Nell Yeah!

Annella sits down with oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Killian MacCarthy to explore the soundtrack to his life and career. Music is part of every day in the operating room, where every procedure has its own playlist and even patients get to choose what they hear as they drift off to sleep. Along the way, they discuss his journey into surgery, advances in facial surgery and technology, and how m...

Annella sits down with Dave Register to talk about this year's Portland Theater Festival, returning this September with three compelling productions that explore family, truth, technology, and the complexities of human connection. They discuss The Monsters by Ngozi Anyanwu, Octet by Dave Malloy, and An Enemy of the People, Henrik Ibsen's enduring classic in Amy Herzog's acclaimed contemporary adap...

Ahead of their show at SPACE in Portland, Annella Linton catches up with Welsh garage-punk duo The Bug Club. Sam Willmett and Tilly Harris chat about life on the road after relentless touring across the UK and North America, their brilliantly offbeat songwriting, and their new album Every Single Muscle,an 18-track blast of razor-sharp riffs, surreal humour, and songs that rarely stick around for m...

On this episode of The Morning Beat on WMPG, Annella sits down with Bill and Aaron from 13 Scotland Road to talk about their upcoming concert at PHOME on Friday, June 19. The Maine-based group recently returned from a memorable trip to Ireland and Bill and Aaron share stories from their travels, reflect on the connections between heritage, community, and music, and discuss how the experience is sh...

Kathryn Taylor, owner of Portland's iconic Geno’s Rock Club and the Downtown Lounge joined Annella on the Morning Beat . Kathryn shared her journey from Maine to San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New York before finding her way back home, as well as the experiences that shaped her as a business owner, music fan, and champion of Portland’s live music scene. Her love of punk and metal was on full dis...

Before playlists, before streaming, before “you might also like”… there was the record store, and Melissa Martin was right in the middle of it. In this episode, we chat with Melissa about her days working music retail in Portland through the ’80s and ’90s, when discovering new sounds meant flipping through crates, talking to real humans, and maybe taking a chance on something weird. From local leg...

Belinda is lifelong Mainer who enjoys riding bikes (mountain/road), hiking in the mountains of Maine and New Hampshire, and running (when she's not injured from running). Indoors, she loves cooking, reading, and crosswords. She has worked as an educator, freelance writer, business manager; served 2 terms on the Portland City Council between 2015-2021, and now works for the Greater Portland Council...

Meg Shorette - founder, booker, music champion, and one of the key connectors in Portland’s live music scene, joins the show to talk about her work building community through music. From launching a multi-venue festival to supporting artists year-round, Meg has played a major role in shaping what Portland audiences hear and experience. She also brings along a stack of hand-picked songs to share, m...

Ollie Wright is Annella's guest on the Morning Beat. Ollie is a midfielder with the Hearts of Pine Soccer Club in Portland, Maine. He contributed 11 goals and 8 assists, earned 2025 USL1 All-League Second Team, and was named 2025 Supporters’ Player of the Year. He joined the show to talk about the music he listens to while training, what helps him lock into the right mindset before a match, and hi...

Three WMPG DJs, one shared obsession: records. Join Annella from The Morning Beat, Mr. Dana of Wax Poetic, and Helen from Crate Escape as they dig into some of the most exciting releases for Record Store Day. From long-awaited reissues to limited-edition pressings, the trio shares what caught their eye in this year’s lineup, including releases connected to artists like David Bowie, The Stranglers,...

Annella chats with Jenny Anastasoff - broadcast on WMPG Feb-4th 2026 Jenny is a polymath like many Maine-grown creatives: actress-producer-screenwriter-director-advocate. Jenny began her film journey in 1995 on a Stephen King feature film actually shot in Maine, and has been on-and-off camera ever since. Highlights include Story Producer at the SMCC Maine Mayhem Producer's Panel, and Damnationland...

Heather McDougall brings a lifetime love of music and radio to the microphone. With roots as a cellist and more than two decades working in classical radio and music organizations around the world, her path has taken her from Ireland’s national broadcaster to orchestras, festivals, and public radio stations across the U.S. Heather’s wide-ranging experience and deep curiosity shape every program sh...

Music and chat with Annella and Siobhan Brett. Siobhan is the Opinion Editor at the Portland Press Herald

On this episode of Nell Yeah!, Annella meets Kevin Jensen, Economic Development Director for Gorham, for a conversation that blends community development with a shared love of music. Along the way, Kevin shares some of the music that inspires him and the sounds that soundtrack life in Gorham.

Annella chats with Anita Verna Crofts on the Morning Beat 08-27-2026. The Morning Beat broadcasts on WMPG 90.9FM in Portland, Maine. Anita Verna Crofts is living her dream: a home above an independent bookstore in the India Street Historic District of Portland, and work that takes her regularly to Seattle, Adelaide, and downeast Maine here in our backyard. She's on faculty at the University of Was...

Annella chats with Diana Manduca - singer with Two Minutes Out who have a new album out called Ripples

Annella chats with Dave Register, actor and founder of the Portland Theater Festival in Maine. Broadcast on the Morning Beat

Andrew Zarro joins Annella and Lana on The Morning Beat on WMPG for a lively conversation. He shares stories from his early days running Little Woodfords Coffee Shop in Portland and spins some of the tracks that defined that chapter. April 16th 2025

RSD 2025: Record Store Day – Beginnings, First Records & Top Picks! Join WMPG DJs Annella (The Morning Beat), Helen (The Crate Escape), and Dana (Wax Poetic) as they dive into the magic of Record Store Day 2025! In this special episode, they explore the history of RSD, reminisce about their first-ever vinyl purchases, and share their passion for collecting records. Looking for the best release...

J Rose is a tattooist with Tsunami tattoo.

In this episode, Annella sits down with Lana Cooney, a versatile musician and dedicated community builder. Born and raised in Montreal, Lana's creative upbringing ignited her passion for music, leading her to pick up the drumsticks at just 10 years old. By 2015, she co-founded Caveboy, a band known for its dynamic sound and energy. Now calling Portland home, Lana is still creating—this time throug...

On The Morning Beat, host Annella talks with outgoing Portland City Councilor Victoria Pelletier about her three-year term and the music that served as its soundtrack.

Annella chats with the Sons of Town Hall ahead of their visit to One Longfellow Square on October 9th 2024