Comedian MJ Matheson joins One Hour Detours to talk about breakups, open-mics, and the absurd joy of crying at Wisconsin Dells’ Noah’s Ark waterpark. We get deep on what makes Minnesota’s comedy scene unique, how trauma turns into timing, and why the suburbs are the true villains of the Twin Cities.

MJ also helps me workshop my own stand-up material about Minneapolis vs St. Paul — and things get unexpectedly emotional (and hilarious).

Chapters:

00:00 Intro – Meet MJ Matheson

02:30 Art, aesthetics & the set design

03:00 Crying at Wisconsin Dells during a break-up

05:10 The music that hurts so good

07:00 How MJ started in comedy

08:40 Open mics, sociopaths & surviving the scene

10:50 Love Island UK vs American reality TV

11:40 Catholic mass in a football stadium

13:00 What it takes to be a comedian day-to-day

16:00 Why open mics can be brutal (but essential)

20:00 Hosting Easy Speak at Volstead Emporium

24:00 When MJ called me out in the crowd

26:00 Workshopping my bit on Minneapolis vs St. Paul

35:00 The suburbs are the real enemy

40:00 Comedy as therapy and math equation

45:00 Holding for laughter & timing the beat

46:00 Laughter as a way to break tension

49:00 Collaborating on bits & ending the hour

Wall art by Genel Jumalon (https://www.jumalon.art/)

Filmed at Kickernick Building (https://www.kickernick.com/)

Hosted by John O’Sullivan (One Minute Tours, Hidden Middle)

Filmed at the One Hour Detours studio in beautiful downtown Minneapolis

To see the stand-up set that was performed later that night, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ7dOl5ZwBM

Minneapolis City Councilwoman Latrisha Vetaw joins me for a candid, unfiltered conversation about the state of City Hall, why the council feels broken, and how politics can sometimes feel more like theater than public service. She opens up about trust issues on the dais, her fight for Northside representation, and yes—her unforgettable Usher cherry story.

This episode of One Hour Detours goes deep into what it means to serve a divided city, how national issues clash with local responsibilities, and the personal costs of being in public life.

Chapters

00:00 – Intro: Who is Latrisha Vetaw?

02:00 – Running for office vs. serving

05:00 – Mentors, training, and how to start in politics

08:00 – Facial expressions, performance, and being “real” on the dais

09:20 – Northside representation and standing her ground

11:00 – How an idea becomes law at City Hall

14:00 – Tobacco policy, coupon bans, and city attorneys

18:00 – Is City Council “broken”? Division and dysfunction explained

19:30 – Who represents constituents vs. themselves

20:45 – The encampment debate: healing camps or public danger?

23:00 – Talking openly about homelessness and addiction

27:00 – Third-term mayors, incumbents, and political fear

31:00 – Political violence, safety, and threats to electeds

36:00 – Why some people won’t run for office anymore

41:45 – Life in the spotlight: sports games, fans, and recognition

42:00 – The Usher cherry story

44:30 – Public vs. private life: when you’re always “the councilwoman”

47:00 – Drinks, social life, and the human side of City Hall

48:00 – Closed sessions and what really happens behind the scenes

50:00 – Can council members be friends? Division by voting block

52:00 – Dinners with colleagues and broken trust

54:00 – Why the council feels like “cosplay”

55:00 – Generational divides at City Hall

57:00 – Wrapping up

Dallas Goldtooth has taken one of the most unusual career arcs in entertainment — from Minnesota rez-based comedy sketches with the 1491s, to Reservation Dogs, to the Fallout TV show, to starring alongside Jason Clarke in Apple TV’s The Last Frontier.

We talk about his viral beginnings, the transition from indie comedy to blockbuster streaming action, and what it means to represent Native voices on screen while raising a family of six.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Dallas Goldtooth’s Hollywood leap

02:00 – Growing up on the Lower Sioux Reservation

07:30 – Comedy as survival: The 1491s & viral sketches

13:00 – Minnesota history, monuments, and reckoning with the past

20:00 – Landing roles in Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls

25:00 – Breaking down The Last Frontier

29:00 – The “copaganda” question and conflicted roles

34:00 – Representation, identity & Native roles in Hollywood

41:00 – Acting in Fallout with Walton Goggins

45:00 – Family life with six kids while acting

55:00 – Reflections on culture, comedy & the future

Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak joins me for an unfiltered conversation about what it really means to lead a city and why authenticity is now the most powerful tool in politics. We cover the emotional cost of leadership, the changing face of Minneapolis, and how social media is reshaping civic power.

If you care about democracy, media, or the future of cities, this episode is for you.

No edits. No prep. One hour. Let’s go.

Chapters

00:00 Intro, One Hour, No Edits

01:48 “Disheveled” as a Media Strategy

04:15 The Power of Authenticity in Politics

08:23 Are TikTok Creators the New News Anchors

13:10 R.T.’s Career from Journalist to Mayor

17:00 Why He Ran for Mayor and Thought He’d Lose

21:45 Pajama Party Protests and Playful Politics

25:02 “I Was in Over My Head”

30:30 Trauma, Therapy, and the Emotional Toll of Public Service

36:12 The Cultural Shift in Minneapolis Politics

39:50 Should Outsiders Run for Office

44:10 How the Minneapolis Foundation Actually Works

50:40 Donor-Advised Funds Explained Simply

53:15 The Future of Minneapolis: Hope or Decline

56:33 Downtown Real Estate Collapse and Reinvention

59:58 Why Minneapolis Is Better Than Portland

I sat down with longtime Minnesota media voice Jason DeRusha – WCCO Radio host, former TV anchor, and media personality – for a lively and candid conversation about his career, the state of journalism, and the messy line between authenticity and ego.In this conversation we cover:00:00 – The Jason Cam & innovating early in media07:00 – Ego vs. arrogance: why Minnesotans hold themselves back12:00 – Skyways, tourism, and why Minneapolis struggles with growth20:00 – The origins of Good Question and what he learned from it30:00 – Living with a public persona vs. being yourself41:00 – Social media, sponsored content, and the authenticity trap50:00 – The business of being a media personality57:00 – The future of local news and digital creatorsJason shares stories about buying his own billboard, why ego isn’t a dirty word, and how Minnesota could better tell its own story to the world.If you enjoy thoughtful conversations with people shaping Minnesota’s culture, subscribe for more episodes of One Hour Detours.

I so enjoyed my conversation with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. Currently running for his third term, Mayor Carter has overseen crisis to crisis all while leading a city that also serves as Minnesota's political capitol.

In this conversation we speak about:

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & running for a third term

01:18 – From “best job in the world” to “crisis bingo”

11:09 – Parenting, school safety & the Minneapolis shooting

14:15 – Why St. Paul is pushing to ban assault rifles

19:05 – The Second Amendment & political rhetoric

29:23 – Florida 2000: arguing the right to vote

33:38 – Public engagement & governing differently

39:16 – Race in Minnesota vs. the South

42:02 – Guaranteed income, rent control & medical debt relief

47:14 – Homelessness, downtown St. Paul & foot traffic

49:53 – Skyways, safety perceptions & downtown competition

In this episode of One Hour Detours, I sit down with Liz Collin — Alpha News reporter and creator of "The Fall of Minneapolis" — for an unfiltered conversation about our city. We debate whether Minneapolis is a “failed city,” what it means to actually live here today, and why Liz uses such strong language to describe political opponents and local leaders.We cover: • Liz Collin’s controversial documentary The Fall of Minneapolis • Claims about Governor Tim Walz, Alpha News reporting, and media bias • How Minneapolis is portrayed as a “failed city” vs. lived experience • The future of new media, political rhetoric, and local journalismThis isn’t a softball interview. We challenge each other on how the media frames crime, politics, and public safety in Minnesota. Whether you agree or disagree with Liz Collin, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the debate over Minneapolis’ future.Recorded at the Kickernick Building in beautiful, downtown Minneapolis.Art by Megan Moore - you can see her works at https://www.meganmoore.com/"The Fall of Minneapolis" can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFPi3EigjFA⸻Chapters:00:00 Intro01:00 Am I “platforming” Liz Collin?08:00 Dehumanization, “the mob,” and political rhetoric15:00 Is Minneapolis a failed city?25:00 Alpha News and the rise of new media37:00 Why The Fall of Minneapolis went viral45:00 Living in Minneapolis vs. political framing55:00 Closing thoughts⸻#LizCollin #Minneapolis #AlphaNews #FallOfMinneapolis #TimWalz

When me and my team had the idea for One Hour Detours, I had a sense of confidence, a hubris even. Of course I, with my years of public speaking experience could keep a conversation flowing for 60 minutes continuously. In full candor, this was the fourth episode we filmed but the second we’ve released. The first three conversations went how I was hoping they would. Then came Comrade Tripp.He’s a comedian with such a deliberate sense of timing, such a unique brand of humor that he wouldn’t be cow-towed by the timer, or the need to keep the conversation going.I started in presenter mode, trying to ask him sincere questions about comedy. Eventually, I started to match his energy, leading into the awkward silences. By the end, it turned into one of the most unique conversations I’ve ever had.Look - this might be a terrible episode of the podcast. Or it might make you laugh. Either way, I so appreciate Comrade for stretching the bounds of what this format can be.You can find him and his extensive Pokémon documentaries on his Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/comradetrippThank you to Kelsey Anderson Art for lending me her beautiful artwork for our studio. www.kelseyanderson.art