For The Love Of Duluth

Today, there are more than forty-three thousand food trucks currently operating in the United States, with that number growing by roughly about ten percent each year. We have a huge variety in the Zenith City already and that list just got longer thanks to the new kids on the block: Bowlz N' Thangz. This incredible food truck was started by Sarah Hovis & Amanda Mathiason, featuring a diverse menu of just about everything you could ever crave and then some. From bang bang shrimp to bacon cheeseburger egg rolls, the newest addition to the Northland food truck scene is quickly making its mark on the culinary world. Hear all about the delectable food and the duo behind it in this episode.

Just a few short years ago, the news landscape in Duluth changed in the best way when WDIO launched an award-winning afternoon lifestyle program, the first of its kind in the Duluth area. The Lift has certainly lived up to its name since its debut in September of 2022, offering a much-needed midday pick-me-up (or 'lift') to Northlanders everywhere. The secret to that success? Host Baihly Warfield, a longtime anchor, reporter and producer who brings her passion for the community to our television screens every weekday afternoon. Get to know the familiar face behind the camera in this new episode.

Duluth is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the midwest, with nearly seven-million people visiting the Zenith City each year. With those big numbers comes a big need for places to stay. Enter The Brix, a collection of upscale vacation rentals in Canal Park, the same location that the couple and business owners met and fell in love in more than a decade ago. The best part? For Keenan & Tiegen Brickson, this is just the prologue. Learn all about their incredible spaces and how they came to fruition in this motivating episode.

Public speaking is a common fear for many. For others, it is a passion. The latter is the case for Holly Kostrzewski, who was left with a traumatic brain injury after a motor vehicle crash at 18 years old. In the decades since, she has reached over 200,000 people and counting with her message of hope, humor and inspiration, turning the challenges she encounters daily living with a brain injury into an immensely successful career in public speaking. Need a little hope or inspiration yourself? Get to know Holly in this noteworthy episode and we promise you'll find a little bit of both.

Ventriloquism is undoubtedly of the most unique takes on performance art today, and thanks to one lifelong Duluthian, it is alive and well in the Northland. Jeremy Lepak has been a professional ventriloquist for nearly two decades, performing everywhere from county fairs to grad parties to special luncheons. We pulled some strings (see what we did there?) to get the comedian on For The Love Of Duluth so we could hear about his rare journey, from his first public performance at an open mic night in 2012 to becoming one of Minnesota's most distinctive ventriloquists in the game today.

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.