The Octagon

This week Cynthia Needham joined us from Green Mountain Adaptive Sports, an organization dedicated to making sports and outdoor recreation more accessible for people with disabilities. Through adaptive programs, specialized equipment, and a commitment to inclusion, the organization helps people discover new opportunities, build confidence, and experience the freedom and excitement that come with getting outside.At the heart of this mission is Cynthia herself. A longtime Stowe community member, Cynthia discovered adaptive coaching after moving to Vermont and joining the Stowe Mountain Resort Ski and Ride School in 1999. That experience sparked a passion that led her to help found the organization in 2009, and she has served as its board president since its founding. 

This week we were delighted to bring into The Octagon studio the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jason Batchelder. Jason became Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner in 2025 after more than 20 years with the Vermont Warden Service. It is no secret that Stowe is a hotbed for black bear activity and increased human-bear interactions make this an especially timely topic. Jason brings a wealth of experience and knowledge not only on black bears but wildlife management around the State of Vermont. 

Ready for a nostalgia trip? Join us on this week's episode as we dive into the epic stories of Stowe's Down Home Hot Tubs with iconic locals Tim Meehan and Kim Brown. Experience the free-spirited '70s and '80s era, complete with wild parties, mobile hot tubs, and legendary tales that define the heart of this remarkable community.

This week we kicked off Season 3 at The Octagon Podcast with local ski guru Bob St. Pierre from Ski Essentials. We have all battled with the same questions about our skis and gear. Is this the right ski for me? What are the top brands I may want to try? Are my boots packed out? What is the ideal ski to use most days at Stowe? Well you are in luck as we brought Bob into the studio to impart his wisdom after over a decade of testing and reviewing skis and boots. This is the ideal episode to help you round out your kit for the fast approaching 2026-2027 season!

This week Mike and Ted took over the studio and rehashed the 2025-2026 winter and Season 2 at The Octagon Podcast. From powder days, epic travel stories and friendly bets between co-hosts this is a great episode to fire up as you reflect back on your winter!

This week on the Octagon Podcast we sat down with TJ Walden and Sarah  Landry , the co-founders behind Movement Coffee Roasters right here in Stowe. Movement and their flagship store The Roastery has become a key part of the local coffee scene, known for carefully sourced beans, precise roasting, and a focus on bringing out the unique character of each origin.Join us on an adventure that began in remote coffee farms in the hills of Panama into a thriving business in Stowe that now ships coffee worldwide. You will have a new appreciation for that fresh cup of coffee you drink at the Roastery after listening to this episode!

This week we were excited to bring into the studio Karen Wagner to talk all things ski patrol. Karen is the Ski Patrol Director at Stowe Mountain Resort, overseeing one of the most experienced and highly trained patrol teams in the East. Karen and her team provide first response medical care and manage mountain safety during some of the busiest ski days in New England.Karen has built a career in mountain operations and emergency response, earning deep respect within the patrol community and across the resort. Leading a patrol at a mountain with as much terrain and weather variability as Stowe is no small task, and Karen brings both technical expertise and leadership to the role every day.

This week we are excited to be bringing you a special Octagon roundtable edition with everyone’s favorite snow reporters Andre Blais, Matt Testa and Scott Braaten. Whether tuning into the snow phone, reading the carefully crafted daily snow report or searching for the fabled Mount Mansfield stake measurement data these are the guys that make it happen day after day. With winter turning into spring we wanted to bring the boys into the studio to hash out what has been a legendary winter and learn more about some of the new projects they have been embarking on this winter.

This week we welcomed craft distillers Tim Danahy and Howie Faircloth into The Octagon Studio. Tim and Howie both moved to Stowe almost 30 years ago and became the head brewers at The Shed. After 5 years at The Shed  they decided they wanted to start their own business and founded Green Mountain Distillers - one of the very first distilleries in Vermont. They have dedicated the last 25 years to producing hand crafted, award winning organic spirits right from their distillery in Morrisville.

This week we had the pleasure of bringing Jack Morris into the Octagon Studio. Born and raised in Stowe, Jack once dreamed of becoming an athlete — until a life-altering heart diagnosis in his teens forced him to rethink everything. After traveling and developing a passion for photography, he returned home for heart surgery and made a bold decision at just 23 years old: to take over the former Robert Paul Gallery and re-brand it as Front Four Gallery — named after the legendary ski trails of Mount Mansfield.A photographer, a painter, and now one of the youngest gallery owners in Vermont, Jack is reshaping the role that art plays in Stowe.