St. Croix Stories
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.
Episodes
50 episodes
Matthew Stepaniak, Limitless Cycling
When his mother suffered a stroke in 2018, Matthew Stepaniak wanted to find a way to keep her active both physically and mentally. As an avid cyclist himself, Matthew had the idea to bring cycling to those who couldn't otherwise enjoy it themse...
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38:12
Dave Knoke, Knoke's Chocolates and Nuts
After growing up on a farm in Lancaster, Wisconsin, Dave Knoke ventured to River Falls for college — and ended up never leaving the area. He eventually opened Knoke's Chocolates and Nuts i...
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34:59
Guy Whitehead, Lucky Guys Distillery
Guy Whitehead grew up in a small town in North Dakota — his graduating class had 14 kids — and has an affinity for small-town living. He and his wife eventually settled with their kids in Stillwater, but he ultimately chose Hudson when he decid...
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51:11
Shelly Smith, Our Neighbors' Place
We sometimes don't realize when others in our community — our neighbors — might need a little extra help, whether it's financially, finding housing, or other challenges. Shelly Smith and her team at ...
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24:03
Chris Kost, Hudson YMCA
For many in the Hudson community, the YMCA is a place to work out, go swimming, or play pickleball. But the Y offers so much more than that — from youth programs to camps to a sense of community for those who gather there. And Chris Kost is a b...
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32:02
Officer James Wildman, Hudson Police Department
If you asked James Wildman as a kid what he wanted to be when he grew up, a police officer probably wouldn't have been his first answer. He grew up with a bit of a distrust for law enforcement, but later realized that he could help change the w...
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29:53
The Santa Mailbox with Richelle and Gary Jader
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 h...
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24:12
Christina Rose, Christina Rose Coaching
In an ideal world, we’d all go about life as our true authentic selves, living how we want and not necessarily caring about how society might define us. But for many people, embracing their authentic self isn’t that simple. That journey of self...
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37:17
Sheri Marnell, St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center
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...
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31:07
Jess and Suzi Higgles, Joe to Go
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 wit...
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42:34
Mayor Rich O'Connor and Larry Szyman, The Golden Rule Initiative
"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 othe...
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26:20
Angie Pilgrim and Heidi Herron, St. Croix Valley Foundation
The mission of the St. Croix Valley Foundation is simple: to enhance the quality of life in the St. Croix Valley. The foundation does that by offering numerous grants and scholarships to residents in...
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23:42
Jen Vieth and Abbey Holden, Carpenter Nature Center
Nestled into the woods in a quiet part of Hudson is the beautiful new building of the Carpenter Nature Center, which also has a location in Hastings, Minn. The center's two campuses are home to a...
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37:02
Jamie Johnson, Hudson School Board
The Hudson School District has faced challenges in recent years. From the debate over a new high school to the COVID-19 pandemic that forced schools to go remote, tough decisions had to be made in order to do what was best for the Hudson studen...
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27:41
Melissa "Mei Mei" Abdouch, Mei Mei's Cookies and Creamery
Seven years ago, Melissa Abdouch had to pivot her career after losing her job in the corporate world. She decided to open Mei Mei's Cookies and Creamery in downtown River Falls, and the store has been a hit in the community ever since.O...
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25:24
Tim Zais, North Hudson Pepper Fest
The North Hudson Pepper Fest has grown into a weekend-long celebration filled with food, music, a parade, and much more. But it started with humble roots: residents of North Hudson wanted to find a way ...
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26:23
Art Doyle, Art Doyle's Spokes and Pedals
Before he even graduated high school, Art Doyle had made a business out of repairing bikes. A modest bike repair business outside of Stillwater High School eventually led Art to opening his own bike shop downtown Hudson. Forty years later,
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28:42
Farmer Greg and Farmer Andrew, White Pine Berry Farm
There's something special about being able to pick and eat your own farm-grown fruit. That's exactly the experience you'll get if you head east of Hudson just a bit to visit White Pine Berry Farm, w...
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25:24
Amy Thurston, Historic Hudson, WI
At the height of the pandemic, Amy Thurston started going a bit stir crazy and decided to do something with the Hudson history books she had at home. Amy launched the Historic Hu...
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24:35
Val Aune, The Bees Knees
For five years, Val Aune owned and operated not one but two successful stores downtown Hudson. She became the owner of La Rue Marche in 2012, and five years later opened The Bees Knees, a gift shop that...
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26:27
Derek Hom, Wilder Waffle Co.
If you were going to start your own food truck, what would you serve? For Hudson resident Derek Hom, the choice was simple: waffles. After the birth of his son, Derek quit his job to launch
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28:15
Hudson Area Backpack & Food Program and Operation HELP
There are several great non-profits in the Hudson area helping residents with various challenges, and two of them will soon be under the same roof to better serve their clients. The Hudson Area Backpack...
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21:39
Matt Darnold, Hudson Pride Co.
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
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22:44