Explore Minnesota More

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Listen in as we head to Winona, Minnesota — a vibrant river town that’s redefining what it means to invest in outdoor recreation as a cornerstone of community and economic development. In this episode of Explore Minnesota More , we sit down with three key figures who’ve helped transform Winona into a year-round outdoor destination: Scott Sherman , Mayor of Winona Pat Mutter , E...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙 The Minnesota Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights 🏞️🌿 Episode Overview: In this episode of Explore Minnesota More , we sit down with Arielle Courtney from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Chrissy Dornon from the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet to explore the Minnesota Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights —a bold initiative ensuring that every child in t...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: In this episode, we dive into an ambitious and inspiring initiative: the 10,000 Ice Anglers Project . Our guests, Ray Ruiz and Karl Erickson , share their journey of bringing thousands of kids onto frozen lakes for their first ice-fishing experience. This initiative, which spans multiple communities and organizations, introduces children to the joys of outdoor rec...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Explore Minnesota More, John Cox and Marty Caivano discuss the International Mountain Biking Association(IMBA) Trail Labs program, which will come to Minnesota in 2025!  The discussion covers mountain biking infrastructure, community engagement, and sustainable trail development. Key Points: IMBA's history dating back to the late 1980s in California Overvie...

Send us Fan Mail Making the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail Episode Description   Join us for a conversation about the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail (MDHT), an ambitious project to create the first long-distance hiking trail in Minnesota's Driftless Region. We speak with Marty Walsh (Lead Instigator) and Alexa Shapiro (Trail Director) about how this trail will connect communities, enhance...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Lloyd Vogel, founder and CEO of Garage Grown Gear, to explore the evolution of ultralight outdoor gear and the growth of his Minnesota-based company. From its humble beginnings in a basement to an 8,000-square-foot warehouse in Saint Paul, Garage Grown Gear has become a leader in the ultralight outdoor gear space by focusing on small, innovative m...

Send us Fan Mail Happy New Year, Everyone! We have some fun months ahead of us skiing, skating, fishing, riding, boarding, and swimming in Minnesota's ice and snow (once the snow arrives, better late than never!). We don't have a full show this week, but listen in to learn more about what shows to expect over the coming months.   Until next time, let's go out and Explore MN More! Cr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Explore Minnesota More, Randolph and Chris Perkins discuss the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data on Minnesota's outdoor recreation economy. We explore what these numbers mean for Minnesota and why they matter. Featured Guest Chris Perkins is Vice President of Programs for the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.  Episode Highlights Minnesota's ou...

Send us Fan Mail *Audio Disclaimer: Some gremlins have gotten into our host's microphones. The sound quality may be slightly less than perfect. We are working on tracking these gremlins down so we can provide you with the sound experience you deserve. Stay tuned!** USA Cycling Gravel National Championships Coming to La Crescent, MN In this episode, Randolph sits down with Jeremiah Burish, Dir...

Send us Fan Mail The Upstream Story Trailer Project Guest: Andy Goldman, Executive Director of Upstream Minnesota Episode Overview In this episode, we explore an innovative project aimed at collecting and sharing Minnesotans' stories about their connections to the outdoors. The Upstream Story Trailer Project uses a mobile recording studio to capture diverse perspectives on outdoor stewardship...

Send us Fan Mail Minnesota Nordic Ski Opener 2024: Your Guide to Winter's Kickoff Event The unofficial start to Minnesota's winter season kicks off at Elm Creek Park Reserve on December 7th, 2024, with the Minnesota Nordic Ski Opener. In our conversation with Three Rivers Park District staff Amanda Fong, Chelsea Remiger, and Grant Armour, we explored how this beloved event welcomes both...

Send us Fan Mail 🎃 BOO-tiful Listeners! Our podcast is taking a brief haunted holiday this week, but don't let that spook you – we're brewing up some spine-tingling stories about Minnesota's outdoor adventures that we'll share when we return next week! While our microphones gather cobwebs, here's a peek at the treats we're conjuring up for upcoming episodes: 📱 Disco...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Jared Wiklund, Director of Communications for Pheasants Forever, to discuss the organization's history, mission, and impact on conservation and hunting in Minnesota and beyond. Episode Highlights : - Pheasants Forever Origins: Founded in 1982 in response to habitat loss in Minnesota - Unique Organizational Model: Local chapters retain control...

Send us Fan Mail It's Fall turkey season in Minnesota! In this episode, Keng Yang from Minnesota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Nick Bancks from Trust for Public Land discuss their collaborative mentored turkey hunting program. The initiative aims to connect new hunters with public lands through hunting experiences. Participants complete hunter safety training and attend online classes...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Explore Minnesota More, we kick off a special series focusing on unique careers in Minnesota's thriving outdoor recreation industry. We interview Jon Kreye, a talented photographer who has carved out a niche capturing the essence of Minnesota's beautiful cabins and short-term rentals in the Northwoods. Episode Highlights: Jon shares his journey from ho...

Send us Fan Mail Join Sarah Strommen, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Lauren Bennett McGinty, Executive Director of Explore Minnesota, as they dive into the excitement of the 2024 Governor's Fishing Opener in beautiful Lake City. This episode offers a treasure trove of insights for communities considering hosting this prestigious event in the future. Key hig...

Send us Fan Mail Are you a Minnesotan who loves both biking and joy? Well, do we have an episode for you! The Joyful Riders Club was founded by Mario Macaruso and Patrick Stephenson in Minneapolis-St. Paul and organizes monthly community bike rides focused on fostering connection, exploring the cities, and spreading joy. The rides are slow-paced, welcoming to all skill levels, and often feature th...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: In this episode of Explore Minnesota More, hosts Sarah Strommen, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Lauren Bennett McGinty, Executive Director of Explore Minnesota, explore the world of eating what you hunt. They are joined by special guests Mark Norquist, CEO of Modern Carnivore, and Lukas Leaf, Executive Director of Sportsmen for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Explore Minnesota More, we delve into Minnesota's thriving world of rock climbing. Our guests, Sarah Vanderheiden, president of the Minnesota Climbing Cooperative, and Rodel Querubin, chair of the BIPOC Beta initiatives for the Twin Cities chapter of the American Alpine Club, share their experiences and insights into this rapidly growing sport.  They discus...

Send us Fan Mail How did an idea, born in the aftermath of an Olympic gold medal, become an event that would fight past COVID - and one of the most snow-deprived winters in Minnesota history - to become what Bill McKibben called "a storybook weekend like few others in the history of American endurance sport..." Listen and find out! Discover the thrilling world of Nordic skiing in Minneso...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, we sit down with Ray Ruiz, founder and executive director of Baztec, an organization dedicated to introducing fishing and outdoor recreation to underserved communities in Minnesota. Ray shares his journey from growing up in Chicago to becoming a passionate angler and educator. He discusses the importance of family-centric approaches to outdoor recreation, the cha...

Send us Fan Mail In the inaugural episode of Explore Minnesota More, hosts Lauren Bennett McGinty, Executive Director of Explore Minnesota, and Sarah Strommen, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, delve into the remarkable transformation of the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Once an abandoned mining region, Cuyuna has now become a premier outdoor recreation destina...