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Brave Little State

Vermont Public
Vermont
Climate Change
Vermont Public
Community Engagement
Richmond Park and Ride Lot
United States Postal Service
Bennington Triangle
Labor Day
Housing Crisis
Vermont Flooding
Logging
Vermont Lake Monsters
Vermont Wave
Carbon
Beavers
Natural Disasters
Happiness
Community Support
River Management
Upper Valley

What if you could decide what stories Vermont Public should be covering, before they're even assigned? That's the idea behind Brave Little State.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes220Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Brave Little State

Latest Episodes

Today, instead of chasing down leads and crisscrossing the state to satisfy your curiosity about one Vermont story or another, we’re going to indulge your curiosity about the show itself. 

A few months ago, the BLS team welcomed friends and fans to ... more

YouTube

Bethel, Vermont is home to a rare geological treasure: a brilliant granite that’s often described as the whitest in the world. The stone has been quarried there for generations and sent as far as Paris and Abu Dhabi. Two local residents want to know:... more

YouTube

Last year, a listener question inspired us to spend 12 whole hours at a park-and-ride lot in Richmond. This year, we posted up at another Vermont mainstay – a popular ice cream shop near the beaches of Lake Champlain, in Colchester. 

The Village Sco... more

YouTube

You might have heard that the U.S. turns 250 this year. It’s a big, corporate to-do — the phrase “America 250” is plastered all over baseball hats and bags of potato chips. 

But what do Americans really make of this anniversary? The historian Jill L... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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RadiolabWNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Heather Chanin
Park and ride muse, question asker who inspired this episode
South Burlington, Vermont
Episode: Behind the mic
Dave Westerman
Geology professor
Norwich University
Episode: What’s the story behind Bethel’s famous white granite?
Dave Gomo
Longtime Bethel Quarry worker
Rock of Ages
Episode: What’s the story behind Bethel’s famous white granite?
Jill Lepore
Renowned historian, author, Vermonter
Harvard University (historian)
Episode: The Birthday Party: America at 250
Devon Kurtz
Original question asker
Salt Lake City, Utah (former Vermont resident)
Episode: Why does Vermont send people to an out-of-state prison?
Dorit Boomsma
Professor of twin genetics
Riju University, Amsterdam
Episode: Why are there so many twins in Sheldon?
Kevin Donohue
Question asker from Bradford, Vermont
Public citizen
Episode: A day with Bradford’s bottle-sorting wiz
Teera Paye
Sweet T, Bottle Redemption Center manager
Valley Redemption, Bradford, Vermont
Episode: A day with Bradford’s bottle-sorting wiz
Jacob Trombley
Owner of multiple redemption centers
Valley Redemption and others
Episode: A day with Bradford’s bottle-sorting wiz

Hosts

Burgess Brown
Host of Brave Little State (co-creator)
Sabine Poux
Host/producer, co-creator
Josh Crane
Host/producer

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 540 ratings
  • A tremendous treat for all Vermonters

    Grew up in VT, have spent most of my life there. Found this podcast about a month ago. I’m going through all the episodes from the beginning. Many episodes bring me back to the state I still truly love.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    greenemach
    United States6 months ago
  • Entertaining & Informative as a Medium-New Vermonter

    Vermont punches above it’s weight politically & culturally today but Brave Little State helps color the rich past of Vermont’s awesome impact on history, culture, & everything from the womens’ suffrage movement to the Civil War & start of the Appalachian Trail (what I’m listening to now). Keep it up! #MakeAmericaVermont

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DougFoPug
    United States7 months ago
  • Happy 200th!

    Great 200th episode folks. You make me laugh, think and feel with every podcast. And thanks for explaining where the whale tales come from!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    someonearoundtheworld
    United States10 months ago
  • Keep up the grea(t) work !

    Love Vermon(t)and love this podcas(t)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I💚VT
    United Statesa year ago
  • Adore!

    Fantastic podcast for those who love all things Vermont 💚💚💚

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elise Cas
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many note Vermont-focused, human-centered journalism as a standout quality.
Audiences appreciate audience-driven questions and accessible storytelling.
Some criticism centers on perceived political slant in a subset of episodes.
Listeners praise the show for strong local reporting and research quality.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Behind the mic
Q: Do you ever rig the voting rounds or stack the deck for your favorite questions?
We do not rig the rounds; there is some necessary curation to ensure genuine curiosity and fairness, but no manipulation of outcomes.
What’s the story behind Bethel’s famous white granite?
Q: Are we still mining Bethel White granite today?
The quarry is still operated by Rock of Ages, but production has declined with shifts in ownership and global demand, and tours have been halted for safety, reflecting a quieter era for Bethel's granite industry.
What’s the story behind Bethel’s famous white granite?
Q: What do we know about the famous Bethel White granite?
Experts explain its unique mineral makeup and origin, and locals share how the stone shaped Bethel's economy and identity, including its use in high-profile projects and the ongoing scientific inquiry into its distribution.
The Birthday Party: America at 250
Q: How did the project decide which voices to include to represent a national pulse?
The producers aimed for a broad geographic spread and varied experiences, prioritizing vivid, authentic voices over polished performances to capture the real texture of American life.
The Birthday Party: America at 250
Q: What memories do people have of the bicentennial, and how have those memories shaped their view of America today?
Listeners hear a mix of joyful recollections, creative costumes, and childlike participation alongside more somber reflections on inequality and lost moments, suggesting memories are inseparable from current attitudes toward national identity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Brave Little State

What is Brave Little State about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Brave Little State delivers intimate, local storytelling with a investigative edge, focusing on Vermont-specific stories that blend history, culture, policy, and everyday life. Episodes often feature on-the-ground reporting, expert context, and audience-driven questions, producing a thoughtful mix of explainers and narrative reporting. The format tends to center Vermonters, local venues, and public-interest issues, with a notable emphasis on community voices, investigative framing, and occasional humor that keeps complex topics accessible. A standout aspect is the consistent emphasis on audience involvement and question-driven journalism, which helps listeners feel connected to the reporting process while exploring timely regional topics.

Where can I find podcast stats for Brave Little State?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Brave Little State. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Brave Little State and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Brave Little State get?

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What are the audience demographics for Brave Little State?

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How many subscribers and views does Brave Little State have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Brave Little State has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Brave Little State?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Brave Little State:

1. Rumble Strip
2. Vermont Edition
3. Fresh Air
4. This American Life
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of Brave Little State are there?

Brave Little State launched 10 years ago and published 220 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Brave Little State?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Brave Little State?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Brave Little State from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Brave Little State?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Brave Little State. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Brave Little State?

Recent guests on Brave Little State include:

1. Heather Chanin
2. Dave Westerman
3. Dave Gomo
4. Jill Lepore
5. Devon Kurtz
6. Dorit Boomsma
7. Kevin Donohue
8. Teera Paye

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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