Westwood Living Podcast Network

Tom Leyden
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Tom Leyden interviews local business owners and residents to learn more about their journeys and missions. Join the Westwood Living Business Network and start connecting in a meaningful way with others in Westwood and beyond.

  1. 6d ago

    Building Wealth, Financial Freedom & Smarter Money Moves | Ariel Dangelo

    What does it really take to build wealth, achieve financial independence, and make smarter decisions with your money? On Episode 201 of the Westwood Living Podcast, host Tom Leyden sits down with Ariel Dangelo, founder and lead advisor at Nightingale Wealth Solutions and Westwood Living's Expert Contributor in Financial Advising, for a fascinating conversation about money, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and planning for the unexpected. Ariel shares the remarkable evolution of Nightingale Wealth Solutions, which has grown into an independently registered investment advisory firm, along with the personal experiences that have shaped her approach to helping others build and protect their wealth. We cover plenty of ground, including: • The Intentionally Wealthy Woman: Ariel's new book and why financial education and independence are especially important for women. • The Growth of Nightingale Wealth Solutions: Building a team, becoming an independent RIA, and setting ambitious goals for the future. • Financial Planning for the Unexpected: How a devastating horseback riding accident reinforced Ariel's belief in emergency funds, estate planning, and preparing for life's uncertainties. • Introducing Helo: Ariel's innovative new financial technology platform designed to help people manage their cash flow, automate savings, and live within their means. • Smarter Investing and Tax Strategies: Understanding asset allocation, asset location, and tax-loss harvesting, and why keeping more of what you earn can make an enormous difference. • The Power of Planning: Why the financial decisions you make today can dramatically influence your future. Whether you're a business owner, a high-income professional, planning for retirement, or simply looking to take greater control of your financial future, Ariel offers valuable perspective on the importance of intentional financial planning. Learn more about Nightingale Wealth Solutions and Ariel Dangelo: https://www.nwsadvisors.com Learn more about Helo and join the launch waitlist: https://www.gohelo.com Explore more community stories, interviews, and expert advice: https://www.westwood-living.com #WestwoodLiving #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #FinancialFreedom

    Building Wealth, Financial Freedom & Smarter Money Moves | Ariel Dangelo

  2. 6d ago

    Katie Walsh’s Take Me Anywhere: Romance, Travel & Chasing a Dream | Episode 200

    “Mom, you still can be.” That encouragement from her daughter helped Katie Walsh turn a longtime dream of becoming an author into two published novels. For the 200th episode of the Westwood Living Podcast, Tom Leyden welcomes the Westwood author to discuss her newest book, Take Me Anywhere, a travel romance inspired by her own adventures around the world. Katie shares how she balances writing with a full-time career in marketing and communications, what it takes to self-publish and why strong female friendships are at the heart of her stories. We also discuss her debut novel, Follow You Down, and the fun, sometimes awkward experience of having people you know read what’s inside your imagination. Plus, we catch up on life in Islington and the local businesses helping Katie connect with readers. MEET KATIE AT DECOR & MORE November 10 | 5–7 p.m. | Westwood Stop by for a book signing, meet Katie and get a head start on holiday shopping. Both Take Me Anywhere and Follow You Down will be available. If someone offered you a first-class trip anywhere in the world, where would you go? Tell us in the comments! Thanks for being part of 200 episodes of local stories and conversations. Subscribe to the Westwood Living Podcast and share this episode with a book lover or aspiring author. #WestwoodLiving #KatieWalsh #TakeMeAnywhere #AuthorInterview #WestwoodMA

    Katie Walsh’s Take Me Anywhere: Romance, Travel & Chasing a Dream | Episode 200

  3. Oct 28

    Westwood Stage's "The Birds": Ancient Comedy With A Modern Twist

    What happens when an ancient Greek comedy meets the world of 1968? On this episode of the Westwood Living Podcast, host Tom Leyden sits down with Westwood High School seniors Tess Perry, Lilith Brooks and Cathy Lu for a fun, behind-the-scenes conversation about Westwood Stage's upcoming production of The Birds, written by Aristophanes. The three performers discuss the challenges of mastering ancient language and Greek mythology, the creative decision to reimagine the story in 1968, and the incredible work going into the production's set and costumes. They also share their personal journeys into theater, what makes the Westwood Stage community so special, and how they're managing rehearsals, college applications and everything else that comes with senior year. At the heart of The Birds is a message of peace, hope and the possibility of a better future. 🎭 COME SEE THE BIRDS! 📍 Westwood High School Auditorium 📅 Thursday, November 5 | 7:30 PM 📅 Saturday, November 7 | 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM 🎟️ Tickets: https://westwoodstage.com If you've ever been part of a school theater production, what was your favorite show? Tell us in the comments! 👍 Like this episode, share it with a Westwood Stage supporter and subscribe to Westwood Living for more conversations celebrating the people and stories that make our community special. #WestwoodStage #WestwoodLiving #TheBirds #WestwoodHighSchool #StudentTheater

    Westwood Stage's "The Birds": Ancient Comedy With A Modern Twist

  4. Oct 27

    Tara Shuman & Josh Perrotton: Wildewood Education

    What happens when a teenager feels lost in a large classroom? And what could change with more individual attention, meaningful relationships and high expectations backed by real support? Tara Shuman and Josh Perrotton of Wildewood Education join Tom Leyden on the Westwood Living Podcast to discuss helping students build confidence, independence and the skills to tackle difficult challenges. They also share the vision behind Wildewood Secondary School, a new school planned for the 2027–28 academic year. Tara, Westwood Living’s Expert Contributor in Tutoring and Education, and Josh explain why their work goes beyond improving the next test score. Their goal is to help students learn how to learn, advocate for themselves and believe in what they can accomplish. In this conversation: - Why trust comes before progress when working with teenagers - How to challenge students without leaving them overwhelmed - What parents should look for in tutoring and academic support - Why Wildewood is expanding from tutoring into a secondary school - What families should know about the school’s plans and application process Whether your child is thriving, struggling or searching for a different educational setting, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at what meaningful support can look like. What helped your teenager feel more confident at school? Share your experience in the comments, and pass this episode along to a parent who might find it helpful. Learn more: https://www.wildewoodsecondaryschool.org Subscribe for more Westwood Living conversations with the people serving our community. #WestwoodLiving #WildewoodEducation #Education

    Tara Shuman & Josh Perrotton: Wildewood Education

  5. Oct 5

    Keeping the Big Picture in Focus | Aaron Buczek of North Atlantic Investment Partners

    What does a good financial advisor really provide? For Aaron Buczek of North Atlantic Investment Partners, an independent branch affiliated with Raymond James, it goes well beyond investments. It’s about helping clients understand complicated financial decisions, balancing competing priorities and, perhaps most importantly, keeping emotion from derailing a long-term plan. Aaron joins Tom Leyden for the latest edition of The Westwood Living Podcast, nearly five years after the two first met when Aaron became one of Tom’s very first calls as he launched Westwood Living. They revisit that first meeting and talk about the paths their businesses have taken since, including Aaron’s move to North Atlantic Investment Partners in Newton Lower Falls and why he believes the change has created new opportunities for both him and his clients. Aaron also discusses his philosophy of financial advising and why he considers himself something of a translator, taking the often complicated language of investments, taxes and estate planning and turning it into information his clients can actually understand. For young families, that can mean balancing today's expenses with college savings, retirement and everything else coming down the road. For clients approaching or already in retirement, the priorities may be different, but Aaron says the fundamental principle remains the same: understand where you're trying to go and don't allow short-term events to derail a long-term plan. Tom and Aaron also discuss their work together with the Rotary Club of Westwood, Aaron's role as president, the importance of giving back to the community and the relationships that have grown from their involvement. And be sure to stick around for the story behind the crane in the North Atlantic Investment Partners logo. It provides a pretty compelling metaphor for the role Aaron believes a financial advisor should play in a client's life. Learn more about Aaron and North Atlantic Investment Partners: http://www.northatlanticinvestmentpartners.com In this episode: • Why Aaron made the move to North Atlantic Investment Partners • Making complicated financial topics easier to understand • Why emotion can be an investor's biggest enemy • Financial planning for young families • Balancing today's needs with tomorrow's goals • Why having a long-term plan matters during volatile markets • Aaron's involvement with the Rotary Club of Westwood • The story and meaning behind North Atlantic's crane logo The Westwood Living Podcast tells the stories of the people, businesses and organizations that make our community special.

    Keeping the Big Picture in Focus | Aaron Buczek of North Atlantic Investment Partners

  6. Sep 15

    You Aspire, We Listen | Trevor Laubenstein's Collaborative Approach to Architecture

    What makes great architecture work? For Trevor Laubenstein of WestWood Architecture, it starts with creativity, problem-solving and, most importantly, listening to the client. On this edition of the Westwood Living Podcast, Tom Leyden sits down with Trevor at The Muffin House to talk about his journey from an art-loving student to Cornell University, a career designing major commercial projects, a transition into high-end residential architecture and, ultimately, the decision to launch WestWood Architecture. Trevor shares the story behind the transformation of his own Westwood home, which was recently featured in Westwood Living’s Home & Garden section, and explains how an architect thinks about a home from both the outside in and the inside out. The conversation also explores the long road to becoming a licensed architect, Trevor’s years working on large-scale commercial projects, his shift toward residential design, and the leap of faith required to start his own firm. One of Trevor’s core beliefs is simple: there’s an architect for everyone. Whether the project is a bathroom renovation, an addition, a new home or a commercial space, he believes having an experienced professional who listens, asks the right questions and advocates for the client can make a significant difference. Trevor also talks about navigating the relationship between architect and client, why inspiration photos don’t always tell the whole story, and how good design often comes from discovering what a client truly wants rather than simply reproducing something they’ve already seen. It’s an inside look at the art, science and communication behind architecture, and at the philosophy Trevor is bringing to WestWood Architecture. 🎙️ The Westwood Living Podcast Hosted by Tom Leyden Featuring Trevor Laubenstein, WestWood Architecture Subscribe for more conversations with the people, businesses and organizations that make our community special.

    You Aspire, We Listen | Trevor Laubenstein's Collaborative Approach to Architecture

  7. Sep 12

    Let’s Find Jeff a Kidney | Kristi Noone’s Remarkable Story of Family & Hope

    Jeff needs a kidney. His sister Kristi Noone is determined to help him find one. Kristi joins Tom Leyden on the Westwood Living Podcast to share the remarkable story behind Westwood Living’s September cover feature, “A Chain of Hope,” and to explain why her family's search for a kidney donor has become so urgent. More than a decade ago, Jeff’s kidney disease progressed to the point that he needed a transplant. Family members and friends were tested, but none was a compatible match. Kristi, however, was healthy enough to donate. Through the National Kidney Registry, Kristi became part of an extraordinary paired kidney donation chain. She donated one of her kidneys to another recipient, and Jeff received a compatible kidney from another donor. What Kristi initially imagined might be a simple exchange ultimately became a nationwide chain involving 35 donor-recipient pairs, 70 people and approximately 25 hospitals. The transplant gave Jeff nine good years. But, as Kristi explains, a kidney transplant is a treatment, not a cure. Jeff’s transplanted kidney eventually began failing, and he has now been back on dialysis for approximately two years, three days a week. Kristi wishes she could donate again. “I don’t have any more extras.” So now she's doing everything she can to find someone who can help her brother. Jeff is 48, lives in Quincy and is a childhood cancer survivor. In a remarkable full-circle chapter of his life, he now works at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the place that helped save his life as a child. Despite dialysis and everything he is facing, he continues to work and move forward. “He’s definitely the strongest person I know,” Kristi says. In this conversation, Kristi explains how kidney donation works, what life has been like for her after donating, how paired donation can help when family members aren't compatible, and why someone interested in helping Jeff can confidentially learn more without making an immediate commitment. Most importantly, you do NOT have to live in Massachusetts to potentially help. Could you, or someone you know, be the person Jeff is looking for? LEARN MORE ABOUT DONATING: nkr.org/WAF939 Follow “Let’s Find Jeff a Kidney” on Facebook and Instagram. And please SHARE this episode. The person who can help Jeff could be anywhere in the country, and reaching that person starts by spreading the word. 🎙️ Westwood Living Podcast 🎤 Hosted by Tom Leyden 📖 Kristi Noone is featured on the cover of the September 2026 edition of Westwood Living.

    Let’s Find Jeff a Kidney | Kristi Noone’s Remarkable Story of Family & Hope

  8. Sep 5

    Nature for All, Forever: Hale Education Celebrates a Generational Conservation Achievement

    More than 1,100 acres of Hale Education land are now permanently protected, marking the culmination of years of work and what Executive Director Dr. Aaron Morehouse calls a “generational achievement.” In this conversation with Westwood Living’s Tom Leyden, Morehouse explains what it took to complete Hale’s historic conservation restrictions, why the process was so complex, and how Hale worked to protect not only the ecological importance of the land, but also something equally central to its mission: keeping people connected to it. From hiking, mountain biking and swimming at South Beach to outdoor education programs serving more than 200 schools and 16,000 participants, Hale has become an extraordinary resource for Westwood and the Greater Boston region. “If the land is healing the people, then we also need to do what we need to do to heal the land,” Morehouse says. Now it’s time to celebrate. 🌲 Hale’s Fall Equinox Celebration 📅 September 24, 2026 📍 Cat Rock Field at Hale Education 🎶 Live music, food, community and a celebration of everyone who helped make this historic accomplishment possible. Morehouse also talks about what he learned through the lengthy conservation process, Hale’s unique commitment to active access and experiential education, and why the phrase “Nature for All, Forever” perfectly captures what this moment means. 🎟️ Space for the Fall Equinox Celebration is limited. Visit Hale Education’s website at www.hale.education for event and ticket information.

    Nature for All, Forever: Hale Education Celebrates a Generational Conservation Achievement
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Tom Leyden interviews local business owners and residents to learn more about their journeys and missions. Join the Westwood Living Business Network and start connecting in a meaningful way with others in Westwood and beyond.

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