Archives: Episodes

Host Kevin Flynn, sitting in for Scott Hennen, hosts Leon Francis for a wide-ranging discussion on a chilly Wednesday morning. The show kicks off with Flynn praising Pam Bondi for her performance in a recent hearing against political opponents. The hosts also tackle hot-button issues like gun violence, arguing that the focus on "assault weapons" is misguided and that the real problem lies in a "broken society." They highlight the high murder rates in major cities and advocate for securing schools with better technology and armed personnel instead of pushing for gun bans. Flynn and Francis also address racism, echoing comments from Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock about the importance of focusing on character over race.

Later, the discussion pivots to Flynn's former life as a country musician with a band named Kevin Kidd and the Naked Cowboys. The hosts are joined by Dean of the UND School of Aerospace, Bob Krause, who discusses the school's innovative programs, including satellite launches and drone integration into air traffic control. Krause also details upcoming aerospace events in North Dakota and touches on the counter-drone technology being developed to protect against adversarial or irresponsible use of drones.

Standout Moments:

• 8:15 AM: Leon Francis challenges listeners to call in and ask a "Southern, gruffy, honoree" black man any question they have, in an effort to promote character-based conversations over race-based ones.
• 8:30 AM: Kevin Flynn and Leon Francis discuss the high rates of "black on black" gun violence in cities like Chicago and Baltimore, asserting that this should be the primary focus of gun violence discussions rather than school shootings.
• 8:45 AM: The hosts take a call from a listener who discusses the importance of raising children with strong values, proper gun safety, and a "colorblind" perspective, prompting Flynn and Francis to agree on the need for raising "warriors" instead of "soy boys".
• 9:00 AM: Flynn shares a story from his younger days about his country band, "Kevin Kidd and the Naked Cowboys," and mentions that one of his former bandmates, C.J. Udine, now plays for country star Gary Allan.
• 9:15 AM: Dean of the UND School of Aerospace, Bob Kraus, joins the show to talk about UND's Aerospace program, mentioning its high enrollment and the school's involvement in launching two satellites that are set to rejoin in space.
• 9:30 AM: Kraus discusses counter-drone technology and the need to be able to detect, identify, and mitigate adversarial drones. He also mentions the legal and safety challenges of shooting drones out of the sky, noting that testing for this is done at Camp Grafton.
• 9:45 AM: A listener calls in to discuss the importance of securing schools with good barriers, camera systems, and armed personnel, with Flynn and Francis agreeing that this is a more effective solution to gun violence than banning firearms.

Hosts Kevin Flynn and Alex Taylor kick off the show on a chilly October morning, celebrating hump day and the end of the Asian lady beetle invasion. The main topic of discussion is the government shutdown, with Flynn dedicating the opening song to Pam Bondi for her performance against "foes" like Adam Schiff and Dick Durbin. The hosts express frustration with the shutdown, arguing that Democrats are playing a losing hand and are out of touch with the public.

Later in the show, Kevin and Alex are joined by Ag Director Bridgette Readel to discuss peanuts and the unexpected difficulties farmers face with Canadian tariffs on steel parts. Don Kinzler, a gardening expert, makes his final appearance of the season, offering tips on preparing lawns and gardens for winter, including deep watering, protecting certain plants from rabbits, and the best time for dormant seeding. The show also touches on local sports, the gold market, and various pop culture headlines, like P. Diddy's request to serve his sentence at a "cushier" facility.

Standout Moments:

• 6:13 AM: Kevin Flynn dedicates the opening song to Pam Bondi, praising her for her "glorious" performance against Democrats during a hearing.
• 6:26 AM: Alex Taylor mentions that gold has hit $4,000 an ounce for the first time, noting that David Fisher from Landmark Capital had predicted this would happen.
• 7:00 AM: The hosts are joined by Bridgette Readel, who discusses the $1.7 billion value of the U.S. peanut industry and the different types of peanuts grown in the country.
• 7:14 AM: Readel explains the unintended consequences of steel tariffs on farmers, who are now facing up to 50% charges when trying to get parts from Canada.
• 7:30 AM: Don Kinzler, a gardening expert, joins the show for his final appearance of the season and offers listeners tips on how to prepare their gardens for winter, including deep watering and protecting plants from rabbits.
• 7:45 AM: Kinzler explains the concept of dormant seeding and advises listeners to use a grass seed blend with at least 50% Kentucky bluegrass.
• 8:00 AM: The hosts discuss a breaking news report about former FBI Director James Comey appearing in court to face charges of giving false statements to Congress.
• 8:15 AM: The hosts interview Don Kinzler, who gives his final gardening tips for the season, including protecting trees from winter sun damage and explaining the proper way to handle long-needled pine trees.
• 8:30 AM: Flynn is joined by Leon Francis, who is filling in for Scott Hennen on What's On Your Mind.

Concordia Cobbers Football head coach Terry Horan and Moorhead Spuds Football head coach Kevin Feeney join host Greg Burd for the 2025 Coaches Corner Podcast! This week they discuss defensive challenges for offensive players, in season adjustments and additions to offense + defense, and what’s been working and challenges of this week’s opponents.   Sponsors: Third Drop Coffee Brady’s Service Camrud Foss Concrete

This episode, recorded on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, covers a major protest by Minnesota school board members regarding transgender athlete policies, the latest in the search for a murder suspect in Fargo, and an interview with an expert on how Artificial Intelligence will fundamentally change careers and daily life.

Key Moments

• School Board Rebellion on Transgender Athletes (Top 5 at 5): More than 100 Minnesota school board members signed a letter urging the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) to comply with federal Title IX law by barring transgender athletes from girls' sports. This comes as a 10-day deadline expires Friday, after which Minnesota risks losing $1 billion in federal funding. Lisa Atkinson, a signing board member, stated the issue is about protecting female athletes and that the MSHSL's 2015 policy does not align with federal law.
• Fargo Murder Suspect Still at Large: Fargo police are still searching for 20-year-old Tyreek Jones, who is wanted in connection with a deadly downtown shooting that occurred on August 3rd. Police Lieutenant Tom Shaw stated the search has gone national and the investigation has not slowed down.
• Credit Card Debt Reaches Record High: Credit card balances in the U.S. hit $1.21 trillion in the second quarter of 2025, a 2.3% increase from the prior quarter and tying last year's all-time high.
• The AI Revolution: Marc Beckman, CEO and author of Some Future Day: How AI is Going to Change Everything, discusses the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence across finance, defense, health, and creative industries.

  • Job Impact: AI will eliminate jobs across both blue-collar (factory workers) and white-collar (lawyers, accounting) sectors.
  • Optimism vs. Fear: While acknowledging job losses, Beckman remains optimistic, stating new technologies give an advantage and create new opportunities for people who are curious and keep learning.
  • Adaptation: He advises beginners to start by using simple AI search engines like ChatGPT or Perplexity, saying the tools are out there and accessible for anyone who knows how to read.
  • Creative Careers: Beckman predicts man will beat machine in fields requiring human creative ingenuity, such as the arts, creative lawyering, and creative accounting.

• Government Shutdown Update: Congresswoman Julie Fedorchuk (R-ND) stated she is back in Bismarck and frustrated that the government shutdown continues. She laid blame on Senate Democrats, noting they had previously voted for the same spending levels in March. The Democrats are reportedly holding out to restore $200 billion in health care funding for illegal immigrants.
• Investor Home-Buying Surges (Top 5 at 5): Real estate investors, both institutional and individual, bought one-third of all single-family residential properties sold in the second quarter of 2025, the highest percentage in five years. The host warns that "when the corporations own all the homes, that's time to worry."
• COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Change: The CDC has adopted recommendations to stop recommending COVID-19 shots for all Americans, leaving the decision to patients. Previously, they recommended annual boosters for everyone six months and older.
• Personal Bests and Cold Weather: The host shares achieving a personal best in the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, despite unseasonably warm 70∘F starting temperatures. Fargo's current temperature is now a more seasonable 54∘F, with the sun shining brightly. (4:00)

Host Scott Hennen reports live from Washington D.C., where he is attending a conference for technology leaders. He shares insights from the event, including an address by Secretary Doug Burgum, who gave a pitch for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as a conference venue once it opens in July 2026. Hennen also discusses new technology for mammograms that eliminates discomfort and mentions meeting Kimball Musk, who is interested in donating to the library. He makes the case that technology like "intelligence factories" could help North Dakota's economy to the point of generating enough revenue for zero property and income taxes.  

The show dedicates time to the two-year anniversary of the October 7th attack in Israel, with Hennen lamenting that the event has largely been forgotten by many. He later interviews Father Phil Ackerman, a Fargo Diocese priest who was in Bethlehem during the attack and recounts his group's challenging journey to safety.  

Standout Moments:

• 8:00 AM: Host Scott Hennen broadcasts live from Washington D.C., mentioning he is there for a technology conference and that the city feels like a "ghost town" due to the government shutdown.  

• 8:15 AM: David Fisher of Landmark Capital details spending Democrats are fighting to keep in place, including $3 million for circumcisions and vasectomies in Zambia and $3.6 million for pastry cooking classes for male prostitutes in Haiti.  

• 8:30 AM: Fisher explains the "Argentina factor," where a $20 billion bridge loan was given to Argentina while U.S. soybean farmers face falling prices, causing "overwhelming frustration".  

• 8:45 AM: Fisher reveals that gold has increased by almost 50% and silver by 67% year-to-date, attributing the rally to the government needing to devalue the dollar.  

• 9:00 AM: Hennen reflects on the two-year anniversary of the October 7th attack in Israel, stating it was the "biggest slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust" and questioning why the public so quickly forgets such events.  

• 9:30 AM: Hennen plays a clip of Speaker Mike Johnson, who highlights that Democrats who are now opposing a CR bill previously supported 13 similar CRs in the last four years, all while the bill demands almost $200 billion for "health care services for illegal immigrants".  

• 9:45 AM: Father Phil Ackerman recounts his experience of being in Bethlehem during the October 7th attack, stating his group did not get the full extent of what happened until relatives texted them from home. He mentions the challenging 6-to-8 hour wait to cross the border into Jordan.  

• 10:00 AM: Hennen criticizes a listener's text that denies the atrocities of October 7th and the Holocaust, calling the denial a result of an "evil, cold stone heart".  

• 10:15 AM: Hennen responds to a listener's text about AOC's rise from bartender to a national figure, suggesting she fills a "vacuum of crazy" on the left and that her prominence is a reflection of how far the Democratic party has fallen.  

• 10:30 AM: A listener calls in to discuss the high cost of technology in new vehicles, with Hennen agreeing that 80% of a new car's cost is software, not parts.

Hosts Alex Taylor and Kevin Flynn discuss a variety of topics, including the start of the cooler fall weather and a brief sports update on the Jaguars' win over the Chiefs. The hosts spend a significant portion of the show discussing political scandals, such as the government weaponization against Republicans by Jack Smith, and the controversial statements of Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones, who was caught in texts talking about killing his Republican opponents and their children. Flynn and Taylor discuss the role of the National Guard and why a judge would block President Trump from using it in a domestic situation. A segment with Ag Director Bridgette Readel addresses the fallacious videos about cattlemen and meat packing monopolies. The show also touches on personal topics, such as the debate over vaccinations, and celebrates John Mellencamp's birthday, noting his only number-one hit was "Jack & Diane".

Standout Moments:

• 6:16 AM: The hosts discuss a press conference where Republican leaders accused Jack Smith and the Biden administration of spying on them as part of the "Arctic Frost" investigation.
• 6:26 AM: The hosts discuss Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones's text messages where he fantasized about shooting a Republican opponent and wishing death upon their children.
• 7:14 AM: Ag Director Bridgette Readel refutes claims from a video that the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is not the friend of small ranchers.
• 8:12 AM: Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner and Sergeant Joe Crawford join the show to discuss their roles in law enforcement and the challenges of policing in the current political climate.
• 8:27 AM: The hosts and Dean Wysocki discuss the two-year anniversary of the October 7th attack in Israel and the horrific details of the event.

This episode, recorded on Monday, October 6, 2025, covers major news about the Enderlin tornado upgrade, the uncertain future of Vikings QB Carson Wentz, and a look into employee satisfaction within Fargo city departments. The host also shares personal details about completing the Twin Cities Marathon.

Key Moments

• Enderlin Tornado Upgraded to EF5 and Debate: The June 20th tornado that hit Enderlin, North Dakota, has been officially upgraded to an EF5, with peak winds exceeding 210 mph, making it the nation's first EF5 in 12 years and the first in North Dakota since 1957. Chief Meteorologist Dean Wysocki joins the show to discuss the debate within the meteorology community, stating a well-respected meteorologist believes "cherry-picked information" was used to justify the EF5 rating, suggesting slight exaggeration.
• Carson Wentz's Future as Vikings QB: The Minnesota Vikings secured a 21-17 comeback win against the Cleveland Browns in London. Carson Wentz led the game-winning drive, throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left. Wentz finished the game completing 25 of 34 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown. When asked if Wentz would remain the starter after the bye week, Coach Kevin O'Connell was vague and "noncommittal".
• Fargo City Departments Morale: Exit interviews from multiple Fargo city departments revealed a troubling pattern of employee complaints within the Communications Department, where management was described as "intense, rude, demeaning, and manipulative". However, interviews from Fargo Fire and Fargo Police departments were largely positive, though nearly all cited pay as the primary reason for leaving.
• Soybean Aid Imminent: President Trump is planning a "substantial aid package" to US soybean farmers to help them survive China's ongoing boycott of American beans. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson said the public could expect news of this support as soon as Tuesday.
• Twin Cities Marathon Personal Best: The host shares details about running the Twin Cities Marathon yesterday, where the starting temperature was around 70∘F, which was "way too warm". Despite the heat, he was able to achieve a personal best time and finished in the top 30 for his age group. He is on a three-year plan to qualify for the Boston Marathon, needing to cut four minutes off his time by the time he turns 60.
• Teddy Roosevelt Library Credit Line: The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation has tapped $53 million of a $70 million line of credit from the Bank of North Dakota to cover construction costs while fundraising continues. The full amount may be accessed by the end of the year. The line of credit must be repaid by June 30, 2027.
• CDC Stops Blanket COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has adopted recommendations to stop recommending COVID-19 shots for all Americans, leaving the choice up to individual patients.

Hosts Kevin Flynn and Alex Taylor tackle a wide range of topics in this episode, from local weather and sports to national headlines. They discuss the ongoing anti-ICE protests in Portland and Chicago, detailing the violent clashes and the controversial decision by a judge to block President Trump's order to deploy the National Guard. The hosts share reports from journalists on the ground and clips from commentators, analyzing the legal and political implications of the situation. They also touch on the government shutdown and its effects. In addition, the show covers the latest in the world of agriculture, featuring a conversation with Ag Director Bridgette Readel about the state of farming, including tax changes and new dairy products. The episode concludes with a segment on health and wellness with guest Mariah Prussia, who discusses canning, detoxing, and a unique at-home health test that analyzes biological age and organ function.

Standout Moments:

• 6:14 AM: Kevin Flynn and Alex Taylor discuss the rise of violent anti-ICE protests in Portland and Chicago and the arrest of a journalist, Nick Sorter, for reporting on the events.  

• 6:27 AM: A report details how a federal judge blocked President Trump's order to send the National Guard into Portland, prompting a discussion on the president's authority as commander-in-chief.  

• 6:41 AM: The hosts and Dean Wysocki discuss a bizarre fact about the origin of the "Mad Hatter" from Alice in Wonderland.  

• 7:21 AM: Ag Director Bridgette Readel joins the show to talk about the WDAY radio farm show on November 5th and how changes to tax laws from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will affect farmers.   

• 7:41 AM: Flynn and Alex discuss a new Oikos product called "Fusion," a dairy drink tailored for people on weight loss plans.  

• 8:12 AM: Health and wellness expert Mariah Prussia talks about her hobby of canning and introduces a new at-home biological aging test that provides a comprehensive health analysis.  

• 8:26 AM: Prussia answers a listener's question about detoxing and offers advice on different methods and the importance of understanding the intention behind a cleanse.

Host Kevin Flynn, filling in for Scott Hennen, dives into a wide range of topics, starting with the latest government shutdown and its personal impact on listeners, including an IRS agent in Omaha. He shares his thoughts on the situation in Portland and Chicago, including a federal judge's block on the Oregon National Guard. Flynn is joined by retired General Mike Haugen to discuss the National Guard's role and the posse comitatus law, as well as new physical standards for the military under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Hogan offers insights into the importance of maintaining high standards for the troops.

Later in the show, North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak joins the conversation to address listener questions about the shutdown and government spending. She explains the details of the budget debate, revealing what Democrats are proposing in their latest spending package. The show also touches on the fall harvest in North Dakota, the Lezak Recurring Cycle for weather forecasting, and a review of a unique jalapeno and peanut butter beer from a local brewery.

Standout Moments:

• 8:45 AM: Kevin Flynn outlines the topics for the day, including an interview with Bridgette Readel about cattlemen, a weather report from Dean Wysocki on the LRC, and upcoming interviews with General Mike Hogan and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak.
• 9:00 AM: Dean Wysocki explains the Lezak Recurring Cycle (LRC) and how it is used to forecast weather patterns for the coming months.
• 9:15 AM: Flynn discusses the significance of National Coaches Day, connecting the lessons learned from sports—discipline and hard work—to the lack of "law and order" he perceives in current society.
• 9:45 AM: A listener shares how the government shutdown is affecting their brother, an IRS agent in Omaha, who has savings to weather the furlough.
• 10:15 AM: General Mike Haugen discusses the constitutional role of the National Guard in suppressing insurrections and why the federal judge's block on the Oregon National Guard is likely to be overturned by the Supreme Court.
• 10:30 AM: Haugen explains how the military's recruiting numbers have improved since the implementation of higher physical standards and a focus on performance.
• 10:45 AM: North Dakota Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak explains her decision to forgo pay during the shutdown and details the spending proposals from Democrats, including funding for programs she deems "egregious" and the healthcare loophole for illegal immigrants.
• 11:00 AM: A listener asks Congresswoman Fedorchak about a veteran's disability compensation formula. Fedorchak encourages the listener to call her office for assistance with their specific case.

This episode, recorded on Friday, October 3rd, covers major geopolitical developments, the ongoing US government shutdown, and critical local news, including a deep dive into the political and social issues facing Minneapolis and Minnesota. The conversation features an interview with the producer of the documentary A Precarious State.