It turns out invasive goldfish in a metro lake make a nice snack for the less picky animals at the zoo. Less work flexibility means more working moms are making big life changes. Plus, we find out if the 40th annual Farm Aid concert really does help farmers. And this year a famous son joins the lineup.

 

Read more about discarded pet goldfish in Lake Cornelia, women leaving the workforce and everything you need to know about attending (or viewing) Farm Aid 2025.

 

This week our guests are intern Sofia Barnett, economic reporter Emma Nelson, and business reporter Brooks Johnson.

 

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Palmer’s Bar is closing after an incredible 119-year run. There’s no replacement but we’ve got some ideas for your new favorite dive bar hangout. Workers are heading back to downtown Minneapolis, and our food team has the ultimate food and drink guide! Plus, we ask the burning question: are campfires still worth it?

 

Read more about bars that might stand in for Palmer’s, eating in downtown Minneapolis and the debate about campfires.

 

This week our guests are music critic Chris Riemenschneider, food and drink reporter Joy Summers, and freelance writer Tim Gihring.

 

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Two Star Tribune photographers share the stories behind the images they took after the shooting at Annunciation school. Plus, why the biggest fans of the young adult romance series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” are also the least likely. And music critic Jon Bream shares some star-studded stories as he celebrates his 50-year career writing about the world’s most famous musicians.

 

View some of Rich and Liz’s photos from the Annunciation School shooting here, read more about “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and check out Jon Bream’s music criticism.

 

This week our guests are photojournalists Richard Tsong-Taatarii and Liz Flores, columnist Laura Yuen, digital designer Anna Boone and music critic Jon Bream.

 

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On Wednesday, a shooting at Annunciation Church rocked Minneapolis. Two children were killed, 18 people were injured and an entire community was shaken. Two experts share advice on how caregivers can find support and offer the words to process this violence with children of all ages. We hear from Jenny Britton from Washburn Center for Children and Matt Witham from Gillette Children’s.

Find more resources here:

• Washburn Center for Children: Steps to take when your child is experiencing a trauma-related emergency
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting 
• “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst 

This week our co-host is columnist Laura Yuen. Read her column here. 

To support “Worth It” and the important work of the Minnesota Star Tribune, subscribe today by visiting Startribune.com/WorthItToSubscribe.Stay up to date with the Star Tribune at @startribune on TikTok, Bluesky, X, Facebook, and Instagram. Lemonada Media is on X, Facebook and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

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We dive into one big story this week. A particular set of religious teachings from Evangelical Christianity shaped Vance Boelter’s life. We find out more about the beliefs that may have fueled his alleged crimes: the assassination of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman, the murder of her husband and their dog and the shooting of Minn. state representative John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. 

 

Read more about Vance Boelter’s religious background.

 

This week our guests are investigative reporters Jeffrey Meitrodt and Sarah Nelson.

 

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Minnesota’s lakes are a source of pride, but does your favorite lake make the grade? There’s a new way for you to check out the stats on lakes around the state. As recreational cannabis expands, we’ve got some best practices for staying safe while getting high. Plus, a beloved novel by Kate DiCamillo celebrates a milestone. 

 

Read more about consuming cannabis safely. Get tickets to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Because of Winn-Dixie.”

 

This week our guests are environmental reporter Greg Stanley, photojournalist Anthony Soufflé, general assignment reporter Elliot Hughes, and interim books editor Chris Hewitt.

 

To support “Worth It” and the important work of the Minnesota Star Tribune, subscribe today by visiting Startribune.com/WorthItToSubscribe.

 

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This year we’ve all been dealing with unhealthy air, but summer camps and the kids who attend them have been facing extra challenges. How are they coping and is this the new normal? We talk to one Boundary Waters newbie and one veteran about their trials and triumphs in Minnesota’s wilderness crown jewel. Plus, a unique new wedding venue in North St. Paul, and it might tell us a little something about wedding trends in general.

 

Read more about the hot, smoky, rainy summer, going to the Boundary Waters for the first time and the Garter Toss wedding chapel. 

 

This week our guests are built environment reporter Greta Kaul, breaking news intern Anna Sago, general assignment reporter Alex Chhith, Minneapolis reporter Susan Du and features reporter Rachel Hutton.

 

To support “Worth It” and the important work of the Minnesota Star Tribune, subscribe today by visiting Startribune.com/WorthItToSubscribe.

 

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This week, we're sharing a show we think you'll like: MPR News with Angela Davis is MPR News’ daily live call-in show and podcast. The show features conversations about life in Minnesota and how the state is changing, Monday – Thursday at 9 a.m. Hosted by award-winning journalist, Angela Davis, the show is currently in its sixth year. You can listen to the show on-air, online at mprnews.org/angela-davis or wherever you listen to podcasts.

To get all the book recommendations from this episode, visit: https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2025/07/08/inspiring-young-readers-kids-authors-on-books-that-connect

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Recreational marijuana has been legal in Minnesota for two years now. We’ve got an update on where things stand. People are getting pumped up about inflatable watercrafts. We’ll talk about how these inflatables became game changers for lake life. Plus, wild rice harvests have been diminishing, and there’s a fierce debate over how to respond. What you need to know about the battle over Minnesota’s state grain.

 

Read more about inflatable watercraft, wild rice and Mark Boswell’s personal essay about wild ricing. 

 

This week our guests are audience editor Matt DeLong, outdoors reporter Bob Timmons and North Central Minnesota reporter Kim Hyatt.

 

Update: In this week’s episode, it was mistakenly stated that there was a prophecy about wild rice among the Ojibwe and Dakota people. We have updated the audio and removed the error. This was a prophecy among the Ojibwe, not the Dakota.

 

To support “Worth It” and the important work of the Minnesota Star Tribune, subscribe today by visiting Startribune.com/WorthItToSubscribe.

 

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Going to the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival this weekend? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know. People are using buy-now-pay-later to afford things like groceries – but at what cost? Plus, Mendota Heights neighbors are battling a bird colony polluting their lake with poo. But a solution to this crappy situation is proving difficult. 

 

Read more about Minnesota Yacht Club, buy-now-pay-later loans, and Lake Augusta. 

 

This week our guests are music critic Chris Riemenschneider, business reporter Bill Lukitsch and south metro reporter Eva Herscowitz.

 

To support “Worth It” and the important work of the Minnesota Star Tribune, subscribe today by visiting Startribune.com/WorthItToSubscribe.

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