MPR News with Angela Davis

Laurie Putnam is the superintendent of St. Cloud Public Schools, and the first woman to lead the district. Her husband, Aric Putnam, is a DFL state senator, representing District 14, which includes St. Cloud. Together, they're navigating politics, education, family life and the challenges of leading in the public eye.MPR News host Angela Davis revisits another conversation in her Power Pairs series. She talks with the Putnams about how they support each other and why they picked careers that serve their community.

MPR News host Angela Davis revisits a conversation she had with a brother and sister who are both award-winning storytellers. They talk about their work and how they support each other as part of our MPR News Power Pairs series.Guests:Daniel Bergin is a filmmaker, executive producer and director of history at Twin Cities PBS, where he was hired more than 30 years ago as a production assistant. He has won more than 20 regional Emmy Awards for his films covering diverse topics rooted in Minnesota history, including “Jim Crow of the North,” “North Star: Minnesota's Black Pioneers,” and “Out North: MNLGBTQ History.” Lea B. Olsen is a veteran TV analyst who has covered the Minnesota Lynx and is a sideline reporter for the Minnesota Timberwolves. She also covers both the boys' and girls' state high school basketball tournaments. Beyond the court, Lea is a professional speaker and the founder of Rethink the Win — a platform that challenges athletes, coaches and parents to see sports as a powerful tool for growth, connection and lifelong impact.Listen to all the conversations in our Power Pairs series.Do you know a 'Power Pair? Send us your suggestions.

Some say religion and politics don't mix. But they do in the lives of couple Marcia Zimmerman and Frank Hornstein.Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman is the senior rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis.   Frank Hornstein served for 22 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing neighborhoods near downtown Minneapolis and Lake of the Isles before stepping down in early 2025.They have raised three children together and supported each other in their individual callings through more than four decades of marriage.MPR News host Angela Davis revisits Power Pairs conversations from 2025 this week, starting with a conversation about faith, politics and the importance of strong relationships — in marriage and community.Guests:Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman is the senior rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis. Frank Hornstein served as a DFL representative from District 61A in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 22 years until deciding in 2024 not to seek reelection.Listen to all the conversations in our Power Pairs series.Do you know a 'Power Pair? Send us your suggestions.

Only six percent of Americans follow a vegetarian diet, according to a Statistica poll. And even fewer follow a strict vegan lifestyle, avoiding all animal products in food and clothing.But many people are starting to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets, often for health reasons and out of a concern for the environment.More vegan and vegetarian options are going mainstream. Think about “meatless Mondays” or the Impossible Burger. Don't want cow milk? Your local grocery store's dairy case probably carries milk made from oats, soybeans, rice, almonds, coconuts or cashews.  MPR News host Angela Davis revisits a conversation she had about what it means to be vegan or to follow a mostly plant-based diet. What makes people decide to do it? Are there health benefits or health hazards? Can you get the protein and nutrients your body needs without eating animal products?Guests:Jacque Reid is the founder of the “Vegan Sexy Cool” brand, which includes a digital lifestyle magazine and a podcast. She is also an Emmy-award winning journalist. She co-hosts the “Reid This/Reid That” podcast with former MSNBC host Joy Reid. She previously hosted lifestyle TV shows on NBC affiliates in New York and Boston and was the lead news anchor for “CNN Headline News” and the “BET Nightly News.”   Megan Baumler is an assistant professor and director of the Nutrition and Dietetics Program at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. She is a licensed and registered dietitian nutritionist. 

As winter settles across Minnesota — when lakes freeze, snow quiets the land, and nights stretch long — many Indigenous communities enter a season of storytelling. It's a time to gather indoors and share stories that carry history, teachings and connection, passed carefully from one generation to the next. MPR News guest host Leah Lemm talks with two Native storytellers about the significance of storytelling in our lives, particularly during the darkest days of the year. Guests: Hope Flanagan is is a storyteller and teacher who works at Dream of Wild Health, a Minneapolis nonprofit organization that recovers and shares knowledge of Indigenous foods, medicines and ways of life. Stories were passed to her from Ona KingBird from Red Lake reservation. She comes from the Turtle Clan, from the people of Tonawanda, Seneca Reservation. Teresa Peterson is an avid gardener and author of several books, including "Grasshopper Girl," "Voices from Pejahutazizi: Dakota Stories and Storytellers," and "Perennial Ceremony." She is Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and a member of the Upper Sioux Community.

Millions of dollars for homeless services in Minnesota are up in the air after the Trump  administration proposed changing the rules for housing programs that helped people get off the streets.   The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to shift money away from long-term housing programs that provide services.   Instead, more federal money would go toward breaking up homeless encampments and to short-term shelters with work requirements and mandatory addiction treatment.  Critics warn this could force thousands of Minnesotans back into living in their cars, onto friends' couches or onto the streets — including people who have relied on supportive housing for years.On Dec. 19. a judge temporarily halted the administration's proposals, creating more uncertainty. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with her guests about what helps people move into permanent homes and how federal policy shifts could affect Minnesotans. Guests: Chris LaTondresse is the president and CEO of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, one of Minnesota's largest nonprofit providers of supportive housing for families, single adults and youth who have experienced homelessness. He previously served as a Hennepin County Commissioner and chaired the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. LeAnn Littlewolf is the executive director of the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) in Duluth. The nonprofit organization runs Gimaajii Mino-Bimaadizimin, a community center with supportive housing for women and children. She is a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and previously worked with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.  

From shorebirds to warblers to backyard regulars, the Great Lakes region is a critical stopover for millions of birds every year.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about winter birdwatching, how to attract birds to your yard and how to make birding more welcoming to more people.Guest:Dexter Patterson is the co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, an organization dedicated to making birding more accessible and inclusive for people of color. He also co-hosts The Bird Joy Podcast and is the author of the book, “Birds of the Great Lakes."Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

Many of us think about, talk about and chase happiness. But it can be elusive and surprisingly complicated.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a philosopher who says happiness — at least the way we usually think of it — is really just a feeling that comes and goes. She says what truly matters is flourishing — living in a way that reflects our values, our relationships and the kind of person we're trying to become. Guest:Valerie Tiberius is a professor of philosophy at the University of Minnesota. She is also the author of “What Do You Want Out of Life? A Philosophical Guide to Figuring Out What Matters.”Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

From local Nutcrackers to community choir concerts, ‘tis the season for holiday shows put on by your friends and neighbors. Across Minnesota, stages are booked with theater, dance and music performances — and many of the people in the spotlight aren't even paid professionals. They're adults with day jobs who rehearse after dinner, all for the joy and community they find in amateur arts groups. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about what tapping into your inner performing artist does for your own well-being and how these local productions enrich our communities.Guests: G. Phillip Shoultz III is the associate artistic director of VocalEssence and works with several of the organization's non-professional choruses. He also oversees music at Westwood Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, is an adjunct member of the music faculty at the University of St. Thomas and is artistic director of Sing Democracy 250, which is organizing choir performances next year in all 50 states to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Dylon Starr is the director of Disney's “Frozen” at the Rochester Civic Theatre and has acted and directed in other community theaters in southeastern Minnesota. He's also director of programming and music at Peace United Church of Christ in Rochester.  

Two mass shootings over the weekend left communities in two countries shaken. Two gunmen killed 15 people at a Hanukkah Festival in Australia and dozens remain hospitalized.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about what we know about the shootings, what research says about patterns in mass violence and what these attacks mean for communities processing fear and grief.Guests:James Densley is professor and department chair of criminology and criminal justice at Metro State University and co-founder of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University. Jillian Peterson is a professor of criminology and criminal justice, director of the forensic psychology program and executive director of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University. Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker is the senior rabbi at Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul.

Is it possible to build relational bridges, even in contentious times?Scholar and activist john a. powell says yes. He's dedicated his life to teaching others how to belong and bridge. As the director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley and the founder of the Institute on Race and Poverty at the University of Minnesota, powell — who spells his name in lowercase, to signify that “we are part of the universe, not over it” — studies equity and connection. His new book, “The Power of Bridging,” is his thesis that connecting with others and honoring their humanity is the only way to create a world where we all belong. powell came back to Minnesota on a cold night in early December, at the invitation of The Bush Foundation and MPR, to talk with MPR News reporter and host Catharine Richert about how to do the work of bridging, even at this divisive moment in history. He shared stories from his own life, talked about how to bridge (or not) with folks who don't want to bridge and discussed how the work of bridging and belonging is as much internal as external.

Last month the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would remove its warning on hormone-based products used to treat menopause symptoms.  As women age, most will experience changes linked to the stop of their monthly menses, including hot flashes, bone density loss and sleep problems. But in the past two decades a strong “black-box warning” has scared many women off from seeking relief in hormone creams, patches, pills and other treatments. The warning was added following a landmark study that linked hormone therapy to an increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular problems. Now the FDA says the risks were overblown for most women. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about the FDA's change, the risks and benefits of hormone therapy and what women should consider as they decide whether to try it. Guest: Dr. Jissy Cyriac is a primary care physician trained in internal medicine. She sees patients at the Menopause and Women's Sexual Health Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and is also a certified practitioner through The Menopause Society.  

A federal vaccine advisory committee recently voted to end the decades-old recommendation that all U.S. newborns get a hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted that only infants born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B — or whose infection status is unknown — are recommended to get that first dose immediately. The vote could result in new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is a dramatic shift from the CDC's current policy, which was adopted in 1991 and is credited with reducing childhood hepatitis B infections by more than 95 percent. MPR News guest host Chris Farrell talks with a pediatrician and an infectious disease researcher about what the new recommendation means for families, hospitals and communities in Minnesota that are disproportionately affected by the liver infection.Guests:Dr. Leslie King-Schultz is a pediatrician at Hennepin Healthcare where she co-chairs their vaccine committee.Angela Ulrich is a researcher and infectious disease epidemiologist with the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. She was one of the lead authors on the Vaccine Integrity Project's recent report about the safety and effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination at birth. 

For much of the last century, a steady career often meant staying with one company for decades. But that idea started to fade in the ‘80s and ‘90s as layoffs and restructuring made long-term loyalty feel less secure. By the 2000s, job hopping became the norm and often led to better pay and benefits.But today, something new is happening. Alongside job hopping, we're seeing a rise in job hugging — people staying put, even when they'd rather move, because the job market feels uncertain. MPR News guest host Chris Farrell talks about shifting hiring trends, when it's smart to switch jobs, when it's best to stay and what it all means for our careers and workplaces.Guests:Alan Benson is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management where he researches hiring, promotions and employment.Mark Sorenson-Wagner is the director of career development at the University of St. Thomas.

Food has the power to comfort us, connect us to our roots and preserve our culture. When coming to a new country, immigrants leave much behind. But one thing many people carry with them to start life in a new place are their family's recipes.MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon talks with a cookbook author and a chef from Mexico about the dishes and stories that tie us to the people — and places — we're from.Guests: Lee Svitak Dean was the longtime food editor at The Minnesota Star Tribune. She's co-author of “Kitchens of Hope: Immigrants Share Stories of Resilience and Recipes from Home.” She is also author of “Come One, Come All: Easy Entertaining with Seasonal Menus” and co-author of “The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book.” Gustavo Romero is co-owner with his wife Kate of Nixta, a tortilleria in northeast Minneapolis where they make tortillas using traditional methods and heirloom corn. They expanded next door to open the restaurant, Oro by Nixta, which was a finalist for a James Beard award and named one of the 20 Best New Restaurants of 2024 by Bon Appetit.  

President Donald Trump has escalated rhetoric about Minnesota's Somali community in recent weeks. And according to reports from The New York Times and the Associated Press, the Trump administration now plans to target hundreds of Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the Twin Cities.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about what we know so far, what remains unclear and the impact it's all having on the Somali community in Minnesota.Guests:State Sen. Zaynab Mohamed (DFL-Minneapolis) has represented south Minneapolis since 2023. She is the first Somali woman elected to the Minnesota Senate. She is also the youngest member in Minnesota Senate history. Tatiana Padilla is a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation at the University of Minnesota where she researches how immigration enforcement affects communities.Steve Thal is an attorney practicing immigration law in Minnetonka.

The weekly radio show, The Splendid Table, turns 30 this year. For three decades, the program has helped home cooks feel more brave, curious and connected through the food we share. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert marks the anniversary by talking with Splendid Table host and James Beard Award-winning food writer Francis Lam. They'll talk about food during the holiday season — how to take the stress out of holiday meals, how to be a thoughtful guest and how to get out of that “same-old recipe” rut.     Guests:Francis Lam is the host of The Splendid Table, a radio program and podcast produced by American Public Media. He is an award-winning food writer with contributions to The New York Times Magazine, Bon Appetit and Gourmet. His work often explores how food connects us to culture, memory and community. 

On the first day of 2026, Minnesota will introduce a new benefit for most workers in the state.  It's a paid family and medical leave program that guarantees access to time off to bond with a new child, recuperate from a major medical issue or care for an ill family member. The program replaces a portion of someone's wage for a leave that can span weeks. Minnesota is the 13th state to go down this path, but its program is among the nation's most ambitious. MPR News host and politics editor Brian Bakst talks with his guests about eligibility criteria, how people can tap into the program and what they and their employers need to keep in mind.Guests:Dana Ferguson is a political reporter for MPR News.Greg Norfleet is the Paid Leave director for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, also known as DEED.Justin Terch is a consultant with Terch and Associates, a human resources consulting firm. He is also president of the Minnesota State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management and he serves on the board of Essentia Health, a Duluth-based health care system that operates mainly in rural areas in the upper Midwest. For more information about Minnesota's Paid Leave program, visit: paidleave.mn.gov or call 844-556-0444 or 651-556-7777. The phone lines are staffed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Earlier this year, South Korea's government admitted that widespread corruption had tainted hundreds of thousands of adoptions from its country. Babies who were thought to be orphaned had living parents. Some children were trafficked. Paperwork was falsified. Records were destroyed.Korean adoptees worldwide were left reeling, including here in Minnesota, home to the largest population of Korean adoptees in the U.S. Many had already wrestled with questions of identity and racial and cultural belonging. Now even the small bits of information they had about their past could no longer be trusted.How are Korean adoptees who call Minnesota home responding to this foundational earthquake? Earlier this month, MPR News' North Star Journey Live project hosted a gathering of adoptees who are deeply invested in the search for truth about their origin stories at Arbeiter Brewing in Minneapolis. Moderated by Twin Cities PBS reporter Kaomi Lee, who is herself an adoptee, the panel shared their personal histories and how the work they do today is moving the narrative forward. Guests: Kaomi Lee is a reporter at Twin Cities PBS. She is also the host of Adapted, one of the longest running Korean adoptee podcasts.Ami Nafzger has been working on behalf of Korean adoptees for decades as the founder of the Korean-based GOAL (Global Overseas Adoptees' Link) and the newer Minnesota-based Adoptee Hub. Matt McNiff is the board president and director at Camp Choson, one of many Korean culture camps started in the Upper Midwest in response to the wave of adoptions from Korea. Cam Lee Small is a licensed clinical therapist who specializes in adoption literacy, working both here in the Twin Cities and online. He's also the author of “The Adoptee's Journey.”Mary Niedermeyer is the CEO of Communities Advocating Prosperity for Immigrants, also known as CAPI, a Minnesota-based nonprofit.Find a resource guide to learn more about this topic at MPRnews.org.

Earlier this year, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivered a sermon that drew national attention as President Donald Trump returned to the White House. She spoke about unity, how people of faith respond in uncertain times, and she directly asked Trump to have mercy on immigrants, transgender children and people fleeing war zones. Her sermon — at that moment and in that setting — sparked conversations about how people decide what to stand for and how they respond when those choices are difficult. Those questions are at the heart of her latest book, “We Can Be Brave,” an adaptation for young readers of her bestseller, ”How We Learn to Be Brave.”MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with Budde — and the theologian who helped adapt her book — about being brave in life's hardest moments and how they define courage in personal and public life.  Guests:Mariann Edgar Budde is the first woman elected spiritual leader for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington which includes the Washington National Cathedral, other congregations and Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties. Previously, Bishop Budde was a parish priest at St. John's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis for 18 years. She is the author of “How We Learn to Be Brave” and the adaption for young readers, “We Can Be Brave: How We Learn to be Brave in Life's Decisive Moments.”Bryan Bliss is a writer, priest and theologian. He is chaplain and chair of the religion department at Breck School, a private school in Golden Valley, Minn. He helped adapt Bishop Budde's book for young readers and he is the author of “We'll Fly Away,” a novel based on his experience witnessing an execution as a member of the press.

At some point in our lives, many of us will struggle to afford groceries. A job loss, a medical crisis, a divorce, an unexpected expense — life happens. Yet shame often keeps us from seeking help at food shelves and through food assistance programs like SNAP. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about food insecurity and the stigma that often surrounds it. Guests:Karen Tolkkinen is a columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune who writes about issues and people of greater Minnesota. She recently wrote a column about her experience turning to food assistance at two different points in her life.Susie West is a University of Minnesota Extension educator who manages and leads a program that helps make food shelves more dignified and inviting — places where families can choose food the way they would in a grocery store.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

Many of us listen to music off of our phones through streaming apps with algorithms built to feed us songs it thinks we would like. It's convenient, but those playlists, now starting to incorporate AI, rarely surprise us.Maybe that's why some college radio stations are making a comeback. They offer something more personal — real human voices and a space where music discovery feels spontaneous and driven by curiosity not calculations. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two students who are passionate about college radio and help run their college stations. They'll talk about what makes college radio special and what it offers to listeners.

“FAFO parenting” is getting attention — the idea that sometimes the best way for kids to learn is by experiencing natural consequences. FAFO doesn't exactly stand for “fool around and find out,” but you get the idea.Supporters say the parenting approach builds resilience and responsibility. Critics worry it can cross into neglect or leave kids without the guidance they need.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a parenting researcher about when stepping back helps children grow, when intervention matters and how families can find the balance between independence and safety.Guest:Christopher Mehus is a research associate professor in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota.

Trust in government is low. Politicians are trading personal insults on social media. And, Americans see the country as more divided than at any other time since the Civil War. What would it take to bring more dialogue, respect and effectiveness to politics? A first-of-its-kind program from the Citizen's League is starting small and personal, with an “exchange” program for pairs of state Republican and DFL legislators. The goal is to build genuine relationships across the aisle and help legislators gain firsthand insight into a region of Minnesota different from their own. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert reported on one of the first legislator pairs to participate. On Tuesday, she sat down to talk more with them and with the program's founder about what it takes to build bipartisan trust.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill ending a record 43-day shutdown. The legislation came after weeks of political gridlock that ended when a small group of Senate Democrats reached a compromise with Republicans.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two political scientists about what the deal to end the shutdown tells us about power, priorities and politics in Washington.Guests:Larry Jacobs is a political scientist and founder and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. He is also the author of “Democracy Under Fire: Donald Trump and the Breaking of American History.”Cindy Rugeley is an associate professor of political science and head of the Political Science Program at the University of Minnesota Duluth.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

This Saturday marks ten years since the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark.  On Nov. 15, 2015, the unarmed 24-year-old was shot during a confrontation with two Minneapolis police officers. He died the next day. In the weeks that followed, hundreds of people protested outside the Minneapolis 4th Precinct in Minneapolis — demanding the names of the officers and the release of any video. Protesters marched to the government center and shut down Interstate 94.  It was a level of activism that Minnesota hadn't seen before, building on the long despair and anger in Black communities following shootings of other unarmed Black men, here and elsewhere. And it set the stage for protests that followed the police killings of Philando Castile in 2016 and of George Floyd in 2020.  MPR News guest host Brandt Williams talks about how protests following Jamar Clark's death took shape and how they changed the public response to police shootings and policing. Guests: Nekima Levy Armstrong is a civil rights lawyer and past president of the Minneapolis NAACP. She was among the leaders who helped organize protests following Jamar Clark's fatal shooting and was an advisor to Black Lives Matter Minneapolis.  Raeisha Williams was an activist and communications director for the Minneapolis NAACP in the months following Jamar Clark's death. She now runs a nonprofit organization called Guns Down Love Up.  Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Cannabis is going mainstream in Minnesota in ways that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago. THC drinks are on store shelves. People talk about edibles and dispensaries as casually as they talk about coffee or craft breweries. For many young adults, cannabis has become part of everyday life — a way to unwind, manage stress or hang out with friends. Using it carries far less stigma than it once did and many people see it as safer than alcohol or tobacco. But even with growing acceptance, questions remain about how cannabis affects young adults, including their mental health, motivation, sleep, and focus. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert explores what research shows — and what we still don't know — about marijuana, health and young people. Guests:Heidi Glesmann is the substance use prevention, education, and recovery unit supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health. She oversees the Be Cannabis Aware campaign, which is focused on educating youth under age 25, and the adults who support them, about cannabis use. Sylia Wilson is a researcher and associate professor at the Institute of Child Development in the College of Education and Development at the University of Minnesota. Her work looks at how substance use affects young people's health, behavior and development. 

Layoffs are climbing across industries — from tech to retail to manufacturing. And Democrats won key races last week, campaigning on promises to make life more affordable.Are companies cutting costs because consumers are stretched thin? Or are different economic forces all hitting at the same time? MPR News guest host Catharine Richert takes a closer look at what's happening in the economy. Richert and her guests will dig into what's driving job cuts, why affordability continues to strike a chord with voters and what these trends could mean for the months ahead. Guests:Chris Farrell is the senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace.Louis Johnston is a professor of economics at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.

In a storm that blew hurricane force winds on Nov. 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald — a massive ore carrier longer than two football fields — disappeared into the dark, frigid waters of Lake Superior. All 29 crew members were lost. Fifty years later, the sinking of the Fitzgerald remains one of the most haunting and mysterious maritime disasters in American history. MPR News guest host Dan Kraker talks with a Great Lakes historian about the ship's final, fateful voyage and why the tragedy holds meaning for many Minnesotans.Guest:Frederick Stonehouse is a Great Lakes historian, lecturer and the author of more than 30 books on maritime history, including “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

For nearly four decades, MPR News reporter Dan Gunderson told stories that remind us how much meaning can be found in everyday life. He's covered floods and farming, faith and politics, the changing landscape of rural communities — and the people who live there.  But what's made Dan's work so memorable isn't just what he's covered. It's how he's covered it — with patience, curiosity, and a deep respect for the people he meets along the way. Now, after 38 years with MPR News, Dan is retiring. At an event in Moorhead in late October, MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talked with Gunderson about storytelling, some of the people he's met over the years and what he's discovered about Minnesota along the way. Guest:Dan Gunderson is a reporter based in Moorhead. He covers general news for a wide swath of western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota with a focus on the environment, agriculture and Indian Country. He has reported for MPR News since 1987. 2025 Dan Gunderson, longtime MPR journalist and master Minnesota storyteller, retires 2025 Minnesota minister rediscovers his faith among people in need 2025 In this west-central Minnesota town, fiddle jams draw players from ages 3 to 86 2025 Minnesota woman on a quest to preserve stories of disappearing towns 2025 ‘Loon lady' turns passion into action to protect Minnesota's iconic bird 2011 Researchers investigating movement of black bears into new habitats 2007 Moorhead orchestra students rock 2001 The land of the dancing tractors Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

When we think about what happens to our body after we die, some of us may picture a heavy, polished casket or an urn of ashes left after cremation.But a growing number of people are choosing to return to the earth in more environmentally friendly ways.Some are choosing water-based cremation, which doesn't burn fossil fuels. Others are planning simpler death rituals that skip embalming, steel caskets and concrete burial vaults. Instead, the body is placed in the ground in a biodegradable basket or shroud and allowed to decompose as quickly and as naturally as possible. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with her guests about rising interest in these greener options and some of the questions and concerns that surround them. Guests: Angela Woosley has been a licensed mortician in Minnesota for 20 years. In 2020 she started her own funeral care business focused on natural death care, Inspired Journeys. She previously worked for a funeral home and taught in the Program of Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota.   Taelor Johnson is the communications director for Interra Green Burial by Mueller Memorial in St. Paul and White Bear Lake. She's the third generation working in the family-run funeral home.  MPR News correspondent Dan Kraker is based in Duluth and covered efforts to establish a green cemetery in Carlton County, Minn.

Health insurance is about to get more expensive for a lot of people — in Minnesota and across the country. Many older Minnesotans are scrambling to find new insurance plans after some insurers stopped offering or scaled back Medicare Advantage plans. People who buy their own insurance will see premiums jump next year as much as 26 percent on the individual market. Workers who get insurance through their employers are also looking at higher premiums. And the federal tax and spending bill signed by President Donald Trump this summer is expected to push as many as 140,000 low-income Minnesotans off Medicaid.  MPR News guest host Catharine Richert looks at how the rising costs of medical care along with changes in state and federal policies are reshaping health care in Minnesota. If you're looking for more information, here are some resources that were mentioned during the showContact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICAREMinnesota Aging Pathways (formerly known as the Senior LinkAge line) at 800-333-2433Guests:Sayeh Nikpay is a health economist and an associate professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health. Kelli Jo Greiner is a health care policy analyst for the Minnesota Board on Aging and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.   Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

President Donald Trump's mobilization of the National Guard in a few U.S. cities in recent months has reignited debate about when — and whether — federal troops should be used on U.S. soil. Does a president have the authority to deploy state National Guard units against a governor's objection? If so, what does that mean for the balance of power between civilian and military authority?MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a political scientist who studies civil–military relations and a law professor who studies national security to help us understand what's at stake — legally, politically, and for the U.S. tradition of keeping the military out of domestic affairs.   Guests:Laura Dickinson is a professor of national security law and constitutional law at the George Washington University Law School. She is also the author of “Outsourcing War and Peace.”Ron Krebs is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and professor of political science at the University of Minnesota where he studies civil-military relations and security policy. He is also the author of “Narrative and the Making of US National Security” and “Fighting for Rights: Military Service and the Politics of Citizenship.” 

Traditionally, a college degree has been seen as a ticket to a secure future.But not today. Thanks to soaring tuition costs and weighty student loans, many people are questioning the value of college. A 2025 Pew Research poll found that only one in four U.S. adults says it's “extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree” to get a well-paying job. And many young Americans — including Black, Latino and Indigenous students — contend they can build solid careers without seeking further education. In a 2025 survey by New America, a majority of young Americans agreed “there are lots of well-paying, stable jobs that people can find with only a high school diploma or GED.”So is college still worth it — especially when it comes to low-income or first-generation students? Is college still worth it? MPR News' North Star Journey Live project teamed up with Sahan Journal Community Conversations in October to host a panel discussing the pros and cons of higher education. They also discussed other burgeoning post-secondary options, like trade schools, apprenticeships and becoming an entrepreneur. Guests: Frida Torres Macal is the founder of That Social Invite, an independent social media marketer focused on helping women-owned businesses and professionals grow.Marquan Harper is a sophomore at the University of St. Thomas, where he is double majoring in Digital Media Arts and Marketing Management. He's also the founder of Ador Hospitality, a Midwest-based hospitality group dedicated to enhancing the nightlife experience for young adults aged 18-24. Jalayah Johnson is enrolled at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest as a second-year glazer apprentice for the Empire House.Ali Osman is a high school counselor at South High School in Minneapolis. Jessica Yang is the senior implementation manager at the Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota program administered through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. 

For centuries, witches have cast their spell on our imaginations and enchanted our stories. Throughout folklore and pop culture, some pointed-hat witches have established their unforgettable characters, both evil and good, from the Wicked Witch of the West, in the 1939 “Wizard of Oz” film, and Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” series. So, why are witches so popular? And why can't pop culture seem to get enough? Coming up Friday at 9 a.m., MPR News host Jacob Aloi, reporter Alex V. Cipolle and editor Max Sparber spend an hour exploring witches across history and culture. With their guests, the MPR News arts team will talk about the witches in one of Shakespeare's best-known plays, as well as witches in TV, film, music and books.

The fall harvest is wrapping up across Minnesota. But will farmers turn a profit? Following a meeting Thursday between President Trump and China's president Xi Jinping, there is hope that China will resume buying at least some soybeans and other export crops from the U.S. But Minnesota farmers are still suffering from the fallout of the trade war. They're also grappling with inflation, tighter credit and increasingly unpredictable weather. And, the federal government shutdown has slowed access to farm loans, crop insurance, disaster aid and other programs. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a farmer and Minnesota's agricultural commissioner about these challenges and what's next.

Sex education in schools tends to focus on how to avoid unplanned pregnancy — but that means a lot of Americans don't learn much about fertility. One of the most common misunderstandings relates to age. A woman's fertility declines as she ages, but many people underestimate just how much harder it can be to get pregnant in their 30s and 40s. And, most people also think fertility treatments are more likely to be successful than they are.  MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two doctors about what affects the likelihood of getting pregnant and the things people wished they'd known before trying to have a baby.Guests: Dr. Suzanne Darnell practices obstetrics and gynecology at M Health Fairview. She's also an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.   Dr. Tana Kim is a reproductive endocrinologist and the IVF director at Reproductive Medicine & Infertility Associates (RMIA) in the Twin Cities. She is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility.  

In its fourth week, the federal government shutdown has become the second-longest government shutdown in American history, with no resolution in sight.The funding dispute has halted paychecks for hundreds of thousands of federal workers and disrupted key services — from food assistance and small business loans to national parks and research programs.MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a political scientist about how we got here, how the budget impasse is affecting people and what it reveals about the balance of power in Washington.Guest:Kathryn Pearson is a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota. She is also an associate dean of undergraduate education and the director of the University Honors Program.

We've all been told that our credit scores matter — but what does that really mean?  A high credit score can open doors. It can help you get a lower interest rate on a car loan, qualify for a mortgage or even make it easier to rent an apartment. But a lower score? It can quietly cost you thousands of dollars in higher interest payments over time — money that could be going towards your savings, your home or your future. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a financial coach about what determines your credit score, simple steps to improve it and the smart choices that can strengthen your financial health for years to come. Guest:Demitri McGee is a financial coach, certified housing counselor and youth director at Build Wealth Minnesota, a nonprofit opportunity center dedicated to helping families through financial education, personalized coaching and community-based programs.

The big picture on rural healthcare is grim. Doctors are retiring. Hospitals are closing. There's a lack of mental health care providers across the board. Plus, rural health facilities rely disproportionately on Medicaid reimbursement to stay afloat — and that program is facing $1 trillion in cuts thanks to President Trump's self-titled Big Beautiful Bill. But if you zoom in to individual communities, the picture is tinged with determination. While they admit to discouragement, leaders are trying to find new ways to pay for needed health care, and concerned citizens are stepping forward to help each other. Kerri Miller heard that and more in Owatonna, at the final Rural Voice town hall of the season. Rural Voice in Owatonna Southern Minnesotans gathered on Sept. 29 at Mineral Springs Brewery to share personal stories of long waits to see doctors, of their hometowns losing cherished hospitals, of children in crisis with no therapists available to help. But they also shared ideas about how to face the challenges ahead, like public health and the private sector forming new partnerships, and community groups innovating to make sure health care is accessible and affordable.  Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

The moment your last or only child leaves home can feel like both an ending and a beginning. Some parents celebrate the new freedom. Others struggle with the sudden quiet. Most experience a bit of both. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a psychologist and a social worker about the emotional mix of pride, grief, and rediscovery that comes with an empty nest — and how to find balance and meaning in this new stage of life.Guests:Melissa Lundquist is an associate professor in the School of Social Work and director of the undergraduate social work program at the University of St. Thomas. David Nathan is a psychologist with Allina Health in St. Paul. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.