Shining Light on Minnesota

Allan Farrell from Stroll The Lakes magazine is here with Karissa to discuss the magazine, business , and of course life! Networking and building community have been huge for Allan in building this magazine. He shares about the joys and the struggles. Originally from the South, Allan also discusses what it has been like to transition to the Midwest. enjoy the episode and thanks for listening!

Stuart Andrews joins Karissa for conversation this week on AI governance and compliance. Stuart is a AI Governance & Compliance Architect and works to Future-Proof Twin Cities SMEs with Responsible AI Policy. This conversation started as a regular network discussion, but then it was so good that we decided that we should start recording it! Enjoy and thanks for listening!

Karissa went across states on the inter-webs to have this powerful conversation with Ryan Botner. Who is Ryan? For over 17 years, Ryan Botner has been positively impacting the lives of thousands of people through his motivational speaking, HIGH-Level Sales, and business consulting. A true entrepreneur, Ryan has started and operated numerous businesses producing TENS of millions of dollars in reven...

Karissa Dunham sat down with Seran Otterson from Rumi Wall Design. From painting tiles to creating and painting custom murals to being featured in Europe's most popular tile magazine. Seran’s journey is full of depth, culture, and creativity. This conversation goes far beyond the paint and into the heart of her story — her openness, her travels, her love for art, and the passion she shares thr...

💡This week we decided to switch things up and give the opportunity for our listeners to meet our team! Karissa is joined by the marketing team, John Brickweg, who produces Shining Light on Minnesota. They discuss backgrounds, origins, and experiences. 🎨 Finally, two announcements were made at the end of the episode! Listen to learn more. Enjoy!

Today, Karissa Dunham sat down with Emmanuel Wheagar — author of Modern Servant Leader and a Minneapolis business owner who truly lives out what it means to lead with purpose. In this episode, Emmanuel shares his inspiring journey and what has shaped him into the leader he is today — from the influence of faith and family to the lessons learned through humility, mentoring others, and giving back t...

Host Karissa Dunham sat down with Lee Dorholt from Fluid Interiors for a conversation that goes way beyond business. From Shriners Children’s work worldwide, to first responders and veterans, to the simple power of picking up the phone and saying, “I care”—this episode is full of wisdom, kindness, and lessons on making a real difference. 🌎💡 Take a listen—you’ll walk away inspired and maybe even...

This week, Host Karissa Dunham had the privilege of sitting down with  Trisha Miller , owner of  Ah-sirt  Body. Beauty. Balance in Zumbrota, MN. We covered so much during our conversation, from health and wellness to the ups and downs of small business ownership, the importance of really listening to your body, and how finding the right instruction can completely change your results. Trisha also s...

This week on Shining Light on Minnesota we had the absolute honor of sitting down with Kelly Williamson and Lisa Bailey—two powerhouse executives who completely blew me away with their knowledge, strength, and perspective. 🙌 We dove into: 🔹 Marketing & sales roles 🔹 The challenges of today’s tough job market 🔹 Their long careers of success and how that experience shapes their job search to...

On this week’s podcast we sit down with  Jendayi Berry  of  Jendayi Berry Art . Jendayi is more than an artist—he’s also a business owner running his own painting and wallpaper company,  JBA Jendayi Berry Art.  His passion for fine art really shines through, but what makes this conversation so good is how far we go beyond just the art itself. We talk about the grind and the beauty of business owne...

We had the absolute  honor  of welcoming two extraordinary heroes on today’s episode,  Colonel B. Wayne Quist  and  Dr. Steve Lansing  from  Veterans Empowered Inc. These two are more than veterans; they are lifesavers, heroes,  advocates, and authors who are making a real difference in the lives of those who have served.💥 They've co-authored  three powerful books  (soon to be FOUR!) written...

We’re excited to share a powerful conversation with Collins Oppong, founder of  Beyond Seasons Golf Tournament and Beyond Media Entertainment. We discussed how  golf is becoming more than a sport—it’s becoming a movement. Although Collins only recently picked up golf himself, he quickly discovered how much it offers: from personal focus and stress relief to networking and building community. Now,...

Rachel Edwards is the Founder & CEO Insperai Inc. This company "is the leader in Personality Intelligence, bringing next-generation insights to how individuals, teams, and organizations understand and optimize human potential." Karissa and Rachel had a wonderful conversation ranging from personal value to finding success in business. It was an absolute pleasure to have Rachel on the show and w...

Matt Kading is a Regional Sales Manager at 3M Films with a strong background in the graphic space. He has been with 3M just shy of 20 years. It's safe to say he truly knows his company. It's also true that he knows his clients needs, and that he truly is someone who listens. Matt and Karissa discuss his career, window film, and present day adventures. There was a lot to cover, especially because o...

Erica Haataja and Ali (Alexandra Ohland) are the powerhouse duo behind this young, ambitious, women-owned post-construction commercial cleaning business making serious waves in the male-dominated construction field. They're not afraid to hold their own, and it shows. Nordic Shine is prompt, professional, and consistently leaves every job cleaner and better than expected. They're always pus...

Recorded remotely at the historic Interlachen Country Club, this is our first ever podcast live on the course! Our guest who Karissa Dunham get's to sit down with? None other than Dr. Luke Benoit — founder of Ryp Golf, creator of RypStick, and one of the leading minds in golf swing mechanics, motor learning, and speed training. Dr. Benoit isn’t just a coach — he’s a Ph. D. whose research dives...

From Spanish Immersion School to working in the corporate-commercial world and then back to his roots, Scott Carlson joins Karissa on this week’s episode of Shining Light on Minnesota. Scott shares about his journey of striking out on his own,traveling, and building a career, starting a family of his own and how, ultimately, that has lead him back to his family’s business, where he joined the team...

What an honor of a Mother Trucker! 💥 We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the one and only ODB retired pro wrestler, TNA legend, food truck queen, and all-around powerhouse 💪🔥 She’s our latest guest on Shining Light on Minnesota, and trust us you do not want to miss this one. We go deep into it all: 🏆 TNA wrestling & championship belts 🔥 Life on the road 👊 4 individual champ...

Erik Haugen, a leader of people, a natural trainer, and head of sales teams joins Karissa on this week's episode to discuss life and business. Erik takes us through his journey of developing in the corporate world to striking out on his own offering contracting and coaching services.

We're riding the wave of inspiration from our latest episode of Shining Light on Minnesota! Karissa Dunham had the privilege of sitting down with two of the strongest people she's ever met—Denis St Martin and his incredible wife, Anne—founders of the Pompe Warrior Foundation. Their journey is nothing short of awe‑inspiring: navigating the maze of Big Pharma, stepping into the world of rare...

Jeff and Karissa sat down a few weeks ago to discuss White Bear Glass and the glass industry as a whole!

Karissa sits down with Evan Peterson from Sonus Interiors this week to discuss business, military experience, and growth!

Caleb is a member of the Rochester, MN police department. Caleb shares about the non-proft the department helps run, the House of Shields. This non-profit has a powerful mission. Join Caleb and Karissa for this moving conversation.

Mike is an under-sherrif in Ramsey County. He joins Karissa on this episode to share about his experience and share some powerful stories from the course of his career. He also talks about the community and the value brought to it.

Karissa sits down with John O'Phelan from Ramsey County this week as they discuss small business, the Twin Cities communities, and connecting with people.