The Octagon

This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with world-class open water swimmer Charlotte Brynn. Charlotte  has completed over 50 marathon swims including some of the toughest swims on Earth — Charlotte is also one of the top women open water coaches and mentors in the world. Charlotte has been the Executive Director of the Swimming Hole here in Stowe for over 20 years and has motivated and helped countless people to set big goals for a specific event or simply begin their swimming and exercise journey. Charlotte grew up in the beautiful country of New Zealand and has been a fixture in Stowe for 25 years.

This week Ted and Mike give a recap on what was an epic 2025 winter here in Stowe. We explore the mountain scene, legendary Hyde Cup tales, a banner Nordic ski season and all the happenings and events in this unique mountain town. We also give listeners a behind the scenes snapshot of what goes into creating Octagon Podcast episodes.

Tune in and relive all of your favorite winter moments with us in this special edition winter 2025 recap!

This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Tom Rogers, Executive Director of Stowe Land Trust . A certified wildlife biologist with a master’s degree in Biology and Ecology, Tom came to SLT in 2024 from The Nature Conservancy, where he was Associate Director of Philanthropy for the past five years. Tom lives in Stowe with his wife and two daughters. He is an avid mountain biker and backcountry skier, and he’s often out on the trails in the early morning before work. Tom also worked as a part-time ski instructor at Stowe Mountain Resort for five years and has served as a volunteer EMT with Stowe Mountain Rescue since 2012. 

Joanna Graves has been a fixture in the Stowe fitness community for 30 years - often recognized as the top fitness workout instructor in the area and is also the owner of RIDE indoor cycling studio. You can most often find Joanna teaching a Spin class, a bootcamp, at the rink - both playing and watching hockey, and in the summer on the tennis courts and golf course. Joanna has motivated countless people to incorporate workouts into their daily routine and has built a loyal and supportive community around fitness here in Stowe.

This week we are joined in the Octagon studio by Kristina von Trapp Frame. The von Trapp name is synonymous with Stowe and its outdoor culture. Kristina von Trapp Frame is carrying forward her family legacy that began when her grandparents settled in Stowe and built what would become one of the most iconic mountain lodges in the country.

From pioneering cross-country skiing in North America to expanding into mountain biking, beer brewing, and other unique mountain experiences, Kristina has helped shape the von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort into an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. You can find Kristina trail running, XC skiing, spending time with her family- and traveling the globe as an ambassador representing the von Trapp family.

This week we are happy to bring Mike Leach to the studio who is the historian for the Mount Mansfield Ski Club (MMSC), one of the oldest ski racing organizations in the United States. In his role, Leach has contributed significantly to documenting and preserving the rich history of skiing in the Stowe, Vermont area.​ Mike has provided insights into the origins of a variety of local ski events in Stowe. His research also indicates that the first Sugar Slalom was held on April 30, 1939, as a special event to mark the season's end, drawing nearly 100 entrants. Leach's extensive knowledge and dedication have been invaluable in preserving the history and legacy of the Mount Mansfield Ski Club and the broader skiing community in Stowe.

This is a very special edition of The Octagon, bringing you the wild story of Buster Brown, the now famous beagle. On a cold February day, Buster went missing into the woods of Stowe while on a routine walk in Kirschner Woods with his owner Erin Daly. As the days went by, the search for Buster broadened. People across Stowe were searching sheds, crawl spaces, garages - and much of the searching was being led by remote viewing specialist Cris Pryce - who described possible locations of Buster with incredible details. Finally after 24 long, cold and snowy days in the woods- Buster was spotted and reunited with his owners. 

This episode will take you on the sometimes heartbreaking but  inspiring journey of Buster Brown. It's the feel good story of the year here in Stowe!

Kim Brown is a well-known figure in Stowe, Vermont's skiing community, recognized for his extensive contributions as a columnist, historian, and avid skier. Since making his first turns at Stowe in 1952, Brown has become a fixture on the slopes, sharing his experiences and insights through his long-running column, "Ski Bum Corner," in the Stowe Reporter and Kim knows the off trail map woods trails around Mt Mansfield as well as anyone

In addition to his journalism, Brown is an architectural designer and one of Stowe's preeminent Ski historians. His deep knowledge of the area's ski culture and history has made him a valuable resource for understanding the evolution of skiing in Stowe

This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Dustin Martin. Dustin was born and raised in Stowe and operates ARFA Property Management with his father Mike and has been a coach at Mount Mansfield Academy for 11 years. Dustin is an accomplished ski racer and raced at the college level at St. Lawrence University and has an impressive tally of victories at the Stowe Ski Bum races. When not working Dustin can be found tracking the elusive whitetail deer deep in the Mansfield back country and is the co-founder of Northwoods Whitetails. On top of all that Dustin just completed the 80th Stowe Derby on alpine skis!

Hockey in Stowe isn’t just a game—it’s a tradition, a community, and a way of life for many. Few people know that better than Mike Priestley. A longtime player, Mike has witnessed the evolution of the sport here, from the old Jackson Arena to the new rink. He has participated in many Hyde Cup tournaments and was a member of the premier VT team-  The Stowe Slugs. But Mike is also a renaissance man, authoring 3 novels and has had a long career writing educational textbooks, magazine articles, book reviews and crossword puzzles for the New York Times. You can also find Mike in the summer out on the local courses playing golf.