So Much More, A Mall of America® Podcast

The snow has melted. The birds are chirping. Spring Break is finally here! Our So Much More hosts are eager to share the options, stories + insider tips for a Spring Break adventure at Mall of America.

Need pointers on how to plan a visit to MOA that fits within your budget? Curious what unique events or celebrities are visiting the mall? Want to find out how your family can finally get slimed? Stick around for all the details!

Our...

It’s our pleasure to sit down with Matt “Nur-D” Allen, a fresh new Hip Hop artist and one of the fastest rising stars in Minnesota’s music scene. Nur-D has been sharing his energy infused musical performances at Mall of America® and beyond.   Want to know how he turned his love for comic books and pro wrestling into a music career? How he ended up crashing a Mall of America employee retreat and had everyone on their feet? Or what i...

Our guests are Kim Cassens and Joe Cassens, the mother and son team who brought the delicious flavors of Nothing Bundt Cakes to Mall of America and other locations. Want to know how a party gift can turn into a career? How a family can work together and enjoy it? How a bundt cake became a national obsession? This episode is for you!   Nothing Bundt Cakes started more than 25 years ago in Las Vegas by two friends who loved to bake a...

Our guests are Adam Kado and Hosie Thurmond, creators of Slice Brothers Pizza, a new Mall of America fan favorite! They brought the classic NY slice of pizza to Minnesota– and people are loving it!

Kado and Thurmond are longtime friends whose individual journeys reshaped their initial dreams as business owners and redefined what dreams means to them as entrepreneurs. With varied professional backgrounds, they came together to fill ...

Guests at Mall of America often see news stories on shopping, attractions, holidays and even celebrity events. The public gets to experience the Mall through these stories, but rarely gets to see behind the curtain and experience the story from the reporter's point of view. Today, we are honored to talk with Allison Kaplan and find out how she combined her love for journalism, fashion and business to tell the story of Mall of Amer...

L.L. Bean is the epitome of an American success story. This family owned and operated business began in 1912 and has built a multi-generational and very loyal fan base. And its iconic store has been at Mall of America for ten years.

Steve Smith, President and CEO at L.L. Bean is joined by Guy Booth, L.L. Bean Store Manager at Mall of America–together they share the history of the company, its legendary return policy and the heart o...

This episode is all about the numbers—in a fun way. If you’ve ever been curious about how many parking spaces there are, how many rolls of toilet paper are used, or how many rides are taken at Mall of America in a year—this one is for you.

Between our two guests, Rich Hoge and Brian Spielman, both long-time leaders at Mall of America, they have more than 50 years of experience at the Mall. They have seen it all, heard it all, and e...

Celebrating the unsung heroes of the hospitality industry. That’s the focus of this discussion—and the stories shared during the conversation are memorable.

Guests Bonnie Carlson and Jim Cunningham—both long time hosts and visionaries behind the nationally industry leading Diamond Service Awards—share what prompted the creation of the ceremony, how it has grown over the years, and the impact it has had on the industry. But the best...

Who better to share the story–and the future vision–of Mall of America than someone who has been connected from the first days of construction, John Ghermezian. As President of Mall of America, and a member of the family who owns and operates the Mall, Ghermezian brings keen insights and learnings about this successful operation.

Ghermezian shares how the Mall has changed over the years and which factors lead to its continued succe...

This episode features three of the most accomplished female leaders in the Twin Cities. Wendy Blackshaw of MN Sports and Events and Tanya Dreesen of the Minnesota Vikings who are joined by host Jill Renslow of Mall of America.

Dreesen began her career in newspapers in Canada, then in Denver and finally to the Twin Cities publishing industry. Along the way she learned about the professional sports industry. In Minnesota, she wanted ...

Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America is the premier indoor theme park in the nation. With millions of visitors and rides every year, Nick U delivers smiles and screams (the good kind) all year round. To stay fresh, it’s important to add new rides and attractions so guests continue to return.

Ron Hines, VP of Themed Entertainment at Nickelodeon visits with Nate Klutz from the Mall—and host, Jill Renslow—to talk the science and ar...

If there’s one phrase that captured the nation this year, it is “Hi, Barbie!” This is quickly followed by the same phrase from multiple people. And it’s always said with enthusiasm, a big smile, and an unstoppable sense of optimism.

That is why opening the Malibu Barbie Café experience at Mall of America makes perfect sense! Derek Berry, President of Experiences at Bucket Listers – the group that imagined, created, and opened Malib...