New Hampshire Has Issues

Animals, Cafeterias, Student Council (and Parenting) with Katie Adams...and Jack!

Liz hears from Jack, a local youth activist (spoiler alert: he's in elementary school!), about changes he wants to see in this world (and his cafeteria) and how you can help. He also has some advice for other kids who might see a problem they want to fix... Liz then talks with his mom, Katie, who recently testified at the New Hampshire State House for the first time. She also shares some #BoyMom advice to Liz. Want to send Jack a message? newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com Links: * Check out Jack's fun fact videos on Katie's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/p/DYefIw8S-1Q/]! * Donate to Jack's fundraiser (@KatieHAdams on Venmo)! * National Marine Mammal Foundation [https://nmmf.org/] * Public Gives Feedback on Bill to Limit School Curriculum [https://indepthnh.org/2026/03/17/public-gives-feedback-on-bill-to-limit-school-curriculum/] (InDepth NH) NEW: NH Has Issues Merch! [https://www.teepublic.com/user/nhhasissues] (teepublic...but not just t-shirts!) Become a monthly supporter of the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] (Patreon.com/NHHasIssues) Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [https://transistor.fm/?via=music]. Learn how to start a podcast [https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=music] here. New Hampshire Has Issues is generously sponsored by Seacoast Soils [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html], an organic compost and topsoil provider for New Hampshire, Maine, and Northeast Massachusetts. Visit their website at www.seacoastsoil.com [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html]!

Planning for Affordable Housing with Kara Anne Rodenhizer and Ryann Wolf

What does a planning board actually do...and why does it matter for whether people can afford to live in a community? Liz talks with Kara and Ryann about how local decisions shape the housing crisis in New Hampshire, from zoning rules to who shows up (and who doesn’t) at public meetings. Topics include workforce housing, common misconceptions, and the real people being priced out of the communities they serve. If you’ve ever wondered why your local barista - or childcare worker - can’t afford to live nearby… well, this episode is for you. Become a monthly supporter of the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] Have an idea for an episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com NEW: NH Has Issues Merch! [https://www.teepublic.com/user/nhhasissues] Links: * Home for All [https://homeforall-seacoast.org/] * Seacoast Affordable Housing Week [https://homeforall-seacoast.org/ahw2026] (May 11 - 16) * Previous episode of NH Has Issues with Nick Taylor [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-have-all-the-affordable-houses-gone-with-nick-taylor/id1811184811?i=1000710963981] * High Prices and Low Supply Continue to Impact Housing Affordability in New Hampshire [https://nhfpi.org/resource/high-prices-and-low-supply-continue-to-impact-housing-affordability-in-new-hampshire/] (NHFPI) Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [https://transistor.fm/?via=music]. Learn how to start a podcast [https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=music] here. New Hampshire Has Issues is generously sponsored by Seacoast Soils [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html], an organic compost and topsoil provider for New Hampshire, Maine, and Northeast Massachusetts. Visit their website at www.seacoastsoil.com [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html]!

Who Should Run for Office (...you?) with Devan Quinn

Strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we identify at least three of them to run for office.  If you've ever thought about running for office...or, perhaps more likely, if you've ever assumed you're not qualified, this episode is for you.  Okay, to be honest, if you know a woman, this episode is for you. P.S. Happy 1-year anniversary to this little podcast! Half a biennium! Celebrate by becoming a monthly supporter on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com Links: * Women Run! [https://nhwomensfoundation.org/women-run/] (New Hampshire Women's Foundation training session) * Upcoming training dates include: Thursday 5/21, Wednesday 5/27, and Thursday 6/4 -- all virtual! * New Hampshire Women's Foundation [https://nhwomensfoundation.org/] * Gender Matters [https://nhwomensfoundation.org/research/gender-matters/] * Keys to Elected Office: The Essential Guide for Women [https://barbaraleefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Keys-to-Elected-Office-25th-Anniversary-Edition.pdf](Barbara Lee Family Foundation) * Why I’m Focusing on Getting More Women In Public Office [https://time.com/6289240/melinda-french-gates-women-running-for-office/] (Melinda French Gates, Time) * Running For Office [https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/running-office] (NH Secretary of State) Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [https://transistor.fm/?via=music]. Learn how to start a podcast [https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=music] here. New Hampshire Has Issues is generously sponsored by Seacoast Soils [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html], an organic compost and topsoil provider for New Hampshire, Maine, and Northeast Massachusetts. Visit their website at www.seacoastsoil.com [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html]!

Property Taxes (ever heard of them?) with Phil Sletten

A fan favorite, Phil Sletten (Research Director at New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute), is back! Liz and Phil talk about what even are property taxes? Who actually pays them? Why is New Hampshire so dang reliant on them? And is there ANYONE who can do ANYTHING about them? Spoiler alert: yep.  But first! A flashback to the Interest and Dividends Tax discussion [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/putting-the-fun-yes-fun-in-state-budget-funding-with/id1811184811?i=1000718406568] from last summer's episode. Because context. Become a monthly supporter of the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] (especially if you have $13 million sitting around) Links: * Property Taxes in New Hampshire: How They Work and How They Compare [https://nhfpi.org/resource/property-taxes-in-new-hampshire-how-they-work-and-how-they-compare/](NHFPI report) * Could NH eliminate the property tax? Some lawmakers want businesses to foot the state’s bills. [https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/04/10/new-hampshire-business-tax-plan/] (Concord Monitor) * New Hampshire lost a fortune with a tax repeal, but I bet the wealthy spent it on lots of cool stuff [https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/12/09/new-hampshire-lost-a-fortune-with-a-tax-repeal-but-i-bet-the-wealthy-spent-it-on-lots-of-cool-stuff/] (NH Bulletin) * The Impact of State Downshifting on Local Property Tax Burdens in New Hampshire (2015–2025) [https://www.nhmunicipal.org/town-city-magazine/impact-state-downshifting-local-property-tax-burdens-new-hampshire-2015-2025] (New Hampshire Municipal Association) * October Revenues Set Back by Interest and Dividends Tax Repeal [https://nhfpi.org/blog/october-revenues-set-back-by-interest-and-dividends-tax-repeal/] (NHFPI) * NH DHHS slashes programs to meet $51M budget reduction mandate [https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-12-17/nh-dhhs-slashes-programs-to-meet-51m-budget-reduction-mandate] (NHPR) * Concord School District grapples with $17 million budget shortfall [https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/02/18/concord-school-district-grapples-with-17-million-budget-shortfall/] (Concord Monitor) * Results: Claremont voters reject school budget cap [https://vnews.com/2026/03/11/claremont-voters-defeat-budget-cap/] (Valley News) * Hold on to your wallets, new property tax rates are in [https://www.keenesentinel.com/news/local/homeowners-to-see-increases-in-property-tax-bills/article_459ef7a1-f481-4cf7-8244-eb3b46c50fee.html] (Keene Sentinel) * Some Rochester residents see dramatic rise in property tax bills [https://www.wmur.com/article/some-rochester-residents-see-dramatic-rise-in-property-tax-bills/63364223] (WMUR) * Households with High Incomes Disproportionately Benefit from Interest and Dividends Tax Repeal [https://nhfpi.org/blog/households-with-high-incomes-disproportionately-benefit-from-interest-and-dividends-tax-repeal/] (NHFPI) Have an idea for an episode? Email Liz [newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com] Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [https://transistor.fm/?via=music]. Learn how to start a podcast [https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=music] here. New Hampshire Has Issues is generously sponsored by Seacoast Soils [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html], an organic compost and topsoil provider for New Hampshire, Maine, and Northeast Massachusetts. Visit their website at www.seacoastsoil.com [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html]!

Clean Water (or close enough?) with Adrienne Lennon

Hop in a canoe and join Liz and Adrienne Lennon as they talk about what is and is not ... water, actually.  We always talk about New Hampshire's issues, but as a special treat, this episode features how one of New Hampshire's issues paved the way for federal law: the Clean Water Act. What is the Clean Water Act? What was supposed to happen with pollutants by the mid 1980s? Did we do it?  Is anyone coming to save us? Turns out, not even Batman... Previous episode referenced: Towns, Property Taxes, and a Street Sweeper (maybe) with Niko Papakonstantis [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/towns-property-taxes-and-a-street-sweeper-maybe/id1811184811?i=1000733811211] Become a monthly supporter of the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] Have an idea for an upcoming episode? Email Liz: newhampshirehasissues@gmail.com Links: * Summary of the Clean Water Act [https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act] (EPA) * Water Quality Standards Regulations: New Hampshire [https://www.epa.gov/wqs-tech/water-quality-standards-regulations-new-hampshire] (EPA) * Environmental Challenges for the Merrimack River [https://www.epa.gov/merrimackriver/environmental-challenges-merrimack-river] (EPA) * NHDES PFAS Response Website [https://www.pfas.des.nh.gov/] * NHPR Presents: Safe to Drink [https://www.nhpr.org/nhpr-presents-safe-to-drink] * Legislation to protect parts of Nashua River [https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2018/09/22/legislation-to-protect-parts-of-nashua-river/] (Nashua Telegraph) Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/NHHasIssues] Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm [https://transistor.fm/?via=music]. Learn how to start a podcast [https://transistor.fm/how-to-start-a-podcast/?via=music] here. New Hampshire Has Issues is generously sponsored by Seacoast Soils [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html], an organic compost and topsoil provider for New Hampshire, Maine, and Northeast Massachusetts. Visit their website at www.seacoastsoil.com [https://www.seacoastsoil.com/index.html]!