The Vermont Conversation
The Vermont Conversation
VBSR's "The Vermont Conversation," hosted by David Goodman, airs live every Wednesday from 1-2 pm on WDEV Radio Vermont. The show features interviews with people who are making a difference locally and nationally in the worlds of socially responsible business, politics, education, the environment and activism, as well as serves as a way to keep current on VBSR's events, policy work and program happenings.
Join the Conversation! The Vermont Conversation welcomes call-ins at (802) 244-1777 or comments and questions via email.
Scroll down to listen to recent shows or Tune into WDEV at 1:00 PM every Wednesday!
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Did you miss an episode? Scroll down to hear the most recent shows. OR, view the archives to see past guests and topics.
May 15, 2013: The High Price of Cheap Clothes & A Life in Vermont Journalism
*Barbara Briggs, assistant director of the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, discusses sweatshops, worker's rights, fair trade and the Bangladesh garment factory disaster.
*Candace Page, recently retired after 30 years as a reporter with the Burlington Free Press, talks about her life in Vermont journalism.
May 8, 2013: The Coffee Show
* Lindsey Bolger, “a celebrity superstar in the coffee world" is the Senior Director of Coffee for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
* Rick Peyser, GMCR's Director of Social Advocacy and Supply Chain Community Outreach.
May 1, 2013: Vermont's Hidden Workers
* Over Lopez and Danilo Lopez, undocumented Mexican workers, talk about their life in Vermont, their role in the economy and the importance of being able to drive a car legally.
*Brendan O'Neil of Migrant Justice and Mary Gerisch, president of the Vt Worker's Center weigh in the issue.
*Dan Barlow of VBSR also updates us on pending legislation.
April 17, 2013: Socially Responsible Business and GMO Labeling Campaigns
*Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, discusses what makes a business socially responsible, his Stamp Stampede campaign to get money out of politics, the boycott campaign against Ben & Jerry's over ice cream sales in Israel and the Occupied Territories, his thoughts on Occupy Wall Street, and humor in organizing.
*Falko Schilling, VPIRG, talks about the campaign to require labeling of genetically engineered food.
April 10, 2013: Judy Wicks and social responsibility
*Judy Wicks, keynote speaker for VBSR's 2013 Spring Conference, socially responsible business pioneer and founder of the White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia, talks about her work, life, and her new memoir Good Morning, Beautiful Business: The Unexpected Journey of an Activist Entrepreneur and Local Economy Pioneer.
April 3, 2013: What does it really take to be a socially responsible business?
*Larry Plesent, founder and CEO of Vermont Soap, and Anna Barrett, owner of Way Out Wax, talk about the trials and tribulations of running a business consistent with their values.
March 27, 2013: The Ski Show
*Gil Livingston and Elise Annes from the Vermont Land Trust talk about the successful effort to save one of Vermont's most cherished (and endangered) skiing & hiking stashes, the $1.8 million purchase of Bolton's backcountry.
*Ann Gotham, head of Friends of Bolton Nordic and Backcountry, and 90 yr-old ski pioneer Clem Holden to tell the remarkable story of how skiers and land conservationists teamed up to preserve a Vermont gem.
March 20, 2013: Should Vermont be an Independent Country?
*Rob Williams, editor of the new book, "Most Likely to Secede" joins the show.
*Lynne Goodson, from VBSR's Local First Vermont program, discusses their annual Buy Local coupon book and localfirstvermont.org.
March 13, 2013: Is Vermont the Greenest State in the US?
*Mary Powell, CEO of Green Mountain Power and past VBSR board member, talks about Vermont's renewable energy initiatives, the controversies over wind and nuclear power, and women and leadership.
March 6, 2013: The State of Education in Vermont
*Armando Vilaseca, Vermont Education Secretary, talks about the state of education and results from Town Meeting Day.
*Daniel Barlow, VBSR Public Policy Manager discusses what he thinks the second half the legislative session will look like.
Februray 27, 2013: How Vermont is exporting energy innovations to the world
*Beth Sachs, founder of Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC)
*Scudder Parker, consulting director at VEIC
*Jim Merriam, director of Efficiency Vermont, a VEIC program
February 20, 2013: Vermont Before and After Roe v. Wade
*Dr. Emma Ottolenghi, the founding physician of the Vermont Women's Health Center in the 1970s
*Representative Jill Krowinski from Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
*Lynn Paltrow of National Advocates for Pregnant Women
February 13, 2013: Former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin
*Daniel Barlow, VBSR Public Policy Manager, phones in a legislative update.
*Former Gov. Madeleine Kunin reflects on what inspired her to run for governor, talks about her latest book, "The New Feminist Agenda," and offers her insights into the challenges confronting women in work and politics, death with dignity, equal pay for women, how to break the political gridlock in Washington, and her legacy.
February 6, 2013: Are your clothes killing you?
*John Deans, director of Greenpeace Detox Fashion campaign, discusses how Greenpeace recently got Victoria's Secret, Levi's, Nike, Adidas, and 14 major other global clothing brands to remove toxins from their clothes.
*Jeffrey Hollender, founder of Seventh Generation, co-chair of Greenpeace and a pioneer in sustainable business, talks about his second act after parting ways with the company he founded. He reveals his plans to launch a new company later this year, one that embodies the highest principles of social justice, equality, and transparency.
January 30, 2013: Public Assests, Public Policy, and Patagonia
*Paul Cillo of the Public Assests Institue
*VBSR Public Policy Manager Daniel Barlow talks healthcare
*Casey Sheahan, CEO of Patagonia, about the new industrial revolution, corporate transparency, human rights, happiness and trout fishing. I'll also be discussing the state of Vt's economy with Paul Cillo of the Public Assets Institute
January 23, 2013: School to Life Connection, innovative efforts to connect students with jobs.
*Becky Cohen, VBSR Internship Program Manager
*Rep. Michelle Kupersmith, Vermont House Committee on Commerce & Economic Development
*Gary Flomenhoft, Lecturer, Rubenstein School of Natural Resources, UVM
*Al Bullis, Common Sense Energy, Burlington
*Kevin Collins, 2012 UVM grad who now works at Common Sense Energy
January 16, 2013: The Vermont Conversation's Inaugural Show
*Author and activist Bill McKibben talks with Vermont Conversation host David Goodman about climate change, the fossil fuel corporate divestment campaign, a proposed wind moratorium in Vermont, and the Red Sox.
