Sounds of Health

Live from Hamden Town Center Park, this special episode kicks off our all-day coverage of Hamden Fest 2025—an annual celebration of local businesses, nonprofits, and changemakers who make Hamden thrive. Despite the drizzle, the energy was electric as we welcomed guests from Linens of Love, The Nest School, Haven of Hope, Quinnipiac University, and more.

Join hosts Jason Carubia and Dave MacNiven as they spotlight stories of servic...

In this heart-centered episode, Dave MacNiven sits down with Steve Terreri, Vice President and Executive Director of the Paul Dostie KARE Foundation, to share a story that proves kindness reverberates far beyond the moment it’s given. Created in memory of master mechanic and community pillar Paul Dostie, the foundation has turned grief into action—raising over $300,000 to help families facing glioblastoma and hypertrophic cardiom...

What started as a folder labeled Gymspiration on Nate McKenzie’s phone—filled with 20 years of notes and snapshots from climbing gyms—has transformed into Ascent New Haven, a vibrant hub for movement, wellness, and human connection. In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave MacNiven talks with Nate about his journey from retail leadership to outdoor guide, and ultimately to creating one of Connecticut’s most inclusive and inn...

Featuring Dr. Carolyn Gross & Dr. Jennifer Lansdowne of CareFur Veterinarians

This week on Sounds of Health, Dr. Carolyn Gross and Dr. Jennifer Lansdowne share the story behind CareFur Veterinarians, a woman-led clinic in Madison, CT that’s redefining what it means to care — for pets, their people, and the broader community.

From Bennifer-inspired branding to thoughtfully ...

Episode 50: See Ability — A Dementia Positive Philosophy Guests: Erica DeFrancesco & Stella | LiveWell

In this heartfelt and hopeful episode, host Dave MacNiven sits down with Erica DeFrancesco, Director of Community Education at LiveWell, and Stella, a volunteer living with early-onset Alzheimer’s, to share how dignity, purpose, and community can thrive beyond diagnosis.

Together, they explore LiveWell’s “dementia positive” p...

Episode 49 – Keep Kids in the Game, Keep the Fields Alive Guest: Rick Stockfield, Founder & President, 3 Up 3 Down Organization, Inc.

In this inspiring episode of Sounds of Health, host David MacNiven sits down with Rick Stockfield, the passionate founder of 3 Up 3 Down Organization, Inc.—a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth baseball, empowering children with developmental disabilities, and building inclusive sports space...

In this heartfelt and often humorous episode, host Dave MacNiven welcomes Chris Walsh, owner of West Haven’s iconic Duffy’s Tavern, for a rich conversation about family legacy, resilience, and running a restaurant that feels like home.

Chris shares his journey from washing dishes at 13 to taking the reins from his father—without telling anyone at first—and how Duffy’s survived recessions, shutdowns, and 1,500 pounds of corned bee...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host David MacNiven sits down with Traci O’Brien and Christine Brown, the passionate co-founders of Senior Promises, an organization dedicated to granting wishes to underprivileged seniors.

From small comforts to life-changing experiences, Traci and Christine share the incredible impact of fulfilling wishes—from TVs and cowboy boots to community gardens. They discuss the origins of Senior Prom...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave MacNiven sits down with Kelley McShane, CEO of Granny Squibb’s Organic Iced Tea, a business leader, philanthropist, and amateur athlete. Kelley shares her journey from mathematics and psychology to entrepreneurship, running a thriving beverage brand with a social impact—each flavor supporting a nonprofit cause.

But that’s not all—Kelley is also on a record-breaking mission to swim bet...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave MacNiven welcomes Kathleen Schomaker, Executive Director of Gray is Green, and Dan Camenga, Executive Director of Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers. Together, they explore how connecting with nature, community care, and sustainability can transform lives—especially for older adults looking to embrace elderhood with purpose.

Kathleen shares how the first image of Earth from space sparke...

In this episode, Exercise is the Answer, host David MacNiven sits down with Dr. Kathy Papayani-Szabo, a trained physical therapist and owner of Body Balance Physical Therapy & Wellness, to explore the profound impact of movement on health and recovery.

From overcoming personal health challenges to running marathons and launching her own practice, Kathy shares her journey and expertise in orthopedic therapy, fall prevention, an...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave McNiven welcomes Natalie Wisdom, a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of two private practices: Divine Resilience Psychotherapy in Connecticut and Pieces of Wisdom in New York. Natalie shares her inspiring journey from studying criminal justice to discovering her true passion for mental health, and how she built two successful therapy practices from the ground up.

Natalie...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, we sit down with Ana Uva, board-certified family nurse practitioner and founder of Pulse IV Therapy. Ana shares her inspiring journey from working in the ICU to pioneering a business focused on preventative wellness. We dive into the science behind IV therapy, hormone optimization, and heavy metal detoxification—plus, how she managed to open multiple locations while raising a newborn! Whether yo...

In this episode of Sounds of Health, host Dave MacNiven sits down with Dr. Kunal Domakonda, a board-certified cardiologist and the owner of the Heart Wellness Group, LLC. They dive into the importance of trust in healthcare—from building strong patient-doctor relationships to advancing preventative cardiology. Dr. Domakonda shares his journey from Queens, NY, to establishing his own practice, emphasizing a personalized, patient-cen...

Join host Dave MacNiven on Sounds of Health as he sits down with Sarah Caliendo, a certified executive and wellbeing coach, to uncover the truth about burnout. Sarah shares her personal journey from high-pressure tech roles to becoming a mental health advocate, offering insights into the signs of burnout and how to recover. Discover the importance of building your "wellbeing bank," staying connected, and reigniting creativity. Whet...

Welcome to Sounds of Health, the podcast where we meet incredible people, share inspiring stories, and provide valuable resources to boost your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. In this episode, host Dave MacNiven sits down with two remarkable guests, Steven Williams and David Logan, who represent the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO). Both seasoned entrepreneurs, Steven and David share their journey of building successf...

In this inspiring episode, host Dave MacNiven is joined by Dr. Juanita Collier and Jessica Liedke COVT, vision therapy pioneers from 4D Vision Gym and co-hosts of the podcast *It Could Be Your Eyes*. They share their journeys into vision therapy, personal stories of overcoming visual challenges, and the transformative work they do to help individuals of all ages—from infants to adults—achieve better visual health.  

Dr. Collier and...

Welcome to Sounds of Health! In this inspiring episode, host Dave McNiven sits down with Thomas Alberti, owner of multiple Connecticut Ninja Academies, New Area Gymnastics, and Newtown Gymnastics Academy. Thomas shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the Bronx to becoming a coach, entrepreneur, and advocate for physical health through gymnastics and ninja training. 

This episode highlights Thomas’ philosophy that gymnasti...

Join host David MacNiven on this special episode of Sounds of Health as he welcomes independent Medicare insurance agent Jesslyn Pito, owner of JP Maven Insurance Benefits. Together, they explore Jesslyn's inspiring career journey—from X-ray tech to thriving business owner—and the unique opportunities available in the Medicare insurance field. Discover how this career path offers independence, flexibility, and the chance to positiv...