Vermont Edition

Technology has changed so many aspects of our lives, including health care. In our region, a network of innovative health-focused startups is growing quickly.David Bradbury with the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies guides us through conversations with the leaders of several local companies. Aaron Stein, the chief technical officer for South Burlington-based Resonant Link, talked about building wireless charging platforms for medical devices inside the body. Co-founder and chief pharmacy officer Keri LeCompte of the Montpelier start-up Aprexis shared how their software provides pharmacists better patient care with medication therapy management. Ethan Bechtel, co-founder, and CEO of OhMD, a texting and patient engagement platform for patients and providers, talked about how they care for patient's privacy.Broadcast live on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Executive orders from President Donald Trump fundamentally change immigration and citizenship rules in the U.S. Moves like halting refugee admissions and ending birthright citizenship have many people in our region wondering, what these new rules mean for them, their work, and their families? Today, Brett Stokes, an immigration lawyer at Vermont Law School and Sonali Samarasinghe, a coordinator with the U.S. Committee of Refugees and Immigration help us break down these orders’ goals and whether or not they’re constitutional. The New Hampshire ACLU believes at least one is not – they are suing the President over birthright citizenship. We're joined by their senior staff attorney SangYoeb Kim to hear more. Plus: Steven Tendo, A Ugandan asylum-seeker shares how these new rules could affect his legal status and why for him, it’s a matter of life and death.Broadcast live on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office Monday in Washington. Vermont’s sole U.S. House representative, Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt) attended the inauguration. She shares why she attended, her reaction to President Trump’s first executive orders, and her own priorities for the new Congress.President Trump has promised to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, starting Feb. 1. In response, the Canadian government has vowed to impose tariffs on U.S. goods. Ottawa-based journalist David Akin, the chief political correspondent for Global News, gives us an inside look into the current state of Canadian-American relations.Broadcast live on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

For most of us, thinking about death is not a pleasant subject. There’s a natural tendency to put your head in the sand and focus on everything and anything else. But a little planning now can save a lot of confusion and heartache later.Today we break down the process of creating an advance directive, or living will. It’s the third installment in our weekly January series, In Good Health. Our guests are Nina Keck, a Vermont Public senior reporter whose focuses on aging, Eva Zivitz, a registered nurse who coordinates the palliative care program at Rutland Regional Medical Center, and Cindy Bruzzese, the executive director of the Vermont Ethics Network.Broadcast live on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Winter in Vermont can wreak havoc on a car. All that salt causes corrosion and rust, and that can make your car unsafe to drive. The hazardous conditions require upgrades and protective measures to stay safe on the slippery roads. To keep your car in top shape requires a lot winter car maintenance. Demeny Pollitt, the owner and manager of Girlington Garage in South Burlington, and Steve Belitsos, a retired professor of automotive and transportation services at Vermont State University’s Randolph campus, share insights on undercoatings, snow tires, and windshield wipers. Plus, former Gov. Peter Shumlin reflects on the life and career of former Gov. Tom Salmon, who passed away Tuesday at age 92. Girlington Garage is a Vermont Public business sponsor. Broadcast live on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Beloved as they are, general stores often generate little profit for their owners. So, what does it take to keep them running? Emily Maclure, owner of two general stores in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, shares her experiences, insights, and the vital role these stores play in their communities. Ben Doyle of the Preservation Trust of Vermont explains the models some towns are using to keep their general stores open. Democratic Rep. Marc Mihaly, who represents the Washington-6 district, discusses how East Calais successfully reopened its general store after a years-long effort.Broadcast live on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

To fund significant investments in early childhood education, Vermont implemented a 0.44% payroll tax in July 2023. We check in on the progress of this initiative and explore what has — and hasn't — changed in the early childhood landscape.Elliot Haspel, a senior fellow at Capita and a nationally recognized child and family policy expert, explains how Vermont is leading the way in investing in early childhood education. He also offers a broader perspective on how the state’s approach compares to other states.We also hear from Democratic state Sen. Ruth Hardy, who represents Addison County and helped establish Vermont's Act 76, and Department of Children and Families Deputy Commissioner Janet McLaughlin, who is overseeing the law's implementation.Plus: The Vermont School Boards Association is encouraging Vermonters to join their local school boards. Flor Diaz Smith, president of the association and board chair of the Washington Central School District, discusses the importance of school boards and the local need for new members.Broadcast live on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont Edition takes you inside the state house for the first day of the legislative session.

Two Franklin County authors brought together stories of the Lake Champlain region and its contributions to American history for their latest book, Hidden History of Lake Champlain. Missisquoi Valley Union High School history teacher, Jason Barney, was awarded the 2023 Vermont History Teacher of the Year Award and was a semifinalist for Vermont Teacher of the Year in 2022. Librarian, genealogist and writer, Christine Eldred, has published numerous articles and guides to preserving and defending intellectual freedom in school libraries.Lake Champlain is also home to the prehistoric lake sturgeon, one of the largest freshwater fish in North American that can live more than 150 years. Fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Lee Simard, shared what lead to the sturgeon's decline and their work to protect the fish.Broadcast live on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

How can artists know if their creations are being used to train artificial intelligence? And if they are, should those artists be compensated? On today's show we speak with Vermont's Chief Data and AI Officer Josiah Raiche about the state’s role in regulating AI, and artist Jane Adams helps us parse the philosophical questions AI poses to the creative process.On Capitol Hill last year, Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt) introduced nearly a half dozen bills concerning AI. He’s vowed to continue those efforts during this new Congress. Welch has also joined the influential Senate Finance Committee, alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt). This committee deals with taxation, trade agreements, tariffs and government health programs. In an interview on Vermont Edition, Senator Welch explains why he opposes tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China proposed by President-elect Donald Trump, as well as his work on regulating AI.Broadcast live on Monday, January 6th, 2025, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

In many cold locales, saunas are a common way to heat your body and hang out with friends, especially in the dead of winter. But in Vermont, the practice hasn't taken as strong of a hold. Today, we explore the physical, mental, and social benefits of regular sauna use. This is the first installment in a health-focused series we’re running each Thursday of January called "In Good Health."Joining us for the hour is Chelsea Edgar, a Burlington-based freelance reporter and contributing editor for Seven Days. She wrote a piece for them exploring sauna culture in our region. Earric Lee is a post-doctoral researcher at The Montreal Heart Institute, and Nils Shenholm is a sauna designer and builder in Duxbury, and an North American Sauna Society Emeritus board member.Plus: Vermont Edition’s managing producing Jon Ehrens talks to his fellow heat addicts inside the Vermont Sun sauna in Middlebury.

Vermont Public CEO Vijay Singh joined Vermont Edition to reflect on his first three months leading Vermont Public. Before coming to Vermont, Singh worked for CapRadio, an NPR affiliate in Sacramento, and the Los Angeles affiliate LAist. He shared insights from these experiences and outlined his vision for the future of Vermont Public.Then, Vermont Public reporter Erica Heilman shares a question about class as part of an ongoing series. We hear about her latest episodes.

Over the past year, hundreds of people in our region joined Vermont Edition as guests. We parsed out complex topics like education spending and the opioid epidemic with elected officials and journalists. We chatted about everything from deer hunting, to houseplant care, to the weather. And we shared your calls and emails as we celebrated collective joys like the eclipse, and collective heartbreaks like the summer flooding.For our last Vermont Edition of the year, we share some of our favorite interviews and moments of 2024: drag queen and Center for Cartoon Studies graduate Sasha Velour, former Gov. Madeleine Kunin, the small team of southern Vermonters who successfully lobbied for a state mushroom, and locals who witnessed the April 8th total solar eclipse.

The Vermont Almanac released its fifth volume at the end of last month. Each year, the almanac highlights prose, poetry, photography and illustrations from dozens of contributors around the state. Editors Patrick White, a Christmas tree farmer from Middlesex, and Dave Mance III, a sugarmaker in Shaftsbury, share how the almanac serves as a record of Vermont's rural traditions. Copies of the Almanac are available at indie bookstores and through their website.The Old Farmer's Almanac has been published every year since 1792. Editor-in-chief Carol Connare speaks about the publication's famous weather forecasts and other predictions for the year ahead.

Vermont Edition presents two BLS episodes. First, we hear about the U.S. Postal Service in Vermont. Then, we go hunting.

Soup is one of those meals that inherently brings people together — maybe it's the warmth, the fusion of ingredients and spices, or the act of ladling into carefully clutched bowls. Soup is also part of the culinary tradition of cultures around the globe.Vermont Edition brought together chefs and listeners to share soup-making tips. Our guests were Joe Buley Jr. of Joe's Kitchen at Screamin' Ridge Farm in East Montpelier, and Caroline Hannon and Bex Slatterly of the Queer Soup Night event series in Brattleboro. This episode also featured Seven Days food writer Jordan Barry. She joined us for our monthly chat about food and beverage news.

We were joined today by some of Vermont's finest folk musicians, Seamus Eagan, Moira Smiley and Yann Falquet, in front of a live studio audience of Vermont Public members and supporters. They brought their instruments along to perform their music and to chat with Mikaela about their inspirations, their love of folk traditions, and the local music scene.Seamus Egan is an internationally acclaimed Irish folk musician based in Vermont. He’s the founder of the Irish-American band Solas, and is well known as one of the leading composers and interpreters of the tradition. Moira Smiley is a Bristol-based folk musician and composer. She has recorded and performed with the indie-pop band the Tune Yards, and her new album out this year is called "The Rhizome Project."Yann Falquet is a Brattleboro-based guitarist who specializes in Québécois traditional music.

The Vermont legislative session begins on January 8th, and lawmakers and administration officials are preparing for the new biennium. First elected in 2016, Gov. Phil Scott won a fifth term in November with nearly 74% of the vote. The election results signaled significant changes under the Golden Dome, as Republicans gained seats in the House and Senate, breaking the Democrats’ supermajority. Scott joins Vermont Edition to discuss his priorities for the upcoming session, including property taxes, education spending, and the incoming Trump administration.Then, Vermont Public senior reporter Bob Kinzel provides an analysis of the governor’s interview and discusses what’s unique about this political moment in Vermont and what seems like business as usual.

Over the course of the year, many of us had to say goodbye to close friends or family members. Others lost people they didn’t know well personally, but who nevertheless had a deep impact on them. Today's remembrance show is a chance to honor those who passed away in 2024. University of Vermont professor Chris Danforth shared thoughts on his colleague and friend, Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne, a beloved member of the UVM and outdoors communities. Retired state senator Jane Kitchel reflected on two titans of the Vermont Statehouse, Dick Mazza and Dick Sears, both of whom served their communities for decades. Lisa Gannon, a medical assistant with Timber Lane Pediatrics in Burlington, told us about the ways in which Dr. Michelle Perron connected with her patients. Rosanne Greco, president of the board for the South Burlington Land Trust, spoke about SBLT founder Sarah Dopp and her impact on the local community. We also heard reflections on Reuben Jackson, Bill Mares, Joe Moore, Lydia Clemmons, and many listener submissions.

Driving across the Connecticut River between Hinsdale New Hampshire and Brattleboro Vermont just got a whole lot smoother. Last week the two states celebrated the ribbon cutting for a new bridge on Route 119, decades in the making. It’s called the General John Stark Memorial Bridge. we're joined by David Scott who is the the In-house Design Chief of the Bureau of Bridge Design at the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. He discusses the bridge, why it's such a huge deal for the area, and what it takes to be a bridge designer. Originally broadcast at Noon on Wednesday, Dec. 11th