Leading For Wellness

In this conversation, Ari Gordon discusses the evolution of his company, Like and Likes, which helps brands grow on TikTok and Meta. He shares insights on the differences between the two platforms, the importance of effective content creation, and the costs associated with advertising on TikTok.

Ari also emphasizes the role of influencer marketing and the necessity of having a strategic approach to social media marketing, especiall...

Dr. Sandra Carter, M.A., MPH, Ph.D. is a pioneer in preventative medicine, sports performance, and integrative health — and a visionary entrepreneur who transformed the functional mushroom industry. After decades in public health and disease prevention, Dr. Carter founded M2 Ingredients at the age of 55, bringing scientific rigor and mission-driven innovation to a field on the cusp of mainstream awareness. 

As Founder and Chief Vis...

In this episode, Liesl Bernard interviews Rafea Naffa, PhD bioanalytical chemist, Scientific Advisor for AIDP, about the critical role of magnesium in human health.

They discuss the importance of magnesium for various bodily functions, its bioavailability, and the different forms of magnesium supplements available. Rafea emphasizes the need for daily magnesium intake, the symptoms of deficiency, and the impact of magnesium on brai...

In this conversation, Liesl Bernard interviews Tom Aarts, a leading authority in the global wellness industry. Tom shares his journey in the nutrition sector, his passion for mental health, and his proud accomplishments, including the founding of the Nutrition Business Journal and the NBJ Summit. He discusses the importance of personalized nutrition, the impact of AI, and the growing trend of biohacking. Tom also reflects on the po...

Lisa Odenweller is a pioneering wellness entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Kroma Wellness, a modern functional nutrition brand dedicated to simplifying healthy living for busy, high-performing lifestyles. With over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry, Lisa has committed her career to making premium, science-backed nutrition accessible, delicious, and effortless.

Before launching Kroma, Lisa founded...

Ari Raz is a distinguished entrepreneur and executive in the natural foods industry, renowned for his leadership and innovative contributions.  

Before joining The Coconut Cult in August 2021, Ari co-founded Once Upon a Farm, a company specializing in cold-pressed baby food, where he held the positions of CEO and later President from 2015 to 2021. Once Upon a Farm is currently on a $250M revenue run rate and valued at over $1B.

His...

In this inspiring episode, Liesl Bernard interviews Susan Buckwalter Hartman, co-founder of Recoup Beverage, discussing her journey from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship, the unique aspects of Recoup's products, and the personal stories that inspired their creation.   

They explore the challenges of building a brand in a competitive beverage market, balancing family life with entrepreneurship, and the future plans for Recoup...

Madelyn Hadley is the founder of Madly Hadley, a San Diego-based innovative plant-based food brand. With a background as a private chef focused on plant-based cooking, she worked closely with naturopathic doctors and their patients to create delicious, health-conscious meals. Motivated by a passion to make her chef-quality, vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free recipes accessible to a wider audience, she launched Madly Hadley in 2021. T...

Sam Schatz is the CEO of Biohm Technologies, a company pioneering microbiome-based ingredients using proprietary datasets that integrate genetic analysis, metadata, and AI. Joining Biohm in 2021 as President, he became CEO in 2023, driving business expansion, capital raising, and P&L management. Previously, Sam was Managing Director at AeroFarms, scaling it to 300+ employees. With more than 15 years of experience in management ...

In this episode, Liesl Bernard interviews Doug Lynch, a global executive with a three-decade experience in commercialization of clinical nutrition products, supplements, cosmetics, animal health, and proprietary actives. He’s held global executive roles and intellectual property portfolio management for proprietary ingredient companies and brands alike. He’s developed and marketed scores of consumer products over his career, is a f...

More than 30 years ago, Steve Jennings played a pivotal role in introducing the world to the benefits of creatine supplementation at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. 

In this conversation, Steve will share the reason behind why he's now leading the charge with creatine 2.0, and how we can shift our perception beyond the world of gyms and performance sports, and introduce the broader health and wellbeing benefits of creatine to the mass...

Your gut does more than digest food. It shapes your cravings, energy, and even your mood. So how can you work with it instead of against it?

Liesl Bernard sits down with Sierra Simpson, founder and CEO of BrilliantBiome, to talk about the microbiome’s surprising influence on health and performance. After struggling with the effects of long-term antibiotic use, Sierra turned to science to heal herself and discovered the powerful c...

AI won’t take your job. Someone who knows how to use it will. So what does that mean for the nutraceuticals industry?

Liesl Bernard sits down with Andy Dahlen, a veteran in consumer packaged goods and dietary supplements, to talk about how AI is shaking up nutraceuticals and personalized nutrition. With experience leading brands like General Mills, Beech-Nut, and MegaFood, Andy shares how AI is speeding up ingredient research, ma...

Mitochondria fuel every cell in your body, but how often do you check in on their health? 

In this episode, Dr. Hemal Patel, a tenured professor at UC San Diego and Chief Scientific Advisor for Versailles Discovery, joins Liesl Bernard to unpack why these tiny powerhouses hold the key to longevity and how an innovative at-home test can provide real insights into your energy levels, resilience, and overall well-being. 

Dr. Patel...

Adversity often opens unexpected doors to purpose, growth, and deeper spirituality. In this episode, Liesl Bernard sits down with Johnny Blackburn, the founder and director of Mystics, a school for personal and spiritual development. 

Johnny shares how a life-altering injury transformed his path and led him from consulting to a deep dive into spirituality and personal development. He reflects on the power of facing difficult emot...

Mastering leadership, understanding consumer behavior, and balancing intuition with business savvy are important to success in the functional beverage world—insights Jim Tonkin has cultivated over four decades. Jim, the “Functional Beverage Guru,” joins Liesl Bernard in this episode to share his journey of creating iconic brands like Essentia Water, Zico Coconut Water, and Suja Juice. From leaving his family’s 7-Up franchise to pur...

“Our vision is to pop it fresh and have really quality popcorn with purpose. Our popcorn is with purpose because we put intentional ingredients into it,” says Tim Wood, the CEO of Fired Up! Popcorn and a full-time fireman at Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego. In this episode, Tim joins Liesl Bernard to share his journey from creating a simple, healthy snack at the fire station to building a business rooted in wellness. His dedication to...

“There’s a lot of tradition and culture involved with the treatment and consumption of psychedelics that needs to be honored because of the nature of how all of it really started out years and years ago. We’re just kind of coming about it right now, and there’s a lot of wisdom there that we can understand,” says Gary Seelhorst, a pharma, biotech, and functional wellness executive. In this episode, he joins Liesl Bernard to talk abo...

“The beauty of kombucha, besides the big, bright flavor, are the health benefits. So, if you’re not offering those live probiotics, I just think you’re doing a disservice to the potential of kombucha for wellness and health,” says Michael ZonFrilli, creator of Bambucha Kombucha. Known for his chef-crafted, wellness-driven beverages, Michael brings both culinary artistry and a commitment to authentic kombucha into each batch he make...