New in-house DJ spins a dose of joy to kids at Masonic Children’s Hospital

Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” mixed with “Dora the Explorer”? That’s no problem for M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital’s new in-house DJ.

Once a month for Music Mondays, DJ Mad Mardigan, the official DJ of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, and his company GenerationNOW Entertainment play music and share the art of DJing with kids and their families in the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio. Kids are invited to join in the studio, and the program is live broadcasted to TVs in all patient rooms.

The hourlong show begins with education, including the basics of DJ equipment and how to mix, beat juggle, mash up songs, scratching, and more. Then, DJ Mad Mardigan plays songs and creates special song mashups for a dance party. He even takes requests from kids and shares the playlist afterwards.

“I’m passionate about the craft of DJing, and I want to spread that passion,” said DJ Mad Mardigan, whose real name is Nick Dircz. “I hope this programming gives kids a fun and educational escape from whatever is going on in their lives.”

The new DJ programming started in April 2023 and is made possible by the TB1 Fund, a nonprofit created by 13-year-old Braxton Battaglia and her family. Braxton is a cancer survivor and receives care and treatment at our hospital. She and her family launched the TB1 Fund to support other kids and families receiving care at Masonic Children’s Hospital.

“DJ Mad Mardigan and the GenerationNOW team play all of our events and do such a great job that we wanted to bring the fun to Masonic Children’s Hospital,” said Erin Battaglia, Braxton’s mom. “Enjoying the show from the studio or from your hospital room is a great way to brighten your day.” In addition to the DJ programming, the TB1 Fund has supported giveaways to patients during events held in the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio, including e-readers, portable gaming consoles, tablets, and more.

“The TB1 Fund has brought wonderful opportunities for our patients and their families,” said Theresa Bunkers, a certified child life specialist at Masonic Children’s Hospital. “It’s nice to bring members of the community, like DJ Mad Mardigan and GenerationNOW Entertainment, into the Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio to share their talents and creativity with our patients and families.”

The Zucker Family Suite and Broadcast Studio was made possible by a gift from former Minnesota Wild star Jason Zucker and his wife, Carly. The studio broadcasts more than 30 shows monthly throughout our children’s hospital – including many live, interactive programs. The space also hosts a variety of in-studio activities for children and teens.

The new DJ programming is an opportunity for our patients to explore their creativity through listening to and helping create music. It’s also an opportunity for DJ Mad Mardigan to visit our children’s hospital, which holds a special place in his heart—his daughter was born early and received care in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

He’s excited for the opportunity to return and to give back. “I think this is the greatest children’s hospital in the world.”