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Your go-to podcast for inspiring stories, uplifting news, and positive vibes from across New York State!
Whether it’s groundbreaking innovations, community heroes, or businesses making a difference, we bring you the stories that remind us all of the good happening around us.
Join us as we highlight the changemakers, dreamers, and everyday folks bringing positivity to the Empire State.
From local businesses thriving in Syracuse to heartwarming tales from Buffalo, Albany, and beyond—this is the news you’ll actually want to hear. Because good news deserves to be heard.
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Chef Don Agat on Building Good Eats & Sips During COVID and the Story Behind Don’s Cookie Host Noah Chrysler interviews Chef Don Agat, owner of Good Eats & Sips and Good To Go in Skaneateles, about launching Good Eats & Sips in June 2020 during COVID to provide fresher, “healthy-ish” food and a seamless online takeout experience. Don describes being denied by four banks—one scolded them for 45 minutes—before a fifth approved their loan after refining the business plan. He shares his career path from dishwasher to Johnson & Wales graduate, working in Outer Banks, Aspen, and Manhattan, experiencing layoffs during the 2008 crisis, then joining Club Med in the Bahamas where he met his wife. After Texas, he returned to Central New York to oversee the Krebs Restaurant rebuild, then held several leadership roles before COVID pushed him into the cafe. He discusses culture as the key to strong teams, showcases his sea salt chocolate chip hazelnut “Don’s cookie,” and outlines future growth, catering, and community-focused customer service. 00:00 Cookie Origins 00:18 Show Introduction 01:15 Launching During Covid 03:33 Bank Loan Gauntlet 05:53 From Dishwasher To Chef 07:03 Crisis And Layoffs 08:51 Club Med Escape 13:01 Montreal To Texas 13:59 Returning To Skaneateles 15:55 Career Moves After Adam 16:47 COVID Forces New Path 17:42 What Sets Him Apart 19:09 Del Lago Audition Story 21:08 Building Teams and Culture 22:11 Cheat Sheet for Leadership 24:19 The Bear Restaurant Reality 26:42 Cookie Tasting and Origins 28:16 Vision for Growth in CNY 29:51 Community Service Philosophy 31:56 Catering and Final Wrap
GNY EP.187 | From Laid-Off Chef to CNY Restaurant Owner | feat. Don Agate of GOOD Eats & Sips What does it take to open a restaurant during a global pandemic — after being rejected by four banks? In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Chef Don Agate, owner […] More
The best bagel in Syracuse?! Check out Skeleton Bee Bagels in Downtown Syracuse! #bestbagelinsyracuse #nybagels #eatlocal #goodnewsyork #goodfoodny More
Bubble Tea with a view? Say less. Check out 86 Cafe in Liverpool for amazing bubble tea and some delicious food. #syracusefood #bubbleteasyracuse #eatlocalsyr #lunchspotssyracuse More
What started as a one-day show at Drivers Village in 2013 has grown into one of the most exciting gaming events in the region. Retro Game Con Spring Edition brings together a massive free play section, a packed vendor hall, retro game dealers, artists, and celebrity guests — the actual voices behind some of the […] More
Ryan Zlomek, co-owner of Skillshot Arcade in Syracuse, gives first-time players the one piece of advice they never expect to hear: it is completely okay to shake the machine. In this clip, Ryan breaks down what it is really like to walk into Skillshot for the first time — from kids pressing buttons just to […] More
GNY EP.182 | Taste of Syracuse is Almost Here — Food, Music, Art & More! ft. Carrie Wojtaszek Syracuse’s unofficial kickoff to summer is just around the corner, and Matt Masur sits down with Carrie Wojtaszek — an 18-year veteran of the Taste of Syracuse — to break down everything you need to know before […] More
GNY EP.181 | feat. Larry Luttinger from CNY Jazz Central What does it take to build a jazz and arts organization from a basement and turn it into a cornerstone of Central New York’s cultural life? In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Larry Luttinger — founder and executive […] More
Eric McKelvin, Executive Director of the New York State Blues Festival, makes a simple but powerful point — music enriches life whether you are a listener or a player. In a world where streaming has made music more accessible than ever, Eric argues that live music still holds something irreplaceable. There is nothing quite like […] More
GNY EP.184 | feat. Ryan Zlomek from Skill Shot Arcade In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Ryan Zlomek, co-owner of Skillshot Arcade — a one-of-a-kind pinball arcade and event space located right here in Syracuse, NY. Ryan takes us deep into the world of pinball: its surprisingly rich […] More
GNY EP.183 | Feeding Kids, Breaking Cycles & Building Community feat. Jack Pflanz from Erin’s Angels In this heartfelt episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Jack Pflanz, Director of Fund Development and Communications for Erin’s Angels of CNY — a nonprofit food pantry dedicated to fighting child food insecurity in […] More
GNY EP. 186 | The All Things Oz Museum & Oz-Stravaganza Festival feat. Marc Baum & Monica Kinner Did you know the world’s largest Wizard of Oz festival has been happening right here in Central New York for nearly 50 years — and it’s completely free to attend? In this episode of Good News York, […] More
New York State Blues Festival is BACK — and It’s FREE! In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Erik McElveen, Executive Director of the New York State Blues Festival, to talk about one of Central New York’s most beloved annual events. Blues Fest returns June 11–13 at Chevy Court […] More
Ryan Zlomek did not open Skillshot Arcade just to give people a place to play pinball. As he explains in this clip, the real mission has always been about building a community — a third space where anyone with a niche interest can walk in and feel like they belong. More
Ryan Zlomek of Skillshot Arcade shares a fact that stops most people in their tracks: the flipper mechanism invented in the 1940s is the exact same technology found in a brand-new pinball machine today. In this clip, Ryan walks through what has and has not changed in pinball engineering over the decades — and explains […] More
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