What does it mean to truly be yourself—and actually believe that you’re enough?

On this episode of Talking Life in Vermont, Jonathan Schroth sits down with Kim Griffin—mom, doula, small business owner, soccer coach, and board member at Heritage Family Credit Union—for a wide-ranging and very real conversation about life, family, work, and finding your way in Vermont.

Kim opens up about growing up as an only child, moving frequently, creating a “chosen family,” and learning how her childhood shaped the way she shows up in the world. She talks candidly about being a recovering people pleaser, the importance of authenticity, and the lifelong process of learning to be comfortable with exactly who you are.

The conversation also dives into Kim’s journey from studying architecture in Philadelphia to farming in the Hudson Valley, working in agricultural education, leading the MINT Makerspace, and eventually building a design-build company with Morgan through Two Birds Design Build.

Jonathan and Kim also get into motherhood, parenting differently than the way they were raised, soccer coaching, Vermont’s need for more housing and skilled tradespeople, bicycles, body pillows, astrology, Dungeons & Dragons, Jamie Lee Curtis, and what a crystal ball might reveal about how we really see ourselves.

At the heart of the conversation is a question many of us can relate to: How do we stop feeling like an imposter and start recognizing our own strengths?

 Recorded at Hub Coworks in Rutland, Vermont.

 Episode Partner: All in Stone

A special thank-you to All in Stone, a locally owned, full-service hardscape and landscape supplier in Rutland City, Vermont, serving both homeowners and professionals, for partnering with this episode of Talking Life in Vermont. Supporting local businesses and the people who make Vermont communities what they are is a huge part of what this podcast is all about.

If you enjoy conversations about Vermont, local people, small business, community, family, personal growth, and the stories behind the people who live here, subscribe to Talking Life in Vermont and follow along.

Talking Life in Vermont
“If you want to change your community, you have to know who’s in it.”

Rutland, Vermont Is Worth Fighting For | Nick Grandchamp

What does it really mean to be part of a community?

On this episode of Talking Life in Vermont, Jonathan Schroth sits down with Rutland musician, working-class advocate, and community-minded troublemaker Nick Grandchamp for a wide-ranging conversation about music, Rutland, local businesses, friendship, loss, and why showing up actually matters.

Nick talks about growing up around music, playing guitar and bass, his bands Dead Street Dreamers and Outnumbered, vintage amps, vinyl records, playing music across the country and overseas, and the people who helped shape him along the way.

But the conversation quickly becomes about something bigger: Rutland, Vermont.

Nick shares why he believes the Rutland Food Co-op is more than just a grocery store, why local businesses matter, and how seemingly small decisions—buying a few things locally, having a conversation with a stranger, attending a local event, or simply showing up—can help build a stronger community.

Jonathan and Nick also talk about the negativity surrounding Rutland on social media, the stereotypes people have about the city, the so-called “Burlington bubble,” and why Nick believes Rutland doesn’t need to become another Burlington. It needs to become a better version of Rutland.

The conversation touches on housing, downtown development, the future of the city, the importance of the Paramount Theatre, the lack of places for young people to gather, and Nick’s passionate argument that Rutland needs a skate park.

There’s also a deeply personal side to the conversation. Nick opens up about losing his mother during COVID-19 and how grief and loss have changed the way he thinks about life, success, dreams, family, and becoming a better person.

And, of course, there are plenty of detours—including vampires, Time Chasers, 1990s technology, Metallica, bass players, movie theaters, awkward conversations, and why sometimes you just need to stop worrying about what other people think and get involved.

The underlying message is simple:

If you want to change a community, you have to know who’s in it—and you have to be willing to show up.

 Talking Life in Vermont with Jonathan Schroth
 Recorded at HubCoworks in downtown Rutland, Vermont

Rutland Mayor Tom Donahue: His First 100-ish Days in Office

What does “winning” look like for Rutland after the first 100-ish days of a new mayoral administration?

Jonathan Schroth welcomes Rutland Mayor Tom Donahue back to Talking Life in Vermont for a wide-ranging conversation about his first five months in office—and what he believes is next for the city.

Tom talks about his administration’s focus on economic development, new businesses and housing projects, public safety and proactive policing, downtown Rutland, the future of the Center Street corridor, the proposed hotel project, and his efforts to make Rutland more attractive to businesses, workers, residents and visitors.

He also explains his push for a Tier 1 exemption from Act 250, how Rutland’s economic opportunity zones and tax increment financing could help attract new investment, and why he sees housing, workforce, business growth and public safety as interconnected pieces of the same puzzle.

The conversation also gets into communication and transparency at City Hall—including Tom’s “communicator in chief” philosophy, his open-door policy, working with the Board of Aldermen, and why he believes residents deserve to understand what their city government is doing and why.

And because this is Talking Life in Vermont, we finish with some rapid-fire questions:

 Rutland or Burlington for better pizza?
 One giant Ben & Jerry’s cow or 100 tiny Bernie Sanderses?
 What’s the most “presidential” thing he’s done as mayor?
 And, of course… has Tom Donahue ever Googled himself?

After roughly 100-ish days in office, Tom gives himself somewhere in the B range—but says there’s still plenty of work to do.

This is a conversation about where Rutland is today, where the city is headed, and what its mayor believes it will take to build a stronger future.

Talking Life in Vermont is hosted by Jonathan Schroth.

If you want to change a community, you have to know who’s in it.

William Kelley is back on Talking Life in Vermont for another deep, and sometimes wonderfully weird conversation about the things we can’t always explain.

Jonathan and William dive into the deeper meaning of yoga and meditation, why anxiety and distraction seem so deeply woven into the human experience, and how modern life and social media may be pulling us further away from ourselves.

From there, the conversation takes a spiritual turn: Reiki and energy healing, astrology, destiny vs. free will, negative and positive energies, and what happens after we die.

William shares his perspective on connecting with spirits and recognizing signs from loved ones who have passed, while Jonathan shares a deeply personal experience involving a cardinal that left him wondering whether someone he loved was trying to say, “I’m okay.”

They also explore how spirituality and traditional mental health practices can coexist, the challenges facing young adults today, and why meditation doesn’t have to look like sitting cross-legged in a perfectly quiet room.

It’s a conversation about mind, body, spirituality, death, consciousness, and finding your own path to understanding it all.

Recorded at Hub Coworks in Rutland, Vermont.

Talking Life in Vermont  If you want to change your community, you have to know who’s in it.

What actually makes a community stronger? Is it government? New businesses? Better jobs? Or is it the people who decide to take ownership and get involved?

This week, I sit down with Nathan Bosch for a conversation that covers a little bit of everything—from leadership and lifelong learning to raising a nonverbal autistic son, financial literacy, faith, family, and why personal responsibility might be the missing piece in building a better Rutland.

Nathan shares how he’s read hundreds of books by listening at 3x speed, why he decided to earn a business degree after decades in the workforce, what he’s learned leading large teams at Rutland Regional Medical Center, and the perspective that comes from balancing work, ministry, business ownership, and raising four kids.

We also dive into what makes a community thrive, why supporting local businesses matters, how learning about money can bring unexpected peace, and the importance of living intentionally before it’s too late.

Whether you call Rutland home or you’re simply interested in leadership, personal growth, parenting, or building stronger communities, there’s something in this conversation for you.

Recorded at the HubCoworks in downtown Rutland, Vermont.

If you enjoy the episode, be sure to follow Talking Life in Vermont, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who loves great conversations about the people shaping Vermont.

What does it take to build a stronger community?

This week on Talking Life in Vermont, Jonathan sits down with Sarah Furman, Executive Director of CEDRR (Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region), for a conversation about the future of Rutland, supporting local businesses, and why she’s optimistic about where the region is headed.

Sarah shares what it’s been like stepping into her new leadership role, why family has always been at the center of her life, and what keeps her passionate about making Rutland County a place where people want to build careers, raise families, and invest in their community.

Along the way, they talk about everything from Startup Rutland and entrepreneurship to favorite local restaurants, the Whoopie Pie Festival, public speaking, family compounds, traveling through Europe, music, and even the dream of bringing a dance club and Topgolf to the area.

If you care about Vermont, small businesses, community development, or simply enjoy genuine conversations with the people shaping our state, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Recorded at The Hub CoWorks in downtown Rutland, Vermont.

Faith, leadership, loss, fishing, food, dogs, and somehow even aliens—all in the same conversation.

This week on Talking Life in Vermont, I sat down with Apostle James Schneider from Beth Towb Rutland and Horizons Early Learning Center. What started with a simple icebreaker turned into one of those conversations that covered just about everything, but somehow never felt like it wandered.

James shares stories about surviving dangerous waters off Block Island, the lessons he’s learned from decades of leading and mentoring people, the peaceful passing of his father, and why losing a dog still hits him harder than almost anything else. We also talk about patience, difficult conversations, parenting, long COVID, and the importance of keeping your mind open—even if the topic happens to be aliens.

Of course, we couldn’t help ourselves when the conversation drifted toward food, from legendary chili dogs to homemade bánh mì and the recipes we’ve inspired each other to make over the years.

If you enjoy honest conversations that don’t feel scripted and aren’t afraid to bounce between humor and real life, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

This episode is proudly partnered with McNeil & Reedy and recorded at The HubCoWorks in downtown Rutland.

Some conversations stay on one track. This one wandered through science, philosophy, food, history, and some of life’s biggest questions—and I loved every minute of it.

This week I sat down with Jas Multani to talk about everything from the idea that all living things might be connected to why quiet moments in nature can be some of the most important ones we have. We also talked about the thoughts we wish we could share without judgment, déjà vu, World War II codebreaking, Albert Einstein, and the curiosity that drives people to explore the unknown.

Jas also shared his experience with a serious health scare and how it changed his perspective on relationships, slowing down, and appreciating the moments that really matter. We even swapped stories about family recipes, Indian comfort food, and why the meals that remind us of home are often about much more than the food itself.

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations that blend humor, curiosity, and real life, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Episode Partner: McNeil & Reedyon Merchants Row in Rutland, Vermont.
Recorded at: The HubCoWorks on Merchants Row in Rutland, Vermont.

What makes a community feel like home?

This week, I sat down with Cat Heatley, Executive Director of the Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum in downtown Rutland, for a conversation that went in directions I never expected.

We talked about why she and her family took a leap of faith and moved to Vermont without knowing anyone, what it’s like stepping into the leadership of one of Rutland’s most beloved organizations, and why creating spaces where kids can learn, play, and belong matters so much.

Along the way we got into parenting, raising readers, standardized testing, travel, New Zealand, big emotions, the lessons our children teach us, and one unforgettable story from the pandemic that perfectly captures the kindness and humanity that exists in this community.

It’s one of those conversations that starts with simple questions and ends up reminding you why people matter.

A huge thank you to McNeil & Reedy for partnering with this episode and helping make these conversations possible.

And as always, thank you to our incredible sponsors, ICO Electric and The Hub CoWorks, for supporting the Talking Life in Vermont podcast and helping us continue sharing the stories of the people who make Vermont such a special place.

Some conversations leave you with more questions than answers—and sometimes that’s exactly the point.

This week, I’m joined by William Kelley, Practitioner or Psychology, holistic wellness practitioner, meditation and yoga instructor, musician, and founder of Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center. We dive into some of life’s biggest questions, exploring spirituality, consciousness, the paranormal, mental health, religion, gratitude, and what it really means to stay open-minded.

Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or somewhere in the middle, this isn’t about convincing anyone what to think. It’s about having an honest conversation, asking better questions, and exploring ideas that most people don’t talk about out loud.

Along the way, we discuss ghosts, haunted locations like Wilson Castle and the Conjuring House, the connection between mental health and spirituality, why gratitude matters, and whether love might be the one thing that truly connects us all.

No matter where you land on these topics, I think you’ll walk away seeing the world just a little differently.

Episode Partner: McNeil & Reedy - A Rutland tradition since 1956, helping generations of Vermonters look their best with quality menswear, expert tailoring, and exceptional service.

Special thanks to our sponsors:
 ICO Electric – Powering homes, businesses, and communities across Vermont.
 The Hub CoWorks – Rutland’s home for entrepreneurs, remote workers, creators, and community.

Thanks for listening to Talking Life in Vermont. If you enjoy the show, please follow, rate, and share it—it helps more than you know.