According to Forbes magazine, about 90% of all U.S. businesses are family-owned or controlled by a family. Balancing personal and professional interests within such an organization creates interesting opportunities—and challenges. Today we speak with Tom and Eliza Chappell, presenters at this year’s Maine Family Business Awards, and with executive director of the Institute for Family-Owned Business, Catherine Wygant Fossett.
Family Business #262
Mainers feel a fierce connection to their hometowns—and rightfully so. We are shaped by where we are raised, and in some cases have an opportunity to offer our gifts back to these communities. Today’s guests returned as adults to live and work in their hometowns. Dr. Renee Fay-Leblanc is a physician and chief medical officer at Greater Portland Health. Michael McGraw is the coach of the state champion Lewiston boys soccer team.
Hometown Proud #261 Transcription
Our bodies are the physical vessels that contain our selves. What happens when these vessels do not reflect the people we understand ourselves to be? Today we speak with singer-songwriter Cid Bullens and author and counselor Krista Haapala, about the transformations—physical, mental and emotional—that each has chosen to undergo.
Transformation of Self #260
How do we help people live, work, and play in Maine? By providing improved access to the outdoors and virtual connectivity to the greater world. Today’s guests are helping create this access: Lucas St. Clair’s family’s foundation has just donated 87,500 acres for the creation of a national monument, and Susan Corbett, president and CEO of Axiom Technologies, is bringing broadband to the most rural parts of our state.
Editor’s note: St. Clair’s interview was recorded before the foundation’s donation and President Obama’s August 24 designation of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
Photography by Fred Field
Accessing Maine #259 Transcription
Maine provides a waystation for a diversity of living creatures. Not only do we welcome human visitors to our state, but we also host critters that fly, swim and scamper. Today we speak with Rauni Kew and Derrick Daly of the Inn By the Sea about their innovative offerings for Monarch butterflies, foster dogs and New England cottontail rabbits—all on the grounds of a luxury hotel.
Photo by Matt Cosby at the Inn by the Sea
Hospitality for All Creatures, Great & Small #258 Transcription
The importance of conserving our land and resources is less controversial than it once was—what remains a conundrum is how we go about doing so. Today we discuss possible solutions with Sean Mahoney of the Conservation Law Foundation and chef Barton Seaver, advocate for ‘restorative’ seafood practices.
Maine Conservation & Restorative Seafood #257 Transcription
Photo by Heidi Kirn during the FIRST LEGO League World Championships
How do we engage children so that they are motivated to learn? For each child, this answer is different. Today’s guests have been participating in the education of Maine children both in and out of the classroom. Talya Edlund was named Maine teacher of the year in 2016. Jim Eickmann and Keith Borkowski are community members who work with students in the FIRST Lego Robotics and Odyssey of the Mind programs.
Engaging in Education #256 Transcription
Photography by Nicole Wolf & Up from Under
Many talented Mainers are working on projects that benefit people around the globe. Today we speak with two people who have used their skills to help out after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Pamela White spent several decades with the United States Agency for International Development, and served as the Ambassador to Gambia and Haiti. Nicole Wolf founded the organization Up from Under, raising money to build houses in Haiti.
Beyond Maine Borders: Haiti & Africa #255 Transcription
Authors, illustrators and artists fill many roles: from teaching to creating. We enjoy some of their creations in the books we read, both as children and adults. Today we speak with Debra Spark and Garry Mitchell, an author and an artist who are also college professors—and have been happily married for many years. We also speak with popular Maine-based children’s author/illustrator, Chris Van Dusen.
Art by Garry Mitchell. Extrovert, acrylic on panel, 2016.
Acrylic on panel
2016
Bringing Books & Art to Life #254 Transcription
How do Mainers access medical care? This depends on many factors, including geographic location and the availability of providers. The diversity of geography—from urban settings to offshore islands—presents some interesting challenges. Today we speak with several individuals who are rising to this challenge: Scott Planting and Sharon Daley of the Maine Seacoast Mission, and Dr. Peter Bates and India Stewart of the Maine Medical Center – Tufts University School of Medicine Medical School Program.
Photo by Matt Cosby
Medicine, Islands & Education #253
Art reflects the culture from which it is created. This is especially important when a culture is irreparably changed by the forced movement—through situations such as slavery and war—of its people. Today we discuss this with African art and culture scholar, Aimée Bessire, and with internationally-acclaimed children’s book illustrator, Daniel Minter
CALL & RESPONSE by Daniel Minter
Art, Crossing Cultures #252 Transcription