Jeff Mao, founder of Knead and Nosh, educator, author, and former statewide leader in educational technology, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to reflect on a career shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and community. A Bowdoin College graduate, Jeff began as a teacher and coach before becoming a central figure in Maine’s pioneering one-to-one laptop program, which helped transform how students and teachers across the state engaged with technology and learning. In recent years, Jeff has brought that same systems-thinking and love of experimentation to food, launching Knead and Nosh and earning statewide recognition for his bagels—including the award-winning Sichuan Dragon bagel, inspired by his Chinese heritage and culinary history. He shares how education, technology, and food intersect through storytelling, science, and culture, and how Maine’s farmers markets and food community have become an extension of his lifelong work connecting people. Thoughtful, wide-ranging, and deeply rooted in place, Jeff’s story is one of reinvention and purpose.

Join our conversation with Jeff Mao today on Radio Maine, and be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Radio Maine is sponsored by the Portland Art Gallery

Marnie Girado, Fair Manager, Exhibitor Relations; for Affordable Art Fair NYC & Boston, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to talk about making art more accessible—without sacrificing depth, quality, or curiosity. With a background in art history from Bowdoin and advanced training in Victorian and Edwardian art, Marnie brings a sharp eye and deep love of context to contemporary art spaces. From transparent pricing to thoughtfully curated booths, she shares how affordable art fairs help connect artists, galleries, and new collectors—often for the very first time. Along the way, she reflects on trends, color, Maine’s influence on the Boston art market, and the many career paths available beyond museums and galleries.Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about access, aesthetics, and the joy of seeing art find its way onto people’s walls.

Join our conversation with Marnie Girado today on Radio Maine, and be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Radio Maine is sponsored by the Portland Art Gallery

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 strategy to a deeply human, experiential practice rooted in mindfulness and presence. She shares how the rise of the attention economy, smartphones, and AI has reshaped our nervous systems, relationships, and sense of self, and why simple acts of pause can be profoundly restorative. Based in Maine, Elizabeth creates unplugged gatherings, potluck conversations, and art-centered experiences that foster intergenerational connection, community, and reflection. Her perspective blends science, lived experience, and compassion, offering a hopeful vision for reclaiming our time, attention, and humanity—together.

Join our conversation with Elizabeth Ross today on Radio Maine, and be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Radio Maine is sponsored by the Portland Art Gallery