Field Work podcast returns for Season Two

Co-hosts Mitchell Hora and Zach Johnson areback March 11 to talk farming

ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 26, 2020 – Field Work willreturn next month with a second season dedicated to new discussions aboutagriculture, sustainability and the experiences of those on farming’s frontlines.

Season Twolaunches March 11 with weekly episodes dropping on Wednesdays. In this seasonof Field Work, co-hostsMitchell Hora and Zach Johnson will continue their conversations about covercrops, conservation tillage, and water management, while expanding into dairyfarm sustainability, integrating livestock into a row crop operation,bioreactors, hemp farming and more. The trailer for Season Two is available here.

Hora, an Iowa farmer and soil health consultant, andJohnson, a fifth-generation farmer from west central Minnesota – alsorecognized as YouTube’s “Millennial Farmer” – will welcome in a number ofguests from the agriculture industry to this season of Field Work andalso bring in the voices of listeners who have submitted questions and commentssince the wrap of the podcast’s debut season.

VIDEO: Hear morefrom the hosts, creators and experts on the importance of Field Work.

Produced by American Public Media’s The Water Main, Field Work was launched in the spring of 2019 topromote the voices and lived experiences of agriculture producers. Withlisteners in all 50 states and more than 350,000 downloads and YouTube views, theshow’s first season produced 15 episodes that dove into precision ag, the powerof farm data, cover crops and more. Catch up on all of Field Work’sSeason One episodes here.

Perfect for listening in the car, in the tractor or athome, Field Work episodes can be found on all podcast platforms, andepisodes are also available for listening on Field Work’s YouTube channel. Learn more about the show at fieldworktalk.org and follow along for updates at @fieldworktalk.

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About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® (APM) is the nationalprogramming and distribution division of American Public Media Group and reaches 19 million listeners via approximately 1,000 radio stationsnationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors ofpublic radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC WorldService, 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 onAPM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.

Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+,Spring ‘19.

Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Chamique Holdsclaw hosts new podcast about athletes and mental health in Tremendous Upside

New series from the team behind The Hilarious World of Depression to be launched by APM Podcasts and HealthPartners next month

ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 16, 2019— Former WNBA player and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member Chamique Holdsclaw continues her mental health advocacy in Tremendous Upside, a new podcast from American Public Media, to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health in athletes. Produced by the team behind the award-winning podcast The Hilarious World of Depression, Tremendous Upside launches January 13.

Admiredfor their strength, speed and skills, athletes can seem invincible. However,many face adversities that are invisible to fans. In recent years, more andmore top athletes have come forward to openlyaddress their depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and other mentalhealth issues.

In Tremendous Upside, Holdsclaw has honest conversations about mental health with other pro athletes—and lets fans in on a side of them that’s rarely, if ever, seen. Listen to the trailer here.

“Depression, demands on a body, the body breaking down, dealingwith family stuff; it can take a toll on a person,” said Holdsclaw. “You have to have that perfect image, say and do the rightthings. We just try to be so brave and portray this level of dominance, and'I'm invincible'—but we know.”

Holdsclaw lives with depression and bipolar disorder and has become a widely recognized and respected mental health advocate. She is candid about her journey and hopes to inspire others to seek help.

Early Access & Featured Guests

The first episode of Tremendous Upside features Metta World Peace (formerly known as Ron Artest). At a time when the subject was still taboo, Metta publicly thanked his therapist after he won an NBA Championship. In this episode, Metta opens up to Holdsclaw about his upbringing, the experience of getting drafted into the NBA at a young age and the battle inside his head.

This episode is available for early listening to anyone whodonates to support the podcast by December 31. Listeners can donate here.

Later inthe season, Tremendous Upside will also feature interviews with StanleyCup Champion Theo Fleury, three-time-Olympian runner Suzy Favor Hamilton, WorldCup Champion goalkeeper Briana Scurry and more.

Tremendous Upside is produced by APM and created in partnership with HealthPartners’ Make It OK campaign, which aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental illnesses. Previous collaborations include The Hilarious World of Depression, a podcast in which comedians and other celebrities open up about their mental health. The Make It Ok campaign also provides resources to help people start conversations about mental illnesses with tips and talking points.

Listeners can find Tremendous Upside on Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms.Learn more at www.tremendousupside.org.

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About American Public Media

American Public Media® (APM) is the national programming and distribution division of American Public Media Group and reaches 19 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: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Spring ‘19.

About HealthPartners

HealthPartners is the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation with a mission to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients and the community. For more information, visit healthpartners.com.

About Make It OK

Launched in 2013 by HealthPartners, Make It OK is a campaign to reduce the stigma of mental illnesses by changing the hearts and minds about the misperceptions of mental illnesses through encouraging open conversations and education on the topic. Make It OK offers resources to help people globally through personal stories of people living with a mental illness, and information and tips on how to talk about mental illnesses.

The Splendid Table Presents Turkey Confidential 2019 on Thanksgiving Day

The Turkey Confidential hotline goes live November 28, Noon-2 p.m. ET, Call 1.800.242.2828

ST.PAUL, Minn., Nov. 13, 2019­ —The Splendid Table returns with its beloved annual public radio call-in show ofholiday storytelling and last-minute cooking advice in Turkey Confidential. Tune in live with host Francis Lam and hiscast of culinary talent on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28,from noon to 2 p.m. ET.

Nowin its 15^th year, Turkey Confidential is a Thanksgiving tradition inkitchens across the nation. This live two-hour “turkey triage” specialcelebrates the joy of Thanksgiving cooking, family favorite dishes andmemories. 

From recommended wine pairings with turkey to the forgotten giblet, Francis and his star-studded guest lineup will dish out answers to listeners’ Thanksgiving emergency calls.

• Melissa Clark, New York Times food columnist, cookbook author and host of the Weeknight Kitchen podcast
• Kwame Onwuachi, award-winning chef and author of Notes from a Young Black Chef
• Samin Nosrat, New York Times Magazine food columnist, best-selling cookbook author and teacher
• Shauna Sever, baking expert and author of Midwest Made

Turkey Confidential will be broadcast live from American Public Media’s headquarters in St. Paul and is available to audiences everywhere via local public radio stations and streaming online at www.splendidtable.org. Check out The Splendid Table Thanksgiving Guide for recipes and menus as well as more holiday-themed interviews and advice.

Audiences nationwide can dial in to the live show with cooking questions or to share their stories of Thanksgiving disasters or successes.  To contact Francis during the show, call the Turkey Confidential hotline at 1-800-242-2828, or submit stories and questions via the online form. Listeners can also get in touch through The Splendid Table Facebook or Twitter. Tag @splendidtable on Instagram to share Thanksgiving feast photos with the Turkey Confidential team.

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AboutAmerican Public Media

American Public Media® (APM) is the national programming and distribution division of American Public Media Group and reaches 19 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: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Spring ‘19.

The Hilarious World of Depression Returns for Season Four

Showcreator and host John Moe continues to bring awareness to mental health issuesthrough frank and funny discussions.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 26, 2019⁠ — American PublicMedia’s award-winning hit podcast The Hilarious World of Depressionreturns for a new season to destigmatize mental illness through conversationswith comedians, actors, authors and musicians. Hosted by John Moe, the serieswill debut its fourth season on Monday, September 9, with new episodes releasedweekly.

The podcast will feature interviews with well-known guests such asactor and comedian Pete Holmes, comedian Whitney Cummings, actresses CharlenedeGuzman and Mara Wilson as well as drag queen Miz Cracker.

This season puts an emphasis on how depression often coexists withother conditions including anxiety, sex and love addiction, eating disordersand codependency. “Depression is almost never a solo act,” said Moe. “Issueslike PTSD, OCD, and trauma recovery are often present when someone hasdepression. We are exploring how all those things intersect and complement eachother.”

Episodes will also cover topics such as searching for a therapist thatis attuned to one’s gender, orientation, and ethnic and cultural background aswell as battling burnout.

As in previous seasons, The Hilarious World of Depression willcontinue to bring listeners in to be part of the conversation and have them sharetheir own personal journeys with mental illness.

Season four will be released in two installments for a total of 21episodes. Part one of the season will begin September 9. Part two is expectedto air in spring of 2020.  

The HilariousWorld of Depression is produced by APM and createdin partnership with HealthPartners’s Make It OK campaign,which aims to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness.

Listen to The HilariousWorld of Depression on Apple Podcasts or on any podcast platforms.Learn more at The Hilarious World of Depression’s website andby following @johnmoe and @thwofd onTwitter.

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About American Public Media
AmericanPublic Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches more than 19 million listeners via approximately1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producersand distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfoliothat includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical musicprograms in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring thebest in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism.For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.

Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimatesonly.

New York Times Food Columnist Melissa Clark Hosts American Public Media's New Food Podcast: Weeknight Kitchen

ST. PAUL, Minn. Aug. 21, 2019 -- Melissa Clark, a food reporter and columnist for the New York Times, NYTCooking and a regular contributor to American Public Media’s The Splendid Table – a weekly food program celebrating the intersection of culinary and culture –  is taking audiences into her own home with Weeknight Kitchen, launching September 4.

Produced by APM and created by The Splendid Table team, this new podcast gets its inspiration andnamesake from The Splendid Table’s popular weekly e-newsletter that features practicaland delicious weeknight meals.

A preview of Weeknight Kitchen is available here and on all podcast platforms.

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Weeknight Kitchen puts Clark firmly in the driver’s seat by takingon one of the biggest dilemmas of busy people: what to eat for dinner.

Every week, Clark will encourage aspiring cooks to explore the spontaneous and pleasurable moments in the kitchen while also helping to sharpen the skills of seasoned cooks. A recipe and photo will accompany every episode.

“Weeknight dinners are the heart and soul of home cooking andin this podcast, I hope to show you how to get simple, great food to yourtable,” Clark said. “Yes, I want to inspire you, I definitely want to entertainyou, but most importantly, I want to make you hungry, because craving greatfood is the first step to cooking it.”

Clark has been writing about food and developing recipes forthe modern-day lifestyle for decades. Sally Swift, Co-creator and ManagingProducer of The Splendid Table and now Weeknight Kitchen, saidthere is no one better equipped than Clark to take on this task.

“She is one of the world’s greatest home cooking evangelists.She is clear-eyed and practical, with a wicked sense of humor and intellect,” saidSwift of Clark. “She writes recipes like Elvis Costello writes songs. Imaginegetting to hang out with her in her home kitchen.”

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About American Public Media
American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches more than 19 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: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.

American Public Media Hires Liliana Kim as Managing Director of Podcasts

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug 5, 2019 –American Public Media today announced new leadership at the helm of its podcastdivision. Starting August 19, Liliana Kim will take over as managing directorof APM podcasts.

As managing director, Liliana willlead APM’s current podcast portfolio, which includes Terrible, Thanks for Asking, TooBeautiful to Live, BrainsOn, TheSplendid Table, TheHilarious World of Depression, TheSlowdown and Spectacular Failures.

Liliana was most recently atViacom, where she was VP of MTV International Content Strategy and BrandManagement. She successfully led MTV’s multiplatform content planning andprogramming strategy, achieving ratings and market share growth yearly.

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Prior to joining Viacom in 2010,Liliana oversaw HBO’s product development and digital distribution for thenetwork’s premium content releases. She is no stranger to the public mediaspace either, as she began her career in production at PBS working on theaward-winning weekly newsmagazine show NOW with Bill Moyers.

APM is excited for the dynamismthat Liliana brings to the table, as well as her ability to lead the company’sposition in the podcast industry. “Liliana brings extensive experience withcontent strategy and brand marketing, as well as business development skills,”said Mike Reszler, senior vice president for Strategy and Experimentation and ChiefDigital Officer at APM. “These are going to be essential as we grow our podcastpublic service.”

Liliana received her undergraduatedegree from Wellesley College, where she specialized in economics and politicalscience. She is certified in Columbia Business School Executive Program: Womenin Leadership.

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About AmericanPublic Media

American PublicMedia® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches more than 19 million listeners via 1,000 radiostations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers anddistributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio thatincludes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical musicprograms in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring thebest in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism.For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.

Source: Dataare copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.

APM Reports to Release Three New Audio Documentaries

Emily Hanford’s investigation on a problematic approach to reading instruction among three new reports on education in America

ST. PAUL, Minn., July 23, 2019 –APM Reports, the documentary and investigative unit of AmericanPublic Media, will releasethree new audio documentaries that look at the latest issues in education andhow students learn. The stories will air on public radio stations across thecountry and on APM Reports’ Educate podcast starting August 6.

Acclaimed education reporter Emily Hanford will return this season with a follow-up to her 2018 documentary “Hard Words: Why aren't kids being taught to read?” which brought mainstream media attention to the importance of teacher knowledge about the science of reading. Her new documentary, “At a Loss for Words: What’s wrong with how schools teach reading” will debut August 22.  

“HardWords” sent shockwaves across the United States and around the globe byrevealing what’s missing in many schools: explicit and systematic phonicsinstruction. “At a Loss for Words”continues the investigation by showing that the problem with readinginstruction is not just what’s missing, it’s what’s present. According toHanford’s reporting, teachers across the country are using materials andapproaches based on a flawed theory of reading. The “three-cueing system” wasdisproven decades ago by cognitive scientists yet it remains deeply embedded inteaching practices and curriculum materials and continues to be taught inteacher preparation programs.

In the documentary, Hanford exploresthe history of the three-cueing system and explains the cognitive science that provesit wrong. She shows what three-cueing looks like in the classroom, documentsthe harm it does to children, and visits Oakland, Calif., where teachers arequestioning three-cueing and administrators are wrestling with what that meansabout the curriculum investments the district has made.

Key reporting includes:

• When children aretaught to read using the three-cueing system, they are taught to read the waythat poor readers read. In other words, the strategies that people with weakreading skills use to get by are the very strategies that many beginningreaders are being taught in school.
• In the UnitedStates, one-third of fourth graders struggle to read on a basic level and mostAmerican students are still not proficient readers by the time they get to 12thgrade. Three-cueing is part of the problem.
• Efforts toimprove reading instruction are impeded by the widespread belief in three-cueing. Even if elements of effective reading instruction are put in place (e.g.,good phonics instruction), substantial progress is unlikely until this wrongidea about reading is exposed and rooted out. 

In addition to Hanford’s documentary, APM Reports will also release two additional documentaries. Airing August 6, “Under a Watchful Eye: How colleges are tracking students to boost graduation” examines the growing use of analytics and data collection on students to steer them into majors they can stick with. Reporters Jill Barshay and Sasha Aslanian will recount their findings on what students gain and lose when private companies track their clicks and movements.  

“Students on the Move: Keeping uprooted kids in school,” produced by Chris Julin and Tennessee Watson, explores the correlation between children living in unstable housing and poor performance in school. Launching August 14, this documentary will follow two groups of kids who frequently change addresses – homeless kids and the children of migrant farm workers – and then detail current efforts to keep these students in the classroom through high school and onto college.

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About American Public Media
AmericanPublic Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches more than 19 million listenersvia 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largestproducers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with aportfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leadingclassical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcastsfeaturing the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigativejournalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.
Source: Data are copyrightNielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.

About APM Reports
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. Visit apmreports.org for more.

Following Supreme Court ruling, American Public Media recognizes necessity and support of free press in full-page New York Times ad

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 27, 2019 – With a full-pageadvertisement appearing in this Sunday’s issue of The New York Times, AmericanPublic Media (APM) will highlight the important work of the free press andthank those who support journalism locally and worldwide.

The ad comes after a U.S.Supreme Court ruling in the case of Flowersv. Mississippi. APM’s investigative group, APM Reports, reported on the Flowerscase for more than a year in Mississippi for the acclaimed podcast In the Dark and – among many revelations– uncovered the district attorney’s past and present practice of racialdiscrimination in jury selection.

The court reversed Flowers’ conviction on Friday, rulingthat the prosecutor used racialdiscrimination in the jury selection for Flowers’ most recent trial.

Key findings from the APM Reports’ investigation wereincluded in the case presented to the Supreme Court.

Released in May 2018, the second season of In the Dark has been downloaded morethan 24 million times and was honored with the George Polk Award,a prestigious award that emphasizes investigative journalism, and the first ofwhich to be granted to a podcast.

In the ad, APM emphasizes the necessity of financial supportfor news organizations everywhere to ensure that people always have the powerof a free press.

“We wanted to show our immense gratitude for those who support the free press and help us investigate and share these stories,” said Dave Kansas, APM’s executive vice president and chief content officer. “This ad is also our effort to remind news consumers of the incredible amount of time, resources and energy that go into keeping all of us informed.”

The ad’s message reads:

Facts are powerful. So are you.

The U.S. Supreme Courtruled in a controversial death penalty case on June 21, deciding that adistrict attorney racially discriminated during jury selection. The decisionoverturns a man’s death sentence.

APM Reports uncoveredcritical facts about the case and brought them to national attention with thesecond season of In the Dark, the first podcast to be honored with a GeorgePolk Award.

This is the work ofinvestigative journalism. This is what it can do.

American Public Mediais proud to contribute to important journalism being produced worldwide.

And we want to acknowledgean important aspect of this work. Investigating and reporting important storiesis expensive.

It takes talentedpeople and a lot of time to find hidden facts. Your support brings them tolight.

You make independent,fact-based journalism possible. You sustain this work by supporting your local publicradio station and public media programming, by subscribing to your localnewspaper and by valuing a free press committed to finding the truth.

Thank you.

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About American Public Media
American Public Media® is the national programming divisionof MinnesotaPublic Radio® and reaches more than 19 million listeners via 1,000 radiostations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers anddistributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio thatincludes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical musicprograms in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring thebest in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism.For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.

Source: Data are copyrightNielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.

U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Curtis Flowers' Conviction

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 21, 2019 – On March 20, the U.S.Supreme Court heard arguments on CurtisFlowers v. State of Mississippi. In looking at the controversialMississippi death penalty case, the justices examined if DistrictAttorney Doug Evans used racialdiscrimination in the jury selection for Flowers’ most recent trial. The court announced today it has ruled infavor of Flowers and has reversed his conviction.

The case presented to the court included reportingfrom APM Reports, which uncovered a pattern of racist jury selection byEvans. APM Reports brought the case to national attention with the secondseason of the award-winning podcast In the Dark.

Flowers has been triedsix times for the same crime, and this is the fourth time his convictionhas been reversed. Now, he faces the possibility of Evans trying him for aseventh time, offering a plea deal or dismissing the charges all together. Flowers,who has been incarcerated in ParchmanPrison for over 22 years, will remain in prison until Evans makes adecision on his next steps in the case.  

If Evans pursues a seventh trial against Flowers, Flowers’legal team will have a chance to use newevidence found by APM Reports in the second season of In the Dark.

In the Dark willcontinue to cover the developments of this case with two upcoming episodes.

Listeners can stay up-to-date on breaking news in the Flowers case and when new In the Dark episodes publish by subscribing to the In the Dark email newsletter.

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About APM Reports
APMReports, formed in November 2015, is a collection of investigative journalistsand documentary producers, editors, data reporters, researchers and digital producersdedicated to producing high-quality reporting on issues that are often hiddenfrom public view. At the heart of every APM Reports investigation lies acritical question — about powerful institutions and people, injustice andaccountability – that deserves an unflinching commitment to finding answers inthe public’s best interest.  Visit apmreports.org for more.

About American Public Media
American Public Media® is the national programming divisionof MinnesotaPublic Radio® and reaches more than 19 million listeners via 1,000 radiostations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers anddistributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio thatincludes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical musicprograms in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring thebest in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism.For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.

Source: Data are copyrightNielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.

Infamous Corporate Collapses Examined in New Podcast Spectacular Failures

Host Lauren Ober tells stories of corporate crookedness, family feuding and hilariously half-baked decisions

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 3, 2019 — American Public Media, in partnership with the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, will launch Spectacular Failures – a new business podcast about the greatest corporate catastrophes – on June 17.

Listen to the trailer here.

In SpectacularFailures, host Lauren Ober, award-winning creator of WAMU and NPR’s The Big Listen, and producerWhitney Jones, creator of the critically-acclaimed music podcast Pitch, dig into the causes of some of thebiggest business blunders and breakdowns.

Inthis 10-episode season, listeners get a front row seat to the mishandled launchof MoviePass, the criminal collapse of televangelists Jim and Tammy FayeBakker’s Heritage USA, and Kodak's not so picture-perfect descent into obsolescence,as well as many other stories of spectacular failures.

Ober hopes to provide audiences a new perspective on the many causes of corporate failure as well as its wide-ranging impacts.

“It might be sick to say it, but it’s true. We love hearing about failures,” said Ober. “Stories about business breakdowns capture our most basic human failings: greed, hubris, sometimes even criminal behavior. We’re trying to sniff out the universal [truth] that exists in all stories of corporate collapse and make those tales fun and engaging, with a little dash of attitude and a heap of charm.”

Jones says Spectacular Failures will “work tocombine the joy of The Big Listenwith the pop culture and historical exploration of Pitch. It applies that mixture to stories of business failure in away that makes them unpredictable and exciting.”

The program is made possible by Carlson School ofManagement at the University of Minnesota.

Listeners can find Spectacular Failures on Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms. Learn more at www.spectacularfailures.org.

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About the Carlson School of Management
Established in 1919 and located in Minneapolis, the CurtisL. Carlson School of Management is part of the University of Minnesota, locatedin the Twin Cities vibrant business community comprised of 17 Fortune 500company headquarters.  The Carlson School is recognized as a leader inbusiness education and research.  Its focus on experiential learning,international education and its strong ties to the business community are justa few examples of the Carlson School’s commitment to excellence.  Today,the Carlson School has 55,000+ alumni in over 100 countries, over 10 degreeprograms, and more than 140 tenure-track and full-time instructional faculty members.The school offers bachelors, master’s, MBA and doctoral degrees, as well asexecutive education programs hosted domestically and abroad.

AboutAmerican Public Media
American Public Media® is the national programmingdivision of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches more than 19 millionlisteners via approximately 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM isone of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming inthe world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, andthe leading classical music programs in the nation. APM offers a diverse arrayof podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business andinvestigative journalism. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org. Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio,Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Fall ‘18. Data are estimates only.

APM Kids Podcast Smash Boom Best — A Brains On! Spinoff— Returns For Season Two With Epic Debate Battles

Dragons vs. Unicorns, Chocolate vs. Cheese included in this season’s debate lineup

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 28, 2019 —Smash Boom Best is back in action this summer. A spinoff from American Public Media’s Brains On! – an award-winning science podcast for kids  - Smash Boom Best is a fast-paced, debate show for kids and families. Hosted by Molly Bloom, the second season of Smash Boom Best launches June 6 and will include even more debates with some special topics chosen by the fans.

Listen to the trailer here.

In each episode, a kid co-host will judge an epic battle between two adult debaters. 

“Ido not envy our judges having to decide the outcomes of these tough debates,”said Bloom. “Dragons or unicorns? Invisibility or flying? Chocolate or cheese?These are serious matchups.”

Using facts and passion to make their cases, debaters will teach listeners to defend their opinions and expose them to a diversity of topics along the way.

This season’s stellar roster of debaters includes Story Pirates co-founder Lee Overtree, host of Gimlet’s Science Vs Wendy Zukerman, and Francis Lam,  host of The Splendid Table.

“We reallyput our debaters to the test,” said Bloom. “Not only do they have to puttogether factual and entertaining arguments to sway our judge, but they alsohave to do some on-the-fly persuading in our sneak attack round!"

Smash Boom Best is created by the award-winning team behind APM’s Brains On!: host Bloom and producers Sanden Totten and Marc Sanchez. The program is supported in part by The National Science Foundation.

Listeners can find the new season of Smash Boom Best on Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms. Connect with the show on Facebook and by going to smashboombest.org.

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AboutAmerican Public Media

American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches more than 19 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: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Fall ‘18. Data are estimates only.

Live from Here with Chris Thile to Host 2019-20 Season at New York's The Town Hall

Beginning September 2019, one-of-a-kind public radio show will be broadcast live from historic NYC theater with even more special guests and eclectic mix of music, comedy and spoken word

NEW YORK, May 6, 2019 – Live from Here with Chris Thile announced today that it will kick off its fourth season on September 7, 2019, and will make its home in New York City at The Town Hall. Hosting from one of the country’s creative centers, Thile expects to attract top talent and bring some additional elements into the new season, which is scheduled to air over 25 shows.

“This season has been a dream forme and I’m chomping at the bit to build on it,” Thile said. “Next season, ourpublic radio listeners and live-stream viewers will get the best and broadestselection of music and musicians we can possibly present, and they can alsoexpect an expanded range of spoken word content, including poetry, literature,comedy and storytelling.”

Produced by American PublicMedia (APM) in St. Paul, Minn., Live fromHere also is moving its creative and production teams to New York City,with The Town Hall as its home base.

“This is a great move for us asit puts us in the heart of the one of the great hubs of our industry,” saidJeffy Hnilicka, managing director, Livefrom Here. “It means an even better experience for our audiences with moreworld-class guests, more variety and live streaming at every show.”

Highlights from this season’s performances in Town Hall include rising stars like Maggie Rogers, Vulfpeck, and The Knights – alongside fan favorites like St. Vincent, Rosanne Cash, Jim Gaffigan, Jon Batiste, Cat Power, and Sara Bareilles.  Recent Town Hall shows already were tapping into their talented Broadway neighbors with Jeff Daniels performing an excerpt from To Kill A Mockingbird and stars from the Oklahoma! revival performing songs from their acclaimed show.

“To have Broadway performerswalk across the street between their matinee and evening performances to joinChris on stage for Live from Heredoesn’t happen anywhere else,” Hnilicka said.

The show will tour this summer and is exploringadditional touring dates with its public radio partners. Fall dates at The TownHall are Sept 7, Sept. 14, Sept. 28, Oct. 12,Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 16, Nov. 23, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.

Generaltickets for the fall season at The Town Hall will go on sale on Thursday June13. Sign up for the Live from Here newsletter for pre-sale information, VIP experiences and guest announcementsat livefromhere.org.

American Public Media Announces John Birge the New Host for YourClassical's Composers Datebook

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 17, 2019 – American Public Media (APM) has announced a new host for YourClassical’s Composers Datebook, the award-winning program about this day in classical music history. On May 1, retiring and long-time host John Zech will officially pass the baton to a well-known name at Classical Minnesota Public Radio, John Birge.

Birge is currently the morningdrive host of Classical MPR and starts up the Mozart for classical music loverswho need a civilized wake-up call to go along with their morning coffee. He willcontinue to host Classical Music weekday mornings. He has been hosting,producing and performing classical music for more than 20 years. Presently, heis also heard on APM holiday specials including Giving Thanks: A Celebrationof Fall, Food and Gratitude and Welcome Christmas!

The decision to host anotherprogram at APM was an easy one for Birge.

“Composers Datebook is thebest time machine on the radio,” Birge said. “I am honored to take themicrophone, and I’m especially looking forward to adding new destinations anddiscoveries in the future.”

Composers Datebook informs,engages and entertains audiences with relevant information about past andpresent composers. Each episode delivers momentous musical events and relevantpieces of classical musical history for that day. The music is only one part ofthe program; listeners will also be captured by the fascinating back stories ofcomposers and the history of classical music, bringing classical music to newgenerations of fans everywhere.

YourClassicalis a collection of curated streams, unique programs and relevant features topromote calm and focus. Composers Datebook is produced by APM inassociation with the American Composers Forum (ACF). Initial support for theprogram was made possible by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Thecreator of the series and its principal writer is John Michel of ACF.

Listen and subscribe toYourClassical Composers Datebook here. Radiobroadcast listeners can check their local public radio station’s schedule tosee if the program is available for daily listening in their area.

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About American PublicMedia
American Public Media® is the nationalprogramming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches 20 million listeners via approximately 1,000 radiostations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers anddistributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio thatincludes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical musicprograms in the nation. APM offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring thebest in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. Formore information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.

Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Fall ‘18. Data are estimates only.

Field Work Podcast Presents Discussions by Farmers, for Farmers

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 17, 2019 – A new podcast will soon bring together two voices in agriculture to host honest conversations about sustainable agriculture, what works and what doesn’t. Field Work is co-hosted by two Midwestern row-crop farmers and will feature farmers and other guests from across the agriculture industry every week, beginning with the May 1 premiere episode.

While there are many different voices talking about sustainable agriculture, this podcast focuses on ensuring that the voice – and the lived experiences – of agriculture producers stays front and center.

With this podcast, The Water Main – American Public Media’s initiative to build public will for water – will seek to promote frank conversations on what works and what challenges farmers face in pursuing sustainable agriculture practices to benefit water and soil. 

In addition to being available on all major podcast platforms, Field Work episodes will also be available as videos on YouTube. A trailer is now available here.

The Hosts

Field Work’shosts have firsthand experience in the world of farming and have a stronginterest in the continued longevity of their family’s land.

Zach Johnson is a fifth-generation family farmer from central Minnesota who farms 2,500 acres of soybeans and corn alongside his father. More than 200,000 YouTube subscribers recognize Johnson as the “MN Millennial Farmer” due to his wide-reaching channel that chronicles his daily experiences in the field and around the farm.

“Farmingis more of an art form than it is hard data, so reading about conservationpractices is usually much easier than implementing it into your family'sfarming operation. Changes to practices are typically not simple andinexpensive, so they have to work with a farm’s current situation,” saidJohnson. “We’re looking to approach this topic of conservation with an openmind and see what new ideas are out there to help us be the bestconservationists possible, while also making good management decisions for ourfarms."

Joining Johnson behind the microphone is Mitchell Hora, a farmer and young entrepreneur from Washington, Iowa. Hora’s family has farmed in the area for more than a century and has placed a strong focus on conservation. In addition to growing row crops with his father, he owns a consulting company focused on soil health and hosts a podcast with the same focus.

“Thereare so many variables that farmers face in the growing season, and I’m excitedthat the Field Work podcast willprovide new resources so farmers can logistically and economically improvetheir farms,” said Hora. “Zach and I are looking forward to bringing in guestswho can share their experience working with the land in ways that promote healthysoil and water. The best scenario is to monitor short-term gains, while workingtowards long-term productivity improvements and success across our farms.”

Stay updated on new episodes by following @fieldworktalk and learn more at fieldworktalk.org.

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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: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Fall ‘18. Data are estimates only.

Second Season of In the Dark Nominated for Peabody Award

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 9, 2019 –The second season of APM Reports’ In the Dark was nominated today for a Peabody Award, which honors last year’s most compelling and empowering stories presented by television, radio and digital media. The nomination was reached by unanimous vote from the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors, according to the organization.In all, 30 Peabody Awards will be granted from the 60 nominees across categories. The winners in the Radio and Podcast Category will be announced Tuesday, April 23.APM Reports’ work in Season Two of In the Dark covers the case of Curtis Flowers – a man tried six times for the same crime, a 1996 quadruple homicide in Mississippi – and has received nation-wide acclaim, particularly for its revelation of racial bias in jury selection.The reporting done by APM Reports was used in the case presented to the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on Flowers v. Mississippi last month. In looking at the controversial Mississippi death penalty case, the justices will now decide if the district attorney racially discriminated in the jury selection for Flowers’ most recent trial. The court will announce its decision by the end of its term in June.In the Dark’s first season won a Peabody Award in 2016 for APM Reports’ investigation into the kidnapping and murder of Jacob Wetterling.Listeners can stay up-to-date on breaking news in the Flowers case and when new In the Dark episodes publish by subscribing to the In the Dark email newsletter.###About the Peabody AwardsThe Peabody Awards honor the most powerful, enlightening and invigorating stories in television, radio and digital media. Each year, Peabody Awards are bestowed upon a curated collection of 30 stories that capture society’s most important issues—known as the Peabody 30. Honorees must be unanimously chosen by the Peabody Board of Jurors, a diverse assembly of industry professionals, media scholars, critics, and journalists who each bring a unique perspective of what constitutes a story that matters. From major Hollywood productions to local journalism, the network of Peabody Awards winners is a definitive collection of society’s most important stories and storytellers, including winners that have ranged from Edward R. Murrow, Carol Burnett, and David Letterman to “The Sopranos,” “Sesame Street,” “Breaking Bad,” and “Serial.” The Peabody Awards were founded in 1940 at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia and are still based in Athens today. For more information, visit peabodyawards.com or follow @PeabodyAwards on Twitter.About APM ReportsAPM 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.  Visit apmreports.org for more.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: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Fall ‘18. Data are estimates only.

American Public Media to Launch Decomposed- A New Podcast Exploring the Daring Acts and Surprising Inspirations of Famous Composers

Concert pianist and host Jade Simmons’ new APM podcast shares the tales of heartbreak, scandal and sheer genius that have shaped classical music.

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 4, 2019 – Concert pianist and world-class storyteller Jade Simmons will explore some of the most captivating aspects of the lives of classical composers as host of American Public Media’s new weekly podcast, Decomposed, launching April 16.While the work of these composers is well known even centuries later, their personal stories have often turned into footnotes. Simmons will bring fascinating elements of classical music history to life for longtime fans as well as new listeners. The composer’s stories are woven together with the symphonies, operas and other masterpieces that they inspired.Listen to a trailer of Decomposed and subscribe here.By emphasizing the personal struggles of revered composers, Simmons hopes to connect audiences to the humanity of classical music. Episodes will take listeners all the way from concert halls with composers donning powdered wigs to Cold War propaganda, showcasing the wide reach of this musical genre.“As I do with my own concert experiences, I would hope Decomposed attracts new ears while reintroducing connoisseurs to composers they thought they knew,” Simmons said. “Nothing to me is more fascinating than the people behind the music, and the circumstances in their lives that caused the incredible music we know and love to come into existence. Decomposed will shed light on those most powerful moments.”Simmons has been nicknamed “Classical Music’s #1 Maverick” for her habit of blending music, real time innovation and motivation. She has quickly become the face that represents the relevance of classical music while pushing the boundaries of its presentation. As a world-renowned concert artist, keynote speaker, best-selling author and multimedia personality, Simmons is a fascinating and passionate storyteller with a strong understanding of classical music’s roots.Decomposed is made possible by Inspired by You, MPR's capital campaign and the generosity of Ruth and John Huss. It is produced in partnership with Classical Minnesota Public Radio.Listeners can find Decomposed on Apple Podcasts and other podcast platforms. Connect with the show on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.###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: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio, Nationwide DMA data, Persons 12+, Fall ‘18. Data are estimates only.

APM Research Lab, APM Reports’ Educate, Hechinger Report gauge national opinion on government funding, assistance for colleges

Most Americans aren’t aware of decreased government funding for public colleges and universities within the past decade.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 26, 2019 – The APM Research Lab has released the findings for a survey which asked Americans about their awareness of public college and university funding, as well as the price tag to attend these institutions.

Created from a collaboration between the APM Research Lab, APM Reports’ Educate podcast, and The Hechinger Report, the survey asked participants’ opinion on the cost of four-year college, their awareness of government funding for public colleges, and whether they support free tuition to public colleges for those qualified to attend.Despite decreased government funding for public colleges and universities and rising tuition over the past decade, the survey reveals that a majority of adults don’t realize government investment in colleges has gone down. Overall, those who had completed a bachelor’s degree, Democrats, and those with annual household incomes of at least $75,000 were the only groups where at least one-third of respondents knew that government funding has generally declined over the past 10 years.“Given the importance of higher education as a public policy issue, it is concerning how few Americans know some of the basics,” said Craig Helmstetter, managing partner at APM Research Lab. “Less than half know that government grants and loans have fallen behind the cost of tuition, and less than one-third know that that governmental funding for public institutions has generally decreased over the past decade.”Additional key findings include:

• While 34 percent of U.S. adults think government funding for public colleges and universities has stayed the same, 27 percent think it has increased. At the same time, 44 percent of U.S. adults think government aid for college and universities has fallen behind the price of tuition.
• Half or more of the following groups knew that aid has fallen behind the price of tuition: those with at least a bachelor’s degree, those with annual household incomes of at least $75,000, those who identified as non-Hispanic Black, and Democrats.
• Americans are more likely to support than oppose free tuition for public universities and colleges for qualified applicants. Nearly three-quarters support the idea, while only one-quarter are opposed.
• Overall, the majority of Americans feel the cost of college is worth the investment, with 58 percent feeling this way, while 36 percent say the cost is not worth it.

The APM Research Lab is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s Transparency Initiative, committed to open and transparent reporting of survey methods and findings. Authored by Craig Helmstetter and researcher Kassira Absar of the APM Research Lab, this survey was funded through internal resources and was not conducted on behalf of or in conjunction with any other entity or initiative.The nationally representative survey was conducted via telephone, 60 percent via cell phone and 40 percent landline, with 1,003 adult Americans, between Nov. 27 and Dec. 2, 2018. The survey’s overall margin of error is +/-3.6 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.Additional details about survey methodology can be found here. ###About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches 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®, 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.orgAbout APM ReportsAPM 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. Visit apmreports.org for more.

APM Research Lab measures public impressions of Super Bowl LIII host city Atlanta

More than one-third of Americans say they are more likely to think of Atlanta as a good place to visit.ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 25, 2019 – The APM Research Lab has released its results of its 2019 Super Bowl Impressions survey, which seeks the American public’s impressions of this year’s Super Bowl host city, Atlanta. The survey was completed in the week following Super Bowl LIII, which was played Feb. 3 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Hosting the Super Bowl offers cities a unique opportunity to raise their national profile and impact both awareness and impressions among the American public. As shown in the results of the National Survey of Super Bowl Impressions 2019, more than 6 in 10 adults outside of Georgia could name either the city of Atlanta or the state of Georgia as the host locale for Super Bowl LIII.Additionally, more than one-third of Americans indicated that Super Bowl media coverage improved their impression of Atlanta—at least in terms of whether they consider the city a good place to visit—seven percentage points above the share of Americans who indicated coverage made them less likely to visit.Full results can be found here.“Our primary aim was to discover whether the Super Bowl—and the whirlwind of media and events surrounding it – changes Americans’ impression of the host city,” said Andi Egbert, senior researcher at APM Research Lab. “In this case, Atlanta did see a net benefit as a desirable destination among Americans who don’t live in Georgia.”The survey asked three primary questions:

• Can you tell me what city the Super Bowl was held in this year? If not, how about the state?
• As a result of media coverage of the Super Bowl, are you more or less likely to think of Atlanta as a good place to visit?
• What is the main reason you say that?

Key findings include:

• Among those under age 35, only 54 percent were aware of the game’s location. However, roughly 65 percent among those age 35-44, 45-54, or 65+ knew the game’s location, as did 75 percent of Americans 55-64, the most of any age group.
• Non-Hispanic Black Americans were most likely to report improved impressions of the host city following Super Bowl LIII, with 55 percent saying they were more likely to think of Atlanta as a good place to visit. This is significantly higher than the share of White non-Hispanic Americans (31 percent) who said so.
• Of those who were “more likely” to think of Atlanta as a good place to visit, 23 percent mentioned their own personal familiarity with the area, often through connections with family, friends, or work as reasons to see Atlanta as desirable destination for visiting (again). Another 20 percent of the “more likely” group named attractions offered in Atlanta as motivating reasons to visit, such as musical history, historical sites, food and aquarium.

This is the second year APM Research Lab has surveyed Americans’ impressions on the Super Bowl host city. The 2018 game was held in Minneapolis, and results from that survey can be found here.The APM Research Lab is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s Transparency Initiative, committed to open and transparent reporting of survey methods and findings. Authored jointly by Craig Helmstetter and Andi Egbert of the APM Research Lab, this survey was funded through internal resources and was not conducted on behalf of or in conjunction with any other entity or initiative.The 2019 National Survey of Super Bowl Impressions was conducted as a part of a national omnibus survey conducted by SSRS of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. The survey was conducted via telephone, 60 percent via cell phone and 40 percent landline, with 970 adult Americans living outside of Georgia on February 5-10, 2019. (Super Bowl LIII was held on February 3, 2019). The survey’s overall margin of error is +/-3.6 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.Additional details about survey methodology can be found here. ###About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches 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®, 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 Announces its Second Cohort

Entrepreneurs to receive office space, development opportunities and other support as they grow early-stage companiesST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 20, 2019 – Lunar Startups today announced the companies that will comprise its second cohort, which will launch in March 2019 and run for 12 months. A program of American Public Media’s Glen Nelson Center, the St. Paul-based startup incubator will welcome seven early-stage companies that were selected from a diverse pool of entrepreneurs.Funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Lunar Startups – dedicated to supporting top entrepreneurs building high-impact companies who often lack access to the support and resources they need to grow – will provide startup benefits to the following companies as part of Cohort 2:

• Creatively Focused: empowering educators with innovative and intentional strategies and skills to do the meaningful and critical work of improving outcomes for students
• Fruitful Fertility: connecting those struggling with fertility issues who are in need of emotional support with individuals and mentors who have had similar experiences
• Maazah: transforming the regional and global food space with an Afghani-inspired, small-batch, gourmet condiment
• Team Dynamics: helping organizations excel through strategy development, skill building, and coaching
• Tedious: providing on-demand home services – lawn maintenance, snow removal, leaf cleanup – through an easy-to-use app
• Virtue Analytics: offering educational and other institutions a platform for grant optimization, tuition discounting and enrollment yield improvement
• Youth Lens 360: providing superior visual communication and product marketing and branding services through the lens of youth ages 14-24

The seven early-stage companies were selected from an applicant pool of 40 startups led by a diverse group of entrepreneurs. More than 70 percent of the startups selected for Cohort 2 are led by a person of color, and 60 percent are led by women.“Our second cohort continues to demonstrate the breadth of innovators we have in our community,” said Danielle Steer, managing director of Lunar Startups. “These seven high-growth startups are tackling real problems from fertility support and homeowner services to the student loan crisis and improving outcomes for students living with disabilities. We’re excited to surround them with intentional, unique and targeted resources to help them drive growth.”Lunar Startups’ Cohort 2 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 a $5,000 travel, marketing, and technology stipend; a dedicated peer support network; pro-bono services valued at $8,000; plus nearly $50,000 in access to resources and technology through their participation in Global Accelerator Network (GAN).“Lunar Startups takes impressive local talent to the next level, boosting the entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem in St. Paul,” said Jai Winston, Knight Foundation director for St. Paul. “These startups not only drive new job growth, but they elevate St. Paul’s emerging profile as a vibrant hub for new ideas and creative activity. We’re thrilled to see the successes to come from Lunar’s second cohort.”In addition to the new cohort, Lunar added two new members to its team in January. A former vice president of the Minneapolis NAACP, Jeffrey Aguy is a seasoned entrepreneur and will serve as Lunar Startups’ Program Manager. Debbie Aderinkomi is participating in the MPR internship program as the Marketing Coordinator for Lunar, dedicated to developing the Lunar voice and messaging.“In addition to building our operational capacity,” said Steer. “Our new team members are expanding the voice and experience of decision makers driving the program. They bring critical, new knowledge to the team that is already adding immense value to the participant experience.”###About American Public Media American Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches 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®, 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.

In the Dark to Cover Curtis Flowers' U.S. Supreme Court Case with Four New Episodes

Podcast will follow arguments and decision on Flowers’ case, the subject of In the Dark’s second season; APM Reports journalists receive prestigious Polk Award for investigation

ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 19, 2019 – APM Reports’ award-winning investigation for In the Dark’s second season spanned the course of a year in Mississippi and revealed misconduct, injustice and racial divide in the death row case of Curtis Flowers. And now, after being presented a case that includes reporting by APM Reports, the most powerful court in the country will determine if the prosecutor engaged in racial discrimination in the jury selection in Flowers’ latest trial.Beginning next month, APM Reports will take In the Dark to Washington, D.C., to cover the Supreme Court arguments, decision and implications in the Flowers case with four new episodes. The podcast’s first episode will be available March 19. Three subsequent episodes will come out between the March 20 oral arguments and the end of the court’s term in late June.A preview of In the Dark’s new episodes is available here.In the Dark’s new reporting will take listeners into the courtroom for oral arguments, as well as provide breaking news of the court’s decision. The episodes will also examine what happens after the Supreme Court decision and what it means for the lack of accountability for prosecutors across the U.S.The ruling will determine whether Flowers remains on death row or faces the possibility of Doug Evans – the district attorney – trying him for a seventh time, offering a plea deal or dismissing the charges all together.APM Reports’ investigation in Season Two has been widely recognized for its contributions to journalism. Announced today, Madeleine Baran, APM Reports host and lead reporter of In the Dark, and Samara Freemark, In the Dark senior producer, have been awarded the George Polk Award for Podcast Reporting, a prestigious award that emphasizes investigative journalism. This marks the first time the Polk Award has been given to a podcast. Additionally, Baran will be honored this spring as the Burton Award’s 2019 Outstanding Journalist in Law.Listeners can stay up-to-date on breaking news in the Flowers case and when new In the Dark episodes publish by subscribing to the In the Dark email newsletter.###About APM ReportsAPM 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.  Visit apmreports.org for more.About American Public MediaAmerican Public Media® is the national programming division of Minnesota Public Radio® and reaches 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®, 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.