Before Your Time

Vermont Humanities and Vermont Historical Society
  • 4.8 (34)
  • History

Exploring Vermont's history, one object at a time.

  1. Aug 17

    Vermont Reads 2026: Charity and Sylvia

    We talk with people involved in the creation of Charity and Sylvia, our Vermont Reads 2026 choice, including author Tillie Walden. Created by Walden from archival materials at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury, and other primary and secondary sources, Charity and Sylvia is a groundbreaking graphic novel that is also the story of 19th century America. In addition to Walden, we talk with: Coco Moseley, Executive Director of the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History Allison Cardon, the Public History Fellow at the Sheldon Museum Meg Tamulonis, Manager of Collections and Exhibitions at the Fleming Museum at the University of Vermont, and the volunteer curator of the Vermont Queer Archives Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, Executive Director of Vermont Humanities

  2. 09/02/2025

    Vermont Reads 2025: Episode Two: Water

    The Light Pirate is divided into four sections. This second episode focuses on Water. We speak with author Lily Brooks-Dalton, along with: Filmmaker Jay Craven Dan Nott, author of the Vermont Book Award-winning graphic novel “Hidden Systems” Paul W. Gates from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum Writer and environmental journalist Megan Mayhew Bergman Cyril Brunner, Innovation and Technology Leader at Vermont Electric Cooperative The Vermont Reads 2025 podcast was produced by Ryan Newswanger; with script, interview and production help from Noel Clark; and with script and narration help from Miciah Bay Gault. We’re grateful to our supporters: the Trout Lily Foundation and the Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation. Vermont Public is our Media Sponsor. And thanks to Junction Arts and Media for the use of their recording studio. Music in this episode was created by: Theo Gerard Adi Goldstein Rick Gallagher

    Vermont Reads 2025: Episode Two: Water

  3. 08/28/2025

    Vermont Reads 2025 Episode One: Power

    We are releasing two podcast episodes featuring interviews with people whose work intersects with the themes in "The Light Pirate," our Vermont Reads 2025 book. The episodes are centered around the first two sections of the book: Power, and Water. This first episode focuses on Power. We speak with author Lily Brooks-Dalton, along with: - Federico Cintrón Moscoso, Ph.D., Program Director of El Puente Puerto Rico, a group working on sustainability issues for Puerto Rican communities - Writer and environmental journalist Megan Mayhew Bergman - Dan Nott, author of the Vermont Book Award-winning graphic novel Hidden Systems - Cyril Brunner, Innovation and Technology Leader at Vermont Electric Cooperative

  4. 08/12/2024

    Circumnavigating the Wilson Globe

    James Wilson is an almost mythical figure in Vermont History, reputedly a lone genius who created the first globe in America. For several years, the Vermont Historical Society researched more about Wilson and his globes - and the picture that emerged was much more complicated and interesting than the legend.

    Circumnavigating the Wilson Globe

  5. 08/08/2024

    Acid Rain and Vermont's Waterways

    Vermont's water quality has long been a top concern for scientists and residents, and in the 1980s it reached national attention as acid rain came to the forefront of public understanding. What is acid rain, anyway? Why was Vermont getting so much attention? And where are we now in addressing those challenges?

    Acid Rain and Vermont's Waterways

  6. 07/22/2024

    The Library Map of Vermont

    The “Library Map of Vermont” was created in 1914 to track all 225 brick and mortar libraries as well as 267 traveling library stations around the state. In this episode we’ll ask; Can a map truly show what it means for a community to have a well-supported library… and when communities lack that?

    The Library Map of Vermont

  7. 05/23/2024

    Forests And Frontiers

    Vermont's extensive old-growth forests drew representatives from the King's Navy looking for mast trees. What can their map of timber resources tell us about our relationship to the land, how Vermont defined itself, and how history is saved or not?

    Forests And Frontiers

  8. 04/18/2024

    Canal Fever

    In the summer of 1829, three Army surveyors created a map exploring a potential canal route that would have connected Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River. "Canal Fever" was gripping the region, with the success of the Erie Canal. But this quantum leap in transportation technology would have to contend with an even bigger idea: the railroads.

    Canal Fever
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

Exploring Vermont's history, one object at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Vermont Humanities and Vermont Historical Society
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Vermont Historical Society and Vermont Humanities. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Before Your Time

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