For The Love Of Duluth

One pair of creatives has brought a new phenomenon of sorts to the Northland in the form of wood mosaic art, becoming renowned in the field in just a few short years. That duo is Anna and Nathanael Bailey, the owners and masterminds behind BB & Friends. The business started in their garage back in 2015 and has since surged into a juggernaut that includes a gallery, an event space, an Airbnb and so much more. These two built a business from the ground up, one that continues to grow, and perhaps most importantly: one whose mission is to inspire the Duluth community through art. Learn about this mission & how this incredible business was born in this episode - our first with a duo!

The Duluth Children's Museum has an incredible history, dating back to 1930 when it was founded by Mabel McKinney Wing during the Great Depression. Despite a handful of relocations since, its mission has remained untouched, serving as an incredible resource for kids and teachers in the Duluth community. Today, the Duluth Children's Museum is thriving, with a new location in Lincoln Park and a new Executive Director, just the fifth to ever hold that special title. Drew Jensen is our guest this episode, taking us through his journey to joining the team (twice!) and mapping out his plans for the Duluth Children's Museum in the years to come.

There is perhaps no better place to open a record store than right here in Duluth, thanks in part to the current vinyl revival happening nationwide and the fact that the Zenith City is known for its music scene. That's why the newest record shop to move into town fits right in - and stands out for all the best reasons. River City Records & Books opened in Lincoln Park late last year and has been thriving ever since. Store Manager Dury Nelson joined us to talk all about how the new addition is finding its groove.

Duluth is full of creative and inspirational people making a difference in the world. Gaelynn Lea is one of them, making her mark as an incredible musician, composer, disability advocate, public speaker & soon-to-be author. She skyrocketed to fame back in 2016 after winning NPR's famous Tiny Desk Contest. She's taken the entertainment world by storm ever since, working with some of the biggest names in both the music and movie industry. She also has two TED Talks to her name, is the cofounder of Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities and is currently penning her very first book about it all. Hear about her journey in her very own words in this sweet episode.

Warning: you won't stop laughing once you start this episode, featuring Steve Solkela. He does it all, as a musician, comedian, stuntman, opera singer, actor and composer, among many other talents and titles. He's most famous for his Overpopulated One Man Band, a solo show that has earned him rave reviews and fans as far as Finland. The master multitasker has an impressive resume, with an even more incredible journey earning it. Get ready to laugh so hard it hurts in this hilarious episode of For The Love Of Duluth.

Just two months (not even!) into his brand new role as Mayor Of Duluth, Roger Reinert sat down with us for an exclusive conversation. During this hour-long chat, we covered a long list of topics, including his goals for his first year in office, his extensive career in politics, his award-winning role in the Navy and his Minnesota roots. We cover this with him and so much more in this very special season five premiere. Enjoy.

Don Ness has firmly cemented himself in the history books of the Zenith City and rightfully so. From growing up in the Hillside neighborhood in the 70s and 80s to holding the title of Mayor of Duluth for nearly a decade, it's unlikely you'll find anyone more passionate and engrained in this community. Once called one of the most popular Mayors in the country, the Northlander now helps Duluthians in a different way, acting as the Executive Director of the Ordean Foundation. In our season four finale, we have an in-depth conversation with Don Ness about it all, from why he stepped away from politics to the incredible work he does today.

It's no secret Duluth was meant to be photographed, nor is it a secret that our town is chock-full of amazing stories just waiting to be told, hence this podcast. One local videographer masterfully tells these tales, most recently crafting a nine-part documentary about the rise and fall of commercial fishing along the North Shore and Isle Royale. A lawyer by day and powerful storyteller by night, Frederick Dudderar Jr.'s passion for the Northland is always in focus. In this episode, it is his story we are telling, as the creative joins us to talk about his business, his latest project and his favorite thing about Duluth.

Tom Hanson has a full plate - literally and figuratively. The restaurant owner is responsible for some of the most beloved eateries in the area, including the famous Duluth Grill and the mouthwatering OMC Smokehouse, among a handful of other amazing additions to the scene. It's almost like he was destined to feed, breaking into the restaurant industry four decades ago and never looking back. In this appetizing episode, Tom dishes all, from how he got his start in the business to how he built the restaurant empire we are all reaping (and eating) the benefits of today.

Bluegrass has a long and storied history, dating back to the 1940s, when it was developed in the Appalachian region of the United States. Since, the genre has found its way to Duluth, with a handful of popular bluegrass bands often taking the stage at one of the Northland's many live music venues. One of the newer bands to hop on the scene is Tres Osos, a trio made up of three friends that formed in 2022, bonding over music, barbecuing and taking on the great outdoors. Tim Leutgeb is one third of the popular trio, joining us to talk about how the band formed, the music scene in Duluth and what it is like working in the industry.

Shipwreck hunters and photographers see the world from a perspective most of us never will and without this dedication to their craft, we'd never see one with our own eyes or learn about their important place in history. Jerry Eliason has made a big splash since he started on this passion project five decades ago, snapping hundreds of shipwreck photos, helping to discover more than twenty wreck sites and taking on too many dives to count. In this episode, we go deep, plunging through this distinguished decades-long journey in an underwater world.

Northern Minnesota is always picture perfect but that doesn't mean photographing it is easy. It takes a lot to stand out and Ryan Tischer does so flawlessly, photographing the picturesque landscape in the city we named this podcast after and selling these stunning pictures in his Canal Park gallery. Tischer Gallery is wildly popular and for good reason: the photos are unmatched. Having entered his first art show when he was just twenty years old to opening his own gallery in the most popular neighborhood in Duluth, Ryan Tischer's passion has always been in focus. Get to know his journey in this new episode.

It's been a big year for Chad Ronchetti. He was handpicked over the summer as the new Director of Planning & Economic Development for the City of Duluth. Fresh off his first few months with the prestigious new gig, he joined us to talk about his decades plus experience in the industry, how he snagged the major role and his future plans for the city. He also bares all about his childhood, travels as a young man and how fate led him to where he is now. Learn all about Chad Ronchetti and his plans for the city we named this podcast after in this new episode.

Over the past few years, the beer industry in Duluth has been booming. With so many breweries making our city their home, it takes quite a special place to stand out. Blacklist Brewing Company does and has since it first opened in 2012, quickly becoming one of the most popular breweries in the Northland. Blacklist has all the 'beer' necessities and then some, with an incredible menu of one-of-a-kind brews and a big emphasis on customer experience. More than a decade later, they continue to thrive, becoming the first spot in Duluth to offer axe throwing and offering up a brand new space. Ray Mindestrom, the Axe Throwing Manager at Blacklist, joined us for this episode to talk their new location, incredible menu and plans for the future.

The only thing better than that first cup of coffee in the morning or finally getting to that afternoon pick-me-up? Knowing you're drinking the java for a good cause. A new coffee shop in Superior has made that a reality, opening over the summer, with proceeds benefitting local ministries within the community. (It's so special, we're crossing state lines for this one. Sorry, Duluth!) 2540 Coffee House is the real deal, with a large handcrafted menu full of delicious treats, coffee flights and a rotating seasonal menu of drinks you will drool just reading about. There's so much more to this brew-tiful new spot than just cappuccino, though. Business Manager and Co-Founder Christyna Foster joins us for a coffee chat to talk about the mission behind the new shop, what else you'll find when you walk through the doors and her passion for giving back.

There's no other body of water quite like Lake Superior. What other lake or ocean has its own publication with such a dedicated following? Lake Superior Magazine comes out bimonthly, made up of subscribers in almost all fifty states, most Canadian provinces and more than twenty foreign countries. Each issue proves why Superior is supreme, placing a special emphasis on the people, places and events that make up these glorious cities along the lake, including Duluth. Travel, history and current events line the pages, along with phenomenal photography and freelance contributions from those that love the lake as much as we do. Konnie LeMay has been a crucial member of the team since she joined twenty-five years ago, with a true passion for the body of water she writes about. As the editor of Lake Superior Magazine, she sail-abrates all things lake life and helps spread the word day in and day out about why lake life is the best life. She'll even teach you a thing or two about Lake Superior in this very Duluth episode.

When you think of local news in the Northland, no one comes to mind quicker than Dan Hanger. The news anchor, reporter and producer quickly became a household name after joining the FOX 21 team in 2010, thanks to his unique way of delivering the news, mixing passion and authenticity with his signature personality, something you don't see on your average nightly newscast. The Illinois native has done it all in the decades-plus since he packed up and moved to Duluth to break the news, providing consistency and steadiness to the ever-changing news landscape in the area, all while providing a bunch of laughs along the way. Hear Dan Hanger's journey from self-proclaimed news nerd to the most famous face in the Northland in this special episode taking you behind the news desk.

There is perhaps no body of water more Duluth than the St. Louis River, beat out only by the legendary Lake Superior, which it happens to flow into. Unfortunately, it is also happens to be one of the most heavily polluted waterways in the state and a Great Lakes Area Of Concern. One nonprofit organization is destined to change that, working to restore, protect and enhance the beautiful river year-round: the St. Louis River Alliance. Executive Director Kris Eilers is our guest this week, joining us to talk about their current projects, goals and the incredible wildlife you will see along the spectacular St. Louis River.

An Irish pub might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to the place we call home but Duluth does have the luck of the Irish in the form of a handful of lively and fun-loving pubs. One of the best? Carmody Irish Pub and Brewing. The spot opened in 2006 in a former livery stable from the 1880s, right in the heart of downtown Duluth. Its popularity is due in part to its owner Eddie Gleeson, who wanted a place to pay homage to his family. Now, nearly two decades later, Carmody is thriving, so much so that it became part of a big Hulu hit late last year. Even George Clooney has saddled up to the bar there! Eddie joined the podcast to talk all about the popular pub in this awesome episode of For The Love Of Duluth.

Picnic season is officially here and thanks to one Duluth local, picnics on Lake Superior will never be the same. Jamie Anderson started Events By Jam during the COVID-19 pandemic. While she doesn't remember exactly where she first heard of the pop-up picnic, she knew she wanted to bring the concept to the Northland and bring it she did, offering customized and luxurious picnics for whatever the occasion - and setting it all up for you, too! Get to know the founder + more about this unique business in this episode of For The Love Of Duluth.