Leif Pettersen Makes a Podcast Podcast

This was an unexpectedly enlightening conversation about dating during covid (and winter). Callie had a bunch of suggestions for apps, friend set-ups, making Zoom dates less awkward and much more that had never occurred to me. I hope you learn as much as I did.

Callie McMillan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at the Relationship Therapy Center, a place dedicated to helping people grow in health and happiness in their imp...

In this episode, I talk to Naomi Kritzer about the Minneapolis Department of Public Safety amendment to the city charter, AKA “defund the police,” that the people of Minneapolis will be voting on in November. We get into the history and the details of the proposed amendment (and why the Minneapolis city council currently can't share those details) and straighten out the misconceptions being paraded through the media as the country ...

In this episode, we talk about the delicate world of travel media (i.e. being travel influencers) in the age of COVID. How it stated, how it's going and how they managed to keep working through most of it. 

Jenna and Micah Kvidt are photographers and videographers who travel the world in search of adventure which they feature on the travel blog Wander The Map. One of their favorite things to do is to capture stories, both visu...

In this episode, I chat with Sheila Scarborough about her recent blog post "Will travel ever be the same?" We also discuss why social responsibility is becoming a factor for leisure travelers and how destination marketing organizations are countering over-tourism. 

Sheila Scarborough is a speaker, trainer, and writer specializing in tourism, travel, and social media. Along with Leslie McLellan, she's part of the Tourism Curren...

In this episode, Jarrod and I talk about the ups and downs of van life, loneliness, helpful resources, the current van building bubble and how to get decent internet in your van.

Jarrod Tocci is a YouTube content creator, a comedian and one of those crazy people who decided to live in a self built van. He's a proud enabler for people who are not only considering van life, but also considering building their own van homes with no pr...

In this episode, Tim and I discuss the robustness of travel blogging in the post-pandemic, incipient-climate crisis world, in addition to all the unsexy aspects of being a travel blogger. Also, is it too late to start a profitable travel blog? 

Tim Leffel is an award-winning travel writer, editor, and blogger from the USA who lives in central Mexico. He is the author of multiple books, including Travel Writing 2.0, The World's...

The Statesider is a wonderful email newsletter that shares curated and original stories about America and Americana, including many topics you didn't know you cared about 10 seconds earlier. It's a treasure trove of great storytelling.

Doug Mack is a Minneapolis-based writer and the author of The Not-Quite States of America, published by Norton in 2017. He also wrote the super fun Europe on Five Wrong Turns a Day.

He has written fo...

In the grand tradition of announcing major life developments on social media, I have TWO major life developments that I'd like to share with you. Now that I think about it, it's more like two-and-a-half major life developments.

Most of you will only really care about one of these developments, but when has that ever stopped social media stunts like this? Never, that's when.

OK, I'll give you a hint: Please buy my books. They have b...

The pandemic means details are ever-changing, but consumer travel expert Johnny Jet and I talked about travel options for 2021. We cover domestic and international travel, the current state of flying and car rental and why going somewhere far away isn't a requirement for a vacation. 

Johnny Jet has traveled over 100,000 miles a year since starting his newsletter in 1995 and has visited over 70 countries. He has hosted a televi...

In this episode, I talk to Nora Dunn about the post-COVID remote working boom and the tantalizing options this trend presents for people.

Nora Dunn (aka The Professional Hobo) is one of the original Lifestyle Travel Bloggers, having sold everything she owned in 2006 to travel full-time. She traveled full-time for 12 years, and while she now has a home base in Toronto, she continues to take short and long-term trips (pandemic...

In which I read a short deleted section from my new ebook The First (Failed) Travel Food Show. 

In 2003, Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations premiered on the Travel Channel, unleashing a deluge of travel food shows that continues to this day.

Nearly a decade earlier, a ragtag group of marginally qualified noobs landed in Morocco to shoot the pilot for the first (failed) travel food show. I was one of those noobs.

*The link abov...

In this episode Jill and I discuss post-vaccine life, how and why all vaccines are safe and effective (even those with lower efficacy numbers), and why it's still important for vaccine recipients to continue adhering to virus safety protocols for now.

Jill Burcum has been an editorial writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune since March 2008. Before joining the Editorial Board she worked for a decade in the Star Tribune's newsroom a...

In this episode we talk about dating while middle-aged, dating during COVID and dating while middle-aged during COVID. Theresa had some great insight and suggestions that hadn't ever occurred to me, despite my many years in the dating pool. Best of all, you get a keyhole view of the nonstop thrill ride of dating me. (Spoiler Alert: It's less those things and more of a slow, low-pitch escalator that needs frequent repairs.)

Theresa ...

In this episode we hear about Jan's incredible career in poker, spanning more than 40 years. We also learn how poker has changed in that time, what it takes to go pro and some advice as to what NOT to do. (Basically everything you see the hat-on-backwards kids doing on "World Series of Poker.")

Jan Fisher began her poker career in 1977 as a dealer. She has worked in many cardroom positions and is currently a partner in Card Player ...

In this episode, Leah explains how she got into contortion, how it takes phenomenal patience (and a little pain) for even small improvements in contortion and how even adults can explore contortion. Not me, mind you, but normal people.

Leah Orleans has traveled the country teaching fitness and flexibility while performing contortion and partner acrobatics in her comedy circus show, Acrobatrix! With a passion for making people laugh...

In this episode, Annemarie talks about discovering burlesque classes, and later performing, and how it has dramatically boosted her confidence in all aspects of life. Also, if you've ever idly considered giving burlesque a try, Annemarie has tips on how to get started.

Annemarie Dooling has been performing vaudeville on the east coast for two years. She also works in media.

Books to get you started:

The Burlesque Handbook by Jo Wel...

In this episode, we talk about how Gena grew up as a circus kid, started work at age 12 and somehow developed up into a well-adjusted, awesome human being. And is it too late to run away to the circus as an adult? Maybe.

Gena is a fifth generation circus artist from Russia, the child of two accomplished performers. She began her juggling training at the age of eight and within a few short years, her phenomenal talent brought her to...

Think you know the symptoms of incipient appendicitis? Are you sure? I thought I did, and boy was I wrong.

In this episode, I recount the harrowing experience of my emergency appendectomy in entertaining, appetite-suppressing, graphic detail. I'm not gonna say listening to this tale may save your life or the life of a loved one, but I'm not not saying that either. :)

If you'd like to read the infuriating postscript of this tale, "M...