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Hudson Valley Storycatcher with Jen Lee

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by Jen Lee, Hudson Valley Storycatcher Host

5.0(6 reviews)

8 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

You pass them in the village and sit near them at the diner—but everyone in our region has a story that would surprise you. Welcome to Hudson Valley Storycatcher with Jen Lee, a conversational storytelling podcast that uncovers the extraordinary voices right next door. We are stripping away surface-level interactions to find the true human heart of our region. Through authentic, unscripted interviews with locals, this show focuses on discovering neighbors and proving that the person living right next door likely has a journey worth sharing. It’s an ongoing project in community storytelling that bridges gaps and brings us closer together. Discover the Hudson Valley community all over again. What You’ll Experience Authentic Community Narratives: Dive deep into the lived experiences and unique Hudson Valley stories that shape our towns. Local History & Heritage: Uncover the rich local history Hudson Valley residents preserve through generations. True Connection: Move beyond the daily rush with a human connection podcast built on deep community engagement and inspiring personal journeys. Whether you are looking for authentic neighbor stories or want to feel more rooted in the Hudson Valley community, this podcast is your regular invitation to look a little closer at the world around you. Subscribe today and never look at your neighbors the same way again.

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Publishing Since

1/10/2026

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Recent Episodes

June 25, 2026

Supporting Neurodiverse Individuals and Families in the Hudson Valley with SarahRose Hogan

Welcome to Hudson Valley Storycatcher with Jen Lee, a storytelling podcast focused on exploring the unique perspectives, deep experiences, and personal journeys of people living and working in our region. In this episode, we sit down with SarahRose Hogan, a Registered Play Therapist and the founder of Giving Tree Counseling in Kingston, New York, to discuss a paradigm shift that is fundamentally changing how families navigate mental health, development, and community accessibility.As a human connection podcast, we love diving into conversations that strip away social shame and bring people closer together. SarahRose shares how discovering the neurodiversity paradigm completely transformed her own life and clinical practice, moving away from a restrictive "medical model" of pathology and toward a framework rooted in natural human biodiversity. Through our interviews with locals who are making a tangible difference, we hope to spark ideas on how we can collectively build a more supportive and accessible Hudson Valley community. Key Topics & Takeaways Covered:<ul><li>What is the Neurodiversity Paradigm? SarahRose explains that just like ecological biodiversity strengthens a natural environment, a wide variety of human brain traits and types benefits society as a whole. Rather than viewing neurological differences as individual or moral failures, this paradigm rejects a rigid hierarchy of "better or worse" minds.</li><li>Moving Beyond Traditional Talk Therapy: Traditional psychotherapy often relies entirely on sitting still and talking, which can inadvertently exclude non-speaking individuals or those with higher support needs. SarahRose highlights the necessity of dynamic, creative modalities—such as play therapy, sand tray work, and parent-child relational therapy—to meet clients where they are.</li><li>Demystifying EMDR: The conversation provides an inside look at Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). By utilizing bilateral stimulation (like eye movements, tapping, or audio tones), EMDR acts as a gentle, evidence-based "fast track" to help the brain safely process and file away traumatic or painful memories that have become functionally "stuck".</li><li>Sensory Friendly vs. Sensory Flexible: Because different individuals frequently have completely conflicting sensory profiles (e.g., one person needing bright light to focus while another needs dim lighting), a space cannot simply check a single box. True inclusion requires building sensory flexible environments that can actively adapt to changing human needs.</li><li>The Principles of Universal Design: Accessibility shouldn't be a secondary afterthought—like clumsily retrofitting a ramp to the back door of a building. Using the framework of Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), physical spaces and educational expectations are built from the ground up to offer flexible goals and multiple pathways for participation.</li><li>The Hidden Cost of Neuronormalizing: SarahRose cautions against traditional behavioral strategies aimed at neuronormalizing children. While masking differences might yield short-term success, it frequently comes at a long-term psychological cost, including heightened risks of anxiety, trauma, and depression. </li></ul>Resources & Links Mentioned:<ul><li><a href="https://www.givingtreecounseling.info/">Giving Tree Counseling </a>(Located in Kingston, NY)</li><li><a href="https://drrossgreene.com/">Dr. Ross Greene</a> (Collaborative & Proactive Solutions)</li><li><a href="https://www.cast.org/what-we-do/universal-design-for-learning/">Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework</a></li></ul>Thank you for tuning in! If you know someone doing good, important work in the HV, please reach out to us at HudsonValleyStorycatcher@gmail.com to recommend them for a future episode. Don't forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your shows.

May 28, 2026

Placemaking and Preservation with Catherine Mikic

Jen sits down with guest Catherine Mikic to explore the profound relationships between communities, histories, and local landscapes. Catherine is a trained architect with decades of experience in New York City who shifted her focus to rural placemaking after relocating to the area in 2018. She discusses her hands-on work restoring the landmark Sweet Sherman Homestead, uncovering thousands of years of Indigenous Mohican history, and helping transform a local traffic circle into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly civic space. Catherine also shares the urgent efforts behind her nonprofit advocacy work to protect Copake’s growing agritourism economy and historical assets from a massive, large-scale industrial development proposal overriding local zoning laws.Highlights Include:<ul><li>The Sweet Sherman Homestead Restoration: Catherine recounts purchasing a historic family farm on Center Hill Road outside of Copake town center during the pandemic. Her research into the site's ethnographic history ultimately led to an 18-acre National Register Historic District designation.</li><li>Reimagining the Heart of the Community: Catherine details her collaboration with town officials to leverage a roadway infrastructure project to build a new 21st-century civic park. The project will re-establish a historical town square centered around Copake's historic town clock.</li><li>Defending a Rural Landscape Against Shepherd's Run: Catherine outlines her advocacy work against an out-of-state developer's proposal to place 220 acres of industrial solar panels in a historic farming hamlet. Alongside local leaders, she founded the nonprofit advocacy group <a href="https://www.arcadianalliance.org/">Arcadian Alliance</a> to protect the area's protected watershed, historic properties, and heritage tourism economy.</li></ul> About the Guest <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-mikic-04041a28/?skipRedirect=true">Catherine Mikic</a> is an architect, placemaker, and cultural landscape advocate based in the Hudson Valley. After studying and building a career in architecture and historic preservation in New York City, she moved to Hudson in 2018. She currently serves as the Chair of the Copake Historic Preservation Committee.

May 13, 2026

Bridging the Divide with Frank Pepe

In this episode of Hudson Valley Storycatcher, host Jen Lee sits down with Frank Pepe, a retired school superintendent and community leader from Stanford, New York. Frank shares his lifelong journey of finding where he fits in and his commitment to fostering a caring community amidst modern political and social turmoil. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The Heroic Legacy of Charlie JohnsonFrank discusses his commitment to share the story of <a href="https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/charlesjohnson/">Charles Johnson</a>, an Arlington High School graduate (Class of 1951). <ul><li>Breaking Barriers: Johnson was the only African-American male in his school but was so beloved he was elected class Vice President within weeks. </li><li>Battlefield Heroism: During the Korean War at "Outpost Harry," Johnson saved nine of his fellow soldiers—including a friend from his high school—before being killed in action. </li><li>A Living Lesson: Frank uses this story to illustrate some of the great values found in all religions: compassion, selflessness, and the breaking of social barriers. </li></ul> Stanford: a Caring CommunityBorn out of the unrest following the murder of George Floyd, this organization seeks to provide “ a view of community and unity for all people." <ul><li>Mission: Standing in solidarity with those whose identities—racial, religious, or LGBTQ—have been attacked by hatred or violence. </li><li>Building Bridges: Since Stanford is a small town with limited diversity, the group partners with more diverse organizations across Dutchess County to foster dialogue. </li></ul> The Art of Connection Frank shares his "nitty-gritty" tools for strengthening community bonds:<ul><li>Active Listening: Learning to listen without ego or the need to have an immediate answer. </li><li>Humanity First: Finding common ground with neighbors despite oppositional political views.</li><li>Presence: Creating safe spaces for others to speak of their pain or life experiences. </li></ul> About Our Guest: Frank Pepe<ul><li>Professional Background: Retired Superintendent of Schools with a lifetime vocation in education. </li><li>Public Service: Former member of the Stanford Town Board. </li><li>Human Rights: Served three years on the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission and currently serves on the board of the Dutchess County Interfaith Council. </li><li>Community Advocate: Founder of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Stanford: a Caring Community. </li></ul> Resources Mentioned:<ul><li><a href="https://stanfordcaring.org/">Stanford: a Caring Community</a>–sign up for the event newsletter by emailing Info@StanfordCaring.org</li><li><a href="https://www.dutchesscountyinterfaith.org/">Dutchess County Interfaith Council </a></li><li><a href="https://stanfordlibrary.org/">Stanford Free Library</a> (Event partner) </li><li><a href="https://www.nationalgrange.org/">The Grange</a> (Community partner) </li><li><a href="https://www.arlingtonschools.org/o/ahs">Arlington High School </a></li></ul>Find more episodes, show notes and transcripts at <a href="https://hudsonvalleystorycatcher.com">hudsonvalleystorycatcher.com</a>. Support the show by leaving<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hudson-valley-storycatcher/id1868096348?uo=4"> a rating and review on Apple Podcasts</a>, or wherever you listen. To recommend a future guest on the show, email: hudsonvalleystorycatcher@gmail.com.

8 total episodes available

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What is Hudson Valley Storycatcher with Jen Lee?: You pass them in the village and sit near them at the diner—but everyone in our region has a story that would surprise you. Welcome to Hudson Valley Storycatcher with Jen Lee, a conversational storytelling podcast that uncovers the extraordinary voices right next door.

We are stripping away surface-level interactions to find the true human heart of our region. Through authentic, unscripted interviews with locals, this show focuses on discovering neighbors and proving that the person living right next door likely has a journey worth sharing. It’s an ongoing project in community storytelling that bridges gaps and brings us closer together. Discover the Hudson Valley community all over again.

What You’ll Experience Authentic Community Narratives: Dive deep into the lived experiences and unique Hudson Valley stories that shape our towns. Local History & Heritage: Uncover the rich local history Hudson Valley residents preserve through generations. True Connection: Move beyond the daily rush with a human connection podcast built on deep community engagement and inspiring personal journeys.

Whether you are looking for authentic neighbor stories or want to feel more rooted in the Hudson Valley community, this podcast is your regular invitation to look a little closer at the world around you. Subscribe today and never look at your neighbors the same way again.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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