Why would someone come to Whidbey Island to disappear? Novelist T Kira Māhealani Madden talks about refuge, memory, and the island at the center of her new novel 'Whidbey'.

Today on Local Whidbey Podcast, I’m joined by T Kira Māhealani Madden, an award-winning writer whose highly anticipated new novel Whidbey is set right here on Whidbey Island.

T Kira first came to national attention with her debut memoir, 'Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls', a fearless and lyrical coming-of-age story that became a New York Times Editors’ Choice and was a finalist for both the National Book Critics Circle John Leonard Prize and the Lambda Literary Award. The book established her as one of the most compelling literary voices of her generation, praised for writing that is both deeply personal and unflinchingly honest.

Beyond her books, T Kira is also the founding editor of the literary journal No Tokens, has received fellowships from renowned writers’ residencies including MacDowell, Tin House, and Hedgebrook, and currently teaches creative writing and Indigenous literatures at Hamilton College.

In her new novel 'Whidbey', one of the most anticipated literary releases of the year, Madden turns to fiction but continues exploring questions of memory, trauma, and survival. The story begins with a woman arriving on Whidbey Island seeking distance from her childhood assaulter. She retreats to a quiet cabin, trying to disappear into the rhythms of island life — the forests, the shoreline, the animals — while confronting the resurfacing presence of the man who abused her as a child and has reentered her life in adulthood.

Rather than a bustling portrait of island life, 'Whidbey' uses the island as a place of refuge and reckoning — a landscape where solitude, nature, and distance give space for a character to wrestle with what she’s been carrying for years.

The book launched yesterday, March 10th — and with the author visiting the island on March 19th at Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville — it felt like the perfect time to talk about why this particular place became the setting for such a powerful story.

T Kira, welcome to the Local Whidbey Podcast.

Follow T Kira Madden on INSTAGRAM, at her WEBSITE and preferably, buy the book at Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville.

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.

Local Whidbey Podcast is sponsored by THE MEDIA INSIDERS' AI DESK.

Meg Olson is one of those people who make a town feel like home.

If you’ve ever walked into Kingfisher Bookstore and felt immediately welcomed, challenged, entertained, or gently told what you should be reading—there’s a good chance you’ve met Meg Olson.

Meg is the owner of Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville, and she is funny, outspoken, wildly knowledgeable, and absolutely unafraid to jump in and help—whether that means finding the perfect book, rallying behind a cause, or showing up for her community when it counts.

Kingfisher isn’t just a bookstore—it’s a place for ideas, conversations, author events, and the occasional opinion, and Meg has been at the center of all of it. She’s helped shape the literary life of Whidbey Island while proving that an independent bookstore can be smart, bold, welcoming, and deeply human all at the same time.

Today, we’re talking about books, business, community, and what it really takes to run an independent bookstore with heart, humor, and a very strong point of view.

If you have been listening to me for a while, you know I adored Meg! She is my kind of human.

Subscribe to the Kingfisher Newsletter and FOLLOW on INSTAGRAM & 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.

Local Whidbey Podcast is sponsored by THE MEDIA INSIDERS' AI DESK.

If you’ve ever thought mead was just a medieval novelty — or something overly sweet — today’s conversation might completely change your mind.

On Whidbey Island, there’s a meadery that’s quietly redefining what mead can be by blending honey, botanicals, fermentation science, and a deep respect for pollinators and place.

Hierophant Meadery in Freeland is owned by Jeremy Kyncl and Michelle Scandalis — two herbalists-turned-mead makers who believe that flavor tells the story of an entire ecosystem. From locally sourced honey to herbs grown on their own land, their work is rooted in sustainability, education, and curiosity.

Today, we’re talking about how they found their way to mead, what it means to build a values-driven business on Whidbey Island, how bees and botanicals shape everything they do — and where they hope to see this island go in the next five to ten years.

This is a conversation about craft, community, and paying attention to the small things that make a place special. I’m excited to share it with you.

Jeremy Kyncl and Michelle Scandalis from Hierophant Meadery — welcome to the show.

Shop online with Hierophant Meadery and check out their upcoming events.

https://hierophantmeadery.com/

FOLLOW: FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM

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.

Local Whidbey Podcast is sponsored by THE MEDIA INSIDERS' AI DESK.

Today on the Local Whidbey Podcast we are honored to have Alanah Lawrason, known in these parts as the “Farm-Her” of Foggy Hill Farm. Nestled on Whidbey Island, Foggy Hill is a two-acre vegetable and cut-flower farm that’s as much about growing community as it is about growing food. Alanah has been farming in some capacity for about eight years — including roughly five years here on Whidbey — learning everywhere from Houston non-profit gardens to AmeriCorps in Arkansas to local farms like Willowood and Foxtail before striking out on her own.

Her mission? To grow nutritious, chemical-free food and joy-bringing flowers. To help people reconnect with where their food comes from. To build slowly, with intention, and in community.

We’ll dig into how she does all that: the challenges, the triumphs, what it means to farm here on Whidbey, and how we all can support our local food systems. Get ready to hear from someone whose hands are in the soil, whose heart is in the flowers, and whose vision is rooted in growth — both literal and community-wide.

Let’s chat with Alanah!

Follow FOGGY HILL FARM on INSTAGRAM.

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.

Local Whidbey Podcast is sponsored by THE MEDIA INSIDERS' AI DESK.

Today on Local Whidbey, we’re turning the microphone around — and in the best possible way. I’ve invited someone I admire, Tiffany Scribner, Program Manager for Leadership Whidbey, to step in as our guest host.

If you know Tiffany, you know she has a gift for guiding conversations, drawing out people’s stories, and helping leaders understand not just what they do, but why they do it. Her work with Leadership Whidbey puts her at the center of community development, mentorship, and personal growth on the island — which makes her the perfect person to turn the tables and interview me today.

I couldn’t think of anyone better to help navigate my own story, my work, and the winding road that led me to Whidbey Island. So for this episode, Tiffany is taking the lead.

Tiffany Scribner: Our guest is someone you already know — the voice, the storyteller, the connector, and the creative force behind this very podcast. Magsy is a communication strategist, entrepreneur, supper-club host, and community builder whose journey winds from corporate tech to creative entrepreneurship to the heart of Whidbey Island.

Her career began as a systems engineer for EDS at Enron, where she learned how complex systems — and people — really work.

After moving to Spokane, WA, she launched Nosey Parker, a character brand that helped local retailers embrace digital communication long before “influencers” existed. Over the years, she’s supported more than 220 retailers, worked with self-employed, startups, and founders, and even helped entrepreneurs craft the pitch decks that opened doors to real investment. In Spokane, she also was part of team that brought ‘Start Up Spokane’ to wanna-be founders as a mentor. She would love to bring that here to the Island as well.

She later became Director of Digital Marketing for eWomenNetwork in Dallas, empowering women entrepreneurs across the country.

Since moving to Whidbey during Covid, Magsy has become a meaningful part of the island’s landscape — hosting nearly 900 people in her home through the With Magsy Supper Club and sharing the stories of “audacious islanders” on this very show.

Magsy has spent her life helping other people share their voices — entrepreneurs, creatives, neighbors, and now the people of Whidbey Island.

Today, we get to hear her story.

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.

PODCAST SPONSORED BY THE MEDIA INSIDER'S 'THE AI DESK'.

There’s something I love about talking with people who’ve chosen Whidbey Island — people who didn’t just land here by accident but saw something in this place worth rooting into.

My guest today, Hannah Andersen, is one of those people. She’s the Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Whidbey Island Conservation District, and part of a younger generation that’s quietly shaping the island’s future through stewardship, creativity, and community work.

Hannah first came to Whidbey as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Coupeville Farm to School, teaching kids where their food comes from and helping connect classrooms to the gardens and farms around them. Those two years left her deeply connected to the land, the people, and the rhythms of island life.

Now, through her role at the Conservation District, she’s helping residents of all ages understand how their daily choices — from gardening to shoreline care — tie into the larger health of our ecosystems. You’ll find her leading workshops, organizing events like Orca Recovery Day, and building bridges between science, education, and community.

What makes Hannah’s story so interesting to me is that she represents a perspective we don’t always hear on Whidbey — the voice of a young professional who’s building a life here now, in real time. On an island often known for retirees and second homes, she’s asking: what would it take for more young people to see a future here?

In this conversation, we’ll talk about what drew her to stay, the projects that light her up, and how she sees Whidbey growing — not just in numbers, but in awareness and care.

I think you’ll find Hannah’s perspective refreshing and hopeful — a reminder that stewardship isn’t just about protecting land and water but about belonging to a place and helping it thrive for generations to come.

Here’s my conversation with Hannah Andersen, on The Local Whidbey Podcast.

CHECK OUT:

CONSERVATION DISTRICT WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

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.

PODCAST SPONSORED BY THE MEDIA INSIDER'S 'THE AI DESK'.

Today on Local Whidbey with Magsy, we’re turning up the heat — literally — with one of the most entertaining chefs to ever land in the Pacific Northwest kitchen scene. You might remember him from The Next Food Network Star back in the day, but these days you’ll find him cooking up something even better — laughter, learning, and a whole lot of flavor — right here in the PNW.

Chef Tommy Grella has built a devoted following on YouTube with Home Cookin’: Chef Inspired Events, where he and his partner, the hilarious and insightful Maggie, turn everyday meals into chef-level experiences for real home cooks. Together, they teach, tease, and taste their way through approachable recipes — all while proving that cooking should never be intimidating, just inspired.

Tommy brings Boston heart, East Coast humor, and Pacific Northwest soul to his cooking — and when he’s not filming, he’s a private chef, fills pantries for those who live on and vacation on the Islands, cooks for those on vacation in our areas, and small events for folks all over the PNW Islands.

There are many reasons I chose Tommy to interview for this podcast. I’ve been chatting with him for several years now on Instagram DM’s regarding recipes, my Supper Club and just making a few of his stand outs, then posting them. He gets a real kick out of that!

Tommy and Maggy love Whidbey Island, as well as Anacortes. They actually serve all the Islands and shop here frequently as well. I can’t wait for you to meet this dynamic duo who make “home cooking” feel like a party with friends.

Let’s chat with Tommy and Maggie.

CHECK OUT TOMMY at HOME COOKIN' on INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE or 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.

PODCAST SPONSORED BY THE MEDIA INSIDER'S 'THE AI DESK'.

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.