Maine Famous

Maine Famous
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A podcast about Maine’s most iconic businesses. Whether you're a long-time resident, a seasonal visitor, or a distant admirer, the this podcast is your invitation to explore what makes our state so special. Discover what our guests are famous for, and in turn, find out what makes Maine famously unforgettable.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Sara Jenkins Wants You to Slow Down at the Table

    Chef Sara Jenkins of Nina June shares how a childhood between Maine and Italy shaped her approach to food, simplicity, and hospitality. From making olive oil in Tuscany to building one of the Midcoast’s most respected restaurants, she talks about seasonality, sourcing, and the realities of running a restaurant in Maine. This conversation explores why less is often more, and what it takes to create a dining experience people don’t want to leave.

    37 min

  2. 23 APR

    A Place Designed for Wonder, Connection, and the Outdoors

    Gretchen Ostherr, CEO of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, joins the Maine Famous podcast to share how a lifelong connection to the outdoors shaped her path from Outward Bound to leading one of Maine’s most visited destinations. In this conversation, she talks about the Gardens’ mission to connect people with nature, the unexpected growth of the Trolls exhibit, and the work happening behind the scenes in plant science and conservation. It’s a look at a place designed to spark wonder, learning, and a deeper sense of responsibility for the natural world.

    38 min

  3. 16 APR

    They Built a Summer Camp for Grown-Ups in Maine

    Brady and Jessica Brim-DeForest share the story behind Camp DeForest, a summer camp–inspired boutique motel in Lincolnville built around experience, design, and storytelling. Drawing from backgrounds in marketing, hospitality, and immersive events, they’ve created a place that feels intentional at every turn. This conversation explores what it takes to build something memorable, why details matter, and how thoughtful design can shape the way people feel, connect, and return.

    36 min

  4. 10 APR

    Inside Maine’s Most Thoughtful Oyster Experiences

    Virginia Shaffer, founder of Lady Oyster, joins the Maine Famous podcast to talk about how a single visit to an oyster farm changed the course of her life and led her to build one of Maine’s most thoughtful food experiences. In this conversation, she shares her path from corporate travel to culinary entrepreneurship, the inspiration behind her oyster tastings and tours, and why storytelling, place, and human connection are at the center of everything she creates. It’s a look at Maine’s oyster culture through the lens of experience, not just food.

    33 min

  5. 12 FEB

    Where Rivers, Art, and Yurts Meet: Inside Alex Poland’s Maine

    In this episode, we sit down with Bethel native Alex Poland: A registered Maine Guide, artist, fly-fishing instructor, land steward, and owner of Western Maine Yurts. Alex grew up in the foothills, worked side-by-side with his grandfather in excavation, earned a graduate degree he never used, and built a life that blends creativity, outdoor adventure, and deep Maine roots. He shares how fly fishing became the passion that changed everything, why Maine holds over 90% of the Lower 48’s wild brook trout, and what really happens during a full day guiding clients on the Androscoggin. We talk yurts, guests roasting their first-ever marshmallow, wildlife encounters, and the old-timer dialects he worries we’re losing. If you love Maine, wild places, or stories about carving your own path, this episode will be a favorite.

    40 min

  6. 5 FEB

    Surviving Kindles, Big Box Stores, and Everything Else: Inside Bridgton Books

    "People who read are interesting people. That’s why I’ve stayed in this business.” For more than 30 years, Justin Ward has been the quiet anchor of downtown Bridgton. He and his wife Pam opened Bridgton Books in 1993, back when the mill had just closed, storefronts were boarded up, and everyone warned him a small-town bookstore would never survive the rise of big box stores, or, later, the Kindle. In this episode, Justin shares what convinced him to choose Bridgton over Fryeburg, how the town has transformed around him, and what keeps independent bookstores thriving even in a digital world. We talk about locals vs. summer visitors, the surprising rise of “romantasy,” the magic of staff picks, and the deep, personal relationship between a bookseller and their community. If you love books, small towns, or stories of resilience, this one’s a must-listen.

    34 min

  7. 29 JAN

    Mountain Social: Building a Ski-Town Restaurant with Bar Harbor Roots

    If you’ve ever wondered how great restaurants actually come to life in Maine’s mountain towns, this episode is for you. April and Vanessa sit down with owner Cody Gordon and Chef Brian Weber of Mountain Social in Bethel, a team that cut their teeth in Bar Harbor before building a winter-season destination on Main Street. They talk about what it means to grow three restaurants across two very different regions, why Cody's daughter had veto power before opening in Bethel, and how a tight-knit year-round staff changed everything. Cody and Brian also get honest about hospitality lessons the public never sees, the real story behind their menu, and what makes Bethel’s village center worth stepping off the Access Road for. A fast, funny, deeply human conversation about food, work, and life in Maine’s mountains.

    47 min

  8. 22 JAN

    This family rediscovered their love of a Maine town - an interview with Virginia Patnode MacFawn

    Rangeley has a way of pulling people in. In this episode, Virginia Patnode MacFawn explains why. A lifelong Rangeley resident and co-owner of Rangeley Lakes Building Supply and Welcome Home, Virginia talks about growing up in a town where everyone looked out for one another, leaving for New York City and Charleston, and choosing to come home. We talk about family business, community trust, and why Rangeley embraces change, but only when it’s carefully corralled. If you’ve ever felt drawn back to a place you can’t quite explain, this conversation will resonate.

    37 min
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About

A podcast about Maine’s most iconic businesses. Whether you're a long-time resident, a seasonal visitor, or a distant admirer, the this podcast is your invitation to explore what makes our state so special. Discover what our guests are famous for, and in turn, find out what makes Maine famously unforgettable.

Information

  • Creator
    Maine Famous
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Maine Famous
  • Show Website
    Maine Famous

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