In this episode, we’ll hear from four entrepreneurs, Patrick and Amber of Marin Skincare, and Inga Potter and Krista Rosen of Cold Current Kelp. These business owners are rethinking the uses for two of Maine’s prominen...

When Abby Barrows and Ben Jackson of Deer Isle Oyster Company bought their oyster farm, they inherited a lot of gear. And all of that gear was made of plastic. For Abby, a marine researcher focused on microplastics in the world’s oceans, this w...

Islesford resembles a lot of Maine’s outer islands. It has a population that fluctuates with the seasons, multi-generational year-round families, and a community of artists and fishermen. But when you arrive on this island, you may notice somet...

In the town of Cape Elizabeth, in Southern Maine, there’s one last strip of commercial access on the waterfront. This access, situated within Kettle Cove State Park beside neighboring Crescent Beach, is, at high tide, just wide enough to get a ...

Boothbay Harbor is one of Maine’s tourist playgrounds with art galleries, souvenir shops, restaurants, and hotels that cater to summer visitors. If you drive past the shops and condominiums along the waterfront you will see, sandwiche...

Nestled within an archipelago in Penobscot Bay, Stonington Harbor is a bustling working waterfront at the southern end of the island of Deer Isle. The towns of Stonington and Deer Isle share an island and a public school system, deep family ...

Southwest Harbor is located on the “quiet side” of Mount Desert Island. A town of multiple maritime industries, Southwest Harbor boasts a tradition of superior boatbuilding and, for the past two years, has emerged as one of the top ten highe...

A historic fishing town with over 50 miles of coastline, Gouldsboro has been at the center of a divisive controversy for the past two years. In 2020, the Norwegian-backed company American Aquafarms proposed putting two closed-pen salmon farm...

In the far eastern corner of Downeast Maine there’s a 3.7 square mile island. Connected to the mainland by a causeway and road that passes through the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy Reservation, Sipayik, this island is home to the town of Eastpor...

In this final installment of our Sustainable Seafood series, we’re going big and we’re going wild! We’re talking about the mysterious, internationally regulated, strong, and powerful Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. The reputation of this fish and fisher...

From Aristotle and Sigmund Freud to modern day times, the eel has captivated us for generations. In this episode, we dive headfirst into the world of this mysterious and mythical fish. The American Eel is a unique creature. And in Maine the elv...

In this episode, we’re talking about Maine’s groundfish fishery, past and present, and the potential that exists, for both fishermen and consumers.  By eating a variety of flavorful, responsibly harvested fish caught by Maine fishermen—spe...

In this episode, we’re talking all about vegetables. But not just any vegetable. We’re talking about the oldest vegetable—the fast-growing, nutrient-dense vegetables of the sea—specifically kelp. Hear from those working on the frontlin...

According to Togue Brawn, owner of Downeast Dayboat, you haven’t really tasted a scallop until you’ve tasted a Maine scallop. Maine scallops have made a comeback thanks to regulatory changes and conservation efforts. Hear from some fol...

We begin this limited series about Maine's sustainable seafood with the story of a partnership between the Island Institute and Luke’s Lobster, the inspiration behind that partnership, and the fishermen and species it supports. 

Craig Olson and Claire Donnelly of the Island Institute's Small Business team wrap up the series with a look back at the past year, what it's meant for small businesses in Maine (and everywhere), and the lessons learned moving forward.

This episode is a little bit different. We’re stepping back from current economic challenges to talk with Thomas “TL” Tutor of ReVision Energy about the clean energy transition, and why now is actua...

Kate Hall, owner of a microgreens farm and juice business, reflects on the challenges of being a single mom and small business owner during the pandemic. She made the most of it by teaming up with fello...

What's it like to sell or buy a business in the middle of the pandemic? Laura Serino recently sold Island Apothecary, the natural skincare company she founded, to longtime employee and friend, Fiona R...

Tessa Rosenberry and Davis Saltonstall co-founded ScrapDogs Community Compost. We talk about their start-up story, the importance of sustainable food systems, their goal to create an organics mana...

Merritt Carey is the Community Relations Director at Luke’s Lobster. We talk about her extensive and diverse career, the importance of adaptive learning, and how she’s "never been afraid to drink from...

Maine’s fishermen and coastal communities have been challenged due to the impacts of the pandemic. We discussed the trajectory of the lobster season this summer and the future of the industry with small business owner and commercial lobsterman,...

We checked in with some of the business owners we first spoke with at the start of the pandemic to see how things are going—Melissa Raftery & Megan Wood of 44 North Coffee and Gabe Pendleton...

We checked in with some of the business owners we first spoke with at the start of the pandemic to see how things are going—Alison Thibault, owner of WindHorse Arts  and Liz Lovell of <...

Cyndi Prince is the founder and CEO of LooHoo, which makes wool dryer balls—a reusable, energy-saving alternative to dryer sheets. Cyndi started LooHoo—a women-owned and Black-owned busin...