Best Vermont Public Radio Podcasts (2025)

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Wabanaki Windows 7/22/25: Korean & WWII History and Veterans 58:00

Play Pause

20h ago58:00

58:00

Producer/Host: Donna Loring Other credits: Technical assistance for the show was provided by Joel Mann of WERU, and Jessica Lockhart. Music by Ralph Richter, a track called little eagles from his CD Dream Walk. Wabanaki Windows is a monthly show featuring topics of interest from a Wabanaki perspective. This month: The historic background of Korean …

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The jam band explosion of the 90s and beyond 49:44

22h ago49:44

49:44

Love 'em or hate 'em, jam bands have infiltrated our culture and forever changed the music industry. There’s the Grateful Dead and Phish, but also Widespread Panic, The String Cheese Incident, and The Dave Matthews Band. Author Mike Ayers joins Mikaela to talk about his new oral history which chronicles the rise of the jam band genre in the 1990s, …

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7/22/25: AOC in the North Country 9:49

1d ago9:49

9:49

(Jul 22, 2025) Big Democratic Party star power came to Plattsburgh over the weekend. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came to Republican Elise Stefanik's district to speak out against President Donald Trump's massive policy bill as a time when Stefanik is considering a run for Governor. Also: Three Democrats are lining up to challenge Republi…

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Neonics ban goes into effect 49:50

2d ago49:50

49:50

Last year, Vermont became just the second state in the nation to ban a type of pesticides called neonicotinoids. Now, that ban is going into effect. Many farmers use these treated seeds to keep pests away, but pollutes water and hurts fragile pollinator populations, like honey bees. The Vermont state government is in charge of enforcing this ban. I…

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Farm-to-table is the mission at Blank Page Cafe 2:58

2d ago2:58

2:58

“Operating a small business is like riding a roller coaster,” says Mike Proia, who owns the cafe at Bread & Butter Farm in Shelburne.By Jackie Spinnell, Community News Service

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7/21/25: The Adirondack loon lady 9:39

2d ago9:39

9:39

(Jul 21, 2025) Nina Schoch has banded hundreds of loons in the Adirondacks to track their health as their population has rebounded. We talk with the founder of the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation about the state of loons as she steps away from the organization. Also: School districts across New York have less than two weeks to figure out ho…

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Armand's garden 15:30

3d ago15:30

15:30

A conversation with Armand Patoine about gardening, and what God has to do with it — which, it turns out, is everything.By Erica Heilman

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Grow freckled, statuesque lilies — so long as you avoid this pesky beetle 5:04

3d ago5:04

5:04

Tiger, trumpet and Martagon lilies grow tall and add movement and color to late summer gardens, so long as you can keep the red lily leaf beetle at bay.By Charlie Nardozzi, Mary Williams Engisch

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07/18/25: Lewis County angler catches state record-breaking brook trout 9:38

5d ago9:38

9:38

(Jul 18, 2025) NOTE: This is Friday's episode, which didn't feed due to a technical error. We apologize for the delay! A conversation with the Lewis County angler who caught a record-breaking brook trout in the Adirondacks earlier this month. Also: the U.S. Army plans to shut down the ROTC unit at Clarkson University, ending a decades-old program t…

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Making movies in Vermont 50:17

6d ago50:17

50:17

To make a feature film, you don’t have to move to Hollywood. It might take a little more resourcefulness, but you can do it right here in our region. Three local film professionals join Vermont Edition to talk about their latest projects: Chad Ervin, president of the Vermont Production Collective and director of the documentary Gone Guys; Emma Schl…

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07/17/25: Here's what withheld federal education funding looks like in the North Country 9:37

6d ago9:37

9:37

(Jul 17, 2025) Less than two months before the upcoming school year, schools across the nation—and here in the North Country—find themselves in a tough spot as the Trump administration withholds billions in federal education funding. Also: Earlier this week, a panel of judges declined to make President Donald Trump's pick for U.S. attorney for the …

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Alternative approaches to education, from pre-k to college 49:45

7d ago49:45

49:45

Many longtime educators understand that the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to teaching is not always effective. There are different types of learners with unique needs. Landmark College in Putney is designed for students who learn differently, like those with dyslexia, autism, or ADHD. The college marks its 40th anniversary this fall, and i…

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Thousands of Vermonters will see federal food benefits eliminated or reduced 3:32

7d ago3:32

3:32

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, supplies the vast majority of food aid in Vermont, where about 65,000 residents received $155 million in benefits last year.By Peter Hirschfeld

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7/16/25: A teenage volunteer extraordinaire in Lake Placid 9:57

7d ago9:57

9:57

(Jul 16, 2025) Volunteerism is down across American society. But there are still exceptional individuals who make big differences in their communities. For our series on volunteerism in the North Country, we profile a 17 year-old who seems to be involved in everything in Lake Placid. Also: The top Democrat in the New York State Senate joined other …

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UVM Health Network CEO Sunil "Sunny" Eappen 49:41

8d ago49:41

49:41

Sunil "Sunny" Eappen is the president and CEO of the University of Vermont Health Network. It’s the largest hospital system in Vermont where health insurance premiums are among the highest in the country. We talk with Dr. Eappen about why that is, and the role hospitals play in setting health care costs. He also discusses how he’s thinking about th…

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Migrant workers in Vermont navigate fear, uncertainty amid deportation crackdown 8:39

8d ago8:39

8:39

A mobile Mexican consulate set up in Montpelier to help nationals obtain passports, birth certificates and other official documents. An undocumented farmworker living in Vermont who drove his coworkers to the event discussed the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and his own journey to the U.S.…

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Older adults are more likely to be hospitalized. Go-bags can make those visits easier 4:30

8d ago4:30

4:30

Nearly a quarter of U.S. emergency department visits among people 60 and older resulted in a hospital stay. The rate goes up the older you get. That's why health experts recommend seniors pack an emergency go-bag to make surprise hospital visits better.By Nina Keck

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7/15/25: A cross-border confab to save US-Canada relations 9:25

8d ago9:25

9:25

(Jul 15, 2025) Longstanding ties between North Country and Canadian communities have come under strain during the second Trump administration. A group of Americans and Canadians recently came together to talk about their role in preserving the relationship. Also: A mudslide has closed the popular Adirondack trail to Avalanche Lake.…

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How Trump's travel ban affects Vermonters 49:47

9d ago49:47

49:47

President Trump’s new travel ban is in effect. For a month now, people from 12 countries have been barred from entering the U.S., including Afghanistan, Burma and Eritrea. Seven other countries are partially banned, and the President has floated the idea of banning several more. We’ll hear how the travel ban affects refugees, green card holders, in…

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After two decades of ‘magic,’ Waterbury toy store prepares to close 4:16

9d ago4:16

4:16

Sally and Bob Dain have owned and run the Tiny Acorn for two decades. At the end of this summer, they plan to retire. The store will close on August 15.By Devan Pierce, Community News Service

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7/14/25: The Lazy River Playground makes a comeback 9:41

9d ago9:41

9:41

(Jul 14, 2025) The Lazy River Playground in St. Lawrence County has been delighting children and adults for more than 80 years. We pay a visit as a new generation of owners is working to bring fresh life to the roller rink, mini-golf, and river shoreline. Also: People with disabilities are worried about the trickle down effects of Medicaid cuts on …

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Mark Utter's beautiful mind 14:56

10d ago14:56

14:56

Mark Utter could not communicate with words until he was 30. Then he had a whole lot to say.By Erica Heilman

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Plant these vegetables now and enjoy a late fall harvest 5:03

10d ago5:03

5:03

Bush beans, lettuce, kale and radishes can be planted now and you'll be harvesting them in late fall.By Charlie Nardozzi, Mary Williams Engisch

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Flooded again, Sutton residents return to damaged homes 3:50

12d ago3:50

3:50

Roughly 20 homes in Sutton remained cut off from road access as of Friday, according to Kyle Seymour, the town fire chief.By Peter Hirschfeld

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When the next disaster hits, Vermont doesn't know what version of FEMA will show up 4:46

12d ago4:46

4:46

The Trump administration wants states to assume a bigger role in disaster response and recovery. The ambiguity over what that looks like has complicated the task of state officials trying to gird for the next catastrophe.By Peter Hirschfeld

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7/11/25: Nuclear in the North Country? 10:00

12d ago10:00

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(Jul 11, 2025) Gov. Hochul announced New York plans to build a new nuclear power plant to fill the need for electricity that doesn't contribute to climate change. Leaders around the North Country are talking about building it here to provide new jobs. Also: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says Republicans will "probably" eliminate a billion dollars in f…

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Is it time for a new Vermont state flag? 18:58

13d ago18:58

18:58

Close your eyes and try to picture the Vermont flag… If you’re drawing a blank — you're not alone. Our flag defies almost all the flag design rules set out by the North American Vexillological Association. That’s part of the reason why Brian Sewell, of Burlington, thinks Vermont should consider an upgrade. He asked: “Other states are undergoing red…

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The art of the local jingle 49:53

13d ago49:53

49:53

A good jingle is short, catchy and teaches you a business name or phone number that you can't get out of your head — maybe even for years. This hour we celebrate the art of the local jingle. We from some jingle writers who have written some legendary earworms. Jim Giberty is based in Bethel and wrote ads for local ski areas, as well as some broader…

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Vermont towns try to move, or fortify, their flood-prone buildings 5:18

13d ago5:18

5:18

After two years of catastrophic floods, towns are still figuring out how to protect their infrastructure.By Howard Weiss-Tisman

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7/10/25: Canada looks beyond its closest neighbor 10:01

13d ago10:01

10:01

(Jul 10, 2025) Canadian leaders are meeting this week to try and strengthen the country's economy amid steep US tariffs and threats of more to come. A Canadian economist says the country is being forced to look beyond its historic relationship with the U.S. Also: Homeowners in Tupper Lake can now get help eradicating Japanese knotweed from their pr…

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Scientists try to restore American chestnut trees to the northeast 49:50

14d ago49:50

49:50

Scientists try to restore American chestnut trees to the northeastBy Vermont Public

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Springfield rejects methadone clinic permit, as state looks to expand services to 3 communities 4:19

14d ago4:19

4:19

The Springfied Development Review Board denied a permit application from Acadia Healthcare to open a methadone clinic in a building downtown that houses family medical practices.By Howard Weiss-Tisman

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After 2 devastating floods, a Plainfield couple contemplates the future 6:49

14d ago6:49

6:49

On the anniversary of a second devastating flood, one Plainfield couple considers whether to stay — or go for good.By Erica Heilman

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7/9/25: Here's how Medicaid cuts will affect the North Country 10:02

14d ago10:02

10:02

(Jul 9, 2025) Local healthcare groups and officials say that Medicaid cuts included in President Trump's spending bill will devastate the North Country’s health care system. Reporter Amy Feiereisel breaks down how Medicaid works, what is getting cut, and how it will impact our region. Also: Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on Republicans to block a…

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Maine Currents 7/8/25: “In the Shadow of the Eagle” at the Abbe Museum 58:26

15d ago58:26

58:26

Producer/Host: Amy Browne A new exhibition at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor is named for Donna Loring’s 2008 book, “In the Shadow of the Eagle: A Tribal Representative in Maine”, and curated by Donna (who also hosts Wabanaki Windows here on WERU) and her regular contributor Professor Darren Ranco, among others. A group of folks involved with the ex…

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Vermont marks the anniversary of the 2023 and 2024 summer floods 49:50

15d ago49:50

49:50

Vermont marks the anniversary of the 2023 and 2024 summer floodsBy Vermont Public

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Vermont's attorney general sees shifts ahead in legal battle against Trump orders 4:02

15d ago4:02

4:02

Charity Clark said she thinks her Republican counterparts in other states will eventually join the fight in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.By Bob Kinzel

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7/8/25: The return of the No Octane Regatta 10:01

15d ago10:01

10:01

(Jul 8, 2025) After a 20-year hiatus, a special day of wooden boat races returned to Blue Mountain Lake this summer. We paddle along for the No Octane Regatta, now hosted at the new home of the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts. Also: A new bill could finally turn EMS into an essential service in New York.…

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Improving the Vermont legislature's ethics enforcement 49:54

16d ago49:54

49:54

State Senators Seth Bongartz (D-Bennington) and Scott Beck (R-Caledonia) are the subject of an ethics complaint that alleges their ties to independent schools influenced their work on Vermont's big education reform bill. Vermont Public reporter Lola Duffort has been closely following the education reform process and this ethics complaint. We also e…

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Susan Ritz on the complexities of having more than most 7:11

16d ago7:11

7:11

"What class are you?" is a periodic series that explores everyday lives inside the American class system. In this episode, Susan Ritz talks about the complexities of having more resources than most.By Erica Heilman

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7/7/25: Pickleball brings us all together 9:29

16d ago9:29

9:29

(Jul 7, 2025) While civic groups and adult sports leagues have been disappearing from North Country society, pickleball leagues have exploded in popularity. We go courtside to a pickleball tournament in Potsdam which raises money for local charities. Also: The historic ferry business from Cape Vincent to Wolfe Island is now for sale.…

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The Neighborhood 10:12

17d ago10:12

10:12

A postcard from childhood, a place we remember but can’t visit anymore.By Erica Heilman

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Safely remove wild parsnip and avoid getting burned by its sap 5:22

17d ago5:22

5:22

Wild parsnip is flowering in many parts of Vermont, and now is the time to control it. The sap can cause burns on your skin, though, so learning how to safely remove it is essential.By Charlie Nardozzi, Mary Williams Engisch

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7/3/25: The Hanmer guideboat race in Saranac Lake 9:33

20d ago9:33

9:33

(Jul 3, 2025) It's prime canoe and kayaking season, when there are races most weekends somewhere in the North Country. We join the Willard Hanmer paddling race, which is set to return to Saranac Lake this Sunday. Also: Health care professionals protested in Plattsburgh yesterday, saying Republicans' tax and spending bill will devastate the North Co…

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7/2/25: Teaching the next generation of anglers 9:38

20d ago9:38

9:38

(Jul 3, 2025) NOTE: This is yesterday's show. Our website and podcast system was down yesterday. Sorry for the inconvenience. � David With so much water, the North Country is a prime place to fish. In Chazy in Clinton County, the rod and gun club brings local middle schoolers to train the next generation of anglers. Also: Hospital groups around the…

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Vermont’s new climate plan enters a challenging political landscape 3:53

21d ago3:53

3:53

Vermont passed up most of the major recommendations in the last Climate Action Plan, from 2021. What’s different this time around?By Abagael Giles

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The snack bars of Vermont 49:53

21d ago49:53

49:53

Who wants to turn on the stove and cook dinner this time of year when you could stop by a local snack bar instead? Eating out at these seasonal restaurants is a beloved summer tradition in our region. Seven Days food writer and editor Melissa Pasanen shares some of her favorite snack menu items, like the smash burgers from Gondola's Snack Bar in Mo…

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Defense attorney Dan Sedon on the American class system 7:10

21d ago7:10

7:10

Dan Sedon has been working as a criminal defense attorney in Vermont, where he works with poor people and rich people and all the people in between. In this latest episode of What Class are You?, reporter Erica Heilman talks with Dan about what this line of work has taught him about the American class system.…

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'We need a prayer': As executive order ends, hundreds of Vermonters exit motels 3:46

22d ago3:46

3:46

Over 800 people — including nearly 300 children — were slated to exit the program on Tuesday, as an executive order that extended their stays expired, according to data provided by the Department for Children and Families.By Carly Berlin

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Why Erica Heilman asks "What Class Are You?" 48:48

22d ago48:48

48:48

Of all the touchy topics there are to talk about, class might be the thorniest of all. Today on Vermont Edition: Vermont Public's Erica Heilman tells us about her ongoing series examining economic differences in Vermont. New stories in her series What Class Are You drop this week. Then: we bring you a recent episode of the podcast Brave Little Stat…