American Public Media Group Names Christine Phelps as SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 23, 2019 – After an extensive national search, American Public Media Group (APMG) today announced it has hired Christine Phelps as the company’s new senior vice president & chief human resources officer.Phelps was most recently SVP, Human Resources at the Star Tribune Media Company. Prior to joining the Star Tribune in 2015, she held strategic leadership positions with Taylor Corporation. Her earlier work includes HR positions for Farmers Insurance Group, Internet Brands, BDO Seidman, Sony and The Riverside Church.“Christine is a strategic human resources leader with a broad functional background, a passion for mentoring and developing talent, great media experience and a deep personal commitment to inclusion,” said Jon McTaggart, President and CEO of APMG. “She brings an energetic, practical approach along with an ability to translate business strategy to talent strategy – all qualities that make her a great fit at APMG.”Phelps completed her undergraduate degree at Minnesota State University - Mankato. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and is certified as a SHRM – Senior Certified Professional and Senior Professional in Human Resources.“I’m a long-time public media fan,” Phelps said. “I’m delighted to be joining APMG at this time of continued transformation and success. I look forward to supporting the organization as it expands its relevance with even more audiences.”

American Public Media to Launch Public Radio Broadcast of The Slowdown Today

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 14, 2018 – A new radio edition of the celebrated poetry podcast The Slowdown will be available to public radio listeners in several regions across the country beginning today.Hosted by U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith and produced by American Public Media (APM), The Slowdown has been bringing the power of poetry to listeners across the globe as a weekday podcast since its launch in November 2018. The radio feature of The Slowdown will present the same five-minute program every weekday, encouraging listeners to make a daily space for poetry in an increasingly busy and chaotic world.Serving her second year as the nation’s 22^nd poet laureate, Smith aims to spark conversations that prove poetry helps readers and listeners slow down, think more passionately and deeply, and see the world through the eyes of others.The Slowdown will air each weekday and listeners can find their area’s specific air time by visiting their local station online. The Slowdown will have its broadcast premiere on a growing list of public radio stations, including:

• KALW (San Francisco)
• KHPR (Honolulu)
• KSFC/Spokane Public Radio (Spokane, Wash.)
• WEKU (Lexington, Ky.)
• WGTE (Toledo, Ohio)
• WPPB (Southampton, N.Y.)
• WVPB (Charleston, W.Va.)

The Slowdown is made possible through funding by the Poetry Foundation, a national independent literary organization and publisher of Poetry magazine, and the support of the Library of Congress, which appoints the nation’s poet laureate. The program is available at no charge to stations. Learn more about the radio broadcast on APM’s station website.Podcast or radio broadcast listeners can also find all episodes, and more information on The Slowdown’s website. In addition, listeners can subscribe to receive a daily newsletter of each episode’s poem in their inboxes every morning.###About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.About the Library of CongressThe Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center is the home of the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, a position that has existed since 1937. The Poet Laureate seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry. For more information, visit loc.gov/poetry.The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States – and extensive materials from around the world – both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.About the Poetry FoundationThe Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in American culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs.Follow the Poetry Foundation and Poetry on Facebook at facebook.com/poetryfoundation, Twitter @PoetryFound and Instagram @PoetryFoundation.

The Water Main Presents Research on How Americans Relate to Water: Want to Engage Them? Start with What Matters to Them

Qualitative research from APM Research Lab, Wilder Research offers national perspectives

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 12, 2018 – American Public Media’s water initiative, The Water Main, today announced findings in a study focused on Americans’ perceptions on water, a topic for which there is little existing research. Conducted in collaboration with APM Research Lab and Wilder Research, the qualitative study offers water communicators a starting point on best ways to engage the public.The research included questions about where Americans see water as connected to their lives, and important in society more generally.“The Water Main works to build public will for clean water – a topic we believe Americans can unite behind,” said Amy Skoczlas Cole, Managing Director of The Water Main. “Until now, we didn’t have much insight into what people think and care about when it comes to water. With the insights from this research, we – and anyone else working to communicate about water – can now make this topic more relevant and tangible to their lives. This is an audience-first approach to make sure the work we do reaches people and increases their understanding of and connection to water.”Key preliminary findings from this research include:

• People connect to water in a variety of ways. The majority of respondents stated necessity and dependence as the first things they think of when it comes to water in their lives.
• Respondents reported that the relationship between water and food is almost as strong as the relationship between water and hygiene in their lives.
• Respondents expressed a strong relationship between water and the environment. Just over half (54%) of respondents said the most recent media coverage of water they had encountered was related to an environmental issue. Respondents are, in turn, talking about what they hear in the media. Their most recent conversations about water were often similar to the most recent water-related media coverage respondents had encountered.
• But respondents also understood water as relating to topics beyond the environment. The economy, electricity, and human rights also ranked high as societal topics that are strongly related to water.

This research starts to point towards at least three categories of core interests and value sets through which Americans can relate to water.

• The Outdoor Recreation Enthusiast: connecting to water through their favorite body of water, science, and heritage
• The Day to Day User: connecting to water through food, drinking water, their career, and their cost of living
• The Social Impact Citizen: connecting to water through environmental issues, societal well-being, and spirituality

“For me, this study really emphasizes the breadth of ways people derive value from water — from food to hygiene to personal connections,” said Kassira Absar, research associate at APM Research Lab. “It highlights that water connections go beyond environmental concerns.”“The interview questions really prompted respondents to think about the relationship between water and aspects of their lives and society that they may know exist, but don’t often think about,” said Anna Granias, lead study researcher at Wilder Research. “It struck me that more than three out of four respondents have a personal connection to a specific body of water. While respondents’ connection to water was often based on proximity, many respondents also reflected on time spent and memories made with friends and family around these bodies of water. Certainly, this is a positive starting place from which to engage the public in the protection of our water resources.”The complete research report is available at thewatermain.org. The Water Main will use this research to inform its work and shares these findings with the hope of sparking conversation about how to make water more visible, relevant and meaningful to a wider audience.###About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches 20 million listeners via approximately 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Spring ‘18. Data are estimates only.About the Water MainThe Water Main was created by American Public Media in 2017 to serve current and new audiences, by growing a new public service model that shapes and inform critical conversations and decisions in society. The initiative focuses on connecting with audiences to grow Water IQ (understanding) and Water EQ (personal connection), acting in ways that have an enduring impact. The Water Main partners within APM, as well as far beyond its borders in collaboration with other media organizations, stakeholder groups, and communities. Learn more by visiting americanpublicmedia.org/water.About Wilder ResearchWilder Research, a division of Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, is a nationally respected nonprofit research and evaluation group. For more than 100 years, Wilder Research has gathered and interpreted facts and trends to help families and communities thrive, get at the core of community concerns, and uncover issues that are overlooked or poorly understood. Learn more at wilder.org/wilder-research.

Francis Lam Answers the Distress Calls of Thanksgiving Cooks with Turkey Confidential 2018

Tune in November 22, noon - 2 p.m. ET, for Thanksgiving advice fromThe Splendid Table and a group of expert friends.

ST. PAUL, Minn., November 8, 2018 – The biggest cooking day of the year is near, and The Splendid Table will return for its annual tradition of Thanksgiving hand-holding for both hosts and guests. Turkey Confidential, an annual, live call-in radio show is a Thanksgiving staple in kitchens across the country. Tune in Thanksgiving Day, November 22, from noon to 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Check out video, recipes and photos from Turkey Confidentials past.

Offering expert cooking advice and holiday storytelling, Turkey Confidential is a source of calm for Turkey Day jitters for both beginners and experienced holiday cooks alike. Keeping with the tradition, host Francis Lam will take calls and questions from listeners all across the country.This year’s Turkey Confidential will be the first in which Francis hosts on his own, after co-hosting with founding host Lynne Rosetto Kasper in 2017. Francis has led The Splendid Table since Kasper’s retirement late last year and will now carry on this Thanksgiving tradition which spans over 15 years. However, after all those years of working on Thanksgiving, Lynne finds the habit hard to break and will return for a special appearance as a call-in guest for this year’s Turkey Confidential.Also joining Francis on this year’s show are a group of award-winning spirited guests.

• Pati Jinich, host of PBS Television’s Pati’s Mexican Table, resident chef at the Mexican Cultural Institute and author of two cookbooks: Pati’s Mexican Table: The Secrets of Real Mexican Home Cooking and Mexican Today: New and Rediscovered Recipes for the Contemporary Kitchen
• New York Times Magazine food columnist Samin Nosrat, who also has penned the James Beard Award-winning Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking, the basis of a recently launched Netflix documentary series
• Dorie Greenspan, two-time Cookbook of the Year Award Winner and New York Times Magazine “On Dessert” columnist. Dorie is the author of 13 cookbooks and has twice been on The New York Times Bestseller List.

Turkey Confidential will be broadcast live from American Public Media’s headquarters and is available to audiences everywhere via your local public radio station or online stream.Audiences are encouraged to dial in to the live show with their questions and Thanksgiving stories, whether they be fantastic or disastrous. To contact Francis during the show, call the Turkey Confidential hotline at 800-242-2828, or submit your stories and questions via the online form. Listeners can also get in touch through the Turkey Confidential Facebook event page or Twitter. Tag @splendidtable on Instagram to share Thanksgiving feast photos with the Turkey Confidential team.

American Public Media’s Glen Nelson Center Officially Opens, Driving Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth in St. Paul

New innovation-focused center, supported by Knight Foundation, launches in downtown’s Osborn370; flagship program Lunar Startups seeks entrepreneurs for its second cohort

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 5, 2018 – American Public Media’s (APM) Glen Nelson Center has officially opened, advancing innovation, business development and activity in downtown St. Paul. The center, established through memorial gifts in memory of Dr. Glen Nelson, contributions to APM’s Inspired by You campaign, and a $1 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is named in the honor of Dr. Nelson – a longtime supporter, board member and board chair at Minnesota Public Radio and APM – who passed away in 2016.Friends, family, and former colleagues of Dr. Nelson gathered on Monday at an intimate event to open his namesake center. Special guests Marilyn Carlson Nelson and St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter were also in attendance to celebrate the center’s dedication.The center is central to APM’s efforts to lead the changing landscape of media and technology, in addition to ensuring that APM can continue to serve diverse and growing audiences in the most vital of ways. The Glen Nelson Center will invest in and house companies that support this mission and are on the frontier of their field.“The Glen Nelson Center honors Dr. Nelson’s values of entrepreneurship and innovation, and we are very fortunate to have the support of Marilyn Carlson Nelson and her family in this new journey,” said Jon McTaggart, president and CEO of American Public Media Group. “Along with the generosity of Newman’s Own Foundation, the Bill Kling Innovation Endowment, and many people who have honored Dr. Nelson with their personal gifts, we are inspired by the commitment to discovery and expanding public service in our community.”Knight Foundation supported the creation of the center and its flagship program, Lunar Startups, as part of its strategy to promote revitalization efforts in downtown St. Paul and advance an entrepreneurial ecosystem that encourages new job growth.“St. Paul is on the cusp of a resurgence, one focused on claiming its spot as a dynamic and vibrant urban hub. Key to this transformation is an active downtown corridor that attracts new business, new ideas and new opportunities for community engagement opportunities alike. As an exciting, new downtown establishment focused on fostering innovation, the Glen Nelson Center gets St. Paul closer to this goal,” said Jai Winston, Knight Foundation program director for St. Paul.Lunar Startups Preparing for Cohort 2Knight Foundation’s $1 million investment funds, in part, Lunar Startups, the Glen Nelson Center’s flagship program that accelerates local startups with a focus on underrepresented communities.The startup incubator will soon welcome early-stage companies to apply for its Cohort 2 class of entrepreneurs.The program will accept five to seven young companies to occupy this office space, while having access to ongoing visibility, education, stewardship, state-of-the-art equipment and team development.The application period opens Wednesday, November 28, and runs through Monday, December 31. The application will be live on Lunar Startups’ website. Selections will be made in January 2019, with Cohort 2 set to launch in March. Lunar Startups aims to promote and develop underestimated founders leading early stage, scalable ventures. Cohort 1 includes 26 Letters, Asiya, Clutch SOS, Dojour, Monicat Data and Take 12, the majority of which are led by women and/or a person of color.“Cohort 1 has proven to be a powerful group of entrepreneurs that are setting a great bar for future participants,” said Danielle Steer, managing director of Lunar Startups. “Startups that participate in Cohort 2 will have the benefit of a customized program informed by the lessons learned with our first cohort; these startups also get to be on the ground floor of driving the future of the program while joining the MPR|APM community.”Entrepreneurs who have validated that there is a need for their product or service through customers, users or by raising money are encouraged to apply. More information about cohort member criteria can be found here.The 12-month cohort measures success based on each company’s growth and achieved milestones.Cohort 2 information sessionLunar Startups will host a “Lunch and Learn” information session on Wednesday, November 28, 12-2 p.m., for all individuals and groups interested in applying to be a part of Cohort 2.Participation is free and will include presentations by Cohort 1 members, remarks from Knight Foundation’s Jai Winston and Lunar Startups’ Danielle Steer, as well as a light lunch and an opportunity to network with Lunar Startups staff, Cohort 1 members and other applicants. The event serves as an opportunity to learn about Lunar Startups selection criteria and process, how to apply and the experiences of the inaugural cohort.The Lunch and Learn will take place at Lunar Startups’ offices at Osborn370 in downtown St. Paul. The event is family friendly, with a mother’s room onsite. Parking information can be found here.Attendees are asked to RSVP here and contact Danielle Steer at hello@lunarstartups.org with any accommodations requests.###About American Public Media American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches 20 million listeners via approximately 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Spring ‘18. Data are estimates only.About the Glen Nelson CenterThe Glen Nelson Center exists to explore, discover, and develop innovative ways to serve new and diverse audiences through entrepreneurial endeavors that support American Public Media’s public service mission. For more information on the Glen Nelson center, visit GlenNelson.org.About the John S. and James L. Knight FoundationKnight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit kf.org.

American Public Media Names Chandra Kavati as Vice President, Content Distribution and Partnerships

ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 1, 2018 — American Public Media Group today announced that it has named Chandra Kavati as its vice president of content distribution and partnerships. In this role, she will oversee the APM Distribution team, with a focus on driving audience growth within the U.S. public radio system. Kavati also will be responsible for developing new programming and opportunities for expanding APM’s public service, creating and fostering new partnerships and alliances, such as The New York Times and the BBC.Since 2012, Kavati has served as the managing director of development strategy and operations for Minnesota Public Radio and APM. Leading operations for MPR|APM’s philanthropic development division, she has created superior donor experiences and financial stability, and created alignment across American Public Media Group to support audience growth and engagement.“With her almost 20 years’ experience in development, marketing and operations at nonprofits, Chandra’s passion for innovation and building strong relationships, strategies and systems will help the APM Distribution team serve our stations and our listeners across the country even more effectively,” said Mike Reszler, senior vice president for strategy and experimentation & chief digital officer, APMG.Kavati has a Bachelor of Arts in literature and creative writing from Harvard University, and a graduate certificate and Master of Liberal Studies in innovation and technology from the University of Minnesota. She is also a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

U.S. Poet Laureate Brings Poetry to Podcast and Radio Audiences with The Slowdown

Library of Congress, American Public Media and the Poetry Foundationcollaborate to offer daily poetry podcast launching November 26,with national broadcast on public radio stations available January 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 2, 2018 – U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith will soon bring the power of poetry to listeners across the globe as host of a weekday podcast and radio feature titled The Slowdown.The five-minute program encourages listeners to make a daily space for poetry in an increasingly busy and chaotic world.“Poetry isn’t an escape or even a luxury,” Smith said. “I’d argue it’s a necessity, a means of living more deeply with reality.”The celebrated poet will read works by writers from around the country and the world and explore how poetry helps us better understand life, history, art, science and more. The show will debut on podcast platforms in November; it will be made available to public radio stations nationwide early next year.“I'm excited to continue the work I've done as poet laureate in celebrating poems and the conversations they foster. And thanks to technology’s ability to collapse the distance between people -- to give you the feeling that there is one person out there speaking directly and only to you -- geography is no longer a barrier to participation,” Smith said. “I think this is a perfect medium for talking about the very real and natural ways that poems speak to the daily experience of being alive.”Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is serving her second year as the nation’s 22^nd poet laureate. In this role, she has focused on connecting with rural areas by visiting states across the country through her project “American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities.” Smith aims to spark conversations that prove poetry helps readers and listeners slow down, think more passionately and deeply, and see the world through the eyes of others.Made possible through funding by the Poetry Foundation, the Chicago-based independent literary organization and publisher of Poetry magazine, and the support of the Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center, The Slowdown is produced by American Public Media (APM) and will launch on podcast platforms on November 26. The Slowdown will be made available for broadcast on public radio stations across the United States beginning January 14.Listen to a trailer for The Slowdown and subscribe here.“We are thrilled to continue our commitment to poetry and to introduce it to new audiences,” said Dave Kansas, executive vice president and chief content officer for American Public Media Group. “The Slowdown will bring in new and more voices to the poetry scene, while also reaching existing fans with a deep appreciation for this type of literary work.”“As poet laureate of the United States, Tracy K. Smith is in a unique position to expand appreciation of poetry across the nation and show us that poetry helps readers better understand the world,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “We are proud to partner with American Public Media and the Poetry Foundation to help bring her voice to the nation.”“Tracy K. Smith brings a fresh and accessible spirit to poetry, and soon, into the homes and earbuds of Americans,” said Henry Bienen, Poetry Foundation president. “The Slowdown is a perfect extension of our mission to find new and exciting ways for people to connect with poems.”Listeners can find The Slowdown on Apple Podcasts and all podcast platforms beginning November 26. Public radio broadcasting details for The Slowdown will be announced this winter.###About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.About the Library of CongressThe Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center is the home of the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, a position that has existed since 1937. The Poet Laureate seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry. For more information, visit loc.gov/poetry.The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States – and extensive materials from around the world – both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.About the Poetry FoundationThe Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in American culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs.Follow the Poetry Foundation and Poetry on Facebook at facebook.com/poetryfoundation, Twitter @PoetryFound and Instagram @PoetryFoundation.

Live from Here with Chris Thile Announces Additions to Ensemble

Fresh voices will inspire and energize Chris Thile's third season as host, premiering Oct. 6

Saint Paul, Minn., Sept. 18, 2018–Some well-known names–new to public radio–will join Chris Thile on stage for the upcoming season of Live from Here. Over the past two years, Thile has brought his eclectic mix of music and guests to the show, appealing to curious music fans. As the creative force, Thile continues to retool and shape the weekly live public radio performance. This year, he’s added new talent to the mix with a focus on providing an even better experience for live and radio listeners to Live from Here, which has increased its listenership among young listeners, ages 18-44, including a 22 percent gain for those ages 25-34.Mike ElizondoJoining this year as musical director is Mike Elizondo. Musician, songwriter, and Grammy-nominated producer, he’s previously performed in the Live from Here band as the bass player and is best known for his 11-year collaboration with hip-hop producer Dr. Dre, as well as for co-writing Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady,” Carrie Underwood’s No. 1 single “Cowboy Casanova” and 50 Cent’s smash “In Da Club” – which he also co-produced. Over the course of his career, Elizondo has contributed as a musician, writer and/or producer on albums for artists across an incredible range of musical genres, including Jay Z, Fiona Apple, Maroon 5, Mary J. Blige, Nelly Furtado, Pink, Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton, Natasha Bedingfield, Ry Cooder, Snoop Dogg, Keith Urban and Kimbra. He is currently Senior Vice President of A&R for Warner Bros. Records.Mike YardOne of the most well-respected comics in New York, Mike Yard brings fresh comedy to the show this year. Yard is a stand-up comedian and was a contributor to Comedy Central’s “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.” He’s also the host of podcast “Yard Talk with Mike Yard.” Live from Here fans may recognize Yard from his well-received guest appearance on the show last year. Greg HessA long-time fan of the show, Greg Hess joins the Live from Here writing team and acting ensemble. He is a Los Angeles-based writer and performer and is a founding member of ensembles Cook County Social Club and the Improvised Shakespeare Company. He has created original material with Comedy Central, Adult Swim, Funny or Die and Sonar Entertainment. Holly LaurentHolly Laurent, writer and actor, is an alumnus of the Second City main stage in Chicago, where she wrote and performed three critically acclaimed revues. She toured with the Second City national touring company and was a featured performer at the TBS Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, and the Chicago Improv Festival, and she opened an original comedy at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Her film and TV credits include “Barely Famous” (VH1) “Drunk History,” “Key & Peele” (Comedy Central) and “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”

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Serena Brook, who has been with the show for the past two years, will continue in the acting group and will take on the role of announcer of the show. Joey Ryan, who joined the team last year, will continue as the show’s creative director.“I’m beyond excited about the team we have this year,” Thile said. “This show is a joy to make and I feel like that joy gets a little more infectious every week. The new mix of talent further energizes our celebration of hearable beauty and hilarity. We can’t wait to get in front of your ears this fall.”Many members of the show’s existing team and crew are staying on. Departing the show are acting company members Tim Russell and Fred Newman, and keyboardist/musical director Rich Dworsky.“I stand in awe of and will be forever grateful to these extraordinary gentlemen.” Thile said. “Their artistry, individually and collectively, is an essential, immortal part of America’s sonic landscape. As we stay curious about what’s next, we’re mindful of and thankful for all the brilliant people that have helped make this show what it is today.”Live from Here is produced by American Public Media. Audio and video clips, along with scripts, photos and from information about Live from Here with Chris Thile can be found at www.livefromhere.org.For more information, please contactCarla Sacks, Cami Opere or Louis D’Adamio at Sacks & Co.212.741.1000, carla@sacksco.com, cami.opere@sacksco.com or louis.dadamio@sacksco.com.

Alisa Roth Joins MPR Newsroom as Part of APM's Call to Mind Initiative

Roth will serve as MPR News’ first reporter dedicated to covering mental health

ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept. 11, 2018 – Call to Mind, American Public Media’s mental health initiative, is bringing increased reporting on the topic mental health to audiences with the addition of a seasoned reporter to the MPR News staff. Alisa Roth, an experienced journalist, is joining MPR News this fall as the newsroom’s first reporter dedicated to covering the topic of mental health.Roth is the author of Insane: America’s Criminal Treatment of Mental Illness, which was published this spring and received acclaim for its coverage of the mental health crisis within the American criminal justice system. Roth, a former reporter for Marketplace, has also written for The New York Times and The New York Review of Books. A former Fulbright Scholar, she also has reported for NPR and The World.“We are so thrilled to have Alisa bring a focused approach to mental health coverage,” said Babette Apland, managing director of Call to Mind. “The depth of her experience reporting on mental health makes her the perfect person for this role. Mental health is essential to wellbeing for everyone and through Alisa’s reporting, we hope to inspire greater conversation about mental health across the state.”Inspired by You, MPR’s capital campaign, makes funding for this mental health initiative possible. Call to Mind’s five-year national initiative aims to inform and mobilize new conversations about mental health. Its initial focus is primarily on Minnesota and MPR’s regional services, which includes MPR News. It will expand to national audiences via American Public Media’s reach and through partnerships.“As a news organization, we have a responsibility to cover the stories that closely affect our audiences,” said Nancy Cassutt, director of MPR News. “Mental health is an obvious subject that deserves closer coverage. We’re very pleased to now have Alisa’s responsible and thorough reporting available to our listeners.”Roth’s coverage begins this month.

The Hilarious World of Depression Returns for a Third Season

New Season Places Special Focus on Audience Interactions

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 7, 2018 – American Public Media’s hit podcast The Hilarious World of Depression is back with new celebrity interviews and audience discussion about mental illness. Hosted by John Moe, the series brings conversation about clinical depression out of the shadows while keeping things frank and funny. The series will debut its third season Monday, August 13, publishing new episodes weekly through the end of the year.

Season Three’s premiere will feature celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, a culinary expert with an adventurous streak, who has struggled with addiction and depression. Moe and Zimmern will discuss the chef’s story of hitting bottom, redemption, and Zimmern’s friend, the late Anthony Bourdain.The podcast will continue to deliver important discussions about mental illness with well-known individuals such as Scott Thompson of The Kids in the Hall; singer-songwriter Neko Case; hip hop artist and podcaster Open Mike Eagle; comedian and actor Charlyne Yi; and comedian, musician, and army combat veteran Thom Tran. In addition to these conversations, Season Three will place a special emphasis on audience interaction.“This is our audience season. We will continue to have celebrity guests and hear their stories, but we’re also going to have more of our listeners be part of the podcast,” said Moe. “That means episodes where The Hilarious World of Depression answers audience questions and allows them to share their thoughts. This show has evolved to become part of the mental health discussion, and that brings even more voices to the conversation.”Like the first two seasons, Season Three of The Hilarious World of Depression is produced by APM and created in partnership with HealthPartners’s Make It OK campaign, which aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness.“Humor can open a door for a conversation about mental illnesses and begin the healing process,” said Donna Zimmerman, HealthPartners senior vice president for government and community relations.   “The Make It OK campaign works to reduce the stigma of mental illnesses and we are delighted to continue our partnership to reach new audiences this season with messages of hope and recovery.”Listen to The Hilarious World of Depression on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, NPR One, Spotify or RadioPublic. Learn more at The Hilarious World of Depression’s Facebook page and by following @johnmoe and @thwofd on Twitter.

Six high-growth, diverse St. Paul entrepreneurs selected to receive working space, development opportunities as Lunar Startups’ inaugural cohort

Majority of the cohort are startups led by women or a person of colorST. PAUL, Minn., July 23, 2018 – Lunar Startups, an incubator that supports high-growth entrepreneurs in Minnesota, has announced its inaugural cohort of resident organizations. The new program, which was launched earlier this year by American Public Media and is housed at the Glen Nelson Center, will incubate and accelerate startups, with a focus on entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. It is supported in part by a $1 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.The six early-stage companies were selected from an applicant pool of 45 startups led by a diverse group of entrepreneurs. The majority of the startups selected for the first cohort are led by a person of color, and over half are led by women.The inaugural cohort includes:

• 26 Letters – a data insights and analytics startup that informs solutions to help institutions recruit, retain, and grow top talent in today's workforce
• Asiya – a social enterprise created with the mission of increasing sports participation rates among Muslim girls by developing activewear that enables physical activity and sports participation while upholding religious and cultural beliefs
• Clutch SOS – a safety tech startup providing VIP Assurance, which means virtual witnesses, intervention by those witnesses, and proof of your situation in the session via audio recording
• Dojour – a calendar system, providing an easy-to-use platform for organizations to post and share their events on websites, social media, and elsewhere across the web
• Monicat Data – a strategic agency providing data management and technology solutions for the creative economy
• Take 12 – a crowdfunding service allowing friends and family to relieve the financial stress of unpaid maternity leave for working mothers by giving financial gifts in lieu of a traditional baby registry

“Our inaugural cohort represents the broad definition of entrepreneurship,” said Melissa Kjolsing Lynch, founding managing director of Lunar Startups. “These six high-growth startups are tackling real problems from health to safety to equity. We’re excited to surround them with intentional, unique and targeted resources to help them drive growth.”Lunar Startups Cohort 1 will have dedicated workspace in the Glen Nelson Center at Osborn370 in St. Paul’s downtown core. In addition to office space, benefits of the 12-month cohort include ongoing visibility, education, stewardship and team development. Lunar Startups will measure success of the cohort based on the companies’ growth, including customers and milestones achieved.“This impressive group of entrepreneurs reflect the strength, talent, and promise of St. Paul’s diverse startup community. With support from Lunar Startups, we anticipate successes from the cohort that will drive growth and development in the heart of our city,” said Jai Winston, Knight Foundation program director for St. Paul.Support for these projects forms one part of Knight Foundation’s efforts in St. Paul to attract and nurture talent, enhance economic opportunity and foster civic engagement. Since 2005, Knight has pledged more than $14 million to St. Paul.###About American Public Media American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.About the Glen Nelson CenterThe Glen Nelson Center exists to explore, discover, and develop innovative ways to serve new and diverse audiences through entrepreneurial endeavors that support American Public Media’s public service mission. For more information on the Glen Nelson center, visit GlenNelson.org.About the John S. and James L. Knight FoundationKnight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit KF.org.

APM Research Lab launches “Representing US,” new tools in time for the hotly contested 2018 elections

Easily map and sort demographic data and voting history for the nation’s 435 Congressional DistrictsST. PAUL, Minn., June 26, 2018 — Which congressional races are most likely to be influenced by the Millennial vote or Generation Z behind them? Where are the voices of immigrants most likely to play a role? How many districts that went for President Trump in 2016 are currently represented by a Democrat? These are but a few of the many questions that are now easily answerable thanks to a freely accessible new project, launched today by APM Research Lab.Representing US, available here, allows users to easily display any one of 30 variables in a zoomable map or sortable graph.“We hope that this project will help to keep election coverage focused on what is most important: the people who Congress is elected to represent,” said APM Research Lab’s Managing Partner, Craig Helmstetter.APM Research Lab has developed localized versions of Representing US for both Minnesota Public Radio News and Southern California Public Radio, with others likely to follow.“Everyone running for a U.S. House seat ought to know who their constituents are, to serve them well. These tools provide both a demographic profile and plenty of voting history data for journalists and the public to consult counting down to the November midterm elections, when all 435 House seats are up for election,” said Andi Egbert, the project’s chief architect and senior researcher.Select findings:

• At 10 percent of all voting-age adults, Utah’s 3rd Congressional District has the nation’s highest proportion of potential post-Millennial Generation Z voters, age 18-21.

• Massachusetts’ 7th District, which encircles Boston, has the highest share of Millennials among potential voters, at 40 percent of its 18-and-older population. New York’s 12th district and Illinois’ 5th district are next in line for greatest Millennial share.

• Florida includes 9 of the nation’s 10 oldest districts, including its District 11 – the nation’s oldest – where the median age is 56.

• Of the nation’s 435 Congressional Districts, 124 are “minority majority” districts, where people of color collectively outnumber non-Hispanic whites. These districts include:

  • New York’s 15th, where a nation-leading 97 percent of residents are people of color.

  • California’s 40th, where a nation-leading 88 percent of residents are Hispanic.

  • In 31 Districts, at least 90 percent are non-Hispanic White, led by Kentucky’s 4th district where 96 percent of residents identify as non-Hispanic White.

  • How many of the districts that Trump won now have a Democratic Congressperson? Thirteen, including Minnesota’s 7th District, where incumbent Democrat Collin Peterson held his seat in 2016 despite Trump’s 31 percentage point margin of victory.

  • How many of the districts that Clinton won currently have a Republican Congressperson? Twenty-two, including Florida’s 27th, where longstanding, and now outgoing, incumbent Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen won although her district favored Clinton by 20 percentage points.

  • California’s 17th and 18th districts have the highest annual median household incomes in the nation, at more than $120,000 apiece. New York’s 15th and Kentucky’s 5th have the lowest median incomes, with half of all households making less than about $30,000.

Additional findings for the five states holding primaries today:

• New York: More than 7 in 10 residents age 25 or older hold a bachelor’s or higher degree in the New York’s 12th district (the east Side of Manhattan and extending into Queens), making it the best educated district in the nation. However, not far away in New York’s 15th district (The Bronx) has among the nation’s fewest college-educated residents, at 12 percent.

• Colorado: More than one-third of the voting-age population in Colorado’s 1st district (Denver area) are Millennials, making it a top-20 district for greatest Millennial voting presence.

• Maryland: With 56 percent of its adults 25 or older holding a bachelor’s or higher degree, Maryland’s 8th district ranks 13th highest in the country on this measure. That same district (covering the northern D.C. suburbs north toward the Pennsylvania border) has among the lowest poverty rates among the nation’s 435 districts, at just 6.2 percent.

• Oklahoma: The immigrant share of the population in Oklahoma’s U.S. House districts ranges from 2 percent in its 2nd district (covering the eastern-most part of the state), to 10 percent in its 5th district (home to Oklahoma City). Oklahoma’s 2nd district has the most American Indian residents of any district, numbering about 200,000.

• Utah: The claim of the “youngest” district in the nation belongs to Utah’s 3rd district, with a median age of 28. Utah’s 4th and 1st districts (median age 31 for both) are among the top 10 lowest as well.

Data sources, methodology, and guidance on usage are available online here. About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism.About the APM Research LabThe APM Research Lab is a division of American Public Media aimed at informing the public by producing credible research- and analysis-based content. The Research Lab conducts research projects of all types — surveys, demographic analyses, literature reviews, and more — and informs the work of partner organizations and the broader public through traditional reports, as well as infographics, blog posts, interactives, presentations, and other platforms. For more information, visit apmresearchlab.org

The New York Times, American Public Media Bring The Daily to Nine More Stations, Bringing Total to 25 Stations

ST. PAUL, Minn. and NEW YORK, June 14, 2018 – The radio edition of The New York Times’ popular podcast The Daily continues to expand its audience as nine major public radio stations have added or soon will add the program to their lineups. The Daily now airs on 25 stations across the country, including five of the top 10 public radio stations nationwide.Announced earlier this year, the collaboration between The New York Times and American Public Media extends the audio news report’s five million monthly unique listeners to the national radio audience. The Daily officially came to radio on April 2, when it premiered on 16 stations.The radio edition of the The Daily gives public radio listeners a deep analysis of one or two of the day’s top news stories, and draws on the unrivaled quality and expertise of The New York Times’s global footprint of more than 1,450 journalists. It is hosted by celebrated journalist Michael Barbaro, who is a former national political correspondent at The New York Times and host of the 2016 election podcast The Run-Up. Prior to that, he covered New York’s City Hall and the U.S. retail industry.The Daily podcast has found massive success, becoming the most-downloaded new show in 2017 on Apple Podcasts and winning the DuPont-Columbia University Award for audio excellence.The Daily is available weekday afternoons, and listeners can find their area’s specific air time by visiting their local station online. The stations that have recently begun or will soon begin carrying The Daily include:

• KCRW (Santa Monica, Cal.)
• WAMU (Washington, D.C.)
• WBEZ (Chicago)
• WEKU (Richmond, Ky.)
• WEVO / New Hampshire Public Radio (Concord, N.H.)
• WFPL / Louisville Public Radio (Louisville, Ky.)
• WUAL / Alabama Public Radio (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
• WUFT (Gainesville, Fla.)
• WUKY (Lexington, Ky.)

###About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.About The New York Times CompanyThe New York Times Company is a global media organization dedicated to enhancing society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information. The Company includes The New York Times, NYTimes.com and related properties. It is known globally for excellence in its journalism, and innovation in its print and digital storytelling and its business model. Follow news about the company at @NYTimesPR.

APM Research Lab survey: While the Supreme Court considers union policy, the court of public opinion remains deadlocked

Americans evenly split over “right-to-work” or mandating union dues,despite a majority of Americans preferring stronger unions

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 13, 2018 — A new survey by the APM Research Lab has found that despite being tied in their preference for “fair share” and “right-to-work” policies, the majority of Americans think the country is better off with stronger unions. Released today, the findings come from APM Research Lab’s June survey, which reached more than 1,000 American adults.The survey, conducted in the wake of several national teachers strikes and just prior to the Supreme Court’s expected ruling in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31, found a statistical tie with roughly 45 percent of Americans favoring each of the two options:

• “Each worker covered by a union contract should be allowed to decide for themselves whether or not to pay dues,” which describes a “right-to-work” policy, and
• “All workers covered by union contracts should pay at least some union dues” describing a “fair share” policy.

“The public is still deadlocked on whether or not workers covered by union contracts should be required to pay any union dues, just as the Supreme Court was prior to the addition of Justice Gorsuch,” said Craig Helmstetter, APM Research Lab’s Managing Partner. “And yet, 62 percent of Americans said they think the United States would be better off if unions were stronger.”Helmstetter added that this survey uniquely asked respondents to explain their reasons for supporting one policy over the other and asked about the union membership experience of the entire household.“Forty percent of American adults live in households that include past or present union members. Respondents from these union households are more likely to support ‘fair share’ policies and stronger unions than are those from non-union households,” he said.Additional key findings concerning “right-to-work” policies:

• Americans are evenly split in their preference for “right-to-work” as opposed to “fair share” union policy with about 45 percent choosing each option, and the remainder unsure.
• A “right-to-work” approach is favored by 50 percent or more of those with high school diplomas or less education, those without union experience in their household, Republicans, and those living in the south.
  • The most popular reasons for supporting “right-to-work” policies have to do with freedom of choice, with nearly 50 percent of “right-to-work” supporters saying things like “Why should somebody force someone to do what they don't want to do?”
• A “fair share” approach is favored by at least 50 percent of non-Hispanic Whites, those with at least some college education, those living outside of the South, and those living in states that have not adopted “right-to-work” legislation.
  • Additionally, “fair share” is favored by 60 percent or more of those who have direct union experience themselves or through a household member, Democrats, and those living in North Eastern states.
  • The most popular reasons given by those favoring “fair share” policies for their preference include a belief that workers who benefit from union contracts should pay something in return. For example: “If you are going to benefit from it, you should pay into it.”

Additional key findings concerning support for “weaker” or “stronger” labor unions:

• The majority of Americans (62%) indicate that stronger unions would be better for the country; only one-quarter of Americans indicate a preference for weaker unions.
• Stronger unions are preferred by at least three-quarters of Latinos and African Americans, Democrats, and those favoring “fair share” as opposed to “right-to-work” policies. Stronger unions also are preferred by at least two-thirds of women, those age 18-44, those with a high school diploma or less, and those with annual household incomes below $50,000.
• Weaker unions are preferred by at least one-third of those with annual household incomes of $75,000 or more, Republicans, and those favoring “right-to-work” policies over a “fair share” approach to unionization.
• Notably, even among these groups, about half indicated support for stronger unions. Even among Republicans—the only group APM Research Lab found where support for weaker unions was more common than support for stronger unions—over 40 percent supported stronger unions.

Complete results and methods are available online here. About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.About the APM Research LabThe APM Research Lab is a division of American Public Media aimed at informing the public by producing credible research- and analysis- based content. The Research Lab conducts research projects of all types — surveys, demographic analyses, literature reviews, and more — and informs the work of partner organizations and the broader public through traditional reports, as well as infographics, blog posts, interactives, presentations, and other platforms. For more information, visit apmresearchlab.org

Lunar Startups Seeks Applications, Expands Team for First Cohort

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 30, 2018 – Earlier this year, American Public Media announced the launch of the Glen Nelson Center and its first program, Lunar Startups. Supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the new program – dedicated to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs leading high growth startups – is seeking applications for its inaugural cohort beginning today and lasting until Friday, June 1, at lunarstartups.org.Lunar Startups will accept five to seven early-stage companies to occupy dedicated space within Lunar Startups’ offices at Osborn370 in St. Paul’s downtown. In addition to office space, benefits of the 12-month cohort include ongoing visibility, education, stewardship and team development. Lunar Startups will measure success of the cohort based on the companies’ growth including customers and milestones achieved.“Women and people of color are building exciting growth businesses but are often not provided with the same opportunities and access due to social capital and networks that still determine early success for most startups,” said Lunar Startups managing director Melissa Kjolsing Lynch. “We want to change that by surrounding our cohort with focused opportunities and experiences to cut through these societal challenges.”American Public Media’s national reach creates a unique value proposition for startups interested in applying to the cohort, which can help startups connect and expand outside of Minnesota. Both American Public Media and Knight Foundation strive to strengthen the communities, including St. Paul, in which they exist and operate.“Lunar Startups aims to provide important opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs to grow and thrive. We look forward to seeing how this first class of innovators will add to St. Paul’s momentum for inclusive growth and innovation,” said Jai Winston, Knight Foundation program director for St. Paul.Entrepreneurs who have validated that there is a need for their product or service through customers, users or by raising money are encouraged to apply. Lunar Startups will host a session on Tuesday, May 8, at Wilder Foundation in St. Paul to share more information and answer questions about the application process. For more information about the event and to access the cohort application, visit lunarstartups.org.Lunar Startups Hires Danielle SteerTo support the cohort and community experience, Lunar Startups has hired Danielle Steer as senior program manager. Prior to Lunar Startups, Danielle served as manager of operations and member services at Impact Hub Minneapolis-St. Paul for three years, building a community of social entrepreneurs and changemakers. In her role, she also worked with a coalition of programs, organizations, and individuals to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Twin Cities.“I’m thrilled to join Lunar Startups and believe in its vision of equitable opportunities and access for all of Minnesota’s high growth entrepreneurs,” said Steer. “Our approach of using human-centered design is collaborative and drives real value creation. Entrepreneurs are shaping this program directly and we believe that it will translate into real change and growth for these startups.”###About American Public Media American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.About the John S. and James L. Knight FoundationKnight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit knightfoundation.org.

American Public Media Launches New Mental Health Initiative: Call to Mind

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 26, 2018 – Coinciding with National Mental Health Month, American Public Media will launch the APM Mental Health Initiative – Call to Mind – in May. Call to Mind is a new five-year initiative created with the intent to inform and mobilize new conversations about mental health.Call to Mind will initiate awareness and understanding through partnerships and leveraging of APM’s media platforms. The aim is twofold: activate and amplify public conversation by bringing people together and establishing a platform for change. Such a platform will bring potential for change for individuals, communities, educators, employers and health care systems, and will inform policy discussions.In November 2017, APM named Babette Apland as the managing director of the new national undertaking, which is funded by the MPR | APM Inspired by You capital campaign and individual supporters.“Mental health and wellbeing are important aspects of everyone’s life and all of us experience various levels of mental wellbeing throughout our life. Yet we are still stymied by a lack of understanding that leads to prejudice and discrimination,” said Apland. “Our goal is to open the minds and engage the hearts of Minnesotans and the American public about mental health and its central importance to individuals and communities.”In effort to expand focus on mental health coverage, MPR News will have a dedicated mental health reporter in place to increase both the volume and diversity of mental health coverage on-air and online. This expanded coverage will begin in the summer of 2018.Call to Mind will extend beyond current public radio listeners in efforts to engage new audiences with both live events and opportunities to participate online. During the month of May, MPR’s regional services will weave mental health-themed on-air programming and presence, digital activity and live events with local partnerships.

• MPR Presents: An Evening with Lulu Miller at the Fitzgerald Theater – Lulu Miller, Peabody Award-winner and former co-host of the NPR program Invisibilia, interweaves personal stories and fascinating new psychological and brain science in a way makes you see your own life differently. Miller covers stories that challenge our assumptions about how the human organism works. Date: Friday, May 4, 8:00 p.m. Ticket information available here.
• Call to Mind Presents Voices of Minnesotans – MPR News will run vignettes at the top and bottom of programs featuring the mental health stories of real people. Dates: Throughout May, beginning Friday, May 4
• Your Classical Story Partnership – Classical MPR provides a collection of Your Classical story submissions aligned with mental health themes on Classical MPR and Classical 24. Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays throughout May, beginning Monday, May 7
• Note to Self at The Science Museum of Minnesota – A fun evening of music with Manchita and conversation about innovative ways to care for your mental wellbeing. MPR News’ Tom Weber will host a recorded discussion with influential leaders in the field of mental health. Join them in conversation about taking control of mental wellbeing through innovative approaches like nutrition, mindfulness, and digital tools. Discover more about the role of community and culture in mental health. Attendees will be able to visit the Science Museum’s exhibit “Mental Health: Mind Matters” after the discussion. Date: Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 p.m. This is event is not ticketed, but a reservation is requested. Reservation information available here.
• Online – Beginning May 3, social media participation in Call to Mind is possible via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by visiting @CallToMindNow and using the hashtag #CallToMind. Call to Mind’s website will also launch this day at calltomindnow.org.

###About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.

In the Dark's Second Season Investigates Injustice and Race in a Murder Case

Saint Paul, Minn., April 16, 2018 –  On May 1, APM Reports will release Season Two of In the Dark, the Peabody Award-winning investigative podcast. This season digs into the case of one man who has been tried for the same crime six times, trapped in a terrifying loop within the criminal justice system.Over 10 episodes, listeners will be brought to a small Mississippi town to learn about the case of Curtis Flowers, who’s on death row charged with killing four people in 1996. For more than a year, a team of APM Reports journalists talked with hundreds of people and read thousands of documents to understand how Flowers came to be tried multiple times for the same crime and why the local prosecutor is determined to have him executed.In Season Two, APM Reports thoroughly investigates this extraordinary case. Three of the four people murdered were white. Months after the crime, despite having no witnesses, law enforcement arrested Flowers, a black man. What follows is a story of injustice and a racial divide. The reporters powerfully show what can happen within the criminal justice system when no one is watching. But most of all, it’s the story of one man’s fight for his life.Season Two of In the Dark will deliver extraordinary investigative journalism and vivid story-telling along with the exceptional audio production audiences heard in the podcast’s Peabody Award-winning first season, which investigated a 27-year-old child abduction case in Minnesota. Like Season One, Season Two reveals a story that is not isolated to one person or place. As Season Two of In the Dark unfolds, so too will troubling evidence of failures within the justice system.In the Dark’s episodes will be released weekly, beginning May 1 and ending June 26. The second episode also will be available May 1. View the Season Two trailer, available now on Apple Podcasts, to learn more. Listeners can receive these and other important updates by subscribing to the APM Reports email newsletter.APM Reports, formed in November 2015, is a collection of investigative journalists and documentary producers, editors, data reporters, researchers and digital producers dedicated to producing high quality reporting on issues that are often hidden from public view. At the heart of every APM Reports investigation lies a critical question — about powerful institutions and people, injustice and accountability – that deserves an unflinching commitment to finding answers in the public’s best interest. APM will work with Westwood One Podcast Network to expand promotion and reach new audiences for In the Dark’s second season.Visit apmreports.org for more.###About American Public Media American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.

The New York Times, American Public Media to Launch The Daily April 2 on 16 Stations

Saint Paul, Minn. and New York, March 27, 2018 – The new radio edition of the popular podcast The Daily will be available to public radio listeners across the country beginning April 2. The New York Times and American Public Media announced earlier this year that they will be joining forces in this collaboration, which will extend the audio news report’s following of 4.5 million monthly unique listeners to the radio audience.The Daily draws on the unrivaled quality and expertise of The New York Times’s global footprint of more than 1,450 journalists. The Daily podcast has found massive success, becoming the most-downloaded new show in 2017 on Apple Podcasts and winning the DuPont-Columbia University Award for audio excellence. The radio edition will give public radio listeners a deep analysis of one or two of the day’s top news stories.The radio edition of the popular podcast will be hosted by celebrated journalist Michael Barbaro. Barbaro’s resume includes a tenure as a national political correspondent at The New York Times, and he also has served as host of The Run-up, a political podcast that chronicled the 2016 election. Prior to that, he covered New York’s City Hall and the U.S. retail industry.The Daily will air after 4 p.m. ET, and listeners can find their area’s specific air time by visiting their local station online. To date, 16 public radio stations across the country have committed to bringing The Daily to their audiences. Though the list continues to grow, stations that will carry The Daily beginning April 2 include:

• KALW (San Francisco)
• KCPW (Salt Lake City)
• KNOW (Minneapolis-St. Paul)
• KOPB (Portland, Ore.)
• KOSU (Oklahoma City)
• KPCC (Los Angeles)
• KSFC/Spokane Public Radio (Spokane, Wash.)
• KUHF (Houston)
• KUOW (Seattle)
• WCPN ideastream (Cleveland)
• WFDD (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
• WGVU (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
• WKSU (Akron, Ohio)
• WMPN/Mississippi Public Broadcasting (Jackson, Miss.)
• WOSU (Columbus, Ohio)
• WSQX/WSKG (Binghamton, N.Y.)

Additional stations will launch The Daily after its public radio premiere.###About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.About The New York Times CompanyThe New York Times Company is a global media organization dedicated to enhancing society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information. The Company includes The New York Times, NYTimes.com and related properties. It is known globally for excellence in its journalism, and innovation in its print and digital storytelling and its business model. Follow news about the company at @NYTimesPR.

In the Dark's Second Season Launching in May

Saint Paul, Minn., March 26, 2018 – In the fall of 2016, APM Reports produced In the Dark, a podcast that investigated a notorious child abduction case in Minnesota that had gone unsolved for 27 years. Through nine episodes, In the Dark revealed an incompetent investigation, showed the tragic effect it had on the lives of people involved in the case, chronicled the country’s embrace of “stranger danger” and exposed law enforcement’s poor rate of solving crimes nationwide.This powerful journalism has driven nearly 12 million downloads to date. Each month, In the Dark continues to be downloaded roughly 465,000 times, and it led the Apple Podcast Chart for 11 days and was ranked as the No. 1 podcast of 2016 by Vulture. The team that produced In the Dark won a Peabody Award – broadcast’s most prestigious award – for its investigation.On May 1, 2018, In the Dark returns for a second season.In Season Two, APM Reports examines the case of a man who’s been caught in a terrifying loop of injustice. It’s a story of questionable evidence, racism and what can happen when no one is looking. Ultimately, it’s the story of one man’s fight for his life.The In the Dark Season Two trailer will be available April 16. Listeners can receive these and other important updates by subscribing to In the Dark on Apple Podcasts and signing up for the APM Reports email newsletter.Formed in November 2015, APM Reports is a collection of investigative journalists and documentary producers, editors, data reporters, researchers and digital producers dedicated to producing high quality reporting on issues that are often hidden from public view. At the heart of every APM Reports investigation lies a critical question — about powerful institutions and people, injustice and accountability – that deserves an unflinching commitment to finding answers in the public’s best interest. Visit apmreports.org for more.###About American Public Media American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.

American Public Media Group Names Michael Lewis as General Counsel

Saint Paul, Minn., March 7, 2018 – After an extensive national search, American Public Media Group (APMG) today announced it has hired Michael Lewis as the company’s new senior vice president & general counsel.Lewis was most recently general manager and regional leader for Axiom, a global leader in innovative legal services with 17 offices in North America, Europe and Asia. He led Axiom’s Los Angeles office and was responsible for the region’s legal services across all industry sectors including entertainment, media and technology. Prior to his leadership at Axiom, Lewis rose from deputy general counsel at Warner Bros. Online to senior vice president for business strategy and operations at Warner Bros. Animation. Before his tenure at Warner, he was the executive director of business and legal affairs at New Line Cinema, after beginning his legal career with the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins LLP.“Michael emerged quickly as the most qualified among a large field of candidates with a wide range of legal and business leadership experience,” said Jon McTaggart, President and CEO of APMG. “In addition to his exceptionally strong legal background, his personal experiences deeply inform his commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and help make him the right fit for APMG.”A native of Louisville, Ky., Lewis received his undergraduate degree from Graceland University, where he studied Speech Communication and Theatre. After earning his juris doctor at the University of California at Berkeley and studying at Harvard Law School, he was admitted to the California bar in 1995. In 2000, he received the Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award, given by Time Warner to employees who demonstrate exceptional commitment to equal opportunity and human rights.“As a public radio listener for my entire adult life, I am excited to be joining such an important voice as American Public Media Group and such an important effort as public broadcasting,” Lewis said. “APM’s and MPR’s mission of assisting our audiences to enhance their lives, expand perspectives and strengthen their communities thrills me, and I cannot wait to get to work.”About American Public Media GroupAmerican Public Media Group is the largest station-based public radio organization in the U.S., combining multi-regional station operations, national programming creation and distribution and innovative digital, social and mobile services in one organization. Supported financially by contributions from individual donors, sponsors, philanthropic foundations as well as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, APMG’s operations include Minnesota Public Radio®, a 46-station network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states, and Southern California Public Radio, a four-station network serving Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura County and the Inland Empire. Programs produced by MPR’s national programming division, American Public Media®, reach more than 20 million listeners via 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, Live from Here, and the leading classical music programming in the nation. APM also offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on American Public Media Group, visit americanpublicmediagroup.org.Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.###