Today, about half of all marshmallows sold are eventually toasted over a fire and promptly consumed, with Americans buying more than ninety million pounds of the sweet treat each year. Believe it or not, we have one big marshmallow connection right here in the Zenith City, thanks to a small, woman and veteran-owned business called The Minnesota Marshmallow. What started as a fun venture during the pandemic quickly turned into a full-fledged business, offering a lengthy list of seventy rotating marshmallow flavors and treats, each made with the highest-quality ingredients and innovative, one-of-a-kind recipes. Throw in a wholesale location in Piedmont, a spot on store shelves all across Minnesota and Wisconsin and a shiny new endeavor in the form of a food truck and you have a business that’s simply S’MORE delicious than the rest. Owner & founder Amy Sirois joins us to talk all about her delectable business.

It’s no secret that the art of watercolor has quite a colorful history, existing in some way, shape or form since the Paleolithic period. One of the most identifiable mediums today, our love of watercolors is alive and well worldwide, even here in the Zenith City, a fact that can be attributed to an incredible local artist with a big passion for watercolor paintings, making Duluth even more vibrant with each and every day. LeeAnn Huot has channeled her love of watercolors into a successful art and design business, HuArt Art & Design, offering watercolor paintings and digital design work in an official capacity since June of 2023. She’s also become the art teacher she’s always dreamed of, teaching beginner watercolor courses at local businesses all across the Duluth area. On top of it all, the artist also owns her own wedding coordinating business called Juneberry Wedding Planner. In this episode, we shine a light on the vivid life of one of Duluth’s most creative residents: LeeAnn Huot.

Simply put, music is a huge deal in the Northland, where we are charmed with several music centers to help us scratch our creative itch. There’s no doubt that one of the most special - and historic - is the Sacred Heart Music Center, a prominent music venue in Duluth’s Central Hillside neighborhood that is as stunning as it is significant. A community cornerstone for more than a century, this building dates back to 1896, constructed as the Sacred Heart Cathedral during times of urban renewal in the area. It’s undergone many changes over the years, and today stands tall, as a 400-seat live music venue with renowned acoustics showcasing music of regional, national and international artists around the clock. This remarkable space is fit with an incredible recording studio, a famous Felgemaker organ and the distinction of being one of just three neo-Gothic churches with three towers unique to Northern Minnesota - and that’s just the beginning. Today, Mark Nicklawske, a member on the Board of Directors for the Sacred Heart Music Center, is here to get us AMPED about this life-changing space.

Since 2001, the number of craft breweries in Minnesota has been steadily increasing, from less than 50 all those decades ago to about 234 as of late 2024. Duluth has also become a craft beer haven, with one of the most popular and bustling being Canal Park Brewing Company. Located in its namesake, this hot spot has been around for more than a decade and for good reason. Famous for their award-winning beers and mouthwatering food, the brewery also just so happens to have the very best view in Duluth, located right along the shores of Lake Superior. Toss in a prime location, a dog-friendly patio and drinks crafted using water from the great lake and you have one brewpub that's simply hard to beat. Sandi Daytner, General Manager of Canal Park Brewing Company, joins us to shine a light on how this epic brewery came to be.

Duluth is known for its exciting restaurants, breweries and attractions and one of the very best is still considered a hidden gem: the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, one in a family of seven that collectively hosts more than a million historical documents, making it one of the largest private collections of historic manuscripts in the entire world. Located in the former First Church Of Christ Scientist building, the museum hosts more than 26 important documents at any given moment, along with art, photography and other items related to literature, science, religion and political history. You can even take a walk down memory lane with yearbooks from local high schools and maps dating back to the 1800s. You’ll never get bored: exhibits rotate between museums four times a year. With free entry and a location as historic as the documents inside of it, the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum really is Duluth’s best kept secret - until now. Matthew Sjelin, Director of the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, is spilling all on one of Duluth’s most undiscovered treasures.

Duluth has become quite famous for its brewery scene as of late, bringing in locals daily and drawing in tourists from all over the midwest, each eager to try the beers they’ve heard so much about, brewed with water straight from the great lake they’ve also heard so much about. When it comes to breweries in the Zenith City, Hoops Brewing is simply LAGER than life. With its convivial food hall-esque atmosphere and prime location right in the heart of Canal Park, it’s nearly impossible not to BEER happy while sipping on one of their one-of-a-kind creations. The man behind the incredible spot is a legend in his own right, playing a major role in the brewery boom in our neck of the woods AND marking 25 years of brewing in Duluth this year, quenching our thirst for a quarter of a century and counting. Find out how Dave Hoops became a renowned member of the brewery business in this new episode.

When it comes to fishing on Lake Superior, many Northlanders are HOOKED from the very first bite, and with a body of water as grand as the great lake, you might need to call in a little help. For that, look no further than Happy Hooker Charters, the oldest and largest charter fishing company on this side of the lake, operating out of the exact same slip as the William A. Irvin in Canal Park for the most Duluth experience possible. Complete with seven charters, it’s the team that is the real catch here, serving the community since 1976 with over eighty years of combined fishing experience on Lake Superior, and extensive knowledge and rare techniques rarely found with any charter business. Needless to say, Happy Hooker Charters is the REEL deal. Today, members Riley Leslie and Jamie Cotner are here to explain what makes Happy Hooker Charters the best in the business.

Chances are, if you live in or have traveled to Duluth, you’ve feasted on a sandwich from one of the best. Northern Waters Smokehaus is famous in our neck of the woods, and beyond, for good reason: their smoked fish and meats, along with their sandwich creations, are simply unmatched. What started as a passion project turned into one of the most delicious places to eat in Minnesota, opening more than two decades ago with a handful of employees and two sandwich prototypes. Much has happened since, with an appearance on the Food Network’s famous Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, more than 60 additional employees and rave reviews from anyone who has ever walked through the door. Eric Goerdt is the man responsible for it all, turning his lifelong passion for the great outdoors into one of the Northland’s most thriving businesses. 

It’s no secret that Duluth is an active city, thanks in part to the abundance of outdoor recreation we have right in our own backyard. To take it all on, we need the right footwear. For that, we turn to Tortoise & Hare Footwear in West Duluth, a thriving local business that started as a franchise more than two decades ago and counting. Known for their incredible customer service and comprehensive fitting process, Tortoise & Hare Footwear is truly a STEP above the rest. Today, it is owned and operated by Jim and Mary Stukel, along with their three sons, making this business a family affair - one where finding the perfect sneakers is always a SHOE-in. This episode shines a spotlight on the Stukel family, as Jim and Mary share how Tortoise & Hare Footwear went from franchise to Northland favorite.

When it comes to cooperatives, one of the most legen-DAIRY can be found in our neck of the woods. The Burnett Dairy Cooperative is as historic as it is amazing, in business and farmer-owned since June of 1896. Got milk? The Burnett Dairy Cooperative does, bringing in over a million pounds of it each day, in turn crafting 150,000 pounds of cheese daily, creating nothing short of the highest quality, most delicious product around. The best part? The cooperative now calls Duluth home, opening their first standalone retail location to date in the summer of 2024, complete with an ice cream shop, lunch and dinner options like pizza and appetizers, and beer and spirits to wash it all down. It might sound cheesy but we think Alison Hoefs, the Chief Human Resources Officer and Marketing Lead for Burnett Dairy Cooperative, is the perfect guest to talk about this udderly amazing operation.