At 22, Amanda Przynski bought a foreclosed home that needed a lot of work. Then, the night before closing, someone broke in and stole the stained glass windows and other details that had made her fall in love with it. It was an early test of a determination that would shape her career.

On this episode of Twin City Tales, host Wymond Wong welcomes Amanda, owner of Panda's Punchlist, a women-owned residential construction and remodeling company in Minneapolis.

Amanda's path into the trades hasn't followed a straight line. From growing up in Minneapolis and choosing woodshop and electronics classes to spending 17 years as a police and fire dispatcher, investing in real estate, and eventually becoming a general contractor and home inspector, she has repeatedly chosen to learn by doing.

Wymond and Amanda explore what it means to be a woman in construction, the assumptions Amanda has encountered in the industry, and why she believes homeowners deserve to feel informed and respected. They also discuss Panda's Punchlist, her Do-It-HERself gatherings, mentoring other women, and what to look for when comparing remodeling estimates.

And there's more to Amanda than work. She's a broomball player and has taken on a 5,500-mile motorcycle adventure across Australia.

It's a conversation about independence, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and making room for more people in the skilled trades.

CONNECT WITH AMANDA PRZYNSKI

Panda's Punchlist: https://www.pandaspunchlist.com/

Professional profile: https://www.joinagc.com/member/31695

ABOUT TWIN CITY TALES

Hosted by Wymond Wong, Twin City Tales shares the people, businesses, and stories that make the Twin Cities special.

Podcast: https://twin-city-tales-podcast.cohostpodcasting.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574674384654/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twincitytalespodcast/

POWERED BY TWIN CITY HEATING, AIR & ELECTRIC

Twin City Heating, Air & Electric is a family-owned Minnesota home service company serving homeowners throughout the Twin Cities.

https://www.twincityheatingandair.com/

You can't go wrong with Wymond Wong on your Twin City Tales Podcast.

He put his life savings into a student transportation business because he believed families needed something better. Then COVID hit, schools closed, and everything changed.

On this episode of Twin City Tales, host Wymond Wong sits down with Minnesota entrepreneur Christian Olson to talk about the leap from a secure career to business ownership, the people who depended on him, and the identity questions that followed when he eventually sold the company.

Christian grew up in St. James and Maple Grove, spent 16 years with Osseo Area Schools, and went on to found Transportation Delivery Inc. His company grew to 32 employees, but the road wasn't predictable. He recalls struggling to buy his first five vehicles, rearranging routes in the middle of the night, and finding a new way to support families during the pandemic by delivering food and educational materials through Northside Achievement Zone.

After selling his business, Christian had to discover what came next. Today, as a Strategic Partner with Schooley Mitchell, he helps businesses and organizations reduce operating expenses. As he puts it, "I get to help the past version of me."

This conversation is about taking chances, supporting your community, leading through uncertainty, and remembering that your identity is bigger than the work you do.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTIAN OLSON

Schooley Mitchell: https://www.schooleymitchell.com/office/colson/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianolson33

FOLLOW TWIN CITY TALES

Podcast: https://twin-city-tales-podcast.cohostpodcasting.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574674384654/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twincitytalespodcast/

POWERED BY TWIN CITY HEATING, AIR & ELECTRIC

Family-owned and locally operated. Proudly serving homeowners across the Twin Cities.

https://www.twincityheatingandair.com/

You can't go wrong with Wymond Wong on your Twin City Tales Podcast.

One book. One road trip. One life-changing question: What are you going to do about it?

In 2012, Stephanie Page was traveling with her mother, Sherrill Thurston, when a book about human trafficking changed the direction of her life. What began as a desire to help became Stories Foundation, the Freedom Food Truck, and eventually Storyteller Cafe in Blaine, Minnesota.

On this episode of Twin City Tales, Wymond Wong gets to know Stephanie, the co-founder and Executive Director of Stories Foundation. They look back at the family and early service experiences that shaped her, the decision to act on what she had learned, and the determination it took to build a nonprofit alongside her mother.

Stephanie also shares the challenges behind raising $30,000 in 30 days, launching the Freedom Food Truck, and spending years working toward a permanent cafe. When Storyteller Cafe opened in April 2025, it became a place to enjoy coffee and food while helping fund education, prevention, and survivor support through Stories Foundation.

Beyond the coffee, this is a conversation about faith, family, perseverance, and why everyone's story deserves to matter.

CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE

Storyteller Cafe: https://www.storytellercafemn.org/

Stories Foundation: https://www.storiesfoundation.org/

Stephanie and the team: https://www.storiesfoundation.org/the-team

Support the mission: https://www.storiesfoundation.org/give

12064 Central Ave NE, Blaine, MN

hello@storiesfoundation.org | 612-268-1937

TWIN CITY TALES

Hosted by Wymond Wong. Discover more Minnesota stories:

https://twin-city-tales-podcast.cohostpodcasting.com/

POWERED BY TWIN CITY HEATING, AIR & ELECTRIC

Proudly family-owned and locally operated in the Twin Cities.

https://www.twincityheatingandair.com/

Built Here, Stays Here. Feel The Difference!

You Can't Go Wrong with Wymond Wong!

What does it mean to spend your life telling stories that help others feel seen, heard, and connected?

On this episode of the Twin City Tales Podcast, host Wymond Wong sits down with Austene Van, award-winning actor, director, choreographer, and Executive Artistic Director of Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo, Minnesota.

Austene's journey into the performing arts began long before she became an artistic leader. Growing up surrounded by family members who entertained and performed, she developed an appreciation for the power of storytelling and the ways art can bring people together.

That foundation helped shape a professional theater career spanning more than three decades.

Her work has included performances, directing, and choreography at the Guthrie Theater, Penumbra Theatre, the Ordway, Children's Theatre Company, History Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, and theaters around the country.

Along the way, Austene earned recognition as a McKnight Theatre Artist Fellow and an Ivey Award recipient. She also served as Associate Artistic Director at History Theatre and became the founding Artistic Director of New Dawn Theatre Company.

In 2021, Austene stepped into the role of Executive Artistic Director at Yellow Tree Theatre, helping guide a professional theater organization serving Osseo, Maple Grove, and the greater Twin Cities community.

Wymond and Austene explore the personal experiences behind her career, the family members and mentors who helped shape her, the challenges of building a life in the performing arts, and the journey from performer to artistic leader.

They also discuss the importance of bringing professional live theater to suburban communities, creating opportunities for diverse voices, and what it takes to keep a smaller theater operating in a changing world.

At its heart, this conversation is about much more than theater. It's about mentorship, perseverance, finding your voice, sharing your gifts, and creating places where people feel they belong.

Whether you're a lifelong theatergoer or have never attended a live production, Austene's story offers an opportunity to better understand the people and passion behind Minnesota's performing arts community.

CONNECT WITH AUSTENE VAN & YELLOW TREE THEATRE

Website:

https://yellowtreetheatre.com/

Meet Austene & the Team:

https://yellowtreetheatre.com/staffandboard

Support Yellow Tree Theatre:

https://yellowtreetheatre.com/donate

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yellowtreetheatre/

Yellow Tree Theatre

320 5th Avenue SE

Osseo, MN 55369

763-493-8733

ABOUT TWIN CITY TALES

Twin City Tales is hosted by Wymond Wong and celebrates the people, experiences, and stories that make Minnesota special.

From entrepreneurs and community leaders to entertainers, athletes, artists, and everyday people with extraordinary journeys, Twin City Tales goes beyond what someone does to discover the person behind the story.

Follow Twin City Tales:

https://twin-city-tales-podcast.cohostpodcasting.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/61574674384654/

POWERED BY TWIN CITY HEATING, AIR & ELECTRIC

Twin City Tales is proudly powered by Twin City Heating, Air & Electric, a family-owned and locally operated Minnesota company providing heating, cooling, electrical, and home comfort services throughout the Twin Cities.

Website:

https://www.twincityheatingandair.com/

Remember, You Can't Go Wrong with Wymond Wong on your Twin City Tales Podcast!

What does it really mean to be prepared?

On this episode of Twin City Tales, Wymond Wong sits down with Brent Fox, founder of Fox Defensive Training, to talk about the experiences that shaped his approach to self-defense, awareness, leadership, and life.

Brent grew up in small-town Minnesota before joining the Navy shortly after high school. What began as a decision made by a young man from Minnesota turned into more than two decades of service in the Navy and Navy Reserve.

His military career took him around the world and included experience working in emergency and disaster management in Japan. Along the way, Brent also became deeply involved in martial arts, personal protection, security, and emergency preparedness.

But Brent's approach to self-defense is about much more than learning how to fight.

Wymond and Brent talk about how much real self-defense happens before anything ever becomes physical, why awareness is so important, how fear can affect decision-making, and why confidence can sometimes mean knowing when you do not have to fight at all.

They also explore Brent's introduction to martial arts, what he learned by training in different fighting systems, how Fox Defensive Training developed, and how decades of real-world security experience have influenced the way he teaches today.

Brent shares what he personally pays attention to when walking into a parking lot, restaurant, store, or unfamiliar environment, as well as what he hopes students leave his classes with mentally, not just physically.

The conversation also touches on leadership, trust, responsibility, and the importance of taking care of the people around you.

From small-town Minnesota to military service, martial arts, emergency preparedness, security, and teaching others how to become more confident and aware, Brent's story is one built around preparation and responsibility.

Learn more about Brent and Fox Defensive Training at:

FoxDefensiveTraining.com

Listen to Twin City Tales on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow Twin City Tales on Facebook for episode clips, upcoming guests, and more stories from around the Twin Cities.

Twin City Tales is Powered by Twin City Heating, Air & Electric.

You Can't Go Wrong with Wymond Wong.

What happens when you discover something later in life and realize you've been looking at it the wrong way all along?

On this episode of the Twin City Tales Podcast, Wymond Wong sits down with Thomas Jackson, co-founder of PAR365 Golf in Roseville, Minnesota, to talk about entrepreneurship, family, golf, and the unexpected experiences that can completely change the direction of your life.

Thomas grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the Chatham neighborhood, attended Whitney Young High School, and eventually earned a chemical engineering degree from the University of Michigan.

His professional career took him into the food industry, where he spent more than 20 years working with companies including Kraft, Land O'Lakes, and Target, contributing to products and brands that people encounter every day.

But golf wasn't part of the picture.

Growing up, Thomas never really saw golf as something meant for him. It wasn't a sport he was introduced to in the same way as others, and the traditional image of golf never particularly appealed to him.

Then came the pandemic.

What started as a way to get outside and spend time with friends became something much more meaningful.

Thomas discovered that golf could be music, laughter, friendly competition, trash talking, and a chance to reconnect with people. It wasn't necessarily about being good at the game. It was about the experience of playing it together.

During a family trip to Ohio, Thomas and his wife, Mercedes, visited an indoor golf simulator. On the long drive back to Minnesota, an idea started forming.

What if they could create a place that captured everything Thomas loved about golf while making the game feel welcoming to people who might never have considered playing?

That idea became PAR365.

Located in Roseville, PAR365 brings together indoor golf simulators, food, drinks, music, and a social atmosphere designed to make golf more approachable, accessible, and enjoyable.

Wymond and Thomas talk about the journey from Chicago to Minnesota, chemical engineering to food product development, and corporate America to building a business with his wife.

They explore the challenges of entrepreneurship, adapting when an original business plan needs to change, raising a family while building a company, and the lessons Thomas hopes his children learn from watching their parents take a chance on something they believe in.

The conversation also explores belonging, opportunity, and how discovering something later in life can sometimes allow you to see possibilities that others have overlooked.

From the South Side of Chicago to the University of Michigan, corporate America, and eventually PAR365 in Roseville, Thomas Jackson's story is about more than golf.

It's about creating opportunities, bringing people together, and refusing to let your past experiences define what you're capable of doing next.

CONNECT WITH THOMAS JACKSON & PAR365

PAR365 Golf:

https://www.par365golf.com/

2655 Patton Road

Roseville, MN 55113

ABOUT TWIN CITY TALES

Twin City Tales is hosted by Wymond Wong and features conversations with the people behind the stories.

From entrepreneurs and community leaders to athletes, creators, business owners, entertainers, and people who have simply lived an interesting life, Twin City Tales goes beyond what someone does to discover how they became who they are.

Remember, you can't go wrong with Wymond Wong on your Twin City Tales Podcast.

POWERED BY TWIN CITY HEATING, AIR & ELECTRIC

Twin City Tales is proudly powered by Twin City Heating, Air & Electric.

https://www.twincityheatingandair.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TwincityHeatingandair/

https://www.youtube.com/@twincityheatingandair

Sometimes the career you end up building starts with a problem you never planned on having to solve.

On this episode of the Twin City Tales Podcast, Wymond Wong sits down with Beth Riegger, founder of Fairy Godmother of Tech, to talk about entrepreneurship, reinvention, websites, networking, technology, artificial intelligence, and everything she learned while building a business of her own.

Beth grew up primarily in Moose Lake, Minnesota, where her parents owned a hardware store. Long before she became an entrepreneur herself, she was already getting a front-row look at small-business ownership and the work that happens behind the scenes.

Her own career would take her through sales, mortgages, and eventually ownership of a spa.

Then came a difficult partnership breakup.

The experience forced Beth into a new chapter, and one of the problems she needed to solve was her website. Instead of waiting for somebody else to figure it out, Beth started learning how to do it herself.

She watched videos, took courses, followed people online, experimented, made mistakes, and kept learning.

Eventually, other business owners began asking her for help.

What started as figuring out her own technology problems became Fairy Godmother of Tech, a business built around making websites and technology easier for entrepreneurs to understand and use.

Wymond and Beth talk about the lessons she learned from her "business divorce," choosing business partners, building a company without a traditional mentor, and the unexpected loneliness that can come from entrepreneurship.

Beth also shares why networking became so important to her and how involvement in BNI gave her something beyond referrals: relationships, connection, leadership opportunities, and a community of other business owners.

Then they get into websites.

Beth explains why a website should do more than simply look good. It should help explain what you do, guide potential clients toward taking action, and essentially work for the business around the clock.

They discuss her VIP Website in a Day, why some traditional website projects drag on for months, and what business owners should be asking before spending thousands of dollars on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, hosting, SEO, plugins, or another complete redesign.

The conversation also turns toward artificial intelligence and the changing way entrepreneurs work.

Beth talks about using Claude to evaluate goals and new ideas, even allowing AI to challenge her when she may be getting distracted by another entrepreneurial "bright shiny object."

Can AI become an accountability partner? Where should business owners embrace technology, and where does the human element still matter most?

Wymond and Beth also explore learning outside of traditional education, reinventing yourself after setbacks, entrepreneurship later in life, and whether someone who has spent decades building things can ever truly retire.

From growing up around a family hardware business in Moose Lake to becoming the Fairy Godmother of Tech, Beth's story is a reminder that sometimes the thing you are forced to learn becomes the thing you were meant to teach someone else.

CONNECT WITH BETH RIEGGER

Fairy Godmother of Tech:

https://fairygodmotheroftech.com/

ABOUT TWIN CITY TALES

Twin City Tales is hosted by Wymond Wong and features conversations with the people behind the stories.

From entrepreneurs and community leaders to creators, business owners, athletes, entertainers, and people who have simply lived an interesting life, Twin City Tales goes beyond what someone does to discover how they became who they are.

Remember, you can't go wrong with Wymond Wong on your Twin City Tales Podcast.

POWERED BY TWIN CITY HEATING, AIR & ELECTRIC

Twin City Tales is proudly powered by Twin City Heating, Air & Electric.

https://www.twincityheatingandair.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TwincityHeatingandair/

https://www.youtube.com/@twincityheatingandair