Kfai's Minneculture

For nearly sixty years, one man’s disappearance haunted central Minnesota, a mystery fed by rumors, dead ends, and a river that never gave up its secret. Then, in the summer of 2025, the Mississippi finally did. What surfaced wasn’t just a car: it was the answer to a question that had lingered for generations.This is Submerged: The Roy Benn Case.This story was written, reported, and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

When the Irish arrived in the brand new Minnesota territory, there were no cities waiting for them, no paved streets. Just prairie, timber, and a dream of opportunity.So they built.They built farms, carving 160-acre homesteads out of tallgrass and forest. They built communities, And at the center of it all they built a church in Jessenland. Kyle Shiely has the story of the oldest rural Irish community in Minnesota.This story was written and reported by Kyle Shiely with mixing from Noah Smith. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Stillwater Prison started publishing its own newspaper in 1887. All of it written, edited —  even funded — by incarcerated people. It’s called The Prison Mirror. It was one of the country’s first prison papers. Today it’s one of the last. We’re taking you inside prison to hear writers past and present talk about what it’s like to cover the news behind bars. But first, you need the origin story.This story was written, reported, and produced by Michelle Bruch. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Season 10 of the MinneCulture podcast is coming April 9th. This season we are exploring a decades-long Minnesota cold case, the two-year run of the movie Harold and Maude at a Minneapolis theater, the oldest prison newspaper, and many more stories from across the state. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

What happens when you add electric guitar, high energy vocals, and upbeat percussion to your ballet? For ballet companies, they hope it adds up to a lot more people in the audience. An outgrowth of rock operas, rock ballets are reimagining the art form for a modern age. KFAI’s Sheila Regan has the story. This story was written and produced by Sheila Regan. Erika Janik is the Managing Editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

If you’ve ever driven on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, down by Highland Park High School, you’ve probably seen the Highland Park Water Tower, even if you didn’t know it. Standing at 127 feet tall, it is a beautiful 1928 stone tower located on one of the highest points in St. Paul, making it the perfect place to store water, and see a unique view of the Twin Cities. Though it was decommissioned in 2017, the tower is open to the public twice a year – in July and October – so that everyone can experience the walk up to, and view from, the top of this historic building.This story was written and reported by Hans Buetow. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

Each year, the federal government holds a unique art competition with a very specific goal: to choose the most compelling original painting to become the next Federal Duck Stamp.Waterfowl hunters are required to purchase this stamp along with their hunting license. The revenue raised allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to buy and protect wetlands across the country. Over time, the contest has grown fiercely competitive. And this past year, Chaska artist Jim Hautman [rhymes with “caught-men”] claimed his seventh win.Among outdoor enthusiasts and duck hunters, Jim Hautman is a well-known name. In fact, he’s so well known he even gets a mention in the movie Fargo. KFAI’s Alison Young has the story. This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's managing editor. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

In the 1990s for a brief four years, the radio station 93.7 The Edge popped up and imprinted itself onto the minds and hearts of many young Minnesotans who were aching for new music: The Cranberries, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and No Doubt. Radio back then wasn’t just a way to listen to music, but to discover music. The station also hosted EdgeFest, which forged even stronger memories. Every generation has a nostalgic love for the music of their youth and Edge fans are no different. KFAI’s Matthew Schneeman talked to these fans, now all grown up, about their love for The Edge and nineties alt-rock. This was story was reported and produced by Matthew Schneeman. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. Today, we're headed to Lake Maria State Park.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

There are many ways to cover a song—you can cover it in your own style or mix things up by playing it in a different genre. But there’s one way of doing that often gets overlooked: doing it exactly like the original. The 90s cover band You Oughta Know takes on that challenge of replicating 90s hits. And the effect is a time traveling lightning bolt of nostalgia. KFAI’s Matthew Schneeman met up with the band to see their tricks and techniques first hand.This was story was reported and produced by Matthew Schneeman. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. Today, we're headed to Blue Mounds State Park.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sound baths are a meditative practice that uses resonant instruments like singing bowls, gongs, and chimes to create experiences that offer a unique path to calm and connection. In recent years, sound baths have been popping up all over Minnesota. KFAI’s Sheila Regan went to check it out.This story was written and produced by Sheila Regan. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's Managing Editor. Find more MinneCulture stories on our website.Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

We have something different to share with you today - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers Alison Young received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State Parks.It’s called “Art of the State (Parks) and we’re sharing them with you. The second in the series is called "Summer at Grand Portage." In this piece, a short hike reveals the forces that shaped the land as well as the enduring human respect for that land which has long dictated travel, history, and preservation along Minnesota’s North Shore.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a

Since the 1890s, the Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota has produced an abundance of iron ore. The mines attracted all kinds of workers, including immigrants. One group that was harder to find in the mines, though... were women. Lynn Henderson was one of the first women to work on the range starting in the 1970s. KFAI's Gina Favano caught up with Lynn to learn what those times were like.This story was reported and produced by Gina Favano. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's Managing Editor. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

We have something a little different to share with you - though something squarely in the MinneCulture universe. One of our regular producers, Alison Young, received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individuals Grant this year to produce a series of immersive pieces blending field recording and personal narrative set at four Minnesota State ParksIt’s called “Art of the State (Parks)" and we’re going to share them with you.Up first, Spring at Lake Itasca. Here, a night of near-solitude becomes a reflection on spring’s renewal and the fragile, hard-won legacy of preservation that allows this landscape to remain alive and vibrant today.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture.Alison is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota

For the past twenty years, Project Get Outdoors — or Project GO — has been dedicated to connecting children with the natural world.Based in Wabasha, Project GO’s mission is to use nature to build cognitive skills, spark creativity, and support overall health and wellbeing. The organization champions the Minnesota Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights and develops high-quality curriculum and programming designed to help young people form lasting relationships with the outdoors.Founder and program coordinator Sara Holger was inspired by Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” She launched Project GO by creating an after-school program for migrant Latino youth in the small agricultural community of Plainview, Minnesota, offering students opportunities to explore nature that were largely unavailable to them.Today, Project GO has served more than 50,000 children who often lack access to traditional outdoor programs because of race or socio-economic barriers. Wor

Every Tuesday night, Choir Walk with Me gathers to practice. The group’s name comes from the David Lynch film Fire Walk With Me. The small group sings a diverse mix of songs and prides itself on celebrating the esoteric and weird. KFAI’s Angela Lundberg brings us the story.This story was produced by Angela Lundberg and mixed and edited by MinneCulture Managing Editor, Erika Janik. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the Minneculture tab on KFAI.org

The Augie Garcia Quintet played rock ‘n’ roll in 1954 before they knew what to call it — Augie described their sound as rhythm-and-blues with a shuffle and a “hard sock.” The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame says the band likely recorded Minnesota’s first rock record.Raised at the West Side Flats in St. Paul, Augie became known as a showman who danced on the piano and dressed year-round in Bermuda shorts tailored by his mother. He assembled a strong group of musicians that included Willie Brown on sax, Maurice Turner on bass (Prince’s uncle) and James “Cornbread” Harris (producer Jimmy Jam’s father). This story was written and reported by Michelle Bruch. Erika Janik is the Managing Editor of MinneCulture. Find more MinneCulture stories on our websiteMusic credit: “Drinking Wine Spoli Oli,” performed by the Augie Garcia Quintet. “Hello Baby,” performed by the Augie Garcia Quintet. Used with permission from the Garcia family.Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Inspired by his love of punk and garage band music of the 1980s, Jon Clifford started a hair salon by Loring Park in Minneapolis in 2011. It’s a funky, one-of-a-kind place helmed by a funky, one-of-a-kind guy filled with music and Minnesota music memorabilia. Jon later partnered with John Kass to add a record store focusing on local music next to the salon, and HiFi Hair and Records was born. Jon says it has “the best waiting room in the city.”A welcoming place for a hair cut, the salon is filled with Jon’s craftsmanship, humor, quirkiness, creativity, and a feel good sense of community. KFAI's Dixie Treichel has the story.Find more stories on our websiteSupport for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

If you only know MinneCulture as a seasonal podcast, you're in for a treat. Between seasons, we make shorter stories that we call 10,000 Fresh Voices. These stories cover all kinds of things from a synchronized swim team to a scheme to build a domed city in the Minnesota woods. And we're going to start sharing them with you here. Welcome to MinneCulture Shorts! This episode features three stories highlighting some amazing Minnesota women. The stories in this episode were written and produced by: Britt Aamodt "Miss C.H. Lippincott: Seedswoman of Minneapolis" Diane Richard "How a Grunge-Glam Designer Survived Project Runway"Emily Bright "Meow! The Kids Book That Changed The Genre Forever"KFAI's MinneCulture is hosted and edited by Erika Janik. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.Subscribe to the KFAI newsletter