WFNU Interview: Storytelling, Singing, and Celebrating Life with Our Celebrant

Welcome to The WooHoo Hour

On a recent Wednesday afternoon at WFNU Frogtown Community Radio, Pastor Caroline Harthun-Wooldridge welcomed listeners to another episode of The WooHoo Hour with the Preacher Lady. Her in-studio guest was none other than local creative and community advocate Michael Venske, the celebrant/helper/heart behind Humans Love Stories.

Caroline kicked off the episode with her usual warmth and humor. The initial technical hiccups of live radio—headphone adjustments and mic levels—set the stage for a candid and grounded exchange. Michael, more accustomed to pre-recorded conversations, acknowledged the higher stakes of live radio with a touch of humor and sincerity.

Many Hats, One Human

What do you call someone who’s an actor, a storyteller, a radio host, a son, a partner, and a board member? If you ask Michael Venske, the answer is simple: a human person. “I think people always assume there's one answer to ‘What do you do?’ But we contain multitudes,” he said, quoting the familiar phrase with quiet conviction. Caroline, drawing on her Lutheran background, expanded the idea with a theological lens: vocations. Michael’s life, she noted, was full of them.

He agreed—and shared that in recent years, especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s been moved to give back to the community more intentionally. “The trying becomes the doing,” he said, describing his journey from introspection to action.

Democracy in Action and the Power of Local Voices

One such act of service is Venske’s volunteer work with the Ramsey County Elections Office. Though the time commitment is minimal—“one or two days a year,” he noted—the impact is meaningful. Michael reflected on how visiting countries without representative democracies helped him recognize the preciousness of a political system where every voice has a platform. (To become an election official, learn more on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.)

And local radio, like Frogtown Community Radio, embodies that democratic ideal. “There are like 80 different programmers,” Michael marveled. “They’re just like me. Volunteers wanting to raise a flag, raise an issue, or make their community better.” Pastor Caroline echoed the sentiment: “It really is one of the beautiful things about our community.”

“Your Funeral Music”: Life, Legacy, and the Soundtrack of the Soul

As they shifted to Michael’s latest creative endeavor, the tone turned tender. Michael hosts a weekly program called Your Funeral Music, which airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on WFNU. The concept is as poignant as it is powerful: guests share the playlist they’d want played at their memorial service, along with the personal stories behind those choices.

“It’s a very powerful experience,” Michael explained. “It can be scary or seem morose, but I see it as a mindfulness practice. It’s about recognizing that living also includes dying—and having the courage to talk about it.”

Since launching the show, he’s hosted around 20 guests, each of whom has brought deeply personal reflections and music selections to the mic. It’s a way to help people contemplate their lives with intention, and in doing so, build connection, community, and a shared understanding of our common humanity.

Venske explained that the show now exists in two distinct formats—each tailored to serve a different purpose. The version that airs Sundays on WFNU is a carefully edited 56-minute program, weaving together a guest’s chosen songs with intros and outros to fit the radio broadcast format. These edits are intentional, designed to maintain clarity while still honoring the emotional core of each musical selection.

But the second version—less polished, more raw—is arguably the soul of the project. This version isn’t made for a radio audience; it’s made for families. It features guests reflecting deeply on what they believe happens after death, what their chosen songs evoke, and the memories that music unlocks. These are meant to be keepsakes, archived interviews that families can turn to when their loved one is no longer physically present. Each guest’s voice, layered with laughter, tears, pauses, and warmth, becomes a bridge between memory and presence.

Michael notes that while death isn't the easiest topic to talk about, presenting it through the lens of music and memory helps "shine a light on it," making the conversation less intimidating and more enriching.

A Story of Loss, Legacy, and Closure Denied

The conversation shifted as Michael Venske opened up about a deeply personal memory—learning of his grandfather’s passing while on a work trip in Atlanta. The suddenness of the news, compounded by distance and the impossibility of returning in time, meant that Michael missed out on seeing his grandfather one last time before cremation. This lack of closure stayed with him.

In the wake of the news, Michael processed his grief as many do—through connection, storytelling, and a few drinks. He spent the evening at the hotel lobby bar with a coworker, sharing memories of his grandfather. As the night wore on and the bar closed, in walked two guests who also wanted a drink—one of whom turned out to be Meryl Streep’s daughter, working on a nearby film shoot.

Michael, unaware of her identity at the time, offered some drinks from his room, but the interaction turned awkward. She declined, and tensions rose—perhaps a product of grief, exhaustion, or too much time at the bar. (Michael would later apologize on social media.) This encounter, odd and serendipitous, became another story—another thread in the tapestry of life where joy, sorrow, celebrity, and humanity intersect in the most unexpected ways.

What Michael did hold onto was his final joyful moment with Grandpa during Thanksgiving 2016. At the family gathering Michael shared a sampler pack of craft beers—IPAs and all—with his family, but especially his grandfather, a longtime drinker of old-school brews like Old Milwaukee, Hamms, or Schlitz. To everyone’s surprise, his grandpa Harley raised an eyebrow and expressed genuine appreciation for the “fancy” beer. It became a funny and tender family memory, especially after his passing, when relatives teased that something must’ve been off if Grandpa liked Michael’s “crappy beers.”

That Thanksgiving evening, Michael walked his grandfather to the car, an ordinary gesture that became an extraordinary gift and final memory together.

Why Michael Left Social Media (And Healthcare Marketing)

During his conversation with Pastor Caroline, Michael reflected candidly on his changing relationship with social media. For Venske, the decision to step away from platforms like Facebook and Instagram was rooted not just in personal preference but in a broader discomfort with the commercialization and commodification of social engagement.

“It was no longer pictures of my friends or family. It was ads,” Venske observed. “And then I'd click on those and I could buy something in two clicks... I do not need $200 sneakers. This is ridiculous.”

Instead, Venske has redirected his digital presence to more intentional platforms. He maintains a website—michaelvenske.com—and shares a monthly “one second a day” video on YouTube, documenting personal moments since 2017. These creative outlets serve as a means of authentic expression without falling into the trap of algorithmic validation.

Caroline wondered if the Meryl Streep episode was why Michael had left social media. It wasn’t.

The real reason lay in his disillusionment with marketing. Having worked in the (healthcare) marketing industry, Michael saw how social media advertising was weaponized—not to improve health outcomes but to target consumers and drive profits. “You’re not actually making people better,” he said. “If we just gave people health care, you wouldn’t need to market to them.”

This hard truth was enough to make him walk away from the field entirely in 2024, driven by a belief in real care, not commercial manipulation. Venske's critique of social media goes beyond its advertising model. He expressed a deeper concern about the loss of genuine conversation in online spaces.

For Venske, real change happens through showing up, participating, and serving—values he lives out through his involvement on the board of WFNU Frogtown Community Radio and his work as an election judge.

Community Involvement as a Core Value

When Pastor Caroline highlighted Venske’s leadership role on the board of directors at WFNU, he took the opportunity to invite others to join the mission:

“The board of directors is always looking for people to serve,” he emphasized. “If anyone else is looking to serve, please reach out to me. We're always looking for people who want to be involved in the community and make their voices heard.”

Whether it’s contributing time, skills, money, or simply lending a hand at a community event, Venske believes everyone has something meaningful to offer. It’s about the collective “we,” not the individual “me.”

“We're all on this blue ball in the middle of nothingness,” he said. “And the only way we're going to get through it is together.”

The conversation took a joyful turn when Pastor Caroline queued up one of Venske’s song picks: Vote Baby Vote by Deee-Lite. Far from a somber ballad, the funky 1992 track was selected for its upbeat tempo and inspirational call to civic engagement—a fitting choice for someone who regularly serves as an election judge and encourages others to do the same.

“We need to vote. We need to make our voices heard,” Venske said. “This is what it’s all about.”

Vote Baby Vote captured the energy and optimism he wanted to share with listeners.

A Call to Celebrate: Spring Bring at DeGidio’s

Venske and Pastor Caroline also shared details about WFNU’s Spring Bring, an upcoming community gala happening at DeGidio’s Restaurant in St. Paul. The event, running from 6 to 9 PM, is designed to celebrate the station’s volunteers, producers, and supporters.

“If you're part of the community, if you're listening to this right now... come on out to DeGidio’s on Friday night,” Venske encouraged.

Tickets are $45, and attendees will be entered into raffles and drawings throughout the evening. A silent auction will tempt attendees with an array of irresistible items—though Pastor Caroline warned she might be in trouble if she brings anything home. “Unless it’s a gift certificate,” she joked.

Attendees will enjoy a delicious buffet dinner with several meal options, alongside dinner and auction fun, there’ll be a DJ spinning music and some well-deserved awards to recognize standout contributors.

But the heart of the night is all about people. “Without the volunteers here at WFNU, we don’t have a station,” Michael emphasized. The event is a thank-you to the voices behind the mics—those who bring diverse perspectives and passionate programming to life each week. “Bring your joy,” Michael urged. That could mean bringing a donation for the food shelf, or simply sharing what lights you up—what gives you hope and happiness in St. Paul and beyond. “Joy is something we need right now,” he added, noting the gray skies and grim headlines that often dominate the airwaves.

WFNU’s unique character stems from this community-powered energy, where even the occasional stumbles and “ums” are embraced. “We stumble along together,” Michael noted. “It’s the doing that makes all the difference.”

The segment wrapped with a burst of joy in musical form: “Love You” by The Free Design, chosen by Michael for its lighthearted levity. “It makes me feel young at heart,” he said, explaining that the song’s silliness is its strength. “It just creates laughter within me.”

Grief, Love, and the Birth of a Calling

Michael’s story took a deeply personal turn as he shared how the deaths of his beloved grandparents shaped his path. Having been a cornerstone of his upbringing, their loss created a profound void. "They raised me in a lot of ways," he reflected. In the months and years that followed their passing, Michael gave himself permission to truly grieve—no performances, no putting on a brave face.

As someone trained in theater, Michael was used to stepping into a role and pushing feelings aside when necessary. But when it came to honoring others’ most intimate moments—like weddings and funerals—he knew that authenticity was paramount. It was this combination of personal loss and professional reflection that gently nudged him toward a new calling: officiating celebration of life ceremonies.

Michael sought training through the Insight Institute, an organization that teaches people how to support grieving families with sensitivity and presence. His training coincided with a request from a close neighbor—someone he refers to as a sister—who had just lost her father. Her father's memorial lacked structure, and Michael was asked to help craft a more meaningful experience. That ceremony marked the beginning of his journey into officiating memorials.

Soon after, Michael honored the memory of a cousin who passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Though he didn’t officiate the ceremony, he offered a heartfelt eulogy. These experiences deepened his understanding of what it means to carry a person’s story forward—even after they’re gone. “It’s not necessarily the end of that person’s story,” he explained. “The stories we tell about them... that’s how we continue to live on after we’re gone.”

Michael also reflected on a difficult yet powerful experience performing in All American Boys, a play addressing police brutality and systemic racism, staged shortly after the murder of George Floyd. Portraying the police officer in this story was emotionally taxing. “It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that in order to tell the story... you need to be strong enough,” he said. This strength—the courage to embody discomfort for the sake of truth—mirrors the strength he brings to his celebrancy work.

The Sacred Act of Singing at Life’s Threshold

Bringing the conversation full circle, Michael spoke about his involvement with the Threshold Choir, a volunteer organization that offers bedside singing for those nearing the end of life. The choir provides a soothing, peaceful presence through song, enveloping individuals in love and serenity during their final days. It's a free service—offered not only to the dying, but also as a gift of comfort for families and caregivers.

If you’re in the Twin Cities and wish to experience or join this sacred work, visit ThresholdChoir.org/TwinCities or reach out by emailing TwinCities@ThresholdChoir.org. “We’re always looking for new members,” Michael said, extending the invitation to those who feel called to share their voice in this unique, compassionate way.

Parting Wisdom: Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By

As the conversation wound down, Pastor Caroline asked Michael to choose a song to close the show.

His pick? Cass Elliot’s "Don’t Let the Good Life Pass You By"—a joyful anthem that poses simple yet poignant questions about what really matters.

This sentiment captures the heart of Michael’s journey: living a life of service, storytelling, and song—not chasing material success, but leaning into community, love, and meaning.

Let us all remember in the joyful echo of Cass Elliot’s voice: “Don’t let the good life pass you by!”