Rephonic
Artwork for RacketCast

RacketCast

Racket
Minnesota
ICE
Duluth
Minneapolis
City Pages
Minnesota Twins
Billboards
Homelessness
Minnesota State Fair
Forever Chemicals
Donald Trump
Los Enchiladas
George Floyd
Cancer
Racket
100 Things To Do In Duluth Before You Die
Mitch Hedberg
Climate Change
Lutsen Resort
Food Trends

Bi-weekly podcast from Racket, the Twin Cities news/arts/culture publication. Featuring hyper-local recaps, reviews, interviews, debates, hot takes, and more from the crew behind your favorite reader-funded, worker-owned media org.

Want to advertise on RacketCast? Email us at advertise@racketmn.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes55Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Entertainment NewsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for RacketCast

Latest Episodes

For 15 months our friends Jessica Lussenhop and Andy Mannix have been hard at work revealing sex crimes hidden within the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church.

The ProPublica reporters started their harrowing two-part series on Minnesota's North Shore, but... more

You there, dummy with some degree of affluence and PTO to spare: You don't know diddly squat about travel.

But Kyle Potter and Gunnar Olson, the team behind The Thrifty Traveler Podcast? It's their full-time job to scout for travel deals, report on ... more

We're halfway through the Year of Data Center Backlash. Americans hate the massive AI factories, yet tech giants continue to foist them on communities amid the current AI arms race. That negative sentiment isn't difficult to understand: They're noisy... more

Right after high school Courtney Kocak left sleepy Jackson, Minnesota, to chase her dreams in Hollywood. Did everything go as planned? Sure didn't! And in her brand-new memoir, Girl Gone Wild, Kocak weaves together a series of essays that address "am... 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.

Wedge LIVE!
Wedge LIVE!John Edwards
Gleeman and The Geek
Gleeman and The GeekAaron Gleeman and John Bonnes
Pod Save America
Pod Save AmericaPod Save America

Recent Guests

Andy Mannix
ProPublica investigative reporter
ProPublica
Episode: Investigating Crimes + City Pages Times Feat. ProPublica Reporters Jessica Lussenhop & Andy Mannix
Jessica Lussenhop
ProPublica investigative reporter
ProPublica
Episode: Investigating Crimes + City Pages Times Feat. ProPublica Reporters Jessica Lussenhop & Andy Mannix
Aubree Derksen
Resident and lead organizer in Pine Island's fight against Google's data center
Pine Island Community/Local Activist
Episode: Fighting Google's Data Center Feat. Pine Island Residents Aubree Derksen & Nicole Mills
Nicole Mills
Resident and participant in the Pine Island fight
Pine Island Community/Local Activist
Episode: Fighting Google's Data Center Feat. Pine Island Residents Aubree Derksen & Nicole Mills
Courtney Kocak
Author, comedian, podcaster, and journalist
Author, CourtneyKocak.com
Episode: Girl Gone HOW Wild? Feat. Author/Comic/Actor Courtney Kocak
Sven Sundgaard
Weatherman extraordinaire
NBC/Local Minneapolis meteorology presence
Episode: Weather, Climate, and Getting Ripped Feat. Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard
Fancy Ray McCloney
Twin Cities comedian, TV pitchman, and interview guest
Self-associated acts and brands mentioned (e.g., TV ads, Fancy Ray Day)
Episode: Celebrate Fancy Ray Day Feat. Local Comedy Legend Fancy Ray
Chris Parr
Filmmaker, video producer, YouTuber focused on Minnesota
Episode: Mapping MN's Hidden City Feat. YouTuber Chris Parr
Niko G
Co-founder of Unicorn Riot involved in live streaming social justice events.
Unicorn Riot
Episode: Livestreaming a Crisis Feat. Unicorn Riot

Hosts

Castle
Co-host of RacketCast; long-running host with deep involvement in local media and culture.
Keith Harris
Co-host of RacketCast; frequent contributor and key voice on policy, labor, and community issues.
Em Castle
Co-host of RacketCast; brings festival, media, and local culture perspective.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 41 ratings
  • Twin Cities coverage

    This is a great podcast from Racket, their coverage of Twin Cities news, arts and culture is amazing and this podcast is an excellent extension of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jeffrey Leonard
    United States2 months ago
  • Off to a good start

    For a first episode, I found this to be very good. Can’t wait for more episodes to drop.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MinnesotaMichael_
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests often bring insider perspectives that aren't widely available in mainstream media.
Mix of politics, labor, and culture keeps content engaging.
Shows strong local focus with thoughtful guests.
Content feels authentic and community-driven, appealing to Twin Cities audiences.

Top Entertainment News Podcasts

Good Noticings
Good NoticingsVox Media Podcast Network
Infamous
InfamousCampside Media / Sony Music Entertainment
The Escape Pod Podcast
The Escape Pod PodcastAlex Azor & Andrew Parker
We're Obsessed
We're ObsessedThe Ringer
VladTV
VladTVDJ Vlad
Waddle & Silvy
Waddle & SilvyESPN Chicago

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fighting Google's Data Center Feat. Pine Island Residents Aubree Derksen & Nicole Mills
Q: What does the energy usage and buildout look like based on public records?
Court documents reveal a total buildout of up to 2,700 megawatts with phase one limited to a single building, while more data centers and transmission lines are planned, which was not clearly disclosed upfront.
Fighting Google's Data Center Feat. Pine Island Residents Aubree Derksen & Nicole Mills
Q: How did you first get involved and what sparked the organizing effort in Pine Island?
The initial spark came from neighbors noticing calls for a data center and a handful of moms reaching out, going door-to-door, and demanding open information, which led to forming a public Facebook page and coordinating with MCEA for environmental review questions.
Girl Gone HOW Wild? Feat. Author/Comic/Actor Courtney Kocak
Q: How did your upbringing in Minnesota influence your career choices and perspective?
She explains that Midwestern values shaped her cautious approach and loyalty to family, and that growing up in a small town with strong community ties influenced her lens on fame, authenticity, and the balance between ambition and responsibility.
Girl Gone HOW Wild? Feat. Author/Comic/Actor Courtney Kocak
Q: What was the motivation to write a memoir at this point in your life?
Courtney felt she had enough distance from her 20s and wanted to capture a metamorphosis from girl to woman, using the memoir to unpack feminist themes, societal expectations, and personal growth.
2026 Timberwolves Playoffs Explainer for Dummies Feat. Podcaster Dane Moore
Q: What is the best case scenario for the Timberwolves in this postseason?
Anthony Edwards steps into playoff form, elevates his play to a level that challenges Denver, and the team complements him with improved defense and efficient shooting, creating a credible path to beating one of the league's top teams if Jokic can be slowed and the supporting cast elevates their production.

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 RacketCast

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

A tightly focused, locally oriented show that blends news, culture, and conversation from the Twin Cities. Episodes frequently feature journalists, labor organizers, artists, and local thinkers discussing everything from sports and media ecosystems to immigration, activism, and governance. Notable strengths include access to insider perspectives on Minnesota sports, journalism, and labor movements, plus a willingness to explore complex local stories with humor and candor. The format often pairs high-profile guests with casual, human-interest moments, making it well-suited for brands targeting engaged, civically minded listeners who care about local impact and community narratives.

Where can I find podcast stats for RacketCast?

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

How many listeners does RacketCast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for RacketCast, 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 RacketCast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for RacketCast, 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 RacketCast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers RacketCast 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 RacketCast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with RacketCast:

1. Wedge LIVE!
2. Gleeman and The Geek
3. The Dane Moore NBA Podcast
4. The Distraction: A Defector Podcast
5. Pod Save America

How many episodes of RacketCast are there?

RacketCast launched 2 years ago and published 55 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 RacketCast?

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 RacketCast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for RacketCast 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 RacketCast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of RacketCast. 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 RacketCast?

Recent guests on RacketCast include:

1. Andy Mannix
2. Jessica Lussenhop
3. Aubree Derksen
4. Nicole Mills
5. Courtney Kocak
6. Sven Sundgaard
7. Fancy Ray McCloney
8. Chris Parr

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