Curious Minnesota

What do you wonder about the people, places and culture of Minnesota? Listen to our community-driven reporting project, which invites listeners to ask questions that our newsroom researches and answers.

Recent Episodes

Why are there two seafood plants in the small Minnesota town of Motley?
May 22, 2025 – 18:34
Introducing: Worth It
May 17, 2025 – 37:49
How an unexpected gift launched Minnesota’s oldest zoo
May 5, 2025 – 17:08
What’s the smallest town in Minnesota with a mayor?
Apr 18, 2025 – 21:28
Who decides what’s allowed on a vanity plate in Minnesota?
Mar 28, 2025 – 14:13
Why is the loon Minnesota’s state bird? It almost didn’t happen.
Mar 14, 2025 – 12:13
Why did the Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka close?
Feb 28, 2025 – 18:36
How did Minnesota become the birthplace of ski jumping in America?
Feb 13, 2025 – 19:37
What’s the coldest Minnesota has ever been?
Jan 24, 2025 – 12:17
Introducing "Ghost of a Chance" - Episode 1
Jan 17, 2025 – 31:31
What happened to Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America?
Jan 10, 2025 – 12:23
Minnesota’s ghost towns are a relic of grand visions gone awry
Dec 6, 2024 – 19:02
Why are Minnesota’s roadside rest areas so nice?
Nov 14, 2024 – 18:13
What’s behind the stereotype that Minnesotans don’t like spicy food?
Oct 31, 2024 – 24:11
How did Old Dutch potato chips get started in St. Paul?
Oct 10, 2024 – 14:39
How Quonset huts helped solve the post-WWII housing crisis in the Twin Cities
Sep 26, 2024 – 21:03
How did the Minnesota Star Tribune get its start?
Aug 29, 2024 – 29:57
Fairgoers tell us their questions about Minnesota
Aug 28, 2024 – 06:59
Why Wisconsin claims — incorrectly — to have more lakes than the Land of 10,000 Lakes
Aug 22, 2024 – 16:47
Curious Minnesota at the State Fair! 8/24 (Saturday) and 8/28 (Wednesday)
Aug 19, 2024 – 02:31
Why did Minneapolis close Nicollet Avenue for a Kmart?
Aug 9, 2024 – 22:10
Why did Minnesota erase much of its German culture?
Jul 19, 2024 – 20:24
What is the oldest tree in Minnesota?
Jul 2, 2024 – 22:11
Emptying state institutions was supposed to help fix mental health care. What happened?
Jun 17, 2024 – 26:28
How did gambling develop into a major industry in Minnesota?
May 31, 2024 – 16:00
Searching for Snoopy: What happened to all the 'Peanuts' statues in St. Paul?
May 17, 2024 – 17:34
What Minnesota inventions have shaped modern life?
May 2, 2024 – 19:42
What roles did Minnesota's Native American chiefs play? And who were some notable ones?
Apr 19, 2024 – 22:28
Why does Maplewood have such an odd shape?
Apr 4, 2024 – 18:03
How did Northfield become home to St. Olaf and Carleton colleges?
Mar 22, 2024 – 19:55
Did union rules prevent Leonard Bernstein from joining the Minnesota Orchestra?
Mar 8, 2024 – 19:48
What does it mean when Minnesota courts sentence offenders to 'the workhouse'?
Feb 23, 2024 – 20:14
What is Minnesota's deepest lake?
Feb 1, 2024 – 15:04
How did Minnesota become the nation's top turkey state?
Jan 18, 2024 – 16:33
How much flour would it take to turn Lake Superior into bread?
Jan 5, 2024 – 11:35
Did teenagers 'riot' when the Beatles stayed in downtown Minneapolis in 1965?
Dec 15, 2023 – 14:41
Did a Nazi sympathizer once represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate?
Dec 1, 2023 – 22:04
How did Kid Cann become Minneapolis' most infamous gangster?
Nov 17, 2023 – 22:34
Was Moorhead once a drinking destination?
Nov 2, 2023 – 17:52
Why did Spam become an international sensation?
Oct 19, 2023 – 17:19
Why did Prince decide to live in Chanhassen?
Oct 6, 2023 – 20:15
State Fair attendees tell us their Minnesota questions
Sep 22, 2023 – 07:31
Why is Minnesota such a hotbed of professional wrestling?
Sep 8, 2023 – 17:59
Curious Minnesota at the State Fair this Saturday
Aug 29, 2023 – 00:50
Why did Minnesota once require margarine to be dyed pink?
Aug 24, 2023 – 20:18
How did Tonka trucks get their start in Minnesota?
Jun 29, 2023 – 17:58
Inside the mines and megamachines of the Iron Range
Jun 19, 2023 – 15:49
Why didn't Minneapolis and St. Paul ever merge?
Jun 2, 2023 – 19:36
Why does Minnesota have municipal liquor stores?
May 19, 2023 – 12:25
Why didn't Minneapolis gobble up its suburbs?
May 5, 2023 – 18:53

Recent Reviews

SirPurgealot

Such a fun show… but it’s not over, is it?

There’s so much to learn about our great state. Love the variety and approachable nature. Please say it isn’t over!
Goranger22

Learning a lot

Thanks for the stories and the question you’re answering to help us understand Minnesota more.
consciousdave

Great show on Minnesotan history

There aren’t a ton of other shows on Minnesota history specifically, so really appreciate this one. Normally not a huge fan of the star tribune but they did good here. They usually elicit topics to cover from listeners which is pretty cool cuz they always end up being fascinating. And since this is a newspaper, they typically have good sources to provide input
ibwarner

Connection to Home

A fun connection to home for this Minnesotan turned Californian.
junkieuser

Yes!

I grew up in Minnesota knowing things were unique. This podcast is a nice slice of home. The information is well presented and in nice bite sized bits.
JMS32205

Awesome show

As someone married to a person with a minnesota roots, this is an entertaining, educational pod for me. Recommended.
Mlewy84

Love!

This is an awesome podcast to learn about Minnesota history! It’s fun to listen to and not just a boring history lesson.
italiansoutherner202

Great show with interesting topics

I don’t live in Minnesota and have never even visited the state but I still love learning all about it. Good-length episodes and variety of interesting topics.
Patae16

LOVE learning about MN”s curiosities!!!

I LOVE this podcast!!!!!!! Love, Love learning about MN History!
uglhdh

Great podcast!

I really enjoy listening to this podcast as I drive to and from the north shore. The host is enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and he conducts great interviews. How haven’t there been any episodes about/featuring indigenous people of MN area yet??
Hiawatha GC

Love it!

Good info. Thanks!
MoSync

Fun facts to know

Well done, quick & easy listening podcast answering questions about various MN topics. It’s fun!
Momways

What a fascinating podcast!

Extremely interesting and love the way everything is SO conversational! Excellent way to connect 💫
hmmm25

Great way to learn about the state I love

After the first episode I hit the subscribe button. Thanks Star Tribune for putting this great podcast together!
agrenner

Love love love!!!

I love this! Minnesota is the best state out there (in my ~oh so humble~ opinion) and I love learning about it, especially in these easily digestible bites. Some other questions: Where did the accent come from? What’s the history of the Mesabi/Iron Ranges? Why is the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth? How did Minnesota become the only state (to my knowledge) with girls’ high school hockey through actual high schools as opposed to clubs/associations? What’s the history of the “war” over the Northwestern Angle? What’s the story behind the Lost Forty up by Bemidji? I hope this podcast continues to provide interesting facts about MN!
alexinminn

Really fun but informational!

A great way to educate yourself a bit without boring yourself to death. They cover things that pique a pretty broad interest.
thisisgarbage

As the Title Implies

a lighthearted podcast that looks at the curious side of life in this Midwestern state. Very nicely done.
Anya101!

Interesting

Are there more of these?