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Recent Highlights

Recent Episodes

  • Killacky: Seeing Anew Wednesday, 02/08/12 5:55pm

    After traveling to Virginia to adjudicate artists’ travel grants, commentator John Killacky returned home with a new perspective.

  • Levin: Winter Robins Wednesday, 02/08/12 7:55am Naturalist and commentator Ted Levin says that this winter, one of our most iconic signs of spring has been with us all along.
  • Kunin: Sister Elizabeth's Legacy Tuesday, 02/07/12 5:55pm

    Commentator Madeleine Kunin has been thinking about public service, and how it came to define the life and legacy of Sister Elizabeth Candon.

  • Hunter: Dickens Turns 200 Tuesday, 02/07/12 7:55am

    Commentator Edith Hunter is celebrating Charles Dickens' two-hundredth birthday by recalling how many times she has read David Copperfield.

  • Luskin: Voting Season Monday, 02/06/12 5:55pm

    Commentator Deborah Luskin lives in the Town of Newfane, where full participation in local government means attending and voting in separate meetings for the high school, the elementary school and the town.

  • Mares: Tree of Life Monday, 02/06/12 7:55am

    Commentator Bill Mares believes that if there were an Academy Award for emotional impact, Terrance Malik's TREE OF LIFE would win hands down.

  • Porto: Lessons From A Public Life Friday, 02/03/12 5:55pm Commentator and Vermont Law School professor has been thinking about the life of legendary football coach Joe Paterno and thinks several important lessons can be learned from Paterno's career.
  • Harrington: Senior Perks Thursday, 02/02/12 5:55pm Every new year offers a fresh start - but it also reminds us all that another birthday is coming. Commentator Elaine Harrington looks at the perks of aging in Vermont.
  • Pfeiffer: Ground Hog Day Wednesday, 02/01/12 5:55pm On the eve of Groundhog Day, commentator Bryan Pfeiffer points out that there's much more going on outside than a silly ritual with a woodchuck. 
  • Schubart: Religious Wars Tuesday, 01/31/12 5:55pm Commentator Bill Schubart looks at the news and the persistent role that orthodox religion seems to play in the continuing violence against minorities and sexual subjugation of women and children and struggles to "keep the faith."
  • Gilbert: The Presidency Monday, 01/30/12 5:55pm Commentator and Vermont Humanities Council executive director Peter Gilbert loves movies about the American presidency, especially thrillers. Recently, he saw two that he'd never seen before.
  • Lange: Songbird Rescue Monday, 01/30/12 7:55am The songbirds we usually think of as “ours” here in New England actually spend most of their lives in Central America. They’re disappearing in both places; but according to commentator Willem Lange, in Costa Rica researchers and some coffee growers are trying to save them.

About Commentary Series

More than 50 commentators provide perspective and opinion about current events, topics of interest, and often showcase the work of writers and storytellers.  The VPR Commentary Series is produced by Betty Smith-Mastaler (pictured).

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