River Radio

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to Becky Rom, National Chair of the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, on a recent mining moratorium initiated by the Biden administration (4:30); Dusty Thune, captain of House of Thune, the winning team in the World Snow Sculpting Championship (23:00); and Lori Sturdevant, Star Tribune political columnist, on the life and passing of Sen. Dave Durenberger...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to Chris Farrell, Economics Editor of "Marketplace" on American Public Media and Ross Levin of Accredited Investors Wealth Management about the economic and investment landscape (5:00); and local photography hobbyist and instructor Carl Wegener about how to take a better picture (32:00). Gayle also has a roundup of local news (51:30). Matt Quast is...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk with New York Times Magazine contributing writer Matthew Shaer about everything you should know about cardboard (5:30); and local foodie, writer and performer Lori Gordon about holiday food, drinks, entertaining and gifting (25:00). Gayle also provides an update on local news (46:00). Matt Quast is technical director. This Week’s Guests Matthew Shaer, New Yor...

Co-hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson speak with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon about the state of democracy today (5:00) and Kelly Tope of Farmeste Animal Sanctuary on the organization's care of farm animals with special needs (31:00). Jim and Gayle also give an in-depth update on the planned sale of Wilder Forest (24:00), as a followup to the Nov. 17 episode, and Gayle has a local...

Co-hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson spend the hour exploring, in-depth, the events surrounding the proposed sale of the Wilder Forest property near Marine on St. Croix, the impact on the River Grove charter school located there and plans for a camp proposed by the potential new owners of the property, the Minnesota Catholic Youth Partnership. The show includes conversations with Drew Goodson, Exe...

River Radio provides a two-hour election night special. Along with results from the local races in Marine and Scandia, co-hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson track the school board and local legislative races. And they turn to Star Tribune political columnist Lori Sturdevant for perspective on statewide races and River Radio national political editor Brian Gruis for insights on the key national race...

Co-host Jim Maher talks about the upcoming election with our political roundtable of Lori Sturdevant of the Star Tribune; Fred de Sam Lazaro of PBS Newshour and the Undertold Stories Project; and the show's national political editor Brian Gruis (4:30). Co-host Gayle Knutson has a rousing conversation with Dr. Kimberly Kokx, principal of the newly-opened Marine Village School, a charter elemen...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk with U.S. District Court Judge John Tunheim about the upcoming Supreme Court session (5:00); and artist Robin Garwood about his solo canoe trip down the Mississippi River (34:30). Jim and Gayle also provide a detailed update on the planned sale of Wilder Forest, which puts River Grove charter school at risk (25:00); and Gayle updates local news (51:30). Matt...

The war between Russia and Ukraine is in its seventh month, and still has major ramifications worldwide. Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson speak to: Khrystyna Synytska of Odessa, Ukraine who talks about the experience of leaving her home country for Paris, and helping others flee the war; and Prof. Nick Hayes , St. John’s University and an expert on Eastern Europe, with an overview of the current...

Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to Angie Hong of the Washington Conservation District on good land use strategies and preserving our water resources (4:00), and Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom on the recent surge in book banning efforts (29:00). Also included is an update of local news (23:00). Matt Quast is technical dire...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson have in-depth discussions with world-renowned executive life coach Richard Leider, author of "Who Do You Want To Be When You Grow Old – The Path of Purposeful Aging,"  (6:00); and Cameron Hewitt, travel writer with Rick Steves' Europe and author of "The Temporary European: Lessons And Confessions of a Professional Traveler," (36:30). Also...

Co-host Jim Maher talks with Prof. Nick Hayes of St. John's University about the tragic developments in Eastern Europe (5:30) and co-host Gayle Knutson explores the world of poetry with two of the St. Croix Big Read program's Poets of Place, Heidi Barr of Lindstrom and Rosie Peters of Marine on St. Croix (34:00). Also included is Gayle's news update (28:00). Matt Quast is technical...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to longtime (and just retired) New York Times Personal Health columnist Jane Brody about her career, her thoughts on health and nutrition  matters and her time in the St. Croix Valley (4:00); and Katie Sickmann, invasive species coordinator for the Wild Rivers Conservancy on where things stand with invasives in and along the river (44:30). Also, an update of...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to investigative journalist and author Casey Michel about Russian oligarchs, how the U.S. helps them launder their money and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war (3:00); and polar explorer and educator Ann Bancroft on the world of expeditions and what it takes to make them work (34:00). Also included is an update of local news (28:30). Matt Quast is technical...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson discuss the flow of misinformation that is affecting everything from the war in Ukraine to the pandemic, with Stephen Maher of Maclean's Magazine (5:30); and the keys to Jessie Diggins remarkable Olympic success in Nordic skiing with Jessie's high school coach from Stillwater, Kris Hansen (36:30). Also included is an update of local news (28:30). Matt Qu...

Jim Maher conducts a roundtable on current headline issues with Lori Sturdevant, political columnist for the Star Tribune, Fred de Sam Lazaro of PBS Newshour and River Radio's national political editor Brian Gruis (5:00); and Gayle Knutson talks about the 100-year history of Reader's Digest and its Minnesota connection with Richard Junger, professor of communications at Western Michigan...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson discuss the upcoming Winter Olympics and prospects for local nordic ski racer Jessie Diggins, with NBC Olympics analyst Chad Salmela (6:00); and the process of going through a gender transition with longtime Marine on St. Croix resident Dana Vannen Anderson (36:00). Also included is an update on area news (31:00). Chad Salmela, Olympic Nordic Ski Commentator for N...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to Judge John Tunheim, Chief U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota, on the Supreme Court and other judicial matters (4:30); and real estate professional Juli Hagstrom about the hot housing market (35:00). There's also an update on local news including a proposed new housing development in May Township and the City of Marine in court (26:00). ...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson speak to Becky Rom, National Chair, Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, on proposals for copper, nickel and cobalt mining in northeastern Minnesota (7:30); and Greg Seitz, writer and founder of the website St. Croix 360, in a wide-ranging discussion on the latest news on the river (38:00). There's also an update of local news (29:00). Matt Quast is technica...

Co-hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to Chris Farrell of American Public Media's  Marketplace program and Ross Levin of Accredited Investors Wealth Management about today's unusual economy and how to prepare for it (7:00); and Hannah Keller of the Washington County Dept. of Public Health and Environment on what you need to know about recycling (38:30). Also included is an update of...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson find out more about why COVID-19 numbers are surging in Minnesota and what to expect next from Dr. Rebecca Wurtz of the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health (4:30) and ideas on preparing for your Thanksgiving feast from local foodie, writer and performer Lori Powell Gordon (30:00). There's also an update on local news (23:00). Matt Quast is...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson speak to Kate Brauman, Associate Director of the Global Water Security Center at the University of Alabama about the state of the global water supply (5:30); and Brent Peterson, Executive Director of the Washington County Historical on the new Heritage Center in Stillwater (33:00). There's also an update of local news (25:00). Matt Quast is technical director...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to Bev Petrie, Chair of the Stillwater School Board, about the upcoming levy referendum vote and other issues confronting the school district this year (3:00); and Chris Brown, President of the St. Croix Growers Association, about the world of giant pumpkins and other types of extreme vegetable growing (32:30). Also included is an update on local news (24:30)...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson talk to New York City-based climate journalist Audrey Gray about her travels along the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline in Minnesota (7:30); and Calyssa Hall, Executive Artistic Director of the Zephyr Theater in Stillwater (37:30). Gayle also updates all of the area news (30:00). Matt Quast is technical director. This Week’s Guests Audrey Gray, climate journalist http...

Hosts Jim Maher and Gayle Knutson kick off a new season in discussion with Amy Hagstrom Miller, St, Croix Valley native and founder of Whole Woman's Health and a strong advocate for abortion rights who has been in the media spotlight after the recent enactment of legislation in Texas that effectively curtailed abortions in that state (6:30); and Ginger Porcella, Executive Director and Chief C...