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.