Episode
#39 - Minnesota in This Moment: Hope, Fear, and Showing Up
- Podcast
- Spark Good Podcast
- Published
- Feb 1, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1456
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/spark-good-podcast-6446770/episodes/39-minnesota-in-this-moment-hope-fear-and-showing-up/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/spark-good-podcast-6446770/39-minnesota-in-this-moment-hope-fear-and-showing-up.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
Take courage friends. The way is often hard, the path is never clear, and the stakes are very high. Take courage. For deep down, there is another truth: you are not alone. By Wayne B. Arnason In this joint episode of the Social Change Leaders Podcast and Spark Good Podcast, longtime collaborators and friends Stephanie Malon-Rufi and Traci Warnberg-Lemm reunite to name the moment we're living in — and talk honestly about how we need to keep showing up. This podcast discusses what it's actually been like living and working in Minnesota during recent ICE activity and community disruption from two people embedded in civic life, small business, and community leadership — and how this moment is reshaping their work in 2026. This episode is a conversation about: What daily life has felt like in the Twin Cities in recent weeks Stories from schools, neighborhoods, restaurants, and small businesses that aren't making headlines The collective fear, grief, and anxiety many communities are carrying The powerful local networks forming across Minnesota — urban and rural Why this moment feels like an end to the 'casual citizen' era How meaningful work, leadership, and community care are deeply connected How Stephanie and Traci are showing up through their work in 2026 Both hosts also share how their thinking has evolved since last year — and why they believe new civic muscles, leadership capacities, business practices and connections are important for this moment and into the future. About Stephanie's Work — Spark Good Through Spark Good Consulting & Coaching, Stephanie works primarily with small business owners who want to build sustainable businesses that positively impact their communities. In 2026, she is focusing on: Consistent podcasting and weekly communication to support busin…