Advertise on podcast: Vermont Edition

Republican Gov. Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo, a Democrat/Progressive, met for their first debate. Vermont Edition hosted a debate between Vermont's two major party candidates for governor on Wednesday.  Broadcast live on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at 7 p.m.; rebroadcast at 12 p.m on Thursday, Oct. 22. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Black-and-white photographs of child laborers. Murals by Afghan refugees. Free queer haircuts in an art gallery. Movies from around the world. All of this artistic output is here in our region this fall. Today on Vermont Edition: current art exhibits and cultural events. We'll take a tour that starts and ends in Burlington, with stops in Hanover and Brattleboro in between. An exhibition at Dartmouth’s Hood Museum explores American labor, from farm work to homemaking. Murals by the Brattleboro-based ArtLords honor the Afghan artists’ roots. A film festival in Burlington brings new movies from across the world to Vermont. And nearby, an artist and amateur barber gave free queer haircuts as an act of building connection.

This general election Vermonters will vote on multiple statewide positions and two proposed constitutional amendments. Host Mikaela Lefrak spoke with senior political reporter Bob Kinzel about Proposal 3, which covers labor rights and collective bargaining, and Proposal 4, which covers equal rights protections.Then, Bob Kinzel interviews the treasurer candidates: incumbent Democrat Mike Pieciak, Republican Lynn LaFleur and Progressive Zachary Hampl.Senior host Mitch Wertlieb interviews the auditor candidates: Democrat Tim Ashe and Republican Ivar Kronick.The candidate interviews in this episode were edited for length and clarity. You can find transcripts of the original, unedited interviews at vermontpublic.org. Broadcast on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

As most of us sleep, millions of birds travel across the night skies. They’re heading south in heavy numbers, ready to find their winter homes. Today on Vermont Edition, it's the sights, sounds and surprises of fall migration season. We’re joined by the Bird Diva, Bridget Butler. She’ll tell us about the waterfowl, birds of prey, sparrows and finches flying right over our heads. She can help you identify that interesting new species you spotted recently, or the funky fall behavior of your favorite bird. Plus: the benefits of birding during tough times, like a health crisis or period of grief. What can birds teach us about perseverance and slowing down?

A Mohegan leader helped shape the vision and raise the funds for Dartmouth College. He's now the subject of a documentary.  Today on Vermont Edition: we mark Indigenous’ Peoples Day by sharing the story of Samson Occom. Filmmaker Signe Taylor partnered with the Mohegan Tribe and Dartmouth College to make this new documentary. Then: a Vermont author and illustrator took on one of the most difficult subjects there is for her new book: genocide. The illustrated narrative she crafted is heartbreaking, beautiful and educational. Broadcast live on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Northern New England races could decide control of the U.S. Senate. Maine and New Hampshire, we’re looking at you. Today on Vermont Edition: a close look at northern New England politics in the lead up to Election Day.  Hear from Boston Globe editor and reporter James Pindell, an expert on New England politics. The political differences between Vermont and New Hampshire are also the subject of a new book. Retired Vermont Law professor Brian Porto investigates the states’ earliest years and political development. He argues that their contrasting policies around land use, school finance and more shaped the states’ divergent cultures. Broadcast live on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Vermont Edition hosted a debate between three candidates for Vermont's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.Incumbent Rep. Becca Balint, a Democrat from Brattleboro, faces challenges from Republican Gerald Malloy of Weathersfield and Independent Adam Ortiz of Newport City.Broadcast live on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

The curators of Art at the Kent in Calais are gearing up for their final weekend of the year. Beyond that, the annual exhibition faces an uncertain future. Seven Days arts editor Alice Dodge shares her experiences from reporting a recent cover story on the annual contemporary art show. Art at the Kent concludes on Sunday, Oct. 11, with a closing celebration from 3-5 p.m. Then: A recent podcast episode from the team at Brave Little State looks into private equity's growing role in the veterinary market. These companies are drawn in by the increasingly important role that pets play in our lives and how much we're willing to spend to keep our dogs and cats healthy.

Vermont Edition hosted a debate between Vermont's two major party candidates for lieutenant governor on Tuesday. Current Lt. Gov. John Rodgers, a Republican from Glover, faces a challenge from former Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, a Democrat from Burlington. During the debate they shared their policy priorities and traded pointed criticisms. Broadcast live on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

The general election is just under one month away. In Vermont, multiple statewide and federal positions will appear on this year’s ballot. Today on Vermont Edition, we'll hear from candidates running for statewide office. You’ll hear from two of the Secretary of State candidates, incumbent Democrat Sarah Copeland Hanzas and Republican H. Brooke Paige.Then, we turn to the Attorney General’s race, where incumbent Charity Clark faces Republican challenger Edwin Kemon.

Before social media, before the internet existed at all, local newspapers kept our communities informed and connected. But even in print’s heyday, making newspapers profitable has always been an uphill battle. Today on Vermont Edition: veteran journalist and publisher Nat Winthrop. He wrote stories about everything from IVF experiments in Randolph to drug smuggling on Lake Champlain. He published the alt weekly the Vanguard Press from 1978 to 1990. A new book collects some of his most notable pieces. Plus, the 5th annual comics and zine fair comes to White River Junction. TWIST features students and alums from the Center for Cartoon Studies. Broadcast live on Thursday, Oct. 1, 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 picturesque, but these Green Mountains are no strangers to scandal. This brave little state has its own long history of counterfeiting, illicit gambling, mysterious murders and more.  The exhibition Vermont Vice at the Bennington Museum explores some of the shadier aspects of life. Curator Jamie Franklin shares his favorite stories from the show.  Author Thea Lewis has written many books about the darker side of the state. Her new book, True Crime Stories of Vermont, is out this week. We also hear from Doctor Vu, artistic director of Green Mountain Cabaret and president of Nightlife Arts, for a modern take on the girly shows of yore.

It's the latest installment in our monthly series, Town by Town. Each month, we spend a whole hour learning about one of the state’s 252 towns and cities. At the end of the hour, we spin a big wheel to decide what town is next. This hour: Lemington, in Essex County. If you look at a map of Vermont, let your eyes wander to the far eastern border of the state, and then travel up, nearly to Canada. Lemington sits right there on the border with New Hampshire, along the Connecticut River. It’s population is under a hundred people. In the town’s whole history, its population never really topped 200. There’s a lot of forest there, a lot of logging, and people who love the land. We're joined by Sharon Ellingwood, an Administrative Services Coordinator with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation who grew up in Lemington and has since moved back. We also hear from Joe Daley Jr., a lifelong resident of Lemington who is a selectman there and the towns road manager, Murray Duke, the town moderator, and Ray Gorman, a county commissioner for Coös County just over the New Hampshire border who grew up in Lemington and owns a camp there.  And, student reporter from the University of Vermont Community News Service Emily Rodin and Myla van Lynde bring us a story about the first ever Columbia Bridge Barn Dance, a recent event held on the covered bridge that connects Lemington, Vermont with Columbia, New Hampshire that celebrated the deep connection between the two towns.  Broadcast live on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Governor Phil Scott is in the tightest reelection bid of his career. In a new poll Democrat Amanda Janoo is within 10 points of the governor. I’m Mikaela Lefrak. Today on Vermont Edition: the results of Vermont Public’s 2026 poll. What do people think about this year’s candidates? Taxes on second homes? Data centers? The causes of the high cost of living? Pollster Richard Clark of Vermont State University explains his polling methods and Vermont Public senior reporter Bob Kinzel adds context to the results. Plus: The Vermont Supreme Court has unanimously sided with Gov. Phil Scott about mandating in-person work for state employees. Theo Wells-Spackman with VTDigger explains the conflict between the Scott Administration and state employees. Broadcast live on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Today on Vermont Edition: our annual fall gardening show with Charlie Nardozzi. He’s the host of All Things Gardening on Vermont Public, a backyard consultant and the author of many gardening books. We'll learn how to prep beds for the winter and get the most out of your remaining fall harvest. We’ll also look ahead to the arrival of El Nino this fall. It’s looking like it could be one of the strongest events on record. We’ll talk about adapting outdoor spaces to accept more water during sudden, heavy rains.  Broadcast live on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m. Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.