St. Croix Stories
Tyler Mason
St. Croix Stories aims to highlight the people and places that make the riverside town of Hudson, Wisconsin unique. Hear from local business owners, leaders, and others who contribute to this community in a variety of ways. Whether you're a longtime Hudson resident or someone simply interested in learning more about what this town has to offer, this podcast is for you.
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Top 10 St. Croix Stories Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best St. Croix Stories episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to St. Croix Stories for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite St. Croix Stories episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Matt Darnold, Hudson Pride Co.
St. Croix Stories
06/04/24 • 22 min
A lightbulb clicked for Matt Darnold when the Hudson native attended a Pride Festival in Hastings, Minnesota: why couldn’t something like this take place in his hometown?
So Matt set out to create Hudson Pride Co., which last year hosted the first annual Valley Wide Pride Fest at Lakefront Park. The goal was to offer a safe space to members of the LGBTQ+ community in the St. Croix Valley area and to promote inclusiveness and acceptance.
The event is back for a second year, and Matt joins this week’s episode of St. Croix Stories to kick off Pride Month with an important conversation about what it was like for him to grow up in Hudson and how the Valley Wide Pride Fest is helping him strengthen his ties to his hometown.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
Mayor Rich O'Connor and Larry Szyman, The Golden Rule Initiative
St. Croix Stories
09/24/24 • 26 min
"Treat others as you want to be treated" is one of the basic interpretations of the Golden Rule, which has other variations throughout different cultures and religions. No matter the translation, the basic principle is the same: be kind to others.
Hudson mayor Rich O'Connor fondly remembered learning about the Golden Rule as an elementary school student. Fast forward to 2019, and Mayor O'Connor opted to declare Hudson the Golden Rule City after seeing how our society had become increasingly divided. Along with the help of Pastor Larry Szyman and others, the Golden Rule Initiative has helped spread that message throughout Hudson through yard signs and other work.
On this week's episode of St. Croix Stories, Rich O'Connor and Larry Szyman join to share more about the Golden Rule initiative, give their insights on the response from the Hudson community, and share more about the upcoming Booyah event on Oct. 5 that brings people together over food and festivities.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
The Santa Mailbox with Richelle and Gary Jader
St. Croix Stories
11/26/24 • 24 min
When Richelle and Gary Jader first moved to Third Street in Hudson, they were warned about living on "Halloween Street." But it's been another holiday that has made the Jaders' home stand out.
For the past six years, Richelle and Gary have been the stewards of the Santa Mailbox, a red mailbox that sits in front of their house and receives hundreds of letters to Santa each year. Some of the letters are merely transactional -- a list of toys a kid wants -- but others are more heartfelt and stir up emotions in Santa's helpers, Richelle and Gary. Both kids and adults alike have shared their letters in the Santa Mailbox.
This holiday season, be sure to bring your letters to Santa to the red mailbox at 1221 Third Street in Hudson, and Richelle and Gary will make sure you get a response from the big man himself. And be sure to check out the book inspired by the mailbox, titled "The Santa Mailbox," available online or at Chapter2 Books in Hudson.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
Jess and Suzi Higgles, Joe to Go
St. Croix Stories
10/08/24 • 42 min
At just 90 square feet, there isn’t a lot of room to operate inside of Joe to Go. But while the footprint of what owners Jess and Suzi Higgles affectionately call “the hut” is small, it’s filled with big ideas and big flavors.
On this week's episode of St. Croix Stories, hear from Jess and Suzi to learn all about Hudson’s smallest coffee shop — and the big hearts of the married couple that run it. With coffees in hand, Jess and Suzi talk about their venture of owning their own business, share how they come up with the unique and ever-changing drink menu, ponder the challenges of having three people work inside such a confined space, and reflect on the importance of the community they’ve built over the years.
Joe to Go is located near Plaza 94, parked in a lot between Coulee Road and Ward Ave. near the Hudson Bowling Center.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
Paul Rode, Agave Kitchen
St. Croix Stories
01/09/24 • 32 min
After years in the restaurant industry, Paul Rode eventually took a shot at opening his own place when he established Agave Kitchen in downtown Hudson, Wis. From the get, the restaurant was a success, as it brought something new to the downtown food scene. Agave his since been a staple of downtown Hudson, and Paul has continued to be a big supporter of the Hudson community through his entrepreneurial ventures and his philanthropy.
On this episode of St. Croix Stories, hear from Paul about the lessons he learned at a young age that led him to eventually open Agave Kitchen — and the lessons he learned in those early years of Agave that he says any business owner can learn from. Paul also talks about his love of rally cars, discusses the pressure that comes with having a very visible marquee on his restaurant, and shares why 4 a.m. in an empty downtown is his favorite thing about Hudson.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
Mike Miller, Willow River Cemetery
St. Croix Stories
01/02/24 • 28 min
As a high schooler, Mike Miller spent his summers helping do maintenance at Willow River Cemetery. It was a job he could walk to from his house and kept him active during the summer. But at the time, he had no visions of making a career out of it.
Fast forward to today, and Mike has now been the caretaker at Willow River Cemetery for over 30 years. Mike joined this week's episode of the St. Croix Stories podcast to share about what it's like being the caretaker at Hudson's only public cemetery, which also happens to be a non-profit. He also reminisces about growing up in Hudson, talks about the history of Willow River Cemetery, and much more during his conversation with host Tyler Mason.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
Joyce Hall, Hudson City Council
St. Croix Stories
12/19/23 • 28 min
After working for years as a chemist for 3M and then as an instructor at a technical college, Joyce Hall was approached about running for city council in Hudson — an idea she had never before considered. But she decided to run, and was eventually voted onto the council. She's now served on the Hudson City Council since 2015, making her the second-longest-tenured alderperson in the city.
Most people in Hudson know Joyce from that role, but she wears even more hats: a home business owner of more than 20 years, a volunteer with the Hudson Daybreak Rotary, a math lab tutor, and a grandma who takes her granddaughter all over Hudson. Joyce added one more role her already full plate: podcast guest. She joined this week's St. Croix Stories episode to talk about the role of the Hudson City Council, some recent items of business the council has helped advance, what she enjoys most about being so active in her local community, and more.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
Justin Terbeest, Hop and Barrel Brewing
St. Croix Stories
12/12/23 • 33 min
While working full-time as an attorney, Justin Terbeest became an avid home brewer — and he was good at it, too. Justin entered numerous home brewing competitions in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the United States and found success at it. That sparked the idea to eventually open up a brewery, and he chose Hudson, Wisconsin for the location of Hop and Barrel Brewing.
Hop and Barrel is one of two breweries currently in operation in Hudson, along with Pitchfork Brewing. Hop and Barrel helped bring beer back to downtown Hudson, where there were once multiple breweries more than 150 years ago. Hop and Barrel recently celebrated its six-year anniversary and has expanded its footprint to cover nearly every county in Wisconsin.
On this week's episode, Justin joins St. Croix Stories over a few beers at the Hop and Barrel taproom to talk about his journey in home brewing, what it was like to quit his job as a lawyer to focus on the brewery, and discusses his favorite (and least favorite) styles of beer.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
Charles Froke, St. Croix Baking Company
St. Croix Stories
12/05/23 • 28 min
Charles Froke's career as a baker has taken him around the world. He's baked at high-end restaurants and for prominent figures. But with family ties to the Hudson area, he always had an eye on the riverside town as he thought to one day open his own bakery.
That time came in 2020, when Charles opened St. Croix Baking Company downtown Hudson. Despite opening during the pandemic, the bakery was an immediate success — he had a line around the block during the store's soft opening. Three years later, things continue to be busy for Charles and his team at St. Croix Baking Company.
On this week's St. Croix Stories podcast, Charles shares more about his journey as a chef, talks about his early childhood memories of visiting his grandparents in Hudson, offers advice to anyone who wants to become a home baker, and much more.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
Sheri Marnell, St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center
St. Croix Stories
10/22/24 • 31 min
Sheri Marnell has a passion for helping other companies thrive, and she gets to do that every day in her role as the director of the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center. The SCVBIC is an incubator for local companies that are looking to either get their business off the ground or grow their company before eventually graduating to their own space. One of the best parts about the center: almost all of the companies that graduate end up staying in the St. Croix Valley region.
On this week's episode of St. Croix Stories, Sheri talks more about what the Business Innovation Center is, the ways in which it helps companies grow and thrive, and discusses some impressive statistics about startups in the St. Croix Valley area.
To learn more about the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center or to see if it might be a good fit for your young company, visit www.stcroixinnovation.org.
Follow St. Croix Stories on Facebook and Instagram, and hear all episodes at stcroixstories.com.
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FAQ
How many episodes does St. Croix Stories have?
St. Croix Stories currently has 45 episodes available.
What topics does St. Croix Stories cover?
The podcast is about Places & Travel, Society & Culture, Wisconsin, Podcasts and Travel.
What is the most popular episode on St. Croix Stories?
The episode title 'Mike Miller, Willow River Cemetery' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on St. Croix Stories?
The average episode length on St. Croix Stories is 31 minutes.
How often are episodes of St. Croix Stories released?
Episodes of St. Croix Stories are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of St. Croix Stories?
The first episode of St. Croix Stories was released on Nov 21, 2023.
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