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.

 

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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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.

 

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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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.

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’ve got the inside scoop on why the Guthrie’s “Cabaret” is one of their best productions in years. “The Great Gatsby” turns 100 – is it worth another read? Plus, we’ll tell you about the Culinary North Stars that are pushing the boundaries of the Twin Cities’ dining scene.

 

Read more about the Culinary North Stars, Gatsby’s centennial, Gatsby remixes and the Guthrie’s production of “Cabaret”.

 

This week our guests are taste editor Nicole Hvidsten, general assignment reporter Zoë Jackson, interim books editor Chris Hewitt, theater critic Rohan Preston and digital food and culture producer Abby Sliva.

 

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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This Fourth of July weekend, our music critic breaks down the best concert venues in town and takes us backstage at a Dylan concert. We’ll tell you where to stay cool with cotton candy-topped beverages and help you find a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard route through the Twin Cities’ most interesting waters. 

 

Read more about the best concert venues, gourmet cotton candy, and paddling urban lakes and rivers. 

 

This week our reporters are music critic Jon Bream, food and drink reporter Joy Summers, and built environment reporter Greta Kaul. 

 

You can follow Aaron Brown on X, Bluesky and Facebook at @minnesotabrown.   

 

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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Pride weekend, and there are 10,000 ways to celebrate - our team has your weekend plans on lock. We’ll get you caught up on local women’s rugby just in time for the championship final this weekend. The story of the closure (and reopening) of 19 Bar is a window into the history of an important gayborhood in Minneapolis. We’ll tell you about it. Plus, what it’s like to walk Minneapolis from the tippity top to the very bottom. 

 

This week our reporters are general assignment reporter Zoë Jackson, medical technology reporter Victor Stefanescu, sports intern Shelby Swanson, and digital food and culture producer Abby Sliva. 

 

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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Happy Pride Month! We’ll hear stories from an online map that’s documenting stories of LGBTQ and Two Spirit people in Greater Minnesota. Grandma’s Marathon is this weekend and we’ll take a closer look at the one hill runners will have to face to finish. We’ll show you the line between legal and illegal e-bikes. And, we’ll get the inside scoop on the clawcade craze. Are we OK with these little casinos for kids?

 

Read more about the Greater MN queer history map, Lemon Drop Hill, e-bikes, and clawcades.

 

This week our reporters are columnist Laura Yuen, Duluth reporter Christa Lawler, outdoors reporter Bob Timmons, and visual art reporter Alicia Eler. 

 

You can follow Aaron Brown on X, Bluesky and Facebook at @minnesotabrown.   

 

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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Our food expert shares her insider’s guide to the best food in downtown St. Paul – morning, noon and night. The job market is hard for everyone right now, but especially for recent college grads. We’ll get the full picture of what’s going on. Plus, we’ll tell you about a new place in southern Minnesota that uncovers a fascinating piece of Dakota history. 

Read more about what to eat in downtown St. Paul, unemployment among college grads and a groundbreaking archaeological find in Southern Minnesota.  

This week our reporters are food and drink reporter Joy Summers, economic reporter Emma Nelson and Rochester reporter Trey Mewes.

You can follow Aaron Brown on X, Bluesky and Facebook at @minnesotabrown.   

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. 

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

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We’re talking about some of the best ways to kick off a great summer. It’s the unofficial Prince Week in Minnesota, but the celebrations are legit. We’ll be your guide to the purple festivities. The state health department has cracked down on unlicensed pools and hot tubs, so what does that mean for your pool party plans? Plus, why a thousand people visit a 20-ft pencil every June and the winning Minnesota women’s sports teams to watch this summer. 

Read more about unofficial Prince Week, unlicensed rental pools, Lake of the Isles giant pencil, and Minneapolis’ women’s sports plans. 

 

This week our guests are features reporter Rachel Hutton, deputy sports editor Naila-Jean Meyers, visual art critic and reporter Alicia Eler, and music critic Jon Bream. 

 

You can follow Aaron Brown on X, Bluesky and Facebook at @minnesotabrown.   

 

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. 

 

Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: lemonadamedia.com/sponsors

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.