The Borealis is the first new Amtrak service Minnesota has had since the 80's. Let's chat with some of the people riding on opening day to find out what this train means to them!

Episode chapters

00:00 | Intro 07:38 | Jeffrey Mack & Felecia Thomas Mack 11:11 | Lillaia Christiansen 16:03 | Brandon Maurisak 24:12 | Kadence Kushnir 34:04 | Angel Morris Hernandez 45:21 | Operating differences from Empire Builder Ian Gaida's video of opening day. 46:58 | Angel Morris Hernandez 51:19 | Colin Jones 58:00 | Outro Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band, The Urban Hillbilly Quartet, on their website.

The audio of the rain was recorded by Ian Gaida. Check out his video covering the Borealis opening day!

This episode was hosted, edited, and transcribed by Ian R Buck. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Transcript

Find the full transcript on our website.

There is far more wildlife living in our cities than many humans realize. Meet a couple University of Minnesota researchers studying urban foxes and coyotes!

Links

• Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project (TCCFP)
• Urban Coyotes | Minnesota DNR
• Mapping habitat use and disease of urban carnivores
• Living With The Coyotes Among Us | Streets.mn

Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band, The Urban Hillbilly Quartet, on their website.

This episode was produced by Stina Neel, edited by Parker Seaman aka Strongthany, hosted by Ian R Buck, and transcribed by Tom Fendt. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Many thanks to our guests James Forester and Geoff Miller.

Transcript

Find the full transcript on our website.

Once a year, the residents of Uptown are delighted by preschoolers walking around the neighborhood, handing out poems they wrote. Let's meet the teachers behind the tradition!

Episode chapters 00:00 | Intro 03:00 | Teachers Julia & Claire 34:52 | The Parklet 41:08 | Poems 43:11 | Outro Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band, The Urban Hillbilly Quartet, on their website.

This episode was produced by Stina Neel, hosted and edited by Ian R Buck, and transcribed by Tom Fendt. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Many thanks to our guests on this episode Julia Klatt Singer and Claire Thometz; and to our poetry readers Tom Fendt, Sherry Johnson, Ian R Buck, Jeremy Winter, Melody Hoffmann, and Max Singer.

Transcript

Find the full transcript on our website.

Early in the pandemic, Bemidji offered to pay teleworkers to move there. Let's take a trip up north to find out how it went!

Links

• 218 Relocate
• Similar program in Tulsa
• Paul Bunyan Communications

Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band, The Urban Hillbilly Quartet, on their website.

This episode was hosted and edited by Ian R Buck, and transcribed by Sherry Johnson. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Many thanks to our guests on this episode: Dave Hengel, Rita Albrecht, Jordan Lutz, and especially the relocators Aaron Coburn, Val Kinnane & trailing spouse Scott.

Transcript

Find the full transcript on our website.

We took the opportunity at BikeMN's summit on capitol hill to chat with activists from across the state about cycling in their communities.

Episode Chapters 00:00 | Intro 00:46 | Alice Tibbetts, Duluth 15:46 | Ben Scheidel, Mankato 33:04 | The Parklet 34:23 | Glen Kajewski and Andy Miller, Thief River Falls 52:21 | Outro Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band, The Urban Hillbilly Quartet, on their website.

This episode was hosted and edited by Ian R Buck, and transcribed by Parker Seaman aka Strongthany. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Transcript

Find the transcript on our website.

Kathy Lantry and Amy Brendmoen collectively spent three decades on Saint Paul City Council, each serving as Council President for part of that time. We get their insider perspective about the process of how policy gets made and budgets set, how things changed as more women joined the council, and what they wish they had more time to accomplish.

Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band The Urban Hillbilly Quartet on their website.

This episode was produced by Sherry Johnson, edited by Parker Seaman aka Strongthany, and hosted and transcribed by Ian R Buck. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Transcript

Find the full transcript on our website.

Spencer Miller-Johnson, Senior City Planner for the City of St. Paul, joins Sherry for a lively conversation about zoning and land use. Spencer helps us unpack a city report on its East Grand Avenue Overlay Study. He also shares about the city’s planning philosophies, why he’s passionate about form-based codes, and what keeps him up at night. Hear about how you can help guide potential zoning changes during the study’s public comment period through March 29.

Links

• EGAOD Study Report
• The Study’s Webpage, with Contact Information for Public Input
• Grand Avenue Special District Sign Plan
• 2021 Video Interview with Merritt Clapp-Smith about District 16’s 2005 Plan & the history of the EGAOD
• Further listening: nerding out with street engineers about potholes
• Further listening: other rezoning efforts in Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band The Urban Hillbilly Quartet on their website.

This episode was produced and transcribed by Sherry Johnson, and was edited and hosted by Ian R Buck. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Transcript

Find the episode transcript on our website.

You may have noticed bus stops in the Twin Cities with signs naming someone who adopted them. That's right, Metro Transit now has an Adopt-a-stop program! They recently hosted an appreciation brunch, so we went and chatted with other adopters about how they're liking the program.

Links

• Find out if your local stop or shelter is getting upgrades
• Become a stop adopter
• Report issues with stops and facilities
• Safety and Security Action Plan
• We referenced the December 2022 fact sheet extensively
• Parklet: Crosswalk button cheat code

Attributions

Special thanks to Jeremiah Cox, the All Star behind Adopt-A-Stop at Metro Transit, General Manager Lesley Kandaras, every adopter that we chatted with for this episode and every future adopter that is listening right now.

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band The Urban Hillbilly Quartet on their website.

This episode was produced by Stina Neel, edited and transcribed by Parker Seaman aka Strongthany, and hosted by Ian R Buck. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Transcript

Find the full transcript on our website.

Building on the momentum from last year's historic Minnesota State legislative session, several organizations are bringing ambitious transportation and land use proposals to the table this year.

Links

• 2023 Legislative Wrap-up
•  
• Neighbors for More Neighbors
•  
• Streets.mn episode on Land Value Tax
•  
• Rumble Strip episode about road maintenance
•  
• Bike Walk Summit on Capitol Hill: March 14

Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band The Urban Hillbilly Quartet on their website.

This episode was hosted, edited, and transcribed by Ian R Buck. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Transcript

Find the full transcript on our website.

What to do with an urban highway that destroyed a community 60 years ago? ReConnect Rondo wants to put a land bridge over it.

Episode chapters, links 00:00 | Intro Streets.mn Podcast episode on urban highway removal 00:55 | Interview part 1 Rondo land bridge feasibility study 25:56 | The Parklet

• Streets.mn bonfire event
• Donate to Streets.mn

27:14 | Interview part 2

• Rondo land bridge health impact assessment
• Rondo land bridge prosperity study

48:59 | Find ReConnect Rondo online

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Instagram

51:33 | Outro Attributions

Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck’s Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band The Urban Hillbilly Quartet on their website.

This episode was produced by Sherry Johnson, edited by Parker Seamon aka Strongthany, and transcribed by Ian R Buck. We’re always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at [email protected].

Transcript

Find the full transcript on our website.