We apologize to stay connected with the people we love. We feel connected to each other because we understand the context in which we live.

QuOTeD - The Question of the Day Podcast

How do you know when you’ve heard a sincere apology?

Brian and I discover a memorial for Blacks who have been killed by police. The sign said, #SayTheirNames. So we did.

Say Their Names

Talking to people who were gathering for a Bernie Sanders rally reminds me of the 2004 Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign.

Why Bernie Sanders?

Adapted from: "Bantam answering machine Switch". tony_duell [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] b There may be 50 ways to leave a message, but is anyone listening? Audio Sources 2019 Twin Cities Book Festival Cassette tapes recorded at the door of the House of Balls. Thank you to Allen Christian for loaning the tapes to me and to Mary Jane LaVigne for making the suggestion in the first place. Unrepentant, by Johanna PrindivilleBethany Atazadeh's YouTube Channel for authors, specifically: Atazadeh, Bethany. (2019, July). Why We Wrote Marketing for Authors | Release Day Feels. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIQr5C3UsIAtazadeh, Bethany. (2019, June). How Much Money Do (Indie) Authors Make?. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od1nVsCEYjMArtists we met at the Saint Paul Art Crawl .Phone messages (2015?) Links Rain Taxi - "Rain Taxi champions aesthetically adventurous literature through publications, events, and service to the literary community."826 MSP - "826 MSP’s mission is to empower underserved K–12 students to think creatively, write effectively, and succeed academically alongside a community of caring volunteers. "Professional Editor's Network (PEN - of course!) - "PEN makes great writing better."Minneapolis Writers Guild - Find them on Facebook - "The Minneapolis Writers Guild is a group of a dozen or more active writers, all of whom are writing long-form fiction or short stories. We meet every Wednesday for two hours (6:30 – 8:30) in the Longfellow neighborhood of South Minneapolis. If you are interested in joining us or have questions, send a note to: gotuit5243@gmail.com." Everlasting Stories PodcastThe Heart Beat of Wings - by Margot Fortunato GaltFatal Score, by John Baird RogersMarketing for Authors, Bethany Atazadeh The Stolen Kingdom, Bethany Atazadeh - An Aladdin retelling for young adults.MN Writes MN Reads - "For writers interested in easy-to-use, free resources for publishing and sharing ebooks, and for readers interested in discovering books by local writers."Sic Semper Serpent - "Pulp-style publishers."The Adventures of Israel St. James, by Nathanial HicklinListen to a reading of Moby Dick Minitex - An Information and Resource Sharing Program of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the University of Minnesota Libraries.Interlibrary Loan System via the Saint Paul Public LibraryEbooks Minnesota - Books available for free to Minnesotans from Minnesota publishers.Minnesota Self-Published Books - "Enjoy books from local authors in the Indie Minnesota collection, as well as indie published titles selected as some of the best by Library Journal in the Indie Author Project Select collections."William Kent KrugerI could not access the Tom Sweeney Star Tribune article about The House of Balls, but I think this is the link to it. Music Hard Boiled, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Lost Frontier, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Morgana Rides, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Mystery Sax, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Stringed Disco Soft 2, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

50 Ways to Leave a Message

We begin with writer Michael Kleber-Diggs who contemplates whether he would ever be chosen for a survival team and end up at the doorstep of Mary Jane LaVigne and Allen Christian’s House of Balls, an art studio on the West Bank in Minneapolis. In between, there is a memorial service and everything you need to survive the apocalypse. Michael Kleber-Diggs We first heard Michael Kleber-Diggs at Story Club Minneapolis (find them on Facebook) at the Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. At the time I was working on an episode about “stuff” and thought the essay he presented – "Disaster Plan" – would fit nicely with what I was doing. So I was thrilled when Michael was able to join us for our storytelling event in February. If you would like an invitation to the next event, sign up for the newsletter. Urban Forage Winery & Cider House We held the event at the Urban Forage Winery & Cider House in Minneapolis. Chester & Marcia On Halloween 2018 I was invited to a duel memorial service under the Tenth Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis. I did not know the deceased, but my friend who did asked me to come to see if I could record the service. It was an honor to be there and an honor to hear stories about the couple from people who knew them. Tape from this day is included in this episode, although that wasn't the original plan. It just turned out that way. The West Bank says goodbye to Chester’s hippie wonderland http://www.citypages.com/arts/the-west-bank-says-goodbye-to-chesters-hippie-wonderland/499339831 Note: Susan Du, the writer of the above article, was also at the memorial service and captures the scene nicely with words and pictures. West Bank's Chester experienced early trauma as a child http://www.startribune.com/west-bank-s-chester-experienced-early-trauma-as-a-child/330902451/ What is something that you have that you should take to the Goodwill but for some reason can't let it go? The theme for our storytelling event this time around was "things you should let go but for some reason can't." Brian and I were sitting at the bar at Pizza Luce when the idea came to me. However it was Brian who jumped on it. He was right. Our "stuff" is a great source for stories that take us to some interesting places. In Patrick's case, we end up in an old grain elevator. Gold Medal Flour (Minneapolis) © User: Runner1928 / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 Playing Bridge with the Roosevelts by Mary Jane LaVigne Writer Mary Jane LaVigne reads "Playing Bridge with the Roosevelts", which was published in the Chicago-based Slag Glass City that focuses on livable cities with a special interest in post-industrial greening of urban spaces "from rooftop gardens to elevated bike trails to vertical farms." On the Slag site there's a really nice picture of the House of Balls, Elmer and that big bear. Check it out! Thank you... Of course, thanks to everyone who came out to our storytelling event. Also, thanks to everyone who helped me with some recordings, Megumi, Michael, G.W., some cool people who attended the Design Lecture Series at the Walker Art Center and a very nice couple at Como Park. You all make doing this podcast a lot of fun! Music Simple Duet, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Hep Cats, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Smooth Lovin, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Pennsylvania Rose, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 We Wish You, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Vulcan, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Surviving the Apocalypse

A compilation of a podcast series Brian and I did for the Minnesota Fringe Festival, this episode looks at why we tell stories and how they can be elevated in a live performance. You can listen to the original series, The Minnesota FringeCast, at MinnesotaFringe.org/FringeCast. You can't win if you don't enter. The Minnesota Fringe Festival is a performing arts festival in Minneapolis and Saint Paul where you can see a crazy number of shows over eleven days in August. As an artist putting up a show, you’ll get to do your show five times with the support of Fringe staff, professional technicians and volunteers. For a chance to get spot in the 2019 Minnesota Fringe Festival, you’ll need to submit your application by February 14. If your number gets drawn on February 25, you're in the festival! You can find more information on the Fringe website. We would love to see you there. We're hosting a QuOTeD Social & Storytelling on Friday, February 22 at the Urban Forage Winery & Cider House in Minneapolis. More details are here. Or you can follow the event on Facebook. Can I tempt you with a gift? Honestly, I almost said "free gift", but if it's not free... well. It is certainly a modest gift, but a nice one. You can pick it up on Valentine's Day at the Urban Forage Winery & Cider House at 3016 East Lake Street in Minneapolis. How do you start a craft beverage business? How to start a craft beverage business will be the subject of a future episode of QuOTeD. It will be based on a panel discussion that I will be moderating at the Urban Forage Winery & Cider House on February 20. Thank you In the original FringeCast we talked to over 120 people and discovered different theater companies, businesses and blogs along the way. We were so grateful for the insights everyone shared. Here are some highlights: Artists Adrian Lopez-Balbontin, The Band GroupAmy Rummenie and John Heimbuch , Walking Shadow Theater CompanyBen Thietje, DalekoArtsChristi Smith and Jane Laskey , On the Verge Theater, Mankato (Facebook)Keith Hovis, Playwright and ComposerKarim Muasher and Carrie Brown, Animal Engine Theater CompanyKirsten Stephens, Laughing Nomad ProductionsKyle DeGoey and Travis Carpenter - Literally EntertainmentLevi Weinhagen, Comedy SuitcaseMatthew Saxe, ActorMax Wojtanowicz, Actor/WriterMitchell Frazier, Fringe TechnicianNoah Sonie, Magician/MentalisitRick Ausland, Sparkle Theatricals (Facebook)Sam Landon, WriterShannon Custer, Writer, Actor, DirectorSulia Altenberg, ActorTony Stoeri, Fringe TechnicianTracy Yang, Fringe Artist, Dancer, Movement Therapist (Facebook)Victoria Pyan, Little Life Boats Theater Company BlogGers, Journalists, Podcasters... Brian WeneLaura VanZandt, Blogger, One Girl, Two CitiesLaura Kulm, Blogger, Twin Cities StagesJill Schafer, Blogger, Cherry and SpoonJulie Jackson and Carol Jackson, Bloggers, Minnesota Theater LoveJay Gabler, City PagesStu King, Character Crusade Unbound Podcast Gary Gilson, Formally of Channel 2Ryan Barland, Oral Historian, Minnesota Historical Society More... Michael Gil, Head Brewer, Lake Monster Brewery Jake Rudegeair, Graphic Recorder, More Belief Laurie Pape Hadley, Audio Describer, Twitter Jennifer Pennington, Can Can Wonderland Minnesota Fringe Festival patrons, artists past and present, staff, board members and interns...

Winning the Lottery

These are stories of persistence: A single mother who is trying to get some help. Campaigners who don't know when to quit. A fight against segregation. Cafeteria workers who are trying to get the attention of management. A student who won’t take no for an answer. A Senator who won’t say yes. What’s amazing is that all of these stories about persistence intersect over time and space. Thanks for Listening! Let me know what you think about this! You are always welcome to contact me here. transcript This episode called for a transcript because some of the oral history tapes I used might be a challenge to hear in some spots, although I don't think it will be needed in most cases. So why use these tapes in the first place? It's the kind of stuff that wouldn't likely make it on most radio shows. Nor would some of these interviews ever make it into an exhibit at the Minnesota History Center, for example. So I just like the idea of using some of these "scraps" in an audio format by mixing them with other voices. They are voices worth hearing. A Single Mother's Pivotal Moment I met Faith on the 2004 presidential campaign for Dennis Kucinich. We spoke on my porch earlier this fall. Or was it late summer? Whatever it was, it was warm enough to sit on the porch. I grabbed the microphone when Faith started to tell me the story about the time she applied for a government program that was supposed to help young single mothers get on their feet. The powers that be told her that she had little hope of ever being successful and that this was the reason she wouldn't qualify for a housing certificate that she desperately needed. Faith did more than be persistent. She got a handle on her view of things and that changed everything. 1964 - Do Something The piece I share here was adapted from the one I submitted to the 2018 Sonic South competition held by the Southern Oral History Program at the University Of North Carolina. The idea was to use interviews from their archives to talk about persistence. The language used in these interviews sounded like persistence to me: “We kept going back…” They were done as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee: Interview with Dunn, Arlene Wilgoren by Karlyn Forner, April 16, 2010 U-0447, in the Southern Oral History Program Collection #4007, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillInterview with Stoller, Nancy Elaine by David Cline, April 16, 2010 U-0456, in the Southern Oral History Program Collection #4007, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill In addition to these, you might be interested in hearing other interviews about SNCC. Here’s a link to several of them: U.017. The Long Civil Rights Movement: The South Since the 1960s: The 50th Anniversary of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) There is also this article about the segregated cafeteria at the Arkansas State Capitol: Kirk, John. A. (Summer 2013). Capitol Offenses: Desegregating the Seat of Arkansas Government, 1964-1965. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. LXXXII, No. 2, pp. 95-119. While the piece I did about persistence was a quick sketch, this article takes you back to a moment that sparked protests and goes into a lot more detail about the legal arguments around segregation. You can access it here: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24477433?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Kirk also co-authored a book about the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Arsnick, which you can find at the University of Arkansas Press. Ms. Smith and Ms. Brooks of the Pine Room Part 1 & 2 This was another piece I submitted to the Sonic South competition using the following interviews: Interview with Elizabeth Brooks by Beverly Washington Jones, October 2, 1974 E-0058, in the Southern Oral History Program Collection #4007, Southern Historical Collection,

To Persist

Saying goodbye to an old car is not always easy. If you ask someone about their first car, they'll probably tell you a story. Cars can tell a family history, teach us to deal with adversity and embed themselves into our fondest memories. If we were to make a bingo game out of this we'd find the words tank, yellow, fast, fun and crash on our bingo cards among other themes. What was your first car? Whenever I mentioned working on this episode, people often couldn't resist telling me what their first car was. That's when I know I have a decent question. I'm always looking for questions where an answer naturally comes to mind, as opposed to something that stumps people. And of course I'm looking for questions that spark stories and even tangents. Tangents are good. If you're having the same response and want to tell me a story, please do! Bringing people together to tell stories, as we did to gather some tape for this episode, is also useful. Because when you hear someone tell a story, it often triggers your own stories. I was surprised that taxis came up as often as they did (you can also put that on your bingo card!). So this made me curious and I went down the Internet rabbit hole and found a gem of a story about a guy in Vermont who was on a quest to get his hands on an old New York Taxi. I was thrilled he said I could use it in this episode. Thank You! Militaire Electronic, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Travels in a Cab, Michael Ruse Everyone who showed up for a QuOTeD event. If you would like to get notifications about such gatherings, sign up for the newsletter. Jason Bryant, MatTalkOnline.com, for helping me test my Google Voice account

Make, model, year of your first car?

100 people answer the question, "Going back as far as you can go, what is your very earliest memory?" The ages associated with memories range from being a baby to 12 years old. Some remember just flashes, while others have lots of details. These memories are parts of a story, like pieces of a puzzle. Colors come up, a yellow Rambler, for example. But none are mentioned more than purple. Moms and Dads. Bottles. Bikes. Grandparents. Houses. Fences. Yep. We seem to remember those too. There are toys and shoes and lots of other shared images that I'll let you discover on your own. My sister and me.

What is your earliest childhood memory?

This produced some interesting responses from 50 people or so. Most could answer the question. But there were definitely a few who were "readers" and wanted nothing to do with a video on how to boil eggs. Themes come through. Home and car repair and cooking are some examples. I was charmed by the way people often laughed as they responded. What's so funny about using salt to clean a cast iron skillet? You also hear pride in some voices. Saving money on a dryer repair or fixing a bicycle is a real accomplishment. I just love that! There's also something revealing - I think - about someone who learns how to make pretzels just for the challenge of it. At a WordCamp conference where many of the recordings were made, a few people asked, "Why this question?" It's an attempt to spark a conversation, as is the case with every question I ask for the QuOTeD podcast. In this case, I think it works. How else would I have known that this person I met at a tech conference has a passion for making giant bubbles? And let's face it. Wouldn't you rather talk about that than the weather? Thank You Ingram Oyugi mixed this episode. If you would like to polish up your podcast, cut an album or do any other type of audio project, Igram can help you. You can reach him by email: ioyugi@icloud.com and Twitter: @ingramoyugi. Brian Harmon WordCamp Minneapolis 2017 - The majority of the respondents were WordCamp attendees, speakers, organizers and other volunteers. Read more about this episode...

What have you learned from watching a YouTube video?

We make up a story about how a painting of a fireplace ended up in our living room. Who painted this picture of a fireplace that inspired our story? Searching for a mystery artist We are looking for the real artist who made the painting that inspired our story. You can help us find this person by sharing this picture on social media. Thank You Cory Mottaz, On Air Personality/Voice Talent. Judith Froemming, Infinite Mind Hypnosis and Coaching Al Olme Margo Breivik Craig Aalseth Tony Steblay Jenifer Halvorson Isaac Halvorson Amy Smith Urban Forage Winery & Cider House ...and a few more anonymous others. Music Guiton Sketch Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Aretes Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Exciting Trailer Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Tupperware Art Who knew? Tupperware art is a thing. Richard Caldicott - Sous Les Etoiles Gallery Richard Caldicott - Widewalls Melted Tupperware Broadhurst Street - Sketch of lunch in Tupperware BLDGBLOG - Tupperware City From 99-cent Only Store to LACMA, Korea-style Tupperware Chandelier Antoine Laymond - Tupperware sculptures About this episode The week of Thanksgiving, we had some people over. After dinner we sat around the fireplace to chew on a question. How did this painting end up in our living room? We began by describing the painting. Then we introduced an artist, Helena Susan Adams. By the end of the evening, we pieced together the history of the painting, what had inspired it, where it had been and how did it ultimately come into my hands. Various characters popped up, of course. So I thought it would be fun to interview some of them and add their voices to the mix. I love the mix of reality and fiction. We start in one place and end in the other.

How did that painting end up in my living room?

Can we recognize a city by its sound, sort of like recognizing the sound of a mother's voice? Sometimes Chicago sounded like a casino. Other times a war zone with its relentless wailing of sirens and the whirring of helicopters that hovered almost within reach of the crowds at Millennium Park. Black Lives Matter is trying to get our attention. Sometimes Chicago sounded like a carnival. Sometimes a church. Mixed in there were the street musicians playing for change, reminding me of the time I got lost in Brussels looking for the Sleep Well. This is not Saint Paul or Minneapolis. It makes me wonder if a person would be able to identify their hometown based on a recording, sort of like the sound of a mother's voice. People talk and I record them. This is not Chicago any more than the pictures I saw people taking of the Trump Tower would epitomize the city. It's just a snapshot of a particular time and place. I wish I could have done more. I missed a lot, even the rumbling of the "L" from overhead. I'd like to go back. Thank you... Greg, our mailman and a fellow Red Sox fan. Cory Mottaz, On Air Personality/Voice Talent. Autumn Day Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ References In the name of free association, coincidence and curiosity here are some show links. Podcast Movement '16 Is it the 'L' or the 'El'? CTA tweet has a 1-letter answer [We saw a lot of tourists taking this shot.] Ross, Max. (2016, July 16). A family undergoes renovations at Walker Art Center. Star Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.startribune.com/ Taking pictures of people taking pictures of art takes Brian's observation to a new level. I'm uncomfortable with how comfortable we are with our growing preference for the company of robots over people. I wish everyone would read this book. [Our mailbox.] Baseball came up a lot... Jeff McNeely - Boston Red Sox Jeff McNeely - Charlotte Megastars Negro Leagues History Two for Flinching, Christian Finnegan. CD. Amazon. I threw this in here for the routine Finnegan does on Red Sox hats. Loved it. Comiskey Park Black Sox Scandal Because Mr. Brook wanted to talk about the Chicago Bulls... I pull out what little I know, which is that the Timberwolve's (my team) recently hired Tom Thibodeau who won nearly 65 percent of his games in five seasons with the Bulls. But then Brook changed the subject... Mentioned in the conversation with the protester at the Taste of Chicago at Millennium Park... ANSWER Chicago - Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Hall, Gaynor, & Runge, Erik. (2016, July 9). Protesters descend on Taste of Chicago, Grant Park. WGNtv. Retrieved from http://wgntv.com/ Smith, Mitch. (2016, August 18). Chicago Officers Face Firing Over Laquan McDonald Cover-Up. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com Alton Sterling Shooting in Baton Rouge Prompts Justice Dept. Investigation The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com Peralta, E., & Corley, C. (Writers). (2016, July 15). The Driving Life And Death Of Philando Castile [Radio broadcast]. In Morning Edition. Minneapolis, Minnesota: NPR. 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org The TV screens that plastered the walls of the hotel restaurant flashed from one crime scene to another. Baton Rouge. Saint Paul and eventually Dallas. In the meantime, a group of Black Hebrew Israelites were preaching... After a brief encounter, I wondered who their audience was. Black Hebrew Israelites. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org. Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org. I do not have nor want a smart phone and other reasons I'm concerned about the disappearance of taxis... When my neighbor showed me his Uber app and raved abo...

What’s going on here in Chicago?

What are the barriers to being grounded in a culture filled with distractions and how can we separate the signal from the noise to get grounded? Being grounded means that you're self-aware, don't put on personas, are down-to-earth and solid but open and probably kind. You have confidence (but you're not cocky), which means that you're not prone to taking things personally. You're comfortable with making meaningful decisions because you have figured out how to separate the signal from the noise; being grounded means that you focus on the important stuff. You're generally calm. Above all you are present! You're living in the moment! You are not judgmental, but accepting of imperfections, including your own. This puts people at ease and that's just one reason why they like you. Why can it be tough to be grounded in today's world? What can we do to filter out the noise of smart phones, war drums and looping commercials that take us away from ourselves? Meditation, walking, yoga and even taking an improv class are just some ideas suggested. Thank you... Klass, Dan. "#342: A.D.H…Nevermind." Audio blog post. The Bitterest Pill - The Dan Klass Podcast. Jacket Media, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2016. Dreamy Flashback Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Happy Boy End Theme Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Home Base Groove Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ References If you can tell me what these references/links have to do with this episode, I will send you a postcard. Patton Oswalt. "Death Bed", Werewolves and Lollipops. 2007. CD. AWARE - A Magazine for the Women of Hong Kong. R&R Publishing Ltd., Mar. 2014. Web. 26 Mar. 2016. Exploding origami envelope by Jeremy Shafer.

hubhopper

QuOTeD - The Question of the Day Podcast

hubhopper