Galen Koch is an audio producer, sound artist, and writer based in Portland, Maine. After graduating from Skidmore College and the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, she began working as a freelance journalist. Galen has produced stories for BBC World Service, NPR’s Morning Edition, The New York Times, and various nationally-syndicated podcasts. In 2017, she founded the community storytelling project The First Coast and began documenting the lives of coastal Maine residents.
As part of her work with The First Coast, Galen teaches radio storytelling at the College of the Atlantic and produces the podcast “From the Sea Up” for the Island Institute. She continues to work through those partnerships to create audio exhibits and immersive sound installations in rural Maine fishing towns. Galen is one of the cofounders of Maine Sound + Story.
In this interview of Sanford Kelly, by Galen Koch, he recalls his early youth in the Jonesport area during the Depression and World Wars. He shares memorable events of his life through his time in ...
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Galen Koch interviews Richard P Alley, who recalls his family history and its connections to the islands and original settlers as he talks about his childhood. He shares the changes he has seen in ...
listen & learn moreGay Crowley, operator of a local bait shop on Beals Island, talks about the ins-and-outs of bait selling. Crowley discusses the process of packaging worms, how she got started in the business, and ...
listen & learn moreGalen Koch interviews Helen Beal, a retiree, at her Jonesport home. The interview touches on aspects of Beal’s life growing up and working in Milo, as well as her current home in Jonesport which ...
listen & learn moreIn this interview with Sid Look from Jonesport, he describes the facets of his Lobster business (Look’s Lobsters business) and the changes he has seen in the industry within his lifetime. These ...
listen & learn moreThis interview is with Ernest and Marilyn Kelley, residents of Jonesport. The couple discusses the history of their family and the various fisheries Ernest has participated in. Ernest fished as a ...
listen & learn moreEddie Hagan, an artisanal wreath maker and seasonal worm digger talks about the ins and outs of the wreath making industry. Hagan also discusses the problems with climate change affecting his dual ...
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Ralph Smith takes us for a tour of his mussel processing factory and then sits down to discuss how he and his family got involved in the industry of mussel harvesting and selling. Smith shares ...
listen & learn moreIn this interview with Ray Beal, he shows us some old photographs of his family and the area. He also recalls stories of Tall Barney and a boat his father built for him. At the beginning of the ...
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Sonny Beal, a lobsterman on Beals Island, discusses his work with the greater lobstering community. Beal talks about the Lobstering Union, the Jonesport-Beals Co-op, and the Maine Lobster ...
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