KFAI's MinneCulture Presents

Reality Check by David Schultz Carolyn, a mother of two, faces a life-altering crisis when, just a few short months out of rehab, a $5,000 check appears in her mailbox. It was more money than she'd ever seen. Obviously, most folks would find this to be a tremendous blessing... but it brings Carolyn right to the brink of relapse. Second Mom from Radio Rookies Teenager Sara Martinez assumes a lot of responsibility in her family. Her parents don't speak English - so she serves as translator and their bridge to the English-speaking world. She also helps with household chores and looks after her three younger siblings, including her youngest brother, Diego. Diego was born with autism. Sara knows that taking care of him has forced her to grow up faster than her peers. Sometimes she feels she missed out on being just a regular teenager. The Other End of the Line by Aaron Henkin Finally, we take a listen at life on the phone at the Baltimore City Police Departmen...

Potpourri of Stories - Airs Jan. 18 This episode of The Listening Lounge feature three stories we like. They're not related in a specific way. So we're calling the show a potpourri. The Sleeping Fool by Sofia Saldanha Art museum security guards spend their days in uniform, speaking quietly or not at all, surrounded by works of irreplaceable art. It may look easy, but the job requires a stressful degree of responsibility, poise, and silence. Some guards may begin to feel trapped inside their own thoughts, or even inside a painting. Searching For Blelvis by Sam Greenspan When Elvis Presley died, he left behind an abundance of adoring fans. One of his most obsessive, and mysterious, admirers is Washington's own Blelvis--a self-described 'Elvisologist,' who can often be found in the Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, and Mt Pleasant neighborhoods.  Sam Greenspan set out to find out more about the man behind the persona, but found out more about DC's fascinatio...

Martin Luther King speech - Airs Jan. 11 The year was 1967 and Martin Luther King, civil rights leader, Baptist preacher and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, agreed to deliver the prestigious Massey lectures on CBC Radio. His title, was "Conscience for Change." Although these lectures were recorded more than forty years ago, King’s words have lost none of their relevance as we still try to come to terms with many of the same issues. NPR has links to more of King's speeches here . American Public Media's "Say It Plain, Say It Loud" is also an excellent source of civil rights movement speeches. The APM special is here .

Sit With Me by Mike Bernstein A candid portrait of growing up with a parent who has mental illness . Having a depressed parent can take its toll on childhood. It reframes how children look at the world and it asks them to grow up a little bit faster. We'll hear a moving dialogue between 12-yr-old Cameron and his father, Bob. Both parties feel helpless -- but Cameron asks, "what can I do to help?" Always Been With Me by Rehman Tungekar Roughly 6 million Americans struggle with bipolar disorder , a disease that consists of manic highs and crushing lows. For many of these people, conventional medication does not work. As a result, they’re forced to seek out alternative forms of treatment. Electroconvulsive therapy is one such form. We'll hear from Amy, a young woman in Maine that relies on ECT to treat her bipolar disorder. The Saddest President from The Memory Palace Franklin Pierce's amiable personality and handsome appearance caused him to make many friends...