Jearlyn Steele

On this edition of the Center Stage hour, Jearlyn speaks to the following guests: "LOCH MESS! The World's Largest Freshwater Musical" playwright/composer Josef Evans and performer Lux Mortenson Singer/musician/songwriter Aaron "Heatbox" Heaton "The Music of Gladys Knight" lead performer MsArnise Singer/musician/songwriter Josh Cleveland

Summer is usually the time of year a lot of people look forward to, so they can get outside and enjoy all that Minnesota has to offer.  This Summer is a bit different, though.  Poor air quality across the state, and for large pockets of time, have dominated the headlines for weeks.  David Brown, Environmental Research Scientist & Meteorologist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, explains the factors that have set up this situation.

During recent Pride Months, retail giants have increasingly shown their support of the LGBTQIAP+ community.  However, that’s come under heavy amounts of scrutiny this year.  Major companies are facing backlash from customers upset over this kind of ally-ship.  Brandography CEO Jason Dailey joins the program to talk about the back-and-forth of it all.

Brandography CEO Jason Dailey talks about the backlash against some companies marketing towards the LGBTQ community. David Brown of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency helps us figure out why our air quality has been so poor over the past few weeks.

If you like to stroll through one of Minneapolis’ parks, you may notice graffiti on some of the buildings you walk by.  But there’s an effort to try and keep that vandalism from happening in the first place.  The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board has employed local artists to help by painting murals on some of the park buildings.  Board Senior Planner Carrie Ann Christensen offers some details of the program.

Jearlyn leads off this last show of June by talking about "what's in a name" and buying fireworks for the Fourth. Carrie Ann Christensen from the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board explains a new program to combat graffiti on local park structures.

On this edition of Center Stage, Jearlyn talks with the following guests: "The Buddha Prince" creator/writer/director Markell Kiefer Stages Theatre CEO & artistic director Sandy Boren-Barrett Twin Cities Jazz Festival founder Steve Heckler Comedian C. Willi Myles

A new bookstore in Downtown Minneapolis is offering selections from a diverse clientele of authors.  Strive is the latest outlet from Strive Publishing LLC, and company CEO/founder Mary Taris joins the program to explain how her lifelong dream of educating has turned into this expanding business.

Jearlyn gives her thoughts on the DeSantis-Disney fight and the tragic death of a former American Olympian. Strive Publishing founder Mary Taris tells us about her new bookstore in Minneapolis.

In 2023, are strides being made to help men get the care they need for their minds?  June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, and Jearlyn invites Abbott Northwestern hospitalist and author Dr. Craig Bowron on the show to explain the barriers men have to seeking this type of health care and how those are slowly being eroded.

Jearlyn discusses the importance of Father's Day and if there's as much attention paid to it as there should be. Dr. Craig Bowron of Abbott Northwestern tells us the growing influence of men getting help for mental issues.

On this edition of Center Stage, we hear from the following guests: "Jersey Boys" actor Will Dusek Singer/musician Ben Noble MN Orchestra guest conductor André Raphel Sister Althea Rupert of the St. Paul's Pilgrim Baptist Church

Are you looking for trip and activity ideas over the Summer?  Family Fun Twin Cities can offer some of those.  Co-founder Gianna Kordatzky lets us know what's going on now that the children are out for their break.

The case of the classified documents found at the Mar-a-Lago Club has come to a head with Friday's official announcement of indictments against former President Donald Trump and aide Walt Nauta.  How important is this case for the country's future?  Local attorney and former WCCO host Jack Rice provides his perspective.

Attorney Jack Rice helps us decipher the latest indictment of former President Trump. Family Fun Twin Cities co-founder Gianna Kordatzky offers some ideas for Summer activities and trips for the fam.

With so many more obstacles in today's society, how can we raise young boys to become healthy men?  Dr. Michael C. Reichert, executive director of Center for the Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives at the University of Pennsylvania and author of “How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men”, offers some answers from his research.

Jearlyn is back in studio, and she chops it up with producer Jonathan Lowe. Author and developmental psychologist Dr. Michael C. Reichert gives us his thoughts on raising boys in this day and age.

On this week's hour of Center Stage, Jearlyn gets in touch with the following guests: Loons on the Lake Comedy Festival producer Randy Lubas Local musician/songwriter Jim Walsh Star Tribune lead theatre critic Rohan Preston

It's the beginning of Pride Month, but with several hundred bills targeting LGBTQ persons in State legislatures across the country, this edition may be the most  important in decades.  MN Rep. Leigh Finke, the state's first Transgender person elected to the State House, gives her thoughts on this month's impact.

At the 11th hour, lawmakers in Washington came to an agreement to raise the Debt Ceiling.  But why did this even get to this point?  Hamline political science professor David Schultz joins the program to dig deep into this Congressional procedure and whether it's even needed.