“The industry responds to the consumer. If we would stop buying all of the processed foods, they would change. We have the ability to change the industry by where we put our dollars.” —Dr. Heather Stone For many people, certain foods can trigger uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms. However, identifying the culprit foods isn't always straightforward. Through traditional trial-and-error elimination diets, it's possible to pinpoint sensitivities over time. But, by taking a holistic vi...
Jul 23, 2024•31 min•Season 8Ep. 30
“When you're an entrepreneur, there's opportunities everywhere. And part of the art is the discernment of the opportunity that is not only going to be achievable but has the highest, long-term return. That comes with experience, but if you understand your tools better, you get there faster.” —Joni Kindwall-Moore Our modern food system has become disconnected from nature's inherent wisdom. Agriculture prioritizes yield over nutrition, flooding our bodies with empty calories that lack phytonutrien...
Jul 16, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 29
“The food system is broken. There's no way around it… But can you make the best choice you can make with what's in front of you?” —Jamie Poe The traditional camping aisle has long been due for an overhaul. Growing consciousness now allows us to see outdoor adventure not just as an escape, but as an extension of our values. We seek harmony with nature through mindful gear, sustainable practices, and nutrition in tune with the landscape. Into this space have stepped innovators who understand the m...
Jul 09, 2024•34 min•Ep. 28
“If you always knew, you may think twice. But then you approach it with audacity.” —Maria Paula Garces Mushrooms are nature's secret superfoods, quietly working behind the scenes to nourish both humans and Earth's ecosystems alike. Combined with the indulging flavor of cacao, these mushroom morsels form the newest way to nourish both taste buds and total wellness. Founded by Maria Paula Garces, Fungible Chocolates creates chocolate bars infused with single strains of functional mushrooms to prov...
Jul 02, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 27
“The things that you run away from, you end up going back to as you get older.” —Aishwarya Iyer Because of our busy schedules, it's all too easy to rush through meal preparation on autopilot. But cooking with presence and awareness has profound benefits for both body and soul. With each conscious action in the kitchen, whether stirring a pot of soup or mixing a salad, we nourish our mind and spirit, as well as our physical needs. The mindfulness we cultivate over the stove can spread throughout ...
Jun 25, 2024•32 min•Season 8Ep. 26
“You can't leave the question of justice out of sustainability. Because if large numbers of people feel disempowered, or left out of the process, there's nothing sustainable about that.” —Dr. Laird Christensen Building a sustainable and regenerative future requires innovative education and community engagement. When educational programs empower people with practical knowledge of their local ecosystems and economies, they gain the tools to strengthen food systems, land use, and social networks wh...
Jun 18, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 25
“This isn't just a purchasing decision. This has huge and sweeping ramifications. As consumers, we dictate the food system; our choices pull a lever that directly dictates how all this works.” —Marshall Bartlett Sustainable meat production is about more than just the end product— it's also about supporting a holistic farming system that nourishes both people and the land. When consumers make the conscientious choice to purchase meat from farms practicing this kind of care, it solidifies a food s...
Jun 11, 2024•41 min•Season 8Ep. 24
“Choosing a non-alcoholic option isn't a less than choice.” —Anika Sawni The lines between drinkers and non-drinkers are beginning to blur as new options emerge. Where social events were once defined by their alcohol consumption, people now gather for deeper connections unbound by beverage choices. Gruvi co-founder, Anika Sawni’s vision celebrates the joy of community while empowering individuals to make choices that align with their health, values, and mood. Their growing range of sophisticated...
Jun 04, 2024•35 min•Season 8Ep. 23
“I try to remove ego from as many of these decisions as I can as that's one of the greatest inhibitors to future success.” —Connor Godfrey When external pressures or internal imbalances knock us from our center, discomfort and disease can take root. However, balance is not found by force but through nurturing what needs nurturing within. Therefore, by supporting our body's innate wisdom with natural remedies, mindfulness, and self-care, we allow its equilibrium to renew. Founded by Connor Godfre...
May 28, 2024•23 min•Season 8Ep. 22
“We want to get people to recognize that there are better-for-you options in the alcohol world.” —Jennifer Roman-Matito While a night of fun and frivolity is part of the social experience, the unpleasant physical effects of a hangover can leave us longing for a better way— a way to continue the party without the painful playoff. In this episode, Justine sits down with Jennifer Roman-Matito, the co-founder of Mother's Milk , a coconut water cocktail company that offers a healthier alternative to ...
May 21, 2024•22 min•Season 8Ep. 21
“When one person makes the decision to be more mindful, more conscious, it starts to have a little bit more of a ripple effect.” —Jennifer Roman-Matito Conscious drinking is gaining popularity as people recognize that alcohol consumption is a choice where informed decisions matter. Younger generations especially are looking for drinking experiences to satisfy their desire to socialize without sacrificing how they feel. This trend speaks much about the mainstreaming of preventative health habits ...
May 14, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 20
“Without our mothers, we wouldn't be here. We need to put mothers and nurturing maternal relationships at the forefront of our families, of our communities, and also how we lead businesses as well.” —Hoda Mohajerani Motherhood is at the heart of many businesses today. Where some see constraints, these mompreneurs find freedom in following passions with impacts that nourish families and the future. Their brands reflect the love, care, and vision that sustain communities, just as motherhood sustai...
May 07, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 19
“We believe that small businesses change the game. They'll be the future of everything and they are more adaptable. So if we can support small businesses, that's going to lead to a better economy, a better future for everyone.” —Jared Damman Traditional plastic and petroleum-based packaging have severe environmental consequences, filling landfills and releasing greenhouse gases. Hence, sustainable packaging is becoming increasingly important as consumers demand environmentally-friendly options. ...
Apr 30, 2024•27 min•Season 8Ep. 18
“Wi-Fi and the Internet have now become a utility. But food is not. It should be! Good food should be as available and accessible as Wi-Fi.” —Kate Burns “Hit the market where the market is not where you wish it would be.” —Andreas Duess Leveraging data and insights provides businesses with a strategic edge. Rather than relying solely on assumptions or untested ideas, a data-driven approach empowers companies to design products and strategies that deliver impactful solutions that meet customers’ ...
Apr 23, 2024•36 min•Season 8Ep. 17
“I love matzo! I eat matzah year-round as a snack.” —Ashley Albert “The goal is to do something out of the box that people wouldn't normally do to give matzo a rebrand.” —Jeremy Nelson Passover is a joyous springtime holiday that celebrates freedom and renewal. At the heart of the Passover seder meal and ritual is matzo, an unleavened flatbread that represents the hurried departure of the Israelites from ancient Egypt. Made simply of flour and water, matzo takes center stage during the week-long...
Apr 16, 2024•10 min•Season 8Ep. 16
“That's the lesson of baking bread that you think you're in control and you're not. You're just a guide in the process. You're on the bread’s timeline.” —Molly Carney Bread is a simple yet profound food that has sustained cultures for millennia. More than just a vehicle for nutrients, bread represents community, tradition, and comfort. Today, artisans continue this living tradition, honoring ancestral practices while innovating with modern techniques and heirloom ingredients, providing nourishme...
Apr 09, 2024•20 min•Season 8Ep. 15
“For functional mushrooms, you need to take a medicinal dose daily for about three weeks to feel something. They do not work instantly. That's a big gap in the market that people don't understand.” —Charlotte Cruze When it comes to wellness, some pairings just make perfect sense. Mushrooms and chocolate may seem an unlikely match made in hedonistic heaven, but their union holds untapped potential. Mushrooms have long been prized for their healing properties across cultures. Science now shows the...
Apr 02, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 14
“We're not doing a marketing campaign to try to convince you that we're doing good stuff. It doesn't work. What works is creating beautiful products as a team who's devoted because we believe in the mission.” —Jeni Britton “When you can put your ego aside and focus on the larger vision, you can achieve so much more than you can alone.” —Jeremy Nelson Upcycling in the kitchen isn't just about saving money— it's about redefining what "waste" truly means and unlocking a hidden world of culinary cre...
Mar 26, 2024•33 min•Season 8Ep. 13
“In the case of a business, pick a few ideas, do them well, and scale them up instead of doing a whole bunch of things at a very small scale.” —Aaron Hodgins Davi The medicinal mushroom industry is primed for exponential growth as research continues to uncover the vast health benefits of fungal powerhouses. Research found that mushrooms support brain, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive health in ways no other food or supplement can match. As public interest in preventative healthcare rises, m...
Mar 19, 2024•21 min•Season 8Ep. 12
“You're not going to heal unless you're creating that environment in your body. We should understand that fruits and vegetables help you every single day.” —Amber Benson While we're often told the importance of "eating the rainbow" each day, many struggle to fit those colorful servings of produce into their busy routines. Without sufficient intake of these nutrient-dense whole foods, we miss out on essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and plant compounds shown to support longevity and decrease t...
Mar 12, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 11
“Realistically, as we age, we just physiologically are not the same as we used to be. And that has not just a physical effect on us; it has a mental, cognitive, and emotional effect on us as well.” —Dustin Baker While modern medicine has achieved incredible feats, dependence on synthetic prescription drugs is not without its downsides. By their very nature, these medications are designed as "selective poisons" that incur side effects for many users. From minor issues like drowsiness or nausea to...
Mar 05, 2024•31 min•Season 8Ep. 10
“It's a big undertaking when you start thinking about data and how you want it to move. But that foundational layer of data and getting that right internally is the first step whether you're a small business, or whether you're a large business.” —Liz Sertl Supply chain visibility refers to the ability to access accurate and real-time data across all processes within the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to the final delivery to the consumer. This allows them to proactively address issues ...
Feb 27, 2024•19 min•Season 8Ep. 9
“Soil health can be complicated but it's also super simple and something that everybody can participate in.” —Sarah Wentzel Fisher Soil health is the foundation of our food systems and ecosystems. Yet many are disconnected from the living soil that sustains us. The soil is a complex web of microbial and ecological activity below our feet, working constantly to cycle nutrients, sequester carbon, and support plant life above and below ground. When soil health declines, it impacts water quality, bi...
Feb 20, 2024•19 min•Season 8Ep. 8
“My goal and still is, is to be able to create a business that's ethical from the farm to the end.” —Daniel Korson The emerging category of ethical vegan chocolate appeals to health-conscious consumers who demand transparency and sustainability in their treats. As demand grows for plant-based options produced with care and compassion, vegan chocolate represents an opportunity for small businesses to delight taste buds while upholding values from bean to bar. On this special Valentine's Day episo...
Feb 13, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 7
“You have to give something away to get someone in.” —Kourtney Jason For any small business, getting noticed isn't easy. Between all the noise online and in their communities, it's hard for owners to get their message heard. Hence, increasing visibility through smart PR and marketing can really help spread the word. When more potential customers learn about what the business has to offer, it leads to more opportunities for sales, growth, and success. This week, Justine chats with Kourtney Jason ...
Feb 06, 2024•25 min•Season 8Ep. 6
“You don't start by showing them everything; you start with what's that one thing that matters most. But then through that journey at the end, you make available everything that may matter to them.” —Aditya Varanasi Digital advertising has become vital for businesses as consumers spend more time online. Advanced tools now allow advertisers to precisely target audiences across platforms based on detailed data. For startups and small businesses especially, digital provides an affordable and measur...
Jan 30, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 5
“What we needed was the diversity of what nature provides, we needed to get better nutrition to more people… not in the big corporate way, but doing something different than anything that we've done before.” —Todd Rands With sugar consumption linked to health issues like obesity and diabetes, consumers are looking for healthier options that allow for moderation without compromise. Innovation in natural low-calorie sweeteners holds promise for addressing this need and empowering personal choices....
Jan 23, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 4
“Food as your medicine is anything that's not processed. These are things that we should be eating [because they] prevent you from having to take drugs. So if you're interested in health, you should be eating holistically in that regard.” —Kevin Bressani Your best self starts on the plate! The food we put on our plates each day has a profound impact on our health and well-being. Yet in our fast-paced world, it's easy to lose sight of how the small daily choices around what we eat can nourish our...
Jan 16, 2024•20 min•Season 8Ep. 3
“We're doing some work, but not enough work. We need to move away from just talking about our impact, and we need to actually start making an impact.” —Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli Digital tools hold great potential to transform waste management strategies. By tracking waste data and providing actionable insights, new technologies can optimize diversion efforts and maximize recycling rates. This revolution in waste analytics promises to make resource recovery vastly more efficient and sustainable....
Jan 09, 2024•33 min•Season 8Ep. 2
“We are more microbes than we are human cells. And it's the only alien thing that's in our body that we have to form a unity with in order to enjoy phenomenal health.” —Natasha Trenev Probiotics are live microorganisms that can enhance digestive health when consumed in adequate amounts. Cutting-edge research continues to reveal exciting new ways specific probiotic strains can promote a healthy immune response and reduce inflammation throughout the entire body. As the gut microbiome plays a vital...
Jan 02, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 1
