Ben Cunningham is a multifaceted Artist and Storyteller whose recent story aired on the Growing Up Black episode of Stories from The Stage (a nationally televised collaboration of WORLD Channel with GBH and Tell & Act). This powerful episode is the 2021 winner of the 25th Annual Webby Awards in Virtual & Remote: Arts & Culture. He has performed at the Norman Rockwell Museum, the ICA in Boston, and most recently was the keynote speaker at the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod. Ben Cunningham also teaches the art of storytelling by providing innovative workshops and performances for educators, children and adults. Ben enjoys Thyme Honey with Tahitian Vanilla tea by Yogi Teas (sadly, both are discontinued).

Julie Carrick Dalton is the author of novels The Last Beekeeper and Waiting for the Night Song, a CNN, USA Today and Newsweek Most Anticipated novel and a People’s Choice Award Winner from the New Hampshire Writers’ Project. A journalist with a background in agriculture and beekeeping, she is a frequent speaker on the topic of fiction in the age of climate crisis at universities, museums, and conferences. The mother of four humans and two dogs, Julie loves to garden, ski, kayak, and drizzle honey over yogurt with a sprinkle of granola.

Amy Gray is a Maine girl living in exile and a budding writer working on two book proposals -- her memoir about growing up in central Maine, and a non-fiction title for entrepreneurs whose overly generous impulses sabotage long-term success. Amy founded her business, New Leaf, 22 years ago to serve as the personal speaker's agent for powerful and deeply good people like Steve Wozniak, the Co-Founder of Apple, and Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes. She lives in Marblehead MA with her charming British husband, Alf Wilson, and their 11 year old son. Her favorite way to enjoy honey, is her own creation: The Honey Affogato - vanilla gelato topped with a drizzle of honey and a hot espresso shot.

Ann Vernon Malik is the founder and CEO of Jasmine Seven, a brand of products for active families, but her true passion is teaching meditation, mindfulness, and mindset. @meditatingmoms Ann, a beacon of positivity, conquered advanced cancer with grace, showcasing the strength of the human spirit through self-empowerment and personal transformation. She loves life while skiing in Vermont with her family and paddle boarding in Rhode Island with her dog. Ann enjoys honey with peanut butter, adding sweetness to her vibrant life.

Susan Munter listens for a living. As a veteran of the Boston agency scene, she has worked as a Brand Strategist alongside the best and brightest at Digitas, Mullen, PJA, and Hill Holiday. In 2015 Susan started an agency collaborative, Branding Band - where missions mean business. Branding Band promotes purpose-driven organizations (for-profit and nonprofit) that are on a mission to increase revenue and amplify their impact. Branding Band has launched 8 startup brands, 5 in biotech, and 3 co-located in China. Susan says honey is just a conduit to the perfect cup of tea!

Don Picard has worked in the Boston area for 30 years as a software developer. He was a double major in Theatre Arts and Computer Science at Cornell, and chose to work as an engineer in order to be able to live in Cambridge and feed his family. Don enjoys telling live stories about his kids, husband, and extended family as it is fun, therapeutic, and allows him to exercise the other half of his college degree so he doesn't become bitter. Don's favorite way to eat honey is the same as his favorite way to eat any sweet - baked inside a cookie.

Elsa Scott has always loved telling stories. She graduated from Boston University with a BS in Journalism in 2022, and truly believes in the power of sharing experiences, memories, mistakes, hopes, and dreams. Through her role as the marketing coordinator at The Best Bees Company, she is able to create and share the company’s mission and hopes for a greener, more sustainable future. Elsa’s favorite way to eat honey is rooted in her musical background; at every gig she played, she would have a thermos full of hot herbal tea and honey to soothe and protect her vocal chords while singing. Even though she doesn’t perform much anymore, she still finds a cup of herbal tea, with a generous spoonful of honey, to be soothing and grounding!

Gabrielle Svenning: It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” and then there is Gabrielle Svenning who used it for her yearbook quote. Born with the gift of gab and the name to back it up, Gabby has done her best to live in the spirit of Emerson, channeling her “joi de vivre” into various interests and vocations including, but not limited to, education, marriage, motherhood and a career in communications. When she’s not at the dog park with her family’s 2 rescues, Eddie and Floyd, or bargain shopping at Savers or TJ's she can be found cuddling in bed with Eddie and Floyd watching True Crime while eating english muffins slathered in creamy peanut butter and honey.