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Maine Policy Matters
Maine Policy Matters episodes
- S9E4 Connecting Maine: The Future of Rural Transit & Community ResilienceEpisode Overview
In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Grant, Lisa Smith, and Katherine Freund to discuss the critical challenges and innovative, community-driven solutions shaping transportation resilience, volunteer driver programs, and the future of mobility in rural Maine.
Guest Bios- Jennifer Grant – Director of the Bureau of Planning at the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT). She has been with MaineDOT for 10 years and in her current role for two years.
- Lisa Smith – Interim Executive Director and Mobility Manager at the Aroostook County Transportation System (ARTS). A lifelong resident of Aroostook County, Lisa brings over 10 years of experience working with non-profit organizations and nearly five years with ARTS.
- Katherine Freund – President & CEO of the Independent Transportation Network of America (ITNAmerica), located in Westbrook, Maine. She is an internationally recognized pioneer in senior and rural mobility policy and practice.
Resources- MaineDOT Public Transit Program – The division within MaineDOT directed by Jennifer Grant, managing federal grants, statewide transit compliance, regional bus service networks, and strategic policy implementation across Maine.
- Public Transit Advisory Council (PTAC) – A statutory advisory body hosted administratively by MaineDOT that collaborates with state planners and transit leaders to advise the Governor and Legislature on public transit services, funding transparency, and statewide coordination.
- Aroostook Regional Transportation System (ARTS) – The primary rural transit provider in Aroostook County, leading demand-response services, non-emergency medical rides, and community transit routes.
- Moving Maine Network – A statewide multi-sector coalition focusing on overcoming rural geographic barriers, promoting mobility equity, and improving cross-agency transportation coordination.
- ITNAmerica – The national nonprofit network founded by Katherine Freund to provide consumer-oriented, dignified transportation for older adults and individuals with visual impairments.
- ITNCountry – A specialized technology and support platform designed by ITNAmerica to empower small, rural communities to build and manage their own volunteer-driver networks.
- Rides in Sight – A free national searchable clearinghouse and hotline created by ITNAmerica to connect rural residents, older adults, and caregivers with local transportation options.
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Transcripthttps://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2026/07/29/s9e4-connecting-maine-the-future-of-rural-transit-community-resilience/
55 min - S9E3 Community and Citizen Science: Mainers Leading the Way
Today, we’ll be interviewing Linda Silka, Sarah Kirn, and Jane Disney on citizen and community science in Maine.
Dr. Linda Silka is a social and community psychologist by training, with much of her work focusing on building community-university research partnerships. She has several decades of experience in leading community-university research partnerships on environmental, economic development, and environmental health issues.
Sarah Kirn is the Participatory Science Strategist at NASA at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Kirn leads the planning and production of a professional development series for people leading participatory research efforts, with particular focus on meeting the needs of scientists funded by NASA to conduct research using citizen science methods.
Jane Disney is currently an Associate Professor of Environmental Health at MDI Biological Laboratory. She is also the Director of the Community Environmental Health Laboratory. She is a co-developer of the citizen science online data portal, Anecdata.org.
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2026/02/12/s9e1-the-nuclear-frontier-when-maine-was-the-frontline-of-the-cold-war/
59 min - S9E2 From Maine and Beyond: Nuclear Weapons Technology, Treaties, and an Uncertain Future
In this episode, we interview Rebecca Gibbons, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Southern Maine, who discusses why Maine would be a strategically and politically amenable place for nuclear weapons placement, as well as the current state of affairs regarding nuclear weapons.
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Transcript: Coming Soon
41 min - S9E1 The Nuclear Frontier: When Maine Was the Frontline of the Cold War
In this episode, we interview Chris O'Brien on Maine’s strategic role as a nuclear frontier during the Cold War, highlighting how bases like Loring became central to national defense. We examine the legacy of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, balancing her famous stand against McCarthyism with her firm support for nuclear military readiness.
Donate to Maine Policy Review: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/donate-to-maine-policy-review/
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2026/02/12/s9e1-the-nuclear-frontier-when-maine-was-the-frontline-of-the-cold-war/
37 min - S8E3 Maine Healthcare: What Reduced Health Insurance Subsidies Could Mean in Maine
In this episode, we discuss the high-stakes expiration of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs)—a pandemic-era policy that is set to sunset at the end of 2025. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) laid the groundwork for subsidized health insurance in 2010, the 2021 American Rescue Plan significantly boosted these savings, making coverage affordable for thousands who previously sat just outside the eligibility line.
Donate to Maine Policy Review: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/donate-to-maine-policy-review/
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Transcript: Coming Soon
48 min - S8E2 The Future of Whales in Maine: Science, Policy, and People
In this episode, we explore the critical role whales play in the marine ecosystem and how advances in research technology have transformed our ability to study and protect them. Our guest, Toby Stephenson, shares inspiring moments from the field, insights from recent population studies, and the challenges posed by a changing climate. We also discuss the importance of collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and local communities in shaping the future of whale conservation. Looking ahead, we ask what gives reason for hope and how Maine can continue leading efforts to protect these ocean giants for generations to come.
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
41 min - S8E1 The Evolving Role of Maine’s Libraries: Funding, Freedom, and Community
In this episode, library leaders from across Maine share how their roles reflect the modern mission of public libraries and why these institutions remain vital to their communities. Listeners will learn how Maine libraries are adapting to meet today’s needs, the impact of federal funding cuts, and the strategies librarians employ to defend intellectual freedom amid growing pressures for censorship. The conversation also explores libraries’ role in climate action, the challenges of ensuring equitable digital access, and inspiring stories of how libraries especially in rural areas are fostering education, resilience, and stronger community connections.
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
1 hr 7 min - S7E3 Food Equity in Education: Where Maine Stands and Where It’s Headed
In this episode, we interview Shannon Coffin, Lynne Holland, Lisa Morin, and Amanda Levesque on food insecurity in Maine’s higher and lower education systems. This episode is part 2 of our series on food insecurity in Maine. If you haven’t listened yet, please check out part 1, where we discuss the statewide prevalence of food insecurity in Maine.
Part 1: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
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
1 hr 25 min - 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/Donate to Maine Policy Review: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/donate-to-maine-policy-review/
Our Website: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umainepolicycenter/
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Transcript: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/2025/03/27/s7e2-feeding-maine-the-fight-against-hunger-in-urban-and-rural-communities/
55 min - 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/
Our Website: https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu/maine-policy-matters/
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1 hr 7 min
About Maine Policy Matters
From the publisher's feed
The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center is a nonpartisan, independent research and public service unit of the University of Maine (UMaine).