Mostly Dating

Welcome back! This week we are joined by JASON LOEBIG and BRET GORNIK, founders of LIVE BETTER.  Live better is a Chicago-based wellness company focused on helping people across the country make every day their best day ever.  Jason and Bret share the story of how they got started in the Wellness industry and what led them to eventually go into business together.  We also chat about how to navigate relationships, friendships and family life with people who are not as immersed in the health & wellness scene.  Jason and Bret are down to earth, relatable, and extremely motivating. If you're struggling to adjust to this "new normal", can't seem to find the right work-life balance, or just if you've ever felt stuck, unmotivated, or like you're lacking true passion for your career/life, this episode is for you.   To learn more about Live Better you can follow them on @livebetterco or head to their website Livebetterco.org.  Their next Mindset Course is kicking off on 10/4! What we tried this week: Carleigh's Pick: Elite Relief Muscle Roller Code MOSTLYBALANCED for 15% off Mia's Pick: Mezcla Protein Bars Code MOSTLYBALANCED for 15% off As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our blog.  Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode!

This week, we are joined by ABBY GIANNUZZI, founder of Siren Snacks.  Abby shares with us the path that led her and her sister to start their own business.  Siren Snacks started as a healthy snack they made for themselves to enjoy and then quickly grew into a buzz-worthy product that's now sold in the most mainstream stores across the country.  In this episode, we really dive deep into all the things that went into building a successful company like this from the ground up and what it's like starting a business with your family.  We also learn more about the face behind the brand, and Abby shares with us her favorite foods (besides Siren!), methods of self care, and how she stays balanced.  PLUS we get a little sneak peak into what's in store for Siren in the next few months. Try Siren Snacks for yourself by visiting sirensnacks.com and using MOSTLYBALANCED for a discount at checkout.  Our favorite flavors are the Cookie Dough and Turmeric Golden Milk, and Abby loves the Lemon Poppy! Also, find Siren on Instagram @sirensnacks! What we tried this week: Mia's pick: Scount & Cellar Wine Carleigh's pick (AKA obsession): Joolies Dates (Discount Code: MOSTLYBALANCED) As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our blog. Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode!

This week we are joined by GIDEON AKANDE, two-time Chicago Golden Gloves champion, Men's Health Top Trainer, NordicTrack & iFit Trainer, Founding Instructor at ShadowBox Chicago and the face behind one of our favorite motivational Fitness and Wellness accounts, @GetFitWithGiddy.  We're chatting with Giddy about the role fitness has played in his life and how/why he decided to make the jump from his corporate career to follow his passion into the fitness industry 10 years ago, sharing step by step insights into all the things that went into his decision.  He opens up about his experience playing D1 college football and how he filled that void years later with competitive boxing.  Giddy is truly one of the most motivating people we have had the pleasure of speaking with, and he shares with us his own personal ways of staying motivated and the advice he would give to his younger self.  We also hear more about his personal life, qualities he values in a significant other (sorry ladies, he's taken!) and learn about how he stays balanced while being so ingrained in the fitness industry. You can find Giddy on Instagram at @getfitwithgiddy. He also hosts live stream and in-person workouts every week in Chicago - for more details head to gideonakande.com. What we tried this week: Carleigh’s Pick: Beam CBD Dream Powder  Mia's Pick: Soom Foods Tahini & Date Syrup As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our blog.  Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode!

This week we are chatting with KOLBY OURADA and ALEX ORTON, founders of Haven Holistic Health in Chicago. Kolby and Alex talk about their paths to becoming naturopathic doctors and eventually deciding to build their own practice together. We open up about our own experiences with viewing our bodies and our health holistically and the importance of treating the cause rather than the symptom. Later in the episode we dive deep into Alex & Kolby’s thoughts on hormonal birth control and how your sex life plays a part in your overall health and well-being. This is one of our favorite conversations to date - Kolby and Alex are a wealth of information and we will definitely be having them back for more! To learn more about Haven and to schedule a FREE virtual or in-person consultation, head to havenholistichealth.com or visit them on Instagram @havenchicago. Other things we talked about in the episode: - Kim Anami sex & relationship coach - Beyond the Pill by Dr Jolene Brighten What we tried this week: Carleigh’s Pick: Sculpt Society’s new Yoga classes with Traci Copeland @traco4. Sign up for a feee trial of Sculpt Society at app.thesculptsociety.com.  Mia's Pick: ALL things apartment and kitchen organization! Mia is settling in to her new space in Brooklyn and has had some great apartment finds (these glass latte mugs). She also shared one of her favorite healthier takeout recipes for a GINGER SESAME CHICKEN. As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our blog.  Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode!

We’re back for another solo episode! Our last relationship-focused episode (E6) only scratched the surface, so today we are diving deep into our own personal experiences and what we’ve learned from them. We’re talking about everything from red flags and first date fails to gaslighting and getting out of unhealthy or unfulfilling relationships. We’re no experts, just two girls who have learned a lot from 10+ years of dating experience AND from each other. We hope you love this week’s solo episode! As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our blog. What we tried this week: Carleigh's Pick: Goldthread Plant-Based Tonics @drinkgoldthread (fav flavors: Hawaiian ginger, turmeric glow & mint condition Mia's Pick: Vital Proteins Blueberry Moon Milk Collagen Latte @vitalproteins. Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode!

This week, we are joined by SARI DISKIN, content creator and the face behind one of our favorite healthy food blogs, Eat Well With Sari. Sari chats with us about her background in advertising, her early inklings on the importance of Instagram in the food industry, how she left her corporate career to pursue her true passion, and ultimately developed her own brand.  We talk about imposter syndrome and the importance of self confidence in the blogging space, and about how to stay balanced and set boundaries for yourself. Sari is genuine and down to earth and even a brief conversation with her makes you feel like you are long time friends. Find Sari on Instagram @eatwellwithsari and check out her blog eatwellwithsari.com  What we tried this week: Carleigh's Pick: Siren Snacks - use code MOSTLYBALANCED for 15% off  Mia's Pick: Recess Hemp-Infused Sparkling Drink - use code MOSTLYBALANCED for 15% off  As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our blog.  Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode!

This week, we are joined by OLIVIA AMATO, a beloved Peloton bike & tread instructor who has built a huge following and a loyal team (and she is one of Mia's best friends!). Olivia opens up about originally being on the track to become a successful trader on Wall Street, but making a drastic change to enter the fitness scene by storm. Olivia gets real about how challenging that shift was, but how it was the best decision she ever made. We talk about her experience being on screen in thousands of people's homes, what it's like to have such an engaged following, meeting riders IRL, and managing to prioritize self care and boundaries. Olivia may be small, but she has a HUGE personality and an amazing outlook on chasing your dreams. Find Olivia on Instagram @oamato and on her Facebook page, and learn more about Peloton at onepeloton.com and @onepeloton What we tried this week: Carleigh's Pick: Sourse Hype Bites Mia's Pick: Melissa Wood Health workouts & app As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our blog.  Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode! Shop our Favs: Joolies Dates - Code MOSTLYBALANCED Copina Collagen Booster - Code MOSTLYBALANCED Sourse Vitamin-infused Dark Chocolate - Code MOSTLYBALANCED MindBodyGreen Supplements Sprout Living Protein Powders - Code MOSTLYBALANCED Recess Hemp-Infused Sparkling Waters - Code MOSTLYBALANCED

This week we are joined by BEATRICE DIXON, CEO/Founder of The Honey Pot Company, the first plant-based feminine care company on the market.  Bea shares the story of her own personal journey and how it led her to create her company.  Success is not overnight, and Bea stresses the importance of being passionate about yourself and taking responsibility for yourself and why we need to honor the work it takes to pursue your dreams.  We talk about Bea's childhood and how she learned to be independent from a young age.  Not only is Bea a complete BOSS, but she is one of the most spiritually aligned and empowering people we have ever met - from the way she created her business to the way she lives every day of her life. Bea's mission is to continue to make simple, clean, healing products for women and to be the change in the world and pursue the things that she cares about.   You can find Bea on Instagram @iambeadixon, and find out more about The Honey Pot Company @thehoneypotco and thehoneypot.co.  Use our code Balanced15 for 15% off at checkout! What we tried this week: Carleigh & Mia: Akashic Records reading with Krista Rauschenberg of Akashic Glow  Find out more about Akashic Records on The Balanced Blonde Soul on Fire Podcast Episode 147 with Ashley Wood  Carleigh's Pick: Housework with Sydney Miller  (Review here!)  Mia's Pick: Manta Weighted Sleep Mask As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our new blog.  Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode!

This week, we are joined by CAROLYN YACHANIN, founder of plant-based collagen line, COPINA CO. Carolyn shares her personal struggle with digestion and hormonal acne, her dissatisfaction with prescribed antibiotics and harsh chemical treatments, and her experience with finding a holistic approach. Carolyn's mission is to create a plant-based product that heals from the inside out and to change the conversation around beauty standards. COPINA CO is a product made with passion and Carolyn's story of building her brand is inspiring for anyone who has ever struggled with "what ifs."  Find out more about Copina Co on Instagram @CopinaCo and at copinaco.com. We LOVE the collagen boosters and you can now use our code MOSTLYBALANCED for 10% off at checkout!  We also introduced a new segment where we review something we've been loving this week!  Mia's pick: Tatcha Deep Cleanse and Water Cream Carleigh's pick: Copina Co Collagen Boosters  As always, find us on Instagram @mostly_balanced and on our new (!!!) blog. Thanks for joining us and please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed the episode!

Today we are chatting with EMMA DEMAR of @thattrendytherapist. Emma is a former actress turned Upper East Side therapist. Emma strives to make therapy approachable and to remove the stigma behind asking for help. She fully embodies what it means to be (mostly) balanced! On this episode we talk about Emma’s path to becoming a therapist, her own struggle with an eating disorder and OCD, and tips on how to stay balanced and how to turn your passion into a career. We also hear about all her skincare secrets and how she is staying positive and grounded during the COVID pandemic. We also talk about: - Emma's podcast episode about going Back To The Basics - Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul by Melody Beattie Find Emma on Instagram @thattrendytherapist and check out her podcast That Trendy Therapist on Apple or Spotify.