Best Cocoa Disaster Podcasts (2025)

The yearslong push to put guardrails on when — and how — companies can commodify key aspects of a person’s identity has taken on new urgency in Montpelier. But the tension between strict consumer protections and their potential impact on local businesses continues to thwart compromise over an issue that states are reckoning with nationwide.…

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Vermont has a lot of farmers markets, but site stability is an issue 5:20

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6d ago5:20

5:20

The Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market is the only market in the state that owns its land. But others are raising money to secure their sites.By Howard Weiss-Tisman

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A cap on drug prices at Vt. hospitals will save millions. Hospitals say they can’t afford it 5:00

10d ago5:00

5:00

Vermont hospitals currently have the highest markups for drug prices in the country. Under the new law, drug prices at Vermont hospitals would be the lowest in the country.By Lexi Krupp

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Trump targets heating assistance program that helps millions in Northeast 4:31

13d ago4:31

4:31

The Trump administration want to cut the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Advocates in the Northeast warn the results would be dangerous to residents, if not deadly.By Miriam Wasser

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When one of their own lost his home, this pick-up group turned to soccer 4:43

18d ago4:43

4:43

Players in the White River Valley have been coming together over soccer for decades. But of course, it’s about more than just soccer.By Sabine Poux

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Vermont's community radio stations get state funding for disaster response work 4:38

19d ago4:38

4:38

Lawmakers put $150,000 in the budget for community radio stations. The money will help the stations purchase public safety equipment so they are better equipped to assist in disaster response.By Howard Weiss-Tisman

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Sweet survival: Vermont businesses navigate climate cocoa crisis 4:39

20d ago4:39

4:39

Chocolate is one of Vermont’s top food exports. But cacao doesn’t grow here — and climate change has been disrupting the global supply chain.By Keely Ehnstrom, Community News Service, Kate Newton, Community News Service

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Seniors 13:34

22d ago13:34

13:34

Thirty-seven hours before graduation, Erica Heilman talks with nine high school seniors about their hopes and dreams for the future...and prom. They also talk about prom.By Erica Heilman

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Should I stay or should I go? One recent grad reflects on a future in Vermont 5:14

24d ago5:14

5:14

Most people who go to college in Vermont leave the state after graduation. That's more than any other state.By Lucia McCallum, Community News Service

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Vermont state auction draws deal-hunters from across the Northeast 3:02

24d ago3:02

3:02

Maybe you need an orange plow truck. Or a Mount Philo State Park leaf blower. Or a park ranger’s rowboat that might not float. Everything's a treasure for someone.By April McCullum

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Wild lake trout populations have rebounded in Lake Champlain. But scientists don't know why 5:03

25d ago5:03

5:03

For the first time in decades, scientists are not going to stock Lake Champlain with hatchery lake trout. That's because wild fish are finally spawning and sustaining their populations again.By Abagael Giles

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With a home-cooked banquet, Abenaki citizens taste traditional foods and preserve culture 4:16

26d ago4:16

4:16

The banquet, called Wlipogwat, offered a taste of animals and plants harvested on Abenaki territory. It's part of ongoing efforts by Odanak and Wôlinak First Nations to protect their knowledge, culture and homelands.By Elodie Reed

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Colombia's webcam women 29:11

27d ago29:11

29:11

Colombia’s second largest city, Medellín, is booming and one of the biggest industries revolves around the city’s live webcam studios which stream women performing sex acts.  It’s estimated there are hundreds of studios in the city employing thousands of women and turning over millions of pounds as men – primarily in the US and Europe – pay to watc…

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Former AHS Secretary Mike Smith shares plans for reviewing UVM Health Network costs 5:20

28d ago5:20

5:20

Former Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith was recently asked to lead a review of cost effectiveness of many programs at the University of Vermont Health Network. He told Vermont Public that the network’s administrative costs was one area he planned to look into.By Bob Kinzel

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Vermont musicians Fawn and The Wormdogs share their Tiny Desk Contest videos and songs 8:04

1M ago8:04

8:04

Nearly 40 Vermont musicians submitted their videos to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. Vermont Public chatted with a few about the original songs they chose and their video ideas. (And we asked them to sit at our colleague's tiny — and meticulously decorated — desk and pose for photos).By Mary Williams Engisch, Adiah Gholston

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Vermont musicians Chris Nicotera and Elbi Lewes share their Tiny Desk Contest submissions 7:02

1M ago7:02

7:02

Nearly 40 Vermont musicians submitted their videos to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. Vermont Public chatted with a few about the original songs they chose and their video ideas.By Mary Williams Engisch, Adiah Gholston

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Vermont has paused PCB testing in schools, but cleanup costs keep piling up 4:23

1M ago4:23

4:23

Statewide, Vermont has already invested $37.5 million into PCB testing and remediation, and just a little over $3 million is left. More than half of all schools that fall under the state's mandate haven't even been tested yet.By Lola Duffort

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A training program would bring doctors to rural Vermont, if it gets state funding 4:32

1M ago4:32

4:32

Vermont is heading for a shortage of primary care doctors, especially in rural areas, and the problem starts where doctors do their training. A new residency program aims to change that.By Lexi Krupp

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Vermont musicians Rik Palieri, Judi Emanuel and Bredda Mike share their Tiny Desk Contest entries 8:41

1M ago8:41

8:41

Nearly 40 Vermont musicians submitted their videos to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. Vermont Public chatted with a few about the original songs they chose and their video ideas. (And we asked them to sit at our colleague's tiny — and meticulously decorated — desk and pose for photos.)By Mary Williams Engisch, Adiah Gholston

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Syria - Return to Ruins 29:28

1M ago29:28

29:28

Thirteen million Syrians - half the population - left their homes during their country's 13-year civil war. Seven million were internally displaced. Six million fled abroad. Bringing them home is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Syria's new rulers. But many can’t return, because their homes are in ruins, and jobs and essential services are lack…

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Russia's Church in Texas 29:24

1M ago29:24

29:24

Not that long ago many church-going Americans saw Russia as a godless place, an “evil empire” in the words of Ronald Reagan. But in President Trump’s second term, US-Russia relations have been turned on their head. The White House sided with the Kremlin at the United Nations, voting against a resolution to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This…

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Leaving Israel for Cyprus 28:57

2M ago28:57

28:57

Increasing numbers of Israeli people are moving to the nearby island of Cyprus. Sky high property prices, disillusion with domestic politics and security concerns following the Hamas attacks of 7th October have led several thousand families to leave. They’re building on a rich history of Cypriot hospitality towards Jews. But in Turkish-controlled n…

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#9 Crunchtime: How digitalisation in the food industry can enhance food safety 21:52

2M ago21:52

21:52

Hello, and welcome to the ninth episode of our Crunchtime podcast series. In this episode, we're diving into the digital transformation of the food and beverage industry – and what it really means for food safety. With automation and AI on the rise, the potential to reduce waste, boost efficiency and respond to food safety risks in real time is gre…

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Dicing with democracy? Romania’s cancelled election 33:47

2M ago33:47

33:47

A cancelled election, a cancelled candidate and a divided country – is Romania’s democracy under threat?Last December the country’s Constitutional Court cancelled the presidential election two days before the final vote, citing outside interference, with the nationalist pro-Putin candidate, Calin Georgescu, riding high in the polls. TikTok sensatio…

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Spain - can an algorithm predict murder? 28:36

2M ago28:36

28:36

Early on a Sunday morning in February in the Spanish seaside town of Benalmadena, Catalina, a 48-year-old mother of four, was killed at home – the building was set on fire. Her ex-partner was arrested and remains in custody. In January, Lina – as she was known to her family and friends – had reported her ex-partner to the police for ill-treatment a…

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Unidentified Flying Drones in Denmark 28:55

2M ago28:55

28:55

When mysterious orb-like lights were recorded in the sky above Koge, a small port town in Denmark, the UFO scene took notice. But it wasn't just believers who wanted to know what these unidentified flying objects were. Danish police and the Danish security services describe the objects as large drones - similar to the ones seen on the USA's East Co…

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Lebanon: Hezbollah in trouble 28:34

3M ago28:34

28:34

Hezbollah, the militia and political movement in Lebanon, has been battered by the war with Israel. Its leaders were assassinated, hundreds of fighters killed, and many of its communities now lie in ruins. Until recently a formidable power with the ability to paralyse the country, the group now appears a shadow of its former self. For the first tim…

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#8 Crunchtime podcast: Exploring the impact of the new C-Label and F-Label 25:44

3M ago25:44

25:44

Hello, and welcome to the eighth episode of our Crunchtime podcast series. This time, we're exploring the impact of the C-Label, for cell-cultivated foods, and the F-Label, for foods made with precision fermentation and other advanced biotech fermentation methods, on the food and beverage industry. These new labels have been introduced by V-Label, …

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#7 Crunchtime podcast: Weight loss drugs – A new solution to the obesity crisis or disaster waiting to happen? 38:08

4M ago38:08

38:08

Welcome to the seventh episode of Crunchtime, an interactive podcast series where you choose the topics and we bring the experts. In this episode, we dive into weight loss management, with the spotlight on a key topic: 'Weight loss drugs: A new solution to the obesity crisis or disaster waiting to happen?'.…

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Tackling Listeria – A holistic approach to safety in food processing 12:37

4M ago12:37

12:37

Welcome to this FoodBev Media podcast. Today, we're joined by Fabrizio Tardioli, global marketing director of processed food at Diversey F&B, to discuss a critical issue facing the food processing industry: Listeria contamination.

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The Plant Base's Veganuary Sessions: The state of the industry panel – Part two 28:00

5M ago28:00

28:00

Welcome to The Plant Base's Veganuary Sessions podcast series in celebration of the annual Veganuary movement. Melissa Bradshaw, editor of The Plant Base, hosts this special themed series featuring conversations with special guests from across the plant-based food and beverage industry. We're rounding off the 2025 series with part two of our panel …

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#6 Crunchtime podcast: Creating an inclusive culture in food and beverage companies 18:12

5M ago18:12

18:12

Welcome to the sixth episode of Crunchtime, an interactive podcast series where you choose the topics and we bring the experts. In this episode, we explore gender equality, with the spotlight on a key topic: 'Creating an inclusive culture in food and beverage companies'.

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Reel Revolution? The dramatic rise of Saudiwood 28:33

5M ago28:33

28:33

Saudi Arabia is rolling out the red carpet to filmmakers and foreign companies as it sets out to establish itself as a major player in the entertainment industry. After lifting a 35-year ban on cinemas in 2018, the Kingdom is now luring Hollywood with cash incentives to shoot in the desert, and playing host to a glitzy international film festival. …

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The Plant Base's Veganuary Sessions: The state of the industry panel – Part one 33:10

5M ago33:10

33:10

Welcome to The Plant Base's Veganuary Sessions podcast series in celebration of the annual Veganuary movement. Melissa Bradshaw, editor of The Plant Base, hosts this special themed series featuring conversations with special guests from across the plant-based food and beverage industry. This time, we're joined by a panel of expert guests to discuss…

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Death Marches: uncovering the truth beneath the soil 31:03

5M ago31:03

31:03

How a town in Poland – once in Germany - is discovering its troubling past. 80 years ago Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi extermination camp. Over 1.1 million people, mainly Jews, were murdered there. However, there is an aspect of those terrible days which is less well known and which 80 years later is still being uncov…

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The Gambia: When migrants are forced to go home 28:51

5M ago28:51

28:51

Each year young people from the tiny West African nation of The Gambia try to reach Europe through “The Backway” - a costly, perilous journey over land and sea. Many do not make it. In recent years, the EU has done deals with several North African nations to clamp down on irregular migration. Though human rights groups say the treatment of migrants…

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The Plant Base’s Veganuary Sessions: Exclusive Q&A with Mark Cuddigan, CEO of This 20:45

5M ago20:45

20:45

Welcome to The Plant Base's Veganuary Sessions podcast series, returning for January 2025 in celebration of the annual Veganuary movement. Melissa Bradshaw, editor of The Plant Base, hosts this special themed series featuring conversations with special guests from across the plant-based food and beverage industry. In our first episode of the year, …

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South Korea: The Feminist Hunters 30:43

5M ago30:43

30:43

Why feminism has become a dirty word in South Korea. Being a feminist is now something that can only be admitted in private, thanks to a fierce backlash against feminism. Anti-feminists accuse South Korean women who advocate for equality as being man-haters, worthy of punishment. Online witch-hunts - spearheaded by young male gamers - target women …

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The human cost of developing Cambodia's Angkor wonder 28:14

6M ago28:14

28:14

Tourists are flooding to Cambodia's "8th wonder of the world", the ancient temple complex at Angkor. But the rapid expansion of the site comes at a terrible cost, as tens of thousands of people are ousted. The authorities call some "illegal squatters" and claim others volunteered to leave. But human rights groups say the evictions are forced, illeg…

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Poland's Ghosts, Ukraine's Heroes 31:40

6M ago31:40

31:40

Ukraine and Poland are neighbours and close allies in today’s conflict with Russia. But the ghosts of victims of an earlier war have returned to divide them. Tens of thousands of Poles were murdered by Ukrainians in Volhynia, in what's now western Ukraine, in 1943. Most of the victims still lie in unmarked graves, and Ukraine has only just lifted a…

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Argentina - Milei's Chainsaw 28:38

6M ago28:38

28:38

It has been a year since chainsaw-wielding Javier Milei won the Presidency in Argentina. During his campaign, his chainsaw became a symbol of how quickly and drastically he wanted to cut the Argentine state. And he has slashed government budgets and sliced subsidies on power, food and transport. He stopped printing money to try and halt inflation w…

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Mining the Pacific – future proofing or fool’s gold? 28:27

6M ago28:27

28:27

Climate change is intensifying, sea levels are rising and the very existence of low-lying Pacific Islands is under threat. The Cook Islands, though, has a plan to assure their peoples’ future. Enter deep sea mining, harvesting metallic nodules on the bottom of the sea floor for use in things like electric car batteries and mobile phones. Its suppor…

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Stepping into the future of protein with Steakholder Foods 5:20

6M ago5:20

5:20

In this latest podcast with FoodBev’s Jake Targett, Arik Kaufman, CEO & co-founder of Steakholder Foods, explore the cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of food production. Steakholder Foods is making waves with their industrial-scale 3D-printing technology, designed to meet the evolving needs of food manufacturers and set a new standard i…

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France: trouble on the vine 32:26

7M ago32:26

32:26

Low harvests, economic and climate batterings, changing tastes - is French wine in crisis? The French wine harvest has dropped 18% in one year. For some famous French wine-making regions the reduction has been much more. A combination of factors, including climate, finances and changing drinking habits has brought some wine-makers to the brink. Tho…

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Our whole life is a secret 28:30

7M ago28:30

28:30

The Taliban edict that women's voices should not be heard aloud renders women up and down Afghanistan inaudible as well as invisible in public. Women are already denied most forms of education and employment. They are not allowed to go outside without a male guardian, and have to be completely covered up, including their faces. Now the new rules sa…

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#5 Crunchtime podcast: Sustainable sourcing within the cocoa supply chain 18:56

7M ago18:56

18:56

Welcome to the fifth episode of Crunchtime, an interactive podcast series where you choose the topics and we bring the experts. In this episode, we explore cocoa, with the spotlight on a key topic: 'Sustainable sourcing within the cocoa supply chain'.

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The good shift – Redefining health in food and beverage manufacturing 14:46

8M ago14:46

14:46

Consumer awareness of health and wellbeing has soared in recent years. In this podcast with FoodBev's Siân Yates – DSM-Firmenich’s global head of health benefits and solutions – Martin Mei, explores why its no longer just about removing the ‘bad’ but also about adding the ‘good’ to what we eat and drink. Martin discusses DSM-Firmenich’s role in add…

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#4 Crunchtime podcast: Building consumer trust through food allergen labelling and information 36:19

8M ago36:19

36:19

Welcome to the fourth episode of Crunchtime, an interactive podcast series where you choose the topics and we bring the experts. In this episode, we dive into food allergies, with the spotlight on a key topic: 'Building consumer trust through food allergen labelling and information'.