Essential Ingredients Podcast

"It [cardiovascular disease]  becomes an issue in middle age because that's when they start looking, not because that's when it starts." —Dr. Daniel Chong

Heart disease and midlife are more connected than most people — or their doctors — realize, and this episode of Essential Ingredients pulls that connection into the open. Justine Reichman sits down with naturopathic physician Dr. Daniel Chong and returning ...

"One day is a mental marathon, and so it is very difficult for the brain to be the best version of itself for everything. You don't have to be— your average is good for average experiences. Your best is needed for your most important experiences." —Dr. Izzy Justice

The 10 Hertz brain state is the frequency neuroscientist Dr. Izzy Justice says separates your best decisions from your worst ones — and it's hiding in ...

"You can taste the quality." —Katina Mountanos

Most of what's labeled "extra virgin olive oil" on grocery shelves isn't giving you the extra virgin olive oil benefits you think it is — and Kosterina founder Katina Mountanos found that out the hard way. 
In this episode, Justine sits down with Katina to unpack why so much store-bought olive oil tastes flat, what polyphenols actually do in the body, and why the "...

"You have to figure out how to make self-care a priority because you know the body does not sit still... Your mindset will allow you to move forward, or it will take you backwards." —Dr. Mitra Ray

Stanford-trained biologist Dr. Mitra Ray spent three decades building a career in women's longevity, but the habits she taught everyone else became something she never expected: the infrastructure that kept her upright after her hus...

"It is getting pesticides out of the vineyard. It's making sure that when we send a worker home, they're not going home and hugging their child with any other pesticide or herbicide. It is a mission, but it does start with the dirt, and it has to flow all the way through the winery into the bottle." —Jeff O'Neill

"A lot of times, people think about the environmental side of sustainability, but it's also about the social piece...

"Farming in a way that's good for the health of the consumer and good for the product is also good for the environment. And so everybody wins, and then our consumer wins." —Andrew Salisbury 

Coffee health benefits aren't just marketing; they're backed by nearly 30,000 studies, yet almost none of that research made it into the bag of coffee sitting in your kitchen. 

In this episode of Essential Ingredients, Justine R...

"Most people don't understand that the best medicine cabinet is the thing that you put in your body, the food that you eat… So you could eat yourself well as equally as you can eat yourself sick." —Alex Fredericks

Voice biomarker technology is turning a 30-second recording into a full-body readiness report — and it's already caught things doctors missed. 
In this episode, Justine Reichman sits down with ...

"Sometimes, giving a name to something can help someone, because then you have a plan, you can go forward and see changes, and to know that there's not something wrong with you. You're suffering with other men and women in the same age group." —Dr. Drew Sinatra

"There's also that perspective that can be helpful, especially if you're in a partnership: what I do for my health is good for me, but it's also good for you. If I hel...

Most "healthy" drinks aren't what they claim—and your body feels it long before you realize why.
In this episode, Justine Reichman sits down with entrepreneur Bryan Appio, founder of Dry Water, to unpack what really happens when you start paying attention to what's inside your hydration. After losing everything during the pandemic, Bryan hit a breaking point that forced him to rethink his health from the ground up—l...

"We had to start our own lab because the standards I wanted I couldn't find in any product, aging can be a joy, empowering, and beautiful." —Daniella Inbar

What if your age isn't the problem? 
In this episode, Justine sits down with Daniella Inbar—cosmetic chemist, product developer, and founder of Inbar+Co. and Resonance Marin Spa. After 30 years inside the luxury beauty industry building brands and developing...

"We try to take sustainability to every aspect of what we do, because when you build a company, you have impact." —Karen Behnke

In this episode of Essential Ingredients, Justine sits down with Karen Behnke, a serial wellness entrepreneur and a true pioneer in the clean beauty movement long before it became mainstream. From co-launching Goop Beauty with Gwyneth Paltrow to being recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the most in...

Discover the rich history, unique terroir, and innovative practices shaping Israeli wine. Joshua Greenstein shares insights on how Israeli wines are breaking stereotypes, embracing ancient heritage, and advancing sustainability.

Keywords
Israeli wine, wine innovation, terroir, sustainability, biblical grapes, kosher wine, wine tourism, wine history, wine tasting, wine industry

Key topics
Israeli wine history and misconcepti...

In this episode, Justine Reichman interviews Stacey Berger, a seasoned product developer and founder of Sum Of All, about her journey into creating precision skincare tailored for women in midlife. They explore the science behind hormonal skin changes, sustainable beauty practices, and the importance of intentional product formulation.

Keywords
skincare, menopause, sustainability, women in midlife, product development, hormonal...

In this episode, Justine Reichman hosts Nina Oduro and Maame Boakye, co-founders of Black Women in Food and Dine and Diaspora, exploring the power of African food culture to connect communities, elevate Black women in the food industry, and promote social justice through culinary innovation.

Keywords
food justice, Black women in food, African diaspora cuisine, culinary innovation, community building, food equity, cultural compe...

In this episode, Justine Reichman interviews Pete Olander, founder and CEO of Happie, a wellness cannabis and hemp beverage brand rooted in California's agricultural legacy. They explore Pete's unconventional journey from finance and NASCAR to plant medicine, the importance of sustainable and organic practices, and the future of cannabis as a functional wellness tool.

Keywords
Cannabis, Wellness, Sustainability, Hemp, CBD, THC,...

In this insightful interview, Justine Reichman speaks with Terry about her extraordinary journey from refugee camp survival to becoming a wellness advocate and entrepreneur. They explore trauma, perimenopause, emotional eating, and the importance of self-awareness and identity work for women over 40.

Keywords
wellness, perimenopause, emotional eating, trauma, entrepreneurship, women over 40, health, nutrition, mindset, longevit...

Kim Le, founder of Prime Roots, shares her journey from a chef's background to creating sustainable, fungi-based deli meats that appeal to both meat lovers and vegetarians. Discover how her innovative approach aims to transform the food system, reduce environmental impact, and promote healthier choices.

Keywords
plant-based, fungi protein, sustainable food, deli meats, environmental impact, food innovation, Prime Roots, alterna...

In this insightful interview, Michelle shares her journey from ExxonMobil to founding Hyfé, a company revolutionizing carbon refining by utilizing plant waste. Discover how her innovative approach addresses climate change, food industry waste, and health impacts, offering a scalable solution for a sustainable future.

Keywords
sustainability, waste valorization, bio-refining, plant waste, climate change, food industry, innovatio...

"We are a beauty store, and I think there's a tremendous impact that beauty products can have on someone's self-confidence and the way they feel about themselves that day. If we can put a smile on someone's face when they walk in our door, that's incredibly rewarding to me." —Annie Jackson
 
Clean beauty sounds good, but the labels are confusing and the claims are louder than the truth. We are surrounded by produ...