"Check and Mate"

"The Slow Burn of Discomfort"

A talented and dynamic speaker, Hannah Bergstrom de Leon closes the October 2023 Blaze Your Trail show with her story about the fruits of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Angie, Jeremy, and Shane chat about anti-imposter syndrom, curling, and the nature of time in this final episode of Season 7.

"A Tale of Two Trails"

Story Show veteran Jen Vogt-Erickson returns to the show with a story about multiple generations of her family. Many of Jen’s ancestors came to the US during the latter half of the 19th century and settled on land in Minnesota and the Dakota Territory due to the Homestead Act of 1862. These are the people she thought of when she first heard the theme “Blaze Your Trail.” At the time she was also reading a book on climate change called The Parrot and the Igloo and noticed how it intersected with this period and her family’s history in the U.S.

"Check and Mate"

It's the early '70s, and four bright high school boys with a passion for chess are faced with a challenge: How to compete for a Minnesota state high school chess championship when you have no coach. In another story from our 2023 "Blaze Your Trail" Story Show, Kelly Callahan shares how he and his friends did just that when students had a little more freedom than they perhaps do today.

"Where Did My Chunk Go?"

In this episode from our October 2023 Blaze Your Trail show, a college student shares a tale of reckless adventure that quite literally sent him over the edge. Looking back, he discusses how the adrenaline rush of that moment has since given way to a valuable life lesson: there are more important--and less physically dangerous--risks to take in life. Be ready to laugh as you listen to this story about growing up, learning from mistakes, and finding balance between thrill-seeking and wisdom.

"A Latina Maestra in Minnesota"

In the fourth story from our October 2023 Blaze Your Trail Story Show, educator Monica Ocampo shares her story about navigating the public education system, college, and graduate school as a Latina and the first in her family to attend college in the U.S.