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Artwork for Essential Minnesota

Essential Minnesota

Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota Star Tribune
Operation Metro Surge
ICE
Minnesota
Border Patrol
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Immigration Enforcement
Mental Health
Gun Violence
Trauma
Mass Shooting
Trump Administration
Renee Good
Minnesota Politics
Feeding Our Future
Minnesota Red Flag Law
Bishop Henry Whipple Building
Children's Rights
Annunciation School
Sextortion

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes24Founded5 months ago
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NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

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Artwork for Essential Minnesota

Latest Episodes

The scandal that led to Brian O’Hara’s resignation was a surprise to many. Reporter Liz Sawyer tells the behind the scenes story of what led to him leaving and why so many people knew so little about it.

Our small team is taking a short break this week. We'll be back with a fresh episode on June 5!

As Minnesota Republicans head into their state convention, three very different candidates are vying for the party’s endorsement for governor: House Speaker Lisa Demuth, businessman Kendall Qualls and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. Minnesota Star Tribune... more

One of the hottest issues in high school sports right now is student athletes who transfer from school to school. Columnist Chip Scoggins digs into what’s going on, what rules are being broken, and asks – is the current system fair?

Guest: Columnist... more

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Recent Guests

Chip Scoggins
Journalist at Minnesota Star Tribune and Strib Varsity reporter (prep sports)
Minnesota Star Tribune / Strib Varsity
Episode: The debate over high school transfer athletes
Chloe Johnson
Reporter, Minnesota Star Tribune
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: How the ban on mining near the BWCAW was reversed
Chris Vondracek
Reporter, based in Washington, DC
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: How the ban on mining near the BWCAW was reversed
Brooks Johnson
Editor and Reporter at Star Tribune
Star Tribune
Episode: Why did Bushel Boy tomatoes mysteriously disappear?
Victor Ștefănescu
Reporter at Star Tribune
Star Tribune
Episode: Why did Bushel Boy tomatoes mysteriously disappear?
Jon Bream
Music critic
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: Stories from the critic who knew the Purple One best
Jessie Van Berkel
Reporter covering fraud issues in Minnesota
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: The Minnesota Legislature’s plan to tackle fraud this session - part 3
Ryan Faircloth
Reporter covering the political side of fraud in Minnesota
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: The Minnesota Legislature’s plan to tackle fraud this session - part 3
Deena Winter
Reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune who has covered fraud for years
Minnesota Star Tribune
Episode: Fact v. Fiction: What’s the real story with fraud in Minn. part 1

Hosts

Alyssa Townsend
Host of Essential Minnesota; affiliated with Minnesota Star Tribune
Melissa Townsend
Host of Essential Minnesota; affiliated with Minnesota Star Tribune

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 9 ratings
  • Great Minnesota coverage

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeffrey Leonard
    United States2 months ago
  • Satisfying!

    I live in Minnesota and I love hearing the exceptional reporting about what’s happening right here. Great work Strib!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    News Lover in MN
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Minnesota-focused, high-quality reporting that stays grounded in facts.
Very timely coverage of immigration and public policy with practical insights.
Strong local storytelling with credible guests and clear takeaways for practitioners.

Top Politics Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Stories from the critic who knew the Purple One best
Q: Why did Prince stay rooted in Minnesota?
Bream notes Prince's loyalty to Minneapolis for personal privacy, control over his work, and for practical reasons related to studio accessibility and avoiding intrusive scrutiny from distant executives.
Stories from the critic who knew the Purple One best
Q: How did Prince respond to criticism?
Bream says Prince could react hot and cold to criticism, was intensely private, and sometimes took offense, but he valued truthful, reader-focused reviews and maintained professional boundaries with his press.
Stories from the critic who knew the Purple One best
Q: What was it like to be a music critic back in the 1970s?
Jon Bream explains that the job involved covering live concerts, writing about records, interviewing stars when they visited, and reporting nightlife, all without the benefit of social media or the internet, relying on field work and traditional publicity.
The religious background of alleged assassin Vance Boelter
Q: What does getting right with God mean?
It means being the right kind of Christian; there are good Christians and there are bad Christians.
The religious background of alleged assassin Vance Boelter
Q: What specifically are you hoping to learn about Vance Boelter?
The big mystery is how could a man who all of his friends have described as a devout Christian, and so therefore, how could a devout Christian have done the things that he's been accused of?

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Minnesota

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

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for Essential Minnesota?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Essential Minnesota. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Essential Minnesota and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Essential Minnesota get?

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What are the audience demographics for Essential Minnesota?

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How many subscribers and views does Essential Minnesota have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Essential Minnesota?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Essential Minnesota:

1. Radio Atlantic
2. On the Media
3. Fresh Air
4. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
5. Plain English with Derek Thompson

How many episodes of Essential Minnesota are there?

Essential Minnesota launched 5 months ago and published 24 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 Essential 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Essential Minnesota?

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What guests have appeared on Essential Minnesota?

Recent guests on Essential Minnesota include:

1. Chip Scoggins
2. Chloe Johnson
3. Chris Vondracek
4. Brooks Johnson
5. Victor Ștefănescu
6. Jon Bream
7. Jessie Van Berkel
8. Ryan Faircloth

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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