MPR News with Angela Davis

Minnesota Public Radio

4.6 (133)
Daily News
Updated Daily

Conversations about life in Minnesota and how the state is changing, weekdays from MPR News. Programming note: Our colleague Angela Davis is taking a leave of absence after a recent breast cancer diagnosis. Thank you to all who have checked in and shared kind words. Angela is touched by your support as she focuses on her recovery.

3d ago

Reflecting on 25 years since 9/11

For those who lived through it, the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 remains a defining moment. But an entire generation has now grown up since the attacks. That morning, terrorists hijacked four passenger planes. Two crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, one hit the Pentagon, and passengers on the fourth plane fought back before it crashed in rural Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, with thousands more later dying from illnesses linked to the toxic debris. 9/11 changed the United States in lasting ways. It altered the country’s sense of safety, brought many Americans together, but also led to increased harassment and hate crimes against Muslim Americans and immigrants. It prompted the war in Afghanistan and major changes to airport security, including the creation of the TSA. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests and listeners about what people remember about 9/11 and the lasting impact of that day. Guests:   Tim Stout Tim Stout is the chief of staff for the civilian staff in the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. He was on staff in the White House on September 11, 2001 and subsequently worked in the newly established White House Office of Homeland Security and then for the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.Anne Gearity is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She has a doctorate in clinical social work with expertise in trauma and has been a therapist for children, teenagers and adults for nearly four decades.
4d ago

Good vibrations: How sound baths and sound therapy help people relax

A growing number of people are finding stress relief in sound baths. It involves lying down, closing your eyes and letting waves of sound wash over you — usually the sounds of gongs, crystal bowls, rattles and other instruments. Many people who have experienced a sound bath say it calms their mind and puts them in a state of deep relaxation that can also help with anxiety, sleep problems and even pain. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about some of the benefits and the science behind the good vibrations. Guests: Diana Parra Perez provides sound healing, mindfulness practices and retreats through her business Resonancia Sagrada, with a focus on Latino and Spanish-speaking communities. She is a senior scientist in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. A native of Bogotá, Colombia, she lives in St. Louis, Mo. Donette Ambrosy is a sound therapist with a home studio in Minneapolis called Fine Tuning Sound Therapy. She also leads sound bath experiences at local yoga studios, community centers and other venues. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
5d ago

Why public schools are struggling financially and what Minnesota voters will decide

Minnesota voters will find a question about public school funding on their ballots this fall. A proposed constitutional amendment would increase the amount distributed each year from the state’s Permanent School Fund — a $2.4 billion investment fund built with revenue generated by state-owned school trust lands. Supporters say it would provide additional money without raising taxes, but critics say that the increase would only cover a fraction of the broader financial pressures facing school districts. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how Minnesota schools are funded, where that money goes and what voters should understand about the proposed amendment before November. Here’s a link to a resource to see what will be on your ballot this coming November: Minnesota Secretary Of State - What's On My Ballot? Guests: Christine Tucci Osorio is the superintendent for School District 622, which includes North St. Paul, Maplewood and Oakdale. Mary Kunesh is a DFL state senator representing District 39 in the northern Twin Cities suburbs. She chairs the Senate Education Finance Committee.Marguerite Roza is a research professor at Georgetown University and director of its Edunomics Lab, a research center that studies education finance and how school systems use public dollars. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Sep 3

Community land trusts: A different way to own land and build community power

Community land trusts make it possible for land to be owned collectively while individuals own the homes and businesses on it. The model grew out of the civil rights movement, when Black farmers in the rural South used collective ownership to build economic independence despite barriers to credit and land access. Today, community land trusts help preserve affordable housing and commercial spaces while giving communities more control over their future. The Rondo Community Land Trust in St. Paul is one example. It is working to rebuild community wealth and preserve the legacy of the historic Black neighborhood displaced by Interstate 94. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how community land trusts work, why collective ownership matters and what the model could offer communities across Minnesota. Guests: Mikeya Griffin is the president and CEO of Rondo Community Land Trust, a nonprofit that creates permanently affordable homes and commercial spaces that keep land, opportunity, and legacy rooted in community. She grew up in St. Paul’s historic Rondo neighborhood and is the first African American woman to lead the 30-year-old organization.Debbie Montgomery is a community leader who grew up in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul. She was the first Black woman police sergeant in St. Paul and the first Black woman elected to the St. Paul City Council. She also served as assistant commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. At age 17, she became the youngest person to serve on the national board of the NAACP, an organization that works towards equity, political rights and social inclusion of Black people and people of color.
Sep 2

How to build confidence and overcome self-doubt

Confidence can be hard to find when you're facing a new challenge, recovering from a mistake or simply hearing that critical voice in your head. But confidence isn't a personality trait. It's a skill that can be developed. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guest talk about how to quiet your inner critic, learn from mistakes, recognize your wins and take action — even when you don't feel ready. Guest: Cindra Kamphoff is a professor of sport and performance psychology at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is a certified professional coach and mental performance consultant who founded the Mentally Strong Institute, a firm that provides coaching to leaders and athletes. She also hosts the podcast “High Performance Mindset.” Her most recent book is, “The Confidence Habit: 7 Core Practices to Transform Self-Doubt to Self-Belief.”
Sep 1

The Mississippi River: A history of conflict, connection and change

The Mississippi River has provided water, food, transportation and a place of connection for generations of Minnesotans. But its history is also marked by displacement, environmental damage and decisions that have often prioritized industry and commerce over communities and the health of the river. A new documentary, “We Are the River: How the Mississippi Shaped Minnesota,” explores the complicated history of the river and the people who have lived alongside it. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about what that history can teach us about caring for the Mississippi today and in the future. Guests: Kate Beane is Flandreau Santee Sioux Dakota and Muscogee Creek. She is the executive director of the Minnesota Museum of American Art, has taught at the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis College and serves on the board of Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, a nonprofit that oversees two Dakota sacred sites in St. Paul. Devin Ashley Brown is the founder of Sovereign Waters, a Minneapolis-based organization that creates culturally responsive pathways to water confidence, environmental connection and outdoor leadership. She works to dismantle barriers that have excluded historically underserved communities from outdoor recreation. She also attempted to be the first Black woman on record to solo the Mississippi River before flood waters ended her trip. John Anfinson is a Mississippi River historian, author and former Superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. He previously worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is the part-time river historian at the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. He is also a founding board member of Friends of the Mississippi River and is active in many other river-related organizations and initiatives.
Aug 31

What’s behind the financial strain Americans are feeling?

Many Americans are finding it harder to stretch their budgets — and wondering when they’ll feel some financial relief. Inflation, higher gas prices and difficulty keeping up with bills and other payments — like buy now, pay later loans — are straining household budgets, while tariffs and changing trade relationships, including with Canada, raise concerns about additional costs. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about why so many people feel financially squeezed, what’s driving these pressures and what they reveal about the broader economy. Guests: Chris Farrell is the senior economics contributor for MPR News and Marketplace. Catherine Rampell is economics editor at The Bulwark, an independent media company. She is also an anchor at MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, and a contributor to Marketplace. She previously worked as an opinion columnist for The Washington Post and was an economics reporter for The New York Times. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
Aug 27

The art, craft and community of quilting

The first day of the Minnesota State Fair brings a chance to see thousands of creative works made by Minnesotans — including quilts that showcase remarkable skill, artistry and imagination. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two quilters about what goes into making a quilt, how quilting has evolved and the community and personal stories that can be stitched into every finished piece. Guests: Brenda Lyseng is a quilter and board member of Minnesota Quilter’s, Inc., a statewide quilting organization. She was the director of the organization’s annual quilt show for five years until retiring from that role in 2024. Before that she was a biology professor and dean with the Minnesota State colleges and universities system.Wally Wallestad started quilting four years ago and is a member of the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild. Angela’s guests shared these resources for beginner quilters: Melanie Ham’s Beginner Quilting Tutorial VideosMinnesota Quilters Facebook Group

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4.6

out of 5

133 Ratings

Urban animals

Apr 14

你Marigold135

Great podcast. I learned so much and improved my understanding of local animal behavior. Thanks! Love this podcast
Good

02/17/2024

Jhfhdjfjjfjfdn

You have to losing to it
Are you a victim?

06/27/2024

Night Soul Train

If you are, npr will bend head over heels to share your story, never willing to examine the other side of such stories, narratives. It makes for easy reporting, news gathering, but leaves us all less informed at the end of the day
Appointment listening

11/18/2023

Pocketfullofpocketsand

Angela Davis is a wonderful interviewer with a lovely voice and pace. She keeps the conversation moving and the topics discussed vary but are always interesting and informative.

Conversations about life in Minnesota and how the state is changing, weekdays from MPR News. Programming note: Our colleague Angela Davis is taking a leave of absence after a recent breast cancer diagnosis. Thank you to all who have checked in and shared kind words. Angela is touched by your support as she focuses on her recovery.