Maine Policy Matters

S7E2 Feeding Maine: The Fight Against Hunger in Urban and Rural Communities

In this episode, we interview Heather Paquette, Kelly Sirimoglu, and Justin Strasburger on the prevalence of food insecurity in Maine.
Resources
https://www.gsfb.org/2025-2030-strategic-plan/
https://www.prfoodcenter.org/
https://www.fullplates.org/
 
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2025/03/27/s7e2-feeding-maine-the-fight-against-hunger-in-urban-and-rural-communities/

S7E1 Climate Resilience in Maine: Protecting Communities and Infrastructure

In this episode, we feature a special host, Nicole Leblanc, who is a writer for our podcast. This episode focuses on climate resilience, Maine's efforts toward clean energy and transportation, and Maine's climate change infrastructure and will have two segments. The first will feature a one-on-one interview with Chief Engineer for the Maine Department of Transportation Joyce Taylor. The second segment will feature a panel with Sarah Curran, Judy East, and Samantha Horn.
Resources
MaineDOT's Climate Initiative
Maine Climate Council
Maine Climate Resilience Grant
Maine Adaptation Toolkit
 
Donate to Maine Policy Review: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/donate-to-maine-policy-review/
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S6E3 Harm Reduction: Compassionate Solutions to Maine’s Opioid Epidemic

In this episode, we interview Gordon Smith, Alex Rezk, Dr. Rachel Solotaroff, and Glenn Gordon on the opioid epidemic in Maine.
Resources:
https://knowyouroptions.me/
https://mainedrugdata.org/
 
Donate to Maine Policy Review: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/donate-to-maine-policy-review/
Our Website: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
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Transcript: Coming soon.
 

S6E2 Behind the Ballot: Voting Integrity in Maine with Shenna Bellows

In this episode, we interview Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on election processes, election security, the importance of local municipal elections, and semi-open primaries. This episode explores the extensive systems Maine employs to protect the democratic process. Secretary Bellows provides an in-depth look at how the state ensures every vote is counted accurately, discussing the critical roles played by officials, volunteers, and election workers at both local and state levels. These dedicated teams work together to implement a secure, transparent election process that fosters trust in the system. Maine is notably #1 in the nation in voter turnout rate due to our state’s policy of same-day voter registration, underscoring the importance of removing obstacles for people to get to the polls. The conversation highlights how rigorous planning, careful oversight, and collaborative efforts are essential to maintaining voter confidence and protecting the integrity of each election in Maine.
Absentee Voting in Maine
Donate to Maine Policy Review: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/donate-to-maine-policy-review/
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/10/29/s6e2-behind-the-ballot-voting-integrity-in-maine-with-shenna-bellows/
 

S6E1 Maine Broadband Access Part 2: Digital Equity, Attitudes, and Access

This episode is part 2 of a two-part series on the status of broadband in Maine, with today’s topic focusing on digital equity, attitudes, and access. As we discussed in part one, Maine is uniquely situated for addressing the challenge of getting broadband access to every person, from urban to rural towns, both having their own distinct set of obstacles and opportunities. We highlighted the importance of putting communities “in the driver’s seat” to make decisions about funding distribution, to choose and advocate for the entities they want to provide that Internet service, and other approaches to making reliable broadband available, depending on the needs of a town’s constituents. In this episode, we discuss broadband access in Maine with Jessica Perez, Marijke Visser, and Diane Small.
Donate to Maine Policy Review: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/donate-to-maine-policy-review/
Our Website: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/09/03/s6e1-maine-broadband-access-part-2-digital-equity-attitudes-and-access/
 

S5E8 Maine Broadband Access Part 1: History and Infrastructure

In this episode, we discuss broadband's history and infrastructure in Maine with Heather Johnson, Nick Battista, Clara McCool, and Andrew Butcher. Heather Johnson is the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, which works with statewide and local partners, private industry, and small businesses to enhance and sustain economic prosperity in Maine.
GPCOG Broadband Resources, Projects, and Programs: https://www.gpcog.org/505/Broadband
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Transcript: Coming soon

S5E7 A Conversation on Maine’s Working Waterfront: Responding to Changing Times

In this episode, Bill Zoellick, Monique Coombs, and Jeremy Garielson join us for a panel discussion on Maine’s working waterfront. The panelists discuss the waterfront’s economic and cultural significance, on-foot access, preservation, community involvement, and much more.
Scuttlebutt:
Harpswell
Brunswick 
Gouldsboro
Working Waterfront Inventory Template
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Our Website: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/07/30/s5e7-a-conversation-on-maines-working-waterfront-responding-to-changing-times/

S5E6 The Maine Difference: Championing the Humanities in a Rural State

In this episode, Samaa Abdurraqib and Mollie Cashwell join us for a panel discussion on the importance of the humanities in Maine. The panelists discuss community care, technology's impacts on the humanities, and much more.
Our Website: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/05/30/s5e6-the-maine-difference-championing-the-humanities-in-a-rural-state/

S5E5 Maine Tourism: Trends and Sustainable Hospitality (Part 2)

This episode features a one-on-one interview with Charlene Virgilio, executive director of Four Directions. Then, you’ll hear a panel discussion with Tracy Michaud, Steve Lyons, and Rauni Kew on Maine’s tourism trends and hospitality.
Tracy Michaud's coauthored Maine Policy Review article: "The Role of Aquatourism in Sustaining Maine’s Working Waterfronts" https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1940&context=mpr
 Steve Lyons's Maine Policy Review article: "Coastal Tourism in Maine" https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mpr/vol32/iss2/38/
Our Website: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
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You can access the transcript here: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2024/03/26/s5e5-maine-tourism-trends-and-hospitality-part-2/

S5E4 Maine's Tourism Sectors: Our Economy, Traditions, and Sense of Place (Part 1)

In this episode, we interview David Vail, Caroline Paras, and Stuart Kestenbaum on Maine’s Tourism Sectors.
Article on Maine's outdoor recreation economy: https://www.pressherald.com/2023/11/20/commerce-report-says-maines-outdoor-recreation-economy-grew-16-5-in-2022/
Caroline Paras's coauthored Maine Policy Review article "The Role of Aquatourism in Sustaining Maine’s Working Waterfronts" https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1940&context=mpr
Our Website: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
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You can access the transcript here: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/s5e4-maines-tourism-sectors-our-economy-traditions-and-sense-of-place/