An improbable rise to fame: How two Mayo Clinic surgeons became musical stars

An improbable rise to fame: How two Mayo Clinic surgeons became musical stars

Podcast | 2020
Podcast

In 2015, two hopeful orthopedic surgeons arrived in Rochester for the first time. In the past two years, they have become famous for something completely different. After a meteoric rise to stardom, however, it’s come time for them to move on — but not before giving one final shout out to the city. This week on the Rochester Rundown, the story of Drs. Elvis Francois and William Robinson, otherwise known as the singing surgeons. Hear from the doctors themselves on what they learned during their time in the Med City as well as what the future holds — in medicine and in music.

Thinking about casting your ballot by mail this year? Here is what you need to know

Thinking about casting your ballot by mail this year? Here is what you need to know

Podcast | 2020
Podcast

With early absentee voting for the upcoming primaries set to begin one week from today, Olmsted County election officials are preparing for an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots due to the pandemic. For this upcoming election cycle, the county expects somewhere around 50 percent of voters to cast ballots absentee, an unprecedented figure likely to impact how we think about voting now and in the future.

Is it time to rethink DMC's priorities?

Is it time to rethink DMC's priorities?

Podcast | 2020
Podcast

Episode 11 of Rochester Rundown is now live. This week, Isaac dives into Thursday's Destination Medical Center Corporation board meeting, the first since Covid-19 threw the global economy into chaos. The leaders of the $5.6 billion initiative, the largest public-private partnership in Minnesota history, now must decide what DMC can and should be as staff begins to draw up the board's next five-year plan. Can DMC financially support small businesses? Is it within their limitations to do so? What will have to be sacrificed as the local government tightens its budget? The eight people at the top of the organization had some interesting things to say.

Facing yet another hurdle, Rochester's restaurant industry races to find ways to survive

Facing yet another hurdle, Rochester's restaurant industry races to find ways to survive

Podcast | 2020
Podcast

The new guidelines issued by Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday were intended to give restaurants some relief, but it’s caused quite the opposite feeling for some. A vast number of Rochester’s restaurant owners say they can’t go on like this for much longer, and the new guidelines call to use spaces that they simply don’t have. We talked to local restaurant owners and leaders of local hospitality organizations to find out what restaurants can do to maximize the space they have, plus what the city and other organizations are planning to do to give landlocked eateries a lifeline.

Art in the Schools series introduces students to new sounds and new cultures

Art in the Schools series introduces students to new sounds and new cultures

Podcast | 2020

This week on the Rochester Rundown, Isaac Jahns heads to Riverside Central Elementary School to experience traditional Tuvan throat singing; and more importantly, explore the impact music can have in connecting students with other cultures. Plus, we have an update on what local officials are doing to prepare for the possibility of the coronavirus; we’ll take you to Thursday’s press conference where we heard from Mayor Kim Norton and Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Michael Muñoz.

5 Rochester artists to watch in 2020

5 Rochester artists to watch in 2020

Podcast | 2020

It’s been incredibly interesting to watch Rochester’s music scene grow over the past few years. Options for shows were pretty limited, especially for younger music fans, when I first poked my head around the music scene in 2014. Fast forward to now, and there’s a genuine venue ladder and scores of bands across all genres, giving even the casual music fan options on a nightly basis.

The most famous Rochester music-maker you have never heard of

The most famous Rochester music-maker you have never heard of

Podcast | 2020

Riduan Hassan, a 22-year-old graduate of Mayo High School and current Rochester resident, heard the music of electronic dance music pioneer Skrillex for the first time in 2009. He says it made him dance like never before. It inspired him. In the decade since that day, Hassan has carved his own path in the genre, making him one of Rochester’s most famous music-makers — if only greater Rochester knew it was him behind the online curtain.