Vermont Viewpoint

Brad Ferland hold a tribute to Jon Gailmor, renowned Vermont musician, died peacefully on November 30, 2025 after a year and a half long battle with Leukemia. He died with his family surrounding him, at his son’s home, with his music playing and his family singing along. Featuring Jack Donovan in the studio, Patti Casey, Elisabeth Von Trapp and Taryn Noelle. Also, Elliott Greenblott with AARP Frau...

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 12/05/2025.

In this special two-hour episode, we bring you two powerful voices shaping Vermont’s future. Bill McKibben, renowned environmentalist and author of Here Comes the Sun, shares why renewable energy offers not just a climate solution but a chance to build a fairer, more democratic society. Grace Oedel, Executive Director of NOFA-VT and community leader, joins us to discuss building resilient communit...

Ross starts with Drew Cline, President of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, discusses their new “Civil Discourse Series” and how more free speech is the answer to partisanship. then, Jon Dipietro, Founder of Liberty Digital, informs listeners about the constantly changing environment for Artificial Intelligence, potential benefits, threats, and the best way to use the tools John Goodni...

Rob and Kurt discuss the 'December 1 Letter' that predicts a 12 percent increase in the property tax for the upcoming year, political races in the City of Burlington and the State of Vermont, and prospects for the 2026 New York Yankees, among other topics, with plenty of listener phone calls.

Host Brad Ferland talks first with Dr. Douglass Teschner about his new Book, Beyond the Politics of contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times, a hopeful roadmap for Americans trying to make sense of this dark moment and striving to find a better way; Then Lindsay Deslaurier, owner of the family-owned Bolton Valley Ski Resort, on an early start to the season, and wh...

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/25/25.

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/24/25. Brad Ferland talks with Ginny Sweetzer with Wreaths Across America, a national 501(c)(3) whose mission is to have every veteran’s grave covered with a wreath, still has 2,718 wreaths that need to be sponsored in Vermont Wreaths Across America, a national 501(c)(3) whose mission is to have every veteran’s grave covered with a wreath, still h...

Dr. Marvin Malek diagnoses Vermont’s healthcare headaches and offers ideas for reform. Then, Vermont Democratic Party leaders Lachlan Francis and May Hanlon share their vision for the party’s future—grassroots engagement, infrastructure building, and a roadmap for 2026 and beyond. This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/20/2025.

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/19/2025.

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/18/2025.

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/17/2025.

David speaks with Jared Duval, Executive Director of the Energy Action Network, at 9 AM about Vermont’s 2025 Energy Progress Report and the state’s efforts on affordability and emissions. Then at 10 AM, David talks with Margaret MacLean, veteran educator and former Vermont Principal of the Year, about Governor Scott’s school district consolidation plan and Act 73, and their impact on Vermont’s edu...

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/12/2025.

Brad opens with Taryn Noelle, talented singer and actress, on some upcoming performances in our listening area. Duncan McDougall from Waterbury Local Energy Action Partnership, talks about the Button Up Weatherization & Home Heating Workshop this Friday in the Waterbury Municipal Building. Matt Cota joins from Meadow Consulting to update on Energy and Housing issues at the Vermont State House....

 Chuck Collins joins to discuss his new book on wealth and power, Burned by Billionaires. Then, John Sayles of the Vermont Foodbank breaks down how the government shutdown is impacting hunger in Vermont—and what we can do about it. This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/06/25.

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 11/05/2025.

Rob talks first with Orleans/Essex County Senator Russ Ingalls about his effort to be the next Executive Director of the Vermont Republican Party, and Alison Despathy, citizen advocate, on the Effects of the state's recently passed School District Redistricting Law on School Choice in Vermont.

Brad starts with a few stories from the sheep farm this weekend, then Jody Emerson the Director of the Central Vermont Career Center and Superintendent of the Central Vermont Career Center School District, on Tuesday's Bond Vote for construction of an expanded Career Center in Barre. Elliott Greenblott joins for our monthly AARP Fraudwatch segment, helping listeners stay aware of the latest financ...

Representatives Gina Galfetti (R-Barre) and Will Greer (D-Bennington) joined David Zuckerman to discuss their proposal for an ethics bill and a new system for disclosing legislators' travel. Then, Tor Stumo will be with David to share his experience on a humanitarian flotilla that brought aid to Gaza. The mission, which included activists such as Greta Thunberg, was stopped by the Israeli Navy. Li...

Rob opens with Retta Dunlap, with the Vermont Home Education Network, on homeschooling and school choice; Then Matt Cota, with Meadow Consulting, on the government shutdown impact on LIHEAP and SNAP benefits, and the update to the Climate Action Plan; And Jodi Emerson, on the upcoming vote on the Barre Technical Center.

Brad talks first with Vermont Guard General Hank Harder with an update on the Air Guard, deployments, recruitment, and their mission. Then Governor Phil Scott talks with Brad and callers about several important Vermont issues, including State Rights vs. Federal Mandates, Education reform, and Wheels for Warmth. And Paul Dame, Chairman of the Vermont Republican Party, with some Commentary about civ...

This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 10/23/2025.

Ross welcomes in Paul Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, on rising energy costs in Massachusetts. Joel Valenzuela, Business Development and marketing for Dashpay, on the Amazon Web Services Outage Harris Van Pate, Policy Analyst at the Maine Policy Institute, on the Maine Senate race and Governor Janet Mills aiming to challenge Senator Susan Collins, and Ashley Klinge...

Rob welcomes in Phani Mantravati, a recently naturalized U.S. Citizen who created a voter roll database in Michigan, on voter integrity. and Dave Soulia, of FYIVT.com, on money and politics in Vermont.