Recent research shows that 35% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 play games with family and friends at least once a month. And just over a quarter (26%) play games at least once a week. CBS News reports a surge in younger folks taking to board games.

Vermonter Kyle Thompson hopes his new music-inspired board game will soon join the ranks amongst favorites like Monopoly and checkers for game players of all ages. It’s a game that explores the songs that activate our memories and emotions.

Thompson, also known by his stage name “Fattie B,” is a giant in the Burlington music scene. He was part of the genre-blending group Belizbeha in the early 2000s. He’s been a local club DJ for decades and has a podcast called “3Some” airing on Big Heavy World on Tuesday evenings.

And it’s the podcast that served as the board game’s impetus. In it, Thompson gets to do his favorite thing: talk music with his guests, primarily about the stories that connect people to certain songs.

His guests — all Vermonters — dive deep into their connections to three songs in their lives and the memories they stir up.

“I honestly just did the podcast as a labor of love because I love talking music with people and music stories,” Thompson said.

That’s the basis for the game he’s calling “Drop The Needle,” a reference to playing vinyl records.

In a whirlwind two months, the podcast-turned-board-game has moved from concept to near-completion: “Drop The Needle” will be available soon.

“The questions are all picked out. I’ve got the website. I’ve got the game pieces,” Thompson said.

The impetus to create a game sprung from conversations with podcast guests and listeners who were spurred on by the podcast and continued to have deep conversations about musical memories on their own with friends.

“I had one person call me and say, ‘I had dinner with my best friend of 35 years and I learned more about him from his three song stories than I knew before he got there,’” Thompson said.

And Thompson said that bears out. “Some of these conversations, unless you’re prompted, you’re not talking about these things that had this deep impact on your life,” he said.

After Thompson’s sister shared that a friend found a podcast episode especially profound, Thompson realized its positive reverberations, and then his sister said, “You should turn this into a game.”

Thompson said he began to map out the concept in his head. “If I was going to do this, what would it look like? What would it feel like? And then I sent an email to like, 20 of my most creative friends.”

His friends populated his inbox with potential music-memory-jogging questions and prompts, then Thompson connected with a company that prints and makes games. And it’s now going into production.

Thompson said each game box will include 150 cards — each bearing attributions to his friends who submitted the questions — along with small game pieces that look like miniature 45 records as tokens for keeping track of who has told their stories.

But more than winning a round, “It’s really more about diving into these conversations, diving into these stories, having these memories flood back to you,” Thompson said.

He said he hopes the game will also bridge some divides.

“I think, most importantly, and what everyone is really relaying to me is like, this is something that the world needs right now, getting people in the same room and speaking to each other.”

Thompson said he’s imagining groups of family and friends gathered around for “a positive, you know, meeting of the minds and sharing of emotion and human connection, the questions are amazing. I think people are going to have such a blast playing it.”

Ten percent of “Drop The Needle” game sales will go to an organization called Musicians On Call. They work with artists like Noah Kahan and Stevie Wonder, who visit hospitals and bring critically ill patients a much-needed diversion with music and conversation.

And board game players will be able to get in on the questions, too. Going forward, Thompson says, there’s going to be a card in the pack with a QR code that says, “Submit your questions here,” and players can scan it and submit questions for future expansion packs.

“For me, finding a way to pay things back while I’m doing something has always been important,” Thompson said.

Drop The Needle will be available for sale on its website, as well small stores throughout New England in the coming months. Mary Williams Engisch was a guest on the “3Some” podcast in May 2025.

BURKE, Vt. (WCAX) – One person was killed and another is facing charges after a single-car crash.

Vermont State Police say it happened just before 11 p.m. Friday. They believe Luke Dudas, 21, of Lyndon, was under the influence of alcohol as he drove down Mountain Road in Burke. They also believe he was driving fast.

Police say the car went off the road, hit several trees, and flipped over.

The passenger, Whit Steen, 21, of Lyndon, was taken to the hospital with ultimately died from their injuries.

Dudas was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries, where he was arrested for driving under the influence.

He is facing the following charges:

• DUI Death Resulting
• Gross Negligent Operation with Death Resulting
• False Information to Law Enforcement.

Copyright 2025 WCAX. All rights reserved.

Four Vermont Green FC men’s players have been named by United Soccer Coaches to the 2025 Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List. David Ajagbe, Enzo Dovlo, Maximilian Kissel, and Zach Zengue are among the 31 NCAA Men’s Division I players on the list, recognized for their play in the first half of their collegiate seasons.

Ajagbe has scored six goals and added two assists in ten matches. The University of Portland winger is eighth in the nation in game-winning goals.

Dovlo currently ranks seventh in the nation in total points (20), 11th in assists (6) and 13th in goals (7). The UNCG winger also leads the SoCon in each of those statistical categories. 

Kissel has four goals and three assists in ten matches for UVM. Two of his four goals have come after the 86th minute.

Zengue is leading Georgetown in scoring with 10 goals and four assists for 24 points on the season. He is fifth in the nation in total goals, and is fifth in the country in points.

The Hermann Trophy is presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club and is the nation’s highest individual honor recognizing the National Player of the Year as determined by voting of Division I head coaches.

The 2025 midseason watch list was compiled by members of the Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List Committee. A total of 15 players will be named 2025 Hermann Trophy semifinalists on December 9 at the conclusion of NCAA Division I All-American voting. From that list, head coaches will cast votes, and three players will be named finalists. The 2025 recipient will be announced January 9, 2026, in a ceremony at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis, Mo.

Congratulations to David, Enzo, Maxi, and Zach for the midseason recognition!