Why does Minneapolis celebrate a giant pencil every year? In this episode of On Our Minds: Road Trip, hosts Zack and Helena head to the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” to explore one of the city’s most delightfully weird traditions: the Giant Pencil Festival on Lake of the Isles. From dancing pencil costumes to a dramatic annual “sharpening” ceremony, this story highlights how creativity, humor, and community spirit turn a fallen tree into a beloved public art celebration. Plus, the hosts share their...

Alexander Esquivel, an undocumented migrant from El Salvador who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years, recounts his experience being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for two months in 2025.

Earlier this year, the federal government removed exhibits showing slavery and George Washington’s treatment of enslaved people at the President’s House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Community leaders quickly pushed back, both in person with activism and in court.