“Literature is not the same thing as publishing. We’re in the literature business and publishing is one thing that we do.” Chris Fischbach talks about taking over leadership of an organization, the health of print and the challenge of getting someone to actually purchase a specific book. He also excitedly talks about the work of Kao Kalia Yang and …

“My gauge of success is how do I feel on Sunday nights and Monday mornings.” In this episode, Chief Experience Officer at Clockwork Chuck Hermes talks about how he got started doing graphic design as a night manager at Prince's legendary Paisley Park studios. He talks about building an art department and how he transitioned from visual design to di…

"You can make better art when you listen to community voices." Leah Cooper is Co-Artistic Director of Wonderlust Productions. She has been directing, producing, and performing in theater for thirty years. She was the director for the Veterans Play Project, a collaboration between Footprints Collective, Mixed Blood Theatre and Bedlam Theatre. Locall…

“Anytime I want to feel better I just need a stage.” On this episode, singer/songwriter Katy Vernon talks about depression, her fairly new relationship with sobriety, how she went from writing songs in her head to process life to being an actual artist and what parenting is like for someone who lost both parents before adulthood. Born and raised in…

“By having a plan B, it weakens your plan A.” Kory LaQuess Pullam was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. He earned his BFA at Stephen F. Austin State University in 2013. Leaving the collegiate nest, Kory moved to Chicago and worked with Raven Theatre, Light Opera Works, The Gift Theatre, and Porchlight Music Theatre in their Jeff-nominated p…

"If you have an idea for a podcast, please make it." On this episode of the podcast, Hans Buetow talks a lot about podcasting. He talks about the specifics of working in that medium and how it's different from radio work. Hans talks about the iterative nature of relationships and creative work, the messes and mistakes that are always in the wake of…

“In India I think everyone is pretty much always dancing.” Divya Maiya and Madhu Bangalore talk about their marriage, their work with Bollywood Dance Scene and how the two intersect. Bollywood Dance Scene was formed in 2012 by Divya Maiya, Rashi Mangalick and Jinal Vakil, three dynamic Indian dancers who wanted to share their love of movement and I…

“This has been a year of understanding resilience and how humor is part of processing something as dark and deep as suicide.” Shannon Forney is working at the intersection of creativity, creative placemaking, entrepreneurialism, small business, nonprofit management, and clown. On this episode of the podcast, Shannon talks about the work clown train…

“I don’t have to be only about this rigid, tough-guy masculinity that was passed down in my neighborhood, I’m into poetry.” Jake Virden learned anti-racism and a love for hip-hop music and culture at a very young age. On this episode of the podcast, Jake talks about growing up in Northeast Minneapolis amidst a huge cultural shift in that area and i…

Nina Simon is inspiring speaker, writer and thinker who started changing the way museums and cultural institutions do and think about their work when she started her Museum 2.0 blog over a decade ago. In this episode of the podcast, Nina talks about writing and sharing her latest book "The Art of Relevance" and how she came to her working definitio…

“If your son says you’re a bear, you’re a bear.” Jon Ferguson talks about how his desire to move and imagine and create caused expulsion from school but its what propels his work as an artist in adulthood. He shares how his early creative experiences as an adolescent listening to a walkman on road trips and imagining scenarios, chases, rescues, rom…

Tina North talks about being the mother of a young graphic artist and how her work has influenced his connection to the arts, “when he was in utero, I was in a show.” What it’s like to grow up with a father who is a working musician and a mother who is a makeup artist and how that made her less likely to wear makeup day to day. Also, the creativity…

Raised by a professional dancer and a rock drummer, Rick Ausland has been performing percussion and tap dancing since he was a child. Rick is a tap dancer, teacher, choreographer, bucket drummer, audio and video editor, magician and theater and event producer. Rick got his start performing live as a street performer alongside his brother Andy. In 2…

“I think people connected with me better… because I was honest.” In this episode, Saymoukda Vongsay aka Mooks talks about being a refugee, nicknames, transitioning from being a poet to a playwright and why she's totally fine with always being labeled a Lao artist. Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay is an award-winning Lao American poet, playwright, and…

“I’m really writing about my experience of watching the thing.” David Roth is a writer and editor living in New York City. He has written for many different things for many different outlets, from sports trading cards to print advertising material to magazine features. David has written and edited for a host of different online and print venues, in…

“The thing that scares me, that’s actually the direction that I need to pursue.” Paul Riedner was a deep-sea diver in the U.S. Army who served in the Middle East. He's currently the Executive Director of Veteran Resilience Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Minnesota veterans get free access to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (…

“If someone is going to think less of you for not knowing something, they can suck it.” On this podcast Molly Mogren Katt talks about anxiety, getting out of one’s comfort zone. She talks about how facing your fears regularly alters how you think about fear and think about doing things that scare you. Molly shares how committing to a year of doing …

“I wish there was one thing I could say ‘this is what I want to do with my life.” Nathan Tylutki's new business cards actually say "Renaissance Man." This is as close as he can come to describing his career. Nathan is an actor with a masters degree in sociology. He's fully trained in law enforcement and created a one man show called Nayrotica. Nath…

“Although I fly the flag for ‘yes, and’ it’s okay to say no.” Madde and Levi have known each other for a number of years. Which is part of why this episode is full of silly bits and goofy nonsense. But Madde also talks about relationships, making work, living in new cities and where she is in her life. Madde also talks improv theory, working in edu…

Katie Sisneros is a founding editor of The Tangential, a PhD student in English literature at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the voice of Totinos on the internet and a live event host. She is a Minneapolis transplant from Nebraska where she earned two English degrees at UNL before deciding to one-up herself at the U of M. She orders whisk…

On this episode of the podcast, environmental sound-artist Philip Blackburn talks about early exposure to an artist that inspired him to build his own instruments. He also talks about how getting to study under Kenneth Gaburo further opened up Philip’s ideas about what his art could be. Plus, Philip talks about the lovely unpredictable nature of wo…

This episode was originally released on the Pratfalls of Parenting podcast on June 12, 2016. This episode features a conversation with theater director Kevin Houle. Kevin gets into how mentorship impacted him, how becoming a father a little later in life gives patience, and how similar directing actors can be to getting a 2 year old to do what you …

“I want people to think, oh look at that thing someone made. I like that thing.” Boxy Mouse was inspired by a bonafide mouse named Jasmine in the winter of 2007. Since then, the approach at Boxy Mouse Design Studio (and laundry room) has been to learn how to create all manner of art-like things based on Boxy Mouse and other various Boxy characters.…

“I don’t feel I’m as much of a character onstage now, I feel it’s coming from an authentic place.” Mary Jo Pehl is a writer, comedian, and she also wrote for and played Pearl Forrester on the television show Mystery Science Theater 3000. She’s been a part of both Cinematic Titanic and Rifftrax, stared in the game Darkstar: The Interactive Movie, an…

“There’s more that we can do than we think we can.” Malik Watkins, better known by his stage name MaLLy, is an independent hip-hop artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Active since 2007, MaLLy has cemented his place in the Twin Cities music scene with a strong discography boasting three critically acclaimed albums—The Passion, The Last Great..., and…

“I try to make my actions do the advocacy, instead of just talking about it.” Desdamona is an international award-winning artist, who has taken her distinct lyrics, sounds, and artistic style to audiences from Minnesota to Hawaii to Puerto Rico to Germany, gracing some of Hip Hop and poetry’s most illustrious stages. She has worked in over 200 scho…

“This is the music I want to play. If you don’t like it, then you don’t like it.” Lucy Michelle is a musician, songwriter, and illustrator. She's the frontwoman of gypsy-pop outfit Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, a raucous and eclectic six-piece. Lucy is part of the quartet Little Fevers, who put out their debut album "Field Trip" in 2015. A…

Huge theater’s Butch Roy talks improv tech artistry, why he loves to mop his theater, and how he’s made juggling boring for his sons. How did a punk-rock high school misfit become a father at 16 and end up running his own theater? Find out in this episode of Pratfalls of Parenting.

“Trolls will eat as much food as you give them.” Lindsey is a trial attorney who brings trained advocacy to the courtroom and wider activism throughout her community. Her personal advocacy against institutional sexism and rape culture first reached a broader audience following a viral Craigslist Missed Connectionwritten to a catcaller in September …

“Growing up my heroes were Gonzo and Pippi Longstocking.” Maria Bartholdi is a multimedia producer with a reputation for wearing many hats. From videography and editing to field production and writing her work always has a strong storytelling sense with an emphasis on crafting emotional, unique, and visually stunning pieces. She has won multiple Em…

“They thought I wanted to become a lawyer because of my obsession with Law & Order.” Ali Elabbady is a writer, a producer, a DJ, Greenroom magazine marketing man, a hip-hop head and a supporter of all things creative large and small. He works with Public Functionary art gallery, started the Background Noise Crew, writes for Reviler, and can be seen…

“I like to say I'm pleasantly OCD.” Erik Westra creates events that are meaningful, memorable, and seamless for attendees, speakers, and sponsors. Westra was the director of media and events at Brain Traffic, where he produced Confab Events. He’s the cofounder of Contents, and from 2000 to 2007 Westra was the head of promotion and publicity at two …

“I always feel that cousins are your first best friends.” Nausheena Hussain is immersed in civic life, serving on boards, her local charter commission and as an election judge. She founded Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE), a leadership development nonprofit, to elevate Muslim women. Nausheena continues to examine why there are…

“If I had to choose one thing that’s my job or that pays my bills that’s being a poet.” Kyle Tran Myhre aka Guante is an MC, two-time National Poetry Slam champion, activist, educator and writer. He and/or his work has appeared on Upworthy, MSNBC, Welcome to Night Vale, Racialicious, Feministing, MPR, Everyday Feminism, the Progressive, City Pages’…

“Alright, magic boy, we’ll give you a chance for a few more minutes.” Jared Sherlock started practicing magic when he was 8. As an award-winning entrepreneur and a classically trained illusionist, Jared performs for theaters, corporate events and fundraisers nationwide. He’s also toured internationally in Shanghai, China and Hong Kong. In this epis…

“It felt like I was building myself.” Lynn O’Brien is a musician, a board certified musical therapist and someone dedicated to being a positive force in the world. She uses multiple instruments and looping devices to create written and improvised songs for audiences large and small. And she writes custom songs for weddings and other private events.…

“The good news is that I don’t think I would have done much differently.” Andy Sturdevant is an artist and writer living in Minneapolis. He has written about art, history and culture for a variety of Twin Cities-based publications and websites. Andy also writes a weekly column on neighborhoods, art, history and architecture in Minneapolis-St. Paul …

"I was tired of being the grumpy op-ed guy." Sam L. Landman is a digital copywriter by day and an actor, playwright and ne’er-do-well by night. He’s half of the comedy duo known as Pommelhorse and as an actor he's worked with various theater companies around the Twin Cities including Loudmouth Collective, Park Square and Torch theater. He spent yea…

“Most people are waiting for someone to tell them what to think about everything, and so, why wouldn’t I just tell the people that I’m interacting with that they should think this is awesome?” Zach Coulter is a writer, comic and digital project leader and web developer. In this wide ranging conversation Zach talks about spending years developing hi…

“Here’s a piece of gum and a paperclip, make a set and make this all happen.” Managing director at Mixed Blood Theatre, co-founder and co-artistic director of DalekoArts, actor, producer and all around artistic person Amanda White is this week's guest. Amanda takes us on a journey from her early love of singing and acting as a young girl in Iowa to…

"No job description fits what I am." Lindsi Gish spent many years working in the nonprofit sector. She's a self-described problem solver, digital enthusiast, Jane-of-many-trades, and extrovert who dislikes public speaking. She's been part of the digital strategy team of a global PR firm, working on accounts such as the United States Postal Service,…

“I can’t remember anything pre-children.” Katy McEwen has been working in the Twin Cities as a performer, writer, and teacher since she and her husband moved from Dayton, Ohio in 1995. She started her career as a performing apprentice and company member at Children’s Theatre Company where she continues to work as a Teaching Artist in their national…

“I think bands have taught me more about life and business than any other experience I’ve had.” Don Smithmier is a self-described serial entrepreneur. He's co-founded Rumble Music, GoKart Labs, Sophia Learning, Bring Me The News, Network Music Lab, and the Big Know. Smithmier is also co-founder, songwriter, and performer with the band Rocket Club. …

"You'll only regret the trips you don't take." This episode features the delightful Katharine Kelly. Katharine is a writer, A digital strategist, a traveller, a mother, a food lover, and a heck of a conversationalist. She recently became a certified travel agent, helping others see the world in countless ways and she can make the most passionate ca…

"When life gives you rain, puke a rainbow." Erica Hanna is the creative force behind the content strategy and video production company Puke Rainbows. Erica is also an Emmy-winning television producer, a public speaker, a hyper Twitter user, and someone who gets excited about helping other people do good work. She's also raised over $30,000 for the …

“I don’t like to think about things being good or negative.” J. M. Culver is a visual artist drawing and painting work that digs into themes like how memories shift and change, he human psyche, and the fragile nature of being alive. In describing her work Culver says, "I create paintings that have personal significance and create social consciousne…

Ali Lozoff isn't just the Senior Marketing Manager at Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media, she's also a music obsessive who grew up on John Prine and Bob Dylan and was an 80s punk. In this conversation, Ali talks about strategic thinking and brand development when considering all the various content channels she's a part of working on.…

Kate Renee is an acrylic painter based in Minneapolis. She paints edgy works with a cute veneer on wood panel. Kate received honorable mention at the 2010 Arrowhead Biennial at the Duluth Art Institute and was Featured Artist for the Altered Esthetics' Level_13: Cheat Codes exhibition. She was A-listed in City Pages for her exhibition at Gamut Gall…

“We don’t know how to do it. But, yes, we can do it.” Out Solutions, serves on the Schubert Club Board of Directors, co-founded Smart Factory, has spoken at Ignite Minneapolis and Giant Steps and was named one of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 40 under 40. “My parents left their country when they were in their 20s.” Jeff talks about hi…

Playwright and musician John Heimbuch sits down with Levi to talk about running Walking Shadow theater company with his wife, Amy Rummenie. John talks about his taking theater classes while in elementary school, staging improvised shows in a friends basement in adolescence, and his first experience with building worlds through LEGOS. John talks abo…