The Hangout Podcast - Episode 11 - Melinda Howe

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Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:21

Hey, Minot. Welcome again to the Magic District Hangout Podcast. This is Christine Staley again.

SPEAKER_03 0:26

Corey Long. How you doing, Mineet?

SPEAKER_04 0:28

Yeah. And so today we are actually talking with someone who is a local business owner on Main Street, like I am. And both of us have actually worked with her at different levels. But the cool thing is that Cory knows her in a different way than I know her. So I'm going to let bring it over to you. You can interview her.

SPEAKER_03 0:44

I mean, well, I guess uh this is uh Melinda Howe. Yeah, thanks for coming. Yes, and she owns uh Ascend Wellness, and it's pretty dang cool to have Melinda on here. I uh, you know, I I've known Melinda since, if you will, high school. We've, you know, had you know, just uh hung out with this the circles of friends that we graduated from a rather we all know how that goes. Yeah, like rather large high school. And um, but yeah, um, you know, I guess uh really to take it off, Melinda. You know, we're here to talk about, you know, Ascend Wellness, you know, how you basically built your your compass, you know, and where maybe if you could give us a background on on how you got started into the medical field.

SPEAKER_02 1:20

Um, so I actually went into computer science when I first went into your wow, that's a sport science, math brained, I suppose. And then um I had my first child and then decided I want to go to nursing. So gosh, especially for then. How is that? That is so opposite. I'm so it is. I was in C and I didn't like the programming part. So I was like finding a different direction. Um did you have that like desire to want to do that when you were in high school or was that something you decided? Actually, it was college. I wanted to go into journalism when I first graduated high school. I wanted to write. Um, there isn't any of that around here. I would have had to leave why not at the time. And then I was like, um just interested in computers. And I mean it was bigger back in like I graduated in '96. Yeah. Computers are a bit old. Right? Like, I mean, there wasn't um like the the internet and things like that were kind of newer, right? By like a few newer. So I like um that wasn't interested. I actually really liked teaching people how to use it. Like that was more of my thing. So when I had started doing programming, I was like, nah, not for me. Um, and then had an abbey and decided to go into nursing and he fell in love with that. Yeah, yeah. Oh my goodness. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:23

Now I believe I I talked to you about this before, but you here in Mina, you actually um were a nurse in uh in the cardio.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

Yep. So I when I graduated, I went to Minot State for my nursing and then I graduated, worked at Trinity um for five years. I was on their flight team. So I did critical care flight.

SPEAKER_04 2:42

Yep, yep. Oh my gosh, so one that flies all over Mina.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

Oh my, I hear that all the time. Yeah, goodness. Yep, for a year. And then um, when I was applying to anesthesia school, um, because it is more of a math science brain. Anesthesia is definitely physics, organic chem, all of that stuff. Um, so it kind of was like a natural progression, I think, the way that my brain was working. Yeah, I really computer fascinated by how we had to manipulate the physiology and help people and keep stable and in ICU. And then that's a that's a difficult position to have. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 3:12

Yeah, I I heard about that.

SPEAKER_03 3:13

Yeah, no, it really is. I that's life for death. Yeah. So my dad was a scrub tech at Trinity, but like right up the road here. Yes. Yeah. And uh, so yeah, I mean, he would he I I know a little bit about the background of of that.

SPEAKER_02 3:24

Yeah. Yeah. Yep. So then I um I got into the Mayo, well, actually as a nursing student, I did the summer summer three program at Mayo Clinic as a nursing student. So I was there for 10 weeks, did a practical.

SPEAKER_03 3:36

And then they kind of like So Mayo is the, if you will, the Harvard of this region. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:44

Yeah. So they they did a lot of like recruiting in that program, which was kind of n interesting. So like we talked to their anesthesia program. They came and taught us about the offerings and things like that there. And then when I when it came time to apply, like I applied there in a couple other places. But so that's where I went to that's so for anesthesia. That's not GND bar either. Yeah, it's like yeah, next state over. Yeah, that's not too bad. We moved there, so that was about just about three years um of that, and then came back here. Um worked at Trinity for two years, and then we decided to travel. So we moved out to Maine for five years and Maine, like Maine, like the opposite side of the country.

SPEAKER_04 4:19

I've been there, it's beautiful. Do you like the winters? Um they're very different.

SPEAKER_02 4:24

Very different, very different. Wet, cold, uh different cold than it's here. Um the summers also were not quite as warm. Like there's only a couple houses in Rockport that even had central air. So kind of missed our summers, to be honest. Like I yeah, so worked out there um for five years and then took uh a a chief position down in Arizona. So wow, what a drastic change too. Yeah, as a as an independent anesthesia provider. So we moved down to Arizona because we wanted more warmth. Yeah, and then I had that contract. No, had that contract for three years and then um during COVID, so that was really tough. And um then took a contract in California where I was two weeks on, two weeks off. Um, and then during that time my husband and just decided he wanted to move back home and watches us kind of time and sure. So then I commuted for like a year and a half back in. So you were still doing work down there, but you come back here to see him and like okay.

SPEAKER_04 5:21

Yeah, we already established back here.

SPEAKER_02 5:23

Yep, so two on, two off. Fly there for two weeks and take call and do all that stuff, and then we come back and work on the then I decide at some point I want to transition back here fully.

SPEAKER_05 5:34

Right.

SPEAKER_02 5:34

Um, and I had always wanted to open a ketamine, ketamine clinic. I was more of an opioid-free provider, meaning using magnesium and before going to opioids. Like I did full opioid-free anesthetics if I could, regional blocks.

SPEAKER_03 5:52

Can I ask why? Really quick, like why not to use opioids as your last choice?

SPEAKER_02 5:58

Yeah, well, because they just they don't they don't feel good, right? There's so many things we can do without using opioids. It makes people throw up, it stops their gut, their gut up, they don't poop. Like there's so many things that that make that risky. Yeah, they're there for a reason. Clearly, you need to have pain control or you don't heal either. So, you know, I use ketamine as a big one that I like because that keeps things moving in the right direction. So ketamine and magnesium and um some of those good hydration and the other things.

SPEAKER_03 6:24

If we could get away from opioids andesture gases as much as we can, there's less is there more science uh coming to that uh you know, diverting away from opioids, you know.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

Oh, yeah, definitely. Um, even even 10 years ago, we were doing uh enhanced recovery after surgery. So, you know, eating up to two hours prior. I actually built that program in Maine for the department there. And then when we were in Arizona, I still kind of did those. And I believe Dakota Medical here is also doing opioid free, which is pretty cool. So as much as they can.

SPEAKER_04 6:51

Well, you know, again, a lot there's something where do you not have a drug problem, right? And that people can get hooked on things after. That's the other thing that I think about, you know.

SPEAKER_03 7:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 7:00

And and and I mean they talk about fentanyl, but now I mean opioids forever, right.

SPEAKER_02 7:06

And you want people moving after surgery, like they do better. Yeah, right. We used to like get them like super comfy and have them lay in bed for a few days. Well, we know better now. Like, that's not how our body heals. We need to get them moving. So yeah. So then it just kind of translates into other other health apprentices.

SPEAKER_04 7:22

Interesting, I have to say, because I know I I've been I've had two children. So I remember I had two different doctors, obstetricians that I ended up having. The first one was really um interesting. I mean, it was a very strict diet right after I had my kid, like literally like broccoli, rice, potatoes, no salt, anything. So that's what they prescribe. They gave that to me, and I literally had to get up and walk, but I'm like, I And no protein. Nothing, nothing. And the other one, I could eat anything I want, and I'm like, oh my god, what a difference. But the experiences are different. It's almost like so you're a healthcare practitioner, but you're also the way you see the body is different. And I think a lot of people don't understand that hospitals are great, walk-ins are great, and and and and uh the what is that, the other one, urgent care and all those are great, but everyone sees things differently at different protocols. So I almost feel like they're doing themselves a disservice unless they do some research before they decide to walk in before they get sick. Yes, preemptively. Right.

SPEAKER_03 8:13

Yeah, yeah, and and that's kind of what you more focus on, Melinda, is the holistic with all that.

SPEAKER_01 8:19

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:20

And I think that's fantastic. Yeah.

unknown 8:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:22

I mean even anesthesia, you're you should be eating well, you should be having some protein before surgery, you should be hydrating and keeping your carbs up to two hours prior. Like so, even in even in that, when you're going off to sleep, everyone in the room should be quiet. You know, we should play quiet music. Only one verse should be a voice should be heard as you're going off to sleep. There's so many like little things that that people don't realize that anesthesia providers, even just a not part of what I do, which I do something totally different at a ascend, but um, just just little little things. Um but we're friends.

SPEAKER_04 8:50

The thing is that triggers are different. So, like both of my things, I'll give you an example because I love what you're saying. Yeah. When I went, I I was supposed to have natural births, they didn't happen both times, but I had to have, you know, C-sections. And I literally, the second time I had it, after I knew what I went through, the first one when I didn't know it was an emergency one, yeah, I ended up bringing a set of uh things. I closed my I I already knew I was going in. I put the um eye mask on the whole time from the moment they took me from my room. I didn't want to see anything. I didn't want to see anything, I don't want to see light. I didn't like it's almost like I already needed to like be in my own self just to deal with what I was going through because it wasn't a choice I wanted. But sometimes you have to know that and prepare yourself. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:27

So those little things count. So what they basically, if you will, uh if you can make the the the patient feel, you know, secure. And in control in some respect, too.

SPEAKER_02 9:36

Yes, yeah, yeah. So feel in control of their situation and their environment. Yeah. So and you're carrying that. You bring up a good point with with c-sections also. So a lot of times the propensity is to strap arms out when they go out. I we don't I didn't do that ever in a C-section. Yeah. Played Quiet Music. Um, you know, I even use essential oils and things like that in the in the OR. So like we did um in Maine, um, I was part of the program where we did um, it was like a mom baby friendly initiative where they nursed in the OR. We had clear drapes, they delivered from the C-section. So like there are a lot of facilities out there doing that, and it's it's yeah, pretty and then it gives mom control.

SPEAKER_04 10:13

Yeah, well they especially if it's a decision they don't want to make and it's an emergency, you know, they get freaked out. Yeah. And again, that doesn't help the baby if you're you're scared.

SPEAKER_02 10:20

So that always translates to the baby, too. Yeah. So and I watched the vital signs. So I watched for years doing C-sections where before they got baby in their arms, their vital signs and our blood pressure was all over the c all over the place. And the Sioux mom got baby on her chest, it was like perfect lines, like just everything settles out. It's just pretty.

SPEAKER_04 10:36

Yeah, that's amazing. So, so back now, if you decide to come back to my not now, tell us that story.

SPEAKER_02 10:42

Yeah, so I I think that after COVID, we just kind of were just missing home. You know, it was pretty isolating during that time. California COVID, I heard it was a very tough place to be. It was it was New York and Miami. Yeah. I think we just were like, yeah, let's let's go back home. Our my kids wanted to come back home. And um, so it was just kind of like time. We're we're so happy to be back. Like I think community-wise, um everywhere we've lived, it's just been, you know, like there's different things that you miss from that room. So we're definitely a boomerang family and we we won't be leaving. So we're we're happy to do that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 11:17

So tell us how what what did you need to do to establish, re-establish yourself in the community as just a you know, a a a citizen. And then when did you decide to open up your business? How'd that work?

SPEAKER_02 11:27

Yeah. Um we started to open pretty fast, actually. We moved back, I think, in July, and I had my first patient November, November 15th. Wow. So we went, we went pretty quick. But I knew where you were gonna be, like where your location was, yeah, we think. Um so I um I wanted to be downtown. Oh, you did? Yeah, okay, cool. That's great. The only spot I found was already being rented by somebody. Oh, and I said, well, hey, if it comes open, I'll wait. Just let me know if it comes open. And then three weeks later, that person had because COVID was still kind of coming down. This is 21, so that particular business was struggling to get things open because of and a healthcare clinic's very different, right? We didn't get set shut down, we had different um goals, I know. Yeah, so they were able to get out of their lease and then I took it over and wow, that was just like serendipitous then in a way. Yeah, so we're ready, right? Yeah, we opened pretty quick, and then you know, like I would do virtual consults when I was on my downtime in California, taking the two weeks away. And wow, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:21

So you were like working dual roles, it seems like business owner.

SPEAKER_02 12:24

I feel like we all do that, don't we?

SPEAKER_04 12:26

Yeah, no, I know, but like different states too. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Wow. Wow. I didn't know that. And because I met you, I think the first time I went there was when I got a massage.

SPEAKER_05 12:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:36

And I met you though briefly at an event. At a um, it was, was it a downtown event upstairs at the spot?

SPEAKER_02 12:46

Yes, that was um, yeah, that was one of the that was the first time I seen. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:50

And that was like the annual meeting or something or get together. And I remember, and so that's yeah, and then I ended up going to your place and then you guys moved and I was like, what's going on? Are they closed? I didn't know. And then I became part of the board of the facade program, and I saw you guys, yep, you know, were talking to them about the Renaissance zone and stuff like that. So at some point, and then I think that's how I met you, really.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

Yeah. Yeah. We um so we opened in that space and then, you know, expanded pretty quick. Like I opened I opened for with ketamine therapy, which is chronic, which is chronic and mental health. It's very useful in suicidal ideation and some mental health conditions. Um, but I also knew that wasn't the only thing that I I couldn't just run a whole business on that. So I had done that's where I'd kind of done some extra training in IV nutrition and um then really got sucked into functional medicine.

SPEAKER_04 13:36

So were you kind of like the first person to kind of offer that here?

SPEAKER_02 13:39

Um nope. Nope. There was another clinic that did it before me, not too long before me. Um, and I so I at that point I started to do my functional medicine training and then also decided to go back and get my FNP. So I was a CRNA, so I was already an anesthesia provider and then went back to get dual certification as a school at the same time. Yeah, and I did my functional medicine training on account too.

SPEAKER_04 14:03

Like seriously, okay. Talk about organization skills here.

SPEAKER_02 14:06

I don't yeah, maybe I don't know. It's kind of a blur now, but I mean and then we bought it right then we bought the buildings. Like I was doing all of that while we were in my building.

SPEAKER_04 14:16

Listen, I remember I I know I had a lot going on in my life, but I look at that, it's like you don't know what you're capable of until you're going through it and you don't even think about stopping, you just keep going. Yeah, and then you look back, you're like, it's a blur. I'm like, I don't know how I did that. So I commend you because it's tough. Yeah, especially during after COVID, we didn't know what was going on. Yeah, it's always crazy.

SPEAKER_02 14:33

Right, right. You know, so we just we we got that space. It's kind of funny though, because when I moved back, I was having lunch at with a friend um over at Cookies for You, and I was like, that's the building I want to buy. I still have the text message I sent to my friend Heidi. She's a was a realtor at the time, and I had sent her the a year before we bought it. True. I was like, that's the building I want to buy. Find out who owns that one, you know. And then a year later, um, Christmas time, we're looking and we were downtown, and um another business owner downtown was like, You I had already made an offer on a place on Broadway and it didn't feel right. They accepted the offer, but they came back with some contingencies. And she was like, Oh, I'm really happy you're downtown. Like, you guys belong downtown. And I was like, Oh my goodness, this isn't I need to back out the other offer. And it was a blizzard downtown. And so we Google mapped, I because I knew the number was on the front of that building and found the number and then called called Floyd at the time that evening. And I was like, Will you sell me your building? He's like, sure.

SPEAKER_04 15:27

Oh my God, that's awesome. So Rand, I like that she said it because that building spoke to you the way this building spoke to me. The moment I saw this building, yeah, before I even had a business, that's how it was. We knew it was this thing. Like I walked, I said, Oh my god, that building. Yeah. That was just like what stopped me. But I never thought in a million years I'd own it. Yeah. I never thought I'd have a business in it. Yeah. So I love that you say that because you have to go on your instinct and how you feel. I think that really is the trigger of what guides your real, real heart-to-heart decision. Yeah. Do you feel like you made the right decision now? Oh, absolutely. Yeah. We're supposed to be in that building. Yeah. I feel so too.

SPEAKER_02 15:56

For sure.

SPEAKER_04 15:57

I mean, look, I wouldn't be doing this today if I didn't have this building.

SPEAKER_02 16:00

And we still have more plans. It'll just take time. It's a big building.

SPEAKER_03 16:02

The only one we're talking about is the old headquarters, right? Yes.

SPEAKER_02 16:06

It was headquarters, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:07

Headquarters.

SPEAKER_02 16:07

Which my sister went to school back in the 90s there. So I was actually a model there for a perm when I was like 11.

SPEAKER_04 16:13

And you're talking about the hair. I actually had my hair cut there and dye there, like highlighted. Yeah. I love that. Um, we actually just got a new one opened though, downtown, which is fantastic. We need one. We totally needed one. Yeah. Yeah. But but tell them what that building used to be, which is really what I thought you used to do. Guys, listen, if you okay, everyone listening, you gotta hear this. There's a lot of history downtown, and it's crazy, but some of the things if you learn about it, you'll be shocked. So Corey, go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 16:40

They used to be the old, old, old Masonic Lodge in Wynnet. Yeah. And after this one, they they moved up. But the actually you go upstairs and it's pretty dang cool. Um, and um, and I you know, I I've talked to some of the older gentlemen, um, like Ken Gillespie Dizzy, and a lot of them want to take a tour of it. But yeah, it's it's uh Melinda's taking me upstairs. They actually have a balcony up there. It has the old traditional ways of how a lot lodge is ran. Yeah. I'll just leave it at that.

SPEAKER_04 17:06

Yeah, I I haven't been seen it yet.

SPEAKER_02 17:07

Yes. It's beautiful. I missed that tour. Well, I missed that tour today. There's a big dome up there, it's got like 25 foot ceilings.

SPEAKER_03 17:14

Um it was Laith Schneider myself.

SPEAKER_02 17:16

Yes, even up together that night. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, um, yeah, so our intent is eventually to fix that space up. We're not gonna tear it out. Yeah, but I do sometimes we do sometimes leave the lights on up there. So if you drive downtown, you can see you can see the dome from the road, but we haven't done that in a while. Well, we gotta go up there sometime.

SPEAKER_04 17:33

So you know, I I don't know if this is gonna be a weird sign-off thing, but I gotta throw something out here since it's just chatting chill here.

SPEAKER_03 17:40

Because there's history. There is a history, yeah. You know why there's bars in those windows? I wasn't gonna get in that history, but tell us why there's bars in those windows.

SPEAKER_02 17:47

No, I have not heard that.

SPEAKER_03 17:48

Oh this is you know about the little Chicago.

SPEAKER_02 17:52

Yeah, I know about that, but I don't know why there's bars on those.

SPEAKER_04 17:56

And a lot of uh, I don't know, what do they call that? Ladies of the night?

SPEAKER_02 18:00

Yeah. In in our building? Who told you that story?

SPEAKER_01 18:04

I haven't heard that before.

SPEAKER_04 18:06

I'm not gonna even tell who it was, but it's someone recently I just heard this from who actually knows that specifically and has that fact. I I will give you the person's name off off camera. Yeah, I can't say their name. Okay, yeah, don't say their name. But she did tell me that one lady was so upset with one of her suitors that she was going to tell the wife when she saw her, she was gonna scream out the window and someone pushed her out. That's why there's bars on her.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

Well, if you wanted to stay away with drama now, we've just got what was her name?

SPEAKER_01 18:31

I don't oh the lady who told me that I no, the lady that well, I don't know that answer, but you could ask her. Okay, because there well, there's you we believe there's a female. We believe there's a female ghost. Well, we believe I'm not gonna go. Are you serious?

SPEAKER_03 18:44

Well, we know you know here. Well, now what you've got to do is get the the go well Yeah, the the the yeah, the paranormal investigators get to Koda.

SPEAKER_02 18:52

Actually, actually the prior owners of that building did have it blessed by um yeah, the pre set St. Leo. Well, fantastic.

SPEAKER_03 18:58

There was some But I just thought that was odd because that building is known as you that you mentioned that there was possible female ghost. And I have a lot of.

SPEAKER_04 19:10

I'll tell you off camera. I can't say it about it. Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_02 19:13

Well, so like we think we know the ghost name. We talk about it all the time. It's funny because, anyways, there's kind of a lot of we should another we should have like another podcast to talk about there. The the the the the downtown, the channels and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 19:25

I didn't know anything about that.

SPEAKER_02 19:26

So that is so cool. If you guys want to hear about that, let us know. The name of the ghost that we think is the name because somebody said this name. Yeah, it's like uh who how would that name come from? Like, why would you say that name? I never heard that name. I Googled it because I was like, this has to be real. I Googled that name, and the person who popped up, there was an O bit, and she worked at the Victory Cafe and in the cafe at the Big M building. I was like, it has to be her. What year was this? Um, well, she passed in to Big M building. So this is Oh, this is so she she worked in the restaurant at the Big M building. I can't remember what it was called. And then at Victory, which was before Charlie used.

SPEAKER_01 20:01

No, I'm talking about like I don't know. I thought you're talking about the woman who actually got through the window. That's story I've not heard. Oh, that's what I'm talking about. Like, I don't know. The lady, no, the lady, the lady who, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:10

I don't believe this lady, I think no, I believe this lady got thrown by the window. She was a little bit. But the point is, that's why there's bars up there now. Because I was wondering, I'm like, why would bars up? I need to look into that because I have not heard that story, and I'm kind of surprised I haven't heard that story.

SPEAKER_01 20:19

You know, there's so many crazy stories about this town that I just I find fascinating. I mean, we've done the other building too. Like they say there's ghosts in there with the Rick's jewelry building on the corner.

SPEAKER_02 20:28

The Rick's jewelry building Which the Down Under just opened. Yes, the Down Under just opened in there, and they have amazing sushi knowing. We are what? We went down.

SPEAKER_04 20:36

No, we've got this podcast set now. I was not a big sushi guy, but she shipped me some. Guys who have to go. This is like literally a sushi show. And the people who work there are fantastic. And like treachery, it's a whole experience. It's like a vibe like New York. I square. It really is.

SPEAKER_03 20:52

I like how you describe it.

SPEAKER_04 20:53

If you're going to like New York and you know, it's underground, it's tight, it's small. Like if you've been in the city, it's you know what it's like. If you go to the village, it's the same way. Yeah, but it's it's an inner city. It has a whole feeling in it. And that's the experience I think people are willing to pay for now. Is that they go, even if it's a price a little higher and they get the you know, the quality and they get the experience, they're like, man, that was worth it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:12

But you know, like that the seafood that they have and they have got lobster, like do you know that.

SPEAKER_01 21:16

Oh no, it's it's actually really no, I uh really hate correctly because I like real crazy.

SPEAKER_04 21:21

Yeah, I'm a little bit of a snob when it comes to crowd. I don't like that phase stuff. I'm sorry, guys. I really am. But but yeah, no, it's fantastic. So you have that building, you have this building. Yeah, and then when you opened this building, this was a huge building to fill. Did you have enough people to fill it when you first opened it with your we had we kind of had some plans okay?

SPEAKER_02 21:39

But that wasn't the intent, wasn't I mean we were slowly kind of growing. I had some things kind of laid out how I wanted it. We actually ended up when we redid the main floor, there was like 19 different rooms.

SPEAKER_01 21:48

So there was a few different rooms. 18, wow.

SPEAKER_02 21:51

That's a lot to fill. Yeah. So it wasn't like the main floor. We've pretty much filled them up with the tennis service. Yeah, just the main floor.

SPEAKER_04 21:58

So that's that's that's really fast. To take that many rooms to fill the services. That is like, yeah. Think about how many different things you can get under one roof. That's kind of neat. Not going a whole bunch of different places.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

And we can go up.

SPEAKER_04 22:11

Oh, I said. I did vertical. So tell us a little bit about some of the things that you offer so people aren't aware of that. Maybe they'd be quite surprised.

SPEAKER_03 22:18

So can I come in and get my blood work done and I can bring it back to you, correct? Yes. And you can say this is what you're deficient of.

SPEAKER_02 22:24

Yes. Yes. So we do beings. I am a function integrated provider. So I do all of it. You know, I'm not opposed to traditional Western magic and we're just placed for all of it. But I just want to change your lifestyle first so that you have optimal conditions in your body, right? Like, um, so yeah, you can see our providers and get labs. We have uh two primary care providers. I probably focus a little bit more on pain and maybe not necessarily so much primary care, but we also have Brianne, she's fantastic, and then we have another nurse practitioner starting the summer with us and one more in the fall.

SPEAKER_04 22:53

So I saw a post on that recently.

SPEAKER_02 22:55

Yeah, so we'll have four by the end of the year. Hopefully, it seems like that's what's gonna work out. And then we have a mental health NP, Kira, who works with us, and we also have Hannah. Um, she has a she has a space in Bismarck and she comes here on Tuesdays.

SPEAKER_04 23:07

Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_02 23:07

Yep. So she's our other mental health NP that's just started with us. So she has available appointments. Yeah. And she comes every Tuesday here and then does virtual in Bismarck also. And then we have Katie as our um therapist, and she does brain spotting and EMDR. We have TMS for mental health, and then we have ketamine. Those are kind of two upper level non-medication options for mental health um issues. And a lot of times we do like people that come to us kind of see a little bit all of us. Yeah. You know, like we do refer kind of amongst ourselves because it's really a collaborative team, which has been really fun. Um, we have um, we have the infusion lounge, we also do cash labs. So like you can, you don't actually have to see one of our providers to do labs. If you just because like our biggest thing that we want is for people to just be empowered. Yeah. You know, it's like you have control over your health. And I think a lot of people feel like they just need to be told what to do and and give them med and like just changing your gut health. Like it's it's pretty amazing. So like we do have open, like you can just come in and get labs um so that you can if you want to do something with them, clearly you have to schedule an appointment with one of us. We're not responsible for those results. Yeah, you know, but I think it's really impressive to see people that are just interested.

SPEAKER_04 24:20

If somebody did not know how to find you, like they didn't know that you were the option to go to, when would they consider going to you before they go to traditional medicine? Not that against we're against it, but like what would they what would want to spur them to say, okay, I'm gonna come here first, you just to see if it's not that drastic of an issue? Because clearly you're gonna send them somewhere if it is. Sure, sure. But what would like as someone who's never heard of any of this, they're scared, they don't know. They just but they're like, you know what? I don't know if I trust hospitals. I don't know if anything yet. And so what would you say to that person out there who's listening or watching? Like, what would they do? Like, would they just walk in and just say, Hey?

SPEAKER_02 24:55

Yeah, I mean, they could they can symptoms? Yeah, I mean they you you know you don't on that store symptoms. Yeah, I mean you don't really have to have symptoms.

SPEAKER_01 25:02

If they have something that feels like it's reoccurring.

SPEAKER_02 25:03

Yeah, it could be even someone as someone that's just like, hey, I just want to like kind of start to know a little bit more about my health. Like you don't have to have symptoms. I'm curious, like you take care of myself. Okay. Older me or something like that. You know, sometimes we'll get athletes in, people that are training where they're just like, I really want to optimize things. You know, we do the in-body analysis over there too, which shows skeletal muscle mass, and we do a weight loss kind of body composition program too, and we focus on skeletal muscle mass while they're losing. So you know, high protein, so like just general health, you know, we'll get like a wide range. We have people that have cancer in their terminal and are like wondering if there's something natural they can do to just make themselves feel better, whereas sometimes just a Myers infusion can just help with their fatigue. So is that a Myers of the fusion? So Myers Infusion. Um, so Myers is just kind of like a general term for a mixture. That was the guy that created it. Yeah, yeah. So um tr traditionally it has vitamin C or ascorbic acid, magnesium, some B12, calcium. Magnesium is really important you were saying. Yes, yes, yeah. Majority of people are deficient on magnesium.

SPEAKER_03 26:04

This is a good B12 taken up from you know an energy drink.

SPEAKER_04 26:07

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:08

This is the good stuff. Yeah, B12. We're not talking about like the lotus energy or like 12 helps out with uh a lot of mental health. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 26:14

Or it is pills people take at the gas station, they're like trying to pop, like you know what I mean? Like people are like, oh, I got B12, I'll just grab it quick.

SPEAKER_02 26:20

Well, it's actually B12 is actually very fascinating. There's four different forms of B12, there's cyanocobalamin, adenocobalamin, hydroxycobalamin, methylcobalamin. So those are kind of the four different forms. And genetically, people have mutations where they don't actually process some of those forms.

SPEAKER_03 26:34

So like fascinating, even that little bit of a piece, if you will, you listen to like maybe some uh infomercials taking the fish oil to help break down.

SPEAKER_02 26:42

Yeah, yes, yes, yeah. So we I do do some genetic testing and things like that. But like just how people respond to different forms can kind of tell you a lot. Yeah. Um, and then you know, so like um some people that would have like like a comped SNP, which is a different type of mutation, they can get anxious from methylcobalamin, you know, or like yeah, so and then an adeno or hydroxycobalamin might be a better option.

SPEAKER_04 27:06

Okay, so I have a question that I'm thinking, like say that somebody feels like they're tired and they say, Oh, I want to take a what is it, be something complex, be twice or be complex? B complex because I like I need energy, like their friends telling them, I take it, I'm good. But would it behoove them or like make it better for them to like say, hey, let me just see? Because now you're you're opening a door to say it might not affect them the way it's they're expecting. Yeah, everyone else looked for friends. Yeah, some people don't break it down. You hear that all the time, like on posts when people say, Oh, it doesn't work for me. Well, that's a really enlightening thing you just take. Or is it good for your body?

SPEAKER_02 27:36

Yep, or you're not able to convert it, right? Yes. So it goes through you. We hear a lot about MTHFR mutation, you know, that's a big one out there, about 60, 50, 60 percent of the population have that, and they don't break down B12 vol, and they usually respond to methylcobalamin um better, but then there's other ones that have there's just a lot of genetic things that can't get in the way, also.

SPEAKER_04 27:53

Um also be iron too. So like so then when you have iron low, because I have low iron, you there's certain things that will like drop it from like absorbing. Yeah, it's crazy. But you know, it's hard to get over not wanting to drink coffee or something like that. Like they're just random things, and it's it's you know, you have to really change some habits too. So isn't that like part of what it is too? Not just like, oh, you're gonna be a fix-it pill or a fix-it confusion.

SPEAKER_02 28:16

Absolutely. In fact, I also do a lot with like polypharmacy or supplement fatigue. Oh, okay. Because you can get that too. You know, everyone wants to take all these supplements and then they read and they they come in, they have they take in 20 of them. Like that's not necessary either in a lot of cases. So, or like if I do like some gut health work, you know, if we do some stool testing and yeah, you know, sometimes everything. Yeah, sometimes I'll put them on a handful of things for two or three months and then I take them away because like nobody wants to be on 20 different supplements every day. That's not like appropriate either.

SPEAKER_04 28:44

I I had to take something like that recently as a protocol last year, just because I had a thyroid issue that had a drop down, but I had to take certain things just to get it to inject.

SPEAKER_01 28:53

Get better.

SPEAKER_04 28:54

And it was a nightmare. Oh my god, my poor husband. He I was like, You open all the pills. I'm like, I'll take them. Yeah. And I would just, and I don't even know if I took them at the right order, but I would just dump them in my throat and then chug it with like water and then chug my coffee, black coffee after it. Yeah. But I did notice after I did it, I think because of the consistency, but I don't I didn't like that. Yeah. I still have half them on my counter. Yeah. I have to be unchecked again, which actually it's funny. My old doctor told me to come see you. Oh, and I I will probably be coming soon.

SPEAKER_05 29:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 29:20

But it's interesting to see how you don't know if you need to keep maintaining that.

SPEAKER_02 29:25

So that's why it's always nice to check up later. Yeah, yeah. So a lot of times, like I generally will see I see people every three to four months. Like I hold on pretty tight to the people that I see because I don't want them to just get given something and then take it for a year and come back and see me. So I generally see you routinely every three to four months, depending on what we're doing, until you feel good. And then I've got you paired down on maybe three supplements, you know.

SPEAKER_01 29:50

Like, but supplements are different than than like medication.

SPEAKER_02 29:52

Yeah, and and yeah, and we do work on de-prescribing. Our mental health provider also works on de-prescribing as much as we can. Sometimes you need to be on it, and that's okay too. And that's okay too. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 30:01

I like that you know you brought all this up because again, some people feel like if they go one, and that's actually the reason why I had her check it, because they were gonna prescribe me a regular doctor, which is why how I found out I had this issue, yeah, want to put me on a pill that I have to just take and I can't get off of it. And I said, I don't want to do that.

SPEAKER_02 30:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:16

And I know better because I had some background in some medical, I worked at television with some medical stuff.

SPEAKER_05 30:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:21

So when I had the opportunity to talk to doctors, they would totally share, you know, you need to be a partner in your own health care. And that was the only thing they harped on me about. Yeah, that's key, and that's what I think is valid.

SPEAKER_03 30:32

Because they did they think, well, I go to the doctor and they're the fit Well, no, you know that's they prescribe you something, and that's what Melinda you I meant to talking to you about. Um, you know, uh well, when I had my incident, I had a heart attack in uh November. And um, you know, that's the number one thing is and that's how I've I've lost some weight, and but it's it takes the individual to actually it's a mindset too, saying I I want to I want to work towards something to get better as best as you can.

SPEAKER_04 30:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:58

Right.

SPEAKER_04 30:59

Yeah. And that's the thing that the doctors would tell me, the men, nothing against you, Corey.

SPEAKER_03 31:02

No, well they would just men's mental health month, by the way. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 31:07

But men in general would not want to see a doctor, they don't go. Right. And they don't want it's not that they're scared, they just don't think it's important until something happens. So they would tell me most of the the people who wouldn't take care of their health, the majority of them were the men. And I was like, okay, so I always worry about the men most of the time because they don't care for themselves as much.

SPEAKER_02 31:24

Yeah. As in that way, in a sense. It's it's interesting too, in my experience. Maybe I kind of thought that too, but like I would say, yeah, it's probably 50-50. I get now it's men that come in that are more more wanting a natural approach than wanting medication. I would say it's almost more common what I see. Oh, good. Yeah. That's yeah, which is maybe the tables are turning. Anecdotal. I mean, that's what I see in my practice, I guess. But yeah. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_04 31:45

And Corey, you did you see her as a patient?

SPEAKER_03 31:48

No, no. I I but I talked to her, I gave her a phone call kind of in that week. We guys are friends, you guys went to school together, I know. But um, you know, and and just knowing her her background. So I just like having that those when something happens, that's usually when, you know, you make the phone calls or whatever, and you get in contact with people that uh, you know, that uh that that are in that field and just what it is, it's it's true exactly. But you guys to recap on, is it isn't just the doctor that you go see, but it's also what can you do to help yourself out.

SPEAKER_04 32:17

Yeah. So on that note, I want to turn it back to you because I know we've been talking a lot about medicine and just not if whatever, but so people in my knot, if they are interested in like learning about taking charge of their own health care in some respect, like just even a first step so they don't feel like they don't have control because it you know, you don't want to exasperate a pro exact the right word exasperate. I can't even say it, guys. Maybe you don't want to say on the other side. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But but what I'm saying is that you don't want something to go further and get worse if you do have certain symptoms that you're feeling aren't similar to how you used to live your quality of living. What would you recommend? Just coming on in for a checkup, talk to you. Yeah. Even if they go to like a like a medical place, it doesn't matter where they go. Yeah. What would you just eventually?

SPEAKER_02 32:58

Just yeah, just schedule an appointment. You know, you can come in and just get information. You know, like we don't have like a, you know, I don't have like an avenue for like a free consultation or anything like that that I have. But like I think even if you were gonna come in and just wanted to figure out how to kind of optimize uh, I would say almost 100% of the time we start with gut work. So like you could do just a round of you know, good probiotics and an elimination diet, you know, like very simply. And it's it's pretty powerful. Honestly, most people go through it and they're like, oh my gosh, I felt so much better by week two or three that like that's enough to be like, okay, I I do have some control over my health and what I'm putting in my body. So um, that's a nice easy way. I mean, even if people want to just stop in and get a little bit of a tour to see, you know, and there's other it is in it.

SPEAKER_04 33:40

And guys, if you're not, if you've never been to her place, you need to go. It literally should be like on like what is it, uh, architectural digest magazine. The place is gorgeous. It's like someone's like home. I mean, wallpaper, sconces, the woodwork that's it. Yeah, the woodwork is uh that woodwork is a whole nother. I'm so glad you kept a lot of that woodwork.

SPEAKER_02 34:01

That's all original to the building, except for in the rooms because we didn't have quite enough. And so we we did have the piece a little bit from upstairs just to get the main hallways done, but the old phone booth. The phone booth, yeah. Gene from the antique mall knows what I like and he showed me, yeah, so he talks me into a couple things.

SPEAKER_04 34:18

I was I was I was gonna say, um, tell me really quick, if people don't have funding to pay with traditional insurance, or if they do have insurance, what do you recommend? Is there like anything out there they can look at?

SPEAKER_02 34:29

Yeah, so we um so cash pay labs. Sometimes I can that's definitely cheaper than traditional insurance-based lab in general, but we do take Blue Cross and Sanford.

SPEAKER_04 34:38

Oh, you do? Yeah. How would they go about doing that? Do they call them first as a they just have scheduled appointment?

SPEAKER_02 34:42

We're normal in network providers. Oh great. Yeah, so they can schedule that anytime. Um, our mental health NP and our therapist also do take Medicaid and expansion. So they do. Oh, that's fantastic. Yeah. Um, and then and um Hannah, the one that's from Bismarck, that travels and commutes here, she takes Blue Cross on Stanford. So we insurance covers. We have everything. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 35:04

Yeah. And do you have also what is that called? That um you can get that credit card maybe. You can give them a couple of things.

SPEAKER_02 35:09

Yeah, we use the advanced care card. Code care of it. Yeah, we don't have any affiliation with them. It's really like a credit card. Yeah. But they um they do cover the reason why we use them specifically is they cover ket. I mean, there's not like extra costs.

SPEAKER_01 35:20

Sure, sure.

SPEAKER_02 35:20

So and then they also do, depending on like the it's been a while actually since I looked at that program. Um, but like they'll do a zero percent interest for like up to 12 months.

SPEAKER_01 35:28

That's fantastic.

SPEAKER_02 35:29

And then they help you with your payments. Yeah. So like they really do. That's why we chose that card specifically to to recommend because there's it seems like they're in it for the right reason, and there's not like I know. Yeah. So at the end of 12 months, if you have some left, they don't like back interest. Yeah, you know, like it's just you pay interest on what's remaining. So like they have some pretty good policies. But yeah, yeah, there's ways around it and we have so we have options. Yeah, definitely have some options.

SPEAKER_04 35:53

I love it. I love no, I learned a lot today because again, I my my my my uh person's not doing it anymore, and I need to get checked soon.

SPEAKER_02 36:01

So and we have, you know, we do have the regular clinic space with all of the things there. We have red light, we have infrared sauna, we have salt therapy, um, we have a vibroacoustic bed, uh, we have a tea shop over there, but we also have the yoga studio. So, like that's something I like to point out too. Fiat studio. Um, we just started, we got a new instructor that has some kundalini yoga. Like, so the reason why we opened that was because I prescribe meditation quite often and just moving your body. There's no mirrors in that facility in that space for a reason because you should be feeling the inside of your body, not looking how you look, yeah, how you feel. Um, but we also have some Van Bar classes over there.

SPEAKER_04 36:37

Um, and you're quite expansive now. Like this is crazy. And you've been open how long now?

SPEAKER_02 36:42

Uh it'll be five years in November.

SPEAKER_04 36:43

Wow, congrats! I can't believe that. Five years. Yeah, and that says a lot because I always say the first two years are tough. Five years is a different business model than the next 10. Oh, yeah. Because I'm Sharon 10 now, and it's a whole different ballgame now. So it's crazy. But that's that says a lot. And you're a woman-owned business, so congrats. Thank you. We have quite a few of those downtown, which I think is fantastic. Yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh, wow. So, okay, guys, I know we have a lot we've talked about, but if you have any questions, we took we're thinking about bringing her back like some health questions.

SPEAKER_03 37:10

Because I got questions about ketamine, I got questions about the the you know, the the the other rooms, the red lights, all that. And I think we need to have Melinda back.

SPEAKER_04 37:18

Yeah, I mean, look, you're not gonna get everything like completely answered. I don't I don't expect it to, but I think if that sounds cool, if y'all want to um start a conversation when we post this, please add some comments below and we will make sure we get them to her and we'll probably have her back. I mean, we might even have her like a like a what did you call it, Corey? A Melinda Minute. A Melinda Minute. Like, you know? Yeah. Everyone needs a Melinda Minute in their life, right? Not, why not? Yeah, why not Mina? Why not? A Melinda Minute. A Melinda Minute. Why not? What kinds of fun facts? Is there anything we didn't ask you that you want us to know or let my not know?

SPEAKER_03 37:49

Because this was a great conversation. We can actually, yeah, I I mean, if there isn't, uh by all means, you know, we're we want to have you back to before. For next time, next time. Yeah, I would love that.

SPEAKER_04 38:00

Yes, I'll bring you some. Well, listen, I thank you so much for sharing your story. I mean, look, I know you through the business community and I think I worked with you separately. Yeah. But I didn't hear your whole story before. Yeah. So I don't think we've ever had time. We're so busy. So this was nice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:14

Just chat and chill and like you know, talk about it. Maybe I can come back on one time and question you guys. Oh, and you can tell me your story.

unknown 38:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 38:22

That'd be fantastic. Hey, reverse it. Yeah, we could. Yeah. I think look, I I we kind of did it the first episode. Yeah, but again, we it was such a rabbit hole, I can get yeah. Yeah. This guy's impressive though. Yeah. You know, he's he's done quite a bit. Um, I was quite surprised when I heard some of his accolades, and I'm like, oh, really? Didn't know that about you. Didn't know that about you.

SPEAKER_03 38:44

Thank you. And you also have the the the resume too. Oh yeah, well, yeah, whatever. That I don't try to build the resume, but no, no, no.

SPEAKER_04 38:51

Just trying to help everyone out. I know. And and by the way, guys, one more thing. If you've been watching us for a while, you'll notice it's quite dim in here. Um, this is a the latest interview we've ever done. It's more like, I don't know, we're looking at about eight o'clock right now in June. In June. Yeah. Yeah. So we're not even at the solstice yet. I'm just giving you a heads up. So it's before then, but yeah. So if it's a little dark, we didn't let it well, but we look really nice and good in the world. We look good. We all so thanks for tuning in again. If you're listening, please um don't forget, um, this is sponsored by American Express and the small um the Shop Small grants, as well as uh Main Street America. And I want to say thank you to them and everyone who helped make this happen, including Corey Long, my co-host, and thank you to uh Downtown Myanot and Myanot, the city of Myanot, and everyone else who has helped us, including Adam, our guy right now. And uh and everyone, and I don't know how many episodes this is in yet, but we have quite a few already in the can that we have already done. And I mean three today. Yeah. We put three in the can. Well, yeah, but at the same time, like I'm just thinking, like, we're not even at 10 yet, but I think we're almost there. Like it's getting easier and better, but it is, you know, if there's things that we could talk about in the future, guys, let us know. I know we're not always sharing a posting, we're getting there. But um, yeah, if you have any questions and you want to reach out to Melinda, we're gonna put all her stuff on the links in the bottom of this uh interview, and then yeah, you just guys reach out and then just have a good summer, my not. Thank you guys. Yeah, okay. Thanks.