Welcome to “Voices for Maine's Environment,” NRCM's podcast, which brings you the voices of people and organizations who are working together to protect the nature of Maine. New podcasts monthly.
When looking for the podcast on any of these platforms, please search for "Voices for Maine's Environment" or "Natural Resources Council of Maine."
2025 Episodes
2024 Episodes
2023 Episodes
2022 Episodes
One Mainer’s Experience at the International Climate Conference in Egypt, December 8, 2022 NRCM Rising guest host Kate Shambaugh interviews 2020 Brookie Award winner Gabby Hillyer about her experience as part of the University of Maine delegation to the COP27 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Egypt.
Conservation Leadership Award Winner Speeches, October 27, 2022 Every year, NRCM honors environmental leaders in Maine with our Conservation Leadership Awards. The speeches recipients give at our annual event are full of heart, passion, and commitment. In this episode, you’ll hear the inspirational stories of this year's five CLA recipients: Project Puffin's Dr. Steve Kress, Portland & So. Portland sustainability leads Troy Moon and Julie Rosenbach, aquafarm activists Frenchman Bay United, rockweed advocate Dr. Robin Hadlock Seeley, and Juniper Hill "close the loophole" coalition Don’t Waste ME.
Maine’s Outdoor Recreation Economy is Booming, October 19, 2022 Maine’s spectacular outdoors are central to our way of life, and nowhere is that more evident than in the state’s booming outdoor recreation industry. Outdoor recreation contributes $3 billion to Maine’s economy, making up 3.3%—more than double the national average in 2020. In this episode, Colin speaks with Jenny Kordick, the Executive Director of Maine Outdoor Brands, about what makes Maine’s outdoor industry unique, and what we learned from the inaugural Maine Outdoor Economy Summit held in mid-October.
Maine’s Clean Water Champions, September 30, 2022 On September 29th, hundreds of Mainers gathered on the banks of the Androscoggin River in Lewiston to honor some of Maine’s 100 Clean Water Champions and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act. We spoke with a few of the Champions and asked them to share their unique connection to clean water in Maine. Together, these interviews provide a snapshot into the passion and dedication of everyday Mainers to protect the clean water that makes our state so special.
Local Mainers Speaking Out Against Wolfden Mining Proposals, September 16, 2022 Colin speaks with two Maine residents who live in completely different parts of the state but share a common threat facing the clean water where they live. Robin Hadlock Seeley worked to share information with residents in Pembroke to pass an ordinance banning Wolfden’s mining activities, and MaryAlice Mowry has been shining a light on Wolfden’s sketchy activities in the Patten area near Pickett Mountain where Wolfden has proposed a mining operation.
What We Learned from Maine EV Owners, September 1, 2022 More Mainers than ever are driving electric vehicles, and more models are coming to market every year. We speak with NRCM Climate & Clean Energy Outreach Coordinator Josh Caldwell to discuss what we learned from NRCM’s 2022 survey of every electric vehicle owner in Maine. This was our third and most popular survey—with a record-breaking 1,230 responses from all 16 counties!
Katahdin Woods & Waters Turns Six, August 18, 2022 This month, we’ll be joining many others in celebrating the sixth anniversary of the creation of the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. In this episode, we speak with Sam Deeran, Acting Executive Director of the Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters, about the enormous success of the Monument, what’s changed in those six years, and what visitors can expect in the coming years.
What the Biggest Climate Investment in U.S. History Means for Mainers, August 4, 2022 Hope was renewed again in Washington D.C., when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Joe Manchin announced a new deal to invest billions of dollars in clean energy and climate action. In this episode, we speak with experts at the Environmental Defense Fund and National Wildlife Federation to find out how the Inflation Reduction Act would lower energy costs for Mainers and help us meet the goals laid out in Maine’s Climate Action Plan.
A Conversation with Sunrise Movement Franklin County, July 21, 2022 In this episode, NRCM Rising Leadership Team member Kate Shambaugh speaks with Isabelle Rogers, Hub Organizer for Sunrise Movement Franklin County, which just celebrated its first anniversary. It is part of a national youth-led nonprofit made up of young activists working on environmental and social justice issues such as climate change. Learn more about NRCM’s new Franklin County coordinator Marc Edwards and his work, as well as which state recently became the fourth to pass an EPR for Packaging Law. Maine was the first state to pass such a law in 2021.
SCOTUS Clean Air Decision and the Future of Maine’s Electric Grid, July 7, 2022 Maine leaders expressed outrage at a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting the ability of the federal government to reduce carbon pollution. NRCM Climate & Clean Energy Director Jack Shapiro discusses what it means for Maine’s environment and also details an interesting new decision by the Public Utilities Commission that provides a snapshot into what the future of our electric grid could look like and how it’ll deliver benefits to Maine people.
Corporations Trying to Exploit Maine’s Environment for Profit, June 23, 2022 Though NRCM’s work in the State House is done for the year, our role as watchdog for Maine’s environment never lets up. Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim speaks about some of the topics we’ll be following this summer. The unifying theme that emerges from the discussion is that many out-of-state corporations are trying to take advantage of Maine people and our environment to turn a profit.
American Aquafarms Too Big, Too Risky for Frenchman Bay, June 9, 2022 State agencies that were reviewing the American Aquafarms proposal to build a massive industrial salmon farm in Frenchman Bay recently announced they were terminating the project’s permit applications. But the company responded by saying it isn't going away despite overwhelming opposition from local communities. In this episode, we speak with NRCM Staff Scientist Nick Bennett about the fundamental problems with Atlantic salmon net-pen aquaculture and why the American Aquafarms proposal would devastate the clean ocean waters of Frenchman Bay.
Clean Water for the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Spring Fish Migration Stories, May 26, 2022 Youth clean water activist and 2022 Brookie Award winner Noela Altvater speaks about her advocacy to ensure clean drinking water for the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik. Learn more about this year’s six Brookies at brookieawards.org. Also, Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim reports back from a staff field trip to the Benton Falls fish lift and talks about the amazing story of alewives returning to China Lake for the first time in more than two centuries.
Encouraging Climate Change Education in Maine’s Schools, March 31, 2022 Bangor High School students, Kosis Ifeji and Ogechi Obi, speak with NRCM Rising guest host Kate Shambaugh about their journey as climate activists and discuss their efforts to pass LD 1902, a bill to encourage climate change education in Maine public schools. As a climate action leader, Maine has identified the need for climate education – but teachers need support. The bill would support equitable access to climate change education by funding professional development for Maine teachers through community partnerships.
The Climate Connection to Housing and Utility Accountability, March 3, 2022 The latest international climate report included bleak warnings about the impacts of climate change accelerating faster than anticipated. But scientists also left us with a sliver of hope, making clear that if the world acts quickly on climate, we have a chance at avoiding some of the worst impacts. Climate & Clean Energy Director Jack Shapiro joins the podcast to bring this international news down to a local level here in Maine by talking about the climate connection to utility accountability and housing bills being considered by the Legislature.
The Time for Tribal Sovereignty is Now, February 17, 2022 Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador Maulian Dana joins the podcast to discuss the bill to restore self-determination and self-governance to the Wabanaki tribes. Based on consensus recommendations from a bipartisan task force convened by the Maine Legislature, the legislation addresses long-standing issues with a land claims act passed in 1980 that governs the relationship between the state and the tribes in Maine. To learn more and take action visit wabanakialliance.com.
Expanding Maine’s Ecological Reserve System, February 3, 2022 We speak with UMaine Farmington forest ecologist and Professor of Biology Dr. Drew Barton about Maine’s 19 ecological reserves and the value these 97,000 acres of public lands provide to Maine people. NRCM Forests & Wildlife Director Melanie Sturm speaks about the challenges facing Maine’s woods and waters, and why now is the time to expand the state’s ecological reserve system to mitigate climate change and protect more habitats for Maine’s unique plants and animals. Download our special report at nrcm.org/our-maine/publications/ecological-reserves-publication.
Art and the Environment with Brookie Award Winner Jordan Kendall Parks, January 20, 2022 In this episode, we kick off a new series of interviews with Maine’s young environmental leaders to elevate their voices and share their stories. Our special co-host NRCM Rising Leadership Team member Kate Shambaugh speaks with 2020 Brookie Award Winner Jordan Kendall Parks about connecting people to nature through art and what winning a Brookie Award has meant to her. Learn more about the Brookie Awards at brookieawards.org and visit jordankendallparks.com to view Jordan’s work.
2021 Episodes
How Plastic Pollution Contributes to Waste and Climate Crisis, December 9, 2021 Two new reports showed that the U.S. ranks as the leading contributor of plastic waste and detailed how plastic production is worsening the climate crisis. We check in with NRCM Sustainable Maine Director Sarah Nichols to get her reaction to these reports and provide updates on the steps Maine is taking to tackle the plastic pollution crisis and reduce waste.
CMP Loses Big at Ballot Box and DEP Urged to Pull Corridor Permit, November 23, 2021 On November 2, CMP suffered a stunning setback for its controversial corridor project and now the project’s future is in doubt. In this episode, NRCM’s Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim dissects what’s happened since the overwhelming vote by Maine people to terminate the CMP corridor. November is Native American Heritage Month, and NRCM encourages listeners to learn more about Maine’s native Tribes and the campaign for Tribal sovereignty by visiting the Wabanaki Alliance website at wabanakialliance.com.
Cleaner Trucks, Infrastructure Investment, and Question 1 Takeaways, November 12, 2021 Climate & Clean Energy Director Jack Shapiro joins the podcast to talk about how cleaner trucks and buses will benefit Maine, what the new infrastructure bill passed by Congress means for Maine communities, and what lessons can be learned from the decisive vote by an overwhelming majority of Maine people to ban the CMP corridor.
The Electric Vehicle Revolution is Coming Faster Than You Expected, September 30, 2021 It’s Drive Electric Week and Ford just announced an $11 billion investment in new electric truck and battery manufacturing plants! Electric cars and trucks are coming to a dealer near you faster than any of us expected, so we sat down with NRCM's Climate & Clean Energy team to learn what’s new about EVs and to answer some frequently asked questions about electric vehicle performance and the benefits of going electric.
Climate Funding for Maine Pending in D.C. and Details of a New Kennebec Lawsuit, September 16, 2021 Colin is excited about the first electric school bus in Maine, and then speaks with Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim about the most important federal climate bill ever, and what it means for Maine’s Climate Action Plan. They also discuss a lawsuit NRCM filed against Brookfield for violating federal environmental law on the Kennebec River and killing endangered Atlantic salmon.
Reducing Food and Plastic Waste at Schools, September 2, 2021 As students and teachers return to school, Colin speaks with NRCM’s Sustainability Coordinator about tips for reducing food and plastic waste at schools and the experiences of schools she has worked with. Also hear some great ideas for how anyone concerned about reducing waste can get started. As we do every time, Colin also gives some quick updates on environmental stories that have been in the news recently.
“Code Red” Climate Report Illustrates Need for Bold Climate Action, August 19, 2021 Colin Durrant talks with Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim about the findings from the sixth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which show that global warming is dangerously close to spiraling out of control, and that the actions that have been taken to date are nowhere near enough to avert the worst impacts of climate change. Political leaders must take immediate steps to transition away from fossil fuels and give states like Maine the resources needed to accelerate our efforts to create a clean energy economy.
Improving Recycling in Maine with EPR for Packaging, May 21, 2021 Colin speaks with Sustainable Maine Director Sarah Nichols about one of NRCM’s top legislative priorities: LD 1541, a bill to save taxpayers money and improve recycling by implementing an Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging program. The bill asks big corporations to share responsibility for the flood of packaging that is increasing waste disposal costs for cities and towns across the state, like they're already doing in other countries. Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim highlights record alewife numbers and provides updates on legislative action, Kennebec River, and CMP corridor.
New Funding for State Parks and Climate Action, May 7, 2021 Colin speaks with Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim about why we’re excited to see a broad range of investments for Maine’s people and environment in the plan announced by Governor Mills to distribute American Rescue Act funding. Pete also gives updates from an extremely busy legislative session on tribal sovereignty, plastic pollution, and many other issues.
Saving Salmon by Restoring Maine’s Kennebec River, April 22, 2021 Colin speaks with Staff Scientist Nick Bennett to discuss why removing four dams on the Kennebec River between Waterville and Skowhegan is our best chance to save endangered Atlantic salmon. Colin also provides updates on federal climate action, some positive votes in Maine’s Legislature, and Hannaford’s commitment to zero food waste.
On Climate and Environment —Maine and Biden Administration Leading by Example, April 8, 2021 In this episode Colin speaks with Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim to dissect what a recent state climate report and President Biden’s infrastructure plan say about the importance of leading by example to protect the environment and address climate change. Pete also provides updates on a balloon bill, dam removal on the Kennebec, clean cars, and more.
Attacks on Solar, CMP’s Illegal Leases to Cross Public Lands, March 25, 2021 Colin speaks with Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim about a public hearing on several bills aimed at rolling back solar energy in Maine and a court ruling that the State of Maine violated the law and the Constitution by signing lease agreements with CMP to cross public lands with its controversial transmission corridor without legislative approval.
Maine Environmental Ethic Sinks Natural Gas Proposal for Midcoast, March 11, 2021 Colin speaks with Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim about the defeat of a proposed $90M natural gas pipeline expansion that faced blistering opposition from residents and elected officials in Midcoast Maine. Pete also highlights recent activity in the Legislature, including a vote to defeat bills that would have reversed the ban on single-use plastic bags.
Remembering George Smith, CMP referendum, plastic pollution, February 25, 2021 Colin speaks with Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim about the passing of legendary Maine outdoorsman George Smith, a legislative hearing on bills to repeal the ban on single-use plastic bags, and the Secretary of State’s announcement certifying more than enough signatures for the referendum opposing the CMP corridor to move forward. Visit the Take Action Toolkit mentioned in this episode at: www.nrcm.org/get-involved/take-action/take-action-toolkit.
Huge EV Announcement by GM, CMP's Solar Snafu, and What's Happening with Offshore Wind, February 11, 2021 Colin speaks with Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim about a study in contrasts. On the one hand, there’s General Motors’ bold commitment to a clean energy future with a huge announcement to go all electric with their cars and trucks, and on the other, Maine’s largest utility, Central Maine Power, failing in a colossal way in doing its job of helping solar projects connect to the grid.
2020 Episodes
On Wilderness, December 23, 2020, Maine has some of the wildest landscapes east of the Mississippi, with more than half the state – 10.5 million acres—in our Unorganized Territories, with no municipal governments, very few services, and few permanent dwellings. Maine’s 600,000 acres of State-owned Public Reserved Land includes wild places that for many come as close to wilderness as they will ever experience. But what does the word “wilderness” mean? That’s the question we pose to several people who live in Maine and know the state’s wild places, in some cases like the backs of their hands.
- Bill Houston, Maine Guide from Kingfield
- Jen Brophy, Owner of Red River Camps
- James E. Francis, Sr., Director of Cultural and Historic Preservation for the Penobscot Nation
- Kevin Slater, Co-owner of Mahoosuc Guide Service
Conversations with the 2020 Brookies Award Winners, August 5, 2020 We're so excited to share the stories of the inaugural group of Brookie Award winners as part of NRCM Rising's new program to recognize & celebrate Maine's young environmental leaders.
Hear from Gabrielle Hillyer. Gabby is the co-developer & project coordinator of the Maine Shellfish Learning Network & designed the innovative data-gathering tool—the Bucket Drifter!
Hear from Jordan Kendall Parks, a sustainable materials artist, as well as the developer & curator of interactive outdoor art exhibitions—including Surface First Tilts West & Windward Exhibition!
Meet Riley Stevenson, founder of the Coastal Youth Climate Coalition & outreach director for Maine Youth Climate Strikes!
Hear from Logan Parker — field naturalist, founder of the Maine Nightjar Monitoring Project, & organizer of annual conferences for nightjar researchers in North America!
Meet Sirohi Kumar, a climate activist, author, & co-founder of the Climate Emergency Action Coalition.
Meet Ania Wright, a climate organizer, founding member of Maine Youth for Climate Justice, & youth representative on the Maine Climate Council.
A Conversation with Aislinn Sarnacki, May 13, 2020 Aislinn Sarnacki is an outdoor reporter and editor of the Act Out section of the Bangor Daily News, where she writes about outdoor recreation, wildlife, and conservation. She also produces a 1-minute adventure series where she has already documented more than 350 trails and waterways in Maine and is the author of three hiking guidebooks. In this episode, Carly Peruccio speaks with Aislinn about her extensive experience hiking on Maine trails, reporting on Maine’s outdoors, and reflections on the importance of conserving Maine’s special places.
Maine Nature Poetry Mini-series: Richard Blanco, April 24, 2020 For many of us, the power of nature serves as an inspiration for art, poetry, and action. To recognize the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and April as National Poetry Month, the Natural Resources Council of Maine created this special series of five podcasts featuring poems by Maine-based poets. In this poetry reading and conversation you’ll hear from award-winning writer and poet Richard Blanco from Bethel, Maine, who was the fifth poet to read at a U.S. presidential inauguration (Barack Obama’s second inauguration).
Richard Blanco was born in Madrid and immigrated to the United States as an infant with his Cuban-exile family. He has been a practicing engineer, writer, and poet since 1991. His collections of poetry include "City of a Hundred Fires" (1998), which won the Agnes Starrett Poetry Prize; "Directions to the Beach of the Dead" (2005), winner of the PEN/American Beyond Margins Award; "Looking for the Gulf Motel" (2012), winner of the Thom Gunn Award, the Maine Literary Award, and the Paterson Prize; "One Today" (2013); "Boston Strong" (2013); and "How to Love a Country" (2019). In 2013, Blanco was chosen to serve as the fifth inaugural poet of the United States. Blanco performed, “One Today,” an original poem he wrote for the occasion, becoming the youngest, first Latino, immigrant, and openly gay writer to hold the honor. He has received numerous honors for his writings and performances, including the Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellowship, a Florida Artist Fellowship, and a Bread Loaf Fellowship, as well as honorary doctorates from Macalester College, Colby College, and the University of Rhode Island. Blanco is currently Distinguished Visiting Professor at Florida International University.
Maine Nature Poetry Mini-series: Russell Libby, April 23, 2020 For many of us, the power of nature serves as an inspiration for art, poetry, and action. To recognize the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and April as National Poetry Month, the Natural Resources Council of Maine created this special series of five podcasts featuring poems by Maine-based poets. In this poetry reading and conversation you’ll hear the owner of Three Sisters Farm, Mary Anne Libby, reading a poem from her late husband, environmental visionary Russell Libby of Mount Vernon, Maine.
Russell Libby liked to quote his distant relative, the late Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert P.T. Coffin, when he describes his personal philosophy: "We eat from the earth, the sky, the water." With degrees in resource economics, he launched a lifelong career in food and agricultural policy at the state, regional, and national levels while also working—with his wife Mary Anne and their three daughters—his own "Three Sisters Farm" in Mount Vernon, Maine. As executive director of MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association), Libby oversaw the organization as it became the country's largest state-level organic association.
Maine Nature Poetry Mini-series: Gary Lawless, April 22, 2020 For many of us, the power of nature serves as an inspiration for art, poetry, and action. To recognize the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and April as National Poetry Month, the Natural Resources Council of Maine created this special series of five podcasts featuring poems by Maine-based poets. In this poetry reading and conversation you’ll hear from poet, bookstore owner, book editor, publisher, and Bates College associate professor of literature Gary Lawless of Nobleboro, Maine.
Gary Lawless is a poet, book editor, publisher, and co-owner of Gulf of Maine Books in Brunswick. He is an associate professor of literature at Bates College in Lewiston and has been poet-in-residence for the town of Sitka, Alaska, and for the National Park Service at Isle Royale National Park at Lake Superior. After graduating from Colby College in 1973, Lawless left Maine to spend a year in California studying with poet Gary Snyder. When Lawless returned to Maine, he brought the idea of the budding bioregional movement with him. In 1987, he organized a Gulf of Maine Bioregional Congress, bringing together a diverse group of back-to-the-land and "green" folks from across northern New England and eastern Canada for a four-day series of workshops and presentations.
Maine's Outdoors with Legendary Journalist Bill Green, April 20, 2020 Legendary Maine journalist Bill Green was an anchor and reporter for more than four decades at News Center Maine, most recently hosting the popular weekly television series called "Bill Green’s Maine" before retiring in 2019. In this conversation with Bill we explore his love for Maine’s outdoors, why Maine is such a special place to live and explore, and learn about some of his favorite places to visit.
Maine Nature Poetry Mini-series: Kristen Lindquist, April 21, 2020 For many of us, the power of nature serves as an inspiration for art, poetry, and action. To recognize the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and April as National Poetry Month, the Natural Resources Council of Maine created this special series of five podcasts featuring poems by Maine-based poets. In this poetry reading and conversation you’ll hear from award-winning poet, avid-birder, and daily haiku writer Kirsten Lindquist of Camden, Maine.
Kirsten Lindquist’s publications include the chapbook Invocation to the Birds (Oyster River Press, 2001), Transportation (Megunticook Press, 2011), which was a finalist for a Maine Literary Award, and Tourists in the Known World: New & Selected Poems (Megunticook Press, 2017). Her work has received various awards, including the Bread Loaf Poetry Prize, the Red Fox Poetry Prize, the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance's Penobscot Watershed Poetry Prize, and the Maine Postmark Poetry Contest. Garrison Keillor read three of her poems on National Public Radio’s The Writer’s Almanac. Since 2009, Lindquist has maintained a daily haiku blog, Book of Days, and she currently serves on the Town of Camden's Budget Committee, as chair of the Maine Community Foundation's Knox County Fund, and as treasurer of West Bay Rotary.
Maine Nature Poetry Mini-series—Karin Spitfire, April 20, 2020 For many of us, the power of nature serves as an inspiration for art, poetry, and action. To recognize the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and April as National Poetry Month, the Natural Resources Council of Maine created this special series of five podcasts featuring poems by Maine-based poets. In this poetry reading and conversation you’ll hear from author and former Belfast, Maine, Poet Laureate Karin Spitfire of Belfast, Maine.
Karin Spitfire is the author of a full-length book of poetry, Standing with Trees, and a chapbook, Wild Caught. Her poem, "What is to Be Offered," published in The Kerf, was nominated for the Pushcart Award. Spitfire is the author of "Incest: It’s All Relative," a performance/dance poem that toured nationally from 1982–86. She is a past Poet Laureate of Belfast, Maine.
A Conversation with Dylan Voorhees, April 2, 2020 For 14 years as NRCM Climate & Clean Energy Director, Dylan Voorhees was quite literally a voice on the frontlines of the most important climate and clean energy conversations at the Maine State House. Dylan’s moving on to a new and exciting professional opportunity, and in this episode of Frontline Voices, you’ll hear from him about the clean energy solutions he’s been part of and the lessons he’s learned from his decade plus of climate advocacy at NRCM.
Youth Voices for Climate Justice, February 11, 2020 On a cold day in February, the Maine Climate Council met for the second time as part of their work to hammer out a new statewide Climate Action Plan. Just down the hall, more than 100 Maine youth gathered to call on the state’s leaders to take bold climate action. Host Carly Peruccio spoke with some of those youth about their hopes for the future. Listen and get inspired!
2019 Episodes
SolaRise Students from Portland, October 22, 2019 Students at three Portland, Maine, high schools formed the coalition, SolaRise, and organized a march to build support for using solar to power Portland public schools. In August, 2019, the school board voted to support an off-site solar power project. SolaRise received a 2019 NRCM Conservation Leadership Award for their work. Three members of SolaRise speak about their work and share advice to others for those who want to get involved.
From NRCM to the State House, August 12, 2019 This conversation between former NRCM Executive Director Brownie Carson and Deputy Director Joan Welsh covers their time at NRCM and their transitions from NRCM to the Maine State House. After leaving NRCM, Joan served in the Maine House of Representatives, and Brownie is currently in his second term in the Maine Senate. Coincidentally, they’ve both served on the Joint Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources. Hear more in the latest “Maine Environment: Frontline Voices.”
An Interview with George Smith, July 25, 2019 This episode features George Smith, a writer, activist, conservationist, sportsman, and birder. You may know him from his column in the Kennebec Journal or as the former director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (SAM). In our conversation with George, he shares his perspective on the future of wildlife and fisheries protection in Maine; his observations of the impacts of climate change on the North Woods and in his own backyard; and his memories from working in Maine politics for more than four decades.
Maine Brewshed Alliance, April 16, 2019 Great beer needs clean water, and NRCM is collaborating with breweries throughout the state to protect Maine’s waters through education and advocacy. In this episode, you’ll hear about our newly launched Maine Brewshed Alliance from NRCM's Kristin Jackson and three brewers who are part of the alliance: Christie Mahaffey (Foundation), Abe Furth (Orono Brewing), and Dan Kleban (Maine Beer Company).
Three-part Series on Land for Maine's Future
The Maine Land Conservation Task Force recently released a report with recommendations to guide the future of land conservation in Maine. The group recommended a $95 million investment in bond funding to support the Land for Maine’s Future program and address the maintenance backlog in Maine’s State Parks. In this three-part series, NRCM hears from Task Force co-chair, Tim Glidden, and Task Force members, Senator Cathy Breen and Representative Pat Corey, about their experiences serving on the Task Force and the reasons they support Land for Maine’s Future.
Representative Pat Corey, LMF Part III, March 12, 2019 Rep. Pat Corey (R-Windham) served on the Maine Land Conservation Task Force and is one of more than 100 co-sponsors of LD 911 to support LMF and State Parks.
Senator Cathy Breen, LMF Part II, March 12, 2019 Senator Cathy Breen (D-Cumberland) served on the Maine Land Conservation Task Force, and she introduced LD 911 to refund the LMF program and to support State Parks.
Tim Glidden, LMF Part I, March 12, 2019 Tim Glidden is the President of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and he served as one of two co-chairs of the Maine Land Conservation Task Force.
A Day at the Maine State House with Pete Didisheim, February 8, 2018 Have you ever wondered what actually goes on at Maine’s State House? NRCM’s Advocacy Director, Pete Didisheim, has more than two decades of experience working at the Capitol to advocate for policies to protect Maine’s environment. In this episode, our host, Carly Peruccio, joins Pete for a visit to the State House. Pete deconstructs how the legislative process works and how citizens can shape state policies.
CMP Transmission Line Proposal: Bad for Maine, January 24, 2019 CMP wants to build a transmission line through Maine’s treasured North Woods. In this episode we’ll tell you why it’s bad for Maine’s environment and people. NRCM’s Clean Energy Staff Attorney Sue Ely walks you through our concerns, shares updates about the review process, and lets you know how to get involved.
2019 Episodes
NRCM Polar Bear Dip & Dash, December 20, 2018 Hear from NRCM staff members who have participated in our annual Polar Bear Dip & Dash over the past 10 years to find out why they do it, why they think YOU should do it, and hear their advice and memorable moments from past dips. You don't want to miss this event on New Year's Eve Day in Portland, Maine.
Interview with Judy Berk, December 19, 2018 After 28 years of outstanding service, NRCM’s media guru Judy Berk retires this week. She sat down with our podcast host Carly Peruccio to talk about her work and to share some memorable experiences during her time at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Thank you, Judy, for all of you have done to protect the nature of Maine.
A Record Year—5 Million Alewives, July 2, 2018 Nate Gray of the Maine Department of Marine Resources describes the largest alewife run in the US at Benton Falls in central Maine. NRCM Advocacy Director Pete Didisheim shares the story of the Edwards Dam removal on the Kennebec River and how the work of NRCM and the Kennebec Coalition helped begin restoration of this fishery.
