Granite State Matters

Ep 17: Freedom of Speech vs. Civility?

Has the right to speak freely and the notion of freedom overwhelmed caring and civil speech? Steve Marchand gathers three diverse views on the subject:
Policy Director, NH ACLU: Frank Knaack
Rev. Dr. Gail Kinney, Meriden Congregational Church, UCC, co-convener of Faith & Labor Community, of which NH Council of Churches is a member.
Former Executive Council Candidate, articulate op-ed writer, and parent of mixed-race children, Dan Weeks
Listen now.

Ep 16 - Housing in NH: How can we get enough of it?

Don't miss this discussion of how NH can solve its housing problem with economist Brian Gottlob, Dir of Economic & Labor Information Bureau, NHES, and Representative Ivy Vann, town planner and sustainability advocate. They don't agree on the how, but they both believe it can be done and point to towns doing it right.

Ep 15 - Making New Hampshire Family Friendly

NH is a state that looks great for families from its averages: income, test scores and health. What averages mask is the great disparity. Dropping income, due to COVID, or increasing inflation sends them over the edge financially. And mental health problems know no income boundaries. Nathan Fink of the Children's Trust, Rebecca Woitkowski & Emma Savigny of New Futures join Steve Marchand in what NH is, and could be doing, to make itself more family friendly. LISTEN NOW. 

EP 14 - Rising Leaders: Making a Difference

NH Rep Manny Espitia, Manchester Alderman Christine Fajardo and teen activist Loreley Godfrey joined host Steve Marchand to discuss how to get involved, civically, and what they aspire to accomplish.

Ep 13 - Local Control under Attack in NH

Former mayor of Lebanon and current NH Senator Suzanne Prentiss uses her unique position to look at the question of local control from both sides. Why, she wonders, are legislators who ran on platforms of local control, trying to constrain the ability of locals to run their towns?

EP 12 - Climate Change Is Making Us Sick!

HEALTH IMPACTS OF CLIMATE INACTION: Doctors Dewey, Gerson and Sherman of NH Healthcare Workers for Climate Action tell us why we need to bring climate action to the fore and turn the state from the laggard of New England to a leader.

EP 11 - NH Youth’s Priorities

HOW DIFFERENT WOULD NH BE IF YOUNG VOICES WERE HEARD? People over 70 are 39 times as likely to be legislators as people under 40 in NH. Is it any wonder that NH laws and priorities are out of sync with families and youth? This harms the state's ability to attract workforce.  In this episode, three leaders, aged 20-43, talk about their experiences running and serving in local and state office. They cite the barriers young people face and how they overcame them. Listen now to the fascinating stories of Molly Lunn Owen, Karen Liot Hill and Tony LaBranche. Then learn more about running for office at 603Forward.

EP 11 short - Young People Can Run for NH House

NH Rep. Tony LaBranche of Amherst is the youngest state legislator in the US! In this short from Granite State Matters' podcast on "NH Youth's Priorities", Tony describes how he ran for School Board as a high-school senior and State Rep. upon graduation. Then Molly Lunn Owen of 603 Forward describes how her organization helped Tony and many other young candidates register as candidates and win elections. LEARN MORE ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE.