Needed Time

Welcome to our last installment of this season's Needed Time as we've taken up the theme of gratitude. Some remarkable guests have joined us along the way, and this week is no exception, as we welcome friends Jonathan and Allison Alexander and hear their inspiring parenting story. We'll once again be favored by the NTHB, the music of our new friend, bluesman Oliver Wood, along with a brand new poem from one of our favorite poets. Thanks for coming along! 

Join us as we enter the home stretch of this season of Needed Time and our focus on gratitude.  We're joined by friends Tad and Maggie Weiss as they recount the miraculous story of Maggie surviving being hit by a bus while on a college term abroad in Spain.  The story of her amazing recovery and subsequent athletic achievements is astonishing, beautifully told in her dad Tad's recently published book, “25 Meters to God.”  We'll also feature music of the ever beloved “Needed Time House Band” and several poems of the season. 

Thanks for joining us for another helping of our podcast “Needed Time” as we continue to explore the theme of gratitude.  This week we're joined by Ethan Neal, the Director of Food Systems for the Pillsbury United Communities in Minneapolis.  Through food shelves, community meal programs, outdoor and hydroponic farms, Ethan is dedicated to providing individuals and families with much needed choice and access to healthy food, supporting PUC's goal of developing a system nurtured by and for the community. We know you'll find our conversation with Ethan every bit as inspiring as we did! In addition, we're featuring the music of our friend Charlotte DeVries and the NT House Band along with Rob and Will's informative breakdown of November celebrations you might consider.  

Thanks for joining us for this fourth episode of our third season of Needed Time! Today we're joined by our friend Adaobi Nduka, who serves as the Community Impact Pastor at the Mill City Church in Northeast Minneapolis.  We know you'll love hearing Adaobi's infectious enthusiasm for connecting the church with human needs, and all the ways her gratitude sustains her.  We're also grateful to bring you the amazing music of our friends—the irrepressible bluesman Tom Hunter and the gorgeous harmonies of singer songwriters Neal and Leandra.  Oh, and since you asked (you did, didn't you?), you can help support this effort by following this link and sharing a little scratch that will help us immensely (https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-needed-time-to-reflect-on-gratitude?qid=2918cd33f8ac5c21e70c6ff4868f2c1c)

Join us as we welcome local community activist and justice advocate Mar Valdecantos as she shares something of her journey in seeking to make possible affordable housing in her city and beyond. We'll also welcome a musical offering from the Needed Time House Band as well as the artistry of Nashville based singer songwriter Casey Wasner. As always, our hosts Will Healy and Rob Ryden will entertain (mostly themselves, actually) with their weekly banter about this that and the other thing.

Welcome to our third season of Needed Time, coming to you a bit earlier than expected because, well, we just couldn't help ourselves!  We're glad you're here as we kick off our Fall theme of “Gratitude,” in anticipation of the National Day of Thanksgiving arriving just a bit down the road. As always, we're thrilled to make welcome a variety of amazing guests, stellar music (including that of the Needed Time House Band), a dash of poetry and the compelling banter of your hosts, Will Healy and Rob Ryden. So welcome aboard!

As we wrap up this season of Needed Time, we're going out with a bang! Our guests are Tony and Gordette Oliva, sharing with us their remarkable journey from Cuba and Hitchcock, South Dakota (population: 112) all the way to Cooperstown and baseball's Hall of Fame. We'll also be featuring the amazing Cuban jazz of our friends Doug Little and Nachito Herrera along with the fiddle wizardry of Michael Hildebrandt. Pleased to have you join us on this Easer Sunday! And thanks for helping to make this, our second season, so much fun.

This week our Needed Time podcast welcomes guests Jason Decker professor of philosophy and Jason Ripley professor of religion. Both Jasons and both professors, they share their unique journeys in life and academia. This episode also includes two new offerings of favorite classics from the Needed time House band featuring music stylings of Grace Ryden,  Patrick Nelson and Kenny Wilson.  This episode explores new territory with old friends of our Needed Time hosts as we near the end of this years lenten journey.

This week our Needed Time podcast welcomes guest Billy Steele, member of the incomparable gospel group, The Steeles. The youngest of his siblings, Billy, also performs, writes, and produces for the Sounds of Blackness, where he serves as Assistant Director and with whom he is the co-recipient of three Grammy awards. We're thrilled to have Billy share his remarkable journey with us, along with another offering from our Needed Time House Band… 

Needed Time, week 5, features a far-ranging discussion with singer/songwriter Alison Rae Ogren. After years of the music deal in Nashville, Alison has returned to Minnesota and is engaged in a little bit of everything up in her corner of the world. Alison shares on beauty, friendship, deep stuff of heart and mind, and provides the perfect encouragement to consider just what it is that makes us tick and brings us happiness. In addition, we are treated to a couple of Alison's originals that highlight the stark beauty of her writing and the ethereal magic of her singing. A full run of the (now nearly legendary) Needed Time theme song rounds out the musical choices for the day. Come along with us, we both know it's a Needed Time... Needed Time (Lightnin' Hopkins, 1952)Craig Wasner: GuitarRob Ryden: Vocals, percussion, bassLullaby Alison Rae Ogren, 2007Home Alison Rae Ogren, 2013

This week's Needed Time episode marks the half-way point in our Lenten podcast as we're  joined by our friend Scott Richardson. Scott shares his journey, one that landed him in Northfield, Minnesota and all manner of professional and community involvement, a reflection of his deep sense of place and a what a long term commitment to a community looks like. Once again we'll be featuring terrific music by the Needed Time House Band along with the occasionally charming banter of our hosts, Will Healy and Rob Ryden. Thanks for joining us! 

Our Lenten journey continues with an exploration of personal journeys—lessons and truths experienced by our guests as they welcome us in. This week, Will and Rob interview the Honorable Mark Vandelist, Judge in Minnesota's First Judicial District. Mark's amazing journey has taken him through major health challenges, a long career in the legal profession, and then to answering a calling to serve as a judge, one that has allowed him to make a positive difference in the lives of many (including the founding the first Drug Court in Le Sueur County). We'll also once again feature the musical artistry of the Needed Time House Band, including musicians Mike Hildebrandt and Craig Wasner. Welcome! He's Got the Whole World In His Hands (1927)  African-American SpiritualMike Hildebrandt - Fiddle, MandolinRob Ryden - Vocals, BassTerry Vandewalker - DrumsCraig Wasner - GuitarSam Ryden - GuitarTravelin' Blues (2018) - Songwriter: Charley CrockettCraig Wasner - Guitar, KeyboardSam Ryden - GuitarRob Ryden - Vocals, BassTerry Vandewalker - Drums

This week's episode continues our Lenten exploration of personal journeys and the lessons and truths experienced by our guests as Will and Rob interview Paul Healy, co-founder of the Cebu Shelter for Children, an orphanage that grew to become one of the largest and most respected in the Philippines. Paul's remarkable journey covered some 43 years of caring for abandoned, neglected and abused children in Cebu City, a place of both beauty and desperate poverty. We'll also feature the music of the Needed Time House Band featuring Terry Vandewalker and Charlotte Devries. Welcome! I Am A Pilgrim: Terry Vandewalker - VocalsCraig Wasner - GuitarSam Ryden - GuitarMike Hildebrandt - FiddleRob Ryden - Bass, Percussion, VocalsWayfaring Stranger:Charlotte Devries - VocalsCraig Wasner - Keyboard, GuitarSam Ryden - GuitarTerry Vandewalker - DrumsRob Ryden - Bass

Welcome to Year 2, Episode 1 of Needed Time! This year explores the subject of personal journeys and the lessons and truths they've revealed. Here in week 1 Will and Rob interview Minnesota Gopher basketball legend and Minneapolis community activist and leader Al Nuness. Al's fascinating insights on living a meaning-filled life are accompanied by age-old musical faves from T-Bone Walker and Son House -- served up with much love by the Needed Time House Band! Come join us on this much-needed trek through the season of Lent as we gather around compelling stories, beautiful pieces of writing, and stirring music...

Here is a preview for season two of the Lenten podcast Needed Time with hosts Will Healy and Rob Ryden.  Needed time refers to that sense of our needing God to come into whatever circumstances we are experiencing. Join Will and Rob as they ponder the meaning of this season, share songs to guide us in this journey, and  interview guests to provide  their unique experiences and perspectives on Needed Time with God. 

After a much-needed season of Lent, the podcast celebrates a much-needed Easter morning! The program unpacks mysteries around Easter sunrise services, youth group egg bakes and bunny-inspired marshmallow treats and Will shares some personal insights on resurrection. And this week's music takes no prisoners with hand-clapping, gospel shouts from Robert Robinson, Southern Gospel Revival, Daisy May, and a knockout collaboration from Herbie Hancock, Joss Stone and Johnny Lang. It's Easter - turn up the volume and whoop it up with Needed Time!!

Needed Time marks the most solemn day of the season with its Good Friday program. The heaviness of the occasion is played out beautifully with music from The Oh Hello's, Gregory Porter, Crooked Still, Common Hymnal and Red Mountain Church. Prayers from Laura Truman and Thomas Turner and a poem from Lucy Shaw complete the journey through this sobering Holy Friday. 

As we near the last week of Lent, educator, naturalist and maple-mustering mando maven Craig Johnson joins Will and Rob to share some brilliant takes on the natural world and the lessons available for our inspiration and instruction. The eclectic musical lineup includes whiz kid Jacob Collier, Patti Griffin, Rivers & Robots and some mando-ing from Peter Ostroushko and the terrifyingly faast Johnny Staats. On the other side of the speediness divide, we slow down with poetry from Wendell Berry and Mary Oliver. Come along, it's a Needed Time...

The Rev. Cynthia Williams visits Needed Time and shares her delightful and honest take on art, beauty and real life. Music from the Birds of Chicago, Common Hymnal and Rev. Cynthia's favorites Rachel Okerlund and Martial Besombes sandwich a dissection of Lenten lint and the long-awaited answer to pesky questions about the appropriateness of Hosanna-ing during the Lenten season. Needed Time has the Good News!!

This week features a far ranging interview with Quillan Roe, the co-founder of the award-winning bluegrass group The Roe Family Singers. Delightful and funny, honest and thoughtful, Quillan and our hosts invite you to stop, breathe deep and consider just why we're stopping and breathing deeply. Ah yes, Lent. Musical offerings from Chris Smither, Rhiannon Giddens and The Roe Family Singers, along with a verse from the astounding Mary Oliver round out week #4 of Needed Time.

Needed Time, week three, includes musical numbers from friendly, young folkster, Taylor Leonhardt, and jazz great, Gregory Porter, as well as poetry from Christina Rossetti. This week also features a conversation with President/CEO of Urban League Twin Cities, Steven Belton -- an engaging discussion on his Lenten practices of gratefulness, mindfulness, and togetherness. Jesus, won't you come by here -- for now is the needed time...

The conversation continues this week with well known Minnesotan songwriter Neal Hagberg. He shares with us his thoughts on the practice of listening and the importance of paying close attention. Deep cuts from the songbird Madison Cunningham, acoustic bluesman Parker Milsap, and a brilliant piece on forgiveness from Neal himself round out this music selections.  Our show concludes with an unlikely duet featuring musician Robert Glasper and theologian Walter Brueggemann.

An interview with award-winning poet & jaw-dropping blues harpist Stephen Kampa gets the season started. B sides from the Wood Brothers, Liz Vice, and Kampa himself provide the musical backdrop and Needed Time explains itself - who are we? and why are we here? - with a look at Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent to follow. 

Here is a preview of the 7 week Lenten podcast Needed Time with hosts Will Healy and Rob Ryden.  Needed time refers to that sense of our needing God to come into whatever circumstances we are experiencing. Join Will and Rob as they ponder the meaning of this season, share songs to guide us in this journey, and  interview guests to provide  their unique experiences and perspectives on Needed Time with God.