Many of us listen to music off of our phones through streaming apps with algorithms built to feed us songs it thinks we would like.

It’s convenient, but those playlists, now starting to incorporate AI, rarely surprise us.

Maybe that’s why some college radio stations are making a comeback. They offer something more personal — real human voices and a space where music discovery feels spontaneous and driven by curiosity not calculations.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with two students who are passionate about college radio and help run their college stations. They’ll talk about what makes college radio special and what it offers to listeners.

“FAFO parenting” is getting attention — the idea that sometimes the best way for kids to learn is by experiencing natural consequences. FAFO doesn’t exactly stand for “fool around and find out,” but you get the idea.

Supporters say the parenting approach builds resilience and responsibility. Critics worry it can cross into neglect or leave kids without the guidance they need.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with a parenting researcher about when stepping back helps children grow, when intervention matters and how families can find the balance between independence and safety.

Guest:

• Christopher Mehus is a research associate professor in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota.

Trust in government is low. Politicians are trading personal insults on social media. And, Americans see the country as more divided than at any other time since the Civil War.

What would it take to bring more dialogue, respect and effectiveness to politics?

A first-of-its-kind program from the Citizen’s League is starting small and personal, with an “exchange” program for pairs of state Republican and DFL legislators. The goal is to build genuine relationships across the aisle and help legislators gain firsthand insight into a region of Minnesota different from their own.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert reported on one of the first legislator pairs to participate. On Tuesday, she sat down to talk more with them and with the program’s founder about what it takes to build bipartisan trust.