Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Elizabeth Ross, founder of The Art of Being and a longtime leader in wellness and population health, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to explore what it truly means to pause, pay attention, and reconnect in an increasingly distracted world. Drawing on two decades of work in corporate health—and a pivotal, stress-induced medical crisis—Elizabeth traces her journey from data-driven wellness str...

James Mattison is a Maine painter and newly represented artist with the Portland Art Gallery whose work explores landscape, process, and the often-overlooked pockets of the state. In this episode of Radio Maine, Mattison joins host Dr. Lisa Belisle to reflect on his artistic journey—from growing up in central Maine and studying graphic design, to returning home after time away and fully committing...

Julie Kingsley is an award-winning author, educator, and the co-founder of the Manuscript Academy and Manuscript Wishlist, joining Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to explore creativity, resilience, and the courage to put stories into the world. A Scarborough native with deep French Canadian roots, Julie reflects on how Maine’s mill towns, immigrant histories, and close-knit communities shaped her...

Sean Thomas, manager of the Portland Art Gallery and a photographer with roots in documentary filmmaking, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to reflect on creativity, community, and the evolving role of artists in Maine’s cultural landscape. A Cape Elizabeth native and graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Sean traces his path from photography and film to gallery leadership, where...

Grant Auber, a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, music, design, and film, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to discuss the creative forces that shape his wide-ranging practice. Raised in Rhode Island and deeply influenced by sneaker culture, hip-hop, and early design obsessions, Grant developed a visual language rooted in rhythm, instinct, and flow. His artistic evolution—fro...

Brett Aldrich, an Ayurvedic counselor, breathwork practitioner, and founder of Seed the Spirit, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to explore how ancient healing practices can help us navigate modern life. A Maine native with a richly layered background—from competitive athletics to trauma-support advocacy—Brett’s path shifted in 2020, a pivotal year that opened the door to studying Ayurveda, y...

Dr. Jana Mohr Lone, executive director of the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO), joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to share her lifelong mission of helping children explore life’s biggest questions through philosophy. Trained as both an attorney and a philosopher, Jana discovered early on—as a graduate student and mother—that children naturally ask profound questions about...

Megan Rosenberg, a dedicated Special Olympics Maine athlete and health messenger, brings remarkable heart, resilience, and advocacy to her work both on and off the field. From early beginnings in California to representing Maine at multiple national competitions, Megan has built a life shaped by athletic discipline, community connection, and a deep commitment to helping others pursue healthy, acti...

Emily Blaschke is a Portland Art Gallery artist whose mixed-media assemblages transform found objects into vibrant, layered stories. In this conversation with Dr. Lisa Belisle, Emily shares how her art evolved from figurative work at UC Berkeley to the richly textural collages she now creates in Maine. Her inspiration often begins at antique shops or even the local dump, where she collects discard...

Mike LaRosa, founder of LaRosa Studios and represented by the Portland Art Gallery, brings an uncommon duality to his life’s work—he’s both a practicing pharmacist and a professional artist. Raised in Syracuse, New York, with a background in engineering and pharmacy, Mike ultimately found fulfillment through painting—proof that science and creativity can coexist in harmony. His vivid, hard-edged a...

Emily Sabino is a Maine-based painter whose vibrant abstract works explore nature’s cycles, human resilience, and the quiet renewal that comes with listening to one’s own creative voice. After more than a decade as a director of pricing and project management at a major international law firm, Emily found herself managing constant crises—until she realized the real emergency was her own unfulfille...

In this episode of Radio Maine, Dr. Lisa Belisle welcomes back Dr. Chuck Radis—rheumatologist, author, and storyteller—to discuss his newest book, Mystery in the Room (RHEUM): A Physician’s Journey Treating Patients with Rare Diseases. Drawing inspiration from Oliver Sacks and John McPhee, Dr. Radis blends medical insight with personal reflection, exploring the art of diagnosis, the humanity behin...

In this episode of Radio Maine, Dr. Lisa Belisle sits down with Jason Agren, President and Owner of Agren, Maine’s largest independent appliance and mattress retailer. Together they explore the creative side of business—how curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to take risks can drive long-term success. Jason shares the remarkable story of his family company, from his father’s humble beginnin...

In this special episode of Radio Maine, Dr. Lisa Belisle sits down with her husband, Kevin Thomas—owner of the Portland Art Gallery—for a candid conversation about his unlikely path from a farming family in northern Maine, to foodservice distribution CEO, to gallery owner in Portland Maine’s Old Port. Kevin shares how his lifelong appreciation for creativity began with high school sketches and Fri...

In this episode of Radio Maine, Dr. Lisa Belisle sits down with William Sullivan, co-organizer of Maine Tech Week and founder of From Away Games. A Maine native who began his career at Microsoft, William shares his journey from deep tech and engineering to gaming, VR/AR, and creative entrepreneurship. They explore how technology and creativity overlap—whether through video game design, immersive V...

In this episode of Radio Maine, Dr. Lisa Belisle sits down with Billy Jack Goodwin—program leader at Port Resources’ Achieving Independence in Maine (AIM). Billy Jack shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Lewiston, to decades of nonprofit work supporting vulnerable populations, to creating innovative programs that help young adults with autism and individuals with disabilities live inde...

Tosca Ruggieri is an independent art historian and the founder of Art with Tosca. She brings museum collections to life through storytelling, guided tours, and lectures. Based just outside of Washington, D.C., Tosca began her career in the London art market before shifting her focus to education and engagement both online and in-person. Since moving to the U.S. in 2021, she has created and led int...

Joan Fischer is both an artist and a retired attorney, a life path that has taken her from courtroom arguments to colorful canvases. Though she practiced law for decades, art was always her release—first through textiles learned from her immigrant grandmothers, later through bold paintings inspired by color, rhythm, and joy. Today, Fischer brings that sensibility to the Portland Art Gallery, where...

Ann Trainor Domingue is a Portland Art Gallery artist whose work beautifully explores the intersections of landscape, seascape, and human connection. With a background in graphic design, Ann brings a distinct visual language to her paintings, blending sharp composition with emotional storytelling. Her creative journey includes decades of sketchbook explorations, moments of experimentation with abs...

Sarah Giffen Carr is a conservation leader whose lifelong connection to Maine’s landscapes has shaped both her personal journey and professional career. Raised in Hallowell, she spent summers with her family in a rustic cabin built by her father. As a result of that yearly re-immersion into the natural world, Sarah developed a deep love for the outdoors that guided her toward studying geography an...

Contemporary landscape artist Sam Chappell brings a compelling blend of intuition, emotion, and resilience to her creative journey. With a background in art history, focused on the Renaissance, Sam never imagined she’d return to art through painting—especially not in the loose, expressive style she now embraces. After years in nonprofit fundraising and the corporate world, she rediscovered paintin...

Dr. Lisa Belisle, physician, writer, and host of Radio Maine, returns with a deeply personal solo episode exploring the rhythms that shape our inner and creative lives. Drawing on her experience in medicine, motherhood, and writing, Dr. Belisle reflects on the power of slowing down, honoring transitions, and reconnecting with the quiet wisdom within us. She weaves insights from traditional Chinese...

Michael Keighley, Chief Yoga Officer of Archangel Yoga and former Army helicopter pilot, shares a powerful and deeply personal journey from war zones to wellness. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Michael found his way to Maine through the University of Maine ROTC program. He served more than eight years in the military, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Struggling with PTSD...

Anni Pat McKenney, Director of MaineHealth’s Coulombe Center for Health Improvement, joins us on Radio Maine to share her inspiring journey from occupational therapy to pioneering community-based youth health programs. Raised in Newcastle, Maine, Anni Pat brings a deep personal connection to the communities she now serves. With past experience in the mental health field and a passion for service,...

Ginny Hussey, General Manager of Canopy Portland Waterfront, brings a deep passion for hospitality and an abiding love for Maine to her leadership role in one of Portland’s most dynamic hotels. Raised in Colorado Springs but with early connections to Biddeford Pool, Ginny moved to Maine with her family when she was in high school. After returning to Colorado for college, and gaining experience in...