Pressroom Podcast

This week on Pressroom Podcast we have the 2017 Homegrown Music Festival closer, who also happens to be the man who survived driving off Duluth's Blatnik Bridge last winter. Duluth News Tribune reporters Christa Lawler, Brady Slater and Tom Olsen interview Mark Anderson of the Mark Anderson Trio. The jazz trio closes the week-long music festival Sunday, May 7. 

Duluth musician, columnist, and podcaster Teague Alexy visits the podcast this week to prepare us for the upcoming Homegrown Music Festival, which kicks off Sunday, April 30.  Alexy also shares his new record Circuit Sessions which comes out soon and his new podcast venture titled Wisecracks and Roadside Flats. 

Last week, the Duluth News Tribune sent a crew of four to cover the NCAA Frozen Four at United Center in Chicago to cover the University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team's run at a national championship. Even though the hometown team lost, the college hockey action did not disappoint last week. From practices, to the fan events, to the emotional post-game interviews, sports reporters Matt Wellens and Jon Nowacki, photographer Clint Austin and multimedia reporter Samantha Erkkila were there for it all.  Hear what goes on behind the scenes when covering college hockey's biggest event and what the future of the Bulldogs team look like for next season. The DNT crew also highlights their favorite hockey-related experience and their favorite Chicago tourist experiences from their six-day assignment on the road. 

The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team is headed to the NCAA Frozen Four in Chicago. Well, technically they are already there but they take the ice against Harvard tomorrow, April 6 at 5 p.m. at United Center. We caught up with UMD head coach Scott Sandelin in his office at Amsoil Arena before the team hit the road for Chicago. Hear what he had to say about this year's team, their recent bout with nail-biting overtime periods, and what his approach is going into the Frozen Four. For all your Frozen Four coverage visit duluthnewstribune.com the week of April 2-9. 

We did something a bit different this week. We took the podcast on the road.  While heading out to cover a northern Wisconsin spring tradition, three News Tribune staff who've reported on this event in the past highlight what makes this place, these people and what they are doing so great.  Tune it to see where we went.  If you'd like to hear us take more podcasts on the road email us at podcast@duluthnews.com with ideas on where we should go next. 

Duluth author, playwright and professor Tom Isbell joins us this week to talk about the release of the final book of his dystopian trilogy "The Prey." Find out how he go the idea for the series, how it feels to bring those characters to a close and if the books have a future in being adapted for the big screen.  Have an idea for a future podcast, find us on Facebook at Pressroom Podcast or email us at podcast@duluthnews.com 

Singer, songwriter Rachael Kilgour, of Duluth, recently released her newest album Rabbit in the Road, which is made up of pieces following her 2014 divorce. Kilgour shares her creative process, how music and songwriting has been therapeutic for her, and how she now sees her very personal and confessional album in a new light and perhaps a bit of a political statement. Kilgour will be back in Duluth on Sunday, March 19, for her album release at Teatro Zuccone at 7 p.m.  You can watch and listen to her playing her title track at duluthnewstribune.com. 

A new BBQ restaurant, a popular brewery, a well-respected bakery and much more. Fun, exciting and delicious things are happening in a neighborhood of Duluth that hasn't always been known for being an inviting place to hang out. Shannon Laing with Ecolibrium3 visits the podcast this week to talk about the revitalization of Lincoln Park. What we are into this week: Journalism race between the New York Times and the Washington Post, waking up earlier, secret salad Facebook groups, and knitting protest hats. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year in Minnesota - prep hockey playoffs.  Section 7A and 7AA finals are today, Wednesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 2, respectively. Designated newsroom hockey fanatic John Myers and prep sports reporter Louie St. George III join us on this week's podcast to talk about those games and the possible outcomes of this year's state tournament.  Even if you aren't a hockey superfan, you can't deny getting wrapped up in the excitement at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. At the very least you tune into the starting lineups to see the hockey hair flowing from underneath the players helmets.  We want to hear from you. Email us your feedback at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

It's been a whirlwind year for Lucie Amundsen, local egg farmer and author of the popular book "Locally Laid: How We Built a Plucky, Industry-Changing Egg Farm-From Scratch." Her book, which comes out in a paperback version on Feb. 28, has landed on numerous must-read lists. Hear what inspired her to not only get into egg farming but to write a book about it. Lucie also shares the unforgettable story about the day their birds first arrived at the farm and how the essentially had to "teach the chickens how to be chickens."  Is there a local guest you'd like to hear on the podcast? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

He was former Duluth Mayor Don Ness' right-hand man, then we went across the bridge to UW-Superior and now he is back in Duluth at Lake Superior College. This week on Pressroom Podcast we catch up with Daniel Fanning and see what he's up to these days. We grill the father-to-be of three about his future political aspirations and see what passion projects he is still involved in around the Twin Ports.  Follow us on Facebook at Pressroom Podcast and email us at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

An article was recently published in the Duluth News Tribune about a Minnesota couple that was caught driving to Duluth with plans to sexually exploit a teenage girl. In light of this article, we sought out Shunu Shrestha, trafficking program coordinator at PAVSA in Duluth, to help us become more aware of the issue of sex trafficking in the Twin Ports.  Shrestha shares what PAVSA does, how they help victims and how they can support victims' parents and family members.  Have a question for us or a suggestion on a future episode? Email us at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

You've stolen a University of Minnesota Duluth NCAA trophy. You don't stand a chance at a fair trial, so you must break out of prison.  You have one hour. Go! The Pressroom Podcast crew recently experienced the popular new realm of escape rooms at Duluth's very own Zero Hour Escape Room.  Tune in to see if we solved all the puzzles and made it out in time. Also hear from Zero Hour co-owner Justin Pohlman to see what inspired him and his friend to start their own escape room and how they got their ideas for the three games they've created.

I case you missed it, there was a march in Washington, D.C., over the weekend.  Duluth resident Abigail Mlinar was one of those in attendance. Mlinar, who also is the founder of the Feminist Action Collective in Duluth, shares her experience at the Women's March on Washington and the journey it took to get out there and back to Minnesota. We now have a Facebook page. Follow us at Pressroom Podcast to keep up to date with podcast happenings and to chat and interact with us. We want to hear from our listeners. 

You asked and our publisher answered. Duluth News Tribune publisher Neal Ronquist answers reader submitted questions about the newspaper industry, our use of social media, the future of journalism and the buzzwords that are "fake news".   

This week we are throwing it back to one of our all-time favorite Pressroom Podcast episodes. In October, during the University of Minnesota Duluth's homecoming week we talked with the man underneath the giant Bulldog head. Taylor Korum, aka Champ, has been the UMD mascot for the past five years. This hockey season is his last as Champ. You can see him this weekend when the Bulldogs take on St. Cloud State at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.  This episode also happens to be the episode when we first aired former intern Kim's introduction music for the podcast.

We are starting off the new year by getting social with local indie-rock band The Social Animals.  Dedric Clark and Tony Petersen, half of the Cloquet-bred band, stops by to talk about the band's promising outlook for 2017. A new album is expected to drop, more touring and more shows, which all leads to more CLIF Bars and gas station hard-boiled eggs being eaten out of a gold van with a clever name. Everyone shares their New Year's resolutions and Dedric and Tony let us close out the podcast with their song "Cold," which has a spontaneous backstory.  What is your favorite song by The Social Animals? Let us know by emailing us at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

Widespread devastation from summer storms, Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize, Duluth elects its first female mayor.  It's been a busy year full of breaking news. You may have seen our top stories of 2016 list in Sunday's paper, but in case you missed it we are going through them in our own words and also adding a few of our favorites that didn't make the list. Duluth News Tribune executive editor Rick Lubbers joins the podcast crew as we highlight the Northland's top moments in the last 12 months.  What do you remember from last year? What stories stuck out to you the most? Share your memories with us at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

Last week when we recorded this episode, the Northland was experiencing continuous days of temps well into the negative teens. Add the windchill to that and it was around 30 below outside. But that didn't stop this week's guest from enjoying winter activities in the snow. Because of his job, Duluth News Tribune photographer Clint Austin is regularly outside taking photos for the newspaper. But even before he gets to the newsroom, he is outside on his fat bike, or making snow at Chester Park. Hear what Clint has to say about making the most of living in Duluth and the Northland during the winter. He also shares some tips on the best clothing and how to take the best winter photos.  What is your favorite part of winter in the Northland? Do you have any tips on how to enjoy the cold and snow for those who don't especially like it? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com 

In a relatively short amount of time Duluth's Vikre Distillery has made its mark in the craft spirits industry.  Emily Vikre, co-founder of the distillery by the Aerial Lift Bridge in Canal Park with her husband Joel, joins us this week to talk about what inspires her to make the tasty cocktails featured in their cocktail room. Learn more about how the couple with very little experience in spirits started this big venture and how they decided on a name. Hint: there is more to it than just their last name. Have you been to Vikre Distillery before or tried their products? Let us know what you thought at podcast@duluthnews.com