Main Street

A wide ranging discussion with 3 different leaders about unions and workforce and the current climate.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 - Strengthen ND is partnering with the Human Flourishing Lab to study and promote hope in the state. The effort is a response to the increases in mental illness and substance use disorders that has lead to "Deaths of Despair" -- deaths attributable to suicide. We visit with Megan Langley, founder and executive director of Strengthen ND; and Clay Routledge, former NDSU professor who is now the director of the Human Flourishing Lab at the Archbridge Institute in Washington, DC. ~~~ We visit with UND faculty member Emily Midkiff, who has been honored by the Science Fiction Research Association for her book "Equipping Space Cadets: Primary Science Fiction for Young Children. (17:00 with generic break pitch) ~~~ Tom Isern has this week’s Plains Folk essay, “Pioneers and Pilgrims.”

Thursday, August 31, 2023 - We begin our show today with Dave Thompson’s weekly update on the latest news. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “The Miracle Club.” ~~~ Chuck Lura on Sunflowers ~~~ Sue Balcom is here for “Main Street Eats.” Today’s topic is “How to Read a Recipe.”

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 - Running a successful business often means working long hours and adapting to change. For Bismarck's Jossef Feiner, a career in the military gave him both of those skills. Today he and his wife are running El Coquí, a Puerto Rican bakery, cafe, and marketplace with two locations in Bismarck. ~~~ eaches are synonymous with summer. But this year, consumers may notice there are fewer peaches and they’re more expensive. ~~~ That’s because weather knocked out peaches in places like Georgia, South Carolina and Illinois. For Harvest Public Media, Will Bauer reports. ~~~ News director Dave Thompson visits with Minot State assistant professor Amanda Watts. She has revamped part of MSU's arts curriculum to create a Bachelor of Science in museum studies. The degree is designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in museums and art galleries. ~~~ Tom Isern has this week’s Plains Folk essay, “Rise of Sourdough.”

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 - With college in session or just about to be, it can be a mad rush of students getting furniture, food, and basic supplies. For international students, there can be a learning curve about American culture. Maleeha Latif is the Director of International Programs at Minot State University. She visits with Ashley Thornberg about how students adapt. ~~~ Guns, cigars, and firearms. You might think of these as manly pursuits. Not so for Mandan's Josette Dupree, owner of Big Stick Cigars. She gave Ashley Thornberg a tour. ~~~ Today’s Dakota Datebook recalls the advent of hot lunch in schools. With that inspiration, listeners share some of their recollections as we chat with Bill Thomas, our director of radio.

Monday, August 28, 2023 - Jack Russell Weinstein is here for “Philosophical Currents,” as we get a philosophical take on current issues. Today’s topic explores newspapers. Eight more newspapers went out of business this month. What does the loss of local papers mean for society? ~~~ Can culture help address health concerns? In a conversation first aired in 2022, Ashley Thornberg visits with Naomi Bender, a Quechua woman who directs Native American Health Sciences and the Center for Native American Health at Washington State University in Spokane. They discuss culture as Medicine.

Friday, August 25, 2023 - Our monthly Journalists Roundtable will feature news director Dave Thompson along with featured guests Charles Crane of the Minot Daily News, and Jim Shaw, former TV news director and current Forum Communications columnist. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “Talk to Me,” an Australian supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou. It’s their first feature film.

Thursday, August 24, 2023 - Dr. Michael Patrick Cullinane is a celebrated historian of American politics and an award-winning author. He is professor of U.S. history and the Rob and Melani Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies at Dickinson State University. Dr. Cullinane also serves as a Public Historian for the Theodore Roosevelt Association and contributes to the design and curation of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library due to open in 2026. He joins Main Street to reflect on the previous night's Presidential Debates. ~~~ Sue Balcom is here for “Main Street Eats,” and though she’s talking about hollyhocks, it’s not about eating them!

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 - For Don Kinzler, horticulture isn't just a career choice. It’s his hobby, his relaxation, his sport, his distraction, his leisure, and his quest. Main Street visits his beautiful flower garden. Don is the Extension Agent/Cass County Horticulturist ,North Dakota State University. ~~~ Kevin Carvell is a book collector, and a former political reporter for the Fargo Forum. Since retirement, he has superbly filled his time and his house in Mott, ND, with the largest collection of books about North Dakota and by North Dakotans. At an appearance Thursday at the Fargo Zandbroz store, Kevin will talk about North Dakota books old and new.

Tuesday, August 22, 2023 - Traumatic childhood experiences can have an impact on health. For women, that can subsequently affect their children, having implications for future generations. Joining us to discuss a recent report from ND Compass are Nancy Hodur, director of the Center for Social Research at NDSU, and Karen Olson, research specialist with the center. ~~~ Chuck Lura shares a Natural North Dakota essay on the Super Blue Moon. ~~~ 40 percent of older adults take five or more medications daily, making medication management an important consideration. This month a new law went into effect that requires commercial health insurance to include comprehensive medication management. Here to discuss medication management are Brody Maack, vice chair and associate professor of pharmacy at NDSU; and Mike Schwab, executive vice president of the North Dakota Pharmacists Association.