Vermont Edition brings you news and conversation about issues affecting your life. Host Mikaela Lefrak considers the context of current events through interviews with news makers and people who make our region buzz.
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Our August 2026 Town by Town stop is Chittenden in Rutland County. This town has the distinction of being the largest municipality in Vermont by area, though its population hovers around 1,200. Each month for Town by Town, we spend an hour together learning about one of Vermont’s 252 towns or cities. At the end of the hour, we randomly select our next town using a big spinner. Guests for our live broadcast: Vermont Public reporter and Chittenden resident Nina Keck; sugarmaker Bob Baird; longtime selectboard member and farmer Dave Sargent; Kim Moyer, who worked on a play about Chittenden's psyc
Proposed federal changes to historic preservation sites–including what qualifies for protection and who makes those decisions–has experts around the country on edge. Today on Vermont Edition: What’s behind the move to make changes to a federal legal requirement known as Section 106. That law mandates federal agencies to assess and evaluate the impact of projects on historic and cultural properties around the country, including in Vermont. Two local preservation experts will discuss what could be vulnerable if the federal alterations go through. Later in the show, we’ll speak with the Vermonter
Every year, little old Vermont produces big new names in the writing world. A Booker Prize nominee. A poet published in the New Yorker. A professor with a thrilling new mystery out. On today's Vermont Edition, we talk to Wyn Cooper, Miciah Bay Gault and Makenna Goodman. Broadcast live on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
New federal regulations surrounding hemp products are expected to have huge ripple effects on the industry. Guest host Jenn Jarecki hosts a panel of guests to discuss these changes and how they potentially impact growers, sellers, and buyers of CBD in the state. They'll also discuss some recent changes at the federal level, and what the future of growing and selling cannabis in Vermont looks like moving forward. We're first joined by James Pepper, the Chair of Vermont’s Cannabis Control Board. Then, we chat with Sam Bellavance, Founder and CEO of Sunset Lake CBD and Cannabis, Kris Brown, who h
It's Vermont Edition's annual creemee show, where each summer we talk with maker's and lovers of Vermont's most famous delicacy. This year, speak with Adam founder of the Vermont Creemee Passport, a physical booklet that allows you to track your travels to Vermont’s 180-plus creemee stands. We also are joined by two creemee makers to get their take on what makes for a great creemee. Rebecca Freedner, owner of Holy Halvah in Bristol, which combines the Vermont tradition of creemees with the Middle Eastern, tahini-based dessert called halvah, and Henry Mizrahi, owner of Mr. Creemee, the newest c
Amanda Janoo, Molly Gray, and Gerald Malloy discuss their campaigns, and reporter Lola Duffort breaks down the results. Then: it’s been nearly five years since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan. Vermont now has one of the largest per capita populations of Afghans in the U.S. The head of the Vermont Afghan Alliance will tell us about the challenges they still face. Broadcast live on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Vermont might be far from the ocean, but that's not an issue for local scuba divers. The waters of Lake Champlain are dark, deep and perfect for underwater adventure. Matt Cetin is the owner and captain at Dive One LLC, the only dive charter company in Burlington. Kreig Pinkham is the Training Director for the Waterfront Diving Center in Burlington. They tell us about the historic shipwrecks and aquatic life to be found below the surface. Then, we get our heads above water with members of the Women in Wind sailing program, run by the Community Sailing Center in Burlington. Eva Sullivan is the
Vermont’s primary election is Aug. 11. About 3.1% of registered voters cast their ballots early, according to the Secretary of State's office. The rest of Vermont's 500,000 or so registered voters will need to go to a polling station to cast their ballots. Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas joins the show to discuss primary day logistics, Vermont's campaign finance laws and election security. Then, Vermont Public reporters Liam Elder Connors and Peter Hirschfeld talk us through the candidates in federal, statewide and county races that will appear on ballots. Check out Vermont Public's p
President Trump's policies and posture towards Canada have upended our country's relationship with our neighbor to the north. His recent announcement of 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian goods has further ratcheted up tensions between the two nations. To discuss the impact of this announcement on our two nations, Vermont Edition combined forces for a joint broadcast with CBC's Radio Noon in Quebec, hosted by Shawn Apel. Our conversation focused on trade and the effects of tariffs on commerce, supply chains, and business relationships. Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Quebec's Minister of I
Every year, the Vermont Edition team heads out to a Vermont fair to bring you the sounds and voices of our states favorite summertime traditions. Today we come to you live from Addison County Fair and Field Days in New Haven. This hour we’ll get to know the fair’s history, talk with 4-H members and animal experts, and get a little taste — literally — of what the fair has to offer. We're joined today by a host of guests that bring different energies and expertise to the fair-going experience. Benj Deppman is a fair board member whose roots run deep at the Addison Fair. We're also joined by Scyt
As alcohol consumption decreases in younger generations, Vermont winemakers are looking for federal recognition for the Champlain Valley of Vermont. It would help them market their products nationwide and could also increase agritourism to the Champlain Valley. We’re joined by three wine producers in the Champlain Valley region. Deirdre Heekin is the founder of Domaine La Garagista farm and winery and vice president of Vermont Grape & Wine Council, Camila Carrillo is founder of La Montañuela wine and owner of the 10 Green Street wine bar in Vergennes, and Kenneth Albert is founder of Shelburne
Blackface performance – or minstrel shows – might seem like relics of the 19th century. But these racist traditions stuck around much longer, including at the University of Vermont. Today on Vermont Edition, we'll listen back to our conversation from April with the scholar Rhae Lynn Barnes. Her latest book is “Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment.” Barnes spent more than a decade gathering material for the book. She uncovered evidence of blackface performance from nearly every corner of the country…lasting all the way through the mid 1900s. In her book, she takes us to th
This summer’s already seen a number of big blockbuster movies – The Odyssey, the new Spiderman, Toy Story 5. You can reliably catch all these movies at theaters across our region. But there are also many opportunities this summer to see movies produced, directed, or curated by your neighbors. This hour we’ll preview a number of the upcoming film festivals that highlight new and up-and-coming filmmakers in Vermont, and the ways in which Vermonters can get started on their filmmaking journeys. We're joined by Jay Craven, filmmaker and curator of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival which begin
Every month, Vermont Edition spends an hour learning about a different municipality in the state for our monthly series, Town by Town. Today, we'll learn about Guilford, in Windham County. Guilford was once the most populous town in the state. It doesn’t hold that designation anymore, but it’s home to a bustling community center, local businesses and a rich history. We’ll talk with a local poet, a town historian, and the co-founder of the Guilford Gazette. We’ll also hear about a legendary recording studio in town. Artists like the Pixies and Noah Kahan have made records there. At the end of t
Are you classical-curious but don’t know where to start? Our roundtable of experts share some tips on where to start. Broadcast on Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Local business leaders want Vermont to adopt the "abundance agenda." Remove administrative burdens so we can build more housing, and attract more working age people. Today on Vermont Edition: the abundance agenda. We’ll break down exactly what this buzzy phrase means and the challenge it poses specifically to liberals and progressives. Then: Vermont’s primary is about two weeks away. Two people are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House. We’ll hear from one of the candidates today – Gerald Malloy. He’s an Army vet and defense contractor. He hopes to take on Congresswoman Becca Balint
Vermont Edition's Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate between the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont's next governor, Amanda Janoo and Aly Richards. Broadcast on Thursday, Jul. 23, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
Many of us dream of learning another language. But becoming fluent as an adult is so hard that it can feel impossible. Here's some good news: our region is full of linguaphiles who have cracked the code on achieving fluency in multiple tongues. We discuss the different methods of language learning with: linguistics professor Thor Sawin, the Associate Dean of Curriculum for Middlebury Language Schools; Gabe Wyner, a four-time graduate of Middlebury Language Schools, author of Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It, and creator of the Fluent Forever app; and Eric Agne
Vermont Edition host Mikaela Lefrak moderates a debate between the three Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor: Esther Charlestin of South Burlington, Molly Gray of Burlington and Ryan McLaren of Essex Junction. Broadcast on Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
The Ben and Jerry’s Foundation announced it will shut down by the end of the year. It’s the latest update in a legal dispute with Ben and Jerry’s parent company, Magnum. Today on Vermont Edition, we learn what’s going on at Ben and Jerry’s with co-founder Ben Cohen. He’s leading a charge to buy back the ice cream company from its corporate owners. We'll also hear from Tim McQuiston with Vermont Business Magazine and the president of the Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, Liz Bankowski. Then, UVM Health is trying to cut costs. Its support staff want job security and good wages. A union rep will tell u
Vermont has six correctional facilities located across the state. Together these prisons house more than 1,500 incarcerated Vermonters. On Thursday, Vermont Edition, Department of Corrections Commissioner Jon Murad on corrections staffing levels, the department’s overtime spending, and overcrowding in some of the state’s prisons. Plus, with the Seven Days staff writer Colin Flanders on the Chittenden County state’s attorney race.
The popular service Front Porch Forum celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. For many Vermonters, it’s a beloved way to connect with neighbors, share local news and find lost cats. The company’s also faced criticism for how it moderates content. Today on Vermont Edition, we're joined by the founders of Front Porch Forum, Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis. They’ll tell us about some of the very best posts they’ve read over the last two decades. We’ll also discuss how their team moderates posts, especially about politics. Then: hot weather draws crowds to local rivers, lakes and streams, but ev
Rodeo culture is alive and well in Vermont, thanks in part to Pond Hill Ranch, a 2000-acre family-run business in Castleton, VT. It’s the largest horse leasing service east of Mississippi, and has been hosting professional rodeos for over 50 years. Every summer, bronc riders and barrel racers come from around the country to compete at the ranch. It’s where novices come for practice and experience, and where pros come to get points before nationals. We’re joined by Harry O’Rourke, the head of Pond Hill Ranch. Vermont High School Rodeo Association started in 2020, competing at local jackpot even
On Monday, Vermont Edition aired interviews with the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont state auditor. Political newcomer Nicholas Graeter is running against the current deputy state auditor and former state senator, Tim Ashe. The Republican candidate for auditor, H. Brooke Paige, is running uncontested. The primary election is on Aug. 11, and early voting is already underway.
On Monday, Vermont Edition aired interviews with the two candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Vermont state auditor. Political newcomer Nicholas Graeter is running against the current deputy state auditor and former state senator, Tim Ashe. The Republican candidate for auditor, H. Brooke Paige, is running uncontested. The primary election is on Aug. 11, and early voting is already underway.
