Vermont Edition: Recent Episodes
Vermont Public Radio
Vermont Edition brings you news and conversation about issues affecting your life. Hosts Jane Lindholm and Bob Kinzel consider the context of current events through interviews with news makers and people who make our region buzz.
President Trump's policies and posture towards Canada have upended our country's relationship with our neighbor to the north. His recent announcement of 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian goods has further ratcheted up tensions between the two nations.
To discuss the impact of this announcement on our two nations, Vermont Edition combined forces for a joint broadcast with CBC's Radio Noon in Quebec, hosted by Shawn Apel. Our conversation focused on trade and the effects of tariffs on commerce, supply chains, and business relationships.
Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Quebec's Minister of International Relations Christopher Skeete kicked off the hour talking about Vermont and Canada's long trading history. Quentin Abraham Desrosiers, general manager of PlastiCompetence, an association that represents the plastic industry in Quebec, shared his experiences. We also heard from both Vermont and Quebec listeners who have felt the effects of tariffs.
Broadcast live on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Every year, the Vermont Edition team heads out to a Vermont fair to bring you the sounds and voices of our states favorite summertime traditions. Today we come to you live from Addison County Fair and Field Days in New Haven.
This hour we’ll get to know the fair’s history, talk with 4-H members and animal experts, and get a little taste — literally — of what the fair has to offer.
We're joined today by a host of guests that bring different energies and expertise to the fair-going experience. Benj Deppman is a fair board member whose roots run deep at the Addison Fair. We're also joined by Scythe Sister Michaela Stickney to learn about hand mowing competitions. Sugarhouse manager Andrew Rainville brings some of the fairs blue ribbon winners in the maple contest. Ethan Gervy coordinates the fair's demolition derby and is joined alongside Dylan Mason who has participated in the derby for the past two years and is competing this year as well. Dairy superintendent Stephanie Pope joins us alongside 16 year old 4-H competitor to talk about showing dairy cows. We hear from children's performer Pirate Man Dan who tells us what makes Addison County's fair distinct from the many others he performs at around the country. And board member Meghan Sutton tells us about the home and garden barn.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
As alcohol consumption decreases in younger generations, Vermont winemakers are looking for federal recognition for the Champlain Valley of Vermont. It would help them market their products nationwide and could also increase agritourism to the Champlain Valley.
We’re joined by three wine producers in the Champlain Valley region. Deirdre Heekin is the founder of Domaine La Garagista farm and winery and vice president of Vermont Grape & Wine Council, Camila Carrillo is founder of La Montañuela wine and owner of the 10 Green Street wine bar in Vergennes, and Kenneth Albert is founder of Shelburne Vineyard. They tell us about the grapes they grow, and how they plan to gain traction in the wine industry.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Blackface performance – or minstrel shows – might seem like relics of the 19th century. But these racist traditions stuck around much longer, including at the University of Vermont.
Today on Vermont Edition, we'll listen back to our conversation from April with the scholar Rhae Lynn Barnes. Her latest book is “Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment.”
Barnes spent more than a decade gathering material for the book. She uncovered evidence of blackface performance from nearly every corner of the country…lasting all the way through the mid 1900s.
In her book, she takes us to the campus of the University of Vermont. UVM fraternity members donned blackface during winter carnival, in a tradition lasted more than 70 years.
This summer’s already seen a number of big blockbuster movies – The Odyssey, the new Spiderman, Toy Story 5. You can reliably catch all these movies at theaters across our region. But there are also many opportunities this summer to see movies produced, directed, or curated by your neighbors.
This hour we’ll preview a number of the upcoming film festivals that highlight new and up-and-coming filmmakers in Vermont, and the ways in which Vermonters can get started on their filmmaking journeys.
We're joined by Jay Craven, filmmaker and curator of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival which begins on August 26th. Also joining us is Emma Schlenoff, producer of the film The Obelisk, a board member of the Vermont Production Collective and founder of Witness Oak Productions, and Dillon Tanner, founder of the Mothership Monthly Film Fest which features the films of many first time filmmakers.
Broadcast live on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Every month, Vermont Edition spends an hour learning about a different municipality in the state for our monthly series, Town by Town.
Today, we'll learn about Guilford, in Windham County. Guilford was once the most populous town in the state. It doesn’t hold that designation anymore, but it’s home to a bustling community center, local businesses and a rich history.
We’ll talk with a local poet, a town historian, and the co-founder of the Guilford Gazette. We’ll also hear about a legendary recording studio in town. Artists like the Pixies and Noah Kahan have made records there.
At the end of the hour, we’ll spin a big wheel to select our next town.
Are you classical-curious but don’t know where to start? Our roundtable of experts share some tips on where to start.
Broadcast on Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Local business leaders want Vermont to adopt the "abundance agenda." Remove administrative burdens so we can build more housing, and attract more working age people.
Today on Vermont Edition: the abundance agenda. We’ll break down exactly what this buzzy phrase means and the challenge it poses specifically to liberals and progressives.
Then: Vermont’s primary is about two weeks away. Two people are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House. We’ll hear from one of the candidates today – Gerald Malloy. He’s an Army vet and defense contractor. He hopes to take on Congresswoman Becca Balint in the general election.
Vermont Edition's Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate between the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont's next governor, Amanda Janoo and Aly Richards.
Broadcast on Thursday, Jul. 23, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Many of us dream of learning another language. But becoming fluent as an adult is so hard that it can feel impossible.
Here's some good news: our region is full of linguaphiles who have cracked the code on achieving fluency in multiple tongues.
We discuss the different methods of language learning with: linguistics professor Thor Sawin, the Associate Dean of Curriculum for Middlebury Language Schools; Gabe Wyner, a four-time graduate of Middlebury Language Schools, author of Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It, and creator of the Fluent Forever app; and Eric Agnero, a journalist and French tutor with Alliance française.
Broadcast on Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate between the three Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor: Esther Charlestin of South Burlington, Molly Gray of Burlington and Ryan McLaren of Essex Junction.
Broadcast on Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
The Ben and Jerry’s Foundation announced it will shut down by the end of the year. It’s the latest update in a legal dispute with Ben and Jerry’s parent company, Magnum.
Today on Vermont Edition, we learn what’s going on at Ben and Jerry’s with co-founder Ben Cohen. He’s leading a charge to buy back the ice cream company from its corporate owners. We'll also hear from Tim McQuiston with Vermont Business Magazine and the president of the Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, Liz Bankowski.
Then, UVM Health is trying to cut costs. Its support staff want job security and good wages. A union rep will tell us about the upcoming negotiations.
Vermont has six correctional facilities located across the state. Together these prisons house more than 1,500 incarcerated Vermonters. On Thursday, Vermont Edition, Department of Corrections Commissioner Jon Murad on corrections staffing levels, the department’s overtime spending, and overcrowding in some of the state’s prisons.
Plus, with the Seven Days staff writer Colin Flanders on the Chittenden County state’s attorney race.
The popular service Front Porch Forum celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. For many Vermonters, it’s a beloved way to connect with neighbors, share local news and find lost cats. The company’s also faced criticism for how it moderates content.
Today on Vermont Edition, we're joined by the founders of Front Porch Forum, Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis. They’ll tell us about some of the very best posts they’ve read over the last two decades. We’ll also discuss how their team moderates posts, especially about politics.
Then: hot weather draws crowds to local rivers, lakes and streams, but every year, tragedies occur on the water. Vermont’s search and rescue coordinator will share important information on how to stay safe on the water this summer.
Rodeo culture is alive and well in Vermont, thanks in part to Pond Hill Ranch, a 2000-acre family-run business in Castleton, VT. It’s the largest horse leasing service east of Mississippi, and has been hosting professional rodeos for over 50 years. Every summer, bronc riders and barrel racers come from around the country to compete at the ranch. It’s where novices come for practice and experience, and where pros come to get points before nationals. We’re joined by Harry O’Rourke, the head of Pond Hill Ranch.
Vermont High School Rodeo Association started in 2020, competing at local jackpot events. Over the years, they’ve gained more members, and with that have started expanding events, including: barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, breakaway roping, and light rifle shooting. At the end of the season, the top competitors get to go to their respective national competitions. This year, Junior High Nationals were held in Oklahoma, and High School Nationals are happening later this month in Nebraska. We chat with the High School President of the team, Erin Hance and Junior High President, Peyton Nichols
Then, we spoke with novelist Meg Richardson. Her new book, Paradise Pawn, centers around two best friends who work with their dads at a pawn shop in Cherry Beach, Florida. Early on in the story, they learn that Kayla’s family can’t afford to send her to a private school, but Jackie’s can. So they hatch a plan to embezzle from their families’ business. It’s a story about family, friendships, and class.
On Monday, Vermont Edition aired interviews with the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont state auditor. Political newcomer Nicholas Graeter is running against the current deputy state auditor and former state senator, Tim Ashe.
The Republican candidate for auditor, H. Brooke Paige, is running uncontested. The primary election is on Aug. 11, and early voting is already underway.
On Monday, Vermont Edition aired interviews with the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont state auditor. Political newcomer Nicholas Graeter is running against the current deputy state auditor and former state senator, Tim Ashe.
The Republican candidate for auditor, H. Brooke Paige, is running uncontested. The primary election is on Aug. 11, and early voting is already underway.
With America’s 250th, there’s been a lot of focus on Vermont’s early history. You can always read about it in a book, but historical reenactors are out there bringing those stories back to life.
Today on Vermont Edition, we go back in time with two members of Whitcomb’s Rangers. These Revolutionary War reenactors portray an actual Continental Army Ranger unit. They’ll tell us about their upcoming annual event marking the Battle of Hubbardton.
Then: Vermont Human is a new video series that slows down and explores the lives of your neighbors. Creator David Littlefield will pull back the curtain on his work, just for us.
Summer in our region provides many opportunities to see live music outdoors. This year, Montréal’s summer festival season is more packed than ever.
Vermont Edition’s managing producer Jon Ehrens sits down with Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth to discuss the Montreal music scene writ large, and some of Chris's favorite new acts.
We also explore the curious case of the anonymous duo Angine de Poitrine. They’ve gone viral in the last year, and they recently drew a crowd of 70,000 to Montreal’s Jazz Fest. Dr. Robert Zattore, a cognitive neuroscientist and professor at McGill University's Montreal Neurological Institute, tells us why he thinks Angine de Poitrine tickles the brains of listeners. He’s the author of the book "From Perception to Pleasure: The Neuroscience of Music and Why We Love It."
We also hear about the annual African and Caribbean music festival Nuits d'Afrique, which runs through Jul. 19th. It celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The festival's co-founder Suzanne Russeau tells us about the festival's past and present, and about some of the notable acts performing this year.
Broadcast on Wednesdau, Jul. 8, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital plans to close its labor and delivery unit within the next year. As other rural hospitals scale back on maternity care, what will fill in the gap?
Today on Vermont Edition: the cost — and curtailing — of rural maternity care. In the last 5 years, around 140 rural hospitals nationwide have stopped delivering babies, including Copley Hospital, in Lamoille County.
We'll hear from a nurse midwife who used to work there. She’s now the co-founder of a new non-hospital birth center in Waterbury. The top OB/GYN at Dartmouth Hitchcock understands the financials behind rural obstetrics. She says we need to completely rethink how maternity care is funded.
Broadcast on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Vermont’s dairy industry has constricted dramatically over the last decade. According to data from UVM Extension, there were 838 dairy farms a decade ago. That number dropped to 414 at the start of this year. Current projects indicate that another 50 will close by the end of this year.
The processing sector is consolidating, too. Last month, Franklin Foods announced it’s closing its dairy processing facility in Enosburg Falls. The month before, the infant formula maker Perrigo laid off more than 160 people from its soon-to-be shuttered plant in Georgia. In April, the HP Hood dairy processing plant in Barre closed for good.
This hour we look at dairy industry consolidation from local, state and national perspectives. Guests include: Anson Tebbetts, Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Kevin Kouri, chair of the Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance and the nutrition and sales director at Phoenix Feeds and Nutrition; and Claire Kelloway, the food systems program manager at the Open Markets Institute, a think tank focused on the negative impact of monopolies on the economy and democracy.
We also talk with Jon Ovitt, the longtime plant manager at Franklin Foods in Enosburg Falls. The plant is set to shutter in August, but Ovitt has plans to reimagine the business and reopen it this fall.
Broadcast on Monday, July 6th, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Today is the latest installment in our monthly series, Town by Town. Each month, we hone in on a different town or municipality in the state.
This month, we're shining a light on Middlesex in Washington County. Fitting for a town with the word “middle” in its name, Middlesex is in central Vermont along I-89 and Route 2. It has a reputation as a commuter town where lots of people who live there work in Montpelier or elsewhere.
Middlesex is situated on a bend in the Winooski River. That location in a floodplain led to major flooding in 1927. Middlesex now borders the Wrightsville Reservoir and the town co-manages Wrightsville Beach, a popular place for swimming, picnicking and hiking.
To tell us all about Middlesex are Sarah Seidman and Patty Wiley, the co-founders of the Middlesex Historical Society and co-authors of the oral history Middlesex in the Making. Russ Bennet, founder and owner of NorthLand Visual Design and Construction, told us about developing property in Middlesex, including Camp Meade. We also heard from best selling-author and former Middlesex town clerk, Sarah Strohmeyer.
Broadcast on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
UVM Health, Vermont’s largest health care provider, needs to reduce expenses by at least 300 million dollars over the next three years. That's the recommendation an independent liaison team sent to the hospital network and state regulators in May. This comes on top of major revenue losses due to Medicaid changes.
This past month, 76 jobs were permanently eliminated earlier this month at UVM Health as part of an effort to reduce costs. Employee unions are concerned about providing adequate care and more reductions are likely.
Dr. Stephen Leffler, CEO of UVM Health and the president and COO of UVM Medical Center, joined Vermont Edition to talk about those job cuts, price increases and more. We also talked with the chair of the Green Mountain Care Board Owen Foster, who oversees the regulation of hospital budgets and health insurance premiums.
This hour, Vermont Edition brings you the stories of three creative people in our region and their new projects.
We begin with Richard Hawley of Ripton. He recently celebrated the publication of the seventhvolume of his series On My Way Out: A Reflection on Closure. A mixture of memoir, diary and philosophical musings, the book explores such topics as mortality, retirement and friendship.
Musician and Champlain College art professor Al Larsen reunited his band Some Velvet Sidewalk for the first time in 30 years. The band, woven into the fabric of the Pacific Northwest's '90s grunge scene, has released a new album, Critters Encore. A month-long show of Larsen's artwork is also now on display at the Champlain College Art Gallery.
Artist and organizer Katherine Leungof Milton makes zines and other art that explore her Cantonese and Jewish identities. Leung is the creator of a new, six-part podcast called Ritual about Asian Jews in Vermont. The podcast was created with the support of Vermont Folklife, where Katherine is one of their inaugural communities fellows.
Broadcast on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
As it turns out, many people visit the Green Mountain state just to tee off here. We’ll parse over the numbers, and discuss how the golf industry is attempting to counter perceptions that it's not ecologically friendly and a sport just for the elite.
Joining us to discuss the sport are David Jankowski, president of the Vermont PGA, and Mark Finch, director of grounds at Country Club of Vermont and the vice president of the Vermont Golf Course Superintendents Association.
If trying to get a small round ball into a cup isn’t quite your cup of tea, there’s also disc golf. Two of the premier courses in the country are in Vermont. To tell us more is Jeff Spring, the head of the Pro Disc Golf Tour, who also designed the Brewster Ridge course at Smuggler's Notch, and Aidan Trombley, the resort's manager of disc golf operations.
Smuggler's Notch is a Vermont Public business sponsor.
Broadcast on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
In the latest installment of our series, Vermont Edition At Home, we head to the Montpelier home of writer Katherine Paterson.
The award-winning author has written more than 40 books, including The Great Gilly Hopkins, Jacob Have I Loved, Bread and Roses Too, among many others. Her best-known book, Bridge to Terabithia, was adapted into a Hollywood movie in 2007. Paterson is one of only six American authors to receive the Hans Christian Andersen Award. The Library of Congress named her a ‘Living Legend’ in 2000.
Paterson tells us about her early life in China as the daughter of missionaries, grappling with the rush of success and making writer friends in Vermont. We’ll also hear how she balanced motherhood with a burgeoning literary career.
Earlier this year, Vermont’s first director of animal welfare, Lisa Milot, released a report on how the state responds to animal welfare and cruelty cases. She discussed plans to modernize the system, emphasizing the need for clearer standards, stronger enforcement and additional resources.
We also heard from Medora Plimpton, who runs Howling Mountain Wildlife Rescue from her home in Starksboro. She is one of only a few people in Vermont licensed to work with rabies-vector species such as foxes, skunks and raccoons. Plimpton also shares what to do if you encounter an injured or baby animal.
A new graphic novel tells the story of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, two seamstresses in 1800s Addison County. The two women lived together as a couple for nearly half a century, and they were accepted and beloved by their community. They're buried under the same gravestone in Weybridge.
Norwich cartoonist Tillie Walden tells this love story in her new historical graphic novel 'Charity & Sylvia.' Walden is the former Vermont cartoonist laureaute and the author of more than a dozen books.
We also talk with Coco Moseley, executive director of the Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury, which holds Charity and Sylvia's archives. And Vermont Humanities executive director Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup helped bring the story to Walden's attention. Vermont Humanities will distribute thousands of copies as this year's pick for the Vermont Reads program. (Note: Vermont Public is the media sponsor of Vermont Reads.)
This Friday is Juneteenth, a holiday marking the date that some of the last enslaved people in the Confederacy received word that they were free. Juneteenth celebrations date back to the 1860s, but it didn’t become a federal holiday in 2021. Now, communities across our region mark Juneteenth with storytelling events, speaker series, community meals and music.
The Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro will host Singing a Journey of Freedom: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation on Friday. The program began as a research project by Mat Callahan, a musician and author currently residing in Bern, Switzerland. He uncovered songs composed and sung by enslaved people and abolitionists that had been buried by history.
Callahan then teamed up with Dr. Kathy Bullock to bring this music to life. Bullock is a visiting professor of music at Bennington College, as well as a singer, arranger and choral conductor specializing in gospel, spirituals and classical works by composers from the African diaspora.
We are also joined by Rev. Leon Dunkley, an ethnomusicologist and a minister at the North Chapel in Woodstock.
Then, Joan Gorman of the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh shares the history of the museum, which used to be a stop on the Underground Railroad.
The FIFA World Cup is underway in stadiums across the US, Canada and Mexico. Toronto and Vancouver in Canada are two of the World Cup host cities. For Vermonters, the closest place to see a match is Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. It’s been temporarily renamed Boston Stadium for the duration of the Cup, on FIFA’s insistence.
Giving us the lowdown on Boston is GBH News reporter Esteban Bustillos. In addition to the Boston matches, he's been covering celebrations from local immigrant communities and the residence of the French national team at a nearby university.
For a Vermont perspective, we brought together a trio of Englishmen with a deep love of the game: Tyler Caton and Riley Moloney, two members of the Vermont Green FC; and Joseph Fox, owner of the SLIDE IN Pub in Shelburne, Vermont's first soccer bar.
Howard Dean is a former Vermont governor, presidential candidate and Democratic National Committee chair. But before all that, he was just a local physician who really wanted Burlington to have a bike path.
In the latest installment of our occasional series Vermont Edition At Home, Howard Dean invites us into his living room in Burlington.
He talks candidly about his upbringing in New York and his ongoing grief over his brother’s early death. We also hear his thoughts on the current political climate and Vermont’s struggle to provide affordable healthcare to all residents.
Broadcast on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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The U.S. Mint ceased making new pennies in November. Our humble, one-cent, copper-and-zinc coin can still be used as currency, but its circulation will dwindle in the years ahead.
Vermont's first coin — before it became a U.S. state — was also made of copper. These coins date back to days of the Green Mountain Boys, when Vermont was its own republic. Historian Jon Mathewson of Middletown Springs shares the history of Harmon's mint in Rupert.
Joe Watkins of Vermont Coin & Jewelry in South Burlington gave us his coin collector's perspective on how to make a pretty penny from collecting rare pennies.
For insight from the banking world, we talk with Jennifer Smith, a regional leader with Union Bank in Morrisville. We also hear from Matt Cota, managing director of the Vermont Retailers & Grocers Association. He tells us about a new state law that creates a system for rounding cash purchases up or down at the register.
When it comes to idioms and common English phrases, the penny punches above its weight: penny pincher, a pretty penny, penny-wise, a penny saved and so many more. Helping us make sense of the penny's place in language is Maeve Eberhardt, associate professor of linguistics at the University of Vermont.
Battery energy storage systems — BESS — are popping up across the country. They strengthen the electrical grid by storing energy and releasing it at high demand times, and can lower energy costs for customers. But some neighbors of some proposed facilities have concerns about safety and aesthetics.
In Vergennes, residents are pushing back against plans by the company Lightshift to build one on Panton Rd. But local officials and Lightshift representatives say the worries are unfounded.
We talk through how these systems work with Cyril Brunner. He works in the energy sector — currently for Texture, which builds software to operate the grid, and formerly for Vermont Electric Cooperative. We also talk with Vergennes property owner Carrie Hathaway, a vocal opponent of the proposed battery energy storage site.
Adirondack Explorer reporter Gwendolyn Craig fills us in on similar debates over battery storage that are currently underway in Adirondack Park.
A representative from Lightshift shared a statement from the company with Vermont Edition ahead of today's show:
“Battery energy storage is playing an increasingly important role in advancing Vermont's renewable energy goals, strengthening grid reliability, and helping manage electricity costs. The proposed Panton Road facility uses lithium iron phosphate batteries, a technology widely recognized for its strong safety record. The proposed footprint is approximately 0.17 acres in an industrially zoned site near other larger commercial businesses. Lightshift has met with local officials and residents to present the project and answer questions, and local fire officials have stated they have no safety objections.
If approved, the project will provide important benefits to the state and ratepayers. It will help lower energy costs, decrease fossil fuel reliance, and strengthen grid resilience during periods of severe weather and system stress. The project is designed with multiple layers of safety protection, will meet all required safety codes, and does not present a greater safety risk than other types of industrial businesses in the area. The noise level will be studied and mitigated if necessary to ensure no undue adverse impact. The project’s aesthetic impact will also be studied and mitigated if necessary to thoughtfully complement its surroundings.
Our focus is on providing clear information about battery storage technology and safety, continuing to engage openly with residents and local officials, and participating fully in Vermont's rigorous regulatory review process. We are committed to ensuring that the process is guided by facts and grounded in a shared commitment to Vermont’s energy future.
It is important to recognize that we are in the early stages of development. We look forward to continuing to engage with interested parties, including the town and residents, to try to incorporate community input as much as reasonably possible.”
Broadcast live on Monday, June 8, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
It's is the latest installment of our Town by Town series. where every month, we take an hour to learn about a randomly selected town or city in Vermont, with the goal of hitting all 252 of them.
Today: Brattleboro, in Windham County. Home to a little over 12,000 people, making it one of the larger municipalities in the state. The town sits right along the Connecticut River. It was named after Colonel William Brattle of Boston, who had bought some of land here in 1716. Dummer Meadows, in the southeastern corner of Brattleboro, was likely the first permanent English settlement in Vermont, in the 1720s, but indigenous people lived here long before that.
We're joined this hour live in the Latchis Theater by Kate Trzaskos, the executive director of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance, Danny Lichtenfeld, the executive director of the Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center, Wendy O’Connell, host and executive producer of the interview program Here We Are on Brattleboro Community TV, Joe Wiah, the executive director of the Ethiopian Community Development Council, and Ann Latchis, of the Latchis Theater.
Broadcast live on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Design-build architects are trained not just to envision a home or structure, but to build it themselves and to improvise based on their on-site experiences.
For years this movement centered around Prickly Mountain in Warren. A handful of visionary young architects moved to Vermont’s Mad River Valley in the 1960s to explore the more creative and experimental aspects of homebuilding.
Waitsfield filmmaker Allie Rood grew up in and around Prickly Mountain homes. Her feature-length documentary, “Prickly Mountain, and My Design/Build Life,” premiered last fall. It won the best documentary award at Vermont Public’s Made Here Film Festival.
There are many local architects who were inspired by the work of Prickly Mountain. We learn about the design-build movement of today with Britton Rogers, executive director of Yestermorrow in Waitsfield, and Danny Sagan, architecture professor at Norwich University.
First, we're joined by Vermont's Attorney General Charity Clark, who discusses her ongoing legal battle against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
Then, a roundtable of historians and curators discuss the events going on around the state this summer to commemorate the 250th birthday of America. We're joined by Stephen Perkins of the Vermont Historical Society, Angie Grove of the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, and Martin Mahoney of the Bennington Museum.
The Vermont Legislature adjourned for the session Friday evening after Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Phil Scott reached an agreement on education reform. Lawmakers also passed a budget bill and a yield bill to set tax rates, and Gov. Scott is expected to sign all three.
To help us make sense of this sessions' hot topics are a trio of Vermont Public statehouse reporters: Peter Hirschfeld and Lola Duffort in Montpelier, and Report for America fellow Carly Berlin, who covers housing and infrastructure for Vermont Public and VTDigger.
Have you ever thought about just how many insect species call your yard home? There are thousands of species to discover just outside your door.
The app iNaturalist lets users upload photos to identify insects, animals, fungi and more. Each iNaturalist entry helps the team at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) catalogue every living species in the Vermont Atlas of Life.
Two VCE biologists discuss ways to spot and catalogue local species: Kent McFarland, VCE's co-founder and the force behind the Vermont Butterfly Atlas, and Spencer Hardy, a bee biologist who runs VCE's Wild Bee Survey and the co-owner of The Farm Upstairs in Jericho.
Amateur naturalist and community scientist Bernie Paquette of Jericho is one of the top bee observers in the world on iNaturalist, where he posts research-grade photographs of insects. Last year, he received the 2025 Julie Nicholson Community Science Award from VCE.
Vermont Edition went down the rabbit hole with a recent episode of Brave Little State to find out if there really are more twins per capita in the town of Sheldon — and if so, how it happened.
Two sets of Vermont twins told us about going into business together. Leah Klatzker and Rachel Klatzker, co-owners of So Full Sisters, run two food trucks as well as a Middlebury College coffee stand.
Circus artists Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion co-founded the nonprofit New England Center for Circus Arts and the creative circus production company Nimble Arts. They shared what it's been like to work together everywhere from the trapeze to the board room.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Some movie stars or celebrity chefs have massive followings on Instagram or YouTube. Others gain followers by posting addictive content. But some people simply post about what they love, and build a community from there.
Today on Vermont Edition, three Vermonter content creators showcase their passions on social media. Mirna Valerio is an endurance athlete, writer and brand ambassador for major brands like Darn Tough, Lululemon and LLBean. She also advocates for inclusion in the outdoors community. Graham Montague snorkels in local lakes and ponds and posts about his underwater wonders. Christine Tyler Hill is an artist and Burlington crossing guard. She mails a monthly printed newsletter about what she sees, but people on Instagram have caught on, too.
They’ve each learned a lot about how to make social media meaningful instead of soul-sucking. And they also have some big adventures planned for this summer.
Military academies and ROTC clubs teach children and young adults — most of them boys — how to fight in war. But this education comes with its own risk of scars.
Vermont-based freelance journalist Jasper Craven explores American military education in his new book, God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood.
Craven has reported on the military and veterans' issues for local and national publications including VTDigger, Mother Jones, The New Republic and the The New York Times Magazine.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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We’re nearing the traditional end point of Vermont’s legislative calendar. Adjournment at the statehouse in Montpelier is tentatively scheduled for May 29, but there’s a lot left to settle before the state’s part-time lawmakers head home.
Throughout this legislative session you’ve heard lawmakers on Vermont Edition discuss these issues. Now, we get to hear from the state’s top elected official, Gov. Phil Scott.
Tick season is upon us yet again, and tick bite-related emergency room visits in the Northeast are higher than normal right now. It’s hard not to resent these disease-spreading arachnids. Ticks spread pathogens like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus, and Lyme disease. We're joined by David Allen, an associate professor of biology at Middlebury College to talk about the different types of ticks in the region, the diseases they spread, how to prevent tick bites, and how he learned to embrace one of the most detested parts of the animal kingdom.
But first; the chair of the education committee in Vermont's House of Representatives will not seek reelection this fall. Rep. Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall) has served in the state legislature for a decade. He's focused his efforts in the last few years on education reform and the ongoing school redistricting debate. He joins us to talk about his decision to step down and what he's learned from his time in the legislature.
Broadcast live on Monday, May 18, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Burlington police body cam footage from March ICE raid will be released 'very soon,' says mayor
Vermont has no shortage of artists creating new works.
Author Tim Weed of Putney has a new novel set in Vermont called The Gatepost that blends modern science and ancient cosmology. Photographer Nathan Larson of Windsor packed up his entire life into a van and hit the road. A new book of poetry and photographs captures his adventures. And filmmaker Robbie Leppzer's latest work is a documentary about the founder of Bread and Puppet Theater.
Broadcast live on Wednesday May 13, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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There are many tech tools making their way into kids’ classrooms: Chromebooks and iPads, Canvas and Powerschool, ChatGPT and Claude. Is that a good thing? Depends on who you ask.
Some states are passing laws to limit in-school screen time. Rep. Angela Arsenault, a Democrat from Williston, supports these measures, saying Vermont should better regulate the use of tech like chatbots and smartphones in schools.
Providing the tech perspective is Sara Kloek, vice president of education policy at the Software & Information Industry Association, a non-profit that represents the interests of EdTech companies. Educators Michael Berry, director of curriculum and technology for the Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools, and Brian Burgess, a speech pathologist at Harwood Union Middle and High School, also provided insight.
Manufacturing is an important part of Vermont’s economy. According to the state, about seven percent of Vermont workers are employed by manufacturing companies and those employees make an average of $68,000 dollars a year.
But the sector is shrinking fast. Between 2020, before the pandemic, and now, the number of manufacturing jobs has fallen by more than 11 percent.
Case in point: The infant formula maker Perrigo. About a year ago, it announced it’d be closing its factory in Georgia, Franklin County. This month, it kicked off that process, laying off 162 people. By the end of June, all manufacturing at the plant will have ceased and more than four hundred will be laid off.
We’ll work to understand why the plant is closing with Vermont Business Magazine’s Tim McQuiston and Megan Sullivan of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. We'll also hear from the owner of Georgia Market near the Perrigo plant about the impact to his own business’s future.
Then: Overdose deaths have declined in Vermont for three years in a row. Why? Is it access to overdose reversal meds? State-funded treatment programs? Changes in street supply? We'll break down the data with the state's Department of Health.
Over the past few years, Vermonters have upped their flood resilience efforts. As we enter another flood season, this work becomes even more urgent.
Douglas Farnham, the state’s Chief Recovery Officer, joins to tell us about how changes at the Federal Emergency Management Agency are impacting Vermont flood recovery efforts. And he gives us an update on the FEMA buyout program.
Also, we talk with Arion Thiboumery from the Plainfield Community Development Corp, an organization dedicated to creating new affordable housing in the town of Plainfield. Their current effort called the East Plainfield Expansion Project aims to build 20 new units of housing near the village on higher ground. They just received a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Vermont Edition intern Maeve Fairfax went to Hardwick to investigate the challenges that Vermonters face trying to find new housing after being displaced by a flood. She talked with taqueria owner and buyout recipient Bryan Palinonis.
Then, Audrey Grant of Northeast Kingdom Organizing joins us to talk about Resilience Hubs. These are community spaces that are stocked with supplies needed for emergency disaster response — muck and gut kits, dehumidifiers, generators, and more. They are also used in quieter times as a space where communities can gather, organize, and access services they might need. These are operated by the organization Northeast Kingdom Organizing.
Broadcast live on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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It's Vermont Edition’s annual spring gardening show and our guest is Charlie Nardozzi, gardening consultant extraordinaire, speaker, and TV and radio host. You can hear Charlie on Sunday mornings right here on Vermont Public for All Things Gardening. His latest book is called The Continuous Vegetable Garden, all about how to create a low effort, perpetually productive food garden.
At both the state and federal level, there's growing momentum behind the progressive idea of new taxes on the richest Americans. Democrats in Montpelier recently revived the idea of raising taxes on high-income earners, but the effort was not successful.
Vermont Public's Peter Hirschfeld shared details on what was being proposed, why it wasn't able to happen this year and why the issue is sure to bubble up in future legislative sessions.
Joining us to discuss both sides were Rep. Edward "Teddy" Waszazak, a Democrat from Barre City who advocated for the tax, and Vermont tax commissioner Bill Shouldice, appointed by Gov. Phil Scott in 2025. We also heard from reporter Chris Lisinski of the CommonWealth Beacon for insight into a wealth tax enacted in Massachusetts.
Broadcast live on Monday, May 4, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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As the weather warms, farmers in our region are filling up their customer lists for their annual CSAs.
Today we hear from two local organizations working to increase access to healthy, locally grown food through community supported agriculture. Gabby Boyston is the Boyson is the food access manager at the Intervale Center in Burlington, and Grace Woroch is the community health manager at Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.
Plus, Vermont Public reporter Howard Weiss-Tisman talks through struggles and opportunities facing food co-ops in the region.
Broadcast live on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Circus Smirkus has been training young performers for four decades. But with financial challenges and an aerial accident last summer, the future of the touring youth circus is uncertain.
The youth circus cancelled its signature Big Top Tour this summer. Reporter Mary Ann Lickteig of Seven Days explains what that means for the organization’s finances. We’ll also talk through some parents’ discontent over Smirkus leadership and safety protocol.
Then: a theater group in Brattleboro has a special mission. They help actors with disabilities claim the stage. Now, they’ve created a guidebook so others can follow their blueprint. They want community theater to be accessible – and enjoyable – to everyone.
Strafford’s Noah Kahan is arguably the most famous musician to come out of Vermont in recent years. A new Netflix documentary, "Noah Kahan: Out of Body," follows the Upper Valley singer-songwriter as he grapples with fame, his mental health and complex family dynamics.
Following the meteoric success of "Stick Season" in 2022, Kahan spent the next few years touring, playing increasingly larger venues. This culminated in stops at Madison Square Garden in New York City and Fenway Park in Boston.
The "Out of Body" filmmakers joined him for those concerts, but also for many quieter moments at home in Nashville and Strafford. The cameras capture Kahan struggling with body dysmorphia and disordered eating, and trying to write new songs that could survive in the shadow of "Stick Season."
The documentary premiered at SXSW last month, where it won an audience award. Its director, Nick Sweeney, made repeated trips to Strafford and the surrounding area during filming in order to better understand his subject.
Then; JLee MacKenzie is an animator who grew up in Chittenden County. He was in film school in California when the pandemic hit, so he turned to animation to find a new way to tell stories.
MacKenzie's new film is called “Definitely Gangster,” and it just premiered at the Made Here Film Festival. It follows the story of two kids who fly around the world to chase a dream. One of the kids is terminally ill, but the film is still a comedy. It was made with motion capture in a cabin in Worchester, Vermont and features local voice actors.
Lastly; Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth chats with Vermont Edition managing producer Jon Ehrens about notable new music releases out of Vermont.
They discuss Burlington stalwart Bob Wagner's new song "The Richest Man on Earth," and the improbable techno of Roost.World and their single "Genesis."
The most significant land use law in Vermont’s recent history is on the brink of major change. Key portions could be repealed, like the “road rule” and tier system.
Today, we discuss the future of Act 181. The law inflamed tensions between urban and rural Vermonters. Housing and infrastructure reporter Carly Berlin catches us up on lawmakers debate over Act 181 in Montpelier. We also hear from Alex Weinhagen from the Land Use Review Board, the state agency charged with implementing Vermont's land use laws. We're also joined by farmer Neil Ryan of Corinth and land planner Ben Falk, founder of Whole Systems Design in Moretown and Rochester.
Broadcast live on Monday, April 27, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Every month, Vermont Edition hones in on a different town or city for a series called Town by Town. Our goal is visit all 252 towns in Vermont.
For the latest installment, we head to Royalton, which includes the unincorporated villages of North and South Royalton. It’s known for being the home to the state’s only law school, its bucolic location along the White River, and much more.
Today's show was broadcast from First Branch Coffee in South Royalton with a live audience.
Around the turn of the 20th century, only 25% of Vermont was still forested. Today, that situation has completely reversed, with forests covering about three quarters of the state.
Author Robert Mello helps Vermont Edition mark Earth Day 2026 with an environmental comeback story: How the Green Mountain State became green again. His new book, When the Trees Came Back: The Great Battle to Save Vermont’s Forests, is a history of the hard-won successes of local forest reformers. It was release by the Vermont Historical Society on Apr. 21.
Plus: postdoctoral researcher Morgan Southgate with the Appalachian Mountain Club wants to better understand how climate change affects spring wildflowers' development. She discusses what she's learned so far from her ongoing research on Mt. Equinox in Manchester, and how community members can contribute their own data to help protect the year's earliest blooms.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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This hour we’re going to be talking with Beth Roberts, the CEO of Vermont’s largest private insurance company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont. This is a rebroadcast of a show from early February. We wanted to replay it in light of some updates.
Last month, BlueCross reported a net operating gain of 53 million dollars in 2025. This is significant because it’s the first time in 2020 that the company did not lose money. Blue Cross has more than 200,000 members. That means about a third of Vermonters rely on the nonprofit company for health insurance.
Blue Cross’s tenuous financial state had a lot of ripple effects. The Green Mountain Care Board aggressively cut hospital budgets. State lawmakers capped certain prices. All of this was with the goal of limiting the cost of health care. Because Blue Cross said, we’re not going to be able to cover all these claims.
Now, the company says it’s on a path to financial recovery. It’s even been able to pay off a 30 million dollar loan it took out last year from its affiliate, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
The sound of spring peepers tells us warmer weather is on its way. As the frogs ribbit, spotted salamanders crawl across roads to find mating spots, while turtles and snakes bask in the sun.
Herpetologist Jim Andrews from Salisbury coordinates the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. He joins Vermont Edition for our annual hour on reptiles and amphibians to offer advice on how to observe and protect our slithery, slimy friends. We also hear the sounds of some iconic spring species.
Vermonters can contribute their own amphibian and reptile sightings to the Atlas here. The Atlas is on the lookout for species reports in several places in particular:
- Photos, reports, or sounds of spring peepers in Andover, Avery’s Gore, Glastonbury, St. Albans City and Stratton
- Photos of spotted salamanders or their egg masses in Barre City, Essex Junction, North Hero and St. Albans City
- Photos or reports of red-backed salamanders from: Barton, Glover, Newport and Sheffield
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont state lawmakers are considering a bill that would restrict the influence of private equity in the healthcare system. Private equity's influence has been seen among specialists, methadone clinics, and nursing homes.
Vermont has also seen an increase in membership-based medical practices, sometimes referred to as concierge care. These businesses are often backed by private equity firms.
We talk with Vermont Public health care reporter Lola Duffort and Yashaswini Singh, a healthcare economist and Brown University professor. Earlier this year she testified in front of a Vermont legislative committee about private equity in healthcare.
Then; This week is International Dark Sky Week, a global effort to celebrate the night sky and reduce light pollution. Improving the quality of the lighting we use at night could have a range of positive impacts, including supporting wildlife, cutting down on energy usage, and improving our own health.
The organization DarkSky International works to protect the night-time environment. The chapter lead for Vermont, Jon McCann, shares information about the benefits of natural darkness as well as upcoming local events.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Using psychedelics in mental health treatment has been gaining legitimacy in recent years. Now, a little-known substance called ibogaine has some addiction counselors wanting to learn more about the benefits and dangers of ibogaine therapy.
We hear from Vermont state representative Brian Cina, a Progressive-Democrat from Burlington who wants Vermont to use opioid settlement funding to pursue ibogaine research. He introduced a bill about it this year.
We're also joined by Dr. Rick Barnett, the former chair of Vermont’s psychedelic advisory committee and a clinical psychologist in Stowe. He says ibogaine can help with trauma, addiction, and depression.
We also learn about what happens when you take ibogaine with Roger Guest, a mental health and addiction therapist who moved from Springfield, Vt. to Mexico to work with an ibogaine clinic.
Broadcast live on Thursday, Apr. 9, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Contra dancing has deep roots in New England. But it's also still evolving, from an increased emphasis on gender inclusivity to new styles of dance.
Two well-known local callers help us explore the ever-changing culture of contra. Luke Donforth and Mary Wesley are both Burlington-based, but they call dances all across the region. Welsey is also the director of education and media at Vermont Folklife.
This episode also includes recordings of a recent contra dance at the Capital City Grange in Montpelier.
Interested in learning more about contra or trying it out for the first time? Check out one of these upcoming local dances, or find more information through the Country Dance and Song Society or trycontra.com.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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An unprompted hug. A shoulder massage that was never requested. A compliment or comment that crosses a boundary. What some consider acceptable workplace behavior may actually be problematic.
Today on Vermont Edition, it's a conversation about appropriate–and inappropriate–conduct in the workplace.
We’ll hear from the executive director of the Vermont Commission on Women on the laws supporting employees from harassment.
An employment attorney will share the importance of setting expectations around workplace culture and bridging the gap between generations.
We’ll also hear from two local educators who work with young people on consent, empowerment and concepts around healthy masculinity.
Grab your lucky rabbit’s foot, walk around that ladder, and come talk about superstitions and tall tales with us. Do you ever wonder why you feel a little uneasy when a mirror cracks? You’re not alone.
Locally, there’s stories like the Bennington Triangle and Emily's Bridge in Stowe. There’s also the superstitious behavior we inherit, such as saying 'rabbit rabbit' on the first of the month.
Today, you’ll hear from Kerry Noonan, a folklorist and Champlain College professor, and author Joe Citro from Windsor. He’s written lots of books about Vermont’s haunts, legends and best kept secrets.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision has roots in Vermont and nationwide implications. The Zorn v. Linton case involved a 2015 protest in Montpelier, and Vermont State Police.
We discuss the case with one of its subjects, Shela Linton of Brattleboro, and two constitutional lawyers: Jay Diaz, Civil Rights and workers compensation litigator at Darby Kolter & Roberts. He was formerly the lead advocate for qualified immunity reform with the ACLU of Vermont in Waterbury, and Jared Carter of Vermont Law and Graduate School.
Then: a few days after the Mar. 11 confrontation between ICE agents and protesters in South Burlington, the Vermont House advanced a bill to allow citizens sue federal agents for alleged civil rights violations. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Martin LaLonde (D-South Burlington), also chairs the Vermont House's Ethics Committee and the Judiciary Committee.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Nurses at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will return to the bargaining table tomorrow with hospital administrators.
For the latest in our Town by Town series, we head to Rockingham, in Windham County. Rockingham sits along the Connecticut River and includes the villages of Saxtons River and Bellows Falls.
Each month, Vermont Edition visits or learns about a different Vermont town or city, with the goal of hitting all 252 of them. At the end of the hour, a guest helps us select our next location by spinning a big wheel.
Our guests are: the painter Charlie Hunter, twin brothers and small-scale developers John and Jeff Dunbar, Central Elementary School principal Kate Kane and Vermont Country Store proprietor Lyman Orton.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Lawmakers recently elected a new head of the Vermont National Guard. This new leadership comes as Guard members are being deployed around the world, from the Caribbean to the Middle East.
Today on Vermont Edition, we'll talk with Major General Henry "Hank" Harder Jr. He now leads around 3,000 Guard members in the Green Mountain State. He’ll tell us about his military service, and his role when the Guard deploys.
Plus, fossil fuel prices have increased significantly since the start of the war in Iran. Jared Duval with the Energy Action Network explains how rising gas prices affect Vermont’s economy.
In the latest installment of our series, Vermont Edition At Home, we head to the Williston home of Ryan Miller, lead singer and multi-instrumentalist for the pop rock band Guster. Miller and his bandmates have released nine albums over the last three and a half decades.
Miller is also the former host of the Vermont PBS show Makin’ Friends With Ryan Miller, and composes for film and theater. His indie-rock musical, Safety Not Guaranteed, based on the film of the same name, is currently at the Signature Theater in Northern Virginia.
We'll talk with him about his long-term friendships with his bandmates and making new friends when he and his family moved to Vermont. Plus, we'll take a tour of Miller's home music studio.
Commonsense House, a new publishing imprint in the Upper Valley, aims to bring more Arabic works to English readers. Its founder, Ezzedine Fishere, is an author himself. He is a Distinguished Fellow at Dartmouth from Egypt who teaches courses on Middle East politics. He discusses the highs and and lows of getting his novels translated into English.
Daisy Rockwell is an award-winning Hindi and Urdu translator based in North Bennington. Her love of languages runs deep, as does her passion for bringing new books to American readers. Her latest translation is Sleep Journeys, a book-length prose poem by the noted Urdu poet Azra Abbas.
Then, Mitch Wertlieb sits down with Westmore writer Ted Page. When he became a grandparent, Page couldn’t find much material that offered advice or reflection on this new stage of life. So, he decided to find out on his own and publish what he learned in Good Grandpa: Stories from the Heart of Grandfatherhood.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Happy St. Patrick's Day! The Irish have deep roots in Vermont.
We’ll learn about Irish immigrants’ arrival in the Green Mountain State with Vincent Feeney, a Montpelier historian and co-founder of the Burlington Irish Heritage Festival. Seven Days Food writer Jordan Barry will share ideas for where to order traditional Irish food and other food news from our region.
Plus, Vermont Senate leader Phil Baruth recently announced his retirement. The Chittenden County Democrat reflects on his years in state government and shares his priorities for the rest of this legislative session.
Taste is in many ways subjective, but it’s also a learned skill. There is a craft to tasting, and it plays a big role in the food and beverage industry.
Today's guest, Roy Desrochers, is a global sensory expert— what you could call a professional taster. He works with University of Vermont Extension’s northwest crops and soils program, which helps local farmers and manufacturers gain traction in the marketplace. He’s trained thousands of tasters all around the world, including at Borderview Farm in Alburgh.
Roy joins us to tell us about his long career helping major brands develop their best-selling flavors, training others to become finely tuned tasting experts, and about the subtle notes found in Vermont delicacies like maple syrup and milk from grass-fed animals.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont has a plan to stop using nuclear power by 2035. But Governor Phil Scott says we need to change course.
To discuss the future of nuclear power in Vermont, we're joined by the state’s public service commissioner Kerrick Johnson, and Ben Edgerly Walsh, Climate and Energy Program Director of Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG). Johnson says today’s standards are too inflexible and that nuclear would lower energy costs for Vermonters. But Edgerly Walsh disagrees, saying nuclear power doesn't live up to the hype.
Then: An update on the Yankee Nuclear Plant in Vernon. It was shut down over a decade ago. What’s next for the land and the community? We're joined by Jim Pinkerton, one of two local representatives on the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel. He is also the chair of Vernon’s Planning & Economic Development Commission.
Broadcast live on Monday, March 9, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Six languages. Ten countries. Countless musical traditions. One home — Vermont. A musical ensemble brings musicians from across the globe together.
We’re joined by members of All the Rivers for a live performance and discussion of the diverse musical journeys that brought them together. Hear from the group’s founder and guitarist Avi Salloway. We’ll also chat with Dr. Jules Wetchi, founder of a Congolese Catholic choir that now sings with the group, percussionist Assane Coly of Senegal, and guitarist and singer Cintia Lovo Arias, who was born in Colombia and grew up in the U.S.
Broadcast live on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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There’s been near-constant change when it comes to U.S. trade policy.
Soon after entering office, President Trump raised import taxes on China, Canada and other major trade partners. On Feb. 19 of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that much of President Donald Trump's tariff policy was illegal. The next day, the White House imposed a 10% global tariff — then switched the number to 15%.
Representatives from a variety of industries discuss the tariffs' impacts on business and their reactions to the Supreme Court ruling.
Nik Holm is the CEO of Terry Precision Cycling, a Burlington-based women’s cycling apparel company. Terry Cycling was one of the small businesses that sued President Trump and his administration over tariffs.
Holmes Jacobs owns Two Brothers Tavern, a bar and restaurant in Middlebury. His recent Facebook post about the tariffs' negative impact on small businesses drew hundreds of comments.
Allison Hope is the executive director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association. The U.S. imports syrup and sugaring supplies from Canada.
Jesse Mitchell works in imports and exports with Strader-Ferris International, a customs brokerage company with offices in New York and Ontario. He says the past year has been the most challenging in the company's 75-year history, due to the tariffs.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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One of Vermont’s most beloved annual traditions is tomorrow – Town Meeting Day. Have you read through your school budget and town report?
Today on Vermont Edition, we’ll get a preview of some of the big issues and elections going on this town meeting day. Rutland City residents get to select their next mayor. Pomfret will decide if non-residents can hold town office and whether to add a local option tax.
Folks in the Woodstock area will vote on a bond to rebuild their middle and high school. Ripton is deciding what to do with its shuttered elementary school building.
And Grande Isle is one of the numerous towns battling the emerald ash borer. They’ll vote on whether to allocate tax dollars to remove ash trees killed by this invasive bug.
With more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface covered by water, what’s contained in all that H2O is pretty important. A Granville-based marine conservation and expedition scientist has traveled as far as Antarctica to sample and study microplastics in the world’s water supply, chronicling and explaining the dangers they pose.
Rachael Z. Miller explores the choices around the plastics in our daily lives in her new book, Decision-Making in the Age of Plastics: A choose-your-own-adventure style guide to purchasing while balancing your health, the environment and your budget.
Originally broadcast live on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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What does the timber rattlesnake have in common with the eastern meadowlark? Or how about the elm-leaved goldenrod and the Green Mountain quillwort?
These plant and animal species are all classified as endangered or threatened in Vermont. And right now, local biologists are working to update the state’s Wildlife Action Plan. That plan is basically a wildlife-focused conservation blueprint for the state. The team that’s been working on it is proposing some changes that could mark a shift in how the state thinks about conservation.
Recently I sat down with Dr. Rosalind Renfrew to learn more. She’s based in Montpelier as the Wildlife Diversity Program lead for Vermont Fish & Wildlife. We were also joined by Kent McFarland from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in Norwich.
Then; Marie Curie is a famous name, but even if you know who she is, you might only know the basics of her extraordinary life. Marie Curie was a Polish-French scientist and a pioneer in the study of radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the first person to win a Nobel twice.
Marie Curie is also the subject of a new book by Devon Jersild of Weybridge, Vermont. Devon is a psychotherapist and a writer. She’s won a prestigious O. Henry Award for her short story writing, and is the former associate director of the Bread Loaf Writers Conference, associate editor of the New England Review, and a visiting lecturer in English at Middlebury College.
Salt helps us travel safely when ice forms over roads and sidewalks, but those little grains of salt can have a big impact on the environment.
Today on Vermont Edition: road salt and how it affects our natural world.
The associate director of the Lake Champlain Sea Grant will share her research on sustainable alternatives to help navigate the slippery conditions of winter. A road foreman in Hyde Park discusses putting one of those alternatives to use.
We’ll also hear the concerns of a Rutland state senator regarding cost and regulation.
Then, we’ll head to Addison County, where a Lunar New Year celebration in Middlebury includes one of the biggest movies of the past year: K-Pop Demon Hunters.
Orange, Grand Isle, Lamoille, those are just a few of Vermont’s 14 geographically and culturally unique counties. Compared to many states across the United States, Vermont has one of the weakest forms of county government, and a lot of you out there are curious why.
Vermont Edition revisits a recent Brave Little State episode to find out why.
Broadcast live on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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In the latest installment of our Town by Town series, we learn about the northern Vermont community of Alburgh. It was founded in 1781 by Ira Allen (Allen, Alburgh...get it?)
Three longtime Alburgh residents join us: Terry Tatro, who's held numerous positions in town government; Peg Theoret, the founder and a trustee of the Alburgh Historical Society; Sandy Rosa, a member of the Alburgh Public Library board of trustees; and Jed Ladd, co-owner of J&M Ladd Families Farm.
We also hear Mikaela get a snowmobile lesson from Jeff Porter and Dave Landry of the Alburgh Sno Springers Club, a group of snowmobilers who spend the winter sledding on the Alburgh Dunes. And managing producer Jon Ehrens talks with Nick Smith, a 12th generation Vermont farmer who co-owns Emerald Visions, a cannabis cultivator in Alburgh.
Broadcast live on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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This cold winter has created excellent conditions for ice skating on local lakes and ponds. Some wild ice skaters in our region have found audiences for their adventures on social media.
Today on Vermont Edition, experienced skaters explain how to know when wild ice is safe to skate on and what to do if conditions suddenly shift. You’ll hear from the Pawlet-based moderator of the Vermont Nordic Skating Facebook group and a farmer-slash-skater from Barnet.
Plus, a Middlebury College alum manufactures Nordic skates in Alaska. He’ll explain the art of crafting the perfect blade for getting off the rink and out on remote ice.
Representative Becca Balint. She’ll discuss her role at the hearing, including a face off with Bondi over antisemitism. We’ll also talk about the possibility of ICE increasing its presence in Vermont.
Then: Green Mountain Transit faces serious budgetary issues. General Manager Clayton Clark says more service cuts could be on their way. He’s asking the state for more funding. We talk about the high demand for rides from older people and those with disabilities.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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In the latest installment of our At Home series, the Vermont Edition team visits the Brandon home of award-winning poet Bianca Stone.
Stone was named Vermont’s poet laureate in 2024. Her latest book of poetry, The Near and Distant World, came out this year.
Stone is also the creative director of the Ruth Stone House in Goshen, where she hosts poetry events, retreats, and classes. We’ll hear about her writing process, how she handles digital distractions, and an upcoming project to bring the poetry of past poet laureates to people all across the state.
First, we speak with Vermont Public's housing and infrastructure reporter Carly Berlin, about a new state initiative intended to spur housing construction in Vermont. It's a catalog of prefab homes that would help people fastrack their approval process and keep costs of new construction down.
The specific challenges facing boys and young men often make headlines: For the last 50 years, for example, the number of male students on college campuses has slowly but steadily decreased. And young men are also more likely than women to experience drug and alcohol addiction.
For parents of young boys, these headlines and statistics can be particularly distressing. What can we control in our homes to help our boys navigate the world with confidence, happiness and care?
Two guests join Vermont Edition to discuss the art and peril of raising boys. Keegan Albaugh is the founder of Dad Guild, a Burlington-based nonprofit that supports masc-identifying caregivers by running playgroups, educational events, pick up sports, peer support groups, and more. Kate Mangino is a Virginia-based speaker, facilitator and writer who is in Vermont to host a series of parenting workshops this week. She’s the author of the book Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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College athletes can cash in on their name and image. And as of last year, colleges can pay their athletes directly, too. This rule change impacts everyone in college sports. University of Vermont Athletic Director Jeff Schulman says pay-to-play has changed the game.
Every year in Montpelier, residents wake up to find their city covered in red hearts. This is the work of the Valentine Phantom, a mysterious figure— or figures— who brings love to the state capital each year in the form of thousands of hearts.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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First up on the show: Colchester resident and asylum seeker Steven Tendo was detained by ICE Wednesday after his shift at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he works as a nursing assistant. Tendo fled Uganda in 2018. On Vermont Edition last year he said he was tortured by the Ugandan government for encouraging youth voter registration.
For an update on Tendo's case and whereabouts, we speak with immigration attorney Brett Stokes. He is the director of the Center for Justice Reform Clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School.
Thousands of athletes are in Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which start tomorrow. Some of those athletes are from our little corner of the world, which makes them extra fun to root for. Here to give us a local look at the biggest international sports competition in the world is Mitch Wertlieb. He’s the host of Vermont This Week on our main TV channel, and as of just a few days ago, the host of the Sports Rapport, a weekly sports show from Vermont Public.
If you’re not familiar with the biathlon, here’s how it works. Athletes cross-country ski with rifles on their backs. During the race, they stop and shoot at targets 50 meters away. If they miss a shot, they get time added to their race, or they have to ski an extra 150 meter penalty loop. Biathlete Susan Dunklee of Craftsbury joins us now. She’s competed in three winter Olympics, and she’s won two silver medals in world championship races. She is now the Director of Biathlon at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.
In the mid-1970s, avant-garde musician and Bennington College professor Bill Dixon created a department called the Black Music Division. Along with fellow musician and professor Milford Graves, they taught performance and theory while bringing Black music into the academic sphere.
Joining to walk us through this history is Michael Wimberly, a percussionist, composer and Bennington College professor. Last year, he organized a two-day symposium to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the division's founding with live music and reflections.
During the current cold snap, many Vermonters are able to take comfort in their wood stoves or heating systems. Others aren’t so lucky. A growing number of people without permanent housing are living outside during the depths of winter.
Vermont has had a high rate of homelessness ever since the pandemic — one of the highest rates in the country. The state used to pay a lot of money to house people in motels, but that program was significantly scaled back last year. Some of the money was redirected to shelters that only open on the coldest nights. But when temperatures rise, even by just a few degrees, those shelters close their doors.
In Brattleboro, homeless encampments have been a repeated topic of discussion at select board meetings this winter. Meanwhile, the arts center 69A is working to provide basic services to homeless people in the area. It moved to a new location at the end of last year. Its director, Lisa Marie, has personal experience living in encampments in the Brattleboro area.
We also hear from Charles "Chuck" Keir III, Brattleboro's assistant fire chief and town health officer, Becky Best, director of shelters at Groundworks Collaborative; select board chair Elizabeth McLoughlin and select board member Isaac Evans-Frantz.
Broadcast live on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Bernie Sanders is one of our country’s most famous senators. He’s run for president, has stood up to oligarchs, and even became a mitten-wearing meme. Before all that, he was Mayor Sanders, of Burlington, where he served from 1981 to 1989.
A new book, Bernie for Burlington: The Rise of the People's Politician, covers that pivotal time of change in the Queen City. The author, poet and professor Dan Chiasson, is a Burlington native and weaves in many personal anecdotes about his hometown.
Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the U.S.'s current posture towards its trade allies as a "rupture." U.S. President Donald Trump fired back, threatening new tariffs on its northern neighbor.
Carney's speech at the World Economic Forum is viewed by many as a landmark moment in the rapidly shifting relationship between the U.S., Canada, and the international community writ large.
A year into Trump's second presidency, and nearly a year into Carney's leadership, we asked listeners from both Quebec and Vermont how they are feeling about the tensions between the two nations. Vermont Edition teamed up with our friends at the CBC's Radio Noon and their host Shawn Apel for this conversation. We also heard from Newport, VT Mayor Rick Ufford-Chase to hear how the Canadian boycott of the U.S. has affected his town.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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During the legislative session, Vermont’s Statehouse is usually full of heated debate, gaveling and other sounds of lawmaking. But on Wednesday nights, legislators cede the dais to musicians and artists for the Farmers Night series. David Schutz, Vermont’s longtime state curator,joins Vermont Edition to look back at the origins of the series. Rep. Mary-Katherine Stone (D-Burlington) shares a preview of this year’s lineup and talks about the value of bringing the arts directly to the House Chamber.
The 2026 Farmers Night series continues through April 8 and takes place on Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. at the Vermont Statehouse. Performances are free and open to the public.
Then, noted Palestinian-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye is headed to Putney’s Yellow Barn for a performance that weaves together poetry and music. Nye joins the show, along with Yellow Barn’s executive director Catherine Stephan.
Naomi Shihab Nye will perform alongside musicians Daniel Chong, Jessica Bodner and Daniel Anastasio on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 3:00 p.m. Admission is free, but advance registration is recommended.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont’s state legislators remain divided on the need for mandated district consolidation.
More than 12,000 Vermonters make their living as farmers. 41% percent of them are women. And while you can read lots of the articles about the agricultural industry, sometimes the best way to really capture a changing industry is through a photograph.
The work of our region’s female farmers has been memorialized in black-and-white by the Plymouth-based photographer JuanCarlos Gonzalez. His series, Vermont Female Farmers, has been showcased at museums and gallery spaces across Vermont and in Boston. Its next stop is the Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro, where Gonzalez's photographs will be on view from late February through late March.
Gonzalez and two of the women featured in the series join us to talk about the long legacy of women farmers in Vermont. Emily von Trapp owns von Trapp Flowers, a year-round flower farm in Waitsfield, and Jennifer Rodriguez owns Triple J Pastures, a livestock and vegetable farm in Irasburg.
But first we talk with meteorologist Mark Breen at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury about the upcoming weekend of extreme cold.
Broadcast live on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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There are a few different types of people when it comes to winter. There are migrators — the snowbirds, the Florida folk. There's the active bunch — the ones who, when you complain about winter, they cry out, "But have you even tried cross country skiing?" And then there are the hibernators — the bookworms, stew cookers, knitters and tea drinkers.
Animals' winter survival strategies fall along similar lines. On Wednesday a trio of animal experts guided Vermont Edition listeners on a tour of our ecosystem in winter. We've compiled some of their best facts about overwintering, alongside stories from listeners.
The guests were: Ash Kerby-Miller, a staff naturalist at North Branch Nature Center, Sophie Mazowita, a consulting naturalist, educator, and wildlife tracker from Jeffersonville, and Gregory Pask, an insect chemical ecologist and associate professor of biology at Middlebury College.
"In our human experience of winter, it's a very tough time for a lot of us," Kerby-Miller said. "But for some animals, we are at the southern end, the warm end, of their range, and this is just a perfectly comfortable place for them."
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Each month, Vermont Edition takes a deep dive into one Vermont town or city and learns what makes it special. At the end of the hour, a guest helps us randomly select our next location by spinning our big colorful county wheel.
For the latest in our Town by Town series, we head to Swanton, in Franklin County, for a live broadcast from the Swanton Public Library. Swanton is known for the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, its ancient history of human settlement, its close proximity to the Canadian border, its historic railroad station, and much more.
Over the past year, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made many changes in federal health guidelines. Some of his biggest shakeups relate to vaccinations. Last week the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – the CDC – scaled back its childhood vaccine guidelines for six different immunizations, including flu and RSV.
This hour we’re joined by Vermont’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Rick Hildebrant. He talks us through the recent federal-level changes to vaccine policy, and how those policies interact with state-level guidelines. We’ll also learn more about this year’s flu season and what you can do to keep yourself and your family healthy this winter.
Dr. Hildebrant became the commissioner on Oct. 13, 2025. Formerly, he held several leadership roles at Rutland Regional Medical Center. He did his residency in internal medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock and is a clinical assistant professor at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine.
Then, we'll talk with Era MacDonald, founder and director of the Merrymac Farm Sanctuary about her work saving animals and a new accreditation that will enable them to save even more.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Ski season is not immune to the impacts of climate change. This seasonal activity and other outdoor leisure activities will require adaptation to withstand warming Northeast winters.
Dr. Caitlin Hicks Pries, associate professor of biological sciences at Dartmouth College, discusses her research on the surprising ecosystem impacts of snow loss. The Appalachian Mountain Club has also been studying how winter climate change is affecting outdoor leisure pursuits in the region, and their director of research Dr. Sarah Nelson shares what they've learned.
We also hear from Dick Dreissigacker, co-director of Craftsbury Outdoor Center, on the center's unusual strategy for securing early-season snow.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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This legislative session, lawmakers are working on addressing the state’s housing shortage by continuing to reform the state's permitting and land use laws.
This work began in 2024 with the passage of Act 181, which made significant changes to Vermont's signature land use law, known as Act 250. Act 181 divides the state into three tiers, each with different requirements for development. The new law places more of an emphasis on the location of the project rather than the project’s size.
A roundtable of guests discussed Act 181 as well as future legislative changes to spur housing development: Miro Weinberger, executive chair of Let’s Build Homes and the former mayor of Burlington; Kati Gallagher, sustainable communities program director at the Vermont Natural Resources Council; and Zeke Davisson, the chief operating officer of Summit Properties.
Plus, Rep. Laura Sibilia, an Independent from Dover, discussed her concerns about Act 181's impact on rural communities.
Publishing a book can take many forms. Some may be published with large corporations in New York City while other books are self-published. Another option for writers to consider is publishing with a small, independent press.
Samantha Kolber, owner and publisher of Rootstock Publishing in Montpelier, and Dede Cummings, owner and publisher of Green Writers Press in Brattleboro, tell us about the economics of publishing a book, soup to nuts, and how they work with new authors.
Former New Hampshire Public Radio host Laura Knoy published her debut historical fiction novel, The Shopkeeper of Alsace, last year with Bedazzle Ink Publishing. She shared with us her perspective as a new author and why an independent press was the best choice for her.
Vermont’s state lawmakers are back in Montpelier for the new legislative session. They’ll pick up where they left off last June: trying to reform education, lower property taxes and make health care more affordable and accessible.
Today on Vermont Edition, we're live from inside the golden dome of the Vermont Statehouse. First, we'll check in with legislative leaders Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth and Republican Minority Leader Scott Beck.
We'll hear from the chairs of two powerful committees: Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, a Democrat from Brattleboro and the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes our taxes, and Rep. Alyssa Black, a Democrat from Essex, and the chair of the House Committee on Health Care. We’ll also talk with Rep. Ashley Bartley, a Republican from Franklin County who has teamed up with a Burlington Democrat to address economic issues.
And we'll close the hour with two of the newest members of the legislative page program: Eilidh Corbett, an eighth grader at Main Street Middle School in Montpelier, and Liam Chase, an eighth grade student at Barre Town School.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, January 6th, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Following the US attack on Venezuela and the capture of it's president and first lady, we're joined by Rep. Becca Balint to get her thoughts on what's transpired and what's ahead. We are also joined by Vermont State Rep. Troy Headrick, an Independent, who has introduced legislation related to the state's involvement in Federal deployment of the Vermont Air National Guard. We'll also hear from a political science professor of international law and counterterrorism, Stephon Boatwright of St. Michael's University, to get his take on the Trump administration's legal argument for the attack. And, Global News Canada Reporter Dan Spector tells us the reactions he's witnessed from the Venezuelan community in Montreal.
On this last day of the year, we’re following up on three Vermont Public stories from 2025. We hear from Vermont Public’s Nina Keck about her consistent reporting on adult day programs throughout the state. We also sit down with Father Brian Cummings of Saint Anne’s Shrine. Father Brian was in Rome this past April when Pope Francis passed away. We spoke to him the very day the new conclave began, and we’ll get his thoughts on Pope Leo’s tenure thus far.
But first, we revisit a story from September, not about Catholicism, per say, but involving God nonetheless. And however unlikely it may sound, an outhouse. Vermont Public reporter Howard Weiss-Tisman shares the story of a historic church in Windsor County that was built in the early 19th century. Nearly 200 years later there is still no plumbing. But now, there’s a space to relieve oneself and enjoy a service, wedding, or memorial in greater comfort.
The city of Rutland sometimes gets a bad rap, but residents say there’s a side of the city that people often overlook. The team at Brave Little State recently solicited questions from a live event in Rutland and the winning question centers on why Rutland is made to feel like the ugly child.
The American Chestnut tree once dominated forests in the Eastern US. That is, until a blight nearly wiped it out. Now, scientists and volunteers are trying to bring back these towering trees.
Today on Vermont Edition, we’ll listen back to a show from this summer about chestnut restoration efforts in the Northeast. Scientists are developing and planting blight-resistant American chestnuts around our region.
Then, what’s more majestic than a tree so big you can’t even wrap your arms around it? Through Vermont’s Big Tree Program, you can search a map of the state’s largest trees, like a massive white pine in Corinth or a beautiful paper birch in Canaan.
Vermont’s Air National Guard and F-35A fighter jets have arrived in Puerto Rico. They’ve been deployed as part of Operation Southern Spear — a build-up of U.S. forces in the region targeting Venezuela and the Maduro regime.
Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) joins us to weigh in on the deployment. He’s spoken out against President Donald Trump’s actions against Venezuela.
Stephon Boatwright, a St. Michael’s College professor of international relations and political science, shares his perspective on the legality of recent U.S. actions in the Caribbean. And Peter Ladensack, a former guardsman, explains what it’s like when a unit mobilizes. He has firsthand experience — he was deployed to Afghanistan with the Vermont Army National Guard.
An advocate for people experiencing homelessness. A folk singer, beloved by adults and children alike. A devoted mother who founded a food pantry. A poet. A professor. A Peace Corps volunteer.
Today on Vermont Edition, we honor some of the remarkable people from our communities who died in 2025. You’ll hear from their friends, family members, colleagues, and admirers.
We’ll also share calls and emails from listeners with stories of family members and friends who passed away over the last year.
2025 was a landmark year for the genre-bending singer-songwriter Neko Case.
She released a new album, "Neon Grey Midnight Green," and published a memoir, The Harder I Fight The More I Love You. In both, she uses her singular voice to weave together personal stories, the sounds of a diverse musical community and her abundant respect for the natural world.
Case has deep roots in Vermont. She spent some of her childhood years in Lamoille County and now has a farm in the Northeast Kingdom.
She joins us to share her experiences over three decades in the music world, and the inspiration behind her latest album.
Then; Seven Days food editor and writer Melissa Pasanen is back with her latest local recommendations, including bean-to-bar delights at Prophecy Chocolate, a painting-worthy salad at The Crooked Ram and the unmissable tater tots at Onion City Chicken & Oyster.
Today on Vermont Edition: it’s the latest in our monthly series, Town By Town. Each month we spend an hour learning about a randomly selected town or city in Vermont.
Today it’s Berlin, in Washington County. You’ll hear from three residents with deep roots, including a local author and the president of the town historical society! We’ll also visit the longstanding Wayside restaurant.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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The Winooski School District’s superintendent, Wilmer Chavarria, has emerged this year as an outspoken advocate for immigrant families in his city, which is the most diverse municipality in Vermont. Chavarria first made national headlines this summer after he was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Texas after visiting family in Nicaragua. Last week he testified on Capitol Hill about his detention, and also filed a lawsuit against federal authorities.
He joins Vermont Edition to discuss his detention and the numerous other ways his school district is being affected by the Trump Administration's immigration crackdown.
Then: Vermont passed the Climate Superfund Act in 2024, allowing the state to sue fossil fuel companies for damage caused by climate change over the past 30 years. Legal challenges from the Trump administration and the oil industry soon followed. Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark gives an update on where those legal challenges stand today. Plus, Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak explains the process for tallying exactly how much money the state will aim to collect from fossil fuel companies. He also shares which of the state’s climate adaptation projects the money could help fund, and his hopes for these projects to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Today on Vermont Edition, UVM’s Community News Service provides journalism training with an opportunity for a professional byline. The program's audio journalism instructor and two current students will share what they’ve learned about reporting over the past semester.
Then: Did your Spotify Wrapped make you realize that you’ve been listening to the same artists over and over again this year? Seven Days music critic Chris Farnsworth is here to tell us about local musicians with great new music. He’ll also tell us about the perils of being a music critic and comparing one band to another.
Today on Vermont Edition, it’s our annual winter books show. We’ve assembled a team of super readers from all across the state to recommend books for you to read and gift this season. You’ll hear from a South Burlington children’s librarian, bookshop owners in Waterbury, Wilmington and Middlebury, and a writer and editor from Middlesex.
They’ve brought with them lists of new books by Vermont authors, the year’s bestselling genre fiction, children’s books and graphic novels and older books that are making a comeback. Open your notes app or get out your pen and paper. You’re going to want to write a lot of these titles down!
Federal agents have arrested more than 100 people in Vermont over the last 10 months. Those arrests have heightened fears in tight-knit communities across the state. Vermont Public’s Peter Hirschfeld discusses his new 4-part series on arrests and deportations in our region. He gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his investigation.
Many of the immigrants targeted for arrest work on local farms. A new book called Will Work for Food argues that their labor needs to be part of any discussion about our food supply chain. We're joined by the book's co-authors Teresa M. Mares, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Vermont and the director of its food systems graduate program, and Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern, an associate professor of geography and the environment at Syracuse University and the director of its graduate program in food studies.
Broadcast live on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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An early estimate from the state predicts that next year’s property taxes could rise an average of nearly 12 percent. The state’s tax commissioner Bill Shouldice joins us to explain how that property tax estimate was made, and all the factors that could affect the final number on your tax bill.
Then: noted Montpelier author Makenna Goodman has a new novel. It takes place in the middle of the countryside, where a professor is touring a seemingly idyllic house for sale. I’ll leave it at that for now.
Plus: there’s something special going on in Brattleboro for holiday window shoppers. Organizers of its first ever “festival of miniatures” tell us about the dollhouses, toy trains and tiny objects on view in local storefronts.
Our region is teeming with holiday markets where shoppers can find the perfect holiday gift, share in community and support local artists and makers. This year's Vermont Edition gift guide show goes behind the scenes of some of the state's holiday fairs: Julia Tadlock, founder of Brattleboro Flea, tells us about the crafts, books, food and more that shoppers can expect to find at downtown Brattleboro's pop-up Market on Main. Morgan Haynes, who manages the Vermont Farmers Market's Holiday Craft Shows in Rutland, shares some of her favorite gifts at the show and talks about how markets can bring communities together.
We also hear about artisans and makers all across the region, from bookbinders to metalsmiths, whose work might be the perfect gift for someone on your list. Plus, we talk with one of the founders of a new online donation platform based in Vermont that can help you support organizations doing good in our communities.
For even more great gift ideas, check out Vermont Public's 2025 local gift guide.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Local auto mechanics share what they know about EV battery life and winter maintenance for electric cars and trucks.
Grace Cottage Hospital in Townsend is the smallest hospital in Vermont. It’s operating in the red, like many hospitals in our region. But its administrators have big plans for its future, like constructing a brand new clinic.
We're joined by Grace Cottage CEO Olivia Sweetnam. The hospital she runs is unique for many reasons. Some of its doctors have worked there for decades. It’s one of the smallest hospitals not just in Vermont, but in the whole country. And it’s building a new family clinic by relying heavily on philanthropic support.
Grace Cottage also faces challenges that any rural hospital administrator would recognize. To put Grace Cottage’s situation in perspective, we talk with a medical professor at the University of Vermont, Erika Ziller. She’s researching how to improve rural health care in the state.
Rosemary Gladstar is said to be the Godmother of modern herbalism. In this rebroadcast of our occasional series Vermont Edition At Home, the team visits Gladstar at her home and gardens in Milton.
Gladstar discussed her roots in herbalism, from foraging for food and medicine with her grandmother to becoming the founder of a world-renowned herbal retreat center in Vermont and several companies. She also gave a tour of her herb and flower garden and explained some of her favorite plants' medicinal and culinary uses.
Originally broadcast on Tuesday, Jun. 12, 2025. Rebroadcast on Monday, Nov. 25 at 12 and 7 p.m.
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A good jingle is short, catchy and teaches you a business name or phone number that you can't get out of your head — maybe even for years.
This hour we celebrate the art of the local jingle with jingle writers who have composed some legendary earworms. This show is a rebroadcast from July.
Jim Giberty is based in Bethel and wrote ads for local ski areas, as well as some broader New England gems, most notable, The Lobster Claw in Cape Cod. Cary Reich is based in Florida, but he penned songs for Pizza Putt and Wendell's Furniture that will be familiar to longtime Vermonters. And we also hear from Daisy Nell, a folk musician who had some of her songs turned into local jingles. Her most famous was for the Snowsville General Store in 1979.
Originally broadcast live on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at noon. Rebroadcast on Monday, November 24, 2025 at noon and 7 p.m.
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Vermont ranks as one of the most active states in the country, according to the CDC. It makes sense for a state filled with mountains, trails, and a huge lake. Outdoor activities keep our population healthy, but some of the most beloved activities pose risks, especially to our brains, like hockey, climbing, skiing, and snowboarding.
We hear tips from injury prevention expert Tara Grenier on how to lower your risk of brain injury, including the proper way to wear a helmet. Pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Katrina Ducis explains what a concussion is, and how concussion treatment recommendations have changed in recent years. And Jess Leal, executive director of the Brain Injury Alliance of Vermont, shares how her organization helps connect traumatic brain injury survivors with support and resources.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont’s school redistricting task force is wrapping up its work. It was charged with creating consolidated school district maps for the state. But what it’s come up with is pretty different from that original goal.
Today on Vermont Edition: you’ll hear from a co-chair of the task force, Representative Edye Graning, and a member, Jay Badams. They’ll share their reasons for not pushing forced mergers. Instead, they think consolidation should be voluntary, and come with incentives.
Then: it’s deer season, so get out your blaze orange if you haven’t already. Two game wardens – one current, one retired – have decades of experience between them. They’ll tell us about getting to know multi-generational families of hunters, investigating wild poaching cases and what it feels like to snag a deer.
A new podcast from the nonprofit Green Mountain Justice shares the stories of people in our region who struggle with housing insecurity. They’ve had to live outside, in a shelter, or other temporary housing as they search for a more permanent and affordable home.
"Voices from the Edge" features intimate interviews between its host, Tom Morgan, and his guests. Morgan founded the Addison County-based organization Green Mountain Justice. He and producer Corey Hendrickson tell us more about the podcast and the people it centers.
Broadcast live on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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It’s the second installment of our three-course November series on holiday food. Last week was appetizers. This week – main courses.
If you love a traditional meal, we’ll learn about what Vermonters in the 1800s served on their Thanksgiving tables with Christine Scales, the director of education and interpretation at the Billings Farm Museum. Then we hear from chef and owner of a restaurant and inn right along the Canadian border in Orleans County – the Derby Line Village Inn, Fritz Halbedl about some offbeat meal centerpieces to keep your guests on their toes. We also hear how the turkey, and turkey sausage gets made with Paul Stone, founder of Stonewood Farm, a family-run poultry operation in Orwell.
Vermont Edition heads to Grafton in Windham County for the latest installment in our monthly “Town by Town” series.
Grafton is known for its cross-country ski trails, its award-winning cheddar cheese, the centuries-old Grafton Inn, and its tight-knit community of longtime residents.
Our guests include: Grafton News editor Wendy Martin; lifelong Grafton resident Cynthia Gibbs; Patrick Cooperman of the Cooperman Company, which manufactures fifes and drums; Windham Foundation executive director Dan Lerner; Vermont Farmstead Cheese company president Kent Underwood; and Nikolas Katrick, executive director of the Nature Museum at Grafton.
Each month for "Town by Town," we spend an hour together learning about one of Vermont’s 252 towns or cities. Hear from regular folks and town leaders about what life is like there and how the town culture and economy have changed over the years. At the end of the hour, a guest helps us randomly select our next town by spinning a big Wheel of Fortune-style spinner.
About 6% of Vermonters are veterans. That's nearly 39,000 people, as of 2023.
Many veterans face mental and physical challenges because of experiences they had while serving. They often have to navigate complex legal systems to make sure they receive the benefits and services they’re entitled to.
Ahead of Veterans Day, we learn about a few local programs that support veterans.
Misha Pemble-Belkin is an Army veteran and the coordinator of a veterans program for Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. They run year-round sports and recreation programs for people with cognitive, developmental, physical and emotional disabilities. Donald Hayes runs the Vermont Veterans Legal Assistance Project at Vermont Law and Graduate School. He’s also volunteered as a ski instructor with the New England Healing Sports Association and Vermont Adaptive.
We also hear from John Curtis, a veteran, and Kate Adams, who together run Ascutney Mountain Horse Farm in Perkinsville. They will host a free event for veterans, first responders, family and friends on Veterans Day.
Then, Vermont Edition managing editor Jon Ehrens speaks with Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth about some new releases from Vermont musicians that have caught his ear.
It’s the first installment of our three part – or three course – series on food. Up first – appetizers. We’ll talk dips, dumplings, charcuterie and cheese. We get ideas for what to serve your guests this holiday season when we talk with Pete Colman, the founder of Vermont Salumi, which makes all kinds of cured meats, Cara Tobin, the chef and co-owner of two Burlington restaurants focused on Middle Eastern flavors, Honey Road and the Grey Jay, and Nurbu Sherpa who runs Sherpa Foods, which sells pre-packaged Nepalese dumplings called momos and handmade sauce at co-ops and markets around New England.
We also talk about ways to support one another in this season through the sharing of food.. This hour you’ll hear about a couple different organizations that offer free meals or groceries to those in need.
Broadcast live on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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As a high school history teacher, Tyler Alexander is always trying to figure out how to make events like the Civil War feel relevant to young Vermonters. Well, what’s more relevant to teenagers than the frustrations of love?
Alexander is the author of a new nonfiction book about the Civil War called "If I Can Get Home This Fall: A Story of Love, Loss, and a Cause in the Civil War." It tells the story of Dan Mason, a Union soldier from Glover who wrote over 100 love letters to his lover from the front lines of the war. The book highlights his views on slavery, the violence of war and his long-distance love.
Then; Robin Crofut-Brittingham of Montreal loves birds, and it shows in her new book. She crafted detailed watercolor illustrations of hundreds of different bird species, all with names and descriptions that will inspire you to bust out the binoculars and get birding. Her new book of illustrations is called The Illuminated Book of Birds. She joins us to talk about the process of creating these illustrations, the joy of painting birds, and some of her favorite species.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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What’s the story of the phrase Jeezum crow? How’s Vermont doing on composting? And why do people like the band Phish so much? These are just some of the questions taken on by the Vermont Public podcast Brave Little State over its 200 episodes.
Today on Vermont Edition: we celebrate our homegrown podcast’s 200th episode. To mark the milestone, the Brave Little State team answered 20 questions in one show.
We’ll chat with the podcast’s lead producer and one of its founders. And we’ll even get the story behind the podcast’s perfectly Vermont name.
We're one month into a government shutdown and the ramifications are being felt throughout the state. We're joined by joined by Congresswoman Becca Balint to talk about the shutdown and why she says Democrats should hold the line to extend ACA subsidies.
Then, we continue our discussion and take listener questions on changes to health insurance with Mike Fisher and Marjorie Stinchcomb from Vermont Legal Aid.
Broadcast live on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Tomorrow evening, neighborhoods across our region will be infiltrated by ghosts, witches, princesses, superheroes and Louvre jewel thieves. It’s almost Halloween!
Halloween brings out our crafty, creative sides. This time of year can also create a slight panic if you’ve waited too long to put together a costume for yourself or your kid. Thankfully, we've got a bunch of experts in the creative arts of dress up, crafting, and costuming.
Jennifer LaCasse, clothing supervisor for the ReSOURCE in Williston, gives us the scoop on costumes that have come through the store. We also heard from Sarah Bush, the costume shop supervisor for the University of Vermont’s Theater Department, and Luke Hungerford of Rail City Fan Fest in St. Albans, for a professional point of view and tips on experimenting with new materials.
On Saturday, Oct. 18th, the world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma sat down on a folding chair in the grass near the banks of the Connecticut River. It was dawn in Hanover, New Hampshire, and mist was rising off the water. He took a deep breath, then began to play.
This was "We Are Water," a special series of performances inspired by the waterways of the north. It was part of the reopening celebrations for Dartmouth’s Hopkins Center for the Arts, which just completed a three-year renovation.
Yo-Yo Ma is a fellow at Dartmouth and the founder of the Silk Road Ensemble, a Grammy-winning group that plays music from all over the world. For "We Are Water," he teamed up with Chris Newell, a Passamaquoddy musician, educator and Dartmouth graduate whose work is closely tied to the lands and waters of New England.
Newell and Ma were joined for the sunrise ceremony and evening concert by a diverse group of Indigenous and local musicians: Jeremy Dutcher, Andri Snaer Magnason, Mali Obomsawin, Nance Parker, Roger Paul, Lokotah Sanborn, Lauren Stevens, and Ida Mae Specker, a fiddler from Andover. Their performances combined music, poetry and storytelling.
Then; a discussion of "Along the River's Way," a new multimedia exhibition and oral history project about elder artists in the Mad River Valley. We hear from Christopher Wiersema, the executive director of Mad River Valley TV, and Tracy Brannstrom, a local journalist and the primary interviewer for the project.
The exhibition will be open to the public at Mad River Valley Arts from Nov. 6 through Dec. 13 in Waitsfield.
Broadcast on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont and Maine are the only two states that allow incarcerated people to vote. A new report tells us what is and isn’t working about ballot access in Maine and Vermont prisons.
Kristen Budd, a senior research analyst at the Sentencing Project, authored the report. Tim Burgess, executive director of VT CURE, voted in the 2006 and 2008 elections while he was incarcerated in Vermont. And Vermont's Secretary of State, Sarah Copeland Hanzas, is assembling a new task force to increase voter participation in four underserved populations, including the incarcerated.
Then: October is Substance Use Prevention Month. The Turning Point Center of Rutland runs a peer recovery coaching program for people in Vermont’s prisons who struggle with addiction. We’ll hear how the program’s going from Tracie Hauck, executive director of the Turning Point Center of Rutland.
Broadcast live on Monday, October 27, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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The signs are all there – stick season is almost upon us. The skies are gray, the wind’s a blowin', and the leaves are dropping.
Despite the changing seasons, the gardeners among us are still busy, trouble shooting garden falls from the summer, prepping beds for the winter and bringing potted plants indoors.
For anyone with turnip trouble or potato problems, it's Vermont Edition’s annual fall gardening show with Charlie Nardozzi, gardening consultant and host of All Things Gardening on Vermont Public.
October 30th marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most pivotal and divisive moments in Quebec history. On that day, Quebeckers held a referendum on whether or not to secede from Canada.
The votes against independence won out by a tiny margin — 50.6% voted "no," while 49.4% voted yes.
A new Léger poll shows that Quebecers' attitudes on sovereignty have shifted significantly in the last 30 years. Sixty five percent of respondents said they'd vote 'no' on separating from Canada if asked to vote today. Fifty five percent said they do not believe Quebec has the economic means to become a sovereign nation.
On Vermont Edition, two Canadian political science professors shared their memories of the 1995 referendum. Luc Turgeon was a college student at the time at McGill University in Montreal. He is now a professor at the University of Ottawa in Ontario. Antonia Maioni was Turgeon's professor; she still teaches at McGill. Callers from the U.S. and Canada also joined the conversation.
Both the University of Vermont and Middlebury College have new presidents: Marlene Tromp at UVM and Ian Baucom at Middlebury. These new leaders entered their role at a time of heightened federal scrutiny on higher education.
Today on Vermont Edition, we’ll talk with these two new presidents of leading higher education institutions. We’ll hear about town-gown relations in both Burlington and Middlebury, and discuss the schools’ role in building housing, employing locals and more.
The White House has threatened to take away federal funding from colleges and universities if they don’t fall in line around DEI and other issues. Marlene Tromp and Ian Baucom will weigh in on that delicate balance between protecting free speech and following White House dictum.
Vermont state senator Sam Douglass has resigned, effective today. He participated in a Young Republicans group chat that included racist, misogynist and antisemitic messages.
Today on Vermont Edition: the fallout of the group chat in our region. Vermont GOP chair Paul Dame will comment on Douglass’s reputation as a lawmaker, his decision to resign, and political rhetoric in the state at large.
Then, the federal government has changed eligibility for food stamps programs like 3SquaresVT. Some previously eligible immigrants, refugees and asylees no longer qualify. The federal government shutdown could also affect food stamps and heating assistance. Reporter Pete Hirschfeld will share what he knows.
For Vermont Edition's new monthly series, Town by Town, we’ll hone in on one of Vermont’s 252 towns or cities and talk to residents, share local history and lore, and learn about what it’s like to live there. At the end of the hour, a guest will help us randomly select our next town by spinning a big Wheel of Fortune style spinner.
Today's show focused on Belvidere, in Lamoille County. At the time of the 2020 census, Belvidere had just over 350 residents. It was chartered in 1791 to an Irish lawyer from New York by the name of John Kelly. The theory is that he named Belvidere after a beautiful lake in Ireland. The word itself comes from the Italian for “beautiful view.”
A trio of longtime Belvidereans gave us insights into the town and its history: Cathy Manders-Adams, Belvidere's town clerk, her husband Ken Adams, a select board member who has lived there his entire life, and Neal Brown, who grew up in Belvidere and is the organizer of the Belvidere Bluegrass Festival. Tyler Barber, one of the town's newest residents, is helping create a community hub out of the old schoolhouse.
We also heard passages from the diary of the late Lena Eldred Rich, a Belvidere resident who recounted details from her life there in the early 20th century.
Broadcast live on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Nearly 13,000 Vermonters aged 65 and older had Alzheimer’s disease as of 2020 — 10% of the state's over-65 population. Around each of those people orbits nurses, doctors, home health aides and family members who devote their lives to care.
The documentary "Walk With Me" by filmmaker and casting director Heidi Levitt tells the story of her husband Charlie Hess's early-onset Alzheimer's. The film screened earlier this year at the Middlebury International Film Festival, and it will screen again this Saturday at the Vermont International Film Festival in Burlington. Levitt and Hess split their time between Stowe and southern California.
While Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease with no cure, there is a lot of positive news right now in terms of research, medications and health guidance that can slow cognitive loss, and supports for caregivers. We discussed these bright spots with Rhonda Williams, the public health program director for the Vermont Department of Health and the director of the Alzheimer’s and Healthy Aging program, and Meg Polyte, policy director for the Vermont chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline is a free service of support for people living with dementia, caregivers, families and the public. Connect with a live person who can provide information, local resources, crisis assistance and emotional support at 800.272.3900.
After nearly two weeks on the picket line, St. Albans dairy processors have signed a new contract with their employer, Dairy Farmers of America, based in Kansas. The St. Albans plant processes Vermont milk for vendors like Ben and Jerry’s, Cabot, and Kate’s Butter. We speak with Curtis Clough, president of Vermont Teamsters Local 597 union, tells us about the negotiations, strike and return to work.
About one in ten workers in the United States is part of a union. That's not a lot, if you're comparing it to the height of union membership in the 1950s. One third of the American workforce used to be unionized.
In the northeast, the most prominent unions have changed along with the economy. Labor organizers from three different sectors — public school teaching, mental health work, and farm labor — join Vermont Edition to discuss the state of today's labor movement.
Nolan Rampy is a clinician at the Baird School, part of the Howard Center in Burlington, and the vice president of AFSCME 1674, a union representing mental healthcare workers. Will Lambek is an organizer with Migrant Justice, which supports immigrant farm workers in Vermont. And Caitlin MacLeod-Bluver is a Winooski High School teacher and a member of the Winooski Education Association, an affiliate of the Vermont-NEA. She was named Vermont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.
The federal government shutdown is entering its second week. Democrats say they’ll hold the line until health insurance subsidies are renewed.
Today on Vermont Edition, Senator Peter Welch will share his perspective on the negotiations underway on Capitol Hill and why Democrats picked this moment to fight. Senator Welch says it’s because millions of Americans could see their health insurance premiums double next year.
Then, most of Vermont is experiencing severe to extreme drought. State leaders are asking for federal aid for farms. We’ll hear what it’s been like for two farmers, one in West Corinth and the other in Orwell. Plus, a state forester will explain how drought affects fall foliage and forest fire risk.
The New England Sacred Harp Convention is coming up in Burlington on Oct. 4th and 5th. Hundreds of singers will come together to celebrate one of the country’s oldest Christian music traditions.
But Sacred Harp goes beyond Christianity — all are welcome to sing. And this year, sacred harp aficionados are celebrating a brand new edition of their songbook.
Anya Skibbe and Anna Mays share the history and culture of Sacred Harp, and why it still feels relevant and resonant today. They also demonstrate four songs from the new songbook, alongside Colleen Hayes, Sarah Galper Maika, Jim, Linda, and Dan Coppick, Nicandra Galper, and Sage Chase-Dempsey.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, October 2, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Americans pay more for health care–as a nation and individually–than citizens of any other nation on earth, even as access to health insurance continues to dwindle. And as a state, Vermont's per-person health care spending and health insurance costs are among the highest in the country.
We delve into one of the reasons there’s so much sticker shock–the behind-the-scenes influence of lobbyists on health care legislation as we speak with UVM professor Alex Garlick about his new book Pre-Existing Conditions: How Lobbying Makes Health Care More Expensive.
Then, former Vermont Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Amestoy has written a new legal thriller based on a murder trial in the Green Mountain State from the 1920’s. We hear about Winters’ Time: A Secret Pledge, a Severed Head, and the Murder That Brought America's Most Famous Lawyer to Vermont.
Ever drive past a park n ride full of cars and wonder, what happens there? What are all those people using that giant parking lot for? The team at Brave Little State recently spent 12 hours at the Richmond park and ride, all to answer a listener's question.
The whole Brave Little State team — Josh Crane, Sabina Poux and Burgess Brown — shared some insights from their reporting.
Betty Smith is known as Vermont Public’s founding mother. She’s been with the station since its very first day, and this year, she celebrates her 50th anniversary in public radio. She’ll tell us stories from the early days of VPR, when they weren’t sure the station would survive, and her thoughts on public media's future.
Then: a new film about the melting ice of Greenland features a University of Vermont professor.
It's the fourth installment of our annual fall series, School Stories. Every Tuesday this month, we’ve focused on issues related to Vermont schools. For this edition, we discuss pre-kindergarten.
In 2014, Vermont’s governor Peter Shumlin signed a universal pre-K bill into law. Thereafter, 3 and 4-year-olds could get free pre-K for 10 hours a week through their public school system, or through subsidy on tuition to a private or home-based childcare centers. We’re about a decade into the implementation of this law, and there have been some big wins. But the pre-K world in Vermont is far from some stable, done deal.
Our guests this hour are helping to shape the vision for pre-k education in Vermont. We're joined by Vermont Secretary of Education, Zoie Saunders, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, Janet McLaughlin, executive director of the nonprofit Building Bright Futures, Morgan Crossman, and Executive Director of Turtle Island Children’s Center in Montpelier, Jocelyn York.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Some Vermont towns are adopting a new strategy to help people in crisis. It’s called situation tables.
We’ll learn about this initiative that’s underway from Bennington to Burlington. Police and social services groups come together for weekly meetings to help specific community members with housing, addiction and other stressors. We’ll hear from a Vermont Public reporter, and a retired police chief-turned-situation table trainer.
Then: some communities offer a program that pays repeat offenders not to do drugs. It’s funded with settlement money from opioid manufacturers. We’ll hear from a UVM psychiatrist who helped develop this controversial approach.
Over the next year, some of Vermont’s hospitals are going to see less money coming in than they wanted. Their budgets for the year are now set, and they know exactly how much they can charge insurance companies for patient care.
Green Mountain Care Board chair Owen Foster joins us for the hour. The Board is in charge of approving budgets for Vermont’s 14 hospitals. He explains this year’s decisions, including some major cuts to UVM Medical Center’s rate requests. That’s the state’s largest hospital.
The Green Mountain Care Board also approves insurance premiums in Vermont. All these choices the board makes affect how much you will have to pay for health care. It’s a complicated knot we’ll untangle together.
Broadcast live on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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There are two new record holders for fastest supported and unsupported Long Trial hikes. One athlete, Tara "Candy Mama" Dower, is a professional ultramarathoner from Colorado. The other, Tori "Chewy" Constantine, is a nurse from Waterbury. They’ll tell us about the mental and physical preparation it takes to hike the spine of the Green Mountains at top speed.
Plus: Investigators have identified the last remaining victim in the Bear Brook murder case. New Hampshire Public Radio’s Jason Moon hosted a blockbuster podcast about the case. He’s just released an update about this final twist in the story.
It's the fourth installment of our annual fall series, School Stories. Every Tuesday this month, we’ve been focusing on issues related to Vermont schools. On this episode we focus on AI in the classroom.
Tech companies are investing billions of dollars in data centers to power artificial intelligence, and some of the biggest users of AI are students. Are they using generative AI to cheat, or to enhance their learning?
First we focus on higher ed when we speak with Hector Vila, an associate professor in Writing & Rhetoric at Middlebury. He teaches a first-year seminar at Middlebury College called “AI, Writing and Creativity" and is one of the organizers of the upcoming Clifford Symposium about AI.
Then, we hear from educators in the Essex Westford School District who are monitoring and regulating the use of AI in their district. Peter Drescher is the director of technology and innovation, and Renee Langevin is the digital learning leader. She’s also the co-host of ExplAIned, a podcast about AI and education.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, September 15, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont has a special history with horses. The Morgan horse is our state animal and some of the most famous endurance horses come from this state. There are also therapeutic benefits to horseback riding that can help people build their confidence too.
To learn about what it takes to raise healthy horses, a panel of experts with personal equine connections will share their insights. Mary Fay leads the Whispering Pines 4-H Club and helps coordinate the Vermont 4-H Program. She lives in Westford and has been a 4-H leader for 55 years. We also spoke with Ripton resident Molly Witters, an equine veterinarian with Vermont Large Animal Clinic and Hospital in Milton, and Margaret Bojanowski, farm manager and riding director at the Eddy Farm School in Middlebury.
Vermont schools are required to provide comprehensive sex education. Classes cover everything from STIs to consent. Jenna Emerson, a certified sex educator and stand-up comedian, and Celia Bird, a family nurse practitioner and comprehensive sex educator, share how they create age-appropriate lesson plans, and embrace the awkward humor of the human body.
At a national level, the Trump administration cut sex ed funds for California after the state refused to remove references to gender identity from its curriculum. If the same thing happens in Vermont, the state could lose more that $650,000 dollars in federal funds. We’ll learn more from Carter Sherman, reproductive health and justice reporter with the Guardian US who’s been following this story. She’s also the author of The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generation’s Fight Over Its Future.
Can you get the latest COVID vaccine? The answer might depend on how old you are, what state you live in or whether you have a prescription. Under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is undergoing a period of upheaval marked by firings and resignations. Kennedy also fired the members of the CDC's immunization panel, and the new panel hasn't met in weeks.
Weighing in on Vermont Edition is: Dr. Anne Schuchat, a former deputy director at the CDC; Julie Arel, the interim head of Vermont’s Department of Health; and Dr. Timothy Lahey, an infectious disease physician at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Plus, Vermont Public senior political reporter Bob Kinzel talks about the CDC and RFK, Jr. with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt).
Broadcast live on Monday, September 8, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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The Vermont alt weekly Seven Days is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Every week, they publish a print paper, and every day they share local news and stories online. We’ll hear from the paper’s co-founder and deputy publisher about their favorite memories from the past 30 years, and what it’ll take to keep the paper going for 30 more.
Plus, a check-in with Vermont Public's two newest music hosts, Tad Cautious and DJ Llu. They’ll tell us stories from their radio roots, explain how they come up with playlists, and share some favorite new songs. If you’re sick of listening to the same five albums over and over, they have some great ideas for you on how to diversify your musical tastes.
When we talk about schools, we usually focus on what happens inside the classroom, but what happens in the cafeteriaalso plays an important role in learning.
In the second installment of our fall series School Stories, we’re talking school meals. Food services coordinators Susan Grabowski of the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union and Kathy Alexander of the Mount Abe and Addison Northwest school districts discuss menus, how federal funding cuts could affect school meals and the pros and cons of following the USDA’s rules.
We'll also hear from a school district in southern Vermont, where a team of Afghan refugees cook up food in the cafeteria, including halal meals for Muslim and vegetarian students.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermonters are very particular about our ice cream. It makes sense — we live in the land of milk and maple syrup. Chances are that if you stop a person in the street, they'll be able to quickly rattle off their favorite creemee spot and classic order.
On Vermont Edition's annual creemee show, we talk with the purveyors of some of your favorite frozen treats in the region. This year we hear from Hannah Connor, the café and kitchen manager at Red Hen Baking Company in Middlesex, Jess Yates, owner of Yates Family Orchard in Monkton (creators the Dreamee), and Amanda Ellis Thurber of Lilac Ridge Farm in West Brattleboro.
Plus: Asa Waterworth eats an eye-popping number of creemees every year — upwards of 50, she estimates. She takes photos of her cones and offers up recommendations on her instagram account, @creemeechronicles. Asa and Mikaela got a cone together and talked about what makes a perfect creemee down at Ice Cream Evan's at the Burlington Waterfront.
For four decades, a statue dedicated to an Abenaki Chief stood in Burlington's Battery Park. The wooden statue was recently removed due to decay and rot. Deciding how to honor a complex part of history is never easy. We’ll talk with a Norwich professor about Northeastern Indigenous history, the director general of Odanak First Nation in Quebec, and a state representative for Burlington.
City leaders in Burlington continue to debate how to address illegal activity in public spaces like drug use and sleeping outside. Ahead of a key city council meeting tonight, Seven Days reporter Courtney Lamdin updates us on a proposal to increase police presence in Burlington’s City Hall Park.
Winooski author Maggie Hersokvits loves the hardy little plants that grow through the cracks of our cities. Her new book is an urban field guide to the plants, trees and herbs you might find in a North American city, like pokeweed, ground ivy, yellow rocket and hackberry.
Plus, we'll listen back to our conversation from June with the state’s Historic Preservation Officer about the state’s newest historic markers.
In Vermont author Amy Klinger's new novel, unlikely connections abound between softball players, migrant farm workers, an experimental art sculptor--and a Scarecrow Jesus.
Klinger joins guest host Mitch Wertlieb to talk about about her book Ducks on the Pond. At turns darkly comic and dramatically poignant, it's a story of people from wildly different backgrounds and circumstances trying to find a sense of community and belonging in a fictional Vermont town...one that will feel very real to folks that have been here for generations, or are just arriving now.
Then: For more than a decade now, the Middlebury New Filmmakers festival has provided a haven for cinephiles in Vermont to gather together and get a first look at a wide range of new movies. Documentaries, dramas, comedies, experimental films — there’s pretty much something for everyone who loves movies to watch and talk about. But this year, the festival will also be hosting speakers who specialize in other forms in which narrative and story play an important role, such as poet Bianca stone and New York Times journalist David Sanger. They're going to apply their knowledge from their respective fields and how they relate to movie making.
The Middlebury New Filmmaker’s Festival starts this Wednesday and runs through Sunday. Joining us is local filmmaker and the festival's artistic director, Jay Craven, and executive director Caitlin Boyle.
Broadcast live on Monday, August 18, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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The neon street sign. The Phish memorabilia. The gravy fries. The iconic stage. For those who loved Nectar’s restaurant, bar and music venue in Burlington, these were the hallmarks of a good time for nearly 50 years.
We’ll relive Nectar’s storied history with Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth and what the closure of one Burlington music club signals about the local music scene in our region. Lee Anderson, owner of the music venue Radio Bean, explains how important it is to have a network of venues for up-and-coming musicians.
Every summer, the Vermont Edition team heads to a local fair for a special live broadcast, and this year we chose the Vermont State Fair in Rutland.
Our team set up shop right by the milking parlor at the fairgrounds as the food was getting fried, the kids were gearing up for the 4H competitions, and the rides were getting ready to provide the ambiance of summer fun.
We spoke with the fair's president, Robert Congdon, Jr., who told us about the past and present of this storied Rutland tradition. We also heard from Marsha Johnson who is the superintendent of the Bucket of Junk Sculpture Contest, the writing contest, and runs the fair museum. UVM Extension 4H Coordinator for Rutland & Bennington Counties, Moonshine "Mooney" Shorey, talked to us about the 4H contests and brought along some young competitors. We got an on-air magic trick from magician Blaine Goad, a close encounter with a large snake courtesy of Alex Knapp, owner of Captain Aquatics Fins and Scales, and lastly, talked with Willie Tyler of Willie's BBQ.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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The use of artificial intelligence for therapy is growing, including for minors. AI makes therapy more accessible. But clinicians want to make sure kids get medically sound advice and stay safe.
We weigh the pros and cons of this mental health approach with Dr. Steven Schlozman, the chief of child psychiatry at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, as well as an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, and Shannon Newell, who works with the Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union and is president of the Vermont Association of School Psychologists.
Plus: Dartmouth researchers recently conducted the first-ever clinical trial of an AI therapy chatbot. Nicholas Jacobson is the study’s senior author. He’s an associate professor of biomedical data science, psychiatry, and computer science at Dartmouth. He also directs the AIM HIGH Lab at Dartmouth, which stands for AI and Mental Health: Innovation in Technology Guided Healthcare.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Today on Vermont Edition, we'll talk with climate writer and activist Bill McKibben of Ripton. In his new book, he makes the case for solar power as the cheapest energy source on the planet. And he says it’s time to stop thinking of solar as “alternative energy” and bring it into the mainstream.
Then, programs to support Vermont veterans have lost staff due to cuts in federal funding this summer. We’ll talk with the head of the Vermont National Guard’s family programs, and an organizer with a storytelling group for local vets.
In Vermont, annual precipitation has increased six inches since the 1960s. That, plus the state’s steep terrain, make Vermont a laboratory for the study of intense rainfall and flooding.
Today on Vermont Edition, The New Yorker magazine staff writer John Seabrook explores how Vermont manages its rivers in his latest article. He sees scientists, land use planners and policymakers breaking away from tradition, and making choices that other states could mimic. We’ll also hear from Kevin Geiger, a land-use planner with the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, in Woodstock.
Plus, Jordan Barry of Seven Days shares the latest food news from around our region.
Canada and the U.S. are in an intense period of negotiations over a trade deal. Many Canadians are boycotting the States this summer over President Trump’s policies and 51st state rhetoric. We talk with Shawn Appell, host of our sister show on the CBC, Radio Noon in Québec, about what he's hearing from his listenership regarding their feelings on travelling to Quebec in the age of Trump.
Then, during the pandemic lockdown musician and songwriter Katy Hellman began to dig into her Irish heritage, particularly the folklore of the pre-Christian era. She used her newfound passion as inspiration for her newest musical venture Emerald Ground Water. Their new album is called "The World Below."
Lastly, a new musical comedy video series explores the natural world and our connection to it. It’s called “Biraland,” and it’s a 20-part video series created by Bira Vanara. He’s a multimedia artist and musician in Middlebury. "Biraland" features a host of wacky characters, catchy original music and wild effects, all conceived of and performed by its creator. Biraland was funded in part by Vermont Public’s Made Here Fund, which supports a diverse group of video and filmmakers across the state.
Money runs out to pay federal defense lawyers, and Champlain College hones in on cybersecurity
Today on the show, we explore the sibling dynamic, and how some families have multiple high achieving kids. Susan Dominus is a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. Her new book, “The Family Dynamic,” looks at classic sibling examples, like the Bronte sisters, and modern ones.
We’ll talk with two New Hampshire sisters featured in the new book – Olympic triathlete Sarah True and renowned novelist Lauren Groff. Plus, two Vermont brothers who come from a VERY large family.
Tourism-heavy towns often have a lot of AirBnBs per capita. Some towns, like Londonderry, are putting stricter rules in place on short-term rentals.
Their goal, in large part, is to maintain housing for full-time residents — Vermont has a housing shortage, after all. But some short-term rental owners think the new rules are too strict and end up hurting the local economy.
Vermont Public reporter Howard-Weiss Tisman shares an update on current debates over short-term rentals in southern Vermont towns. We also hear from Julie Marks, the founder and executive director of the Vermont Short Term Rental Alliance, the chair of Londonderry's housing commission Patty Eisenhauer, and Nate Lantieri of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency.
Broadcast live on Monday, July 28, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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For 29 years, Robert Resnik celebrated folk and world music as the host of the Vermont Public music show All the Traditions. He passed away earlier this week.
Through his show, he elevated local musicians and introduced listeners to new sounds and styles. He was also a musician himself and played more than two dozen instruments. We’ll share memories with friends, fellow musicians, and our listeners.
Then: A new addiction treatment clinic has opened in Bennington.We’ll talk with Vermont’s deputy health commissioner about how this clinic fits into the state’s hub and spoke system.
Love 'em or hate 'em, jam bands have infiltrated our culture and forever changed the music industry. There’s the Grateful Dead and Phish, but also Widespread Panic, The String Cheese Incident, and The Dave Matthews Band.
Author Mike Ayers joins Mikaela to talk about his new oral history which chronicles the rise of the jam band genre in the 1990s, and the culture that surrounded them. It's called "Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the 90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene that Followed." We talk about some of the biggest jam bands to come out of this region, and remember some of the most iconic local concerts. Mike Ayers is a veteran music journalist, and he’s been to more than 20 Grateful Dead shows and 130 Phish shows.
Broadcast live on Tuesday July 22, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Last year, Vermont became just the second state in the nation to ban a type of pesticides called neonicotinoids. Now, that ban is going into effect.
Many farmers use these treated seeds to keep pests away, but pollutes water and hurts fragile pollinator populations, like honey bees. The Vermont state government is in charge of enforcing this ban. It also has a role in determining exemptions. Who still gets to use neonics, and under what conditions? We’ll hear how the state is making those choices, using information from local farms. We’ll also learn about other neonics restrictions in Quebec and New York.
To make a feature film, you don’t have to move to Hollywood. It might take a little more resourcefulness, but you can do it right here in our region.
Three local film professionals join Vermont Edition to talk about their latest projects: Chad Ervin, president of the Vermont Production Collective and director of the documentary Gone Guys; Emma Schlenoff, producer of The Obelisk and a Vermont Production Collective board member; and Alexey Hartlieb-Shea, who co-wrote The Obelisk and stars in it.
Then; Shelburne Museum in Chittenden County celebrates a wide range of American art. If you visit, you’ll find everything from a round barn full of circus-themed figurines, to a Ticonderoga steamboat permanently beached on a green field. Through the end of October, you can also visit the exhibition “Making a Noise: Indigenous Sound Art.” The pieces on display are all by Indigenous artists, and they merge sound and textile design to create interactive works.
Victoria Sunnergren is Shelburne Museum’s curator of Native American Art. She tells us more about the artists and their work.
Broadcast live on Thursday, July 17 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Many longtime educators understand that the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to teaching is not always effective. There are different types of learners with unique needs.
Landmark College in Putney is designed for students who learn differently, like those with dyslexia, autism, or ADHD. The college marks its 40th anniversary this fall, and its new president Jim Dlugos is optimistic about its future.
The Willowell Foundation runs outdoor learning programs in Addison County that let young students chart their own paths. Founder and executive director Matt Schlien discusses his efforts to revive the Walden Project, a high school program focused on ecology, wellness, civic engagement and time outdoors.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Sunil "Sunny" Eappen is the president and CEO of the University of Vermont Health Network. It’s the largest hospital system in Vermont where health insurance premiums are among the highest in the country. We talk with Dr. Eappen about why that is, and the role hospitals play in setting health care costs. He also discusses how he’s thinking about the hospital system’s budget for the coming year.
President Trump’s new travel ban is in effect. For a month now, people from 12 countries have been barred from entering the U.S., including Afghanistan, Burma and Eritrea. Seven other countries are partially banned, and the President has floated the idea of banning several more.
We’ll hear how the travel ban affects refugees, green card holders, international students and others in our region. joined from Brattleboro by Joe Wiah, director of the Ethiopian Community Development Council, a refugee resettlement agency in Brattleboeo, Tracy Dolan, the director of Vermont’s state refugee office, and Kristen Connors, an immigration attorney at Montroll, Oettingerand Barquist in Burlington
Plus: The Mexican consulate recently set up a mobile location in Brattleboro. We’ll hear from a Mexican farmworker living in Vermont amid the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown.
A good jingle is short, catchy and teaches you a business name or phone number that you can't get out of your head — maybe even for years.
This hour we celebrate the art of the local jingle. We from some jingle writers who have written some legendary earworms. Jim Giberty is based in Bethel and wrote ads for local ski areas, as well as some broader New England gems, most notable, The Lobster Claw in Cape Cod. Cary Reich is based in Florida, but penned songs for Pizza Putt and Wendell's Furniture that will be familiar to longtime Vermonters. And we hear from Daisy Nell, a folk musician who has just so happened to have her songs become local jingles - her most famous being from the 1980s for the Snowsville General Store.
Broadcast live on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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State Senators Seth Bongartz (D-Bennington) and Scott Beck (R-Caledonia) are the subject of an ethics complaint that alleges their ties to independent schools influenced their work on Vermont's big education reform bill.
Vermont Public reporter Lola Duffort has been closely following the education reform process and this ethics complaint.
We also explore the process of investigating alleged ethical violations, such as conflicts of interest and other financial entanglements that could influence lawmaking. We speak with the executive director of the Vermont State Ethics Commission, Christina Sivret, and members of the House and Senate ethics committees, Rep. Martin LaLonde (D-South Burlington), and Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, (P/D-Chittenden Central).
Broadcast live on Monday, July 7, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Who wants to turn on the stove and cook dinner this time of year when you could stop by a local snack bar instead? Eating out at these seasonal restaurants is a beloved summer tradition in our region.
Seven Days food writer and editor Melissa Pasanen shares some of her favorite snack menu items, like the smash burgers from Gondola's Snack Bar in Morristown and the hand cut fries at Green Meadows Grill in Williston. We also talk with local snack bar owners: Marilyn Kozlowski of Joe's Snack Bar in Jericho, Jason Boutin of Cajun's Snack Bar in Lowell, Jon Villeneuve of Kate's Food Truck in Jericho, and Josh Butler of Village Snack Bar in Rutland.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Of all the touchy topics there are to talk about, class might be the thorniest of all. Today on Vermont Edition: Vermont Public's Erica Heilman tells us about her ongoing series examining economic differences in Vermont. New stories in her series What Class Are You drop this week.
Then: we bring you a recent episode of the podcast Brave Little State/ Producer Burgess Brown explores what it’s like to get around Vermont and maintain a social life when you can no longer drive.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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July 1st, 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of civil unions in Vermont. This legal alternative to marriage was the first of its kind in the United States.
In the Vermont Supreme Court case Baker v. Vermont, the court ruled that the state had no legal basis to discriminate against same-sex couples. If the legislature would not allow same-sex couples to get marriage licenses, lawmakers would have to figure out a legal alternative. The result: civil unions.
Stan Baker was the lead plaintiff on that case, alongside with his partner, Peter Harrigan, and two other couples. He died on Monday at the age of 79. We'll listen back to a 2019 interview he gave on Vermont Edition, and hear from Susan Murray of Burlington. She was one of the attorneys who represented Baker and the other plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Vermont Edition producer Andrea Laurion spoke with LGBTQ+ Vermonters who were coming of age — and coming out — when civil unions became legal. They were likely too young at the time to be thinking about marriage for themselves, but old enough to know what was going on and how it might affect them one day.
We also talk with David Moats, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2001 for his editorials about civil unions in the Rutland Herald.
Our region is home to celebrated poets from a wide variety of personal backgrounds. On this Vermont Edition, we revisit interviews with four local poets that we recorded in April to mark National Poetry Month.
Bianca Stone of Brandonreflects on her first year as Vermont’s poet laureate, Geof Hewitt of Calais tells us about the roots of slam poetry, Alexandria Hall explains how she carries her Vergennes roots with her while living in California, and Sarah Audsley of Johnson discusses the influence of her personal identity on her poetry.
Broadcast on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Building queer community can be incredibly hard, when you’re facing forces like bigotry or intolerance. It can also be hard when you live in a place like Vermont, where there just aren’t a whole ton of people.
Last week, our team went to The Barre Social Club to record a live panel discussion with Barre-area LGBTQ business owners and organizers who are trying to strengthen ties in Barre’s queer community and support vulnerable people there.
Our guests were; Liv Dunton of Fox Market and Bar in East Montpelier and Foxy’s in Barre. Maddie Cobb is a co-owner of Slowpoke Exchange, a buy-sell-trade shop for vintage and modern clothing in Barre. Heather Ely is the executive director of the Rainbow Bridge Community Center in Barre - a nonprofit that provides support for vulnerable communities and a gathering space for connection. And Lee Baker is a potter and a co-organizer of Vermont Queer Craft.
They also shared their thoughts on making Central Vermont home, the recent Supreme Court decision upholding a Tennessee ban on gender affirming care, and about Pride Month – where Barre just hosted its fifth annual pride parade.
Broadcast on Monday, June 23, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Communities across our region are hosting Juneteenth celebrations this year. The federal holiday marks the end of slavery in the United States and honors Black history and culture. South Burlington recreation specialist Kate Likhite and state Sen. Joe Major of Hartford tell us about their communities' Juneteenth events.
Then: two local authors share the stories behind their new books. In "The Ghost Lab: How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums and Alien Enthusiasts Are Wrecking Science," Vershire's Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling explores the ties between pseudoscience and the erosion of trust in institutions like government and media. Mima Tipper, who lives in Waitsfield and South Hero, tells a story of travel, family and young love in her debut young adult novel, "Kat's Greek Summer."
More than 200 wildfires are currently burning in Canada. They are transforming forests, and becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change.
This hour we discuss how wildfires affect our landscapes, and how wildfire smoke affects air quality and our bodies. Our guests are David Grass, a senior environmental health manager at the Vermont Department of Health, and David Phillips, a Toronto-based climatologist emeritus with Environment and Climate Change Canada, a governmental agency.
This episode also includes an interview with Boston Globe correspondent Paul Heintz about recent ICE detentions in Vermont, including an immigrant rights advocate and his 18-year-old stepdaughter.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Rosemary Gladstar is said to be the Godmother of modern herbalism. In the latest installment of Vermont Edition At Home, Mikaela visited Gladstar at her house in Milton, Vermont. They discussed her roots in herbalism, from her childhood learning how to forage for food and medicine with her grandmother, to becoming the founder of a world renowned herbal retreat center in Vermont and founder of several companies. Mikaela was also treated to a tour of her herbal garden and heard about all of the medicinal and culinary uses of the many herbs Gladstar grows at home.
Broadcast live on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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"The long term survival of life on earth has never really been in doubt...it's the survival of homo sapiens that has been in question." That stark reminder, or perhaps warning, comes from one of the central characters in the new novel by Vermont author Tim Weed called "The Afterlife Project."
Guest host Mitch Wertlieb speaks with the Putney-based writer about what inspired his book--which blends elements of climate fact with science fiction, telling a story that stretches from the not too distant future to a world that in ten thousand years is visited by one man who may or may not be the last surviving member of an otherwise wiped-out human race.
Plus, we'll discuss some of the better ways you can feel like the last person on earth by exploring great out-of-the-way wilderness hikes with Claire Polfus, a recreation program manager for the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
The birthrate in the United States is on the decline, and of all 50 states, Vermont’s fertility rate is the lowest. We'll listen to a recent episode of Vermont Public's podcast Brave Little State where reporter Nina Keck looks into a listener’s question about childlessness.
Then, we'll be joined by sociology professor Amy Blackstone of the University of Maine, who researches why some people opt out of parenting. Her book is Childfree by Choice.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont’s roadways are dotted with iconic green and gold markers. They tell stories of our region’s past.
Today on Vermont Edition, the state’s Historic Preservation Officer tells us about the state’s newest historic markers, like the one for Devil’s Bowl Speedway, New England’s fastest dirt track, or another in Fayston for Ralph Waldo Ellison, author of the classic novel Invisible Man.
Then, soccer star Sam Mewis will coach two women’s exhibition games this summer for the Vermont Green. She’s a FIFA World Cup champion, an Olympic medalist and one of the best midfielders to come out of the U.S. We’ll hear more about coaching in Vermont, and her popular Men in Blazers podcast, the Women’s Game.
Electric vehicles – EVs – don’t emit pollutants into the air. That’s a good thing, if you’re focused on cutting emissions and curbing climate change. But they’re also often more expensive than gas cars, and the charging infrastructure along roads and highways isn’t fully built out yet. Considering these challenges, how do you get people to buy EVs?
In Vermont, the Scott administration proposed a rule to the Legislature in 2022 to end gas-powered car sales by 2035, which a legislative committee then approved. The rule stated that manufacturers should increase the percentage of EVs for sale in Vermont. State agencies said the strategy led to an uptick in EV ownership.
But then, about three weeks ago, Vermont’s Governor Phil Scott issued an executive order halting enforcement of this rule for 19 months. He also said his administration "remains committed to achieving emissions reductions, including vehicle emissions."
We hear more about what's going on in Vermont from freelance journalist Nathaniel Eisen of Colchester, who recently covered the story for Inside Climate News. Vermont's Secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, Julie Moore, gives us the state's perspective, and Democratic state Senator Anne Watson explains why she's disappointed in the governor's decision. Plus, Brent Dragon, sales manager for the heavy truck dealership R.R. Charlebois in Milton, tells us about the trucking industry's take on the mandate and the state's decision to put it on hold.
Correction: During Tuesday's radio broadcast and in this post we incorrectly identified the rule as a "law" and "regulation" that was first put forth by the Vermont Legislature. In fact, it was a rule proposed by the Scott administration.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Vermont’s legislative session was supposed to be over, but one massive and potentially historic bill will keep lawmakers in Montpelier longer than expected. That bill? Education reform.
Today on Vermont Edition: a trio of local education reporters break down the ed reform debate. This bill seeks to fundamentally transform how Vermont schools are run and how they are funded. It could set class size minimums, dramatically cut the number of school districts, and change how we pay for public education and independent school tuition. We'll hear from Alison Novak with Seven Days, Ethan Weinstein with VTDigger, and Vermont Public’s Lola Duffort.
Darn Tough. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Ben and Jerry’s. Ivy Computer. Verde Technologies. KORE Power Battery Cell Developers. What do all these businesses have in common? They either were, or still are, in the small town of Waterbury, Vermont.
Today on Vermont Edition: what makes this one town in Washington County a good home for growing companies? Our guests this hour have their theories.
We’ll talk with leaders of companies based in Waterbury and the head of the town’s business development organization. Plus, we’ll talk about how other small towns can attract businesses that bring good jobs to the area.
Lake Memphremagog provides drinking water for around 200,000 Canadians, and recreation for countless Vermonters. It also faces serious environmental challenges.
Today on Vermont Edition: the fight to restore and protect the water quality of our region’s largest lakes. We’ll hear from a Quebec-based group about their effort to designate Memphremagog as a lake in crisis.
We’ll also talk with a scientist from the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and a shoreline ecologist with Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation. They’ll tell us about the biggest threats to these water bodies, like phosphorus runoff.
First up, we're joined by Josh Wronski, the outgoing Executive Director of the Vermont Progressive Party to talk about his tenure there, what he learned in his nine years leading Vermont's third party, and how they should move forward.
Then, Rep. Becca Balint joins us to talk about the Big Beautiful Bill, Medicaid cuts, the war in Gaza, impeachment, and U.S.-Canada relations.
Lastly, it's our monthly local food segment with Seven Days food writer Melissa Pasanen.
Broadcast live on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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In the latest installment of our series, Vermont Edition At Home: The award-winning cartoonist Alison Bechdel chats with us from her home studio in Bolton.
Alison Bechdel is one of the country’s most renowned cartoonists. Her graphic memoir Fun Home was turned into a Tony Award-winning musical. Her new graphic novel, Spent, is set in Vermont.
Spring is an annual rite of passage, a time of transition and regrowth. Some spend it gardening. Others reconnect with friends. And a few of us, like Vermont Edition's Mikaela Lefrak, derive actual joy from spring cleaning.
Two professional home organizers joined Mikaela to share their best spring cleaning tips: Sarah Thompsonof St. George and Amie Davisof Georgia, Vt.
If you need an extra dose of motivation, you could hire a DJ like Burlington-based Taraleigh Weathers, also known as DJ Cheetahtah. She'll come to your house to play music while you clean. She's also working launching her own YouTube channel that you can watch and listen to as you clean.
Parts of our region are experiencing a very wet and muddy spring. For some, the rains bring up tough memories of the flooding of recent years. For some towns, the floods of 2023 and 2024 caused immense damage and upended lives. While we all hope 2025 doesn’t make this list, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Here to to talk flood preparedness is the director of Vermont Emergency Management, Eric Forand. His office is working to improve communication with individual towns when a disaster hits. We also talk with volunteer organizers about their plans to help Vermonters weather this years storms. Megan Mathers of Northeast Kingdom Organizing and the Kingdom United Resilience and Recovery Effort, and Jon Copans of the Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience join us.
Today is Vermont Edition’s annual spring gardening show. Our guest is Charlie Nardozzi – gardening consultant extraordinaire, speaker, and TV and radio host. You can hear him on Sunday mornings right here on Vermont Public for All Things Gardening. This year's show was in front of a live audience at Vermont Public’s Colchester studio.
Vermont’s only law school is the heart of South Royalton. Many residents wonder if the school will stay there, or if it’ll leave town.
Today on Vermont Edition, we share a recent episode of Brave Little State. It digs into this listener question about Vermont Law and Graduate School:“Do South Royalton and the surrounding towns actually have to worry about the Vermont law school leaving, or is it just a recurring rumor?” Produce Sabine Poux learns about the law school’s footprint in that part of the state.
Plus, a live discussion with Vermont Supreme Court Justice Karen Carroll and lawyer Andrew Cliburn on how the law school shaped their careers.
First, Leading arts organizations in Vermont are reeling, after finding out they’ve lost grant funding from the federal government. The Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Flynn Center, and Northern Stage are just a few of the local groups that face significant cuts. The head of the Vermont Arts Council, Susan Evans McClure, explains the role of federal funding in Vermont’s cultural landscape.
Then, The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against Vermont and three other states for legislation that allows them to sue oil companies for damage caused by climate change over the last 30 years. Vermont was the first in the state to pass such a law, called the Climate Action Superfund. Pat Parenteau, a professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Environmental Law Center, tells us about this lawsuit and the two other lawsuits coming from outside of the state and how they may play out. Independent State Rep. Anne Donahue tells us why she thinks Vermont's law should be repealed. And Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak explains his office's work to determine the specific amount that the state aims to collect from oil companies.
Broadcast live on Monday, May 12, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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We’re excited to present a new podcast created by the nonprofit Vermont Folklife. It’s called The Arts That Shape Us. It’s devoted to exploring the state’s cultural heritage and what different local artforms say about the past and present of Vermont. This podcast is one of ten projects funded by Vermont Public’s Made Here Fund, created to support Vermont media makers. Vermont Folklife’s Director of Education and Media, Mary Wesley, hosts the show.
In this first installment, she takes us to Barre. As Mary explains, the city had a booming granite industry, and this industrial tradition birthed an artistic one.
Then, we meet a Tibetan musician and dancer who has infused his cultural heritage into Vermont's.
Broadcast live on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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There’s an effort underway by the Trump administration to defund public media in America. Vermont Public's CEO Vijay Singh will answer listener questions along with our own to get a clearer view of public media’s mission, its message, and future if financial support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is eliminated.
Plus, Quebec's Eastern Townships may be overshadowed by the glamour associated with the city of Montreal, but the editors of a new book called "Quebec's Eastern Townships and the World" argue the collection of towns just north of the border have their own historical and cultural footprint that reaches far beyond the province.
Vermont author Bailey Seybolt used marvel at the beauty of one old Burlington building. Her research unearthed a dark history. Seybolt sits down with Mitch Wertlieb to discuss her true-crime novel, Coram House, andthe notorious real-life abuses at St. Joseph's Orphanage it's based on.
Then; the story of Vermont's founders like Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold has been told ad nauseum. But Vermont State Representative Conor Casey found something inherently funny about these men and their relationship. So, he wrote a satirical take on the events surrounding Vermont's early history, provocatively titled Founding F*ers: The Story of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. It began it's weeks long run at The Greater Boston Stage Company earlier this week and runs until May 18th. Casey sits down with Mitch to talk about why he finds Vermont's founders so funny and how the stage play came together.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Today on Vermont Edition, the celebrated cartoonist Harry Bliss discusses his new graphic memoir, You Can Never Die. It’s about his life, his relationship with his dog Penny, and his grief over her death. We’ll learn about his successful cartooning career with the New Yorker and collaborating with the comedian Steve Martin.
Plus: April is National Poetry Month. For the final installment of our April poetry series, we’ll talk with Sarah Audsley of Johnson. Her poetry often reflects her experiences as a Korean American adoptee living in Vermont.
Three forestry experts discuss the many uses of Vermont's forested lands, and the potential local impact of an executive order about timber production.
Vermont Edition is launching a new series, featuring intimate conversations with noteworthy Vermonters right in their own living rooms. It’s called Vermont Edition At Home.
For the first installment, Mikaela Lefrak went to the Middlebury home of François Clemmons.. Clemmons is best known for playing Officer Clemmons on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
Clemmons discusses how he came to embrace his Blackness, his homosexuality, and his desire to be a performer.
Broadcast live on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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An original indie-folk musical premieres at Northern Stage in White River Junction next month. Set over the course of one working day, "The Vermont Farm Project" tells the stories of eight farmers. It's based on three years of interviews with farmers from Vermont and the surrounding region. Director Sarah Wansley of White River Junction and Hudson Valley-based writer Jessica Kahkoska tell us more about this unique production.
Plus, Vergennes native Alexandria Hall is based in Los Angeles, but a lot of Vermont's essence is found in her work. Her poems reflect the daily life and language of rural Vermont.
Vermonters and Quebeckers share much more than a border. We do business together, get our passports out for vacation, and visit family. But this year, the threads that hold us together have frayed.
Vermont Edition co-hosted a cross-border conversation in partnership with Radio Noon, a call-in program from the CBC in Quebec. Mikaela Lefrak and Radio Noon host Shawn Apel took calls and emails from listeners on both sides of the border about the current state of U.S.-Canada relations. We also heard about the real-world repercussions of President Donald Trump’s “51st state” rhetoric.
Vermont Public reporter Peter Hirschfeld joined the conversation as well to talk about the effect the Trump administration is having on Canadian tourism in Vermont, and how the state's lawmakers are reacting to the increased tensions.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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A new report finds that Americans consume more dairy than they did a decade ago. Vermont dairy farmers are trying to capitalize.
Vermont is at the epicenter of two high-profile arrests by federal immigration officers. Both involve pro-Palestinian university students, Mohsen Mahdawi of White River Junction, and Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk.
Our reporters covering these detentions, Sabine Poux and Lexi Krupp share the latest updates. The cases shine a light on changing federal immigration practices, and Vermont's role in them. We also hear from immigration attorney Brett Stokes and state senator Becca White. who represents Mahdawi's district and was present when he was detained.
Plus: For our National Poetry Month series, poet Geof Hewitt tells us about building a daily writing practice.
Broadcast live on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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A Montreal economist, Burlington financial advisor and Waitsfield money mindset coach share their best advice for this uncertain economic time.
Today on Vermont Edition, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas. We’ll discuss the SAVE Act, which she opposes, and get her take on Vermont’s election integrity in the face of cuts to the federal office that handles election security infrastructure.
Then, we'll be joined by the superintendents of two school districts, one from central Vermont and the other in the Northeast Kingdom. We’ll hear how their school budgets are shaping up and how they're preparing for education changes from Washington.
Today on Vermont Edition, we'll explore the massive changes underway at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A program known as LIHEAP offsets utility bills for more than 6 million Americans. Vermont Public reporter Abagael Giles tells us about the future of the program. We’ll also talk with a Head Start supervisor in Windham Southeast school district, and the head of an agency that feeds hundreds of low-income, older Vermonters.
Plus: Vermont’s poet laureate, Bianca Stone helps us celebrate National Poetry Month.
For some Vermonters, biking is simply a fun form of recreation or exercise. But for others, it’s how they get to work or school.
Bike advocates across the region are trying to make commuting by bike more accessible and safe for Vermonters. Joining us is Jonathon Weber of Local Motion, Hanif Nazerli of the Capital City Corridor bike share project, and Darren Ohl of the Vermont Bicycle Shop in Barre discussed road safety, to discuss bike infrastructure development, and access to good bikes and gear.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Programs for careers like welding, construction, and automotive tech are in hot demand. The Central Vermont Career Center, a career technical school in Barre, has more applicants than they have space to admit. A recent report by Vermont Public found that enrollment is up statewide at most of Vermont’s 17 career and technical education centers. It’s a national trend, and it’s earned Gen Z the nickname “The Toolbelt Generation.”
We talk with CVCC's director Jody Emerson and Nick Cantrick, a construction technology instructor at the Hannaford Career Center in Middlebury, about their students' career opportunities.
We also discuss current labor needs in Vermont with Richard Wobby, Executive Vice President at the Associated General Contractors of Vermont, and Kendal Smith, Deputy Commissioner at the Vermont Department of Labor.
Broadcast live on Monday, April 7, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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WCAX sports director Jack Fitzsimmons and Seven Days food writer Jordan Barry share recent exciting stories from their beats.
As the soil thaws, rain falls, and warmer spring days fill up the forecast, the little critters that live in our region are on the move. It is the amphibian migration season and frogs and salamanders have places to be.
We talk with herpetologist Jim Andrews of Salisbury who tells us about so-called Big Nights, when humans help salamanders, frogs, and toads cross roads without getting flattened by tires. And he suggests ways to support these species during their migration season, and how to report your own sightings of these travelling amphibians.
Broadcast live on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Many Vermonters are frustrated and worried about the high cost of healthcare in the state. One of the main organizations trying to figure out what to do about it is Green Mountain Care Board. It controls the rate of health care costs in the state.
Green Mountain Care Board president Owen Foster joins us to talk about the rising costs of health insurance premiums, and the financial challenges facing rural hospitals.
Then, Some Vermont-based employers are trying to diversify their hiring pool. But it can be tough to get BIPOC hires to move to a majority white state. We’ll hear about a program that helps people of color feel less alone when they move here for work.
Broadcast live on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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When we file our taxes, we all have a guess as to where our money’s going. Education, infrastructure, the military, foreign aid. But for most of us, it’s just that – a guess.
We break down where exactly our tax dollars go, both at the state and federal level. Vermont’s new tax commissioner Bill Shouldice explains where the state’s pot of tax dollars comes from, and where it gets allocated He also breaks down how his office estimates property taxes every year.
Then, Chuck Marr helps us understand how it works. He’s steeped in the minutiae of federal tax policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. He tells us about the biggest programs our tax dollars fund, like Medicare and Medicaid, and how that could be changing with this new Administration and Congress.
They hang upside down, fly by night, and some of them drink blood?! Bats get a bad rap – but are they really as scary as they seem?
On today's Vermont Edition: Bats! It’s the latest installment of our March series, Animal Hour. Bats play a vital role in our ecosystems. But some species are endangered, and others are being threatened by disease. A small mammal biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife studies the bat species in our region. She’ll share fun facts about bats, and explain why they’re so important.
We’ll also talk with a bat rehabilitator and founder of the Vermont Bat Center. He’ll tell us how to help injured or orphaned, or trapped bats.
Today on Vermont Edition: the history of the Vermont marble industry. Quarries around the state produced beautiful black, red, dark green and white marble. A Brandon historian will share stories of what it was like to work in a quarry, and the importance of marble to our region. We’ll also hear about the Marble Museum’s closure and the uncertain future of its collection, with the head of the Preservation Trust of Vermont.
Then: the annual Public Philosophy Week returns. Two local philosophy professors will tell us about upcoming philosophical lectures and mind-stimulating discussions around the state.
March marks the five-year anniversary of the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine was a steadying force through the early days of the lock down, a conduit of quickly evolving health guidance, and an advocate for the vaccine.
Gov. Phil Scott tapped Dr. Levine in 2017 to lead Vermont's Department of Health. As health commissioner, he provided guidance on public health concerns like opioid addiction, teen substance use, and respiratory viruses. He sat down with Vermont Edition ahead of his retirement at the end of March.
A new book preserves the stories of Vermonters during the historic COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time, you can read oral histories of more than a hundred state leaders, frontline workers and regular citizens. It’s called Life Became Very Blurry, An Oral History of COVID-19 in Vermont. The book illuminates the mindset of Vermonters during this unforgettable period in history, the way Vermont handled the epidemic, and how it reshaped the state. Its editor, Garrett Graff, is a bestselling author and historian. He teamed up with field historians, including our guest Amanda Gustin of the the Vermont Historical Society, to collect and publish this new book.
Broadcast live on Monday, March 24, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
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Sheep used to dominate the Vermont landscape. But these days, it’s kind of rare to drive by a large flock. What happened to Vermont’s sheep?
Today on Vermont Edition: It’s the latest in our March series Animal Hour and it’s all about sheep. We begin with local historian Mark Bushnell who tells us all about the sheep boom and bust of the 1800s.
Even though there aren’t as many sheep here as there used to be, there’s still a lot of Vermonters out there shearing sheep for their wool, raising lambs for meat, or producing award-winning sheep’s milk cheese. We’ll talk with Mark Rogers, head of the Vermont Sheep and Goat Association, and Amber Reed, a livestock grazing expert in Barnet.
South Burlington children's book author and illustrator Jason Chin uses paint and pen to bring the world around us to life. Chin won one of the highest honors in his field in 2022, when he was awarded the Caldecott Medal for Watercress, written by Andrea Wang. This year, he and the writer Lynn Brunelle won the Robert F. Silbert Medal for the most distinguished informational book for children for Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall.
This episode of Vermont Edition also included a conversation with VTDigger reporter Peter D'Auria about plans for a juvenile detention facility in Vergennes and some possible updates to Vermont's Raise the Age law.Your shoes are soggy. Your car wheels are spinning. You're not sure if you should dress for sun, rain, or even snow. Yes, it's mud season. Some Vermonters like Keegan Tierney, the Green Mountain Club's director of field programs, approach mud season with optimism and energy. Others, like Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak, drudge their way through the sludge each year. Vermont's state geologist Ben DeJong, University of Vermont geology professor Paul Bierman, along with mud-loving Tierney explained how this season affects our landscape, and ways to make the best of it.Broadcast live on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
The U.S. Department of Education is cutting nearly half of its workforce. President Donald Trump wants to see the agency eliminated completely. What do these tidal shifts in education mean for individual states, like Vermont? Today's show answers that question.
Vermont's famous big cats are rumored to be roaming the woods and hills. Here's how to know if you really did spot one in the wild.
A wounded Union captain from Vermont and the resilient wife of a Confederate soldier cross paths — and fates — in Chris Bohjalian's new novel.Bohjalian is the New York Times bestselling author of 25 books, a playwright and a longtime Weybridge resident. His work has been translated into 35 languages and become three movies and an Emmy-winning TV series (The Flight Attendant on Max). His novel Midwives was an Oprah’s Book Club selection. He was a weekly columnist for The Burlington Free Press from 1992 through 2015.This show was recorded on Mar. 9 at a live event, when Bohjalian sat down with Mikaela Lefrak in front of a packed house at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. The event was produced in partnership with the Middlebury Book Shop.Then, we get a preview of the Green Mountain Film Festival in Montpelier when Mikaela speaks with festival programmer Sam Kann.Broadcast live on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
The average marketplace premium in Vermont is more than 140% higher than the national average in 2025. For individuals who get their insurance through their employers, not the marketplace, their contributions are the highest in the whole country.In a recent Brave Little State episode, senior producer Josh Crane explores why Vermont's health care system is so expensive. He looks into the UVM Health Network and compares health care costs in different parts of our region. Then, Chief Health Care Advocate for Vermont Legal Aid Mike Fisher answers your questions about our health care system. Broadcast live on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Dr. David Krag and his team are sifting through around 43,000 studies about opioids and addiction to create an easy-to-access research database.
Town and state leaders are working to improve humans' relationship with beavers to support flood resiliency. Beavers' brains are small — about the size of a walnut — but you wouldn't know it from watching them work. "They get up and go to work every single day, never take a vacation," said Skip Lisle, a wildlife biologist in Grafton. Lisle invented the Beaver Deceiver, a flow device that sneaks water away from beavers and removes the need to trap or kill them.For naturalist Patti Smith of the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center in West Brattleboro, it's important for Vermonters to understand what happened when beavers were overhunted in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. "When all of the beavers disappeared from North America — disappeared being a euphemism for 'turned into stylish hats' — eventually those dams degraded and all of those wetlands drained," she said.
Sen. Welch discusses Trump's tax on Canadian goods. Vermont Commerce Secretary and a Montreal reporter discuss how the tariffs will play out on either side of the border.
Town Meeting Day is a method of direct civic engagement and and a longstanding community building tradition. It's a time when Vermont’s 247 municipalities each decide how they’ll spend their local budgets. We begin by hearing about some significant votes taking place around the state. Vermont Public's Nina Keck talks about the Rutland mayoral race, and reporter Lexi Krupp explains Lyndon's vote to keep Town Meeting an in-person affair, rather than switch to Australian ballot.Then, we dig into the history of town meetings in Vermont with Middlesex town moderator Susan Clark. She is the co-author of many books about democracy in Vermont, including All Those in Favor: Rediscovering the Secrets of Town Meeting and Community. She discusses the times when Vermont towns voted on national and international issues that extended far beyond the purview of local budgets. Then, we share a 1982 NPR story by Leslie Breeding about a town meeting in Strafford. Broadcast live on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
It’s time for Town Meeting Day, a Vermont tradition stretching back more than 200 years. Chief administrative officer for the City of Burlington Katharine Schad discusses significant bond measures. Missisquoi Valley School District vice chair Renick Darnell-Martin, a Highgate resident, talks through the school district's budget. In Plainfield, select board chair Karl Bissex talked about a plan to expand the town after last year's flooding caused major damage. Bellows Falls, Saxtons River and Rockingham voted this past weekend to create a single municipal fire and rescue department. Rockingham town manager Scott Pickup provides insight on that vote. Jackie Matts, chair of the Bennington charter review committee, explains the effort to allow 16- and 17-year-olds and non-U.S.citizens to vote on town issues.
A Vermont microbiologist, food safety official and dairy farmer explain how raw milk is tested and regulated.
Are you craving new restaurants to try or want the latest on Vermont's food scene? We've got you covered. Food and drink editor Melissa Pasanen of Seven Days shares culinary updates from around the region.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for a study on the effects of antidepressants and antipsychotics on children. He established the Make America Healthy Again commission to examine childhood chronic diseases, including mental health disorders. This comes as new U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argues that antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are overprescribed to children.Dr. Steven Schlozman, chief of child psychiatry at the University of Vermont Medical Center, explains how these medications work, and how they are prescribed, and answered listener questions.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Gov. Phil Scott wants to roll back some of Vermont’s key climate laws, arguing they are too costly to implement. Lawmakers are debating whether to stay the course on climate action. Vermont Public’s Peter Hirschfeld breaks down this debate over the Global Warming Solutions Act. He also looks at how legislators are preparing for Town Meeting Day and navigating uncertainty around federal funding. Catch up on everything happening at the Statehouse with Capitol Recap, released every Friday.
Among DOGE's federal funding cuts, tariffs, and proposed cuts to Medicaid, there is a lot of change happening in the federal budget. Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Senate minority leader Scott Beck, and a recently-fired USDA worker give us their thoughts.
Across Vermont, Black entrepreneurs are running successful businesses that serve both Black Vermonters and the broader population. This is the third installment of our Black History Month series, where we explore different aspects of Black life in our region. They discuss the ups and downs of being entrepreneurs.Leroy Nedd, owner of Hair R Us in Burlington, specializes in wigs, weaves, extensions, and other hair products. Restaurateur Leslie McCrorey Wells co-owns Sotto Enoteca, Pizzeria Verita, and Trattoria Delia in Burlington, as well as Lovestock Farm in Grand Isle. She has served on numerous boards, including the University of Vermont’s Fleming Museum of Art, the Flynn Center, the Intervale, and a three-year appointment on Vermont’s Future of Agriculture Commission. BJ Robertson also joins the conversation. After playing basketball in high school and college in Vermont, as well as for the Vermont Frost Heaves, he founded Blueprint Basketball, a mentorship and training program for young athletes.
In January, a U.S. Border Patrol agent was shot and killed in Coventry during a routine traffic stop. Two others were shot, and two people died. In the weeks since, it has emerged that those involved were followers of a fringe ideology known as Zizianism, which has been linked to multiple killings across several states. VTDigger’s Peter D’Auria and his colleagues have been covering the shooting, its aftermath, and the broader connections that have emerged.
In the name of government efficiency and cutting foreign spending, the Trump administration is freezing funds and furloughing workers at many federal agencies. Billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake. Leaders of organizations in our region that receive federal funding join us to discuss the local impact.We’ll hear about the major changes to institutions like USAID when we speak with Eric Postel of Bennington, a Senior Advisor at DAI, Inc., and a USAID political appointee during the Obama and Biden administrations, and Nazgul Abdrazakova, President and CEO of Resonance Global, based in Winooski. Their organizations both receive USAID funding. The Vermont Afghan Alliance receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support Afghan refugee resettlement. Executive director Molly Gray and Yassin Hashimi, who leads the organization's employment program, explain the uncertainty caused by the funding cuts. Then, we're joined by Jack Glaser, a local biomedical researcher whose organization, MBF Bioscience in Williston, receives federal grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Eric Postel spoke to Vermont Edition a personal capacity and not on behalf of DAI, Inc.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
It's been nearly a month since President Trump has taken office, and he's moved quickly in implementing some big changes in the Federal Government. On today's show, we hear from Vermont elected officials about their reaction to the Trump administration's early days, and what they're doing in response. First, we'll hear from Senator Bernie Sanders. Then, a conversation with Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and Solicitor General Jonathan Rose, who have been a part of many efforts to stall some of Trump's biggest initiatives. Plus: a Northfield author, Nathaniel Ian Miller recently published his second novel. It tells the story of a young man returning to his family farm.
In 1988, Louvenia Dorsey Bright made history as the first woman of color elected to the Vermont legislature. Her son, Bill Bright, reflects on her accomplishments and what it was like to watch her break barriers. The Friends of the Vermont State House is raising funds to commission her portrait.Then, we hear from three black politicians in our region — State Sen. Joe Majors who represents Windsor, Winooski Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner, and former Burlington City Councilmember Zoraya Hightower. They share their political inspirations, what motivated them to run for office, and the roles they see for themselves in local and state government.
After a failed gubernatorial run in 1982, Madeleine Kunin secured 50% of the vote in her second run in 1984, winning against her Republican challenger. John J. Easton, Jr. Forty years ago, Kunin became the first and only woman to Vermont's highest-elected office. She’s also the first and only Jewish person to serve as Vermont’s Governor."I think the women's movement gave me the idea that women could do anything," Kunin said. "And I wanted to be involved in public events, and being in Vermont politics seemed more accessible. We had a small group of people at that time who encouraged each other to do things larger than their personal lives, and I took that seriously."When reflecting on the career of former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin, it’s natural to focus on her historic “firsts.” Once in office, she appointed the first woman to Vermont's Supreme Court, Denise Johnson, She then appointed Mollie Beattie to the Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation, who would go on to become the first woman Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The influence her leadership has had on generations of women. This legacy continued when, two years ago, Becca Balint was elected as Vermont’s first female representative in Congress. Balint’s election ended Vermont’s distinction as the only state never to have elected a woman to Congress.Broadcast live on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us…
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of his show, "My Place," Joel Najman recounts his long radio career.
Vermont has numerous invasive species, including zebra mussels, Japanese knotweed, false indigo, and golden clams. Invasive species are plants, insects, or other organisms introduced—intentionally or accidentally — from other places. A recent episode of Brave Little State centers on a listener's question about which invasive species has done the most damage in our region. The episode also features Noah Hoffman, invasive species coordinator for Vermont’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, who explains the prevention measures the state takes.Broadcast live on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Vermont has numerous invasive species, like zebra mussels, Japanese knotweed, false indigo, and golden clams. Invasive species are plants, insects, or other organisms introduced—intentionally or accidentally — from other places. A recent episode of Brave Little State centers on a listener's question about which invasive species has done the most damage in our region. The episode also features Noah Hoffman, Invasive Species Coordinator for Vermont’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. He'll explain the prevention measures the state takes to fend off these pesky invaders.Broadcast live on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at noon
It’s been almost 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War. The conflict transformed how Americans felt about fighting on foreign soil, and how civilians treat veterans upon their return home. For today's Veterans' Day show, we want to shine a particular focus on Vietnam War veterans.Two local Vietnam veterans share their stories of deployment and their return home. Perry Melvin, Shelburne resident and president of the Vermont Vietnam Veterans State Council, served with the Combined Action Platoon unit 135 as a Navy corpsman with the Marines. Maureen Dwyer served as an Army nurse from 1967 to 1970, stationed for a year at the 67th Evacuation Hospital from 1969 to 1970. She now lives in Essex.The organization Vets Town Hall creates storytelling space for veterans of any era to share their stories at events around the state. Jon Turner, one of the local organizers and board member, served in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007, and also operates Wild Roots Community Farm in Bristol.Broadcast live on Monday, November 11, 2024, at noon
Local veterans reflect on their experiences in the Vietnam War. Plus, Vets Town Hall events encourage veterans to share their experiences.
Elections elicit a lot of strong feelings and reactions, as the results determine the future of our country and our region. So this hour, we opened our phone lines and inboxes to get a sense of how our area is feeling about the outcome of both the national and local races. We're joined by Middlebury College Professor Matt Dickinson for analysis of the campaign and its outcome and to react to your thoughts.Then, But Why host Jane Lindholm discusses how to navigate tough conversations with kids and students who may have many questions following this election season.
Election anxiety can accompany any election, as the results determine the country’s direction for the next four years. This year, Vermonters were deciding which candidates could best improve their lives and communities. We spoke with Middlebury College Professor Matt Dickinson for analysis of the campaign and its outcome. We also heard from Vermonters across the political spectrum about their perspectives on the election.Additionally, But Why host Jane Lindholm discusses how to navigate tough conversations with kids and students who may have many questions following this election season.Broadcast live on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Today on Vermont Edition, we'll get a breakdown of the main takeaways from the state's elections with Vermont Public statehouse reporter, Peter Hirschfeld. Then, we speak with winners of major local and statewide races. Republican John Rodgers appears to have won the lieutenant governorship, besting Progressive Democrat David Zuckerman, the incumbent. Republicans flipped six seats in the Vermont Senate, ending the Democratic supermajority. We'll hear from one of those Republican winners, Steve Heffernan of Addison County. And Democratic state senator Thomas Chittenden of South Burlington will tell us about his re-election and gives us his take on why some candidates from his party were not able to hold on to their seats. Lastly, Democratic Congresswoman Becca Balint joins us to give us her thoughts on the results on the national stage, including the re-election of President-elect Trump, and how the changes in congress will affect her work next year.
Months of campaigning and planning have lead to today— Election Day. Polls across Vermont are open until 7 p.m., and Vermonters can still register and vote at their local polling place. Vermont Public digital producer Zoe McDonald spent the past few months reporting about voting access in Vermont and talks about ways the state could still improve. Reporters Nina Keck and Erica Heilman give some insights from their corners of the state. Nick Capodice and Hannah McCarthy, hosts of the NHPR podcast Civics 101, share a look at the races in New Hampshire and other New England races. Broadcast live on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
As the last ballots are cast, we find out how voters are feeling in Vermont and beyond.
At the University of Vermont, students involved with the Community News Service have been preparing for months to cover the 2024 elections. The program connects student journalists with professional editors and local news outlets. CNS Managing Director Meg Little Riley explains how the program works, while student journalists Gwen Mathews and Ace Sheehan highlight their recent election-related coverage.Meanwhile, at Vermont State University, political science professor Rich Clark is helping to lead get-out-the-vote efforts at Castleton. He also regularly volunteers at the polls. Ruben Somda, a senior and president of the school’s Content Lab, discussing their efforts to encourage college students to vote through effective marketing and messaging.
Fish and Wildlife's deer project leader discusses the this year's hunting season outlook.
In honor of Halloween, Vermont Edition explores some of the spookiest places in our region — eerie graveyards, centuries-old buildings, haunted dorms and more. Director of Collections and Access at the Vermont Historical Society Amanda Gustin shares stories about our region's troubling tombstones and gory graveyard tales.Then, producer Daniela Fierro takes us on a trip to East Corinth, where scenes from the 1988 cult classic "Beetlejuice" and its 2024 sequel "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" were shot.Broadcast live on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Local government is a Vermont tradition. But recent disasters have lawmakers considering a new option – regional governments. They’d handle duties that some think are too complex for individual towns and their volunteer officials. This change would transform the way Vermont oversees emergency services, law enforcement, infrastructure projects, and more. We hear from the co-sponsor of the bill that kickstarted this discussion, Sen. Ruth Hardy of Addison County, Two Rivers-Ottauqueechee Regional Commission Executive Director Peter Gregory, and Executive Director for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns Ted Brady.
It's deer hunting season in Vermont. Fish and Wildlife's deer and moose project leader, Nick Fortin, gives us a breakdown of the different types of hunting that are permitted throughout the season, the outlook for the deer population this year, and where to find the biggest bucks. Plus: some thoughts on how Vermont's moose are doing.
Vermont has a state bird, a state flower, and, as of 2016, a state vegetable— the Gilfeather turnip. The mighty root vegetable originated in Wardsboro and the town just celebrated it's annual Gilfeather Turnip Festival. Wardsboro resident, Gilfeather turnip enthusiast and festival volunteer Anita Rafael shared insights on the festival and ways to eat these root vegetables.Broadcast live on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Vermont's state vegetable is given the chance to shine with a yearly festival in Wardsboro.
Greenland’s ice sheet holds millions of years of Earth’s history. By drilling down into the ice and learning about the past, we can also learn about the future of our warming planet.Geologist and UVM professor Paul Bierman is the author of “When the Ice is Gone: What a Greenland Ice Core Reveals About Earth’s Tumultuous History and Perilous Future." We’ll learn about his expeditions to Greenland, his work with UVM graduate students, and a surprising discovery he made while looking through his microscope.Broadcast live on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Geologist and UVM professor Paul Bierman's new book about Greenland’s ice core, and what it reveals about earth’s perilous future.
Every month, a Seven Days food writer joins Vermont Edition to talk about local food, restaurant openings and closings, and other big news from our region’s food and beverage scene. In this edition of the series, Jordan Barry shares her favorite you-pick apple orchards, information about Vermont Chicory Week, and upcoming restaurant openings.
From the quarries of Barre to the crystals of Belvidere Mountain in Lowell and Eden, rocks and minerals play a significant role in Vermont's history and culture. The Vermont Rocks! exhibit at the Bennington Museum, up now through Nov. 10, dives into the state's geologic past. Jamie Franklin, curator of the Bennington Musuem, and Ken Carlsen, a geologist and educator from Bennington, discuss the exhibit and the state's subterranean wonders. Carlsen will give a special presentation on the Belvidere Mountain quarries on Oct. 5th at the museum.Bennington Museum is a Vermont Public underwriter.
Guests include the director of a new play in White River Junction, a podcaster in Jeffersonville, and Sasquatch callers in Whitehall.
Vermont Public hosted a debate on Tuesday with candidates for Vermont’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was the first in a series of debates and candidate interviews ahead of the general election on Nov. 5th.Incumbent Congresswoman Becca Balint, a Democrat from Brattleboro, is running for a second term. She previously represented Windham County in the Vermont Senate. Her challenger is Mark Coester, a Republican from Westminster. He is a small business owner with a background in fishing, logging, and sugaring.During the debate, the candidates disagreed on nearly every topic, including climate change, foreign policy and the role of the federal government in addressing rising health care costs and solutions to the affordable housing shortage.
September 30th is the National Day for Truth an Reconciliation, a Canadian holiday marking the harmful impact of residential schools.
Sugaring connects us to the trees around us, and produces a delicious, sweet product for our pancakes, salad dressings and marinades. But it can also cause its fair share of headaches — like when you have to battle rugged terrain, bad weather and plundering woodland creatures to get that sap you want so much.Peter Gregg knows a thing or two about the highs and lows of sugaring. In his recently published memoir, "The Sugar Rush," Gregg tells the story of how he and his longtime best friend fell in love with sugaring. Gregg runs a 1,000-tap sugaring operation in Rupert and is also the longtime publisher of "The Maple News," the largest trade magazine for the maple syrup industry in the US and Canada.Then: Over the past four decades Vermont Creamery has grown from a small artisan dairy company based in Websterville to a must-have brand for retailers like Wegmans and Whole Foods. This year, it celebrates its 40th anniversary. The company's co-founder, Allison Hooper, joins Vermont Edition to mark the milestone.
To cap off our School Stories series, we thought we’d end on a wholly positive note, and turn to the wide world of school sports. Joining us to give the play-by-play on Vermont high school athletics is Jack Fitzsimmons, sports director for WCAX.
Today is the fourth and final installment of our weekly September series, School Stories. Every Tuesday, we've been exploring a different issues impacting education across Vermont. This hour, we're joined by Vermont’s interim Secretary of Education, Zoie Saunders. She was appointed to the position by Governor Phil Scott in April. Before moving to Vermont, she was an administrator for a school district in Florida, and a strategist for a charter school management company.We fielded questions from listeners about their biggest concerns about educating Vermont's kids. Broadcast live on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Bureaucracy at the federal level is negatively impacting Vermont municipalities damaged by the 2023 floods.
Washed out bridges. Damaged sewer lines. Torn up roads. The toll of last year’s historic flooding is still visible in many Vermont towns. To repair this vital infrastructure, towns rely on money administered to them by FEMA, the same agency that’s supposed to help individuals rebuild their lives after disasters.But earlier this year, a Vermont Public investigation revealed systemic failures in FEMA’s program for flood survivors. A new investigation shows similar failures in the FEMA program for municipalities. Journalist Peter Hirschfeld shares stories from his reporting. Sen. Peter Welch explains how these investigations have prompted Vermont’s congressional delegation to push for major structural reforms to FEMA.This problem isn’t isolated to Vermont, as Claire Carlson reports from Kentucky. She works for the Daily Yonder, a news organization that covers rural America.Broadcast on Monday, September 23, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Last fall, three young men of Palestinian descent were shot while out for a walk. All three survived, but one, Hisham Awartani, suffered a spinal cord injury and is now paralyzed from the waist down. His mother, Elizabeth Price, shares an update on his health and explains the accessibility modifications their family has made to their Burlington home.Modifying homes to accommodate aids like wheelchairs can be a challenging process in Vermont, where much of the housing stock is older and not ADA-complaint. Edie Perkins, executive director of the Kelly Brush Foundation, became paralyzed from the chest down seven years ago following an accident. She worked with an architect to build an accessible home.Vermont does have a number of legal protections for people with disabilities. Big Hartman, executive director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, explains how their office handles discrimination complaints, which are often related to housing. Rachel Batterson, director of Vermont Legal Aid’s Housing Discrimination Law Project, outlines the housing rights of people with disabilities.
Suffering a major injury is traumatic, and adjusting to life afterward is a long process. Modifying homes to accommodate aids like wheelchairs can be challenging. Last fall, three young men of Palestinian descent were shot while out for a walk. All three survived, but Hisham Awartani suffered a spinal cord injury and is now paralyzed from the waist down. His mother, Elizabeth Price, shares the modifications made to their Burlington home so he can stay there during holiday breaks. We also hear from Edie Perkins, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident seven years ago. She reflects on how her life has changed and how she’s adapted.Vermont has legal protections for people with disabilities. Big Hartman, executive director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, explains how their office handles discrimination complaints, often related to housing. Rachel Batterson, director of Vermont Legal Aid’s Housing Discrimination Law Project, also outlines the rights of people with disabilities.Broadcast live on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Should phones be allowed in schools? Some local schools are banning them. We'll hear from a group of 7th and 8th graders from Williston Central School — Ella, Sunny, Ryan, Katherine, Evan, and Olivia — who share their relationships with their smartphones.Seven Days education reporter Alison Novak discusses how Vermont schools are trying to reduce student distractions. Dr. Heidi Schumacher, a pediatrician at the University of Vermont and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on School Health, explains the signs of phone addiction that parents should watch for.Eight states have restricted phones in schools. Last session, lawmakers introduced a bill to ban phones in Vermont schools, but opponents argued it would be difficult to enforce. Rep. Angela Arsenault, a Democrat, says she plans to reintroduce a similar bill in the next session.One school in our region has long banned phones: North Country School in Lake Placid, New York, a boarding and day school for grades 4 through 9. Todd Ormiston, the school’s executive director, shares the benefits and challenges of keeping phones out of schools. Broadcast live on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Vermont’s state government is falling short in its regulation of water quality on farms according the the federal government. The EPA found that state regulators aren’t enforcing the Clean Water Act because they’re not communicating clearly with farmers. Vermont Public's climate and environment reporter Abagael Giles has been following the situation and fills us in on the details. We're joined by David Cash, a regional administrator for the EPA, who oversees the northeast region, Julie Moore, secretary of Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources, and Jon Groveman with the Vermont Natural Resources Council where he serves as the policy and water program director.Broadcast live on Monday, September 16, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Racing pigs, cattle pulls and the storied Larkin dancers — the Tunbridge World's Fair is one of Vermont's most beloved and longest-standing annual traditions.The fair dates back to 1867. Each year tens of thousands of people come to central Vermont for its four-day run. Vermont Edition visited for a live broadcast.
Ethan Allen is a household name in Vermont. His youngest brother Ira has been overlooked by history — until now.Ira Allen played an important role in the founding of Vermont as the 14th state. Born in 1751, he was a land speculator, pamphleteer, politician and revolutionary. He is the subject of a new book by J. Kevin Graffagnino of Essex. "Ira Allen: A Biography," out on Sept. 13 from the Vermont Historical Society, shines new light on Allen and his prominent role in Vermont’s formative decades. Historian and VTDigger journalist Mark Bushnell also joined the show to discuss the oldest known burial ground in the state. The Bennington Centre Cemetery is the final resting place of many notable Vermonters, including Robert Frost, five Vermont governors, and Revolutionary War soldiers.
Today is the second installment in our series School Stories. Every Tuesday in September, we are focusing on issues related to education in Vermont. This week– behavioral issues in the classroom. Our guests today discussed how schools can better strengthen neuro-inclusion, and help staff build closer relationships with students through restorative practices.Annie O’Shaughnessy is the co-founder and co-executive director of the Starling Collaborative, based in Underhill Center. They partner with schools to build stronger communities. She’s also the coordinator of the Holistic Restorative Education Certificate Program at Saint Michael's College in Colchester. Dr. Mel Houser is a Montpelier-based physician and the executive director of All Brains Belong. It’s a nonprofit focused on supporting neuro-inclusion among children and adults. We were also joined this hour by Patrick Lincoln, the dean of students at Hartford Memorial Middle School in White River Junction. Broadcast live on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
The Vermont Housing Finance Agency says the state needs to build between 24,000 and 36,000 new housing units over the next five years to meet demand. Rutland City is taking on the challenge, aiming to build 1,000 units by 2028. Mayor Mike Doenges and Rutland Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Ed Bove share their vision and their upcoming developer showcase in late October. Then, we take a broader look at Rutland County. Devon Neary, executive director of the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, explains new laws requiring smaller towns to map their downtowns and other potential growth areas. The commission is also updating its 2026 regional plan.Broadcast live on Monday, September 9, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Grief is often described as a heavy weight – a weight you can feel on your shoulders, in heart, or deep in your gut. In "We Need No Wings," the new novel by author Ann Dávila Cardinal of Morrisville, a professor in her sixties weighed down by grief awakens one day with the power to levitate. It’s not a metaphor – Tere Sánchez can rise into the air. This magical discovery sets Tere off on a journey to Spain to learn about her ancestors and her newfound power. The novel comes out on Sept. 10th.Cardinal is a two-time International Latino Book Award winning novelist and self described “Gringa-Rican author” and “aging tattooed punk.” She received her MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
What does it mean to love a forest? For Ethan Tapper, love is work. In his forthcoming debut book, How to Love a Forest, he walks us through the fragile and resilient ecosystem that is a forest. And he argues that it takes hard work to preserve forests— work that can be counterintuitive and even, at times, heartbreaking. A former Chittenden County forester, Tapper's new book details his work at Bear Island Forest in Bolton. He's also the lead singer and guitarist of the Burlington-based 10-piece punk band The Bubs, who have a new album out, Make a Mess. To celebrate the book launch, Tapper will be in conversation with Bridget Butler at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in Contois Auditorium, Burlington.Broadcast live on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
From Rochester to Windham, a look at communities that have weathered debates over closing small schools.
Raised in Waitsfield, Shaina Taub is a two-time Tony Award winner for her Broadway musical Suffs.
IV therapy has been popping up around Vermont and it has state regulators concerned. We're joined by a member of the Vermont Board of Medical Practice and primary care practitioners who will tell us the difference between legitimate use of IV therapy and the stuff that's just trendy.
We're joined by a Seven Days food writer who tells us about the hit Winooski restaurants are taking during road construction. And we get a couple suggestions for some good eats around the state.
We'll listen to a recent audio documentary by Vermont Public's Mitch Wertlieb and continue the conversation with a UVM political science professor.
Vermont Public's housing report explains why the state is putting new limits on the housing program, and shelter leaders give us a look inside their doors.
Rootstock Publishing's Samantha Kolber discusses a new poetry collection by Reuben Jackson and a memoir by Bill Mares.
A look at the college's place in Vermont's education landscape, with CCV's president, a student and more.
A look at the college's place in Vermont's education landscape, with CCV's president, a student and more.
Double-digit increases are hitting Vermonters who purchase insurance directly, and small businesses. Vermont's rates are going up more than the rest of the country.
Burlington Free Press reporter Dan D'Ambrosio shares an update on Bernardino Suchite Canan.
We have two animal-centric stories today— one about dogs in Middlebury, and another about the endangered species that is Jeezum Crow.
Thetford broadcaster Peter Graves and NPR's Brian Mann debrief the Paris Games and share stories of Olympics past.
The big takeaways from the 2024 primaries, and what's next as we head into the general elections.
Director Zephyr Teachout discusses ‘Returning to Haifa,’ now running at the Unadilla Theatre in Marshfield.
Vermont Edition speaks with members of Braver Angels, a group that fosters conversations across political divides.
The chief of police in Vermont's largest city discusses challenges his department is facing, as well as recent wins in recruitment and retention.
We talk with the owners of Palmer Lane Maple, Vermont Cookie Love, Cold Cow Creamery and other purveyors of frozen treats.
Vermont Edition hosts a conversation about finding happiness, inspired by a recent episode of Brave Little State.
The presidential election is now less than 100 days away, and the energy is ramping up.
A Dartmouth geography professor explains the increased precipitation rates in the Northeast, and a mutual aid organizer discussing ongoing needs in the Lyndon area.
Emma Hunsinger is a graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction.
Rainfall subsided Wednesday night after major storms caused extensive damage in Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties.
During the Vermont Public debate, John Rodgers and Gregory Thayer differed on many topics including national and local party politics, climate change and illegal drug use.
The governor joined Vermont Edition to address recent flooding, national politics and working across party lines.
During the Vermont Public debate, the candidates differed on many topics including housing policy, growing the state’s population and addressing the opioid crisis.
Rutland-based Olympics reporter Peggy Shinn, the founder of the Kelly Brush Foundation and a Paralympic athlete discuss the Paris Games.
Musician Grace Potter joins host Mikaela Lefrak in front of a live audience for an interview and performance.
Middlebury political scientist Matthew Dickinson and politician-turned-journalist Myers Mermel discuss news from the Biden and Trump campaigns.
Vermont Edition speaks with Stephanie Smith, the state hazard mitigation officer with Vermont Emergency Management, about the property buyout program.
All Things Gardening host Charlie Nardozzi answers questions about weather, pests and getting the most out of your garden beds for the rest of this season.
Updates and guidance from Vermont's public safety commissioner, the Barre City manager, Vermont Public reporters and a reverend from Montpelier.
Guidance and updates from Vermont's public safety commissioner, Barre town manager, and a reverend from Montpelier.
While some farmers have had to stop using parts of their land, the overwhelming majority have continued farming.
While some farmers have had to stop using parts of their land, the overwhelming majority have continued farming.
Montpelier and Barre saw a deluge of rain and flooding in July 2023, damaging many homes and businesses. Vermont Public’s Bob Kinzel remembers watching floodwaters rise in downtown Montpelier. Guests and listeners also share their recollections from the Wrightsville Dam and Barre.
A new film by filmmaker Jay Craven imagines what would happen if the paths of two historical figures crossed – the Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, and the poet Lucy Terry Prince.
A new film by filmmaker Jay Craven imagines what would happen if the paths of two historical figures crossed – the Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, and the poet Lucy Terry Prince.
The Vermont Country Store proprietor want to keep Vermont art from leaving his home state.
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and elections director Seán Sheehan share what Vermonters need to know to cast their ballot.
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas and elections director Seán Sheehan share what Vermonters need to know to cast their ballot.
Sportswriter Scott Douglas discusses the Olympics-bound runner, her training regimen and the influence of her renowned running coach.
Almost a year after the summer floods tore through Vermont, many survivors feel mistreated by the federal agency that was supposed to help them.
The former poet laureate's new novel brings together a seemingly mismatched pair of friends in the Maine wilderness.
The Community Sailing Center and the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association want more people to be able to access and enjoy Vermont's waterways.
We learn how AI is currently being used by teachers and students, and dive into some of the ethical concerns.
From hotly contested school budgets to debates over the taxes that fund our education system, it’s been an eventful school year in Vermont.
Seven Days food editor Melissa Pasanen talks creemees to beat the heat, plus the hottest food news in our region.
Fans of the soccer team have been filling Virtue Field, with attendance growing over the last three seasons. Their upcoming women’s exhibition game this Saturday may be their highest attended yet.
iSun, the parent company of the solar panel maker SunCommon, has filed for bankruptcy. A finance professor explains what led to it and what's next.
Governor Phil Scott has vetoed eight bills this legislative session. If Democratic lawmakers want to override those vetoes, they’ll need a two-thirds supermajority of lawmakers.
Local theaters play an instrumental role in the theater ecosystem in the face of financial hardships.
Vermont's junior senator joined Vermont Edition to discuss flood resiliency, the Rural Recovery Act, and nonprofit theater funding.
In "The Editor," Sara Franklin details the accomplishments of legendary editor and part-time Vermonter Judith Jones.
Insects like the emerald ash borer and the elm zigzag sawfly have whimsical names, but they are harming forests in our region.
Insects like the emerald ash borer and the elm zigzag sawfly have whimsical names, but they are harming forests in our region.
Brave Little State investigates a listener question about public transportation, and a regional transit planner answers your questions.
Woodstock recently kicked off their first weekend-long Pride of Woodstock with a high heel race. Plus, information on upcoming Pride events in our region.
Vermont Public recently convened a panel discussion in Taylor Park in St. Albans on the region's economy.
Vermont Public recently convened a panel discussion in Taylor Park in St. Albans on the region's economy.
Curator Adi Oasis and Flynn curator Jay Wahl discuss what to expect from this year's lineup.
Curator Adi Oasis and Flynn curator Jay Wahl discuss what to expect from this year's lineup.
Steve Maleski, a meteorologist whose forecasts have helped buoy Eye on the Sky for 40 years, is retiring. And, a new voice — Megan Duncan — will be joining the meteorologists Mark Breen and Lawrence Hayes to keep Vermont Public listeners updated on the weather. Maleski and Duncan joined Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak to reflect on Maleski’s tenure and welcome Duncan into the role.
The retiring senators share memories of their colleagues and reflect on their decades together in the Legislature.
Reporters Liam Elder-Connors and Derek Brouwer share a behind-the-scenes look at their reporting on Vermont's courts backlogs.
A cat expert in Burlington offers tips on responsibly helping outdoor cats and the importance of spaying and neutering.
'Young Woman and the Sea' tells the story of the first woman to swim across the English Channel
'Young Woman and the Sea' tells the story of the first woman to swim across the English Channel
Greene is the author of six books of fiction. His latest marks his first foray into nonfiction and memoir.
Looking for an adventure this summer travel season? Quebec is filled with cosmopolitan cities, delicious restaurants, and natural wonders.
Mayor Thom Lauzon discusses redevelopment projects, the school budget and other big issues facing Barre.
Journey to Recovery has partnered with local schools on addiction prevention and early intervention.
Home reappraisals have a big effect on the real estate market. How exactly do they work?
Balint joins Vermont Edition to discuss a new mental health bill, her views on House Speaker Mike Johnson and her reelection campaign.
It’s graduation season, which means commencement speeches are starting to echo across the Green Mountains.
We discuss local efforts to study the medical uses of psilocybin mushrooms and other psychedelics.
We discuss local efforts to study the medical uses of psilocybin mushrooms and other psychedelics.
Vermont Fish & Wildlife and Vermont Folklife are working together to collect oral history stories about turkey restoration and hunting.
Seven Days food editor Melissa Pasanen talks about the latest Vermont food and restaurant news.
Statehouse reporters discuss the legislative session, the upcoming veto session and election season.
A researcher explains the spread of blacklegged ticks in the northeast and their role in Lyme disease transmission.
"It's pretty surreal," the Norwich native says of qualifying for the 2024 summer Olympics.
All Things Gardening host Charlie Nardozzi shares tips on everything from pollinator plants to pest control.
Students, faculty and community members weigh in on the campus protests across our region as part of the nationwide protest movement against the war in Gaza.
The 1A host capped off a weeklong visit to Vermont by reflecting on her upbringing, values and what journalism can do.
"The Cemetery of Untold Stories" is an exploration of the act of storytelling and the characters we all create.
When was the last time you played a game of pinball? Maybe it was on a machine in a friend’s basement when you were a kid. Or maybe you’re a competitive player and always go to arcades. Perhaps you’ve never played at all!
While Vermont might not be filling up church pews, spirituality is strong in the Green Mountains.
"The Cemetery of Untold Stories" is an exploration of the act of storytelling and the characters we all create.
Greer Kennedy, a senior at St. Johnsbury Academy, will compete on behalf of Vermont in the national championship in Washington D.C. Thursday.
The Vermont Department of Health shares an update on the important role of vaccinations in containing the virus.
The Vermont Department of Health shares an update on the important role of vaccinations in containing the virus.
Last week, the Vermont House passed a bill outlawing untraceable ghost guns. What does that mean for Vermonters?
Green Up Day is around the corner. We learn about grassroots efforts across the state to remove trash from our communities.
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth joins Vermont Edition. Baruth discusses property taxes, Act 250 reform, and Governor Phil Scott’s expected vetoes.
Zoie Saunders discusses her views on school choice and her hopes for the future of Vermont’s schools.
Zoie Saunders discusses her views on school choice and her hopes for the future of Vermont’s schools.
The University of Vermont Cancer Center director explains why colorectal cancer is a growing concern among people under 50 and a survivor of rectal cancer from Essex shares her story.
Teachers and counselors at Randolph Union High School share how they're supporting their low-income students, even after graduation.
After 86 years and many ups and downs, Goddard College in Plainfield will close at the end of this semester. We reflect on its legacy and history.
A regional film festival celebrates movies made in New England and Quebec, from a werewolf horror-comedy to a documentary about weight and body image.
Can Vermont make big fossil fuel companies pay for climate change damages? Some Vermont legislators say yes.
The solar eclipse has come and gone, leaving many of us starry-eyed and some very tired from long drives home.
Lawmakers work to get enough votes to override the governor's veto of a bill that would ban flavored tobacco and vape products.
Teachers share tips on explaining solar eclipses to children and helping them watch one safely.
Sometimes students with dyslexia need extra help in school. Senate bill 204 would guarantee kids between kindergarten and third grade get screened for any learning differences they might have.
We hear from lawmakers in favor of and opposed to a House bill that would overhaul how communities develop land.
We take a look at how Vermont public libraries are supporting their communities with Brave Little State.
Filmmaker Tommy Hyde and a representative from Farm First talk about the hurdles and resources for Vermont farmers.
The outgoing Democrat discusses some of the city's largest challenges, from the drug crisis to affordable housing, his proudest achievements and what he might do next.
Civil rights enforcement, violent crime and fraud cases are among the areas of focus for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Vermont.
Big Hartman, the new executive director of Vermont's Human Rights Commission, talks about housing and employment discrimination.
Some Wolcott residents are still using town offices to bathe or wash dishes. Meanwhile, there's a lot of discussion about long-term changes like elevating homes or expanding floodplains.
A Montpelier stylist and designers from Burlington and Grand Isle discuss Vermont style trends on Vermont Edition.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Eric Ford, executive producer and host of Vermont Public's Made Here.
Rick Winston, founder and former owner and operator of the Savoy Theater in Montpelier, discusses his new memoir, Save Me A Seat: A Life with Movies.
Vermont Edition broadcast live from the fair, capturing some of the characters and behind-the-scenes secrets that make it special.
On a recent episode of Brave Little State, reporter Mae Nagusky explores Vermont's rap scene through the journey of MC and comedian Omega Jade.
Vermont kids are heading back to school this week. On today's episode, we talk about how education providers and administrators are working on access and equity in schools and how some kids may have been impacted by this summer's flooding.
Elizabeth Carpenter-Song kept in touch for years with families she met at a shelter in 2009.
Efficiency Vermont says work needs to be done to make weatherization and other programs more accessible, especially for people in rural areas. Disclosure: Efficiency Vermont is a business sponsor of Vermont Public.
Data analysis shows far fewer Vermonters are entering the workforce compared to those who are retiring, according to Vermont Futures Project Executive Director Kevin Chu.
Dr. Tim Plante, a general internist, epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, talks more about the national increase in COVID-19 cases and the updated vaccine coming this fall.
Cycling can be a physically and mentally demanding sport. But the scene is also becoming more open, including for people with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Guests Josh Kelly, the solid waste program manager with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and Lee Perry, the maintenance division director for the City of Burlington, talk about waste in Vermont.
Gov. Phil Scott joined Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak to talk through where flood recovery stands from the state's perspective.
Vermont is home to a small but strong network of bars and arcades where you can play pinball games like Godzilla, Baywatch and the Big Lebowski.
All Things Gardening host Charlie Nardozzi provides tips on how to help your gardens through the highly wet and buggy summer Vermont is having. Plus, tips for getting ready for all the fall planting.
The annual Perseid meteor shower graces the night sky this time of year. Its peak is coming up, and meteorologist Mark Breen shares his meteor-gazing tips.
This summer’s heavy rains have led to phosphorus runoff and sewage leaks into Vermont lakes and ponds. A water quality expert with the Lake Champlain Sea Grant explains why it’s important not to swim if there’s a cyanobacteria bloom.
As wildfires continue to rage in Canada — sometimes sending heavy smoke over Vermont — CBC journalist Ben Shingler shares the latest.
Two FEMA representatives join Vermont Edition to answer your questions about the application and aid processes.
Ice cream and sorbet makers across Vermont share insights into their production process, favorite flavors, and more.
Vermont's Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas discusses a residential database of contractors and more.
After the recent flooding, a state flood mitigation officer, architect and engineer discuss the factors that go into deciding whether to relocate properties or keep them where they are.
Exploring the intersections of climate change, racial justice and LBGTQ activism with Vermont youth activists.
Myra Flynn, host of Vermont Public's newest podcast, Homegoings, joins host Mikaela Lefrak after we listen to the first episode.
Vermont artists and arts advocates are among those affected by the recent floods, with many having to reschedule performances and salvage materials and work.
Anne Ward, the executive director of Mosaic Vermont — a shelter for those affected by domestic and sexual violence — says they're focused on continuing their services even as their buildings experienced extensive flooding damage.
Attorney general Charity Clark shares ways Vermonters can stay safe from scams and price gouging as they rebuild from recent floods.
On the latest episode of Brave Little State, reporter Lexi Krupp looks into the ways humans have transformed how water runs through Vermont's landscape.
Members of Vermont's congressional delegation discuss guidance on applying for federal disaster assistance.
Many Vermont farmers are urgently seeking support after the catastrophic floods wiped out their fields.
Small business owners in Ludlow and Hardwick share their stories. Plus, we share information on a new fund to support recovery efforts for businesses across Vermont.
Communities across Vermont are bracing for more rain, following the historic flooding earlier this week. And yet Vermonters are already willing to get to work. We get an in-depth forecast from the National Weather Service. More thunderstorms are coming today and this weekend.
Communities across Vermont are coming together on clean-up and recovery efforts following historic flooding earlier this week. We bring you updates on flood recovery efforts from across the state.
The rain has stopped, for now, but the capital and other Vermont towns are still under water. We bring you the latest from officials on the ground in some of the most affected areas of the state.
Federal disaster declaration approved; Where we stand on Tuesday morning in Vermont as flooding continues.
We air a recent episode of Brave Little State on Barre City and then check in with a newspaper editor there.
Recent data shows a four-day workweek can improve worker health and productivity, and some Vermont employers are trying it out.
Younger workers discuss the ways their relationship to their jobs has shifted since the pandemic.
New Hampshire Public radio reporter Lauren Chooljian hosts the podcast "The 13th Step."
Rob Mermin talks about why he wrote "Act 39," a true story of what happened when his friend used Vermont's medical aid in dying law.
Two local librarians and a bookseller from Woodstock share their summer reading recommendations.
Charlotte News editor Scooter MacMillan chats with host Mikaela Lefrak about the news in the region.
This year is the third annual Juneteenth Sails on Lake Champlain, a free sailing and storytelling celebration for Black Vermonters.
Myra Flynn shares the inspiration behind Homegoings and where she hopes the show goes from here.
Vermont cookbook author Tracey Medeiros talks about the many restaurants and farms included in her new edition.
Vermonters share stories of finding spiritual connections outside of traditional religious organizations.
Host Mikaela Lefrak gets an update on hiking trails from the director of field programs at the Green Mountain Club.
Host Mikaela Lefrak chats with journalist Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling about his new book on the fringes of American medicine.
Colby Lynch and her partner lived in the Quality Inn in Barre. Then, Vermont began to wind down the program that covered the cost of her room.
Host Mikaela Lefrak discusses the Canadian wildfires and examines the U.S. coverage with a CBC journalist.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Brattleboro town leaders about the root causes of recent security concerns downtown and proposed solutions.
Host Connor Cyrus chats with Moonshine Shorey about the upcoming Rutland County Pride Festival.
Around the country, at least 17 states have banned or limited gender-affirming care. In Vermont, the health care for transgender adults and children is protected.
The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival runs June 7-11, 2023, and is a beloved kickoff event for summer in Vermont. Flynn Executive Director Jay Wahl joined Vermont Edition to talk about a few of the highlights this year.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Burlington's special assistant to end homelessness and the head of a nonprofit about the influx of people facing homelessness as the motel-housing program ends.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a foster parent about her experiences, plus the foster kin manager and guardian ad litem program manager on caring for kids in Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with wedding industry experts on the state of Vermont's wedding industry post-pandemic and wedding trends to look out for this year.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with political reporter Bob Kinzel about which bills Gov. Phil Scott has signed and vetoed.
Vermont Edition shares an episode of Brave Little State that explores how Vermonters feel about guns and opens the phone lines to hear from listeners.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Vermont Sen. Peter Welch about his priorities as a freshman senator.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with the news editor of the Brattleboro Reformer about events in southeastern Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak chats with the founder and chair of the Vermont Quilt Festival on fond memories and why the festival is ending.
Host Mikaela Lefrak chats with a biologist with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and the coordinator of the Butterfly Atlas.
Host Connor Cyrus discusses book challenges with a young adult author and librarians across Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak leads a discussion on the impending end of Vermont's motel housing program.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with a Vermont doctor who specializes in menopause about its symptoms and treatment options.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Vermonter Mirna Valerio about body image and her athletic endeavors.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with pharmacists from Vermont communities about the joys and struggles of their business.
Host Mikaela Lefrak gets an update from political reporters on the bills they have been covering this legislative session.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with a scent scientist and others in smell-heavy industries.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with the heads of Vermont's departments of Health and Corrections and the defender general about health concerns in local prisons.
The Champlain College professor discusses her new book, "Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time."
Vermont Edition shares a recent episode of Brave Little State that explores some of the ways people are living communally in Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak digs into the Affordable Heat Act, which Gov. Phil Scott recently vetoed.
A student at Hazen Union School in Hardwick wanted to learn more about his school's free and reduced meals program. So he made a podcast about it.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with vintage and antique dealers about the tricks of their trade.
Host Mikaela Lefrak chats with foraging expert and children's book author Melany Kahn about differentiating plants and fungi, and how foraging can be a family activity.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a mother of an autistic teen, a physician and an advocate about the changing conversation around autism.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Gov. Phil Scott about some of the biggest issues facing Vermonters.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with herpetologist Jim Andrews about the reptiles and amphibians Vermonters should be on the lookout for in spring.
Host Mikaela Lefrak discusses the challenges around infertility, from physical stresses to feelings of isolation, with Vermonters who are intimately associated with them.
A University of Vermont Spanish professor shares the story of a class project in which her students interviewed Hispanic Vermonters.
Vermont Edition shares a recent episode of Brave Little State that digs into the history of Vermont's old stone walls.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks to the executive director of Outright Vermont and a parent of a trans child about the safety of trans youth in Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Vermont chef Gesine Bullock-Prado about her new cookbook.
A rebroadcast of a 2011 conversation between Jane Lindholm and cartoonist Ed Koren, who died last week.
Host Mikaela Lefrak chats with All Things Gardening host Charlie Nardozzi on spring gardening practices.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with an organizer and presenter of Public Philosophy Week, a series of events throughout the state.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Rep. Becca Balint about legislation she introduced that would create a grant for mental health first aid training in schools.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with the health commissioner on plans to bolster the state's response to opioid overdoses, as well as the importance of harm reduction with health experts.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with students, parents and coaches about esports and the how and why Vermont schools are embracing competitive video games.
The new film stars Owen Wilson as a Bob Ross-inspired host of a painting show on public television.
Host Connor Cyrus remembers Michael Hayes, who was also known as beloved Burlington drag queen Margaurite LeMay.
Here's all the hot tips for solar eclipse viewing next April with the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium's Mark Breen.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks about breast cancer with a UVM researcher, a radiologist and a survivor.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with an immigration attorney in Vermont and the head of a refugee center in Montreal about U.S.-Canada border relations and asylum seekers.
Vermont Edition shares a recent episode of Brave Little State about whether short-term rentals are exacerbating Vermont's housing crisis.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks about the 2023 Major League Baseball season with a roundtable of sports fans.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with the Calais author about his new book, "Elf Dog & Owl Head."
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Mary Ruefle, Vermont's poet laureate, about patience, persistence and poetry.
Mikaela Lefrak speaks with the author about her suspenseful new novel, "I Have Some Questions for You," set at a New Hampshire boarding school.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a deputy undersecretary for the USDA, a state lawmaker and a school food services director about universal school meal legislation being considered in Vermont.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Education Secretary Dan French during his last days on the job.
Host Mikaela Lefrak learns more about the lawsuit over Middlebury College's renaming of its chapel.
Hosts Connor Cyrus and Mikaela Lefrak talk with regional political scientists about the historic event, and we open the phone lines to hear what Vermonters are thinking.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with state Rep. Taylor Small, sex workers and an anti-trafficking advocate about efforts to decriminalize sex work in Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak chats with Bridget Butler, the Bird Diva, on migration patterns and creating an inclusive birding community.
Host Mikaela Lefrak honors Women's History Month by talking with female Vermonters making waves in their respective fields.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with statehouse reporters on what bills made it out of committee by the mid-point of the Vermont legislative session.
Vermont Edition shares a recent episode of Brave Little State all about where the electricity in Vermont's power grid comes from.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Vermont's labor commissioner and advocates about child labor practices on dairies in the state.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with the director of the Center for Community News at UVM about how student journalists across the country can close the gap in local news coverage.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with members of the Montpelier community on how VCFA's decision to move their residencies and sell buildings will affect our capital.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with author Christine Kenneally about her book investigating abuse in Catholic-run orphanages over the last century.
Host Mikaela Lefrak explores the idea of a four-day workweek, which data shows can improve worker health and productivity.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Vermonters about dating in Vermont, from bad date stories to starting all over again.
Host Connor Cyrus chats with Vermont's soon-to-be-appointed cartoonist laureate, Tillie Walden.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with volunteers and directors of different Meals on Wheels programs about the challenges of meeting the elevated need.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with Bristol resident Catherine Lynch and CBC investigative reporter Leah Hendry about sharp increases in Montreal car thefts and the international criminal operations behind them.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation about proposed rule changes for wake boats and Vermonters advocating for tweaks to the proposed rules.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks to a cannabis regulator, retailer and medical advocate about the state of the legal retail market that began sales Oct. 1, 2022.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Vermont chef Gesine Bullock-Prado about her favorite maple recipes from her new cookbook and with a syrup maker that taps more than maple trees.
Host Connor Cyrus talks about avian flu with Vermont's assistant state veterinarian and a wildlife expert with Vermont Fish & Wildlife.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a school librarian from Woodstock about "1, 2, 3 Ready! Read! Review!," a weekly book review podcast for kids.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with the head of the Vermont Commission on Women about a bill that would ban child marriages in Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with an emergency veterinarian about a new canine respiratory disease affecting dozens of dogs in Vermont, New Hampshire and New York.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with UVM women's basketball head coach Alisa Kresge ahead of the America East championship game on Friday.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with reporter Liam Elder-Connors about the notable votes across Vermont from the 2023 town meetings held on or before Tuesday, March 7.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks about a bill working its way through the Vermont Legislature that would make changes to the 50-year-old land-use law Act 250 and spur housing development.
Hosts Mikaela Lefrak and Connor Cyrus talk with town clerks and meeting moderators about the big questions Vermont voters will decide during their local town meetings this year.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with exotic pet owners and a veterinarian who treats pets ranging from snakes to hamsters.
Host Mikaela Lefrak discusses how Vermont’s legislature is considering changes to the ways private and religious schools receive public funding.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with a neurologist and advocate about diagnosing, treating and living with Alzheimer's and dementia in Vermont.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with a lawmaker, the head of Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources and a small business owner who delivers fuels and installs heating systems.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Vermonters who have adopted plant-based diets for health and other reasons.
Vural and Jackie Oktay co-own Tuckerbox, a restaurant in White River Junction. They're fundraising for victims of the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
We'll speak with Rep. Martin Lalonde about a proposed 'shield law' that would protect people traveling to Vermont for reproductive or gender-affirming health care, as well as the Vermont health officials who provide that care.
Two bills advancing in the legislature would address the 'right to repair' for technology-infused items ranging from smartphones to tractors.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with those in the Vermont juvenile justice system about a proposed temporary facility in St. Albans.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with libraries across Vermont about meeting the needs of patrons in an increasingly digital world.
Vermont Edition shares a special presentation of the podcast Timeline from Vermont Public Classical, where host James Stewart introduces listeners to Julius Eastman, an openly gay Black composer fro the 70s and 80s whose music is only now being rediscovered.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife about ice safety during mild winter temperatures.
Lloyd Devereux Richards and Marguerite Richards spoke with Vermont Edition about the TikTok posts that won over millions of fans — and put an 11-year-old debut novel on the bestseller list.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with a Vermont doctor who specializes in menopause about its symptoms and treatment options.
Host Connor Cyrus talks to Black Vermonters on what the term Black excellence means to them, and about Black creativity and the importance of Black history.
Hosts Connor Cyrus and Mikaela Lefrak open the phone lines to hear who listeners are sharing their hearts with this Valentine's Day.
Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with incoming VSU president Parwinder Grewal and others about changes coming to the unified university's library and athletics departments.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with thrifters and upcyclers on the environmental impact of fast fashion.
Vermonters can find plenty of reasons to watch Super Bowl 57 even without the Patriots involved.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with a roundtable of Vermont political reporters about key legislation in the first month of the
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a planner, affordable housing advocate and business owner about the housing boom in Morrisville.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with a child advocate and member of a state oversight commission, as well as an archivist, who are urging changes to who can access foster care records in Vermont.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas about pandemic-era changes to Town Meeting Day procedures that have been extended for another two years.
Host Mikaela Lefrak, along with Vermont Public producer/reporter Myra Flynn, create a space for reflection on Tyre Nichols' death.
This hour, we'll listen to an episode of Brave Little State on medical aid in dying and discuss the process with a doctor who treats terminally ill patients.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks those in the EMS field on the what the future holds for some first responders.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks to Champlain College professor Barbara Colombo and UVM professor Kimberly Vannest about the toll of online bullying and harassment on adults.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks to early childhood educators about the child care worker shortage.
Host Connor Cyrus talks about domestic violence in the state with Attorney General Charity Clark and the head of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
This week, Vermont Edition listens to a recent installment of Brave Little State’s Homegoings series, which fosters meaningful conversations with Vermont artists of color about Black grief, rage, joy and healing.
Host Connor Cyrus chats with young adult author Kekla Magoon about her new book, The Minus-One Clubi
This week, Vermont Edition listens to a recent installment of Brave Little State’s Homegoings series, which fosters meaningful conversations with Vermont artists of color about Black grief, rage, joy and healing.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus talks with a state official and Norwich University educators about how artificial intelligence is already being used in state government and education, and its implications for the future.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with dairy farmers, farm workers and the state’s secretary of agriculture about solutions to the most pressing issues in the dairy industry, including saving struggling organic dairy farms.
Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Eric Ford, Vermont Public’s Director of Content Partnership and the producer of the Made Here series, to learn more about the unique voices and stories from local filmmakers premiering in the new series on Jan. 26.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with a state tax official about mandatory home reappraisals in Vermont and what they mean for homeowners and potential buyers.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with some volunteers and organizations that are looking for volunteers.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks about gun legislation being considered by Vermont lawmakers with VTDigger political reporter Sarah Mearhoff.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with the state's executive director of racial equity about her annual report to state lawmakers.
Host Connor Cyrus learns about notable women in Vermont political history with the Vermont Historical Society.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with three student-athletes and the coach of the Middlebury Union High School girl's basketball team about their recent decision to skip a game against Enosburg Falls High School due to what the team described as a history of racist harassment.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with museum curators about current and upcoming shows in the region.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a Burlington restaurant owner about her plans for the Lunar New Year.
Host Connor Cyrus talks to advocates about cuts to federal food assistance and how it will affect Vermonters.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks to Vermont's newly-minted Sen. Peter Welch about legislating in the Senate after more than a decade in the U.S. House.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with public transportation leaders about changes coming to Vermont's bus services and routes.
In this rebroadcast of a show that first aired in March 2022, host Connor Cyrus talks with white Vermonters who adopted Black children, and hears from a Black woman about being raised by her adopted white family.
This hour, we'll hear a recent episode of Brave Little State about Vermont's lack of freestanding birth centers. And host Mikaela Lefrak talks to a certified nurse midwife in Vermont.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Vermont Public’s climate and environment reporter Abagael Giles about what policies lawmakers in the Legislature are considering to tackle climate change in Vermont.
Rep. Becca Balint chats with Vermont Edition host Connor Cyrus on her first couple weeks in Congress.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with leaders in the Vermont ski industry to see how the mild winter is affecting business.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks to aviation industry experts about flying into and out of Vermont, and climate activists who advocate a "flight diet" to address the climate change crisis.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Vermonters who are working to use human waste as fertilizer and some of the challenges they face.
This hour, Vermont Edition airs a recent episode of Brave Little State exploring how local restaurants are coping with the shortage.
Today on Vermont Edition, we'll take listeners inside the statehouse on the first day of a new legislative session.
This hour, we look back at Sen. Patrick Leahy's 48 years in Washington as a representative of the Green Mountain State.
In this encore rebroadcast of our winter book show, host Mikaela Lefrak chats with booksellers and librarians about their recent favorites, as well as a local author on her 2022 release.
In this encore broadcast from November, host Connor Cyrus talks with neurodivergent Vermonters about their challenges and successes.
In this encore broadcast from November 2022, host Mikaela Lefrak and guests explore the term “New Americans," and hear from some who say the phrase unites communities of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, while others see it as divisive, confusing, or worse.
In November, more than 60 singers came together at Vermont Public’s Stetson Studio One for a special event called One Day: A Choral Celebration of Hope. This hour, Vermont Edition shares new music and old favorites performed by three Vermont choirs and instrumentalists from across the state.
Today on Vermont Edition, we'll talk through what you need to know about the massive weather event moving through our area.
Host Connor Cyrus talks to Vermonters who have found community through chosen families.
Host Mikaela Lefrak explores the winter solstice with an organizer of a Wabanaki sunrise ceremony, a meteorologist and a Vermonter who’s making new solstice traditions.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks to the Vermont Community Broadband Board's deputy director about how to challenge the FCC's national broadband map.
Host Connor Cyrus talks to career counselors and gap-year organizers to discuss options for high school or college students facing uncertainty after graduation.
Host Connor Cyrus talks about sobriety with people who have chosen not to drink, a bartender who makes mocktails and a nonalcoholic beverage maker.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with community and law enforcement leaders in and around Burlington about addressing crime and violence.
This hour, we start a two-part conversation about crime in the Burlington area with host Connor Cyrus.
This hour, Vermont Edition turns the mic over to reporter Howard Weiss-Tisman as he explores how Vermont’s breweries are handling their waste water.
Hosts Connor Cyrus and Mikaela Lefrak talk to Vermont artisans, growers, retailers and more about their favorite local holiday gifts.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a UVM researcher and a psychotherapist about effective ways to treat seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with a Vermont psychiatrist and pharmacist about the shortage of medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
More than 30 Ukrainian adults and children have found safe harbor at a Derby refugee center established by a missionary couple.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a librarian and booksellers about their recent favorite books.
Host Connor Cyrus talks about snowmobiling in Vermont, trail networks around the state, electric snowmobiles made in Quebec and fat bikers on the winter trails on two wheels.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with visiting foreign language teachers living in rural Vermont communities.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks to a wildlife biologist about the travails and triumphs of Vermont's wild turkeys.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with state and local emergency housing and homelessness prevention officials about keeping Vermonters housed this winter.
We'll listen back to an interview with Vermont journalist and author Garret Graff about his book, released earlier this year, offering a fresh perspective on the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
This hour, we listen back to a conversation with board game experts about finding the right board game amid a renaissance of new board games, both competitive and cooperative.
This hour, Vermont Edition turns the mic over to Myra Flynn's reporting on the Asian American experience in Vermont.
In this rebroadcast, host Mikaela Lefrak talks with lawyers about the challenges that come with recent changes to the court system.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus explores the idea of class in Vermont, how Vermonters understand it and talk about it, and the ways some are seeking to overcome class divisions.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a well-known pastry chef from White River Junction about how to make your Thanksgiving baking shine this year.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks to Vermont hunters about their traditions and tips as deer season opens.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a pediatric critical care doctor and a school nurse about the respiratory illness RSV.
This hour, Vermont Edition hears from multiple Vermont veterans as they share stories of military service and the transition to civilian life.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with neurodivergent Vermonters about their challenges and successes.
This hour, Vermont Edition speaks with winners of the major federal and state races from the 2022 midterm election.
Still waiting to bubble in that ballot? Check out highlights from Vermont Public's midterm election debates.
This hour, Vermont Edition hears from Sec. of State Jim Condos and town clerks from across Vermont on the eve of the 2022 midterm election.
Host Connor Cyrus talks about today's tipping etiquette with experts from the Emily Post Institute.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with political reporter Sarah Mearhoff about her reporting on campaign contributions to Republican nominee for Vermont's US House seat, Liam Madden.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak talks about options for Vermonters struggling to afford heating and utility bills as winter weather arrives.
Host Mikaela Lefrak checks in with former Red Sox ace Bill "Spaceman" Lee at his home in Craftsbury.
Host Mikaela Lefrak checks in with former Red Sox ace Bill "Spaceman" Lee at his home in Craftsbury.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak talks about options for Vermonters struggling to afford heating and utility bills as winter weather arrives.
Host Connor Cyrus will talk with some young business owners on their decision to set up shop in Vermont.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak and guests explore the term “New American." Some say the phrase unites communities of refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, while others see it as divisive, confusing, or worse.
The Vermont Historical Society in Barre has more than 170 dolls. This hour, we hear the stories behind the spookiest dolls in their collection.
Two film experts try to convince host Mikaela Lefrak to give the horror genre another try.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with the chair of the Vermont Sports Betting Study Committee about what legalized sports gambling could potentially look like in Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Sen. Patrick Leahy about his recently published memoir, "The Road Taken," as he approaches the end of eight terms in the Senate.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak explores the Medicare enrollment process with a specialist from the Central Vermont Council on Aging and a Springfield Hospital physician.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with Dartmouth Prof. Russell Muirhead about election denialism, misinformation, conspiracy theories and how they threaten democratic elections in November.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a panel of political reporters about recent debates for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, governor and lieutenant governor races, as well as constitutional amendments on Vermont ballots.
Vermont Edition host Connor Cyrus moderates a debate with the candidates for Vermont lieutenant governor: Republican Joe Benning and Progressive/Democrat David Zuckerman.
Hosts Mikaela Lefrak and Connor Cyrus talk to residents, an education reporter and advocates about a recent dispute over a trans athlete using the locker room at Randolph Union High School.
Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate with the candidates for Vermont governor: incumbent Republican Phil Scott and Democrat Brenda Siegel.
Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate with the candidates for U.S. Senate: Republican Gerald Malloy and Democrat Rep. Peter Welch.
This hour, we re-air host Mikaela Lefrak's interview with Strafford musician Noah Kahan from August.
Vermont musician Pitz Quattrone explains how he makes didgeridoos and incorporates their unique sound into his compositions.
Vermont Edition host Connor Cyrus moderates a debate with the candidates for Vermont's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Becca Balint and Republican Liam Madden.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a couple and a counselor about non-monogamous relationships.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus talks with Gov. Phil Scott about what his goals would be for a fourth term as Vermont's governor.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Robyn Newton, a physical education teacher at Vergennes Union Elementary School and Vermont's 2023 Teacher of the Year.
Host Mikaela Lefrak will talk with cannabis business owners ahead of the Oct. 1 opening day for Vermont's legal cannabis retail market.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with Ben Nelson, who will be among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return overseas after thousand of volunteers were brought home in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with reporter Susan Smallheer, who recently toured Vermont Yankee and wrote an update on its decommissioning for the Bennington Banner.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak talks with the head of the Vermont Foodbank about food insecurity across northern New England—and what's being done to address it.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with an author of a recent study that ranked Vermont third out of all states for ease and access to voting.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a psychiatrist, a wellness expert and a scholar on what causes burnout, tips for preventing it and, if you’re already there, steps to recover.
In November, Vermonters will vote on Article 22, an amendment that could permanently protect abortion access in the state constitution. Medical and legal experts answer questions about what the amendment would mean for access to abortions and other reproductive healthcare.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a Vermont Legal Aid project director who is helping people navigate the end of the pandemic-era rental assistance program.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks to the authors of a new book that tells the story of a Bennington landmark.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a forester about climate change's effects on fall foliage.
Host Connor Cyrus discusses Vermont's medical aid in dying law, including a current federal lawsuit that aims to expand access to this end-of-life care to nonresidents.
Host Connor Cyrus discusses Vermont's medical aid in dying law, including a current federal lawsuit that aims to expand access to this end-of-life care to nonresidents.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Vermonters affected by the end of VERAP, the emergency rental assistance program, and advocates trying to keep them housed.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Brenda Siegel, the Democratic nominee for governor, about her priorities as a candidate and her campaign against incumbent Gov. Phil Scott.
Connor Cyrus speaks with the Vermont Land Trust about an awareness-raising initiative around eating invasive plant species (and what you should know before you attempt your own invasive baking).
Host Connor Cyrus speaks with CBC Montreal reporter Kate McKenna about how Canadians, specifically Quebec residents, are reacting to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The British monarch was also Canada's official head of state.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a hunting safety expert from the Fish & Wildlife Department.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with state Rep. Taylor Small after she won an international award for young politicians.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with a Vermont Department of Health official about a new suicide prevention campaign.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with the Energy Action Network about its recent report showing Vermont is unlikely to reach its emission reduction mandates.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with canning experts about the ins and outs of preserving fruits and vegetables, as well as some inventive recipes.
This hour, Vermont Edition talks with longtime fair participants about what they are most excited about.
Vermont waste hauler Casella Waste Systems is partnering with international recycling company TerraCycle on a new subscription program to recycle items that previously weren't recyclable. Host Connor Cyrus talks with Kathy Pazakis, executive vice president of commercial at TerraCycle, about the program.
State Sen. Becca Balint received nearly $1 million in supportive ads from the LGBTQ Victory Fund PAC. That ad blitz came after a $1.1 million donation from a Silicon Valley cryptocurrency executive.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with the head of Vermont's Climate Action Office about the Inflation Reduction Act.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus will talk with teachers as they head back to school for the new academic year.
This hour, we'll hear a recent Brave Little State episode about why some Vermonters leave the state. Host Mikaela Lefrak will also speak with reporter Myra Flynn about the questions—and answers—the episode uncovered.
Host Mikaela Lefrak will speak with Vermont farmers about the importance of tourism in their business models and next week's International Workshop on Agritourism.
Host Mikaela Lefrak will speak with Vermont farmers about the importance of tourism in their business models and next week's International Workshop on Agritourism.
Musician Noah Kahan plays live and talks with host Mikaela Lefrak about his rising career.
Host Connor Cyrus talks politics, candidates and the Nov. 8 election with Paul Dame, chair of the Vermont GOP; Jim Dandeneau, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party; and Anthony Pollina, chair of the Vermont Progressive Party.
Host Mikaela Lefrak dives into sustainable landscape design, including the movement to decrease or eliminate grass.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus checks in with a schools nurse and superintendents across the state about the staffing shortages schools face in the fall.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus looks into the high demand and long waits for veterinary care in Vermont.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus explores the history of the Battle of Bennington through a conversation with an historian, and through the battle march written to commemorate the conflict's 150th anniversary.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with the CEO of the Peace Corps, who is visiting Brattleboro to speak at the School for International Training’s commencement ceremony.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with adult board game enthusiasts about their favorite titles and the mental and social benefits of playing.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Secretary of State Jim Condos about primary election turnout.
Vermont Edition host Connor Cyrus speaks to Democratic nominee for governor Brenda Siegel.
This hour, hosts Mikaela Lefrak and Connor Cyrus talk with some of the winners from this week's primary races.
This hour, hosts Connor Cyrus and Mikaela Lefrak share voices from Vermonters on primary day, and dive into results with senior political correspondent Bob Kinzel.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak and Connor Cyrus check in with voters and learn more about what's getting Vermonters to the polls on Tuesday's primary election.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus talks about Vermont's laws around being naked in public, and with several Vermont nudists and naturists about why they feel most comfortable without clothes.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Champlain College writing professor and outdoor educator Erik Shonstrom about his new book.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with a game warden and a biologist from Vermont's Fish and Wildlife Department about human-bear encounters.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus breaks down a new UNH poll ahead of Vermont's primary election. Plus, we heard from college students voting in the primary and from the head of AARP Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with the newly-appointed commissioner of Vermont's Department of Public Safety.
This hour, we discuss the rail expansion project bringing Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express from Rutland to Burlington.
Over the course of two shows, Vermont Edition will explore the rental housing crisis. This hour, tenants and the challenges they say they're facing.
Over the course of two shows, Vermont Edition will explore the rental housing crisis. First up: landlords, and the challenges they say they're facing.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Vermont Public CEO Scott Finn about the organization's recent name change and plans for the future.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Seven Days Deputy News Editor Sasha Goldstein about the hotly contested Democratic primary for the U.S. House seat.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with personal finance experts about managing your money and balancing your budget amid high inflation.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with scientists about cyanobacteria blooms and invasive species in Vermont's largest lake.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate with the Democratic candidates for attorney general: Washington County State’s Attorney Rory Thibault, and former assistant attorney general Charity Clark.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with mental health experts about the new 988 lifeline for mental health crisis and suicide prevention.
This hour, Vermont Edition discusses where to find some of Vermont's best ice cream, creemees and nondairy treats.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with Burlington author Garrett Graff about his book "Watergate: A New History" and how the events of the 1970s compare with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and current congressional hearings.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with state Sen. Ginny Lyons about a recent independent report on early childhood education and child care in Vermont.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus moderates a debate with the Democratic candidates for secretary of state.
Host Mikaela Lefrak will speak with energy experts about how heat pumps can cool your house and reduce fossil fuel dependence.
Kevin Mullin, outgoing chair of the Green Mountain Care Board, discusses the challenges facing Vermont's medical sector and calls for a more sustainable health care system.
In this encore rebroadcast, host Mikaela Lefrak discusses electric vehicles, driving a gas vs. electric car, and Vermont's EV infrastructure.
In this encore rebroadcast, host Mikaela Lefrak looks at the bee population in Vermont, and how everyone from gardeners to beekeepers can help bolster their populations amid a series of threats.
In this encore rebroadcast, host Mikaela Lefrak explores Vermont's tech sector circa 2022.
In this encore rebroadcast, host Mikaela Lefrak explores Vermont's tech sector circa 2022.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with booksellers and a librarian about their summer reading recommendations.
This hour, James Pepper, chair of the state's Cannabis Control Board, answers listener questions.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak looks at short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO, what role they play in Vermont's housing market and efforts locally and statewide to regulate the short-term rental industry.
People gathered in Old Bennington Saturday to honor a woman who was enslaved there in the 1700s, as part of the Stopping Stones project.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos about the August primaries and upcoming general election.
This hour, University of Vermont professors of political science and history talk with host Mikaela Lefrak about the Supreme Court's decision that reverses Roe v. Wade.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with attorney David Sleigh and Leslie Gensberg, widow of attorney Bob Gensberg, about their yearslong efforts to free one "Gitmo" detainee, Abdul Zahir.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate with the four Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor.
Host Connor Cyrus chats with the author Donna Gordon and her debut novel What Ben Franklin Would Have Told Me.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus talks with state Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine about the COVID-19 vaccine for the youngest Vermonters and other virus news.
Co-host Mikaela Lefrak talks with VPR's Myra Flynn and storyteller Ferene Paris Meyer about Juneteenth and what it means to them.
Co-host Connor Cyrus talks with Reggie Condra, host of the podcast “Brown ‘n Out,” about what Pride Month and Juneteenth mean to him.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus moderates a debate with state Sen. Joe Benning and Gregory Thayer.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak will talk to local bike and tourism experts about Vermont's growing trail networks and other cycling trends.
Vermont Edition hosts Connor Cyrus and Mikaela Lefrak reflect on answers from four recent primary debates with the Republican and Democrat candidates for Vermont's U.S. House and U.S. Senate seats.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a Vermonter who found a threatened orchid species in Chittenden County, and a state botanist about the flower's significance.
The Montpelier-based writer and publisher joins Vermont Edition to discuss her new ABC book, which comes with tips for reducing carbon emissions.
This hour, Vermont Edition co-host Mikaela Lefrak and Seven Days staff writer Chelsea Edgar moderate a debate between the Democratic candidates for the U.S. House.
This hour, Connor Cyrus moderates a debate with the three Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate.
This hour, Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate with the three Republican candidates for the U.S. House.
A new book shares the gripping story of Dick Conant, a social misfit who spent more than two decades canoeing America's waterways.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak talks with VPR reporter Liam Elder-Connors about his exclusive interview with Bill Stenger before Stenger goes to prison on a federal charge related to the EB-5 fraud.
This hour, Connor Cyrus moderates a debate with the three Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Vermont high school students about what changes they would like to see in the wake of mass shootings, including one at an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak discusses the possible decommissioning of a dam in Lamoille County and what it would mean for the Green River Reservoir.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Anya Tynio, a Republican candidate for Vermont’s only seat in the U.S. House.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks to Mary Engisch and Peter Engisch, the duo that produces Safe and Sound.
This hour, the leaders of Vermont's new chapter of the Pink Boots Society talk about the challenges of being women in the male-dominated fermentation industries.
In this rebroadcast of a show that first aired in March 2022, host Connor Cyrus talks with white Vermonters who adopted Black children, and hears from a Black woman about being raised by her adopted white family.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks to VPR's climate reporter Abagael Giles about the climate bills that did—and did not—become law this past legislative session.
This hour, we open up the lines to hear how you're processing the shooting deaths of Black supermarket patrons in Buffalo and school children in Texas, as well as the two-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus will explore recent extreme weather events in our region and climate change.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks to a trio of Burlington High School graduating seniors about their pandemic high school years.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus will discuss what’s new at some of Vermont's most popular farmers markets.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus discusses the aftermath of the mass shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., and the work on diversity, equity and inclusion happening in Vermont.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus discusses the aftermath of the mass shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., and the work on diversity, equity and inclusion happening in Vermont.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with insect and tree experts about this year’s spongy moth infestation and what Vermonters can do to keep them at bay.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Ericka Redic, a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Dr. Louis Meyers, a Democrat seeking his party's nomination to the U.S. House in Vermont's Aug. 9 primary election.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak will speak with statehouse reporters on the big takeaways of the legislative session that wrapped up last Thursday.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with bee experts about the interdependence between bees, plants and humans—and what Vermonters can do now to help the bee populations.
In How Strange a Season, Mayhew Bergman's characters confront personal disasters as the climate crisis looms in the wings.
Vermont's COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise, but health officials will soon sunset the state's virus dashboard. Here's what to expect next from the pandemic.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus discusses organ donations and transplants in Vermont, and how recipients of donated organs are navigating the pandemic.
Host Connor Cyrus speaks to Niki Thran, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate ahead of the state's Aug. 9 primary election.
This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak explores the history of unions in Vermont up to today's efforts to unionize by South Burlington Starbucks employees.
Can you fix your own computer? Do you take steps to keep your email or other online data from getting hacked? This hour, "Vermont Edition" talks tech, computers and cybersecurity.
Host Connor Cyrus interviews Gerald Malloy, a U.S. Army veteran and business consultant from Perkinsville seeking the Republican party's nomination for Vermont's U.S. Senate seat.
Vermont is gearing up to spend millions in federal and state dollars to improve the electric vehicle charging infrastructure. More financial incentives for EV purchases are also in the works.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus looks at the purchase of social media platform Twitter by billionaire Elon Musk, and explores questions about how Vermonters use social media.
This hour, we're talking to trans Vermonters about local and national news stories centered on the transgender community.
This hour, the current state of Vermont's child care crisis, with a focus on how it is affecting local businesses.
This hour we talk with Anne Sosin, a public health researcher at Dartmouth College, about centering health equity at this stage in the pandemic and in the months ahead.
Isaac Evans-Frantz is one of three declared Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate. Host Connor Cyrus asks him about his platform and what's motivating his run for office.
Dr. Kimberly Blake shares the story of her son Sean, who struggled with opioid addiction and passed away from an overdose in 2017.
A bill to inject $200 million into the pension program for state employees and teachers is moving through the state legislature, but Gov. Phil Scott is pushing for changes.
Host Connor Cyrus will be joined by gardening expert Charlie Nardozzi, who will answer your spring gardening questions.
Montpelier-based author Jennifer McMahon discusses her new book, "The Children on the Hill," and the art of writing horror fiction.
The film festival's executive director discusses some of the most exciting films and filmmakers participating in this year's event.
Vermont Edition speaks with a couple Etsy sellers based in Vermont about the website's fee increases and the recent sellers' strike.
Journalist Aarti Shahani discusses her memoir with Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak and a group of students from Essex High School.
After the murder of Fern Feather, a transgender woman from the Northeast Kingdom, we talk with the director of an LGBTQ anti-violence program about how to be a supportive ally to Vermont's trans community.
Green Mountain Transit has talked about potentially cutting services and discontinuing some routes due to budget challenges. This hour, host Connor Cyrus talks to GMT officials about what’s being done to make sure Vermonters have access to public transportation.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus talks with Gov. Phil Scott about major challenges facing Vermont, including affordable housing, pensions reform, climate change initiatives, opioids and more.
First-year Middlebury College student Rostyk Yarovyk reflects on what the past six weeks of war and invasion by Russia have meant for him, and his family still living in Ukraine.
"Ice out" is the moment in spring when a lake or pond loses its ice from shore to shore. For the past 35 years, residents at Joe's Pond in Cabot and West Danville have made a competition out of the event, complete with a cash prize.
After months of decline, Vermont is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak speaks to Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine about the state's pandemic response.
This hour, Vermont Edition speaks with workers helping people through recovery from opioid addiction during the deadliest year of the opioid crisis yet in Vermont.
Twenty teams of middle and high school students participated in the annual Jr. Iron Chef VT competition at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. We talked to one winning student and his coach.
This hour, host Connor Cyrus leans into the topic of a recent episode of Brave Little State and talks about whether Vermont would be a good place to ride out the apocalypse.
Nothing says spring like the sounds of birds chirping loudly. This hour, host Mikaela Lefrak and Bridget Butler, the Bird Diva, dive into those chirps and other bird behavior.
Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak speaks with Department of Corrections Commissioner Nicholas Deml about the challenges facing Vermont’s prisons.
Republicans and Democrats seldom see eye to eye on gun laws. A law professor explains Vermont's new gun control law, which goes into effect in July, and how it is a rare example of bipartisan discussions and compromise.
Vermont's state-run correctional facilities are only now beginning to lift pandemic restrictions that have been in place for the past two years. Vermont Edition host Connor Cyrus spoke with Seven Days reporter Derek Brouwer about his story profiling how state prisons have dealt with the pandemic.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks to U.S. House candidate Sianay Chase Clifford, one of four women running as Democrats for Vermont's only seat in the U.S. House.
In "Endpapers," the Cornwall author tells the story of his German-born father and grandfather during World War II.
A Rutland woman lost her legs in a terrible accident in 2018, and endured multiple surgeries and countless hours of rehabilitation to once again become mobile. Vermont Edition talks with Stefanie Schaffer about her new memoir.
We talk with Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine about this week's new statewide guidance that gives individuals the choice to mask or not, as Vermont's COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations continue to decline.
As gas prices and home heating fuel prices soar in Vermont, and across the country, we're looking at what's behind the rise in prices and what Vermonters can do about it.
As we mark the year three milestone of COVID-19, we ask, how has the pandemic changed you?
Host Connor Cyrus talks with some white Vermonters who have adopted Black children about the challenges and joys that come with transracial adoptions.
Vermont's maple sugaring season has begun, and host Mikaela Lefrak talks with experts and professional sugarers about what is new this year.
Former U.S. attorney for the District of Vermont Christina Nolan is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, seeking the seat that will be vacated by Sen. Patrick Leahy.
This hour, we hear from Afghans who have resettled in Vermont since the US exit from Afghanistan last year, and from those working in resettlement programs about finding housing and jobs for the new arrivals.
A rookie musher running Alaska's 1,000-mile sled dog race known as the Iditarod grew up in Barnard, Vermont. Vermont Edition co-host Connor Cyrus spoke to musher Eric Kelly about his path from Vermont, to Alaska, mushing, and the Iditarod.
Host Connor Cyrus talks with the chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System about the future unification of Northern Vermont University, Vermont Technical College and Castleton University.
Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with some leaders inside Vermont's robust technology sector about the pros and cons of being in the state.
The majority of Vermont towns weighed in on Tuesday on issues big and small: from funding infrastructure and wastewater projects, to allowing local cannabis sales, to electing city councilors, select board members and school board officials.
As Vermont's COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations decrease, state epidemiologist Patsy Kelso answers questions about what to expect in this new phase.
Nearly a week since Russia invaded Ukraine, the outbreak of war and the international sanctions against Russia have put the world on edge. This hour, we hear from Ukrainian students studying in Vermont and New Hampshire about how the war is affecting them and their families. And a Norwich University professor and Russian foreign policy expert answers questions about the invasion.
Hosts Mikaela Lefrak and Connor Cyrus talk to a handful of leaders to hear what issues will be tackled in their communities on Town Meeting Day.
Hosts Mikaela Lefrak and Connor Cyrus talk to a handful of leaders to hear what issues will be tackled in their communities on Town Meeting Day.
Host Mikaela Lefrak takes a look at how the new retail cannabis marketplace will work, as many towns vote on whether to opt-in.
Before Aarti Shahani became an award-winning journalist and author, she and her family were immigrants trying to make their way in New York City. This hour, Vermont Edition features host Mikaela Lefrak's interview with Shahani, recorded live on Zoom in early February, with an audience of students from Essex High School.
This hour, a panel of transportation experts discuss Montpelier's MyRide pilot program and other possible ways to improve public transit throughout Vermont.
This hour, we talk to an historian and an author behind a new book celebrating the first 100 years of Brattleboro's Harris Hill Ski Jump.
Vermont Edition hosts Connor Cyrus and Mikaela Lefrak talk with NBC5 sports anchor and reporter Marshall Kramsky about the Vermonters gearing up for the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
This hour, Vermont Edition hosts Connor Cyrus and Mikaela Lefrak ask listeners to share what they are looking forward to.
We are launching Black History Month by looking at the Black experience in Vermont, and we want to hear from you.
We speak with Seven Days reporters Derek Brouwer and Colin Flanders about their article, “Capitol Offense: Nicholas Languerand's Quest for 'Belonging' Led Him to QAnon, the Insurrection — and Now Prison.”
We talk with Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine about how Vermont is dealing with the omicron variant and preparing for the next phase of the pandemic.
Next month, Vermont will welcome a new state librarian. Chittenden County native Cathy Delneo comes to the role with more than 25 years of experience in libraries, most recently as the chief of branches for the San Francisco Public Library.
It's been an especially cold few weeks in Vermont. This hour, we're taking your calls about how you're doing, how you're feeling and how you're keeping your spirits up while staying in.
Mental health is a phrase we hear a lot these days, as we head into the Covid-19 pandemic's third year. This hour, we talk with health professionals and others about the mental health hurdles Vermonters are facing.
Gov. Phil Scott says there's a shortage of some 23,000 workers to fill open jobs in Vermont, and one way to address the workforce shortage is getting more people into the trades through Career and Technical education, or CTE. This hour, we discussion Vermont's CTE pathways.
From Gov. Phil Scott’s budget address to Omicron, there is a lot going on right now. Vermont Edition hosts Mikaela Lefrak and Connor Cyrus open up the phones for a conversation about what’s on listeners' minds.
Gov. Phil Scott delivered his 2022 budget address this week, outlining a mammoth $7.7 billion dollars to spend over the next year. This hour, a roundtable of political journalists discusses what the budget address means for spending in the state, and where the priorities of Gov. Scott and lawmakers could diverge.
Almost one year ago today, a Vermont fashion icon broke upon the world and nearly broke the internet: Sen. Bernie Sanders' mittens.
A hostage situation at a Texas synagogue left the attacker dead — but all three hostages were able to escape. The synagogue's rabbi says security training helped them survive. This hour, a Burlington rabbi who's done that similar training with her community reflects on the continued need for that kind of preparation today.
Mountains hold near-magical places in our imaginations: hulking, immovable and unpredictable in ways human-made structures are not. In her new book Imaginary Peaks, Vermont author Katie Ives tells the story of blank spaces on maps, and the pull to explore and fill them in.
This hour, Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine shares the latest on COVID-19 in Vermont. He also answers questions about recent record-breaking hospitalizations, the availability of rapid at-home tests for individuals and those testing through the Agency of Education's new "test at home" program, and more.
Nikolas Kerest was sworn in as the new U.S. attorney for the District of Vermont in December. As the chief federal law officer in the state, he says violent crime, white-collar crime and bias incidents will be his top priorities, while the clash between state and federal law when it comes to cannabis will not be "on the top of our priority list."
Ruth Stone authored 13 books of poetry, all while raising three children, largely alone. She won the National Book Award, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and was named Vermont Poet Laureate in 2007. Now a Norwich-based filmmaker has completed a documentary about Stone that’s been more than a decade in the making.
The past week’s temperatures have dipped below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, making life even more dangerous for thousands of Vermonters experiencing homelessness. And more arctic temperatures are on the way: the National Weather Service in Burlington warns that dangerously cold wind chills are expected tonight through Saturday.
VPR and Vermont PBS have released part one of a statewide poll, asking everyday Vermonters questions about political leaders, COVID-19 mitigation strategies, and more. This hour, we talk with the pollster who directed the poll and delve into the data.
The shortage of nurses in Vermont has reached a crisis point. Sen. Bernie Sanders says the state needs to add 9,000 nurses to the workforce over the next seven years. This hour, we talk with a nurse, a hospital administrator and a nursing school teacher about how they’re addressing the shortage. And we’ll look at how travel nurses are filling the gaps.