This episode of So Much More is a special holiday treat. But fair warning to parentsif you’ve got little ones tuning in you might want to hit pause. We visit The Santa Experience right here at Mall of America and lift the curtain on magical secrets about the man in red. From magical wishes to meaningful moments, you will want to sit back and enjoy…

What’s one of the biggest stress points every holiday season? Finding the perfect gift. Well, this episode is for you. Lizzy Newsome, owner of Kappa Toys, and Hayley Matthews-Jones, owner of Minneapolis Craft Market discuss what they offer to holiday shoppers. Kappa Toys is a permanent tenant located on Level 2 South and features unique toys and pl…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Mall of America as we prepare for Black Friday and the holiday season. Hosts, Dan, Jill and Chris share how we get ready! From decorating and creating a magical atmosphere to shopping tips, prepping to welcome thousands on Black Friday, planning events and best ways to refuel, park and share memories with…

Arik Hanson is a social media expert who helps mid-sized and large companies feel supremely confident about the way they show up in social. With more than 25 years of experience in social media and digital marketing, Arik has helped more than eighty companies achieve results. He is an early adopter in the field of social media, founded a social med…

What are the secrets and strategy behind effectively using LinkedIn as a professional? Learn when and how to post, sharing corporate content, and the best way to highlight your team using your genuine personality. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 69: Arik Hanson Social Media Expert part 1. Presented by Bloomington Minnesot…

Arik Hanson is a social media expert who helps mid-sized and large companies feel supremely confident about the way they show up in social. With more than 25 years of experience in social media and digital marketing, Arik has helped more than eighty companies achieve results. He is an early adopter in the field of social media, founded a social med…

Beauty is having its moment – over the last few years this category has blossomed. When looking at the latest beauty trends and brands: What is attainable? How is it innovative? How do brands hop on trends – or lead them? And innovative, strategic marketing is critical to succeed. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 68: Gloss…

How does a beauty and fashion information brand connect with their followers and stay timely? It’s about meeting the customer where they are. Keeping stories short and to the point. Leaning into pop culture. And use outside experts. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 68: Glossy Brands Finding Inspiration in Beauty and Fashio…

Jill Manoff, Editor-in-Chief of Glossy and Global Editorial Director for Glossy Brands shares everything fashion, beauty, brands, trends + wellness with our hosts. Manoff shares insights into the Glossy Brand, how it continues to grow and evolve, as well as sharing how brands continue to be innovative to meet new consumer expectations. Host Jill Re…

How does a new business take shape? From the first idea to the first sale the journey can be winding. Jason Hammerberg at Hammer Made custom shirts shares the steps he took to go from a business plan to reality. Inspiration, connections, partnerships and perseverance can lead to success. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 67…

Where does inspiration come from? The answer can be different for every person, brand or product. For Jason Hammerberg at Hammer Made custom shirts, part of his inspiration came from a small men’s shirt shop near an ancient bridge in Venice, Italy. The key is giving the design an opportunity to shine. To hear the entire conversation check out So Mu…

How does an entrepreneur and dreamer take their passion for something and turn it into a thriving business? Jason Hammerberg, CEO and Founder of Hammer Made, a boutique men’s clothing line, shares the story of how he created a beloved brand. Hammer Made shirts have become a favorite for well-dressed men throughout the country. Having just celebrate…

From emojis to emails and from phone calls to text messages communicating across generations can be a challenge to put it mildly. Now with four generations in the workplace for the first time, where do you even begin? Well, we have the guest with the answers. Jen Hellman is CEO and President of Goff Public a communications and public relations firm…

Celebrities are nothing new to Mall of America, they’ve been a part of our story since the day we opened. During this short take a 25-year veteran ride operator Frank Gold speaks with Chris Grap and Brian Spielman from Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe. Frank shares the story of when he met Donny Osmond and called him out over a P.A. system …

Can you imagine riding more than 500 roller coasters? 503 to be exact. And let’s be clear – that’s not riding a few roller coasters a whole bunch of times. That’s riding 503 different roller coasters around the world. My stomach is churning as I write this! Our guest, Frank Gold, is a veteran of operating rides for more than 25 years at Mall of Ame…

Here’s a hint – Candy Corn is NOT most people’s favorite Halloween candy. Is it Nerds, Reese’s PB Cups, Gummi bears or Twix? During this short take, Ryan Miziker from American Monsters join the Mall of America team Chris Grap, Sierra Goerg and Meri Ryan to talk their all time favorite Halloween candy. To hear the entire conversation check out So Mu…

There’s nothing better than talking scary movies during Halloween season! During this short take, Ryan Miziker from American Monsters join the Mall of America team Chris Grap, Sierra Goerg and Meri Ryan to talk their all-time favorite Halloween flicks. To hear the entire conversation check out So Much More Ep. 64: Onionhead’s Revenge + Halloween Ha…

This episode covers all things spooky, haunting, and truly terrifying for Halloween at Mall of America. Special guest Ryan Miziker, Senior Creative Director for American Monsters, shares behind the scenes stories and details on Onionhead’s Revenge – the scarifying Halloween Haunt at the Mall. Here for its second year, Onionhead’s Revenge features n…

The Power Trip morning radio show on KFAN at 100.3 has been entertaining fans for 22 years with their hilarious banter about sports, current events, music + just about anything they can think to talk about. Two of the hosts, Chris Hawkey, who started the show, and Cory Cove, who started as an intern and worked his way into a regular gig, share stor…

Monique Volz is the writer and entrepreneur behind the enormously popular blog and website, Ambitious Kitchen. Having grown up in Minnesota and attended the University of St. Thomas she has close connections to Mall of America and the entire state. Her professional journey started when she began her food and cooking blog during college, and it even…

This Saturday, September 14, the Alliance of Minnesota Chinese Organizations (AMCO), along with the Minnesota Chinese Community and local ethnic communities, will come together to celebrate the Moon Festival at Mall of America®. AMCO MC, Xiaoyan Luo, visits with Jill and Dan to share how this celebration comes to life with festive cultural performa…

Our special guest for this episode is Authenticity Afficionado, keynote speaker, two-time award-winning author, podcast host, coach and consultant + the founder and CEO of b Authentic inc, Erin Hatzikostas. She is also the author of The 50% Rule and You Do You(ish). Here are some episode highlights: 3:47 What is authenticity? How to live and manage…

When Mall of America® first opened on August 11, 1992, it featured Knott’s Camp Snoopy, amazing restaurants + more than 350 stores…including Old Time Photos. As one of the Mall’s original tenants, Old Time Photos has been preserving memories for families and friends alike for more than three decades. Rachel Zulegar and Landon Luther are the owners …

With a chill in the air and the State Fair around the corner, everyone’s thinking about the kids going back to school. The good news is that Mall of America® is the destination for back to school shopping! On this episode, host Dan Jasper talks with MOA®’s Intergrated Marketing Director, Sara Johnson, and Sara Rogers, our Trend Specialist, about th…

With more than five hundred stores, restaurants + attractions, Mall of America® truly does offer something for everyone. Part of the Mall’s success is by keeping it fresh and constantly adding to the retail and attraction mix. On this episode, Carrie Charleston and Jill Renslow share their unique viewpoints on why this constant evolution works so w…

So Much More is one year old, and Mall of America is gearing up for its 32nd birthday! To celebrate, our hosts speak spoke visitors from across the country. Catch our fast, furious + fun interviews filled with fascinating MOA® trivia. Plus, discover what our guests were most excited to see and do! Friends from Iowa were excited about Nickelodeon ri…

A longtime fixture for Minnesota sports fans, Paul Allen never shies from telling a story. Not only does Allen host his own show on KFAN and announce races at Canterbury Park, but he is also the Voice of the Minnesota Vikings, where he has earned a reputation of having boundless energy and enthusiasm. Allen began his career announcing horse races i…

This episode features special guest, Chase, lead vocalist and guitar for Chase & Ovation, a Prince tribute that has been performing live for the past 17 years. Chase shares that stories of his musical background, the journey to becoming a legendary Prince tribute band. It is the only official tribute band sanctioned by the late superstar, and Chase…

Larissa Loden, an artist, entrepreneur, jewelry designer + passionate leader, shares her path from teaching in the classroom to building a successful business. Her journey started in upstate New York and was inspired by a high school teacher who gifted her a beaded necklace — and she has never looked back. Her first job in Minnesota was at Mall of …

In this episode of So Much More, our four hosts talk all things Mall of America®. The lively discussion began with the journey that each of the hosts to the Mall. Each person had a unique pathway to their positions with unexpected twists and turns. Dan Jasper started in non-profit nursing homes and shares his creative professional journey including…

Mall of America® is excited to host the Summer of Games…all summer long! Our hosts, along with special guest Kylie Passe, share the fun that is in store for guests visiting MOA® this summer. The Summer of Games hub at the Mall is in the Atrium, Level 1, in the north entrance. The area has been reimagined to look and feel like an Olympic sport stadi…

Lori Barghini and Julia Cobb, local legendary radio hosts on myTalk FM 107.1, are featured on this episode as part of their farewell tour after 22 years hosting The Lori & Julia Show. They are best friends turned sisters-in-law and despite being as Minnesotan as Paul Bunyan, they speak fluent Hollywood and can bring it with the best of them! They a…

With eight million online followers and more than two billion total views, Penn and Kim Holderness are funny, incessant + very genuine online content creators. They have been featured on national and international media, are best-selling authors, award-winning podcast hosts + were winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race. They first rose to interne…

Often referred to as ‘the forgotten war’, the Vietnam War was an integral part of a challenging time in our nation’s history. Our guests, Brand Lindsay, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, and Tom Lyons, USAF veteran and host of The Minnesota Military Radio Hour, discuss a special event hosted at Mall of America® to commem…

Cirque du Soleil BAZZAR is performing under the Big Top at Mall of America®. Our guests are Artistic Director Johnny Kim, and Duo Trapeze Artist Xander Taylor. BAZZAR is currently staged outside the north entrance of Mall of America and has been showered with rave reviews. Johnny and Xander share their backgrounds and what life is like joining the …

Daniel Johnson and Ricardo Hernandez Espinoza have quite a bit in common. They are entrepreneurs; took a risk to open their own business; started small and have big dreams. And they both enjoy bringing smiles to their customers and helping create a better world. Following the unrest in 2020 and COVID, Mall of America created a 5,000 square foot spa…

Stephanie March knows about food and the local dining scene. It has been a significant part of her life and career. As Executive Editor of New Media + Food at Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, March has a reputation of telling a delightful story, especially when it comes to food. Along with host Jill Renslow and co-host Carrie Charleston, this episode is pa…

Events experts Meri Ryan and Sierra Goerg share the storied history + behind-the-scenes tales of events at Mall of America. In 2023, the Mall hosted more than 370 events, and is set to surpass that mark in 2024. This team helps imagine, create + implement these amazing guest experiences. Like the entire events team, Meri and Sierra have super perso…

“It’s an unpopular opinion, but I don’t like Chicago. I’ve seen the Bean, the museum, the aquarium. Don’t really like the pizza.” And away we go…. On this episode, KDWB radio host and social media personality, Falen Bonsett, tells it like it is! Falen shares stories and more than a few laughs with our audience. Joined by Chris Grap and Sara Johnson…

This episode features Mall of America team members who are all working moms. With a wide range of work and parenting experience, they share insights on finding balance in their lives. They also openly discuss the challenges and joys of being a working parent. Jill Renslow, host of So Much More podcast, has a daughter who is a senior in high school …

Patric Richardson knows laundry. He has a passion for it. You might even call him The Laundry Evangelist – everyone does! He has been featured on national media, was HGTV's The Laundry Guy + author and owner of Mona Williams boutique at Mall of America. His philosophy: I love helping people take care of personal belongings and making the world a cl…

Anne Mezzenga and Chris Walton are the hosts and co-CEOs of Omni Talk, a podcast and retail blog for retailers, by retailers. They understand the world of retail better than anyone. Both had leadership roles with the Target Store of the Future program, are entrepreneurs + have boundless energy and enthusiasm. Their experience includes writing, podc…

Sheletta Brundidge is an Emmy award-winning comedian and talk show host, commentator, influencer + activist, and The Boss Lady at ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com. Sheletta and her son, first-time author Andrew Brundidge, are our guests to talk about Autism Acceptance Month. Sheletta’s three youngest children all have Autism. Her oldest, Andrew, does not. …

Our guests are energy and efficiency experts! John Marshall is Regional Vice President at Xcel Energy. He and his team manage strategic relationships across three states in seven hundred communities. Also joining us is Rich Hoge, Chief Operating Officer at Mall of America, who leads the waste and recycling efforts at the Mall among a host of other …

Perhaps best known for his bold illustrations that riff on everyday icons with stylized takes on all things Minnesota, from the BWCA to Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, artist Adam Turman is a true state treasure. Adam works with major brands such as Mall of America, Surly Brewing + Pepsi, independent businesses + private collectors to make art pa…

On this episode, two of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, Julian ‘Zeus’ McClurkin and Joey ‘Hot Rod’ De La Rosa join us for a fun-filled conversation. Zeus is one of the most decorated Harlem Globetrotters, holding six Guiness World Records, and he’s performed mind-blowing trick shots including his favorite location…Mall of America! Hot Rod is…

On this episode, hosts Grant Buntje and Chris Grap welcome their colleague and co-delight creator, Sara Johnson, the Integrated Marketing Director at Mall of America. Since the day it first opened in 1992, Mall of America has been surprising and delighting guests in unique ways and these team members help lead those efforts. Curious why and how the…

What happens when inventive minds get together? They create a universe… specifically, Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America. This week our hosts welcome special guests who were part of the team that brought NU to life, Ron Hines, Vice President of Experiences at Paramount and Brian Spielman, Vice President of Attractions at MOA. We invite you to …

The snow has melted. The birds are chirping. Spring Break is finally here! Our So Much More hosts are eager to share the options, stories + insider tips for a Spring Break adventure at Mall of America. Need pointers on how to plan a visit to MOA that fits within your budget? Curious what unique events or celebrities are visiting the mall? Want to f…

It’s our pleasure to sit down with Matt “Nur-D” Allen, a fresh new Hip Hop artist and one of the fastest rising stars in Minnesota’s music scene. Nur-D has been sharing his energy infused musical performances at Mall of America® and beyond. Want to know how he turned his love for comic books and pro wrestling into a music career? How he ended up cr…