Welcome to Volsteadland!

Volsteadland Blog

April 10, 2025

Check out review of NEW Kid Cann book!

The reviews are coming in! For Ron de Beaulieu's book!!https://www.startribune.com/ron-de-beaulieu-isadore-blumenfeld-minnesotas-most-notorious-gangster/601325468Be sure to mark your calendar to come to our live show next month and meet her, ask que…

Read the Blog Post
March 16, 2025

Announcement! Volsteadland LIVE is happening!!

Join Amy and Heather, hosts of the podcast, Volsteadland to chat about Minneapolis' history of organized crime in the 1920s-30s, more specifically our most notorious crime boss, Kid Cann aka Isadore Blumenfield (or Blumenfeld). Special guests:Ron d…

Read the Blog Post
April 28, 2022

Episode 17: Transcript

This is the transcript from the episode Red Herrings and Scandal.   Powered by RedCircle   Volsteadland Mann Amy: Okay. So we are here with our friend,  Amoreena … Heather: Welcome. Amy: Yes. Welcome. Welcome to Vo…

Read the Blog Post
April 27, 2022

Show Notes for Red Herrings and Scandal

This is our 17th episode, it's Season 2 Episode 4. “Red Herrings and Scandal”. We have a different format for you this time. We sat down with our friend Amoreena to chat about another famous person who was charged with the Mann Act, aka…

Read the Blog Post
April 27, 2022

Extras Episode 17 (season 2 episode 4)

Movies: Trailer: The Cat’s Meow (2001)  The Great Dictator (1940)    Trailer: Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2018)  Whole movie: Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2018)  Chaplin (1992…

Read the Blog Post
March 18, 2022

Heather's Brandy Manhattan

Heather's Haiku I travel for work My favorite location Brandy Manhattan Brandy Manhattan by Heather 1 serving 2 ounces Brandy1 ounce sweet vermouth2 dashes Angostura bittersDrizzle of cherry juice from Amarena Cherries in Syrup by Fabbri 1905…

Read the Blog Post
March 16, 2022

Sources for the Gangster Mind, Season 2 Episode 3

Here are the sources that Heather used for this episode.   Maryville University: https://online.maryville.edu/ 10 Incredible Facts About the Criminal Brain: https://leelofland.com/10-incredible-facts-about-the-criminal-brain/ Biography on C…

Read the Blog Post
Feb. 14, 2022

New Artwork!

Our very talented friend Amoreena create some new artwork for us for the latest episode.   We love it so much!!!   Here it is, as it appears on the podcast.   Thank you so much Amoreena! You rock!    

Read the Blog Post
Feb. 14, 2022

Izzy's Funny Valentine

If you heard the new episode, you learned that Marilyn's fave song was "My Funny Valentine". If you listen to the lyrics and think of Izzy it's pretty funny...literally.   “MY FUNNY VALENTINE” LYRICSBehold the way our fine-f…

Read the Blog Post
Feb. 9, 2022

Season 1, Episode 2 is out!

New Episode Alert! This time Amy is covering the life of Marilyn Ann Tollefson, the woman who at one time, loved Isadore Blumenfeld then ultimately took him down.  Listen here on the site, or on any podcast platform, or the link below! Izzy's…

Read the Blog Post
Feb. 2, 2022

Season Two has begun!!

...and we’re baaaaaaack!!!!⁠Volsteadland: Season Two: Single Barrel Edition is officially out. ⁠Heather will be telling us the story of George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Not the one who is engaged to Megan Fox, the OG…literally …

Read the Blog Post
Dec. 22, 2021

Kismet?

This morning Heather (co-host) texted me with this photo saying this was what she saw in her Uber this morning! Then she sent me this one, the driver's uncle wrote this book! She gave him our card and asked him to reach out. He's a Minneapolis h…

Read the Blog Post
Dec. 17, 2021

The 3 Disgraces

Does anyone recognize this art piece or the photo in the middle? I found it in a stack of photos and I have no idea where it came from. My guess is it was in a drawer in one of our old houses and it just made the move with us. No one in my family re…

Read the Blog Post
Dec. 11, 2021

Meet Marilyn Tollefson

Meet Marilyn Ann Tollefson. She is the woman who is at the center of the White Slavery trial that took place in 1960 where Kid Cann (Izzy/Fergie et.al) was on trial for transporting this woman across state lines for “immoral purposes”.⁠ …

Read the Blog Post
Dec. 10, 2021

Today's Beverage

Normally on Fridays I post a cocktail that has something to do with the latest episode. But this week I’m going to tell you about tea. It’s the favorite tea of @melissaoliveri (our most recent guest). Her friend @foxescuriosity sent it t…

Read the Blog Post
Dec. 9, 2021

The meeting spot

If you heard the episode I released yesterday, The Spark, and you’re curious about the room in which Melissa “met” Kid Cann, this is the wall where she was looking at the wallpaper when he whispered in her ear. I sure loved this ho…

Read the Blog Post
Dec. 8, 2021

Episode 12: The Spark Show Notes

This morning I released a bonus episode for you! It’s the full version of my chat with Melissa Oliveri about how she “met” Kid Cann. If you listened to episode 4, Drunk Chickens, you’ve heard part of this, but this is the who…

Read the Blog Post
Dec. 2, 2021

Playlist to listen with ease!

I ran into a friend the other night who said that they didn't see a super easy way to listen to all the episodes in order. I pondered this for awhile and it came to me....PLAYLISTS!! So I created one in Spotify (click here) Or just click below: …

Read the Blog Post
Nov. 30, 2021

So much good stuff

I'm researching the so-called White Slavery Trial for an upcoming episode while we’re on hiatus. I can’t wait to share with you. This is the report of an interview with Marilyn Tollefson, the sex worker involved in the case. I have be…

Read the Blog Post
Nov. 30, 2021

Story out of Iowa 1945

This was from the St. Cloud Times February 5, 1945There has GOT to be more of this story. I have so many questions!They were found by her boss? Hmm.How do people die of carbon monoxide poisoning when the car is OUTSIDE?Did she have a relationship wi…

Read the Blog Post
Nov. 26, 2021

Look at this GEM I found!

Last night I was looking on my local PBS channel for a film I'd seen about Skid Row (more on that later) and I found this gem. It's a documentary about First Avenue, our local iconic nightclub/music venue. It's soooo good. If you watch it, you will…

Read the Blog Post
Nov. 25, 2021

Today we're thankful for...YOU

Today we're thankful for...YOU! Happy Thanksgiving. We want you to know how very thankful we are for you, dear listeners. We reached over 1300 downloads this week and have a bunch of new listeners. So WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! ⁠ We know …

Read the Blog Post
Nov. 24, 2021

Today we're thankful for...1950s recipes

Today we're thankful for...1950s recipes! One of the things I love about doing this research for the show, is that I find so many funny, cool gems in the old newspapers. I came across this recipe and I just had to share! It’s a “salad&…

Read the Blog Post
Nov. 23, 2021

Today we're thankful for...Canelle

Cannelle aka Melissa Oliveri! If Melissa had never "met" Kid Cann, I wouldn't have started this podcast. You know the song you hear in between segments and sometimes in the intro? Well, it's called "The Velvets" and it's written by her too and she…

Read the Blog Post