Brave Little State

In recent years, Winooski, Montpelier and Burlington made it possible for all legal residents to vote — including asylum seekers, refugees and green card holders like our winning question-asker, Charlotte Blend. Charlotte has been excited to vote on local issues and she’s curious about the impact of the rule changes in the towns where it’s now legal. Reporter Mikaela Lefrak talks to new Vermont voters — and a lot of city clerks — about how the at-times controversial changes in local election policy have affected three Vermont cities, from their councils and school boards to their residents. Find the web version of this story here.This episode was reported by Mikaela Lefrak and produced by Sabine Poux. Editing and additional production from the rest of the Brave Little State team: Josh Crane and Burgess Brown. Digital support from Sophie Stephens. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive producer. Theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Martin Austermuhle, Elaine Wang, Liz Edsell, Tracy Dolan and Anna Tadio.As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

We met Sweeney Grabin at a Brave Little State mixer last year, right after she moved to South Burlington with her husband and her baby, Maya. She wants to know how other parents with biracial kids are maintaining their heritage in one of the country’s whitest states.Myra Flynn turns to old friends and her own experiences to answer Sweeney’s question.You can find a full transcript of this episode here. Also, check out Myra’s show, Homegoings, for more deep dives into race and identity.Myra Flynn reported this episode. The Brave Little State team is Josh Crane and Sabine Poux, with additional support from Sophie Stephens. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive Producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions, Jay Green and Myra Flynn.Special thanks to Corey Dockser, Marlon Hyde and Erin Baker. Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

Who gets to decide who is Abenaki? Vermont’s four state-recognized tribes — and the state recognition law — have different definitions and criteria for what it means to be Indigenous than many Indigenous Nations. In this episode, we look at this disconnect, and lay out what’s at stake, including power, money and authority. This is Chapter Three of “Recognized,” a special series from Brave Little State. Chapters One and Two are available right now in this podcast feed. Find a transcript of the series here.And to learn more about our approach to this story, you can read our editor's note, here.***“Recognized” was reported by Elodie Reed. Sabine Poux is our producer. The senior producer and managing editor is Josh Crane. Additional editing from our executive producer, Angela Evancie, as well as Tristan Ahtone, Brittany Patterson, Myra Flynn and Julia Furukawa. Julia Furukawa, Corey Dockser and David Savoie contributed reporting to this episode. Extra support from Mark Davis and Sophie Stephens. Theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.There are lots of other people who contributed to this series along the way — too many to name everyone here. You can find a full list on our website..As always, our show is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

After the original group of self-proclaimed Vermont Abenaki failed to gain federal recognition, Vermont lawmakers created a state recognition process of their own. One theory in particular informed the state’s consideration: that Abenaki peoples hid in Vermont to avoid persecution, including statewide eugenics policies. In this episode, we look at recent evidence, as well as older reports, that cast doubt on this narrative.This is Chapter Two of “Recognized,” a special series from Brave Little State. Chapters One and Three are available right now in this podcast feed. Find a transcript of the series here. And to learn more about our approach to this story, you can read our editor's note, here.***“Recognized” was reported by Elodie Reed. Sabine Poux is our producer. The senior producer and managing editor is Josh Crane. Additional editing from our executive producer, Angela Evancie, as well as Tristan Ahtone, Brittany Patterson, Myra Flynn and Julia Furukawa. Julia also contributed reporting to this episode. Extra support from Mark Davis and Sophie Stephens. Theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.There are lots of other people who contributed to this series along the way — too many to name everyone here. You can find a full list on our website..As always, our show is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.P.S. A previous version of this story described Gordon Day as a historian. We have updated the audio to describe him as an anthropologist.Also, this story has been updated to note that only the Vermont Senate instituted a state residency requirement for testimony on state recognition legislation in 2011 and 2012. The Vermont House does not appear to have made a similar requirement.

Two Abenaki First Nations in Canada contest the legitimacy of the four groups recognized by the state of Vermont as Abenaki tribes. This is a dispute that goes back at least two decades, and has gained more prominence in recent years. In this episode, we trace Abenaki history up to 2003, when Odanak First Nation first denounced Vermont groups claiming to be Abenaki.This is Chapter One of “Recognized,” a special series from Brave Little State. Chapters Two and Three are available right now in this podcast feed. Find a transcript of the series here. And to learn more about our approach to this story, you can read our editor's note, here.***“Recognized” was reported by Elodie Reed. Sabine Poux is our producer. The senior producer and managing editor is Josh Crane. Additional editing from our executive producer, Angela Evancie, as well as Tristan Ahtone, Brittany Patterson, Myra Flynn and Julia Furukawa. Julia Furukawa and David Savoie contributed reporting to this episode. Extra support from Mark Davis and Sophie Stephens. Theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.There are lots of other people who contributed to this series along the way — too many to name everyone here. You can find a full list on our website..As always, our show is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.P.S. A previous version of this story described Gordon Day as a historian. We have updated the audio to describe him as an anthropologist.

The smash hit Netflix series Wednesday takes place in Jericho … and was filmed in Romania. Megan Matthers of Sutton wants to know — why? Mae Nagusky learns about the barriers keeping Hollywood from setting up shop here, and why things used to be different.Check out the web version of this story here. This episode was reported and produced by Mae Nagusky. Editing and additional production from Josh Crane, Sabine Poux, Angela Evancie and Myra Flynn. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. Our executive producer is Angela Evancie.Special thanks to Eric Ford, Tim Kavanaugh, Cemi Guzman, Sarah Witters, Myles Jewell and Hyon Joo Yoo. Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

Wesley Davis grew up in the woods of Mount Holly. But there was always one place where he could get high above the trees: the fire tower on top of nearby Ludlow Mountain, at Okemo. He’s been curious to learn more about the history of these remote towers scattered across Vermont peaks ever since.Reporter Sabine Poux searches for answers in the early 1900s, when timberland owners and railroads ruled the Vermont landscape. And, she arrives at the doorstep of a couple that found a lifetime of artistic inspiration as fire tower lookouts in southern Vermont.We compiled a map of Vermont fire towers past and present. Find it here.Sabine Poux reported this episode, and did the mix and sound design. Josh Crane produced and edited it. Additional support from Sophie Stephens, Corey Dockser and Joey Palumbo. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s Executive Producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Mark Haughwout, Ron Kemnow, Peter Hayes, Alan Thompson, Keegan Tierney, Prudence Doherty, Juls Sundberg and Liam Elder-Connors. And thanks to Danielle Kovacs and the Robert S. Cox Special Collections and University Archives Research Center at the University of Massachusetts for UMass Amherst Libraries for finding the copy of Visitors, Hugh Joudry’s radio play. Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

During the pandemic, Daniel Luttrel heard a lot about how Vermont was renting rooms at hotels and motels to shelter people. And he heard that the state was using a lot of money to do it. So, he asked: “Can’t we just buy them?”Reporter Liam Elder-Connors digs into Vermont’s motel housing program, and learns that Daniel’s question has been asked by everyone from housing advocates to those in charge of the motel program itself. He also meets current and former motel residents to get a better sense of the impact this program has had on one of Vermont’s most vulnerable populations.Find the web version of this story here.Liam Elder-Connors reported this episode, and it was produced by Josh Crane and Sabine Poux. Additional support from Sophie Stephens. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State’s executive producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every summer, we delve into the history behind unusual road names around the state — as voted on by you. This year’s show took us to Tigertown Road in Norwich, Hateful Hill Road in Wallingford and Gerts Knob Road in Underhill.Thanks to this year’s question-askers: Claudia Marieb, Sarah Aubry and Judy Raineault.You can find photos from our reporting at the web version of this episode. Check out our previous brief histories of Vermont road names: 2018: States Prison Hollow Road, Poor Farm Road, Lime Kiln Road, Kelley Stand Road 2019: Mad Tom River Road, Hi-Lo Biddy Road, Star Pudding Farm Road, Sawnee Bean Road 2020: Devil’s Washbowl, Popple Dungeon Road, Lost Nation Road, Smuggler’s Notch 2021: Cow Path 40, Agony Hill Road, Texas Falls 2022: Iranistan Road, a Jericho grab bag and punny highway signs This episode was reported, produced, edited and mixed by Josh Crane, Andrea Laurion, Mae Nagusky, Joia Putnoi and Sabine Poux. Angela Evancie is our executive producer. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

Instead of taking on one of your questions about Vermont, we’re taking on three — in a kind of local history lightning round. We explore those crooked windows you see on Vermont farmhouses, Vermont’s defunct gold mines and the history of Burlington’s Church Street.This episode was originally released in 2017.To see photos from our reporting, check out the web version of the episode here.This episode was originally produced, mixed and edited by Angela Evancie, who’s now our executive producer, with help from Lynne McCrea. Theme music by Ty Gibbons. Other music in this episode was by David Szesztay, Podington Bear, Jockers Dance Orchestra and Avon Comedy Four. We had engineering support from Chris Albertine, and Josh Crane remixed today’s encore.As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Vote on the question you want us to tackle next Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880 Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.