LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY

The Powerhouse Behind the Whidbey Island Language, Art, and STEM Center

ENJOY THE LAST HOLIDAY RE-LISTEN!
By the way ... listen to the end to learn how to teach for WILASC. Hai Anh Vue is looking for professional who love arts, languages and STEM.
Today’s guest is about to blow your mind, expand your horizons, and quite possibly make you wish you’d paid more attention in science class. 
We are talking to the brilliant Hai Anh Vue, the powerhouse behind the Whidbey Island Language, Art, and STEM Center—or, as the cool kids say, WILASC. Now, I know what you’re thinking: ‘Wait, an educational center that combines languages, art, and STEM? That’s like the ultimate brain-boosting trifecta!’ And you would be absolutely right. 
Hai Anh has created something truly special—an innovative space where curiosity thrives, kids (and let’s be honest, adults too) can explore new ideas, and learning is anything but boring. Whether it’s diving into a new language, getting hands-on with science, or unleashing creativity through art, WILASC is making education feel like an adventure.  We have all seen the ads on social media called ‘Masterclass’, where experts in their field let you in on how they have mastered their craft.  This is the same thing, but for the kids!
I’m genuinely inspired by Hai Anh and everything she’s accomplished. In just four years on the island, she’s launched WILASC, brought it to life, and built a team of local instructors to support her vision. She told me she simply decided to put herself out there and *make it happen*. And let’s be honest—while the saying “build it and they will come” sounds great, it’s not the full story. Success takes more than a good idea. You have to solve a real problem, create a structure that delivers on its promises, and keep spreading the word, day after day. It’s hard work. It’s perseverance. It’s navigating resistance, roadblocks, and setbacks. 
What impresses me most about Hai isn’t just that she’s incredibly smart—it’s that she’s doing *all* of that. And because of her vision, dedication, and grit, our children on this small island now have access to opportunities they might never have had otherwise.
So, get ready for a conversation about why this kind of learning matters, what it takes to build a center like this on Whidbey Island, and why you should never underestimate the power of combining left-brain logic with right-brain creativity. Trust me, you’re going to want to take notes. Let’s get to it!"
 
Find WILASC on Instagram and Facebook.
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY is on @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM 
 
You may also get to know Magsy and subscribe for invites to her supper club, at https://withmagsy.com. 
 
 
 

Capturing The Soul of Whidbey Island with Dennis Browne

ENJOY THIS WEEKS HOLIDAY RE-LISTEN
 
You know how some people just have that magic touch? Like, they can capture a moment so perfectly that you swear you can hear the music, smell the salty sea air, and feel the collective joy of a crowd in a single photograph? Well, that’s Dennis Browne for you. This guy is basically the unofficial historian of Whidbey’s music scene—except instead of a dusty old textbook, he tells the story through stunning photography. 
 
Dennis has been everywhere—from intimate backyard jam sessions to full-blown festival stages—documenting the heartbeat of Whidbey Island’s incredible music culture. He’s got the eye, the passion, and probably the best backstage access of anyone on the island. And today, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to be the guy behind the lens, capturing the soul of Whidbey one epic shot at a time. 
 
By the way, the interview was recorded at Bailey's Corner Store, where all the music goes down. Several regulars came into eat and Bailey's brought me a fantastic hamburger and fries as well.
If you want to keep up with all of the music happenings on the Island, checkout the WHIDBEY ISLAND LIVE MUSIC FB GROUP.
 
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY is on @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM 
 
You may also get to know Magsy and subscribe for invites to her supper club, at https://withmagsy.com. 

WALKING ON WHIDBEY WITH PNWBIRDIE

This week is the third week of 're-listens' or maybe a new 'listen' for you as we are in the Holiday season. This week I'm bringing back Todd Hipsher or known on social media as @PNWBirdie. He walks somewhere on Whidbey Island everyday and takes amazing photographs. They are mesmerizing. He has quite the following. Enjoy his Whidbey Island journey.
THE RE-LISTEN
In today’s episode, I was honored to walk with Todd Hipsher on the trail off of Coupeville’s Sunnyside Cemetery. My guest is none other than Todd Hipsher, aka the creative genius behind @PNWBirdie photography and video on Instagram and his beautiful calendars on Etsy.
You will notice that we are far from being indoors for this podcast recording.  I just couldn’t interview Todd sitting in a chair indoors. We had to walk.
I will chat about Todd’s daily walks, the stories behind his favorite photos, and how his love for Whidbey Island has inspired his art and his life. Plus, he’ll share some tips for finding the extraordinary in the everyday and why creativity and nature are the ultimate dynamic duo.
So, listen in, and get ready for a soulful, joy-filled conversation with Todd Hipsher or otherwise known as PNWBirdie. Trust me, you’re going to fall in love with his perspective, his passion, and, of course, his art. Let’s dive in!
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY is on @LocalWhidbeyPodcast … Link: INSTAGRAM

The Power of Collaboration and Connection Defines Adrienne Hawkins Success

This week is the second week of 're-listens' or maybe a new 'listen' for you as we start the Holiday season. This week I'm bringing back Adrienne Hawkins of Zen Esthetics in Oak Harbor. Adrienne loves living on Whidbey Island, after being transferred here with her hubs military career. I was honored to be invited to his retirement ceremony. If you have never been to one, go if you receive an invite. It is so special and the emphasis placed on the sacrifice of the family over 24 years was emotional to say the least. 
When I moved to the Island during Covid, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able get top notch beauty services like I had in a city like Dallas.  I had no reason to worry, and that was one of the reasons I chose Adrienne to interview. Anyone moving here, whether it's to retire, for Navy families or just because you want to live on an Island ... will find 'that' level in Adrienne's services. She has a great story AND business.
The Re-Listen ... 
Today, we’re talking all things self-care, confidence, and glowing skin as we spotlight a little slice of heaven in Oak Harbor: Zen Esthetics. 
Zen Esthetics isn’t just another beauty studio—it’s a full-on sanctuary for your soul. At the heart of it all is the incredible Adrienne Hawkins. She’s not just an esthetician; she’s a glow-getter, a confidence-creator, and the kind of person who makes you feel like your best self from the moment you walk through her door. Adrienne has built Zen Esthetics to be more than just a business—it’s a space where you can press pause, focus on YOU, and leave feeling like you can take on the world. 
From luxurious facials to expert skincare advice, Adrienne brings her A-game every time. But what really makes Zen Esthetics special is Adrienne herself. She’s got that magic touch—combining serious skill with a vibe so warm and welcoming, you’ll never want to leave. 
Today, we’ll dive into Adrienne’s journey—how she turned her passion for beauty and self-care into a thriving business, what keeps her inspired, and why Zen Esthetics is the go-to spot for locals looking to shine.  You don’t want to miss her advice on the importance of the power of connection and collaboration and how vital it is to a community. Adrienne also has a fun side. Content Curtis is a frequent collab during certain holidays on her social media accounts.
Grab a cup of tea, a latte or your favorite glass of wine, and let’s get into it! You’re going to want to book an appointment by the time we’re done, trust me.
 
Follow Zen Esthetics & Adrienne on INSTAGRAM.
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY is on @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM 
You may also get to know Magsy at her website https://withmagsy.com. 
 

Jonathan and Mike, Whidbey Islands Whiskey Crafters

This week is the first week of 're-listens' or maybe a new 'listen' for you as we start the Holiday season. This week I'm bringing back Jonathan and Mike of Whidbey Distillery. They were so fun and were my first guests. 
On today's episode of Local Whidbey Podcast, we're heading straight into the heart of Crafting Spirits and Community Pride, with the new dynamic behind Whidbey Distillery Jonathan Bower and Mike Huffman.
These two are shaking things up literally. As the new owners of Whidbey Distillery, Jonathan and Mike are bringing fresh energy, bold ideas, and a whole lot of passion to this already iconic global gem. Known for their award-winning blackberry and loganberry liqueur, and spirits that are as smooth as they are unforgettable, Whidbey Distillery is stepping into an exciting new chapter under their leadership.
Today, we'll chat with Jonathan and Mike about what drew them to the world of craft distilling, their vision for the distillery's future, and how they plan to keep the Whidbey Island spirit alive, both in the bottle and in the community. Whether you're a craft spirit enthusiast or just supporting LOCAL, this conversation is going to inspire and maybe even make you a little thirsty.
FOLLOW the guys on INSTAGRAM and their WEBSITE.
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK GROUP.
Check out https://withmagsy.com for info on the Supper Club, Soiree' and Spaces.

From Food Network to Bayview Corner: Joan Samson & Ed Hodson of Japonica

On this episode of Local Whidbey with Magsy, we’re taking a delicious little detour… straight from the Food Network to Bayview Corner.
 
If you’ve been anywhere near Langley lately, you’ve probably heard whispers — or full-volume raves — about Japonica, the new Japanese comfort-food spot created by chef Joan Samson and her sommelier husband Ed Hodson.
 
Joan trained in one of the toughest Japanese culinary schools, cooked her way through California’s restaurant scene, landed on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, and recently competed on Morimoto’s Sushi Master. Ed brings the beverage magic — from sake to unicorn champagnes — and a level of hospitality that makes every guest feel like the night was designed just for them.
 
Together, they’ve built their fifth restaurant, and their most personal one yet — right here on Whidbey Island, where comfort, craft, and community meet at the table.
 
Today, we’re talking about the journey that brought them here, what it takes to build a restaurant as a couple, and why Japonica is already one of the most talked-about dining experiences on the island.
 
So settle in… this is a story about mastery, marriage, and making something unforgettable in a little corner of Whidbey.
 
Let’s dive in!
FOLLOW Japonica at WEBSITE, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM.
 
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY at @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM and on Facebook.
You may also get to know Magsy and subscribe for invites to her supper club, at https://withmagsy.com. 
 

The Welcomer: Rose Woods and the Spirit of the Whidbey Institute

On the southern end of Whidbey Island, tucked inside 106 acres of moss-lined trails and cathedral-quiet forest, sits a place that’s been quietly shaping hearts and ideas for fifty years.
It’s called The Whidbey Institute, and it’s where leaders, artists, scientists, and seekers gather to ask the kind of questions that don’t always have tidy answers — questions about belonging, purpose, resilience, and what it means to care for both people and the planet.
At the heart of this work is Rose Woods, the Institute’s Co-Executive Director and self-proclaimed “Welcomer.” Rose’s story winds from California theatre stages to Whidbey’s forested classrooms — a journey that began when she came to care for her mother and stayed to nurture something much larger: a living experiment in community, leadership, and land-based learning.
Rose is also a Board member of South Whidbey Pride. She’s a Writer. A Teacher. An Activist. And a Theatre Director. She is the Founder and former Artistic Director of Island Shakespeare Festival. The Former Artistic Director for Whidbey Children’s Theatre and she has served as Artistic Director for three theatre companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and has worked across the country with both professional and youth theatre companies. She is a professional screenwriter and playwright. Awarded a commendation from Barbara Boxer for her work in teaching tolerance with youth theatre and is the recipient of a number of awards for both her writing and directing, including the Elizabeth George Foundation Grant, Humanitarian Teacher Award from the Humane Society, and a variety of national and international awards for her writing. She strongly believes art and social justice are necessary.
In this episode, we talk about what drew Rose to Whidbey Island, how the Institute grew from a bold 1970s vision into a national model for generative leadership, and why transformation often begins with something as simple — and sacred — as an open door and a warm hello.
I know you will enjoy meeting Rose.
 
Check out THE WHIDBEY INSTITUTE, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM.
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY at @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM and on Facebook.
You may also get to know Magsy and subscribe for invites to her supper club, at https://withmagsy.com. 

Small Homes, Big Community: Architect Ross Chapin on Designing for Connection

When we think of neighborhoods, most of us picture long rows of houses, driveways, and maybe a park down the street. But what if there was a better way to live — one that put connection, belonging, and beauty at the heart of community design.
Today’s guest has dedicated his life to re-imagining how we live together. Architect Ross Chapin is the visionary behind the concept of Pocket Neighborhoods — intimate clusters of homes gathered around shared green spaces that foster connection while still preserving privacy. His work has been called both revolutionary and timeless and has influenced how people are thinking about housing not just here in the Pacific Northwest, but across the world.
Ross’s book Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World has become a blueprint for architects, developers, and everyday dreamers who want more than just walls and roofs — they want communities where people actually know and support each other.
From award-winning projects on Whidbey Island to neighborhoods that have taken root across the U.S. and beyond, Ross has shown that small-scale design can have a large-scale impact.
In today’s conversation, we’ll dive into the origins of the pocket neighborhood idea, why human-scaled design matters now more than ever, and how these kinds of communities might be one answer to the challenges of affordability, sustainability, and connection in our modern world.
So whether you’re dreaming of a new home, wondering how neighborhoods can evolve, or just curious about how architecture shapes our daily lives — you’re going to want to lean in to this one.
 
Visit Ross Chapin's WEBSITE as well as FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM.
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY at @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM and on Facebook.
You may also get to know Magsy and subscribe for invites to her supper club, at https://withmagsy.com. 

Writing Policy to Poetry: Janice Cummings O’Mahony on Turning Clarity into Craft

Hello Listener,
You know those writers whose words literally shape how we live—public notices, policy briefs, the fine print that keeps a community running?
For years, Janice Cummings O’Mahony was one of them.
She wrote for government agencies and civic projects where every word had to be factual, clear, and airtight. And then she did something beautifully unpredictable—she crossed the line from policy to poetry.
Now her sentences don’t just inform; they breathe. At this point in my intro, you may be thinking “hmmm, don’t know if I really want to get into poetry on my way to work or while I’m cooking dinner”.  I suggest you keep listening. Janice does not wax poetic … hahaha see what I did there. Let me describe her this way ‘she’s not your average poet and she doesn’t care for Mary Oliver’, if you know who that is.
Her new collection, Raise Your Hand If You Hear My Voice, is part memory, part witness, and all heart. In this conversation, Janice shares what she carried over from her policy career—the discipline, the empathy, the precision—and how she learned to loosen her grip enough to let language sing. Her greatest thrill is when she sees a response that tells her “I get this and it speaks to me.”  She loves to write poems that make the reader chuckle and definitely adds a bit of snark. My kind of gal. Janice also has a deep appreciation for those in the military. She grew up with her father being in the Air Force, and participating in 3 wars. You will thoroughly enjoy her poem D-Day that she reads to us.
We’ll talk about what happens when a rule-book writer learns to write for resonance instead of regulation, and why her years of crafting government documents might just be the best training ground a poet could have. You can buy her book locally at Moonraker in Langley, Kingfishers in Coupeville and Village Books in Bellingham. It is also in Sno-Isle, Seattle and King County Libraries.
By the way, Janice also co-wrote ‘Whidbey Island: Reflections on People and the Land’ (which is a book on local land-use approaches).
Lets meet your local poetry maven, Janice.
Follow Janice on FACEBOOK and her website https://janiceomahony.com/.
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY at @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM and on Facebook.
You may also get to know Magsy and subscribe for invites to her supper club, at https://withmagsy.com. 

Aviator Robert DeLaurentis is Reimagining Flight on Whidbey Island

Today’s guest has truly taken life to new heights—literally. Robert DeLaurentis is not only the owner of DeLaurentis International Airport in Oak Harbor, but he’s also a record-setting aviator, accomplished author, and philanthropist.
He was the first solo pilot to fly a small, single-engine plane, around the world in 2015.The flight covered 26,000 nautical miles and 23 countries in 98 days for a fundraising campaign to support aviation programs. the global peace mission was called, "One Planet, One People, One Plane: Oneness for Humanity" in a modified 1983 aircraft named "Citizen of the World".
In 2019, Robert achieved what many thought impossible—flying from the South Pole all the way to the North Pole, a journey that tested endurance, courage, and imagination. He flew the longest distance in a twin-engine or single-engine turboprop—18.1 hours in flight—and became the first and fastest polar circumnavigation in the world in that type of airplane. That’s a mouth full but he did it and if you’d like to watch the documentary about this flight, head over to Amazon Prime, Apple TV or Youtube TV. I’ve watched and it is very interesting.  It is called Peace Pilot: To the Ends of the Earth and Beyond. If you head over to his website, https://flyingthrulife.com, you can also watch the documentary. While you are on his website, you will learn so much more about Robert, besides my interview today.
When he’s not in the cockpit, Robert is writing and sharing those stories with the world through his publishing company, Flying Thru Life, and supporting causes through the DeLaurentis Foundation, the charitable arm that channels his adventures into real-world impact.
Robert’s life is a rare mix of vision, adventure, and purpose—and today, we’ll explore not just the flights and the feats, but the mindset that fuels them, and how all of it connects back to Whidbey Island.
So, fasten your seatbelt, because this conversation is about to take you from Oak Harbor to the edges of the earth—and maybe even into your own next adventure.
FOLLOW ROBERT DELAURENTIS AT: INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK.
Follow LOCAL WHIDBEY WITH MAGSY at @LocalWhidbeyPodcast ... Link: INSTAGRAM and on Facebook.
You may also get to know Magsy and subscribe for invites to her supper club, at https://withmagsy.com.