Bold Ideas from Vermont with David Roth

This episode features an exciting panel of guests: key members of the St Johnsbury community who are working tirelessly to bring more tourists and businesses to town, and to organize the 73rd Annual St. Johnsbury Pet Parade! The Bold Ideas team is joined today by Anita Price, Helen Morrison, and Diane Cummings, three extraordinary women who share their insights on revitalizing St. Johnsbury and discuss different ways to get involved in the community to support our four-legged (and other furry) friends.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are joined by three extraordinary members of the Kingdom All Stars, a community-based band comprised of high school students from the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. The Kingdom All Stars is truly incredible - it's a completely independent non-profit entity supported by donations and volunteers and is totally free to the students who participate. The Kingdom All Stars is like an All Star Baseball Team for musicians – and three of the Team's true superstars are with us today to discuss their inspiration and play some of their beautiful music! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode is all about The Future of Agriculture in Vermont and we are joined by the State's Director of Agricultural Development, Abbey Willard. During the episode, Abbey shares a staggering statistic; only 2% of Vermonters are involved in agriculture while obviously 100% us need food to eat every day! Abbey and David discuss the support needed to ensure the sustainability and growth of agricultural production, as well as shifts to encourage those interested in farming to investigate further.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former St. Johnsbury Academy Associate Headmaster and current President/CEO of The Kingdom Development Company, Jack Cummings, joins us for today's episode of Bold Ideas. Jack's diverse background in education and economic development gives him a unique perspective on how St. Johnsbury and the Northeast Kingdom can encourage sustainable development, entrepreneurship and further become centers of innovation.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building on our Season 1 conversation with Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, we now turn back to the Task Force on the Implementation of the Pupil Weighting Factors Report, which has been completed. Now what? Vermont State Rep. Scott Beck joins on this episode to discuss Act 60, the findings of the Task Force, and the forward momentum of the Task Force's recommendations. David and Rep. Beck agree; It is a fundamental responsibility of the legislature to make sure that each child in the education system is guaranteed an equitably funded and excellent education system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Bold Ideas from Vermont! In this episode, Bold Ideas host David Roth and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital CEO Shawn Tester discuss the current issues faced in the regional and national healthcare system. We learn that it is a multi-faceted dilemma, stretching from workforce shortage and employee burnout, to the lack of housing for new healthcare workers as a barrier to entry. The strains on the hospital system caused by the pandemic reflect deeper concerns in US healthcare that pre-date COVID-19. Shawn and David share valuable insight on where there is room for improvement in the system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's special episode of Bold Ideas, we are joined by two incredible women with important viewpoints on the legislative, regulatory and social realities of gun ownership. Firearm ownership and use has become a contentious battle in the U.S. amidst increased violence and divided political views. This episode, featuring insight from Nicole Meier (VT Fish & Wildlife Dept.) and Robyn Thomas (Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence), delves into important issues regardings guns: Safety (both the safety of human lives and also food safety), and also the preservation of tradition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Bold Ideas episode is all about what matters most - our children's education. We are joined by Vermont State Representative Emilie Kornheiser to discuss and explain complex elements of education financing and taxation. Rep. Kornheiser illuminates the challenges to and progress towards equitable funding in a shifting education system that must be able to grow and evolve with the community around it - and maintain the local control that is a hallmark of Vermont's democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode highlights two well-known Vermont authors; John McClaughry of ‘The Vermont Papers,' and Peter Gould, author of 'Burnt Toast' and ‘Horse Drawn Yogurt.' While both renowned authors and intellectuals offer very different perspectives on how Vermont can move forward and progress, the conclusions are the same: Vermont's progress depends and has always depended on people going back to the land, back to their communities, and back to civic engagement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode brings to listeners the passionate advocates and leaders behind the unique collaborative spirit at the heart of Vermont. Agriculture, Food, and Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts, Radiant Studios' Mieko Ozeki, and Cabot Creamery's Jed Davis join the Bold Ideas team to share their insights into the strength in community for producers, farmers, and makers. Additionally, we get a look at the silver lining Covid-19 brought to Vermont's small businesses, as well as the recognizable products and industries that give Vermont it's tourism appeal and individual charm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now, more than ever, citizens and policymakers alike face disharmony on any and all partisan issues related to our society and our economy. But, like Vermont's Congressman Welch shares with listeners in this episode, unity of purpose is the only way to tackle the issues that really matter. Congressman Welch joins Meg and David to discuss the biggest federal infrastructure program since FDR's time, and why joining forces across the ideological aisle is the only way to enact positive change.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The kids have weighed in: Nothing beats in-person learning. But in the age of Covid, mask politicisation, and vaccine inaccessibility for children, how can we keep students safe? Northern Vermont high school history teacher Aimee Alexander, as well as St. Johnsbury Academy's headmaster, Dr. Sharon Howell, share their insight as two leaders on the frontline of education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Bold Ideas, Meg and David are joined by Congressman Ted Lieu, who gives listeners important insight into leadership and the transformative civic power each of us possesses. Congressman Lieu emphasizes the necessity of civic involvement for lasting policy change, amplifying the sentiments underpinning Bold Ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David and Meg invite special guest Dr. Deb Richter to discuss our healthcare system, the challenges we face, and how to build a more equitable system of care for everyone. How do we end the stranglehold of the big insurance companies? How do we pay for it? And how do we make sure our infrastructure is robust enough to make sure no one is left behind? And of course we will discuss how Vermont can help lead the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In memory of our friend Brian Boland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perhaps no one knows Vermont's history and path forward better than columnist and author Bill Schubart, who joins David and Meg to discuss what's next for Vermont in the wake of the pandemic. You'll want to hear Bill's vision of what leadership looks like and how we move forward not just for our generation, but for our children. David and Bill discuss how can we bring all our know-how to bear and ensure every facet of education -- starting with childcare -- is part of a system that works for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, David and Meg speak with Senator Kesha Ram, the first woman of color ever elected to the Vermont Senate. We focus on specific, actionable strategies that will move us forward as a diverse community using examples from the state that has always led toward change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our second episode is a powerful one, featuring Chief Don Stevens of the Nulhegan-Abanaki tribe. We talk to Chief Stevens about the state of our indigenous communities and how to make indigenous know-how a part of our everyday work and future policies. Native American expertise is not a historical curiosity, but a vital resource as we recover, reopen and rebuild - so don't miss this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The past year has exposed so many realities and taught us all so many lessons, and today we speak with Anson Tebbetts, Vermont's Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets about the most elemental issues of all; how to ensure that each of us has enough to eat and how to ensure the resiliency of our agricultural infrastructures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bold Ideas from Vermont is coming June 2. Subscribe now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices