Andrew Zimmern, celebrated chef, writer, and television personality, is an adventurous, passionate storyteller, a media producer, and a person devoted to long-term recovery. In this interview, edited for clarity and length, Zimmern shares insights into his early life, his work, and sobriety. “I had a childhood that anyone would envy. My father ran a big …

Hey, you! Yeah, you! What if I told you that in zero easy steps you could become a completely average version of yourself. Imagine if being more physically fit, eating better, reading more, learning more, being more organized, and meeting new people didn’t matter because you embraced being a completely unremarkable human being. What if …

This issue, we talk with Melrose Center‘s Heather Gallivan about her work helping those with eating disorders (EDs). Can you tell us a little about how you got involved in this kind of work? I had an interest in eating disorders since I was an undergrad when I did a shadowing experience at an eating …

In many American Indian communities, food is much more than sustenance. It’s medicine. It’s ceremony. It’s connection to land, to ancestors, to spirit, and to each other. And today, in Minnesota, that sacred understanding of food is helping Native people on the path to recovery and wellness. At the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), …

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Hippocrates It’s growing season in Minnesota. Farmer’s markets are bursting with vegetables that tease our tastebuds—radishes, scallions, arugula. Mint and dill transport lettuce into surprise spurts of flavor. The first snap peas pack a crunch when sautéed in a dash of olive oil. Rhubarb’s sweet-sour flavor …

“We have met the enemy and it is us.” —Winnie the Pooh We all know the routine. We promise ourselves to work out at the gym and later find reasons not to. We tell ourselves we’ve had it with being lonely on the weekends yet we don’t join that dating service. We really miss our …

Many years ago, I came upon a very interesting book. The book was entitled When Society Becomes an Addict (Harper Collins Publishers: New York, New York, 1987). The author was Ann Wilson Schaef, who was a clinical psychologist and died in 2020. I began thinking about this book a number of months ago and finally …

A visit can help you slow down, enjoy nature.   The cold and dark days of winter are mostly in the rearview mirror these days. As we move into longer days and warmer temps, Linda Radimecky, an interpretive naturalist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails, reminds us that spring and summer …

On May 16th, 2024, I sent an email to a production company with an idea about a podcast exploring mental health stigma in a diverse variety of faith communities. Twelve months later I completed a six part limited documentary series streaming on all platforms. Sometimes the creative process was life giving. However, I am a …

A Personal Reflection on Ethics, Growth, and Hard Lessons In 2019, Minnesota faced a mounting public health crisis. Substance use was rising, overdose deaths were climbing, and the state’s treatment systems were overwhelmed. Traditional healthcare struggled to keep up. Amid this chaos, one solution began gaining momentum: Peer recovery support offering guidance and encouragement from …