A place that doesn’t exist… but somehow feels like home
When Fred started talking about Frost Heaves on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast Episode 24, I was immediately right back in it.
Because if you’ve ever heard him before, you know — Frost Heaves may be fictional, but it feels completely real.
It’s every small New Hampshire town rolled into one.
The roads are bumpy.
The people are unforgettable.
The stories are just ridiculous enough to be believable.
And my favorite part? The whole thing started because someone from away thought “Frost Heaves” on a road sign was the name of a town.
I mean… that’s just perfect.
From there, Ken built this entire world — and Fred Marple became the voice that brings it to life.
“Just because someone is wrong doesn’t mean they’re evil. We can still talk to each other. We can still laugh together.”
The kind of humor that makes you lean in
What I love about Fred’s humor is that it’s not trying too hard.
It’s playful. It’s a little quirky. It’s very New England.
And it feels familiar.
We talked about the Hay Festival — which exists simply because all the good festivals were already taken. Strawberry, pumpkin, zucchini… gone. So Frost Heaves got hay.
Of course it did.
Then there’s the Miss Hay Bale contest — and yes, Viola Eldridge, age 82 and still technically a “Miss,” absolutely stole the show for me.
And the community theater group?
Frost Heaves Artist Repertory Theater. F.A.R.T.
I mean… come on.
But here’s the thing — you’re laughing the whole time, and you don’t even realize how much heart is underneath it.
There’s more behind the laughter than you think
This is where the conversation really stayed with me.
Because yes, Fred is funny.
But what Ken is doing through Fred is something much deeper.
He’s telling stories about people.
Real moments. Real emotions. Real experiences — just with a little twist.
On Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, he talked about how so many of these stories come from things he’s seen or heard. And then he reshapes them, gives them that Frost Heaves lens, and suddenly they become something both funny and meaningful.
There was one story about a little boy bringing homemade cookies that started out light… and ended up feeling incredibly kind.
And that’s the balance.
You laugh.
And then you feel something.
And honestly, that’s not easy to do.
And yes… we had to talk about food
Of course I had to ask what the dining scene looks like in Frost Heaves.
And it did not disappoint.
There’s the Frost Heaves House of Pizza — with specials like Campaign Promise Pizza and Fall Foliage Pizza.
The Blue Bell Diner — where apparently everything comes with gravy. And yes, I believe that.
And the Peabody Inn… which sounds like a place you go once and then spend years telling stories about.
And as funny as all of that is?
It also feels real.
Because every small town has those places. The diner. The pizza spot. The local favorite that somehow becomes part of people’s routines and memories.
That’s what makes it work.
The books — and why people love them
We also talked about Fred’s books — Welcome to Frost Heaves and Utter Nonsense: More Tales from Frost Heaves — and I have to say, they’re exactly what you’d hope they would be.
The second one is organized by seasons, which just feels so New Hampshire.
And what I love is that it’s not just stories.
It’s the little details.
The news nuggets.
The police logs.
The tiny moments that make a place feel alive.
It’s something you can pick up, read a little of, laugh, and come back to later.
And honestly? It makes such a great gift.
What stayed with me most
There was a moment near the end of this conversation that really stuck.
Because Fred said something simple… but important.
We need to laugh.
Especially right now.
And not just laugh — but remember that we can still talk to each other. We can still connect. We can still find common ground, even when we don’t agree.
That matters.
Because it’s easy to get caught up in everything going on around us.
And then something like this comes along and reminds you to take a step back.
To listen.
To smile.
To enjoy the moment.
And honestly, I think we need more of that.
Final thoughts
This episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast was just plain fun.
But it was also thoughtful.
Warm.
A little nostalgic.
And full of that kind of humor that feels like sitting around with people who just get it.
So if you haven’t discovered Fred Marple yet, go.
Pick up the books.
Go to a show.
Spend a little time in Frost Heaves.
You might not find it on a map…
But it sure feels real when you’re there.
🎧 Listen to Episode 24 of Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast
Watch and listen to my full conversation with Fred Marple (Ken Sheldon) and step into the world of Frost Heaves for yourself.
Because sometimes, the best thing you can do…
is just laugh.
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ABOUT CAROL ERICKSON
Carol Erickson has owned Red Arrow Diner since 1987 -- four locations across New Hampshire, open 24/7. She started Beyond the Plate to tell the real stories behind the people who make New England's food and hospitality scene what it is. Not just what's on the menu. What's behind it.
Red Arrow Diner: redarrowdiner.com | @redarrow24diner