North of Normal marks one year on Littleton radio

By AI, Created 10:03 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Amanda McKeen’s weekly show on North Country Community Radio is celebrating its first year by keeping the same formula: unscripted, long-form interviews with people across Northern New Hampshire. The program has drawn listeners with personal stories, local voices and a low-pressure format that puts conversation ahead of promotion.

Why it matters: - North of Normal has become a local platform for hearing the stories behind familiar names across the North Country. - The show’s format gives guests time and space to share personal history, challenges and perspective, not just job titles or promotions. - The program’s growth reflects a broader shift in how audiences find local stories, with many listeners arriving through word of mouth, search and shared episodes.

What happened: - North of Normal with Amanda McKeen is marking its one-year anniversary this June on North Country Community Radio, 99.9 FM in Littleton, New Hampshire. - The show airs live every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and is available later as a podcast. - McKeen built the program around long-form, one-on-one conversations that can run beyond an hour. - The show keeps a fixed approach: conversations are unscripted, guests are invited rather than booked, and the focus stays on understanding people.

The details: - Guests over the past year have included journalist Mike Dickerman, Theatre UP’s Lynne Grigelevich, NH Fish & Game Lt. Mark Ober, local business owners Barbara Emmons and Ron Lahout, and students from the Lisbon Regional High School Broadcasting Class. - In one episode, Dickerman recalled an early security job at the Mount Washington Hotel and a bat encounter that listeners remembered. - In another, Emmons discussed adopting her son, and listeners responded with support in the days after the broadcast. - An episode with outdoorsman Neal Brodien covered decades in the White Mountains, including early search-and-rescue work and decision-making in rescue situations. - Brodien described one Mount Washington rescue as a chain of errors, saying, “It wasn’t one mistake. It was a number of cascading mistakes that he made, starting in his living room.” - McKeen also appeared in an unscripted interview in December, speaking about growing up in rural Maine and moving as a teenager to Central and South America. - McKeen said those moves left her with a long-running sense of being unsafe, until arriving in New Hampshire after personal challenges changed that feeling. - McKeen said the shift affected how she related to other people and helped shape the show’s listening-first approach. - One listener wrote, “I have been binge listening through the episodes. I am hooked,” and said McKeen “doesn’t get in the way of her guests’ story.” - The same listener said the show leaves them “with a feeling of connection” and “a wide array of humanity.” - Another listener said it was “awesome to hear Neal’s voice and stories” and told McKeen to “Keep doing what you’re doing.” - McKeen is also the founder of Clear View Advantage, a Littleton-based business focused on aligning online presence with real-world work. - Past episodes are available at the podcast archive.

Between the lines: - The show’s appeal appears rooted in restraint: McKeen avoids steering guests toward promotion and lets stories emerge at their own pace. - That approach gives the program a civic feel, turning familiar local figures into fuller human portraits. - McKeen’s own background helps explain the format. The show is built on safety, trust and listening rather than performance.

What’s next: - North of Normal will keep its current format as it enters year two. - Guests will continue to come through personal connections and recommendations, often starting with an introduction or coffee conversation. - The show will continue airing live on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. on North Country Community Radio.

The bottom line: - North of Normal has found a niche by doing less, not more: no script, no sales pitch and no rush, just time for people in the North Country to be heard.