Main Street

Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - The Arts Center’s Downtown Arts Market in Jamestown is resuming with a much-needed celebration. Thursdays starting June 24th, the market will feature outdoor live music, artisan vendors and creative opportunities. Did you know there was such a thing as a professional chalk artist? Eight of them will be featured for the first event as they turn the sidewalks and streets into glorious canvases for CHALKFEST! We visit with Shawn McCann, chalk artist; and Mindi Schmitz,

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 - The art of the aphorism is on full display in Gordon Hutchison’s collection of 400 clever quips, “Reality (can be OK, but mostly it) Bites.” It’s a collection of humorous observations, provocative viewpoints and unvarnished truths. He visits with Bill Thomas. ~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay, “Balladeers of the NPL.” ~~~ Small town events are back! We hear a story from Harvest Public Media titled “Tulip Tourism.” ~~~ The Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering is back in

Monday, May 24, 2021 - Jack Russell Weinstein joins us for another episode of Philosophical Currents as he and Ashley discuss the interaction of emotion and reason, especially as it applies to vaccine hesitancy. ~~~ Patrick Hicks presents a Poetry from Studio 47 episode on Jeanne Emmons.

Sunday, May 23, 2021 - Tom Isern, NDSU distinguished professor of history, previews today’s One Book One ND event, which features his book, Pacing Dakota. ~~~ May 26th of last year would have been Peggy Lee’s 100th birthday. Observances were delayed by the pandemic, moved back to this year, with various events planned. Joining us today are Wes Anderson of the Barnes County Historical Museum, and Holly Foster Wells, Peggy’s granddaughter.

Friday, May 21, 2021 - We conclude our visits with 2021 Bush Fellows as Ashley Thornberg visits with Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, who founded the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance. She's the first Native American to have a national news beat devoted to Indigenous issues in the mainstream media. ~~~ In another episode of Natural North Dakota, Chuck Lura ponders the question, “What Eats Bats?” ~~~ Dave Thompson is here for our weekly news chat. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “The Woman in the Window.”

Thursday, May 20, 2021 - Tom Isern, NDSU distinguished professor of history, joins us to discuss the upcoming One-Book One ND event, which will feature his book, Pacing Dakota. The book is a collection of essays from his Plains Folk series heard on Main Street. That series has now reached 836 episodes! Tom will also tell us about his pandemic-inspired “Willow Creek Folk School,” a weekly online event that recently marked its one-year anniversary. ~~~ Another writer who has been featured as part

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - The Anthropocene Reviewed is a popular podcast produced by John Green. Some of those essays are the basis of a new book by the same name. Today we hear a clip from the podcast, and visit with Green. (The anthropocene is the current geological age, marked by the profound impact humans have on shaping the planet.) ~~~ Horticulturist Ron Smith is here to discuss the challenges of the current growing season.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - Kirsten Baesler, superintendent of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, is John Harris’s guest this week on the Prairie Pulse television show. In an excerpt from that show, we hear about the challenges the department faced during the pandemic, and the need for kids to catch up on their coursework. ~~~ Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove is the COVID-19 Technical Lead at the WHO. In this excerpt from the Conversations on Healthcare Podcast, she discusses The World Health

Monday, May 17, 2021 - May 26th of last year would have been Peggy Lee’s 100th birthday. Observances were delayed by the pandemic, moved back to this year, with various events planned. Joining us today are Wes Anderson of the Barnes County Historical Museum, and Holly Foster Wells, Peggy’s granddaughter. ~~~ Governor Doug Burgum is Dave Thompson’s guest for our final episode of Legislative Review. We share an excerpt today on Main Street, but you can see the entire conversation Tuesday night at

Sunday, May 16, 2021 - Steven Johnson is the author of “Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer.” A PBS television series of the same name is hosted by Johnson. The book and TV series look at the extraordinary successes of public health as life expectancy doubled. ~~~ It’s a book filled with lessons for leadership, but the advice can help anyone. Prakash Mathew discusses his book, “We Are Called … to do The Right Thing.” ~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay, “The Nester and His Barbed