Best Minnesota Native News Podcasts (2025)

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MNN Extended Interview: Korina Barry & Holly Cook Macarro of NDN Collective 5:00

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6d ago5:00

5:00

This week, a special extended interview from a past segment. Emma Needham interviews NDN Collective’s Korina Barry and Holly Cook Macarro about Leonard Peltier’s release back in February. ----- Producer: Emma Needham Editing: Britt Aamodt Anchor: Marie Rock Mixing & mastering: Chris HarwoodBy Minnesota Native News

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Minnesota Now: Sept. 23, 2025 59:00

7h ago59:00

59:00

Former State Sen. Nicole Mitchell has been sentenced to six months in jail following her burglary conviction over the summer. MPR News reporter Mathew Holding Eagle III joined Minnesota Now live from Becker County with the latest updates. A shooting at a south Minneapolis homeless encampment last week left many Twin Cities area leaders questioning …

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After deadly encampment shooting, Hennepin County weighs supportive housing efforts 10:37

3h ago10:37

10:37

Homelessness has been top of mind for many leaders in the Twin Cities metro area in recent weeks. On Sept. 15, seven people were injured in a shooting at a homeless encampment in south Minneapolis that was on private property. Since then, one person has died from their injuries. It’s raising questions about how to best prevent and respond to homele…

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Former state Sen. Nicole Mitchell must serve 6 months in jail for felony burglary 3:19

4h ago3:19

3:19

Former state Sen. Nicole Mitchell has been sentenced to six months in jail or a workhouse. Mitchell was found guilty of felony burglary and possession of burglary tools by a jury in July. Becker County's Judge Michael Fritz handed down the sentence in Detroit Lakes Tuesday morning. MPR News reporter Mathew Holding Eagle III was in the courtroom and…

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‘We went from invisible to visible’: Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier navigates changed political landscape 29:25

11h ago29:25

29:25

Since Leonard Peltier’s days of activism in the 1970s with the American Indian Movement, life for Native people has improved dramatically. Those who supported his grant of clemency say that AIM was the spark that lit the flame.By Minnesota Public Radio

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Minnesota Now: Sept. 22, 2025 55:02

11h ago55:02

55:02

The Trump administration is ending the federal government's reporting on hunger amidst an upheaval to the food benefit program SNAP. We'll hear from the new CEO of the region's largest food bank on how she's navigating these changes. A professor at Bemidji State is developing a suicide screening tool specifically for Indigenous people. We'll learn …

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A weekend of wins for Minnesota sports teams 9:31

1h ago9:31

9:31

There are a lot of happy Minnesota sports fans after a really remarkable weekend of wins for our professional sports teams. The Vikings, the Lynx, and yes, finally the Twins all came out on top. Joining MPR News host Nina Moini to relive those victories are our sports contributors, Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson.…

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Census language data provides look into Minnesota's diversity 10:03

1h ago10:03

10:03

Every year, the American Community Survey, a survey affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau, asks people across the country to share what languages they speak at home. In Minnesota, those numbers not only help us understand immigration patterns and changes in language diversity, they also help shape state policy. Sahan Journal data reporter Cynthia …

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Amid cancelation of U.S. hunger survey, new Second Harvest CEO says data is 'critical' 8:48

4h ago8:48

8:48

The region’s largest food bank has a new leader. Sarah Moberg was named Second Harvest Heartland’s CEO last week. She takes on the new role with news over the weekend that the Trump administration is ending the federal government’s reporting on hunger in the nation. It’s just the latest upheaval after cuts to the food benefit program SNAP, which is…

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Bemidji State professor pioneers suicide screening tool for Native Americans 11:50

3h ago11:50

11:50

Native Americans have the highest suicide rate out of any racial and ethnic group in the U.S. Yet there aren’t many screening tools available that are tailored to Indigenous communities. A Bemidji State University professor wants to change that. Mark Standing Eagle Baez, Ph.D., has created the Indigenous SAFE Screening tool, a suicide screening too…

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Episode 83: 1983 Music, NFL & College Football, Wild Talk, and Borderlands 4 1:20:30

5h ago1:20:30

1:20:30

In Episode 83 of Old School Noobs, hosts AJ, Luke, and Tyler take a nostalgic trip back to 1983, diving into the classic rock music that defined the year. Then, they shift gears to discuss the early seasons of the NFL and college football, offering their thoughts on standout teams and players. The conversation takes a turn towards the wild side as …

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Penny Kagigebi: Reclaiming 2-Spirit Culture Through Art 28:31

5d ago28:31

28:31

Today, we're excited to talk to Penny Kagigebi. Penny is a direct descendant of the White Earth Nation. She is a 2-Spirit queer community collaborator, artist, curator and teacher. She focuses on birch bark basketry and quill boxes and recently curated Queering Indigeneity for the Minnesota Museum of American Art, on exhibit from September 18, 2025…

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Minnesota Now: Sept. 18, 2025 54:17

41m ago54:17

54:17

The Department of Justice announced federal charges for eight people who allegedly defrauded Minnesota's Housing Stability Services out of millions of dollars. The top prosecutor said it's “like staring into a bottomless well of fraud.” We dive into it. A nationally recognized podcast out of Minneapolis is back after a break. We talk to Jonathan Go…

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Dakota Jazz Club celebrating 40 years of jazz music and beyond 9:51

2h ago9:51

9:51

Performers are lined up to celebrate 40 years of the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis for its Anniversary Block Party this Saturday. The Dakota has featured thousands of acts, from celebrated jazz musicians to local up-and-coming bands, and even beyond the jazz genre. Dakota founder, Lowell Picket, joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the v…

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Thank You, Stranger: How a road rage incident ended in a shared meal 4:06

3h ago4:06

4:06

Minnesota Now’s series called “Thank You, Stranger” explores the small acts of kindness that make a big impact. MPR News producer Ellen Finn talked to Perry Le’Peri in Minneapolis about a road rage incident turned around. In our series Thank You, Stranger, we hear the stories of how strangers can make our lives a little brighter, or lift us up in a…

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The history of the farm crisis that inspired the creation of Farm Aid 10:00

33m ago10:00

10:00

This Saturday, the 40th annual Farm Aid concert will take place at the Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It will feature artists that kicked off the original Farm Aid concert back in 1985 including Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp. The concert fundraiser was a response to an economic crisis farmers faced across the U.S. during t…

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Hit podcast 'Heavyweight' launches new season 10:05

38m ago10:05

10:05

Roughly 10 years ago, a podcast host named Jonathan Goldstein and his friend Gregor flew to Los Angeles. Goldstein was there to help his friend confront the famous musician, Moby, over a set of CDs he’d borrowed and never returned. Goldstein created a hit show through these types of interactions, helping people talk through troubling moments from t…

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Feds charge 8 in 'massive fraud' tied to Minnesota housing stabilization program 10:42

18h ago10:42

10:42

Eight people are now facing federal charges related to housing stabilization fraud. Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson announced the charges on Thursday. Matt Sepic was at the news conference and joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about the charges and the fraud, which prosecutors call a "massive" scheme.…

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Minnesota Now: Sept. 17, 2025 56:17

1h ago56:17

56:17

A shooting at a Minneapolis homeless encampment that left seven people injured is renewing questions about housing solutions and safety. We talk to a city leader in charge of homeless response. Annunciation students are back at school this week after a mass shooting. We talk to a parent about what it looks like to go back after a tragedy. Plus, we …

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Who are the Minnesota Lynx StudBudz? 9:25

9h ago9:25

9:25

Wednesday night the Minnesota Lynx will play the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs. As the playoffs heat up, MPR News’ Emily Reese is reaching out a hand from the Lynx bandwagon and sharing everything new fans may want to know. First, we learned about the revenge tour: the Lynx are motivated to become champions this year after a…

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Preventing violent extremism: What a public health approach looks like 10:10

33m ago10:10

10:10

A team of researchers at American University in Washington D.C. has shifted their approach to look at domestic extremism as a public health problem. The researchers work with the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, or PERIL. Minnesota is no stranger to these types of incidents, with the shooting of two lawmakers and their spouse…

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'You can't force things to feel normal': Annunciation parent describes return to school 10:03

44m ago10:03

10:03

Students at Annunciation Catholic School are back in the classroom this week for the first time since a mass shooting claimed the lives of two children and injured 21 other people. The school is providing mental health support for staff, students and their families as they navigate this transition. Aaron Rupar is a parent of two children who are ne…

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After encampment shooting, Minneapolis leader explains city response 11:11

1h ago11:11

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Minneapolis city attorneys will be in court Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to stop property owner Hamoudi Sabri from allowing a homeless encampment on parking lots he owns. Earlier this week, a shooting at the encampment on Sabri’s property in South Minneapolis left seven people hurt, including three who were critically injured. To learn more ab…

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Last official week of summer brings the heat, with rain on the way 4:32

22h ago4:32

4:32

Hopefully last week’s cool temperatures didn’t lead you to take out your window AC unit or turn your heat on because this week we have zigzagged back to seriously summery heat. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner joins Minnesota Now with the forecast.By Minnesota Public Radio

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Minnesota Now: Sept. 16, 2025 54:28

5h ago54:28

54:28

Gov. Tim Walz is running for reelection in 2026. If he were to win, he would be the first ever Minnesota governor to win a third four-year term. And several Republican candidates have also started campaigns. Politics correspondent Dana Ferguson joined the show to explain the dynamics of the governor's race. Mayors from more than 100 cities and town…

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Meet the Minnesota Lynx's star players 10:20

1d ago10:20

10:20

This week MPR News invites you to jump on the Minnesota Lynx bandwagon. Why? Because the No. 1 ranked team is in the playoffs which kick off this week. And they are looking great. Even if you don’t know a thing about the WNBA, basketball or care about sports in general, the Lynx players are just plain fun to follow. At least that’s what MPR News re…

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Xcel is pushing for rate hike. Here's what it could mean for your bill 9:28

2h ago9:28

9:28

Xcel Energy customers could see their electric bills jump by an average of $13 a month next year. That’s if state regulators approve the rate hikes the company is proposing: 9.6 percent for 2025 and another 3.6 percent for 2026. Xcel, which is Minnesota’s largest electricity provider, says the higher rates will fund investments in reliability, clea…