Duluth News Tribune outdoors reporter and columnist Sam Cook stops by the podcast studio again, this time to talk about the best hikes in the area to enjoy the fall colors.

Aside from the obvious Superior Hiking Trail, Oberg Mountain overlook and Ely's Peak, Cook offers some of his favorite trails, best places to stop and eat along the way, photo tips and other tricks so that you can spend less time in traffic and more time on the trails. 

What are some of your favorite fall color hikes in the Twin Ports area? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com.

What we are into this week: Grouse hunting in Montana, the Nolan-Mills race, and Amazon's six-part comedy series "Fleabag". 

We recently all watched the thriller "I Am Not a Serial Killer", which played in the Duluth Superior Film Festival this year and earlier this month was showed at the Zinema.

Parts of the film, which stars Christopher Lloyd and Laura Fraser, were shot in Virginia, Minn., and to our podcast crew turned movie critics the winter scenes from the movie were unmistakably the Iron Range.

While trying to avoid the "spoiler zone," our critics explain what they liked, what they didn't like and whether or not they would watch it again.

If you've seen the movie let us know what you think by emailing us at podcast@duluthnews.com.

What we are into this week: Beyonce's VMA performance, Positively Third Street Bakery and the book with the longest name ever "American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst". 

Professional brewer, beer judge and News Tribune columnist Dave Hoops joins us in the studio to talk about the craft brewery scene in Duluth, the role Lake Superior plays in our local beers and what he looks for when he judges suds.

He also shares some of his favorite seasonal varieties, including Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest and Castle Danger's Mosaic Fresh Hop IPA.

What we are into this week: The recent findings in the Jacob Wetterling case, history documentaries, professional tennis, and the FX sitcom "You're the Worst." 

Duluth area business owners, entrepreneurs, employees, and consumers meet our newest reporter Brooks Johnson. 

Born and raised in Fargo and educated at the University of Montana School of Journalism, Brooks comes to us from Vancouver, Wash., a suburb of Portland, Ore., where he covered business and ports for about a year. 

In his first week, Brooks has already hit the ground running and broken some interesting Duluth and Iron Range business stories. Listen here to see what he is most interested in covering in the Twin Ports and why.

If you have a story idea for Brooks or would just like to say hi, you can email us at podcast@duluthnews.com and we will relay the message.

What we are into this week: The new Band of Horses record, the new home of the Minnesota Vikings and website analytics. 

What do you have to do, see, eat, wear, and keep in your car to be considered a "true" Duluthian?

The Duluth News Tribune's "humanoid reporting algorithms" try to answer this question in this week's podcast. Christa Lawler, our laugh and giggle beat reporter, put a call out to her Facebook friends and the response was overwhelming. 

What do you think it takes to be a "true" Duluthian? Did we miss something? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com

What we are into this week: College football, the restaurant Tavern on the Hill, night walks, and lemonade - the beverage not the Beyonce album. 

Intern Kim Schneider is our Justin Timberlake to our Jimmy Fallon. In other words, she is one of our most requested (and favorite) guests to have on the show. 

As the summer comes to a close, Kim shares her favorite newsroom stories and her favorite Duluth experiences. Some of which may surprise you or make you question whether or not she is more Duluthian than you. 

Hear about her new rock collection, her most "Duluth" moment and her local karaoke career. If you have additional suggestions of places she should visit before she leaves you can email us at podcast@duluthnews.com and we will make sure she gets those. 

What we are into this week: the television drama series "Sons of Anarchy", the novel "In the Woods" by Tana French, ice cream and public radio.

Tall Ship season is duck season for Duluth native Bob Hom.

As the wrangler of the World's Largest Rubber Duck, Hom's summers are busy spent traveling to various ports around the country and inflating the 61 foot tall, 12 ton bright yellow duck. 

In preparation for Tall Ships Duluth, which begins tomorrow, Hom stops by the studio to tell us about his odd job (not his strangest job of all time though he must admit) and what people can expect to see this weekend.

Just so you know, there is a lot of talk about duck butts in this episode. Can't say you weren't warned. 

What we are into this week: They Olympics (obviously), and reruns of "The OC" and "Seinfeld".

As always if you have a question for a reporter you can email us at podcast@duluthnews.com 

Why do we live and/or work in Duluth? What keeps us here? How can we make our city better?

These are a few of the questions a new city survey asks us to think about. This week take a look into the future and describe what we think Duluth will look like in 19 years. 

You can take the survey for yourself at Imagine Duluth 2035 or tell us what you like most about Duluth or what needs to change at podcast@duluthnews.com

What we are into this week: late night television, childhood memories, and the Netflix-original series "Stranger Things." Also Brady calls Christa Chrissy. Not sure where that came from.

Summer is the perfect time to get outside and experience all that Lake Superior has to offer. 

Some prefer to take a quick dip in the lake from the sandy beaches of Duluth's Park Point or watch a stunning sunset in the Apostle Islands. While others get super ambitious and take a road trip driving around the world's largest freshwater lake.

Duluth News Tribune reporter Lisa Kazcke (pronounced "cats ski") recently completed the Lake Superior Circle Tour, driving a total of 1,536 miles in eight days around the big lake through Minnesota, Canada, Michigan and Wisconsin. Kazcke shares her highlights from the trip, including the giant goose in Wawa, Ontario, the Soo Locks, and eating poutine for the first time.

Have you been wanting to complete the Lake Superior Circle Tour? Have you already checked this trip off your bucket list? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com

What we are into this week: the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, Little League Baseball, "Sweetbitter" by Stephanie Danler and salad dressings. 

Everyone is talking about it so why wouldn't we?

Find out who has played the new virtual reality game and who is a curmudgeon about it. Where are the best places to catch rare Pokemon around Duluth and the Twin Ports? What we like most about the new game and what we don't like so much. Is it good for society? Why or why not? 

What has been your experience with Pokemon Go? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com.

What we are into this week: "Documentary Now" on Netflix, Amazing Grace Bakery and Cafe in Canal Park, color runs, and "The Girls" by Emma Cline.

Concerts, robotics competitions, Thanksgiving dinner, hockey games, dog shows, etc. The list goes on and on. 

The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center has seen it all in the last 50 years. Dan Russell, executive director of the DECC, shares some of his favorite memories from over the years, including one about golfing with Alice Cooper at Ridgeview Country Club. He also gives us the inside scoop on how they got the Beach Boys to come to Duluth.

What is your favorite memory of the DECC? Did you go to your first concert there? Maybe you've never missed a UMD hockey game. Or maybe you find yourself there every Thanksgiving Day sharing a meal with your neighbors. Let us know your DECC story by emailing us at podcast@duluthnews.com 

What we are into this week: We were so into talking about the DECC that we never shared what we are into this week. So I guess we are into the DECC. 

The man, the myth, the living legend.

Duluth News Tribune outdoors writer and columnist Sam Cook shares his words of wisdom, outdoor expertise and the story behind yellow dog on this week's Pressroom Podcast.

Cook recently hiked the entire Duluth portion of the Superior Hiking Trail, 32.5 miles, in one day with two other guys. He tells us his favorite parts of the trail, what he ate throughout the hike and whether or not he will do it again.

"It was everything I wanted it to be," Cook said about the daylong hike. "It's just walking but it ain't walking on the Lakewalk."

What we are into this week: Learning from our children, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and exploring the Northland trails. Can you guess who said what?

We also respond to your best burger submissions. Thank you to all who responded and as always if you have a question or comment please email us at podcast@duluthnews.com.

Over a month ago, we declared our love for our favorite pizza pies in the Twin Ports. Now with grilling season in full swing, our mouths are watering over juicy, greasy, delicious burgers.

"I just had a BBQ bacon cheddar burger and it's just really good," said Christa about the new burgers being offered at Toasty's in downtown Duluth. "I don't even feel bad about eating it. I could eat one every day and I'd never get the burger guilts."

Putting all of their burger "guilts" aside Christa, Brady and Tom highlight their favorite go-to burgers around town, what toppings are acceptable and whether or not "craft" burgers, such as ones made with wild rice patties or served bunless, should be classified as actual burgers. 

What is your favorite burgers in the Twin Ports? Email us at podcast@duluthnews.com

What we are into this week: Brady is challenging his kids on the tennis courts, Christa dives head first into the Snapchat world, and Tom throws us a curveball. 

Well, we did it.

We got Duluth Mayor Emily Larson to agree to be on our podcast and answer all our questions - less policy and more personality - sight unseen.

Mayor Larson describes the moment when she officially felt like a Duluthian, what her favorite attractions are in the city and why she makes her guests jump in Lake Superior when they come to visit.

Also back by popular demand, newsroom interns Kier Zimmerman and Kim Schneider get the Mayor's opinion on Millennials, her favorite female role models and Beyonce's new album Lemonade. 

What we are into this week: Cavs winning the NBA Finals, the lively city of New Orleans, sitting on floors, Rock the Garden, Dolly Parton, and the Minnesota Lynx. Can you guess which one(s) Mayor Larson said?

As always you can reach us at podcast@duluthnews.com with any questions, comments or topics you'd like to see covered. 

Meet our summer newsroom interns Kier Zimmerman and Kim Schneider as they offer their fresh, Millennial perspective of Duluth and its residents.

Kier is a Duluth East grad who wrote for the Greyhound student newspaper, enjoys James Corden videos and hopes to teach Brady Slater a thing or two about pop culture. Kim is from the Twin Cities suburbs, has a passion for hula hooping and hopes to cover stories that focus on successful women leaders in the area.

Already the two of them have written some of our most popular news stories in June. If you have a question for our interns email us at podcast@duluthnews.com and we will invite them back for another show.  

Happy Grandma's Marathon week!

Duluth News Tribune sports reporter Louie St. George III, a marathon runner himself, joins us in this week's Pressroom Podcast to talk about one of Duluth's biggest events of the year. 

Grandma's Marathon is the 11th largest marathon in the country. The marathon, which celebrates its 40th year running Saturday, and its other races will bring over 20,000 runners to the Duluth and the shores of Lake Superior. 

Have you run Grandma's Marathon before? Will you be running it this year? We want to hear from you. Email us at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

What we are into this week: Murder mystery (x2), the new family dog, and vegetarianism. How is that for variety?

After watching a handful of episodes, or the entire 13-episode show, the Pressroom Podcast crew sits down to critique the new Netflix Original Series "Lady Dynamite" starring Duluth-raised actor-comedian Maria Bamford. 

Whether it's your introduction to Bamford's work like Brady Slater or you've been following her whole life's work like Christa Lawler, the Pressroom Podcast crew agrees Bamford's new show has something to offer everyone. 

Have you watched the show? Tell us what you think at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

Duluth News Tribune's most read blogger Bob King, a.k.a Astro Bob, stops by the studio for a little astronomy lesson. 

King, who is also the photography editor at the New Tribune, shares the story of when he first got interested in space, offers a little teaser to his new book to be published this fall and what to look for in the night sky right now.

"The best thing right now is to just go out and face the southeast at night, just right over Lake Superior, and you will see this fiery bright star and that's the planet Mars," King said. "And you're like 'Wow, how did that show up in my life?' And it's just because you took a moment to look up. And a lot of people don't." 

Visit his blog here for up to date "celestial happenings you can see from your own backyard."

If you have a question for Astro Bob or the podcast crew, email us at podcast@duluthnews.com

Duluth's native son Bob Dylan turned 75 Tuesday. To celebrate the musician's milestone birthday, Duluth News Tribune reporters Christa Lawler, Brady Slater and Tom Olsen share their favorite Dylan songs, memories and find out who is the biggest fan among the three of them.

Although, after this response we'd say it's a pretty lopsided contest.

"If I'm in my care I've got Dylan. If I'm in my garage I've got Dylan. I've got the 'Freewheelin'' Dylan in my garage and I listen to that maybe once a week," Slater said. "I listen to '61 Revisited' while I'm in my kitchen once or twice a week. But like I said, I don't have the encyclopedic understanding of his career." 

Do you have a favorite Bob Dylan song or memory? Share with us at podcast@duluthnews.com.

Thin crust or deep dish? Tomato sauce or white garlic sauce? Veggie or meat lovers? Olives or no olives?

"You know how they talk about how a person sort of changes every seven years? I have gone through phases of being into sauce. Phases of being a cheese guy. But right now, I'm in a seven-year crust phase," newsroom pizza expert Brady Slater said. "And the crust matters to me."

From the best places in town to get a slice, to the best/most unusual toppings and the best finds in the freezer section at the grocery store, Slater along with Duluth News Tribune's trusted za experts Christa Lawler and Tom Olsen weigh in  on the popular pie.

This week we bring you the first ever Podcast Potluck - a mix of the recent Twin Ports happenings that we've been wanting to talk about. 

Topics range from the notorious Minnesota fishing opener weather to the new Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken. We put a few of these topics in a hat, a fedora to be specific, and Duluth News Tribune reporters Brady Slater and Tom Olsen offer their two cents on the matter. Other topics include the new Maurices headquarters in downtown Duluth and new happenings in Superior as requested by one of our loyal listeners. 

As always if you have a topic idea or comment, please email us at podcast@duluthnews.com 

For some the Duluth tourism season begins when the first Saltie passes underneath the Aerial Lift Bridge. For others it's when the Portland Malt Shoppe opens up along the Lakewalk. 

Duluth News Tribune reporters Brady Slater, Christa Lawler and Tom Olsen share what they love about tourism in Duluth and whether or not they take part in the larger events such as Grandma's Marathon or the Tall Ships Festival. 

What is your favorite thing about tourism in Duluth? Do participate in the larger weekend events or do you tend to walk in the opposite direction? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com. 

Founder of Duluth's Homegrown Music Festival Scott "Starfire" Lunt joins us in the studio this week to talk about how the week-long festival started, how the local music scene has grown since and how he got his nickname.

As Duluth News Tribune's arts and entertainment reporter Christa Lawler gears up for her "Super Bowl" event, which begins Sunday, May 1, she gives Homegrown newbies Tom Olsen and Brady Slater a lesson on the annual music event.

Lunt also announce that his band, Father Hennepin, will be performing with a famous person during Homegrown. As a bonus, you can hear Father Hennepin's song "Grace and Despair" in our intro and outro this week. 

Side note: if you've seen Lunt's green Guild Starfire guitar you are encouraged to return it to its rightful owner. 

"There is more space to let your freak flag fly. You are more willing to be yourself. Like, there's  other people like you somewhere. I just think it's a really accepting group."

Yeah, the Millennial producer hand-picked that quote. But Christa Lawler, a proud Gen-Xer, did actually say it. So that should count for something, right?

This week Duluth News Tribune reporters Brady Slater, Christa Lawler and Tom Olsen join the hundreds of thousands of other people talking about the 20-30 somethings who grew up with the world at their fingertips. 

What do you think about the Millennial generation? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com 

Slow news day? You are a mouthpiece for the city. You're just trying to sell papers. 

Here it is folks. Popular misconceptions about the newspaper industry.

Duluth News Tribune reporters Brady Slater, Christa Lawler and Tom Olsen discuss some of the more popular newspaper misconceptions they hear from readers or see in comments on Facebook posts. 

Did we miss any? Do you agree/disagree with these misconceptions? Let us know at podcast@duluthnews.com