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Podcasts

Housing Values | Episode #4 | David Wellington

Brandon Boat

Listen to the final episode of season #1 of the Housing Values Podcast! Learn more about the property developer perspective of the affordable housing conversation from David Wellington, Executive Vice President of Wellington Management.

Houisng Values | Episode #3 | Shannon Guernsey and Dara Lee

Brandon Boat

Learn more about what "affordable housing" actually means, (hint, it can mean something different depending on who you ask). Joining us on Episode #3 are Minnesota NAHRO Executive Director Shannon Guernsey and Dara Lee, Executive Director of Clay County HRA. Take a listen below!

Housing Values | Episode #2 | Howard University's Fair Housing Clinic Faculty and Students

Brandon Boat

Episode #2’s conversation dives into past and current discriminatory practices against minority communities when it comes to access to housing, and where to start in doing something about it. Guests include Professor Keesha Turner Roberts of the Fair Housing Clinic at Howard University, Professor Valerie Schneider, Director of the Clinical Law Center, and Howard Law’s Fair Housing Clinic students Veronica Craig, Chidiuto Onoiwu and Jordan Strudwick.

Housing Values | Episode #1 | Ryan Allen

Brandon Boat

Listen to the very first episode of "Housing Values" a new podcast from The Theater of Public Policy all about the affordable housing conversation! Our first guest is Ryan Allen, Associate Professor of Community and Economic Development in the Urban Affairs and Regional Planning Department of the University of Minnesota.

Learn more about the podcast at www.t2p2.net/housing-values

The Millennial Farmer

Brandon Boat

Zach Johnson is a fifth generation Minnesota farmer. The industry obviously looks much different than it did when his great, great grandfather was working the land. Yet there are very modern challenges as well, like a precarious trade situation and landscape impacted by climate change. We asked Johnson all about this, and how he finds time to maintain a YouTube channel while harvesting his crops.

An Improvised De-escalation Training!

Brandon Boat

It’s a show with tools you can use in your next family dinner table debate! “De-escalation” is a way of approaching a potential conflict in a way that tries to lower the temperature instead of heightening it. Russ Turner, one of the state’s leading trainers in this methodology, joined us and talk us through how “de-escalation” works and how we can use it in our lives!

Creating an Economy That Works for Everyone

Brandon Boat

Tawanna Black, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Economic Inclusion

The Twin Cities has a strong business sector, yet has huge disparities between the number of white and people-of-color owned businesses. Tawanna Black is working to change that, to make Minnesota’s economy inclusive for everyone. We asked her why this is so important for all Minnesotans.  

Brexit, Pursued by Bad Hair

Brandon Boat

The Guardian UK's Parliamentary Sketch Writer, John Crace joined us for a night of Brexit talk and improv comedy! The United Kingdom is slated to leave the European Union on Oct. 31st, but the process is already on it's third Prime Minister. Will the UK and the EU face a no-deal Brexit or does newly elected Prime Minister have some tricks up his sleeve? Can they iron things out in time or should we start stockpiling Cadbury chocolate?

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter

Brandon Boat

One year ago, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter joined us on The Theater of Public Policy in the early days of his term. Now more than a year and a half in, he joined us once again to discuss how the issues he campaigned on are working out in office. We asked him about the city’s new comprehensive plan, city efforts on early childhood education, and what the heck is the deal with trash collection in St. Paul. Seriously, what’s the deal with that?

The (DNR) Commissioner is In

Brandon Boat

In Minnesota, the DNR Commissioner oversees everything form lakes and trails, to hunting and fishing, and even has a say in mining projects in the state. New DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen is a former mayor and assistant DNR commissioner with a reputation for getting things done. She is also the first woman to hold the position. We asked her about her job overseeing Minnesota’s natural resources, and what kind of bait to use for catching Walleye.

Don't Stop the (Pioneer) Presses!

Brandon Boat

The Pioneer Press is one of Minnesota’s oldest newspapers. Just a few years ago, it was purchased by a hedge fund that has made major cuts to their newsroom staff. Yet the paper is profitable and turning out a solid product day after day. What’s the future of St. Paul’s largest newspaper? What can readers do to preserve or strengthen it? We asked the Pioneer Press’s own, Dave Orrick.

Sports! Women Coaching Women

Brandon Boat

Since the passage of Title IX, more women and girls have taken up sports of all kinds. But paradoxically, there are actually FEWER female coaches at the at the college level than before Title IX.

Dr. Nicole LaVoi from the University of Minnesota’s Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport has dug into this complex issue, and compiles an annual report card on Women in College Coaching. She also studies how female athletes are portrayed in the media compared to their male counterparts. Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach of the University of St. Thomas Julie Lundquist also joined us to offer first hand perspectives.

Editors Note: We had difficulty with the audio feed, so it sounds a bit washed out at times.

Walking on the Wild Side of Plants

Brandon Boat

It’s summer, a time for planting and growing. But these days, many of the plants on farm fields and even in backyard gardens come from nearly identical genetic strains. The lack of genetic diversity in our crops should be a concern to anyone who eats food, according to our guest, Dr. James Bradeen of the UofM Department of Plant Pathology. We talked to him about how cultivating wild plants and investing in gene banks can help protect food systems from disease, insects and the effects of climate change.

Minnesota Education Commissioner

Brandon Boat

Before school lets out for summer, meet Minnesota’s new Education Commissioner. A longtime teacher herself, Ricker has some big challenges in front of her, from closing one of the worst achievement gaps in the country to dealing with approximately sixty snow days this past winter.

The Show Goes to the (Therapy) Dogs!

Brandon Boat

Sarah Palm, Researcher, Nature Based Therapeutics at the University of Minnesota

Colleen Crockford, Human-Animal Bond Social Worker with Crockford Consulting

Dr. Tim Lewis, Professor at the University of St. Thomas

Anyone who has ever loved a pet doesn’t need an improv comedy show to tell them that animals can make us better versions of ourselves. Yet a growing body of research is expanding our understanding of the science behind the human-animal connection. We spoke with three experts about how animals are used in therapy today and about the cutting edge of research in this field.