Paul Lundgren

Stories of Wisdom from Bodies in Separation (SWaBS):
Archiving the Coronavirus Pandemic Through the Lens of Humanities

For this project, Paul interviews business owners Jodi Slick, Tom Hanson, Lynn Wisneski, and Ben Hugus from the Lincoln Park Craft District in Duluth, Minnesota.

Jodi Slick on the Craft District and COVID-19
by Paul Lundgren

Audio file

This is the first in a series of four podcasts that journalist Paul Lundgren has created from one of eleven interviews.  For this project, Paul interviews a number of business owners from the Lincoln Park Craft District in Duluth, Minnesota. In this first podcast we hear from Jodi Slick who founded the non-profit community-based development organization, Ecolibrium3. Paul narrates and Jodi talks about the projects that Ecolibruim3 is involved with and how COVID-19 has impacted Ecolibrium3, other businesses and business owners in the Lincoln Park Craft District, and community members in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Tom Hanson on the Craft District and COVID-19
by Paul Lundgren

Audio file

This is the second in a series of four podcasts that journalist Paul Lundgren has created from one of eleven interviews.  For this project, Paul interviews a number of business owners from the Lincoln Park Craft District in Duluth, Minnesota. In this second podcast we hear from Tom Hanson, who owns and runs The Duluth Grill, OMC Restaurant, and Corktown Deli in the Lincoln Park Craft District. Paul narrates and Tom speaks about a number of topics including the impacts COVID-19 on his businesses, his employees, his customers, his suppliers, and his mental health. He talks about taking advantage of the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), his financial strategies to stay afloat, the environmental impact of using take out containers, and his new approaches to achieving a balance between life and work.

Lynn Wisneski on the Craft District and COVID-19
by Paul Lundgren

Audio file

This is the third in a series of four podcasts that journalist Paul Lundgren has created from one of eleven interviews. For this project, Paul interviews a number of business owners from the Lincoln Park Craft District in Duluth, Minnesota. In this third podcast we hear from Lynn Wisneski, the general manager of operations at Aerostich, a manufacturing company that makes safety clothing and other accessories for motorcyclists. It is an anchor business in the Lincoln Park Craft District. Paul narrates as Lynn talks about Aerostich, her history with the company, current trade policies, and the impacts of COVID-19 on Aerostich, her personal life, and the community in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Ben Hugus on the Craft District and COVID-19
by Paul Lundgren

Audio file

This is the forth in a series of four podcasts that journalist Paul Lundgren has created from one of eleven interviews. For this project, Paul interviews a number of business owners from the Lincoln Park Craft District in Duluth, Minnesota. In this forth podcast we hear from Benjamin Hugus, co-owner with his brother, Mark, of Ursa Minor Brewing, a microbrewery and taproom that has been in operation for two years in the Lincoln Park Craft District. Paul narrates and Ben talks about the effects of COVID-19 on his business, his employees, his personal life, and the other businesses in the Lincoln Park Craft District. He recounts the process of applying for grants in the early days of the pandemic and describes some of the creative solutions he implemented at Ursa Minor in order to stay in business and to continue to serve his customers and the community.