Ellie 2.0 Radio
Saturdays 10-11 AM & Sundays 1-2 PM
We’re generally aware of hopeless idealists, but how many of us have ever actually heard from one?
Ellie 2.0 is all about idealism and the journey of one particular idealist—Ellie Krug—as she works to make the world a better place.
Only, there’s a slight complicating factor: Ellie’s a 61-year-old transgender woman.
That simple demographic sometimes makes things particularly interesting. Or daunting.
Where does the “2.0” come in?
Because in another life, when Ellie presented as a man and worked for big corporations as a trial attorney—the nickname was “Killer Krug”—there was no place for idealism.
Today, remade as her “true” female self, Ellie’s become a doer and believer in humanity and the common good. As she likes to say, “Ninety-nine percent of us want to do the right thing; it’s just that most are afraid to do what’s right.”
Usually, Ellie’s not afraid and most of the time, she does what’s right. Come along as she tries to lead the way, traveling America to make our country whole and truly great for all and everyone.
Ellie 2.0.
Engaging. Imaginative. Fun. And real.
Every Saturday from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and Sunday from 1:00-2:00 p.m. CST by airwaves or livestream on AM950, the Progressive Voice of Minnesota
We’re generally aware of hopeless idealists, but how many of us have ever actually heard from one? Ellie 2.0 is all about idealism and the journey of one particular idealist—Ellie Krug—as she works to make the world a better place. Only, there’s a slight complicating factor: Ellie’s a 61-year-old transgender woman. That simple demographic sometimes makes things particularly interesting. Or daunting. Where does the “2.0” come in? Because in another life, when Ellie presented as a man and worked for big corporations as a trial attorney—the nickname was “Killer Krug”—there was no place for idealism. Today, remade as her “true” female self, Ellie’s become a doer and believer in humanity and the common good. As she likes to say, “Ninety-nine percent of us want to do the right thing; it’s just that most are afraid to do what’s right.” Usually, Ellie’s not afraid and most of the time, she does what’s right. Come along as she tries to lead the way, traveling America to make our country whol
Given how America is reacting in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, I begin this week’s show by talking about the glaring disparities that exist between white-color and people of other colors in Minnesota relative to educational attainment, family income and other things. The Big Interview is with Jessica Meyers, a Sioux Falls idealist who…
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Our featured idealist is Larry Kramer, an anti-AIDS activist who founded ACT UP to push for AIDS research in the 1980s; Kramer was also an author and playwright. The Big Interview is with Alabama District Court Judge Martha Reeves Cook, who shares about growing up in Selma and learning early on the value of getting…
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Happy Pride Month! In honor of Pride, our featured idealist is Dan Savage of the “Savage Love” advice column; while Savage has generated controversy for some of his statements and positions, he’s for sure an idealist—he founded “It Gets Better,” a website/project aimed at encouraging LGBTQ youth to persist despite bullying and societal challenges. The…
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This week, I speak about the “1619 Project,” a New York Times initiative about America’s history of enslaving humans that earned project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Our encore interview is with Dr. Mark Goulston, who talks about the neurobiology behind idealism. In my C-Block, I share about my first online…
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Our featured idealist is Elouise Cobell, an American Indian who took on the U.S. Department of Interior over its failure to pay decades of oil, gas and mineral royalties to Native American tribes and bands—and won! The Big Interview is with Mikki Morrissette, the owner/publisher of Minnesota Women’s Press. In my C-Block, I talk about…
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This week I talk about the 50th anniversary of “Earth Day” and feature its architect, Denis Hayes. The Big Interview is with Diane Muntean, who I worked with to help training 1200 people in Steamboat Springs CO last September. In the C-Block I talk about the first Earth Day in 1970, where my idealism was…
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Our featured idealist is the famed chef, Jose Andres, who created World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit emergency kitchen/meal organization to feed survivors of natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic. The Big Interview is an encore airing of my 2018 interview of AM950 owner and general manager, Chad Larson. In my C-Block, I talk about my…
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We highlight the late singer Bill Withers, whose music has been said to define “soulful selflessness.” The Big Interview is with Elisabeth Samson Lee, a sexual assault survivor/idealist who is working to make it easier to report sexual assaults by law enforcement personnel. In my C-Block, I share about “sprouts”—the joy of planting wildflower seeds…
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This week’s historical idealist is the Rev. Joseph Lowery, who was called the “Dean of the Civil Rights Movement,” and who passed at the end of March. The Big Interview is a repeat of my 2018 interview of Bussho Lahn of the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. I’m my C-Block, I talk about reaching out to…
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