Storytelling... with Jerry Grant

Audio File:  here  (22:24)

Host: David Rasmussen

Guest: Jerry Grant

Taped at Caribou Coffee, 4345 Nathan, Thursday, December 4, 2014

Intro and Closing Music by: The Great Datescapade

Stories are powerful and it starts at the beginning of human existence.  Think of the Iliad, Breaking Bad and Instagram.

Some references:

The Storytelling Animal, How Stories Make Us Human, by Jonathan Gottschall

Paid to Speak, Chapter 2, Sam Horn

The Story Factor, Annette Simmons 

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Lena Buggs, Candidate for State Representative, 65A, Green Party

Audio File:  here or in  original glorious stereo (28:50)

Transcript: to become available sometime on 11/2/14

Co-hosts: David Rasmussen, Alex Gedstad

Guest: Lena Buggs, Candidate for State Representative, 65A

Taped near University Avenue and Western Avenue, Friday October 31.

Intro and Closing Music by: The Great Datescapade


Lena Buggs has canvassed the 65A area four times.  That is a lot of door knocking.  I have personally seen Lena at intersections more than once promoting her candidacy and advocating for issues.  Even with this much presence, does she have a chance to beat an incumbent DFL candidate?  Why would people vote for a Green Party candidate?

The 65A district is a poor area.  Jobs are the number issue per the people Lena speaks with.  The DFL power base focuses on stadiums and big money projects that don't directly relate to jobs and the needs of lower income people (unless you believe in Ronald Reagan's old theories).  Many times, the policies are "pretend progressive."  Should we be  building new "affordable housing" at $700-$900 per month near the train or should we focus on "sustainable housing" by repairing and utilizing the 1226 vacant houses in District 65A?

This isn't about being the left-most candidate.  There are issues where Lena would caucus with the Republicans.  How do we work on the problems of the people, most of whom are outside of the current power base?







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Andy Dawkins, Green Party, Minnesota Attorney General candidate

Audio File: here (44:14) 

Co-hosts: David Rasmussen, Alex Gedstad

Guest: Andy Dawkins, Candidate for Attorney General

Taped near Como Lake, Thursday October 9.

Intro and Closing Music by: The Great Datescapade


One thing about the Green Party is that they are consistent.  They weren't for going into Iraq in 2001 and haven't been in favor of the wars there since.  This makes the Green Party unique in American politics.  Another thing that makes the Green Party consistent and unique is that they don't accept corporate money.

Saint Paul has a Green Party candidate for Minnesota Attorney General.  People from Mac-Groveland and Frogtown remember him from his fifteen years as their state representative.  In 1993, Andy Dawkins was considered a strong candidate for mayor of Saint Paul, but ended up losing the primary to Norm Coleman.  A great story teller, you can subscribe to daily recollections of his past personal experiences here.

The Dawkins campaign positions include the following: anti-copper mining, pro-gun control, pro-getting money out of politics, pro-enforcement of laws that help"the little guy", like smaller counties that need the state AG office to take on their cases.  Though he has previously run as a Democrat, Dawkins turned to the Green Party two years ago. He is not impressed by the current DFL AG, Lori Swanson, on these issues and others.









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Pat Dean, St. Paul Port Authority Whistleblower and IP Candiate for State Auditor

Audio File: here  (42:23) and on SPIF

Co-hosts: David Rasmussen, Alex Gedstad

Guest: Pat Dean, IP Candidate for State Auditor

Taped on the shore of Lake Elmo, Friday September 19.

Intro and Closing Music by: The Great Datescapade
In 1985 or 1986, under Arne Carlson, the St. Paul Port Authority was audited. State auditors once enforced high standards upon municipalities.
Since then, $35 million plus of funds was diverted as per a settlement of a case before the Minnesota Supreme Court, 2011. This is one of the largest bond losses for bond holders in the history of Minnesota. When a whistle blower sends the documents, does that mean that a Republican state auditor (Judi Dutcher) or a Democratic state auditor (Rebecca Otto) will take on the work? Not per the personal experience of former Port Authority employee and whistle blower, Pat Dean.

Pat Dean, with his 8000 pages of documents and ten audio tapes, seems the prototypical CPA. He found that documents weren't so relevant as personal relationships between party officials. Just how buddy-buddy are our elected officials? There is a story here where perhaps our friends at Reuters or NY Times might want to follow up. In the meantime, there is an election going on. The whistle blower is Independence Party candidate for Minnesota state auditor.



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Ice Cream, Peanut Butter and Jam Event, August 2, 2014

Audio File: here  (8:18)

Co-hosts: David Rasmussen, Josh Capistrant

Guest: Kristen Wasyliszyn

Taped at O'Garas, Monday July 14.

Music by: The Falderals

Link to:  More Music from the Event

Facebook Event Page: link

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Test Podcast-- Seeking Cohosts (a presentation to under 30's)

 This Scene, Test Podcast

Audio File:  Seeking co-hosts!  (16:08)

         A presentation to campaign workers for Andy Dawkins, Green Candidate for Attorney General.  Recorded at Gandhi Mahal, June 23, 2014.

Featuring music by The Great Datescapade, c. 1999, Bert Records

SYNOPSIS:

How to Fail At Podcasting and be Proud of It.

1. All of the worst live radio embarrassing moments that can happen DID happen to me. With a podcast, you can erase things, not that you generally should.  You interviewed the Green candidate for President for an hour and forgot to hit record? He was very nice about giving a second interview.

2. Being "the media" or "not the media" is all in your head.  The only thing that makes "the media" is attitude and rules.  You have more control outside the media. Example: NPR couldn't tie Benghazi to 9/11, even on the anniversary of 9/11 because “it had been officially denied”. They were not promoting Al Qaeda as editorial policy. Government and public radio shouldn't promote terrorist organizations, one could argue. Though they can't connect dots, you may.

The Pioneer Press believes that the power of the press belongs to those who own the press. But, in a blogging/podcasting world, the power of the press actually belongs to everyone who is willing to share their voice. The Pioneer Press responds to my wife's stories, stories they previously ignore, by putting their own spin on them.

Council members, authors and famous people don't get interviewed that much.  They will give a better interview to you than to a big name because they will be less guarded and more themselves.

3. The best interviews are not in a studio.  Background noises are interesting.  Public radio experts recommend recording extra background noise and editing it into broadcasts. They go really overboard to make sure you hear every sound of a place. Meet someone somewhere, talk for 1/2 hour and you're probably good.  If not, break it up with some music.

4. Technical details.  We can talk.  You already have the technology.

5. Co-hosts?  Important.  If you can't laugh, the least you can do is find a co-host who can.  Keep people awake.  If you're boring and deadly serious, no one wants to listen.  Be conversational.  No one wants to hear a 150 word per minute debate.  Pause once in a while. Laugh once in a while.

6. People will do your work for you.  Want to review political movies?  Do it. Pretty soon, you'll be getting calls from people who make political movies, and you'll be going to screenings. The Main Stream Media Project was sending me a long list of name people in the news, desiring to be interviewed.

7. What makes you stand out is research. Spend four hours researching a topic.  Find two really good quotes. Have some written questions, but if you don't ask them, all the better.  This minimal preparation makes you a much better talk show host than most. Casey Kasum understood the formula. 

8. Local non-celebrities are best. You can showcase them. The editor of the Berkeley Daily Planet was the most brilliant person I ever met. Find a Becky O'Malley to show up once a month and let her talk as much as she wants.

9. Stick with it. If you consistently put on a show, your show will just get better and better, and your audience will appreciate it and build. Someone you talk to might end with a Pulitzer or a Nobel!

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This Scene-- Saint Paul's Podcast.... Why?

 Why?
To create an authentic weekly podcast that informs on topics of local and/or general interest

How?
Our discourse will be informed, conversational and inclusive without falling over backwards to be "neutral."

In addition to our own research, we will interview a broad variety of guests to provide topical knowledge-- some who have never been interviewed before, others who may be on their way to a Nobel or Pulitzer.

We are people who live in real places, who have actual experiences, who are still developing nuanced points of view.  We should be perceived that way.

We will include some laughing and some humor, we surely hope.

Who?
David Rasmussen was a founding co-host of  Soap Box Derby.  A cast of three to four co-hosts has been recruited to date.  We'll see who shows up!


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