Two Guys on Block Island

Ep. 73: Bill Dunleavy- Gone With The Wind

We hear it a lot on Block Island. "Geez, I think I'd like to just live on a boat and be a bartender". Sounds like a pretty cool, easy-going lifestyle. Just ask Bill Dunleavy- he'd agree. The ever affable Bill Dunleavy first set foot on Payne's dock as a visitor to Block Island. Little did he know that dock would serve as his home for a few decades. And what a ride it's been. After a stint at Yellow Kittens Bill took the gig at Mahogany Shoals where he's been behind the stick summer after summer....

Hi-Speed Minipod #25

Ep. 72: Door Stories- feat. Chris Willi and Kristin Kiley

The genesis of the Two Guys On Block Island Podcast began at the door at Captain Nick's. One night, after a particularly witty round of banter with some incoming patrons Rich leaned over to Marc and said, "You know...we should do a podcast". Well, the rest is history. But look...it's not all laughs and witty anecdotes when it comes to making certain that the patrons of a nightclub are safe, respectful and not being dicks. In this episode, we discuss the measures that SOME of Block Island's night...

Hi-Speed Minipod #24

Ep. 71: Jack Lynch- Swedish Fish

Jack Lynch is a pretty smart dude. His Block Island story is entwined with so many facets of the island that even though Jack doesn't live here anymore, his presence can still be palpably felt. So when Rich found out that Jack was available during one of his annual forays to the island the Two Guys snapped at the opportunity to sit and chat with this fascinating man. Just press play...

Ep. 70: Kevin O'Connor- This Old Island

You probably know Kevin O'Connor as the host of the long-running PBS show, "This Old House". But we know him as the affable guy that you bump into at the occasional backyard barbecue here on Block Island. When Kevin met his wife Kathleen Feeks he was working as a banker in Boston. They'd come to the island to visit with Kathleen's family and during these visits Kevin developed a great affinity for Block Island. But things got really interesting when they purchased an old Victorian fixer upper ou...

Hi-Speed Minipod #23

Ep. 69: Ballard's- Beyond The Reggae Fest Debacle

Block Island was rocked by the news that on Monday August 8th several incidents of violence which began at Ballard's Reggae Fest culminated in a dramatic mid-trip boarding of the Block Island Ferry by armed Coast Guard personnel. On board, the scene was chaotic. Several passengers were involved in a brawl that left some with injuries from either knives or razors. Terrified crew members and passengers not involved in the melee legitimately feared for their lives. The next morning Ballard's propri...

Hi-Speed Minipod #22

Ep. 68: Norman Riker- The Beach Party Must Go On

We talk about the movie Jaws a lot on this podcast. Let's face it. We're all obsessed with it. Imagine what it must've been like to be Chief Brodie's kid? Norman Riker has a rough idea. Growing up the son of the chief of police in the 1970's after leaving city life for a small New England island, Norman experienced all of the faded film grain quirks and nuances Block Island had to offer and then some. He once rescued a backpack full of suds from a bush after getting pinched. Still, he took it on...

Hi-Speed Minipod #21

Ep. 67: Mike Dugan- Silver Linings and Exteriors

Mike Dugan has a way about him. You'll see what we mean... His life on Block Island has been steeped in the chodachromtic tones that we're all seeking out here. The good ol' days. The 70's and 80's. The days when Block Island was the kind of place that a school teacher could schlep his family to for the summer. The kind of place where the kids would roller skate around the ferry parking lot with heavy, plywood sandwich boards attached to their little bodies like turtle shells. If Mike's life sou...

Hi-Speed Minipod #20

Ep. 66: Dave Turner- Number One Honkey

Dave Turner has become one of Block Island's most gregarious, beloved characters. It all started when his grandparents purchased and restored a dilapidated house on Beach Avenue. Because of that purchase Dave has spent every single summer of his life on Block Island serving first as a lackey at the National Hotel before becoming Freddie Finn's first mate on a lobster boat. His days at Finn's restaurant led him to form unbreakable bonds that hold firm to this day. When Dave met his soulmate, Rose...

Hi-Speed Minipod #19

Ep. 65: Kristin Baumann- Block Island's Librarian

Kristin Baumann has been at the helm of the Block Island Library for some time now. The story of her journey from visitor to year-round resident could fill a book in and of itself. When one thinks of a librarian, perhaps a quiet, mousy bookworm is the first thing that comes to mind. But Kristin is none of those things. Never one to shy away from speaking her mind, Kristin's take on island life is a breath of fresh air. It's not uncommon for folks on Block Island to keep their opinions to themsel...

Hi-Speed Minipod #18

Ep. 64: Ben Hruska- Block Island's Historian At Large

Ben Hruska has just published a book called Valor and Courage. It's a comprehensive account of the USS Block Island escort carriers and the Navy personnel who worked on the vessels during World War II. Ben is also in the process of digitizing thousands of old photos as part of his gig at Block Island's Historical Society. For Ben it's like finding buried treasure every single day. The process is painstaking but also a labor of love. Rich and Marc speak at length with Ben about all things Block I...

Hi-Speed Minipod #17

Ep.63: Jon Dodd- The Atlantic Shark Institute

Sharks sharks and more sharks... Jon Dodd loves em'. He's fascinated by them. So much that he's dedicated a good part of his life to studying them. Jon stops by to chat with Rich and Marc about our much maligned and misunderstood underwater allies. The takeaway is this...don't worry about being attacked by a shark. Your chances of getting chomped on are less than being struck by lightning and winning the lottery...in the same day.

Ep. 62: Paul DePetrillo- The Captain's Brother

Captain Nick's was not built in a day. Just ask Nick's brother, Paul DePetrillo. Paul was there for the whole thing and barely escaped with his life. Seriously... But besides the occasional mishap with a bucket-loader the rest of Paul's experience helping Nick build what would become the island's hottest nightspot was a real gas. While Rich and Marc have discussed Captain Nick's many times before, Paul fills in some blanks and recounts his time spent on Block Island. Paul's memories are fond and...

Hi-Speed Minipod #16

Ep. 61: Block Island "Dooze and Doughntz" (Part 2)

Rich and Marc drop another round of knowledge for those who would like to make the most of their Block Island experience.

Ep. 60: Amy Dodge- Not Her Lane

SPOILER ALERT! Amy Dodge Lane is NOT named after Amy Dodge. Well, it is. It's not like a "who's buried in Grant's Tomb?" kind of thing. Amy Dodge Lane is named after Amy Dodge but just not THIS Amy Dodge. Lane or no lane Amy's road to Block Island and later Providence where she serves as a public defender is an interesting one. The Dodge name goes waaaaaaaaaaay back out here. And with that kind of history there are plenty of stories to be told. Listen in as Amy talks about her Block Island life,...

Ep. 59: TGOBI - LIVE at Captain Nick's - Vol. 1

Rich and Marc's first ever live podcast before a very well-behaved bar full of fans at Captain Nick's! Surprises abound including... Interviews (some planned, some not), letters from fans, a tutorial on proper BI "waving while driving techniques", a mudslide demonstration, blues harmonica, audience Q&A, and some mild drug use. A big thanks to everyone who came out to Captain Nick's!

Hi-Speed Minipod #15

Ep. 58: Eben Horton- The Glass Float Project and Creating a Phenomenon

Eben Horton is not the type of guy who needs or necessarily likes a lot of attention. Unfortunately for him that's exactly what he's been getting as of late thanks to The Glass Float Project he created. The reason he created the project is about as altruistic as it gets. Ebin simply felt as though people on Block Island needed something to do. But there was a specific event that triggered the thought which Ebin has not spoken of until this interview. Turns out a tragic accident inspired what has...

Hi-Speed Minipod #14

Ep. 57: Edie Blane (Part 2)- The Matriarch's Tale

Part two of our conversation with Block Island icon, Edie Blane.

Ep. 56: Edie Blane (Part 1)- The Matriarch's Tale

Edie Blane is a force of nature. She has spent nearly her entire life on Block Island. At 93 years old, that means that Edie has seen a lot come and go. Luckily for all of us, her memory is sharp as a tack. Her stories...are priceless. Through hurricanes, economic upturns and downturns, a world war and moped infestations Edie has observed life on Block Island with a keen eye. Her early days on Block Island could be described as hard-scrabble yet idyllic. Although life was never easy, there was a...