Smarter and Harder

19/04/2025

Sports writer, Michael Hoffer, sits for an interview to talk about the next phase of his coverage of Maine high school sports. Meet the man who writes the treasured stories about the accomplishments of our community's high school athletes.

Beloved 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 ...

01/04/2025

Tim and Eli get to discuss the Portland, ME Public Schools budget with superintendent Dr. Ryan Scallon.

Tim is excited about the budget...for once.   Eli and Dr. Scallon use big words in their discussion of this year's budget.  

12/03/2025

Eli and Tim attempt to take on the complicated issue of trans athletes in Maine high school sports. Also, bonus material on the need for the Maine Principals Association.

Tim does not like the MPA.  Eli makes some sense of the complicated issue of trans athletes competing in Maine.  

14/02/2025

Lots of crazy to talk about! Eli and Tim discuss parents behaving badly at sporting events, Trump/Musk shaking up government, budgets and the halftime show at the Super Bowl. Crazy times!

Eli 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!

17/01/2025

We are happy to share Mr Murph and the district came to an agreement. The union sent out the following message and it was forwarded to us.

17/01/2025

Eli Small teaches Tim (as much as he can) about the new family medical leave act tax of 1% for all Mainers.

Eli eplains the 1% tax for paid family leave.  

15/01/2025

Eli and Tim discuss the case of Jemal Murph, Athletic Director/Educator, at Lincoln Middle School in Portland. When attacked by a large group of teenagers, Murph defended himself. Now he's on the verge of being fired. What would you have done if attacked by multiple aggressive teenagers? Take the beating or defend yourself? Who is to blame here?

Tim is pi**ed 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?

17/12/2024

Tim has an issue that he needs Eli's help with. Why are we allowing people to break the law without consequences? Drugs are illegal yet Portland is giving out needles to help them do illegal things.

Tim has questions about why we are not prosecuting drug users.  Eli, as always, applies logic to Tim's outrage.  

26/11/2024

https://www.buzzsprout.com/242425/episodes/16173279

Eli 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.  

09/11/2024

Eli and Tim talk a little on the presidential race and whole lot on local politics.

A 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.

03/11/2024

PPS Superintendent, Dr. Ryan Scallon, pops in for a visit to discuss the start of the school year, spending $500k to right the wrongs of the previous super, school consolidation and loads of other stuff. A seemingly smooth start of the school year holds promise for the future of PPS.

Dr. Ryan Scallon discusses the start of 2024-25 school year, $500k to fix mis-managed retirement money, school re-districting, high school consolidation update.   

03/11/2024

November ballots and elections. Eli flashes his intellectual leather once again.

Eli breaks down the voting once again.