
The Octagon
Welcome to "The Octagon" - the podcast that dives into the vibrant lives of Stowe Vermont's most adventurous residents. Join us as we explore the passions, pursuits, and personalities that make this mountain town unique.
Episodes
27 episodes
#27: Charlotte Brynn: Adventures of a World Class Open Water Swimmer
This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with world-class open water swimmer Charlotte Brynn. Charlotte has completed over 50 marathon swims including some of the toughest swims on Earth — Charlotte is also one of the top w...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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56:13

#26: 2025 Winter Recap with Ted and Mike
This week Ted and Mike give a recap on what was an epic 2025 winter here in Stowe. We explore the mountain scene, legendary Hyde Cup tales, a banner Nordic ski season and all the happenings and events in this unique mountain town. We also give ...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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38:20

#25: Tom Rogers: Stowe Land Trust Executive Director and Wildlife Biologist
This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Tom Rogers, Executive Director of Stowe Land Trust . A certified wildlife biologist with a master’s degree in Biology and Ecology, Tom came to SLT in 2024 from The Nature Conservancy,...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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49:23

#24: Joanna Graves: Building Community Through Fitness
Joanna Graves has been a fixture in the Stowe fitness community for 30 years - often recognized as the top fitness workout instructor in the area and is also the owner of RIDE indoor cycling studio. You can most often find Joanna teaching a ...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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45:17

#23: Kristina von Trapp Frame: A Life at the Iconic von Trapp Family Lodge and Resort
This week we are joined in the Octagon studio by Kristina von Trapp Frame. The von Trapp name is synonymous with Stowe and its outdoor culture. Kristina von Trapp Frame is carrying forward her family legacy that began when her grandparen...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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40:24

#22: Mike Leach: Exploring the Legendary History of Ski Racing at Stowe
This week we are happy to bring Mike Leach to the studio who is the historian for the Mount Mansfield Ski Club (MMSC), one of the oldest ski racing organizations in the United States. In his role, Leach has contributed significantly to docum...
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47:01

#21: Buster Brown's 24 Day Adventure: A Story of Hope and Community
This is a very special edition of The Octagon, bringing you the wild story of Buster Brown, the now famous beagle. On a cold February day, Buster went missing into the woods of Stowe while on a routine walk in Kirschner Woods with his owner ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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51:22

#20: Kim Brown: The Origins of Woods Skiing at Stowe
Kim Brown is a well-known figure in Stowe, Vermont's skiing community, recognized for his extensive contributions as a columnist, historian, and avid skier. Since making his first turns at Stowe in 1952, Brown has become a fixture on the slo...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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52:15

#19: Dustin Martin: A Life in Ski Racing and Tracking Whitetail Deer
This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Dustin Martin. Dustin was born and raised in Stowe and operates ARFA Property Management with his father Mike and has been a coach at Mount Mansfield Academy for 11 years. Dustin is an accom...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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41:24

#18: Mike Priestley: Stowe Hockey History and the Iconic Hyde Cup Tournament
Hockey in Stowe isn’t just a game—it’s a tradition, a community, and a way of life for many. Few people know that better than Mike Priestley. A longtime player, Mike has witnessed the evolution of the sport here, from the old Jackson Arena t...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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42:04

#17: Matt Testa and the Art of Back Country Ski Filming
This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with Matt Testa aka “Mansfield Matty”. When not pumping out daily snow reports Matt can be found charging hidden lines deep in the Mansfield back country. Matt has become proficient in fil...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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48:43

#16: Cap Chenoweth and the Legendary Stowe Derby
In this episode of The Octagon Podcast, we dive deep into the history and strategy of the legendary Stowe Derby with longtime competitor and local icon Cap Chenoweth. From its origins in 1945 to its status as one of the m...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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43:48

#15: Jeff Clarke: Seven Years of Edelweiss and Former US Cross Country Ski Team Director of Development
To ring in our 15th episode at The Octagon Podcast we sat down with Co-Owner of Edelweiss Mountain Deli Jeff Clarke. Jeff provides us with an in depth look at what it takes to run a small business in Stowe and the challenges and rewards that...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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53:41

#14: Andre Blais: Ten Years Creating the Stowe Snow Report and Weather Guru
Have you ever wondered what really goes into the daily Stowe Snow Report that we enjoy everyday from the comfort of our homes on our iPhone? Well wait no more as this week we have the Godfather of the Stowe Snow Report Andre Blais!Join ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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44:39

#13: Jan Reynolds: World Record Setting Climber, Skier, Olympic Athlete and Humanitarian
Join us on a thrilling and fascinating interview with longtime Stowe resident Jan Reynolds. Jan is a world record setting climber and skier, Olympic athlete, award winning author and photographer known for her ability to capture extraordinar...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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44:43

2024 Year in Review, Octagon Behind the Scenes
With 2024 coming to a close we created a year in review and Octagon “Behind the Scenes” episode. We explore the highlights from the past three months in Stowe, including epic weather, a killer start to ski season, and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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41:20

#11: Brian Lindner: The Hidden Stories Behind Stowe's Iconic Ski Trails
Dive into the rich history of Stowe, Vermont, as we uncover the fascinating stories behind the names of its iconic ski trails. From legendary race horses and fearless mountaineers to colorful local characters, each trail tells a story of adv...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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39:48

#10: Noah Dines: The 2024 Pursuit of Climbing Over 3 Million Vertical Feet on Skis
Join us for an exhilarating interview with the king of uphill skiing Noah Dines. We explore the highs and lows of chasing over 3 million vertical feet in a calendar year across the globe. If you have ever spent any time skinning at Stowe - y...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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51:14

#9: Mila Lonetto: Insights on Planning and Shaping Stowe's Future
In this episode, we sit down with Mila Lonetto, a dedicated member of Stowe’s Planning Commission, to uncover how town government operates and the key issues shaping our community’s future. From zoning changes to housing challenges, development...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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36:45

#8: Rusty DeWees: Conversation with Stowe's iconic Actor "The Logger"
Join us for a down-to-earth conversation with Rusty DeWees, Stowe's most beloved actor and storyteller. Best known for his iconic portrayal of "The Logger" in his one-man show, Rusty has become a Vermont legend, capturing the heart and humor...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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50:33

#7: Brian Lindner: Stowe Historian and 51 years on Stowe Ski Patrol
Brian Lindner has a long history in and around Stowe. His family has deep roots into the early days of skiing on Mt Mansfield and served in the 10th Mountain Division. In fact, Brian grew up living in the Mt. Mansfield Base Lodge. He is curr...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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46:10

#6: Dr. Rick Barnett: Psychedelic Therapy Pioneer and Local Psychologist
Dr. Rick Barnett is a Licensed Psychologist Doctorate, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and also holds a masters degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology. Rick has been operating BPS Health which is a private practice located in Stowe for al...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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44:53

# 5: Jed and Karl Lipsky: Family Loggers and State Representative
We had the pleasure of interviewing State Representative for the Lamoille-1 District Jed Lipsky alongside his son Karl. We explore the challenges and rewards of running a family logging business and what the future looks like for the i...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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40:14

#4: Rick Sokoloff: Stowe Mountain Bike Club Co-Founder and 4 Points VT Owner
Rick, a longtime Stowe local, is a legend in the local Mountain Bike community having co-founded the original Stowe Mountain Bike Club spearheading the early development of mountain bike specific trails in partnership with the town of Stowe and...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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40:44

#3: Simba Happy: From Zimbabwe to Topnotch Tennis Director
Simba’s tennis career began as one of the top junior tennis players in his native Zimbabwe, representing his country in international tennis tournaments. He joined the Florida A&M University tennis team on an athletics scholarship and began...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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39:21
