Shenendehowa High School senior Lily Sinnott had to reach for the proverbial stars in her final high school musical, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” encouraged by the faith of her director, Bradley Gregg and it paid off.

Sinnott was one of two locals to receive Outstanding Lead Performer's locally and earn a trip to the National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City, The Jimmy Awards.

“As soon as I knew that the Jimmys were a thing in eighth grade, I was like, I want to do that, that's where I want to go. I made it a goal, started working, taking opportunities, and being grateful for everything.”

Admittedly, a Sinnott fan, I was thrilled to be able to sit down with her and her director inside one of the music rooms on the Shenendehowa campus prior to her leaving for Jimmy's Week in NYC.

My bucket list gained another check as for the second time, Tell Me Your Story, was closed out by a song from a guest.

Max Mitler made the most of his senior year at Saratoga Springs High School, receiving one of this year’s Collaborative School of the Arts at Proctors High School Musical Theater Award winner for his role as Jack Kelly in "Newsies" and is now spending a week on Broadway.

“I think it's a little harder when your character is more like Jack, who is a little less level-headed than some other characters I played,” Max Mittler said during a podcast recording of the “Tell Me Your Story” podcast shortly after the recognition. “He makes his decisions and sticks to his guns, which I think is easy to portray to the audience and shows strength in both your body and your decisions, which I really enjoyed.”

I caught up with the senior, just days after his big win, inside the hallways of his high school and just outside the Saratoga Springs auditorium with long-time director Bob Berenis.

The two were engaging, insightful and for the first time, Tell Me Your Story closed out with a song from its guest - Max.

The Jimmy Awards will be live-streamed on YouTube from the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway, 7:30 p.m. Monday, hosted by five-time Emmy Award-nominated comedian, actor, writer and podcast host Bowen Yang.

I was introduced to award-winning author, artist, and illustrator Anthony Richichi through Vicki Addesso Dodd, owner of Saratoga Springs Publishing Company, by another Children’s Book author.

His artistic star continues to rise from comic book kid to artist, illustrator, author, producer, and director.

Our latest meeting, after being wowed by his work with The Daily Gazette and his illustration of the newspaper mascot, Newsie, brought us together in another galaxy.

Richichi created his 30th trading card original artwork series, this time distributed by the Topps Company in the Star Wars Smugglers Outpost series.

A few days from Saratoga Comic Con, where the trading card illustration opportunity first found him, I sat down with him in his Glens Falls studio.

It is a story from not long, long, ago and not too, too far away, but enjoy the journey.

Michael Belloti has several hats to wear on stage at Schenectady Light Opera Company when Man of La Mancha opens -- Cervantes, Don Quixote, and Alonso Quijana.

But that is nothing new for the current mechanical engineer, retired Navy officer, husband, and father.

Full disclosure - Man of La Mancha is my all-time favorite play, so it was a thrill to have him on the 'Tell Me Your Story' podcast.

Learn more about this talented actor, veteran, and tremendous talent.

A casual Saturday night at a favorite restaurant in Saratoga Springs led Nancy Bambara to a conversation about her work and expertise.

Restaurateur David Zecchini knew both food and talent, took her in as a bookkeeper, and has never looked back ... because she was always looking ahead.

Now the Vice-President and COO of DZ Restaurants, including Chianti Il Resorante, Forno Bistro, and Boca Bistro, in Saratoga Springs, sat down before another holiday weekend, another track season, and talked about her career and the industry she loves.

Is there anything Lisa Elovich hasn't done?

The question may be, what does she want to do next?

This long-time friend is a parent, a former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, and one of the only female boxing promoters in New York State before she started her latest adventure - One With Life Tequila founder.

We sat down before the holidays and before she returned to a sunnier climate, but the hour went by fast as we talked a lot about boxing, memories that we cherish almost 20 years later, her tequila brand, and what could be next.

Because she isn't done.

For the past three years, Tom Nardacci has been CEO of the Regional Food Bank of Northeast NY.

Sounds big?

The organization serves 23 counties from the Canadian border down to Rockland County, and nothing has been easy - Nardacci just makes it appear that way.

He is a storyteller and a talker, the ideal guest for this podcast, but take in every word. He is sincere about his mission, his vision, and the future in his role.

Dr. Alexander Ford, DO, RO, a family physician with Community Care Physicians in Rotterdam, was recently selected as the CDPHP [Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan] Top Doctors Peabody Award recipient based on patient reviews.

The Albany native has dual training as a physician and registered dietitian, serves as a public health nutritionist for the New York State Department of Health, and is the Director of Medical Education for 4th Family, a non-profit that empowers communities in the Capital District.

“I'm not one who chases awards, I do this for the people,” Dr. Ford said prior to the start of his day at Community Care Family Practice in Rotterdam. “I came back to help my community, and that's why I was away for almost a decade doing my training. I was completely moved, humbled, and inspired to keep grinding, pursuing greatness, and helping my people. This just puts an additional battery in my back to continue doing what I'm doing.”

I caught up with Dr. Ford, before his first patient, early on a Monday morning at his Rotterdam office. He rolled up near me in a familiar stool in a patient room and although new, I too felt at home with him.