So Much More, A Mall of America® Podcast

Ep. 5: A City Within A City

With more than 32 million annual visitors, 10,000 employees and the busiest transit hub in Minnesota, Mall of America is, in almost every way, a bustling city. The Mall is fortunate to be at the center of Bloomington, Minnesota one of the most exciting cities in the nation. And on this episode, Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse shares insights into what it takes to run a successful, growing city.
Mayor Busse has a passion for the City of Bloomington… and for Mall of America. Prior to being elected mayor, Busse was a city council member and deeply involved in community issues. And he’s been a huge fan of the Mall since it opened in 1992. He shares stories of his family connections to the Mall, including the fact that his wife, Heather, was the Entertainment Director for Camp Snoopy – and how she recruited him to run the annual Halloween Haunt – it’s a story you won’t want to miss!
Busse also speaks openly about what it’s like to run a city, work with local businesses – small and large – and the importance of having honest dialogues and working through any issues. He shares that Bloomington has a long tradition of taking well-calculated risks on big projects such as the building of Mall of America. Recently the city (and the entire state/nation) bid on World Expo 2027. While a finalist, the bid went to another country. But as the Mayor quickly points out, you must try. And the bid exercise will lead to exciting development opportunities in Bloomington, Minnesota.
This episode is perfect for political junkies, business managers and owners, fans of the Mall and anyone with a passion for their community.
Guest: Tim Busse, Mayor of Bloomington, Minnesota
Host: Daniel Jasper
Presented by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

Ep. 4: In the Ring

Spectators and fans rarely get a true peak inside the ring. In this episode, fans – and yet-to-be-fans get that rare chance to hear from a local Minnesota legend and share in his passion for this sport. Arik started F1RST Wrestling in 2007 and has hosted a wide variety of wrestling sporting events – often in unique venues such as First Avenue, and of course, Mall of America. And when he brought his show to the Mall – the fans loved it.
In this episode, Arik shares with the hosts about how he got interested in the sport (hint, it started when he was a boy thanks to his grandmother), why he has such a passion for maintaining this unique form of sporting entertainment in Minnesota, and his philosophy of welcoming everyone.  He also shares unique insights into the history of professional wrestling, the showmanship and entertainment value, and the pure joy that it can bring to participants and fans alike.
F1RST Wrestling has performed live in the Rotunda at Mall of America in front of thousands of guests and is looking forward to a planned return this fall. If you are a fan of wrestling, a scholar of history, or just love to hear some great storytelling, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Guest: Arik Cannon, professional wrestler and Founder of F1RST Wrestling
Hosts:  Chris Grap & Dan Jasper
Presented by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

Ep. 3: Safety is The Priority

Two long-time security professionals at Mall of America, explore the topic of safety and security at the nation’s largest mall. With more than 32 million visitors each year, this massive shopping destination can pose unique challenges for the team dedicated to protecting all who enter.
We speak with Will Bernhjelm, Vice President of Security, and Kenny McDonough, MOA Security K9 Lieutenant, who share their experience and insights into the complex security measures in place. They discuss the advanced technologies used to monitor the premises, the rigorous training programs for security personnel, and the specialized units within the department including an award-winning K9 team.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into the challenges of securing a large public space, the importance of technology and personnel in maintaining security, and how this impacts the daily lives of those who work and visit the mall.
Guests: Will Bernhjelm, Kenny McDonough
Host: Daniel Jasper
Presented by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

Ep. 2: The Vision Behind the Mall

In this episode we visit with John Ghermezian, a member of the visionary family that created Mall of America. John shares his family’s inspiring story of how they turned their dream into a reality in Minnesota. He discusses the challenges they faced along the way and how they overcame those challenges with the help of a dedicated team, and a strong family support system.
We delve into the Ghermezian family’s motivation for building Mall of America, their values and how they have maintained their vision over the past thirty years. John explains how the Mall has built a culture that aligns with the family’s values and how that has been a driving force behind the success.
Listeners will gain insights into the importance of having a vision, building a strong company culture and persevering through obstacles. Jill Renslow leads the conversation with John.
Guest: John Ghermezian, Triple Five Corp.
Hosts: Jill Renslow, Daniel Jasper
Presented by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.

Ep. 1: Welcome to SO MUCH MORE, A Mall of America® Podcast

In the inaugural episode of So Much More, we introduce our four hosts and discuss the inspiration behind the podcast. The hosts share their personal journeys and experiences that have led them to create this podcast, and why they are passionate about sharing stories of people and brands that have overcome challenges to achieve success.
We also discuss the types of stories and topics we hope to explore in future episodes. From personal development and entrepreneurship to leadership and learning; we are excited to delve into a wide range of topics and share inspiring stories from a diverse group of guests.
And yes, we share some fun and very unexpected stories from our own professional and personal lives, giving listeners a glimpse into the personalities and backgrounds of the hosts. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in personal development, entrepreneurship, and the pathway to success.
Hosts: Jill Renslow, Grant Buntje, Chris Grap, Daniel Jasper
Presented by the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau the official destination marketing organization for the city of Bloomington, Minn.