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Rhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Postville Community Heart & Soul  Crystal Duffy, Community Developer for the Postville Community Heart and Soul program joins us on this episode to talk about one NE Iowa communities journey through the Heart and Soul framework.  Postville, a small town of 2,500+ in rural Allamakee County, has been slowly growing for well over a decade as local processing plant jobs and various industries have continued to work to fill out the work force. In recent decades, Postville has actually almost doubled in population as workers have arrived from Guatemala, Mexico, Russia, the Ukraine, Somalia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and beyond. En...
2024-05-2941 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah - Porter House Museum Located on a stately corner of Broadway and River Street in downtown Decorah is the former home of Adelbert Field Porter (1879 – 1968) and Grace Young Porter (1880 – 1964).  Both single children of early Decorah and NE Iowa business families, Grace and Bert Porter left their home as a Museum of worldly collections that inspire exploration of history, nature, and art.  Join Museum Docent Erica Reynolds, and Porter House Museum Manager John Reynolds on this episode for an overview of all that the Porter House offers visitors! “Bert” (as he was more commonly called) was a gent...
2024-05-2431 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Rotary International Rhymes With Decorah is back after our fun mini-series of shows from Lansing, Iowa - and what better topic to talk about than the Service of Rotary International and the Decorah Rotary Club! Join Ward Budweg, Brecka Putnam, and Benji for a conversation about Rotary and all that this incredible organization does - Service above Self! Decorah Rotary Road Cleanup Project  Rotary is 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and community leaders who are creating positive, lasting change in communities around the world. Rotarians have diverse occupations, cultures, and experiences that give unique perspectives and h...
2024-05-0633 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Sangerfest - Dr. David JudischSangerfest 2022, Photo: Beth Skogen Dr. David Judisch, Director of the Luren Singing Society and Director in Chief for the Norwegian Singers Association of America joins us for this episode to talk about Sangerfest - and so much more!  Sangerfest is a celebration and gathering of Norwegian Singing Societies from across the country that happens every two years in rotating venues across the upper midwest. The 2024 Sangerfest public concert will take place on Saturday, June 8, 2024 at the Luther College CFL in Decorah, Iowa. Since 1975, Dr. David Judisch has been the director of t...
2024-05-0240 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Lansing #5 - Rick Welsh Welsh's Village Farm & Home, Lansing Iowa - Photo Benji Nichols Welcome to "Rhymes With Lansing" - a mini-series of podcast shows featuring just a few of the amazing folks that call Lansing, Iowa home. Recorded in the Spring of 2024, these shows represent a snapshot in time of life in one of Iowa's great, rural, Mississippi River towns. Find the intro show to this series here. Welsh's Village Farm & Home was established in 1965 and continues to run as an amazing family owned store on Main Street in Downtown Lansing, Iowa. Rich Welsh continues on the...
2024-04-2930 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Lansing #4 - Melissa & Nick Hammell Welcome to "Rhymes With Lansing" - a mini-series of podcast shows featuring just a few of the amazing folks that call Lansing, Iowa home. Recorded in the Spring of 2024, these shows represent a snapshot in time of life in one of Iowa's great, rural, Mississippi River towns. Find the intro show to this series here. Melissa & Nick Hammell are both business owners (and spouses!) on Main Street in Downtown Lansing, Iowa - and so much more. Melissa started Simply Salon several years ago, now located in the same building, above The Safe House...
2024-04-2527 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Lansing #3 - Andrew Boddicker Photo Courtesy of Walking Space Welcome to "Rhymes With Lansing" - a mini-series of podcast shows featuring just a few of the amazing folks that call Lansing, Iowa home. Recorded in the Spring of 2024, these shows represent a snapshot in time of life in one of Iowa's great, rural, Mississippi River towns. Find the intro show to this series here. Andrew Boddicker is the Executive Director of Main Street Lansing, as well as owner of Walking Space - which provides opportunities for long distance walking retreats in the Driftless Region.  On...
2024-04-2333 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Lansing #2 - Erin Cubbon - Naturalist Erin Cubbon, Naturalist, Allamakee Co Conservation Welcome to "Rhymes With Lansing" - a mini-series of podcast shows featuring just a few of the amazing folks that call Lansing, Iowa home. Recorded in the Spring of 2024, these shows represent a snapshot in time of life in one of Iowa's great, rural, Mississippi River towns. Find the intro show to this series here. Driftless Area Education & Visitor Center Erin Cubbon is a naturalist for Allamakee County Conservation, based out of the amazing Driftless Area Education & Visitor Center, on the south end o...
2024-04-1633 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Lansing #1 - Maryann Baldwin Maryann Baldwin, Lansing Entrepreneur Photo by: Brittany Todd Welcome to "Rhymes With Lansing" - a mini-series of podcast shows featuring just a few of the amazing folks that call Lansing, Iowa home. Recorded in the Spring of 2024, these shows represent a snapshot in time of life in one of Iowa's great, rural, Mississippi River towns. Find the intro show to this series here. Maryann Baldwinn's story is one of building community and seeing opportunities when they've presented themselves. From an early background in broadcasting, a career in media and marketing took her across the...
2024-04-1235 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Lansing - Intro Show Lansing, Iowa - Courtesy, Driftless Visitors Center Welcome to a special mini-series of shows we're calling "Rhymes With Lansing" - bringing you stories from "where Main Street meets the Mississippi" in Iowa's very NE Corner. Located in Allamakee County, Lansing is a town of almost 1,000 people ideally tucked into a wooded valley along the Mississippi River.  Photo Courtesy of Main Street Lansing On this show, we introduce the series, take a walk around town to meet a few local business owners, and hear a little bit about what makes this small t...
2024-04-1024 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Allamakee County Valerie Reinke,  Executive Director of Allamakee County Iowa Economic Development & Tourism joins us for this episode of "Rhymes With... Allamakee" Iowa's most Northeastern County is a treasure trove of outdoor beauty, recreation opportunities, and some very dynamic communities. With just over 14,000 people, Allamakee County consists of six small towns: Waukon, Lansing, Postville, Harpers Ferry, New Albin, and Waterville. Allamakee County is also home to Iowa's only National Monument, Effigee Mounds, as well as the 8,900 acre Yellow River State Forest (and Iowa's only firetower!).  Keep an eye out for our next...
2024-04-0140 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah - Chad Elliott DCSD Culinary Specialist   Join us on this episode of "Rhymes With Decorah" as we take an awesome opportunity to talk with Decorah Community School District Nutrition Director and Culinary Specialist Chad Elliott.    With deep roots in the Decorah area, Chad brings a background in the commercial food service industry to what may be any communities most important food source - school meals! It takes a village to provide the necessary meals to the DCSD, including 6 different facilities in different locations that require multiple offerings on any given school day. And for that, Cha...
2024-03-2832 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Spring Inspire(d) 2024!  Cover image by Anne Butera / MyGiantStrawberry.com Join the WHOLE fam on this show for a rundown on the Spring 2024 Issue of Inspire(d) Magazine! Here's Aryn's editors letter for this issue as well. Don't miss a tiny bit of this beautiful issue (inside and out!). Thanks for listening, reading, and supporting our mission of sharing positive news! Find the new "Spring 2024" Inspire(d) Playlist here! PATIENCE: WE ALL BLOOM IN OUR OWN TIME. I totally hated the phrase “late bloomer” when I was a kid. I had two cousins – both a l...
2024-03-2532 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - EMS - Steve Vanden Brink Photo Courtesy of WinnMed Emergency Management Services are often not thought of until there is a time of need. Police, Fire, Ambulance, First Responders – all provide essential community services, and face unique challenges in much of our rural regions. Steve Vanden Brink has been serving Decorah and NE Iowa for over 30 years as an EMT and Director of Ambulance Services at WinnMed in Decorah, as well as the Decorah Fire Department’s Public Education Officer. While Steve’s story started as a young person, people of all walks find themselves called to serve...
2024-03-0134 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Oneota Valley Community Orchestra The Oneota Valley Community Orhestra has been bringing incredible performances to NE Iowa for 10 years! Join founder and musical director Matt Cody, along with musician and board member Benjamin Kratchmer as we talk all things OVCO. The organization, started in 2014, was brougth to life to present live classical music to the residents of the Oneota Valley, promote music education, and provide the opportunity for amateur and professional musicians to continue the lifelong study and performance of classical music. A decade in, the organization has covered a lot of ground, a lot of music...
2024-02-2036 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Liuda Skorlupina and Maryna Nading Liudmyla Skorlupina is a Ukrainian English teacher, currently living with her son Zhenia in the US. They are from Bucha, Ukraine, and were able to participate in the “Uniting for Ukraine” Federal humanitarian program, which allows them to spend up to two years in the US with a host sponsor family. Liuda and Luther College Professor of Anthropology Maryna Nading have known each other since their upper schooling days in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. (Maryna is a past guest of the show – hear that episode here.) Through Nading’s work with the Luther College Paideia program, Liudmyla is visit...
2024-02-1239 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Olivia Schnur - Mental Health Writer Olivia Lynn Schnur is a writer, Mental Health Counselor, and yoga teacher, with roots in NE Iowa! You may have read some of Olivia's pieces in the pages of Inspire(d) over the past 4+ years, as she and Aryn have partnered to present various themes and topics throughout each issue. Olivia has a wealth of experience to draw from with her background as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Therapist. Yoga is also part of Olivia's path, including becoming 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher and a Reiki Master, including additional training in...
2024-02-0633 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah - Kim Karr - Digital4Good #ICanHelp Decorah Native Kim Karr started her professional career in high school education, and quickly realized a need in the digital world - social media specifically, and the way that young people interact. Fast forward, and Kim has been the Executive Director of Digital4Good and #ICanHelp for a decade - making positive impact on a world wide audience. Digital4Good and #ICanHelp are agents of change committed to creating awareness of the mental health and digital safety of students and adults. Their work is focused on youth digital empowerment, and preventing cyberbullying or o...
2024-01-1932 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah - DCSD Superintendent Tim Cronin Decorah Community School District Superintendent Tim Cronin joins us for this episode of "Rhymes With Decorah" to talk about his long family ties to Decorah, generations of educators, the successes and challenges our School district faces, and the perfect "Decorah" day!  Dr. Cronin's path found him attending Luther College for undergrad studies (and basketball!) before making his way to UW, and the University of Iowa where he completed his PHD. And while education was paramount in the Cronin Family, Tim found that his experiences and interests really led him to higher administrative positions a...
2024-01-1151 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah -Winter 2024 - The Fam!Welcome to 2024 - and welcome back to "Rhymes With Decorah"!  On this episode Roxie, Aryn, and Benji work to shake off the end of holiday school break while running down the "Winter 2024" issue of Inspire(d), and looking at 2024 bucket lists. This show is loose as a goose -and funky as a chicken, but we hope you enjoy it as a way to roll on into 2024 before we hit some harder topics and episodes.    "Rhymes With Decorah" is a companion project of Inspire(d) Media. Original music heard in this...
2024-01-0331 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Raptor Resource Project’s Dave Kester Founded in 1988 by the late Bob Anderson, the Raptor Resource Project (RRP) is a non-profit that preserves and strengthens raptor populations, expands participation in raptor conservation, and educates people around the world about raptors and their habitats. Photo courtesy of Raptor Resource Project With the core goals of education, conservation, and research, RRP was at the forefront of peregrine falcon reintroduction to wild sites across the upper midwest, as well as some of the earliest web based "Bird Cams", including the Decorah Eagles Cam that went viral beginning in 2011 (the camera started...
2023-11-0535 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - New Minowa Players Since 1975, New Minowa Players (NMP) have been creating community through theatre in Northeast Iowa. From the founding days of friends Bette Greedy, Donalee Burns, and Helen Schmidt meeting up to present true community productions wherever they could find a space, to almost half a century later featuring an annual season of 6 productions, NMP has built a theatrical legacy in rural Iowa. Join us on this episode with NMP's Sarah Brandt and Molly Holkesvik to hear more about New Minowa Players and their 200th production!   NMP is celebrating their 200th production in N...
2023-10-3032 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah - Fall 2023 Inspired - Aryn H Nichols Aryn Henning Nichols joins Benji for a rundown of the Fall 2023 issue of Inspire(d) Magazine - which also marks 16 years of Inspire(d)! Aryn likes to say the magazine is finally old enough to drive - even though it's been driving our lives for 16 years! Truly - we're grateful for everyone that has made this "experiment in positive news" possible - readers, advertisers, our amazing contributors, and so many others - A huge "Thank You"!   Listen in to hear about the great stories featured in this issue, including community builders l...
2023-10-0934 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Mission Green LLC / Good Shepherd Church On today’s show we welcome Liz & Jim Fritz, both (mostly!) “retired” music educators from Decorah, and longtime members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. As it turns out, Liz & Jim also have a long track record of home improvement, efficiency, and sustainability projects, stemming from lifelong interests and opportunities to make their corner of the world a better place. Listen in to hear how they were able to help their hometown congregation forge the right partnerships to take on a major remodeling project while becoming a carbon neutral congregation! (Spoiler - it involves Mission Green LLC!)
2023-09-0434 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Driftless Flyathlon Run. Fish. Beer. > Help  Benji reach his fundraising goal -  Donate here to the Driftless Flyathlon
2023-08-1438 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah - Jeff Abbas Jeff Abbas poses with agates and polishing equipment at his studio in rural NE Iowa. / Photo by Sara Friedl-Putnam Jeff Abbas has been connecting communities, chasing passions, and picking up rocks for most of his life. A self proclaimed "agatographer", his passion for Lake Superior agates and photography have found him producing stunning images of billion-plus year old agates. His ability to connect friends through photography led to the creation of the "Morning Coffee Shots" Facebook group that proceeded to connect hundreds of friends and soon-to-be friends through the pandemic and beyond. (You can...
2023-07-1937 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Wright Way Computers - Tyler Wright Tyler Wright of Wright Way Computers shares his story of building a full service computer and IT business out of his early interest in technology. Having just purchased a building and moved into their (second!) Water Street home (117 E Water St) in downtown Decorah, Tyler shares insights into business, technology, and the challenges -and benefits - of living in a rural area! This conversation was sparked by a recent community conversation in which Benji and Tyler got to know each other - and talk over some of the benefits and challenges of living...
2023-06-2933 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah - Mabe’s Pizza There are certain things that are identified as true Decorah landmarks: Dunning’s Spring, Vesterheim, Luther College, Seed Savers Exchange… and Mabe’s Pizza, of course! (Ok, there are lots more, but…) For 70 years, the White family has been providing square cut pizza slices and hometown hospitality to Northeast Iowa locals and visitors alike. Now a fourth generation family business, the Mabe’s legacy started with Mabel White, who at the age of 49 (!), opened “Mabel’s Lunch Room” in 1953 at the corner of College Drive and Leif Erickson Street. Her proximity to...
2023-06-1531 minFull Spectrum Cycling
Full Spectrum CyclingFull Spectrum Cycling #214 – Bike Fed Ride Guide; More than just a Calendar! Sov on the “Rhymes With Decorah” PodcastShow #214 - Join Sven, JK and Tony in the studio Talkin’ Schmack! Sov on the “Rhymes With Decorah” Podcast with Benji Nichols - https://benjinichols.podbean.com/e/cardboard/  Bike Fed Ride Guide; More than just a Calendar! Tony’s accident. Burglary at the Shoppe! Shitheads stealing stuff at the shop! Please like our Page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FullSpectrumCyclingdotcom   Show Beer - Fridge Leftovers Call-in to 717-727-2453 and leave us a message about how cycling is making your life better! Tour de Towner this Sunday the 28th! Shit Worth Doin’ June 3rd-10th, 2023 - Wisconsin Bike Week...
2023-05-2628 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... The Getup - Lisa Lantz Lisa Lantz is the owner of The Getup in Downtown Decorah, a “carefully curated secondhand clothing boutique with gear for the whole family”. She is also an Iowa boomerang, who set out on a track in theater and costume design, followed her passion teaching in higher education to the East Coast before circling back to Decorah with her husband (and business partner) Scott Bassford. Two boys, a career shift, and two business locations later, The Getup shines bright at 212 West Water Street in Downtown Decorah, offering “Community Powered Sustainable Styles” for the whole family. What d...
2023-05-2539 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Modish - Stephanie Henning Stephanie Henning has been helping create beautiful retail spaces since she was just old enough to unbox and arrange shoes on the racks of The Bootery (her Mom’s part time retail job.) Fashion and retail was the track that would give her inspiration and opportunity again and again, all while dreaming of what her own boutique would look like someday - Modish! Fast forward three sons of her own, and a decade+ career in child care, Stephanie found herself with the opportunity to re-enter women’s fashion in Downtown Decorah via her frie...
2023-05-1534 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Cardboard Robot - Eric Sovern Five plus years ago Eric Sovern left his job in the "corporate bike world" to pursue opening Cardboard Robot - a brick and mortar store that sells "Supplies to make things". He and his wife Shannon (and son Jack) have built an epic destination for beautiful things that help you create more beautiful things - think high quality blank stationary, model and science kits for kids (of all ages!), art supplies, high quality writing utensils, rockets, 3D printed doodads, and so much more. What would Decorah and the region...
2023-05-1048 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Agora Arts - Gail Bolson Magnuson Gail Bolson Magnuson started Agora Arts in downtown Decorah in 1992 with 33 regional artists represented in a gallery and artist workshop space. 30+ Years later, and a couple of moves, Agora still represents American Handcraft (and beyond) by over 200 artists, in a beautiful, welcoming retail space. On this episode we talk life paths, retail, starting a business, and keeping rural downtown main streets alive. Gail (right) and her shop crew. (Photo Courtesy Agora Arts) Gail comes from four generations of NE Iowans, and grew up around the intergenerational family business – SB Bolson & Sons Pa...
2023-05-0339 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Down on the Farm Iron Pour Decorah Native Kelly Ludeking might best be known as an “Ironmonger” – but his path as a professional artist is one of key mentors and moments. Join us on this show to learn more about Kelly's work, and the 20th Anniversary of the Down on the Farm Iron Pour located in Decorah, Iowa, and the many adventures of Kelly and his wife Diane. Down on the Farm Iron our – 20th Anniversary 2023! From Kelly’s website: "Did you know my middle initial, the meat in the sandwich of KRL, stands for Renaissanc...
2023-04-1037 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Mike Bollinger - SSE Executive Director Mike Bollinger and Katie Prochaska have an incredible story of connection to Decorah, Luther College, and the Seed Savers Exchange (SSE). As Mike settles into his roll as Executive Director of SSE, the almost 50 year-old organization looks to set its course well into the future of sharing heirloom seeds with all. From the SSE Website: "In the last century or so, the world has lost 75% of its edible plant varieties. That might be hard to perceive when many of us have enough food on our plates, but consider this: According to...
2023-04-0733 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah - Cindy Goodner Cindy Goodner Development Director – Seed Savers Exchange VP of the Decorah School Board On today's show we talk with Cindy Goodner, Development Director for Seed Savers Exchange, and Vice President of the Decorah Community School District Board. Cindy is a nonprofit fundraising professional and holds a passion for helping people find joy in their philanthropic support. Raised on a 4-generation family farm in the Decorah area and often assisting both her mother and grandmother in the garden, she feels a close connection with the land and historic varieties at Seed Savers Exchange. She joi...
2023-04-0336 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Spring 2023 - Aryn Henning Nichols! Welcome to Spring 2023!  The "Spring 2023" Issue of Inspire(d) is out on stands (and online) now! The amazing Aryn Henning Nichols and I always enjoy running down the new issues, kibitzing in general, and laughing about whatever we can (because, gee-gosh-golly we could all use a good laugh.)  Our featured theme of "You Are Here" ties in nicely to cover artist, and MIBA Independent Book Store Map creator Kevin Cannon's artwork and our feature story on all things Independent Book Sellers (have we mentioned we LOVE book stores?!)  T...
2023-03-2732 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Mediation / Molly Gallagher Many in the region know Molly Gallagher from her decade+ of teaching Iyengar Yoga (CIYT) in Decorah. But many may not know that Molly is a certified mediator - someone that, as a neutral third party, helps facilitate conversations to help find meaningful agreements. From court appointed cases, to intergenerational discussions, find out more about what this means on today's show! The Mediator’s role, as a neutral third party, is to help support each person throughout their conversation during mediation, and allow individuals more control over the outcome of their decisions, and can help to save money in legal fe...
2023-03-2033 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Root River Rod Co.(This is the third show in a short series focused around Eagle Bluff and Fillmore County in SE Minnesota. To hear about Eagle Bluff Outdoor Environmental Learning Center Click Here. To hear our show about the MN Driftless Hiking Trail project Click Here. Thanks for listening!) On this episode of "Rhymes With..." we feature Alayna Sobieniak and Lance Prado - owners and operators of the Root River Rod Company in Lanesboro, MN. (Alayna also works at Eagle Bluff in their outdoor pre-school program!).  The story of the Root River Rod Co s...
2023-03-1532 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Driftless Hiking Trail! The Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail is a concept for a 100 mile foot path running through the incredible scenery of SE Minnesota from Chatfield, MN to the Mississippi River. "Chief Instigator" of this project, Marty Walsh, joins us for a conversation about the vision and history of the project, and where things are headed (currently in the spring of 2023).  A group of volunteers are currently working with state, county, and private landowners to acquire access to properties that will allow the through-hiking style trail to traverse the hills and valleys of the region for h...
2023-03-0637 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Eagle Bluff! Eagle Bluff is an environmental learning center, serving people of all ages, just outside of Lanesboro, MN. Join us for a conversation with Executive Director Colleen Foehrenbacher to learn all about how this amazing place came about (decades ago - shiitake mushrooms! Haha!), and all that is does to serve youth to seniors in our region.  Eagle Bluff operates with the guiding principle of "Connecting People to nature through education & transformative outdoor experiences" - and we love that! From educational field trips and overnight school camps, to summer (and Winter!) camps and programs for s...
2023-02-2432 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Oneota Film Festival 2023Oneota Film Festival - March 2-5, 2023 On this episode of "Rhymes With Decorah" we welcome Oneota Film Festival Creative Director Elise Skellenger, and Board President Nancy Sojka. Join us as we talk about everything from the early inspiration of the festival (shout out Kyrl and Walter!) to special additions and regional showings for the 2023 OFF.  OFF Creative Director Elise Skellenger   OFF Board President Nancy Sojka Held among the spectacular rivers and bluffs of the Driftless Region in Northeast Iowa, the Oneota Film Festival brings compelling, in...
2023-02-1329 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With... Ukraine - Professor Maryna Nading Maryna (Bazylevych) Nading has been a professor at Luther College since 2010, focusing on the topics of medical anthropology, body and health, and post-socialism. She was born in Ukraine and first visited the US while participating in English studies programs as a young adult. Those roots lead to her eventual return to the US in higher education. Maryna's work now supports students in Anthropology studies as well as Luther College’s Global Health Major. From growing up in urban Khmelnytskyi Ukraine (living with a great dane!) to making her way to Indiana, graduate work in upstate Ne...
2023-02-0336 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With - Special Musical Guest Nick Zielinski Nick Zielinski is a Decorahan, a drummer, and musical improviser with Mid Western roots. Nick’s work also provides all of the music for this podcast! Growing up with a parent who was also a Methodist Pastor, Nick found himself living in multiple different communities through his early years, but finding percussion and drums became a consistent focus. Nick found himself following many of the traditional paths of orchestral and classical training – but also knew he wanted to explore more of the “edges” around improvisation and styles. It was his time in Ann Arbor Michigan that all...
2023-01-2539 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With- Season 2! "Rhymes With..." (Decorah!?) is back for another season, featuring stories about communities you love, from people you trust!    Jump in as Aryn and Benji (that's me!) shake out how 2022 ended on a high note, and where we're headed in 2023. Themes, stories, and series ahoy...    One of the wildest things that happened at the end of 2022 was that we were featured on a national broadcast of Marketplace (Business News) on NPR. The "My Economy" segment features Aryn and Benji telling their story - which aired to a national audi...
2023-01-2228 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD30 Decorah Community Food Pantry - Matt Tapscott & Steven Zittergruen To close out our first season of “Rhymes With Decorah” we’re featuring a conversation with Decorah Community Food Pantry director Matt Tapscott and President of the DCFP Board Steven Zittergruen. This incredible resource, based in Decorah, is a faith-based, non-profit charity organization, serving thousands of clients who need food and other basic essentials each year in NE Iowa. Find out how to access the Decorah Food Pantry Here. (Or call 563-202-0872) Learn how to donate to the Decorah Community Food Pantry by clicking here. Or Mail a check donati...
2022-12-2832 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD29 - Winter 2022-23 Inspire(d) w/ Aryn Henning Nichols "Winter 2022-2023" Inspire(d) - Cover Art by Diane Knight of Whalan, MN. Aryn Henning Nichols and host Benji Nichols run down the "Winter 2022-2023" issue of Inspire(d) Magazine on this episode of "Rhymes With Decorah". Join us for a fun half hour highlighting the articles that are keeping us inspired this winter, as well as a few other sidetracks along the way! From Aryn's Editor's Letter in the "Winter" issue: "Lagom. It’s a Swedish word meaning “just the right amount.” “Not too much, not too little.” “Just enough.” The...
2022-12-1232 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD28 Erika Skogg - Photographer and National Geographic Explorer Decorah Nordic Dancers, Photo: Erika Skogg Erika Skogg is a National Geographic Explorer, documenting and sharing culture through the lens of photography. Born and raised in Green Bay (WI), Erika is a recipient of National Geographic's Early Career Grant which fueled her photography project documenting Scandinavian-American culture. Through this cultural preservation project, Erika also hopes to encourage others to become more interested in their family’s genealogy and immigration stories, fostering an appreciation for the myriad of unique sub-cultures within the U.S. with renewed understanding and respect of the continued immigration st...
2022-12-0631 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD27 Ben Krouse-Gagne - Helping Services Holiday Lights! (If you missed one of our earliest episodes - #5, click here to hear Helping Services Director – Carson Egglang!) Ben Krouse-Gagne is the Director of Community Engagement with Helping Services, and as part of that work also helps coordinate all of the efforts that equal the annual Holiday Lights! Located at Decorah’s Pulpit Rock Campground, the drive-through show features over 80 displays nightly from Thanksgiving to Christmas night. Holiday lights is one of the largest fundraising events to support the work of Helping Services, who provide resources to the 8 county area of NE I...
2022-11-2130 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD26 Christian Myrah - RockFilter Distillery Christian Myrah comes from deep Spring Grove roots, and while his journey to distilling is anything but typical, his mission in tying together agriculture, community, and business is incredible. Through multiple generations, the Myrah family have been involved in agriculture and the region (just check the Giants of the Earth Heritage Center!). But when Christian returned to Spring Grove in 2006 after several years in the Navy flying fighter jets (and continuing in the Naval Reserves), a new vision appeared for an opportunity in Spring Grove - RockFilter Distillery. “Planted, Tended, Milled and Distilled” from...
2022-11-1731 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD25 Pat & Patrick - Reds Hometown Market Spring Grove (This is the third show in a mini-series featuring the community of Spring Grove, MN - check out the links at the bottom for more!) The Longmire family have been in the grocery business for many decades, but it was in 1989 that Pat bought a store in Spring Grove (when Patrick was just 2 years old!). The original store in 1989. In 2000 they built a brand new 15,000 square foot store from the ground up, offering the region a modern grocery experience without going to a larger city. Since...
2022-11-1125 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD24 Bill Fried - Giants of the Earth Center - Spring Grove Welcome to our second show in a mini-series from Spring Grove, MN! In this episode we visit with Bill Fried from the Giants of the Earth Heritage Center. Founded in 2009, Giants of the Earth Heritage Center is a nonprofit historical society that is dedicated to honoring, preserving, and interpreting the history and heritage of the people from Spring Grove’s Norwegian Ridge (Minnesota's oldest Norwegian settlement!) in southeastern Minnesota. Drawing on a rich cultural history, the Center records and reflects the achievements of indigenous peoples an...
2022-11-0334 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD23 Courtney Bergey Swanson - CEDA / Spring Grove Ec. DevelopmentWelcome to the first in a series of shows featuring -- (Not Decorah!) -- Spring Grove, MN! A huge part of our goal in starting this companion podcast to Inspire(d) has been to have another format that we can help tell the stories of our region. Despite the name "Rhymes With Decorah" (or perhaps because of it!?), the show is not just about Decorah - but all those that work to make our region a great place. And Spring Grove is a Great Place! Join us for the next 4 episodes as we feature profiles from this great SE...
2022-10-2532 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD22 Happy 15th Birthday Inspire(d) - Aryn Henning Nichols Join Inspire(d) founder and Editor in Chief Aryn Henning Nichols along with Benji Nichols for this episode of “Rhymes With Decorah”, as they talk about 15 years of Inspire(d), the Fall 2022 issue (#70!), a new website, and so much more. October 2022 marks 15 years of Inspire(d), which launched with it’s first issue on October 4, 2007 (hear a fun story about that day on the show!). Through it all Aryn and Benji are so grateful for the support of the readers and advertisers that have made this “experiment in positive news” possible. Thank you...
2022-10-1930 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD21 Ross Evelsizer - NE IA RCDRWD #21 Ross Evelsizer – NE Iowa RCD Ross Evelsizer is the Natural Resource Projects Director for NE Iowa RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development) - a Decorah native, avid outdoorsman, husband, Dad, and even a part time chef! But the heart of Ross’s work is in the form of projects that focus on the health of our region’s watersheds, through many channels obvious, and less obvious. Ross’s work has most recently been recognized through a 2022 “New Voices in Water Quality Award” from ISU Extension and Outreach’s Conservation Learning Group. The award celebrates the...
2022-10-0431 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD20 Birgitta Meade - Jean Young and The Decorah Impact CraterOn this episode of "Rhymes with Decorah", we tell the incredible story of geologist Jean Young and the discovery of the Decorah Impact Crater. Long time educator and NE Iowan Birgitta Meade joins us to tell the story of Jean, who she also called a friend, right up to her passing in 2007. We dedicate this episode to all those who are willing to follow a hunch in life, and take action in their beliefs, no matter what others may say.  Jean Young was indeed, a "character" - a well educated geologist, regarded local artist, and f...
2022-09-1932 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD19 Chris Johnson - Vesterheim Museum Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum has roots that go back to the 1800s and a collection of artifacts that was first formed at Luther College in Decorah. Those items became the roots for what is now the most extensive collection of Norwegian American Artifacts (33,000 and counting!) in the World. On today’s show, we talk with Vesterheim President and CEO Chris Johnson about the old and new of Vesterheim, as well as his roots to NE Iowa and life long connections to Decorah. Norway's US Ambassador Kåre Aas & Vesterheim's Chri...
2022-09-0933 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD18 Good Dog Center - Carmen Hurley and Ann Grimstad The Good Dog Center, located just north of Decorah, started as the dream of two friends – Carmen Hurley and Beth Einck – and a leap of faith into creating a business to not only train dogs, but build a community of “dogs and their people” from across the region. Good Dog Center's Carmen Hurley after a great day in the ring! Over the years, Beth moved on to retirement (as planned) and long-time GDC students and training professional Julie Wittry and Ann Grimstad joined the roster to offer additional classes and services. It wasn’t l...
2022-08-2630 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD17 Kristen Underwood - Luther College Center Stage Series Kristen Underwood has called Decorah home for decades, but found her way to the upper Midwest from the San Francisco Bay Area as a professional actor and creative. It was a chance performance with the actor and Commonweal Theatre founder Eric Bunge that led her to Lanesboro, MN, where Kristen spent a decade acting professionally. Her connections to Luther College came in multiple ways through this time, both with guest faculty and directors, as well as opportunities to interact with fledgling actors in the region through her own Upstart Crow Theatreworks company, and...
2022-08-0738 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#16 Nordic Fest 22 - Alyssa Ritter & Brian Solberg Nordic Fest was started in 1967 by a dedicated group of Decorah civic leaders and volunteers to celebrate the spirit of community and spotlight the town’s connections to Scandinavian heritage. For over 55 years, it has served as the high mark of Summer in Decorah, welcoming visitors from across the world to Water Street to experience our community. This sense of volunteerism and community pride are what keep Nordic Fest alive each year for all to enjoy. On this episode we feature Alyssa Ritter, Past President, and Brian Solberg, 2022 Nordic Fest President for a co...
2022-07-2630 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#15 Kristin Eggen - Decorah Farmers Market Manager (Kristin Eggen, Photo by Charlie Langton)   Farmers Market season is just hitting it’s stride as we record this episode of “Rhymes With Decorah” with special guest Kristin Eggen. Kristin has been the Decorah Farmers Market Manager since 2020, but was a part of the Market community years before that! In fact, it was the power of a ukulele and the will to share her musical endeavors with a Market crowd that originally connected her to the scene. After graduating from College at UW Stevens Point, Kristin connected with a friend who was a m...
2022-07-2030 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#14 Michelle Lynn Michelle Lynn is a writer, musician, educator, presenter, and one of the main influences of how “Rhymes With Decorah” got started! It’s true – but you’ll have to listen to this show to hear that story! Michelle grew up on a century farm here in NE Iowa, found her way musically to the guitar, and started writing songs as a teenager. That love of music found her playing across the region as a young musician, and eventually moving to Austin, TX before returning to NE Iowa and meeting her future husband. Five albums later, and a lot...
2022-07-0432 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#13 Adam Wiltgen - Arts in Community / Anderson Center Adam Wiltgen is a Harmony, MN native who’s work in connecting communities through the arts spans our greater region. Currently, Adam and his family live in Red Wing (MN) where he is the Program Director at the Anderson Center at Tower View, and also a member of the City of Red Wing’s Arts & Culture Commission. One of the things that we’ve learned in creating a regional publication for almost 15 years, is that it takes a lot of actual hard work and creativity to make rural places shine. Artistic endeavors and fostering creative commun...
2022-06-2232 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#12 Summer Inspire(d) 2022 - Aryn Henning Nichols The "Summer 2022" issue of Inspire(d) Magazine "With Intention..." is on stands now and special guest, and editor-in-chief Aryn Henning Nichols joins us to talk all things Inspire(d)! We look forward to making these quarterly (or more often!?) chats about the new print issues of the magazine and all that goes into creating each issue.  Topics that we cover: - Dad Jokes - Summer! - The beautiful cover image and feature on artist Lauren Bonney - Community Builders: Maryann Baldwin, Stephanie Fromm, and Terri W...
2022-06-2032 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#11 Humble Hands Harvest / Queer Farmer Network - Hannah Breckbill Humble Hands Harvest is a worker-owned co-operative farm located just outside of Decorah (Iowa). Founded in 2013, Humble Hands grows 2+ acres of organic vegetables, in addition to grass-finished sheep, pastured pork, and fruit and nut trees, all distributed through annual CSA (community supported ag shares) as well as at the Decorah Farmers Market. Today’s guest Hannah Breckbill, along with farm partner Emily Fagan, found the farm’s long-term home in 2017 just 10 miles from Decorah, on ancestral lands tracing back to Sauk, Meskwaki, Lakota, and Ho-chunk tribes, and began functioning as a worker-owned co-operative that same year.
2022-06-1230 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#10 Iowa Food Hub - Peter Kraus Local food can mean a lot of different things to different people – from picking a garden fresh herb or tomato, to creating a full on farm creamery to produce world-class yogurt. And while most grocery lists are purchased at a well lit, climate controlled store, connecting a regional market for locally grown foods can be a bit more complicated. The Iowa Food Hub, created in 2012, works to connect those dots between local producers – and consumers! Join us on this show as we talk with Peter Kraus, General Manger of the Iowa Food Hub.   From...
2022-06-0529 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRW#09 Crater Trail Run - Scott Searcy In 2012 Scott & Kelly Searcy found their way back to NE Iowa, chasing pursuits in using their passion to help guide people to better lives through exercise. That would eventually lead to their business, Body Logics, but it was in those earlier years of exploration that Scott discovered Decorah’s extensive soft trail (single track) system. He also found a love for trail running, and helping others experience this awesome local resource. He got involved in the trails community, met up with several volunteers who were involved with Decorah Human Powered Trails, and found a love for spending ti...
2022-05-2726 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#08 NE Iowa RCD - Resource Conservation and Development Rhymes With Decorah #08 Features Josh Dansdill and Jared Nielsen from Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D). NE IA RC&D works with partners from throughout our region to explore natural resource based economic development opportunities while at the same time protecting and enhancing natural resources. Their mission is to recognize opportunities and provide leadership to make Northeast Iowa a vibrant, place-based model for the nation! The organization of about a dozen people uses a bottom-up approach to economic development and natural resource enhancement that involves and empowers citizens rather than...
2022-05-2630 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#07 Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses - Jacki Boldt On Episode #07 of Rhymes With Decorah we welcome Jacki Boldt, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Iowa Executive Director, alongside Inspire(d)'s Aryn Henning Nichols.  ​Jacki is the Executive Director for 10,000 Small Businesses Iowa and has been at Des Moines Area Community College since 2008. She joined DMACC Business Resources as a Business Consultant in 2012 where she currently works with clients in Polk county on workforce development and employee training initiatives.     Decorah was represented in a big way this spring (2022) at the Goldman Sachs Iowa 10,000 Small Businesses program. Aryn...
2022-05-2331 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#06 Jessica Rilling - Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce On episode 6 of Rhymes With Decorah we welcome special guest and Executive Director of the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Rilling!  Jessica and her husband Justin are both NE Iowa "Boomerangs" (as we like to call them), having graduated from ISU, followed pursuits across the state, and returned to the Decorah Area in late 2020. Most recently, Jessica served as Executive Director for the Iowa Valley RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development), before finding the opportunity that would help bring her family back to NE Iowa - The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce.
2022-05-2136 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#05 Helping Services - Carson Eggland On episode 5 of Rhymes with Decorah we talk with Carson Eggland, Executive Director of Helping Services for Youth & Family. Since 1973, Helping Services has been a resource for Iowans to turn to for help. Originally set up as a crisis-line service, the organization has broadened it's scope over the years to provide services to clients of all ages - ranging from new parents, to youth mentors and mentoring, to substance and drug use prevention, and domestic abuse resources. Helping Services for Youth & Families serves 8 counties in northeast Iowa. They are here to help your...
2022-05-1928 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#04 Driftless Yoga Festival - Laree Schouweiler Diversity, rural Iowa, and yoga are words that are sometimes not thought of in the same sentence. But we're here to share a story that doesn't just dabble into diversity, but an event that has been honored as the 2022 winner of the Iowa Tourism Award for Outstanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - The Driftless Yoga Festival! We remember the moment well from almost a decade ago - hearing about someone that was opening a spinning and yoga studio here in Decorah, and being so excited to have this option landing here in our s...
2022-05-1630 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#03 Decorah Public Library Crew Summer 2022!If there is an entity (or entities) in our region that Aryn and I both get truly excited about, it would be LIBRARIES! Yes - we are that geeky! It might seem obvious that public libraries are incredible resources - windows to the world, amongst other things, that serve every sector and demographic of a region. But libraries provide so much more than books and reading material. Who better than to talk libraries with than our friendly, local Decorah Public Library staff!?      Join us as we catch up with three of the...
2022-05-1432 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#02 Stephanie Fromm, WCDI (Winneshiek County Development Inc.)One of our goals of "Rhymes With Decorah" is to highlight people and organizations in our region that are tackling the challenges of our times. When we talk with folks on a state level, the same challenges come up - housing, jobs, workforce, broadband, education - and child care. Stephanie Fromm is a Decorah "boomerang" who returned to Winneshiek County in 2015 to become the Executive Director of Winneshiek County Development and Tourism, or as many know it (WCDI Winneshiek County Development Inc.) One of the first challenges that she and her Husband (and...
2022-05-1333 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRWD#01 - Aryn Henning Nichols, Inspire(d) MediaShow Number One! Welcome to Rhymes With Decorah, a project of Inspire(d) Media and companion to Inspire(d) Magazine. We'll be using this platform to feature the positive stories of our region, explore big challenges from across the upper midwest, and talk with folks who are working to make their communities stronger. Stories about communities you Love - By people you trust = Rhymes with Decorah. There didn't seem to be a better way to kick off the podcast party than with a fun conversation between Benji (that's me!) and Founder + Editor-in-Chief of Inspire(d...
2022-05-1129 minRhymes With Decorah
Rhymes With DecorahRhymes With Decorah Trailer Season 1Rhymes With Decorah! A podcast project from Benji Nichols of Inspire(d) Media. We'll be telling the stories of people and places, and looking at the challenges as well - to make positive IMPACT.   Stories about communities you love, by people you trust.   Rhymes With Decorah  - Season 1.  Coming soon from Inspire(d) Media.
2022-05-0201 min