The Maine Show

Husson University Women's Basketball Coach Kissy Walker recounts her life in basketball. From being a star point guard at Cony High School to the University of Maine to a coaching career that has generated countless memories and now over 500 wins, Kissy Walker has done it all.  In this podcast she tells some of those stories plus talks about her coaching philosophy.  

Ben sits down with Kristen McAlpine, Nazrin Dixon, and Matt Grant to make picks on some of the top Super Bowl prop bets for the upcoming game between the Patriots and Rams.  Who will win the game?  How long will the National Anthem be?  What color will Adam Levine's shirt be at halftime? What color liquid will be poured on the Super Bowl winning coach? All that and more in this special impromptu edition of the Maine Show Podcast.  

Ben Treat, recently named Director of the Bangor Public Library, shares his story.  From growing up in Brewer to moving to Boston and New Hampshire and then returning home, Ben talks about his love of learning, libraries, family, and the state of Maine.  He also discusses how libraries are changing and what some of his goals and priorities are for one of Bangor's most beloved institutions: the Bangor Public Library.  

Bangor City Councilors Clare Davitt and Laura Supica share their stories of what brought them to (or back to!) Bangor and what lead them to run for City Council.  From discussion of their lives and backgrounds prior to even considering running for office to talking about the campaign itself and then the first year of service, this is a wide ranging and entertaining conversation.  

Host Ben Sprague shares the news that the show is going on a semi-permanent hiatus.  He says, "This is not a goodbye and it's not a closing out of the whole podcast, it's just an acknowledgement that there are seasons in life for different things, and right now my energy and emotion and time are all turning inward towards my family and our immediate future."  

Ben is also happy to share the joyful news that he and his wife, Malorie, are expecting their third child in November, a boy!  He says, "I have absolutely loved bringing you this podcast week after week for these last three years, it has been an absolute honor and I have loved the conversations with the guests but also getting to know many of the listeners.  I just can't keep up with it anymore on a week to week basis.  My goal when I started was to do a new episode every Tuesday and for the most part I was able to do that for awhile, but then life happens, and now with a third child on the way, a day job at First National Bank, and my work as a City Councilor and for this year mayor of the City of Bangor, it's just been too much and while I hate to admit that, I also want to be realistic about a healthy work-life balance, spending time with my kids and wife, and not being on a computer editing audio files and researching interviews week after week."  

Ben wishes to thank the audience for tuning in week after week and he concludes by saying, "It has been an absolute honor to be able to bring this podcast to you and like I said, don't lose total track of the link to it because you may see a new episode pop up here and there."

Jen Hazard, author of "The Maine PlayBook: a Four Season Guide to Family Fun and Adventure" and the driving force behind the Cute Potato blog and website talks about her work as a writer, raising a family in Maine, and some of her favorite spots to explore.  

Visit www.cutepotato.com for more information about Jen and her work or find her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! 

Evan Richert, former Director of the State Planning Office under Governor Angus King, talks about his career as a Planner, teacher, and even his early days as a journalist.  From projects in South Portland to Augusta to Orono, Evan has been involved with many notable efforts throughout the state of Maine. This conversation touches on Evan's work history but also his thoughts on what it takes to grow a culture of entrepreneurism, what the missing pieces are in the state of Maine currently, and how they can be filled.   

Jessica Grondin, Director of Communications for the City of Portland, talks about what it is like to be the spokesperson (and manager of social media accounts!) for a city as large and diverse as Portland, Maine.  She also discusses her background growing up in Bangor, attending school in Massachusetts, and working for Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, among other things.  

Once a homeless teenager in Portland, Christopher Poulos shares his story of recovery and from going from jail to the White House to graduating from law school and being admitted to the federal bar in the same courthouse from which he was once taken in handcuffs.  His inspiring story touches on a number of themes including the importance of treatment and recovery, of dogged determination, and of not giving up on oneself or the ones we love even in moments of despair.  

Abe and Heather Furth, partners in business and in life, share some of the stories behind the creation and growth of Woodman's Bar and Grill, Verve, and Orono Brewing Company, which has no expanded its distribution statewide and is a key part of the growing craft brewery scene in Maine.