Curious Minnesota

Latest Episodes:

Did union rules prevent Leonard Bernstein from joining the Minnesota Orchestra? Mar 08, 2024

Show notes

Sometimes rejection is the beginning of an exciting new path in life. That's one takeaway from today's episode about Leonard Bernstein, who once planned to work at the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (now the Minnesota Orchestra). Reporter Jenna Ross joins host Eric Roper to discuss how Bernstein's complex relationship with his mentor nearly landed him in Minnesota.

LINKS:

Did union rules prevent Leonard Bernstein from joining the Minnesota Orchestra? (January 2024 Curious Minnesota story)

The Curious Minnesota Collection

What does it mean when Minnesota courts sentence offenders to 'the workhouse'? Feb 23, 2024

Show notes

It's not uncommon in Minnesota to see a news story about someone being sentenced to "the workhouse." But what is a workhouse? It turns out Minnesota is one of the only states still using this term, which describes unique facilities that are neither jails nor prisons. Reporter Kim Hyatt joins host Eric Roper to talk about what happens in a workhouse, who is sentenced there and the long history behind these correctional facilities.

LINKS:

What does it mean when Minnesota courts sentence offenders to 'the workhouse'? (February 2023 Curious Minnesota article)

What is Minnesota's deepest lake? Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

Sometimes, what seems like a simple question unravels into something much more complex and surprising than we expected. That was the case with the question behind today's episode, regarding the deepest lake in Minnesota. Reporter Chloe Johnson and graphics artist Jake Steinberg join host Eric Roper to discuss their reporting journey to find which lake dips the lowest.

LINKS:

What is Minnesota's deepest lake? (November 2023 Curious Minnesota story)

How did Minnesota become the nation's top turkey state? Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Minnesota has been a national leader in turkey production since the 1950s, and No. 1 for the last two decades. That wouldn't have been possible without collaboration between farmers and researchers at the University of Minnesota. Christopher Vondracek joins host Eric Roper to discuss how Minnesota became such a turkey powerhouse.

LINKS:

How did Minnesota become the nation's top turkey state? (November 2023 Curious Minnesota article)

How much flour would it take to turn Lake Superior into bread? Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

Our winning question from the State Fair required some serious mathematics to answer. But the bakers at Duluth's Best Bread were up to the challenge. Reporter Christa Lawler joined host Eric Roper to discuss the logistics behind the Lake Superior Loaf.

LINKS:

How much flour would it take to turn Lake Superior into bread? (October 2023 Curious Minnesota article)

MetaFilter thread about the article

Did teenagers 'riot' when the Beatles stayed in downtown Minneapolis in 1965? Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

The Beatles' 1965 concert in Bloomington was a memorable evening for many young fans. But that event was just the beginning of a long night for some ardent followers of the Fab Four. Reporter Zoë Jackson joins host Eric Roper to discuss what happened in downtown Minneapolis after the show.

LINKS:

Did teenagers 'riot' when the Beatles stayed in downtown Minneapolis in 1965? (June 2023 Curious Minnesota article)

Minneapolis police press conference about the Beatles

Did a Nazi sympathizer once represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate? Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

Ernest Lundeen spent three decades trying to succeed in Minnesota politics. But it was his final years as a U.S. Senator representing the state that have defined his legacy, since Lundeen was spreading Nazi propaganda in the runup to America's intervention in World War II. Kevin Duchschere discusses his Curious Minnesota article on Lundeen with host Eric Roper.

LINKS:

Did a Nazi sympathizer once represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate? (February 2023 Curious Minnesota story)

How did Kid Cann become Minneapolis' most infamous gangster? Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

Isadore Blumenfeld, a.k.a. Kid Cann, is the arguably biggest name in the criminal history of Minneapolis. He earned millions as a bootlegger during Prohibition and soon became a powerbroker in the city's corrupt political system. He was accused of many crimes -- which garnered big headlines in local papers -- but almost always beat the charges. Reporter Andy Mannix joins host Eric Roper to discuss his Curious Minnesota profile of Blumenfeld.

How did Kid Cann become Minneapolis' most infamous gangster? (September 2023 Curious Minnesota article)

Was organized crime behind the demise of streetcars in the Twin Cities? (December 2021 Curious Minnesota podcast)

Was Moorhead once a drinking destination? Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

Different laws -- and cultures -- sometimes collide at the borders between states. An example of this occurred in the late 1800s in the twin cities of Fargo and Moorhead, at the North Dakota-Minnesota border. North Dakota's prohibition on alcohol sent many people across the river seeking booze in Moorhead. Reporter Reid Forgrave joins host Eric Roper to discuss this interesting slice of Moorhead's history.

LINKS:

Forgrave's Curious Minnesota article (September 2023)

Why did Spam become an international sensation? Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Nearly 90 years since its invention in Minnesota, Spam's legacy extends far beyond the state. The pork product's importance during World War II gave it a large fanbase and spawned new international cuisine. Reporter Brooks Johnson joins host Eric Roper to discuss Spam's unique history.

LINKS:

Why did Spam become an international sensation? (August 2023 Curious Minnesota story)

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