For this episode, Matt explores Maine's outdoor recreation economy, a $3+ billion industry that helps get people outside, safeguard Maine's natural environment, and improve health. Check out Maine's 10 Year Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap here. Big thanks to the folks who contributed to this episode: Jeff McCabe: Director, Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, Department of Economic & Community Development Austin French, MBA: Project Director, Outdoor Recreation Hub of Excellence, ...

Welcome to our first "Healthy Maine Snapshot". Moving forward, we'll feature a monthly snapshot that's shorter than our typical episodes, highlights a health issue and gives practical tips for how to keep you, and your loved ones healthy and safe. For this snapshot we discuss the importance of lung cancer screening with Nicole Heanssler, Associate Director of Cancer Center Partnerships at the American Cancer Society, and Snow Tardif, Program Manager for the Lung Cancer Screening Program...

Welcome to the second installment of our special series in October around Mental Health Awareness Month. For this episode, Matt went up to Bremen, Maine to check out the Hearty Roots Campus for Mindful Adventure on the shores of Biscay Pond. Haley Bezon, Founder and Executive Director of Hearty Roots, shares the history of the group, it's mission to guide youth off the grid and into their hearts, and how its new 100+ acre campus helps them fulfill that mission.

Welcome to the first installment in our series honoring Mental Health Awareness Month in October. For this episode, Matt comes to you from Bangor ME at the Maine Council on Aging's Change AGEnt Summit, where he speaks to Anna Guest, MCOA's Power in Aging Director, and Dr. Delvina Miremadi-Baldino, keynote speaker at the summit and Executive Director of Maine Youth Thriving. Delvina is also a former guest on Healthy Maine Talks (check out her full episode here). And a reminder that Maine...

Welcome to another installment of our special series that takes a peak behind the curtain of public health in Maine, and highlights the positive impact that federal funding can have on our communities. For this episode, Matt chats with Melissa Fochesato, MPH--Director of Mid Coast Hospital Community Health at MaineHealth.

In this episode of Healthy Maine Talks, Matt sits down with Monique Coombs, Director of Community Programs at Maine Coast Fishermen's Association. Monique is working to keep fishermen healthy and working waterfronts thriving well into the future. She digs into those efforts and more in the episode. Plus, she teaches Matt a new word: Solastalgia.

Buckle up, this episode's a blast. A few months ago MPHA went to a Sea Dogs game (the minor league baseball team in Maine), for a member outing. It was a chance to connect with each other and just generally have a grand old time. We also took the opportunity to chat with people coming to the game (not just MPHA members). We asked them a simple question: What do you love about public health? Tune into this episode to hear what they said.

Heather Drake, MPH joins Healthy Maine Talks to highlight findings from the 2025 Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment. Heather serves as the Program Manager for the Maine Shared CHNA, which she describes as a menu of what's happening across the state that partners can use to improve health and well-being in their communities. Check out the Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment reports here. *Thank you to Tara Sangal, MPHA intern, for her editing support on this ...

The latest installment of our special series on federal policy features Dr. Brian C. Castrucci, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation. Brian and Matt dig into three areas: - A recent survey from the de Beaumont Foundation, "100 Days In: Americans' Perceptions and Expectations About Health" that gauges peoples' views on health across the political spectrum. - Marketing/communicating public health's return on investment - Striking the right balance between being idealistic vs. b...

In this "in the field" episode of Healthy Maine Talks Matt heads up to the City of Bangor to explore the connection between public health and economic development. Spoiler alert: They're inextricably connected. Here's a rundown of the folks Matt spoke to for this episode: Anne Krieg, Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Bangor Matt Dexter, Executive Director of the Christine B Foundation, which provides medically tailored meals to cancer patients in and a...

In the latest installment of our series looking at federal policy decisions that will impact Maine, Matt speaks with Jolene Luce, BSHA, Program Director for Western Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Jolene shares details about the critical shortage of health care workers in rural Maine, and how AHEC, a federally funded program through HRSA, is working to recruit and retain more medical professionals to live and work in rural Maine. *This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by th...

This episode is the first in a special series here at Healthy Maine Talks where we'll dig into upcoming policy decisions in D.C. that will impact communities in Maine. For this episode we cover SNAP and SNAP-Ed. There's a lot of unknowns right now about what's happening in D.C, but what we do know is SNAP and SNAP-Ed are potentially on the chopping block as Congress considers the reconciliation bill and the future budgets. Hannah Siladi has a history of working with SNAP-Ed in Maine, an...

We're kicking off this summer's "Healthy Maine Talks" tour across Maine with Matt's visit to Skowhegan, lovingly referred to by some locals as "Skowvegas." Over the last several years, Skowhegan has undergone a major transformation, with a booming local economy, and an increasingly tight connection to the beautiful natural resources that surround it, particularly the Kennebec River. Matt chatted with folks around town about how things have changed and what the future might look like, and he s...

This special episode of Healthy Maine Talks covers the second event in our "Pollinator Series"--events that brings folks together across the state around issues related to health and wellness that matter in their communities. The theme for this event, "Rewilding Your Yard", covers practical tips for how you can bring biodiversity back to your home environment. Big thank you to Andrew Tufts, the Bringing Nature Home Manager at Maine Audubon, for speaking at the event and to Viles Arboretum for...

To mark Mental Health Awareness Month, Matt sat down with Dr. Delvina Miremadi-Baldino, the new Executive Director of Maine Youth Thriving. Dr. Miremadi-Baldino is a psychologist who specializes in fostering resilience in both adults and children. In this episode of Healthy Maine Talks she shares the work MYT is doing to encourage positive environments, experiences and relationships for young people in Maine. Spoiler alert, we all have a role to play! *This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supp...

For this episode of Healthy Maine Talks Matt sits down with Noël Bonam, AARP Maine's State Director, to discuss "Vital Voices", the group's new survey that highlights issues that impact adults age 45 and older in Maine. *This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*

In honor of National Public Health Week 2025, please check out this special episode of Healthy Maine Talks featuring a real example of public health in action in Maine's communities. Jennifer Gunderman, MPH, Director of Public Health & Community Services for the City of Bangor, joins us to share her team's response to the ongoing HIV outbreak in the Bangor area. We cover evidence-based approaches to containing an outbreak, combating stigma and more. *This Healthy Maine T...

In this "in the field" episode of Healthy Maine Talks, Barrett Takesian, Executive Director of Portland Community Squash, shows Matt around the PCS facilities and shares the inside scoop on how his team is building community in a meaningful, and sustainable way. *This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*

Welcome to the first installment of our new Pollinator Series on Healthy Maine Talks! We're taking HMT on the road across Maine to meet people and talk about what public health means to them in their communities. This episode covers our first event, "Nature & Health", that we held at Penobscot River Trails in Grindstone, ME, co-sponsored by Teens to Trails. Tune in to hear from folks about why its important to them to get outside all year round for their physical and mental health.&...

Dr. Dora Mills, Chief Health Improvement Officer at MaineHealth, joins Healthy Maine Talks for this month's episode. Dr. Mills, a longtime champion for health and former Maine CDC Director, shares some history about Maine's public health system, reflects on the current moment, and gives tips on how we can communicate to people that public health has their backs. *This Healthy Maine Talks episode is supported by the New England Public Health Training Center*