For more than 30 years, Jacobus Hollewijn has spent his career talking with people who are looking for answers.
Some walk into his store with a simple question about nutrition. Others are navigating chronic illness, trying to make sense of medications, or searching for ways to improve their health beyond what they’ve already been told.
In Episode 137 of Mountain Mule Media, Jacobus shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the Netherlands, becoming a chef, immigrating to the United States, and eventually opening Gesundheit! Nutrition Center in Bozeman. Along the way, we talk about nutrition, personal responsibility, podcasting, radio, and why he believes education is one of the most powerful tools for improving health.
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A Career Built on Curiosity
Jacobus never expected to end up in the nutrition industry.
His path took him from chef school in the Netherlands to restaurants in California and Wyoming before eventually settling in Bozeman. After managing a local health food store, he discovered something that changed the direction of his career.
People weren’t just buying products.
They were looking for someone willing to listen.
Instead of pretending to have every answer, Jacobus began learning alongside his customers, researching their questions and building his knowledge one conversation at a time.
Education Before Recommendation
One of the themes that runs throughout our conversation is education.
Long before podcasts became popular, Jacobus spent nearly two decades hosting a weekly radio show where he interviewed doctors, researchers, and health professionals from around the country.
His goal wasn’t to sell supplements.
It was to help people better understand the choices available to them so they could make informed decisions about their own health. That same philosophy continues today through his podcast, Health in Focus with Jacobus.
Taking Ownership of Your Health
Jacobus believes that improving your health often begins with the choices you make every day.
Sleep.
Nutrition.
Exercise.
Stress.
Those aren’t always the easiest changes to make, but he argues they’re often the foundation that everything else is built upon.
Throughout the conversation, we discuss the importance of asking questions, staying curious, and taking an active role in your own well-being rather than assuming someone else is solely responsible for it.
Why Honest Conversations Matter
Another part of Jacobus’s story that stood out was his commitment to asking direct questions.
Whether he was interviewing guests on the radio or hosting conversations on his podcast, he learned that the best discussions happen when people are willing to move beyond rehearsed answers.
That mindset has shaped the way he communicates with customers and listeners alike. Instead of offering quick fixes, he encourages thoughtful conversations that help people understand the “why” behind their health decisions.
Building Something That Lasts
Nearly twenty years after opening Gesundheit! Nutrition Center, Jacobus is still doing what he enjoys most: helping people learn.
His store, his podcast, and decades of radio all reflect the same mission.
Create conversations.
Share knowledge.
Encourage people to think critically.
Whether you agree with every perspective shared in this episode or not, it’s hard not to appreciate the passion Jacobus brings to helping people become more engaged in their own health journey.
Learn More
Business: Gesundheit! Nutrition Center
Podcast: Health in Focus with Jacobus
Mountain Mule Media
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