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Filling the Well Podcast Returns with New Co-Host

A child holding a seedling walking in front of several adults tending to an outdoor garden space.
Photo Credit: Adam Nantz
A young person helps with a community planting day at Franconia Art Park.

Expand your understanding of creativity by hearing from rural and Indigenous artists in new episodes of Filling the Well, featuring co-hosts Marianne Combs and Leah Lemm.

How do you fill your well? Hear firsthand from creative changemakers from around the Midwest about what nourishes and inspires them in five new episodes of our Filling the Well podcast, coming this spring and summer. New this year, Filling the Well host Marianne Combs is joined by co-host and veteran podcaster Leah Lemm!

In their next round of conversations, Leah and Marianne are talking to Midwestern creatives and Indigenous culture bearers living and working in rural areas. Our guests discuss the unique challenges and celebrate the joys that come with making art outside of a big city and honoring cultural practices in the face of colonization and other historical and current threats. These artists focus on mental health, environmental conservation, cultural preservation, community well-being and much more. 

Listen in to hear about:

  • Music and Mental Health

    With guest Sam Miltich, a self-taught jazz guitarist born and raised in the woods of northern Minnesota.

  • Art and the Land

    With Minnesotan guests Sharon Day, an Ojibwe Artist & Activist (waterkeeper, water walker, artist, and writer), and Pat Kruse, Ojibwe Birchbark & Quillwork Artist.

  • Indian Arts & Craft Act

    With guests Hapistinna Graci Horne, Curator & Story Keeper at the Mni Sota Native Artists Alliance, and Christina Woods, Executive Director of the Duluth Art Institute.

  • Building Belonging

    With guests Donna Neuwirth and Jay Salinas, the Executive Director and Director of Special Projects & Outreach at the Wormfarm Institute in Wisconsin.

  • Entrepreneurship

    With guests Chi Ma’iingan, Ojibwe Artist & Entrepreneur with Round Lake Traditions, and Khayman Goodsky, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Two-Spirit Artist, Filmmaker, & Entrepreneur.

New episodes of Filling the Well will launch on April 10, 2023, with additional conversations being released biweekly.

Meet Our Co-Hosts

Marianne Combs

Marianne Combs is an independent journalist with more than 25 years experience in radio reporting, hosting and podcasting. The majority of her career has been focused on arts and culture, with an emphasis on artist activism. Her reporting has appeared on Minnesota Public Radio, National Public Radio, Voice of America and in Opera America Magazine. 

A smiling person of medium light skin tone with short brown hair, wearing red beaded earrings and a gold pendant necklace, and a black top with a red flower pattern
Photo Credit: Marianne Combs

Leah Lemm

Leah Lemm is a citizen of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and has spent more than 15 years in radio and podcasting. She has enjoyed a variety of roles, from broadcast operations to show hosting and audio production. Her work revolves around community story-sharing through voice, sound, and music, with the mission to amplify Native voices.  Additionally, Leah shares her love for covering Native stories by presenting and consulting on the topic to media organizations and universities

A softly smiling person of medium light skin tone with long light brown hair, wearing earrings and a white and black sweater, with green grass and trees in the background
Photo Credit: Leah Lemm

Listen to Filling the Well

Can’t wait for new episodes? Catch up on old Filling the Well episodes anywhere you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Podcast