Nic Pifer and Amy McNally: How a public radio date led to an investment in Stories that Matter

Apr 18, 2025

When Amy McNally learned she was going to enter the main MPR interview sound booth and speak with host Tom Crann, she could not hide her delight. Her husband Nic Pifer said, I wish I’d had my camera ready to capture her surprised look.”

Public media, especially MPR | APM, have been a source of inspiration and meaning for Amy and Nic.

As Amy said, “Some people when they are dating go out to dinner or a concert.  Early in our relationship, we went to the Top Coast Festival where we heard Dessa and the woman who wrote Pandora’s Lunchbox. We heard someone speak about child trauma and adversity and how it impacts learning and success. We found these experiences stimulating and helpful to build our connection.”

Amy grew up in Colorado where she and her family listened to Colorado Public Radio. “The times the radio was on we all piled on the couch to listen. We’d listen to A Prairie Home Companion and laugh. But my dad didn’t like Car Talk”

Nic discovered MPR even before moving to Minnesota from New York City. “I listened to shows like The Splendid Table. I learned right away that MPR punched above its weight in the content it created and shared with the broader public media ecosystem. Other local stations produce some content here and there. But not the same critical mass as MPR does.”

At first, they were not members. Amy remembers during pledge drives, “I’d have to shut it off because I felt guilty. Then when I had the money I started contributing.” Nic added, “When Amy and I got married, we became sustaining members together.”

Amy practices part time clinically as a gynecologic oncologist with Minnesota Oncology.  In addition to being Vice President of Surgery for Minnesota Oncology she also serves in a national role as Chief Surgical Officer for The US Oncology Network.

Nic retired from a 30-year career in global finance and investment management, much of it with Columbia Threadneedle Investments, part of Ameriprise Financial.  He’s served on the advisory committee for The Current’s 20th Anniversary.

“The Current has been a very important source of music for me since its beginning. I have very wide musical tastes. It’s hard to find a source of music that offers such a breadth of music.”

“When I moved to Minnesota I poked around the radio dial listening for something that fed my tastes. I found Rev 105 but one morning I woke up and the format had changed. When I discovered The Current I found my musical home. I learn about most new artists from the Current. It’s something I really value.”

Nic added, “For musicians launching a career is very challenging. So having a partner in The Current makes a huge difference. Recently I heard Dessa speak about The Current as lilypads and steppingstones for artists, allowing them to keep their careers moving forward. It keeps our cultural environment very vibrant.”

Amy and Nic decided to make a significant gift to MPR’s comprehensive campaign.

“We need stories more than ever in the world. Stories unite us. There is the power of storytelling. No one does it better than MPR. Stories show us our commonality and common sense and show us we’re together and similar,” said Amy.

When Amy and Nic considered their gift, they wanted to make a difference in the aspects of MPR that matter most to them and could influence others.

Nic shared, “It’s the largest gift we’ve made. We’re pledging to give our sustaining membership gift of $6,000 per year for three years plus $50,000 for The Current and $50,000 for investigative journalism.”

Amy wants to continue to find herself driving home from work and having to linger in the garage to listen to the end of an APM podcast or report.

Nic and Amy both decided to act on their values. “At a time when organizations that do good work are under attack, it’s important for those of us who value their work to step up and help. We’re happy to be able to make this gift now.”