Curious Minnesota

Latest Episodes:

Why are there two seafood plants in the small Minnesota town of Motley? May 22, 2025

Show notes

The small Minnesota town of Motley, despite being so far from the ocean, is home to seafood plants that process millions of pounds of imitation crab. More than 500 people work in the seafood business there. It all began with a business called Morey's Seafood. Reporter Brooks Johnson joined host Erica Pearson to share Morey's fascinating origin story and the current state of the industry in Motley today.

LINKS:

Why are there two seafood plants in the small Minnesota town of Motley?

Introducing: Worth It May 17, 2025

Show notes

We’re excited to introduce Worth It, a new show from The Minnesota Star Tribune and Lemonada Media.

Each week, editor Nicole Norfleet and columnist Aaron Brown are joined by people who know Minnesota inside and out – reaching into the spaces you might not know to share the stories worth your attention, the places worth a look, and the events worth your time – and money.

In this episode, whether you kayak, canoe or paddleboard - or you want to - we’ll hear the best paddling routes to try in the Twin Cities metro. There’s a new show about a real-life Minnesota woman-cowboy-detective from the 1800s. Plus, why you should think “salvage” for home remodeling and the cost to raise a kid here.

After you listen, be sure to follow Worth It wherever you get your podcasts, or head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/WorthItStarTribunefd

How an unexpected gift launched Minnesota’s oldest zoo May 05, 2025

Show notes

Como Zoo in St. Paul is more than 120 years old, and was the metro area's primary zoo for many decades. Erica Pearson joins host Eric Roper to discuss the origins of the zoo, and how it has changed over the years.

LINKS:

How an unexpected gift launched Minnesota’s oldest zoo

What’s the smallest town in Minnesota with a mayor? Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

Just under 6,000 people in Minnesota live in a town with a population under 100, according to the state demographer. The dynamics of Minnesota's smallest cities are an interesting facet of rural life in the state. Reporters Kim Hyatt and JP Lawrence joined host Eric Roper to discuss their visits to Funkley and Kinbrae.

LINKS:

What’s the smallest town in Minnesota with a mayor?

Frisbee license plate photo

Who decides what’s allowed on a vanity plate in Minnesota? Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

Vanity license plates let Minnesotans go beyond the standard "Land of 10,000 Lakes" motto to share their professions and passions. But who is in charge of approving applications for these plates and what criteria do they use? Tim Harlow joins host Erica Pearson to give a glimpse into the Driver and Vehicle Service’s Special Plates Unit.

LINKS:

Who decides what’s allowed on a vanity plate in Minnesota?

Why is the loon Minnesota’s state bird? It almost didn’t happen. Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

Minnesota's love of loons is everywhere these days, from license plates to our pro soccer team's nickname. But it took decades for lawmakers to make the loon our state bird. The goldfinch and scarlet tanager are among the others that nearly took the title instead. Kevin Duchschere joins host Erica Pearson to discuss the surprising history of how the loon landed its role.

LINKS:

Why is the loon Minnesota’s state bird? It almost didn’t happen.

Loon call recording from Mark Robbins / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Why did the Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka close? Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

Many Minnesotans have memories of visiting Excelsior Amusement Park on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. The popular theme park operated from the 1920s to the 1970s. Today, it is the site of condominiums and Maynard's restaurant. Erica Pearson joins host Eric Roper to discuss this once-prominent local attraction.

LINKS:

Why did the Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka close?

How did Minnesota become the birthplace of ski jumping in America? Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

Ski jumping originated in Norway, but its American story begins in Minnesota in the late 1800s. It has since become an enduring part of the winter Olympics. Erica Pearson joins host Eric Roper to discuss the long history of ski jumping in Minnesota.

LINKS:

How did Minnesota become the birthplace of ski jumping in America?

What’s the coldest Minnesota has ever been? Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

On the coldest day recorded in Minnesota history, two towns hoped that their official thermometer would give the lowest reading. It was Feb 2, 1996, and news reporters from around the state gathered in Tower and Embarrass. When one town prevailed, a man hammered nails with a frozen banana to celebrate. Casey Darnell joins host Erica Pearson to talk about that record-breaking day.

LINKS:

What’s the coldest Minnesota has ever been?

Introducing "Ghost of a Chance" - Episode 1 Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

We are excited to give Curious Minnesota listeners a preview of the Minnesota Star Tribune's first narrative podcast, "Ghost of a Chance." The six-episode series is reported by Eric Roper and produced by Melissa Townsend, with new episodes appearing every Monday. At its core, the show is about following your curiosity into Minnesota history. You can find "Ghost of a Chance" wherever you access podcasts (here are links to Apple Podcasts and Spotify) or here on our website.

This is the show description:

When reporter Eric Roper buys a lovely 113-year-old house in Minneapolis, he wants to find out everything he can about its history. But he quickly becomes obsessed with one couple who owned the house 100 years ago. Harry and Clementine Robinson send him down a surprising rabbit hole into an incredible history he never heard before. As he artfully and meticulously pieces together the remarkable story of their lives, we find out what the Robinsons reveal about a history of race in Minneapolis -- the city that became ground zero for an unprecedented global racial reckoning.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected