Justine Paradis

Once, a utopian experiment burned bright and brief in the Great North Woods.

Jess O'Hare loved living in New Hampshire. She moved to Concord for a job as an environmental organizer just after her college graduation and enjoyed the affordability, tight-knit community, and natural landscapes.

"Life in New Hampshire was mountain-biking, swimming, skiing, sometimes even before work. You'd just get it all in," she said. "And it was easy to do that."

But there was just this one thing. 

In a world dominated by human noise and industry, true quiet is hard to find. That is to our detriment, according to sound ecologist Bernie Krause. A musician and sound designer, Krause lives in northern California.

Krause is known for his work in soundscape ecology: the study of acoustic relationships within an ecosystem.

Do you ever wonder about the sounds we hear every day, by choice or by circumstance? How does the sound of our daily environments affect our lives and minds? One man seeks the quietest place in the White Mountains and we explore the art of the soundscape.  

Why is it so difficult for a woman of color to find a good haircut in New Hampshire?

Courtney Marshall returns to the show with a problem: where can she get her hair done? We investigate the hair scene for people of color in the Granite State. Plus, spoils from the annual Gilsum Rock Swap.

Courtney Marshall's Sunday Zumba class is standing-room only. Once a week, a group of all ages laugh, cheer, and dance together. 

This group brings style and goofy t-shirts to their workouts. They call it "Sunday Funday".

"You saw me get up and do a dance. I would never do that in any class that I take I would never do that," said Donna Garofono, a regular participant.

What if the gym were a joyful place?

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What exactly is going on with the design of New Hampshire's state flag... and why is it so very unsatisfying? We investigate.
 

Plus, we chase the spring bird migration and examine the legend of the casserole.

Kianny Antigua and Keiselim Montás, or Keysi, are both writers. They are both published and acclaimed — and they’re married.

Many famous artistic couples have tried to strike the balance of literature and love: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald, Georgia O’Keefe and Alfred Stieglitz, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera... but a lot of those relationships weren’t exactly even-keeled. 

A relationship between creative people must function both romantically and artistically.

It's not easy. How do Kianny and Keysi do it?

There are plenty of examples of literary and artistic couples: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald, George O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera... but some of these partnerships were famously fraught. A relationship that functions on many levels, both creative and romantic, brings the particular challenge of balancing family and art. 

In Lebanon, Keiselim Montás and Kianny Antigua are living that balancing act. They are both published, acclaimed writers... and they're married. How do they balance their family life with their literary practice?

As the legend goes, Sevilla Jones and Henry N. Sargent were courting when Sevilla's heart changed, and their romance took a tragic turn.

The pair died over 160 years ago, but the notorious gravestone in New Boston's cemetery still draws curious visitors.

But what really happened?

The cemetery in New Boston, New Hampshire sits at the top of a hill, what was once the center of town. Now it overlooks Main Street and the Piscataquog River valley.

But the cemetery - and one gravestone in particular - still draws visitors.

New Boston is a small town on the Piscataquog River, a half hour drive from Manchester. It’s famous for its annual Fourth of July firing of the town’s Molly Stark cannon, perhaps the oldest cannon in the world still in use.