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Artwork for Curious Minnesota

Curious Minnesota

Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota
Gambling
Maplewood
Lake Superior
Pull Tabs
Minnesota State Lottery
Boundary Waters
Northfield
Native American Casinos
Flour
Baking
Carleton College
St. Olaf College
Sports Betting
Mental Health Care
Climate Change
German American Culture
Leonard Bernstein
St. Paul
Peanuts On Parade

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 monthlyEpisodes133Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Curious Minnesota

Latest Episodes

Back in the 1970s, a Canadian ice researcher developed a formula to determine how thick lake ice needed to be for logging trucks to drive across. It helps inform the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' ice safety guidelines today. Reporter Ki... more

You’ve heard of Stonehenge in England ― but what about Minnesota’s own Basshenge? Reporter Alicia Eler shares its story with host Erica Pearson. The 2001 piece of public art celebrates an instrument — the double bass. Located off Hwy. 11 west of Inte... more

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The Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, the federal government headquarters for U.S. Immigration Court and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, isn’t part of Historic Fort Snelling, but it sits on a small, unincorporated swath of land known as th... more

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A special treat for Curious Listeners: Check out the latest episode of the Minnesota Star Tribune's newest podcast, Essential Minnesota. Even with the announcement that Operation Metro Surge is coming to an end, many Minnesotans are still in hiding. ... more

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Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Minnesota Today
Minnesota TodayMinnesota Public Radio
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The Wirecutter ShowThe New York Times
The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Alicia Eler
Arts and culture reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: The story behind Basshenge, one musician’s monumental ode to his instrument
Christa Lawler
Reporter covering stories from Northern Minnesota, based in Duluth.
Star Tribune
Episode: What's the history of the abandoned Cold War station in Finland, MN?
Noah Carlson
Listener who inquired about the Cold War station.
Episode: What's the history of the abandoned Cold War station in Finland, MN?
Anna Sago
Intern at the Minnesota Star Tribune who researched the trout stamp question.
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: Why do anglers need a special stamp to fish for trout in Minnesota?
Janet Peterson
Caretaker of the Peterson Site, longtime Granite Falls resident
Petersons' pasture / Minnesota Historical Society
Episode: What happened after a Minnesota man found ancient bison bones?
Leroy Peterson
Owner of the property where the site was found
Petersons' pasture
Episode: What happened after a Minnesota man found ancient bison bones?
Jennifer Rankins
Historian at the Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota Historical Society
Episode: What happened after a Minnesota man found ancient bison bones?
Lisa Stevens
President of the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society
Episode: Why did the Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka close?
Jeff Sein
Listener and question submitter from Southwest Minneapolis
N/A
Episode: How did Minnesota become the birthplace of ski jumping in America?

Host

Erica Pearson
Host of Curious Minnesota, Star Tribune

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 296 ratings
  • 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 States8 months 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 States8 months 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
  • Great show on Minnesotan history

    There aren’t a ton of other shows on Minnesota history specifically, so really appreciate this one. Normally not a huge fan of the star tribune but they did good here. They usually elicit topics to cover from listeners which is pretty cool cuz they always end up being fascinating. And since this is a newspaper, they typically have good sources to provide input

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    consciousdave
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are described as informative and easy to digest, with wide appeal beyond Minnesota residents.
Listeners frequently praise the show for its approachable storytelling, local focus, and engaging hosts.
Some listeners wish for more coverage of Indigenous topics and broader regional voices, but the overall reception is positive; a few reviews note uneven depth on some historical subjects.

Top History Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What happened after a Minnesota man found ancient bison bones?
Q: Paint a picture a little bit for us. What happened here?
The story outlines the discovery by Leroy Peterson in 1988, the excavation that followed, the artifact counts, and the interpretation of how 8,000-year-old people hunted and used bison in the river valley.
What happened after a Minnesota man found ancient bison bones?
Q: So what kinds of stories do you usually cover for us?
JP explains the broad coverage from Mankato to Worthington and the Southwest Minnesota focus, illustrating how Curious Minnesota picks questions from readers and pursues local history and culture.
Lake Superior’s most famous shipwrecks have dramatic tales to tell
Q: How common are shipwrecks today?
Shipwrecks just don't happen on Lake Superior anymore; the last significant one was the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Lake Superior’s most famous shipwrecks have dramatic tales to tell
Q: What did happen to that famous ship 50 years ago?
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank after taking on water during a severe storm with high waves, disappearing from radar with no survivors.
What’s the story of Pipestone National Monument?
Q: So how did this site become a national monument in 1937?
It resulted from a history of mistreatment of Native Americans and legal battles, leading to an act signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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?

Curious Minnesota offers a community-driven look at Minnesota's people, places, and culture through reporter-led investigations and listener-driven questions. Across recent episodes, the show covers state history (from fort sites and civil rights legacy to the origins of local institutions), local governance and policy implications (immigration detainers, sanctuary-state dynamics), and unique Minnesota curios (oldest bars, public art, amish settlements, and regional oddities). The format tends to pair a host with on-the-ground reporters, weaving historical context with contemporary relevance and inviting audience questions, which helps the show feel accessible, educational, and very Minnesota-specific. A standout quality is its strong tie t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Curious Minnesota?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curious Minnesota:

1. Minnesota Today
2. The Wirecutter Show
3. The Daily
4. Minnesota Unraveled: Pulling on the Threads of Minnesota History
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Curious Minnesota are there?

Curious Minnesota launched 6 years ago and published 133 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Curious Minnesota?

Recent guests on Curious Minnesota include:

1. Alicia Eler
2. Christa Lawler
3. Noah Carlson
4. Anna Sago
5. Janet Peterson
6. Leroy Peterson
7. Jennifer Rankins
8. Lisa Stevens

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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