Rephonic
Artwork for Plain Talk
North Dakota
Republican Party
North Dakota Ethics Commission
Property Taxes
Ethics Complaints
Democratic Party
Donald Trump
Carbon Capture
Kamala Harris
Political Campaigns
Transparency In Government
Joe Biden
Dickinson State University
Politics
Summit Carbon Pipeline
Government Accountability
Voter Engagement
Political Ethics
Doug Burgum
Elections

Plain Talk is a podcast hosted by Rob Port and Chad Oban focusing on political news and current events in North Dakota. Port is a columnist for the Forum News Service published in papers including the Fargo Forum, Grand Forks Herald, Jamestown Sun, and the Dickinson Press. Oban is a long-time political consultant.

PublishesDailyEpisodes793Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Plain Talk

Latest Episodes

Robin Nelson, a member of the Fargo School Board who is chairing a ballot measure committee aimed at universal school lunches, says her group tried to get their goal accomplished through the legislative process. It didn't work, so now they're taking ... more

Robin Nelson, a member of the Fargo School Board who is chairing a ballot measure committee aimed at universal school lunches, says her group tried to get their goal accomplished through the legislative process. It didn't work, so now they're taking ... more

There is an increasingly intense debate among state lawmakers and leaders in the North Dakota University System about the impact online education is having on the state's public campuses.

"My concern is about this conversation becoming so toxic," u... more

There is an increasingly intense debate among state lawmakers and leaders in the North Dakota University System about the impact online education is having on the state's public campuses.

"My concern is about this conversation becoming so toxic," u... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Revana Sharfuddin
Research fellow at the Labor Policy Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Mercatus Center
Episode: 656: How do we stop AI from taking our jobs? (Video)
Marvin Lein
Retired healthcare professional with 30 years of senior healthcare administrative experience.
Mid Dakota Clinic (former CEO)
Episode: 655: Do we have any other choices but Medicare for all?
Jon Jensen
Chief Justice of the North Dakota State Supreme Court
North Dakota State Supreme Court
Episode: 654: 'We have some challenges coming up' (Video)
Jon Godfread
Expert in health insurance and policy issues
Episode: 653: 'Somebody has to lose, and nobody wants to lose' (Video)
Heidi Heitkamp
Former North Dakota Senator, focused on rural America issues
Episode: 652: 'He really believes that Americans are mean' (Audio)
Karen Ehrens
US Policy Manager for the Alliance to End Hunger
Alliance to End Hunger
Episode: 651: 'It's a never-before-seen event that's coming' (Video)
Josh Gallion
State Auditor of North Dakota
North Dakota Auditor's Office
Episode: 650: 'We don't have performance measures' (Audio)
Val Wagner
Candidate for presidency of North Dakota Farm Bureau with deep agricultural experience.
North Dakota Farm Bureau
Episode: 649: 'The fringe is getting more attention than they are' (Video)
Levi Bachmeier
New Superintendent of Public Instruction for North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Episode: 648: 'The politics will take care of itself' (Video)

Hosts

Rob Port
Host of Plain Talk, a columnist associated with major North Dakota newspapers, known for his commentary on political issues and local governance.
Chad Oban
Co-host and long-time political consultant, providing insights into North Dakota's political climate and engaging in discourse with various guests.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 116 ratings
  • Recommend!

    A great way to learn about North Dakota government. I learn things every episode and recommend it to my friends regularly.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ND4everandever
    United States10 months ago
  • The thoughtfulness we need

    I’m so grateful to have found this podcast last fall during election season. I was tired of the presidential news cycle and wanted to hear about candidates and issues that will affect me in my day-to-day life. I find Chad and Rob to be thoughtful with their questions, knowledgeable about how the government works (or should work) and willing to change their minds. I have also appreciated getting to know public figures who are important in my state. Definitely recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Astrukel
    United States10 months ago
  • 10/10 would recommend

    In a world of civil discourse being almost nonexistent its nice to finally find a podcast where two opposing sides can come together and have a civil discourse about the issues facing not only our country but our state as well. Rob sounds very knowledgeable and keeps the peace very well between two opposing side who normally couldn't talk civilly if their lives depended on it. 10/10 would recommend this podcast to anyone who enjoy politics or simply wants to learn more about the issues we citize... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    truthseekerz69
    United Statesa year ago
  • Appreciate the Discussion

    I enjoy the banter on the program between the hosts, but I most appreciate that they can have a conversation about just about any topic and it doesn’t degenerate into a shouting match about who is right and wrong. I like that there are people of all points of view. Civil discussion is always necessary and important to demonstrate, and I think that is an extremely valuable lesson that the hosts share.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Phantom_FLHS
    United Statesa year ago
  • Institutional knowledge of ND politics adds context to today’s moments

    I really have grown to respect the amount of political knowledge Rob and his co-host bring to flavor our current times. Not always agreeing with Rob’s take but usually pretty good at flavoring tthe context of the moment for those of us somewhat new to ND politics. Love that he has co-hosts from the opposite side of his conservative politics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    North Dakota Veterinarian
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

A portion of the audience criticizes perceived biases and echo chamber dynamics, highlighting a need for deeper, more diverse viewpoints.
Many commend the engaging and civil conversations that showcase a range of political views and foster healthy debate.
Listeners appreciate the thoughtful discourse and knowledge shared by the hosts, often emphasizing the quality of discussions surrounding local governance.

Top Politics Podcasts

Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaCrooked Media
The MeidasTouch Podcast
The MeidasTouch PodcastMeidasTouch Network
Candace
CandaceCandace Owens
Letters from an American
Letters from an AmericanHeather Cox Richardson
Pod Save the World
Pod Save the WorldCrooked Media
All In with Chris Hayes
All In with Chris HayesMS NOW, Chris Hayes
The Next Level
The Next LevelThe Bulwark

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

657: 'My concern is about this conversation becoming so toxic' (Audio)
Q: Can you talk a little bit about what North Dakotans are getting for those $22 million that are being spent?
Brent explains it's for two years, revealing that the funding creates significant credits being produced by out-of-state students.
656: How do we stop AI from taking our jobs? (Video)
Q: What can states do as businesses see AI come in and potentially displace jobs?
States can talk to legislators about policy solutions and push for changes at the federal level that can support local economies.
656: How do we stop AI from taking our jobs? (Audio)
Q: What can states do to prepare for AI displacing jobs?
States can initiate conversations with federal legislators about changing tax codes to better support workforce training and flexibility.
654: 'We have some challenges coming up' (Audio)
Q: Tell us about your decision not to seek another term as Chief Justice.
Jensen shares that personal health challenges and a desire to maximize time with his family influenced his decision.
654: 'We have some challenges coming up' (Video)
Q: Will you finish your term in office?
I plan on finishing my term, but that could change.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Plain Talk

What is Plain Talk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations center around the political landscape in North Dakota, addressing key issues such as public education, property tax legislation, and the dynamics of local governance. The hosts often invite experts and political figures to discuss current events and their implications, such as the impact of new laws on public participation in government meetings or the ethical concerns surrounding state funding practices. Unique to this series is its open discourse, highlighting various perspectives, often blending serious political analysis with lighter discussions on regional sports, reflecting the hosts' engaging styles. The podcast serves as a notable platform for understanding local governance and political controversies, making it appeal... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Plain Talk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Plain Talk. 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 Plain Talk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Plain Talk get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Plain Talk, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Plain Talk?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Plain Talk, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Plain Talk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Plain Talk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Plain Talk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Plain Talk:

1. News & Views with Joel Heitkamp
2. Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness
3. The Preamble
4. Real Time with Bill Maher
5. Prairie Beat

How many episodes of Plain Talk are there?

Plain Talk launched 7 years ago and published 793 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 Plain Talk?

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 Plain Talk?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Plain Talk from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Plain Talk?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Plain Talk. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Plain Talk?

Recent guests on Plain Talk include:

1. Revana Sharfuddin
2. Marvin Lein
3. Jon Jensen
4. Jon Godfread
5. Heidi Heitkamp
6. Karen Ehrens
7. Josh Gallion
8. Val Wagner

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days