Summer is heating up and temperatures over the next few days are expected to climb into the 90s in many parts of Minnesota.

For many of us, that means finding ways to stay cool and maybe spending more time indoors. But public health experts say extreme heat is more than an inconvenience. It’s the deadliest weather hazard in the United States — and a growing concern in Minnesota.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about what can we do to protect ourselves, our families and our communities during stretches of extreme heat.

Guests:

• Ben Cathey is the chief meteorologist for MPR News. He leads MPR's weather coverage including Climate Cast and the Updraft weather blog and helps Minnesotans understand everything from daily forecasts to long-term climate trends and extreme weather.

• Kristin Raab is the director of the Climate & Health program at the Minnesota Department of Health.

Here’s a link to the Minnesota Department of Health’s resources for extreme heat.

Have you thought about what will happen to your home, your savings or your treasured family keepsakes after you die?

If you’re leaving it to your loved ones to just figure out, you might be leaving them costly and stressful problems.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about why estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy, and what simple steps you can take now to reduce expenses and family conflict when you’re gone.

Kimchi. Kombucha. Yogurt. Sauerkraut. Fermented foods have been part of the human diet for thousands of years but researchers are still trying to understand their potential health benefits.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two researchers about the connection between fermented foods and our health.

Guests:

• Andres Gomez is an associate professor of animal science and food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota.
• Kylene Guse is a researcher and founder of the Living Food Initiative where she explores the connection between food, microbes, ecology and culture. She was also co-owner of the now-closed GYST Fermentation Bar in Minneapolis.

Our friendships are some of the most important relationships we have. Friends are the people we celebrate with, lean on during difficult times, and turn to when we need advice or simply someone to listen.

But for many people, friendship doesn’t come easily. Maybe you’ve moved to a new city, started a new job or are juggling work and family.

Or maybe, you’re rethinking what you want from your social life.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about why adult friendships can be so challenging, what healthy friendships look like and when it's OK to let a relationship go, and what it takes to build meaningful connections that last.

How can we spend less without giving up the stuff we need?

Maybe you're furnishing your first apartment, replacing a broken toaster, looking for clothes for a growing child or trying to put together a professional wardrobe for a new job.

MPR News host Angela Davis wraps up her “Cheap Week” series with ideas for saving money on the clothes we wear and the things that fill our homes.

She and her guests talk about how to stretch your dollar by shopping secondhand at thrift stores, consignment shops and online resale sites, and how to get and give away things for free through neighborhood “Buy Nothing” groups.

Guests:

• Roxanne Sanchez is co-owner of Nine Lives thrift store in St. Paul, which opened in 2024. She’s also an administrator of her neighborhood “Buy Nothing” Facebook group and had a previous career as a costumer for television and movies.
• Anna Thompson is a Minneapolis mom and digital marketing strategist who loves to shop at thrift stores and online resale sites. She runs the sustainable fashion Instagram account @annazzon and previously worked as a personal stylist for Arc’s Value Village thrift stores.

Going out can get expensive fast. By the time you pay for tickets, food, drinks and parking, a single outing can easily cost $100 or more. Most of us don’t want to stop having fun — we just want to spend less doing it.

MPR News host Angela Davis continues her “Cheap Week” series with a conversation about ways to enjoy summer — for less, or even for free. Angela and her guests talk about bargain summer festivals and live music, museum deals, affordable date nights, budget recreation and ways to have fun at home.

Guests:

• Jessica Armbruster is a co-owner and editor at Racket, a Minnesota online news and culture website. She compiles the weekly Freeloader Friday listing of free events. She was previously the arts editor at City Pages.
• Alex V. Cipolle is a senior arts reporter and critic, covering arts and culture for MPR News. She previously covered the arts in the Pacific Northwest and southwest France and has written for publications including The New York Times, Fast Company, Frommer’s and Hyperallergic.

Does it feel like every trip to the grocery store costs more than it used to? You're not alone. With food prices still high, many households are looking for ways to stretch their grocery budgets.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two experts about smart shopping, cutting food waste and preparing healthy, affordable meals.

Guests:

• Mary Schroeder is a health and nutrition educator with the University of Minnesota Extension and a registered dietitian nutritionist. She specializes in helping individuals and families make healthy, affordable food choices through meal planning, food budgeting and food waste reduction. She is based in Willmar, Minnesota.
• Jenny Breen is a chef, public health nutritionist and author of “Cooking Up the Good Life.” She teaches culinary nutrition courses through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota.

Whether you're planning a weekend road trip or hoping to book a flight, travel costs can add up quickly. But there are ways to spend less without giving up the experiences that make a trip memorable.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about searching for airfare deals, ideas for destinations closer to home and finding more value when you travel.

Guests:

• Kyle Potter is the editor of the travel website Thrifty Traveler.
• Sara Joy Berhow is the public relations supervisor for the Parks and Trails Division of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Next week, the United States marks a unique milestone: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

For some Americans, the semiquincentennial is a moment to celebrate the nation’s achievements and ideals. For others, it is an opportunity to reflect on the gaps between those ideals and the realities of American history. For many, it is both.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talk about what the anniversary means for the U.S.

Craig Leipold may be one of downtown St. Paul’s biggest boosters.

He’s the owner of the Minnesota Wild, and his company manages the venues that bring two million people downtown every year for games, concerts and other events: the Grand Casino Arena, the Saint Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

This year, he expanded his sports franchises to include a new women’s volleyball team that he hopes will attract even more fans to downtown. And he just became majority owner of the historic St. Paul Hotel, the century-old hotel overlooking Rice Park where he stays on the top floor when he isn’t home in Racine, Wis.

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Leipold about his career, the business of sports, being a dad of five sons and what’s ahead for downtown St. Paul.