DEBUT! 10/20/21 50+ Aging in Rural Maine: “A View From Augusta”-What the Maine Legislature Did in 2021 for Older Mainers

Producer/Host: Suzanne Carmichael, AARP Maine volunteer

Issues that AARP Maine worked on during the 2021 Maine legislative session
-New retirement savings plan
-Prescription drug bills
-Internet bills
-Long-term family caregiver issues
-Relevance of voting laws to older Mainers
-New law protecting vulnerable road users

Guests:
Japhet Els, Advocacy and Outreach Director for AARP Maine
Bridget Quinn, Advocacy and Outreach Director for AARP Maine

About the host:

Suzanne Spitz Carmichael is a retired public interest attorney. She was the Executive Director/lobbyist for three state-wide Ralph Nader consumer groups (Ohio, New York & Maine). Another position was as Maine’s first state-wide ombudsman (for the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.) She has also been a freelance journalist writing primarily for the New York Times and other national publications. Other professional work included a stint as the Associate Producer of documentaries for the Seattle NBC affiliate for which she won a regional Emmy, and two jobs directing grant-making foundations. Suzanne has also offered public relations workshops and consulting services for non-profits and artists throughout the country. She notes that “My only background concerning issues facing older Mainers is that I’m 77, have lived in Deer Isle year ’round since 1997, and seem to always be analyzing issues as they happen to me or folks I know.”

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Tough Island, Maine, Episode 10 10/19/21: Island Life on Matinicus

Producer/Host: Crash Barry

This week on Tough Island, Maine, a poem about the telephone company guy and a disturbing suicide shocks the island. Also Crash’s wife performs a beautiful rendition of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s Sonnet #36.

About the host:
Writer Crash Barry lives near a cannabis grove in the foothills of western Maine. Thirty years ago, he moved to Matinicus, Maine’s most remote inhabited island, to live and work as a sternman aboard a lobster boat. In Tough Island, Maine, Crash retells his misadventures using dramatic storytelling and unique sound design.

For over 25 years, Crash has worked as print, radio and on-line journalist, reporting on the intersection of politics and culture. He’s the author of the rollicking novel Sex, Drugs and Blueberries, a gritty memoir Tough Island and the true story of Marijuana Valley. Crash is also a filmmaker and wrote and directed the screen adaptation of Sex, Drugs and Blueberries.

Crash’s podcast Devils and Dirtbags is an ongoing investigation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts and a true tale of deceit, homicide, molestations and cover ups. The actions of evil Bishops and their unholy henchmen play out like a Hollywood movie, rife with death, destruction and disgrace, all framed by a murder mystery that haunted Springfield until an ex-priest made a deathbed confession. Crash tracked down both the murderer and another former priest, a serial child rapist that served as pastor of Crash’s childhood parish, to see if they felt guilt for their sins and crimes.

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Downeast Diversity 10/19/21- Stories of People and Culture in Maine: Indigenous 2021

Producer/Host: Alyne Cistone

Downeast Diversity: Stories of People and Culture

Indigenous 2021
-A special episode to commemorate and celebrate Indigenous People Day
-Musical feature by Firefly, a member of the Penobscot Nation
-Jason(Firefly) and Donna lead the community in celebrating IPD.

Guest: Firefly, Musician and keeper of Penobscot traditions.

About the host:
Alyne has two decades experience working in law, government, and the nonprofit sector. As Founder and CEO of Global Tides, she manages the day-to-day operations including Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction and Leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy. Given her ability to bridge cultures, she is a sought-after adviser and for almost a decade, has served and continues to serve on the Board of Trustees at College of the Atlantic where she Co-Chairs the Board DEI Taskforce amongst other key roles. She is currently an Advisor for Greenlight Maine and has previously served as an advisor for the Maine Community Foundation Hancock Committee, and the MDI Hospital Women’s Health Center. Alyne has also served as a mentor for the Maine New Leadership and the Mandela-Washington Fellowship programs. Alyne has experience and a background in building strategic partnerships for businesses both nationally and internationally and as reflected in her recent appointment to the MITC Board.

She also serves on the Maine Conservation Voters Board, and volunteers for other numerous organizations across Maine.

Alyne’s work has been featured by TEDx Dirigo, Mainebiz, Maine Women Magazine, Maine Public Broadcasting and others.

She resides on Mount Desert Island with her family.

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Outside the Box 10/19/21: “What’s a Crime?”

Producer/Host: Larry Dansinger

About the host:
Larry Dansinger (no pronouns) of Bangor came to Maine in 1974 and has been here ever since. Some of Larry’s activities since then: Done community organizing on numerous issues through INVERT and then Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC), committed civil disobedience several times, grown a garden yearly since 1977, joined various food cooperatives and two men’s groups, refused to pay federal income taxes for war, lived on a community land trust for 23 years, and met a wonderful partner whom Larry has loved for over 40 years. Larry has produced Outside the Box features on WERU since 2007 and continues to look for unique ways of seeing almost any problem or situation.

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Poetry Express 10/17/21: “In Defense of Women Wearing High Heels in Action Movies”

“In Defense of Women Wearing High Heels in Action Movies” by Portland, ME Poet Laureate Maya Williams, read by the poet

About the host:
Jan Bindas-Tenney is a trans non-binary and queer writer, reader, fighter, lover, friend and parent living on unceded Abenaki land. They hold an MFA in nonfiction from University of Arizona. Their writing has appeared in the opinion pages of Maine newspapers, in legislative testimony, as well as in Orion, Guernica, Gulf Coast, Arts & Letters, CutBank, the Maine Review, among other places. They work at the Maine Humanities Council where they curate a weekly poetry feature on WERU Community Radio called Poetry Express.

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Pet Sounds 10/17/21: Heavy Metals: Iron and Zinc

Producer/Host: Dr. John Hunt

About the host:

My Sunday morning short has been running for about 11 years. I’ve cover a wide range of animal related topics from COVID to porcupines.

After graduating from Michigan State University Veterinary School in 1982 I practiced at three different veterinary hospitals in the Hartford, Conn area for 5 years. Then I bought a small part time clinic in Bucksport and turned it into a full time small animal surgery and medicine hospital. From 1987 to 2014 I enjoyed serving the Bucksport-Orland area pet owners. My kids grew up in Bucksport. I was a Boy Scoutmaster for a few years, and coached cross country and track in the Bucksport school system for 20 years. I’ve written three books working on a fourth.

I sold my practice and retired from practicing medicine in 2014. Since “retiring” I’ve continued Pet Sounds and my monthly Lets Talk Animals show on WERU. I’ve been teaching at local community colleges, officiating at high school track meets, writing and started a blog on line.

I enjoy hiking, reading, writing and anticipate spending more time with my first grandchild.

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