Story & Lesson Highlights with Zachary Lamothe of Plymouth

Zachary Lamothe shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Zachary, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Travel, especially with my kids. Although with them in tow can be difficult, it is ultimately a joy. I have three sons; they are currently ages 10, 6, and 3. This presents a challenge since all of them are at different levels with different interests. My oldest loves sports, my middle child enjoys hands-on activities and crafts, while my youngest is still at an age where he bulldozes through everything. This can make travel a real challenge, but I hope that all three take away something from every journey we go on, similar to what I was able to experience as a child traveling with my own parents to various locations.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Zack Lamothe. I am an author of five non-fiction books that range in topic from folklore of Connecticut to distilleries in Massachusetts. My writing journey has gone from “spirits” to “spirits” or “boos” to “booze”. Additionally, I run the New England-based travel website, Backyard Road Trips, and co-host the podcast of the same name. Through all of my writing, I champion the idea of meaningful travel on the local level. Being a parent and working a full-time job makes it difficult to be jet-setting around the world. Instead, I advocate for exploring fully what is in your own literal and figurative backyard.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I knew this from a young age, but my relationship with my parents ultimately shaped me the most. The way they raised me with a desire to learn has been an unwavering force inside me. I strive to explore new places, even ones only a few miles from my home. All of this stemmed from my parents. My father provided me with cultural influences, especially the exposure to music of all kinds. My mother was always the travel planner. She’d take me along with them on day trips exploring the lives of poets like Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost, or to larger trips to cities such as Vancouver, Pittsburgh, or Ottawa, which for many families were not vacation destinations.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
After college, I started on my career path to become a teacher. I went to graduate school and then started teaching. Although I enjoyed the profession, after a few very negative experiences, I felt that this may not be for me. At that point, at age 27, I thought deeply about what I’d want to do if I could do anything. I had always needed a creative outlet in my life. At that age, I started to write. Within a year, I had a contract for my first book, Connecticut Lore, which was largely based on my college thesis. I needed to hit that roadblock professionally to be able to fully grasp what I wanted to do for my life’s work. I took a job at a seemingly random school while I wrote the book. Ironically, fifteen years later, I’ve been working there ever since and have been able to balance my two careers as a writer and as a teacher, both of which I enjoy fully. Had I not had that struggle, I wouldn’t have gotten to a place of reconsidering my career and my eventual career as an author.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Life is hard… and expensive. I get that completely. But as I get older, I value time as much as, or truthfully, more so than money. Balancing my jobs as a teacher and a writer allows me to get more time “off” than most people. Off is in quotes because when I’m not in the classroom, I am often still working, but the field work and research I do for my books and articles is more often than not pure fun. I go myself, or with my family, on adventures that I write about! I might not have the biggest paycheck, but I am elated that I have been able to see each of my children grow and get to spend so much quality time with them while still providing for my family. That is more valuable than living in a million-dollar home or driving an expensive car any day.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I could, and often do. As a writer, I never know what is going to hit. Meaning, some articles I write are published, and hardly anyone will read them, even when I took loads of time working on them. Others may have been a quick write and are widely read. Some of my books have become regionally popular (since they all deal with geographic locations), while others never seemed to take off. Either way, my best is put in, but the results have varied.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
the barn picture is by Jim Wheeler, me with the oysters is Adam Mannar, me and my son Danny is by Jaclyn Lamothe

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