Open Ears Maine

A 785 foot cruise ship named the Riviera tied up to the Breakwater in Eastport on Sunday, with a skeleton crew of 135 workers. The vessel is slated to remain in Eastport indefinitely, or until the cruise ship industry re-opens after shutting down due to the pandemic. In this episode, we speak to two Washington County residents. The first is a fella called Nateshaw Rick and he's been asking around the island city for the locals' opinion of the ship's visit. And then we'll hear from Chris Gardner, executive director of the Port of Eastport, about the details of the deal that are expected to bring in almost $50,000 monthly in mooring fees.  

Tonight, our guest is Lokotah Sanborn, a member of the Penobscot Nation and an anti-racist and anti-fascist activist from Indian Island, Maine. We’ll be discussing the anti-Trump protests in Bangor on Friday, plus we’ll hear his perspective on Black Lives Matter, white allies and white supremacy and the impact of colonialism on his tribe and other indigenous peoples. *** recommended reading list: Black Skin, White Masks and The Wretched of the Earth - Frantz FanonMe and White Supremacy   - Layla SaadAssata: An Autobiography - Assata ShakurOur History is the Future - Nick EstesHow to Be an Antiracist - Ibram KendiNotes of a Native Son - James BaldwinBlack Marxism - Cedric RobinsonRed Skin, White Masks -Glen Sean CoulthardWhite Fragility - Robin Diangelo  

Tonight, a conversation with activist and author Reza Jalali about this week's street demonstrations in Portland and how COVID-19 is impacting Maine's refugee and immigrant communities.  

Some thoughts on the protests of the murder of George Floyd and then a conversation with Captain Noah Barnes about the impact of COVID-19 on Maine's windjammer fleet.

Two guests with dramatically different points of view on the COVID-19 pandemic AND the state of Maine’s State of Emergency rules. First, Phoebe Kolbert, a college student and writer, then Pete Guidi, an innkeeper with a large investment in Old Orchard Beach.  

On today’s show, we’ll be talking about pandemic restauranteering with Erin Bruns of Bruce’s Burritos in Yarmouth. We’ll hear what it was like to pivot to curbside only food service, functioning under the state’s new rules and her thoughts on the tough times ahead for Maine’s restaurant culture.  

This episode is gonna be a little different. In Episode 13, we speak to a mask-hating, QAnon-loving Maine Republican Party candidate for an Aroostook County House seat. We'll hear about his anti-mask protests, the Illuminati, his work as a QAnon analyst and his ability to walk on broken glass.

We speak to "Lois" -- a fifth and sixth grade teacher in a rural, mid-coast Maine town -- about education during the time of COVID-19

We speak to a mid-coast Maine mail carrier we’re calling Cliff Clavin to hear what it is like delivering mail during the coronavirus pandemic. And to learn what’s worse —  dog bites or COVID-19.

HospitalityMaine wants the governor to lift the 14 day quarantine for out-of-state tourists. Also a brief flashback to 1902 when typhoid came to Maine.

On today’s show, we’ll hear about Janet Mills' COVID testing announcement, plus breaking news about a cruise ship planning to tie up in Eastport for an extended stay. And we’ll talk about the practically useless COVID-19 antibodies test with a Boothbay Harbor man who paid 75 bucks for the darn thing.

On today’s show, we’ll speak to State Rep. Genevieve McDonald, a Democrat from Stonington-Deer Isle with tips on filing for unemployment as a self-employed Mainer or sole proprietor. She’s also the skipper of a lobster boat, so we’ll learn about COVID-19’s impact on the commercial fishing industry. And we’ll discuss the misogyny in today’s political circuses across the country. Later in the program, Becky Pritchard, author and reporter for the Mount Desert Islander newspaper, to hear how the state’s re-opening plan will be putting the damper on this summer’s tourism season Down East.

We spoke to Rick Savage, the owner of Sunday RIver Company about his decision to challenge the state COVID-19 reopening plans.

We'll talk to a Portland-area barber who held a haircutting speakeasy last week about the new rules for Maine's barbers. Plus we'll speak to Danielle Madore and Carrie Vinette of the Black Hen studio, a tattoo shop and gallery located on Ocean Street in South Portland and hear their perspective on the delayed re-opening of their industry.  

Tonight, we'll speak with psychoanalyst Ed O'Brien who sees patients in mid-coast Maine. We'll discuss how the pandemic is impacting those with mental illness and discuss coping mechanism for stressed out Mainers. 7 to 8 p.m.

A conversation with Jason Dionne, attorney-at-law, on how the pandemic is impacting Maine's family court system. And an update on the mill explosion at the paper mill in Jay, plus information about a hotline to help Mainers navigate the state's unemployment system.

Tonight we’ll hear from State Representative Chris Johansen, a Republican lawmaker from Monticello and the organizer of yesterday’s “Patriot’s Day” protest in Augusta. And we’ll speak to Washington County Commissioner Chris Gardner on how the pandemic is impacting life Downeast. And Gardner's thoughts on why rural Maine should re-open before the rest of the state. Tonight from 7 until 8.

On the second episode of Open Ears Maine, we'll speak to a nurse we're calling "Jane" who works on a "med surg floor" in one of Maine's largest hospitals to hear from the inside on how health care workers are dealing with Covid-19. And we'll discuss the explosion that rocked the town of Jay yesterday, showering the Franklin County community in dust and calling into question the future for 500 local workers. Tonight from 7 until 8. Call (515) 602-9747 to tell your pandemic story.

Tonight, we'll be discussing the trials and tribulations of seeking unemployment benefits with the recently laid-off Neil Skillin. And we'll talk about Susan Collins with Nathan Bernard. And we'll hear from Becky McDonald Pritchard about the scene on Mount Desert Island. And, perhaps, a call from you? The number is (515) 602-9747. Tonight, from 7 until 8.