Shows / Wedge LIVE!
Wedge LIVE!
A show about Minneapolis politics from the maker of Wedge LIVE, the award winning local news website.
Episodes
Wedge LIVE!Collin Beachy - Minneapolis School Board At-Large
This week on the Wedge LIVE podcast, John is joined by candidates for Minneapolis School Board At-Large: Collin Beachy, KerryJo Felder, and Sonya Emerick (We…
Wedge LIVE!Anne Winkler-Morey's 420-Day Bike Trip Around the Perimeter of the US
After getting laid-off from her job as a college professor during the great recession a decade ago, a Minneapolis woman with a fear of bikes and strangers…
Wedge LIVE!Minneapolis Primary Results Episode 2022
John is joined by Jason Garcia and Josh Martin for a reaction to the results of the 2022 Minneapolis primary election. Though this episode premieres two days…
Wedge LIVE!Beachcast: Lake Nokomis Main Beach with Patrick Scully and Wendy Morris
John and co-host/producer Paula Chesley begin by storming the main beach at Lake Nokomis doing "person on the beach" interviews. Then we're joined by local…
Wedge LIVE!Monthly with Melody #2
John is joined by Melody Hoffmann from https://SouthwestVoices.news, who is finally off podcast probation, for our regular "Monthly with Melody" conversation…
Wedge LIVE!Beachcast: Longfellow Beach on the Mississippi River
John and co-host/producer Paula Chesley climb down a 90-year-old staircase to visit Longfellow Beach, an unsanctioned beach on the Mississippi River. Experts…
Wedge LIVE!Beachcast: Hidden Beach at Cedar Lake with Minneapolis Parks Commissioner Tom Olsen
The first in our Beachcast series of episodes. John and co-host/producer Paula Chesley are joined by Minneapolis Parks Commissioner Tom Olsen at his favorite…
Wedge LIVE!What if free transit was included in your rent?
What if instead of a dog grooming station or a cable TV subscription, your landlord or condo association provided you with free transportation? John's guest is…
Wedge LIVE!What's next for the Minneapolis 2040 Plan lawsuit?
Following the City of Minneapolis' recent loss in Hennepin County District Court, John is joined by Matthew Melewski -- a lawyer with experience in Minnesota…
Wedge LIVE!Pedal Pod: Mike Norton, Minneapolis DFL Vice Chair
On the series finale of the Pedal Pod: There's an empty seat in the pod-mobile. John faces the prospect of podcasting without a partner in conversation…
Wedge LIVE!Pedal Pod: Marion Greene, Hennepin County Commissioner
"Pedal-Powered Podcast Week" does something we never intended: stretch into a second and final week (we promise). That's what happens when you record six hours…
Wedge LIVE!Pedal Pod: J.D. Duggan replaces Brian Mitchell
The pedal-pod rolls on. Before we have a chance to really get to know our first guest Brian Mitchell (@BrianMitchL), John decides he's found a better guest in…
Wedge LIVE!Pedal Pod: Aisha Chughtai, Minneapolis City Council Member in Ward 10
We continue the Pedal-Pod series, recorded on location at Open Streets on Lyndale Avenue -- everyone's favorite summer street festival in Minneapolis. John…
Wedge LIVE!Pedal Pod: Ash Narayanan and Elissa Schufman
The first installment of a many part series recorded during the Lyndale Avenue edition of Open Streets Minneapolis on June 5, 2022. We haven't Open Streets on…
Wedge LIVE!Monthly with Melody
John is joined by Melody Hoffman (@MelodySWV) for the first in a series of monthly appearances called "Monthly with Melody" (note: the monthly nature of…
Wedge LIVE!Reproductive Justice in Minnesota with Shayla Walker
A conversation about the struggle for reproductive justice in Minnesota with Shayla Walker, executive director of Our Justice, an organization providing…
Wedge LIVE!Lyndale Avenue Median Episode
John is joined by Melody Hoffmann (@MelodySWV) for an episode recorded smack in the middle of four lanes of traffic on Lyndale Avenue (27th Street…
Wedge LIVE!Lessons for Hennepin Ave: A History of Dedicated Transit Lanes on Minneapolis Streets
John is joined by Peter Wagenius, legislative director for the Sierra Club Northstar Chapter, for a conversation about the history of dedicated transit space…
Wedge LIVE!"Abortion Restrictions Are Functionally Racist"
John has a conversation with reproductive health researcher Asha Hassan, MPH, about the public health and equity impacts of eliminating the constitutional…
Wedge LIVE!LIVE Episode!
John is joined by Jason Garcia for the first ever Ask Us Anything episode. We take calls from Melody (https://SouthwestVoices.news) regarding Lyndale Avenue…
Wedge LIVE!How to Make Friends in Minneapolis, Stop Being Lonely, and Be Happy Forever
On this episode, John is joined by his dear friends Ryan Brown, Elissa Schufman, and PeggySue Imihy Bean to explore the importance of friendship. We explore…
Wedge LIVE!Breaking Down the Race for Hennepin County Attorney: A Progressive Case for Mary Moriarty
John has a conversation with Kathleen Cole, an organizer with People Over Prosecution, whose mission is "transforming prosecution in Hennepin County" by…
Wedge LIVE!Policing and legislating during a time of transition at Minneapolis City Hall, with Elliott Payne
John is joined by Elliott Payne, Minneapolis City Council member in Ward 1. We talk about his plans for a new public safety charter amendment, which he is…
Wedge LIVE!Hiawatha Golf Course: A Sex Forest Episode
John is joined by PeggySue and Chris Meyer for a conversation about attempts to resolve longstanding environmental issues at a south Minneapolis public golf…
Wedge LIVE!Advertise on the Wedge LIVE podcast!
After 60 episodes the Wedge LIVE podcast is taking it to the next level, and we're extending an opportunity to bring your product or service along for the…
Wedge LIVE!The Minneapolis Charter Commission and the Tyranny of Old White Lawyers
John is joined by Jason Garcia (@jasoncomix) and Josh Martin (@JoshMartinMpls) for a conversation about the recent history of the Minneapolis Charter…
Wedge LIVE!Replacing I-94 with a Twin Cities Boulevard
John and co-host PeggySue Imihy have a conversation with Alex Burns and José Antonio Zayas Cabán -- both from Our Streets Minneapolis -- about their new…
Wedge LIVE!Wedge LIVE 4 Kids: A Very Special Minneapolis Public Schools Finance Episode
John's guests are Melissa Whitler and Sara Spafford Freeman (and Sara's large dog). We talk about the Minneapolis Public Schools, racism and segregation…
Wedge LIVE!As Minneapolis teacher strike looms, a conversation with a union leader
With Minneapolis teachers and support staff set to strike if an agreement isn't reached with the school district by March 8, John has a conversation with Shaun…
Wedge LIVE!Paul Ostrow, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney
John has a conversation with Paul Ostrow, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. Paul is a former Minneapolis City Council member and currently works as an…
Wedge LIVE!Maybe Jacob Frey is bad at his job?
John and Jason start by reviewing Mayor Jacob Frey's job performance in the wake of Minneapolis police killing Amir Locke in a no-knock raid. Then they move on…
Wedge LIVE!Amir Locke and police accountability with Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai
John is joined by co-host Jason Garcia for a conversation about Amir Locke and police accountability with Minneapolis City Council member Aisha Chughtai. Watch…
Wedge LIVE!Burger King Drive Thru
John has a conversation with Adam Wysopal, a man with zoning concerns about a Burger King drive thru in his backyard (NBKIMBY). If you'd like to join Adam's…
Wedge LIVE!Ryan Winkler, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney
John has a conversation with Ryan Winkler, MN House Majority Leader and a candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. Ryan Winkler's campaign website…
Wedge LIVE!Simon Trautmann, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney
John has a conversation with Simon Trautmann, a member of the Richfield City Council and a candidate for Hennepin County Attorney. Simon Trautmann's campaign…
Wedge LIVE!DFL Caucus 2022!
John is joined by Senate District 61 Vice Chair Deborah Copperud and Minneapolis DFL digital maestro Conrad Zbikowski for a conversation about the upcoming DFL…
Wedge LIVE!Mary Moriarty, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney
John has a conversation with Mary Moriarty, former Chief Public Defender in Hennepin County, who is currently running for County Attorney. Mary Moriarty's…
Wedge LIVE!Saraswati Singh, candidate for Hennepin County Attorney
John has a conversation with Saraswati Singh, currently a Ramsey County prosecutor, who is running for Hennepin County Attorney. Saraswati Singh's campaign…
Wedge LIVE!Not Your Grandma's SWV
John is joined by Melody Hoffman of the local news upstart Southwest Voices (SWV). We kick off the show with an ill-advised detour into parking statistics on…
Wedge LIVE!Transit Episode
John is joined by PeggySue Imihy (city planner) and Jonathan Ahn (transit consultant) for a conversation about transit in the Twin Cities. First, we try to…
Wedge LIVE!2021 Post-Moore-tem: "Extra! Extra! Election Jacker Foiled by Taylor Dahlin"
A special episode your host hopes you're too busy to listen to, intentionally scheduled for the week between Christmas and New Year's. John is joined by Jason…
Wedge LIVE!Holiday Episode
John is joined by Elissa Schufman and Jason Garcia for a special holiday episode. Elissa takes us through some end of year reflections. Jason gives their…
Wedge LIVE!Minneapolis Redistricting and the Power of the Charter Commission
John is joined by redistricting enthusiast Josh Martin for a conversation about redrawing political boundaries in Minneapolis. It's a process that happens…
- Wedge LIVE!
Surveying the Damage of Election 2021
With two weeks to gather his thoughts and recover from a November 2 gut punch, John is joined by Jason Garcia for a wide ranging conversation about the state…
Wedge LIVE!David Wheeler, candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 10
John has a conversation with David Wheeler, who's running for Minneapolis Council in Ward 10. What's David's closing argument in the final days of the…
Wedge LIVE!An Inside Perspective on Minneapolis Question 2, the Public Safety Charter Amendment - with Andrea Larson
John has a conversation with Andrea Larson, former deputy city coordinator with the city of Minneapolis. Andrea spent six years in the city coordinator's…
Wedge LIVE!Naomi Kritzer, Election Profiler and Award-Winning Sci Fi Author
John is joined by co-host Elissa Schufman for a conversation with Naomi Kritzer, noted local election profiler and award-winning author. We talk about why…
Wedge LIVE!Lisa Bender, Minneapolis City Council President
John is joined by Lisa Bender, President of the Minneapolis City Council, as she enters the twilight of her Council career. We talk about how she feels going…
Wedge LIVE!A Case for Strong Mayor with Paul Ostrow
John is joined by co-host Josh Martin. We begin the show with breaking news (as of last Friday when this was recorded) of the Star Tribune editorial board…
Wedge LIVE!What's Wrong with a Strong Mayor? A conversation with David Fey about Minneapolis ballot question 1
John's guest is David Fey from Faith in Minnesota. David served as Deputy Mayor during RT Rybak's first term beginning in 2002. Speaking from his experience in…
Wedge LIVE!How to Rank Your Ballot with Schufman & Schuman
John and co-host Elissa Schufman (@schufman) have a conversation with ranked choice voting enthusiast Todd Schuman. Is there ever a good reason to not rank…
Wedge LIVE!Robin Wonsley Worlobah, candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 2
John begins by scolding co-host Jason Garcia for failing to prevent audio disaster in the previous epside. Then we have an extended conversation with Robin…
Wedge LIVE!Jono Cowgill, Minneapolis Park Board President
This episode took a lot of work to salvage. John screwed up his audio and had to re-record. So you'll be hearing John's voice, as it was recorded on the day of…
Wedge LIVE!Cam Gordon, Minneapolis City Council Member in Ward 2
John's guest is Cam Gordon, who represents Ward 2 on the Minneapolis City Council. First, we get Cam's reaction to the recent legal back and forth over the…
Wedge LIVE!Aisha Chughtai, candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 10
John is joined by co-host Jason Garcia for a conversation with Aisha Chughtai, who's running for Minneapolis City Council. We start with an inappropriate…
Wedge LIVE!Katie Jones, candidate for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 10
John has a conversation with Minneapolis City Council candidate Katie Jones. We talk about the incredibly high stakes for this election while Katie sits on the…
Wedge LIVE!Steve Brandt, candidate for Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation
On the thrilling conclusion of BET Candidates Week: Steve Brandt. John begins by asking Steve to give his assessment of where Minneapolis stands after the…
Wedge LIVE!Pine Salica, candidate for Minneapolis Board of Estimate and Taxation
Pine Salica is our first guest for BET Candidates Week! We start off with the basics. What is the BET? Why do you want this job? Are you a fiscal conservative…
Wedge LIVE!Jeremiah Ellison, Minneapolis City Council Member in Ward 5
John is joined by Jeremiah Ellison who represents Ward 5 in North Minneapolis. Jeremiah says he's a progressive outlier in a historically low-turnout ward that…
Wedge LIVE!Erica Mauter on 2021 and the experience of 2017
John is joined by Erica Mauter for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of the 2021 election. Erica reacts to John's narration of what he calls "the…