Trek Through Time

Primarily recorded live at Loon Liquor on June 22, this month's special Independence Day installment is dedicated to discovering the Northfield Historical Society's past, present, and future as the organization turns 50. Featuring 15 total guests, a live atmosphere, and various stories from five decades, these conversations provide a first-hand example of the community tales that have comp...

Host Kosmo Esplan is playing ball on this month's TTT (metaphorically, of course) as he digs into historical highlights of the Dundas Dukes and Northfield Knights, crosstown rivals and staples of Minnesota's amateur baseball landscape. Joining the Time Machine this inning are Mike Allen (from the Knights), Ira Carlson (from the Dukes), and Kevin Sevcik (from both) to reminisce about their own expe...

This month’s episode is dedicated to the work, impact, and legacy of late notable Northfielder Chip DeMann, a local history lover who was instrumental in establishing the bank raid reenactment tradition, saving the Northfield depot, and preserving Northfield's overall past. Joining Kosmo to discuss more about Chip's multi-faceted life is his eldest son Trip DeMann and close friend John Rad...

This month's stop for the Time Machine is the beloved Northfield Depot, a local institution and the only remaining structure built to accompany the town's early railroad foundations. To get the full picture, Kosmo chats with Alice Thomas and Clark Webster (both of Save the Northfield Depot) about the origin of the train business in Northfield, historical events that occurred at the depot,...

It’s a rhyming episode this month as Kosmo grabs a beer (a root beer, rather) and sits down with Mark Schiller, co-owner of Loon Liquor and local history buff. The two discuss Northfield’s origin in relation to the prosperous milling business that populated Minnesota in the 19th century; the evolution of local distilling from the temperance movement through Prohibition and today; and how Loon Liqu...

On this President's Day episode, Kosmo's interview goal of a presidential podcast is finally fulfilled when he's joined by none other than President Theodore Roosevelt (portrayed by Adam Lindquist), who shares the riveting details of his multi-faceted biography, from cowboy expeditions to political escapades to assassination attempts and even more. Plus, Kosmo gets TR to debunk (and affirm) some m...

Before he transforms into Commander-in-Chief #26 for an extended TTT discussion, Adam Lindquist joins Kosmo out-of-character to chat about his journeys acting as Theodore Roosevelt, why Teddy's values remain relevant, and what's on Adam's radar for the sesquicentennial.

In this full, virtually recorded conversation between Kosmo Esplan and Sam Temple, the two history voyagers travel deeper into the story that shaped Faribault's formation, founder Alexander's multicultural experiment, and the impact of Minnesota Territory's broader political agenda – plus Kosmo ruthlessly grills Sam on the many anniversaries plaguing 2026 party planners.

To kick off a year full of historical significance, host Kosmo Esplan re-invites premier Faribault history prodigy Sam Temple into the Time Machine to dig into the contents of the latter’s newest documentary,  Agua Vivas de Faribault : Alexander Faribault’s utopian vision when establishing the “Athens of the West”, how the ensuing challenges were microcosmic of the larger conflicts shaping Minneso...

(Aired on the KYMN Morning Show on December 10, 2025.) To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Northfield Skating School, Kosmo sits down with the organization's founder Carey Tinkelenberg and longtime supporter Amber Barksdale to hear about all things local skating.

In this live holiday show from the KYMN studio on the day of Winter Walk, host Kosmo Esplan investigates a variety of local holiday traditions that have endured over the years . . . but it's not a Christmas special without a lineup of lively and festive guests, a visit from Father Christmas himself, and live music to top it all off. Merry Christmas, Northfield!

With the beloved 113th St. Olaf Christmas Festival approaching, Kosmo turns his attention to Ole music and gives thanks on this November holiday by bringing in the cream of the Choir crop, Dr. Anton Armstrong. In an extended interview, the Choir's current and longest running conductor in its history provides historical expertise on the institution's evolution under each conductor, his own...

Following up on last year's voyage through college football, it's second down as Kosmo Esplan is back in the end zone turning his attention to the sport's significant presence at the Northfield High School, along with former head coach and current offensive coordinator Bubba Sullivan. From humble early years to the 1990s dynasty, host and guest blitz Raiders football and explore the te...

On this first ever two-hour live TTT broadcast from the KYMN studio, your host Kosmo Esplan voyages across 77 years of Defeat Days history with a wide variety of locals, townies, and festival enthusiasts who share their stories and provide some background on why the festival is an enduring facet of Northfield's identity. Part #1 (00:00) – The Festival's Early Days w/ David Hvistendahl & Susan...

On this Labor Day installment, Kosmo celebrates the upcoming DJJD celebration by discussing all things bank raid history with local history supercomputer Tim Freeland; in their freewheeling discussion, Mr. Host and Mr. Northfield dig into an assortment of trivia about the raid, Defeat Days, and other fascinating Northfield goodies.

To finish off August and celebrate the twentieth Triple Tee voyage, Kosmo explores stories behind the location that most of these episodes have been recorded in: the Scriver Building. With a trio of Northfield History Center comrades (Sean Allen, Aya Myint, and Henry Vrtis) joining to provide their expertise, the history clan dig into the iconic downtown staple's past, present, and future.

It's the final chapter of the "Trek Through Time" triad of Rock 'n' Roll Revival interviews this month! To cap it off, Kosmo Esplan virtually sits down with the man who started it all, Tom McKown, for a brief discussion about the very beginning of RRR and its journey into the Northfield zeitgeist.

To discuss the Northfield History Center's latest museum display, Kosmo travels onsite to the Ted Scott Exhibit Room to chat with executive director Sean Allen and exhibit curator Elleanna Gisvold about the organization's exciting spotlight on Rock 'n' Roll Revival. Remember to check out the grand opening (August 5 from 5-7pm); it'll be a rocking good time!

To celebrate the Northfield History Center's newest exhibit, frontman Kosmo Esplan lives fast and jams out to 30 years of the Northfield High School's iconic production of Rock 'n' Roll Revival alongside director Ray Coudret and choreographer Shari Setchell, who both rock this month's show like a hurricane with their fantabulous knowledge about the show's groovetastic histo...

We're packing it in this time on Triple Tee ! With this year's Vintage Band Festival approaching, it's quadruple the fun as Kosmo invites an impressive tetrad of old-timey music lovers into the time machine to discuss one of the most historic band celebrations in the country: join artistic director Paul Niemisto, board president Dan Bergeson, board VP Randy Ferguson, and board secretar...

In honor of the Riverwalk Market Fair's 15th anniversary, Kosmo invites Market Manager Derek Meyers, Board Chair Martha Kasper, and local vendor/artist Kathy Miller for triple discussion duty as they focus on the beloved Northfield event's history, impact, and involvement in the community, including an upcoming fundraiser (July 15th at Imminent Brewing). Plus, they bond over the delicious...

(Video available exclusively on Spotify.) In this exclusive podcast interview with Karate Kid: Legends star Ben Wang, host/cinephile Kosmo Esplan and Northfield's first Hollywood actor discuss Ben's early immigration to Minnesota, the impact of local theatre and good mentors, and his pivot to pursuing professional roles in NYC and LA. Unsurprisingly, movies come up, as well.

On the occasion of Triple Tee 's one-year birthday, Kosmo Esplan highlights another Northfield anniversary (albeit one with more digits) by recruiting publisher Rob Schanilec and editor Ronica Roberson to voyage across 20 years of the Entertainment Guide. The triad delves into the beloved Southern Minnesota magazine's memorable moments, including its 2005 sesquicentennial origin, the evolu...

In this "Extra Exploration", Kosmo finishes off his conversation with Dr. Mahr by learning about a pair of photos, digging into the iconic Orchestra-Band softball rivalry, and tackling the relationship between the "big three" St. Olaf musical institutions.

Continuing the deep-dive into the St. Olaf Band's history, Kosmo, Susan, and Jeff look over a scrapbook from Susan's time in the Band, discuss the significance of a variety of pictures from History Center archives, and debate the most controversial topic of all: the Oxford Comma.