The Montpelier Happy Hour

Oct 04 2024 200 ep. 53 mins 3

The Montpelier Happy Hour Podcast artwork

This award-winning show, The Montpelier Happy Hour usually starts with a question and ends with a toast. Each week's conversation explores the stories, beliefs, and assumptions behind the policies that shape our lives. Host, Journalist Olga Peters and Regular contributor State Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, share their unique perspectives on Vermont, their communities, and government. Bring your curiosity, your inner geek, and your favorite beverage. Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker.

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Health Care in Vermont: Care, not just treatment

Oct 04 2024 56 mins

October 4, 2024: Rep. Lori Houghton, Chair of the House Health Care Committee, discussed health care in Vermont and the challenges associated with reforming the system. She provided an overview of the Act 167 Community Engagement report, which was prepared by the consulting firm Oliver Wyman. This report garnered attention for its recommendations to restructure hospitals and for id

REBROADCAST: Health care - we all need it. But can we all afford it?

Sep 27 2024 49 mins

September 27, 2024: As Emilie and Olga prepare to dive into the topic of health care, we wanted to share with listeners this conversation with Vermont's Health Care Advocate Mike Fisher from December 15, 2023.From the December 15, 2023 episode: Vermont Health Care Advocate Mike Fisher discusses the cost of health care. What options do we have to lower costs? This conversation build

Is Vermont's State Hazard Mitigation Plan effective?

Sep 20 2024 57 mins

September 20, 2024: Earlier this month, the State Auditor's office released its audit of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. This plan outlines the state's responses to disasters such as flooding and infectious diseases. The audit concluded that there is room for improvement in the state's planning efforts. Auditor Doug Hoffer shared his office's findings.Read full audit here: https:

2025 Vermont Housing Needs: Make sure you're solving the problems that actually exists

Sep 13 2024 54 mins

September 13, 2024: Leslie Black-Plumeau from VHFA joins this week's discussion. Leslie is the Research and Communications Relations Director at VHFA and helped put together the Vermont Statewide Housing Needs Assessment 2025-2029 on behalf of the VT Department of Housing and Community Development. The assessment's key findings outline how the state's housing shortage is pinching c

One Big Puzzle: Brattleboro's 2024 Crime Data

Sep 06 2024 60 mins

September 6, 2024: Last month, the Brattleboro Selectboard received crime data showing a 16 percent increase in calls to police. Many calls were to report violations such as burglary and assault. Investigative Journalist Leah McGrath Goodman shares her views on the data and what it could mean for the town. For more information, check out coverage from Journalist Kevin O'Connor at V

Spicey and hopeful political nihilists

Aug 30 2024 55 mins

August 30, 2024 (prerecorded 8/29): Writer, communications consultant, and podcast host Kevin Ellis joins our conversation today. Where does Vermont (and Vermont voters) fit in the national political landscape? Do our votes matter in presidential elections? Or, are those the wrong questions in a state that guest Kevin says does democracy really well? Learn more about Kevin and

Esther Charlestin: Systems change and moving forward together

Aug 23 2024 49 mins

August 23, 2024: Esther Charlestin is the Democratic candidate for Vermont Governor. She joins the show to share her experience as an educator and small business owner and discuss the power of systems change. Esther also discusses how her experience has prepared her for elected office and how she plans to work with the Legislature. Esther's campaign website: https://www.esther

2024 Primary wrap-up and the soothing sound of Phil Scott's voice

Aug 16 2024 50 mins

August 16, 2024 (prerecorded 8/15): John Walters of The Vermont Political Observer joins us to share his thoughts on the Aug. 13 primary. Rep. Emilie Kornheiser joins in with observations from her weeks spent door-knocking and the potential ripples of the Windham-1 race. The Vermont Political Observer: https://thevpo.orgTheme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rhtt.net

Primary 2024: Zon Eastes

Aug 09 2024 55 mins

August 9, 2024 (prerecorded 8/5): Teacher, musician, conductor, and now a candidate for Windham-1, Zon Eastes, joins the conversation this week. We discuss how a career in the arts has prepared him for the State House, rural economies, and the difference Zon sees between politics and serving. Zon's website: https://zoneastesvt.com/Theme music by Red Heart the Ticker: http://rh

The Myth is a Myth and Other Stories of Vermont and Hippies

Aug 02 2024 51 mins

August 8, 2024: A quiz, dear listeners: In the 1970s, did the hippies A) save Vermont or B) ruin Vermont?Or, there's C) From guest Amanda Kay Gustin: "History is more interesting when it's more complicated." In this week's episode, we're going with "C" (as if regular listeners would be surprised). This week's guest, Amanda Kay Gustin, director of Collections and Access at the Vermo