Brave Little State

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 she’s not the same person she was when she left. Something happened to her – to all of us. But for Officer Emelia Campbell, this thing still lives in her brain and her body. NHPR’s Lauren Chooljian brings you Emelia’s story of survival and resilience in the wake of Jan. 6, 2021. You can find the full transcript here. Heads up: This episode contains unbleeped swears and mentions of death by suicide. If you need support, call or text 9-8-8, or click here, for the Suicide and Crisis lifeline. This story was reported and written by Lauren Chooljian. Jason Moon produced and mixed this piece, and composed all the music. Katie Colaneri was the editor, with additional editing by Dan Barrick, Todd Bookman, Taylor Quimby and Kate Dario. Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgMake a gift to support people-powered journalismTell your friends about the show!

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 climate reporter Abagael Giles looks into efforts to both mitigate and adapt to climate change in this pivotal moment. And she explores how Vermont can make sure its most remote communities aren’t left behind. Thanks to Laura Zettler of Fairfax and Pam Ladds of Newport for sharing their curiosity with us. If you want to learn more about the Affordable Heat Act or any other Vermont climate policies — and to find out more about where specific candidates stand on climate issues — click here. And for more about how climate change is impacting Vermont, check out more of Abagael’s recent reporting. This episode was reported by Abagael Giles. It was produced and edited by Josh Crane, with help from Sabine Poux, Burgess Brown, Brittany Patterson and Sophie Stephens. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive Producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Mark Davis, Rachel Cleetus, Terry Callahan, Jennifer Durgan, Tony Eprile, Donna Smyers, Johanna Nichols, Jennifer Francoeur and Jenel Ronn. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgMake a gift to support people-powered journalismTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 ride on a boot, flora and fauna have found their way into ecosystems that were unprepared for their arrival. These “invasive species” have no natural predators to keep them in check and in that absence, they wreak havoc. But which of these species has wreaked the most havoc in Vermont? That’s what Ashley Wojnarowski and Mike Mezzacapo of Pomfret want to know. Josh Crane searches for answers and falls into the “bottomless pit” of invasive species management — and he gets up close with one of Vermont’s most fragile ecosystems. For photos from our reporting, check out the web version of this story. For help with species identification and to record your findings, check out iNaturalist. This episode was reported by Josh Crane. It was produced and edited by Sabine Poux and Burgess Brown. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive Producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Mike Bald, Betty Smith, Lexi Krupp, Abagael Giles, Corey Dockser, Charlie Nardozzi, Tim Parsons, Mary Walz, Mike Kiernan, Elise Schadler, Kim Jensen, Noah Hoffman, Evan Horne, David Moroney, Jay Herbert, Jack Lentz, Don Wenner, Virginia Barlow, Tony D’Amato, Markus Bradley, Mariano Rodriguez-Cabal, Noelia Barrios-Garcia, and Mary Holland. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgMake a gift to support people-powered journalismTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 down. Vermont is now the only New England state without strip clubs. One stripper who grew up in Vermont reached out with a simple question: Why? For photos from our reporting, check out the web version of this story. Thanks to Susan Meiselas and Magnum Photos for the materials from Carnival Strippers and Carnival Strippers Revisted. This episode was reported by Sabine Poux. It was produced and edited by Josh Crane and Burgess Brown. Additional support from Sophie Stephens. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive Producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Liam Elder-Connors, Jeff Haig, Steve Taylor, Scott Rogers, Fern Strong, Elaine Howe, Gail Weise, Jordan Mitchell, Matt Sutkoski, Lydia Flanagan and The Mutual Zine Society, as well as everyone we spoke to at the Tunbridge World’s Fair: Gary and Martha Howe, Baxter Doty, Dave Smith, Louise and Frank Mier, Elliot Morse, Betsy and David Race and Gary Young As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgMake a gift to support people-powered journalismTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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: Is Vermont’s rise in homelessness due to unhoused people moving here from out-of-state? She hasn’t been able to track down an easy answer to this question. And in the absence of information, the idea that Vermont’s benefits are a “magnet” for those experiencing homelessness has taken root, from the aisles of grocery stores to the Statehouse floor. It’s a narrative that’s shaping the conversation about homelessness in Vermont, and what the state should do to address it. But is it even true? In this episode, Carly goes digging for data. Find the web version of this story here. Thanks to Joseph Valaske and Mark Tarmy of Putney for sharing their curiosity with us. This episode was reported by Carly Berlin and produced by Burgess Brown. Editing and additional production from Sabine Poux and Josh Crane, with support from April McCullum and Alicia Freese. Angela Evancie is our executive producer. Theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Lola Duffort, Laura Nakasaka, Sophie Stephens, Jess Graff, Sarah Russell, Rick DeAngelis, Frank Knaack, Stephen Waclawik and Mary Mojica. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgMake a gift to support people-powered journalismTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 from Eric Lucier of Jay, Henry Epp tells the story of the Space Research Corporation and its founder, Gerald Bull. We originally released this episode in 2022. Check out photos of the Space Research Corporation site, then and now, in our web feature. Henry Epp reported this episode. It was produced by Angela Evancie, with additional editing and production by Myra Flynn and Josh Crane. This encore presentation was produced by Burgess Brown. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Anna Ste Marie, Kevin Trevellyan, Mark Davis, Michael Rogers, Kate Phillips and Paul Carnahan. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgMake a gift to support people-powered journalismTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public.

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 several years of investigations under our seatbelts, we’re still finding plenty of surprises. This year, we looked into the stories behind Lake Willoughby, Hells Peak Road and Pumpkin Harbor Road. You can find the web version of this story here. And psst — check out our new Brave Little State landing page, which, for the first time, has a searchable archive of all our past episodes. Check out our previous brief histories of Vermont road names: 2023: Tigertown, Hateful Hill and Gerts Knob2022: Iranistan Road, a Jericho grab bag and punny highway signs2021: Cow Path 40, Agony Hill Road, Texas Falls2020: Devil’s Washbowl, Popple Dungeon Road, Lost Nation Road, Smuggler’s Notch2019: Mad Tom River Road, Hi-Lo Biddy Road, Star Pudding Farm Road, Sawnee Bean Road2018: States Prison Hollow Road, Poor Farm Road, Lime Kiln Road, Kelley Stand Road This episode was reported, produced, edited and mixed by Adiah Gholston, Burgess Brown, Samantha Watson and Sabine Poux. Our managing editor and senior producer is Josh Crane and our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Thanks to this year’s question askers: Beverly Decker, Sarah Hazleton and John Finlay. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgMake a gift to support people-powered journalismTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 Vermonters to learn what happiness looks like to them. Question-asker Courtney Rabuffo is a recent transplant to Vermont. She’s found a lot of happiness in her new home in North Hero. But she wants to know how other Vermonters are faring, which is why she asked us: "Are Vermonters happy? And are they happier than people in other New England states?" Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported by Mitch Wertlieb and produced by Sabine Poux. Editing and additional production from Josh Crane, Burgess Brown and Kevin Trevellyn. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Zoe McDonald, Winona Johnson and Heather Call. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 we journey from folklore to linguistics to… crows. Thanks to Sandra Bettis of Middlesex for the great question: “Where did ‘jeezum crow’ come from and is it just a Vermont saying?” Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported by Mikaela Lefrak. It was produced and edited by Angela Evancie, Josh Crane, Sabine Poux and Burgess Brown. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions and Banjo Dan. Special thanks to Sophie Stephens, Laura Nakasaka, Jim Stanford, Martha Barnette, Grant Barrett and Mary Danko. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network. P.S.: An earlier version of this story said Vermont History is a magazine. The audio has been updated to reflect that it is a journal.

Here we are again. Exactly one year after historic floods ravaged Vermont, parts of the state are again dealing with devastating flooding following heavy rains. We turn back to a 2023 episode about how understanding why these floods are so destructive is not as simple as measuring rainfall. Last year, reporter Lexi Krupp took on what turned out to be a very timely question from Gus Goodwin of East Montpelier. He wanted to know: “What does an old stream look like? Does Vermont have any? And can we manage for them?” We’re revisiting that episode as Vermont assesses the damage from yet another round of flooding. You can find the web version of this episode here. For the most up-to-date flood coverage, you can visit vermontpublic.org. This episode was reported by Lexi Krupp and produced by Josh Crane with help from Mae Nagusky. This re-run was produced by Sabine Poux. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s executive producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Sophie Stephens, Mark Davis, Mikaela Lefrak, Bill Keeton, Mary and Greg Russ, Ellen Wohl, Will Elridge, Skip Lisle and Elizabeth Trail. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 for those working the farm was less rosy. They were known as “inmates” — though they hadn’t committed crimes. This was Hardwick’s “poor farm.” Vermont towns used to be required by law to provide welfare locally. That’s where poor farms came in. A listener from Shelburne wants to know if there’s anything we can learn from this approach — in spite of its problems: “What were Vermont's 'poor farms' like, and could parts of the poor farm model of local aid be adapted for the needs of today?” Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported by Elodie Reed and produced by Sabine Poux. Editing and additional production from Burgess Brown and Josh Crane. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s executive producer. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Zoe McDonald, Lexi Krupp, Erica Heilman, Liz Gauffreau, Tara Reese, Kent Osborne, Carlotta Hayes, Eric Jonathan, Jackson Miller and all the folks we spoke to at Heartbeet Lifesharing As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

Hours and hours of calls. Months-long waitlists. Vermonters are spending a lot of time looking for primary care providers — and those providers are struggling, too. Question-asker Jen Kaufman is a doctor practicing in Vergennes who got into primary care because she likes spending time with patients. But she’s cut back on her hours seeing patients to manage her workload. She wants to know: What is the state of primary care in Vermont and where is it anticipated to go? Why is it so hard to get a primary care provider? Find the web version of this episode here. If you can, help us keep Brave Little State free for everyone by making a gift to Vermont Public at this link. It isn’t possible to make this show without your support. Thank you! This episode was reported by Lexi Krupp and produced by Burgess Brown. Editing and additional production from Sabine Poux and Josh Crane. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s executive producer. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Sophie Stephens, Bobbie Groves, Alex Spieler, Jon Holmer, Gary Drown, Paul Capcara, Jessa Bernard, Susan White, Stuart May, Yalda Jabbarpour, Margaret Gadon, Leigh LoPresti, Fay Homan, John Saroyan, Jess Moore, Sheila Keating, Kristin Barnum, John Olson and Stephanie Pagliuca. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 cliff, one listener wants to know — is there a better way? In the not-too-distant past, Burlington and its surrounding towns dreamt big transit dreams: more efficient buses, commuter trains and light rail. In 2024, those dreams remain unrealized or abandoned, and we’re fighting to keep the system we do have alive. Winning question-asker Nathaniel Eisen wants to know what happened. He asks: Why doesn't Chittenden County have better public transit options? Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported and produced by Sabine Poux, with editing from Burgess Brown and Mark Davis. Our managing editor and senior producer is Josh Crane and our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Charles Dillard, Gregory Rowangould, Marshall Distel, Chris Cole, Patrick Garahan, Corey Dockser, Bobby Lussier, Jordan Mitchell, Richard Whiting, Patty Wight, Irwin Gratz, Caroline Losneck, Winston Lumpkins, Zack Barowitz and Paul Detzer and Elodie Reed. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 State producer Burgess Brown up at night. He and question-asker Elvira Dana channeled their best Holmes and Watson to crack this cold canine case right open. And they enlisted the entire town of Montpelier for help along the way. Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported and produced by Burgess Brown, with editing from Sabine Poux and Brittany Patterson. Our managing editor and senior producer is Josh Crane and our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Sophie Stephens, Ann Lee, Lexi Krupp, Tim Heeney, Kevin Marlier, Jason Kass, Gideon Kass, Natalie Kass, Dan Groberg, Paul Carnahan, Tom McArdle, Corinne Cooper, Steve Gray, Mike Doyle, and many many other Montpelierites for their help. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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. And this year has been no exception: The mud came early, and it came often. Keith Gadapee is on the front lines of battling mud season as road foreman for the town of Danville — which has more dirt roads than anywhere else in Vermont. We spoke to Keith back in 2022 for an episode we called “Mud Season Madness” and put your pressing mud questions to the expert. We dug out that episode for an encore and checked back in with Keith as this year’s roller coaster of a season comes to a close. Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported and produced by Sabine Poux and Angela Evancie, with editing and additional production from Burgess Brown. Angela Evancie is our executive producer, and our managing editor and senior producer is Josh Crane. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to April McCullum and Sophie Stephens. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

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 on the so-called “Vermont wave.” Who gets a whole-hand wave and who doesn’t? When exactly do you do it and what does it mean? Reporter Nina Keck set out with question-asker Mica Tucker to learn the unwritten rules of the road and find out: “What’s up with the Vermont wave?” Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported by Nina Keck and produced by Burgess Brown. Editing and additional production from the rest of the Brave Little State team: Sabine Poux and Josh Crane. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s executive producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Brittany Patterson, John Delgadillo and Sophie Stephens. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

Two Abenaki First Nations headquartered in Canada contest the legitimacy of Vermont’s state-recognized tribes. How are Vermont lawmakers responding? Last October, Brave Little State published “Recognized”: a three-part investigation into contested claims that Vermont’s four state-recognized tribes are not legitimate. The Abenaki First Nations making those claims have called on Vermont lawmakers to reconsider the state recognition process. Reporter Elodie Reed followed up on her original reporting and shared her findings with The Frequency podcast host Mitch Wertlieb. We’re resharing their conversation here. You can find a transcript of that conversation here. You can listen to the entire “Recognized” series here. This story was reported and produced by Elodie Reed, with help from Mitch Wertlieb. The Brave Little State team is Josh Crane, Burgess Brown and Sabine Poux. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive Producer. We’ll be back soon with more people-powered Vermont journalism. As always, our show is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network. P.S. This story has been updated to more accurately reflect the response of Vermont's state-recognized tribes to scrutiny of the state recognition process. Additional context has also been added about genealogical documentation cited — but not made public — in state recognition applications.

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 — of far-right extremism in northern New York, and the voters and local law enforcement that are engaging with the movement there. You can learn more about the series here. That’s also where you can find photos from NCPR’s reporting, and listen to the rest of the series. Heads up: The show contains some harsh language and some listeners might find certain parts of this episode disturbing. This episode was reported by Emily Russell and Zach Hirsch for North Country Public Radio, with grant support from Grist and the Center for Rural Strategies. A big thanks to NCPR for letting us share their show here. The Brave Little State team is Josh Crane, Burgess Brown and Sabine Poux. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive Producer. We’ll be back soon with more people-powered Vermont journalism. As always, our show is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, better known as VAST, maintains more than 6,000 miles of snowmobile trails across the state. Today, snowmobiling is one of the top contributors to Vermont’s winter economy. But for a sport so dependent on reliable snow, the future is uncertain. The majority of VAST trails are on private land. One of those landowners is winning question-asker Barb Huibregtse of Danville, who asks: “What is the impact of the VAST trail on Vermont’s economy?” Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported by Howard Weiss-Tisman and produced by Sabine Poux. Editing and additional production from Burgess Brown and Josh Crane. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive Producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Augie Melendez, Brian Henderson, Joan Cwirka, Kevin McDonnell and Zachary Amerling. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network. Correction: We removed a statistic that said that the number of days with an inch or more of snow in Vermont had dropped 40% since 1960, because we could not verify where it originated. According to data from NOAA, the total days of snow cover greater than one inch in Vermont was actually the same in 1960 and 2016, with variability from year to year. The story has been updated with additional reporting.

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 to learn more about the origin of that phrase, and what makes the Upper Valley a geographic and cultural outlier. Our mission comes from question-asker David Watts, of Norwich: “What is the Upper Valley? And how did it get its name?” Find the web version of this episode here. This episode was reported and produced by Josh Crane. Editing and additional production from Burgess Brown and Sabine Poux. Angela Evancie is our Executive Producer. Theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to Bob Green, Sophie Stephens, Mark Davis, Bill Kane, Pat Boerum, John Lowe, Richard Hastings and Kat Blanchard. As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about VermontVote on the question you want us to tackle nextSign up for the BLS newsletterSay hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevtDrop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.orgCall our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880Make a gift to support people-powered journalismLeave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast appTell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network. P.S. A previous version of this story indicated that the Claremont Eagle Times shut down in 2009 and reopened under new ownership in 2022. The Eagle Times did shut down in 2009, but reopened under new ownership later that same year. It was sold again in 2022. We’ve updated the audio to reflect this, and also fixed our pronunciation of the town of “Topsham.”