Brave Little State

By Vermont Public

What's Brave Little State about?

What if you could decide what stories Vermont Public should be covering, before they're even assigned? That's the idea behind Brave Little State.

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Brave Little State episodes:

04.18.2024
Mud Season Madness (encore)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Vermont’s messy transition from winter to spring always brings its fair share of surprises and obstacles. And this year has been no exception: The mud came early, and it came often.Keith Gadapee...
04.04.2024
What’s up with the Vermont wave?
If you live in a rural part of Vermont, you know it — the one-finger lift or full-hand gesture from the steering wheel. Everyone has their own take on the so-called “Vermont wave.”Who gets a whole-hand wave and who doesn’t?...
03.28.2024
‘Recognized’: An update
Two Abenaki First Nations headquartered in Canada contest the legitimacy of Vermont’s state-recognized tribes. How are Vermont lawmakers responding? Last October, Brave Little State published “Recognized”: a three-part investigation into contested claims that Vermont’s four state-recognized tribes are not legitimate. The...
03.21.2024
Investigating far-right extremism in northern New York
This week, a story from our neighbors at North Country Public Radio. If All Else Fails is a recent podcast about the growing presence — and threat — of far-right extremism in northern New York, and the voters and local...
03.07.2024
What impact does the VAST trail have on Vermont's economy?
The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, better known as VAST, maintains more than 6,000 miles of snowmobile trails across the state. Today, snowmobiling is one of the top contributors to Vermont’s winter economy. But for a sport so dependent on...
02.23.2024
What is the Upper Valley?
A smattering of Vermont and New Hampshire towns on either side of the Connecticut River are known collectively as the “Upper Valley.” We set out to learn more about the origin of that phrase, and what makes the Upper Valley...
02.08.2024
How do Vermont libraries stay alive and vibrant?
Vermont is home to almost 200 independent and locally funded libraries. This means they each must evolve to meet the unique needs of their communities with sometimes limited resources. That got listener Diane Church of Fairlee wondering:“How do our public...
01.25.2024
What relationships are possible between Burlington and her sister cities, Bethlehem and Arad?
Burlington has sister cities all over the world — including in Nicaragua, Mississippi and Japan. Winning question-asker Peg Clement is curious about the city's relationship with two, in particular: Bethlehem, in the West Bank, and Arad, in Israel. Find the web...
01.04.2024
Why do people like Phish? (Encore)
We journey into the weird world of Vermont's favorite jam band to explore the culture of "phandom” and Phish’s early roots in our brave little state.We originally released this episode in 2021. In it, Ethan Weinstein of South Woodstock asks:...
12.21.2023
How are towns hit by summer floods doing?
Volunteers were still pumping water out of basements from the July floods when another round of flooding hit this week. Vermonters on the front lines say the frequency of these events point to the need for more durable solutions.On this...
12.07.2023
What’s the deal with Act 250?
Vermont’s pastoral, small town charm didn’t just happen out of thin air. It’s been legislated. And it’s especially baked into one really important Vermont law — Act 250. But as Vermont changes, there’s an increasing push for Act 250 to...
11.16.2023
What effect has noncitizen voting had in the Vermont cities where it's legal?
In recent years, Winooski, Montpelier and Burlington made it possible for all legal residents to vote — including asylum seekers, refugees and green card holders like our winning question-asker, Charlotte Blend. Charlotte has been excited to vote on local issues...
11.03.2023
Raising biracial kids — and preserving heritage — in Vermont
We met Sweeney Grabin at a Brave Little State mixer last year, right after she moved to South Burlington with her husband and her baby, Maya. She wants to know how other parents with biracial kids are maintaining their heritage...
10.19.2023
Recognized: Chapter Three
Who gets to decide who is Abenaki? Vermont’s four state-recognized tribes — and the state recognition law — have different definitions and criteria for what it means to be Indigenous than many Indigenous Nations. In this episode, we look at...
10.19.2023
Recognized: Chapter Two
After the original group of self-proclaimed Vermont Abenaki failed to gain federal recognition, Vermont lawmakers created a state recognition process of their own. One theory in particular informed the state’s consideration: that Abenaki peoples hid in Vermont to avoid persecution,...
10.19.2023
Recognized: Chapter One
Two Abenaki First Nations in Canada contest the legitimacy of the four groups recognized by the state of Vermont as Abenaki tribes. This is a dispute that goes back at least two decades, and has gained more prominence in recent...
10.05.2023
Why are so few Hollywood movies and TV shows filmed in Vermont?
The smash hit Netflix series Wednesday takes place in Jericho … and was filmed in Romania. Megan Matthers of Sutton wants to know — why? Mae Nagusky learns about the barriers keeping Hollywood from setting up shop here, and...
09.21.2023
What’s the deal with Vermont’s fire towers?
Wesley Davis grew up in the woods of Mount Holly. But there was always one place where he could get high above the trees: the fire tower on top of nearby Ludlow Mountain, at Okemo. He’s been curious to learn...
09.07.2023
What if Vermont were to buy motels for emergency housing?
During the pandemic, Daniel Luttrel heard a lot about how Vermont was renting rooms at hotels and motels to shelter people. And he heard that the state was using a lot of money to do it. So, he asked: “Can’t...
08.24.2023
Our 6th Annual Brief History Of Vermont Road Names
Every summer, we delve into the history behind unusual road names around the state — as voted on by you. This year’s show took us to Tigertown Road in Norwich, Hateful Hill Road in Wallingford and Gerts Knob Road in...
08.10.2023
From gold mines to witch windows (Encore)
Instead of taking on one of your questions about Vermont, we’re taking on three — in a kind of local history lightning round. We explore those crooked windows you see on Vermont farmhouses, Vermont’s defunct gold mines and the history...
07.27.2023
What is it like to be a rapper in Vermont?
“Something was always telling me poetry is your purpose. Being an artist, you know, with the power of words, is your purpose. I was just scared of it.”Omega Jade grew up in church choir in San Diego — far from...
07.14.2023
What 'old streams' can teach us about flooding
Just as we were putting the finishing touches on an episode about Vermont rivers and streams, historic flooding ravaged the state. Our rivers weren’t always this fast, deep or powerful — we made them this way. And efforts to bring...
06.22.2023
What do families do when they're stuck on waitlists for child care?
Julie Cadwallader Staub is curious about the families who are on waiting lists for child care. “What decisions are they forced to make? How are they managing?”To answer Julie’s question, we visit with four families in wait list limbo, and...
06.16.2023
How do you pronounce the name of the Waitsfield supermarket ‘Mehuron’s’?
One of the most common genres of questions we get has to do with local dialect and pronunciation. Today, thanks to question-asker Noah Waxman of Starksboro, we help settle a regional debate involving a beloved market in Central Vermont.Check out...
06.08.2023
Student Takeover
In honor of graduation season, we’re featuring local stories from high school and college students — all on the theme of “change.”(Heads up, this episode contains a few un-bleeped swears.)You can find the web version of this episode here. A...
05.25.2023
The nickname Barre would like you to stop using
When Tim Rapczynski moved to Barre City, he was caught off guard by a nickname he heard some people use to describe the place: “Scary Barre.” So he asked us about its origin. To find the answer, we confront classism,...
05.11.2023
5 Vermonters talk about guns
A question from a listener prompts a different kind of conversation about guns. Reporter Erica Heilman talks with five Vermonters about how their lives have been impacted by them, and why they have them.Content warning: This episode contains conversation about...
04.27.2023
What’s the deal with intentional living communities in Vermont?
Ella Wegman-Lawless has done her fair share of communal and intentional living in Vermont. She wondered: “How much of Vermont as a place cultivates that?”So she asked us: “Does Vermont have a high number of communes, and if so, what’s...
04.13.2023
Where did all Vermont’s stone walls come from?
A few years ago, Jack Widness of Wilmington and Malcolm Moore of Marlboro were part of a crew clearing trails on Hogback Mountain. They noticed stone walls “all over the place, going up at steep angles, very close to the...
03.23.2023
What has put Vermont on the pop culture map?
Musician Noah Kahan wrote “Stick Season” after moving back home to Vermont during the pandemic. Now, it’s a worldwide sensation, and listener Sara Morin is wondering what else has made Vermont culturally relevant.So, grab a pint of Phish Food and...
03.09.2023
How many Airbnbs are 'taking away' from Vermonters? It's complicated
Christiana Martin wants to know how much short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, are exacerbating Vermont’s housing crisis. We survey the data, and visit two Vermont neighborhoods — Decatur Street in Burlington and Gorham Drive in Kirby — to find out...
02.16.2023
How much does Vermont's power grid depend on fossil fuels?
So, your electricity rates are rising. Oil and gas costs … also rising. This led Remington Nevin of Quechee to wonder if Vermont’s electricity is truly as environmentally friendly as some claim it is. Turns out, the answer is complicated. Climate...
02.02.2023
How has the geology of Vermont affected its character? (Encore)
Matt “Beagle” Bourgault wants to know how Vermont’s bedrock and soil shaped our identity — and made us different from our neighbors. We originally released this episode in 2017. A lot has changed since then, but our geologic history has not.To...
01.19.2023
The complexities of medical aid in dying in Vermont
If you live in Vermont, and you have a terminal illness, where and when you die could be up to you. Charlie Bestard of Hartland asked us about the state’s medical aid in dying law: How many Vermonters have used...
01.06.2023
Homegoings #7: Liza Phillip
Paintbrushes and blank canvases helped Burlington artist Liza Phillip love their biracial identity. Now, they paint colorful genderless monsters and sing songs on the ukulele to celebrate life beyond traditional binaries.Find original artwork related to this episode at bravelittlestate.org.This is...
12.22.2022
Why doesn’t Vermont have freestanding birth centers?
Vermont is the only state in the Northeast without a freestanding birth center. We dig into the reasons why, and talk to folks who are pushing for change. To see the inside of a freestanding birth center, and some...
12.01.2022
What happened to all the restaurant workers?
Many Vermont restaurants are understaffed and struggling to stay open. Khrista Trerotola of Waitsfield wants to know, “What happened to all the restaurant workers? Where have they gone? And what are they doing now?”To answer Khrista’s question, Josh Crane tells the...
11.17.2022
How do Vermont breweries manage their wastewater?
Vermont has the most breweries per capita. But the more beer they brew, the more they have to deal with their wastewater. Caleb Henderson of Winooski asked us this: “Breweries and cideries were in the news a few years ago for...
11.04.2022
What’s the Asian American experience like in Vermont?
On Anna Costello’s first visit to Vermont, she was surprised by the large number of Chinese restaurants compared to the seemingly small number of Asian Americans. So, she asked us: "What’s the Asian American experience like in Vermont?"To find the...
10.20.2022
What role did Vermont play during Prohibition?
When the federal government banned alcohol in 1920, Vermonters took matters into their own hands. We head to the Northeast Kingdom to collect stories of cross-border bars, liquor hidden in baby bottles and potato cellar robbery.Thanks to Nathan Bangs for...
10.06.2022
What's the secret to downtown revitalization?
A listener asked us how White River Junction became such a thriving place, “when it used to be so bleak.” We talk to some of the people behind the transformation. To see photos of White River Junction, check out...
09.22.2022
How did Vermont profit from slavery?
“Vermont was the first state to abolish slavery.” That’s the common refrain around here. Except, the history is more complicated. Reporter Lexi Krupp answers a question from Peter Langella about this oft-misunderstood history, and explores how the legacy of slavery...
09.08.2022
Telling Indigenous stories through music
Question-asker David Hess was curious about Native stories that speak to the Vermont landscape. Enter Mali Obomsawin’s new album, Sweet Tooth. Across three movements, she blends Wabanaki music with free jazz, and ancient stories with new ones, all of which...
08.17.2022
What did the sale of the Lake Monsters mean for Vermont baseball?
The sale of the Vermont Lake Monsters in 2021 would bring lots of changes. In some ways, it’s a story of renewal. But the more things change, the more they stay the same. Reporter Liam Elder-Connors walks us through...
08.04.2022
Why do people leave Vermont?
We hear from former Vermonters about their love/hate relationship with our state, why they left and what it would take for them to come back. Check out the web version of this story for photos from our reporting. And...
07.21.2022
What’s Vermont’s small-town dating scene like?
A question about finding companionship in the Green Mountain State – from wide-eyed hopefuls to frustrated giver-uppers. Plus, a love story.Thanks to Silas Olsen for the great question. To see photos from this episode, check out our web feature.This episode...
07.07.2022
Our 5th Annual Brief History of Vermont Road Names
Every summer, we trek across Vermont to uncover the origins of bizarre road names of your choosing. This year’s installment includes Iranistan Road in Burlington, Snipe Island Road in Jericho and … a bit of a wildcard. Thanks to this year’s...
06.24.2022
What's the status of cannabis dispensaries in Vermont?
Vermont’s first recreational cannabis dispensaries are set to open to the public on October 1, 2022. Reporter Bob Kinzel walks us through how we got here and how the new cannabis marketplace will work. Check out photos from Bob’s...
06.09.2022
What’s it like to hike the Long Trail? (Encore)
To answer this question from Eliza Keller, we go deep into the woods — and deep into a hiker hostel in downtown Rutland. We originally released this episode in 2018.

What's Brave Little State about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Brave Little State episodes:

Mud Season Madness (encore)

What’s up with the Vermont wave?

‘Recognized’: An update

Investigating far-right extremism in northern New York

What impact does the VAST trail have on Vermont's economy?

What is the Upper Valley?

How do Vermont libraries stay alive and vibrant?

What relationships are possible between Burlington and her sister cities, Bethlehem and Arad?

Why do people like Phish? (Encore)

How are towns hit by summer floods doing?

What’s the deal with Act 250?

What effect has noncitizen voting had in the Vermont cities where it's legal?

Raising biracial kids — and preserving heritage — in Vermont

Recognized: Chapter Three

Recognized: Chapter Two

Recognized: Chapter One

Why are so few Hollywood movies and TV shows filmed in Vermont?

What’s the deal with Vermont’s fire towers?

What if Vermont were to buy motels for emergency housing?

Our 6th Annual Brief History Of Vermont Road Names

From gold mines to witch windows (Encore)

What is it like to be a rapper in Vermont?

What 'old streams' can teach us about flooding

What do families do when they're stuck on waitlists for child care?

How do you pronounce the name of the Waitsfield supermarket ‘Mehuron’s’?

Student Takeover

The nickname Barre would like you to stop using

5 Vermonters talk about guns

What’s the deal with intentional living communities in Vermont?

Where did all Vermont’s stone walls come from?

What has put Vermont on the pop culture map?

How many Airbnbs are 'taking away' from Vermonters? It's complicated

How much does Vermont's power grid depend on fossil fuels?

How has the geology of Vermont affected its character? (Encore)

The complexities of medical aid in dying in Vermont

Homegoings #7: Liza Phillip

Why doesn’t Vermont have freestanding birth centers?

What happened to all the restaurant workers?

How do Vermont breweries manage their wastewater?

What’s the Asian American experience like in Vermont?

What role did Vermont play during Prohibition?

What's the secret to downtown revitalization?

How did Vermont profit from slavery?

Telling Indigenous stories through music

What did the sale of the Lake Monsters mean for Vermont baseball?

Why do people leave Vermont?

What’s Vermont’s small-town dating scene like?

Our 5th Annual Brief History of Vermont Road Names

What's the status of cannabis dispensaries in Vermont?

What’s it like to hike the Long Trail? (Encore)