Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Chip Brewer, founder of Growth Story LLC and a Bowdoin College alum, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine for a dynamic conversation about storytelling, community, and the power of collaboration. A longtime resident of Cape Elizabeth, Chip blends decades of corporate consulting with his passion for improv, screenwriting, and novel writing—crafts he uses to explore themes of teamwork and empathy. From teaching improv to the Bowdoin...

Christoph Gelfand, Wes Sterrs, and Jeff Griecci—filmmakers behind the dynamic short documentary Final First Edition—join us for a lively and insightful conversation about collaboration, creativity, and a deep dive into pop culture history. This trio, each with impressive individual credentials in Maine’s tight-knit film community, came together to chronicle a fascinating project: collector Rich Horn’s mission to recreate the origin...

Ryan Kohler is a Portland Art Gallery artist known for his vibrant mixed-media paintings that blend acrylic and collage into energetic “parties on canvas.” Based in Skowhegan, Ryan’s journey to full-time art began with a brief stint in architecture, followed by years immersed in music—writing, performing, and producing—before a major life shift brought him fully into the studio. His process is intuitive and tactile, often sparked b...

Karla Brannen, principal at Brannen CPA Services, shows that accounting is as much about insight and problem-solving as it is about numbers. A native of Maine's Aroostook County and graduate of Thomas College, Karla has built a thriving firm grounded in expertise and a deep understanding of her clients’ unique situations. In this Radio Maine interview, she shares how no two tax returns are ever quite the same, and how careful inter...

Documentary photographer Nick Gervin has spent the last decade capturing the soul of Portland, Maine—its beauty, its struggles, and its untold stories. In this inspiring Radio Maine interview, Nick shares how photography became a lifeline in his recovery from traumatic brain injury and substance use disorder, guiding him from solitary nighttime shoots to a vibrant artistic community at the Bakery Photo Collective. His work, includi...

Susan Woods, MD, MPH is a digital health pioneer whose career has bridged the exam room and the cutting edge of technology. In this inspiring conversation with Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine, Dr. Woods shares how her Maine roots and collaborations with forward-thinking public health pioneers like Dr. Richard Rockefeller, Deborah Deatrick, M.P.H., and Dr. Dora Anne Mills helped shape her path—from launching the Maine Tobacco Helpli...

Dr. Jeffrey Barkin is a practicing psychiatrist, multimedia journalist, and co-host of A Healthy Conversation on WGAN, where he brings clarity and calm to today’s most pressing healthcare issues. Known for his positivity and thoughtful communication style, Jeff has spent decades helping people navigate uncertainty—first in clinical settings and now through public dialogue. A Swarthmore and Yale-trained physician, he traces his love...

Andrew Faulkner is a Maine-connected artist whose vibrant landscapes captivate viewers with bold color and playful textures. Based in Sausalito, California, Andrew draws on his background in graphic design and fine art to create pieces that blur the line between representation and abstraction. His recent series explores the interplay of color, light, and texture, incorporating cold wax into oil paint for added depth. Andrew’s evolv...

Melissa Skahan is the Vice President of Mission at Northern LIght Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine. With a background in education and healthcare, Melissa has spent 17 years leading initiatives that support vulnerable populations. She played a key role in transforming Portland’s McAuley Residence into a statewide program providing housing, healthcare, and education for families affected by substance use disorder. Melissa’s work ex...

How can we keep our brains healthy as we age? Dr. Allan “Chip” Teel has spent decades exploring this question, both as a Maine-based family physician and an innovator in independent senior living. Maine has the highest percentage of people over 65 in the United States. Practicing in Lincoln County (which itself has one of Maine’s oldest populations), Dr. Teel has seen firsthand the challenges of cognitive decline—but he also sees h...

Dr. Lucy Liaw is a scientist, educator, and wellness advocate whose work bridges the worlds of biomedical research, martial arts, and mindfulness. A faculty scientist at MaineHealth, and professor at the University of Maine and Tufts University School of Medicine, Lucy’s research focuses on cardiovascular health and metabolic disease, tackling some of today’s most pressing health challenges. Outside the lab, Lucy is a dedicated pra...

Joel Alex is the founder of Blue Ox Malthouse, a business dedicated to connecting Maine-grown grains with the craft beer industry in his home state. Joel’s family has deep roots in Maine: his mother’s family once worked in the Rumford mills, and his father grew up on a dairy farm in Unity.  Raised in Old Town, Joel graduated from Colby College in Waterville, where his exposure to study abroad programs in Madagascar and Switzerland ...

Michael Dalton, the CEO of Ovatient, is redefining virtual healthcare by bringing high-quality, patient-centered care directly to the people who need it. With a background in healthcare leadership at The MetroHealth System and Summa Health in Ohio, Michael saw firsthand the barriers patients face—from transportation and family/work schedules, to limited availability of specialists. His passion for improving healthcare accessibility...

Jim Brady is the president and founder of Fathom Companies, a real estate development and hotel management firm based in Portland, Maine. A former professional sailor, Jim was a silver medalist in Barcelona's 1992 Summer Olympics, before transitioning to real estate. His journey into the field was influenced by his partnership with Maine native Kevin Mahaney. Jim’s projects, such as The Press Hotel, located in the former Portland P...

Emma Ballou is a Maine-based artist whose work reflects her appreciation for the beauty of her natural surroundings. Raised in rural Buxton, Emma cultivated her artistic perspective through a family legacy of creativity and formative experiences at the Maine College of Art in Portland. After more than a decade away in Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Long Island, New York—attending Goucher College and subsequently working a...

Lisa Sockabasin is the co-CEO of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness (WPHW), an organization addressing health and cultural restoration for indigenous communities in Maine. A member of the Passamaquoddy Nation, Lisa holds degrees in nursing and epidemiology, and has dedicated her career to community wellness. Lisa draws upon her considerable experience to further the integration of traditional Wabanaki practices with modern public ...

Giovanna Gray Lockhart is the Executive Director of the Frances Perkins Center in Newcastle, Maine. Passionate about gender equity and the intersection of policy, politics, and media, much of Giovanna’s career has been in the political arena, including four years working for New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. In her latest role, Giovanna serves as an enthusiastic advocate for Frances Perkins, the first female U.S. Cabinet member ...

Dr. Tom Brewster is a pediatrician and geneticist who is passionate about improving the health of children beginning at a foundational level. A Nebraska native, Tom earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and practiced clinical pediatrics in Maine for more than thirty years. Today, Tom is at the forefront of genomics, focusing on how advances in DNA sequencing can revolutionize newborn screening and...