In the inaugural episode of 'Brave Little State,' VPR's new, people-powered journalism podcast, we tackle a question about the history of the Vermont accent, and a question about a strange "thing" at the Waterbury rest area.

Be brave. Ask questions. Brave Little State is podcast for Vermonters and Vermonters-at-heart, powered by your curiosity. Every episode answers a question that's been asked and voted on by you, our audience — because we think our journalism is better when you're a part of it. From Vermont Public.

Most decisions about the news you hear and read and watch every day are made by somebody else. But what if you could make some of those decisions? That's the idea behind Brave Little State, a new podcast from Vermont Public Radio.