Worth a Listen: 10 Podcast Episodes for Apple and Cider Season
By Joshua Smith
Most weeks, this column points readers toward podcasts they may want to follow. But sometimes one good episode is the easiest way to try something new. With apple season here, cider presses running, orchards welcoming families, and farm stands filling up with pies, doughnuts, and fresh cider, this week’s list focuses on specific episodes about apples, orchards, cider, and the stories behind one of fall’s favorite fruits.
1. “How Do Apples Grow?” — But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
A perfect local pick from Vermont Public. This episode visits Champlain Orchards in Shoreham, Vermont, and explains how apples grow in a way kids and adults can both enjoy.
2. “How Cider Is Made | Lessons from 500 Episodes of Cider Chat” — Cider Chat
A good starting place for anyone curious about cider from orchard to glass. The episode talks about pressing apples, fermentation, cider apple varieties, and the basic steps behind the process.
3. “Apples of New England” — Cider Chat
This one is especially fitting for our region. It looks at New England apple history, orchards, cider traditions, and why apples have been part of the local landscape for generations.
4. “Still Cider, Single Apples and Time | Sowams, Rhode Island” — Cider Chat
This recent episode visits Sowams Cider Works in Rhode Island and explores single-variety apples, native fermentation, old presses, patience, and small-batch cider.
5. “Apples in Gravel? Maine Heritage Orchard | Part 1” — Cider Chat
A fine New England pick featuring apple historian John Bunker and the Maine Heritage Orchard, with a focus on old varieties, preservation, and the stories carried by apple trees.
6. “The Art and Science of Cider Making — A Discussion with Dr. Greg Peck” — Plants, People, Science
This episode digs into the research side of cider, including orchard management, apple quality, fermentation, and what makes cider apples different from ordinary eating apples.
7. “The Cutting Edge Podcast Episode #30: Cider Apples” — The Cutting Edge Podcast
A useful episode for listeners interested in growing apples specifically for cider. It features apple historian and cider maker Dan Bussey talking about apple varieties, tannins, sugar, and flavor.
8. “Where the Lab Meets the Orchard” — Hard Core
This episode looks at the science behind cider making and apple growing, reminding listeners that before cider reaches a bottle, it starts with the tree, the fruit, and the orchard.
9. “Old Apple Varieties with Daniel Bussey” — Orchard People
For anyone who likes heirloom apples, this episode explores old apple cultivars, fruit-tree history, and why preserving unusual varieties still matters.
10. “Apple of Our Eye: The History and Future of a Beloved Fruit” — Where We Live
This Connecticut Public episode looks at the apple’s history and future, with a New England angle that fits the season nicely.
Apple season is more than a fall outing. It is science, history, farming, family tradition, local business, and a reminder that some of the best stories are growing right in the orchard. Whether you are picking a bag of Macs, sipping cider, baking a pie, or just taking the long way past a farm stand, these episodes offer something good to chew on.
New to podcasts? It is easy to start. Open the podcast app on your phone, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon Music, or another podcast app you already use. Type the episode or podcast name into the search bar, tap the show, and press play. You can also tap “follow” or “subscribe” so new episodes show up automatically.
Don’t forget: For another local listen with a strong outdoor connection, The St. Johnsbury Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Outdoor Edge, hosted by Gary Moore, is available wherever you get podcasts and on the WYKR app. The show covers hunting, fishing, conservation, rural life, local outdoor history, and the stories tucked into the hills, trails, fields, orchards, and back roads of northern New England.