FreepCast

Episode 16 — ANN FEE

Our guest this week on FreepCast is Ann Fee, the executive director of the Arts Center of St. Peter. Ann has had a lot of creative irons in the fire over the years. Among her most visible endeavors is her partnership with musician Joe Tougas. Their band, The Frye, is a favorite among Mankato tavern-goers, and the musical project the pair teamed up for called "Hank & Rita: A Barroom Operetta" was among the most beloved and original creations to hit southern Minnesota in years. On this episode of FreepCast, Ann talks about the music, she and Joe play a few tunes, we get all the details of the upcoming Rocky Horror/Bat out of Hell Pageant and Sing Along, and so much more. It was a joy to have Ann in the studio. 

Episode 15 — COLIN SCHARF AND LAURA SCHULTZ

In a first for FreepCast, we've got live music! Colin Scharf and Laura Schultz, the husband and wife team who head up Good Night Gold Dust, perform three tunes during their time on FreepCast, including a new song Laura wrote over the summer called "Wolf." They also perform "Headlights," which happens to be the FreepCast theme music, and "Waves," which is perhaps their most beloved song. We also get into their back stories and talk hockey in this hour of fantastic entertainment.

Episode 14 — MELISSA KETCHUM

When Melissa Ketchum spoke to Mankato Magazine a year ago, I thought at the time that it'd be great to have her on a venue where we could go a little deeper on who she is and how she's come to this unique point in her life. Melissa is very candid about her sobriety and her mental health, and the way she's dealt with challenges on those fronts is inspiring.
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Episode 13 — PETE BLOEDEL

You won't find a kinder man or more beloved educator anywhere in Mankato than Pete Bloedel. The Bethany Lutheran College theater professor has been teaching for 27 years and, in that time, has created a unique theater education experience for students. He's also created one of the most anticipated theater-going experiences each fall with his "Theater Physics," which kicks off this weekend. In this episode of FreepCast, we dive into Pete's theater background, his moonlighting as magician/juggler and his music career with his band, The Divers.

Episode 12 — JUSTIN "FUZZY" FASNACHT

Few people in Mankato are as connected to the local music as Justin "Fuzzy" Fasnacht. A lifelong Mankato resident, he's a proud townie who is as big a Mankato booster and cheerleader as you'll find. He's also the founder of the Internet radio station Fuzztalk Radio.
Fuzzy has had some health issues recently, and in this episode of FreepCast he gets very candid about his life, his life choices, and how difficult this summer has been for him.
It's a great conversation in which we learn Fuzzy was a straight-A student at Mankato East, he was a band geek, and a Lancer. We also learn he's aiming to get in shape as soon as his leg heals.
Good luck, Fuzzy.

A FreepCast UPDATE!

Just a quick note to let you all know we haven't abandoned you — the host's voice has just been, well, on sick leave. But now we're back and ready to start FreepCast-ing again! Next week we'll be recording two episodes. First we'll sit down with Justin "Fuzzy" Fasnacht, the godfather of the local music scene. Then later, we'll have a chat with Pete Bloedel, theater guru at Bethany Lutheran College and creator of Theater Physics, one of the most inventive hours of live entertainment in this town every year.

Episode 11 — PAT RYAN

Pay Ryan is one of those people in our community who has done it all when it comes to theater and performing. He's taught, produced, written, directed -- everything, really. And he's just a great guy and even better storyteller.
On this episode of FreepCast, Pat talks about life with Parkinson's disease, overcoming alcoholism, goofing around with the governor, writing and directing plays and being a creative force in southern Minnesota.

FreepCast Episode 10 — ISAAC KOLSTAD

It's been five years since Isaac Kolstad had the bar fight that would change his life in profound ways. After that fight — which left him in a coma, and had some doctors doubting his chances of recovery — Isaac's life became an epic struggle. He had to relearn to walk and talk, and come to terms with his future being vastly different than the one he envisioned.
Today he's upbeat, continuing with chiropractic and speech therapy, and will soon have his driver's license; one more step on the journey to normalcy. He talks about it all on FreepCast, including how much the community's support meant to his recovery.

We'll be back real soon!

Taking a break to do, like, actual Free Press Media work ... and vacation ... and screw around. Check back next week!

Episode 9 — DINAH LANGSJOEN

Dinah Langsjoen was born and raised in Mankato ... but that's probably her similarities with 'Kato folks ends. Her family was part of a peaceful religious cult, her father passed away when she was 9 months old, she's a single mother struggling to maintain her artistic drive and identity and ... she just found out she has breast cancer. Dinah has been keeping people up to date on her health via her Caring Bridge page. Check it out. You'll be glad you did.