HEARING HISTORY. The Chippewa Valley Museum staff have started a new podcast focused on Chippewa Valley history. (Photo via Unsplash | Inset photos via L.E. Phillip Memorial Public Library)

Do you love podcasts? Podcasts seem to be all the rage nowadays with many different people and organizations putting their voices out there for listeners. And they have a huge audience: 42% of Americans say they’ve listened to a podcast in the last month.

Here’s another question: Do you also love museums and history? You may wonder how these questions are connected? As it turns out, very cohesively. The staff at the Chippewa Valley Museum (1204 E. Half Moon Drive, Eau Claire) started a podcast in September and are currently on track with five half-hour segments and more to come. Jodi Kiffmeyer, the museum’s archivist, and Olaf Lind, the creative director, host the new podcast affectionately called, Who, What, When … Podcast of the Chippewa Valley Museum.

The podcast specializes in everything and anything about the Chippewa Valley. This includes a large portion of Wisconsin; from near the border of the Upper Peninsula to the river’s mouth at the Mississippi. The initial concept originated when Jodi and Olaf were approached by Scott Montesano, from Eau Claire Hometown Media, with the idea of a podcast to help reach a wider audience and provide a different experience. 

“We hope to educate and entertain our audience about history, especially the lesser-known topics,” Kiffmeyer said. “We hope they learn that history is interesting, useful, and fun!”

“You’re unlikely to hear an interview with people you know on other podcasts. We talk to people who’ve lived in the Chippewa Valley long enough to know something about it. Listen local,” she continued.

Guests on the podcast have included the likes of Frank Smoot, a local historian and the museum developer for the Chippewa Area History Center, and author Jane Glenz, who wrote a book about Eau Claire’s famed “Cave Lady,” Maude Phillips.

So what are some ways that people can help with the podcast? Kiffmeyer says to tell others about the podcast and feel free to send them suggestions and comments. They always look for interesting stories and people to teach them something new about the Chippewa Valley. Another way to help is to visit the museum at their Carson Park location and learn about the region we live in. Who knows, maybe one day your story will be featured on the podcast!

To send feedback and suggestions, please email, info@cvmuseum.com. To listen to back episodes of the podcast, please visit, cvmuseum.com/podcast.