Best The Brian Oake Show Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 494 Matthew Hope for Open Arms at The Hook July 12th 50:50

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4d ago50:50

50:50

Matthew Hope certainly lives up to his name! Matthew, a musician in his own right, has organized an incredible benefit for Open Arms MN coming up July 12. The musical line up is killer and it couldn't be for a more important cause. Learn all about the event and enjoy the music! Cheers!

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Ep 496 Andra Suchy 52:50

1d ago52:50

52:50

Andra Suchy shares great stories about growing up in North Dakota, Daisy the cow, performing with amazing musicians and Poky here sweet pooch!

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Ep 495 Jenny Case (Flamin' Oh's, She Rock She Rock and so much more!) 46:17

3d ago46:17

46:17

Jenny Case was on the show today! She's an amazing guitar and bass player in so many bands and she heads up SheRockSheRock.com to teach girls to rock! She had some great song picks and we talked about the Laurie Lindeen scholorship for her camp and her connection with Jill Sobule, who recently passed away in Woodbury. Enjoy the show!…

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EP 202: Daniel Oppenheimer on How the Left Loses People 52:17

6d ago52:17

52:17

With the excesses of 2020 now being examined in mainstream outlets like The New York Times, we are witnessing a moment of introspection on the American left. To unpack this development, we're joined by a writer who has studied the history of the left. And in this week's conversation, we wrestle with our own complicated — and at times conflicted — r…

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Celebrating the centennial anniversary of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake, the impact of tariffs on local businesses and Mt Vallarta on poetry and the trauma of migration 59:54

7d ago59:54

59:54

We start with Carol Tangeman’s new segment, “Talking Downtown”, where she brings us stories from downtowns across the Central Coast. This one is sourced from KCSB, where reporter Lisa Osborn speaks with author and historian Betsy J. Green about an earthquake that hit Santa Barbara exactly a hundred years ago and destroyed its downtown. This led to …

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EP 201: Joan C. Williams on How the Left Lost the Working Class 42:50

13d ago42:50

42:50

It’s common knowledge these days that the left has lost the working class. But there is little curiosity about how, and why, and what that means for our politics. Our guest on this week's program has written a deeply researched book on the subject — and she has some ideas on where the left should go from here. Joan C. Williams is a Distinguished Pr…

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City Farm SLO's mission to create sustainable farmers of tomorrow, how Santa Barbara got its Juneteenth celebration, and the impact of budget cuts on the History Center of San Luis Obispo County 58:08

14d ago58:08

58:08

Dr. Consuelo Meux speaks with Kayla Rutland, Executive Director, and Kate DiTrani, Program Manager, of City Farm SLO about its youth education programs and regenerative farming for the Nonprofit Story. Then, KCSB reporter Lisa Osborn's interview with Simone Ruskamp, co-founder of Santa Barbara's Juneteenth celebration about her efforts to get it st…

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Ep 493 Minnesota Music Resistance (Event at Hook & Ladder Sunday, 6/22) 53:35

19d ago53:35

53:35

Claire Luger and Mikkel Bee join us to talk all things Minnesota Music Resistance. It's a new organization that puts on events to raise money for great causes. Their first event is Sunday at Hook & Ladder Theater & Lounge in Minneapolis starting at 2pm and going until 7. A killer lineup of bands including Silent Treatment Buffalo Weaver, Turn Turn …

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Ep 492 Tina Schlieske 57:37

19d ago57:37

57:37

She's a force in the Twin Cities music scene and a fierce advocate for people's rights, Tina Schlieske joins us on this show to talk about her show at Lowertown Sounds on Thursday and her show atop the Hewing Hotel on Sunday. We commemorate Sly of Sly and the family stone, Brian Wilson and hear a great Tina song! Enjoy!…

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EP 200: Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee on How Our Politics Failed Us in the Pandemic 50:05

20d ago50:05

50:05

Three and a half years ago, during the pandemic era, we launched Lean Out to explore some basic questions about illiberalism in our response to the crisis — and in our culture, our politics, and our newsrooms. Today, for our 200th episode of the show, we're thrilled to be joined by two academics who have written a deeply researched book that provid…

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Caring for donkeys on the coast, Art Center Morro Bay's upcoming events, celebrating Pride with intention and joy with the Gala Center, and UCSB Professor Mark Juergensmeyer on the recent India-Pakistan ... 59:39

20d ago59:39

59:39

KCBX's Meher Ali speaks with Carlen Eckford, founder of the Rancho Burro Donkey Sanctuary and it's medical director as well as volunteer Barn Manager Nancy DeRuchie about how the nonprofit rehabilitates of donkeys and the misconceptions surrounding the behavior and care of these animals. Then, Kathleen Heil, President of Art Center Morro Bay, talks…

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Ep 491 Dave Rave & The Governors (at least one of the governors) 52:38

21d ago52:38

52:38

Legendary Canadian rocker Dave Rave (Teenage Head, The Shakers) and MN musical everyman Craig Teiken (Edie Rae Band, Bleek & Grimm) join us to talk about the latest expolits of their mutual music endeavor, Dave Rave & The Governors. The band is finish up sessions for their 9th (!) album at Rich Mattson's Sparta Sound, and we caught them just before…

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490 Randy Casey and Nate Westgor (Willie DelMar) 49:20

23d ago49:20

49:20

This episode features MN music stalwart Randy Casey along with Nate Westgor (aka 'Willie' of Willies American Guitars). They both joined to talk about a great show coming up this weekend. Sunday night (6/15) at The Parkway Theater in South Minneapolis it's a special Father's Day celebration of the legendary Joey Molland of Badfinger. We hear some g…

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Ep 489 The Federales 53:59

25d ago53:59

53:59

More great local music! This time we are joined by Ben, Chris and James of Minneapolis-based band The Federales. Are they Country? Are they Rock? Are They Roots? YES! Listen and learn. Also check them out live Friday April 13 at Palmer's. Cheers!

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Ep 488 Zippy Laske 56:41

25d ago56:41

56:41

What a treat! Zippy Laske makes her inaugural visit to the SmartStart MN Studio to talk about her new self-titled EP (out 6/13) and the big EP release celebration at the Green Room (also 6/13) with other luminaries like Chastity Brown and Leslie Vincent! Zippy is real, funny and definitely lives up to her nickname. Enjoy!…

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EP 199: Jenara Nerenberg on Resisting Groupthink in Polarized Times 29:46

27d ago29:46

29:46

In polarized times, our tolerance for different perspectives decreases. Groupthink becomes common, and we can often find ourselves either censored, or self-censoring. Our guest on the program today has done a deep dive into this topic, and she has some thoughts on how we can begin to speak up — while still seeing our ideological opponents as human.…

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Author Lucy Bledsoe on courage and celebrating Pride Month with books, making world-class white wines in Paso, ECOSLO's annual fundraiser, and Central Coast farmworkers' struggle with food insecurity 59:44

28d ago59:44

59:44

For his segment Bookwaves, KCBX's Brian Reynolds speaks with award-winning author and activist Lucy Jane Bledsoe about how attitudes towards the LGBTQ community have or have not changed and about one novel in particular titled “Tell the Rest.” Bledsoe will be speaking on Saturday, June 14th at the Atascadero Library from 12-2pm and San Luis Obispo …

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Ep 487 Annie Enneking 1:04:19

30d ago1:04:19

1:04:19

She's back! Annie Enneking (Annie and The Bang Bang, Glass) makes her 4th visit to the SmartStartMN Studio in scenic South Minneapolis. Annie is reliably insightful, funny and brings so much amazing enegy to everything she does. She's also a fight director, so she can help you kick someone's ass without actually kicking their ass. So great to have …

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Ep 486 - Doc (Sawtooth Witch, Theyself, "Desert Islands" on KFAI") 1:10:25

1M ago1:10:25

1:10:25

Doc (Sawtooth Witch, Fairfax AK, Elle PF, Theyself) makes their inaugural visit to the SmartStartMN studio! Doc is sharp, eloquent and hilarious. Also, a great musician with an excellent ethos. Basically, Doc is just plain cool. Sawtooth Witch has a brand new single on the way and a ton of shows on the near horizon. Listen, learn and enjoy!…

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EP 198: Eric Kaufmann: Is Woke Dead? 31:21

1M ago31:21

31:21

Tonight, in London, England, a group of writers and thinkers will gather to debate a key cultural question: “Is woke dead?” And tomorrow, the inaugural conference of a new centre for social science kicks off. Academics will gather to talk through the intellectual origins of this movement and its politics, psychology, and driving interests, to estab…

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Ep 485 Nick Leet (High On Stress) 1:02:10

1M ago1:02:10

1:02:10

Nick Leet (High On Stress, Figure Eights podcast) makes a long-overdue return to the SmartStartMN Studio. We talk about his new solo record (Detours) and all that that entails. We also dig into the forthcoming new High On Stress record, his podcast (which is excellent, btw), and his partcipation in Front Row Paul Fest, happening all weekend at Palm…

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Ep 484 Butch Roy Twin Cities Improv Festival 59:00

1M ago59:00

59:00

He's been improvising for 30 years in the Twin Cities. His main group is "Five Man Job", but he also ran Huge Theater. He runs Improv-A-Go Go at Strike Theater the 1st, 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month AND he helps to run Twin Cities Improv Festival which is happening June 5th through 9th at Phoenix Theater on 26th and Hennepin in Minneapolis. (Get t…

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EP 197: ENCORE: Larissa Phillips on Bridging Our Divides 30:55

1M ago30:55

30:55

As Tara puts the finishing touches on her next book, on declining trust in the media, we wanted to bring you a few encore interviews that have helped shaped her thinking on the media — including today’s episode. Since the election win for Donald Trump, we are seeing a renewed sense of scorn for Republican voters in parts of the mainstream media. Th…

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From Paso Robles to Orcutt, a delivery service that brings produce to your doorstep, the challenges and successes for Downtown SLO, and the logistics of putting together the Live Oak Music Festival 58:41

1M ago58:41

58:41

On Playing with Food, Fr. Ian Delinger spotlights Harvestly, a local delivery service that fills the gap between farm boxes, supermarkets, and restaurants by delivering local produce to your doorstep. Then, KCBX's Carol Tangeman speaks with LeBren Harris, CEO of the nonprofit Downtown SLO, about its challenges and successes in making the city’s dow…

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Ep 483 - Sally Linda (Big Salt, PARISHES) 57:53

2M ago57:53

57:53

Sally Linda (Big Salt, PARISHES) makes her inaugural visit ti the podcast to talk a little bit of everything. Her roots in Iowa, the two great bands she sings with and being a single mom who knows how to Rock n Roll. She's delightful, insightful and very funny. She also brought along some great music. Enjoy!…

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EP 196: ENCORE: Musa al-Gharbi on the Cultural Contradictions of the Elites 52:13

2M ago52:13

52:13

As Tara puts the finishing touches on her next book, on declining trust in the media, we wanted to bring you a few encore interviews that have helped shaped her thinking on the media — including today’s episode. The period often referred to as The Great Awokening is winding down now, and we’re starting to get a better understanding of what happened…

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Ep 482 Juice & Brian Z 57:34

2M ago57:34

57:34

The Combo is back in the house! Julius 'Juice' Collins and Brian Z (Dr. Mambo's Combo) return to talk about a very special tribute to Prince. 'Forever In My Life: A Birthday Tribute To Prince' will feature the Combo playing Prince songs from every era of his legendary career. The celebration is on Weds, June 4th at The Parkway Theater. Juice and Z …

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EP 195: Meghan Daum on Life's Catastrophe Hours 36:29

2M ago36:29

36:29

In this turbulent era, for many of us there is a moment in every day when anxiety steals over us. We pause, and in that rare period of stillness, the fears surface — but sometimes, if we’re lucky, so too do the reflections and the insights. Our guest on today’s program has called this interlude “the catastrophe hour,” and she’s just published a boo…

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Celebrating AAPI month with Samoan poet William Giles, Paso women winemakers talk business, wine and lapis lazuli, and an aviation entrepreneur shares why San Luis Obispo is the perfect base of operations ... 58:18

2M ago58:18

58:18

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander or AAPI Heritage Month. In celebration of this, Issues and Ideas invited MT Vallarta, pronouns they, them, theirs, a poet and Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at CalPoly, to be in conversation with William Nuʻutupu Giles, pronouns he/they, who is a poet, Samoan writer, and arts educator. Giles was in …

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Ep 481 Billy Dankert (Gear Daddies, Institutional Green, Solo Work & Doug Collins & The Receptionists) 59:21

2M ago59:21

59:21

MN music stalwart James 'Billy' Dankert (Gear Daddies, Insitutional Green, etc) stops by to talk music and the world in which we live. We get lots of good stuff - Gear Daddies stories, tales of backstage debauchery and hear his latest solo effort. I wish we could have kept him longer! Enjoy.

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EP 194: Darrell Bricker on Our Divided Nation 25:05

2M ago25:05

25:05

Now that the dust has settled on the Canadian federal election, we can pause for a moment and assess where we are at as a country. What lessons can we take from the election results? Our guest on today’s program has been polling Canadians for decades — and he says that we are now a divided nation. Darrell Bricker is the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs.…

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International student visa revocations, the future of abandoned boats in Morro Bay, Robin Greenfield's experiments in non-ownership, and a volunteer's tribute to the Live Oak Music Festival 58:51

2M ago58:51

58:51

Professor Jared Van Ramshorst from Cal Poly's Department of Political Science talks to KCBX's Meher Ali about recent student deportations and visa revocations that have impacted international students across the country, including at Cal Poly. Then, KCBX’s Adam Solorzano reports on a state grant received by Morro Bay that will enable it to demolish…

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Ep 480 Paul Irmiter (local filmmaker) 1:04:58

2M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

MN filmaker Paul Irmiter (39 Seconds) joins us to talk process, story and many other fascinating facets of filmaking. Hit latest full-length documentary '39 Seconds' tell the very little-known story of a man who many considered the greatest baseball player of his generation. It's an incredible story, and the story about making this film is also ver…

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Ep 479 Edie Rae 1:09:17

2M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

Edie Rae (The Edie Rae Band, The deLinda's, etc) makes her inaugural visit to the SmartStart MN studio! From humble beginnings in Spread Eagle, WI, she brings a lifetime of songwriting, storytelling and a fierce love of the Twin Cities music community to the conversation. She runs her own record label, is bringing out a MN Music themed cookbook, an…

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EP 193: David Zweig on Pandemic School Closures 34:55

2M ago34:55

34:55

One of the most polarizing policies of the pandemic era was the extended school closures. Critics have now been validated, with The New York Times reporting that “a growing body of research shows that pandemic school closures came at a steep cost to students” — while doing little to stop the spread of the virus. Our guest on the program today is a …

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Congressman Salud Carbajal on the state of our democracy, Fr. Ian travels to Guadalupe for locally-made sausages, and a peace activist shares their story of how they got banned from Israel for 99 years ... 58:37

2M ago58:37

58:37

Congressman Salud Carbajal speaks with KCBX’s News Director Monica Lopez and KCBX reporter Gabriela Fernandez about the current administration’s policies and actions and what resonated with him at the Town Hall meeting that he co-hosted with Senator Adam Schiff at Cuesta College on April 22nd. For Playing with Food, KCBX's Fr. Ian Delinger travels …

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EP 192: Election 2025 - Victor Febres on Political Polarization 31:01

2M ago31:01

31:01

Last week, at the English-language election debate, the leaders’ press scrums were cancelled after tensions between media outlets erupted into shouting in the press room, and other confrontations. This incident is a distressing example of how polarized our press has become. But of course, we are not the first country to grapple with this dynamic. M…

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EP 191: Election 2025 - Ramona Coelho on Assisted Dying 35:42

3M ago35:42

35:42

As election day nears, Lean Out continues to highlight the issues that we feel have not received enough attention in this news cycle. My guest on the program today is a physician who serves on death review committee with Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner. In today’s emotional interview, we take a close look at medical assistance in dying, or MA…

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Ep 478 Breanne Marie (of Breanne Marie and the Front Porch Sinners) 57:14

3M ago57:14

57:14

What exactly is a front porch sinner? You'll just have to listen to find out. This outstanding Duluthian band has a new album coming out soon...if only enough people kick on their Kickstarter campaign. https://tinyurl.com/525yusfk We had a great conversation with Breanne and found out why she's so passion about their music AND she shared secret pla…

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Ep 477 Youa Vang 59:10

3M ago59:10

59:10

Our old friend, Youa Vang stopped by to share what she's working on at the Ramsey County Historical Society and of course her amazing cross-stitch work with her sister. Third Daughter, Restless Daughter work can be found at 3drdcrafts.com and on all the socials. See them at Art-A-Whirl this year. We love Youa!…

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EP 190: Election 2025 - Mike Moffatt Answers Every Question You've Ever Had About the Housing Crisis 42:49

3M ago42:49

42:49

We are in the final week of the Canadian federal election. And while Trump’s trade policy has received much coverage this election season, our housing crisis has been less of a priority for the legacy press. We at Lean Out happen to think this is the most important issue in the country — and so, on today’s program, our guest is here to answer every…

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Celebrating the history of our county's diverse workforce, Jennifer Adams on the impact of potential federal funding cuts on survivors, and Elaine Genasci reflects on two decades of keeping felines healthy ... 58:09

3M ago58:09

58:09

By Meher Ali