Minneapolis vs. St. Paul

They call it the Twin Cities, but relationships between Minneapolis and St Paul were not always so sisterly. During the 1890 census, the battle over which city would prove to be bigger turned into a scene from a crime novel. Ever heard of the phrase “Padding the numbers?” Yeah, you’re welcome world…here’s the origin story from a time when people weren’t so Minnesota-nice.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are known as the Twin Cities, but relationships weren’t always so sisterly. During the summer of the 1890 census, both cities worked themselves into a frenzy over which one would prove bigger. The resulting tale of trickery feels worthy of a crime novel. Producer Emily Bright has this story of a Twin Cities throw-down.

Dragons and gooey alien sounds, oh my!

When you watch a show, do you notice the sound? Katharine Horowitz does. On the eve of the Tonys reintroducing sound design awards (after four years of silence), Katharine Horowitz gives the behind-the-scene scoop on creating an invisible world of sound.

A compelling play is more than just a script, actors and sets. Sound designers like Katharine Horowitz also help create a mood and sense of place for theatergoers. KFAI's Emily Bright spoke to Horowitz about creating imaginary worlds out of sound. (Photo by Chris Roethler.)

Some Refugees Are Scared of Us, Too

I cannot imagine what it would feel like, after years of waiting, going through the vetting process, receiving a Visa, going through the orientation-to-America class, and receiving plane tickets, packing, and saying goodbye--after all that--to be turned away while boarding the plane because America has stopped accepting refugees.

Thought you might be interested in a story I produced last year in which a Karen man, now a college student, recounts a terrifying experience his first day in America (from Burma). And it's also about dance!

About 7,000 Karen refugees have arrived in Minnesota in the past decade, fleeing persecution in the country once known as Burma. Although the Karen are relative newcomers here, some Karen worry they may be losing their culture. As KFAI's Emily Bright reports, one Karen man is doing something about it. (Photo credit: Poh Poh and the Karen Culture Organization of Minnesota.)

David Mura: Becoming Japanese →

It was such an honor that this story of mine got picked up by PRX Remix. The credit goes to David Mura, of course, who has a powerful story and tells it well. I just got to hold the mic. Though I did have the challenge of compressing a conversation about understanding and claiming his Japanese-American heritage--and using creative writing to talk about race--into just a few minutes.

When David Mura was growing up, he wanted to be white. Then he visited Japan and began to explore his Japanese-American heritage. That knowledge infused his writing — he's a poet, novelist and essayist — with a sharp wit about the long-term impact of World War II internment camps and ethnicity in America. KFAI's Emily Bright reports.

Calling All Board Game Enthusiasts →

Richard Tatge owns more than 6000 board games. And really, that's if you count each game as "one:" i.e. you count Magic: The Gathering as one game, even if you own some 70 variants of it (which he does). So yes, a lot of board games, all kinds, filling the house faster than he can build shelves.

In the age of Pokeman Go, some people still love old-fashioned board games like Monopoly and Candy Land. One Minnesotan really, really loves them. KFAI’s Emily Bright reports on a man with a collection of 6,000 board games. And he plays them too. (Photo by Emily Bright)

And, oh, I wish I'd had room in the story to mention the other things he collects: hundreds of pumpkins for Halloween and Santa Clauses for Christmas, enough lights to make his house worth driving across town just to see during the holidays. Because collections, Tatge believes, are to be shared.

1970s board games designed to look like books! Cool!

Interview with Poet Sun Yung Shin

It was a treat to interview Minneapolis writer Sun Yung Shin for this radio story. She is such a warm person, broadly interested in the world and deeply thoughtful. Example? Her new poetry book Unbearable Splendor manages to speak to the ancient story of Antigone, modern commentaries on race and identity...and robots. Curious?

Sun Yung Shin is a Minneapolis writer whose work takes on topics as ancient as Greek history and as futuristic as robots, with commentaries on race and identity thrown into the mix. With two new books due out this year, Shin spoke with KFAI’s Emily Bright about turning dilemmas into creative work. (Photo by Dan Markworth)