We'd love to hear your thoughts about Minnesota Unraveled! Please fill out our survey ⁠here⁠.

Driving through the rural expanse of southwestern Minnesota, there are a lot of things you might expect to see, such as corn fields, cattle, and the quaint main streets of small town America. But, if you find yourself in Worthington, Minnesota, you might be surprised to find the warehouse-sized footprint of a meatpacking facility, along with a rainbow of different cultural restaurants and grocers dotting the main drag. Why is a meatpacking plant so far from a major city center like the Twin Cities? And who are the residents of Worthington whose businesses comprise such a diverse town center?

In this episode, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez delves into the historical context of the meatpacking industry, including its migration from urban centers to rural areas. Chantel also explores how meatpacking’s history of relying on immigrant labor has evolved over time, and how the cultural landscape of rural towns such as Worthington were shaped by global forces. To dig into these questions, Chantel spoke with professor of history Roger Horowitz. To hear their personal stories and connections to the industry, Chantel also sat down with Worthington meatpacking workers Antonio Morales and Leonardo Duarte, as well as Leonardo’s daughter, Andrea Duarte-Alonso.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about Minnesota Unraveled! Please fill out our survey ⁠here⁠.

In 1880, a court case rocked Minneapolis society, and ruled the newspaper headlines. It was the case of Leon Belmont, a man accused of fraud. Authorities claimed that he was a woman wearing men’s clothing, passing herself off as a man. Why so much uproar over this particular case? And was it for the reasons we’d expect?

Historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez explores what life looked like in late 1800s Minneapolis, why fraud might’ve been top of mind, and how historians make responsible histories. To get more insight into these questions and more, Chantel sat down with public historian Lizzie Ehrenhalt and PhD candidate Myra Billund-Phibbs.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about Minnesota Unraveled! Please fill out our survey ⁠here⁠.

The Midwest—and Minnesota in particular—is known for its roadside attractions, from the world’s biggest ball of twine (made by one person) to the world’s largest boot. But drive through the Northwoods town of Bemidji, Minnesota, and you’ll find towering statues of a legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his pal— Babe the Blue Ox—looking over the lake shore.

This episode, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodríguez probes the history—and myths—behind these statues. How did they end up there, and why does Paul Bunyan’s story linger in popular culture and what does it tell us about the logging industry? To better understand these questions and more, Chantel speaks with librarian and educator Jennifer Kleinjung, as well as Kasey Keeler, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about Minnesota Unraveled! Please fill out our survey ⁠here⁠.

Women’s basketball is having a moment in the United States—in fact, Minnesota’s own WNBA team, the Lynx, have won four championships and even made it to the finals in 2024. But while sports have empowered women in modern society, the history of basketball—not unlike the history of women in this country—is, well, complicated. Peek into the far corner of the Minnesota History Center’s exhibit on girlhood, and you’ll uncover another layer to that history—the relationship between Native communities and basketball.

In this episode, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez dives into the intimate and complex history of Native peoples and what came to be known as rez, or reservation, ball. How did Native people develop a deep, communal connection to something that was introduced as part of an effort to destroy that very sense of community? To better understand these intricacies, Chantel talks with historian and former ball-player Syd Beane, along with former player and coach Brook LaFloe and documentary filmmaker Leya Hale.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about Minnesota Unraveled! Please fill out our survey ⁠here⁠.

Buffalo once roamed across Minnesota in the thousands. Now, the Minnesota Bison Collaborative is working to bring them back. It’s a trickier proposition than you might think. It requires community involvement, prairie restoration, and careful monitoring of it all.

This episode, host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez talks with natural resource manager Ferin Davis Anderson and conservation biologist Mary Mallinger about the ins and outs of bringing bison home to Minnesota.

Publishing note: Our next episode will be available January 23, 2025

We'd love to hear your thoughts about Minnesota Unraveled! Please fill out our survey ⁠here⁠.

Think “buffalo” and you probably think “Wild West,” “Yellowstone”, or “Great Plains.” In this two-part episode, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez uncovers why you should also think “Minnesota”. The history of bison in the North Star State is a long one, but not one that’s well-known. 

Through conversations with Native natural resource manager Ferin Davis Anderson (enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe/Mitchifs in North Dakota), conservation biologist Mary Mallinger, and historian Pete DeCarlo, Chantel fills in the picture of bison’s history with Minnesota’s prairies – and people.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about Minnesota Unraveled! Please fill out our survey ⁠here⁠.

Hot dogs, deep fried oreos, and thrill rides – all things you can find at Minnesota’s State Fair. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find stories more interesting than the latest food on a stick. Tucked in the History and Heritage Center are two placards highlighting “baby competitions” that once took place on the fairgrounds.

This episode, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez unpacks the complicated, nuanced history of Better Baby competitions. What were they, where did they come from, and what were they hoping to achieve? To get the answers, Chantel sits down with public historians Laura Leppink and Sarah Pawlicki.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about Minnesota Unraveled! Please fill out our survey ⁠here⁠.

Dotted throughout the Twin Cities are fallout shelter signs. Chances are you’ve seen one of these black and yellow signs attached to a very sturdy building. Have you wondered: What purpose did they serve? Why were fallout shelters needed to begin with? What was it like to live in the atomic age?

For this second episode of MN Unraveled, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez explores the history of fallout shelters. What starts with a question about the origin of fallout shelter signs becomes an exploration of the family and the American way of life. She dives into this history with author Dave Kenney and historian Elaine Tyler May.

If you’re in the West Side of St. Paul, there’s a chance a splash of color will catch your eye – one of the neighborhood’s many murals. Where did they all come from? Do they have a shared heritage? And who are the artists behind them?

For this first episode of Minnesota Unraveled, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez delves into the West Side’s rich history, and why Chicano art is at its heart. She talks with Ralph Brown, a longtime resident and co-founder of the West Side Community Organization. To gain more insight to the works of art themselves, she sits down with renowned Chicano artist, Jimmy Longoria.

Introducing Minnesota Unraveled, a new podcast from the Minnesota Historical Society. Each episode, historian and host Dr. Chantel Rodriguez uses her training to investigate unsung stories of Minnesota history, and how that history plays out for Minnesotans each and every day.