Maddie Bender
Producer, The ConversationMaddie Bender is a science, health, and technology journalist. She has contributed print, digital, and audio stories to outlets including The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Scientific American, Smithsonian and VICE.
She provided production assistance on This Is Our Hawaiʻi, HPR's first narrative podcast, and joined The Conversation as a producer in 2024.
She holds a master's degree in epidemiology from the Yale School of Public Health. When not editing out "uhs" and "ums" in interviews, you can find her baking sourdough and teaching group fitness classes.
Contact her at mbender@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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Hawaiian Electric could face close to $5 billion in potential liabilities from the lawsuits filed over the Maui wildfires, according to the consulting firm Capstone. The Conversation talked to Capstone analysts Alyssa Lu and Josh Price as state lawmakers prepare to decide on legislation that could impact HECO's bottom line.
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Experts discuss HECO's liability for the Maui wildfires; The state gets new self-driving vehicles and a Tesla fleet; Teen perspectives on the hazards of drunk-driving
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The state Department of Health is investigating two confirmed cases and eight probable cases of pertussis, better known as whooping cough, on Hawaiʻi Island. The Conversation’s Maddie Bender spoke to Deputy State Epidemiologist Nathan Tan this morning to learn more about the cases.
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Health officials are investigating two confirmed cases — and eight probable cases — of whooping cough on Hawaiʻi Island; The 1898 Project holds a summit on American imperialism
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U.S. Forest Service rangeland scientist Stephanie Yelenik has researched invasive grasslands in Hawaiʻi and several western states, as well as in South Africa. She spoke to The Conversation about a new study she led on invasive grasslands on Hawai’i Island.
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Resources for Red Hill families who may have been exposed to fuel or additives in their drinking water; A nonprofit's search for a fishmonger to help process unsold fish to give to food insecure families
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The PBS Kids show "Wild Kratts" educates elementary school keiki about biology, ecology, and the animal kingdom. It also includes interviews with scientists like Adam Pack, a University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo biology and psychology professor.
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A UH astronomy professor details her work to prepare to study the upcoming solar eclipse; the need for furniture grows as Maui fire survivors move into longer-term housing; a Big Island author talks about using his work experience on Maunakea in his new novel set on the mountain; and a UH Hilo biology professor reflects on being featured in a popular PBS children's show
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The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bipartisan bill targeting the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok. The Conversation spoke to Brian Madamba, who posts on a TikTok account called @BrevenchyM, about his thoughts on the ban and the challenges of the content creator business.
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We discuss a new effort to turn invasive grass into fertilizer; ʻĀina Momona details what was covered in a recent call with the White House; a retired Honolulu firefighter shares how he's seen his battle with gout improve; and local TikTok star Brevenchy M talks about how he would be impacted if the U.S. banned the social media app