Raising Connections
Critters, Companions, Commerce, & Agriculture: Casual yet intelligent conversation connecting topics for Rural, Suburban and Urban listeners.
Episodes
214 episodes
Beyond the Asphalt 05-11-2026
Maryland State Highway Administrators Charlie Gischlar and Andrew Radcliffe sit down with Rachann to explore the planned completion of the Westminster Community Trail Loop and unexpected facts about Maryland state highways. They pul...
Tea and the Tractor 05-04-2026
White, green, oolong, and black teas are what happen when a professional engineer applies 30 years of systems-thinking to an acidic field in Howard County. You get the first tea farm in Maryland. Lori Baker, co-owner-operator of Heron's Mead...
Take the Reins of Tradition 04-27-2026
Join Claire Lacey, President of My Lady's Manor Driving Club and Rachann, as they free wheel through the world of modern horse driving. To quote Claire “Anything you can do on horseback, you can do in a cart.” This episode drives into th...
Honey, I Shrunk the Sheep! 04-20-2026
Ever wondered why George Washington was obsessed with his sheep? This episode of Raising Connections offers a fascinating look into the history and heritage of shepherding. This week, we step into the world of Elaine Shirley, Presid...
Horses, Heartbeats, and Healing 04-13-2026
Rachann talks with Elizabeth Tate from Common Ground at Paradise Stables. They invite listeners into a safe, tactile world where equine assisted learning, breathing, and aromatherapy help shift feelings that have been shaped by fight, flight, a...
Diseases, Decisions, and Diapered Ducks 04-06-2026
Jennifer Trout, Maryland's State Veterinarian, joins Rachann to share a day in the life of the state's top vet. Dr. Trout walks us through her approach to wellness, highlighting leadership, challenges, partnerships, and preparedness efforts tha...
Field Trial Dogs and Beyond 03-30-2026
In this episode, Rachann talks with world-renowned field trial judge Trish Jackson, and conformation judge Chip Bondi. They lead us through the teamwork, preparation, and decision-making that defines the Gun Dog Sports. Gun dogs are highly trai...
Marshmallows Mingle in Westminster, MD to Have a PEEPtastic Time 03-23-2026
Stephen Strosnider, Executive Director of the Carroll County Arts Council, joins Rachann for a cheerful look at the 19th Annual PEEPSHOW held in the TownMall of Westminster, MD - March 27 - April 3, 2026. Together they explore the creativity, c...
The Unhomogenized Life: Real Milk, Real Farms, Real People 03-16-2026
On this week's podcast, Rachann is joined by Laurie Savage, one of the owners of Brown Cow Creamery. Step onto the farm and into the heart of a community where dairy farming is more than a livelihood, it’s a way of life. Follow the journey from...
Banana Ball: Music, Mayhem, and the Heart of America’s Most Fun Team, the Savannah Bananas 03-09-2026
Step into the world of the Savannah Bananas, where minor league baseball transforms into a full‑blown celebration of joy, connection, and fun. Rachann is joined by Emily Cole, one half of the husband and wife team that owns the Bananas. Dive de...
Traveling with Dogs: Comfort, Training, and Real-World Tips 03-02-2026
Traveling with a dog is a journey filled with small details that make a big difference. In this episode Rachann talks with Joyce Johnson from Fora Travel about everything from choosing the right airline or ground transport to keeping pets comfo...
Binoculars & Habitats: Birds, Migration, and the Nature Around Us 02-23-2026
In celebration of the Howard County Bird Club's 54th year, Rachann talks with club president Val Swan and longtime club member Bonnie Ott about the rhythms, surprises, and hidden patterns that shape the lives of birds across our landscapes.&nbs...
Celebrating 60 Years of the Carroll County Farm Museum with Curator Elaine Shirley 02-16-2026
In this special episode celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Carroll County Farm Museum, Rachann and Elaine explore the stories behind its remarkable collection of antiques, hand‑crafted furniture, and the farm machinery that powered generat...
Elisha Barnes and his Award-Winning Peanuts 02-09-2026
Rachann talks with Elisha Barnes, winner of the 2024 Hubbard Peanut Company Made in the South Award for Sustainability for his single-origin red-skin peanuts, about his work on a modest 12‑acre farm in the heart of Virginia. This podcast digs d...
Spirit‑Led Wellness: Mind, Body, and Nutrition with Heather Wolfe 02-02-2026
In this podcast, Rachann Mayer is joined by holistic wellness coach, nutritionist, and registered dietitian Heather Wolfe. She guides you through the ever‑evolving wellness journey with depth, compassion, and clarity, exploring the mind‑body co...
Four County Quilters Guild 01-26-2026
Rachann talks with Melinda Horner, a representative of the Four County Quilters Guild, which meets the second Tuesday of every month in Mount Airy, Maryland. The guild gets together and quilts, presents speakers who talk about quilting, and wel...
Echoes in the Dark: Inside the Lives of Bats 01-19-2026
Rachann talks with Shaun Dunn, zoologist with the Nebraska Game and Park Commission, Wildlife Division, Natural Heritage Program. Shaun takes us into the hidden world of bats: how these remarkable creatures live, from their insect‑rich diet, to...
Mariah-Belle Manor Kennel's Top Tail Wagging Toys of 2025 01-12-2026
Join Rachann Mayer, owner of Mariah-Belle Manor Kennel, as she explores the Top Toys of 2025. What toy meets the five criteria best: is it safe, durable, can it be sanitized, are there different sizes, and different uses. Do these top toys stim...
Pet CPR - Care, Prepare, Respond, or How Not to Panic 01-07-2026
Today Rachann talks about how pet owners could benefit from knowing the basics of CRP and First Aid and how to become Pet Tech CPR Certified. She breaks down what to do in common emergencies and how to stay calm when seconds matter. This episod...
Holiday Tips from Therapist Charlanne Wolff 12-29-2025
Do you get the Holiday Blues? Rachann talks with Charlanne Wolff, a licensed mental health therapist with Rooted Souls Therapy in Frederick, about the stress that the holidays can bring and some coping mechanisms we can use to help ourselves.
Raising Connections Media Holiday Greeting 12-22-2025
Happy Holidays from the staff at Raising Connections Media Company!
Mariah-Belle Manor Kennel Holiday Greeting 12-22-2025
Holiday wishes from the staff at Mariah-Belle Manor Kennel!
Celebrating 20 years of Comfort and Care with Mariah-Belle Manor’s Personal Touch 12-15-2025
Kennel owner Rachann Mayer and three long-time clients share heartfelt memories of Mariah-Belle Manor Kennel. A journey of care, trust, kindness, and a tribute to seasons of life, generosity, and the expansion that made this kennel a true famil...
The Magic of the North Pole - Reindeer in the Poconos 12-08-2025
From the Arctic to the Poconos, Rachann Mayer and Cassandra Hoover, of Spruce Ridge Reindeer Farm, explore the wonder of reindeer, the science of antlers and the challenge of ecosecurity. Listeners will discover how one woman's passion has turn...
Equine Herpes Virus: Connecting Symptoms, Spread, and Safety 11-26-2025
Whether you are a horse owner, barn manager, or industry professional, this episode connects information from The Equiery, Maryland State Veterinarian Jennifer Trout DVM, and Krista Estell DVM of the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) a...