Podcasts about international falls

WATCH THE EPISODE HEREHighlights & “Must-Listen” Moments* 0:00 — Amy's food week: New iPad, spinach artichoke dip, and a Portland, Maine eating trip: Amy's rocking a new-to-her iPad Pro with a suspiciously flattering built-in filter she has no intention of turning off. David (bravely) compliments her on how great she's been looking. Amy's her son Ollie is a high school senior, and Scott made her a video of his first 18 years for Mother's Day that had her in tears in a quarter of a second.* On the food front: a spinach artichoke dip brought to a friend's house for the (heartbreaking) Celtics playoff loss, brownies for a school play rehearsal from a beloved Betty Crocker Cookbook for Kids circa 1980–81 (butter + unsweetened chocolate, double boiler, no shortcuts), and a strawberry ricotta cannoli tart with a press-in shortbread crust that she's calling her summer go-to.* 3:37 — Portland, Maine: Amy's restaurant report: Ladyfish — a six-month residency pop-up from Jordan Rubin (Mr. Tuna) and New York chef Christine Lau — serving strikingly fresh seafood and a vermouth program Amy says will define her summer (”vermouth and soda with a squeeze of lemon”). Leeward: the restaurant where even the salad makes you want to fall out of your chair. Bread & Friends for breakfast. ZuBakery, a James Beard Award winner. The density of great restaurants in Portland remains unmatched.* 8:27 — David's food week: A Swiss chard and leek tart, blueberry crumble, Amatriciana, and vinegar-glossed chicken: David attempted to wake at 7:30 and cook a tart, a crumble, prep a podcast, shower, make reservations to Greece (September!), and book doctor's appointments — all before noon. ADHD-addled but determined. The tart: Swiss chard, leeks, and goat cheese in an herb crust with chopped rosemary and thyme, custard of cream and eggs and nutmeg, pre-baked, gorgeous. Served alongside the blueberry crumble from his website for French friends visiting from Roxbury, Connecticut. He also made Amatriciana again (guanciale, San Marzano tomatoes, red pepper flakes) and, for the first time since its publication, Lucinda Scala Quinn's vinegar-glossed chicken from Mad Hungry — thighs started in a cold skillet, rendered low and slow, finished with a full cup of red wine vinegar, rosemary, and garlic until it becomes a syrupy glaze. Verdict: extraordinary. Next time, a touch of honey.* 9:28 — Introducing Fresh by Lisa Steele: Lisa Steele is a Maine-based backyard farmer, seasonal cook, and author of the Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook. She raises chickens, ducks, and geese on a rural farm and brings her Scandinavian heritage and New England roots to everything she makes. Her second cookbook, In Season: 125+ Sweet and Savory Recipes Celebrating Simple, Fresh Ingredients, just came out.She also hosted two seasons of Welcome to My Farm on American Public Television/PBS. Yankee Magazine featured the book in its March/April issue — thanks, Amy!* 10:49 — The family chicken legacy: Lisa grew up in central Massachusetts, where her grandparents ran a full commercial two-story, two-wing chicken barn. She was in 4-H and has been around chickens for most of her life. David's husband remains unmoved after 30 years of lobbying — until Lisa offers the decisive argument: “There are many other potential husbands out there.” (Shouted into the kitchen. Received without comment.)* 13:30 — The quality of grocery store eggs, and what backyard eggs actually taste like: Lisa makes the case that the backyard chicken movement pressured commercial egg producers to raise their standards — fresher eggs, brighter yolks, more variety. And yes, you can manipulate yolk color by adding carotenoid-rich foods (leafy greens, paprika, marigold, alfalfa, xanthophyll) to feed. But nothing compares to an egg collected from your coop and baked with that same morning.* 16:50 — Why In Season is not a farm-to-table book (even though it kind of is): Lisa wanted to write another egg cookbook. Her agent said sequels don't sell. Harper Collins bought “farm-to-table” immediately. Lisa hated the phrase, negotiated a full chapter on eggs, and eventually came around — because the seasonal structure actually forced her to write more versatile recipes. She even discovered she likes salads now, provided there are blackberries and feta on them. The words “farm to table” do not appear in the book.* 18:32 — The structure of the book — seasonal within categories: Chapters are organized by type (soups, salads, etc.), but within each chapter, recipes are sorted seasonally. So you're not just looking for soup — you're looking for a soup that belongs to this time of year. One Goodreads reviewer complained that what's in season in Maine isn't what's in season everywhere. Lisa's response: fair point, but she wrote it universally, not for Maine specifically — because if she had, there would be no spring chapter.* 19:44 — Lisa's garden (and its honest current state): In Virginia, Lisa had a huge horse-pasture garden fertilized with manure — cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, everything thriving. In Maine, she took the Master Gardener program and learned that the very long summer days compensate for the short frost-free season (roughly 100 days). She's grown sweet potatoes, watermelon, and corn. Today? A dedicated garlic bed, herb planters on the deck, and whatever tomato plant a friend hands her. She's at peace with this.* 22:14 — Amy's garden confession: Three blocks from the Boston city line, Amy has a small four-by-four raised bed. Last year she gave up on vegetables and grew flowers instead. This year: herbs. Lisa approves — fresh tarragon and dill are genuinely hard to source locally, and herbs are where home growing makes the most impact (looking at you, tomatoes).* 25:15 — Sweet deviled eggs — Black Forest and Piña Colada: The book has a chapter on sweet deviled eggs. The Black Forest deviled eggs came from a failed blueberry cheesecake deviled egg attempt (the yolk turned gray — a dead end). Lisa pivoted to chocolate and landed on something that tastes almost like chocolate pudding in an egg white. The Piña Colada version features coconut on top. If you serve enough margaritas alongside them, no one will even notice the eggs.* 27:05 — The case for steaming eggs (and against boiling them): David and Lisa are both committed steamers. The method: an inch or two of water in a pot, a bamboo steamer/colander/mesh strainer, add eggs once steam is coming through, cover, same timing as boiling (10–12 minutes for hard-cooked), then straight into ice water. Benefits over boiling: eggs peel perfectly every time (even fresh eggs), no cracking from bouncing in boiling water, no gray-green ring around the yolk (steaming is gentler heat), and that hot-to-cold shock does something sciencey that makes the shell release cleanly. No baking soda, no holes poked, no counter-popping required. David calls the pocked, dimpled result of boiled eggs “egg acne.” He has been cured for twelve years.* 33:38 — How to make creamy scrambled eggs: Fresh eggs only — they have enough moisture that you don't need to add milk or water. Whisk really well (air = creaminess). Butter in a pan over low heat. Pour in, move for large curds or stir more for small. The key: take them off before they look done. They should still be wet and glossy. The enemy is overcooking, which leads to dry, weepy eggs with liquid seeping around the edges of the plate.* 35:24 — Poaching eggs in things other than water: Starting with the basic whirlpool technique, Lisa began asking: why are we limiting ourselves to water? The book includes eggs poached in maple syrup (served over buttered toast, it reads like a deconstructed pancake), beer, wine, and butter beer. The Avgolemono poached eggs — borrowing from the classic Greek egg-and-lemon soup — bring citrus brightness without extra salt or seasonings.* 37:31 — Scandinavian heritage in the book: Lisa's grandparents emigrated from Finland to International Falls, Minnesota (cold and snowy, just like home, which they quickly reconsidered) before landing on Cape Cod and then Central Massachusetts. Lisa spent a year in Finland in sixth grade while her father completed his doctorate. The cookbook includes a Finnish Creamed Rice with Cranberry Soup — something between rice pudding and a floating island — with a thick cranberry sauce (standing in for Finland's lingonberries) and whipped cream, re-created from memory of a great-aunt's version because there was no recipe to inherit.* 40:30 — Maple brown sugar pot de crème with bourbon whipped cream and bacon bits: Maine means maple. Lisa tried variations on crème brûlée for years and kept finding that it's too pure a dessert to mess with (she even objects to restaurant versions served with cookies and berries alongside — “it should just be it”). She pivoted to pot de crème, which is more forgiving and invites variations.* The maple-bacon version is spectacular. David makes his own espresso maple bacon — cured five days with maple and espresso powder, then smoked — which he describes as “breakfast in a bite.”* 42:22 — The Burnt Basque Cheesecake: Lisa included it before it went truly viral, when she felt it was still something most people hadn't heard of. The appeal: no crust, much more forgiving than traditional cheesecake, deeply flavorful from the caramelization. (David makes a pomegranate molasses version.) The challenge of cookbook timing: you write a recipe thinking it's a discovery, and by the time the book comes out two years later, it's everywhere — or in some cases, something you created for a TV episode goes viral and you can never quite prove it.* 43:45 — The flight of jammy eggs went viral — and Lisa was doing it first: Lisa featured a row of varied jammy eggs on a wooden board as part of an episode of Welcome to My Farm before it exploded on social media. She was not happy when it happened. “I was cringing inside.” The cookbook timing problem strikes again — you turn in your manuscript over a year before publication, and the world moves fast.* 44:52 — How to actually start keeping backyard chickens: Go to a feed store, get baby chicks, bring them home in a box. For six to eight weeks, keep them in a plastic tote with a heat lamp, food, and water. Once they're big enough and it's warm enough outside: a small coop (doghouse-sized works for five or six chickens), close to the house, predator-proofed. Wait five to six months. Fresh eggs. No new husband required.* 45:13 — Goodbye, Lisa: She's at Fresh Eggs Daily across all social platforms. In Season is out now.Recipes Mentioned* Spinach Artichoke Dip (Amy's, for the Celtics wake)* Betty Crocker Cookbook for Kids Brownies (butter + unsweetened chocolate, double boiler — Amy will post this recipe)* Strawberry Ricotta Cannoli Tart (press-in shortbread crust, ricotta filling, fresh strawberries and raspberries)* Swiss Chard, Leek, and Goat Cheese Tart in an Herb Crust (with rosemary, thyme, and a cream-egg-nutmeg custard)* Blueberry Crumble* Bucatini all'Amatriciana (guanciale, San Marzano tomatoes, red pepper flakes)* Vinegar-Glossed Chicken (from Mad Hungry by Lucinda Scala Quinn)* Black Forest Deviled Eggs (chocolate yolk filling, from In Season)* Piña Colada Deviled Eggs (coconut-topped, from In Season)* Steamed Hard-Cooked Eggs (Lisa's method — bamboo steamer, ice water bath)* Scrambled Eggs (fresh eggs, butter, low heat, pulled early while still glossy)* Maple Syrup Poached Eggs (on buttered toast)* Avgolemono Poached Eggs (from In Season)* Finnish Rice Porridge with Cranberry Sauce and Whipped Cream (from In Season)* Maple Brown Sugar Pot de Crème with Bourbon Whipped Cream and Bacon (from In Season)* Burnt Basque Cheesecake (from In Season)* David's Pomegranate Molasses Basque Cheesecake* David's Espresso Maple Bacon (homemade, five-day cure, smoked)Books and Publications* In Season: 125+ Sweet and Savory Recipes Celebrating Simple, Fresh Ingredients by Lisa Steele — out now* Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook by Lisa Steele — her first cookbook* Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys by Lucinda Scala Quinn — source of the vinegar-glossed chicken* Pimento Cheese: The Southern Spread by Rebecca Lang — mentioned in passingWhere to Find Us* Amy Traverso* Instagram | Yankee* David Leite* Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Youtube* Lisa Steele* Blog | Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit davidleite.substack.com

A newlywed couple driving through the deep, dark north woods hit a deer, and then find themselves at the mercy of the vicious King of the Forest, a supernatural buck bent on revenge.“Road Kill” is an original tale of the Northland from the Icebox Radio Theater. It starred Linnaea Yount as Michelle, and Dalton Johnson as Drew. The deputies were played by Jeffrey Adams and Caleb Silvers. Written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. Recorded at the IBRT studios, International Falls, Minnesota. This program copyright 2025 by the Icebox Radio Theater. For more information, visit iceboxradio dot o-r-g.

This month, two women were killed in domestic violence incidents 12 days apart. Ashley Kittelson was allegedly killed by her husband in International Falls on March 6th. Jennifer Marsaw and her 5-year-old son, were allegedly killed by her husband in Anoka County on March 18th. Marsaw's husband has been charged with two counts of murder. Their two cases share a common thread. Both women filed orders for protection from the men accused of killing them. Violence Free Minnesota Co-directors Nikki Engle and Katie Kramer joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about legal systems of protection and how they're advocating to make those systems function better. If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation with a partner, a 24-hour statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline. The number to call Minnesota Day One is (866) 223-1111 or you can text (612) 399-9995.

You've heard of Stonehenge in England ― but what about Minnesota's own Basshenge? Reporter Alicia Eler shares its story with host Erica Pearson. The 2001 piece of public art celebrates an instrument — the double bass. Located off Hwy. 11 west of International Falls in the northernmost part of Minnesota, it was created by a musician who spent his later years in the area.

International Falls was the spot the Strib was reporting from last week....find out more here!

International Falls was the spot the Strib was reporting from last week....find out more here!

The Icebox Radio Theater presents 'A Christmas Carol', recorded before a live audience at the John Faith Little Theater, International Falls, Minnesota on December 6, 2025. Starring Douglas Skrief as Scrooge. Also featuring Dalton Johnson, Charis Ata-anni, James Yount, Linneah Yount, Tom Bement, Justin Kapla, and Karen Shickell. Sound effects by Jeffrey Adams.

This has been, ‘The Haunted', an original ghost story from the Icebox Radio Theater. It starred Trelawney Erwin as Judith, Aela Mackintosh as Donna, Jonathan Primack as Mills, and Jeffrey Adams as Youngston. Written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. Recorded at the IBRT studios, International Falls, and in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Copyright 2025 by the Icebox Radio Theater. For more information, visit iceboxradio dot o-r-g.

If you go to International Falls, Minnesota looking for a picturesque waterfall, you'll be disappointed.  This is the story of the falls on this international...

Episode 077 - Midwest Hidden Gems - 5 of 6 – MinnesotaExplore 7 stunning motorcycle routes across Minnesota, from Driftless valleys and Amish pie stands to Iron Range mining towns and the birthplace of water skiing! In this 5th part of our Midwest Hidden Gems series, Tom and Todd deliver unforgettable rides, must-visit towns, and their top local eats across the Land of 10,000 Lakes.Toolkit Segment:Affiliate Note - This video is not sponsored. Some gear or product links may be affiliate links, which help support the podcast at no extra cost to you.This week in the toolkit: affordable upgrades to make your ride more comfortable—seat hacks, hydration tips, and ear protection gear that really works!Mentioned Gear:AirHawk seat pad (or knock-offs)Sheepskin + bead combo for seat pressure reliefWaterSY 1-gallon jug with GYZR bite valve tube (amazing for long hot rides)Foam & custom earplugs for quiet ridingBoot dryer + portable optionsRiding boot options for different seating positionsMust-Eats Across Minnesota:Shawnee's Bar and Grill – CaledoniaPedal Pushers Café – LanesboroEstelle's Eatery – HarmonyBubs Brewing Co. – WinonaReed's Landing Brewing – KelloggSmoking Oak Rotisserie – Red WingLeo's Grill & Malt Shop – StillwaterGordy's Hi-Hat – CloquetChocolate Moose Restaurant – International FallsForbidden Barrel Brewing – Worthington112 on Broadway – Albert LeaThe Grumpy Minnow – HarrisPark Café & Wagon Wheel Café – BrahamInsula Restaurant – ElyBetty's Pies – Two HarborsLake House on Pepin – Lake CityNewt's – RochesterThe Creamery – RushfordFeatured Routes in this Episode:Root River Ridge Ride (Driftless Triangle) – 95 milesMinnesota Bluffs Ride – 65 miles (Winona to Red Wing)St. Croix to the Border – 295 miles (Stillwater to International Falls)Prairie to River Valley – 135 miles (Worthington to Albert Lea)St. Croix and Pines Loop – 95 miles (Taylor Falls to Lindstrom)Border to Shore – 299 miles (International Falls to Superior)Borderline Bluff Ride – 95 miles (Lake City to Chester)Subscribe to our channel for more Midwest moto-journeys: https://www.youtube.com/@BestMotorcycleRoadsSign up for BMR Rider Alerts: https://bestmotorcycleroads.com/rideralert/Full Podcast Archive & Routes: https://bestmotorcycleroads.com/podcast/Follow UsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/motorcycleroadsandtripsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestmotorcycleroads/Website: https://bestmotorcycleroads.com/podcast/Question of the WeekHave you ever ridden any of these Minnesota routes? Which one should we hit next?Want to Sponsor the Show?We're always looking for partners! Reach out here: https://bestmotorcycleroads.com/contact/Timecodes0:00 - Teaser: “Emergency Pie and 3 Pairs of Underwear”0:55 - Bottom Line: Not all Minnesota rides are twisty—but some are...

Neil hails from International Falls, MN and comes from a hockey playing family. Listen in as he takes us through his path to Harvard and the NHL. After his playing career ended, Neil studied to become a lawyer, NHLPA Player Agent and Neuro Muscular Therapist. Neil tells great stories and has an awesome sense of humor! Chippewa SteelIf you're looking for a great night of hockey, a Steel game is the place to be. Riverside Bike and SkateEau Claire's hockey headquarters which is the oldest hockey store in the state of Wisconsin. Rolly's Coach ClubMarket & JohnsonAdding Value to Everything We DoWilliams Diamond CenterWilliams Diamond Center is a fun and friendly place to find your next sparkling signature pieceKelly Heating and ElectricProudly making you comfortable since 1997!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.@TheBOSPodwww.thebreakoutsessions.com

The Five Count recently had a chance to speak with musicians Cassie & Maggie MacDonald. Cassie & Maggie are a sibling folk duo from Nova Scotia, Canada. They are Canadian Folk Music Award winners and Juno Award nominees. Their new album Gold & Coal is available now! See them in Minnesota on April 28 in Rochester, May 1 in International Falls, May 2 in New Port and May 3 in St. Paul! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv2lqFbcPQc&pp=ygURY2Fzc2llIGFuZCBtYWdnaWU%3D

Possible indicator of life on a distant planet; mass shooting at Florida State; fake moderate Democrats; Mike Lindell pleads being broke; Roblox; DFL candidate Denise Slipy joins the show; UHG takes a big hit in the stock market; International Falls city council meetings; no consequences for real crimes.

Minnesota's only national park turned 50 years old Tuesday. Voyageurs National Park was created on April 8, 1975. The park preserves about 220,000 acres of lakes, islands and forest along the Canadian border near International Falls. While the park is being celebrated all this year, it's creation was not without controversy. Barbara West served as park superintendent from 1995 to 2005. She spoke to reporter Dan Kraker about some of the issues she dealt with in her role and what she loves about Voyageurs. 

Early Monday morning nearly 200 athletes embarked from International Falls on the Arrowhead Ultra 135, one of the most grueling winter endurance races in the world. Racers bike, run and ski the equivalent of more than five marathons on a snow covered trail across northern Minnesota, carrying survival gear with them.Among the racers is Michael Koppy, 74, from the Duluth area, who's vying to become the oldest person ever to finish the Arrowhead on foot.MPR News correspondent Dan Kraker recently caught up with Koppy, who started running ultras about 25 years ago, when he turned 50.

Recorded before a live audience at the John Faith Little Theater, International Falls, Minnestoa on Oct 24th, 2024.

A story of family unity and lots of water--In Episode 112 of the WTIP Boundary Waters Podcast, wilderness traveler Peter Halverson shares the tale of his family's June 2024 Boundary Waters trip to Lac la Croix, which coincided with an unusually strong storm that dropped three to eight inches of rain over NE Minnesota. On June 18th, the storm washed out roads from International Falls to the North Shore of Lake Superior, and many locations experienced flash flooding and high water conditions--including in the BWCAW. Even after the rain stopped, the water continued to rise. With thanks to Peter for sharing this epic tale of adventure with WTIP. Photo courtesy of Peter Halverson.

Minnesota's current "Mr. Football" Maxwell Woods, formerly of Chanhassen now with South Dakota State joins Randy. Also, International Falls "tackle machine" Kane Thompson and Prescott, Wisconsin head coach Jordan Hansen are guests on Shaver Prep Football Podcast.   Sponsored by TruStone Financial, Your Neighborhood Credit Union. It's true. (https://trustonefinancial.org), Aquarius Home Services (https://aquariushomeservices.com), & Culver's (https://www.culvers.com)

Recorded before a live audience at the Salty Jester, International Falls, Minnesota on May 31, 2024.

Join us in the studio with Tyler Sadek, Go MN! Project Manager, and Amanda Jensen-Stahl, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Minnesota General, as we explore the transformative efforts of Minnesota's DIF Grant Go MN! This episode delves into innovative strategies designed to transition individuals with disabilities from subminimum wage to competitive, integrated employment.   Listen Here   Full Transcript:   {Music}   Amanda: Give them the tools and resources to look at other ways to support employment instead of that 14 (C) certificate.   Tyler: So much great work to be done supporting with individuals with disabilities across the country, and we really need people to help implement those innovative ideas so that we can serve these folks even better. This type of work is extremely important, and if you have a good team, I would dare even call this kind of work fun.   Amanda: Having that support is just so appreciated because there is a lot of pieces to this. And when you know, hey, I can call up Brandi and Iowa and just kind of say, hey, how are you guys dealing with this? That has just been really fantastic as well.   Intro Voice: Manager Minute brought to you by the VRTAC for Quality Management, Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host Carol Pankow.   Carol: Well welcome to the Manager Minute. Joining me in the studio today is Tyler Sadek Go Minnesota project manager. And Amanda Jensen-Stahl, director of strategic initiatives with Minnesota General. So Tyler how goes it in Minnesota?   Tyler: Things are going well. I think spring might finally be here, so I'm pretty happy about that.   Carol: Yeah, I'm with you on that. I think we had spring, uh, in February and now we're now we're having winter. It's like what? What is happening?   Tyler: We're gonna give it another shot with spring.   Carol: I know it, it's hysterical. And, Amanda, it's always good to see you. How are you doing?   Amanda: I am good, it's so good to see you, too, Carol.   Carol: Well, we've been delving into the RSA Disability Innovation Fund grants, and this series is focused on the SWTCIE grants, or sub minimum wage to competitive integrated employment. And the purpose of this round of grants is to increase the opportunity for SWTCIE program participants, which includes students and youth with disabilities seeking subminimum wage employment and potential VR program applicants or VR eligible individuals with disabilities who are employed or contemplating employment at sub minimum wage to obtain competitive integrated employment, also known as CIE. Holy smokes, that's a  lot. And I love nothing more than talking with my Minnesota general peeps. You guys always have so much going on. And so for full disclosure for our listeners, before I retired from the state of Minnesota, I was the Assistant commissioner of the Workforce Services, part of the agency. I had the privilege of hiring your director, Dee Torgerson, into her position. And I think the world of Dee and the whole team there. So let's dig in. I'm excited about what you're doing. So, Tyler, I know you had your six month anniversary. Tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and how you came to VR.   Tyler: Yeah, so I was working as a restaurant manager, actually, and I volunteered for an organization called Life Track. I'm doing resume reviews, mock interviews, things like that. And then eventually a position opened up in business engagement, and I got hired. And in that role, I was supporting their employment program for people with disabilities as well as their other employment programs. Eventually, from that role, I moved into providing direct services to individuals with disabilities as a placement person, which I really loved. Eventually, another opportunity opened up at an organization called Resource, and I was hired on to help lead a direct appropriation grant for a few years. So I continued to do that, and then eventually I transitioned into an HR position, actually at a construction company called Parsons Electric, where I was responsible for community outreach, including working with VRS and other community organizations, as well as managing a few employee programs at the company. So in that role at Parsons Electric, I got connected to the State Rehabilitation Council, where I served as a representative of business, industry and labor and then eventually served as the chair of that council for a few years. So that was eventually led me to learning about Go MN a little bit. I saw the position opened up, I decided to apply and here I am. It's been quite the journey to this role, but I feel like it's a good culmination of my experience working with employers, doing placement, managing programs and leading others.   Carol: That is so cool. Our listeners always like to hear where people come from. It's like no one's journey in is ever clearly straight. It's a long and winding road and you're a fellow placement person. I used to do placement way back in the day. I have like fondness in my heart for that. So that. Oh, very cool. Amanda, how about you? You know, I've known you, but I didn't know about your journey into VR.   Amanda: Yes. So I went to school to become an English teacher. And then when I got out of college, I had a hard time finding a job. And so I got a job working with a CRP in Saint Paul. Shout out to Goodwill Easter Seals. And I fell in love with the work. I started doing job placement, job coaching and moved into a manager role where I was overseeing our placement team, our extended employment grant. We started an IPS program, so it was just an awesome, awesome experience. And then in 2015, a position became available at VRS for an extended employment specialist. And I thought, hey, I'm going to jump at this opportunity to use my experience on the CRP side and bring it over to VRS and the state of Minnesota. And from there, I've had a lot of great opportunities. You mentioned WIOA, I came in at the kind of ground level of when that was all starting, and got to build our process for career counseling, information and referral. I started working with our interagency partnerships with DHS, our Medicaid agency, and our special education agency, and then moved into overseeing business engagement, interagency partnerships, and now director of strategic initiatives. So it's been such a journey and just really incredible. And I'm grateful for all of those experiences because I think they all, you know, thinking about this dif grant and going, man, it is all serving us very well. This is kind of a culmination of much of that work.   Carol: That is super cool. I didn't know that about your background. Either. And you've done a ton at Minnesota. I always think whenever your name is tied to something, it's going to be stellar. It's going to be terrific. I do, I think the world of you. So, Amanda, can you give us a little snapshot of Minnesota general? Like how many staff do you have in the agency and how many customers do you guys serve? Yes.   Amanda: So we have 429 staff across the entire state, 23 field offices. And when we look at our last program year, so the last full program year of 22, we served about 12,919 individuals. We had over 5000 applications. And I'm really excited about our employment outcome rate is up over the last two years. So we're kind of building back from the pandemic, as I'm sure many folks are doing, and we're seeing the numbers of folks applying for our services go up, as well as those employment outcomes going up. So really happy that we're back to those pre-pandemic levels of people we're serving, which is just great news.   Carol: That is excellent to hear. I know folks really struggled. The pandemic just like crashed our customers. A lot of them, they were afraid to come out. I mean, they didn't want to be exposed to Covid and all of that. And it really decimated what the VR program was looking like. But we're seeing such a good rebound. You guys have also been rebounding in your numbers of staff too, with your staff vacancy rate. So I know does put a lot of initiatives into place. So you're much you know, I think you're at 20 some percent and I know it's much lower than that.   Amanda: Yes, absolutely. Dee and others have done some really great work with our HR department and really being creative and innovative in how we're recruiting staff, retaining staff, looking at all those ways to support staff with onboarding training. And we're really starting to see that dial shift where our vacancy rate is pretty low again. And we're back to kind of that pre-pandemic level. So we're really grateful for all those efforts. And just, you know, really, I know it's something that everyone struggles with, but just really thinking about, okay, how do we make this work and how do we make the state of Minnesota and VR's a really great place to work?   Carol: Excellent. I love to hear that. Now, I know Minnesota, you know, kind of shifting to our diff. You know, Minnesota still has a fair number of people who work at or are paid sub minimum wages. So tell us a little bit about the project and what you're hoping to accomplish. And Tyler I'm going to kick that to you first.   Tyler: Sure. So this is a disability innovation fund. So we are trying to develop innovative ways to serve people with disabilities in the state. So for this project, we're working with the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston, or ICI Boston, to pilot what's called progressive employment. So it's a dual customer model, meaning it's meant to serve both employers and job seekers. And it really is meant for people with limited or no work experience in competitive, integrated employment. So what's different about it is it's really meant to help people explore work, doing things like tours, job shadows, work experience, learning more about what work means for them, what their skills are, what their interests are. And this project is also focused in the growing high demand transportation industry in Minnesota. So the hope is to help those that are either working in Subminimum wage or considering working in Subminimum wage, explore opportunities in that transportation industry, and potentially find competitive, integrated employment that's a fit for them and for the employer. The idea is really that everybody is ready for something, and we just need to meet people where they're at, provide the support needed for them to be successful in the community.   Carol: I love that. Can you talk a little bit more about the transportation industry, like a little more specificity around that? What does that look like? Yeah, so.   Tyler: The transportation industry is huge and it does include transportation and material handling. So we are considering this pretty broadly. But it really I think most people think about, you know, mechanics or drivers, but it's all those positions that support that work as well. So it could be working in an office. It could be working with technology, working with your hands, working with people. But we do think of transportation as very broad. And what's nice about that is for the folks that we're serving, there is a good chance with how broad this industry is that they can find that opportunity that they're looking for. So that was the emphasis in transportation. I know we'll mention Duluth later being a big transportation hub as well.   Carol: Yeah, that makes sense, I get that. Amanda, did you have anything you wanted to add to that?   Amanda: Yeah, I'll just add a little bit more about just subminimum wage in Minnesota. And Minnesota has historically had a very large number of individuals who have been working in subminimum wage employment. And, you know, when we wrote this grant two years ago now, even in the last two years, things have shifted and changed in ways that are so incredible. And I'm so excited about when we wrote it, we were looking at the numbers and looking at things, and it just has changed so much. So the first year back when we started doing the career counseling information referral process, we had almost 12,000 individuals that we saw that first year for this last year that we have data, we're down to about 4500. So that is a huge, huge change. And then when we look at our pilot location, we are down to like less than 100 people in the pilot location, perhaps even less than 50. And part of that is we're seeing providers just move away from that 14 (C) certificate, even though it's technically still allowable in the state and at the federal level. But I think providers are just saying, you know what, we want to move away from this. And this work really dovetails nicely with lots of other transformation initiatives that have been happening in the state over the last few years to help support providers, give them the tools and resources to look at other ways to support employment instead of that 14 (C) certificate. Lots more to do, of course, but it's just been really exciting to see this work that is just happening right before our eyes. And I think for this grant, we've had to certainly adjust and kind of keep up with those changes as well.   Carol: That makes my heart happy because I remember back in the day, more like 14,000 way back when. And I used to actually work at the Department of Human Services, where we did licensing and rate setting and all the different things for the various providers who were day training programs that did use, a lot of them use the 14 (C) certificates. It was kind of the way of life in Minnesota. So that is such a huge move. I had no idea about the numbers. Now that makes my heart really happy. Excellent. Good on you. This is great, you guys. So for our listeners to Minnesota is really a geographically diverse state. I think for some people they think about us. People be like, do you guys have, you know, plumbing and flush toilets? I've had people ask me that. I'm like, seriously, we are not out in the middle of the boondocks, but we do have areas of the state that really are super rural. And from top to bottom, this state, it is hours. It is a long way. If we're going to go from here to International Falls and such. Now, we do have our urban areas and our extremely remote locations, and you guys are taking a really great approach with this project, focusing on northeast Minnesota and spreading out across the state. So how did you guys come to settle on starting up in the Duluth area, and how are those partnerships developed?   Amanda: Great question. One of the requirements when we were applying for the grant is you had to pick a industry, and there were a couple different options. And as Tyler mentioned, we decided on the transportation industry. And the reason we did that is because when we looked at where were people already getting jobs at VRS across the state and transportation and material moving was number one over the last few years. So we thought, okay, people are already getting a lot of jobs in that industry. And so we decided that makes sense. Let's do that. And then looking at Duluth, because it really, for those of you who don't know, Duluth is right on Lake Superior. And it is a transportation material moving hub. You see those kind of ships and barges coming in and trains, and there's just there's a lot happening in the Duluth area, but it's also small enough that it felt manageable for us, that we could really leverage some of the amazing partnerships that we already have established in the Duluth area. The Duluth team is amazing because part of this work is really relying on our field team. So that manager and those staff that are in that office know that area. They also have previous experience working on a large federal grant from a few years back. We had the SGA grant, the SGA project, and then just those partnerships of not only employers and transportation partners, but our providers, our employment service providers, our relationship with our county, the waiver case managers, and then our centers for Independent living. And really knowing that, okay, we've got something great happening in Duluth and all the pieces were there. And so that's why we decided we're going to start in Duluth. We're going to get this off the ground, and then we can bring that to other parts of the state and really leverage that team to then help mentor as we then go to other parts of the state. And they are also amazing and willing to be flexible, knowing that this is a demonstration model. We're trying some new things. We want to be innovative. And so while we've tried to kind of lay the groundwork, we know that we're going to make changes and adjustments as we go. And they are right there game to do that along with us.   Carol: That makes so much sense now. Why, you know, talking about the transportation history. And then why you picked Duluth? Because Duluth sits on the harbor. It's a lovely location. Like there's major shipping traffic in and out. I hadn't thought about all of that. When you think about the transportation industry, first thing I always come to mind, like semi-trucks, you know, it's the truckers and there you go. But when, as Tyler described it, you know, we're talking so much more broadly. There's a lots of different elements that are all around the transportation industry. That's pretty cool. So I know a lot of our DIF grantees have had struggles and challenges during year one of the grant because, you know, you get notified maybe four days before it's the beginning of the federal fiscal year. And it's like, go and spend all that money right away. And so everybody's been talking about the challenges, and I wanted to find out what kind of challenges you all faced year one and how you have dealt with them and overcome those. And Amanda, I think I'll kick it to you first.   Amanda: Thank you. I did mention this, but it really has had a huge impact on how we've thought about this. But the changes in 14 (C) providers and Subminimum wage work, looking at our pilot location, many of the providers have already in the time we applied and in the time we're planning to get this up and running, have already moved away from it. And so that has been a challenge for us to kind of think about, how do we think about those folks who have historically earned subminimum wages, who might be doing other types of work, but it's still not necessarily integrated? And thinking about kind of that definition of contemplating and working with our RSA liaison to kind of work through that to say, hey, we've got a lot of changes in the landscape of this target population and working really closely with liaison to help, you know, maybe kind of adjust how we maybe thought about the population when we wrote the grant and then really thinking about how this project overlaps with much of the existing work that we've done in Minnesota. I mentioned earlier working with our Medicaid agency and our special education agency, and really thinking about how we serve individuals who are receiving a Medicaid waiver and how we're leveraging those relationships with schools and serving youth with the most significant disabilities. And we've spent a lot of work in how we partner with county case managers, our schools and transition programs. And so being very mindful about how progressive employment and this project fits in with that work, and not duplicating or stepping on toes and then thinking about sustainability. So how we can kind of fit the progressive employment in with much of that work that's happening. So that's a few changes around Subminimum wages. I'll pass it over to Tyler to talk about some of the other challenges we faced.   Tyler: Yeah, I would only really highlight two. One I think a lot of people can relate to is hiring is a challenge. It takes time to find the right people to work through that process. I do think we really have found some great people. I'll talk more about that in a second here. But that was a challenge. It takes time. It's hard to do this work when you don't have the people hired, but then the other one and it relates to this. A lot of these things just take time. As Amanda mentioned, this is a big project. So bringing those partners together, getting contracts in place, just all that groundwork that has to be laid. It just takes time. It's a challenge in the sense we know this work has to be done, but as long as we're patient, as long as we work through the process, as long as we stay determined, we've been able to work through those things, and we are getting very close to being able to get this off the ground.   Carol: I love that, you know, you both talked about groundwork, and I think, Amanda, that groundwork with, you know, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education, and I know that started years ago, where we were having those monthly meetings, the three organizations and DEED, you know, we're all talking together way back in the day. I was still part of that. And I loved that because we had to really learn to speak each other's language, to start, and then really look at how we could blend and braid and work together. So we weren't duplicating, supplanting all those words, you know, and making sure. So the stage was really set. That is true. And that will help with this whole effort. I think that's great. And even all the groundwork, Tyler, that you guys have laid in the agency with working with HR and all those different processes that have gotten so much better over time, helps for you to onboard and get the people in. So it seems like the stars all aligned and everything is coming together for you guys, I love that. So Tyler, what are some initial wins that you guys have been seeing?   Tyler: Yeah, so building on that theme of groundwork, there's again, a lot that goes into it when I look back at the past. So I know you mentioned my six month anniversary. I think I met about eight months now. Just the things we've been able to accomplish. So there's systems that are necessary to support this work. Customizing Workforce One has taken some time, but I think we've got a good system in place. We're going to be piloting a system called Salesforce. I'm sure many people are familiar with that, but that'll help us with our employer engagement, coordinating and organizing some of those efforts. I mentioned working with ICI Boston that has been bringing them in and working closely with them has definitely been a win. As well as the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. They're going to be supporting this project as well. So we've just started to meet with them, bringing them into it. And then we also work with Mathematica as part of this project. So just all that groundwork, bringing in all these partners, getting everybody on the same page, I would definitely identify that as one of the biggest wins. And then I just mentioned this, but and maybe I'm a little biased, but I do think we've hired some amazing people on this project. I'm really excited for the work to begin, for them to really, you know, flex their muscles and use their skills. And then just overall, not just the folks that we've hired, all those partners that I mentioned, I think we just have a great team for the project. Everyone is very talented. We have some great team cohesion. Everybody works very hard, so we're all ready to do some good work for the people that we serve.   Carol: Yeah, you have a great foundation. Those groups that you all mentioned, Mathematica, and you've got ICI, and you've got also the UMass Boston people we're well aware of all those folks and consider them our colleagues. They're great. You guys were smart and kind of pulling the trifecta together to help support the project. So I know you're always looking forward and Duluth is the start. So Amanda, what's your next focus area going to be?   Amanda: We are focused on getting that pilot off the ground. And because of those changes of where Subminimum wage is at in Minnesota, we're really taking a look at in our proposal, we had identified some areas and we're rethinking that and really looking at where do we still have those higher numbers of people earning subminimum wage and looking at targeting those locations. So we have a higher number in kind of central Minnesota as well as southeastern Minnesota. And so looking at kind of the lay of the land there with those 14 (C) providers, that might still be providing that, because we want to make sure that we can leverage this grant to do the most work and do the most good, if you will. And so looking at shifting from where we initially thought we had thought we'd do Metro in southwest Minnesota, but now we're rethinking that and looking at, okay, where are our high numbers of subminimum wage workers? And let's go there.   Carol: So are you thinking then would that be down, like in the Rochester area, sort of as kind of the if you're thinking about the state, I'm trying to think I'm like east West. That was not always my best suit.   Amanda: Yeah. So down in southeast it would be like Rochester and Winona, that area.   Carol: Okay.   Amanda: And then central is kind of Saint Cloudish area. Saint Cloud Willmar, yeah.   Carol: Great. So what have you guys had for some takeaways that you've gained from the project so far. And Tyler I'm going to kick it to you first.   Tyler: First I would say my primary takeaway and I'm still new but a lot goes into this work. There are so many people involved. There are so many processes to follow and they can be very complicated sometimes. So I know I mentioned this before, it just takes time. It takes patience, it takes working together. Determination that has been my prime takeaway is just this is a big project. We just have to kind of, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. But as long as we are focused on really doing our best to serve the people that we want to serve, and we're keeping them at the center of all this work, then I have no doubt when all is said and done, we will be successful. We'll have achieved the mission of this grant. I just have to, for myself, even, just be patient. Take it a day at a time.   Carol: How about you, Amanda?   Amanda: I would say it takes a team. It's a big grant. It's a big project. And so I think that foundation that we've been laying with our internal VRS teams, shout out to the Duluth team and then our partners at ICI Boston and ICI Minnesota, we haven't mentioned it yet, but we have for business outreach, the Transportation Center of Excellence in Minnesota. We have someone there who has been helping us think about outreach to business and kind of tapping into what's happening from an education standpoint and working with them. And then I also want to note, CSAVR has been doing a community of practice with the SWTCIE grant holders. So the states have been coming together on a monthly basis to just talk about how this is working and sharing with each other and learning with each other, and that has been really helpful. And then there's been some other like RSA and Mathematica have also held some meetings. So I think just it's helpful when you're doing something like this and you're kind of in the weeds, it's nice to hear from other people, like you're not alone. Other people might be struggling or having successes, and just having that support is just so appreciated because there is a lot of pieces to this. And, when you know, hey, I can call up Brandi and Iowa and just kind of say, hey, how are you guys dealing with this? That has just been really fantastic as well.   Carol: Well, and speaking of Brandi and Iowa, we just recorded with her last month. And their SWTCIE Grant, which is fun. I had not heard that CSVAR was doing this COP. I love that that is great because I know there's a lot that goes into the DIF just organizationally and administratively because it's a different type of grant, a discretionary grant from the feds. There's different reporting requirements. And so sometimes states are not used to all of that. Like there's a high level of involvement from RSA. And so you've got a lot going on and people are kind of overwhelmed. It's different. And so having that support group is awesome I love that. Well, I know too, that we have different listeners who are on the fence. And we're anticipating another round of DIF grants coming again with the large amount of monies that were relinquished in Re allotment. And so sometimes people, you know, they reach out and they're like, well, like, should we do it or not? And do you all have some advice for them if they're contemplating doing a DIF? Tyler, what would you tell folks about this?   Tyler: I could understand looking at these grants, seeing them as intimidating. But I think to Amanda's point, if you do choose to apply, know that you are not doing it alone. We have definitely leaned on other states who are doing similar work, and it both helps support our work as well as remind us that we are really in this together. So I think that makes a huge difference if you do decide to apply. But really, if you are contemplating applying for a DIF grant, I say go for it. There is so much great work to be done supporting with individuals with disabilities across the country, and we really need people to help implement those innovative ideas so that we can serve these folks even better. So this type of work is extremely important, and if you have a good team, I would dare even call this kind of work fun.   Carol: Hahaha. That is awesome! Well, I could see the fun on both of your faces because you're smiling. Our listeners can't see that, but you're both smiling from ear to ear. And I can tell the passion and you're very excited about what you're doing. I know you're building your website right now, so you may not have that available, but if others wanted to connect with you, what would your email addresses be?   Tyler: Once we get that website up, we'll let you know in case we can incorporate that somehow. But I can be reached at Tyler.Sadek@State.MN.US and I'll spell that really quick, T y l e r dot s a d e k at state dot MN dot US.   Carol: Excellent. And Amanda, how about you?   Amanda: Okay, here's my email. Amanda. A m a n d a dot Jensen, J e n s e n, -Stahl, S t a h l, at State dot MN dot US. Amanda.Jensen-Stahl@State.MN.US   Carol: Excellent. Thank you both. You both have been terrific. I'm really looking forward to connecting with you all again. A little bit down the road, you know, as you get more time under your belt and we see how it's going. But this sounds amazing and really I wish you the best of luck. Thanks for joining me today.   Tyler: Thank you Carol.   Amanda: Thank you Carol.   {Music} Outro Voice: Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time, brought to you by the VR TAC for Quality Management. Catch all of our podcast episodes by subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!  

Recorded before a live audience at the Salty Jester, International Falls, Minnesota, April 18, 2024

The Scream in the Shack was written & directed by Jeffrey Adams.  It starred Aela Mackintosh as Carol, Scotta Turner as Petra, Jim Yount as Bob, Dalton Johnson as Ron and Justin Kapla as Dept Oats.  Sound design by Jeffrey Adams.  Sound engineering by Cnara Erwin.  This program was recorded on April 18, 2024 at the Salty Jester in International Falls in front of a live audience.  For more information on the Icebox Radio Theater, visit Icebox Radio dot O R G.

Recorded before a live audience at The Salty Jester, International Falls, Minnesota.

Recorded before a live audience at the Salty Jester, International Falls, Minnesota.

Nick Lesch's story is a riveting account of resilience and redemption. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, he faced poverty and an absent father. At five years old, he survived a near-fatal three-story fall, an event that ignited his faith. After being adopted by a Seventh-day Adventist family, his life took a turn, but adolescence still posed challenges with family struggles and identity crises. A move from International Falls to New Mexico and a troubled relationship with his father led him into a difficult phase, but a transformative summer program steered him toward a more positive path.As Nick matured, he battled personal vices but found deeper meaning in his faith. Evangelism and a stronger connection to the gospel helped him overcome his struggles. By the end of the episode, you'll hear how God's grace turned his life from darkness to light, and how he's now dedicated to sharing this hope with others, especially his own family. Join us to witness the remarkable power of transformation and the resilience of the God's spirit.10:46 - Family Struggles and School Transitions18:52 - Growing Up and Finding Faith25:12 - Life's Ups and Downs35:32 - Overcoming Struggles Through Faith40:38 - Family Conflict and Spiritual Awakening44:26 - Journey to Finding God's Love55:18 - Impact of the Gospel Transformation1:03:16 - Growing in the Gospel

If you've been tuning in through this past winter, you have likely heard of my big scary adventure coming up next winter - what will be my first fat bike winter ultra at the Arrowhead 135 - a 135-mile adventure through the remote wilderness of northern Minnesota in late January - it starts in International Falls and is known for it's bitter cold temperatures and deep snow - and while it's not always cold and snowy, as in this past edition (tune in to our conversation with Cate Coward in episode 114!) - but I will say - you'd better be prepared for both! One of the reasons this race is scary for me, is that I'm no fat biker - I don't yet own one, nor have I really spent any time on one - and though it's spring and every week is getting warmer and warmer as we head into summer - it's high time I start thinking about what I'm going to ride next winter! So I dialed up my mentor, Steve McGuire - and who better to talk fat bikes? Steve is not only a veteran of many winter ultras including the Arrowhead 135, Actif Epica, Tuscobia 160 and the Iditarod Trail Invitational - not only all of that - but he also leads the Design, build ride program at the University of Iowa - a cool class for both engineering and art students to who do just that - design, build then ride their own hand crafted steed. So Steve's not only been riding fat bikes for years and years - but has also been playing with the design - so if you're interested at all in your own winter fat biking, bike design or... well... Iowa Women's Basketball - then I hope you enjoy this conversation with Steve McGuire! Connect with Steve at https://art.uiowa.edu/people/steve-mcguireWe would love it if you would consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable. You'll receive a Bike Talk with Dave sticker! Bikeiowa.com is the online host of Bike Talk with Dave. Get your event listed on the extensive ride and race calendar for free! Create an account and add and edit your event to reach thousands of cyclists. Register for the core4 today! New distances in 24 include a 20, 40, 60 or 100-mile option. Register at www.core4.bikeFollow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!And if you need any digital media work: photography, videography and editing, podcast production and editing, look no further than Mable Media. Connect at www.mablemedia.net to help grow your brand and connect with your audience!

Bob Mason spent 18 years as the goaltending coach for the Minnesota Wild but his hockey journey goes far deeper.   International Falls thru Duluth and into the NHL which includes the Easter Epic.   Great puck talk here.

Bob Mason spent 18 years as the goaltending coach for the Minnesota Wild but his hockey journey goes far deeper.   International Falls thru Duluth and into the NHL which includes the Easter Epic.   Great puck talk here.

“Lance Manley & the Case of the Long Lost Love” was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. It starred Caleb Silvers as Lance, Aela Mackintosh as Nora, and Justin Kapla as Lawrence Barrymore, PHD. Jeffrey Adams was your announcer and played Sgt Jones. Diane Adams was Effie. Sound design by Jeffrey Adams. This program was recorded on March 1, 2024 at the Salty Jester in International Falls in front of a live audience. For more information on the Icebox Radio Theater, visit Icebox Radio dot O R G.

Race Results are listed from the Duluth Winter Trailrunning Series (Hartley Park 10k, Frozen 4 Hour/5k, and Series results), the Freeze Yer Gizzard 5k/10k and Arrowhead 135, both in International Falls. The only upcoming race we could find was on March 16, 2024 with the Saint Fennessy 4K. Trails are in bad shape and should ... Read more

Dave Amundsen took the post in International Falls to protect our US border and also to enjoy his time away as an angler! Sponsored by: Kinetico (https://www.kineticoMN.com/) Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (https://horseandhunt.com/) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/) Star Bank (https://www.star.bank/) & Lakes Gas (https://www.lakesgas.com/)

Dave Amundsen took the post in International Falls to protect our US border and also to enjoy his time away as an angler! Sponsored by: Kinetico (https://www.kineticoMN.com/) Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club (https://horseandhunt.com/) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/) Star Bank (https://www.star.bank/) & Lakes Gas (https://www.lakesgas.com/)

“Heroes Don Cha' Know” was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. It starred Adams and Justin Kapla. Sound effects engineered by Diane Adams.This program was recorded on January 19, 2024 at the Salty Jester in International Falls in front of a live audience. Support the Icebox Radio Theater at Iceboxradio.org/join-us

Duluth, Saint Cloud, Hibbing and International Falls each broke records this morning for warmest overnight low temperature. The Twin Cities tied a record with a low of 35 degrees. That mild weather isn't going anywhere, anytime soon.That story and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

“Lance Manley & the Case of the Bogus Bestseller” was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. It starred Caleb Silvers as Lance, Scotta Turner as Nora, James Yount as Dr Peabody, and Charis Boyer as Lilith. Jeffrey Adams was your announcer and Diane Adams was Effie as well as the sound effects engineer. Sound design by Jeffrey Adams. This program was recorded on November 19, 2023 at the Salty Jester in International Falls in front of a live audience. Partial funding for the Icebox Radio Theater provided by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. For more information on the Icebox Radio Theater, visit Icebox Radio dot O R G.

As part of my prep to start - and hopefully finish- the Arrowhead 135, a 135-mile winter fat bike ultra starting in International Falls, Minnesota in January, I wanted to talk to the director of the event: Ken Krueger. In this episode he talks about what it takes to prepare for and complete what has been described as one of the 50 hardest races in the world. For more information on this race and begin YOUR journey to northern Minnesota you can open the Pandora's box of winter ultra fat biking (as well as skiing and running!) at www.arrowheadultra.com. We hope to see you there in 2025! Consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable. You'll receive a Bike Talk with Dave sticker! Bikeiowa.com is the online host of Bike Talk with Dave. Get your event listed on the extensive ride and race calendar for free! Create an account and add and edit your event to reach thousands of cyclists. Register for the core4 before Oct. 2 and get a 24% discount, and leave no surface untouched. New distances in 24 include a 20, 40, 60 or 100-mile option. Register at www.core4.bike Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel! And remember, if you act fast, you can order your own Bike Talk with Dave stocking cap by sending a DM to Dave on instagram or facebook!

As a cyclist I've competed in many disciplines, from road racing and criteriums to mountain bikes, gravel and cyclocross. Even a little track racing! But there's one discipline I've never done: A Winter Fat Bike Ultra. So, with the mentorship of Steve McGuire, a winter fatbike veteran (Alaska, Iceland, Wisconsin, Minnesota and more), I'm embarking on a journey to the 2025 Arrowhead 135. That is a mid-winter fat bike race through the remote northwoods forests from International Falls to Tower Minnesota along the Arrowhead trail. In this episode Steve and I introduce the project and then begin with one of the topics to help me prepare: Proper clothing. While I've raced in some of the coldest and worst conditions around, I've always had a warm house, car or hotel waiting for me at the end of my ride. The Arrowhead can take as long as 60 hours over two nights and temperatures can reach more than forty degrees below zero. Wind, snow and even rain can make conditions even more challenging. So tune in today and join Dave as he explores with Steve McGuire how to conquer what is considered one of the 50 hardest races on earth! Check out the Arrowhead 135 at https://arrowheadultra.com/. And tune in to episode no. 105 for a conversation with Arrowhead Race Director Ken Krueger. Check out the previous episodes with Steve McGuire as he talks about his rides in Alaska and Iceland as well as the Design, Build Ride program he leads at the University of Iowa in Episodes 53 and 54! Consider supporting Bike Talk with Dave by rating, reviewing and sharing on your favorite podcast platform. We'd invite you to support the show financially at www.buymeacoffee.com or on Venmo @David-Mable. You'll receive a Bike Talk with Dave sticker! Bikeiowa.com is the online host of Bike Talk with Dave. Get your event listed on the extensive ride and race calendar for free! Create an account and add and edit your event to reach thousands of cyclists. Register for the core4 before Oct. 2 and get a 24% discount, and leave no surface untouched. New distances in 24 include a 20, 40, 60 or 100-mile option. Register at www.core4.bike Follow Bike Talk with Dave on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/biketalkwithdave/ and Facebook so you don't miss any of the fun, and you can now find every episode on your computer at www.biketalk.bike. And now available on YouTube on the Bike Talk with Dave YouTube channel!

This has been ‘A Tree Falls in the Forest' recorded before a live audience on September 30, 2023 at the Salty Jester in International Falls, Minnesota. Our cast included Scotta Turner as Cheri, Caleb Silvers as David, Jeffrey Adams as Jim, Dalton Johnson as Bob, and Mitchell Erickson as Pete. Script written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. Sound effects by Diane Adams. Partial funding made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. For more information, visit Icebox Radio.org.

This has been ‘A Tree Falls in the Forest' recorded before a live audience on September 30, 2023 at the Salty Jester in International Falls, Minnesota. Our cast included Scotta Turner as Cheri, Caleb Silvers as David, Jeffrey Adams as Jim, Dalton Johnson as Bob, and Mitchell Erickson as Pete. Script written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. Sound effects by Diane Adams. Partial funding made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. For more information, visit Icebox Radio.org.

This has been ‘The Scoop Sisters: Flood of Riches' from the Icebox Radio Theater. It starred Victoria Olson as Jasmine, Karen Shickell as Mel, Aela Mackintosh as Dana, and Hireth Boyer as Pete. The script was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. The recording was made before a live audience at Backus Community Center, International Falls, on August 16th, 2023. This program copyright 2023 by the Icebox Radio Theater which is solely responsible for its content. Partial funding made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. For more information, visit Icebox Radio.org.

This has been ‘The Scoop Sisters: Flood of Riches' from the Icebox Radio Theater. It starred Victoria Olson as Jasmine, Karen Shickell as Mel, Aela Mackintosh as Dana, and Hireth Boyer as Pete. The script was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. The recording was made before a live audience at Backus Community Center, International Falls, on August 16th, 2023. This program copyright 2023 by the Icebox Radio Theater which is solely responsible for its content. Partial funding made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. For more information, visit Icebox Radio.org.

There's another air quality alert that parts of Minnesota is dealing with Tuesday. Heavy ground level smoke from Canadian wildfires is drifting across Northern Minnesota. The air quality alert includes cities like Brainerd, Alexandria, Hinckley, Ortonville, Moorhead, International Falls, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Roseau, and Chisago, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, and Morrison counties. The alert lasts until Wednesday afternoon. Tuesday is the 41st day with bad air quality in Minnesota this year. Most of the alerts have been due to wildfires raging across Canada. And unfortunately we are currently in peak wildfire season. David Brown is an Air Quality Meteorologist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and he joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about his work.

This episode is jam packed! I sit down with Harvey Lewis, just days after his finish at Badwater 135. And his Badwater run across Death Valley was less than 2 weeks after his 375 miles that he ran at Dead Cow Gully backyard ultra in Australia. We also talk about his documentary that just game out: Like Harvey Like Son, where he attempted the fastest known time, FKT, to run the entirety of the Appalachian Trail. I also found out that he ran the Arrowhead 135, which is a race across the frozen landscape of International Falls, Minnesota where temps have dipped to -45°F during the race. Harvey has also ran in the last two runnings of the Barkley Marathons, which is an invite-only 100-ish mile orienteering race at Frozen Head State Park that has only been completed 21 times by 17 runners. Again, so much to get to and I hope you enjoy this episode. I feel like there is a lot more to uncover with Harvey and more stories to share, but we try to uncover more of his adventures and the worst weather he has had to endure. Harvey partners with RoadiD, Newton, Tailwind, 2XU, and All Day Running. Follow Harvey on social media by looking up Harvey Lewis Ultrarunner on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok⁠. You can find the documentary "Like Harvey, Like Son" on Amazon Prime Video. Also, if you are interested in checking out his travel running company, check out Run Quest Travel.

This has been, Blood Orange - an original tale of terror from the Frozen Frights podcast, a presentation of the Icebox Radio Theater. Our play was performed live, over the air originating from Studio-908 in International Falls, Minnesota on February 10, 2023. It starred Aela Mackintosh as Grace, Justin Kapla as the Boss, Grace Flesland as Claire, and Doug Skrief as Dr Gabe.The script was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams who also played the Winter Warlock in this episode. This program from the Icebox Radio Theater is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.This program copyright 2023 by the Icebox Radio Theater all rights reserved. For more information, visit Icebox Radio dot O R G

This has been, Blood Orange - an original tale of terror from the Frozen Frights podcast, a presentation of the Icebox Radio Theater. Our play was performed live, over the air originating from Studio-908 in International Falls, Minnesota on February 10, 2023. It starred Aela Mackintosh as Grace, Justin Kapla as the Boss, Grace Flesland as Claire, and Doug Skrief as Dr Gabe.The script was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams who also played the Winter Warlock in this episode. This program from the Icebox Radio Theater is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.This program copyright 2023 by the Icebox Radio Theater all rights reserved. For more information, visit Icebox Radio dot O R G

This has been, Blood Orange - an original tale of terror from the Frozen Frights podcast, a presentation of the Icebox Radio Theater. Our play was performed live, over the air originating from Studio-908 in International Falls, Minnesota on February 10, 2023. It starred Aela Mackintosh as Grace, Justin Kapla as the Boss, Grace Flesland as Claire, and Doug Skrief as Dr Gabe.The script was written and directed by Jeffrey Adams who also played the Winter Warlock in this episode. This program from the Icebox Radio Theater is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.This program copyright 2023 by the Icebox Radio Theater all rights reserved. For more information, visit Icebox Radio dot O R G

As the Director of Art and Art History at the University of Iowa, wove his passion for long, challenging, cold bike rides together with the U of I curriculum. The result was a now world renown bike building set of classes known as Bike I and Bike II. Teaching a bike building class also allows him the opportunity to build bikes of his own design for his use in his favorite type of bike races: Winter Ultra-Endurance Bikepacking events. His travels have taken him from the frozen rivers and mountains of the Iditarod Trail, to the sub-zero Canadian Bordertown of International Falls, Minnesota on the Arrowhead 135. He's also ridden from Fairbanks, Alaska to his home in Iowa City, and most recently a north-south crossing of the remote Icelandic interior. This episode was recorded in January of 2023. In our extra episode, No. 54, we had a 2019 discussion about the University of Iowa's Bike Fabrication and Design program. Read more about it here. Register for the Driftless 100 today! 100, 60 & 30-mile options of beautiful Northeast Iowa gravel. August 29 in Elkader. Thank YOU for tuning in to Bike Talk with Dave! Please rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform - and of course, please share it with your friends! And If you'd like to support the show financially, you can look for Bike Talk with Dave at BuyMeACoffee.com or hit me on Venmo at @David-Mable If you do I'll send you with a Bike Talk with Dave sticker! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dmable122QI'd encourage you to try a bag of Chain and Spoke Coffee. I'm enjoying the Gravel Grind this month - bold and smooth - it's available by ordering at chainandspoke.com! Winter is the time for your team to order your summer kits. Call Bike Rags Apparel for a quote and let them help you design and outfit your team! www.bikeragsapparel.com Thanks to www.BIKEIOWA.com for being the online host of Bike Talk with Dave - BikeIowa.com is your one stop shop with an incredible event calendar, as well as news, information and trails in Iowa and around the midwest! New events are added every week - if you're an event director, make sure and upload your information as soon as you can to bikeiowa.com and get your event in the calendar!

Stuff and things from deep in the bowels of International Falls, Minnesota. It's all the wit that's fit to print.

Laurel Beager, editor of the Rainy Lake Gazette in International Falls, has been following the story about how the town is trying to find solutions for working class families who are struggling to afford food. She talks with Cathy Wurzer about the situation.

With a dry forecast, the National Weather Service predicts that the water level on Rainy Lake — which is threatening hundreds of properties east of International Falls — will rise by only a couple inches over the next seven days. That compares to some days in the past couple weeks where the lake rose that much in a single day, swollen by a heavy winter snowpack and then spring rains. This is a morning update from MPR News, hosted by Cathy Wurzer. Music by Gary Meister.