Brave Little State

How are Vermonters staying social after they can no longer drive?


Listen Later

Not being able to drive in this state can be isolating — especially for older Vermonters navigating the challenges of aging.  

Ninety-two-year-old Gerry Quinlan has found a way, with a network of friends that can drive her to their weekly coffee dates in Essex.

But she’s wondering how others do it, so she came to us with this question:

"How do you maintain a social life in Vermont once you can no longer drive?"

Join us as we ride along with Gerry and others who have given up their keys, but not their communities and friendships.

For a full transcript of this episode and photos from our reporting, check out our web post.

This episode was reported by Burgess Brown. Editing and production from the rest of the BLS team: Sabine Poux and Josh Crane. Additional editing from Erica Heilman. Our intern is Lucia McCallum. Angela Evancie is our Executive Producer. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Special thanks to Lilias Ide, Andrea Stauffeneker, Laura Brooke, Martina Anderson and Andrew Bernstein. 

As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it:

  • Ask a question about Vermont
  • Sign up for the BLS newsletter
  • Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt
  • Drop us an email: [email protected]
  • Make a gift to support people-powered journalism
  • Tell your friends about the show!
  • Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network. 

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Brave Little StateBy Vermont Public

    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7

    4.7

    374 ratings


    More shows like Brave Little State

    View all
    On the Media by WNYC Studios

    On the Media

    9,131 Listeners

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

    Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

    38,688 Listeners

    Vermont Edition by Vermont Public

    Vermont Edition

    99 Listeners

    Radiolab by WNYC Studios

    Radiolab

    43,967 Listeners

    This American Life by This American Life

    This American Life

    90,886 Listeners

    Fresh Air by NPR

    Fresh Air

    38,189 Listeners

    Eye On The Night Sky by Vermont Public Radio

    Eye On The Night Sky

    14 Listeners

    The Moth by The Moth

    The Moth

    27,311 Listeners

    Snap Judgment by Snap Judgment and PRX

    Snap Judgment

    11,537 Listeners

    99% Invisible by Roman Mars

    99% Invisible

    26,157 Listeners

    All Things Gardening Podcast by Mary Williams Engisch, Charlie Nardozzi

    All Things Gardening Podcast

    53 Listeners

    News from Vermont Public by Vermont Public

    News from Vermont Public

    36 Listeners

    Rumble Strip by Erica Heilman / Rumble Strip, Erica Heilman

    Rumble Strip

    1,140 Listeners

    Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

    Reveal

    8,246 Listeners

    Timeline: Vermont Public Classical by Vermont Public Radio

    Timeline: Vermont Public Classical

    12 Listeners

    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,483 Listeners

    Outside/In by NHPR

    Outside/In

    1,458 Listeners

    Eye On The Sky by Vermont Public

    Eye On The Sky

    21 Listeners

    But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids by Vermont Public

    But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

    4,876 Listeners

    Vermont Public Docs by Vermont Public

    Vermont Public Docs

    271 Listeners

    Throughline by NPR

    Throughline

    16,034 Listeners

    The Frequency by Vermont Public

    The Frequency

    108 Listeners