JAM Podcasts & Audiobooks

Episode 4 provides gardening inspiration and some great gardening tips to help us all fully embrace spring and summer.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

Episode 3 honors April’s poetry month with a selection of poetry from each bookseller. You will be inspired to read each recommendation.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

In episode 2, we asked the booksellers to choose one book that they recommend to anyone looking for a good book. You will love this list and this discussion.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

Episode 1 – In episode 1, we introduce each of the Shelf Help booksellers by asking each to review a book that best represents them. What results is a great list of books and some fun insight into the Shelf Help booksellers who will be recommending books on future episodes.

Welcome to Shelf Help, a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life’s trickier – and we’d argue extremely important – questions: What should you read next?  Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; JAM – Junction Arts & Media; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.

Samantha, Dale & Chico

Former Hartford Dismas House Resident, Dale Jr., is given voice with Samantha and Chico of Junction Arts & Media - the Upper Valley non-profit that can be credited with giving so many a voice and producing podcasts such as "Going the Dismas"!

This podcast is made possible by the guidance and technical support of JAM.

Kate & David,

Hartford Dismas House Resident, David, joins host, Jeff Backus, and his step-mother, Kate, for a conversation about the shortcoming of the American mental health care system, how he found his way from Hawaii to jail in Vermont, and the benefit of the Dismas community.

Dismas of Vermont provides therapeutic community to men and women leaving incarceration and reconciling with the community. One of the main features of the Dismas model is our community dinners in which volunteers prepare and join us for dinner and story sharing.

This podcast is made possible by the guidance and technical support of JAM.

Kim, Marie & Rich, 

Dismas of Vermont provides therapeutic community to men and women leaving incarceration and reconciling with the community. One of the main features of the Dismas model is our community dinners in which volunteers prepare and join us for dinner and story sharing.

Burlington House Director, Kim Parsons, shares her experience with our community over the past 30 years along with Volunteer for Peace from Belgium, Marie, and house resident Rich.

This podcast is made possible by the guidance and technical support of JAM.

Miranda, Shawn & Doug,

After presenting to Hartford High School students weeks prior, Hartford Dismas House resident, Shawn, aims to recreate the experience with Hartford High School teacher, Doug, and his student, Miranda, in a two way street of valuable life lessons.

Dismas of Vermont provides therapeutic community to men and women leaving incarceration and reconciling with the community. One of the main features of the Dismas model is our community dinners in which volunteers prepare and join us for dinner and story sharing.

This podcast is made possible by the guidance and technical support of JAM.

Sheena & Dee,

Women's Dismas House Resident, Sheena, joins Committed Member, Dee, for a conversation about incarcerated women, job hunting with a record, and the incredible Rutland community!

Dismas of Vermont provides therapeutic community to men and women leaving incarceration and reconciling with the community. One of the main features of the Dismas model is our community dinners in which volunteers prepare and join us for dinner and story sharing.

This podcast is made possible by the guidance and technical support of JAM.

Tom & Darby,

Hartford Dismas House Director, Tom, shares the story of his own path to Dismas while resident, Darby, talks about what it was like moving the homeless population into motels during the Covid-19 pandemic, the value of a 12 step program, and what it was like growing up "on the other side of the tracks".

Dismas of Vermont provides therapeutic community to men and women leaving incarceration and reconciling with the community. One of the main features of the Dismas model is our community dinners in which volunteers prepare and join us for dinner and story sharing.

This podcast is made possible by the guidance and technical support of JAM.