Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Growing up inside New York’s postwar art world gave Gina Sawin an extraordinary education. But becoming her own artist required something else: getting away from the center of it. In Maine, Sawin found the space to develop a painting practice rooted in birds, the natural world, and the delicate ecosystems her husband, conservationist Charles Gauvin, taught her to see more closely. Her paintings may appear to capture a flock observed in flight, but Sawin reveals that they are carefully constructed—composed to create the feeling of something that never existed exactly as painted. She and Lisa also consider the ancient human impulse to depict animals, from 25,000-year-old cave paintings to Sawin’s contemporary birds, and why solitude is only part of an artist’s life. Even alone in the studio, Sawin says, generations of teachers and artists remain present. Join Dr. Lisa Belisle for this conversation with Gina Sawin today on Radio Maine. Full episode page: https://radiomaine.com/episodes/the-freedom-of-not-being-at-the-center-artist-gina-sawin More Radio Maine episodes: https://radiomaine.com/episodes.html Portland Art Gallery: https://portlandartgallery.com

For five years, Radio Maine has brought people together through long-form conversations. Now that conversation is moving into the room. Recorded before a live audience at Portland Art Gallery, this Radio Maine Live gathering brings together people who have previously joined Dr. Lisa Belisle—and a room filled with artists, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and other Mainers—to consider one deceptively simple question: What kind of Maine are we building? Tobias Parkhurst, Quincy Hentzel, Ginny Hussey, and Phillip Hussey bring distinctly different perspectives to a conversation about growth, affordability, workforce, healthcare, quality of life, and the opportunities that exist beyond Portland. But some of the most compelling ideas emerge around what Maine’s next generation will need—and whether we are building a state they will choose to call home. Radio Maine Live is also about what happens when thoughtful people gather in the same place: ideas collide, connections form, and the conversation continues after the cameras stop. Join Dr. Lisa Belisle for this special live conversation today on Radio Maine.

Art isn't about avoiding rejection. It's about creating anyway.

Artist and Portland Art Gallery associate Jill Cremens shares the story of presenting her work to one of her artistic heroes... only to be met with silence. What followed wasn't instant success. It was self-reflection, yoga, travel, and a deeper understanding of why creativity matters.

From weaving and environmental sculpture to mindfulness, Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, and the idea that we only have about 4,000 weeks to live, this conversation explores what keeps artists creating when no one is applauding.

Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, writer, or simply trying to build something meaningful, Jill's perspective on rejection, resilience, and creativity offers lessons that extend far beyond the studio.

If this conversation resonates, please subscribe for more stories exploring creativity and the human spirit.

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Some of the art we live with becomes inseparable from the lives we’ve lived. A painting can recall a graduation, a marriage, a place we love—or someone who is no longer here. For Emma Wilson, director of Portland Art Gallery, those connections are at the heart of what art can offer. In this conversation, she reflects on moving through her own divorce, the recent death of her mother, and the unexpected ways creativity can make room for both grief and hope. She shares stories of collectors whose paintings became part of family histories, and of artists whose work continues to connect people even after they are gone. Emma also offers a glimpse into the intuitive work of curating a gallery, where seemingly different pieces can begin to “talk” to one another—and where relationships matter as much as aesthetics. Join Dr. Lisa Belisle for this conversation with Emma Wilson today on Radio Maine. Full episode page: https://radiomaine.com/episodes/why-some-paintings-stay-with-you-forever-gallery-director-emma-wilson More Radio Maine episodes: https://radiomaine.com/episodes.html Portland Art Gallery: https://portlandartgallery.com

Most people think of physical therapy as something you do after an injury.

Dr. Philip Finemore believes it has the potential to be much more.

Founder of WorkFitME Mobile Physical Therapy, Philip joins Dr. Lisa Belisle to discuss why preventing injuries, improving movement, and helping people stay active should be just as important as rehabilitation. Their conversation explores entrepreneurship, innovation in healthcare, the realities of remote work, and why building the right team—from primary care providers to strength coaches and massage therapists—can help people stay healthier for longer.

Rather than waiting until something hurts, Phil encourages a different approach: one that helps people continue doing the things they love, whether that's training for a marathon, keeping up with grandchildren, or simply living without pain.

Join our conversation with Dr. Philip Finemore today on Radio Maine.

Produced by Portland Art Gallery.

Kim Holden, founder of Doula by Design and founding principal of SHoP Architects, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle to explore an unexpected question: How does the design of a space influence the way we heal?

After helping build one of New York's leading architecture firms, Kim followed a deeply personal calling sparked by two transformative birth experiences. Today, she combines architecture, doula care, and maternal health advocacy to rethink how healthcare environments affect birth, healing, and human dignity. Through advocacy, education, collaborative teaching, and work with healthcare leaders, she is helping bridge the worlds of design and maternal health to create more compassionate systems of care.

Originally drawn to Maine as a child, Kim now calls the state home, where she continues to connect design, healthcare, and community through her work. Join our conversation with Kim Holden today on Radio Maine. Be sure to subscribe to the channel for more conversations celebrating creativity and the human spirit.

Tom Mahoney, community connector and resource team leader with Harpswell Aging at Home, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle to discuss one of today's most overlooked public health challenges: loneliness.

After decades working in public health, Tom found himself helping launch ROMEOs—Retired Older Men Eating Out—a program designed to bring older men together over shared meals and conversation. What started as a simple lunch has become something much larger: a community built on friendship, purpose, and mutual support.

Their conversation explores healthy aging, ageism, vulnerability, volunteering, intergenerational relationships, and why face-to-face connection remains one of the most powerful forces for improving health and well-being.

Join our conversation with Tom Mahoney today on Radio Maine—and be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Jennifer Merz, writer, illustrator, collage artist, and author of Steadfast: Frances Perkins, Champion of Workers' Rights, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to discuss creativity, perseverance, and the value of trusting a long creative process.

After working in textile design and later earning an MFA in Illustration, Merz spent nearly a decade researching, writing, illustrating, and ultimately self-publishing her award-winning children's biography of Frances Perkins. Along the way, she discovered that creative work rarely follows a straight line—it evolves through curiosity, revision, persistence, and a willingness to keep showing up.

From handcrafted collage and children's literature to Maine's artistic community and the enduring legacy of Frances Perkins, this conversation explores how meaningful work often grows from patience as much as inspiration.

Join our conversation with Jennifer Merz today on Radio Maine—and be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Dr. Jennifer Monti, cardiologist, critical care physician, and Chief Growth Officer of Prescriby Health, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to discuss one of healthcare's most important emerging conversations: thoughtful deprescribing.

Drawing from years of experience in cardiology, critical care, and healthcare innovation, Dr. Monti explains why medications that were once appropriate aren't always meant to remain part of a person's care forever. She explores how evidence-based deprescribing can improve quality of life while reducing unnecessary risks, and why the future of healthcare depends on combining clinical expertise with technology that supports—not replaces—the human relationship between patient and clinician.

From preventive medicine and artificial intelligence to public health and compassionate care, this conversation challenges conventional thinking about what excellent healthcare can look like.

Join our conversation with Dr. Jennifer Monti today on Radio Maine—and be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Gretchen Halpert, scientific illustrator, educator, former molecular biologist, and founder of a scientific illustration distance program, joins Dr. Lisa Belisle on Radio Maine to discuss the intersection of science, creativity, and lifelong learning.

With roots in both Portland's arts community and the scientific world, Halpert has spent decades showing students that careful observation is as essential in art as it is in biology. From botanical illustration and book arts to teaching future scientific illustrators, her work demonstrates how curiosity can connect seemingly different disciplines.

This thoughtful conversation explores creativity, education, the value of paying attention, and why pursuing what genuinely fascinates us often leads to unexpected opportunities.

Join our conversation with Gretchen Halpert today on Radio Maine—and be sure to subscribe to the channel.