Seacoast Stories

Troy Farkas

Details

Inspiring stories about the people & businesses of New Hampshire & Maine. This weekly interview show features in-depth conversations with local business owners, creatives, entrepreneurs, and more. Hosted by former ESPN & Spotify producer Troy Farkas.

Recent Episodes

OCT 12, 2026
EXCLUSIVE: Ohana Kitchen Owners to Open NEW Restaurant in Portsmouth's West End! Plus, the Unexpected Story Behind Ohana!
Ohana Kitchen is one of the most recognizable restaurant brands on the Seacoast. With locations in Portsmouth, Exeter, Kittery, and Dover, the fast-casual poke bowl joint is a fan favorite of many. And yet, despite the local chain's success, Ohana isn't enough for the husband-and-wife team of Jay and Stacy Krecklow. At least, not anymore. From the West End of Portsmouth, the Krecklows join host Troy Farkas to announce the breaking news surrounding their latest venture, giving all the exclusive tea about the motivation behind the new restaurant business, what differentiates it from Ohana, why now is the right time to go all in on the concept that's haunted them for a decade, and more. Plus, they tell the entire backstory of Ohana Kitchen, from Stacy's years of living in Maui while managing a Hawaii Flatbread location, to Jay's significant Portsmouth restaurant experience, and everything in between. Plus, a surprise at the very end of the episode! To learn more about Pearl Fish House, you can follow them on Instagram @pearlfishouse or visit their website pearlfishhouse.com. UPCOMING EVENTS: "Seacoast Stories LIVE feat. Victoria Arlen" at The Press Room on Tuesday, October 13! Pres. by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your tickets here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club CONCORD pres. by RC Conner: Wednesday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. Book your seat at the table here. Seacoast Stories Dinner Club HAMPTON pres. by RC Conner on Wednesday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. Book your seat at the table here. SPONSORS: SWTHZ Portsmouth: Lock in your founding membership today at Portsmouth's newest home for wellness.⁠⁠ RC Conner⁠:⁠⁠ The Seacoast's No. 1 home for kiln-dried firewood! ⁠⁠⁠Budget Blinds of the Seacoas⁠t: Blinds, shades, and shutters reasonably priced, professionally installed, and done right the first time. SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERS: 3 Bridges Yoga: 10% off 5-class packs, 10-class packs, and retail items purchased online with code SEACOASTSTORIES at the Seacoast's No. 1 yoga studio! Ohana Kitchen: Visit their locations in Portsmouth, Exeter, Dover, and Kittery! CHAPTERS: FOLLOW "Seacoast Stories" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube (00:00) Breaking Seacoast news! (02:22) Working in the restaurant business as a husband-and-wife pair (18:25) The joys of working in the restaurant business (23:37) Lock in your founding membership at ⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth (26:30) Tell stories around the fire with ⁠RC Conner⁠⁠⁠⁠ (27:46)
69 MIN
OCT 5, 2026
BREAKING NEWS on the Future of Flight House Gym, & Jay Collins' Quest to Build the Nation's TOP Fitness Brand!
Flight House Fitness is on a mission to revolutionize the fitness industry. And Jay Collins will not stop until that vision has come to life. Formerly the owner of MaxEdge Fitness, the 59-year-old Collins bet the house (literally) a few years ago when he built Flight House Gym in Rye, a massive facility combining group training classes and open gym space in ways the Seacoast had never seen before. Then, just three months ago, he launched Flight House into its next era when he opened an incredible 24,000 square foot facility in Charlestown, Mass., a gym that's attracting intense social media attention, celebrities, athletes and comparisons to the New England Patriots' own facilities. And after seeing the early success of Flight House in Charlestown, Collins is ready to bring that concept - which also features yoga and pilates classes and a recovery center - to the Seacoast, which he reveals for the very first time on today's show. From Flight House Gym in Charlestown, Collins joins host Troy Farkas for the third time to discuss the early success of the Charlestown location, what makes this gym one of the very best in the country, why he's already looking at bringing Flight House to other major U.S. cities, his growth as an entrepreneur, and how he's bringing the new-and-improved Flight House to the Seacoast. To get $50 off your own membership at Flight House Fitness, you can use the code "SEACOASTSTORIES" when checking out online. UPCOMING EVENTS: "Seacoast Stories LIVE feat. Victoria Arlen" at The Press Room on Tuesday, October 13! Pres. by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get your tickets here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠RC Conner:⁠⁠ The Seacoast's No. 1 home for kiln-dried firewood! ⁠⁠Budget Blinds of the Seacoas⁠⁠t: Blinds, shades, and shutters reasonably priced, professionally installed, and done right the first time. SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERS: Get 10% off any service with hair loss practitioner Amber Moulton at Studioh in Rye EPISODE CHAPTERS: Come to "Seacoast Stories Live" on 10/13 (00:00) Why he opened Flight House Gym in Boston (02:40) Evolution as an entrepreneur (09:42) The new location's early success (14:30) How Flight House is "redefining" the fitness industry (17:11) Borrowing MILLIONS of dollars to build in Boston (21:20) What motivates him at 59 years old (26:17) Heat your home with firewood from RC Conner (31:50) Custom blinds, shades & shutters with Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (32:53) The future of Flight House on the Seacoast (34:10) The competitive Portsmouth fitness scene (45:50) Plans to bring Flight House nationwide (51:16) Reflecting on his crazy entrepreneurial ride (55:00)
61 MIN
SEP 28, 2026
This Ogunquit Bar Started as a Gay Men’s Hangout. 40 Years Later, It's Everyone's "Happy Place"
Ogunquit has become a "three-season" town in recent years. The Front Porch is a big reason why. Started in 1980 exclusively as a gay men's bar, The Front Porch has become an all-inclusive restaurant, piano bar, and attraction for the half a million people who descend upon the tiny seaside town every summer. From the famous upstairs bar, longtime bartender Petey Tomes and current owner Scotty Vogel join host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging discussion about the history of the Porch, favorite stories from 45 years of the Porch, Ogunquit's quest to become attractive year-round, mind-blowing stats about the amount of espresso martinis they serve, how the restaurant is on the front lines of change in the industry, and more. To support the restaurant, you can follow them on Instagram @frontporchogt. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. Join our FREE online community, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Local Thread⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, here UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by ⁠⁠⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth⁠⁠⁠: We're back in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, October 7! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Seacoast Stories LIVE feat. Victoria Arlen" at The Press Room on Tuesday, October 13! Pres. by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth⁠. ⁠⁠⁠Get your tickets here.⁠⁠⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Iron Cactus⁠:⁠⁠ Kingston, N.H.'s home for yoga, infrared saunas, reiki, healthy eating, community and more. ⁠⁠SWTHZ: ⁠⁠Lock in your founding membership today at Portsmouth's newest home for wellness. ⁠Budget Blinds of the Seacoas⁠t: Blinds, shades, and shutters reasonably priced, professionally installed, and done right the first time. CHAPTERS: Come to Seacoast Stories LIVE! on 10/13 (00:00) The evolution of The Front Porch & Ogunquit (02:40) The Porch's beginnings as a gay men's bar (11:44) The magic of the piano bar (15:35) Stories from 45 years of the Porch (20:23) Secure your SWTHZ Portsmouth⁠⁠⁠⁠ founding membership here (24:52) Custom blinds, shades and shutters with Budget Blinds of the Seacoast (25:56) Why Vogel purchased The Front Porch (27:10) How Ogunquit is building toward the future (31:52) How the restaurant is leading the charge for change in the industry (39:52) Visit The Iron Cactus in Kingston, N.H.! (43:15) The Front Porch's most popular drink order (44:30) How special it is to work at the Porch (52:20)
58 MIN
SEP 21, 2026
Just Ask Nora! Beloved Seacoast Native on Buying Portsmouth City Lifestyle Magazine + Building a BIG Social Media Brand!
Local media has a bad reputation these days. Nora Happny McMorran wants to do something about it. The beloved former host of "Just Ask Nora," a social media series started in the late 2010s, Happny McMorran is now on a quest to turn Portsmouth City Lifestyle magazine into a local force for storytelling. A few months after acquiring the magazine, the longtime Portsmouth resident joins host Troy Farkas to discuss her decision, and how she plans on making the magazine a desirable read. Plus, the two talk about the origins of Just Ask Nora, her dad's career as THE go-to Portsmouth blacksmith, living in Norway during her 20s, meeting her now-husband at Carl's Meat Market, the strength of the Seacoast nonprofit scene, working for HAVEN, and more! To check out the digital version of the magazine, you can visit citylifestyle.com/portsmouth. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. Join our FREE online community, ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Local Thread⁠⁠⁠⁠, here UPCOMING EVENTS: Seacoast Stories PUB CRAWL in Portsmouth! Join us on Saturday, September 26 for an afternoon of connection and FUN. ⁠Get your tickets here.⁠ Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by ⁠⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth⁠⁠: We're back in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, October 7! ⁠⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠⁠ "Seacoast Stories LIVE feat. Victoria Arlen" at The Press Room on Tuesday, October 13! Pres. by ⁠⁠⁠⁠SWTHZ Portsmouth. ⁠⁠Get your tickets here.⁠⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Iron Cactus⁠:⁠ Kingston, N.H.'s home for yoga, infrared saunas, reiki, healthy eating, community and more. ⁠SWTHZ: ⁠Lock in your founding membership today at Portsmouth's newest home for wellness. ⁠RC Conner:⁠ The Seacoast's No. 1 home for kiln-dried firewood! Budget Blinds of the Seacoast: Blinds, shades, and shutters reasonably priced, professionally installed, and done right the first time. CHAPTERS: Growing up in Portsmouth (00:00) Living in Norway in her 20s (10:10) Working in Portland, Oregon (15:30) Supply your home with firewood from RC Conner (21:40) Get your mind, body, and spirit feeling better at SWTHZ in Portsmouth (22:50) Her popular social media series "Just Ask Nora" (23:55) 2026 social media advice (33:05) Working at HAVEN & the Seacoast nonprofit scene (35:25) Visit The Iron Cactus, a magical Seacoast location (39:15 Outfit your homes with professional blinds, shades & shutters (40:22) Her plans for taking Portsmouth City Lifestyle magazine to the next level (41:35)
51 MIN
SEP 14, 2026
Pre-Dead Social Club: The One Thing Every Human Has in Common (And NOBODY Wants to Discuss!)
We don't know how to talk about death. Longtime Seacoast resident Laura Cleminson wants to change that. At the Pre-Dead Social Club, Seacoast residents of all ages gather monthly for a "die-a-logue" at author talks, panel discussions, and Death Over Drinks, the club's signature event. Cleminson, who also delivered a TEDx Portsmouth talk in 2024, became fascinated with death a decade ago when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She noticed she had no tools for helping her mother through that time, a realization that eventually led her to become a death doula and the founder of the Pre-Dead Social Club. From the West End of Portsmouth, Cleminson joins host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging discussion about death - why we avoid it, her first experiences with it, how to better help our loved ones during that time, how the Pre-Dead Social Club has taken off in the last three years, and why it's welcomed nearly 1,200 people through its doors since then. To learn more about the Pre-Dead Social Club, visit predeadsocialclub.com. SUPPORT SEACOAST STORIES: Follow Seacoast Stories on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get our new episodes every week. Join our FREE online community, ⁠⁠⁠The Local Thread⁠⁠⁠, here UPCOMING EVENTS: Time 4 Joy hosted by I Got Bridged: Friday, September 18 at the Portsmouth Elks Lodge. Get your tickets here. Seacoast Stories PUB CRAWL in Portsmouth! Join us on Saturday, September 26 for an afternoon of connection and FUN. Get your tickets here. Seacoast Stories Dinner Club pres. by ⁠SWTHZ⁠: We're back in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, October 7! ⁠⁠Book your seat at the table here.⁠⁠ "Seacoast Stories LIVE feat. Victoria Arlen" at The Press Room on Tuesday, October 13! Presented by SWTHZ. ⁠Get your tickets here.⁠ SPONSORS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Iron Cactus⁠: Kingston, N.H.'s home for yoga, infrared saunas, reiki, healthy eating, community and more. SWTHZ: Lock in your founding membership today at Portsmouth's newest home for wellness. RC Conner: The Seacoast's No. 1 home for kiln-dried firewood! CHAPTERS: SS pub crawl on 9/26! (00:00) Laura's first brushes with death (02:30) Why don't we discuss death? (08:52) How her mom's death changed everything (11:45) Warm your home with firewood from RC Conner (21:15) Visit The Iron Cactus in Kingston, N.H. (22:34) Taking an extreme interest in the end-of-life space (23:55) Starting the Pre-Dead Social Club (31:00) What happens at Death Over Drinks (38:05) Lock in a founding membership at SWTHZ in Portsmouth (42:25) Troy's experience with the Pre-Dead Social Club (43:27) Turning this club into a business (53:15)
61 MIN