Step into the Salem Witch Museum with Rachel Chris-Doane, its director of education, and explore an immersive audiovisual journey through the 1692 witch trials, complemented by a docent-led exhibit on European witch hunts and the evolving image of the witch. Rachel dispels the myth that the museum is stuck in 1972, highlighting its 2020 exhibit renovation, growing artifact collection, and a planned 2027 theater upgrade, all designed to separate fact from fiction and underscore the trials’ modern relevance to truth, fear, and justice.

Rachel shares her unexpected path to museum education after a denied Fulbright application, revealing how career pivots can fuel purpose in the humanities. The museum expands access through free virtual programs, in-house lectures, and recorded global historian talks, making credible history engaging and accessible, whether you visit Salem or explore from home.

If you’ve ever walked into a home store and thought, “Beautiful, but not for my budget,” meet Susan Bott—the NYC-actor-turned-designer behind Room Tonic in Marblehead—who proves that great design can be both distinctive and affordable. From staging in New York to launching her own shop, Susan shares how craft, courage, and community built a brand with a clear point of view and accessible pricing. Her approach to high–low design teaches where to invest for impact and where to save without sacrificing style. Even when COVID hit just five months after opening, she pivoted with grit—turning Instagram into a storefront, offering doorstep delivery, and building a loyal clientele through personal service.

What makes Room Tonic special is its blend of Marblehead charm and a global eye. Susan curates chinoiserie and vintage pieces that create homes with soul—collected, not copied. Drawing on her stage background, she helps clients tell their stories through their spaces while keeping the design approachable and personal. Her honesty about small business challenges and community support makes her story both inspiring and relatable. Explore Room Tonic for design that balances beauty, meaning, and budget—and discover how storytelling can transform the spaces we call home.

A small family shop with a big heart, Mr. Petisco was born at a kitchen table during the pandemic and grew into a thriving Peabody storefront bringing the Taste of Brazil to Main Street. Lais Lima shares how a father’s recipes, a mother’s financial savvy, and a daughter’s drive turned risk into resilience and culture into community. Every bite reflects care—potatoes peeled in-house, dough made from scratch, and food cooked fresh to order with no additives, just warmth, grit, and flavor. Even a naming mix-up that briefly confused locals became an opportunity to rebrand and strengthen their neighborhood presence.

Their success also travels through the local festival circuit, where weekends bring new customers, shared stories, and inspiration for future dishes. For anyone who loves authentic Brazilian food, supports local entrepreneurs, or dreams of starting something meaningful, Mr. Petisco’s journey offers both encouragement and a blueprint: work with care, adapt quickly, and let culture guide the way. Explore their menu and catering options at www.bot.mrpetisco.com, call 978-896-2409, or visit 85 Main Street, Suite C9, Peabody, MA to experience their story through every delicious bite.

What happens when a Welsh pastor follows love across the ocean and lands in Lynn, Massachusetts? Pastor Kevin Adams of East Baptist Church shares his remarkable 21-year journey in ministry and the wisdom he’s gained along the way. With refreshing candor and humor, he dismantles the myth that religious leaders are somehow less human than everyone else. “They expect me to be a sort of angel with wings,” he laughs, but instead he offers authenticity—leading a congregation of “broken angels trying to fly in the right direction, though they’ve got broken wings and most have lost their halos.” His passion for reconciliation and forgiveness, along with a love for classic literature and the “old-fashioned gospel,” creates a space where questions are welcomed and faith is explored without judgment.

East Baptist Church, founded in 1874 and rooted in its current location since 1961, stands as a beacon of enduring faith with contemporary relevance. “The gospel is free,” Pastor Adams reminds us, “Jesus bought it on the cross and hands it to people.” His invitation is simple and heartfelt: come as you are, no pressure, all welcome. Visit eastbaptist.org or join Sunday services at 10:45 AM to experience this warm, authentic community firsthand.

What happens when a physicist from Intel Corporation decides to tackle cancer treatment? Dr. Anan Copty shares his remarkable journey from corporate security to founding Synergy Medical Devices, a startup developing non-invasive technology to destroy solid tumors without harming healthy tissue. After losing several friends to cancer, he left a stable career to pursue a solution that combines nanoparticles with electromagnetic energy, showing promising animal-trial results at Ohio State University where tumors disappeared within days with no scars or cosmetic damage. The company plans to enter the veterinary market this year before moving to human clinical trials, focusing on breast cancer and other superficial tumors.

Dr. Copty’s story is a testament to turning personal loss into purpose-driven innovation. He speaks candidly about the challenges of entrepreneurship—building a multidisciplinary team with limited resources, navigating uncertainty, and finding fulfillment in work that truly matters. Learn more about Synergy Med’s groundbreaking efforts at synergymed-ltd.com, or connect with Dr. Copty to explore collaborations, volunteer opportunities, or investment through their equity crowdfunding campaign.

Every challenge presents an opportunity for reinvention—a truth Bobbie Bush embodies as she celebrates 30 years of her portrait business. What began in darkrooms and evolved through decades of traditional photography has transformed into a unique artistic practice that blends digital technology with fine art. When smartphones reshaped photography and the pandemic halted in-person sessions, Bobbie didn’t just adapt—she flourished, inviting clients to share their favorite images and transforming them into one-of-a-kind digital paintings that capture both likeness and essence.

Far from a simple “click of a button,” Bobbie’s process involves thoughtful consultation, artistic interpretation, and collaborative refinement to create meaningful heirloom pieces. Her approachable, client-centered style makes fine art portraiture accessible while reflecting her love of local life—whether kayaking New England waters, exploring the Maine coast, or drawing inspiration from her travels. To see her work or commission a custom portrait, visit bobbiebush.com or stop by her studio at Salem’s Gallows Hill Artist Studios, where creativity and personal connection meet.

Francie King, founder of History Keep, is dedicated to preserving personal histories that might otherwise be lost forever. With a background in journalism, Francie helps individuals articulate the stories they want future generations to remember. Through intimate, professional interviews, she creates powerful legacies, allowing clients to share stories they've never told—even to their closest family members. For Francie, the process is about much more than recording facts; it’s about building trust and allowing people to reflect on their lives in meaningful ways.

Francie also dispels common misconceptions about personal history work, emphasizing that a true life story emerges from thoughtful, sustained interviews rather than simple templates. She highlights the collaborative effort behind each project, from writing to design and photography. Drawing on her own experience of growing up with a mother who had polio, Francie expresses regret for not asking her parents the questions she now asks her clients. Whether you're interested in preserving your own story or capturing the memories of loved ones, visit historykeep.com to learn how to preserve what matters most before it's too late.

Dr. Ryan Zaklin, founder of ECS Wellness in Salem, Massachusetts, is shedding light on the body’s endocannabinoid system, a natural regulator most people are unaware of. By explaining how our bodies produce their own cannabinoids to maintain balance, he offers a compelling alternative to relying solely on prescription medications. Dr. Zaklin, part of the Mass General Brigham network, blends conventional medicine with evidence-based cannabis therapeutics, debunking common myths along the way. His approach emphasizes that you don’t need to get high to benefit from cannabis, and in some cases, treatments may even be covered by insurance.

Dr. Zaklin's personal journey adds depth to his practice. Once a musician struggling with a repetitive stress injury, his life changed when he lost his father to cancer, which he describes as creating a "tinnitus of the heart." This experience shaped his compassionate, patient-centered approach to care. Now working with cancer patients, he’s helping make cancer a more manageable chronic condition. Whether you're dealing with pain, insomnia, or curious about balancing your health naturally, Dr. Zaklin’s integrative approach offers practical solutions, including how activities like yoga can boost your natural cannabinoids. Learn more and book an appointment at ECSwellness.com.