So New England with Ian Brownhill

Ian Brownhill
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Comedy
  • Updated Weekly

Hosted by New England's own Ian Brownhill, we will be talking and interviewing with some of New England's best! From Social Media, to the Restaurant industry to pioneers of the New England region!

  1. #06 Business Spotlight — Josh Mackintosh of the No Fame Games: Reviving Celtic Strength Culture in New England

    6h ago

    #06 Business Spotlight — Josh Mackintosh of the No Fame Games: Reviving Celtic Strength Culture in New England

    What if picking up a stone could connect you to thousands of years of history? That's the idea behind the No Fame Games — and on June 13th, it's coming to New England. This week on the So New England Business Spotlight, Ian Brownhill and RJ sit down with Josh Mackintosh, the private chef and cultural steward behind the first-ever Celtic Strength World Championship in Milford, Massachusetts. Josh explains how stone lifting is like time travel, the story of the 370-pound famine stone freighted from Ireland to Boston, and how the games are reviving Irish collar-and-elbow wrestling — a sport once practiced by George Washington. The timing is serendipitous too: June 13th is the day Scotland returns to the World Cup at Gillette Stadium, 25 minutes away, with talk of 40,000 Scots in town. Josh walks through the whole festival, from Highland Games and a Guinness beer garden to live music, food trucks, kids' activities, and Sheena Melwani singing the national anthem. And he shares the real meaning behind the name — honoring the unsung heroes and ancestors who never got the spotlight. It's a family-friendly festival for everyone, Celtic heritage or not. Saturday, June 13th in Milford, MA. Tickets start at $15 for adults and $8 for kids. Use promo code SONEWENGLAND for 30 percent off at nofamegames.com. Follow the No Fame Games on Instagram @nofamegame and Facebook at No Fame Games. Follow So New England for new episodes every week — life's better in New England

    52 min
  2. #05 Business Spotlight — Brendan O'Donnell of Newport Craft: Brewing, Distilling & a Rhode Island Cultural Hub

    6d ago

    #05 Business Spotlight — Brendan O'Donnell of Newport Craft: Brewing, Distilling & a Rhode Island Cultural Hub

    Bob Dylan went electric on this property in 1965. Now it's home to one of only 275 craft "brew-stilleries" in America — and Brendan O'Donnell is the man running it. This week on the So New England Podcast Business Spotlight Series, Ian Brownhill and RJ go on-site at Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. to sit down with CEO Brendan O'Donnell. Brendan moved to Newport from New Jersey in 2014 after meeting his wife in New York City — and never left. Today he runs Newport Craft, Heritage Hospitality (which has acquired legacy Rhode Island restaurants like Brick Alley Pub), and Wally's Wieners, the three-location hot dog and martini concept his team has built from scratch. In this episode, Brendan shares the launch of "It's Called Soccer," Newport Craft's beer designed around the upcoming World Cup. He breaks down why he and his family acquire legacy Rhode Island restaurants instead of building new ones, the "cheat code" of New England restaurant succession, and how Newport Craft has become a venue for Jay Leno comedy shows, the Rogue Island Comedy Festival, and one of the most underrated event spaces in Rhode Island. He also shares the cultural history of the property where Bob Dylan went electric at the Newport Folk Festival, and why he believes a soccer field might be in the brewery's future. You'll also hear Brendan's thoughts on Rhode Island as a product-testing market for major brands, how Quonset Point has transformed regional economic opportunity, his honest take on whether New Jersey or Rhode Island has worse drivers, and his perfect New England day. You can find Brendan on LinkedIn as Brendan O'Donnell, and follow Newport Craft at newportcraft.com. Heritage Hospitality information is at heritagehospitality.com. Follow the So New England Podcast for new episodes every week. Don't forget — life's better in New England!

    43 min
  3. #04 Business Spotlight — Sandy Delli Carpini of Seasons Corner Market: The Family Story Behind a Rhode Island Brand

    May 26

    #04 Business Spotlight — Sandy Delli Carpini of Seasons Corner Market: The Family Story Behind a Rhode Island Brand

    "You're not gonna win the race. You've already won. You showed up." Those were the words Sandy Delli Carpini's father said to her at the starting line of her first 5K — and they've shaped everything she's done since. This week on the So New England Podcast Business Spotlight Series, Ian Brownhill sits down with Sandra "Sandy" Delli Carpini, the woman behind Seasons Corner Market — a Rhode Island-based gas station and convenience store chain with 80 locations across New England. Sandy shares the deeply personal story of her father, who came to America from Italy at age 12 (after being left in Italy as a toddler), became a mechanic in the Army, and opened his first gas station on Angel Street near Brown University. From those origins, Sandy and her family built one of New England's most recognizable convenience store brands. In this episode, we cover: The family origin story and the Italian-Rhode Island connectionWhy she launched the Corner Market Cafe (and how her father's daily 9 AM coffee ritual inspired it)The mom insight that made drive-thrus essential to the brandThe story behind Sunny the mascot (a squeezy toy, an uncle's nickname, and a grandfather's nickname)The Angels Giving Back Foundation honoring her late parentsHow her cashiers stayed in their stores for 48 hours during the historic 54-inch snowstormWhy she considers convenience store workers frontline workersWhy Southern gas station executives "back off" when they meet herHer Italian-American Yankees fan confession (sorry, Patriots — wait, she's still a Pats fan too) Her favorite season in New England (fall, obviously)What her perfect New England day looks likeYou can find Sandy on LinkedIn as Sandra Delli Carpini, and follow Seasons Corner Market at seasonscorner.com or on Instagram @SeasonsCornerMarket. Join Sandy at the Angels Giving Back 5K on June 6th at Citizens Bank in Johnston, Rhode Island. Sign up at angelsgivingback.com. The foundation supports the Alzheimer's Society, the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, and the Tomorrow Fund. Follow the So New England Podcast for new episodes every week. Don't forget — life's better in New England!

    41 min
  4. #03 Business Spotlight — Paul Critchley of New England Lean: How One Mainer Helps New England Businesses Thrive

    May 19

    #03 Business Spotlight — Paul Critchley of New England Lean: How One Mainer Helps New England Businesses Thrive

    "It's basically a way to make work suck less." That's how Paul Critchley explains his job at backyard barbecues — and after this episode, you'll understand exactly what he means. This week on the So New England Podcast Business Spotlight Series, Ian Brownhill and RJ sit down with Paul Critchley, owner of New England Lean Consulting — a regional firm helping manufacturers, machine shops, and small businesses across New England operate smarter, faster, and with less stress. Born and raised in Maine, Paul spent 20+ years in mechanical engineering and operations across automotive parts, medical devices, and military jet engines before going out on his own in 2015. Today, his firm works with everyone from two-brother machine shops to Brown University. In this episode, we cover: What lean consulting actually is (it's not Bar Rescue, but close)The seven wastes that quietly cost New England businesses millionsWhy workers sometimes ask "are we going out of business?" when business is actually boomingThe factory worker whose life genuinely changed because of operational improvementsThree questions every business owner should ask themselves right nowWhy communication is almost always the real bottleneckPaul's date night spent mentally auditing a bar's kitchen layout (yes, his wife was there)Why he can't shop at Stop & Shop or Home Depot anymoreThe box of wire from 1986 that an engineer refused to throw awayThe welder who threatened to zap him with a torch (and became his biggest advocate)His honest ranking of the six New England statesWhy he refuses to drive in Boston anymoreThe stranger who saved his life in the Financial District with one Boston-flavored sentenceYou can find Paul at NewEnglandLean.com, on LinkedIn as Paul Critchley, and on Instagram at @NewEnglandLeanGuy. Follow the So New England Podcast for new episodes every week. Don't forget — life's better in New England.

    1 hr
  5. #85 The Brits in Boston: A British Couple's Honest Take on New England, Lobster Rolls & Life in America

    May 12

    #85 The Brits in Boston: A British Couple's Honest Take on New England, Lobster Rolls & Life in America

    "New England is better than Old England" — a British couple just said it on the podcast, and we're never letting them take it back. This week on the So New England Podcast, host Ian Brownhill and co-host RJ welcome Juliette and Ollie — aka The Brits in Boston — for a deep, funny, and surprisingly emotional conversation about what it's like to move from East London to the United States and fall in love with New England in the process. Two and a half years into their American life, the couple shares their honest perspective on what makes Boston, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts unlike anywhere else on earth. In this episode, we cover: How a childhood Celtics jersey foreshadowed Ollie's move to BostonWhy Juliette cried walking through Beacon Hill for the first timeA defense of British food (and the truth about Indian cuisine in the UK)Why American Chinese food got them 5 million views on TikTokThe differences between London, Boston, and New York CityThe stranger who gave them his lake house in Rangeley, MaineCape Cod vs. coastal Maine — and the verdict from a British couplePremier League vs. Boston sports culture (and the term "geezer bird")Lobster roll: hot butter or cold mayo? A real married-couple debateTheir honest ranking of all six New England statesThe most overrated and most underrated things about New EnglandSaying "Pahk the cah in Hahvahd Yahd" in a British accentYou can find Juliette and Ollie at @juliet.amy_ on Instagram and TikTok, and on YouTube as Brits in Boston. Follow the So New England Podcast for new episodes every week. Don't forget — life's better in New England.

    1h 24m
  6. The Ultimate New England Travel Guide with Gianna aka New England Guidebook | So New England #84

    May 5

    The Ultimate New England Travel Guide with Gianna aka New England Guidebook | So New England #84

    Gianna, aka New England Guidebook, joins the pod to talk all things New England travel, food, hidden gems, and local adventures. From Acadia and Southwest Harbor to Bristol, Vermont, Newport, Providence, Newburyport, Cambridge, and the White Mountains, Gianna shares her favorite places to visit across the region. The crew also gets into New England state rankings, why Maine might have it all, why Connecticut pizza deserves respect, why Mass takes some heat, and how creators balance hyping up local businesses while protecting nature.

    57 min
  7. The REAL Vermont Experience 🍁 Hidden Gems, Local Secrets & Travel Like A Local w/ Erin Torres | So New England #83

    Apr 28

    The REAL Vermont Experience 🍁 Hidden Gems, Local Secrets & Travel Like A Local w/ Erin Torres | So New England #83

    Vermont isn’t just foliage and maple syrup… 🍁 On this episode of the So New England Podcast, we sit down with Erin Torres from Travel Like A Local Vermont to break down what Vermont is REALLY like — from hidden gems and backroad adventures to small-town culture, local food, and the lifestyle that keeps people coming back. We get into: The most underrated things to do in VermontWhy “just drive” might be the best travel adviceThe truth about Vermont tourism and small businessesCreamies, cheese, and local food cultureLife as a Vermont realtor and content creatorWhat makes Vermont different from the rest of New EnglandIf you’ve ever thought about visiting Vermont… or think you already understand it — this episode might change your mind.

    1h 6m
  8. How Stoop Dating Is Changing Modern Dating (ft. Julz Radley) | So New England #82

    Apr 14

    How Stoop Dating Is Changing Modern Dating (ft. Julz Radley) | So New England #82

    Dating today feels like a game—and not a fun one. Apps, ghosting, unrealistic expectations… it’s no wonder people are frustrated. In this episode, we sit down with the creator of Stoop Dating, a viral New England dating experience bringing real, face-to-face connection back into the spotlight. We dive into why dating apps are failing, how social media has changed relationships, and what it actually takes to find something real in today’s world. If you’ve ever thought “dating sucks right now”… you’re not alone.

    1h 10m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
22 Ratings

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Hosted by New England's own Ian Brownhill, we will be talking and interviewing with some of New England's best! From Social Media, to the Restaurant industry to pioneers of the New England region!

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