Aired Out

WELCOME to JUNE! Some of the things to look forward to this month! Plus - a bright meteor lights up the skies over southern New Hampshire Saturday night PLUS Noah Payette from the Barre Coed Softball League joins us to talk about his team, "Caught Looking", Erica Scott from the Lamoille Area Cancer Network talks up the upcoming Lacing Up For Cancer event happening June 20th and how the community can get involved in supporting local cancer patients and families.

THANK GOD it's Friday!
This morning on Vermont’s own Aired Out Podcast:

Chuck, Rex (LIVE from the hot tub 😂), and Dirk all weigh in on Daniel Banyai, we dive Inside the WTF Folder featuring cutting burgers, Charlotte, North Carolina, and underwater property for cheap, plus “Fresca Hard,” Barre road and water main break updates, parking lot closures, community events happening this weekend and into June — and TONS more!

Lilah Thurston
Leah Spaulding 
Seamus Hogan 
... just a small part of the "Tones" - Spaulding High School's popular music ensamblegets ready for their June 10th performance in Barre's Currier Park (5:30pm) and Friday June 12th's "For The Cure" fundraiser show (at SHS) for Vermont's Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Buckingham Manufacturing of Binghamton, NY, a nationally respected leader in climbing and safety equipment for line-workers and arborists, is officially partnering with Sweethearts & Heroes on their growing 5th Wire Program.


CEO Kyle Turner joins me this morning to talk about the new pilot project focused on mental health, suicide prevention, leadership, and peer support within the electrical utility and construction industries.

This morning on the Aired Out Podcast, Vermont political analyst, journalist, and podcast host Kevin Ellis. From the Burlington Free Press to VTDigger and his podcast Conflict of Interest, Kevin has spent decades covering Vermont politics, media, housing, and social issues.


Vermont’s political divide, public perception, marriage equality advocacy, housing, heathcare, education, homelessness and some unforgettable stories from his journalism career - we go there and beyond.

Unhinged, outrageous, and completely off the rails — the Aired Out Podcast takes Friday mornings to a whole new level with 2 straight hours of unstoppable, unapologetic, unfiltered rawness to kick off your Memorial Day Weekend. Strap in… anything can happen, anything can be said. And this morning, it was.

Vermont’s own Rici Perdue is headed to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota as part of Team Vermont. Rici will compete in Track & Field while representing the Green Mountain State on one of the biggest stages in inclusive sports.

The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will take place June 20–26 in Minneapolis–Saint Paul and will feature nearly 3,000 athletes from across all 50 states competing in 16 sports.

According to Special Olympics Vermont, Team Vermont’s delegation includes 31 athletes, Unified partners, and coaches making the trip to Minnesota. Rici Goldstein-Perdue is listed among Vermont’s Track & Field athletes representing the state at nationals.

The Games are expected to draw more than 75,000 fans and thousands of volunteers for a week focused on inclusion, competition, and community.

This morning, Wednesday (Sweethearts & Heroes day on the Aired Out Podcast) my guest was Jay Cummings of Peoples Trust Company in St. Albans.

We took at deep dive in several areas - including the recent suicide at Barre City Elementary & Middle School, whom we are hopeful will watch this episode. The powerful work being done by Sweethearts & Heroes and the incredible impact Tom Murphy and his team at Sweethearts and Heroes (“The World’s #1 Youth Leadership Team”) are having on schools across Vermont, New England, and beyond is nothing short of staggering. Hop on Sweetheartsheroes.com to get a brief idea.

From Circle communication and creating real human connection with youth, to the importance of empathy, listening, leadership, and helping students feel seen and heard, Sweethearts & Heroes continues changing school culture one conversation at a time. Their programs focus on HOPE (“Hold On, Possibilities Exist”), empathy, action, and empowering students to lead positive change within their own schools and communities.

We discussed why so many schools are missing the mark when meaningful connection and communication are absent — and why Circle work may be one of the most important tools available today for reaching young people in a disconnected world.

If your school, organization, or community hasn’t experienced Sweethearts & Heroes yet, this conversation may change your perspective entirely. Learn more and help bring real change to your community today at sweetheartsandheroes.com.

Big conversation today with Washington County Mental Health Services CEO Beth Sightler as she discusses the future of mental health services in Central Vermont and the growing needs across our communities.


Beth talks in depth about the new Granite Shed Project, the Wellspace location on Summer Street, the importance of Standing and Steering Committees, the Access Hub, legislative advocacy at the Vermont General Assembly, additional property acquisitions, and how WCMHS is continuing to expand support systems for those who need them most.


The conversation also turns emotional as Beth shares a heartfelt reaction to last week’s tragedy at Barre City Elementary and Middle School and explains how the staff at WCMHS continues stepping up to support students, families, educators, and the broader community during difficult times.

A powerful and important discussion about compassion, mental health, leadership, healing, and the ongoing challenges facing Vermont communities today.


Thank you for all you do - every emplyee at Washington County Mental Health. Thank you Beth Sightler for your time on the air this morning. #washingtoncountymentalhealthservices