Main Street

NDSU Athletics Director Matt Larson brings us up-to-date on all things Bison Athletics. We’ll chat with the veteran AD to learn how recent NCAA changes are affecting NDSU sports teams. ~~~ Humanities North Dakota offers several free online learning events in a program they call Public University. Today we offer a preview as we visit with Raffi Andonian about his 13 week course called Contested Histories, Conflicted Space: Understanding Historic Sites and Monuments.

How can our pets teach us about ourselves? We visit with Lisa Erixon, a retired high school English teacher, about her book, “No Ordinary Cats,” which details her family’s many cats, and what lessons they taught her. ~~~ News director Dave Thompson is here with our weekly news chat. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “Living,” a drama featuring actor Bill Nighy in a performance that has earned him a nomination for Best Actor.

Dr. Stephan Weiler co-authored a story titled "Rural Americans aren’t included in inflation figures – and for them, the cost of living may be rising faster." We’ll discuss his findings. ~~~ Tom Isern shares a Plains Folk essay, “I Claim Authorship.” ~~~ Sue Balcom joins us for a discussion of chocolate for Main Street Eats.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - We kick off our popular Short and Sweet membership drive (which always features those great chocolate truffles from Nichole's Fine Pastry) by visiting with NDSU professor Ross Collins, the author of “Chocolate, a Cultural Encyclopedia.” ~~~ What does our Short and Sweet membership drive have to do with the Japanese poetry form of haiku? We’ll explain as we learn about haiku from ShaunAnne Tangney, retired professor of English at Minot State University.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 - Veterans Story Preservation Day will be Monday, February 6th at the Fargo Air Museum. Every veteran has a story worth being told and the Museum will preserve history by conducting a 30 minute audio and/or visual recorded video of Veterans from all service branches. We visit with Ryan Thayer, executive director/CEO of the Fargo Air Museum, and Max Sabin, collections manager. ~~~ Veterans’ oral histories can sometimes involve trauma. There’s even an effort to name an overpass in Jamestown "Hidden Wounds Veterans Overpass." At the suggestion of a listener, we explore the problem of PTSD as we visit with Amanda McMahon, executive director of the Prairie Recovery Center in Raleigh, North Dakota. In addition to PTSD, we’ll also learn about the other services they provide.

Monday, January 30, 2023 - Bill Chaves serves as director of athletics at the University of North Dakota, a position he has held since March, 2018. A two-time recipient of national Athletic Director of the Year honors, Chaves came to Grand Forks after having spent the previous decade as director of athletics at Eastern Washington University. ~~~ Brenton Nesemeier, field epidemiologist and director of field services for the North Dakota Department of Health and Jenny Galbraith, North Dakota’s adult vaccine manager, discuss current issues relative to COVID-19.

Friday, January 27, 2023 - Our monthly Journalists Roundtable will hone-in on the news from the state legislature. Along with our own Dave Thompson, we welcome special guest Joel Crane of KFYR. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “Empire of Light,” and discusses the Academy Award nominations.

Arctic explorer and environmentalist Lonnie Dupre will be speaking about climate change and his polar explorations in Moorhead on Saturday. ~~~ Poetry from studio 47 comes to us from Patrick Hicks, a writer in residence and a member of the English faculty at Augustana University. Today he profiles poet and North Dakota native, Debra Marquart. ~~~ Sue Balcom is talking about those expensive eggs on Main Street Eats.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 - Philosophical Currents is our monthly deep dive into a current issue with UND philosophy professor Jack Weinstein. This month’s topic explores academic freedom and the role of tenure.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023 - The University of Mary is presenting its 8th Annual Bloody Sunday Forum, examining peace and reconciliation issues stemming from “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland (1968 – 1998). We visit with featured guest Ronan McCloskey, a renowned filmmaker from Northern Ireland; and Dr. Michael Taylor, professor of education at the university. ~~~ Today we share a Natural North Dakota essay, “Hugh Glass and Grizzly Bears.” ~~~ Tom Isern has a Plains Folk essay, “Two Guys in a Dugout.” ~~~ Betty Adams is the director of the West Fargo Library. She discusses the future of the library, services and programs that are available for patrons, and the role libraries play in healthy North Dakota Communities.