Hangin' Out with Bob

It’s been said by some that winter in Minnesota doesn’t really end until the boys’ state high school basketball tournament wraps up. Well, the 2026 edition of Minnesota’s oldest state high school tournament concluded on March 28, when champions from four different classes were crowned. The weather in Minnesota following that state tournament wasn’t necessarily summerlike, but talk of the tourney remained a hot topic for days afterward.In this episode with podcast host Bob Edholm, Scott Black and Steve Durant, two Boomers who follow boys’ high school basketball as closely as anyone in the state, share their thoughts on the 2026 state tournament. Scott and Steve saw several of those games in person, including the quarterfinals at Target Center as well as the finals at the University of Minnesota’s Williams Arena.The 2026 edition of the boys’ state high school basketball tournament had a little bit of everything—upsets of some top-seeded teams, unexpected championship matchups, and breakout performances by several players who were just underclassmen.For years (for decades, actually) Scott and Steve have attended boys’ high school basketball games during the regular season as well as postseason. By the time the state tournament rolls around every year in late March, they’re familiar with many of the best teams and best players in the state.In this podcast episode, Scott and Steve also talk about some of the better teams and players who didn’t make it to the state tournament this year because they lost in their single-elimination sectional tournament. And based on what they saw in this past basketball season, Scott and Steve share their thoughts on which high school squads might appear in the 2027 state tournament.So, listen, learn—and maybe even laugh out loud a few times—as Bob Edholm and his two guests, Scott Black and Steve Durant, talk about Minnesota boys’ state high school basketball.

“Paul is dead” is a rumor/conspiracy theory that alleges Paul McCartney of the Beatles died on November 9, 1966, and was secretly replaced by a look-alike. The rumor gained broad popularity in the Fall of 1969 following news articles on some U.S. college campuses.According to the rumor/conspiracy theory, McCartney died in a car crash. To spare the public from grief, the surviving Beatles (John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr) replaced him with a McCartney look-alike, subsequently communicating this secret through subtle details of their albums. Proponents perceived clues among elements of Beatles songs, photos, and cover artwork. Clue hunting proved infectious, and by the Fall of 1969 had become an international phenomenon.The “Paul is dead” rumor/conspiracy declined somewhat after Life magazine published an interview with McCartney in November of 1969, but it was ranked among ten of “the world’s most enduring conspiracy theories,” according to Time magazine in 2009.In this podcast episode, host Bob Edholm and his nephew, Luke Edholm, do a “deep dive” into how the rumor/conspiracy theory began, how it grew, and why people still like to talk about it nearly six decades later.Also in this podcast episode, Bob and Luke talk about the “27 Club,” which refers to the phenomenon of musicians, singers, and singer/songwriters who died at age 27, often due to drug abuse, suicide, or violent circumstances. Key members include Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones, influential guitarist Jimi Hendrix, iconic singer Janis Joplin, The Doors vocalist Jim Morrison, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse, and blues musician Robert Johnson.

The next best thing to listening to music is…talking about it.In this episode, podcast host Bob Edholm and his guests, brothers Wayne and Al Damerow, talk about the transformation of music from the 1960s to today.They discuss not only the types of music people have listened to since the 1960s (from rock and Motown to pop and hip hop), but how they’ve listened to the music (from transistor radios and record players to CD players and smartphones). And they break down this transformation of music by generation:· Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), which includes Bob, Wayne, and Al· Generation X (born 1965-1981)· Millennials (born 1982-1996), which includes their children and nieces/nephews· Generation Z (born 1997-2012)· Generation Alpha (born 2013-2024), which includes their grandchildren and great-nephews/great-niecesSo whether you grew up listening to the Beatles on your phonograph, Nirvana on your Boombox, the Foo Fighters on your CD player, or Taylor Swift on your smartphone, this podcast episode will transform the way you think about music from the 1960s to today.

Talk about a tale of two halves.After the Minnesota Vikings finished the 2024 regular season with a record of 14-3, and despite a first-round loss in the NFL playoffs, hopes for the 2025 season were high for the Vikings and their ever-loyal fans.Instead, the Vikings struggled in 2025. They faced a “quarterback carousel” and a difficult schedule (including back-to back games “across the pond” in Dublin and London). At one point, the Vikings’ record was 4-8, their worst start since 2013.But then they rallied. The Vikings managed to win their final five games, including a 16-3 win in the “border battle” with the Green Bay Packers, turning a potential disaster into a 9-8 winning record. But despite the strong finish, the Vikings failed to make the playoffs in 2025.In this episode, podcast host Bob Edholm gets together again with brothers Dave and Tom Edholm to talk about each of the Vikings’ 17 regular-season games. It’s an episode that Vikings fans will definitely want to listen to.

Talk about a turnaround!The Minnesota Twins finished the 1990 season with a last-place finish in the American League West division. In stark contrast, the Twins improved dramatically in 1991 by winning the American League West, the American League Championship Series, and the World Series championship. It was one of the most thrilling and memorable seasons in Twins history.In this episode, podcast host Bob Edholm gets together again with guest Jon Lawrence, his friend from Northeast Minneapolis, to discuss the Twins’ “worst-to-first” season in 1991 that led to their second World Series Championship in five seasons.They’ll talk about key players and factors, such as:· Star Power: Some of the key performers included Kirby Puckett, Jack Morris, Kent Hrbek, Chili Davis, Dan Gladden, and Gene Larkin.· Team Depth: A magical season where multiple players, including pitchers Scott Erickson, Kevin Tapani, and Rick Aguilera, had career years simultaneously.· Home Field: The Hubert H. Metrodome was a fortress, with the team remaining undefeated at home in the World Series.It’s a Cinderella story that cemented the 1991 Twins as a beloved championship team, known for their resilience and dramatic postseason victories.

Just days after celebrating his 14th birthday in March of 1972, Scott Black attended his first Minnesota boys’ state high school basketball tournament with his dad.As Scott watched the players on teams who “made it to state” playing at Williams Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, he dreamed that someday he could play for his high school team—the Columbia Heights Hylanders—in the state tournament. While Scott would go on to play for the Hylanders and serve as co-captain of a team that won the North Suburban Conference in 1976 (Scott also received honorable mention on the all-conference squad that year), the second-seeded Hylanders were upset in the regional semifinal round.But that disappointing loss didn’t stop Scott from attending the boys’ state basketball tournament. In fact, that first tournament in 1972 started a tradition: Scott has attended all but one boys’ state basketball tournament since then, and he’s brought his own son and daughter to the state tourney.Much has changed about this tournament since the early 1970s. The field has expanded from 16 teams to 32. It’s gone from two classes to four. Dunking was not allowed until the mid-1970s. There was no three-point shooting line until the late 1980s. Uniform and shoe styles have changed dramatically over the decades. Venues other than Williams Arena have been used to host tournament games.But what hasn’t changed is Scott’s love for this annual tournament. No matter where the games are played, no matter which teams are playing, no matter what the players’ uniforms or shoes look like, Scott continues to attend the state tourney year after year.In this episode with podcast host Bob Edholm, Scott talks about his decades of dedication to the Minnesota boys’ state high school basketball tourney. You will be impressed by Scott’s wealth of knowledge about the high school teams, coaches, and players he’s watched and followed over the past fifty-plus years.

“STATE CHAMPS!”No doubt about it—winning a high school state championship brings the “thrill of victory” to the teammates, the coach, and the community.Back in October 1976, Decorah High School’s girls‘ cross-country squad did just that. Not only did they win the state championship, but it was only the second year that this school in Northeast Iowa had offered the sport to their female student athletes.Podcast host Bob Edholm, who served as sports editor of Decorah Newspapers for three years in the late 1970s, had worked at that newspaper for just over a month when the Decorah girls captured that state cross-country title.Bob traveled back to Decorah to interview his friend Darryl Landas, who was coach of that 1976 girls’ state championship cross-country squad. Bob and Darryl were in their 20s in the 70s, and now they are in their 70s in the 20s!In this episode, Darryl shares his thoughts and memories of that special squad in a magical season that happened nearly half a century ago.

Should there be a hard salary cap for the Major League Baseball players? The National Football League, the National Hockey League, and the Women’s National Basketball Association all have hard salary caps for their players. Why not for Major League Baseball players?On the one hand, MLB team owners believe that a hard salary cap would foster competitive balance by reducing payroll disparities. On the other hand, the players and their union see a hard salary cap as a tool for reduced player salaries.Podcast host Bob Edholm gets together again with brothers Wayne and Al Damerow to discuss the likelihood of a hard salary cap in Major League Baseball. These three lifelong baseball fans will talk about:· The transition from the Reserve Clause Era to the current Free Agency Era· The difference between a hard salary cap and a soft salary cap (or a “luxury tax,” which Major League Baseball currently has but owners say is not working well)· Possible alternatives to a hard salary cap· Their own predictions on how this all will play out for the future of Major League Baseball.

The Rolling Stones have been rockin’ and rollin’ for over six decades. How have they done it?Well, there’s the musical talent. The Stones have written numerous great songs, from blues to country to rock. They’ve adapted to changing times. The Stones have overcome personal challenges, lineup changes, and evolving musical trends. As a result, the band has created a timeless legacy that continues to resonate across generations.Podcast host Bob Edholm has gotten together with his friend Steve Durant, a talented guitar player in his own right and a huge Rolling Stones fan, to talk about what Steve calls his Top Five Rolling Stones albums:· Beggars Banquet (1968), which marked a return to the band’s blues roots after a period of experimentation, featuring raw, powerful tracks.· Let It Bleed (1969), a transitional album that bridges the gap between the blues-rock of Beggars Banquet and the more experimental sounds of their later work.· Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! (1970), considered to be one of the greatest live albums ever, capturing the Stones’ high-energy performances during their pivotal 1969 U.S. tour.· Sticky Fingers (1971), a masterpiece of rock and roll music and celebrated for its diverse range of songs, from hard-rocking anthems to country-tinged ballads.· Exile on Main St. (1972), A sprawling, ambitious double album known for its loose, raw sound, incorporating elements of blues, country, and rock. In Part Two of this two-part podcast, Bob and Steve will do “deep dives” on Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St. Once you’ve heard Steve’s informed and entertaining thoughts on these Top Five Stones albums, you’ll want to listen—and listen again—to these classic works for yourself!

The Rolling Stones have been rockin’ and rollin’ for over six decades. How have they done it?Well, there’s the musical talent. The Stones have written numerous great songs, from blues to country to rock. They’ve adapted to changing times. The Stones have overcome personal challenges, lineup changes, and evolving musical trends. As a result, the band has created a timeless legacy that continues to resonate across generations.Podcast host Bob Edholm has gotten together with his friend Steve Durant, a talented guitar player in his own right and a huge Rolling Stones fan, to talk about what Steve calls his Top Five Rolling Stones albums:· Beggars Banquet (1968), which marked a return to the band’s blues roots after a period of experimentation, featuring raw, powerful tracks.· Let It Bleed (1969), a transitional album that bridges the gap between the blues-rock of Beggars Banquet and the more experimental sounds of their later work.· Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! (1970), considered to be one of the greatest live albums ever, capturing the Stones’ high-energy performances during their pivotal 1969 U.S. tour.· Sticky Fingers (1971), a masterpiece of rock and roll music and celebrated for its diverse range of songs, from hard-rocking anthems to country-tinged ballads.· Exile on Main St. (1972), A sprawling, ambitious double album known for its loose, raw sound, incorporating elements of blues, country, and rock.In Part One of this two-part podcast, Bob and Steve will do “deep dives” on Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, and Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!Once you’ve heard Steve’s informed and entertaining thoughts on these Top Five Stones albums, you’ll want to listen—and listen again—to these classic works for yourself!

It’s a big leap from high school football to major college football. The players in major college football are simply bigger, faster, and more athletic.But in the mid-1970s, Ron Kullas made that big leap—impressively. He went from being an All-Metro football player at Columbia Heights High School to eventually being named an All-Big Ten receiver—twice—with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.The best receivers in football are said to have “hands of gold,” but in Ron’s case, as a wide receiver for the Gophers, one might say that he had the hands of "maroon and gold." When a pass was thrown Ron's way, he usually caught it—and it was usually for a first down. And sometimes, for a touchdown.Success in the college game didn’t come immediately to Ron, but his hard work and dedication eventually paid off. During his junior season, Ron set three team records in pass receiving, and he was named an All-Big Ten receiver in both his junior and senior seasons.In this podcast with host Bob Edholm (who also grew up in Columbia Heights), Ron shares stories and memories of his four years as a student athlete on scholarship at the University of Minnesota, including:· The steps Ron took to make the leap from high school football to major college football, where virtually every player had been an All-Conference, All-Metro, or All-State star in high school· How Ron learned to balance classroom and study time with football· His favorite wins and most frustrating losses with the Golden Gophers· The other Big Ten football stadiums that Ron liked—and disliked—the most· How a back injury that Ron sustained in one game forced him to miss a game the following week-the only time he missed a game due to injury· His lifelong friendship with Tony Dungy, the former Gophers quarterback who threw all those passes to Ron

Cal Stoll couldn’t wait to coach football. Literally.He played six-man football at his high school in North Dakota. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he resumed playing football at the University of Minnesota. But after playing for two seasons as an end for the Gophers, Stoll chose to forego his senior year of football eligibility so he could graduate early with a degree in education to coach football.After a successful first season as a high school football coach, Stoll jumped to the college ranks, where he served as an assistant coach for the next eighteen seasons at four different schools, including back-to-back national championships at Michigan State. He then was named head football coach at Wake Forest, where he stayed for three seasons. He led the Demon Deacons to their first ACC football championship in 1970 and was also named ACC Coach of the Year. In 1972, Stoll returned to his alma mater—Minnesota—and coached there for seven seasons.In this podcast episode about the Cal Stoll era at Minnesota, host Bob Edholm gets together with his friend, Tom Madigan, to talk about the 1972 through 1978 seasons. They’ll provide you with the specifics of each season, including such things as:· The Gophers’ overall record· How the Gophers fared in their traditional “trophy games” each season against Michigan (Little Brown Jug), Iowa (Floyd of Rosedale), and Wisconsin (Paul Bunyan’s Axe)· Those Gopher players who won individual honors, such as All-Big Ten and the Team MVP Award

No doubt about it—the 1965 Minnesota Twins season was a special one. Consider this:· The Twins won their first American League pennant since moving to Minnesota in 1961 from Washington, D.C., where they were called the Washington Senators.· They set a franchise record in 1965 with 102 wins. The Twins were known that season for winning close games and for their ability to come back from deficits.· They had six players selected for the All-Star game, which was played that year at Metropolitan Stadium, their home ballpark at the time.· The 1965 Twins team had a strong pitching rotation, but they also led the American League in runs scored.· That 1965 season culminated in the Twins' appearance in the World Series, where they faced the Los Angeles Dodgers.Podcast host Bob Edholm gets together again with brothers Wayne and Al Damerow to discuss that special season. These three lifelong Twins fans weren’t yet teenagers in 1965, but their memories of that Twins season, plus their love of baseball, come shining through in this podcast episode.

In Part Two of this podcast about the Murray Warmath era at Minnesota (1954 through 1971), host Bob Edholm gets together with his two brothers, Dave and Tom Edholm, to talk about the 1963 through 1971 seasons. They’ll provide you with the specifics of each season, including such things as:· The Gophers’ overall record· How the Gophers fared in their traditional “trophy games” each season against Michigan (the Little Brown Jug), Iowa (Floyd of Rosedale), and Wisconsin (Paul Bunyan’s Axe)· Those Gophers players who won individual honors, such as All-Big Ten, All-American, and the Team MVP Award

His name was Murray Warmath. He was a football coach.Warmath was born and raised in Tennessee, but once he moved north in the mid-1950s to become the head football coach at the University of Minnesota, the Gopher State became the home he would never leave.Warmath led the Gophers for 18 seasons, from 1954 through 1971. There were some great seasons for the Gophers during that time, but there were also seasons that didn’t go so well for them. Still, Warmath was the last head football coach to lead the Gophers to a national championship as well as a pair of Big Ten conference championships.In Part One of this two-part podcast about the Murray Warmath era at Minnesota, host Bob Edholm gets together with his two brothers, Dave and Tom Edholm, to talk about the 1954 through 1962 seasons. They’ll provide you with the specifics of each season, including such things as:· The Gophers’ overall record· How the Gophers fared in their traditional “trophy games” each season against Michigan (the Little Brown Jug), Iowa (Floyd of Rosedale), and Wisconsin (Paul Bunyan’s Axe)· Those Gophers players who won individual honors, such as All-Big Ten, All-American, and the Team MVP Award

Do you believe in magic? The “magic” theme of the 1987 Minnesota Twins season stemmed from their improbable yet surprising World Series victory. Prior to the 1987 season, there was a betting board in Las Vegas with odds at 100 to 1 against the Twins winning the championship. Against the odds, though, the Twins did win it all that season, making their success feel almost magical.In this episode, podcast host Bob Edholm gets together again with Jon Lawrence, his friend from Northeast Minneapolis, to discuss the Twins’ “magical” season and share some of their own special memories of that 1987 Twins team.

They called it “The Brick House.” It was Memorial Stadium, which served as the football home for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1924 through 1981.Welcome to “Hangin’ Out with Bob,” a podcast with host Bob Edholm. In this episode, Bob provides an entertaining rundown of Memorial Stadium, which literally required more than a million bricks during its construction. Hence, “The Brick House.”Memorial Stadium was dedicated to the more than 3,500 university workers and graduates who served in World War I, 98 of whom died in service.The Gophers had a stellar record at Memorial Stadium, including 12 unbeaten seasons. They didn’t suffer a losing season at home from the building’s inception in 1924 until 1950, a span of 26 years.The Gophers left Memorial Stadium after the 1981 season and played their games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis from 1982 to 2008. Memorial Stadium was eventually torn down in 1992. The Gophers returned to campus in 2009 to play in a new stadium just across the street from where “The Brick House” once stood.Although Memorial Stadium is long gone, it certainly has not been forgotten. Start here and listen for the fun as Bob Edholm also shares his own thoughts and memories of “The Brick House.”

How popular was professional wrestling in the 1960s and 1970s? In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, it was very popular.Every Saturday evening, many people had their TV sets tuned in to All Star Wrestling, which featured professional wrestlers from the American Wrestling Association (AWA). At one point, All Star Wrestling was the second-highest rated program in the Twin Cities, behind only 60 Minutes. Three of those loyal wrestling viewers included podcast host Bob Edholm and his two guests, brothers Wayne and Al Damerow.In this podcast, Bob, Wayne, and Al form a three-man tag team to share their thoughts and memories as they look back on the “good old days” of watching the professional wrestlers who made All Star Wrestling “must-see TV” in the 1960s and 1970s.