The mindbodygreen Podcast

Many moons ago, Robin Berzin was wondering how she would ever manage to merge her love of technology, health care, yoga, public health, functional medicine, and entrepreneurship. Fast-forward a few years—after working for Oprah, earning a degree in international relations, and becoming an M.D.—she's now the founder and CEO of Parsley Health, a successful membership-based holistic health practice with offices in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In this episode of the mbg podcast, my good friend and mbg Collective member Dr. Berzin talked about the most common health complaints she sees in her clinic and why there are some supplements she recommends to (almost) everyone. She revealed the ins and outs of the diet—a "plant-based paleo" plan, full of fiber, healthy fatty acids, and protein—that is a fit for pretty much all her patients. And finally, we talked about how our perspectives on life have shifted since we both brought babies into the world last year around this time; our daughters even have the occasional "baby playdate," which is absolutely just as cute as it sounds. Trained in traditional medicine and then functional medicine, Dr. Berzin is passionate about the idea that we should each have a doctor that listens to us and looks at every aspect of our lives and factors that into our medical care every single day. You won't want to miss this one. Sonos is a wireless home sound system that blends impeccable sound quality with beautifully minimal design, allowing you to listen to your favorite music, radio stations, podcasts, books, movies, and more in any or every room of your home. Use promo code MINDBODY10 to receive 10% off one order up to $2,500USD on Sonos.com. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

Even though she's written a book, filmed a TED Talk, and built an audience of 371,000 people and counting on Instagram, she still gets nervous before public speaking — it's one tiny but endearing example of what makes artist and poet Cleo Wade so relatable. Wade's first book, Heart Talk, is meant to be what you need it to be—a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, or some simple spiritual inspiration to get through a creative block. In this episode of the mindbodygreen podcast, we start from the very beginning of Wade's career as a writer and touch on all-important and sometimes divisive topics like self-care, social media habits and overwhelm, and what it means to be an informed citizen in modern society. To the core, Wade marches to the beat of her own drum. She's constructed a life and vocation that not only supports her well-being but allows her to understand what she needs to live well. During our chat, she said that the promise she made to her audience was to make them feel less alone. "As soon as you set the intention, everything else becomes clear," she said. Whether you've connected with Wade's poetry and wanted to know more about her life, or you're craving some deep, soul-food conversation, this episode hits on both points and everything in between. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Sonos is a wireless home sound system that blends impeccable sound quality with beautifully minimal design, allowing you to listen to your favorite music, radio stations, podcasts, books, movies, and more in any or every room of your home. Use promo code MINDBODY10 to receive 10% off one order up to $2,500USD on Sonos.com. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

As the best-selling author of Happy Gut: The Cleansing Program to Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Eliminate Pain, mbg Collective member Vincent Pedre, MD, is one of the country's leading experts on gut health. In this episode of the mbg podcast, we dive deep into the roots that shaped his current philosophy and lifestyle, from his Cuban background to how his family's immigration impacted his childhood. "If you're Cuban, you become a doctor, a lawyer, or a CPA," Pedre laughs, noting that, with two siblings filling the lawyer and CPA spots, there was only one real profession left for him to entertain. For him, doctoring is the perfect marriage of art and science, and he's perfected his field. In this episode, he shares the future of the microbiome, the most important foods to eat for gut health, how to know if coffee is good in your body, how to consume alcohol in a healthy way (including the surprising reasons he loves tequila), why French and Italian wines are healthier, and ways to cheat fasting so you're not starving all the time. He also gets into the few easy healthy things that makes a big difference in his diet, his thoughts on butter and ghee, and the hidden problem with consuming fat if you have a leaky gut. If you're looking for a common sense, implementable approach to changing your gut and life, this episode is a must-listen. When you're done, be sure to check out Pedre's teachings in the mbg Functional Nutrition program! To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

For entrepreneur Rachel Drori, access is at the core of her mission for her company, Daily Harvest. The food delivery service provides convenient fresh and frozen food without compromising on nutritional value—all delivered right to your door. Rachel essentially created Daily Harvest out of a personal need to prioritize wellness in her busy life as a working mom. She combined her background in marketing and hospitality and her passion for food politics to launch Daily Harvest on her own, starting in a commercial kitchen on Long Island City here in New York. Her passion for food politics started in college as a member of an organization that provided fresh produce to the underserved communities in West Philadelphia. Fast-forward to today: Her passion has only multiplied and now includes a mission to help broaden food access across the country, one nutritious frozen meal at a time. Even more so, Rachel is committed to changing the food system in a way that involves more transparency and outreach, particularly when it comes to the origins of our produce. Daily Harvest relies on farmers for the bulk of their inventory, and Rachel is a huge advocate for transitional farming—the process by which farmers transition from conventional farming to organic farming. Taking the small, incremental steps toward truly turning our food system inside out, Rachel believes, will not only empower us as individuals to feel good about making healthy decisions but will also aid in the overall picture of food pricing and accessibility for everyone. Of course, it wouldn't be a conversation about wellness, parenting, and entrepreneurship without some mention of balance. Rachel and I attempt to demystify the work-life juggling act and talk about the double duties that come along with being a mother and sole founder of a company (hint: she's not a fan of the 'mompreneur' label), all while navigating the tricky business-building process. Some buzzy wellness products that do keep her afloat? Homemade collagen gummies that are healthy and super easy to whip up. If you're curious about the fresh-vs.-frozen-produce debate, changing the food system, or building a business from the ground up as a solo venture, tune in to this episode for a full serving of career and all-around wellness inspiration. Thrive Market's catalog includes 5,000 of your favorite premium, organic products up to 50% off and delivered straight to your door. Thrive Market is on a mission to make healthy living, affordable and accessible to everyone! Go to thrivemarket.com/mindbodygreen for a 30 day free trial and $60 off organic groceries with free shipping. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

As one of mbg’s first contributors, a class instructor, and now mbg collective member, Rich Roll is passionate about using his personal story as a blueprint for how to build a life full of purpose and intuition. An ultra-endurance athlete, enthusiastic vegan, author, and podcast host, Rich has channeled his love for the outdoors and a plant-based diet into an inspiring health and wellness journey for a little over a decade. For Rich, wellness is about alchemy; health is about what’s on your plate. And although Rich credits yoga as his saving grace during his time fresh out of rehab, he recognizes that real transformation is an inside job that is oftentimes messy but always rewarding in the end. His book Finding Ultra was recently rereleased and happens to be one of my favorite books. Did I mention he was recently named the world’s fittest vegan? In this episode, Rich talks about how his rock bottom moments and early struggles with alcoholism and his climb up the corporate ladder left him broken and empty. Rich also shares the pivotal turning point of his journey—from Stanford swimmer to an overworked lawyer to recovering alcoholic—the night before his 40th birthday. It revealed a major health scare and his ongoing existential crisis and eventually, triggered his desire to seek a healthier lifestyle. He also describes the series of events that led him to pursue some pretty wild endeavors like finishing 5 Iron Man competitions in less than one week and swimming across the Baltic Sea—all while over the age of 40. If you're someone who's keen on resetting their biological clocks with the right fuel from exercise and nutrition or just simply want to learn how to maximize your life's path no matter the direction, you might want to tune in to hear Rich's insights on learning to build a life, not a résumé, all while cultivating healthy mental, physical, and spiritual habits. Penguin Random House Audio publishes a variety of titles – from bestselling novels to nonfiction books – to accompany your daily routine. Visit http://TryAudiobooks.com for great listening suggestions while you craft, garden, exercise, cook, or travel for business or on a family road trip. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

Ever wondered what the connection between chi and the mitochondria might be? Want to know why relaxation is all about activating the parasympathetic nervous system? The human body is endlessly fascinating, which can also make getting and staying healthy feel terribly complicated. That is, until you have an expert explain it to you in a way that makes perfect sense. Dr. Frank Lipman is a leader in integrative and functional medicine, my personal doctor, a New York Times best-selling author of five books, an mbg practices instructor, and a member of the mbg Collective. His new book, launching today, How to Be Well: The 6 Keys to a Happy and Healthy Life, puts four decades of experience in one place. It's like having a health coach right in your living room. Join me as I sit down with one of my favorite people to chat about sleep, diet, movement, protecting ourselves from chemicals, and connecting with our loved ones. As it turns out, being well doesn't have to be complicated; the ordinary things we take for granted—like reggae music, gratitude, and sunshine—can have extraordinary effects on our health. Thrive Market's catalog includes 5,000 of your favorite premium, organic products up to 50% off and delivered straight to your door. Thrive Market is on a mission to make healthy living, affordable and accessible to everyone! Go to http://thrivemarket.com/mindbodygreen for a 30 day free trial and $60 off organic groceries with free shipping. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

mbg Collective member Paige Bourassa MSTOM, L.Ac., RHN, is a licensed acupuncturist, registered holistic nutritionist, Chinese herbologist, and has her master's of science in traditional Oriental medicine. She's one of the most qualified holistic and integrative practitioners bringing ancient wisdom and modern science to treat pain, psycho-emotional disorders, and chronic illness. In the episode, the Vancouver native generously shares her knowledge, giving us a full breakdown of her education and then each of the components of traditional Chinese medicine: acupuncture, acupressure, cupping, herbs, gua sha, and nutrition. She runs through some frequently asked questions and myths about acupuncture—like whether it hurts—as well as common nutrition, sleep, and movement mistakes people make every day that could be contributing to a larger imbalance resulting in pain, skin conditions, inflammation, and more. If you've ever considered going back to school to learn about acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, nutrition, or herbalism—this episode is a must-listen. Bourassa has her own practice, Shen Medicine, in the heart of Manhattan. If you can't see her there, check out her Essential Guide to Acupressure class on mbg. Thrive Market's catalog includes 5,000 of your favorite premium, organic products up to 50% off and delivered straight to your door. Thrive Market is on a mission to make healthy living, affordable and accessible to everyone! Go to http://thrivemarket.com/mindbodygreen for a 30 day free trial and $60 off organic groceries with free shipping. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

Valter Longo, PhD, has been studying longevity for years. It wasn't long before he became fascinated by the world of fasting and calorie restriction and how they can help us maintain a healthy body and prolong our lifespan. He is now the director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California, creator of the ProLon fasting-mimicking diet, and author of the best-selling book The Longevity Diet. In this episode of the mbg podcast, we talked about the five pillars of longevity and the best way to eat to stay healthy long-term, which includes plenty of vegetables, nuts, legumes, and some fish. Dr. Longo also shared the mistakes people make when they're trying to get healthier—like moving from an unhealthy diet to an overly restrictive diet—which oftentimes leaves them lacking essential vitamins and minerals. He explained why it's important to eat food that you actually like and warned us not to assume a food that's bad for some people and is bad for everyone (think: gluten). Dr. Longo made us think twice about what healthy food really means and called our beloved avocados into question. You don't want to miss this one. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

With the release of mbg collective member Guru Jagat's new book, Invincible Living, some wellness newbies thought she was an "overnight success," but the reality is she's been practicing and teaching Kundalini yoga—check out her Kundalini 101 class on mbg—for over 20 years. She studied with Kundalini master Yogi Bhajan, who is thought to have brought Kundalini teachings to the Western world. In this episode, we get a rare look at the behind-the-scenes version of how she became the woman and leader she is today. Guru opens up about her childhood, her affinity for punk rock, and how she found Kundalini. We also discuss life's big questions—what kind of healing do people really need in a distraught world? What keeps her up at night? And her advice to her younger self. Whether you're interested in Kundalini or not, this episode's got something for everyone. From the struggles of entrepreneurship to simple pragmatic exercises that can help a bad day, Guru is authentic, entertaining, and so well-spoken. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Thrive Market's catalog includes 5,000 of your favorite premium, organic products up to 50% off and delivered straight to your door. Thrive Market is on a mission to make healthy living, affordable and accessible to everyone! Go to thrivemarket.com/mindbodygreen for a 30 day free trial and $60 off organic groceries with free shipping. MindBodyGreen is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people get special life insurance rates. Learn more and get a free quote at healthiq.com/mbg To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

Functional medicine trailblazer Dr. Mark Hyman knows a thing or two about optimal living. A man with many titles—practicing family physician, ten time #1 New York Times bestselling author, and director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, just to name a few—Hyman has been force in the wellness world, revolutionizing our approach to eating, moving, thinking, and ultimately, thriving in transformative and healing ways. His upcoming book, Food: What The Heck Should I Eat? aims to wade through the chaos involving today’s food hysteria, including nutrition confusion, environmental factors, misinformation, and conflicting science. In this episode, Dr. Hyman gets real about the current state of confusion about food, policies and government practices. We also discuss a list of wellness topics and highly contested topics like, “is adding butter to your coffee a crime?" and whether all types of dairy should be permitted in the food pyramid. A practicing 'pegan', Dr. Hyman also shares the origins and makeup of this lifestyle and why everyone should consider adapting a paleo and vegan diet. Plus, we delve into the real time effects of climate change’s impact on food production and the consumption of meat in the context of healthy food—like how eating beef can help to save the environment. If you’re an avid follower of Dr. Hyman’s inspiring work in functional health or are looking for answers on what to eat and why, you'll want to grab a notebook and pen to record all of Dr. Hyman's invaluable tips about the who, what, where, when, and why of food. Applegate® believes the way food is raised can transform lives — from the farmer who grows it to the person who eats it. Learn more about the Applegate mission — Changing The Meat We Eat® — at applegate.com To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

It's safe to say that Dr. Steven Gundry knows a thing or two about cardiac health—he has dedicated his entire life to helping patients make their hearts healthier, after all. Before shifting his career to focus on food-based interventions, Dr. Gundry was a world-renowned cardiac surgeon. And now, he's on a mission to get people to eat more plants, less grains and sugar, and eat the right type of chocolate with his new book, The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in "Healthy" Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain. Gundry is particularly focused on helping people avoid lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins thought to lead to inflammation and disease. He believes people can do this by eating more plants, less grains (yes, corn counts!), and less red meat—with the occasional square of dark chocolate thrown in there. In this podcast episode, Gundry opens up about the strong correlation between what we eat, weight gain, and disease. He discusses the real impact of grains on the human body (it's not pretty), which alcohols we should be drinking (go ahead, drink more mezcal!), and why eating super-dark chocolate every day is amazing for the body. He also gets real about just how bad sugar is for us, why not everyone should be cooking with coconut oil regularly, and why green bananas are a whole lot better for you than yellow ones. Whether you're all about eating plant-based or you're just dipping your toes into the world of more plants and less sugar, you won't want to miss Dr. Gundry's fascinating research and unique opinions on how certain foods affect our bodies and longevity overall. Sun Basket delivers delicious recipes made with organic, sustainable ingredients that suit all dietary needs. Visit SunBasket.com/mbg to get $45 off your first two weeks of Sun Basket! YogaClub is your personal workout stylist for the yoga inspired life. The subscription service delivers amazing activewear to your doorstep for up to 60% off retail prices. Use the code MBG20 for 20% off your first YogaClub box. yogaclub.com/?utm_discount=MBG20 To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

Teacher and innovator Light Watkins has been revolutionizing the practice of meditation since 1998—and now, he's on a mission to make meditation an everyday practice, for everyone. As first a meditation practitioner and then apprentice to his Vedic Meditation teacher, Light has worked to deconstruct meditation and make the practice more accessible and sustainable. He’s the instructor of the mindbodygreen classes A Meditation Expert's 14-day Guide and Meditation For Anxiety and founder of The Shine Movement, a global pop-up inspirational variety that spotlights the stories of everyday people. Light also takes his expertise on the road, traveling around the globe hosting workshops, panels, meditation trainings and retreats. His TED Talk, “Debunking the 5 Most Common Meditation Myths” further echoes his uplifting efforts to bring meditation into the public sphere, along with a focus on cultivating inner strength, as demonstrated with first book titled, The Inner Gym. And if that doesn’t seal the deal, Light is dedicated to using his platform to spread positivity and inspiration in all ways, including his daily inspirational email called The Daily Dose and his new book, Bliss More: How to Succeed in Meditation Without Really Trying. In this episode, Light recounts his many career paths—from yoga instructor to model and board game entrepreneur—and life-changing realizations that ultimately led him to meditation. We discussed the transformative power of using mantras while meditating, the resurgence of meditation, and the importance of introducing the practice to pop culture. Plus, Light shares his insights on building a healthy inner life and owning the shift of dialogue around meditation from one of productivity to sustainability. Whether you’re a bonafide meditation follower or a skeptic looking for more information, you won’t want to miss Light Watkins’s simple and refreshing real-life perspective on meditation as an art form, daily practice, and way of life. Thrive Market's catalog includes 5,000 of your favorite premium, organic products up to 50% off and delivered straight to your door. Thrive Market is on a mission to make healthy living, affordable and accessible to everyone! Go to thrivemarket.com/mindbodygreen for a 30 day free trial and $60 off organic groceries with free shipping. mindbodygreen is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people get special life insurance rates. Learn more and get a free quote at healthiq.com/mbg To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

It all started with blueberry muffins. Elizabeth Stein made them to woo clients for her health and nutrition, not to start a business —- but everyone was obsessed with the combination of healthy ingredients and great flavor. Ever the brilliant entrepreneur, she recognized the demand and pivoted her business. Now, only a few short years later, Purely Elizabeth is a nationally renowned brand with granolas, instant oatmeals, and more—and plans to grow far beyond breakfast. I sat down with Elizabeth to find out the secret to her mega-success and learned a lot more along the way. In this podcast, she shares the surprising country she derives inspiration from, her thoughts on "unicorn food," and what's next in healthy breakfast trends. She also shares the full story of how everyone's favorite granola came to be. Thrive Market's catalog includes 5,000 of your favorite premium, organic products up to 50% off and delivered straight to your door. Thrive Market is on a mission to make healthy living, affordable and accessible to everyone! Go to thrivemarket.com/mindbodygreen for a 30 day free trial and $60 off organic groceries with free shipping. mindbodygreen is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people get special life insurance rates. Learn more and get a free quote at healthiq.com/mbg To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

Deepak Chopra, M.D., is one of the first pioneers of wellness and quite possibly the most widely recognized spirituality figure in the world. He began his career in the 1970s as an internist and went on to specialize in neuroendocrinology, the study of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, which at the time was groundbreaking. That was just the beginning! Flash-forward to 2018, and he's just released his latest book—one of at least 80 he's written in his 71 years on Earth—called The Healing Self, all about empowering readers to be in control of their own health by managing stress and inflammation levels. In this episode, Dr. Chopra shares years' worth of hard-earned wisdom from his own personal life as well as his spiritual views. We discuss the truth behind making a profit on wellness, Dr. Chopra's spiritual belief systems, his exact morning routine, how to raise a conscious and mindful kid, his surprising social media practices, how he's managed to avoid all stress for the last 35 years, and the philosophies he thinks will help us defeat the current global insanity crisis going on in the world today. If you want a new perspective on the role of wellness in your own personal healing, and that of the world, tune in to hear Dr. Chopra's refreshingly honest take. ThirdLove creates bras that look as incredible as they feel. With over 60 sizes, ThirdLove guarantees your bra will fit perfectly. Feel the ThirdLove difference and visit thirdlove.com/mbg for 15% off your first purchase. Sun Basket delivers delicious recipes made with organic, sustainable ingredients that suit all dietary needs. Visit SunBasket.com/mbg for $35 off your first order! To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.

Seth Kaufman knows about healthy food. As the head of PepsiCo's North American Nutrition division (whom we partnered with for our Next Great Nutritionist competition!), he's responsible for helping the mega-corporation make healthy options accessible and affordable for people all over the world. It's a weight he feels profoundly. "Talking about this idea of affordable nutrition, if we're not going to do it—with the scale that we have—who can?" he says. In this podcast, we talk about PepsiCo North American Nutrition's "performance with purpose" agenda, their impact on the people they serve, the planet, and more. He also opens up about his personal wellness journey, including how he spent his childhood going in and out of the hospital and the sinus infections that carried into his 30s. When he was 36, he was finally diagnosed with "primary immune deficiency," which means his body doesn't make antibodies and can't fight infection. This kick-started a health journey that lasts to this day (you should hear how far he cycles daily!). You'll also hear Seth's take on which food trends are on their way out and which are up and coming (his thoughts on apple cider vinegar and probiotics are FASCINATING). For business and health enthusiasts alike, this one is unmissable. We've teamed up with Thrive Market to give you $60 of FREE organic groceries + free shipping + a free 30 day trial. Go to thrivemarket.com/mindbodygreen to redeem. Keep in mind, Thrive Market's prices are already up to 50% off retail, and now they're giving you an EXTRA $60 free! And if you want to shop Jason's picks for Ellie, be sure to check out the "Moms" section! To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. To join our podcast email newsletter, please visit http://bit.ly/mbgpodemail.