Brave Little State
Episodes
How can Vermont solve its housing crisis?
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A question from Dani Gagnon of Montpelier leads VPR’s Mikaela Lefrak to find out why Vermont’s housing crunch has become a crisis — and what peo...
Why are Vermont co-ops so successful?
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When question-asker Kate Phillips moved to Vermont, she was surprised to find three different food co-ops within driving range of her place. She then ...
How’s Vermont doing with composting?
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Food scraps have been banned from Vermonters’ trash since July of 2020. Question-asker Bella Fearn wants to know: How’s that going?To answer Bella...
Homegoings #5: Rajnii Eddins
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with poet Rajnii Eddins about using “courageous vulnerability” to navigate the darkness.Find a photo of Rajnii and the lyrics to th...
Why do people like Phish? A guide for the uninitiated
02 Dec 2021
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 st...
The mysterious fire that destroyed a beloved sugar house
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Question-asker Chris Jacobsen of Norwich grew up eating the renowned pancakes at Eaton’s Sugar House in Royalton. Brave Little State reporter Myra F...
An investigation into a prominent Vermont landlord
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A joint investigation into a growing rental empire finds a pattern of neglect — and reveals how ill-equipped Vermont is to oversee the quality and s...
What would it take to end Daylight Saving Time?
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we enter the darkest season of the year, you may be wondering: Why do we have to fall back and spring ahead? And is there anything that can be done...
How's Vermont's Amish community doing?
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To answer this question from Dean Lehrke of Kansas, reporter Elodie Reed travels to the Northeast Kingdom to explore the ways that isolated Amish fami...
When will there be a vaccine for Lyme disease?
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To answer this question from Robert Small of Stannard, we take stock of not one, not two, but three pharmaceuticals currently in development.This epis...
Vermont vs. New Hampshire: What's The Beef?
23 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Call us rivals, or frenemies...But where does this half-serious tension come from? Ian Harding of Los Angeles asked us to break it down.Check out our ...
Our 4th Annual Brief History Of Vermont Road Names
09 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest installment of a Brave Little State tradition, we journey to the back roads of Vermont to learn about three mystifying road and place na...
Tropical Storm Irene, 10 Years Later
19 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A listener's request about the legacy of Tropical Storm Irene prompted us to tell three stories about resilience — personal, entrepreneurial and spi...
The Vermont Accent, Explained
05 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In honor of the show’s 5th birthday, we revisit our inaugural episode — about the past, present and future of the Vermont accent.Thanks to Erin Cr...
Why Is The F-35 Based In Vermont?
22 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A question from Bobby Arnell of Winooski about the complex, controversial decision to base fighter jets in Vermont's most populous county.Check out bo...
Black Comfort, Or Lack Thereof, In Vermont
08 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We get comfortable — or uncomfortable — and talk about living in Vermont with, or as, a Black kid.See photos of the families we heard from in this...
The Secret Life Of Moose ... Crossing Signs
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What factors go into placing those yellow road signs? A question from Jocelyn Hebert gets to the heart of a tension between the natural world and huma...
Homegoings #4: DonnCherie
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with DonnCherie about compassion, artistic authenticity and taking Blackness back. (Warning: Profanity)This is the fourth and final ins...
Homegoings #3: Rivan Calderin
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Rivan Calderin about BIPOC exhaustion, safety and music as a platform for consciousness. Check out the original art for this serie...
Homegoings #2: Senayit Tomlinson
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
(Warning: Profanity) A conversation with Senayit Tomlinson about Black trauma, music and getting through.See a photo of Senayit, read the lyrics to "H...
Homegoings #1: Bobby Hackney Jr.
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Bobby Hackney Jr. about Black grief, resilience and music. This is the first installment of Homegoings, a special series from Brav...
What's Going On With Vermont's Pensions?
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
(Warning: Profanity) Vermont's underfunded pension system has forced an awkward question: If the state makes a promise to its workers, does it have to...
Meet And Greet
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Normally you hear a mixture of VPR reporters on this show, and that’s not gonna change -- but you’ll also be hearing a lot from our new producers,...
Vermonters On The Edge Of The Benefits Cliff
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What if you had to choose between working full time and keeping your benefits? We take on a question from Matthew LeFluer of Alburgh about the conundr...
The History Of French Canadian Immigration In Vermont (Encore)
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's an aspect of Vermont history that some say is overlooked.We return to an episode from May 2018, which explored your questions about Anglicized na...
The Vermonters Lost To COVID
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
More than 200 Vermonters have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. How did they live?VPR reporter Liam Elder-Connors spoke with their loved on...
The Rise And Fall Of Vermont's One-Room Schoolhouses
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How did Vermont end up with so many small, one-room schools? And why don’t we use them anymore? That's what Chelsea Smiley of Monkton wants to know....
What Do I Need To Know About Moving To Vermont?
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This one goes out to our future neighbors. With your help, we answer a question from soon-to-be Vermonter Samantha Spano, of South Florida.See photos ...
A Vermont Town & City Pronunciation Guide
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Not sure how to say Calais, or Topsham, or Beebe Plain? With your help, we've built a guide for all those tricky names on the Vermont map.If you've li...
Ask Bob: Leahy And The Impeachment Trial
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Senate impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump is set to begin on Feb. 9. And Vermont’s own Sen. Patrick Leahy will preside.How did L...
It Was A Pandemic 'Escape Community' In 1918. And Now?
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The small town of Fletcher did notably well during the 1918 flu pandemic. How did they manage that, and how are they managing COVID?That's what Chris ...
If You're Worried About Climate Change, Where Should You Live?
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A listener question with some local implications. We pass the mic to our friends at New Hampshire Public Radio's Outside/In.Find more from Outside/In ...
Where Do The Terms 'Woodchuck' And 'Flatlander' Come From?
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A question about blatant stereotypes, and the Green Mountain lingo we use for them.Today's question comes from Ryan McLiverty, of Woodstock. Our journ...
Who Are Vermont's Electors?
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bonus episode! Who are Vermont's three Electoral College members, and how were they chosen?Let us know what you think of this super-short format. Drop...
How Are The U.S.-Canada Border Restrictions Affecting Vt. Families And Businesses?
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Gabrielle Coburn of Kingston, Ontario, asked us to examine this cross-border quandary.See the photos accompanying this episode, and view a transcript,...
What's Vermont Doing To Improve Broadband Access?
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic has shifted even more of our lives online. So what's being done to address Vermont's internet inequities?That's what Maggie Eppstein of H...
The Pros And Cons Of Wood Heat, Rekindled
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Burned out on election news? We've got you. Revisit our 2019 episode about the fuel that warms you twice.Explore our web feature here: What Are The Pr...
Is Vermont Really Having A COVID Boom?
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is our population growing because of the pandemic? And what impact are COVID transplants having on their new communities?Today’s question comes from...
Bob Answers Questions About Vermont Voting
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What are your options for returning your mail-in ballot? What should you do if you lose it? And how can you track your ballot to make sure it’s rece...
Are Trump's 2016 Voters Still Behind Him?
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With mail-in voting already underway and a president who has COVID-19 — and who has not pledged to accept the results if he loses — we talk to som...
What's The State Of Religion In Vermont?
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
And how do Vermonters characterize their beliefs? That's what Sue Leroux wants to know.Check out our web feature to see photos of BLS reporter Liam El...
Our 3rd Annual Brief History Of Vermont Road Names
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every summer, we drive across Green Mountain creation to find the origins of the strange road names you're wondering about. Fan of the show? Sign up f...
Who Will Get The COVID Vaccine First?
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When a vaccine becomes available for COVID-19, who gets it first?
How To Support Vermonters Of Color: 'Listen To Us'
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How can a state that is 94% white do better? BIPOC Vermonters weigh in to answer this listener question.Check out our web feature for bonus audio, wri...
Why Do Some Vermonters Display The Confederate Flag?
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What's a symbol from the South doing in the Green Mountain State? Jason Broughton and Megan Bellavance (both, as it turns out, librarians) asked us to...
A Master Class In Finding The Bright Side
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Michael and Stacy Lee have had a really tough year. So why do they feel so positive?Love our show? Sign up for the BLS newsletter, submit a question a...
Remembering Vermont's 19th Century Black Communities
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How did these communities form, and how are they being remembered? That's what Gale Harris wanted to know.Fan of the show? Sign up for the BLS newslet...
Is Vermont Really 'So Expensive'?
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone loves to grouse about our cost of living. Bruce Post wonders: How bad is it really?And some recommended listening this week. On current event...
End-Of-Life Wishes In A Pandemic
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If people — particularly elderly people — don't want doctors to take extreme measures to potentially save their lives, does that increase Vermont'...
In A Food Shortage, Could Vermont Farms Feed The Whole State?
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This hypothetical listener question has gotten a little more real.Fan of the show? Sign up for the BLS newsletter, submit a question about Vermont and...
What Happens If A Presidential Candidate Dies?
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bonus episode: Our current president, and his presumptive opponent, are in an age group vulnerable to the coronavirus. What happens if...?Fan of the s...
How Are Vermont Prisons Handling COVID-19?
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Parole officers doling out hand sanitizer. Inmates cooking for those in quarantine. At the Department of Corrections, it's all hands on deck.Want more...
How's Everybody Doing?
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dispatches from our fellow Vermonters, including a nurse on the front lines and an expectant dad. Plus, some essay and poetry for our times.Fan of the...
Tips From A Home-Schooling, Remote-Working Mom
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With Vermont schools now closed, many parents are facing a daunting reality. Today, a conversation between two moms — one is a veteran home-schooler...
Goodbye, Ollie: Remembering Vermont's Favorite Camel
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A question about a popular camel won in one of our recent public voting rounds. Sadly, our reporting did not go as planned.Fan of the show? Sign up fo...
Is Town Meeting Outdated? (And More)
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's "Ask Bob" on Brave Little State! VPR's senior political reporter Bob Kinzel takes on your questions about Town Meeting, the location of Vermont's...
Why Has Vermont Never Sent A Woman To Congress?
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont is the only state in the country that's never sent a woman to D.C. We dig into the disparity, and poll Vermonters on whether they think it's a...
As Colleges Close, How Will Vermont Schools Survive?
07 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Low enrollment and financial troubles have caused a slew of Vermont’s small, independent colleges to shut their doors. What’s causing the problem ...
Vermont's 'Brand' Helps These Businesses. Do They Help Vermont?
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tanya Ocker of Burlington wonders about businesses that emphasize Vermont's "brand." Do they help our economy?Check out our web feature to see photos ...
Why Does Vermont Have So Many Dollar Generals?
03 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are 37 Dollar General stores in Vermont. And what Danielle Drogalis of Swanton wants to know is: How did that happen? Love Brave Little State? S...
What Do Vermont Constables Do, Anyway?
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What's the history and function of town constables in Vermont? That's what Richard Dumughn wants to know.Check out our web feature to see photos of Co...
How Can Vermonters Drive Less?
06 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For a state that calls itself green, Vermont sure has a lot of drivers. So what can be done?That's what Eve Jacobs-Carnahan of Montpelier wants to kno...
Will Burlington's Champlain Parkway Ever Get Built?
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The highway project has been tangled in red tape for so long that there's a monument to bureaucracy in Burlington’s South End. What's the status?In ...
Why Are Child Care Professionals Paid So Poorly In Vermont?
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The typical angle for stories about child care is about how expensive it is for parents. But the professionals who educate and care for Vermont's youn...
Another Taste Of Star Pudding
18 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Podcast extra! After we aired our story about Marshfield's Star Pudding Farm Road, former longtime resident Laura Johnson got in touch to tell us more...
What Happens To Vermont's Recycling?
04 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are people following Vermont's new recycling laws, and where does our recycling end up? That’s what Julie Ste. Marie of Troy wants to know.
A(nother) Brief History Of Vermont Road Names
06 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We take on more of your questions about mysterious Green Mountain byways in our Second Annual Brief History of Vermont Road Names.Love Brave Little St...
Happy Third Birthday To Us!
02 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We celebrate three years of people-powered journalism with a listen back to some memorable moments from our archive.
What's The Plan For The 'Pit' In The Middle Of Newport?
05 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A development project gone wrong. A community living with the fallout. And an uncertain path forward.
Does Vermont Have Any Patches Of Old Growth Forest?
07 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A question about Vermont's most elderly woods, from Andrew Wild of Burlington.
What Draws So Many Writers And Poets To Vermont?
03 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This month on the podcast: Exploring the literary luminaries of Vermont, and why so many writers seem to thrive in the Green Mountain State.
How Is Climate Change Affecting Vermont Right Now?
05 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We know the predictions are dire; we know there are urgent conversations to be had about policy. But to answer this listener question, we stay focused...
Why Does Vermont Have Such A Housing Crunch?
08 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What are the causes of Vermont’s tight housing market — and why aren’t things getting better?
Legislation vs. Investigation: How Is Rep. Peter Welch Balancing His Work?
01 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Now that Democrats control the U.S. House, we head to Capitol Hill to get a sense of how Vermont's Congressman is approaching things.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Heating With Wood?
11 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Who doesn't love a cozy fire? There are benefits to heating with wood — but some drawbacks, too.
What Does It Take To Start And Run A Successful Small Business In Vermont?
07 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
To answer this listener question, we collect entrepreneurial wisdom from self-starters all over the state.
Why Are There So Many African-Americans Incarcerated In Vermont?
02 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Overall, Vermont has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the country — but one of the highest rates of African-American incarceration. So why i...
What's It Like To Hike The Long Trail?
05 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The 272-mile trail follows Green Mountain ridgelines from one end of Vermont to another. So what’s it like to hike the whole thing?
Presenting JOLTED, A New Podcast From VPR
06 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A story about a school shooting that didn’t happen, and the surprising things that did. This month we’re sharing Part 1 of JOLTED. Hear more at jo...
A Brief History Of Vermont Road Names
03 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You know the feeling. You’re driving along, and you turn onto a road with an intriguing name. And you wonder where it came from.
4 Vermont Towns Vs. 1 Utah Developer: What Happened With NewVistas
06 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s question led us straight into an unfolding story — about an outsider with deep pockets and big ideas, and the towns that banded toget...
Those 'Aging Hippies' Who Moved To Vermont ... Where Are They Now?
08 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The past may be obscured in a cloud of … wood … smoke. But what does the present look like?
What's The History Of French Canadian Immigration Into Vermont?
04 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There was a time when it was totally normal to hear French spoken in some of Vermont's smallest towns and biggest cities. This month on 'Brave Little ...
Is Vermont Really Losing Young People?
06 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Since we started this show, there's a question we've gotten a lot: Why are so many young people leaving the state?
Is The Northeast Kingdom Really So 'Different'?
09 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Just how culturally different is the Northeast Kingdom from the rest of the state? Can it be quantified in any way, or is it largely legend?
Who Oversees Vermont's County Sheriffs?
02 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If Vermont's county sheriffs are accountable to their voters, but most of their voters don't pay much attention to them, what happens when they do som...
The Complicated History Of Hydro-Quebec
05 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
From our friends at the podcast Outside/In, the story of how a massive, state-owned utility company came to be a symbol of the French-Canadian people.
Vermont Hustle: What It's Like To Work 3 Jobs
08 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
There's a joke about the employment scene in Vermont: "What do you call a Vermonter with two jobs? Lazy." In other words, it can take three or more jo...
What Would It Look Like If Vermont Seceded?
03 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We aren't endorsing it, but ... if Vermont did manage to secede from the United States, how would we fare?
What's The History Of The Underground Railroad In Vermont?
06 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to Vermont's history with the Underground Railroad, where's the line between myth and truth? And whose voices are missing from the story...
How Has The Geology Of Vermont Affected Its Character?
08 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
If you've lived in a state for a long time, or grew up there, you probably have this feeling - when you drive into or out of it, you feel like you can...
Low Pay, Weird Schedule: Who Exactly Can Pull Off The Legislator Lifestyle?
04 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Vermont's citizen legislators get paid about $12,700 for five months of work. So, if you have a career and/or a family, how do you pull it off? This i...
Your Vermont History Fix, From Gold Mines To Witch Windows
07 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This month, we're doing things a little differently. Instead of taking on one of your questions about Vermont, we're taking on three. We've got a ques...
What's It Like To Be A Migrant Worker In Vermont?
09 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
If you drink Vermont milk, or eat Vermont apples or vegetables, it's likely that you have foreign workers to thank. But do you know any? This month, w...
What Can Be Done About Vermont's Aging Sewer Systems?
05 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This month on "Brave Little State," a subterranean question about wastewater treatment in Vermont.
A Tribute To Vermont's Old, Falling-Down Barns
07 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This month on "Brave Little State," a question about the many barns in Vermont that are left in a suspended state of disrepair.
Why Is Vermont So Overwhelmingly White?
03 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The history of Vermont's whiteness - both racial and cultural - and stories from people of color about what it's like to live here.Fan of the show? Si...
What's The Deal With Coydogs?
06 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
There's a creature that lives in Vermont that you don't see very often. It comes across the night in a cacophony of howls, yips and barks. Some attrib...
Almost 100,000 Vermonters Voted For Donald Trump. Why?
03 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
On Election Day, nearly one in three Vermont voters cast ballots for Donald J. Trump - and VPR reporters teamed up with "Brave Little State" to hear f...
What Is The Status Of The Abenaki Native Americans In Vermont Today?
04 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A question about the descendants of this region's first residents. Love the show? Sign up for the BLS newsletter, submit a question about Vermont and/...