Best Staci Perry Mergenthal Podcasts (2025)

1
Junking Angels and Vintage Finds: Meet Sharon Hohler of Homeless Treasures, Tracy, MN 1:00:56

20d ago1:00:56

1:00:56

If you’ve ever found joy in a perfectly rusted garden gate, an old Pyrex bowl like Grandma’s, or the thrill of repurposing a forgotten item into something useful again—this episode is for you. In Season 3, Episode 9 of Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens, I head to rural Tracy, Minnesota, to visit with Sharon Hohler, the creative and kind-hearted owner…

1
Fishing, Foraging and Exploring: Midwestern Alice’s Alaskan Adventures 1:07:12

4M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

Born and raised in South Dakota, Alice Klopstad stayed for college and the start of her corporate career. Then Alaska captured her heart and now she calls it home. Join me as Alice tells her adventurous and inspiring story of moving to a place where she’s embraced the outdoor lifestyle—hiking, snow machining, fishing, foraging, and filling an entir…

1
Leah Rodriguez’s Magical Oven and How Joy, Faith, and Family Rise Together 1:10:01

5M ago1:10:01

1:10:01

Step into the warm and inviting kitchen of Minnesota native Leah Rodriguez, where baking isn’t just a pastime for her, it’s a way to honor tradition, celebrate family, and embrace joy and faith even in life’s hardest seasons. Get ready to laugh and cry in this episode as Leah shares what she puts in her pumpkin bars that make them extra special, a …

1
Whirlygigs and Watermelon Pickles: Keeping Family Traditions Alive with Stacy Brallier 49:25

5M ago49:25

49:25

Today, I’m introducing you to Stacy Brallier, a South Dakota mom, grandma, and keeper of family food traditions. Stacy shares recipes that hold a special place in her heart, including Funfetti cookies, her mom’s peanut butter whirlygigs cookies, and her great-grandma Elsie Edgecomb’s watermelon pickles, and a co-worker’s more updated recipe for wat…

1
Cooking Without Loving It: Inherited Recipes from the Heart with Amanda Runia 1:08:06

6M ago1:08:06

1:08:06

Today’s guest is Amanda Runia, a busy mom, South Dakota business owner of In-House Ally, and self-proclaimed non-cook who has still managed to gather an abundance of beloved Midwest comfort food recipes from her family. Drawing from the kitchens of her mother-in-law, grandmother, and mom, Amanda shares her approach to keeping mealtime manageable an…

1
Sweet Generosity: Local Impact of the Lake Campbell Lutheran Church Cookie Walk 54:41

6M ago54:41

54:41

You don’t need walking shoes for the Lake Campbell Lutheran Church Cookie Walk. Just an appetite for homemade, tried-and-true Midwestern treats and a giving heart to support local non-profits. This year's bake sale is on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 9a.m. Be there early to get in line! They run out of cookies quickly. The church address is 46610 …

1
Harvesting Holiday Spirit: 70 Seasons of Traditions at Krueger’s Christmas Tree Farm 54:27

6M ago54:27

54:27

Krueger's Christmas Tree Farm has been more than just a place to pick your own perfect tree—it's been at the heart of holiday traditions for families in the Lake Elmo and Twin Cities Minnesota area for 70 years and counting. Spanning four generations, the Krueger family has cultivated not just evergreens but cherished memories, as they continue to …

1
The Meatery MN: Connecting Meathusiasts Directly with Farmers 1:04:59

6M ago1:04:59

1:04:59

If you like meat or stories about family businesses that connect producers directly to their customers, you’re going to love this episode with Bruce and Jodie Drager, Allie and Michael Drager, and Mackenzie Drager, half of the Minnesota family of farmers and food enthusiasts behind The Meatery MN. While sharing meals together on vacation in Oregon,…

1
Vineyard Visionary: Jim Schade of Schadé Vineyard & Winery on Pouring Connections and Pioneering a State Industry 1:05:11

7M ago1:05:11

1:05:11

If you drink South Dakota-made wine or beer, Jim Schade and Eldon Nygaard are the guys to thank. Because prior to the South Dakota 1996 Farm Winery Act legalized commercial production of wine in South Dakota, you couldn’t make an alcoholic beverage in South Dakota and sell it since Prohibition. So, Eldon came up with the idea to start a legal licen…

1
Frosting the Heart: For Goodness Cakes Twin Cities Chapter 1:27:56

8M ago1:27:56

1:27:56

Today’s story is a reminder that not all kids have the luxury of celebrating their birthday with a fun cake, but it’s also a reminder that just one small act of kindness, and a little frosting and sprinkles, can light up a child’s special day, showing them that people care about them and they are not forgotten. Meet ⁠For Goodness Cakes Twin Cities⁠…

1
Recipes, Rhubarb Muffins, Roseville Restaurants and Mississippi River Road Trips with Shannon Thomasser 1:15:13

9M ago1:15:13

1:15:13

This is a classic story of two Midwesterners becoming friends over a grandma's handed-down rhubarb muffin recipe. Growing up in New Richmond, Wisconsin, Shannon's grandmothers, aunts and mom were great Midwestern cooks. Even so, she didn't watch or pay attention to how they worked their culinary magic in the kitchen or with recipes. Her job was to …

1
Fresh Pickings with Jan Sanderson of Sanderson Gardens 1:37:29

10M ago1:37:29

1:37:29

He had a self-checkout long before Walmart and Target and he still updates his telephone hotline with garden patch conditions and produce availability. Just call 605-693-4871. Meet Sanderson Gardens owner Jan Sanderson, the Rhubarb King and developer of the Sanderson Red rhubarb variety. A visit to Sanderson Gardens on the I-29 corridor just four m…

1
Faith and Family at the Center of Growing Veggies with Berndt Family Produce 59:44

1y ago59:44

59:44

What began with a tent purchased from an anonymous $200 donation and Dawnna Berndt’s idea to grow a garden to bring in more income, turned into a family-based vegetable farm market business (Berndt Family Produce) that’s been serving their community of customers in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota for 24 years. At the time, she and her hu…

1
Amber Waves of Anthem Oats with Fifth-generation South Dakota Farmers Taylor and Cassandra Sumption 54:23

1y ago54:23

54:23

Roots go deep in today’s show. Come with me to meet fifth-generation farmers, Taylor and Cassandra Sumption, the founders of Anthem Oats. The couple grows and packages premium, gluten-free oats for retail on nearly 400 acres near Frederick, South Dakota, 27 miles north of Aberdeen on US Highway 281, just seven miles south of the North Dakota border…

1
Will Read for Pizza: Apps, Sides and Books with Christianne Beringer 55:53

1y ago55:53

55:53

It’s almost summer, which means pool and lake parties, family reunions and picnics, camping, and smoking out the neighborhood with your backyard grilling. It’s also time to dig out your library card, visit your local indie bookstore, and pack your beach bag with books on your “want to read” list. Today I’m bringing back my friend and book goals her…

1
Sausage Wontons and Crafting a Creative Life with Bobbi Lynn Gaukel 1:24:21

1y ago1:24:21

1:24:21

Living a life of curiosity and creativity means you will, at times, gracefully let go of things that no longer fuel your passion or serve you positively. This week's podcast guest, Bobbi Lynn Gaukel, and I agree—the earlier in life you learn this practice, the more open and freer you are to being curious and trying new things. Throughout her life, …

1
Back to Grandma’s Basics and Handwritten Recipes with Wendy Doornink 52:08

1y ago52:08

52:08

Have you thought about who you’ll pass down your handwritten recipes to? If you’re like Wendy Doornink and me, you have a mix of handwritten recipe cards from family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and of course, yourself. This episode might make you think about who the next person might be to keep those cherished recipes in your family. In our vi…

1
Buttery Caramels and Fancy Dishes with Liz Murphy of Betty’s Antiques 55:21

1y ago55:21

55:21

In this episode, you and I are going to meet Betty’s Antiques owner, Liz Murphy from St. Paul, Minnesota. She’s walking us through her charming vintage boutique on the historic corner of Selby and Snelling Avenues, plus she shares the sweet way her grandma Betty influenced how she dresses up a table, in a non-fussy sort of way, so that we can make …

1
Flock to Fork: Eggstravaganza and Deviled Eggs with Iowa Egg Council 50:16

1y ago50:16

50:16

Welcome to the 50th episode! We’re heading to Iowa today to speak with Iowa Egg Council’s Board Chairman Bruce Dooyema, and Director of Marketing and Communications Melissa Alto-Kintigh about one powerhouse food—eggs. IOWA IS THE #1 STATE IN EGG PRODUCTION First, we cover the basics, like how many eggs a chicken lays in a day, what determines the c…

1
Fish Fry Friday Feeds the Soul with Ron Faiola 54:40

1y ago54:40

54:40

Batter up! You don’t have to be from the Midwest to feel like a part of the community we’re talking about today—that’s because our beloved Friday night fish fry welcomes people from around the world to sit across the table with each other at parish schools and fellowship halls, to supper clubs, taverns, and community centers to enjoy golden-fried o…

1
From Cabinets to Sculleries and Floating Shelves: The Art of Your Kitchen Design With Carissa Trygstad 55:46

1+ y ago55:46

55:46

On today’s show, we’re expanding on last week’s theme of incorporating personality into your kitchen as we sit down with expert designer, Carissa Trygstad, about what she’s seeing in kitchen trends and the classics, plus the revival of the scullery, and how it differs from a butler’s pantry. From cabinets to heated countertops, Carissa covers kitch…

1
Painting Personality and Vibes into Your Kitchen with Wendy Doornink 57:08

1+ y ago57:08

57:08

We're heading into the kitchen with Wendy Doornink, the color services manager at Hirshfield’s, a family-owned paint, wallcoverings and window fashions company headquarted in Minnesota. Wendy has been painting since she could hold a paint brush, so when Jason and I started talking about painting our kitchen and possibly even our cabinets, I knew I …

1
From Pucks to Potlucks: Hockey Moms Stick Together 42:46

1+ y ago42:46

42:46

It’s hockey season and I live in Minnesota, the State of Hockey. And even though my kids played hockey in South Dakota where’s it’s not school-sanctioned, there’s one thing we have in common across the sport—once a hockey mom, always a hockey mom, even after our kids have shot their last puck as a high school player. We may not wear our player’s ph…

1
Revolutionizing the Cafeteria: Farm to School Impacts Student Well-being and Local Agriculture 50:22

1+ y ago50:22

50:22

We’re going back to school—to the school cafeteria, that is. And although I do ask about good ol’ square school lunch pizza, and the pairing of cinnamon rolls & chili, my guests, Karla Sawvell and Amanda Reilly are spilling the beans on how the Huron South Dakota School District is implementing Farm To School. In addition to being one of the very f…

1
Harvesting Hope: Iowa Teen’s 7,000-pound Garden Bounty Feeds Thousands, Aims to Triple Impact by 2025 with Lauren Schroeder 55:53

1+ y ago55:53

55:53

Today we’re heading to rural Dixon, Iowa to meet Lauren Schroeder and her mom Katie on their family farm, and Lauren’s FFA advisor and ag teacher, Jenna Kingsley. Lauren is a junior at Calamus-Wheatland High School. She shows sheep and rabbits at county fairs, plays softball and volleyball, she’s the junior class president, and somehow, Lauren, who…

1
Christmas Baking Recipes With My Mom Linda Moe 59:33

1+ y ago59:33

59:33

Since I can remember, my mom, Linda Moe, has shared dozens and dozens of delicious goodies at our family’s Christmas gatherings. Today we’re talking about most of them, like vintage treats from her mom like mashed potato candy, cherry bing bars, and fruit salad with a cooked pineapple dressing, and newer recipes she’s added over the years like Ritz…

1
Hosting a Ranch Cracker Snack Mix and Cookie Exchange with Carissa Trygstad and Val Ellens 36:25

1+ y ago36:25

36:25

Rural South Dakota friends since kindergarten and K-mart co-workers in high school, Carissa Trygstad and Val Ellens have a bond that even Val’s dense molasses cookies can’t break. They’re joining me today because I heard that Carissa hosts an annual ranch cracker snack mix tossing party, and to top it off, she weaves in a Christmas cookie exchange …

1
Family Recipes and Stories with Sarah Peterson of Vintage Dish and Tell 1:27:10

1+ y ago1:27:10

1:27:10

For Minnesota native and public relations professional Sarah Peterson, launching her own blog with family recipes helped her find her writing voice. But it didn’t take long for Sarah of Vintage Dish and Tell blog to expand her passion for handed-down recipes and the stories behind them by inviting others to share the cherished food and family tradi…

1
Thankful for You, Turkey Leftovers, and Pumpkin Cheesecake, Cookies and Bars 27:14

1+ y ago27:14

27:14

This episode is dedicated to thanking you, a listener of Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens. Plus I share a few of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes, like sausage stuffing, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, KAHLÚA pumpkin chocolate cheesecake, cherry crunchobblerumble, and pumpkin bars with maple cream cheese frosting. I'm also sharing ways you can suppo…

1
Nordic Waffles: From Fair to Food Hall to Freezers Across the U.S. with Founder Stine Aasland and CEO Jeremy Ely 1:06:56

1+ y ago1:06:56

1:06:56

Stine Aasland’s dream of creating a Nordic Waffle Wafflelution has come true, and that means we get to delight in sweet and savory, handheld, heart-shaped waffles all day long. Stine, known as Norway’s Waffle Queen, came to America in 2015 with two suitcases, a waffle recipe, and a dream. On today’s show, Stine and Nordic Waffle’s CEO, Jeremy Ely, …

1
Family Recipes and Braving Youth Mental Health with Kristin and Anna Rehkamp 1:08:37

1+ y ago1:08:37

1:08:37

Tuck a few Kleenex in your sleeve. Everyday living—the highs and lows of everyday life—is exactly what today’s show encompasses. Because whether we, or someone we love, is braving adult or youth mental health battles, our everyday lives continue around us. But how we cope with and support each other makes all the difference in the world. You might …

1
Sugar Cookies and Mrs. Chandler’s Chocolate Fudge Cake with Stacie Suedkamp of Fig Tales 1:10:08

1+ y ago1:10:08

1:10:08

You may have met this week’s podcast guest Stacie Suedkamp, the owner, artist, and cookie engineer behind the South Dakota luxury cookie company, Fig Tales. But how well do you know her? Tune in to Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens S2 E5 to learn: 1. What’s the one word Stacie doesn’t allow people to use? 2. How is Stacie using high-tech engineering …

1
Arepas, Allergen-Free Cookies, Holland Michigan, and Gulf Shores Alabama with Boutique Vacation Rental Superhost Alicia Wright 1:05:22

1+ y ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Today you’ll hear from my first Michigan (the Mitten State!) guest, Alicia Wright. We cover a lot of topics in this episode—from mud water and allergen-free chocolate chip cookies, and Alicia’s favorite spots in Holland, to her motivation behind becoming a boutique vacation rental owner in Gulf Shores Alabama, to the Venezuelan arepa recipe her dad…

1
Pumpkin Dessert and Kids in the Kitchen with Danielle Herberg 47:55

1+ y ago47:55

47:55

Danielle Herberg and her 7-year-old daughter, Carly, join me by phone at their home in Browns Valley, Minnesota. Danielle talks about who influenced her love of baking, what happened when she and her daycare kids experimented growing seeds from a tomato, and she pulls out some of her favorite recipes from her go-to community cookbook and her grandm…

1
Gaylen's Gourmet Popcorn is Popping with South Dakota Pride 1:11:31

1+ y ago1:11:31

1:11:31

When Gaylen Backus was in his peak popcorn growing season, he was popping out nearly half a million pounds of popcorn seed on his 350 acres of South Dakota farmland near Wentworth. He went from selling most of his crop to wholesalers, to his family popping and packaging his wife Shirley’s homemade caramel corn and selling it at farmers markets and …

1
Steak and Coffee Cake with Millennial Rancher Calli Williams of TW Angus 59:46

1+ y ago59:46

59:46

Calli and Tate Williams' love story began when they met at the South Dakota State Fair. Tate asked Calli to show his heifer. Having grown up on a farm with a small herd of cattle and a love for 4-H, she did it. And that's all it took to begin their lives together building a family and pouring their hearts and hard work into TW Angus, their purebred…

1
Season 1 Finale. What's Next? 10:50

2y ago10:50

10:50

After seven months and 32 episodes, Season 1 has come to an end. But not without a huge thank you to guests, listeners and supporters. What's next? Tune in to find out. Random Sweets: Website: randomsweets.com Instagram: @potatoesandmittens Instagram: @randomsweets Facebook: Random Sweets Email: [email protected] #ourSweetMidwestLife…

1
Hive to Jar, The Sweet Story of Adee Honey Farms with Marla Hoyer and Sarah Hauge 1:18:11

2y ago1:18:11

1:18:11

You are in for a sweet and sticky treat today! Joining me are Adee Honey Farms’ second and third generation family members, Marla Hoyer, and Sarah Hauge. We cover everything from the history of Adee Honey, way back to even before Richard and his brother Stanley purchased the South Dakota honey operation of about 1,000 honeybee colonies in 1957, to …

1
Bruce Honey Days 2023 and Community Cookbook Honey Recipes 42:45

2y ago42:45

42:45

Many Midwestern towns host annual festivities in celebration of characteristics unique to their community—like the city celebration we’re talking about today—the 32nd annual Honey Days in Bruce, South Dakota. Joining me for today’s show are longtime parade emcee, Mary Bjerke, and her husband, Russ, and their daughter, Christianne Beringer. Mary sha…

1
Gardening, Salsa & Mocktails, A Summer Conversation with Medary Acres Greenhouse 1:19:04

2y ago1:19:04

1:19:04

I’m talking all things summer gardening with two special guests—Lynn Darnall and her daughter Sarah Alfano, owners of Medary Acres Greenhouse—a 71-year-old, third-generation business in Brookings, South Dakota. We cover a variety of topics, from basics like watering and deadheading, to the value of mulching tomato plants, how to properly cut stems …

1
Homemade Strawberry Apricot Jam and Broiled Parmesan Potatoes with Sydney Andera 51:11

2y ago51:11

51:11

Today on the show, South Dakota native Sydney Andera talks about who inspired her to make homemade strawberry apricot jam, her favorite flavor of birthday cake since she doesn’t like chocolate, the meal she likes most that her mom, Michelle, makes, her Grandma Naomi’s broiled parmesan potatoes, and a barbecue joint and a doughnut shop she and her b…

1
Bake With Me: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Poppers 14:34

2y ago14:34

14:34

On today’s Bake With Me episode, I invite you to bake along with me as I make Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Poppers. With just a few ingredients and a mini muffin tin, you can quickly make a batch of these poppers that all the peanut butter and chocolate lovers in my family like. Since we’re using a peanut butter cookie mix, all we need is the cookie p…

1
Try These 26 Iconic South Dakota Foods, Plus a Few From Neighboring States’ Plates 49:47

2y ago49:47

49:47

As South Dakotans love to road trip across the state, plus, hundreds of thousands of tourists vacation here throughout the summer, this episode is for anyone who wants to learn more about, and try, 26 iconic dishes and drinks that define the Mount Rushmore state. If you’re from the Midwest, you’ve probably already checked a lot of these foods off y…

1
18 Camping Meals and Snacks, Plus Jenn Buse’s Favorite Campgrounds in South Dakota and Minnesota 1:19:08

2y ago1:19:08

1:19:08

Do the great outdoors beckon you to the campground all summer long? Today’s guest, Jenn Buse from Tyler, Minnesota, is such a seasoned camper, I knew we’d have fun talking about meals and snacks she shares with family—whether fireside folk singing, watching the sun set over Lake Poinsett, or cozied up in the camper on a rainy day. Jenn has celebrat…

1
Fudge, Tacos, Fruits, Vegetables, Smoothies, Cocktails, Chicken Alfredo, and All Things Vitamix with Leah Brink 1:02:08

2y ago1:02:08

1:02:08

You are going to love today’s guest—my friend and a true Midwesterner, Leah Brink has lived in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and for nearly 20 years, she’s called Brookings, South Dakota home. She’s the kind of person who brings the fun to a party. It was her idea to start our show making strawberry daiquiris in my kitchen, and I certainly didn’t argue …

1
Smoking Cheese, Pulled Pork and Ham with Russell Ziegler 43:37

2y ago43:37

43:37

Today my North Dakota brother-in-law, Russell Ziegler, a coal miner and former United States Marine, joins us to talk about cold-smoking cheese, smoking pork butt, and how he turns a plain old pork shoulder into an incredibly flavorful smoked ham that practically shreds itself at the sight of a fork. You'll learn where he uses maple syrup, what’s i…

1
Eating Kuchen, Mexican Corn, Pickle Dip, and Fried Knoephla & Sauerkraut Pulled Pork and Cruising the River in North Dakota with Betsy Ziegler 50:37

2y ago50:37

50:37

In this episode, my North Dakota sister-in-law Betsy Ziegler joins me to talk about the German dessert, Kuchen, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, beloved maple bacon long johns at Bearscat, and cruising the Missouri River and drinking blood-red cocktail pouches. She shares her recipes, most of them using the “eyeball” method, for a non-mayo-based Ge…

1
Bake With Me: Tangled Caramel Peanut Butter Corn Chips 14:02

2y ago14:02

14:02

It's a busy week at my house. Our daughter graduates from college and I'm making the food for her party. So come bake with me in my kitchen on this episode as I make tangled caramel peanut butter corn chips, a sweet & salty favorite and one of the most popular recipes on randomsweets.com. It's one of those snacks that's hard to stop eating once you…

1
Changing a Child’s Story with Ashley Rhodes-Courter and East Central CASA 1:54:53

2y ago1:54:53

1:54:53

Joining us today is Ashley Rhodes-Courter, author of the New York Times and international bestselling memoir, “Three Little Words,” and its sequal, “Three More Words.” She’s an international keynote speaker, licensed clinical social worker, and founder of The Foundation for Sustainable Families. Since her first national keynote at age 14, Ashley ha…

1
What Are Funeral Potatoes and Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole? 43:50

2y ago43:50

43:50

It’s time to talk all things funeral potatoes. Cheesy hash brown casserole has more names than any dish I know—funeral potatoes, hash brown casserole, cheesy hash browns, party potatoes, company potatoes, Cracker Barrel potatoes, hash brown baked potatoes, taco potato casserole, hash brown potatoes, company potato casserole, and many others. In add…

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Staci Perry Mergenthal Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen