Brave Little State
Episodes
The case of D.W. Bancroft’s curious cure-all
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A few years ago, John Haffner was digging in his White River Junction backyard when his shovel hit a glass bottle buried underground. Then he found an...
What happened to all the halfway houses in Vermont?
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Question-asker Manny recently got out of prison. He wants to learn about his options for transitional housing — a place where he could stay sober wh...
Why is Rutland made to feel like Vermont’s ‘ugly child’?
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rutland — or, “RutVegas” — gets a pretty bad rap outside the city’s limits. But some of Rutland’s most passionate cheerleaders say there’...
The case of the missing Tinmouth apple
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leave your grocery store apples at home and join our search for this most unusual Vermont fruit.For photos from our journey, check out the web version...
200th episode extravaganza
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the 200th episode of the show, we set ourselves a challenge: take on 20 listener questions in a single episode.We went back to the very beginning ...
Class in the classroom
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“There was this huge divide in, like, social grouping and connection … No one really talked to each other.”“Making friends at the high school ...
Lake Champlain’s brush with ‘Great’-ness
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are five Great Lakes: Superior, Ontario, Michigan, Huron and Erie. But for a few fleeting weeks in the late 1990s, Lake Champlain made six.How d...
Twelve hours at the Richmond park and ride
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We took a full-day detour to answer this question from Heather Channon of South Burlington: "Who is using all of the park-and-ride lots?"We spent 12 ...
Our 8th Annual Brief History of Vermont Road Names
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every summer, we add a new chapter to our favorite annual tradition: investigating the origins of Vermont’s strangest road names, as chosen by our l...
Quebec is trying to save its bees. What can Vermont learn from them?
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Starting this summer, Vermont farmers are some of the first in the nation to face major restrictions on neonicotinoids — a kind of pesticide widely ...
Essential Salt
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're sharing an episode of a podcast we really like. It's called Essential Salt, a show about connection, local storytelling and how getting t...
What did the sale of the Lake Monsters mean for Vermont baseball? (Encore)
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
July in Vermont means hot dogs and peanuts and Cracker Jacks… and summer baseball. A few summers ago, reporter Liam Elder-Connors joined question-as...
Is it time for a new Vermont state flag?
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Close your eyes and try to picture the Vermont flag…If you’re drawing a blank — you're not alone.Our flag defies almost all the flag design rule...
How are Vermonters staying social after they can no longer drive?
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not being able to drive in this state can be isolating — especially for older Vermonters navigating the challenges of aging. Ninety-two-year-old G...
Reimagining life without kids
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wanting children, and not being able to have them, is an experience people rarely discuss publicly. But it’s one that cuts close to the bone for man...
Why does Vermont still require car inspections?
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know what rocker panels are? No? Well, one listener found out hers were rusted during her annual car inspection — and that they were in need ...
Is logging bad for the climate?
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont’s logging industry has changed a lot over the last several decades. But one thing remains true: We just can’t agree about how to manage ou...
Some people leave Vermont. Does Vermont ever really leave them?
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to be a Vermonter if you’ve left the Green Mountain State? Reporter Myra Flynn brings us on a sonic journey across the globe from...
What’s next for Vermont’s only law school?
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
South Royalton has something that no other Vermont town does: a law school. But for a long time, there’s been one rumor the town and the school can’...
What’s the story behind the omnipresent ‘Stowe’ logo?
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You can find the swoopy, stylized version of the word “Stowe” everywhere — police cruisers, store windows, a covered bridge. It’s as if the en...
What is the Bennington Triangle?
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Five mysterious disappearances were the talk of Bennington in the mid-20th century. Now, they’ve developed a cult following online. We revisit the i...
Why is health insurance in Vermont so expensive?
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cha-ching. Vermont health insurance is pricey, and getting more expensive really quickly. For one listener in Montpelier, it’s just not adding up.Ro...
Inside Vermont's weird and wonderful town forests
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forests for the people! Democracy in the woods! Most towns in Vermont have a locally owned forest, but no two are exactly the same — and their stori...
New Hampshire has 6 landfills. Why does Vermont only have 1?
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont used to have hundreds of dumps all over the state. These days, most of the state’s trash ends up in one place: a landfill in Coventry. Quest...
Who takes care of Vermont’s tiny cemeteries?
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We track down the Lorax of Vermont cemeteries and visit a farm in East Putney where the past and present collide.Share your feedback about BLS! We’d...
BLS goes hunting
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Larrabee is in 10th grade at the Danville School in the Northeast Kingdom. She doesn’t hunt, but her family does and her classmates do. And she...
How has Vail’s acquisition of Vermont ski areas impacted locals?
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been seven years since Colorado-based Vail Resorts bought the ski resort at Stowe. Almost immediately, Vail cut the cost of a season pass there...
Why is there such a problem with the U.S. Postal Service in Vermont?
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Government for the people! A beacon of democracy! The Postal Service has been essential for free speech and the circulation of ideas since before the ...
Emelia's Thing
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re sharing a story from New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team.A young police officer unexpectedly finds herself back in New Hampshire, and...
What does the state’s energy transition mean for Vermonters?
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change is here. So is Vermont’s energy transition. Ahead of the 2024 election, voters want to know: How do they fit in?Environment and clima...
What invasive species in Vermont has done the most damage?
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For centuries, humans have transported plants and animals and fungi all around the globe. Whether exotic plants for a home garden or spores hitching a...
Why are there no strip clubs in Vermont?
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The “girlie shows” are long gone from the county fairs. Former clubs like Planet Rock in Barre and Club Fantasy in South Burlington have all shut ...
Is Vermont’s motel program a ‘magnet’ for out-of-staters experiencing homelessness?
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For as long as Carly Berlin has been reporting on housing issues for Vermont Public and VTDigger, she’s been hearing some version of this question: ...
When the Space Race and arms dealing came to the NEK (encore)
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A chapter of Northeast Kingdom history that is most mysterious. A man whose talent and ambition led him down a perilous path. To answer a question fro...
Our 7th Annual Brief History of Vermont Road Names
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s summer without a road trip? Every year, Brave Little State travels around Vermont to find the stories behind the road signs. But even with se...
Are Vermonters happy?
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whew… a big question. And certainly not one with a yes or no answer. Happiness looks different depending on who you ask. So we visited five Vermonte...
Jeezum crow!
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jeezum crow, is it tough to find the origin of the phrase ‘jeezum crow’! Join us for our exploration into this quintessential Vermont saying, as w...
What 'old streams' can teach us about flooding (encore)
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here we are again. Exactly one year after historic floods ravaged Vermont, parts of the state are again dealing with devastating flooding following he...
What were Vermont’s ‘poor farms’ like?
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For about a century, a farm operated on a hillside in Hardwick. At one point, it was said to have one of the finest herds of cows in town. But life fo...
Why is it so hard to get a primary care provider?
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hours and hours of calls. Months-long waitlists. Vermonters are spending a lot of time looking for primary care providers — and those providers are ...
Why doesn't Chittenden County have better public transit options?
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Chittenden County has been using buses to move people around for almost a century. But with ridership down and the bus system heading toward a fiscal ...
The Montpelier Molar Mystery
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a tooth embedded in a retaining wall alongside East State Street in Montpelier. Who put it there?This question has been keeping Brave Little...
Mud Season Madness (encore)
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Vermont’s messy transition from winter to spring always brings its fair share of surprises and obstacles...
What’s up with the Vermont wave?
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you live in a rural part of Vermont, you know it — the one-finger lift or full-hand gesture from the steering wheel. Everyone has their own take ...
‘Recognized’: An update
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Two Abenaki First Nations headquartered in Canada contest the legitimacy of Vermont’s state-recognized tribes. How are Vermont lawmakers responding?...
Investigating far-right extremism in northern New York
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, a story from our neighbors at North Country Public Radio. If All Else Fails is a recent podcast about the growing presence — and threat —...
What impact does the VAST trail have on Vermont's economy?
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, better known as VAST, maintains more than 6,000 miles of snowmobile trails across the state. Today, snowmob...
What is the Upper Valley?
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A smattering of Vermont and New Hampshire towns on either side of the Connecticut River are known collectively as the “Upper Valley.” We set out t...
How do Vermont libraries stay alive and vibrant?
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont is home to almost 200 independent and locally funded libraries. This means they each must evolve to meet the unique needs of their communities...
What relationships are possible between Burlington and her sister cities, Bethlehem and Arad?
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Burlington has sister cities all over the world — including in Nicaragua, Mississippi and Japan. Winning question-asker Peg Clement is curious about...
Why do people like Phish? (Encore)
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We journey into the weird world of Vermont's favorite jam band to explore the culture of "phandom” and Phish’s early roots in our brave little sta...
How are towns hit by summer floods doing?
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Volunteers were still pumping water out of basements from the July floods when another round of flooding hit this week. Vermonters on the front lines ...
What’s the deal with Act 250?
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont’s pastoral, small town charm didn’t just happen out of thin air. It’s been legislated. And it’s especially baked into one really impor...
What effect has noncitizen voting had in the Vermont cities where it's legal?
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, Winooski, Montpelier and Burlington made it possible for all legal residents to vote — including asylum seekers, refugees and green...
Raising biracial kids — and preserving heritage — in Vermont
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We met Sweeney Grabin at a Brave Little State mixer last year, right after she moved to South Burlington with her husband and her baby, Maya. She want...
Recognized: Chapter Three
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who gets to decide who is Abenaki? Vermont’s four state-recognized tribes — and the state recognition law — have different definitions and crite...
Recognized: Chapter Two
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After the original group of self-proclaimed Vermont Abenaki failed to gain federal recognition, Vermont lawmakers created a state recognition process ...
Recognized: Chapter One
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two Abenaki First Nations in Canada contest the legitimacy of the four groups recognized by the state of Vermont as Abenaki tribes. This is a dispute ...
Why are so few Hollywood movies and TV shows filmed in Vermont?
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The smash hit Netflix series Wednesday takes place in Jericho … and was filmed in Romania. Megan Matthers of Sutton wants to know — why? Mae Nagus...
What’s the deal with Vermont’s fire towers?
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wesley Davis grew up in the woods of Mount Holly. But there was always one place where he could get high above the trees: the fire tower on top of nea...
What if Vermont were to buy motels for emergency housing?
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During the pandemic, Daniel Luttrel heard a lot about how Vermont was renting rooms at hotels and motels to shelter people. And he heard that the stat...
Our 6th Annual Brief History Of Vermont Road Names
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every summer, we delve into the history behind unusual road names around the state — as voted on by you. This year’s show took us to Tigertown Roa...
From gold mines to witch windows (Encore)
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Instead of taking on one of your questions about Vermont, we’re taking on three — in a kind of local history lightning round. We explore those cro...
What is it like to be a rapper in Vermont?
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Something was always telling me poetry is your purpose. Being an artist, you know, with the power of words, is your purpose. I was just scared of i...
What 'old streams' can teach us about flooding
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just as we were putting the finishing touches on an episode about Vermont rivers and streams, historic flooding ravaged the state. Our rivers weren’...
What do families do when they're stuck on waitlists for child care?
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Julie Cadwallader Staub is curious about the families who are on waiting lists for child care. “What decisions are they forced to make? How are they...
How do you pronounce the name of the Waitsfield supermarket ‘Mehuron’s’?
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most common genres of questions we get has to do with local dialect and pronunciation. Today, thanks to question-asker Noah Waxman of Stark...
Student Takeover
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of graduation season, we’re featuring local stories from high school and college students — all on the theme of “change.”(Heads up, t...
The nickname Barre would like you to stop using
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Tim Rapczynski moved to Barre City, he was caught off guard by a nickname he heard some people use to describe the place: “Scary Barre.” So h...
5 Vermonters talk about guns
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A question from a listener prompts a different kind of conversation about guns. Reporter Erica Heilman talks with five Vermonters about how their live...
What’s the deal with intentional living communities in Vermont?
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ella Wegman-Lawless has done her fair share of communal and intentional living in Vermont. She wondered: “How much of Vermont as a place cultivates ...
Where did all Vermont’s stone walls come from?
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A few years ago, Jack Widness of Wilmington and Malcolm Moore of Marlboro were part of a crew clearing trails on Hogback Mountain. They noticed stone ...
What has put Vermont on the pop culture map?
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Musician Noah Kahan wrote “Stick Season” after moving back home to Vermont during the pandemic. Now, it’s a worldwide sensation, and listener Sa...
How many Airbnbs are 'taking away' from Vermonters? It's complicated
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Christiana Martin wants to know how much short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, are exacerbating Vermont’s housing crisis. We survey the data, and vis...
How much does Vermont's power grid depend on fossil fuels?
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So, your electricity rates are rising. Oil and gas costs … also rising. This led Remington Nevin of Quechee to wonder if Vermont’s electricity is ...
How has the geology of Vermont affected its character? (Encore)
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matt “Beagle” Bourgault wants to know how Vermont’s bedrock and soil shaped our identity — and made us different from our neighbors. We origin...
The complexities of medical aid in dying in Vermont
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you live in Vermont, and you have a terminal illness, where and when you die could be up to you. Charlie Bestard of Hartland asked us about the sta...
Homegoings #7: Liza Phillip
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Paintbrushes and blank canvases helped Burlington artist Liza Phillip love their biracial identity. Now, they paint colorful genderless monsters and s...
Why doesn’t Vermont have freestanding birth centers?
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont is the only state in the Northeast without a freestanding birth center. We dig into the reasons why, and talk to folks who are pushing for cha...
What happened to all the restaurant workers?
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many Vermont restaurants are understaffed and struggling to stay open. Khrista Trerotola of Waitsfield wants to know, “What happened to all the rest...
How do Vermont breweries manage their wastewater?
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont has the most breweries per capita. But the more beer they brew, the more they have to deal with their wastewater. Caleb Henderson of Winooski ...
What’s the Asian American experience like in Vermont?
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On Anna Costello’s first visit to Vermont, she was surprised by the large number of Chinese restaurants compared to the seemingly small number of As...
What role did Vermont play during Prohibition?
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When the federal government banned alcohol in 1920, Vermonters took matters into their own hands. We head to the Northeast Kingdom to collect stories ...
What's the secret to downtown revitalization?
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A listener asked us how White River Junction became such a thriving place, “when it used to be so bleak.” We talk to some of the people behind the...
How did Vermont profit from slavery?
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
“Vermont was the first state to abolish slavery.” That’s the common refrain around here. Except, the history is more complicated. Reporter Lexi ...
Telling Indigenous stories through music
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Question-asker David Hess was curious about Native stories that speak to the Vermont landscape. Enter Mali Obomsawin’s new album, Sweet Tooth. Acros...
What did the sale of the Lake Monsters mean for Vermont baseball?
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The sale of the Vermont Lake Monsters in 2021 would bring lots of changes. In some ways, it’s a story of renewal. But the more things change, the mo...
Why do people leave Vermont?
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We hear from former Vermonters about their love/hate relationship with our state, why they left and what it would take for them to come back.Check out...
What’s Vermont’s small-town dating scene like?
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A question about finding companionship in the Green Mountain State – from wide-eyed hopefuls to frustrated giver-uppers. Plus, a love story.Thanks t...
Our 5th Annual Brief History of Vermont Road Names
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every summer, we trek across Vermont to uncover the origins of bizarre road names of your choosing. This year’s installment includes Iranistan Road ...
What's the status of cannabis dispensaries in Vermont?
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont’s first recreational cannabis dispensaries are set to open to the public on October 1, 2022. Reporter Bob Kinzel walks us through how we got...
What’s it like to hike the Long Trail? (Encore)
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The trail follows Green Mountain ridgelines from one end of Vermont to the other. To answer this question from Eliza Keller, we go deep into the woods...
When the Space Race (and arms dealing) came to the NEK
19 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A chapter of Northeast Kingdom history that is most mysterious. A man whose talent and ambition led him down a perilous path. To answer a question fro...
How are people who moved to Vermont during the pandemic doing now?
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont has been a popular destination for those who’ve relocated during the pandemic. But, how are they doing? We check in with some who made the m...
How can older Vermonters 'age in place'?
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve been hearing a lot about the housing shortage in Vermont, and how hard it is for people to buy homes right now. For this episode, we’re flip...
A history of Jewish life in Vermont
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A question from Sam Leveston about a religion, and a people, who have often been overlooked. An answer in five chapters.To see photos from Josh Crane’...
Would Vermont be a good place to ride out an apocalypse?
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a scary thought, to be sure. We discuss a few different apocalyptic scenarios, including some that have already begun. And, we test our social ...
Mud Season Madness
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This year’s mud season is full-on. So, we compiled your questions about dirt roads and put them to Keith Gadapee, road foreman in Danville — the t...
Homegoings #6: Naomi, Faith and Don
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with three teenagers about history and hope, featuring your questions about being young, Black and new American in Vermont in 2022. The...
What if we funded public education differently?
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Amanda Calder of Winooski asked us what it would look like if we raised money for our schools in a totally different way. It’s a hypothetical some l...