City Cast Twin Cities

11h ago

Minnesota is home to a thriving pagan and witchy community, and the solstice is a great time to get involved. Dr. Chantel Rodriguez, public historian and host of Minnesota Unraveled, tells us about the largest publisher of New Age books, which calls our state home. Plus, Darius Gillard from MN Opera wants to convince you to watch opera. Check out MN Opera’s “My Name is Florence,” which tells the story of the first Black woman to have a symphony performed by a major U.S. orchestra. The team also celebrates some Twin Cities wins with good neighbors and warm homes. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Listen to Minnesota Unwraveled’s episode about Llewellyn Worldwide Check out MN Opera’s production of “My Name is Florence” North Minneapolis' Food Bank Eatery is on a mission to provide free meals for children (CBS Minnesota) Pam sees the people that others ignore (Southwest Voices) Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram , or email us at twincities@citycast.fm . You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise .

1d ago

Food critic Kirstie Kimball has been to 600 restaurants across Minnesota in the past two years, and she has distilled her findings into a comprehensive list of the top 50 Minnesotan restaurants on her Substack Beyond Beurre Blanc . Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor and Racket Co-Founder Em Cassel to chat with Kirstie about her methodology for reviewing so many restaurants and to learn why Em hates holiday pop-up bars so much. Later, Sean talks with Anne Laskey, the Cause Marketing and Events Manager at Second Harvest Heartland, about how to help fight hunger this holiday season, and producer Adam Sage joins the conversation to highlight an upcoming winter festival. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Beyond Beurre Blanc's Minnesota 50: 2025 (Beyond Beurre Blanc) Kirstie Kimball's methodology (Beyond Beurre Blanc) Get Festive at These Twin Cities Holiday Bars (MSP Mag) Second Harvest Heartland Learn more about the sponsors of this December 18th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Xcel Energy Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram , or email us at twincities@citycast.fm . You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise .

2d ago

Minneapolis’s season of Love Is Blind might have been a flop, but how bad is the dating scene in the Twin Cities, actually? Contributor Denzel Belin and burlesque performer Keke Boudreaux join the show to discuss living single in Minnesota, as well as the best first date spots. Plus, executive producer Anna Weggel puts ChatGPT to the test to find the perfect gifts for Denzel and Sean. Read more about what we talked about on the show: We tested AI shopping chatbots. This is what we found. (Star Tribune) Single and Dating? Here is where most singles are living in the US. (Thriving Center of Psychology) Learn more about the sponsors of this December 17th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram , or email us at twincities@citycast.fm . You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise .

3d ago

The Twin Cities is home to one of the most vibrant African food scenes in the country, and today we’re digging into where to eat, from Ethiopian classics to West African stews and vegan favorites. Writer and critic Ali Elabbady joins us to share highlights from his new guide to the best African restaurants in the area, plus tips for first-timers and vegetarians. Contributor Sam Choo makes a passionate case for the often-overlooked Como Zoo, and we break down the newly approved plan for George Floyd Square. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: African Food in the Twin Cities (Explore Minnesota) Street reconstruction approved for George Floyd Square, after years of debate (MPR) Learn more about the sponsors of this December 16th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram , or email us at twincities@citycast.fm . You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise .

4d ago

We’re rockin’ around the Christmas tree with holiday tunes by Twin Cities musicians. Contributor, musician PaviElle French, and Racket’s co-owner Keith Harris help decide if these songs are up to Hallmark snuff. Plus, contributor Tane Danger shares weekly event highlights, like weed Christmas cookie baking and a half-scripted, half-improv holiday show. Check out all the local holiday music played in today’s show. Learn more about this week’s events: “Our Amazing Holiday Off” at Jungle Theater Eden Prairie Lion’s 52nd Annual Wild Game Dinner Jane Austen's 250th birthday party at Big Hill Books Black Nativity at Penumbra Theatre Cornbread Harris & Friends Holiday Blues Show at Hook & Ladder Theater Obi Original at The Cabooze Winter Solstice Lantern Parade in Powerderhorn Park Celebration of Life for Jellybean Johnson at Shiloh Temple Cannabis Xmas Cookies at HEAL MPLS D Dinner for One at Jungle Theater Learn more about the sponsors of this December 15th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram , or email us at twincities@citycast.fm . You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise .

Dec 12

The Department of Justice is suing Minneapolis Public Schools for a policy that protects teachers from underrepresented groups from being laid off. Host Sean McPherson is joined by contributor Hans Buetow and producer Adam Sage to break down what the DOJ's goals are in this lawsuit. The team also gets into possible snowplow names for MnDOT's 2026 Snowplow naming contest, and some good news in Minnesota schools – recent statewide survey results show our students are trending in a positive direction regarding their mental health, substance use, connection with school and family, and a litany of other issues. Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: MnDOT’s 2025-26 Name a Snowplow contest (MnDOT) All 50 of MnDOT’s 2025 Name-a-Snowplow Finalists, Ranked (Racket) Trump admin sues Minneapolis schools over layoff protections for teachers of color (Minnesota Reformer) Justice Department Sues Minneapolis Public Schools for Racial Discrimination Against Teachers (Department of Justice) How many Black male teachers are there in the US? (USAFacts) Survey: Minnesota students faring better compared to a few years ago (Minnesota Reformer) Minnesota Student Survey Reports 2013-2025 (MN Department of Education) Learn more about the sponsors of this December 12th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram , or email us at twincities@citycast.fm . You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise .

Dec 11

Have you ever wondered why St. Anthony Falls is just pure concrete? The Dakota-led group Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is redesigning and restoring the falls to its pre-colonial lushness. President Shelley Buck tells us what the project is doing differently. Plus, if you’re wondering how to stay chic during harsh Minnesota winters, local fashion designer Samantha Rei has some tips. Pooping in downtown Minneapolis is a political problem, and the city just approved extra funds for more toilets. Our guts say thank you. Read more about what we talked about today: Owámniyomni Okhódayapi Donate to the restoration of Owámniyomni Samantha Rei Check out Samantha’s YouTube, Cinemattire Minneapolis City Council looks to solve No. 1 problem downtown: Where to go No. 2 (Star Tribune) Learn more about the sponsors of this December 11th episode: Xcel Energy Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram , or email us at twincities@citycast.fm . You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise .

Dec 10

The President of Augsburg University is condemning ICE after agents took a student from campus without a warrant over the weekend. Meanwhile, advocates in St. Paul are calling on the city council to take action regarding SPPD's violent conduct during a Nov. 25 ICE raid. Host Sean McPherson is joined by MPR Newsroom Coordinator and Contributor Denzel Belin and Executive Producer Anna Weggel to fill you in on everything you need to know about these two stories. Later, the team is joined by local musician Emmy Woods joins the conversation to talk about a winter clothing drive she's hosting at her show this weekend. The team also opens up the mailbag and shares our weekly artist spotlight: Liz Draper. Check out this week's featured artist, Liz Draper! Instagram TIDAL Bandcamp Album release party 12/14 Want us to feature your music on the show? Send in a submission here . Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode: Augsburg president decries ICE detention of a student on private campus (Star Tribune) Community group: St. Paul police use of force against protesters violated policy (Pioneer Press) Community group wants St. Paul City Council to address police actions (MPR) Law enforcement, protesters clash as federal agents make arrests in St. Paul (MPR) Emmy Woods' Winter Clothing Drive for Southside Harm Reduction Immigrant Defense Network Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina (COPAL) Monarca Minnesota Immigrants Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) Learn more about the sponsors of this December 10th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram , or email us at twincities@citycast.fm . You can also call or text us at 612-217-0637. For more Twin Cities news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Twin Cities. Looking to advertise on City Cast Twin Cities? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise .