Essential Minnesota

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.

Essential Minnesota is a news podcast hosted by The Minnesota Star Tribune, with 42 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

The Minnesota Star Tribune hosts Essential Minnesota, a news show with 42 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Essential Minnesota

  Karyn Tomlinson is creating a moment for northern cuisine

  Oct 2, 202626 min

  This James Beard award-winning Twin Cities chef is leading the way on one of the hottest culinary trends right now. She tells Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Joy Summers about embracing the opportunities of the seasons, whole-animal butchery and her famous apple pie. These things were mentioned in the episode: More about Karyn Tomlinson’s restaurant Myriel: ⁠https://www.myrielmn.com/⁠  Relish on Minnesota PBS: https://minnesotapbs.org/relish  More about chef Soliel Ramirez : https://www.crasquirestaurant.com/team-member/about-soleil-ramirez/  More about cook book author Amy Thielen: https://www.amythielen.com/  More about the Cochon555 Contest: https://www.youtube.com/@COCHON555tv  Karyn Tomlinson’s win at Cochon555 Contest in 2018: ttps://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-chef-crowned-queen-of-pork-at-prestigious-cochon555-contest/495210191  This conversation was recorded live at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis as part of the North Star Summit. For more food and drink stories, plus a whole lot more, subscribe to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

  Listen
• 

  Essential Minnesota

  The story behind the scandal surrounding Kaohly Her

  Sep 25, 202636 min

  The St Paul mayor has been accused of sexual harassment and battery by the city’s police chief, Axel Henry. Star Tribune reporters Jeff Day and Josie Albertson-Grove discuss their investigation into Mayor Her’s track record of behavior toward colleagues throughout her career and how it links to her leadership style and increased power.

  Listen
• 

  Essential Minnesota

  Why Peggy Flanagan wants to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate

  Sep 21, 202637 min

  The DFL candidate for U.S. Senate on her upbringing and what she thinks matters most to Minnesotans. This is part of a special series of conversations with candidates from Minnesota running for statewide office in the midterm elections. We have reached out to the GOP candidate in the race, Michele Tafoya, for a similar conversation. Guest Host: Briana Bierschbach, Senior Politics Writer at the Minnesota Star Tribune Guest: Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Peggy Flanagan For more, subscribe to the Hot Dish newsletter from the Minnesota Star Tribune. It brings the latest political news to your inbox on Mondays and Thursdays.

  Listen
• 

  Essential Minnesota

  The sextortion pandemic in Minnesota

  Sep 18, 202626 min

  Over the past few years there has been a 2000% increase in the number of sextortion cases reported to police. These scams have taken millions of dollars and the lives of countless young people. Journalist Chip Scoggins tells the story of one Minnesota family’s experience.

  Listen
• 

  Essential Minnesota

  Minnesota’s new immigrant detention facility

  Sep 11, 202628 min

  The privately owned prison in Appleton, Minnesota had a troubled past. Now that the U.S Department of Homeland Security has bought it, its future is anything but certain. Journalists Chris Magan and Jeff Hargarten walk us through the history of this prison turned detention facility, and what it means for the town of 1,300 people, whose future is now tied to ever-changing national immigration policy.

  Listen

Recent guests on Essential Minnesota. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.