For this episode, Matt speaks with Melanie Ferris, President-elect of the Board at the Minnesota Public Health Association about the public health repercussions of ICE operations in Minnesota, and our very own backyard here in Maine. 

Originally recorded in August 2025, this episode of Healthy Maine Talks features Henry Frank and Ethan Baker of LifeFlight of Maine, a nonprofit committed to ensuring that every person, in every community in Maine, has access to critical care and medical transport. Big thank you to MPHA's summer intern, Tara Sangal, for hosting and producing this episode!

*This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*

For this episode Matt interviews Bruce King, Executive Director of Maine Boys to Men, an organization that works to empower boys and men to embrace and reimagine their own masculinity and build safer, stronger communities. 

*This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*

For this episode Matt speaks with Lisa Sockabasin, MS, RN, Co-CEO, Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness. Lisa is a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, and has worked to build Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness into an incredible resource and support system for indigenous communities, and people all across Maine. 

Check out Aunties on Air...And Some Uncles Too, a podcast co-hosted by Lisa that amplifies indigenous voices while building powerful connections through conversations, culture and community. 

*This episode was recorded in June 2025*

For this episode, Matt explores Maine's outdoor recreation economy, a $3+ billion industry that helps get people outside, safeguard Maine's natural environment, and improve health. Check out Maine's 10 Year Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap here.

Big thanks to the folks who contributed to this episode: 

Jeff McCabe: Director, Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, Department of Economic & Community Development

Austin French, MBA: Project Director, Outdoor Recreation Hub of Excellence, University of Maine at Farmington

Jenna Vanni: Owner, Woods + Waters Gear Exchange

*This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*

Welcome to our first "Healthy Maine Snapshot". Moving forward, we'll feature a monthly snapshot that's shorter than our typical episodes, highlights a health issue and gives practical tips for how to keep you, and your loved ones healthy and safe. 

For this snapshot we discuss the importance of lung cancer screening with Nicole Heanssler, Associate Director of Cancer Center Partnerships at the American Cancer Society, and Snow Tardif, Program Manager for the Lung Cancer Screening Program at Maine Health for the Maine Medical Center's Portland Campus. Snow and Nicole are representing the Maine Lung Cancer Screening Workgroup. 

Check out more info here:

• "Can Lung Cancer Be Found Early?"
• State of Maine Proclamation on Pink and Pearl Awareness Weeks

*This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*

Welcome to the second installment of our special series in October around Mental Health Awareness Month. For this episode, Matt went up to Bremen, Maine to check out the Hearty Roots Campus for Mindful Adventure on the shores of Biscay Pond. Haley Bezon, Founder and Executive Director of Hearty Roots, shares the history of the group, it's mission to guide youth off the grid and into their hearts, and how its new 100+ acre campus helps them fulfill that mission. 

*This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*

Welcome to the first installment in our series honoring Mental Health Awareness Month in October. For this episode, Matt comes to you from Bangor ME at the Maine Council on Aging's Change AGEnt Summit, where he speaks to Anna Guest, MCOA's Power in Aging Director, and Dr. Delvina Miremadi-Baldino, keynote speaker at the summit and Executive Director of Maine Youth Thriving. Delvina is also a former guest on Healthy Maine Talks (check out her full episode here). 

And a reminder that Maine Public Health Association's annual conference is Oct 27th, and our theme this year, "Connections Build Health: Sparking Conversations, Strengthening Communities," ties in well with this episode of Healthy Maine Talks. See more details and registration info here.

*This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*

Welcome to another installment of our special series that takes a peak behind the curtain of public health in Maine, and highlights the positive impact that federal funding can have on our communities. For this episode, Matt chats with Melissa Fochesato, MPH--Director of Mid Coast Hospital Community Health at MaineHealth. 

In this episode of Healthy Maine Talks, Matt sits down with Monique Coombs, Director of Community Programs at Maine Coast Fishermen's Association. Monique is working to keep fishermen healthy and working waterfronts thriving well into the future. She digs into those efforts and more in the episode. Plus, she teaches Matt a new word: Solastalgia. 

*This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*