The Roadhouse

Matthew Ecklund is the captain of the Hjordis at North House Folk School and has built a long and interesting career combining sailing expertise and boatbuilding with education. Currently, Matthew is in Florida on a different kind of sailing trip.  Will spoke with Matthew about how the adventure has gone so far and what's ahead.

Joe Friedrichs is a writer and journalist who’s been reporting on environmental issues and outdoor news for over 15 years. He also happens to be WTIP’s news director.

Joe is just out with a book about Janice Matichuk, Quetico’s longest-serving interior ranger. The book is called Her Island.  Ann spoke with Joe about the new book and the challenging process that went into putting it together.

Jazz guitarist Sam Miltich joined Ann and Will live from Grand Rapids to perform a few songs and chat about what he's been up to during the pandemic times.

Jayson Hron is the director of communication and marketing for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.  We last spoke with him in April when the 2020 Great Lakes commercial shipping season was just opening, and COVID was new.  Will spoke with Jayson again now in December to find out how the season has gone and what's ahead for the Port Authority.

You can track boats on the Great Lakes via boatnerd.com, marinetraffic.com, or harborlookout.com.

Hazel Belvo has been an influential artist, art educator, and feminist leader for more than 50 years. Her output ranges from delicate drawings to monumental paintings exploring nature, spirituality, and the feminine psyche. She is best known for over 400 works on the Spirit Little Cedar Tree on the North Shore, and has taught at the Grand Marais Art Colony for many years.

Art historian Julie L’Enfant has written several books on Minnesota artists for Afton Press, which is just out with Julie’s new book, “Hazel Belvo: A Matriarch of Art.” Both Hazel and Julie joined Ann to tell us more about the book and the process behind putting it together.

Hazel and Julie will be holding an artist/author talk via the Grand Marais Art Colony Wednesday, Dec. 16 from 2 to 3 pm.

Researchers with the Univesity of Minnesota's Voyageurs Wolf Project and Voyageurs National Park have observed and demonstrated that wolves affect wetland ecosystems by killing beavers leaving their colonies to create new ponds.  Dr. Joseph Bump, associate professor at the University of Minnesota and co-author of this study, joined Ann on The Roadhouse to tell us more about what they've learned.

It's been a pretty mild winter so far, so we thought we'd chat with MPR's Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner about what's been happening and what's to come this winter.

Will and Ann welcomed Rhoda Anderson Habedank back on the WTIP airwaves, this time virtually from Oregon.  Rhoda shared some stories and songs from her travels.

Cory Coffman is a Duluth-based musician; you may remember him previously as a part of The Cuckoo Bees.  Cory has since set off on a new solo adventure, and has a new album, "Canvas and Color" coming out on Monday!  Cory joined Ann and Will on Roadhouse to perform a few songs from the album and a special surprise song as well.

Beatrice Ojakangas is the author of 30 cookbooks, including the just-reissued gem, “The Soup & Bread Cookbook”. She’s been a food writer and columnist for many publications including Bon Appetit, Gourmet, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Bea was inducted to the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Fame in 2005. Ann spoke with Beatrice about her recently reissued book, and about what she's been up to recently.