
Every Friday some of the best reporters in Minnesota dig into one important local story. Host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune where they break down the facts, the players and the impact. No spin, pretense or A.I. – just great local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 31 | Founded | 6 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureNewsPolitics | |||

This week wildfires forced the closure of the Boundary Waters, sent smoke across the Midwest and pushed air quality to hazardous, record-breaking levels. Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Kristoffer Tigue chronicles the evacuation and fire fighting eff... more
This week she capped off an historic month becoming the winningest coach in WNBA history. We go behind the scenes with reporter Cassidy Hettesheimer to Reeve’s early days and the secrets to her success.
Corrections: In this conversation there are tw... more
We're taking a holiday break this week but we'll be back July 10!
Acceptance of the new flag among Minnesotans is divided mainly along party lines. But how much of that comes from partisan fervor fueling the culture wars and how much is from a rushed and imperfect design process? Reporter Briana Bierschbach was the... more
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As a Minnesotan living in the Twin Cities, this podcast is a good addition to my podcast rotation.
Quality reporting by the Star Tribune with a wide range of topics and conversations.
I live in Minnesota and I love hearing the exceptional reporting about what’s happening right here. Great work Strib!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Apple Podcasts | #245 |
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Each Friday, a seasoned Minnesota newsroom veteran hosts deep-dive conversations with Minnesota Star Tribune journalists to unpack one important local story. Episodes typically dissect the facts, key players, and real-world impact, with a focus on accountability, policy, and community consequences. Noteworthy is the tight collaboration with local reporters, a no-spin approach, and a clear emphasis on regional issues that resonate beyond state borders. This setup is likely to appeal to listeners who want rigorous local journalism, insider context, and practical takeaways for stakeholders in media, government, and civic life.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Essential Minnesota:
1. Minnesota Today
2. Fresh Air
3. Letters from an American
4. NPR's Book of the Day
5. Radio Atlantic
Essential Minnesota launched 6 months ago and published 31 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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Recent guests on Essential Minnesota include:
1. Liz Sawyer
2. Chip Scoggins
3. Chloe Johnson
4. Chris Vondracek
5. Brooks Johnson
6. Victor Ștefănescu
7. Jon Bream
8. Ryan Faircloth
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