Greetings From the Garden State
The Heart of Jersey Pride. A podcast about the people and places that shape New Jersey! Powered by the New Jersey Lottery. Hosted by Mike Ham
Episodes
In this jam-packed episode, Mike sits down with Savvy Seats founder Tommy Gucciardo at Radio Garden State HQ to dive into the chaos, strategy, and heart behind one of the area's most ambitious ticketing and event brands. From running massive tailgate activations outside MetLife to redefining customer service in the secondary ticket market, Tommy keeps it real about what it takes to build a brand that’s about more...
This week, host Mike Ham heads to the stunning Park Château Estates & Gardens in East Brunswick to sit down with three legends of New Jersey hospitality — Barry Maurillo, Joe Maurillo, and Vito Cucci. These lifelong friends and business partners are the visionary team behind three of the state’s most celebrated event venues: Nanina’s in the Park, The Park Savoy Estate, and Park Château.
In this warm, wide-ranging, ...
In this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, Mike heads to Whippany to sit down with Yael Averbuch West, General Manager and Head of Soccer Operations at NJ/NY Gotham FC. A proud Montclair native and former U.S. Women’s National Team player, Yael shares her journey from Jersey youth soccer fields to global tournaments—and now to the front office of one of the most ambitious clubs in women’s soccer.
They dive int...
In this episode, we step behind the curtain at Sushi by Sea, a private omakase dinner experience hidden in plain sight in Ridgefield, NJ. Mike sits down with co-founder Jay Powles to talk about how a global business consultant from South Africa partnered with a master sushi chef to build one of New Jersey’s most exclusive and community-driven dining spots.
Jay shares the journey from underground pop-ups during the pand...
In this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, host Mike Ham sits down with Matthew Chappina, chef and founder of Perla Oyster Bar in Maplewood, New Jersey. What began as a mobile oyster truck has evolved into one of New Jersey’s most talked-about new restaurants, known for its raw bar, creative small plates, and vibrant atmosphere.
Matthew shares the story of how Perla grew from backyard oyster parties to a thriv...
On this episode of Greetings From the Garden State, powered by the New Jersey Lottery, Mike Ham heads to Angry Papa Entertainment in Wallington, NJ to sit down with the powerhouse rock band Reality Suite — Kimmii Heart, Brian King, Joe Padula, and Jeff Luke.
They dive into the band's Jersey roots, their evolution over the past decade, and how their sound has grown through lineup changes and shared influences. From...
On this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, I sit down with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for an honest, wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from her time in the Navy to her decision to run for governor of New Jersey.
What We Cover:
- Finding Her Way to Jersey
Mikie shares how she settled in Montclair over 15 years ago, what makes New Jersey feel like home, and why she’s embraced the state’s e...
We’re back in Atlantic City for one of the most electric events of the year—the Million Dollar Replay at the Golden Nugget, hosted by the New Jersey Lottery. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of a day full of second chances, big energy, and even bigger prize money.
We kick things off with a breakdown of how Million Dollar Replay works, what’s up for grabs, and how even non-winning tickets can still pay off ...
In this week’s episode of Greetings From the Garden State, host Mike Ham is joined by the full lineup of Hickory, a rising New Jersey folk-rock band that’s quickly carving out a name for themselves across the state and beyond. What started as a few friends trading GarageBand tracks during downtime has grown into a six-piece powerhouse fueled by years of shared history, tight musicianship, and a deep love for original ...
This week, Mike heads to Church Street in Montclair to sit down with Amir Kamal, the man behind Dutch’s Sandwich Shop — one of the most talked-about sandwich spots in New Jersey. What started as a late-night idea and a tribute to Amir’s dog, Dutch, has grown into a full-blown destination for people who take their breakfast sandwiches seriously.
Amir shares how his background in hospital food service, his New York City ...
On this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, host Mike Ham takes the show on the road to the New Jersey Lottery headquarters for a deep-dive conversation with Executive Director Jim Carey. Powered by the New Jersey Lottery, this episode explores the games, events, and community impact of one of the state's most recognizable institutions.
What You'll Hear in This Episode:
- The story of how Jim Carey a...
In this special edition of Greetings From the Garden State, host Mike Ham broadcasts live from NJIT for a groundbreaking gubernatorial candidate forum presented by the New Jersey Diverse Business Advisory Council. Seven of the nine candidates vying to be New Jersey’s next governor sit down to address some of the most pressing issues facing small businesses and diverse communities across the state.
This candid and, at t...
In this episode of Greetings From the Garden State, we sit down with New Jersey singer-songwriter Patty C to talk about his music journey, collaborations, and latest projects. Broadcasting from the home studio at Radio Garden State HQ, we crack open a Spreading Love American Light Lager from Twin Lights Brewing—Patty’s very own beer!
We dive into how this unique collaboration came to be, the vibrant Jersey Shore music ...
Recorded at the New Jersey Hall of Fame at American Dream, East Rutherford, NJ
Host: Mike Ham, Greetings from the Garden State
Guests: Steve Edwards & Bryan Blaney, New Jersey Hall of Fame
Episode Highlights
- The Origins of the New Jersey Hall of Fame – How it started in 2002 and became the first state Hall of Fame in the U.S.
- The Iconic Inaugural Class – Featuring Bruce Springsteen, Yogi Berra, Toni Morrison,...
In this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, powered by the New Jersey Lottery, host Mike Ham sits down with Emerson Woolf, the frontwoman of Emerson Woolf and the Wishbones. Broadcasting from Radio Garden State HQ in Bloomfield, NJ (a.k.a. one corner of the Spaghetti Triangle), they dive into Emerson’s musical journey, the formation of The Wishbones, and what’s next for the rising band.
From her early days writ...
In this engaging episode of Greetings from the Garden State, host Mike Ham welcomes Tory Anne Daines of Fair Panic (with a special guest appearance by Duck the dog!) to discuss the band’s evolution, new EP release, and upcoming live shows. From Tory’s early musical influences and opera/violin roots to wild tales from hardcore and country gigs, this conversation is filled with heartfelt stories and raw insights into th...
In this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, host Mike Ham sits down with Dean Maroulakos, co-founder of Skopos Hospitality, at Cowan’s Public in Nutley, NJ. Dean shares the journey of launching and expanding a hospitality empire in North Jersey, from the origins of Cowan’s Public to the recently opened Nomada in Verona.
They dive into:
- The history of Cowan’s Public and its deep-rooted family ties to Nutley.
- H...
In this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, we cover the NJ Youth Soccer Awards Banquet presented by RWJBarnabas Health in Edison, NJ. Host Mike Ham interviews award-winning players, legendary figures, and key stakeholders shaping NJ youth soccer.
Featured Guests & Segments:
Segment 1: Rising Stars of NJ Youth Soccer
- Gabriel Wahby – Save of the Year
- Describes his game-winning save and technique.
- Me...
On this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, I visit Burnt Mills Cider in Bedminster, NJ, and sit down with owners John Coates and Miranda Meade to talk all things cider. From their early beginnings to launching in the middle of a pandemic, Burnt Mills has built a reputation for crafting high-quality, locally sourced ciders that showcase the best of New Jersey produce.
We dive into the art of cider-making, the c...
In this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, host Mike Ham sits down with Matty Carlock—singer-songwriter, producer, and hardcore music veteran—at the iconic Berkeley Hotel in Asbury Park. Matty shares his inspiring journey, starting from his punk and hardcore roots to evolving into a multi-genre artist blending folk, hip-hop, and more. They discuss his DIY ethic, relentless drive, and the creative process behi...
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