If you’ve spent any time watching local TV in New England, you know Erin Ovalle. She’s the face of Maine Life, the woman who swapped the stiff news desk for a life of exploring the Pine Tree State’s best-kept secrets. But while she’s busy interviewing lobster fishermen and boutique owners, fans are often more curious about the person behind the camera. Specifically, they want to know: who is Erin Ovalle’s husband?
Finding the answer isn't as straightforward as scrolling through a typical celebrity's Instagram. Erin is famously protective of her private world, even as she builds a media empire centered on sharing other people's stories.
Meet Jason Birkel: The Man Behind the Scenes
Honestly, if you're looking for a flashy Hollywood-style romance, you won't find it here. Erin Ovalle is married to Jason Birkel. The couple tied the knot on October 12, 2019, in a beautiful ceremony in Kennebunkport, Maine. It was a quintessential Maine wedding—coastal, elegant, and deeply personal.
Jason isn't a TV personality. He doesn't have a show. In fact, he seems perfectly happy letting Erin take the spotlight while he provides the support system that makes her grueling production schedule possible.
You’ve probably heard the saying that opposites attract. While Erin is the ultimate "people person" who admitted in a 2021 podcast that she genuinely wants to know every stranger’s life story, Jason is the grounding force. She once shared a story about how, when they were dating, Jason looked at her in amazement and asked if she really wanted to know about a random person’s grandfather. She did. He found that fascinating. It’s that dynamic—the storyteller and the observer—that seems to make them work.
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Life on the Water and a Growing Family
For many Maine residents, Erin feels like a neighbor. That’s intentional. Her brand, Maine Life Media, is built on authenticity. But that authenticity extends to her home life in ways that fans find deeply relatable.
Erin and Jason are parents to a son named Brooks, who recently celebrated his fourth birthday in November 2024. They also have a "fur baby" named Baxter, a dog who frequently makes appearances in their life adventures.
One of the most authentic things about Erin's marriage to Jason is how they spend their downtime. She has mentioned that her "every day should feel this good" moment is being out on their boat—appropriately named Maine Life—with Jason, Brooks, and Baxter.
Why People Are So Curious
Why do we care so much about who Erin Ovalle is married to? Basically, it’s because she represents a specific kind of success. She left a high-profile, stable job as a morning news anchor to bet on herself. When she launched Maine Life in 2016, she didn't have a paycheck. She knocked on doors. She volunteered.
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In those early, "blackout" years of entrepreneurship, having a partner who believes in the mission is everything. While Jason maintains a lower profile, his presence in her narrative is one of stability.
A History of Public Relationships
Before her life with Jason, Erin’s personal life was occasionally in the local headlines. Back in 2010, she was engaged to Eric Erdman. At the time, she was the emcee for major events and a rising star on Good Day Maine. People who have followed her career for decades might still remember those early chapters, but her life today is firmly rooted in the family she has built with Jason.
What Most People Get Wrong About Celebrity Husbands
There is a misconception that the spouse of a media mogul must also be in the industry. We expect a "power couple" dynamic where both people are vying for the microphone. Jason Birkel proves that's not always the case.
By staying largely out of the press, he allows the focus to remain on Erin’s work and their family’s privacy. In a world where every "influencer" overshares their marital spats for clicks, the Ovalle-Birkel approach is refreshing. They’re just a family living in Maine, enjoying the coast, and raising their son.
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Insights for Fans and Aspiring Entrepreneurs
If you’re following Erin’s journey, there are a few things you can take away from how she balances her public persona with her private life:
- Protect the core: Even when your brand is "lifestyle," you don't owe the world every detail of your marriage.
- Support matters: Transitioning from a 9-to-5 (or a 3 AM news start) to owning a production company requires a partner who is okay with the "financial blackout" periods.
- Value the "real" moments: Whether it's a boat ride or a kid's birthday party at a local farm, those are the things that fuel the public-facing work.
Erin Ovalle has successfully turned her love for Maine into a thriving business. While Jason Birkel might not be the one on the screen, he’s clearly a huge part of the story that makes Maine Life possible.
If you’re looking to support local Maine businesses or want to see the "authentic" side of the state that Erin often talks about, your next step is to check out the local makers and entrepreneurs she features on her show. Supporting the community she highlights is the best way to connect with the values she and her family live by every day.