Voices of Upstream

Andy finds a quiet part of Tamarack Nature Center to talk to Dani Prados and Margo Gray about their experience as Upstream Artist Fellows, and how they find inspiration for their creativity outdoors.

Andy sits down in the kitchen of esteemed Minnesota CookBook author and farm to table OG Beth Dooley.  They talk about how food and care for our place is so closely tied.

Even on the coldest days, Lake Superior is something to behold.  Andy sits down with Divya Maiya, Upstream Organizing Committee member and  Executive Director of South Asian Arts and Theater House from Grand Marais to talk about how this ex-pat appreciates the season and how finding joy in winter helps her love our natural places.  From flash mobs on frozen lakes to skiing in a sari, Divya shares how she loves to be outside, and how SAATH is making their events and gatherings sustainable.

From the Loppet Foundation’s groomed trails at Theo Wirth Park, Andy sits down with Lauren Young, Head of Growth for Future Card.  They talk about moving back home to Minnesota from the coast, and raising kids that appreciate and care for our natural places.  They talk about not letting perfect be the enemy of good when it comes to personal decisions about caring for our place, and how we can use our purchasing power to help influence entire markets.  Lauren shares how Future Card is rewarding and incenting consumers for buying sustainable products from responsible companies.

In this “lost” episode from a sunny day in June, Andy strolls around Lakewood Cemetery with Caren Dewar, Director of the Regional Council of Mayors.  They talked about the role of local governments in caring for our natural places, finding peace in green spaces in the city, and how Caren engages mayors in creating a common sense of place in shared spaces.

Andy talks to Rhys Williams about the trial and error of starting Sweet Sage farm, taking what the land gives you and finding community everywhere in Minnesota.

Andy talks to Jenna Ray about being a good relative to our mother earth and all of the people in Minnesota and how the noises of nature are the soundtrack to her kids upbringing.

During this interview, Jenna talked about sportsmen and sportswomen, and Jenna wants to acknowledge that there is a whole range of gender expression that may not be represented by these terms.

Join Andy as he talks with Jason Adkins, head of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, about rowing on the Mississippi, caring for our waters, and how faith and stewardship of our natural places align.

Andy talks to Christina Norman about being on the water, growing up on the Range, and how travel with her family informed her appreciation for Minnesota and our beautiful places. 

Andy talks to Raj in his raised bed garden, where Raj’s inner engineer definitely shows up.  Raj shares stories of how global perspectives can inform our local approach to caring for our places. 

Andy talks with Pahoua at Boom Island park in Minneapolis about long walks in the city, the public health benefits of green space, and finding your outdoors “thing” that can keep us busy when it’s cold out. 

Andy talks with Ron Harris, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Minneapolis in Hanson Park.  They talk about how family influences our use of outdoor spaces, the importance of nature to health and resilience, and the opportunity working across difference presents to people who want to care for our natural places. 

Join Upstream director Andy Goldman-Gray with Upstream founder John Larsen in his award-winning garden to hear about the genesis of Upstream, how care for place figures into architecture and the most creative chicken names you’ve ever heard.