Brave Little State

In honor of the show’s 5th birthday, we revisit our inaugural episode — about the past, present and future of the Vermont accent.Thanks to Erin Creley for being our first-ever question-asker, and to Alex Keefe for helping us launch the show back in 2016.To find more audio recordings that demonstrate the features of the Vermont accent, and learn about some recent research on the “glottal stop,” check out our web feature.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it! Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for our free BLS newsletter Make a gift to support people-powered journalism

A question from Bobby Arnell of Winooski about the complex, controversial decision to base fighter jets in Vermont's most populous county.Check out bonus content, including video by VPR's news fellow Marlon Hyde, at bravelittlestate.org.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it! Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for our free BLS newsletter Make a gift to support people-powered journalism

We get comfortable — or uncomfortable — and talk about living in Vermont with, or as, a Black kid.See photos of the families we heard from in this episode, some adorable pix of producer Myra Flynn as a Vermont kid, and archival photos of Randolph Union High School's "Galloping Ghost" mascot, here. As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it! Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for our free BLS newsletter Make a gift to support people-powered journalism bravelittlestate.org

What factors go into placing those yellow road signs? A question from Jocelyn Hebert gets to the heart of a tension between the natural world and human infrastructure. Check out photos of "Moose Alley" and data visualizations here. As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it! Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for our free BLS newsletter Make a gift to support people-powered journalism bravelittlestate.org

A conversation with DonnCherie about compassion, artistic authenticity and taking Blackness back. (Warning: Profanity)This is the fourth and final installment (for now) of Homegoings, a special series from Brave Little State that features conversations with musicians of color who live in Vermont. Check out the lyrics to DonnCherrie’s “For Keeps,” see the original art for this episode here. Explore the rest of our series at here. We'd love your feedback on this series. Drop us a note at hello@bravelittlestate.orgAs always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it! Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for our free BLS newsletter Make a gift to support people-powered journalism bravelittlestate.org

A conversation with Rivan Calderin about BIPOC exhaustion, safety and music as a platform for consciousness. Check out the original art for this series and read the lyrics to "Mayday to Pilot" here.This is the third installment of Homegoings, a special series from Brave Little State that features conversations with musicians of color who live in Vermont.Follow the series here as we release new episodes weekly through June 15.bravelittlestate.org

(Warning: Profanity) A conversation with Senayit Tomlinson about Black trauma, music and getting through.See a photo of Senayit, read the lyrics to "Hard Reign" and watch the music video here.This is the second installment of Homegoings, a special series from Brave Little State that features conversations with musicians of color who live in Vermont.Follow the series here as we release new episodes weekly through June 15.bravelittlestate.org

A conversation with Bobby Hackney Jr. about Black grief, resilience and music. This is the first installment of Homegoings, a special series from Brave Little State that features conversations with musicians of color who live in Vermont. Follow the series here as we release new episodes weekly through June 15.bravelittlestate.org

(Warning: Profanity) Vermont's underfunded pension system has forced an awkward question: If the state makes a promise to its workers, does it have to keep its word? And just how urgent is the problem, anyway?Jon Cherico, of Waterbury asked us to look into Vermont's pension tensions.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it! Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for our free BLS newsletter Make a gift to support people-powered journalism

Normally you hear a mixture of VPR reporters on this show, and that’s not gonna change -- but you’ll also be hearing a lot from our new producers, Myra Flynn and Josh Crane.We journalists like to show, not tell. So today, Myra and Josh are gonna introduce one another to all of you, so you can hear for yourselves how excellent they are, and get excited for what’s to come here on Brave Little State.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it! Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for our free BLS newsletter Make a gift to support people-powered journalism