The Makers of the USA podcast interview with Evan Amell, owner of EA Fitness & Performance, sheds light on his journey from sports and physical training to building his own fitness business. With a background in Physical Education and Kinesiology, combined with certifications in fitness nutrition and performance coaching, Evan shares how fitness became his passion. He reflects on a transformative moment post-college, when he decided to prioritize his health, leading to a significant physical and mental change. This experience fueled his desire to help others achieve similar improvements. Through EA Fitness, he has guided hundreds of people toward better health, weight loss, muscle gain, and overall well-being. The conversation emphasizes the importance of consistent training, mental resilience, and a balanced approach to fitness.

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Olagunju Busola Dorcas, a Maine-based fashion designer originally from Nigeria. Olagunju moved to Maine to study project management at university, but her passion for fashion never waned. Today, she works full-time supporting refugees as they settle in Maine while also pursuing her creative dream. Known for designing custom dresses, Olagunju has crafted stunning pieces for notable figures in Maine, including the owner of Coffee Be Design and the current USOA Ms. Maine. She believes in using fashion to tell a personal story, infusing each design with meaning and narrative. Tune in to hear about her unique journey, her passion for storytelling through fashion, and how she’s making a difference in the community.

Bobby Miller, owner of Asset Development, a Maine-based real estate development company, appeared on the "Makers of the USA" episode to discuss his efforts in addressing Maine's housing shortage. With over 25 years of experience, Asset Development has built hundreds of homes across the state.

In the interview, Miller highlighted the challenges of increasing housing inventory in Maine, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for homes. He discussed various development projects aimed at providing affordable housing options and the importance of collaboration with local communities and stakeholders to achieve these goals.

Miller's insights shed light on the complexities of the housing market in Maine and the proactive steps being taken to ensure that more residents have access to quality housing.

Back in 1972, Dimitrije Milovich and Wayne Stoveken engineered a board made to serve the snow they relocated from New Jersey to Utah to test their prototype on the fabled powder out at Powder Mountain. They rode, refined, and iterated on their concept and perfected the art of surfing the snow. Winterstick was born a founding father of the snowboarding revolution today, they're still making boards up here in Maine up north at Sugarloaf Mountain by and for real writers. Kristan got to sit down with Rob Lu, the President of the company to talk about the mix of art and engineering behind the craft of their snowboards. Not only are they continuing to craft the traditional renowned boards that many boarders know so well but they are testing new boundaries of performance, manufacturing, and sustainability. Tune in to learn more about the history of Winterstick, how they got to Maine, and where they're today.

Back in 1972, Dimitrije Milovich and Wayne Stoveken engineered a board made to serve the snow they relocated from New Jersey to Utah to test their prototype on the fabled powder out at Powder Mountain. They rode, refined, and iterated on their concept and perfected the art of surfing the snow. Winterstick was born a founding father of the snowboarding revolution today, they're still making boards up here in Maine up north at Sugarloaf Mountain by and for real writers. Kristan got to sit down with Rob Lu, the President of the company to talk about the mix of art and engineering behind the craft of their snowboards. Not only are they continuing to craft the traditional renowned boards that many boarders know so well but they are testing new boundaries of performance, manufacturing, and sustainability. Tune in to learn more about the history of Winterstick, how they got to Maine, and where they're today.

This episode delves into the artistry and craftsmanship behind Jax & Bard, a beloved shoemaker based in Gray, Maine. Known for her impeccable attention to detail and dedication to quality, Jax & Bard has become a local institution for handcrafted shoes that blend timeless design with modern comfort. Founded by Jackie Lindstedt, the company takes pride in its deeply personal approach to footwear—each pair is designed, stitched, and crafted with the utmost care. From utilizing sustainable fabric to the painstaking hand-finishing process, every step in creating their clogs and sandals is a testament to their commitment to excellence. Before Jackie starting Jax & Bard, she worked the footwear design departments of L.L. Bean and many more high-profile fashion and footwear brands throughout the USA. Join Kristan as she sits down with the founder to explore her journey, what inspires her craft, and how they shape the future of footwear while honoring Maine's rich heritage. Whether you're a fan of custom-made shoes or simply interested in the art of shoemaking, this episode offers a fascinating look at the dedication and passion that goes into every pair of Jax & Bard shoes. Please tune in for insights into craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and the art of creating shoes that are as much a statement as they are a functional piece of art.

Kristan Vermeulen has picked back up the microphone to speak to makers and small business owners who have supported her through her pageant journey. She is now titled your USOA Ms. Maine 2025. One maker that has supported her is Rogue Life Maine which focuses on creating high-quality, performance-driven everyday apparel and for outdoor enthusiasts. The Rogue Life Maine concept highlights the connection between the brand’s strong foundation in the state of Maine and they're growing nationally as well.

The Rogue Life Maine initiative also fosters a sense of local pride, celebrating the hardworking, passionate individuals involved in the brand’s operations in Maine. This could involve partnerships with local organizations, events, and collaborations that highlight the Maine community. Rogue Life Maine promotes a lifestyle rooted in hard work, dedication, and a commitment to fitness and personal improvement. It resonates with people who value integrity, resilience, and a strong work ethic, characteristics that are often associated with both Maine’s culture. Reflecting the rugged, durable nature of the region, the apparel tied to this concept might include designs that evoke Maine’s outdoor culture, landscapes, and the strength required to thrive in such a setting. Tune into this episode to learn more about Mark Rodrigue and his story of owning and operating Rogue Life Maine.

Kristan interviews Jordia Benjamin, the Executive Director of Indigo Arts Alliance. A nonprofit organization based in Maine that focuses on supporting artists of color through residencies, exhibitions, and community engagement. Founded to address the underrepresentation of artists from diverse backgrounds, it provides a platform for creative expression and cultural exchange. The alliance aims to foster collaboration, promote artistic innovation, and enhance the visibility of artists of color, creating a vibrant arts community that reflects a range of perspectives and experiences. Through various programs and partnerships, Indigo Arts Alliance also seeks to inspire social change and connect with local communities.

Model Airplane is a collection of musicians that come together every year to perform an ultimate show right around Thanksgiving. They jibe with one another. It's their thing. They got the funk. They got the soul. Started by singer Lyle Divinsky, Dan Boyer, and Pete Genova and features an all-star lineup of Maine-based musicians. They bring together a community that knows and loves this tradition. Not only does the band see the curation of amazingly talented artists' family, but they consider the audience family too. Kristan has seen them three years in a row and she truly feels this connection, the connection is unreal and Kristan wants you to listen to what that connection entails.

Have you ever heard of the term hand hewn? Kristan had no idea what it was until she met this lovely gentleman who lives a town over from her. She always passed by his house and saw the Renaissance Timber sign hung in his front yard and was always curious about what was going on there. Come to find out Steve was turning a round tree into a square beam using only hand tools. While water-powered sawmills existed in New England as early as 1630, hand-hewing large beams was a technique favored by many American craftsmen to frame out barns and buildings: structures that have stood the test of time and borne patiently the worst of summer's blistering heat and New England's unkind winters. Today, Steve uses exactly the same tools and techniques as 17th- and 18th-century Maine craftsmen to create classic beams and mantels: timbers that will transform your family's favorite space into a showcase for generations to come. Tune in to learn more about Steve's past prior to getting into hewing beams, the process behind hand hewing beams, and much more. Also, stay tuned till the end to listen to a track from local Maine musician King Kyote.

Gnykol combines timeless designs and reclaimed leather and creates a sense of fearless expression in her handmade artwear. Gnykol’s Artwear is a one-of-a-kind wearable art fashion. Two core ethics of Gnykol’s work are creating rockstar garments with repurposed materials. Off-cuts and imperfect leather hides are her favorite sources of inspiration. From these scraps come the striking compositions that define Gnykol’s current collection of leather outerwear. Ranging from lightly embellished with functional hardware to elaborately adorned with high densities of studs and spikes, each piece is a work of art. When Kristan discovered Nicole at the Maine Craft Association STITCH event in 2022, she was blown away. Who knew a woman here in Maine was making bustiers and jackets that you would most likely see in LA or New York City. Tune in to learn more about Nicole's fashion career -- how she got there and where she is today.

Philip Costello creates sculptures and carvings that call forth the wonder and beauty of nature in wood. Last summer Kristan had the privilege of interviewing him at the Cliff House Resort in Ogunquit, Maine. The Cliff House invited Phil to carve right there on their property and sell his work. Some of his work is featured in the hotel and one piece that comes to mind that I have seen at the hotel is in their conference room, a beautiful mermaid which Kristan talks about with Phil during the interview. They talked about the intricacies of woodcarving, detail, and design. Through careful honing of technique and process, Phil has carved a place for himself among the finest artisans and depths of the woods sculpting craft from a studio in Southern Maine and southwest Florida. He is surrounded by the beauty in and around the ocean and is inspired to duplicate these nautical pieces in detail with masterful skill. His vision for design and the careful planning of each piece along with the type of wood used allows for the efficient, flawless execution of realistic sculptures. New and novel sculpture requests keep Phil in a continual state of artistic development and he readily enjoys the challenge of creating custom commission works. Tune in to learn more about Phil and his craft of wood carving -- a rare craft you don't find too often.

Pot + Pan is much more than a delivery mechanism for THC, their edibles are delicious, chef-developed, culinary wonders. You can proudly share these treats with loved ones of any cannabis experience level. With a scientifically-tested and accurate range of potencies, folks can choose their ideal dose and enjoy an entire edible. Kristan never had an edible before and Tara provided her with the best information to make her feel comfortable and safe before diving into her first bite. She highly enjoyed the Key Lime Gummy Bundt as her first ever edible.

Chef Tara graduated from culinary school in Cambridge and has worked in some of the best restaurants. She ran two acclaimed businesses and now leads Pot + Pan’s edibles with her inquisitive and playful approach. Her creations pair nostalgic flavors with delightful surprises. They have surprising contrasts—in aroma, texture, taste, color, and temperature—that invite you to stop and take note, to relive a happy moment, or sear the present one into your consciousness.

Tune into to learn more about Tara's past career, how she got involved with Pot + Pan and her future goals with the company.

Catherine Fisher is a fashion designer and is known for her fabulous sustainable fashion pieces. But before getting into fashion she wrote poems and this creative process turned into a discovery, of revealing. These garments she has created are essentially poems in physical form. Each element of a blouse or pants, as with each word and stanza of a poem, represents a personal quest to illuminate an underlying idea or question. Whether gathering driftwood on a Maine beach for handmade paint brushes, constructing scenery elements for photo shoots, or developing calligraphies and designing embellishments specific to each garment—her choices seek to articulate the inner life of each poem. Every bit is part inquiry, part finding in the art of expression. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Catherine's past before getting into poetry and sustainable fashion, how her poems are inspired by each of her fashion pieces, and how people connect to her work of art.

On the next episode of the Makers of the USA Maine series, Kristan speaks to The Mallett Brothers Band. Founded in 2009, the Mallett Brothers have had multiple lineup changes and stylistic shifts over the years, but they've remained steadfast in delivering heartfelt songs with emotional lyricism, vivid imagery, and dynamical musical tunes. Their busy tour schedule since forming in 2009 has helped them to build a dedicated fanbase across the U.S. and beyond while still calling the state of Maine their home. With a style that ranges from alt-country to Americana, country, jam, and roots rock, theirs is a musical melting pot that's influenced equally by the singer/songwriter tradition as by harder rock, classic country, and psychedelic sounds. They have performed at some of the country’s top venues and festivals, including Portland, Maine’s State. Texas Hill Country Explore Magazine calls them “New England’s wildly eclectic crew of genre rebels.” Tune in to learn more about The Mallett Brothers Band how they started their band, how they put together an album filled with traditional logging shanties, and much more.