About - Granite Goodness

Hi there, and welcome to GRANITE GOODNESS!

I’m Andy DeMeo.

Myself (right) and Jesse Lore of Green Wave Electric Vehicles in Rye, NH

At Granite Goodness, we interview New Hampshire people making the world a better place and share stories of progress, problem solving, and positivity in and around the Granite State.

Why “Granite Goodness?”

For those unfamiliar with New Hampshire, it's often called the Granite State due to its abundant granite formations and historic quarries.

Our logo is a tribute to New Hampshire’s most iconic symbol—the Old Man of the Mountain, a cliffside rock formation in northern NH that resembled the profile of an old man's face. Naturally formed over thousands of years, this series of granite ledges became a cherished state emblem, appearing on road signs, license plates, and the state's quarter. The Abenaki people refer to it as “Stone Face.”

Though the Old Man collapsed in 2003 due to natural erosion, it remains a beloved symbol of New Hampshire’s spirit. Today, visitors can view a memorial with metal "profilers" that recreate its silhouette.

People can also visit granitegoodness.com to see the Old Man envisioned as a COOL OPTIMIST

Why I do this

I created Granite Goodness because I believe:

We owe it to those who came before us—and those who will come after us—to make the world a better place. My ancestors worked incredibly hard to give me the opportunities I’ve had in life, and I feel a deep responsibility to pay that forward. Also, improving the world is fun.
Optimism, kindness, and the will to solve complex problems are infectious qualities. We need more of it. Being aware of positivity and progress leaves people more inspired to create their own.

Those ideas aren’t uniquely mine, and many organizations have been working toward similar goals for years. Their dedication inspired me to launch Granite Goodness, with the hope of bringing an optimistic perspective to the state I love.

Progress Studies / Journalism

This work isn’t just feel-good storytelling—it’s a rational, pragmatic approach to how we view the world. A few of my heroes explain it better than I ever could:

Angus Hervey, Fix the News
"When we only tell the stories of doom, we fail to see the stories of possibility."
"If we want to change the story of humanity this century, we have to start changing the stories we tell ourselves."

Zachary Karabell, The Progress Network
"We live in a time marked by pessimism. Battered daily by negative headlines and facing a post-COVID world whose problems seem manifold and everlasting, it’s easy to assume we are heading for disaster. It may be that the story of chaos and collapse will prove to be true. If so, the information and analysis undergirding that view are readily available. We need little help making those arguments."
"But what if it’s not true? The ideas and evidence for the opposite outcome, largely unheard, exist in equal measure."

Max Roser & Hannah Ritchie, Our World in Data
"An accurate understanding of how global health and poverty are improving leaves no space for cynicism. Those who are optimistic about the future can base their view on the knowledge that it is possible to change the world for the better—because they know that we did."

These thinkers focus on global progress, but my interest is a little more local!

About Me

New Hampshire has always been my home, and it is an extraordinary place. I grew up in Londonderry (LHS Class of 2013), but over the years, I’ve lived in Manchester, Bedford, Durham, Newmarket, Meredith, Keene, Dover, Portsmouth, and Rollinsford. Today, I live in New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington Valley on a farm with my wife, Jess, a little dog named Rooster, and a big dog named Arnold Schwarzenegger (who we call Arnie).

GRANITE GOODNESS is my love letter to New Hampshire, the people that have lived any part of their story here, and anyone else orienting toward optimism and community over fear and loneliness.

If that resonates with you, subscribe to get the latest:

✅ Good News in NH newsletter

✅ Granite Goodness podcast episodes

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🎥 Video recordings of episodes are on our YouTube channel and our website
🎧 Listen to episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you get podcasts

If you’d like to be a guest, suggest someone, or just say hello, reach out at hello@granitegoodness.com or connect on social media.

Thanks for checking us out!

- Andy

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GRANITE GOODNESS is about OPTIMISM in New Hampshire. We interview NH problem solvers and share stories of progress & solutions in and around the Granite State.

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Granite Goodness

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GRANITE GOODNESS is about OPTIMISM in New Hampshire. We interview New Hampshire people making the world a better place and share stories of progress and positivity in the Granite State.