Shows
Smarter and HarderEp 91 - Hoffer's High School Sports - Michael HofferBeloved high school sports writer, Michael Hoffer, has launched his website www.hoffershighschoolsports.com. He comes to the Smarter and Harder studio to discuss the next phase of his unique and masterful coverage of Maine high school sports.2025-04-1935 minSmarter and HarderEp 90 - Dr. Ryan Scallon -25-26 BudgetTim is excited about the budget...for once. Eli and Dr. Scallon use big words in their discussion of this year's budget. 2025-04-0147 minSmarter and HarderEp 89 - Trans Athletes and the MPATim does not like the MPA. Eli makes some sense of the complicated issue of trans athletes competing in Maine. 2025-03-1234 minSmarter and HarderEp 88 - Whole lot of crazy - Parents, Government, BudgetsEli and Tim bounce around a bunch of topics. From parents behaving badly to Trump turning federal gov't on it's ear, to budget concerns. Crazy times!2025-02-1438 minSmarter and HarderEp. 86 - A New Maine TaxEli eplains the 1% tax for paid family leave. 2025-01-1649 minSmarter and HarderEp 87 - Teacher Defends Himself - Who's Right? Who's Wrong?Tim is pissed in this one. Eli makes his intelligent points. Is this another case of the district throwing an educator under the bus? What would you do if you were in Murph's position?2025-01-1635 minSmarter and HarderEp 85 - Why Not Arrest Drug Users?Tim has questions about why we are not prosecuting drug users. Eli, as always, applies logic to Tim's outrage. 2024-12-1749 minSmarter and HarderEp 84 - A Response to Criticism & Trump Gone WildEli and Tim respond to a passionate loyal listener who disagrees with the last episode. Outstanding points and the response. Also, Trump's cabinet is a ecclectic who's who in entertainment and outrage. 2024-11-2649 minSmarter and HarderEp 83 - Portland Should Be Watching Local PoliticsA little on the presidential election and a lot on Portland politics. With a clean sweep last week, the DSA is now in control of Portland's politics.2024-11-0945 minSmarter and HarderEp 82 - PPS Superintendent Dr ScallonDr. Ryan Scallon discusses the start of 2024-25 school year, $500k to fix mis-managed retirement money, school re-districting, high school consolidation update. 2024-11-031h 00Smarter and HarderEp 81 - November ballots and electionsEli breaks down the voting once again. 2024-10-3151 minSmarter and HarderEp 80 - Portland Ed Techs Still Have NO Contract and Will Portland's City Council Denounce Iran Now?Eli and Tim discuss the Iran/Palestine/Israel conflict. Tim wonders if the Portland City Council will make an official statement about denouncing the inhumane actions of Iran? Also, Portland Ed Techs are working without a contract...still. Why are we letting this happen?2024-10-0449 minSmarter and Harderep 79 - City Council Turns It's Back On Portland's Jewish CommunityEli goes off and rightfully so. Portland City Council wastes more time and UNANIMOUSLY alienates the Jews of Portland. 2024-09-1354 minSmarter and HarderEp 78 - We're Back!Eli and Tim recap the summer of absurdities.2024-09-0749 minSmarter and HarderEp 77 - Portland Rent Board =Judge & Jury?A little felon Trump talk. A lot of talk about the Portland Rent Control Board. 2024-05-3145 minSmarter and HarderEp 76 - Dr Ryan Scallon - Bombs, Budgets and MoreDr. Ryan Scallon comes back for another episode to speak to the FY '25 budget for the schools. Some cuts, some movement but very positive feedback. He also discusses recent threats to 5 schools that put PHS and other schools on lockdown. A quick response with some communication gaps that need to be rectified. Also, bonus material on high school consolidation beginning process.2024-05-1551 minSmarter and HarderEp 75 - College Protests and Portland BudgetCollege campuses in turmoil and taken over by uneducated teenagers. 10% tax increase in Portland. 2024-04-3041 minSmarter and HarderEp 74 - School Budget & SCOTUSEli brings Tim up to speed on SCOTUS presidential decision. First glance at the budet seems promising. You know if has to be a responsible budget when Figdor does not like it. 2024-03-0841 minSmarter and HarderEp 73 - One High School, Not ThreeTim and Eli disucss the high school consolidation plan that has begun to form. The beginning of a 5-year effort to finally unit the high schools in Portland. 2024-02-2131 minSmarter and HarderEp 72 - PPS Superintendent - Dr. Ryan ScallonDr. Scallon discusses budget, snow days and high school placement. An uneviable task this 2024-25 budget but some nuggets of hope. 2024-02-0256 minSmarter and HarderEp 71 - Eli Has Been Marked "Safe"Eli Small breaks free from his prison to call in. Tim is elated. Tim's son John has scoured the city's McDonald's and even looked under the rat-infested bridge. All is well...sorry Neil Turitz.2024-01-2235 minSmarter and HarderEp 70 - Where's Eli? Is Neil Turitz "Even Smarter"?Eli Small has gone missing so Tim puts out feelers on the darkweb to find his replacement. Is he busy finding foster homes for Portland's poor rats or has he decided to become wealthy (thanks to Portland's progressive boobs) making time-and-half working at McDonald's in Portland. Listen to Portland native and writer/director Neil Turitz' interview for the position of "Even Smarter" of the new(?) Even Smarter and Harder Podcast. 2024-01-2042 minSmarter and HarderEp 69 - City Council's Resolution?!With so many other issues needing to be addressed in Portland, why did our city councilors waste valuable time with a cease-fire resolution?! Also, two city councilors equate homeless crisis to slavery....somehow...and post it in the paper. Pssst - not everything is about race Anna and and Victoria. Bonus material on Maine's rejection of Trump as a viable candidate.2024-01-051h 00Smarter and HarderEp 68 - Portland HS, Deering HS or CBHS?Eli and Tim discuss the choice process for 8th graders moving into PPS high schools. Eli schools Tim up on Jewish history revolving around Chanukah. 2023-12-0750 minSmarter and HarderEp 67 - The Good, The Bad and The CommunistEli and Tim break down the elections 20232023-11-1536 minSmarter and HarderEp 67 - Election - The Good, The Bad and The CommunistEli Small and Tim Eisenhart wonder how district 5 elected a communist to lead the way?!2023-11-1436 minSmarter and HarderEp 66 - Making Tent Cities Legal?Eli and Tim talk about Victoria Pelletier's comments about the Lewiston shooting being caused by white nationalism. Also, the amount of anti-semetic behavior in Portland and around the country is alarming. Lastly, Roberto & Trevorrow want to make homeless encampments legal in Portland. 2023-11-0745 minSmarter and HarderEp 65 - Interview - PPS Superintendent Dr. Ryan ScallonEli and Tim interview new Superintendent of PPS, Dr. Ryan Scallon.2023-10-3139 minSmarter and HarderEp 64 Should Maine Electricity Be Managed By Politicians? Question 3 ExploredEli and Tim call in a CMP expert , Kelly, to explain the relationship between CMP and the power generation corporations. Did you know that CMP owns the smaller portion of your bill and is governed by a Govenor-appointed organization in the Maine PUC? The fat on your bill comes from the non-CMP power generators. 2023-10-251h 00Smarter and HarderEp 63 - DSA Portland Supporting Hamas?Eli gives Tim and all of us a lesson in the history of bad blood between Hamas and Israel. Then Tim tries to wrap his head around how socaialists in the US/Portland are supporting the killing of innocent people. 2023-10-1345 minSmarter and HarderEp 61 - City Council Candidates - District 4 Sam Cady and District 5 Matt BuonopaneEli and Tim interview City Council Candidates Matt Buonopane from District 5 and Sam Cady from District 4. 2023-09-2642 minSmarter and HarderEp 62 - More Gun Stuff in SchoolsEli and Tim banter about the prevalence, still, in gun-related disruptions to learning in Greater Portland. Also, why did we take away cell phones from counselors? Don't they need those to help kids after school hours?2023-09-2219 minSmarter and HarderEp 60 - Did the PPS Survey Leave Something Out?Eli and Tim discuss the PPS survey questions. 2023-09-1829 minSmarter and HarderEp 59. - Is Housing A Right? Encampments getting cleaned upEli explains to Tim the encampment situation. Welcome back to the teachers. 2023-09-1348 minSmarter and HarderEp 58 - Justin Costa Interview - Mayoral CandidateJustin Costa comes in for an interview with Eli and Tim. Talk about the biggest issues in Portland right now and how Justin plans to attack them. 2023-08-2236 minSmarter and HarderEp 57 - Mark Dion Interview - Mayoral CandidateEli and Tim speak with Mark Dion, Portland City Councilor and Mayoral candidate. Tae Chong sits in to discuss work with Mark on the council and some of his background. 2023-07-141h 07Smarter and HarderEp 56 - Asylum Seekers Protesting Accommodations?Eli and Tim discuss the protests in Portland by asylum seekers regarding the quality of their accommodations and food. Also, affirmative action gets overturned by SCOTUS. 2023-06-3041 minSmarter and HarderEp 55 - Budget failEli and Tim discuss the budget failing and larger number of voters.2023-06-1732 minSmarter and HarderEp 54 - Knife Fight at PHS, New Super, BudgetEli and Tim discuss the knife fight at PHS with no SRO's ! What should the punishment? Cookies and cupcakes? PPS has a new Superintendent who appears, on the surface, to be fully qualified to lead the district. School budget final discussion. 2023-06-1254 minSmarter and HarderEp 53 - Superintendent Showdown and Needles in Middle SchoolEli educates Tim on the background and qualifications of each candidate. Also, discussion about why a junkie made it into King Middle School bathroom to offer drugs to a student. Poor response from administration. 2023-05-2443 minSmarter and HarderEp 52 - PPS Teacher Criticizes Yarmouth Teacher's TeachingEli and Tim discuss the effect of one PPS teacher's public criticism of another teacher in her hometown for cultural appropriation during an American history lesson. Too far? Or appropriate respsone? Also, final discussions on PPS budget. 2023-05-0342 minSmarter and HarderEp 51 - PPS Budget - A Deeper LookEli and Tim take a deeper look into the budget and can't help but wonder how we are going to shoulder COVID spending in 3 years if this budget passes. Now is the time to cut!! 2023-04-2727 minSmarter and HarderEp 50 - PPS Irresponsible Budget AdditionsEli and Tim tries to make sense of why we took the state's $3million and added back in gardeners. 2023-04-0544 minSmarter and HarderEp 49 - PPS Budget - First Read Isn't A Good OneEli and Tim discuss their first read of the PPS budget. More of the same crap. How are we increasing our budget by $15million with less students? Tim is in the camp of shoot it down and let the new Superintendent pick up the pieces. Eli wants to take a smarter look at the line items. True to form, Smarter and Harder2023-03-2057 minSmarter and HarderEp 48 - Shoot Down the School Budget?Eli and Tim talk '23-'24 school budget and X-man somehow got a nod for the police citizen review committee. Much to consider on the budget in '23!!2023-03-0846 minSmarter and HarderEp 47 - Fighting In School=20 Teachers Calling Out SickEli and Tim discuss why a lack of discipline and holding the line is leading to 20 teachers calling out sick. PPS policies are failing at teaching our students how to be law-abiding citizens with respect for authority and rules. 2023-02-1742 min
Smarter and HarderEp 46 - Portland High Teacher - Brian Dodge InterviewEli and Tim interview one of PPS' greats, Brian Dodge. Brian is a math teacher at Portland High School who has been teaching Calculus AB and BC. 2023-02-141h 02Smarter and HarderEp 45 - Uninclusive Focus Groups - Will They Actually Listen?Eli and Tim talk about the focus groups for the Superintendent search committee. It was not inclusive/equitable in the least. Instead of getting everybody together in one room to disucss concerns/ideas, people were separated by language. From the outside, it appeared that they segregated residents by skin color. Is this how we model inculsive and immersive behavior to our educators? 2023-02-0741 minSmarter and HarderEp 44 - What Is The Job Of Educators?Eli and Tim discuss their ideas on the purpose of education as a way to help, perhaps, the hiring committee for the new superintendent of schools.2023-01-2543 minSmarter and HarderEp 43 - LIVE - $3 million dollars unpaid and a New Lawsuit For PPSEli and Tim record live at Brookside Food & Drink. Eli explains why $3 million went unpaid for years to MainePers retirement for PPS employees. Also, there's a new lawsuit coming for PPS from the PDE for favoring affinity groups. Could this be what gets the Figdor out of PPS' ass? 2023-01-1434 minSmarter and HarderEp 42 - Xavier Gets a RETIREMENT party?!?!?Eli is beside himself. Xavier somehow finds more money? He gave $500 bonus' to only two PPS school staffs. Also, somebody thinks Xman deserves a retirement party. You can't make this stuff up!2023-01-1240 minSmarter and HarderEp 41 - PPS is too fat at Central OfficeEli takes Tim to school on making sense of how PPS has decided to tackle Xavier's departure. Why does it take 2 people to do the job of 1 after all these years?2023-01-0546 minSmarter and HarderEp 40 - Xavier is out!Xavier does the right thing and calls it quits. Eli gives his take on next steps to help right the ship that Emilie and X-man have run aground. 2022-12-2051 minSmarter and HarderEp 39 - PPS Teachers Give School Board and Superintendent a Lesson in CompetenceEli and Tim give a standing ovation to the teachers who stood up and called out the incompetence of Emily Figdor and Xavier Botana. 2022-12-0845 minSmarter and HarderEp 38 - No Pay for PPS Teachers and StaffEli goes off on figuring out how PPS cannot figure out how to pay teachers. Also, Figdor loses her spot as leader of PPS school committee.2022-12-0643 minSmarter and HarderEp 37 - Active Shooter Hoax at PHS - Bring Back the SRO?Eli keeps a cool head, as usual. Tim goes off, as usual. An active shooter hoax at several high schools in Maine has brought to light the importance of SRO's. 2022-11-1855 minSmarter and HarderEp 36 - Midterm Post-MortemEli breaks down the midterm voting results. The DSA had a very rough day in Portland. 2022-11-1042 minSmarter and HarderEp 35 - Defining Questions A,B,C and EEli educates us on citizen referdendums A, B, C and E. Question D is also still a thorn that needs to be dealt with. 1 week runup starts today. 2022-11-021h 06Smarter and HarderEp 34 - Special - Interview with Tiffany Bond - US Representative CandidateHear from Tiffany Bond, candidate for U.S. Representatives District 2 Maine. 2022-10-2736 minSmarter and HarderEp 33 - Guest - Grace Skerritt on Question D-Tip CreditGrace Skerritt educates Tim and Eli on the effects of a yes vote on Question D of the citizen initiative referendums. Getting rid of the sub-minimum wage and, at the same time, tip credit for wait staff at restaruants is a bad idea. With inflation already high, we should not be considering an initiative that would raise prices on everything in the City of Portland. The DSA needs to be called out on this one. 2022-10-2654 minSmarter and HarderEp 32 - Police Oversight by Civilians Seems Suspect - Questions 4,6,7,8Eli takes his smarty pants to the next level. Tim scratches his head trying to keep up, as usual. More explanation as to the thinking/genesis of the PPS school committee's decision to ban kids from watching high school sports. 2022-10-2045 minSmarter and HarderEp 31 - Why Can't Students Watch Their Friends Play Sports?Eli is back! Eli and Tim talk about Robyn Bailey's interview. Also, they eplore PPS' decision to disallow students from watching their friends play sports in the city. Also, they dig into Charter Commission questions #1 and #3.2022-10-1151 minSmarter and HarderEp 30 Interview with Robyn Bailey - The True StoryTim interviews Robyn Bailey to let the truth out about last year's doings at Lincoln Middle School. A dedicated educator of 23 years and frustrated PPS parent, Robyn wrote an email to Portland City Council that hit a nerve in the socialist driven political machine. She talks about what she would have done differently and also, more importantly, her experience with the lack of support from Xavier's band of followers. 2022-10-061h 12Smarter and HarderEp 29 - Executive Mayor - Question 2 - Unnecessary stepEli lays out the good and the bad with question 2. In simple terms, an executive mayor is unnecessary and potentially detrimental to our city's needs. Modify the system in place with small adjustments. Tim feels smarter after this one!2022-09-3039 minSmarter and HarderEp 28 - Busted!? Xavier and PPS get called outEli breaks down the Portland City Council's questioning of the mismanaged PPS budget. How do you lose track of where you spent $10million? Also, if it was a personnel issue, why are executive people leaving your organization X-man? You need to adjust like every other organization dealing with similar issues. NO ON QUESTION #5!!!!2022-09-2742 minSmarter and HarderEp27 - Question 5 - School Board Autonomy?Quick recap of school committee meeting. Eli makes Tim do some reading on issues for November 8th vote. The School Board and Superintendent don't want any checks and balances from City Council. Bad idea and really bad precedence to set. 2022-09-1236 minSmarter and HarderEp 26 Hug a Teacher - 2022-23 School Start-UpEli and Tim talk about their experience with school start-up from a teacher's perscpective. Remember that your child's teachers and your child have no air conditioning and the school is 90 degrees. Cut them all some slack and give them a verbal hug. 2022-09-0128 minSmarter and HarderEp 25 - PPS - School Choice - Necessary?Eli is well-read on this one as he went through the 91-page presentation for the school board regarding school choice. Tim tries to keep up. Is school choice the right course of action for declining enrollment? Would 1 high school do the trick?2022-08-1734 minSmarter and HarderEp 24 - Calling BS on PPS dataSomebody needs to hire a data analyst for PPS. The numbers tell a different story from the equity agenda. Eli and Tim break down the posted data to show holes. 2022-08-1032 minSmarter and HarderEp 23 - Guest - Tae Chong Talks About His Reasons For Leaving the City CouncilEli and Tim get the pleasure of speaking with friend of the podcast, Tae Chong. His reasons for leaving the Portland City Council and some of his takeaways from his term of service to the City of Portland. Tae gives us a quick look at the Charter Commission procdure and why voters NEED to pay attention to what they will be voting on in November. 2022-07-2735 minSmarter and HarderEp 22 - Vote of No Confidence for Xavier?Eli and Tim get long-winded as they spend the first half talking gun violence and and a lack of protection in PPS schools. At the 19:16 mark, they switch over to Xavier's lack of buy-in from those who work under him. How is it that rumors of a Vote of No Confidence are starting to swirl around the winner of a leadership award. Most great educational leaders do not have a mass-exodus of those who they are leading. 2022-07-1938 minSmarter and HarderEp 21 - Where Are We Going Eli?Eli helps Tim make sense of the feeling that we are going backwards in time. Roe v. Wade, Civil Unrest, Gun Control. Where's the magic wand?!2022-07-0530 minSmarter and HarderEp 20 - Portland School Board Elections - Post MortemEli teaches Tim about the big money election W. Why are progressives taking over Portland Maine politics? What's next? 2022-06-2131 minSmarter and HarderEp 19 - Portland Schools - Failing Portland PromiseEli and Tim want to know where the data is that supports Portland superintendent's claim. They may have another prospective on why black students are getting in trouble more than white kids. 2022-06-1334 minSmarter and HarderEp 18 - Portland Superintendent- Threw His Own Teachers Under the BusRule #1 as a leader....SUPPORT YOUR EMPLOYEES!!! Epic fail on Xavier's part. Tim is hot under the collar. Eli, once again, brings logic and sense to the conversation. Vague and unsubstantiated stats from the leader of our school district. Fitting some data to a narrative?? 2022-06-1029 minSmarter and HarderEp 17 Dark Money - In Portland?Tim hears the term "dark money" and thinks it's a subplot in a Batman movie. Eli, once again, takes Tim to school on the what, who, and why dark money exists in politics. But the big question is "Why a small town like Portland, Maine?"2022-06-0824 minSmarter and HarderEp 16 - Portland Schools - A Political Body???Tim asks Eli to help understand a school board that seems to be driven more by politics than what is best for Portland's youth. Why are so many white middle-aged women being forced out, leaving for health reasons and/or leaving the district altogether? Is there room for politics on a school board? Also, can we actually achieve true equity for our school children under the contraints of a limited budget? 2022-06-0236 minSmarter and HarderEp 15 - Portland Protests - Poor responseEli and Tim are shaking their heads at the response, or lack there of, from the superintendent's office. It's obvious that they have had enough of the singular-focus and lack of discipline in our buildings. A plead to their listeners to take action and speak up. Labels be damned. Our students deserve better. 2022-05-2529 minSmarter and HarderEp. 14 - Protests at Portland Middle SchoolsEli and Tim both have children who experience what could have been a great example of student voice and civil rights. Instead, more negatives and hate followed a poorly managed gathering of middle school students. 2022-05-1520 minSmarter and HarderEp. 13 - Roe vs. WadeWhat Tim thinks is a pay-per-view boxing match is actually one of the biggest Supreme Court rulings in the history of the US. Thanks to Eli, we can speak intelligently about the potential overturn of landmark legislation that has ramifications nationwide.2022-05-1523 minSmarter and HarderEp. 12.- Portland's Outdoor Seating Gone?!Eli once again prevails as the voice of reason. The COVID outdoor seating in Portland has been removed. Also, bonus talk about Ethan Strimling's quest to not get evicted. Who's got more rights? 2022-04-2728 minSmarter and HarderEp. 11 Jonathan Sahrbeck - Cumberland County District AttorneyDistrict Attorney Jonathan Sahrbeck sits down with Eli and Tim. Talking about his plans to battle the opiod crisis, homelessness, and human trafficking. 2022-03-3131 minSmarter and HarderEp 10. - Gender Identity in SportsAn exploration into gender identity through the lense of NCAA Division 1 National Champion swimmer Lia Thomas of UPenn. 2022-03-2434 minSmarter and HarderEp 9. - Stories From the Classroom and School BudgetEli breaks down the 2022/23 Portland School Budget. Both Tim and Eli share stories from the classroom. 2022-03-1735 minSmarter and HarderEp 8. - Portland School Board ExplainedAlways wondered about the make up and governance of the Portland School Board. Eli is the right man for the making-Tim-smarter job. Email us at timeisenhart27@gmail.com with suggested topics or conrrections. 2022-03-1030 minSmarter and HarderEp 7. - Rank Choice Voting - Brandon MazerBrandon Mazer, former candidate for Portland City Council, describes his experience and knowledge around rank choice voting after his historic loss in 2021 elections. 2022-03-0336 minSmarter and HarderEp. 6 - Tae Chong - Portland City CouncilorThis time it's not just Eli making Tim smarter. Tae Chong, City Councilor District 3, sits down to talk about the state of affairs in Portland. 2022-02-1732 minSmarter and HarderEp. 5 - Cancel CultureEli schools Tim up on the first ammendment and cancel culture. Is it the job of Portland officials to be publicly critical of other officials? 2022-02-1031 minSmarter and HarderEp. 4 - Mask MandatesEli finished his homework on the Portland Charter Commission. We explore mask mandates and give opinion on whether they should exist or not. 2022-02-0228 minSmarter and HarderEp 3. - Asylum Seekers in PortlandOnce again, Eli takes Tim to school. Why Portland has become a great place to pursue a better life for asylum seeking families. 2022-01-2724 minSmarter and HarderEp 2. - Portland Charter Commission, the Mayor and the City Manager ExplainedEli educates Tim on Portland city government. 2022-01-2120 minSmarter and HarderEp. 1 - Portland and Deering Consolidation2022-01-1920 min
Coaches Corner BoothRyan Hutchins - Deering High School Wrestling CoachRyan Hutchins, head coach of Deering's Wrestling team, finally goes from host to interviewee on #coachescornerbooth. After turning a dwindling Westbrook program into a Eastern Maine Conference Champion, Hutch set his sites on his alma mater as his next challenge. Known as an intelligent, intense coach around the conference, Hutch takes us back through his origin story. He credits the influence of older wrestlers and former coaches. He also talks about the positive effects that wrestling has had on him as an adult. Eli Small (former Deering Wrestling Coach), Derek Webb (former Deering Soccer Coach) and Austin Payne (#coachescornerbooth sound...2019-01-031h 30