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Q & A WITH RACHEL HOLT

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WITH NEW ENGLAND LIVING TV HOST Rachel Holt

As she began her fourth season of hosting New England Living on CBS Boston, Rachel Holt sat down with NEL Magazine to share why she loves connecting with communities across New England.

Q: Four seasons! How does that feel?

A: It is crazy that we are already heading into our fourth season— it’s flying by! As we continue to build off the previous seasons, I feel like each year just keeps getting better and better. Every time we start shooting a new season, we’re so thrilled to see new places and explore even more of New England.

Q: Tell us about an episode that opened your eyes to something you didn't know about before.

A: This past season we had the opportunity to go to Camden, Maine, for an entire episode. Camden is incredibly beautiful, and everyone should go if they get the chance! It’s a quaint seacoast town where people are really proud of their history. Going through the town, we were able to experience so many different activities, from antique cars to homemade dog biscuits. One segment that really stuck out was our voyage with the Maine Windjammer Association. We went out on a schooner and met some of the most adventurous people from all walks of life. It was so eye-opening. You can see this beautiful part of Maine by land but seeing it from the ocean is just an incredibly different experience.

Q: It sounds like you really enjoyed the schooner adventure.

A: It was a blast! The boats in this fleet date back to the 1800s, so you're walking on this incredible vessel that was built so long ago and just taking it all in. I was so impressed by the captains who go on these trips and dedicate their life to being at sea. Seeing the cabins they stay in and how they live was incredibly interesting. There is a lot involved in running this kind of boat. Watching everyone helping out and in action, doing everything together was amazing. We had a wonderful lunch with everyone on the deck, and it was very smooth sailing. This was my first time on a schooner, but hopefully not my last.

Q: I'm sure you notice that each community you visit has a different feel, but do you get a sense of similarities as well?

A: That's the beauty of New England. There are six states, and they're all a little different, but at the heart of it, we've met so many hardworking, generous, kind people who follow their passion in life. That is one of the best things about this show. We've had so many great experiences traveling around and meeting different people who have built a life or a career out of what they love in a place they love. They are going about their lives, but I get the sense they are also excited to share something that's happening in their hometown.

It makes me so happy when someone can be so proud of where they come from or about something unique to where they live. New England is a place that I've long loved, and I feel a sense of pride in all the states around us. Especially living in Boston, I'm always excited to show off the city to my friends or family who come to visit. I love that the people we talk to are as excited as I am about where they live because New England has so much to offer.

Q: Why does this mean so much to you?

A: We are thrilled to be able to capture the sense of local pride and share it with our viewers. One of the show’s goals is to open people’s eyes to a new experience, place, or business that is a car ride away. We’ve met so many interesting people, and it is always a blast when we can do something we've never done before and highlight these new adventures on the show. I love being able to share that with our viewers.

Q: Can you give an example?

A: This past season we went to a place called Lowell's Boat Shop in Amesbury. It is the oldest operating boat shop in America, and personally, I hadn't heard about it before we visited. They took us out on a dory, and we also got some great drone footage of the Merrimack River area. It's places like that, which someone perhaps hasn't heard about even though they may have lived in Massachusetts all their life, that is kind of a thrill to tell people about. Everyone seemed to love that episode because they said, “I didn't even know that existed there!”

Q: So you do get feedback from viewers who have enjoyed different episodes?

A: Yes, and I love hearing from viewers! We get comments on social media, or people see us when we are out and about filming. One of my favorite things is when someone comes to me and says, “Hey, we tried out this place that you guys featured, or we went up to Camden, and we had a great experience.” That, to me, is such a win. If someone can learn something from what we did on the show, it’s so gratifying.

Q: Let’s talk about food. Do you ever have to taste things on the show that you're not sure you will like?

A: I really love the food component of the show. Whenever I see that we are eating as part of a shoot, I always circle it in the calendar. I don't think workdays get much better than that. Anytime you get award-winning chefs in the kitchen, I'm so excited to see what they come up with. And there isn't one thing I can think of that I wouldn't eat—I’m being very honest here —so there hasn’t been anything I haven't enjoyed trying on the show.

The one thing I’m trying to become better with is eating on camera. Looking graceful and eating food are two things that don't go hand in hand for me. We did a clambake segment with Woodman's of Essex seafood restaurant, and it was utterly delicious, but that is not the most elegant of meals you'll ever have in your life. You're eating corn on the cob, cracking into these beautiful lobsters, and it all gets a little messy. It has been so much fun doing those kinds of segments, but I will definitely have to learn some more graceful eating skills.

Q: We know the show airs in spring and summer, but any suggestions for colder weather adventures in New England?

A: I think camping in the fall in New England is one of the best times to get out there when the weather isn't too hot. We went to Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, and I think that would be an amazing early fall or spring experience. I like to find interesting bookstores and get some good reading material to enjoy indoors. And I feel like I've said this in every issue, but I love watching New England sports! So much is brewing right now, with the Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins seasons in full swing, and then the Red Sox have spring training coming in February and March. So that is the best cold winter fun in my book!

New England Living airs Sundays at 11:30 a.m. on WBZ-TV/CBS Boston Channel 4 from March through September. To see past episodes, visit cbsboston.com/ newenglandliving.com