The Volume One Podcast

Folks, fire up the grill because we’re back with an extra beefy Season Finale of the Volume One Podcast! This time, we’re joined by panelists Sheng Elizabeth Lor and Jordan Duroe to discuss the latest slew of burger joints coming to the Chippewa Valley (as if there weren’t enough already?).

Then we dive in on new murals, dinosaur sculptures, and the big renovations planned for the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.

Later on in the show, we got a real get in the form of best-selling author, novice turkey hunter, and former meat packer Nickolas Butler, whose latest book, Godspeed, is out in July. Plus: John Menard’s billions, new slogans for Country Jam, and … Quentin Taran-tacos?

You know the saying: April showers bring May… events? Well, that’s definitely the case, as the Chippewa Valley opens things back up after a year of COVID quarantines, and that’s the topic of conversation in episode 8 of the Volume One Podcast.

Panelists Christina Wolff and Eric Rasmussen join us on the pod to chat about choo choos (or snazzy new Amtrack trains, for us adults here in the room) slated to hit the Chippewa Valley, a local amateur historian preserving history from the passenger seat of his 1971 Plymouth Satellite, and Farm Technology Days slated to roll into Eau Claire (with highly anticipated performances from Chris Kroeze)!

Later we’re joined by the incredible Sara Larsen of Downtown Eau Claire Inc., to chat about Creative Economy Month, which celebrates the blossoming creative movement in Eau Claire.

Then, we play a thrilling game of “Run the Numbers” with a whole heckuva lotta lambs, “Director’s Chair” with dorky movie titles and living sculptures in downtown Eau Claire, and wrap things up with “What’s in the Koozie”?

It’s a silly one, so get into it! Find this and other episodes in both audio and video formats on our site at volumeone.org/podcasts.

Happy Fool’s Spring, y’all! We’re back with episode 7 of the Volume One Podcast, and it’s such a good one.

Comedians Hannah Kabelitz and Cullen Ryan join us on the panel to tackle the latest and greatest in the Valley. We’re already winded thinking about Eau Claire’s new rooftop bar, there’s a new local Tesla ride share service (for that undeniable feeling of superiority), and we look at the culinary trend of ghost kitchens popping up around town. OoOoOo, don’t be scared!

Later, we’re joined by the great Benny Anderson of Visit Eau Claire to talk “dipstick marketing,” his wacky Guy Fieri impression, and why we should be feeling optimistic about tourism in the Valley.

Then we play a rousing game of Ramone’s or Olson’s and pitch some funny new slogans for the Oakwood Mall, Rock Fest, and Culver’s. It’s a silly one, so get into it!

Cold enough for ya? We’re beaming to you live from the frozen Chippewa Valley to bring you Episode 6 of the Volume One Podcast. This time, the V1 Editorial Brain Trust converges for the whole dang episode!

Editors Rebecca Mennecke and Tom Giffey are in the building to talk about a divisive, head-scratching flip of Eau Claire’s legendary “Turf House” that lit up comment sections this past week. The story combines everything our readers love: Unique places, history, real estate, gossip, arguing with each other, and snooping on other people’s property. Gotta love it. 

Later on in the show, we dissect the results of our annual Best Of poll, rank Kwik Trips, talk about some sad corporate chain success stories, and ponder the Best Place To Buy A Butterfly Knife. Get into it!

New year, new pod! Folks, we’re back with episode 5 of the Volume One Podcast, and it’s a real doozy. Panelists Jo Ellen Burke and Mike Paulus are in the building to cover an unforeseen (and strangely anonymous) update on the future of the pagoda from Jimmy Woo’s Restaurant. We talk roundabouts, therapy ponies, snow demons, and take a deep dive into a notorious local Facebook group called “You Know You’re From Eau Claire When…”

Later on, we’re joined by the one and only Dennis Beale to talk about his journey from the south-side of Chicago to Eau Claire, his business Power of Perception, and mentoring the next generation of African-American and biracial youth in the Valley.

Stick around for game time, where we play “Rise of the Machines” and a truly knockout round of “What’s In The Koozie?” Which of our guests takes the crown? Click play and find out.

It’s our last pod of the year, and we’re feeling reflective, y’all. So many national and worldwide trials dominated local life this year, but rest assured we had some pretty bad stuff happen here in the Chippewa Valley too, all to ourselves … Just for us, ya know?

Our panelists Sheng Elizabeth Lor and Sarah Jayne Johnson help us dissect all the depressing stuff that happened this year in the Valley, and pinpoint exactly how trash was 2020?

Later on we’re talkin’ tunes and pitching some new slogans for Menards and Leinie’s with Soren Staff, the renowned fantasy nerd and frontman of the highly successful Eau Claire bluegrass band, Them Coulee Boys! Happy Holidays, folks! Enjoy.

Happy Parking Ticket Season November, y’all! Episode 3 of The Volume One Podcast is LIVE.

This time, we’re joined by panelists Bonni Knight and Matt Hasenmueller to dissect some chilling developments in the Chippewa Valley. Big T’s Saloon got busted by undercover agents for their shake-of-the-day bar dice game, but how will it shake out? Can Wisconsin’s culture go unscathed? Plus, we get to the bottom – or the top, I suppose – of the astronomically massive American flag hoisted in Altoona.

Later, Adam Condit from Blue Ox Running is in the hot seat to talk marathons, building a “herd" of runners, and the tightrope balance of running a retail store during the holidays. And which of our guests’ Chippewa Valley knowhow will carry them through our gauntlet of games? Dive in to find out.

The podcast so nice we did it twice – Episode 2 of the Volume One Podcast is here! To kick off the episode, Cullen Ryan and Amber Dernbach join us on the panel to get to the bottom of some hot topics in the Chippewa Valley. Can Houdini’s nephew escape from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department? Is a local $1,000 treasure hunt the government’s next stimulus package? Who are the bad boys of the Blugold Marching Band? Later we’re joined by the LEGENDARY Judy Clark to talk about her 30 years anchoring WEAU 13 News, and play a bunch of goofy games like “What’s In The Koozie?” What IS in the koozie? Click ‘play’ and find out!

Wow, we really did it, y'all. Straight out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, it's EPISODE 1 of the VOLUME ONE PODCAST! For our maiden voyage, panelists Sarah Jayne Johnson and Mike Paulus talk turkey about all things Chippewa Valley. Does the new Kwik Trip on Water Street pave the way for some weirder non-conforming Kwik Trips? Are all these new axe-throwing places getting us ready for the apocalypse? Should there be a lighthouse at the Confluence? Later, we play "Who Wants To Live In Altoona?" and other games after a chat with Jason Jon Anderson. And finally writer Ken Szymanski steals a couch.

Host Eric Christenson gives a rundown of what to expect out of the new Volume One Podcast, and marvels at the originality of even just the name! It all starts September 18, 2020 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.