In this episode of North of Normal, Amanda McKeen sits down with Barbara Emmons, longtime owner of The Healthy Rhino, for a deeply personal conversation about resilience, purpose, and what it really means to serve a community.
Barbara shares the winding path that led her from a close-knit childhood in St. Johnsbury through hardship, addiction, and moments of profound loss, to building a 32-year business rooted in care rather than profit. Along the way, she opens up about her journey to sobriety, the unexpected adoption of her son Gabriel, and the role her community played in carrying her through life’s most difficult chapters. Grounded in humility and honesty, Barbara’s story is a reflection on healing, second chances, and the quiet power of showing up for others, one day at a time.
