Pressroom Podcast

Not sure how this happened, but for two years in a row we've started out the new year seeing what The Social Animals are up too. Lead singer Dedric Clark, a Cloquet native, tells us what it was like to go on tour with Dashboard Confessional, The All American Rejects, and also play some shows with Blues Traveler, and The Shins. Clark also shares the story behind the band's new song "Cheer up Charlie."  The group is also gearing up to play for The Current's 13th Birthday Party on Jan. 19 at First Avenue in Minneapolis. 

Nathan Holte and Alex Piazza of the Duluth band Alamode join hosts Christa Lawler and Brooks Johnson to talk about the band's debut album "Swell." The pop/disco/dance/"Slovakian folk" band is shaking things up around the Twin Ports, which has gotten really bluegrass centric.  Have an idea for the show? Email us at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

Karen Sunderman and Steve Ash of the local PBS affiliate WDSE-WRPT join us to talk about their new show "Making It Up North," which airs January 7.  The new show features entrepreneurs, musicians, artists, and many more who call the Northland home and make a living doing what they love. Sunderman and Ash talk about a few of the people they are following for this series and everyone shares what they would do for a career if they had to give everything up right now.  Have an idea for the show? Email us at podcast@duluthnews.com 

This week we look back at the year's top stories with Duluth News Tribune editor Rick Lubbers. Some of the top stories are obvious ones, like the allegations against U.S. Senator Al Franken and his resignation, or the October storm that destroyed the Lakewalk, while others are more specific to each reporter.  Hear Christa, Tom and Brady share their personal favorite, or most memorable, stories from 2017, while Rick shares the many changes the paper underwent this past year.  What stories stuck out to you? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com.

Katie Danielson and Stacey Achterhoff work with homeless youth in the Duluth School District every day.  Last year, Danielson said 488 youth in the school district were homeless. Achterhoff has 49 students along at Myers-Wilkins Elementary that are homeless this school year.  The two educators explain what their days look like working with homeless youth, what types of services they provide to the children and their families and how they keep the kids school lives as normal as possible.   

In November, Renee Van Nett was the first female Native American elected to the Duluth City Council. "I didn't even think about that part until somebody said it publicly in that language and I thought, 'Oh, really?' " said Van Nett. "It's an honor and I totally dig it, but I'm focused on getting things done." We catch up with her to see how she is preparing to take her seat on the council representing Duluth's 4th District. Van Nett shares her top priorities and how her Native American culture will help her to understand the people of her district, which included Duluth Heights, Piedmont Heights, Lincoln Park and part of West Duluth. 

He's been called "The straw that stirs the drink" in Duluth's music scene. Bob Monahan, aka Duluth's Music Mayor, visits with News Tribune reporters to talk abut the Twin Ports music scene, his music venue The Red Herring and his newest hostel venture. Not the horror movie, the trendy European way of exploring a new city without having to spend most of your money on a hotel instead of food and experiences.  Monahan describes what his hostel will look like, what it will feature and who he expects to attract as customers. 

Duluth folk musician Charlie Parr, known for his guitar playing and authenticity, recently released his 14th record. "It didn't feel good, but it was something that I needed to say. So that's exactly what this record is about," said Parr about his new album "Dog," which addresses his battle with depression and mental health.  "It's cathartic for sure. I'm glad it's out of me. ... It's not as therapeutic as I'd like it to be."  Parr shares what it's like to be a "hobo" on the road eating beans off the hood of his van and what he enjoys most about being home when he's not on tour.   

Brady Slater, Tom Olsen and Christa Lawler share their favorite moments, guests and so much more from the past two years of producing this weekly podcast for listeners in the Northland and beyond.  The crew talks about what goes on behind the scenes in our makeshift studio and what plans lie ahead for year three. 

Two years ago, to the date, the Pressroom Podcast was born. And today our very first guest joins us to reminisce about our venture into the unknown.  Just like we have changed and grown in the last two years, so has singer/songwriter/yogi Mary Bue. Since we last saw her, Bue moved away from Duluth, started her own yoga studio, got some new bandmates, and went on an artists retreat of a lifetime. Birthday Bonus: After you listen to this episode be sure to check out our bonus episode where we share our favorite moments and guest from the last two years. 

"Christmas City, wonderful city ..."  You know the rest. Dave Jensch, vice president and station manager at KBJR, joins us ahead of Friday's Christmas City of the North Parade.  "You know it's like one of the duties right up there. You know, make money. Do good journalism. And make Sure the Christmas City parade happens," Jensch said about his job. Hear the history behind the winter parade, how things work behind the scenes, and the greatest moments of the annual holiday tradition that began in the 1950s.  As always you can reach us at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

We are coming up on the anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a shipwreck many people know about. But do you know about the Mataafa, or the Socrates, or the two French minesweepers that went missing after leaving port in what is now modern day Thunder Bay? With the Gales of November upon us, Duluth News Tribune editor Andrew Krueger, who accidentally became our resident shipwreck writer and historian, joins us this week to talk about a few of the storms and wrecks you may not know about. Don't worry we also leave time to talk about ghost ships. 

"All gave some, some gave all." You may have heard these words before, especially around Veterans Day and Memorial Day. For Duluthian John Marshall, they are words he carries close to his heart every single day. Marshall, captain of the Duluth Honor Guard, joins our podcast this week to talk about a variety of issues surrounding veterans. He shares his own own experience with PTSD, what it's like to attend so many funerals (of which he went to one right after we recorded this episode), and what he thinks about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. Producer's note: This episode contains a discussion related to suicide. 

Employment equality, affordable housing, and making sure city services are accessible to all people are just a few of the things that keep Duluth Human Rights Officer Carl Crawford busy every day. On this week's episode, Crawford shares what his job is like, what things he's doing to improve the city, how he measures his success and how we are doing as a community. Have an idea or comment? Email us at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

Whether you've been reading every sentence of every news story involving the sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein or you are just tuning into the #MeToo conversation, we've got you covered on this week's episode. Erin Naughton-Garrison, volunteer coordinator at PAVSA in Duluth, joins us to talk about sexual violence in a variety of its forms - victim blaming, "boys will be boys" mentality, rape culture, dress codes, etc. She also shares what you can do if you or someone you know is in crisis and what we can all do to help support victims of sexual assault. 

She was a pathologist for 20 years before shifting her focus to shamanic healing. Duluthian Sarah Seidelmann recently released her third book "Swimming with Elephants," in which she shares her experience of shifting from physician to shamanic healer.  In this episode, Seidelmann, whose sister is well-known comedian Maria Bamford, explains what Shamanism is, how she got into it and how she has found it to help others. 

You've probably read a story or two of his before. And if you are like Pressroom Podcast hosts Brady and Christa then you may be wondering, "How does he do it?"  How does News Tribune outdoors reporter Sam Cook just embed himself in people's hunting shacks for a weekend every fall and come out with stories that resonate with just about everyone in the Northland? Well this week he tells us how he does that, how it's not as easy as it may seem and how he keeps the material fresh every year even though the subject is inherently the same. 

Would you get up in front of a room full of people and share some of your most personal stories? If you answered yes, then there is a platform for you to do so and it's right in downtown Duluth. This week Adeline Wright, owner of Adeline, Inc., tells us about her new venture Gag Me With A Spoon, which is a "public storytelling platform" that happens the second Sunday of every month at Blacklist Artisan Ales.  "I feel like we are so disconnected from actual relationships these days and I wanted to create something that was in contrast to that," said Adeline, who also shared a personal story of her own as an example of something you might hear at the event. 

The college hockey season begins in just nine days. Yesterday, September 20th, was NCHC Media Day down at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. News Tribune sports reporter Matt Wellens was down there and got a chance to talk with all eight coaches in the conference as well as some of the players.  At the end of the day, Wellens sat down with other college hockey beat writers to discuss their predictions for the 2017-18 season. 

You may have seen his videos on Perfect Duluth Day or perhaps you've seen him in the act with his scaly-orange T-shirt diving into the big lake. Amateur freediver and video enthusiast Jim Richardson, aka Lake Superior Aquaman, shares his origin story with the Pressroom Podcast this week.  With a GoPro and camera pole in hand, Richardson takes his viewers on a swim underneath the chilly waters of Lake Superior for a chance to see what many people will never see. Hear about his underwater experiences, which include swimming alongside a 3-foot muskie.   As always you can contact us a podcast@duluthnews.com