Portland Press Herald Audio

In preparation for the November election, Press Herald reporters Rachel Ohm and Randy Billings discuss the referendum questions on the ballot, what a yes or no vote will mean, before diving into an in-depth discussion about the updated design for the Maine state flag with vexillologist David Martucci.

Portland Press Herald staff writer Ray Routhier sat down with actor and author John Hodgman for a conversation during a live event at One Longfellow Square on Tuesday, September 17.

About John

John Hodgman is a writer, comedian, and actor.

He is the author of The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require, That Is All, and Vacationland. His writing has also appeared in The Paris Review, This American Life, The New Yorker, and Mad Magazine.

After an appearance to promote his books on “The Daily Show,” he was invited to return as a contributor, serving as the show’s Resident Expert. This led to a career before the camera, becoming the “Personal Computer” in a series of commercials for Apple, and more recently playing recurring roles in FX’s Married, HBO’s Bored to Death, Cinemax’s The Knick.

His comedy special Ragnarok premiered in 2013 on Netflix. He is the host of the popular Judge John Hodgman podcast and also contributes a weekly column under the same name for The New York Times Magazine.

Portland Press Herald staff writer Ray Routhier sat down with author Jonathan Lethem for a conversation during a live event at One Longfellow Square on Tuesday, August 13.

Jonathan Lethem is the author of thirteen novels including The Arrest and Brooklyn Crime Novel. His stories and essay have been collected in seven volumes, and his writing has been translated into over thirty languages. He lives in Los Angeles and Maine.

His novel Motherless Brooklyn was named Novel of the Year by Esquire magazine and won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Salon Book Award, as well as the Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger. Lethem received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2005. He teaches classes in creative writing and contemporary fiction at Pomona College in Claremont, California.

Ever wonder where reporters get their ideas? Press Herald Managing Editor Nita Lelyveld sat down with Press Herald reporter Eric Russell, Morning Sentinel reporter Dylan Tusinski and Sun Journal photojournalist Andree Kehn for a conversation on Zoom to discuss how journalists find their stories. This event took place on Thursday, June 27.

In 2023, Marilou Ranta, of The Quarry Restaurant in remote Monson, Maine, bested thousands of restaurants across America to win an award for Outstanding Hospitality from the prestigious New-York-based James Beard Foundation. Ranta grew up as the youngest of 12 children in an impoverished family on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. She finished school at 16 and spent time as a maid, a factory worker and a home health aide before graduating from culinary school at age 50 and fulfilling a long-time dream to run her own fine-dining restaurant. Her delicious food and warm hospitality at The Quarry have brought her much praise and many fans. Read more about Marilou in this article by Peggy Grodinsky.

On Wednesday, March 6, Portland Press Herald CEO and Publisher Lisa DeSisto interviewed Tate’s Bakeshop CEO, Esi Seng at The Roux Institute at Northeastern University.

About Esi Seng

Esi Seng is a proven, inspirational global leader with more than two decades of accelerating business growth and building high-performing CPG businesses and teams across the globe including Switzerland, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil and the United States.

Currently she is the Chief Executive Officer of Tate’s Bakeshop, the iconic cookie brand that disrupted the category and continues to be one of the fastest growing cookies in the aisle. Before taking on the cookie kingdom, Esi was all about toothpaste as the General Manager for Tom’s of Maine. Here she focused on elevating the Purpose to Purchase model. Under her leadership, Tom’s of Maine, a BCorp, developed the first-of-its-kind recyclable tube toothpaste, which was recognized as one of The Best Inventions of 2020 by TIME Magazine and launched a 100% plastic free deodorant line.

Esi, a Nicaraguan Chinese Immigrant is a proponent of diversity, equity and inclusion and passionate about community-building; She is currently on the board of the United Way of Southern Maine.

Portland Press Herald food editor Peggy Grodinsky sat down for a conversation with chef Sam Hayward about his career during a live event on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Award-winning chef Sam Hayward co-founded Fore Street restaurant in Portland in 1996, making fresh produce and farmer relationships his top priority. Hayward previously served on MOFGA’s board of directors for over a decade and has worked closely with Maine farmers, foragers and fisherpeople for over 30 years. As many more restaurateurs and farmers forge relationships, Hayward’s knowledge of both worlds is of great value to chefs, producers and food lovers.

Dale Everett Arnold was a New England sportscaster who hosted the Boston Bruins broadcasts on NESN and co-hosted talk radio shows on WEEI until his retirement from radio in March of 2021. He was the Bruins’ play-by-play announcer on NESN and has called Boston College Eagles football. He is the only person to have done play-by-play broadcasts for all five of the Boston area’s major professional sports franchises.

A Bowdoin College alumnus, Arnold began calling games for the school teams while a student there in the mid-1970s. In 1979, he succeeded Mike Emrick as the voice of the Maine Mariners. He joined the New Jersey Devils with Doc Emrick as their radio announcer in 1986, before returning to New England two years later. Arnold called New England Patriots games from 1988–90 and provided play-by-play coverage for Bruins home games from 1995–2007. In July 2007, he was replaced by former ESPN sportscaster Jack Edwards as the Bruins’ play-by-play telecaster.

Arnold is formerly of Bellingham, Massachusetts and now lives in Brunswick with his wife, Susan. They have three children: Taylor, Alysha, and Brianna. Arnold grew up in Maine and Minnesota prior to attending Bowdoin College. His son, Taylor Arnold, is a professor at the University of Richmond.

Paul Doiron is the best-selling author of the Mike Bowditch series of crime novels set in the Maine woods. His first book, The Poacher’s Son, won the Barry Award and the Strand Critics Award and was nominated for an Edgar for Best First Novel. His second, Trespasser, won the 2012 Maine Literary Award. His novelette “Rabid” was a finalist for the 2019 Edgar in the Best Short Story category. Paul’s twelfth book, Dead by Dawn won the New England Society’s 2022 Book Award for Fiction, as well as his second Maine Literary Award. It was also a finalist for the Barry Award. His books have been translated into 11 languages.

Paul is the former chair of the Maine Humanities Council, Editor Emeritus of Down East: The Magazine of Maine, and a Registered Maine Guide specializing in fly fishing.

Matthew grew up in the rural lakes region of Western Maine and now resides in Bridgton with his wife Emily and two young kiddos, daughter Rowan (6) and son Leo (3).  Matt has played many roles in his life, Banker, Actor, Photographer and his recent favorite- Dad.

Matthew’s film credits include the George Clooney-directed drama “The Tender Bar,” the comedy “Daddy’s Home 2” starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg and the Maine-made movies “Hangdog” and “Downeast.” He was also in the Maine-set romantic comedy “Tumbledown,” starring Jason Sudeikis.  On TV he’s appeared in episodes of “Chicago P.D.” on NBC, “Castle Rock” on Hulu and he will be featured on season 2 of “Julia” on Max. Video of this event is available on youTube or at pressherald.com