Jay Walker is not your ordinary Duluthian. Why? He spends his day with fish and critters of all kinds and gets paid for it! The Executive Director of one of Duluth's most popular spots, Jay Walker's passion for public aquariums was sparked by a trip to an aquarium decades ago. The very same day as that visit, he decided he wanted to make a career out of that passion. By determination and hard work, he has now been living his dream for a quarter of a century. He joined us to talk about his unique career path, working at Great Lakes, how the tourist destination dealt with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and of course, the animals. You will love getting to know Jay Walker and the animals as well!

The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is one of the most exciting events to take place in the Northland every year and it happens right in our own backyard. One of the top winter attractions all Twin Ports residents look forward to, the race is as unique as the backdrop it is set against. Established in 1980, it is the premiere sled dog race series in all of North America. Someone who knows about the race firsthand is Jean Vincent, a longtime volunteer who has been a part of the race for more than two decades. She joined the podcast to talk about the history of the race, the many roles she's had throughout the years and of course, the dogs. Get to know Jean just in time for the 2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon - and all her furry friends, too. 

Spirit Mountain is one of the most iconic places in Duluth, sitting high on a hill that overlooks the city. While you may think of it as snow business, Spirit Mountain operates year-round with amazing trails for winter sports lovers and an adventure park during the summer months. To keep everything running smoothly takes a very special person and that is where Jon Regenold comes in. A former Freestyle Ski Couch for Team Duluth, he now helps run Spirit as the Co-Director of Resort Services. The tackles everything from marketing to the rental division and even more in between all with someone special by his side: his wife! His journey to Spirit was almost serendipitous, as a former ski coach and ski lover himself. His fascinating career path, journey to planting roots in Duluth and of course, passion for Spirit Mountain makes him the perfect guest for this episode.

Duluth has breweries a plenty but Ursa Minor Brewing stands out for all the right reasons. The owner, Ben Hugus, joined us on For The Love Of Duluth to talk about the beloved hot spot. We touch on how they navigated business throughout the pandemic, their huge roster of brews and their famous homemade pizza. (Are you hungry just thinking about it?) Hugus also shares his life experience up to opening the brewery, which includes international travel and eventually, making it to the place we call home. Grab a brew and learn all about one of Duluth's most treasured spots and the man responsible for it all. 

If you've ever been searching for something to do in Duluth, whether as a resident or as a tourist for the day, chances are you have visited Perfect Duluth Day. The website is described as "Duluth's Duluthiest website" which features endless stories about local events, unique lifestyle stories and of course, there famous event calendar. There is truly no better guest for the For The Love Of Duluth podcast than one of the men behind it all, Paul Lundgren. Lundgren joined us to talk about how the website operates, how he became involved and how many hours goes into their large calendar of local events. He also touches on his career path up to the website and his book. Get to know the man behind the website you definitely have bookmarked on your computer with this episode of For The Love Of Duluth.

When you think of Duluth, you probably think of the amazing scenery and breathtaking beauty it has. Lisa Luokkala gets a front row seat to it every single day as the Executive Director of the Superior Hiking Trail Association. Lisa has been contributing to the city of Duluth for more than a decade, eventually landing the coveted gig she holds now. She joined us to talk about how she beat out fifty people for the job, how the Superior Hiking Trail works and how YOU can support it. Grab your headphones, head to the nearest part of the trail and get to know Lisa!

Have you ever been to the Jade Fountain? It is one of the coolest spots in Duluth. The spot transports you to a tropical island with a unique homage to the restaurant that was there before it. The owner, Kai Soderberg, is just as interesting, with a long and storied career in the food and beverage industry. His journey led him to Duluth, where he now owns the Jade Fountain. Meet the man behind the spot, which is a one-of-a-kind treasure of the Twin Ports. 

If you've been to Duluth or you call Duluth home, there's a good chance you've been to Vikre Distillery. Located in Canal Park, the spot has quickly become a go-to place for residents and tourists alike. Doug Kouma is part of the reason why. The Director of Consumer Sales and Visitor Experience joins us to talk about how he got here, why he up and quit his job as a corporate executive and how Vikre handled the COVID-19 pandemic while giving back to the community in a big way. Cheers!

Heidi Pack leads the popular Northland band, Whiskey Trail. They are a household name in the area but the journey wasn't easy. Heidi takes us through her journey from growing up and singing in church, the highs and lows of the music industry, the evolution of the band and what it is like to chase the dream of becoming a country music star. 

For The Love Of Duluth is a new podcast brought to you by two Duluth residents. Throughout this show, they will touch on all things Duluth. From the food to the drinks to the amazing events and of course, the view, the duo will show you Duluth through their eyes. Here's a little preview!