KFAI's MinneCulture

Many of us have dreamed about being a rock star at some point - to play the guitar or drums or to belt out songs with friends. But what if that wasn’t just a dream? What if you could play and perform your favorite artists’ songs on stage and make friends along the way?KFAI’s Angela Lundberg brings us the story of a camp where rock dreams become reality.This story was written, reported, and produced by Angela Lundberg. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Find more MinneCulture on our website

We have something special to share with you today - a story from the On Our Minds podcast and the PBS Student Reporting Lab. Reporter Divya Thamman brings us the story of a unique annual tradition in Minneapolis… in celebration of a pencil. And if you liked that story, check out this season of the On Our Minds podcast. It’s an audio road trip around the country featuring student reported stories about the drag scene in Missouri to finding wonder in the regularity of life at… a Dunkin Donuts in New Jersey.Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

On Monday nights, about seventy people gather in a Lutheran church in south Minneapolis to sing. They’re part of Kith + Kin Chorus, a rock-and-roll community choir open to singers of all backgrounds and musical experience levels. Maribeth Romslo takes us inside her first season with the choir.This story was written, reported, and produced by Maribeth Romslo. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

The White Earth reservation in northwestern Minnesota was created through a treaty with the federal government in 1867. The reservation was meant to be a space where the Anishinaabe people could be protected from white settlement. But within 50 years, timber companies had moved in and stripped the land bare. Producer John Gwinn brings us the story.This story was produced by John Gwinn and narrated by Deanne Standing Cloud. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

The film Harold and Maude is generally revered as a cult classic. But it wasn’t destined to be. In fact, it originally bombed at the box office. The film probably would have never made its way into popular culture until one theater in Minneapolis decided to book it. Producer Julie Censullo tells this story of how a neighborhood theater put this almost-forgotten film on the map. This story was written, reported, and produced by Julie Censullo. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

South Minneapolis loves the May Day Cafe, a gathering spot rooted in coffee, pastries, and community. Last year, the workers converted the coffee shop into a worker-owned co-op.The co-op model is new to May Day but it isn’t new to Minneapolis, or even this neighborhood. Half a century ago, the very same storefront was home to the Powderhorn Food Community Cooperative. This co-op was part of the Minneapolis co-op movement of the 1970s, and one of many battlegrounds of the fabled co-op wars. KFAI's Joseph Mogul has the story of May Day and the long history of cooperatives in Minnesota.This story was written, reported, and produced by Joseph Mogul. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

For nearly sixty years, one man’s disappearance haunted central Minnesota, a mystery fed by rumors, dead ends, and a river that never gave up its secret. Then, in the summer of 2025, the Mississippi finally did. What surfaced wasn’t just a car: it was the answer to a question that had lingered for generations.This is Submerged: The Roy Benn Case.This story was written, reported, and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

When the Irish arrived in the brand new Minnesota territory, there were no cities waiting for them, no paved streets. Just prairie, timber, and a dream of opportunity.So they built.They built farms, carving 160-acre homesteads out of tallgrass and forest. They built communities, And at the center of it all they built a church in Jessenland. Kyle Shiely has the story of the oldest rural Irish community in Minnesota.This story was written and reported by Kyle Shiely with mixing from Noah Smith. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Stillwater Prison started publishing its own newspaper in 1887. All of it written, edited —  even funded — by incarcerated people. It’s called The Prison Mirror. It was one of the country’s first prison papers. Today it’s one of the last. We’re taking you inside prison to hear writers past and present talk about what it’s like to cover the news behind bars. But first, you need the origin story.This story was written, reported, and produced by Michelle Bruch. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Season 10 of the MinneCulture podcast is coming April 9th. This season we are exploring a decades-long Minnesota cold case, the two-year run of the movie Harold and Maude at a Minneapolis theater, the oldest prison newspaper, and many more stories from across the state. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

What happens when you add electric guitar, high energy vocals, and upbeat percussion to your ballet? For ballet companies, they hope it adds up to a lot more people in the audience. An outgrowth of rock operas, rock ballets are reimagining the art form for a modern age. KFAI’s Sheila Regan has the story. This story was written and produced by Sheila Regan. Erika Janik is the Managing Editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

If you’ve ever driven on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, down by Highland Park High School, you’ve probably seen the Highland Park Water Tower, even if you didn’t know it. Standing at 127 feet tall, it is a beautiful 1928 stone tower located on one of the highest points in St. Paul, making it the perfect place to store water, and see a unique view of the Twin Cities. Though it was decommissioned in 2017, the tower is open to the public twice a year – in July and October – so that everyone can experience the walk up to, and view from, the top of this historic building.This story was written and reported by Hans Buetow. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

Each year, the federal government holds a unique art competition with a very specific goal: to choose the most compelling original painting to become the next Federal Duck Stamp.Waterfowl hunters are required to purchase this stamp along with their hunting license. The revenue raised allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to buy and protect wetlands across the country. Over time, the contest has grown fiercely competitive. And this past year, Chaska artist Jim Hautman [rhymes with “caught-men”] claimed his seventh win.Among outdoor enthusiasts and duck hunters, Jim Hautman is a well-known name. In fact, he’s so well known he even gets a mention in the movie Fargo. KFAI’s Alison Young has the story. This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's managing editor. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

In the 1990s for a brief four years, the radio station 93.7 The Edge popped up and imprinted itself onto the minds and hearts of many young Minnesotans who were aching for new music: The Cranberries, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and No Doubt. Radio back then wasn’t just a way to listen to music, but to discover music. The station also hosted EdgeFest, which forged even stronger memories. Every generation has a nostalgic love for the music of their youth and Edge fans are no different. KFAI’s Matthew Schneeman talked to these fans, now all grown up, about their love for The Edge and nineties alt-rock. This was story was reported and produced by Matthew Schneeman. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. Today, we're headed to Lake Maria State Park.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

There are many ways to cover a song—you can cover it in your own style or mix things up by playing it in a different genre. But there’s one way of doing that often gets overlooked: doing it exactly like the original. The 90s cover band You Oughta Know takes on that challenge of replicating 90s hits. And the effect is a time traveling lightning bolt of nostalgia. KFAI’s Matthew Schneeman met up with the band to see their tricks and techniques first hand.This was story was reported and produced by Matthew Schneeman. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. Today, we're headed to Blue Mounds State Park.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sound baths are a meditative practice that uses resonant instruments like singing bowls, gongs, and chimes to create experiences that offer a unique path to calm and connection. In recent years, sound baths have been popping up all over Minnesota. KFAI’s Sheila Regan went to check it out.This story was written and produced by Sheila Regan. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's Managing Editor. Find more MinneCulture stories on our website.Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. The second in the series is called "Summer at Grand Portage." In this piece, a short hike reveals the forces that shaped the land as well as the enduring human respect for that land which has long dictated travel, history, and preservation along Minnesota’s North Shore.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Since the 1890s, the Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota has produced an abundance of iron ore. The mines attracted all kinds of workers, including immigrants. One group that was harder to find in the mines, though... were women. Lynn Henderson was one of the first women to work on the range starting in the 1970s. KFAI's Gina Favano caught up with Lynn to learn what those times were like.This story was reported and produced by Gina Favano. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's Managing Editor. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

We have something a little different to share with you - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers, Alison Young, received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State ParksIt’s called “Art of the State (Parks)" and we’re going to share them with you.Up first, Spring at Lake Itasca. Here, a night of near-solitude becomes a reflection on spring’s renewal and the fragile, hard-won legacy of preservation that allows this landscape to remain alive and vibrant today.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For the past twenty years, Project Get Outdoors — or Project GO — has been dedicated to connecting children with the natural world.Based in Wabasha, Project GO’s mission is to use nature to build cognitive skills, spark creativity, and support overall health and wellbeing. The organization champions the Minnesota Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights and develops high-quality curriculum and programming designed to help young people form lasting relationships with the outdoors.Founder and program coordinator Sara Holger was inspired by Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” She launched Project GO by creating an after-school program for migrant Latino youth in the small agricultural community of Plainview, Minnesota, offering students opportunities to explore nature that were largely unavailable to them.Today, Project GO has served more than 50,000 children who often lack access to traditional outdoor programs because of race or socio-economic barriers. Working with more than 50 community action groups across Minnesota, the nonprofit continues to connect young people with meaningful outdoor experiences, inspiring a sense of stewardship and helping them carry the benefits of time in nature into the future. KFAI's Alison Young went to check it out.This story was reported and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Every Tuesday night, Choir Walk with Me gathers to practice. The group’s name comes from the David Lynch film Fire Walk With Me. The small group sings a diverse mix of songs and prides itself on celebrating the esoteric and weird. KFAI’s Angela Lundberg brings us the story.This story was produced by Angela Lundberg and mixed and edited by MinneCulture Managing Editor, Erika Janik. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the Minneculture tab on KFAI.org

The Augie Garcia Quintet played rock ‘n’ roll in 1954 before they knew what to call it — Augie described their sound as rhythm-and-blues with a shuffle and a “hard sock.” The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame says the band likely recorded Minnesota’s first rock record.Raised at the West Side Flats in St. Paul, Augie became known as a showman who danced on the piano and dressed year-round in Bermuda shorts tailored by his mother. He assembled a strong group of musicians that included Willie Brown on sax, Maurice Turner on bass (Prince’s uncle) and James “Cornbread” Harris (producer Jimmy Jam’s father). This story was written and reported by Michelle Bruch. Erika Janik is the Managing Editor of MinneCulture. Find more MinneCulture stories on our websiteMusic credit: “Drinking Wine Spoli Oli,” performed by the Augie Garcia Quintet. “Hello Baby,” performed by the Augie Garcia Quintet. Used with permission from the Garcia family.Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Inspired by his love of punk and garage band music of the 1980s, Jon Clifford started a hair salon by Loring Park in Minneapolis in 2011. It’s a funky, one-of-a-kind place helmed by a funky, one-of-a-kind guy filled with music and Minnesota music memorabilia. Jon later partnered with John Kass to add a record store focusing on local music next to the salon, and HiFi Hair and Records was born. Jon says it has “the best waiting room in the city.”A welcoming place for a hair cut, the salon is filled with Jon’s craftsmanship, humor, quirkiness, creativity, and a feel good sense of community. KFAI's Dixie Treichel has the story.Find more stories on our websiteSupport for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

If you only know MinneCulture as a seasonal podcast, you're in for a treat. Between seasons, we make shorter stories that we call 10,000 Fresh Voices. These stories cover all kinds of things from a synchronized swim team to a scheme to build a domed city in the Minnesota woods. And we're going to start sharing them with you here. Welcome to MinneCulture Shorts! This episode features three stories highlighting some amazing Minnesota women. The stories in this episode were written and produced by: Britt Aamodt "Miss C.H. Lippincott: Seedswoman of Minneapolis" Diane Richard "How a Grunge-Glam Designer Survived Project Runway"Emily Bright "Meow! The Kids Book That Changed The Genre Forever"KFAI's MinneCulture is hosted and edited by Erika Janik. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.Subscribe to the KFAI newsletter

When freedom seekers stepped off the steamboat in St. Paul, local people of color met them at the landing. Underground Railroad agents worked as barbers, musicians, laundresses, steamboat stewards and cooks. Some of these residents had never been enslaved and grew up in eastern cities. Others fled the South to settle in Minnesota — a territory that was supposed to be free, yet tolerated slavery within its borders. Local sheriffs and Southern enslavers spent weeks offering bribes to find people sheltered in places like the church belfry, the ice cream saloon, a horse stable hayloft and the home of William and Adeline Taylor. In the season 9 finale of MinneCulture, historians share the little-known story of St. Paul’s Underground Railroad. This episode was written and produced by Michelle Bruch. MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Citations:‘Reminiscences of the Underground Railway,’ St. Paul Pioneer Press May 5, 1895; ‘When St. Paul was an Underground Station’ St. Paul Globe April 16, 1905; National Park Service website: Lambert’s Landing; Shaving saloon advertisement, The Minnesota Pioneer July 3, 1851; Biographical sketches of William Taylor, Joseph Farr, AB Brackett from ‘Pen pictures of St. Paul’ by T.M. Newson; ‘A sheaf of remembrances’ by Rebecca Cathcart; ‘Here, everybody dances’ by Bob Skiba, Minnesota History Magazine; ‘Joseph Farr Remembers the Underground Railroad in St. Paul’ edited by Deborah Swanson for Minnesota History Magazine; Story by Mamie Ruth Butler, St. Paul Recorder May 27, 1949; ‘Slavery in the Upper Mississippi Valley, 1787-1865’ by Christopher P Lehman; ‘Dred Scott’s Case’ by Vincent C Hopkins; ‘American State Trials’ by John D Lawson; Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), National Archives website; ‘Admission of Minnesota into the Union,’ Minnesota Secretary of State website; Letter from Moses Dickson, Minnesota Weekly Times March 28, 1857; ‘Manual of the International Order of Twelve and Knights and Daughters of Tabor’ by Rev. Moses Dickson; Historic consumer price index data, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis website; ‘Slavery’s Reach’ by Christopher P Lehman; ‘Our Colored Citizens,’ St. Paul Pioneer Press Dec 11 1887; ‘Seventeen more killed,’ The Weekly Pioneer and Democrat August 29, 1862; ‘Through Dakota Eyes: Narrative accounts of the Minnesota Indian War of 1862’ edited by Gary Clayton Anderson and Alan R Woolworth; Letter from Little Crow to Henry Sibley dated September 7, 1862 from Minnesota Historical Society; ‘History of the Sioux War and massacres of 1862 and 1863’ by Isaac V. D. Heard; Minnesota Territorial and State Census records; ‘US-Dakota War of 1862,’ Minnesota Historical Society websites; Story reports William Taylor among those killed, The Saint Paul Daily Press September 2, 1862; Adeline Taylor visits family, The Minneapolis Tribune April 15, 1887; Adeline Taylor visits Lake Harriet, Western Appeal August 11, 1888; Minnesota, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990 database, FamilySearch website; ‘Gone to her rest,’ St Paul Pioneer Press Jan 21 1895; Notice of Joseph Farr’s death, Stillwater Daily Gazette December 30, 1910; ‘A most highly respected citizen gone to his reward,’ The Appeal December 31, 1910; National Park Service: National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom website; ‘The Ground Swallowed Them Up: Slavery and the Underground Railroad in York County, Pa.’ by Scott Mingus; ‘It took courage’ by Christopher P Lehman; ‘Degrees of Freedom’ by William D Green; ‘Hester Patterson, Freedom Seeker’ by Sue Hunter Weir, The Alley Newspaper Jan 3 2025; VocalEssence WITNESS Teacher Resource Guide 2016-17: Underground Railroad.Images from Saint Paul Pioneer Press May 5 1895; Hennepin County Library; Murphy Library Special Collections/ARC, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.River audio by klankbeeld via freesound.org.“I Got My Ticket” performed by the Traveller Home Singers and “The Old Ship of Zion” performed by the Holloway High School Quartet from the John Work Collection (AFC 1941/035) at the Library of Congress.“Steal Away” and “Swing low, sweet chariot” performed by the Tuskegee Institute Singers, available courtesy of Library of Congress, National Jukebox.“Wade in the water” and “Moses, Moses Don’t Get Lost” performed by the Georgia Sea Island Singers and recorded by Alan Lomax. Published by Global Jukebox Publishing, BMI; used with permission of Global Jukebox Publishing, courtesy of the Lomax Archives.“Who Will Be A Witness” arranged by Joel Thompson and performed by VocalEssence.Instrumental music “Jadie Grange,” “Neatly Folded,” “A Pulse of Rain” and “Under Cover of Night” by Blue Dot Sessions.“The Gift to Sing,” poetry by James Weldon Johnson, composed by Emily Feld and performed by VocalEssence.“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” performed by Joe Carter for the On Being with Krista Tippett episode "Joe Carter, The Spirituals," originally aired May 9, 2003, rebroadcast August 9, 2018. Used with permission. 

The Mississippi River is one of the defining geographic features of our state. The river's headwaters begin up north in Lake Itasca and meander for 650 miles through the cities, bluffs, forests and iron ranges of Minnesota, before crossing the border into Wisconsin and Iowa. The River has long captured our imagination. And, for many, it has provided a home.Boathouse communities, though less common today, have long formed up and down the river. These enclaves of shanty boats and floating homes provide affordable living and organic community for residents. Producer Gina Favano spent 10 years living in a boathouse on Latsch Island, home to the only legally sanctioned year round habitable boathouse community left on the Mississippi. She has documented the story of a floating neighborhood, their struggle to maintain their legality, and the people who call it home.This story was written and produced by Gina Favano. Portions of this episode were originally published on Gina's podcast Back Channel Radio. Gina is currently writing a book about Latch Island based on her reporting, which you can learn more about here. Special thanks to Suzanne Hogan of KCUR in Kansas City, who was the original producer for the Back Channel Radio podcast.MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

The M.A. Gedney Pickling Company was established in Minneapolis in 1881 by a man named Matthias Gedney. The Gedney Company contracted with hundreds of Minnesota farmers to grow the cucumbers used for their pickle products. Many of the farmers, in turn, ended up paying their children to pick the cucumbers as part of their summer chores, using the money to pay for school clothes and other needed items for the family. In the later 20th century, the Gedney Company identified itself as the Minnesota Pickle. The company partnered with the Minnesota State Fair to market it’s “State Fair” Pickle line, taking winning recipes from the Fair and selling them in stores. Producer John Gwinn tells this story of the M.A. Gedney Pickling Company and its impact on our state. This episode was written and produced by John Gwinn. Additional edit and mix support provided by Mason Butler.MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Chinese food is a staple of the American diet. But the story of how Chinese food became popular in the United States – and specifically in Minnesota – is a story of racism, mixed identity, adaptation, and cultural preservation. This story from producer Sheila Regan traces the history of Chinese cuisine in Minnesota — from the Canton Cafe in the 19th century to iconic establishments like the Nankin Cafe, from canned chow mein products produced in Duluth to the beloved fast casual Leeann Chin. Minnesota’s relationship with Chinese food is both complicated and delicious.This piece is possible thanks to the digital collections of both the Minnesota Historical Society and the Hennepin County Library, as well as MNHS's Gale Family Library. Sarah Refo Mason’’s archival interviews and writings were invaluable in putting together this piece. The idea for this piece came from the play “Blended Harmony: The Kim Loo Sisters” by Jessica Huang, produced by Theater Mu and the History Theater. Huang’s source material was a book called Just Us Girls by Leslie Li, who is interviewed for this piece. MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious and infectious disease. As the Trump administration freezes foreign aid, tuberculosis is resurgent worldwide. In Minnesota, the numbers are falling with 21 Minnesota counties reporting a total of 160 new cases of active tuberculosis last year. But those numbers are still chilling when you consider that there was a time when TB was the leading cause of death. Before antibiotics were discovered and offered a cure for TB, the only weapon available to stop its spread was to identify and isolate the sick.Here in Minnesota beginning in the 1930’s we have woman to thank for helping control the disease in the state: Dr. Kathleen Jordan. Dr. Jordan developed an early form of contact tracing, working to detect the illness before it became active.This was at a time when few women sought careers in medicine. But having contracted the disease herself, Dr. Jordan was on a mission. From her base in Granite Falls, she traveled the state to test mostly children since they were often good predictors of latent TB in the family. Her success in identifying the sick is not simply attributed to her expertise and skill. She had a trustworthy nature that was warm, gentle and grandmotherly. Coupled with a clever way of handling her youthful subjects, she had little trouble convincing Minnesotans of the importance of having their children tested. By the time of her death at the age of 92, she tested over 1.5 million Minnesota children and her pioneering work helped to greatly reduce the number of cases in the state and eradicate the need for sanatoriums. This episode was written and produced by Alison Young. MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Between 1925 and 1945, 2,204 people — 77% of whom were women — were eugenically sterilized in Minnesota. Minnesota's sterilization program targeted "sexually promiscuous" women and impoverished people. The intended goal of the program was to lessen poverty and welfare costs by ending the family lines of people deemed "immoral" or "feebleminded." A woman named Rose DeChaine was sterilized by this program. But her sterilization didn't end or fix any of her family's problems. Instead, Rose's time in the system set off a chain of hurt and dislocation that continues to echo throughout her family into the present day.This story was written and produced by Matthew Schneeman. Special thanks to Molly Ladd-Taylor whose research inspired and shaped this piece. Ladd-Taylor also provided an introduction to John Erickson, whose family's story is featured prominently in this episode.MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

In the Mississippi River, between the Franklin Avenue and Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridges, sits an abandoned ruin. The ruin is almost invisible from the river bank. You may never know it exists unless you’re paddling directly on top of it, or avoiding its edges in a motor boat. The ghostly structure was once a fully operational lock and dam, the very first built on the Upper Mississippi River: The Meeker Island Lock and Dam.In the season 9 premiere, producer Lydia Moran inspects this industrial ruin to understand why and how the slow moving river we know today was "invented" at the turn of the 20th century. Plans to remove the Upper Mississippi’s locks and dams might reinvent the river once again.This episode was written and produced by Lydia Moran. Mixing by Kalen Keir. Special thanks to Paddle Bridge Kayak Tours.MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Season 9 of MinneCulture drops on March 27. This season features:lots of local food historystories about life and commerce along the Mississippi Rivera Minnesota woman who developed a new form of contact tracing for tuberculosisa barber and fiddler who helped run the Underground Railroad in Minnesotaa haunting story about Minnesota's 20th century sterilization programa jingle for pickles that will get stuck in your head....and so much more!Stories by Michelle Bruch, Gina Favano, John Gwinn, Lydia Moran, Sheila Regan, Matthew Schneeman, and Alison Young. Hosted by John Gebretatose. Edited by Julie Censullo.MinneCulture is a production of KFAI - Fresh Air Community Radio in Minneapolis, MN. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

In the 1970s, lesbian and feminist organizations popped up in cities across the nation. Minneapolis and Saint Paul were no exception. Here in the Twin Cities, the Amazon Feminist Book Store, Lesbian Resource Center, and Lesbian Feminist Organizing Committee all provided space and community for newly out lesbians and queer women.At the same time, a small network of transgender women started their own type of organizing, one that relied more on mutual support than a physical meeting place.But these groups weren’t mutually exclusive. In the late 1970s, a trans woman named Sissy Potter tried to join a lesbian feminist group called A Woman’s Coffee House. She’s probably not the only one, either. On the season 8 finale of MinneCulture from producer Kira Schukar, Sissy’s letter sparks a conversation about feminism, gender, and transfeminism in the Twin Cities and beyond.Content warning: This podcast contains a transphobic slur and comments.MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage fFund.Music from Blue Dot Sessions:Silver Lanyard by BittersBorough by MoleriderTwo Pound by MuffulettaEggs and Powder by MuffalettaDowdy by MuffalettaTrue Shape by MuffalettaSources:“2023 Anti-Trans Legislation.” Trans Legislation Tracker, https://translegislation.com/bills/2023. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.2023 State Equality Index: A Review of State Legislation Affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Community and a Look Ahead in 2024. Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2024, https://reports.hrc.org/2023-state-equality-index?_ga=2.7211186.1288380725.1706647812-211073266.1705959553.Enke, Finn. “Collective Memory and the Transfeminist 1970s: Toward a Less Plausible History.” TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, vol. 5, no. 1, Feb. 2018, pp. 9–29.---. Finding the Movement: Sexuality, Contested Space, and Feminist Activism. Duke University Press, 2007.---. “Smuggling Sex through the Gates: Race, Sexuality, and the Politics of Space in Second Wave Feminism.” American Quarterly, vol. 55, no. 4, Dec. 2003, pp. 635–67.Franklin, Michael David, et al., editors. Queer Twin Cities. University of Minnesota Press, 2010.Grossman, Mary Ann. “Pioneering True Colors Feminist Bookstore Expected to Close in February.” Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 27 Dec. 2011, https://www.twincities.com/2011/12/27/pioneering-true-colors-feminist-bookstore-expected-to-close-in-february/.McNaron, Toni. “About Toni.” Toni McNaron, https://tonimcnaron.com/about/. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.Van Cleve, Stewart. Land of 10,000 Loves: A History of Queer Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, 2012.Whitaker, Jan. “‘Way Out’ Coffeehouses.” Restaurant-Ing Through History, 28 Sept. 2009, https://restaurant-ingthroughhistory.com/2009/09/28/way-out-coffeehouses/.

Take a dive into comedic history in this story about the beginnings of the Brave New Workshop. The Brave New Workshop was founded by a former circus former named Dudley Riggs. In the mid 20th century, a new kind of humor was taking the world by storm, and Riggs tapped into the zeitgeist of improvisation that had no limits. KFAI's Sheila Regan weaves together the voices of past and present company members, archival audio, and an interview with Riggs himself in this celebration of comedy that speaks to its time. MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

KSTP-AM is one of Minnesota’s oldest and formerly most successful radio stations. By the 90's, it had been mostly forgotten, as fans flocked to FM. While music fans enjoyed the stereophonic sounds on the other side of the dial, a new form of radio program began to emerge. Before long, talk radio flourished across the United States, and nowhere was it strong than at “The Talk Station.” Fueled by a desire to shake up the radio landscape, Hubbard Broadcasting’s Ginny Morris took charge of the station and hired a new set of voices in the Twin Cities to break up the status quo. It was an eclectic cast of characters, and none of them were more unique than Tommy Mischke. Left to his own devices and given the keys to a late night kingdom, the renegade broadcaster blazed his own path. Hear from his colleagues and managers to get the inside story about what made The Mischke Broadcast one of Minnesota’s favorite radio shows, it’s legacy and why it’s a show that could only happen here.Today, Tommy Mischke might be known as a podcaster and book author, but long before that he known by Twin Cities radio fans as only “The Phantom Caller.” This documentary was produced Kyle Shiely and edited by Julie Censullo. Hear more classic Mischke bits at MischkeMadness.com and keep up with Tommy at the Mischke Roadshow, available wherever you get your podcasts. Find more of Kyle’s work at kyleshiely.com. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo.

Minnesota was the first state to take Big Tobacco to trial in 1998. The biggest lawsuit in the state’s history forced the tobacco industry to take down cigarette billboards and release millions of internal documents that filled a Minneapolis warehouse.When vaping e-cigarettes gained popularity among youth in the late 2010s, the Minnesota Attorney General’s office sued again, this time against market leader Juul Labs and the company’s Big Tobacco investor Altria. The lawsuit lifted thousands of new tobacco documents into the public archive.KFAI's Michelle Bruch talked to people who worked on both trials — on both sides of the case — 25 years apart.Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Season 8 of MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo.Music: 'Ants in my pants' - SUPERARE

Mike Sawyer fell in love with old folk music in his 20s, picking up the banjo and playing at festivals and jams around the state. But after a while, he began to wonder why nearly all the songs he and his fellow musicians were playing came from Appalachia and the South. What happened to early musical traditions from Minnesota? Now, Mike’s on a mission to uncover the roots of Upper Midwest folk music and keep it alive for future generations.This documentary was produced by Britta Greene and James Napoli, and edited by Julie Censullo. Special thanks to Jim Leary and the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for sharing many of the audio recordings included in this piece, including from the Down Home Dairyland recordings. Additional thanks to Rob McGinley Myers, Nancy Rosenbaum, Sophie Nikitas, Cris Anderson and members of the Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers. You can find more of Mike’s research and recordings on his websites: Upper Midwest Old Time and the Midwest Fiddle Tunes Project. Season 8 of MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Every year, people on a canoe trip to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) need to be rescued from a dangerous situation. In modern times, the call for help can come from a cell phone, a satellite phone, or an emergency beacon like a Garmin inReach. But it wasn't always this easy to help people who recreate across the canoe-country wilderness. In this story from KFAI producer Joe Friedrichs, we learn about the history of search and rescue operations inside the most visited wilderness area in the nation, the Boundary Waters. --MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. MinneCulture is a production of KFAI. Support for MinneCulture has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Peter Jesperson is a music legend. Born in Minnesota, Jesperson was a seminal figure in the Minneapolis punk and new wave scene of the 1970's and 1980's. He co-founded Twin/Tone Records, worked at Oar Folkjokeopus record store and the Jay's Longhorn bar, and is credited with discovering the Replacements. He later served as the band's manager.In "Lost in the Songs," producer Todd Melby interviews Jesperson about his love affair with music, his relationship with the Replacements, and his addictions.---Breakmaster Cylinder composed two of the songs in this documentary. Their work can be found at BreakmasterCylinder.com. Other music was by The Replacements, Patti Smith, The Safaris and the Suicide Commandos.Peter Jesperson’s book is titled “Euphoric Recall.” It was published by MNHS Press.Audio mastered by Alex Simpson.For more of Todd's work, check out toddmelby.comMinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

MinneCulture is BACK for season 8! This season, we are bringing you 7 brand new audio documentaries about the people, places, and cultural phenomena that make Minnesota...well, Minnesota. Make sure you're subscribed to MinneCulture so you don't miss any of these fascinating stories about our state.Season 8 is produced by Michelle Bruch, Joe Friedrichs, Britta Greene, Todd Melby, James Napoli, Sheila Regan, Kira Schukar, and Kyle Shiely. Hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. MinneCulture is a production of KFAI. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

In the most basic sense, what’s commonly referred to as “the fur trade” was a period of cultural and economic exchange between Native Americans and European Americans, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. As the pages of history were put down, one aspect that was continually overlooked is the role women played at home, in the woods, and throughout many aspects of life during the fur trade. The simple truth is that Indigenous women actively contributed to the success of the North American fur trade, according to Karl Koster, a Minnesota historian who specializes in the history of the iconic fur trade. In this MinneCulture In-Depth feature, KFAI contributor Joe Friedrichs explores the role of women during the fur trade as told through the lens of a Grand Marais woman, Laura Powell Marxen. Laura continues to trap and sell fur on Minnesota's North Shore, much like her great-grandmother, Mary Ottertail, did in the early 1900s near what is now the end of the Gunflint Trail. Season 7 of the MinneCulture podcast is edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo and hosted by John Grebretatose. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

By 1965, the Beatles were the biggest music group in the world. They sold millions of records. They recorded songs that were not only popular but also took music in new directions. And everywhere they went, they stirred up an excitement so hysterical and commonplace there was a word for it: Beatlemania. Minnesota fans had fallen in love with the Lads from Liverpool the moment they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964. But the Beatles passed Minnesota by on their first North American tour, and there was no guarantee they would stop by on their second. But they did. This is the story of how the Beatles came to Minnesota for one magical and madcap night in August 1965 from the people who were there. KFAI's Britt Aamodt has the story. Season 7 of the MinneCulture podcast is edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo and hosted by John Gebretatose Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Archives tell an important story. The people in them—and the people left out—say a lot about our politics, culture, and consciousness. In the 20th century, it wasn’t uncommon for archivists to choose which artifacts made it into the official record based on what they thought defined our history. This means that a lot of people—especially queer people—were left out of the archives. Their lives were erased. But over the last few decades, historians are uncovering those queer lives. In this episode of MinneCulture, KFAI’s Kira Schukar takes us into the Minnesota Historical Society archives to share a story about love, letters, and resilience. Spanning almost 100 years, this narrative follows a first lady, a philanthropist, and the queer activists who wanted their story to be told. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Season 7 of the MinneCulture podcast is edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo and hosted by John Gebretatose. Photo: Rose Cleveland and Evangeline Simpson Whipple: https://www.masshist.org/collection-guides/view/fap033 Music Credits: Inamorata by Blue Dot Sessions Game Hens by Blue Dot Sessions McCarthy by Blue Dot Sessions Palms Down by Blue Dot Sessions

Today on MinneCulture, we’re headed all the way back to 1900, when Minneapolis was a very different place than it is now. As the mill capital of the world, Minneapolis was packed to the brim with seasonal workers, thriving brothels, and scheming card sharks. But to Mayor Albert Alonzo Ames, it was just a piggy bank waiting to be smashed open. Over the course of a year and a half, Ames turned the Minneapolis Police Department into the most powerful crime ring the city had ever seen. KFAI's Tony Williams has the story. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Season 7 of the MinneCulture podcast is edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo and hosted by John Gebretatose. Special Thanks: Erik Rivenes Diedre Hammond Adam Franti Sam Hills Julie Censullo Bibliography: The Shame of Minneapolis: The Ruin And Redemption of a City That Was Sold Out (1903) Lincoln Steffens Introduction by Mark Neuzil, Ph.D. for Minnesota Legal History Project, 2011 Proceedings of the Detroit Conference for Good City Government and the Ninth Annual Meeting of the National Municipal League (1903) William A. Frisbie, City Editor, Minneapolis Journal The Minneapolis House-Cleaning (pp. 109 – 117) City Bosses in the United States; A Study of Twenty Municipal Bosses (1930) Harold Zink Minneapolis in the Twentieth Century (2010) Iric Nathanson Chapter 2: The Shame of Minneapolis (pp. 66 – 106) Minneapolis Madams: The Lost History of Prostitution on the Riverfront (2013) Penny A. Petersen Dirty Doc Ames and the Scandal that Shook Minneapolis (2018) Erik Rivenes A.A. Ames (2022) Military History Wiki https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/A._A._Ames A.A. Ames (2022) Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._A._Ames Ames, Albert Alonzo, “Doc, A.A.” (2022) Minnesota Legislative Reference Library https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=10892 Music Sources: All music in the public domain, audio restoration by Tony Williams Library of Congress National Jukebox The Great 78 Project, Internet Archive Soundtrack, by order of appearance: Narcissus – Sousa’s Band (1902) Victor Record 354 Let Me Call You Sweetheart – Columbia Quartette (1911) Columbia Record A1057 Old Comrades March – Columbia Band (1900) Columbia Record A1608 Marching Through Georgia – Columbia Band (1901) Columbia Record A107 The Holy City – Henry Burr (1900) Columbia Record A242 God Save The King – Columbia Band (1902) Columbia Record A65 Calvary – Baritone Solo (1900) Columbia Record A267 Rubenstein’s Melody in F – Alexander Heindl (1901) Victor Monarch Record 3030 Come Out, Dinah, On The Green – Harry Macdonough (1901) Victor Monarch Record 1099 Poet and Peasant Overture – Sousa’s Band (1902) Victor Monarch Record 1552 Trumpet Quartette – Columbia Band (1900) Columbia Record 373 A Little Bit Off The Top – Ed Favor (1900) Victor Record A195 Then You’ll Remember Me – Tenor Solo (1901) Columbia Record A343

The history of the Animal Humane Society offers a jaw-dropping glimpse into Minneapolis life in the late 1800s. This was a time when horses struggled to pull loads up Lowry Hill and dogs at the pound were drowned in the Mississippi River. As part of a national movement, the humane society formed to prosecute cruelty to animals — and they prosecuted cruelty to children too. Investigating hundreds of cases, humane agents became the state’s first social workers and probation officers. This story traces Minnesota’s relationship to animals, from the workhorse era to the pandemic-puppy era. Produced by Michelle Bruch.Season 7 of the MinneCulture podcast is edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo and hosted by John Gebretatose. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Historic photos courtesy of the Animal Humane Society; Music “Lissa” by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).

reputations. Forty years ago, the two were part of the vibrant African American Cultural Center, a place where Black Art was being nurtured, rediscovered, and celebrated. In today's episode, Sheila Regan explores the Center's history and it's legacy. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Season 7 of the MinneCulture podcast is edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo and hosted by John Gebretatose.

Eva Valesh was only 22 when she first went undercover to report on women workers in the 1880s, under the pseudonym Eva Gay in the St. Paul Globe. Each week, she would either sneak into a workplace to speak to the workers, or she would simply fabricate her references and apply to a job herself. She visited clothing factories, laundries, dress-shops, dry goods stores, and food factories. Often, she encountered women being exploited or working in dangerous conditions. Eva fought for the workers and helped them fight for themselves. In this episode, reporter Ben Heath explores Valesh’s work, and the role of investigative journalism on the labor movement of the late 19th century. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Season 7 of the MinneCulture podcast is edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo and hosted by John Gebretatose.

In the late 1800’s, European immigrants — mostly German and Scandinavian — flooded Minnesota, and the population boomed like few other times in history. This new majority of people in a new land needed myths and stories to fill in the blanks about why and how they came here. Like the story of Kensington Runestone. A purportedly 'discovered' rune stone that proved that Nordic expires made it to Minnesota in the year 1362. In this episode, reporter Matthew Schneeman dives into the connection between the stone and Minnesota's white population, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of folk archeology. Music from "Runestone! A Rock Musical": https://garyrue.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-runestone-a-rock-musicalSupport for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. Season 7 of MinneCulture is edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo and hosted by John Gebretatose. For more information about KFAI's MinneCulture, check out kfai.org/minneculture.