It Has to Be Me

Dr. Ava Roubin takes us inside the power of Chinese medicine and acupuncture, the value of integrating Eastern and Western healing practices, and how she combined different modalities to build her unique treatment approach.   We retrace the path that’s made Ava a renowned practitioner. The journey forked when she walked away from the final exam to complete her medical degree. Feeling “too young” to be a doctor, she set off on a self-directed apprenticeship, traveling around the country as a massage therapist. With more life lessons under her belt, she completed her degree plus an additional five years of Chinese herbal medicine. An internship in Shanghai expanded her practice, and she felt ready to open her clinic and dispensary in Australia. Giving us an overview of the 5 elements of Chinese medicine, Ava covers how your constitutional type serves as a guide to nourish your body, reset physical and emotional imbalances, and restore vitality. We dive into how acupuncture balances energy and supports recovery, enabling an embodied connection and understanding of self.  Ava explains her unconventional choice to incorporate massage into sessions as a way of opening deeper healing and communication. Acknowledging the significance of ancestral trauma and inherited narratives, she highlights the importance of working with our internal rhythms, seasons in nature, and the cycle of the day. Whether you’re familiar with Chinese medicine or curious about it, Dr. Ava will rock your world.  TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: An integration of Eastern and Western medicine can enhance patient care. The five elements of Chinese medicine shed light on emotional and physical health. Healing is a collaboration between practitioner and client. Acupuncture creates a bridge between the body and the external world. Physical touch and massage facilitate deep communication and healing. Cycles of nature and of the day influence our own rhythms and healing processes. Chinese medicine acknowledges inherited cycles and ancestral trauma. You don’t have to feel “ready” to begin. Wisdom often comes through practice.   ABOUT DR. AVA ROUBIN, MA, CMD  A practitioner of Chinese Medicine, Dr. Ava Roubin has decades of experience in the healing arts. She set out on her path as a massage therapist, and evolved to a clinical and spiritual practice rooted in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and psychosomatic holistic care.   With a Bachelor of Health Science in Chinese Medicine from Victoria University, with a double major in acupuncture and herbal medicine, Ava completed her clinical internship at Shuguan Hospital in Shanghai. It was there that she gained experience combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine in gynecology, oncology, internal medicine, and acupuncture. Ava’s work with Five Element Acupuncture draws from ancient Taoist wisdom to support profound emotional, physical, and spiritual transformation.  As co-founder of Elk & Me Therapies and Dispensary, Ava works with a team of multi-modality practitioners helping clients connect with their innate healing capacity.    CONNECT WITH DR. AVA ROUBIN Website: https://elkandme.com.au/practitioners/ava-roubin/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elkandme/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElkMeTherapiesDispensary/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-roubin-98930456/ MEET TESS MASTERS:   Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.     CONNECT WITH TESS:  Website:  https://tessmasters.com/     Podcast:  https://ithastobeme.com/      Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Tired of the same smoothies? Up your game with tips from my cookbooks. As The Blender Girl, I’ve spent decades crafting thousands of recipes for my websites, nutrition programs, restaurants, hotels, and food and lifestyle companies. Now, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about making shakes with the wow factor.   I’ll walk you through my six steps to sensational smoothies: from thinking outside the box with liquids, choosing the right fruits and veggies, achieving super creamy textures, unexpected leafy greens beyond spinach and kale, to using herbs, spices, extracts, and superfoods to boost flavor and nutrition.  You’ll also learn about incorporating flavored ice, frozen veggies, juices, herbal teas, fermented beverages, and citrus zest to take your shakes to the next level. And get the wildest and most delicious flavor pairings that will make you weak in the knees.   We’ll cover how to avoid the common pitfalls: Strategies for preventing blood sugar spikes, bloating, reflux, and the dreaded chill in winter. Plus how to bring back vibrant colors and flavors when your blend looks like swamp water, and secrets for fixing flavor flops!   Last and not to be missed: Why protein powders are one of the worst things to add to shakes. Join me for the ultimate smoothie masterclass.   TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: The best smoothies deliver fabulous flavor and balanced nutrition.  Add protein and fats to balance the carbs and avoid blood sugar spikes. Skip protein powders made with isolates and use whole foods for better nutrition.  Boost flavor and nutrient density with herbs, spices, and superfoods.  Experiment with unusual ingredients and pairings for unexpected taste sensations. Go beyond spinach and kale. Try other leafy greens in shakes. Add frozen raw veggies to boost smoothies—without altering taste. Rather than gulping, sip smoothies slowly to support better digestion.    MEET TESS MASTERS:   Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.       Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.    Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.     CONNECT WITH TESS:  Website: https://tessmasters.com/     Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/      Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/  Delicious Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/     Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/     YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl    LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/ Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.    Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Over 40 and feeling invisible? Shavita Kotak, author of Seven Wonders Of Menopause, shares why midlife isn’t a period of decline, but a divine invitation to listen to your body, ask for what you need, and go after what you want.   Shavita recounts how growing up in London in a traditional Indian family had her feeling trapped between two worlds, aching to veer away from the expected path.   After traveling the world, studying with healers and living in ashrams in India, she settled in Australia to raise her family. Even with all she’d learned, the emotional and energetic unravelling that came with perimenopause blindsided her.  A decade of reading medical research, embracing ancient teachings, and seeking the counsel of female luminaries helped her welcome menopause as a sacred rite of passage. This perspective shift became a gateway to greater liberation and joy, and to her calling—empowering other women to seize opportunity in this life transition. Shavita emphasizes the importance of self-care practices, and walks us through how to tune into our cycles and seasons, and see physical symptoms as signposts for what to say no to in order to say yes to what matters.   We celebrate the wisdom of age, the value of elders, and our responsibility to share feminine wisdom. Claiming our roles as community leaders, we can break ancestral cycles and drive generational change.   Shavita says: Menopause is about letting go of who you’ve been taught to be, and honoring who you are today.  TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Menopause is not the end women dread, it’s a gateway to your greatest power. Aging doesn’t mean disappearing; it’s an opportunity to upgrade your value and intuition.  Cultivate a daily practice of asking your body what it needs and honoring the answer.  Use your menopause symptoms as a guide for what you’ve suppressed. Saying “no” can be a sacred act of love that leads to the right “yes” for everybody.   Honor female elders and take your place in sharing feminine wisdom.  Sacred women’s circles support healing through shared experiences. Use menopause to soften within yourself and be in the flow of your life.   ABOUT SHAVITA As a yoga teacher, wellness educator, and author of Seven Wonders Of Menopause, Shavita Kotak helps midlife women embrace their rite of passage with curiosity, courage, and confidence.  In her former career as a financial planner, Shavita used self-care and spiritual practices to balance the hustle culture of her corporate job and find balance and fulfillment. Now she helps other women do the same.  After two decades of immersion in ancient traditions, and study at ashrams in India, Shavita now leads retreats, women’s circles, and sound healing sessions to create sacred spaces where women share, grow, and support each other.  CONNECT WITH SHAVITA Website: https://shavitakotak.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Wonders-Menopause-Mother-Wake-Up/dp/176370422X/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wombwisdomwithshavita Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womb_wisdom_with_shavita Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnesswithshavita/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmLIua38SE1DkGycMJacTpA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shavita-kotak/ Meet Tess Masters:  Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.  Connect With Tess: Website: https://tessmasters.com/  Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/  Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.    Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Julie Hannon, a shamanic healer and founder of Inner Peace & Wellness, shares her journey from HR professional to holistic healer. She emphasizes the importance of trusting your instincts and making heart-centered decisions. Julie recounts healing her son from Lyme disease through energy work, leading her to help others facing chronic illnesses. She discusses practices like heart-focused breathing and communal meditation that encourage connecting with nature and intuition. Her story is a powerful reminder to embrace our true paths and upgrade our emotional responses.

Struggling with burnout and fatigue and want to feel energized and in control of your life? Ilana Kosakiewicz, one of Australia’s leading kinesiologists, shares strategies for combating stress and listening to your body, to do the things that light you on fire!  Trying to be the ‘good girl’ and following the socially acceptable path as a corporate accountant had Ilana battling chronic fatigue, autoimmune disease, exhaustion, and a lack of fulfillment.  Kinesiology helped restore her mental and emotional vitality, leading her to become a holistic practitioner to help others.  We discuss the importance of balancing masculine and feminine energy, differentiating between internal and external references, acting in alignment with values and boundaries, and going with your gut. Tune in for a conversation about permission…to slow down, listen, break free of expectation and obligation, say no to the ‘shoulds,’ and take action on what you really want.   TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Connect with your body’s intelligence and energy through kinesiology.  Mental and emotional issues often manifest in physical ailments.  Balancing your masculine and feminine energies is crucial for wellbeing. A practice of listening to your body keeps you connected to what you want.  If it drains you, it’s time to reassess, set boundaries, or let it go. Resentment is often a sign you’re living by someone else’s rules.   Values and boundaries change. Reassess regularly. Put your attention on what lights you up.  ABOUT ILANA As a kinesiologist, yoga and meditation teacher, and host of The Energy Shift podcast, Ilana Kosakiewicz teaches people how to tune into the body’s innate intelligence to restore physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual vitality.  Following a corporate career that brought on a health crisis, Ilana found her mission in guiding other women out of the hustle culture and into a more balanced way of being.  To share her practical tools, rituals, and strategies for sustainable wellbeing, she does 1-on-1 sessions with clients and leads in-person retreats. She supports her global community through online programs.   CONNECT WITH ILANA Website: https://ilanak.com.au/ The Energy Shift Podcast: https://ilanak.com.au/podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilanak.kinesiology Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilanak.kinesiology LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilana-kosakiewicz/ Meet Tess Masters:  Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.   Connect With Tess: Website: https://tessmasters.com/  Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/  Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.    Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Are you playing small because what you want feels too big? Jo Stanley, broadcaster and founder of Broad Radio, shares why leaning into your passion, seeing opportunity in every experience, and sharing your story, are the ultimate antidotes to fear. Jo shares what it was like growing up in a missionary family and how storytelling and performance became her way of breaking free of others’ expectations and blazing her own trail. We track her course from being constantly terrified to making fun of herself through stand-up comedy to becoming one of Australia's most beloved radio personalities, with two number-one hit breakfast shows. Jo gets candid about getting fired at the height of her career, and how that unexpected blow was the impetus to embrace her true purpose and revolution—to champion equity and inclusion, and drive societal change. She built Broad Radio as a broadcast and online platform to elevate women’s and gender-diverse voices. This episode will inspire you to claim the largest version of yourself, use your voice, and champion your story to be the change you want to see in the world. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Diversity in media is essential for an accurate narrative of society. Women sharing their stories drives gender equity and societal change. Don’t wait for somebody else to do it. Decide that you’re the person to do it. Embrace the largest version of yourself and avoid playing small. Sharing your story and listening to the stories of others is vital for growth. Let go of persona/construction and follow your heart. Laugh at yourself and the world to combat fear and anxiety. Let love and connection drive creativity for the greatest impact. ABOUT JO STANLEY & BROAD RADIO TV and radio broadcaster, writer, podcaster, speaker, and founder of Broad Radio, Jo Stanley is on a mission to amplify women’s voices and stories. Since being discovered doing stand-up comedy in a dingy pub in Melbourne, Jo’s had a 20-year career in radio with two record-breaking, number-one breakfast shows – The Matt and Jo Show on Fox FM, and Jo and Lehmo on Gold 104.3. Podcast credits include Best of You for the House of Wellness, Pod of the 3rd Age for Ryman Health, and A to Be with Mimi Kwa. Jo also writes a regular column for the Sunday Life Magazine in Australia, and is author of the Play Like A Girl kids’ book series. A fierce advocate for womens’ rights and gender equality, Jo is a patron of the Lighthouse Foundation and Wellsprings for Women, and an ambassador for Left Write Hook and for Fitted for Work. Broad Radio is Australia’s first radio network led by women for women. Its live talkback radio and on-demand podcasts, music, and other digital content elevate diverse women’s voices and champion the fearless pursuit of equity and inclusion. CONNECT WITH BROAD RADIO Broad Radio: https://broadradio.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realjostanley/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/broad_radio/ https://www.instagram.com/realjostanley YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BroadRadioAus LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-radio/ www.linkedin.com/in/realjostanley Meet Tess Masters:  Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.   Connect With Tess: Website: https://tessmasters.com/  Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/  Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Kelly Travis, performance and team-dynamics expert, shares how we can use the Enneagram assessment and other tools to understand our fundamental mindsets and beliefs to change behaviors that keep us stuck.   She takes us inside her own journey from collegiate athlete struggling with an eating disorder, to the pivotal “bathroom floor” moment during her pregnancy, to professed “mental health ninja” coaching individuals and teams to success and fulfillment.  Kelly is all about achieving success that energizes you rather than leaving you depleted. She helps clients see that it’s not just about getting what you want, but about wanting what you get.   We discuss the critical importance of knowing your core beliefs and motivations and what drives your choices. Kelly explains that while these things don’t change, understanding them better helps us break free of behavior patterns to be adaptive with our responses. This way of being helps us see multiple paths to achieving our goals.  Taking this to the practical level, Kelly shares tools for redirecting negative self-talk to avoid mental spiraling that holds us back. Then, she helps us improve our relationship and communication dynamics for better interaction and conflict resolution.    Tune in for a crash course in upgrading your self-awareness and taking charge of your choices. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: If you’re operating on autopilot, get curious about your thoughts and actions.  The Enneagram assessment offers insights into core motivations and behaviors. There is not one way of being or doing. We can respond along an adaptive continuum. Visual cues are prompts to check in and redirect negative thought patterns.  Projecting into the future causes unnecessary stress.  To combat fear, take action to prove yourself wrong.  Adaptive behavior creates more opportunities.  Understanding different communication styles is crucial for better conflict resolution.  ABOUT KELLY TRAVIS Coach, Enneagram practitioner, and team-dynamics expert, Kelly Travis helps individuals and teams understand core beliefs and behaviors to break free from patterns that get in the way of success.  Combining her experience in mental health, publishing, marketing, and communications, Kelly has built a coaching system drawing together cognitive-based and solution-focused modalities. She is all about unbridled honesty to achieve radical self-awareness and growth.  Through her Ascend mastermind program, Kelly helps women leaders achieve success and fulfillment. She shares her approach on the Ready When You Are podcast.    CONNECT WITH KELLY Website: https://www.kellytravis.net/ Ready When You Are Podcast: https://www.kellytravis.net/podcast Ascend Mastermind: https://www.kellytravis.net/ascend Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withkellytravis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/withkellytravis/ Meet Tess Masters:  Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.   Connect With Tess: Website: https://tessmasters.com/  Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/  Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

To mark 50 episodes of “It Has To Be Me,” I’m highlighting insights from our guests about navigating fear and going after what you want.  Starting this podcast, I knew this universal challenge would come up again and again, and that we were in for a masterclass.  An NHL star coached us to see ourselves as always in training, and to find another gear of resilience. CEO and pioneer in infrared sauna technology encourages her team to make mistakes and then leverage them. A celebrity portrait photographer’s rule is to own the room no matter who’s in it.  Guests have not only taken us inside their stories, they’ve also shared their unique perspectives and methods for seizing the moment and grabbing the wheel when fear threatens to derail things.  The big lessons? Negotiate change with curiosity, listen to your gut, embrace failure as opportunity, get agency from regret, and frame every experience as a necessary step to achieving your goals. Tune in for strategies to bulldoze those fears and seize your next “It Has To Be Me!”TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: When you buy into fear, you energize your suffering. Name and claim your fear and it ceases to have power. The greatest antidote to fear is action. Fear and excitement activate in the same place in the body. Start before you feel ready. Courage comes from doing. To combat fear, focus on what you can control.  By shifting from 'what if' to 'even if' you can empower yourself. Acting despite fear is easier than living with regret. Meet Tess Masters:  Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.   Connect With Tess: Website: https://tessmasters.com/  Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/  Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.    Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Are you being proactive about your hormones? Svetlana Kazantseva, CEO and co-founder of Strawberry Health, shares how a combo of home testing kits and concierge support is changing the game in women’s healthcare. With curiosity, adaptability, and relentless problem solving as her superpowers, Svetlana reinvented herself while living all over the world—from Siberia to India, the UK, and the US. What do you do when you land in San Francisco with a toddler and a newborn, and a pandemic hits? If you’re Svetlana, you start a company and a nonprofit to help women! Building her first company, PlumThyme, Svetlana connected with young women, and recognized the widespread lack of understanding about hormone health. She pivoted and launched Strawberry Health, offering innovative at-home hormone testing and concierge service to deliver results and recommendations for follow-up care. We discuss the importance of making comprehensive hormone tests affordable and accessible, and life-changing impacts of early hormone testing, such as discovering reduced ovarian reserves that compromise fertility or low testosterone as a root cause of fatigue and low libido. Svetlana shares how she and her team are empowering women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s to understand their hormonal status, get treatment for underlying conditions, reach their goals, transition through menopause with ease, and age in peak health. TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: Standard blood panels seldom include vital biomarkers for hormone health. Healthcare plans and insurers generally don’t cover detailed hormone testing. Strawberry Health makes comprehensive hormone testing accessible and affordable. Understanding your hormonal health early can amount to vital preventive medicine. Strawberry Health’s home test kit addresses nine key biomarkers. The home test kit’s innovative blood collection device is painless and easy to use. You may have underlying health issues but not present with any adverse symptoms. Strawberry Health concierge support gives recommendations for follow-up medical care. ABOUT SVETLANA Svetlana Kazantseva is CEO and co-founder of Strawberry Health, empowering women to proactively manage their hormonal health. A mother of two and founder of two femtech companies and a nonprofit, she comes to her work with a unique global perspective derived from living in multiple countries and knowing diverse cultures. Svetlana has established a thriving community of business leaders in the Bay Area. ABOUT STRAWBERRY HEALTH: Strawberry Health is an AI-powered hormone insights platform, providing at-home testing kits and actionable results on nine key hormone levels. Members get personalized hormone baselines with concierge support to guide next steps in care. CONNECT WITH STRAWBERRY HEALTH Website: https://www.joinstrawberry.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strawberry-health/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinstrawberry/ Meet Tess Masters:  Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.   Connect With Tess: Website: https://tessmasters.com/  Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/    Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Looking for a natural way to combat cravings and lose weight—without GLP-1 injections? Sarah Kennedy, founder and CEO of Calocurb, shares how she and a group of scientists brought their revolutionary product to market, and how it’s taking the world by storm.  Sarah recognized Calocurb as a strategic tool to support healthier choices and built the company around that principle. A life-long struggle with weight and love-hate relationship with food made this a passion project. When the product delivered for her where nothing else had, making sure others had access to it became her mission.  She takes inside the science that makes Calocurb uniquely effective. Inspired by ancient practices—from Scots chewing bitter berries during famines and Kalahari tribesmen chewing bitter roots before hunts—scientists theorized that bitter compounds might suppress appetite today. And they were right. A variety of hops grown in New Zealand triggers the greatest response.  After years of testing and clinical trials with both men and women, Calocurb has been proven to reduce hunger, food cravings and calorie intake to help people lose weight without the adverse side effects of Ozempic or other GLP-1 injectables.  Sarah lays out why this product differs from synthetic injectables, and how practitioners are using it in conjunction with injectables, as a natural way to titrate off them, and as an alternative to them. People are also using Calocurb selectively in a variety of ways.  Acknowledging that appetite and weight loss have nothing to do with willpower, and that women are more responsive to GLP-1 than men, Sarah shares how women are using Calocurb during their monthly cycles with great success.  This isn’t another dodgy supplement. Tune in to get this game-changing information. COUPON CODE: Use code TM10 to get 10% OFF for a limited time.   TESS’S TAKEAWAYS: An alternative to GLP-1 injectables, Calocurb is a natural appetite suppressant. Calocurb contains three ingredients only: All natural and plant-based. Unlike synthetic injectables, Calocurb stimulates natural GLP-1 production. Calocurb is used to titrate off GLP-1 injectables to maintain results.  This supplement can be used selectively to curb food cravings and calorie intake.  Ingested rather than injected, Calocurb doesn't interfere with the liver and kidneys. Calocurb can be taken with other medications.  By reinstating hunger and satiety cues, Calocurb supports the gut-brain connection.    SARAH KENNEDY BIO Founder and CEO of Calocurb, Sarah Kennedy shepherded years of scientific research and clinical trials to bring a revolutionary product to market. A veterinarian by training, with more than 20 years’ experience in dietary and animal nutrition, Sarah has held a number of CEO and senior executive positions in food and agriculture industries, at companies including Fonterra and Healtheries/Vitaco NZ.  In 2010, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sarah completed a Sloan Fellowship Program in Global Leadership and Innovation. She has held a number of board positions with government, private, and philanthropic organizations. CONNECT WITH CALOCURB Website: https://www.calocurb.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calocurbGLOBAL/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calocurb LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/calocurb/ Meet Tess Masters:  Tess Masters is an actor, presenter, health coach, cook, and author of The Blender Girl, The Blender Girl Smoothies, and The Perfect Blend, published by Penguin Random House. She is also the creator of the Skinny60® health programs.     Health tips and recipes by Tess have been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, InStyle, Prevention, Shape, Glamour, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, Yahoo Health, Hallmark Channel, The Today Show, and many others.   Tess’s magnetic personality, infectious enthusiasm, and down-to-earth approach have made her a go-to personality for people of all dietary stripes who share her conviction that healthy living can be easy and fun. Get delicious recipes at TheBlenderGirl.com.   Connect With Tess: Website: https://tessmasters.com/  Podcast: https://ithastobeme.com/   Health Programs: https://www.skinny60.com/Recipes: https://www.theblendergirl.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblendergirl/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblendergirl/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/theblendergirl  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessmasters/    Thanks for listening!  If you enjoyed this conversation and think others would benefit from listening, share this episode. And, please post your comments or questions below. I’d love to hear what you think.  Subscribe to the podcast.   Get automatic updates so you never miss an episode. Subscribe to this show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app.   Leave a review on Apple podcasts.  Ratings and reviews from listeners help our podcast rank higher so it can reach more people. Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.