Jearlyn Steele

It seems like Summer just started, but we’re only weeks away from schools getting back in session.  How can parents help their children begin to transition to their school year schedules?  To help give us a guide, we turned to Eisenhower Elementary School Spanish teacher (in Hopkins) and 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalist Allyson Wolff.

Elementary school Spanish teacher Allyson Wolff provides some tips for parents trying to get their children ready for the upcoming school year. Fierce Healthcare staff writer Dave Muoio explains what went wrong with the now-failed merger between Sanford Health and Fairview Health.

The state's Recreational Marijuana law goes into effect on Tuesday.  What should we know about it as the landscape surrounding the drug changes?  Charlene Briner, Implementation Coordinator for the new Office of Cannabis Management, joins the show to answer some of those questions.

As a society, have we even started to get over the affects and impacts of the COVID pandemic?  Jearlyn wonders if there are enough conversations on that question. MN Office of Cannabis Management implementation coordinator Charlene Briner gives us a primer on the new marijuana law before it goes into effect this week.

On this week's edition of Center Stage, Jearlyn talks with: Rosemount HS student and nationally-recognized musical theatre student Mia Nelson Local Folk/Soul artist & songwriter Kashimana "Jim Caruso's Cast Party" creator/host Jim Caruso Local musician/songwriter Brynn Andre

On the back of last week’s conversation about how poor air quality can affect air conditioning and central air units, we reached out to one of the most well-known HVAC shops around.  K & S Heating serves the Twin Cities and Rochester metro areas.  Metro Manager Eric Asleson guides us on how to keep these machines running, despite the poor air conditions.

Eric Asleson of K&S Heating provides some tips on how to keep our air conditioning and central air machines working properly in this Summer of poor air across the state. What should we be wearing when it comes to the Summer months?  Jearlyn looks into fashion and climate during the second part of the hour.

Earlier this week, the University of Minnesota announced that they will no longer consider race in their college admission procedures.  At the same time, they said that family influence, whether through attendance or employment, will also be dropped when looking at perspective students.  The University is one of several schools to remove legacy status from their admissions process in light of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Affirmative Action. What will this mean for higher education moving forward?  IvyWise premier college admissions counselor Nat Smitobol joins the program to discuss the impacts.

Is the circus not long for this world?  Jearlyn wonders whether younger generations still want to go see the grandeur of this art form, especially considering the recent financial struggles of Cirque du Soleil. Nat Smitobol from IvyWise describes the impact of some colleges deciding to drop Legacy status from their admissions practices.

On this week's edition of Center Stage, Jearlyn welcomes the following guests on the program: Jazz vocalist/songwriter Leslie Vincent "The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals" playwright Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay Star Tribune lead theatre critic Rohan Preston

The Tooth Fairy Candy Store is more than just a new place to get your sugar fix.  It's the latest piece of a larger whole that's providing outlets for Girls of Color in the Twin Cities.  Dr. Aretta-Rie Johnson, the store owner and founder of the D.I.V.I.N.E. Institute, comes on the show to discuss more of that whole.

Jearlyn dives in on the SAG-AFTRA strike and the importance of unions as a whole. Dr. Aretta-Rie Johnson brings us into the worlds of her new candy store and her overall initiative.

A new effort has been announced to try and bring more people back to the core area of Minnesota's capital city.  Joe Spencer, President of the St. Paul Downtown Alliance, tell us more about the group's bold plan to bring in 20,000 more residents and 20,000 more jobs.

The air quality still isn't good across the area.  Jearlyn wonders how it's affecting local air conditioning systems. St. Paul Downtown Alliance president Joe Spencer explains the group's new initiative to bring thousands of people back to the core of the capital city.

On this edition of Center Stage, we hear from the following guests: Musician Shaun LaBelle Fathom Lane lead musician Michael Ferrier "Glensheen" actress Sandra Struthers

Over their first two seasons, Minnesota Aurora FC has made an impact in the Twin Cities' sports market.  The women's soccer team has established themselves as title contenders in the USL's W League.  CEO and co-founder Andrea Yoch explains how the organization is connecting with the community.

This week, the FDA fully approved a new drug meant to combat the effects of Alzheimer's disease.  Whom will this ultimately benefit?  Jearlyn asks Sue Parriott, CEO of the Minnesota-North Dakota chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Sue Parriott, CEO of the Minnesota-North Dakota chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, talks about the new FDA-approved drug meant to combat the disease. Minnesota Aurora FC CEO/co-founder Andrea Yoch explains how this new team has connected so well to the community.

There's a new kid on the social media block.  Meta introduced their new offshoot Threads, which has a very similar feel to Twitter.  Now that the social media supergiants are going head-to-head, what's in store for the industry?  WIRED staff writer Amanda Hoover gives us the skinny on this new war of words.

A newlywed groom is looking to divorce his bride over what?!?  Jearlyn looks into the story to discuss the historical practice of the wedding day. WIRED staff writer Amanda Hoover takes us through the emergence of the new social media platform, Threads.