
Every Friday host Melissa Townsend brings her distinct curiosity and humor to these weekly deep-dive conversations with journalists from the Minnesota Star Tribune. Together they dig into interesting and important local stories that matter to Minnesota and beyond. It’s what the Minnesota Star Tribune does best. Available Fridays at 4:30 A.M. Central.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 47 | Founded | 9 months ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture | |||

Two reporters head into the north woods to track the family of cougars first sited last spring and to answer big questions about what the potential return of these big cats means for all Minnesotans – human and otherwise.
Reporter Greg Stanley: http... more
Many of us see political dialogue becoming more vicious and data shows there's an increase in violent threats against elected officials. But that data is cobbled together and incomplete. Three reporters try to create a system that gives a full pictur... more
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is in the studio talking about her life and what she wants to do if she becomes the state’s next Governor.
This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in th... more
House Speaker Lisa Demuth is in the studio talking about her upbringing and what she thinks will make Minnesota work better.
This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in the midterm... 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.









Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Explores deeply reported Minnesota stories with a focus on political, civic, and investigative topics, anchored by a veteran Star Tribune journalist. Episodes spotlight state politics, elections, public safety, and major local issues, often featuring reporters and editors from the Star Tribune who provide data-driven context, on-the-ground reporting, and nuanced analysis. Noteworthy is the regular collaboration with multiple Star Tribune journalists, creating a steady stream of informed, no-nuff-spin conversations that connect local events to broader trends. This show is likely to appeal to Minnesota residents and professionals who want thorough insight into how local stories unfold, with a strong emphasis on accountability, governance, and... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Essential Minnesota:
1. Curious Minnesota
2. Minnesota Today
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Pod Save America
5. The Daily
Essential Minnesota launched 9 months ago and published 47 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. Amy Klobuchar
2. Lisa Demuth
3. Peggy Flanagan
4. Jeff Day
5. Josie Alberston-Grove
6. Chip Scoggins
7. Chris Magan
8. Jeff Hargarten
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