Community Focus

Guests Kim Strange, Foundation Coordinator and Food Service Manager, and Lanaya Percfield, Open Arms Coordinator and Peer Support Manager, join to discuss the vital services provided by Lighthouse Beginnings and Open Arms. They share insight into current needs, including general food items, day-to-day household supplies, volunteer support, and funding challenges resulting from the recent federal f...

Guests Heather Jones and Jess Wide, board members of the Crosslake Winterfest Committee, join us to preview the 24th Annual Crosslake Winterfest, happening February 5th–7th. They break down everything packed into this three-day winter celebration, including the popular Medallion Hunt, Soupfest, live music, and a full lineup of activities and events for the entire family. See Privacy Policy at http...

Guests Martha Smithson, Principal of Early Learning, and Jen Lindholm, Early Childhood Program Administrative Assistant, join to share what’s coming up in Early Childhood Family Education. They discuss new ECFE classes beginning next week, along with special events and upcoming field trips families can look forward to. The conversation also covers important preschool information, including registr...

Guests Jessica Gangl, Executive Director of the Brainerd Public Schools Foundation, and Amye Miller, Big Event Chair, join to talk about the Foundation’s upcoming Big Event on February 21st at Grand View Lodge. They share details about the event, how funds raised directly benefit a wide variety of students, and discuss current opportunities for sponsors and donated auction items to support this im...

Guests Lowell Johnson, a member of the Lakes Area Justice Table, and Rev. Candace Adams from Compassionate Way join the podcast to discuss the upcoming Cultivating Compassionate Communities training happening later this month. The conversation explores what the training will offer participants and why building compassionate communities begins with cultivating compassion within ourselves. See Priva...

Guest is Tony Housey from Camp Ripley. Housey recaps a very busy 2025 at the Camp, highlights the impact those operations had on the region, and gives us an early look at what’s ahead in 2026. We’ll also talk about Winter Operations Training, what it means for scheduled visiting units, and how those activities shape everything from local traffic to the broader mission at Camp Ripley. It’s a great...

Brainerd Public Utilities Director Paul Sandy and City Administrator Nick Broyles join to break down the city’s upcoming galvanized water service line replacement project, including what homeowners need to know, how to check if their property is affected, and what the timeline looks like moving forward. We also cover a Public Works update, a Brainerd EDA update, and wrap up with details on a fun c...

Guests are Alex Dominguez, Programs Manager and Mandy Flitsch, Advocate See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Guest is CEO Shane Riffle See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Guests are Crow Wing County Administrator Debby Erickson and Crow Wing County Sheriff's Lt. Craig Katzenberger See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Guests are Faith Hamson, Marketing Coordinator of Lakes Area United Way and Jana Shogren, Executive Director of Bridges of Hope See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Guests are Director Andrea Anderson and actors Anne Freelove and Blake Lubinus See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Guests were Executive Director Janet Hennis and Board Member Colleen Adrian See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Guests are Paul Primesberger, Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success and Nathaniel Warnke, Enrollment Representative See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Guests are Board Members Dr. Nick Bernier and Karl Samp See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Guest is Vicky Kinney, Executive Director See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Barb Mack & Loretta Campbell, both EEG Epilepsy Advocate Board Members about Epilepsy, what it is, who it affects and the support groups that are available to the community. They discussed the monthly meeting that was to be held this month, where Campbell would be speaking about Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). They also invited the public to a large Community Awareness E...

Shawn Hanson, Executive Director of The Outreach Program, joins the show to discuss how the organization provides meals to families locally and across Minnesota. She also highlights the ongoing need for volunteers, recaps key moments from 2025, and shares a preview of an exciting year ahead for The Outreach Program in 2026. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Not...

Rena Bolt, Community Health Specialist with Crow Wing Energized, and Faith Hamson, Marketing Specialist with CWE, stop by to talk about upcoming community health initiatives... including the Movement Challenge, the ReThink Your Drink campaign, and diabetes prevention classes available in the area. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pr...

Tedi Russell, Marketing & Community Engagement Manager at Bridges of Hope visits about their end of year fundraising push to get to $100,000. As well as an overall review of what Bridges assists the community with. Additionally, Russell previews a new event that Bridges of Hope is highlighting... Hope on the Slopes at Mount Ski Gull on February 12th, 2026. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

Aubrey Koop, Director of the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber, and Ali Beste, Marketing & Young Professionals Coordinator with the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, stop by to talk about the Local Gift List created by Lakes Proud. They share how the list highlights local businesses across the Brainerd Lakes Area and why shopping local matters- helping keep dollars circulating throughout our communities, supporting...

Jason Olson, Director of Human Resources for Brainerd Public Schools (ISD 181), joins us to talk about the district as an employer, the wide range of career opportunities available, and the number of staff who help support students each day. Jason also highlights the ongoing need for substitute teachers and educational assistants as well an update on the search for a new Superintendent. See Privac...

Dr. Katie Baratto, Garrison Animal Hospital, Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation, talking about their new intake facility, the many animals being cared for and fundraising efforts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Shane Riffle, CEO of the Brainerd Family YMCA, joins us to highlight youth basketball, soccer, and swim lessons now underway at the Y, plus year-end membership savings. He also previews upcoming fundraising efforts, including the return of Taste of the Lakes in March 2026. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info...

Today’s guests are Leslie Bouchonville, Executive Director of Pine River–Backus & Northland Family Center, and Betty Doss, Executive Director of the Pillager Family Center. They take us inside the impact of the annual Radiothon to End Child Abuse, explaining how funds raised provide critical services including parent education, emergency assistance, early childhood supports, and direct resourc...