Joia Putnoi

Sisters Mai Lo Lee and Beth Lo grew up in a large Hmong family on a ginseng farm in Wisconsin. But their story dates back to the American War in Vietnam.

Originally from Laos, the Lo family fled persecution after the country fell to communist forces in the mid 1970s. The new regime declared the Hmong people enemies of the state, as they’d fought alongside the U.S. against the communist government.

The Lo family in the Ban Vinai Holding Center, Thailand, in 1980. Photo courtesy of Mai Lo Lee.

In 1959, Albert t José Jones founded the first Black Scuba Diving Club in the U.S. as a senior in college.

Since then the club has grown to over 3,000 members and traveled all over the world training Black divers and coming face to face with history.

At StoryCorps Albert shared memories of 65 years of underwater exploring with his colleague Jay Hailger.

Albert Jones in diving gear in Key West, Florida in 2000. Courtesy of Albert Jones.

Top Photo: Albert Jones scuba diving in the Great Barrie

Joan Weston (1935-1996) was a California-born roller-derby athlete. She is most known for being one of the highest-paid female athlete in the 1960s, and by her nicknames: “The Blonde Bomber,” the “Golden Girl,” and “the Roller Derby Queen.”For Further Reading: This month, we’re talking about Women of the Wheel – icons who turned motion into momentum and spun their legacies on spokes, skates and potter’s wheels. These women harnessed the power of the axle, pushing their crafts and professions for...

In this special season one finale of Mind If We Talk, guest host Sreela Roy-Greene returns to reflect on the powerful stories and shared truths that shaped our conversations this season. From grief and heartbreak to masculinity and motherhood, we revisit standout moments that resonated with listeners, highlighting the themes and resilience, growth and compassion that connect us all. Plus, we’re saying thank you with a special gift: one free week of therapy at betterhelp.com/mindifwetalk.

In thi...

Segment starts at 23:00

We continue our favorite summer tradition. We’re now in our sixth consecutive year investigating the origins of unusual Vermont road names submitted and voted on by you, our listeners. Our state turns out to be a hotbed for road name creativity!

Brave Little State is Vermont Public's listener-powered journalism show. We answer questions about Vermont that have been asked and voted on by you, our audience, because we want our journalism to be more inclusive, more transparent and more fun.

Note: Our show is made for the ear. We recommend listening to the audio posted here if you're able; we also provide a written version of the episode below.

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When it comes to givin