to being the co-founder and co-host of Main Street Moxie, Mary is a seasoned and award-winning educator, lecturer, and trainer. She has taught classes in philosophy, including an interdisciplinary course she created on happiness. She has also taught classes in sustainability and nature, global business, life design, career success, and college first-year studies at Western Connecticut State University. Currently, she serves as the Director of Life Design at Boston Global Communications and Performance, Inc., and as the Career Services Coordinator at CT State: Northwestern. Mary is also a life design and career coach in private practice. ResourcesGreater Good Science CenterHarvard Happiness and Leadership LaboratoryHappiness Research InstituteHappiness Studies AcademyYou Doing You Life Design and Career Coaching.Support the show

December 9, 2024Episode 4755 min

Episode 47: Sara Cousins

Send us Fan MailGot holidays? Then you need moxie to get through them. The expectations, the standards, and the idealized version of the season can wear us down. Not anymore! This episode of Main Street Moxie with Sara Cousins is here to help you celebrate the holidays in line with your values and priorities, leaving you saner and less depleted as you enter 2025. Sara shares strategies and techniques to help us hold space for ourselves while finding connection with others during this holiday season and throughout the year.Sara is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience in private practice in Lakeville, Connecticut. For a decade, she’s been the go-to mental health professional for Main Street Magazine.Sara’s diverse career journey has taken her from working with Inuit youth in Alaska to serving communities through the Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington, Harlem Hospital in Manhattan, and Victim Services of NYC. Across all her roles, she has been inspired by the resilience and vulnerability of the people she has served.Specializing in relational and couples therapy, Sara has been trained by renowned experts, including Esther Perel, Tara Brach, Orna Guralnik, Terry Real, John Gottman, and Harville Hendrix. She is also deeply committed to mindfulness and meditation, drawing on over 20 years of training with Mingyur Rinpoche. She has attended workshops and trainings with Pema Chödrön, Jack Kornfield, and Tim Olmsted.Outside her professional life, Sara embraces new challenges and adventures. She recently joined the Norfolk Curling Club to try curling, a sport much more challenging and painful than it looks on TV!This episode of Main Street Moxie is proudly sponsored by Main Street Magazine.Support the show

November 18, 2024Episode 4654 min

Episode 46: Olivia May

Send us Fan MailOlivia finds and expresses her moxie through stand-up comedy. In this episode, Olivia explores how she grew her comedy moxie, describes her comedic process, and reflects on the challenges of leaving a highly structured, results-oriented career to dive into the unpredictable world of stand-up comedy.Olivia started her comic explorations by testing the waters at countless open mics in New York City before moving to Charlotte, NC, for her corporate job and continuing her comedy journey there. While in Charlotte, she founded Olivia’s Fun and Flirty Comedy Show, a monthly stand-up show at a trendy brewery, which she grew in popularity over the course of two years. A standout performer, Olivia was also selected for 2023’s North Carolina Comedy Festival, showcasing her growing talent and dedication to the craft.While planning shows and booking comics for that show, she also worked her day job assessing bank risk. Then, she took a risk of her own. In March of 2024, she took a considerable leap of faith. Quitting her bank role, she set out for Chicago to launch herself full-time in comedy–and has not looked back.Olivia is now a Chicago-based comedian, building her comic material and show appearances. Known for her sharp wit and relatable humor, Olivia has graced stages at notable venues, including the Laugh Factory Comedy Club, Lincoln Lodge Comedy Club, and Red Room Comedy Club. She regularly attends open mics and has begun taking improv classes at Second City, expanding her repertoire and range.She was recently selected from over 100 comedians who auditioned to perform at the Vouch Comedy Show at the Laugh Factory. In The Windy City, she continues to captivate audiences with her unique perspective and comedic flair.This episode of Main Street Moxie was proudly sponsored by Main Street Magazine.Social MediaInstagram @oliviahmay_ TikTok @oliviahmay_Support the show

October 21, 2024Episode 4557 min

Episode 45: Elaine Gonzalez Johnson

Send us Fan MailElaine’s moxie is exuberant and engaging. Her humor and encouragement make you feel like you got this–you got moxie! Elaine has put in the time and miles to discern who she is and how she wants to show up in the world in each season of her life. That unshakeable belief in herself is the foundation of her energy and zest for a successful life, as she defines it.Elaine is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, educator, and speaker. She is best known for her role as the Founder and Executive Director of Latinas in Motion, a non-profit organization with chapters nationwide, created to encourage women of color to get active. Elaine began her fitness journey after the birth of her first child, taking small steps that have led her to run 5K’s and marathons and organize races and group running sessions for others. Elaine inspires and empowers women worldwide to exercise and adopt healthy habits.This self-proclaimed "Mogul Mami" is an inspiration—as much for her contagious energy as for her willingness to break stereotypes. She enjoys sharing her story to inspire others to live the best version of themselves and move through the world on their own terms.Elaine is passionate about sharing her story with others—her down-to- earth personality and frequent pop-culture references have established her as a sought-after speaker. In 2018, Elaine was selected to share her mission statement at the Michelle Obama "Becoming" event. This episode of Main Street Moxie is proudly sponsored by Main Street Magazine.Resources:Latinas in Motion websiteMogul Mami websiteSocial Media:Elaine’s Instagram @elaine_g_johnson Latinas in Motion Instagram @latinasinmotionLatinas in Motion Facebook group @LatinasInMotionSupport the show

September 23, 2024Episode 4456 min

Episode 44: Lisa Worth Huber

Send us Fan MailWe all want peace, but the road toward it can be elusive. Our perceived differences loom large and seem insurmountable. Yet, some individuals like Lisa Worth Huber labor tirelessly to educate people about the self-work required to build peace and understand how the creative arts are a vehicle to express our stories, heal, and begin to bridge with others. This work takes moxie! It’s granular and slow yet rich and rewarding, leaving Lisa with hope for building a family, community, and world where all are seen and valued. Peace provides a platform for all of us to flex our moxie, free from fear and able to devote our energies to being part of building something larger, not exhausting ourselves in pits of division.Lisa serves as President of the National Peace Academy. She is on the board of directors and faculty of the Global Peace Education Network (G-PEN), which currently works in partnership with UNESCO. She is a member of the Advisory Council for the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence, where she is a mentor to teaching artists pursuing their certification in Kingian Nonviolence. Lisa designed, implemented, and served as Academic Director for Connecticut's first accredited MA program in Peace and Conflict Transformation, and was a member of the international Launch Team for the Global Sustainability Fellows program, a trainer for the UnGUN Institute: Collective Trauma Healing Through the Arts, and an adjunct professor of Sociology at Western Connecticut State University.Additionally, Lisa has been a teaching artist for several decades, working in universities, K-12 classrooms, homeless shelters, and safe houses, and is the first recipient of the Frank McCourt Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Along with designing and implementing nonviolent and peacebuilding programs, Lisa incorporates the arts to elevate voices, address injustice, heal trauma and PTSD, nurture compassion, and imagine new futures. Lisa blends story in its myriad forms with peace, humanitarian, social justice, and environmental concerns, and nurtures the development of creative activism and ecological stewardship.This episode of Main Street Moxie is proudly sponsored by Main Street Magazine.ResourcesLisa Worth Huber National Peace AcademyUnGUN InstituteGlobal Peace Education NetworkGlobal Sustainability Fellows programBridging Differences | Greater Good Science CenterSupport the show

August 12, 2024Episode 4340 min

Episode 43: Housatonic Valley Regional High School International Travel Club

Send us Fan MailTraveling both takes moxie and builds moxie. Just ask the Housatonic Valley Regional High School International Travel Club. Reinvigorated by Club faculty advisor Social Studies teacher John Lizzi, the club has taken students, faculty, staff, and parents to destinations such as the Galapagos, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, and the Mediterranean coast. In this Moxie episode, John and students Ellie Wolgemuth and Madison Melino describe their adventures, growth and moxie that have resulted from their journeys. In fact, Madison joined the podcast from the Reykjavik Airport after a glacier flood impacted her travels.For those in need of financial assistance, the Club’s new model allows families to participate in fundraising to subsidize the cost of the trip, making travel affordable for anyone who wants to go. The club’s fundraising arm, NWC: Students Without Borders, facilitates student fundraising activities and donations.John, Ellie, and Madison have all seen the impact of these trips crossover into their academic pursuits at HVRHS and in their personal lives. They are more confident, resilient, curious, and open to new experiences–the hallmarks of moxie!This episode of Main Street Moxie is proudly sponsored by Main Street Magazine.To support the HVRHS International Travel Club, consider donating an auction item, sponsoring the event, and/or attending their annual fundraiser at The White Hart Inn in Salisbury, CT, on September 13, 2024. The event is planned and staffed by students. For any questions, please email the club at nwcstudentswithoutborders@gmail.com or view their website NWC: Students Without Borders.ResourcesHousatonic Valley Regional High School EF Educational ToursSocial Media HVRHS International Travel Club InstagramSupport the show