<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/erinovalle/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Erin Ovalle</a> didn't want to do it anymore.</p><p>No more storm-chasing. No more murder-suicides. No more doom-and-gloom of the news business.</p><p>So, she quit the evening news business in Florida, and the Massachusetts native then found her way to the anchor chair, where she hosted morning TV shows in Portland, ME, for the city's ABC and CBS affiliates.</p><p>After years of telling more positive stories in Portland, she began to get a different itch: Entrepreneurship.</p><p>So, despite the challenges of the modern media climate, she decided to start her own media organization in 2016, <a href="https://mainelifemedia.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Maine Life Media</a>.</p><p>Maine Life Media tells the stories of the people and businesses across the entire state of Maine. Their media network produces several TV shows, with lifestyle show Maine Life TV serving as the flagship. Their shows air on weekends on NewsCenter Maine, as well as NBCSports Boston.</p><p>From her office in Portland, the nine-time Emmy nominee sits down with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/troy_farkas/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">host Troy Farkas</a> to discuss why she entered the media business several decades ago, the strange places her early career took her, the tragic circumstances that led her to move to Maine, the struggles of finding happiness working in the media business, why she started Maine Life Media, the joy telling stories brings her, and more.</p><p>Plus, with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUhAZbyAdKr/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Seacoast Stories Dinner Club </a>preparing to take over Portland on Feb. 18, Ovalle lists the restaurants that we absolutely have to hit.</p><p>To support Ovalle, you can follow her on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/erinovalle/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">@erinovalle</a> and/or subscribe to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@mainelifemedia9027" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Maine Life YouTube channel.</a></p><p>SPONSORS:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.jennbakosphoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Jenn Bakos Photography⁠⁠</a>: Get 10% off your first photography session with one of the Seacoast's finest photographers! DM Jen <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jennbakosphoto/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠@jennbakosphoto⁠⁠</a> on Instagram to get started.</li><li><a href="https://oomph.salon/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Oomph Salon⁠</a>: Special happy hour haircuts for just $45 at New England's top-rated salon! </li></ul><p>AFFILIATE LINKS:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.3bridgesyoga.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠3 Bridges Yoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>: NEW yoga students can unlock a stellar deal of $45 for unlimited classes at the Seacoast's top yoga studio for a month! Visit <a href="https://www.3bridgesyoga.com/schedule" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠3BridgesYoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>, select the "Seacoast Stories" special, and type in promo code SEACOASTSTORIES to activate the deal.</li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/studioonecycle/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Studio One⁠⁠</a>: Use the code COASTIE26 at checkout on <a href="https://studioonecycling.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠the Studio One website⁠⁠⁠</a> to unlock a 1-month trial of UNLIMITED spin, yoga, strength, pilates, and barre classes for a special price of $25 for "Seacoast Stories" listeners ONLY!</li><li>Check out <a href="https://citylifestyle.com/articles/the-stories-that-bring-us-home" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠this article⁠</a> about "Seacoast Stories" in the Portsmouth City Lifestyle magazine</li></ul><p>UPCOMING EVENTS:</p><ul><li>Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: Wednesday, February 18, in Portland, ME! <a href="https://seacoaststories.dnnr.io/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up here.⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>Seacoast Stories Dinner Club: Wednesday, March 4, in Dover, NH! <a href="https://seacoaststories.dnnr.io/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Sign up here.⁠</a></li><p><br /></p></ul><p>EPISODE CHAPTERS:</p><ul><li>Controversial Seacoast takes (00:00)</li><li>Erin's winding media background (07:50)</li><li>Why Erin joined Portland's TV circuit in 2008 (18:52)</li><li>SPONSORS: Oomph Salon &amp; Jenn Bakos Photography (28:00)</li><li>Starting Maine Life Media in 2016 (30:50)</li><li>The struggles of running a media company (40:00)</li><li>How Maine Life Media became a full-fledged business (44:45)</li><li>Portland food recs! (56:12)</li></ul>