Advertise on podcast: The Octagon

Ready for a nostalgia trip? Join us on this week's episode as we dive into the epic stories of Stowe's Down Home Hot Tubs with iconic locals Tim Meehan and Kim Brown. Experience the free-spirited '70s and '80s era, complete with wild parties, mobile hot tubs, and legendary tales that define the heart of this remarkable community.

This week we kicked off Season 3 at The Octagon Podcast with local ski guru Bob St. Pierre from Ski Essentials. We have all battled with the same questions about our skis and gear. Is this the right ski for me? What are the top brands I may want to try? Are my boots packed out? What is the ideal ski to use most days at Stowe? Well you are in luck as we brought Bob into the studio to impart his wisdom after over a decade of testing and reviewing skis and boots. This is the ideal episode to help you round out your kit for the fast approaching 2026-2027 season!

This week Mike and Ted took over the studio and rehashed the 2025-2026 winter and Season 2 at The Octagon Podcast. From powder days, epic travel stories and friendly bets between co-hosts this is a great episode to fire up as you reflect back on your winter!

This week on the Octagon Podcast we sat down with TJ Walden and Sarah  Landry , the co-founders behind Movement Coffee Roasters right here in Stowe. Movement and their flagship store The Roastery has become a key part of the local coffee scene, known for carefully sourced beans, precise roasting, and a focus on bringing out the unique character of each origin. Join us on an adventure that began in remote coffee farms in the hills of Panama into a thriving business in Stowe that now ships coffee worldwide. You will have a new appreciation for that fresh cup of coffee you drink at the Roastery after listening to this episode!

This week we were excited to bring into the studio Karen Wagner to talk all things ski patrol. Karen is the Ski Patrol Director at Stowe Mountain Resort, overseeing one of the most experienced and highly trained patrol teams in the East. Karen and her team provide first response medical care and manage mountain safety during some of the busiest ski days in New England. Karen has built a career in mountain operations and emergency response, earning deep respect within the patrol community and across the resort. Leading a patrol at a mountain with as much terrain and weather variability as Stowe is no small task, and Karen brings both technical expertise and leadership to the role every day.

This week we are excited to be bringing you a special Octagon roundtable edition with everyone’s favorite snow reporters Andre Blais, Matt Testa and Scott Braaten. Whether tuning into the snow phone, reading the carefully crafted daily snow report or searching for the fabled Mount Mansfield stake measurement data these are the guys that make it happen day after day. With winter turning into spring we wanted to bring the boys into the studio to hash out what has been a legendary winter and learn more about some of the new projects they have been embarking on this winter.

This week we welcomed craft distillers Tim Danahy and Howie Faircloth into The Octagon Studio. Tim and Howie both moved to Stowe almost 30 years ago and became the head brewers at The Shed. After 5 years at The Shed  they decided they wanted to start their own business and founded Green Mountain Distillers - one of the very first distilleries in Vermont. They have dedicated the last 25 years to producing hand crafted, award winning organic spirits right from their distillery in Morrisville.

This week we had the pleasure of bringing Jack Morris into the Octagon Studio. Born and raised in Stowe, Jack once dreamed of becoming an athlete — until a life-altering heart diagnosis in his teens forced him to rethink everything. After traveling and developing a passion for photography, he returned home for heart surgery and made a bold decision at just 23 years old: to take over the former Robert Paul Gallery and re-brand it as Front Four Gallery — named after the legendary ski trails of Mount Mansfield. A photographer, a painter, and now one of the youngest gallery owners in Vermont, Jack is reshaping the role that art plays in Stowe.

This week we had the pleasure of bringing into the studio Sports Recovery guru Steph Lawee.  Steph is the Founder of Vibe Sports Recovery here in Stowe. Steph combined her experience as an elite halfpipe skier and passion for healing and recovery to create Vibe. Prior to Vibe, Steph competed for 7 years in slopestyle and halfpipe at USSA, USASA, NorAm, Rev Tour and Grand Prix events. When not helping athletes recover and achieve their highest  level of performance she is a coach at Green Mountain Academy helping shape the next generation of freestyle skiers.

This week we had the pleasure of chatting with Drew Clymer about all things back country rescue. Drew currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Stowe Mountain Rescue and The Search and Rescue Coordinator for the Vermont Department of Public Safety. Service runs in Drew’s blood and when he is not deep in the back country for pleasure or rescue he serves as the Chair of the Development Review Board for the Town of Stowe.

This week we rounded out the 2025 season at the Octagon Podcast with the long awaited Hardeaux Roundtable. The Hardeaux's have what could be described as a controversial reputation around town and on the mountain for their hard charging attitude on the uphill scene, desire to push the limits and most importantly creating a tight knit ski community. If you see headlamps scattered on Nosedive in the early morning darkness or the iconic sticker on the lower left of an oversized truck or SUV there is a high probability it is a Hardeaux. We will explore the history, passion and bond that brings the Hardeaux's back to the skin track together time and time again regardless of weather and conditions.  This episode we also brought into the studio a special co-host Porter Thorndike. Not only is he the brother of Octagon co-founder Ted Thorndike but is also known as the Commissioner of the Hardeaux's!

This week we chatted with Mike Hayes who is one of the key figures in Stowe’s extreme skiing and ski-filming community. He’s someone who doesn’t just chase lines—he documents them and helps tell the story of what it really takes to ski big terrain on the East Coast. From epic powder days, dawn patrol missions to bluebird days when everything comes together, Mike has been behind the lens capturing some of the most compelling images and moments on Mt. Mansfield.

This week we welcomed our first educator into the Octagon Studio, Maura Wieler. Maura is the Principal of Stowe Elementary School, whose leadership has played a significant role in shaping the school’s academic direction and its culture of student-centered learning. Under Maura’s guidance, Stowe Elementary has continued to strengthen its instructional practices, support professional growth among educators, and prioritize the well-being and development of every student.  When not serving as principal you can find Maura on the mountain bike trails or chasing fresh powder lines with her family up at Stowe.

This week we were honored to welcome craft beer legends Jen and John Kimmich, co-owners of The Alchemist Brewery into the Octagon studio. The Alchemist makes Heady Topper, one of the top rated beers in the world and has been instrumental in the evolution of craft beer over the last 20 years. Jen and John not only make some of the best beer in the world but also are incredibly generous in the broader Stowe community and go to great lengths to support their employees, the environment, social causes and charities. The Alchemist Brewery has become a hub in the Stowe Community where Stowe residents and guests come to leave the worlds trouble behind and enjoy some of the world's best beer. We also took this opportunity to welcome our first ever guest host- Pete Graves into the studio! Pete is a Focal Banger enthusiast and has been an integral part of the Stowe community coaching youth sports and launching Ride with his wife Joanna. We couldn't think of a better person to co-host this special episode prior to him moving to North Carolina to begin the next chapter in his illustrious golf career.

This week we welcomed Jackie Henderson and Carter Getty into the Octagon Studio. Jackie and Carter are both Seniors at Stowe High School and provide a unique perspective on what it's like to grow up in Stowe. We explore their time in this unique community, working their way through the school system, athletic endeavors and even dating! We are excited to present this fresh perspective on all things Stowe.