Deb Marquart discusses her memoir The Horizontal World: Growing Up in the Middle of Nowhere in a heartfelt conversation with moderator Jamieson Ridenhour. The event explores her rural North Dakota upbringing, the legacy of Germans from Russia, and how memory, music, and place shape personal identity. Recorded on February 28, 2021.

Mona Susan Power discusses The Grass Dancer in a richly personal conversation with Jamieson Ridenhour. She reflects on Dakota spirituality, inherited trauma, and how storytelling through ancestral voices, visions, and memory became a form of cultural and personal reclamation. Recorded on January 31, 2021.

Terry Shoptaugh discusses Sons of the Wild Jackass in this richly detailed conversation with Bill Thomas. The event explores the Nonpartisan League’s bold reforms, internal clashes, and colorful leaders, shedding light on a pivotal chapter in North Dakota’s political history. Recorded on December 13, 2020.

Heid E. Erdrich discusses Little Big Bully in a powerful conversation with moderator Rebecca Chalmers. The event explores personal and cultural trauma, Native sovereignty, the legacy of Standing Rock, and how poetry can confront fear and foster healing. Recorded on November 29, 2020.

Patrice Tanaka discusses Becoming Ginger Rogers in this inspiring conversation with moderator Bill Thomas. She shares how ballroom dancing helped her reclaim joy and purpose after personal and professional challenges, drawing powerful connections between dance, leadership, and life. Recorded on October 25, 2020.

Larry Watson discusses The Lives of Edie Pritchard in this conversation with moderator Rebecca Chalmers. Spanning three decades, the novel follows Edie as she challenges how others define her, exploring themes of identity, perception, and resilience. Watson reflects on character, dialogue, and how landscape shapes the story. Recorded on September 27, 2020.

Kelsey Timmerman discusses Where Am I Giving? in this conversation with moderator Jamieson Ridenhour. Through stories from Kenya, Cambodia, and beyond, Timmerman explores the ethics of giving and how intentional acts, large or small, can foster empathy, connection, and change. Recorded on September 22, 2020.

Chuck Klosterman discusses Raised in Captivity in this wide-ranging conversation with moderator Jamieson Ridenhour. Klosterman reflects on the structure and themes of his surreal short stories, his evolution as a writer, and how growing up in North Dakota continues to influence his work. Recorded on August 23, 2020.

Leif Enger discusses Virgil Wander in this conversation with moderator Bill Thomas. Together they explore themes of second chances, quiet transformation, and the power of place, following a small-town theater owner recovering from a life-altering accident. Enger reflects on the novel’s characters, his writing process, and how rural landscapes and family memory shape his work. Recorded on July 19, 2020.

Michael J. Gerhardt joins moderator Josh Wolsky for The History of Impeachment, a lecture exploring the constitutional origins and historical use of impeachment in the United States. Drawing on his scholarship in constitutional law, Gerhardt traces how the framers designed impeachment as a safeguard against abuses of power and explains how Congress has interpreted and applied this authority across American history. The conversation reflects on the tension between law and politics in impeachment proceedings and what these debates reveal about accountability and the balance of power in American democracy. Recorded on March 3, 2026.

Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Bruce Perry joins moderator Tami Decoteau for Healing Through Story and Connection, a conversation exploring how storytelling, relationships, and meaning-making support healing from trauma. Drawing on decades of research in brain development and stress response systems, Dr. Perry explains how experiences shape the brain and why human connection plays a critical role in resilience and recovery. Referencing insights from his book What Happened to You?, the discussion invites viewers to consider how empathy, narrative, and community can foster understanding and promote healing. Recorded on February 17, 2026.

Former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer joins moderator Larry Skogen for a reflective conversation on restoring neighborliness, civility, and ethical responsibility in public life. Drawing on Schafer’s experiences in government, business, and civic leadership, the discussion examines how shifts in culture, language, and public trust have contributed to polarization and disconnection, and why strong communities and human relationships remain essential to a healthy democracy. Together, Schafer and Skogen invite listeners to reconsider how everyday acts of listening, humility, and shared responsibility can help rebuild trust and strengthen democratic life. Recorded on January 15, 2026.