There's No "A" in Creemee

This week There's No "A" in Creemee does a little holiday special as only we can. We're back in the Skate Shack to talk with with Courtney Lockerby—assistant librarian, mom of three, and champion of values-driven shopping. Courtney shares how she’s turning everyday purchases into acts of resistance. We talk about why thrifting and local buying matters, and the tools she uses to help her align spending with her principles. We also talk about the realities of rural shopping, raising kids with conscious habits, and the surprising joy of deleting the Amazon app. In our Last Licks segment, Andy and Joanna do an inter-faith holiday review of Christmas songs that were written by Jewish composers with only a few side-tangents into space lasers and the illuminati.

We’re back with the second half of our conversation with Senator Martine Gulick, chair of Vermont’s Education Redistricting Task Force. Picking up where we left off, Martine dives deeper into the political dynamics surrounding Act 73 and what its implementation could mean for communities across the state.

In the opening segment Andy and Joanna unpack the surprising unity between party leaders, the growing tension within Democratic ranks, and why rural districts and independent schools are at the center of this debate. Plus, we explore the unprecedented involvement of local school boards and superintendents in pushing back against state-level consolidation.

Stick around for “Last Licks,” where we lighten things up with a Hanukkah quiz testing just how much Andy has learned over the last 12 months.

What happens when a task force charged with drawing maps ends up rewriting the conversation about education in Vermont?

In this episode, we sit down with State Senator Martine Laroque Gulick, co-chair of the Education Redistricting Task Force, to unpack the much-anticipated report and what it means for cost, quality, and equity in our schools. From cooperative service models to regional high schools, we explore ideas that could reshape education for the next generation—and why rushing the process might do more harm than good.

Plus, Andy and Joanna share Thanksgiving adventures, debate parade bingo strategy, and reveal which Muppets they most identify with. Spoiler: it gets loud.

#TheresNoAInCreemee #VermontPodcast #EducationMatters #PolicyTalk #FutureOfEducation

What if prosperity wasn’t measured by GDP, but by the health of our communities and the planet?

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Janoo of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance to explore a bold vision for Vermont and beyond—one that prioritizes dignity, fairness, and sustainability.

From global lessons in economic policy to local strategies for resilience, Amanda shares how we can design systems that truly serve people, not profits.Plus, we dig into the role of government, the rise of authoritarianism, and why small businesses might hold the key to our future. And yes, we end with the ultimate question: maple creemee with jimmies or sprinkles?

This is an episode so great, we are releasing it early instead of our planned holiday break (so yes, if you are counting episodes this one is out of order!).

#TheresNoAinCreemee #WellbeingEconomy #VermontValues #EconomicJustice #CommunityFirst #LocalEconomy #SustainableFuture #MapleCreemee #PodcastLife

We’re stepping out of the Skate Shack and into the bright lights of the Media Factory with our first ever video!

We kick things off with a behind-the-scenes look at the new setup (and Andy’s DIY table) before diving into Vermont’s education redistricting task force and the governor’s sharp critique, followed by a discussion of Democratic candidates so far and a noticeable absence at the top of the ticket.

Later, we sit down with former Burlington mayor and Let’s Build Homes founder Miro Weinberger to talk about Vermont’s housing crisis, Act 250 reform, and creative solutions like CHIP and Right-to-Home Zones.

Plus, we wrap up with Thanksgiving plans, parade nostalgia, and a Statler and Waldorf style rant about Millenials refusal to accept the Muppets

In this powerful and inspiring conversation, Jessica Barquist from Planned Parenthood of Northern New England talks with us about challenges and victories in reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare in Vermont. She also has a choice gotcha moment for us.

We explore the impact of federal policies, the importance of state shield laws, the breadth of services provided by Planned Parenthood, and how Vermonters can advocate for holistic support and legislative change.

#theresnoaincreemee #podcast #vtpoli #repro #vermont

Joanna & Andy unpack the School Redistricting Task Force. In this episode, we break down the Winnooski meeting of Vermont’s school redistricting task force, including the proposals, public feedback, and the big questions about cost, consolidation, and the future of local schools. We share firsthand accounts from the forum, reactions from parents and school board members, and why so many Vermonters are skeptical about the process.

We catch up with Charity Clark and the Democratic Attorneys General at a fundraiser in Burlington with live coverage and talk about how they are pushing back on Trump.

In an admittedly long opening segment, we share updates on our podcast’s winter move, the Great Ice Festival, a new must creemee shop in Burlington (donut sandwiches, anyone?), and discuss what is being done, or not done, to win back legislative seats lost in the 2024 election.

From sticky notes at public meetings to sticky pumpkin soft-serve, it’s a lively mix of local flavor and policy debate.

#vtpoli #podcast #vermont #vermontnews #ressit #savedemocracy #vted #charityclark #daga #icecream #theresnoaincreemee

Krista Huling, former Chair of the Vermont State Board of Education, joins us to speak candidly about her fight to level the playing field for public schools.

From her work with Friends of Vermont Public Education to her push for ethical accountability and equitable funding, Krista challenges the status quo and calls out the deep disparities between public and independent schools.

In this powerful conversation, she shares why Vermont’s education system needs bold reform, transparent leadership, and a renewed commitment to all students—not just a privileged few.

#theresnoaincreemee #vermont #podcast #vtpoli

Collab with Justin Marsh & Democracy Dispatch! Andy and Joanna welcome Vermont Conservation Voters to the show. Justin tells us all about how VCV is teaming up with groups to train and recruit new candidates around the state. We talk about the challenges of campaigning in the digital world, the ongoing value of face to face interactions, and the increasing competitiveness of local races.

We talk about the our podcast stories and of course get Justin's creemee order and try to trace the infiltration of "jimmies" into Lamoille County.

From political monsters to ghosts of the Green Mountains, this is another episode full of resistance for There’s No “A” in Creemee.

Joanna shares her reflections on meeting with Dems across the county and the rise of younger leaders.

We take a deep dive into Senator Douglass’s  controversy and explore how MAGA is making inroads into the Vermont Legislature. We also discuss establishment Democrats pushing back on a populist candidate in Maine, review updates on the impact of federal funding, and give a nod to inflatable frogs protesting ICE.

We wrap up with a spooky tour of Vermont’s lesser-known legends and ghost stories. Taphophobes, consider yourselves warned.