The Fargo Five with Conrad Fargo

Conrad Fargo
  • 3.5 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

The Fargo Five is a human-interest podcast based in the Red River Valley, hosted by Conrad Fargo. Each episode dives into the five essential questions—who, what, when, how, and why—to uncover the real stories of the extra ordinary people who shape our North of Normal metro. From artists to business owners, musicians to misfits, this show explores the turning points and personal moments that make someone who they are. Honest, curious, and full of heart—this is Fargo, one story at a time.

  1. 5d ago

    Weiwei “Vivian” Fellman Sprouts Kota Botanics From Panic, Persistence, And Plant-Based Wellness

    Raised in China with over 15 years in Fortune 500 sales and marketing at companies including Mercedes-Benz and Canon, Vivian met her Fargo-born husband in Beijing before eventually making the FM metro her permanent home. In 2016, the birth of her youngest son Patrick at Sanford Hospital in downtown Fargo became a harrowing ordeal when he was diagnosed with a heart condition and emergency airlifted to a children's hospital in Minneapolis. The weeks spent in the NICU left Vivian battling panic attacks and PTSD symptoms she had never experienced before. After traditional remedies fell flat, she discovered CBD through Joy Organics out of Colorado and felt an immediate difference. One deeply disappointing local retail experience later, the mission was clear: she could do this better. Kota Botanics launched in November 2019, just three months before a global pandemic forced her to lean hard on e-commerce to keep the doors open. The name itself carries a story, having started as Kota Organics before a trademark dispute with Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr's Kora Organics brand pushed Vivian into a creative pivot. Today Kota Botanics is a 900-square-foot shop at 32nd Avenue and 25th Street in South Fargo next to Starbucks, with a full e-commerce store at kotabotanics.com offering free shipping over $75 and free local delivery.

    Weiwei “Vivian” Fellman Sprouts Kota Botanics From Panic, Persistence, And Plant-Based Wellness

  2. Sep 24

    Lisa Gedrose Haunts Bonanzaville As Fargo's Most Spirited Paranormal Coordinator and History Buff

    What makes something paranormal, and where is the line between the unexplained, the divine, and plain old magic? Conrad opens this episode by pressing Bonanzaville paranormal coordinator Lisa Gedrose on the definition itself, from ghosts and UFOs to Bigfoot, miracles, human perception, and the effort to debunk strange claims before accepting them. Then we get to know Lisa beyond the ghost stories. She talks about growing up with the Eagles, choosing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” raising six children, grabbing coffee at Randy’s, shopping at Hornbacher’s Village West and Aldi, and unwinding with Little House on the Prairie. At Bonanzaville, Lisa’s work combines North Dakota history with hands-on paranormal investigation. She trains volunteer guides, tests EMF meters, spirit boxes, and temperature guns, decorates for the season, researches the history and claims tied to buildings, and helps lead nighttime investigations. Her story started as a guest on a paranormal tour, became years of volunteering, and eventually grew into a paid coordinator role after she kept showing up and helping wherever Bonanzaville needed her. Lisa also explains why the mission matters beyond spooky stories: the investigations raise money to preserve Bonanzaville’s historic buildings and Cass County history. It is a conversation about ghosts, community, volunteerism, curiosity, and what can happen when a personal obsession turns into a real role.

    Lisa Gedrose Haunts Bonanzaville As Fargo's Most Spirited Paranormal Coordinator and History Buff

  3. Sep 16

    Targen Zarlee Stitches Faith, African Fashion, And A Liberia-To-Fargo Dream At DeVine Fashionitas 💃🏾

    Targen Zarlee, Owner and CEO of Devine Fashionitas LLC, joins Conrad Fargo to talk about the faith, persistence, and personal history behind her Fargo boutique. Zarlee traces her story from childhood in Liberia to Minnesota, Texas, and eventually the Fargo-Moorhead area, where she says faith helped guide both her life and the creation of her business.Devine Fashionitas brings together accessories, statement pieces, and custom clothing, with pieces sourced from Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. Zarlee explains how customers can shop ready-to-wear items or work with her on custom clothing tailored to their measurements and style. She also shares the unlikely beginnings of the business: a church business expo, prayer, a “Sip and Shop” fashion show, a small retail foothold inside ANA Supermarket, and eventually a storefront inside International Market Plaza at 1345 Main Avenue in Fargo.The conversation also explores Zarlee’s work at Sanford while building the business, her goal of creating financial stability and generational wealth, and why she wants entrepreneurship to become a way to support family, churches, widows, orphans, and others. She gives a shoutout to Natalie Sparrow Management and previews Devine Fashionitas’ participation in a Downtown Fargo fashion show at Broadway Square.From fascinators and Liberian country cloth to faith, immigration, customer service, and the grind of building a business from scratch, this episode is a personal look at what it takes to turn conviction into something tangible in Fargo.

    Targen Zarlee Stitches Faith, African Fashion, And A Liberia-To-Fargo Dream At DeVine Fashionitas 💃🏾

  4. Sep 10

    Natalie Sparrow Adapts Fargo Talent, Fashion, And Film Into A Career That Refuses To Stand Still

    Natalie Sparrow unpacks the constantly evolving world of modeling, acting, talent management, and creative entrepreneurship in Fargo-Moorhead. Natalie explains how Ultimate Image evolved into Natalie Sparrow Management and how she now represents roughly 120 talent while connecting actors and models with opportunities locally and in major markets including New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. She breaks down the differences between agents, managers and talent development, including how commissions work, how casting happens, and why Fargo can serve as a development market for emerging talent. Natalie also shares her Fargo favorites, including Beer & Fish Company, The Drawing Room, Toasted Frog and Divine Fashionas at Fargo's International Market. The conversation explores entrepreneurship, anxiety, gratitude, family, setting boundaries and learning when determination needs to give way to adaptation. Plus, Natalie previews Fargo Fashion Week at Broadway Square, featuring 14 businesses and more than 60 models, and announces her new role as city producer for the 48 Hour Film Project, bringing filmmakers, actors and production crews together to make complete movies in only 48 hours.

    Natalie Sparrow Adapts Fargo Talent, Fashion, And Film Into A Career That Refuses To Stand Still

  5. Aug 26

    Josh Hutchins Manifests Two Men and a Truck Fargo Franchise Through Faith, Hustle, and 4AM Alarms

    Josh Hutchins, principal of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK in Fargo, joins Conrad Fargo to talk about his belief in an overarching positive plan and how faith shapes the way he leads. Hutch’s path to ownership was anything but direct. He grew up in Wisconsin, attended Winona State University, dropped out of college, followed his future wife to Rochester, Minnesota, and worked everywhere from Famous Dave’s to furniture delivery. In 2014, he joined a brand-new TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise as a driver. When circumstances suddenly left the young operation without its expected leader, Hutch found himself helping keep the wheels on. That experience eventually connected him with business partner Mike, who saw Hutch’s potential and gave him a choice: Topeka, Kansas or Fargo, North Dakota. Hutch chose Fargo and arrived in 2019 knowing almost nobody. He recruited movers, joined BNI, cold-called more than 100 Realtors, bought Google ads and waited for the phone to ring. Today, the Fargo operation has five office staff, roughly 35 movers and 10 trucks. Hutch talks candidly about hiring, firing, dispatching crews, franchise benchmarking, leadership, networking, his two-hour daily commute from Detroit Lakes, and why he still believes doing the right thing will eventually move things forward. Along the way, there’s also time for Dispatch, Johnny Cash, Junkyard Brewing Company, Space Aliens, pineapple pizza, hunting, fishing, Cotton Lake and what makes Fargo feel like a really big small town.

    Josh Hutchins Manifests Two Men and a Truck Fargo Franchise Through Faith, Hustle, and 4AM Alarms

  6. Aug 19

    Colton Albohm Hustles His Way Through Rap, Comedy, and Sports Marketing with Colt Dog Entertainment

    Colton “Colt” Albohm joins Conrad Fargo on The Fargo Five to talk about the many moving pieces behind Colt Dog Entertainment, a Fargo venture spanning rap, stand-up comedy, live events, and athlete influencer marketing. Colt explains why NF’s “Green Lights” fits his philosophy: stop waiting for permission, take the chance, and put in the work.That philosophy has taken him from delivering pizzas and writing rhymes in his car to performing his first rap show at Moorhead’s former Days Inn, an event remembered as the “Near Riot Show.” From there, Colt found his way into stand-up comedy, spending hundreds of hours at open mics before earning paid gigs. He has also organized charitable comedy events, including breast cancer fundraisers inspired by his mother’s experience as a survivor, with a sold-out event at Icewind Brewing in Mapleton.Today, Colt balances DoorDash and Amazon delivery work with building Colt Dog Entertainment. He discusses plans for a September 11 benefit supporting veterans and first responders and his newest venture: connecting local athletes with businesses for influencer marketing opportunities. That includes networking around NDSU Bison athletics and recognizing the remarkable pipeline of Fargo-Moorhead athletes reaching professional sports.Along the way, Colt shares Fargo favorites including Fryn’ Pan, the Empire, Hornbacher’s, and All Seasons Lawn Care, and explains why he calls himself a “HE PIG”: a High Energy, Positive, Inspiring, Goofy Sports Guy.

    Colton Albohm Hustles His Way Through Rap, Comedy, and Sports Marketing with Colt Dog Entertainment

  7. Aug 12

    Melanie Walker Builds Self-Reliance, Relationships, and a Growing J&M Business Cleaning in Fargo

    Melanie Walker spent nine years as a paralegal supporting attorneys in the Fargo area, mentored early in her career by well-known personal injury attorney Dave Bosard and his team. When her law firm bosses needed a cleaner they could trust around confidential files, Melanie stepped up after hours and started cleaning the office herself. Her close friend Miranda, a sharp business operator in the Fargo community and co-owner at CPR in the Mall, formerly known as Phone and Fix, did not just cheer her on. She demanded a full business plan before giving her blessing. A year later, J&M Business Cleaning was officially born.Now three years in, Melanie operates five commercial cleaning accounts, leads a crew of four employees, and personally handles move-out cleans and select house cleans for trusted clients. Her growth strategy is rooted in genuine relationship-building. She researches businesses before walking through the door, makes friends before making the ask, and lets her network do the heavy lifting. A referral through a shared accountant landed her longest-running client. A connection through Husky Electric opened the door to a major construction clean in Detroit Lakes. She also gives back through community events like the DGF Rebels Fishing and Corn Feed at the Buffalo Racetrack, working alongside Micah from Archer Realty to support kids getting outside and onto the water.Still bridging the gap with part-time work at Rick's Bar, a choice quietly tied to her late father who called Specs his second office, Melanie has a clear finish line in sight: full-time in the business, no side work, and a house of her own. Self-reliance was her word of the day. For Melanie Walker, it is the whole story.

    Melanie Walker Builds Self-Reliance, Relationships, and a Growing J&M Business Cleaning in Fargo

  8. Jul 29

    Jon Berton Cultivates Heroes Lawn Care Into A Thriving Fargo Business After Leaving The Oil Fields

    Jon Berton spent nearly 17 years as an oil field roughneck, starting in Colorado before rotating into western North Dakota. Making serious money with no clear place to put it, he started buying rental properties, including a fourplex in Kansas City he purchased completely sight unseen and managed remotely through a property management company. When rising interest rates cooled his appetite for more real estate, Jon turned to franchising. A LinkedIn connection led him to a franchise consultant who matched him with Heroes Lawn Care, and in August 2023 he launched the Fargo location using an SBA-backed loan, hiring a general manager to run the day-to-day while Jon remained out west. That arrangement lasted roughly five months before a surprise visit revealed serious problems. Faced with the choice of cutting losses or showing up, Jon chose to show up. Within a month he listed and sold his own home, packed up his wife, four kids all under seven, a mini pony, goats, over fifty chickens, and a handful of ducks, and relocated to a farmstead near Kindred. His parents followed from Colorado, with his dad joining the business and his mom helping with the kids. Now three summers in with a crew of five full-time employees, Heroes Lawn Care serves the Fargo metro with fertilizer and weed control packages starting around eighty dollars per application, irrigation installation and repair, landscaping, sod, and aeration services. Find them at heroescare.com or on Facebook.

    Jon Berton Cultivates Heroes Lawn Care Into A Thriving Fargo Business After Leaving The Oil Fields
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Ratings & Reviews

3.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Fargo Five is a human-interest podcast based in the Red River Valley, hosted by Conrad Fargo. Each episode dives into the five essential questions—who, what, when, how, and why—to uncover the real stories of the extra ordinary people who shape our North of Normal metro. From artists to business owners, musicians to misfits, this show explores the turning points and personal moments that make someone who they are. Honest, curious, and full of heart—this is Fargo, one story at a time.

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