The Little Local Conversations podcast focuses on people, places, stories of Watertown, and recently host Matt Hanna sat down with former State Rep. and political activist Jon Hecht, the Mosesian Center for the Arts’ new executive director, and a filmmaker who calls Watertown home. In addition, he spoke with the owner and chef of Ritcey East; and a first time author and long time a community volunteer. He also got the latest local government update.
Episode 68: Jon Hecht (Political Activist / Former Town Councilor and State Representative)
Meet Jon Hecht! He’s a longtime contributor to the Watertown community from being a town councilor, a state representative for the area, the first president of the Watertown Community Foundation and many other involvements. In this conversation we get into his early work with human rights in China, his first steps into local politics and joining the town council, helping create and being the first chair of the council’s budget and fiscal oversight committee, working on open space and park projects, and then his path into becoming a state representative and using the platform to continue improvements in Watertown. Then we switch into his current work on legislative reform and the question he’s working to get on the ballot for next year that he believes would open up the state legislative process to be more equitable for committee members and open to the public.
Local Government Update, November 2025
Listen to the latest conversation with Tyler Cote, the Community Engagement Specialist for the City of Watertown, and Victoria Weichel from WCA-TV to discuss things that have happened during the past month in Watertown through key moments, success stories, and important numbers.
Episode 69: Aliana de la Guardia (Mosesian Center for the Arts)
Meet Aliana de la Guardia! She’s the Executive Director at the Mosesian Center for the Arts and a working artist herself. In this conversation we dig into her path into opera, what it’s like to be a professional singer in the avant-garde world (from Cheerios to puppets and more), the behind-the-scenes of running Guerilla Opera for many years, and what led her to a sabbatical and rethinking of her direction. Then we talk about her joining the Mosesian Center for the Arts, the relationships she’s building, and some of the new ideas she’s bringing into the mix.
Creative Chats With Guest Margo Guernsey (Capturing and Sharing Unheard)
This is a recording from a series for the podcast at the Mosesian Center for the Arts called Creative Chats. This conversation was with Margo Guernsey, documentary director/producer, impact strategist, and founder of Time Travel Productions LLC. The conversation digs into Margo’s approach to outreach and impact through discussing some of her recent projects, including THE OFFICIALS, a documentary about the work of US election officials.
Episode 67: Max Ritcey (Ritcey East, Owner and Chef)
Meet Max Ritcey! He’s the Owner and Chef at Ritcey East here in Watertown. In this conversation we talk about growing up in a four-generation family-run restaurant in Waltham, his journey through bartending and restaurant management jobs (and some of the funny stories from that era), and then finally landing his own spot here in Watertown. We dig into how it was important for his restaurant to be a welcoming space that helps people in small and big ways, from driving groceries to his employees throughout covid, to being available to chat and get to know customers, and even helping provide the space to feel comfortable himself as a trans male during his transition. Throughout the conversation we weave in how much he loves Watertown and giving to the community where he can and how it’s a truly special place.
Episode 66: Jon Bockian (Community Volunteer / Author)
Meet Jon Bockian! He’s a longtime Watertown resident with a history of community involvement and an author. In this conversation we talk about being part of the PTA, Zoning Board, the group that started the arts center at the Arsenal property, a group that pushed for a Watertown Transportation Management Association, and being one of the first members of the Community Preservation Committee. Then we change topics to his new book What Was Forbidden, and the process of researching and writing a novel with philosophy, history, murder, romance, and mystery, and how he’s surprising himself with the good reviews he’s received as a first time author.