City Cast Twin Cities

City Cast Twin Cities

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City Cast Twin Cities episodes

  • We Watched Minneapolis Doomsday Documentaries So You Don't Have To

    Since we've had multiple documentaries come out regarding the challenges Minneapolis faces and what the path forward should look like for our cities, we're revisiting a conversation we had earlier this year. Coming out of this month's elections where Twin Cities residents voted for new leaders and what the path forward should look like, we thought it was a good time to take a look at the documentaries "A Precarious State," "The Fall of Minneapolis," and "Paradox: Echoes of Reform & the Minneapolis Police" to see what they have to say about our cities and what misinformation they might be spreading. Host Sean McPherson is joined by Producer Tiffany Bui and Contributor Winter Keefer to interrogate these films.

    Learn more about the documentaries discussed in today's episode:

    • Who’s Bankrolling ‘A Precarious State,’ Rick Kupchella’s New Twin Cities Doomer Doc? (Racket)
    • Paradox: Echoes of Reform & the Minneapolis Police (PBS)
    • A Precarious State (Rick Kupchella)
    • The Fall of Minneapolis (Alpha News)


      Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

      32 min
    • Sorry Twin Cities, You're Being Tracked Everywhere You Go

      According to crowdsourced data on the website Deflock.me, there are over 300 Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras in the metro area. Most of these are made by a company called Flock Safety, and they allow law enforcement to use photos of license plates to track drivers every time they pass by one of these cameras. The legality of ALPRs continues to be fought over in our courts, so we're revisiting a conversation from earlier this year with ACLU Minnesota Attorney Alicia Granse about what these cameras are doing in our cities and how they could be regulated ethically.

      Read more about the stories discussed in this episode:

      • Deflock.me - See where all the ALPR cameras are in the Twin Cities
      • You Are Being Tracked (ACLU)
      • ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows (404 Media)
      • She Got an Abortion. So A Texas Cop Used 83,000 Cameras to Track Her Down. (EFF)
      • Kansas police chief used Flock license plate cameras 164 times to track ex-girlfriend (The Wichita Eagle)

        Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

        24 min
      • Local Gift Guide, Twin Cities Wrapped, and What’s Open on the 25th

        If you're looking for something outside the box to do on December 25, Sean has spent 15 years curating a list of what’s open that day. Plus, James Norton of Heavy Table gives us the best present you could ask for: last-minute gift ideas. Yes, you can go out and buy them right now! And we close out 2025 with our Twin Cities Year in Review. Listeners told us where they ate the most and cast their vote for Twin Cities person of the year.


        Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

        • The 2025 Heavy Table Local Food Gift Guide (Heavy Table) 
        • Top 5 Things To Do on Christmas Day (City Cast Twin Cities)


          Learn more about the sponsors of this December 23rd episode:

          • Xcel Energy


            • Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

            37 min
          • Finding Humor in Dark Times with Lizz Winstead

            Lizz Winstead is the co-creator of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, the founder of Abortion Access Front, and a comedian who got her start right here in the Twin Cities. Lizz will be holding her annual Year in Review comedy show at the Parkway Theater on December 27 and 31, and she joined host Sean McPherson to chat about how to find humor in really heavy news stories, how she weaves activism and comedy together, and what makes the Twin Cities arts scene so special. Before that, Sean is joined by jazz singer and contributor PaviElle French for a rundown of the can't-miss events happening this week in the Twin Cities. 

            Check out the events discussed in today's episode:

            • 12/22 Alicia Witt In-store Performance and Signing | Electric Fetus
            • 12/22 Spending Christmas with Alicia Witt | Dakota
            • 12/23 The Annual Holiday Sing-Along with Dan Chouinard | Crooners
            • 12/24 Hell-a-Dazzle Christmas Eve Brunch with Joel Shapira & Friends | Hell’s Kitchen
            • 12/25 “Violent Night” | Trylon Cinema
            • 12/26 Shrimpnose, BloodSmokeBody and Talia Knight at the Entry | 7th Street Entry
            • 12/26 Bold North Breakaway | Rice Park and Saint Paul RiverCentre
            • 12/26 Pan African Kwanzaa Celebration | Midtown Global Market
            • 12/27 Soul Line Dance with Harris Parks | Sabathani Community Center
            • 12/27 Close to the Tassel: A Progressive Rock Burlesque Revue | Amsterdam Bar and Hall 
            • 12/28 KPop Demon Hunters Drag Brunch | Quincy Hall 
            • 12/27 & 12/31 The Winstead Files: Lizz Winstead's 2025 Year in Review | Parkway Theater

              • Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastTwinCities on Instagram, or email us at [email protected]. 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.

              37 min
            • MN’s Pagan Roots, Toe-Tapping Opera, Twin Cities Wins

              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 [email protected]. 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.

                34 min
              • MN's Top 50 Restaurants, Hating On Holiday Bars, and Helping Hungry Minnesotans

                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 [email protected]. 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.

                    39 min
                  • How Bad is Dating Here? Plus, AI Shopping Chatbots

                    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 [email protected]. 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.

                      30 min
                    • African Food Across the Twin Cities, In Defense of Como Zoo, and the Future of George Floyd Square

                      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 [email protected]. 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.

                          35 min
                        • Top 5 Local Holiday Songs, Plus Weed Cookies, Moose Balls and Pheasant Egg Rolls

                          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 [email protected]. 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.

                              38 min
                            • Trump Sues MPS, MnDOT Won't Name a Snowplow "Abolish ICE," and The Kids Might Be Alright

                              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 [email protected]. 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.

                                  37 min

                                About City Cast Twin Cities

                                From the publisher's feed

                                Join Sean McPherson and the City Cast Twin Cities team every weekday morning as we bring you the day's conversations about life in the Twin Cities. With our cast of journalists, activists, experts and…

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