MPR News with Angela Davis

Conversations about life in Minnesota and how the state is changing, weekdays from MPR News.

Performance Today host Fred Child on taking the ‘stuffiness’ out of classical music

For many people, Fred Child is the voice of classical music. Since 2000, he has hosted APM’s Performance Today, the most-listened-to classical music show in the country. Last month, Fred announced he will step down in October 2025 after 25 years with the program. MPR News guest host Chris Farrell talks with Child as he heads into his final season about the beauty and breadth of classical music, how it taps into our emotions and why it needs to shed its “stuffiness” to reach younger and more diverse audiences.Guest: Fred Child is the host of Performance Today. He was also the commentator and announcer for “Live from Lincoln Center” on PBS. He has hosted many other live national broadcasts, including significant events from New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston and the Aspen Music Festival.Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.    Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

11-21
35:58

What makes a job worth doing?

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a business ethicist who says instead of asking, “What is the meaning of life?” we should ask, “What is the meaning of work?”

11-20
34:03

How philanthropy can support housing stability and racial justice

The Pohlad family announced last month that they were looking to sell the Minnesota Twins after owning the team for 40 years. Well, for almost that long, the Pohlads also have had a private family foundation. It gives away millions of dollars every year to nonprofit organizations around the Twin Cities. In recent years the foundation has focused on two priorities — giving money to ease the housing crisis and address racial inequality. One of the foundation’s goals is to increase the number of Black homeowners. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the president of the Pohlad Family Foundation, Susan Bass Roberts, about how and where the Pohlads give away their money and about her own career in corporate and community philanthropy, We want to hear from you, too. What questions do you have about the Pohlad Family Foundation or about how foundations give away their money? Call us during the 9 a.m. hour at 651-227-6000 or 800-242-2828.Guest: Susan Bass Roberts was named president of the Pohlad Family Foundation in 2024, after joining the foundation in 2016 and serving as its vice president and executive director. She previously served as executive director of the Best Buy Foundation, vice president of communications and community relations for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and director of community affairs and philanthropy for Limited Brands, Inc.

11-19
47:35

Why is it so hard to talk about money?

Sometimes when we talk about money, we are really talking about feeling accepted, valued, heard and seen. MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the uncomfortable intersection of money and feelings. Guests: Reema Khrais is the host of the Marketplace podcast, This is Uncomfortable, a show about the unanticipated ways money shapes our relationships, identities and the choices we make.   Chris Farrell is senior economics contributor at Minnesota Public Radio and Marketplace, American Public Media's nationally syndicated public radio business and economic programs. Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.    Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.      

11-15
47:02

The unique benefits of intergenerational friendships

What are the benefits of having a friend who’s much older than you ... or a buddy who is much younger than you? MPR News hosts Angela Davis and her guests to talk about the value of intergenerational friendships and how to build them.

11-14
46:31

How are you feeling a week after the election?

Did the election leave you feeling numb? Or maybe you’re hopeful, relieved, angry or feeling something else entirely. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two therapists about our complicated postelection emotions.

11-13
46:45

The role of misinformation in the 2024 election

The election is over, but rumors, lies and misinformation are here to stay. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about the role misinformation played in the election and how we can protect ourselves from it.

11-11
47:28

How men voted in the 2024 presidential election

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about men and how they voted in the 2024 presidential election.

11-08
47:00

Talking Sense: The 2024 Election Results

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about the results of the 2024 election.

11-07
47:24

Analyzing the 2024 election results

Join MPR News host Angela Davis as she talks with political analysts about the 2024 election results.

11-06
01:34:46

What’s your plan for handling election anxiety?

Are you feeling anxious about the election? You’re not alone.  Seven in 10 adults said the election was a significant source of stress in their lives, according to an annual survey by the American Psychological Association.Many voters are feeling a sense of unease and foreboding as we move into the final hours of a presidential election that both candidates have described as a vote on the future of the nation.The news has been full of stories about election anxiety. Religious groups, college campuses and workplace mental health providers are offering strategies and spaces for people to cope with the uncertainty.MPR News host Angela Davis talked with guests and listeners about why election anxiety is so pervasive and how to make plans for managing the stress and protecting your mental health as the votes are counted.Guests: Catherine Squires is professor emerita of communication studies and served as associate dean of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Recently she was the senior fellow in residence at the African American Leadership Forum in the Twin Cities. She is a writer and yoga practitioner who uses movement and storytelling to support healing change.   Michelle Sherman is a clinical psychologist in private practice. She is board certified in couple and family psychology and is a fellow of the American Psychological Association. She was a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School and also worked with military families through VA Health Care. She has published resources for teenagers and adults with family members living with a mental illness or history of trauma.    Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.    Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.     

11-05
46:29

How generational differences shape workplaces

Gen Z does a good job taking sick days, unlike their older coworkers. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how the mix of generations in today’s workforce is redefining how we work.

11-04
47:14

What is your favorite monster?

We dare you to listen to the MPR News Arts team’s second annual Halloween special about . . . monsters! Otherworldly creatures like the Yōkai of Japan, the bigfoots of North American forests, and even Cookie Monster and Count Chocula span all cultures and periods. We explore how monsters reflect the societies and times they are created in. And how they can represent mischief, merriment and self-expression as well as fears, anxieties and historical traumas.Guests:Peter Harle teaches at the University of Minnesota and is an advisor in the art history department. He’s currently teaching “Witches, Ghosts and Evil Clowns: Figures of Fear in Art, Folklore and Popular Culture.” The course explores “figures of fear” across history, art, religion, popular culture and social media. The Roe Family Singers is a Minnesota band that plays bluegrass, country and rock. They perform every Monday night at the 331 Club in Minneapolis.

10-31
47:50

Suicide prevention and awareness: What can we do?

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about how each of us can learn to recognize signs of depression and be a resource for people struggling with thoughts of ending their own life.

10-30
46:47

Domestic violence can affect anyone at any time

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guest talk about how domestic violence can happen to anyone at any time and is preventable and treatable. 

10-28
47:46

Do you have a book in you?

Do you have a book in you? MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a book agent and the founder of a small publishing company about changes in the publishing industry and what it takes to get your story in print.

10-28
47:30

Be the first: Success stories from Minnesota's trailblazers

For immigrants to America, so much is new. New culture, new language, new systems, new opportunities.The learning curve is steep. But eventually, someone pushes through to a new level and becomes the first in their community to achieve a goal. Maybe they become the first in their family to graduate from college, or the first to start a small business. Maybe they are the first to purchase farmland or the first to publish a book that integrates their culture into the American story.On Oct. 17, MPR News’ North Star Journey Live partnered with Sahan Journal to host a conversation about firsts. What do these trailblazers from immigrant communities have in common? What are the unique rewards and challenges that come with being the first to embark on a new journey?The celebration was hosted by MPR News’ Nina Moini, who herself is the first American journalist in her immigrant family, and Sahan Journal digital producer Alberto Gomez. North Star Journey Live: The Firsts Panelists included Chenue Her, the first Hmong man to become a TV news anchor; Rodrigo Cala, who is the first in his family to buy a farm in the U.S.; Michael Vang, one of the first Hmong soccer players to play professionally in the U.S.; Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, the first person under age 26 to win a seat in the Minnesota Senate; Remona Htoo, one of the first Karen children’s book authors in the U.S.; and Abenezer Merdassa, an Ethiopian-American comic who found his way into the stand-up world thanks to procrastinating his finals.

10-23
01:06:51

Vegan options are going mainstream

Plant-based diets are growing more popular. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the founder of the “Vegan Sexy Cool” podcast and a professor of nutrition about the benefits and challenges of going vegan.

10-23
47:20

How well do you know your neighbors?

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about why fewer Americans spend time with neighbors, why these ties matter and how to make connections with the people who live nearby.

10-22
46:43

Connecting young people to their purpose

Dream. Ignite. Grow. Those three words drive the mission of Project Success — a Minneapolis nonprofit founded 30 years ago. The program helps students connect to a purpose, discover who they are and find out what they want from life after high school.  MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the founder and leader of Project Success about how they create opportunities for young people to have experiences that build skills and confidence.

10-18
46:46

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