Main Street

Thursday, August 5, 2021 - It seems everything is happening online these days, so why not sports! Here to discuss the emergence of esports on college campuses is Travis Isbell, the new director for UND’s varsity esports program. Do esports complement UND’s unmanned aircraft program? We’ll ask about that! ~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk column titled “Gear Up and Go.” ~~~ Sue Balcom is here for Main Street Eats to discuss jams and jellies.

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 - Understanding that good childhood experiences are critical for youth to achieve their potential, the ND Department of Human Services has launched an Early Childhood Division. Here to tell us about the need and what they’ll be doing is the department’s executive director, Chris Jones. ~~~ North Dakota native Jason Spencer is the PBS KIDS’ original video content director. He and the PBS KIDS team recently won a daytime Emmy for Outstanding Educational and Informational Series for the program “PBS KIDS Talk About - Race & Racism.” He joins us to discuss his career and the thrill of being an Emmy winner. Watch the video here: https://www.pbs.org/video/pbs-kids-talk-about-race-and-racism-wgnsvf/

Native community leaders from across the nation recently met with Vice President Kamala Harris and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to discuss Native American voting rights. Among those attending was Prairie Rose Seminole, a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes and a co-founder of the North Dakota Native American Caucus in the state legislature. ~~~ Horticulturist Ron Smith is here to help us through this tough growing season.

Monday, August 2, 2021 - The insurance industry has always needed to adjust to changing times, but recent years have upped the ante. Cyber insurance, for example, is a growing need as companies are increasingly concerned about their liability should customer information get stolen. And what about ransomware attacks? Is there insurance for that? Meanwhile, fires, floods and other natural calamities appear to be on the rise, putting pressure on the cost of insurance. Here to discuss such trends is insurance agent Shannon Anderson. ~~~ Perseids meteor shower is under way, and the peak viewing is coming up. Meteor showers are Chuck Lura’s topic in his latest Natural North Dakota essay. ~~~ Dr. Tom Porter has been a part of North Dakota's musical scene for many years — as a performer, conductor, arranger and composer. The Mandan native has conducted the Bismarck State College choir and the Bismarck-Mandan Civic Chorus. He's now the director of music at the University of Mary. Prairie Public's Dave Thompson sat down with Dr. Porter to talk about his career, which is still a work in progress.

Sunday, August 1, 2021 A delegation from North Dakota recently traveled to Qatar and Turkey hoping to expand business opportunities for several state industries. Here to explain why those countries are of interest is Drew Combs, executive director of the North Dakota Trade Office.~~~ Minnesota author Brian Freeman returns to Main Street, this time to discuss “The Bourne Treachery,” the latest addition to the Jason Bourne series. This is the second Bourne novel by Freeman after being chosen to continue the very successful franchise created by the late Robert Ludlum.~~~ We get a sample of today’s Great American Folk Show in an excerpt that features Tama Smith of Prairie Fire Pottery in Beach.

Friday, July 30, 2021 - Our monthly Journalist Roundtable with news director Dave Thompson features Jack Zaleski of Forum Communications, and Steve Andrist, former executive director of the North Dakota Newspaper Association. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “Old,” a thriller from director M. Night Shyamalan.

Sunday, August 1, 2021 A delegation from North Dakota recently traveled to Qatar and Turkey hoping to expand business opportunities for several state industries. Here to explain why those countries are of interest is Drew Combs, executive director of the North Dakota Trade Office.~~~ Minnesota author Brian Freeman returns to Main Street, this time to discuss “The Bourne Treachery,” the latest addition to the Jason Bourne series. This is the second Bourne novel by Freeman after being chosen to continue the very successful franchise created by the late Robert Ludlum.~~~ We get a sample of today’s Great American Folk Show in an excerpt that features Tama Smith of Prairie Fire Pottery in Beach.

Danielle Lincoln Hanna is the author of the Mailboat Suspense Series, set in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, but was born in North Dakota and spent many of her formative years in the state. She joins us to discuss her writing, including her latest book in the Mailboat series, “The Shift in the Wind.” ~~~ The International Music Camp at the Peace Garden has been around for over 60 years, but the pandemic has interrupted the popular summer camp. So, this summer they went on the road. Bill Thomas visited with Jason Rygg, guest conductor, and Christine Bauman, the camp's co-director, during their stop at NDSU. ~~~ We get a sample of Sunday’s Great American Folkshow in an excerpt that features Tama Smith of Prairie Fire Pottery in Beach.

Tuesday, July 27, 20212 - New Women in the Old West: From Settlers to Suffragists, an Untold American Story is a new book from Winifred Gallagher. She tells the little-known and riveting stories of pioneering women who used the challenges of migration and settlement as opportunities to advocate for their rights. ~~~ Minnesota author Brian Freeman returns to Main Street, this time to discuss “The Bourne Treachery,” the latest addition to the Jason Bourne series. This is the second Bourne novel by Freeman after being chosen to continue the very successful franchise created by the late Robert Ludlum.

Monday, July 26, 2021 - For this month’s episode of Philosophical Currents, UND philosophy professor Jack Russell Weinstein tackles the topic of critical race theory. ~~~ In this The NDSU Center for Immunization Research and Education recently received funding from the state to promote the COVID vaccine. Here to tell us about that effort, and the other work of the center are medical director Dr. Paul Carson, and operations manager Kylie Hall.