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Artwork for Curious Minnesota

Curious Minnesota

Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota
Minneapolis
Lake Superior
Minnesota Star Tribune
Zombie Pub Crawl
Minnesota State Fair
Nicollet Avenue
Gambling
Minus 60 Degrees
Star Tribune
Southdale
Tower, Minnesota
Twin Cities
St. Paul
Maplewood
Minnesota Historical Society
Urban Planning
Ski Jumping
February 2, 1996
Cold War

What do you wonder about the people, places and culture of Minnesota? Listen to our community-driven reporting project, which invites listeners to ask questions that our newsroom researches and answers.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes148Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Curious Minnesota

Latest Episodes

Thousands of zombies once roamed the streets of Minneapolis every Halloween, staggering from bar to bar in elaborate costumes and fake blood. The Zombie Pub Crawl became a massive annual spectacle, even setting a Guinness World Record for the largest... more

YouTube

Once you start noticing Minnesota’s water towers, they seem to be everywhere — and some are impossible to miss. There’s one shaped like a giant ear of corn, another painted like a fishing bobber and an old tower transformed into an enormous Swedish c... more

YouTube

There’s a creek flowing beneath the streets of downtown Minneapolis — and most people walking above it have no idea it’s there.

Bassett Creek begins near Medicine Lake, winds through parks and neighborhoods, then disappears underground before passin... more

YouTube

Today, Two Harbors is known for its lighthouse, ore docks and scenic Lake Superior shoreline. But in the 1880s, part of its waterfront was home to a notoriously wild strip of saloons and brothels known as Whiskey Row.

So how did this rough-and-tumble... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Laura Yuen
Minnesota Star Tribune reporter
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: What happened to Minneapolis' massive zombie pub crawl?
Carson Hartzog
Reporter for Star Tribune covering the water-towers story
Star Tribune
Episode: Why does Minnesota seem to have so many water towers?
Christa Lawler
Reporter stationed in Duluth
Star Tribune
Episode: What are the stories behind the two harbors of Two Harbors?
Alicia Eler
Reporter who covers visual arts
Star Tribune
Episode: When Christo and Jeanne-Claude tried to fly a giant artwork over Minneapolis
Jp Lawrence
Reporter covering Southwest Minnesota for the Star Tribune
Star Tribune
Episode: The incredible story of a 40-ton grain elevator that crossed a Minnesota river
Eva Herscowitz
loon expert, researcher
Loon research team
Episode: Why do loons sometimes charge swimmers?
Marty Pearson
Dad with a loon encounter story
Episode: Why do loons sometimes charge swimmers?
Eleanor Hildebrandt
Reporter who looked into the meat raffles story for Curious Minnesota
Star Tribune
Episode: How did meat raffles become a Minnesota tradition?
Alicia Eller
Reporter who researched and told the story of Arne Paulson's newsstand
Star Tribune
Episode: This mysterious tiny building in Minneapolis has a heartwarming backstory

Host

Erica Pearson
Host of Curious Minnesota, frequently guiding interviews and segment introductions

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 304 ratings
  • Surprisingly incurious

    I love the idea of this podcast. The subjects chosen are often interesting and I’ve listened to several only to be disappointed every time. The host will ask simple questions and almost every time the presenter will say something speculative or say they don’t know.

    Like the recent water tower episode, they asked why do we have water towers, how do they keep from freezing, etc. and the person here to tell us all about the subject didn’t know and can only offer guesses. They had even supposedly ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bert Bertson
    United States17 days ago
  • Amish episode trite

    The episode about the Amish was trite. The big takeaway from the reporter is that they are not……all the same…they are…wait for it….individuals! Huh? Why in the world would anyone think they are all the same? I’d be offended if I were Amish. This also told us nothing about their lives. The inane interview questions did not help either.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    9021155405
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fun and interesting local stories

    I’ve learned so much about Mn that I never would have without this show and the curious question askers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    St. Paul Mom
    United Statesa year ago
  • Such a fun show… but it’s not over, is it?

    There’s so much to learn about our great state. Love the variety and approachable nature. Please say it isn’t over!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SirPurgealot
    United States3 years ago
  • Learning a lot

    Thanks for the stories and the question you’re answering to help us understand Minnesota more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Goranger22
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some reviews call for broader coverage of Indigenous perspectives and more diverse guest topics.
People appreciate local focus and credible sourcing with a friendly, conversational tone.
Listeners praise its bite-sized, informative Minnesota stories and engaging interview style.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What happened to Minneapolis' massive zombie pub crawl?
Q: How did this crazy event end up fading away?
Yuen attributes its decline to reduced interest in zombies, fewer venues willing to host the messy crowds, changing attitudes toward hard drinking and large events, and the organizers' age and family responsibilities. The last crawl was in 2019, and COVID-19 made ending it a natural choice.
What happened to Minneapolis' massive zombie pub crawl?
Q: Where did you start your search?
Laura Yuen began by speaking with one of the four co-founders, organizer Chuck Terhark.
Why does Minnesota seem to have so many water towers?
Q: Was there anything else that stood out or surprised you?
The ease of obtaining state data and the evolving appreciation for water towers as markers of place, not just infrastructure, stood out, along with a recurring theme of towers reflecting community identity.
Why does Minnesota seem to have so many water towers?
Q: How many water towers are there in Minnesota?
There are about 880 active elevated water tanks in Minnesota, not counting decommissioned ones or ground storage tanks, which total around 450, giving a sense of scale.
Why does Minnesota seem to have so many water towers?
Q: Did you find a way to compare state by state?
States typically don't publish a nationwide count of water towers, and Minnesota itself does not publish a statewide list, making direct comparisons harder; official numbers in Minnesota still exist and were accessible.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Curious Minnesota

What is Curious Minnesota about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Minnesota-focused show that blends history, nature, and local culture through reader-driven inquiries. Episodes spotlight expert analysis (from loon behavior to archaeology), on-site reporting, and human-interest stories that illuminate the state's quirks, landscapes, and past. The format often pairs reporters with subject-matter specialists or local historians to unpack questions posed by listeners, yielding accessible, bite-sized episodes with a strong sense of place and community memory. A standout trait is its wide range of guests—from scientists and researchers to reporters and local foragers—delivering educational yet relatable storytelling about Minnesota's people and places.

Where can I find podcast stats for Curious Minnesota?

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How many listeners does Curious Minnesota get?

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How many subscribers and views does Curious Minnesota have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Curious Minnesota?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curious Minnesota:

1. Minnesota Today
2. StribSports Daily Delivery
3. Essential Minnesota
4. The Daily
5. Marketplace

How many episodes of Curious Minnesota are there?

Curious Minnesota launched 7 years ago and published 148 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Curious Minnesota?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Curious Minnesota?

Recent guests on Curious Minnesota include:

1. Laura Yuen
2. Carson Hartzog
3. Christa Lawler
4. Alicia Eler
5. Jp Lawrence
6. Eva Herscowitz
7. Marty Pearson
8. Eleanor Hildebrandt

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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