By Jim Souhan

When the Star Tribune announced my retirement from the paper in early July, I wrote a couple of farewell columns. The reader comments that accompanied them were kind.

Patrick Reusse, my teammate of more than 36 years, texted me this:

“Everybody loves you. Who knew?’’

I didn’t.

I never wrote a column to be agreed with, or to pander to readers’ preconceived notions. I respected my readers enough to assume that they wanted my honest opinion, even if it stung.

That was my job as a sports columnist.

This will be a little different.

“This’’ is my first column for TalkNorth.com, the podcast network I started more than a decade ago.

Over the last couple of months, when I theoretically should have been changing my life, I found myself watching virtually every game involving Minnesota teams, and itching to write.

This will be the ideal home for my new, free, quick-hitting column. You’ll be able to find it at Talknorth.com, the home for our many podcasts, and via my social media feeds.

I plan to write frequently and succinctly. I have stories to tell and thoughts to share, but I’m not going to waste your time or bog you down with run-of-the-mill quotes.

My goal is to have fun, make you think and take advantage of the information and insights delivered by the experts and personalities at TalkNorth.com.

Do we have the best lineup in Minnesota?

Yes, we do: Michael Russo, Jon Krawczynski, Mark Rosen, Dawn Mitchell, Belinda Jensen and Lee Valsvik, Anthony LaPanta, Kevin Gorg, Roy Snalley, LaVelle E. Neal III, Jeff Diamond, Alec Lewis, Mike Grimm and three outdoors shows. We’re also lucky to have Lea B. Olsen as a contributor.

Thanks for your support and kindness over the years. I hope you enjoy this as much as I expect to.

-The hot listen: On last week’s “Jeff Diamond’s Vikings & NFL Insider,’’ the former Vikings GM explained why J.J. McCarthy was never going to be cut or traded this summer, despite what so many national reporters kept saying.

Also last week, on Dawn Mitchell’s “Dawn of Sports’’ pod, Pete Bercich found a commonality between John Randle and Justin Jefferson.

-Next up: My Vikings season preview, accompanied by a surprising (and sure-to-be-wrong) prediction.

-Today’s recommendation: The Slow Horses TV series is about to release another season. The show is excellent, and if you like it, you should check out the novels that it’s based on by Mick Herron, one of my favorite authors.

-Want to advertise with TalkNorth.com? Contact our fabulous VP of business development, Tami Henderson, at THenderson@talknorth.com.