Vermont Edition

Before social media, before the internet existed at all, local newspapers kept our communities informed and connected. But even in print's heyday, making newspapers profitable has always been an uphill battle.Today on Vermont Edition: veteran journalist and publisher Nat Winthrop. He wrote stories about everything from IVF experiments in Randolph to drug smuggling on Lake Champlain. He published the alt weekly the Vanguard Press from 1978 to 1990. A new book collects some of his most notable pieces.Plus, the 5th annual comics and zine fair comes to White River Junction. TWIST features students and alums from the Center for Cartoon Studies.Broadcast live on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont might be picturesque, but these Green Mountains are no strangers to scandal. This brave little state has its own long history of counterfeiting, illicit gambling, mysterious murders and more. The exhibition Vermont Vice at the Bennington Museum explores some of the shadier aspects of life. Curator Jamie Franklin shares his favorite stories from the show. Author Thea Lewis has written many books about the darker side of the state. Her new book, True Crime Stories of Vermont, is out this week. We also hear from Doctor Vu, artistic director of Green Mountain Cabaret and president of Nightlife Arts, for a modern take on the girly shows of yore.

It's the latest installment in our monthly series, Town by Town. Each month, we spend a whole hour learning about one of the state's 252 towns and cities. At the end of the hour, we spin a big wheel to decide what town is next.This hour: Lemington, in Essex County. If you look at a map of Vermont, let your eyes wander to the far eastern border of the state, and then travel up, nearly to Canada. Lemington sits right there on the border with New Hampshire, along the Connecticut River. It's population is under a hundred people. In the town's whole history, its population never really topped 200. There's a lot of forest there, a lot of logging, and people who love the land.We're joined by Sharon Ellingwood, an Administrative Services Coordinator with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation who grew up in Lemington and has since moved back. We also hear from Joe Daley Jr., a lifelong resident of Lemington who is a selectman there and the towns road manager, Murray Duke, the town moderator, and Ray Gorman, a county commissioner for Coös County just over the New Hampshire border who grew up in Lemington and owns a camp there. And, student reporter from the University of Vermont Community News Service Emily Rodin and Myla van Lynde bring us a story about the first ever Columbia Bridge Barn Dance, a recent event held on the covered bridge that connects Lemington, Vermont with Columbia, New Hampshire that celebrated the deep connection between the two towns. Broadcast live on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Governor Phil Scott is in the tightest reelection bid of his career. In a new poll Democrat Amanda Janoo is within 10 points of the governor.I'm Mikaela Lefrak. Today on Vermont Edition: the results of Vermont Public's 2026 poll. What do people think about this year's candidates? Taxes on second homes? Data centers? The causes of the high cost of living? Pollster Richard Clark of Vermont State University explains his polling methods and Vermont Public senior reporter Bob Kinzel adds context to the results.Plus: The Vermont Supreme Court has unanimously sided with Gov. Phil Scott about mandating in-person work for state employees. Theo Wells-Spackman with VTDigger explains the conflict between the Scott Administration and state employees.Broadcast live on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, 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: our annual fall gardening show with Charlie Nardozzi. He's the host of All Things Gardening on Vermont Public, a backyard consultant and the author of many gardening books.We'll learn how to prep beds for the winter and get the most out of your remaining fall harvest. We'll also look ahead to the arrival of El Nino this fall. It's looking like it could be one of the strongest events on record. We'll talk about adapting outdoor spaces to accept more water during sudden, heavy rains. Broadcast live on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

This month has been full of change for members of the Vermont National Guard. On September 6th, the 158th Fighter Wing returned home from a monthslong overseas deployment on back-to-back missions to the Caribbean and the Middle East. Vermont National Guard Adjutant General Henry "Hank" Harder Jr. discusses their Guard's missions and the process of reintegration. Over the past decade more than 30 states have considered Defend the Guard legislation. The Vermont version of the Defend the Guard Act would only allow the Guard to deploy to wars that have been formally authorized by Congress. Lonnie Poland of Milton is a Defend the Guard Act advocate, a former Vermont Air National Guard medic and the current chair of the Milton Democratic Party.Then; Jewish congregations across our region gathered repeatedly over the past few weeks to mark the High Holy Days together. Some of these Jewish communities date back to the turn of the 20th century.A new book by Margaret K. Nelson tells the stories of Jewish families that lived in small Vermont towns between 1900 and 2000. Many of them operated dry goods businesses or worked in scrap dealing. Nelson is a professor emerita of sociology at Middlebury College and the author of numerous books. “Peddlers, Merchants, and Junk Dealers: Jewish Life in Small-Town Vermont" was published this July.Broadcast live on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

The cooling temperatures and autumn rain signal the end of summer. It also means that wild, edible mushrooms are popping up in forests around our region. While many mushrooms are delicious and safe to eat, others can be deadly, so it's very important to know the difference. Today, we're talking about the joys, and potential dangers, of mushroom foraging. Our guests, Ari Rockland-Miller and Jenna Antonino-DiMare, run a foraging blog and conduct workshops under the name The Mushroom Forager. Together, they helped listeners make sense of fungi found on their own backyards, the best practices for plucking mushrooms, and ways to prepare them for dinner. 

Two of the largest healthcare networks in the region just cut hundreds of positions. These hospitals are trying to stem their losses while still serving patients.On Vermont Edition: UVM and Dartmouth Health. Vermont Public's health care reporter Lola Duffort helps us put these hospitals' financial straits into national context.Then: Barre residents voted down their school district budget for a third time. School board leaders are now back to the drawing board. What comes for the school budget and local taxes? Barre's school superintendent and the head of the Vermont Principals Association discuss. Broadcast live on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

High fashion designers collaborate with Carthartt. Noah Kahan's signature look is coveralls. Yep, workwear as fashion is officially a thing.Today on Vermont Edition, we're talking farm fashion, from work shirts down to wool socks. Carhartt's archivist traces the company's roots back to its founder, who designed products for railroad workers. A vintage retailer in Woodstock sells upcycled workwear. She's seen firsthand how farm clothes influence high fashion.The museum at Billings Farm has a whole exhibit on farm fashion that opens this weekend. Its curator wanted to celebrate Vermont culture through clothing. We'll talk about iconic brands like Darn Tough and Johnson Woolen Mills, and ask what you think about workwear turning into runway fodder.

The new documentary Every Day: Big and Small shows how Vermonters build community and find connection through hard times.Today on Vermont Edition, it's filmmaker Bess O'Brien. For the new doc, she collected vignettes from around the state. They all show people helping each other out in ways big and small.Then: Author MT Anderson is fascinated by St. Nick. Not Santa Claus with the reindeer and bag of gifts, but the real, historical figure. His new book plumbs the strange but true history of the man in the red suit.

On Vermont Edition: Hispanic Heritage Month. University of Vermont's Spanish lecturer Adriana Sanchez-Gutierrez, known as DJ Adru, on her new radio show called Hispanic Worlds from Vermont. It kicks off this Sunday on 99.3 FM. Musician Maiz Vargas Sandoval is the lead organizer of Burlington's Latin American Connection event. Plus: the founders of Hermanas Vermont, a group created by and for Latina women in the state. Broadcast live on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

A recent protest at an ICE facility in Williston ended with a group of Christian religious leaders arrested for trespassing. Today, we'll hear what led them to stage this protest, what happened that day and how faith guides their activism. Three of the seven arrested clergy members joined us in the studio today: Rev. Jessica Derise, an ordained minister in Burlington with the United Church of Christ, or UCC; Rev. Earl Kooperkamp of the Diocese of Vermont is an Episcopal Pastor with the Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre, and St. Mary's Parish in Northfield; and Rev. Elizabeth Gleich, an associate pastor at the UCC Congregational Church of Middlebury.Broadcast live on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Bestselling author Daniel Mason's new novel, “Country People," is a comedic tale of a California family that moves to southern Vermont. They discover the beauty and quirks of rural living, as well as a centuries-old local legend. Mason is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and the author of six books, including the 2023 bestseller North Woods.Plus, a longstanding music venue in Burlington – Radio Bean – just closed for good. It was an important launching pad for local bands, and a beloved nightspot. Seven Days music editor Chris Farnsworth reflects on Radio Bean's role in the local music scene.

This September 11th marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Firefighter Michael Donovan served at Ground Zero that day. He lost many friends and colleagues.On Vermont Edition: Captain Michael Donovan of Ludlow. His new memoir commemorates the 25th anniversary from a firefighter's perspective.Plus, a member of Vermont's Nepali community is trying to support his friends and family from afar. They're recovering physically and emotionally from the recent devastating floods. We'll share ways for you to help.Broadcast live on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

For all you game show nerds, tonight's a big night. It's the "Jeopardy! Masters" final. If that means nothing to you, here's the deal: high-ranking Jeopardy champions compete against each other for a $500,000 prize, a $100,000 donation to a charity of their choosing, and the illustrious Trebek Trophy."Jeopardy!" is one of the most beloved and longest-running shows on American television. We're joined by three former champions from our region, and hear stories from listeners who were also contestants on trivia's big stage, including Vermont Public music manager and classical music host Helen Lyons.David Madden of Montpelier competed on the show four separate times. He won 19 games in 2005, and he now runs academic quiz tournaments for kids through his company International Academic Competitions. Jakob DeArruda is a three-time champion and quarter-finalist in the Tournament of Champions in 2023. He grew up in the Okemo Valley and now lives in Ithaca, New York. Susan White lives in Norwich, where she runs the online bookseller Sutton Books. She was a "Jeopardy!" champion in 2019.Broadcast live on Monday, Sept. 8, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Dinner table scenes. Soldiers deploying to war. Kids with scuffed knees and dirty socks. The quintessential American illustrator Norman Rockwell painted them all. Many were created while he lived and worked in Vermont for more than a decade. Today on Vermont Edition: Norman Rockwell in the Green Mountains. We'll hear stories from his granddaughter, the writer and translator Daisy Rockwell, as well as the executive director of the Shelburne Museum. The exhibit, “Norman Rockwell: At Home in Vermont,” is on view this fall and it celebrates his most iconic artwork, like his Saturday Evening Post covers. Then: The Kelly Brush Foundation marks 20 years of advocacy for safe ski racing. Its founder, Kelly Brush, reflects on her last two decades, and shares her vision for the future of ski racing and adaptive sports.

School is back in session. This is the first year that students across Vermont are banned from bringing cell phones. Today on Vermont Edition: the reasoning behind the cell phone ban, and what it's like on the ground, trying to enforce it. We'll talk with the principal of Rutland High School and the Dean of Students at Sharon Academy. This episode of Vermont Edition also includes a conversation with Seven Days food writer Jordan Barry. With summer in full swing, Jordan shares her favorite fair food, and current restaurant opening and closings. Broadcast live on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 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 early September and the water's warm in our region's lakes and ponds. That means some fish are under stress, while many native species are in their element.Today we explore the underwater world of so-called “trash fish.” These ancient, native species are often dismissed by anglers. But the members of our panel catch, release and celebrate these species. Master Angler Drew Price leads the fly fishing guide service Master Class Angling. Master Angler Chelsea Rapin shares photos of her catches on her Instagram account @fishyourpark.There's work underway to add protections for native fish species. Shawn Good, a fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife, discusses those proposals and Vermont's master angler program.

Based on the data, just one or two people live in most of Vermont's homes, that's Roughly 70 percent of the state's houses. The state has one of the country's smallest average household sizes in the country.As we try to solve the state's housing crunch, this component should play a key role in the conversation. That's a big takeaway from recent reporting Carly Berlin. She's Vermont Public's housing and infrastructure reporter. She has an in-depth story on this subject, and she joins us today to tell us more about what she found when she dug into the data around population decline, household size and housing stock. We also have Maura Collins with us. She's the executive director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. The organization finances and promotes housing for low and moderate-income Vermonters.Then; Vermont is in the midst of implementing a bold new vision for reducing health care costs. It's called reference based pricing, and it's the most expansive law of its kind in the country.The goal is to reduce hospital costs. They're a major driver of our high health insurance premiums. Services at all Vermont's hospitals will be standardized instead of being left to the hospitals and health insurance companies to negotiate independently, which is what they do now.This is happening because of a law the Vermont legislature passed last year, Act 68. It directs the independent Green Mountain Care Board to implement reference based pricing by fiscal year 2027. Owen Foster is the chair of the Green Mountain Care Board joins us to explain.Broadcast live on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Our August 2026 Town by Town stop is Chittenden in Rutland County. This town has the distinction of being the largest municipality in Vermont by area, though its population hovers around 1,200.Each month for Town by Town, we spend an hour together learning about one of Vermont's 252 towns or cities. At the end of the hour, we randomly select our next town using a big spinner.Guests for our live broadcast: Vermont Public reporter and Chittenden resident Nina Keck; sugarmaker Bob Baird; longtime selectboard member and farmer Dave Sargent; Kim Moyer, who worked on a play about Chittenden's psychic Eddy Brothers; and Shane Hanlon, manager of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery in North Chittenden.Broadcast live on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Proposed federal changes to historic preservation sites–including what qualifies for protection and who makes those decisions–has experts around the country on edge. Today on Vermont Edition: What's behind the move to make changes to a federal legal requirement known as Section 106.That law mandates federal agencies to assess and evaluate the impact of projects on historic and cultural properties around the country, including in Vermont. Two local preservation experts will discuss what could be vulnerable if the federal alterations go through. Later in the show, we'll speak with the Vermonter who was crowned this year's Miss Black USA. Harmony Edosomwan is a TV host, philanthropist, and food justice advocate who established a Winooski soul food catering company called Harmony's Kitchen. We'll find out how it feels to win the pageant and what comes with the honor.

Every year, little old Vermont produces big new names in the writing world. A Booker Prize nominee. A poet published in the New Yorker. A professor with a thrilling new mystery out. On today's Vermont Edition, we talk to Wyn Cooper, Miciah Bay Gault and Makenna Goodman. Broadcast live on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

New federal regulations surrounding hemp products are expected to have huge ripple effects on the industry. Guest host Jenn Jarecki hosts a panel of guests to discuss these changes and how they potentially impact growers, sellers, and buyers of CBD in the state. They'll also discuss some recent changes at the federal level, and what the future of growing and selling cannabis in Vermont looks like moving forward. We're first joined by James Pepper, the Chair of Vermont's Cannabis Control Board. Then, we chat with Sam Bellavance, Founder and CEO of Sunset Lake CBD and Cannabis, Kris Brown, who hosts the podcast Cannasations and is a grower himself, and Scott Sparks, Owner of the Bud Barn dispensary in Brattleboro. They'll give us their respective takes on the state of recreational cannabis in Vermont.Disclosure: Sunset Lake CDB is a Vermont Public business partner. Broadcast live on Monday, August 24, 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 Vermont Edition's annual creemee show, where each summer we talk with maker's and lovers of Vermont's most famous delicacy. This year, speak with Adam founder of the Vermont Creemee Passport, a physical booklet that allows you to track your travels to Vermont's 180-plus creemee stands. We also are joined by two creemee makers to get their take on what makes for a great creemee. Rebecca Freedner, owner of Holy Halvah in Bristol, which combines the Vermont tradition of creemees with the Middle Eastern, tahini-based dessert called halvah, and Henry Mizrahi, owner of Mr. Creemee, the newest creemee spot in Burlington.

Amanda Janoo, Molly Gray, and Gerald Malloy discuss their campaigns, and reporter Lola Duffort breaks down the results. Then: it's been nearly five years since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan. Vermont now has one of the largest per capita populations of Afghans in the U.S. The head of the Vermont Afghan Alliance will tell us about the challenges they still face. Broadcast live on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont might be far from the ocean, but that's not an issue for local scuba divers. The waters of Lake Champlain are dark, deep and perfect for underwater adventure.Matt Cetin is the owner and captain at Dive One LLC, the only dive charter company in Burlington. Kreig Pinkham is the Training Director for the Waterfront Diving Center in Burlington. They tell us about the historic shipwrecks and aquatic life to be found below the surface.Then, we get our heads above water with members of the Women in Wind sailing program, run by the Community Sailing Center in Burlington. Eva Sullivan is the sailing center's education coordinator, and Roxanne Tena-Nelson is a board member.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 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 primary election is Aug. 11. About 3.1% of registered voters cast their ballots early, according to the Secretary of State's office. The rest of Vermont's 500,000 or so registered voters will need to go to a polling station to cast their ballots.Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas joins the show to discuss primary day logistics, Vermont's campaign finance laws and election security. Then, Vermont Public reporters Liam Elder Connors and Peter Hirschfeld talk us through the candidates in federal, statewide and county races that will appear on ballots.Check out Vermont Public's primary election guide for information on your polling place and candidate debates and interviews.Broadcast live on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

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.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

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.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

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 NicholsThen, 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.