New Hampshire Has Issues

What exactly happens at a New Hampshire town meeting? Hopkinton Town Moderator Sara Persechino breaks down how town meeting (day? night?) works, what a moderator does, and why local democracy matters.

Liz regrets not making the joke, "it's like 10,000 brooms when all you need is a street sweeper." The show notes will have to do. 

New episodes on Tuesdays.

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Holy smokes, everything feels pretty dang stressful right now. How do we take care of ourselves?

This is *not* a commercial for CrossFit, but it IS a conversation with the Head Coach of Dauntless Academy, Meg Trombley, about how she supports members of the gym (like Liz!) in showing up for themselves and one another.

Liz and Meg talk about being athletes and not athletes in their younger years, how one comment made to a teenager can ...

Maybe we shouldn't bring back polio? Question mark? 

Liz talks with Rep. David Nagel (a physician! a Republican!) about vaccines, public health, and why he is no longer on a New Hampshire House standing committee. Spoiler alert: not his choice.

This episode was recorded on December 22, 2025. Pairs well with the Medicaid: It's Health Insurance! episode with Kristine Stoddard. 

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• N...

This is all Liz can think about right now. Maybe you feel the same. Liz talks with Al, a former Granite Stater who now lives in Minneapolis. 

Looking for places to donate? Here are some recommendations from Granite Staters and Mainers:

• Maine Needs
• Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project Maine
• NH UCC Immigrant and Refugee Support
• New Hampshire Legal Assistance
• Black Lives Matter NH Mutual Aid Fund

Links:

• Merrimack leaders say they opp...

What 1,000 facts do we need to know to figure out why health care costs so much? 

Liz asks Sabrina (Brinie) Dunlap who should be blamed for the cost of health care. The answer is complicated. 

This episode was recorded on November 4, 2025. Pairs well with the Medicaid: It's Health Insurance! episode with Kristine Stoddard. 

• Glossary of Health Coverage and Medical Terms (HealthCare.gov)
• Risk Pooling: How Health Insurance in the...

Fun fact: saving money *and* the environment is (or...can be) bipartisan!  

Liz talks with Andrew Schuyler from Granite Outdoor Alliance about the outdoor economy (we see you, walkers), what New Hampshire companies are doing to make a difference (teamwork), and how even YOU (and Liz) can go sustainable.

Live event alert! Friday, February 20 at 8:00 p.m. at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth - NH Has Issues (aka Liz) will be on stage, chit cha...

Happy New Year! And...considering all of the changes coming - and here - in the health care and Medicaid space in New Hampshire, this feels like a good time for a refresher from the August 2025 episode about Medicaid. 

In this episode, Liz and Kristine Stoddard (health care super nerd/wonk) cover what Medicaid really is (health insurance!) and what the impacts will be on *all* of Granite Staters...due to a majority of New Hampshire ...

New Hampshire has issues, but what about Congress?  

Liz and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander talk about it all: the US Constitution, war powers, John McCain, post offices, what to do at the holidays if your family's views are vastly different than your own...

Pairs well with Niko Papakonstantis’ episode about Select Boards and Property Taxes

New episodes coming in 2026!

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Spoiler alert: Liz and Pat talk about Wicked. And housing. And curb cuts! Oh my.

Pat shares with Liz the significance of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing affordable and accessible housing in New Hampshire. 

New episodes on Tuesdays.

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Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.co...

Should we feed people? What about kids? Why are these questions that Liz has to write?

In an episode that should be the least controversial, Liz talks with Kate Constantine from Gather about food pantries, SNAP benefits, food waste, and school meals.

New episodes on Tuesdays.

Become a supporter of the show --> this helps Liz continue to make episodes!

Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com

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It's Veterans Day - how does Congress work to support veterans? 

Liz talks with Congressman Chris Pappas, who serves on the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, about what is happening in D.C. (and New Hampshire, of course). 

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Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com

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It's Veterans Day - how is New Hampshire doing when it comes to supporting our veterans?

Liz talks with President and CEO of Harbor Care, Henry Och, about initiatives to support veterans in New Hampshire, particularly when it comes to homelessness, health care, and employment. 

If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis or need support, call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24/7 help. Trained crisis counselors are availabl...

Liz goes solo in this first-ever "mini-sode." Perhaps also the last...?

In less than 10 minutes, Liz covers the basics about what's happening with SNAP benefits given the government shutdown...and how some New Hampshire lawmakers are choosing to punch down instead of leading with empathy.

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What the heck is a "warrant article" and what does it have to do with property taxes? Should you go to a deliberative session? (yes!) Okay, fine, but what is it? 

Liz talks with Niko Papakonstantis, the Chair of the Exeter Select Board, about what issues towns face when New Hampshire and the federal government cut services and funding.

Niko asks Liz what folks have against street sweepers. Liz asks Niko what "work-life...

Someone needed to ask: who would want to be governor of New Hampshire? Jon Kiper does! He ran in the 2024 Democratic primary and he's running again. He talks with Liz about why he's running and what exactly the governor does in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Has Issues (including Liz!) does not endorse candidates. New Hampshire Has Issues (including Liz!) does, however, love to have a good chit chat. 

And, of course, if the g...

The issue so many Granite Staters (and beyond) have asked about: why isn't marijuana legalized in New Hampshire? The ::checks notes:: "Live Free or Die" state?

Devon Chaffee (Executive Director at ACLU-NH) joins Liz to explain just how close New Hampshire has gotten to legalizing cannabis...and why it will probably take some time to get over the finish line. 

Devon brings  numbers to the table, and Liz brings yet anoth...

Celebrity guest! Liz asks Sam Evans-Brown to do some heavy lifting as Liz learned zero things about anything "energy" related in high school. As much as Liz hates change, it's time to learn a little bit.

Tune in to get answers to questions like, "What's a watt?" and "What kind of outlet do you need for an electric vehicle?" and "Is Massachusetts doing things worse than New Hampshire?"...

The New Hampshire Executive Council has enormous power and almost no name recognition. What the [bleep] is it? And why does New Hampshire have it?

In this episode, Kayla Montgomery (VP of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England) returns to the pod to tell Liz an abbreviated history of the Executive Council. Liz references multiple musicals.

New episodes every Tuesd...

Grab your passport! We're traveling to...your town clerk's office.

New Hampshire *loves* elections, but does it love helping eligible voters get registered to vote? 

In this episode, Liz talks to McKenzie Taylor, the State Director of the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights, about registering in person, voting in person, requesting to vote absentee in person...yet, they are able to have this conversation from inside a ...