Brave Little State

We journey into the weird world of Vermont's favorite jam band, to explore the culture of "phandom” and Phish’s early roots in our brave little state.

In our 100th episode, Ethan Weinstein of South Woodstock asks: “Why do people like Phish? And how did they become such a big part of Vermont music culture?”

Warning: There’s a bit of profanity in this episode, and some discussion of drugs and drug culture.

To see photos of Phish from their early Vermont days, check out our web feature. We’ve also got a whole Phish starter kit with links to other great resources to further your Phish education.

Music featured in this episode, in order of appearance:

• “Gotta Jibboo” by Phish
• “Ghost” by Phish
• “Hardboil” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Sargento” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Halley’s Comet” by Phish
• “Trois Gnossiennes 3” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Wilson” by Phish
• “The Queen of Cones” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Tyrano Theme” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “The Curtain With” by Phish
• “Maldoc” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Auld Lang Syne” covered by Phish
• “Leaves” by Phish
• “Cran Ras” by Blue Dot Sessions

As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it:

• Ask a question about Vermont
• Vote on which question we should answer next
• Sign up for the BLS newsletter
• Say hi on Twitter, Instagram and reddit @bravestatevt
• Drop us an email: [email protected]
• Make a gift to support people-powered journalism
• Tell your friends about the show!

Josh Crane reported and produced this episode, with editing and digital production from Myra Flynn and Angela Evancie. Mix and sound design by Josh Crane. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music. Thanks to Phish Inc. for permission to use some of the band’s music.

Special thanks also to Jonathan Heller, Billy Glassner, Paul Brill, Stephanie Jenkins, Jay Curley, Anne Rothwell, Jenn Moore, Beth Montuori Rowles, Anna Van Dine, Mary Engisch, Peter Engisch, Laura Schoenfeld, Steve Zind, Patti Daniels, Chris Albertine, John Van Hoesen, Mitch Wertlieb, Alex Burns and everyone who left a voicemail on our Phish hotline. That’s Chris, Chris, Christina, Jonathan, Jim, Antonia, Ron, Philip, Andy, Stephanie, Molly, Robb, Shannon, Bryant and Nina.

Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public Radio.

One of the most common genres of questions we get has to do with local dialect and pronunciation. Today, thanks to question-asker Noah Waxman of Starksboro, we help settle a regional debate involving a beloved market in Central Vermont.

Check out the web version of this episode to see photos from our reporting.

Thanks to all the people who spoke to us outside the market: Brooke Haynes, Jo Palmer, Niclas Thein, Gail Helmer, Brian Albrecht, Karen Rookwood, Toby Bellows, Scout Vitko and Dick Atkinson. Special thanks to Anna Van Dine, Anna Ste. Marie, Celia Cadwell and, of course, the Mehuron family.

This episode was reported and produced by Josh Crane, with support from the rest of the BLS team: Angela Evancie, Myra Flynn and Mae Nagusky. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.

As always, our show is better when you’re a part of it:

• Ask a question about Vermont
• Vote on the question you want us to tackle next
• Sign up for the BLS newsletter
• Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt
• Drop us an email: [email protected]
• Call our BLS hotline: 802-552-4880
• Make a gift to support people-powered journalism
• Leave us a rating/review in your favorite podcast app
• Tell your friends about the show!

Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

We journey into the weird world of Vermont's favorite jam band to explore the culture of "phandom” and Phish’s early roots in our brave little state.

We originally released this episode in 2021. In it, Ethan Weinstein of South Woodstock asks: “Why do people like Phish? And how did they become such a big part of Vermont music culture?”

(Heads up: There’s a bit of profanity in this episode, and some discussion of drugs and drug culture.)

To see photos of Phish from their early Vermont days, check out our web post. You’ll also find a Phish starter kit with resources to further your Phish education, should you so desire.

Josh Crane reported this episode, with editing and production from Myra Flynn and Angela Evancie. Mix and sound design by Josh Crane. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music. Thanks to Phish Inc. for permission to use some of the band’s music.

Special thanks also to Jonathan Heller, Billy Glassner, Paul Brill, Stephanie Jenkins, Jay Curley, Anne Rothwell, Jenn Moore, Beth Montuori Rowles, Anna Van Dine, Mary Engisch, Peter Engisch, Laura Schoenfeld, Steve Zind, Patti Daniels, Chris Albertine, John Van Hoesen, Mitch Wertlieb, Alex Burns and everyone who left a voicemail on our Phish hotline — Chris, Chris, Christina, Jonathan, Jim, Antonia, Ron, Philip, Andy, Stephanie, Molly, Robb, Shannon, Bryant and Nina.

Music featured in this episode, in order of appearance:

• "Orejitas" by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Gotta Jibboo” by Phish
• “Ghost” by Phish
• “Hardboil” by Blue Dot Sessions
• "BLS Theme" by Ty Gibbons
• “Sargento” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Halley’s Comet” by Phish
• “Trois Gnossiennes 3” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Wilson” by Phish
• “The Queen of Cones” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Tyrano Theme” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “The Curtain With” by Phish
• “Maldoc” by Blue Dot Sessions
• “Auld Lang Syne” covered by Phish
• “Leaves” by Phish
• “Cran Ras” by Blue Dot Sessions
• "Ferus Cut" by Blue Dot Sessions
• "BLS Theme" by Ty Gibbons



As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it:

• Ask a question about Vermont
• Vote on which question we should answer next
• Sign up for the BLS newsletter
• Say hi on Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt
• Drop us an email: [email protected]
• Make a gift to support people-powered journalism
• Tell your friends about the show!

Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a member of the NPR Network.

If you live in Vermont, and you have a terminal illness, where and when you die could be up to you. Charlie Bestard of Hartland asked us about the state’s medical aid in dying law: How many Vermonters have used it, and how does the medical establishment view it?

To see photos of the Fitch sisters, and their parents, Stanley and Elaine, check out our web feature.

Additional listening, from our Vermont Edition colleagues: Connecticut patient sues Vermont over residency mandate in aid-in-dying law

Mikaela Lefrak reported this episode. Josh Crane produced it and did the mix and sound design. Editing and additional help from the rest of the BLS team: Angela Evancie, Myra Flynn and Mae Nagusky. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Special thanks to Jaina Clough, Erica Heilman, Tim Lahey, Lynda Bluestein and Chelsea Chalfant.

As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it:

• Ask a question about Vermont
• Vote on the question you want us to tackle next
• Sign up for the BLS newsletter
• Say hi on Twitter, Instagram and Reddit @bravestatevt
• Drop us an email: [email protected]
• Make a gift to support people-powered journalism
• Tell your friends about the show!

Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public.