Main Street

Friday, December 9. 2022 - Our monthly Journalists Roundtable takes a deeper dive into the latest news. Joining Ashley and news director Dave Thompson are three special guests: Jack Zaleski and Jim Shaw, both columnists for Forum Communications; and Steve Andrist, former newspaper publisher and former executive director of the North Dakota Newspaper Association. ~~~ Matt Olien has this week’s movie review, “EO,” a donkey with melancholy eyes who meets good and bad people on his life's path.

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022 – Jack Russell Weinstein previews this Sunday’s episode of WHY, Philosophical Discussions About Everyday Life, when he’ll visit with philosophy professor Mark Reiff of the University of California at Davis in an episode titled “The Argument for Unions.” ~~~ Jessie Veeder shares an essay from the ranch as she reflects on her writings as a child. ~~~ Sue Balcom discusses flavor bases in today’s Main Street Eats conversation.

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 - How did a small-town Minnesota, daughter of a Lutheran pastor end up dead during an FBI raid of a domestic terrorist ring? That's explored in the new book, “Not the Camilla We Knew One Woman’s Path from Small-town America to the Symbionese Liberation Army.” We visit with author Rachael Hanel on how people can become radicalized. ~~~ Don’t confuse “HOOFDA” with “OOF DA,” the phrase we are used to hearing here in North Dakota. Instead, think of unique hand-drawn HOOFDA art designs - expressing love for hoofed animals and an appreciation of nature - on cozy apparel. We visit with HOOFDA founder Roberta Quintero.

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 - Oyate is a documentary that follows two Lakota activists, a Dakota hip hop artist, the first Indigenous US Secretary of the Interior, and more as they fought against the Dakota Access Pipeline. There’s a screening on December 6th in Jamestown. We visit with Emil Benjamin and Jennifer Martel. ~~~ Special contributor Brandi Malarkey visits with North Dakota author T.J. Fier about her young adult adventure, “The Bright One.” ~~~ Prairie Mosaic is a regular feature on our television service. Here’s one featuring Nelda Schrupp of Lakota ND. She uses metal to create incredible art.

Monday, December 5, 2022 - We introduce our new Main Street colleague, Craig Blumenshine. ~~~ In this week’s Natural North Dakota, biologist Chuck Lura helps us “Enjoy Nature in Winter.” ~~~ After a couple years off, The Blenders are back with their annual series of Christmas concerts. Joining us for an update is Tim Kasper.

Friday, December 2, 2022 - Sugar is a big part of Americans’ daily diet, and a lot of it is produced in the Red River Valley from sugar beets. But it’s also made of cane sugar, from vast plantations in the Dominican Republic. In this Saturday’s episode of Reveal, at 1pm Central, reporters Sandy Tolan and Euclides Cordero Nuel report on the hardships faced by workers there. The investigation was a partnership between Reveal, Mother Jones, and The Intercept. Reporter Sandy Tolan joins us with a preview. ~~~ Dave Thompson is here with this week’s news chat. ~~~ Matt Olien reviews “Bones and All.” An odd one, but a good one, says Matt.

Thursday, December 1,2022 - 10% of the people who get COVID experience lingering medical problems. In an excerpt from the Conversations on Healthcare podcast, we hear a discussion about long COVID with Akiko Iwasaki, Yale University researcher; and Fiona Lowenstein, editor of “The Long COVID Survival Guide.” ~~~ In an episode of BirdNote, we hear what those diving birds are up to once they submerge. ~~~ Sue Balcom joins us for a Main Street Eats conversation about baking hacks and recipe sharing.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022 - Doug Allen Nash is bringing his Country Christmas show to the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks, which might include appearances by Johnny Cash and Elvis! Nash joins us with a preview. ~~~ Chuck Lura shares a Natural North Dakota essay about tree squirrels. ~~~ In an excerpt from the Prairie Pulse television show, host John Harris visits with Janelle Stoneking about the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center, which is coming to Dickinson. ~~~ Tom Isern is here with this week’s Plains Folk essay, “Field Notes.”

Tuesday, November 29, 2022 - It’s Giving Tuesday. We share our favorite gift – the gift of conversation with a look back on a couple of our favorite interviews from 2022. The 90s is a compendium by author and North Dakota native Chuck Klosterman. It covers the fall of the Berlin Wall, the rise of Michael Jordan, the birth of Amazon, the Unabomber and more. We spoke in April. ~~~ From May, we revisit a conversation with science writer Mary Roach has adapted her book “Packing for Mars” for a middle school audience. How did NASA engineers make a toilet for zero gravity? How do you deal with food that won’t stay on silverware or waste that clings to your derriere? We’ll find out!

Monday, November 28, 2022 - Philosopher Dr. Jack Russell Weinstein joins Main Street's Ashley Thornberg for this month’s philosophical currents as he discusses affirmative action. This in light of the case before the United States Supreme Court concerning affirmative action and the higher education admission process.