Connections Radio - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota

Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with singer-songwriter and performer, Cassandra Cole. Crafting her own blend of Midwestern alternative soul, her debut 2022 album was “Steps.” In April that year as we visited Rock the Cause Record's CEO, Scott Herold, “Connections Radio” featured a song from that album, “Upside Down.” For this broadcast, we’ll explore with her yet…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo join Susan Hart Gaines to discuss her new book: “Prioritize Your Self-Care: Reclaiming Your Path to an Extraordinary Life” (2025 New York, Aviva Publishing). Susan is a certified life coach at Wild Hart Coaching, founder and owner of Embody Minneapolis, and a previous “Connections Radio” guest. In our culture, taking care…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with songwriter Joe Bigalke, who’s thrilled to release worldwide his recent single, “No Matter Where You Are,” on Rock the Cause Records—whose CEO Scott Herold joins us along with producer Mark Woerpel. (Co-written with 3-time Grammy nominated songwriter, Jamie Floyd, the new song features vocalist Brooke Elizabeth.) We hear a…

Hosts Laurie Fitz, Mia Roberts, and Rick Bernardo visit with Nara Logics’ CEO and Board Member, Jana Eggers, for this 2nd broadcast following our 3/1/25 show about AI: In the people-centric restaurant industry, how is AI impacting the business today and how will it in the future? Most every one of us has experience on various…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with Nara Logics‘ CEO and Board Member, Jana Eggers, for “What the Heck Is A.I.?” If you want to begin coming to grips with AI—its past and its future implications—now’s your chance. With over 30 years of technology and leadership experience from Intuit, Lycos, American Airlines, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and…

Host Laurie Fitz with co-hosts Rick Bernardo and Mickaylee Shaughnessy visit with artists from Phoenix Theater’s coming 2/16–3/2 production, “Stolen Focus.” Guests include: Brenda Varda (Writer) • Mickaylee Shaughnessy (Actor/Co-host) • Mike Dee (Actor) • Sandi Flahn (Actor). Based on “Stolen Focus” by Johann Hari, the creative cast have devised an evening that brings the ‘circus’ of digital life into a story…

Laurie talks with Fulbright Fellow recipient Laura Migliorino today about how art can make a difference in life.

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit Rick's former Pacific School of Religion colleague, Reverend Steve Garnaas-Holmes—who, among other United Methodist ministry pursuits, performed all over the country with The Montana Logging and Ballet Company. It’s just one extension of his longtime experience as a composer, musician, actor, comedian, and poet. Last year April 27, 2024, our discussion about…

Laurie Fitz is joined by co-hosts Sally and Susan from the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA)—the largest of MN's regional library systems with more than 100 library locations across the greater Twin Cities area. Hear about their great “smARTpass” program—its origins and regional arts partners with guests from Walking Shadow Theatre Company, American Swedish Institute,…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with musician Libby McLaren—singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, performer, and music teacher (Rick met her long ago as they each performed at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Bandshell). We hear some of her most recent album with partner Robin Flower, “One Plus One”—and discuss her deep and wide history and future of musical connections. – www.LibbyMclaren.com • www.FlowerandMclaren.com • www.youtube.com/@celialibbysexcellentharmon5598

Laurie Fitz interviews Jeffrey Morris, a black director based here the Twin Cities. Jeffrey will be part of or the Twin Cities Film Festival discussion on two documentaries in production. Laurie and Jeffrey explore his take on the future and our collective opportunity to choose hope and face challenges with respect, dignity and strong moral…

Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo sit with Joan Deming and Jes Ahlemeier, who reflect on their time volunteering in Palestine—working with Tent of Nations—contributing toward peace and healing in a war-torn region. Hear more about their experiences of sacred grounds, including foundations of justice and peace. – www.TentofNations.com • https://fotonna.org

Laurie Fitz is joined by co-hosts Sally and Susan from the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA)—the largest of MN's regional library systems with more than 100 library locations across the greater Twin Cities area. Hear about this month’s “Teentober,” including Alyssa Stevenski from Ramsey County Library Youth Services. Then hear about MELSA's table at the Twin…

Host Laurie Fitz joins climate scientist, author, artist, and mother, Anna Farro Henderson PhD, to hear and discuss her coming book, Core Samples: A Climate Scientist’s Experiments in Politics and Motherhood (2024, University of Minnesota Press). Hear our wide-ranging, fun discussion on the fascinating yet essential intersections of science, politics, parenting, and art. – www.AnnaFarroHenderson.com • www.upress.umn.edu/9781517916046/core-samples

Laurie Fitz joins author Marcie R. Rendon, White Earth Ojibwe, to hear and discuss selections from her recent book, Anishinaabe Songs for a New Millennium (2024, University of Minnesota Press). Rendon was included on Oprah Winfrey's 2020 list of thirty-one Native American authors. Her poem-songs evoke and keep alive a world still unfolding around us, reflecting our place…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with two leaders from Resources for Enriching African Lives (REAL): founder and executive director, Tsehai Wodajo, with board president and chair, Olga Tolle-Rodrigues. REAL’s local community has been transforming lives through education and empowering girls to be leaders in their communities in Ethiopia. Join them September 14 for their 20th Celebration Fundraising Gala (Union Depot, Saint…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit again with local musician, Nathaniel Harris—to share his growing “Circles of Musical Connection.” He’s built a Twin Cities following from the ground up, performing at festivals, on stages, at local Kowalski’s Markets, the Midtown Global Market, Lund's and Byerly's, and now weekly Sundays at Minneapolis's Longfellow Grill (3–6 PM). – www.Facebook.com/NathanielHarrisLive

Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with the Rev. Don Dewey, longtime minister, former Regional Minister of the Pacific Southwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and Rick's long ago former Pacific School of Religion classmate in Berkeley. We discuss many changes over the decades in churches’ nature and membership—and re-emerging evils of…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with minister (United Church of Christ), musician, event producer, and Center for Courage & Renewal facilitator, Alan Claassen—one more remarkable person with whom Rick had the privilege of attending grad. school at Pacific School of Religion (in Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union). Alan has a rich history of skills and ways he makes a difference in connecting people far…

Host Laurie Fitz visits with the ReConnect Rondo Youth Council about their historical research, social analysis, restorative justice work, and professional communications. Through their podcasts they aspire to amplify stories that have been silenced, uncover the systemic racism that lies under the pavement, and continue the work that previous generations started. – www.ReConnectRondo.com / www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbRQ3xBjonZVmMQphTayvXpFFCh2tuvky

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with Mari Harris—award-winning singer/songwriter, actor, speaker, and a lover of life with a commitment to provide entertainment, empowerment, and love through the arts. She performs internationally on stage, in concert halls, on television, the internet, and the big screen—exciting and inspiring audiences with her voice, talent, and presence.…

Host Laurie Fitz interviews Lee Hawkins on his 10 part podcast series “What Happened in Alabama?” Born out of personal experiences of intergenerational trauma, and the impacts of Jim Crow that exist beyond what we understand about segregation award-winning journalist Lee Hawkins unpacks his family history and upbringing, his father's painful nightmares and past, and…

Laurie Fitz celebrates Minnesota High School ProStart Champions who won 3rd place at the National ProStart Invitational. Guests include: National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation ProStart Leaders, Hospitality Minnesota CEO and President, Elk River High School ProStart Teachers, Elk River High School ProStart Management Champions and their key Mentor!   ProStart® is a career and technical education…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with poet, fiction writer, and creative writing teacher, Rev. Patrick Cabello Hansel. The connections are wide and deep as we discuss his inspiring personal journey and community work towards radical hospitality, justice, and beauty. – www.ArteCabelloHansel.com / www.SemillaCenter.org

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit Rick's former Pacific School of Religion colleague, Reverend Steve Garnaas-Holmes—who, among other pursuits, happened to perform all over the country with The Montana Logging and Ballet Company. It’s just one extension of his longtime experience as a composer, musician, actor, comedian, and poet. Our discussion about art and…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit again with artist and writer, Anne Sawyer, this time about a touching recent project: Minneapolis's Southeast Seniors Memoir Project. With recorded examples from Tricia, Karen, and Darla, we learn about the genesis and growth of this venture leading to a wonderfully crafted book and podcast. Drawing upon memories…

This week host Laurie Fitz is joined by comedian Lizz Winstead!

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit again with Mark Woerpel, who co-arranged and co-produced the Rickey Medlocke Band’s new release, “Never Run Out of Road”—c/o Rock the Cause Records in support of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Movement. That song’s proceeds benefit the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center – www.niwrc.org – We’ll…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo join Blackfoot’s and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Rickey Medlocke to talk about his new single with the Rickey Medlocke Band, “Never Run Out Of Road”—in support of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. We're joined by musician/producer, Mark Woerpel—about his work on this song and related music—as well as visiting with Rock the Cause Records’ CEO Scott Herold. – Proceeds benefit…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit U.Conn. Professor of English, well-known author, and humorist, Gina Barreca, for a 3rd time following her 3rd and recent book in her edited “Fast Women” series: “Fast Fallen Women: 75 Essays of Flash Nonfiction” (Woodhall Press). Our fun conversation covers the ground of authentic values with integrity. We…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with High School for Recording Arts’ executive director, Tony Simmons, and Rock the Cause CEO, Scott Herold. We discuss High School for Recording Arts’ life-giving work to connect and reconnect parts of the Twin Cities and various generations alike—through the power of education, communications, and music with its…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit preacher, comedian, and author, Susan Sparks. Reverend Sparks and Rick met years ago as she was in transformation from trial lawyer to comedian and a student at Union Theological Seminary, while Rick was teaching at the Graduate Theological Union’s “Summer Program on The Arts in Worship and Spirituality,” which Susan attended. Since 2007, Susan has been…

Hosts Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo join health/life coach, photographer, author, and sound alchemist, Charity Barlass, for a unique experience: a “Sound Bath.” During this meditative experience we are “bathed” in sound waves—produced by singing bowls, chimes, a rain stick, and Charity’s voice. The sense of relaxation, wellbeing, awareness—and, yes, connection—is certain yet hard to describe. So we explore the experience and…

Laurie Fitz and Rick Bernardo visit with legendary ”Sounds of Blackness” musical director, Gary Hines, along with Rock the Cause's CEO, Scott Herold—to hear and discuss their powerful, inspiring voice-of-justice music and to reflect upon Martin Luther King, Jr. –