Vermont Edition

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

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

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

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

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.

After SCOTUS strikes down tariff rule, who gets a refund?

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

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

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

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

How to tackle your storage unit this spring cleaning season

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. 

Navigating 'gray divorce' in your later years

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

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

The history of blackface and minstrelsy in Vermont

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

Rep. Becca Balint pushes for an Iran war powers vote in the House

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

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. 

So you're thinking about getting Canadian citizenship, eh?

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

Nurses at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital will return to the bargaining table tomorrow with hospital administrators. 

Migratory songbirds warble, tweet and twitter their way back to Vermont

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

As health plans drop GLP-1s, what's next for patients?

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

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.

Reporter roundtable: Vt. legislature's 'crossover day'

Vermonters respond to major clash between ICE and protesters

Brattleboro Chief reflects on her 30 years in law enforcement ahead of retirement

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