The Roadhouse

Bob Carter chatted with Marc Abrahams, editor of "Annals of Improbable Research, " about the 2014 Ig Nobel prizes recently awarded at Harvard University. Research topics included the physics of stepping on a banana skin, the brain qualities of people who see Jesus in toast, and possible mental hazards of cat ownership. You can learn more about the Ig Nobels and the magazine here. 

One of our favorite regular guests, Bob King of the Duluth News Tribune, chatted with Dave TerSteeg Oct. 3 about meteors and much more. A lunar eclipse is coming early Wednesday morning, Oct. 8.  You can read Bob's Astrobob blog here. 

Dr. Bin He, a biomedical engineering professor at the U of MN, spoke with Dick Oct. 3 about his latest research showing that people who practice yoga and meditation long term can learn to control a computer with their minds faster and better than people with little or no yoga or meditation experience. This could have major implications for people who are paralyzed or mobility impaired. 

Randy Eastlund & Matthew Brown welcomed Pete Kavanaugh to Studio A Sept. 26 for fun chat and great guitar. You can learn more about Pete's music and performance schedule here. 

Matthew Brown had the opportunity to speak with artist and educator Wayne Potratz Sept. 26. Wayne recently retired from the U of MN after 45 years of teaching, and was named the 2013 Outstanding Art Educator by the International Sculpture Center. He's guest artist at Last Chance Gallery during Crossing Borders, which runs every day from 10 to 6 through Oct. 5. You can learn more about Wayne and see his work here. 

Jeff Gunderson, director of Minnesota Sea Grant, spoke with Randy Eastlund Sept. 26 about work they did with  Wisconsin Sea Grant to identify and mitigate corrosion to the port of Duluth-Superior's infrastructure, thereby saving millions of dollars in future repair and replacement costs. You can learn more about the work of Sea Grant here. 

Dick & Ann chatted with local musician & composer Briand Morrison on the eve of the CD release party for "Spiral." Briand partnered with the North Shore Music Assosication, with funding from the Minnesota State Arts Board, to write 12 original blues, rock and jazz pieces for guitar with backing instruments and vocals. The CD includes performances of 17 local musicians, and several songs are sampled in this interview. You can learn more about Briand's music here.

Dick & Ann welcomed The Pines (Benson Ramsey and David Huckfelt) to Studio A Sept. 19 to chat and play a few songs. Listen for beautiful melodies and haunting lyrics. They were in town to wind up their summer touring season at Betsy Bowen's What's Upstairs. You canlearn more about The Pines here.

A study just published in the Journal of Behavioral Addiction found that among college students, men spend nearly eight hours a day on their cell phones, while women spend 10. Ann chatted with the author of the study, Dr. James Roberts of Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business, to learn more about what's happening and how it's affecting academics, relationships, and more.

Bob Carter & Dick Swanson were delighted to welcome Pat Donohue, one of the most listened-to finger pickers in the world, to Studio A Sept. 12. Pat is the guitarist for the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band of MPR's A Prairie Home Companion, and was in town to play North House's Unplugged concert the next evening. You can learn more about Pat's music and his performance schedule here.