Maine Calling

Gov. Janet Mills called the Legislature back into session to consider four bond proposals totaling $163 million in borrowing for the November ballot. The bonds would fund transportation projects ($105 million), economic development aimed at high-speed internet expansion ($23 million for pollution clean up ; $15 million for energy efficiency loans) and $20 million for conservation projects under the Land for Maine’s future program. The session went into a deadlock, then three bonds were defeated.

Puffins were once on the brink of extinction, but efforts by Maine scientists have succeeded in bringing the population back. There are now 1,300 nesting pairs on five Maine islands. We’ll talk with puffin experts about the threats facing this unique seabird, and how conservation efforts continue to protect puffins and their habitat in the face of climate change as well as other threats. This show is being done in conjunction with Maine Public's recent reporting on puffin conservation, and is

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier show (original air date April 16, 2019); no calls will be taken. Several different invasive pests have caused severe harm in Maine, from the brown-tailed moth to the emerald ash borer. At the same time, the overall insect population is in sharp decline. We'll learn about insects and their effects on humans from a panel of experts.

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier show (original air date March 25, 2019); no calls will be taken. Peter Ditto, UC Irvine psychology professor, joins us to discuss how motivation, intuition and emotion shape and often bias our social, political, moral, medical and legal judgments. Learn how people make judgments in emotionally charged and motivationally involving situations, and particularly in how emotion and motivation can shape and often bias our reasoning processes and, ultimately, our

This is a rebroadcast of any earlier show (original air date Feb 14, 2019; no calls will be taken. Fermentation is trendy now (think kombucha), but it’s also a time-honored Maine tradition, driven by the need to preserve food and beverages over the long winter season. We’ll learn about different fermenting methods and products, and what health benefits they are said to bring.

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier show (original air date April 15, 2019); no calls will be taken . The latest Kids Count Data Book reports that Maine children have the highest rate of diagnosed anxiety in the country, as well as high rates of depression and suicide. We learn what causes, signs and treatments are for anxiety in young people, as well as resources available to children and families.

Scholar Marie Griffith joins us to discuss the origins and growth of the religious right as a political force, and how it has transformed America's broader culture and public life. Griffith investigates the pervasive fears driving our sex-obsessed politics, especially when it comes to issues such as birth control, obscenity, interracial relationships, female chastity, sex education, abortion, sexual harassment, and LGBTQ rights. Griffith is in town as part of the University of New England

Current trends in mentally aided healing include what is known as the Law of Attraction — the idea that you can make good things happen in your life through positive thoughts. This popular belief traces back to Phineas Quimby, a spiritual teacher known as the father of the New Thought movement who lived in Maine in the 1800s. We’ll learn about Quimby’s belief system and how it manifests itself in some of today’s popular approaches to wellness.

Getting help for aging family members or friends can be confusing, stressful and overwhelming. We’ll hear from experts on some of the biggest challenges facing older people – from mobility to memory to medications – and ways to care for aging family members and friends. We’ll also get advice on where caregivers can turn to get help and support.

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier show (original air date May 3, 2019); no calls will be taken. Granges have been integral to the history of rural Maine , serving not only as places for farmers to organize and advocate for themselves, but as educational sites, social hubs, and community centers. We learn about how some Granges have car ried on the traditions of the past, while others have evolved to serve new purposes in their communities, bringing new vitality to rural Maine .