Elven Star Podcast

What if one person could change how an entire city’s children connect with food and nature? 🌱In this inspiring Ep 12 of the Elven Star Podcast with host Kevin Ferry, Joey Listro shares how New Britain ROOTS brought gardens to all 13 schools in New Britain, giving kids hands-on access to gardening, greenhouses, pollinators, and fresh food.From school gardens and beehives to mobile farmers markets and food justice, Joey reveals how one grassroots idea grew into a citywide movement changing lives through education, sustainability, and community action.Discover how gardening is helping kids eat healthier, learn sustainability, and reconnect with nature—one school at a time.If you care about urban farming, community change, food justice, and empowering children, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.Subscribe for more stories of people making a real difference.Watch more clips here: https://www.youtube.com/@ElvenStarPodcast/videos

Discover an inspiring story of resilience and growth. One person's dream transformed a small farm, creating opportunities for children to learn about nature, bees, and food origins. A testament to making a huge difference.Watch more clips here: https://www.youtube.com/@ElvenStarPodcast/videos

Valuable insight into overcoming children's food hesitations by encouraging exposure and positive experiences with unfamiliar produce.

In this powerful episode of The Elven Star Podcast, host Kevin Ferry sits down with Joe Tropea—the owner of Connecticut’s beloved Angelo’s Market.Joe shares his incredible journey from growing up in rural Italy without electricity or running water to building a successful life in the United States. His story is one of grit, sacrifice, and determination, shaped by his family’s immigration and their deep roots in New Britain, Connecticut—a city known for its rich Italian-American heritage.Throughout the conversation, Joe reflects on the values his parents instilled in him—hard work, resilience, and the importance of family. He also reveals how those lessons helped him rise from working in a market as a young boy to eventually owning it himself. Along the way, he shares heartfelt memories, hilarious stories from his upbringing, and insights into how his family continues its legacy—even maintaining a market in Rome, Italy today.But this episode goes beyond one man’s success. Joe’s journey represents the classic American dream—how immigrants built better lives through perseverance, community, and staying true to their roots.💡 In this episode, you’ll discover: • The reality of growing up in rural Italy • The immigrant journey to America • How hard work creates opportunity • The importance of family and community • Lessons for success in business and lifeThis episode is filled with inspiration, real-life wisdom, and timeless lessons on what it truly takes to succeed—and why honoring your roots matters more than ever.

Kevin Ferry hosts the Elven Star Podcast, featuring everyday people doing meaningful work in their communities. Built on the belief that we often look in the wrong places for guidance, the show pushes back against social media’s algorithm-driven version of truth. Instead, it offers honest, unfiltered conversations with humble changemakers who give without seeking recognition. Elven Star highlights the power of human connection, trust, and shared purpose—reminding us that understanding and peace begin with our neighbors and grow from within.