The Sakara Life Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with the father of modern wellness and celebrity dermatologist, Dr. Howard Murad. Founder of cult-favorite skincare line, Murad Skincare, Dr. Murad has been treating patients for over 30 years using his unique total body approach to healing the skin. Throughout this episode he explains his journey to building a skincare empire and the connection between skin and inner health. He also shares his famous water secret with us, which breaks down the importance of hydrating our skin with what we drink and eat.  In the second half of this episode, Whitney candidly shares her lifelong skin journey and struggles with acne. She details all of the various treatments she tried in an effort to cure her acne from: lasers, topicals, accutane, and more - with the hopes of one day achieving clear skin. It wasn't until she changed her nutrition and lifestyle habits that her skin and gut health completely transformed. Dr. Murad’s teachings & approach to skin was an inspiration to Whitney throughout her journey and led her to primarily focus on “eating her water.” Whitney experienced such a profound transformation with her skin and overall health from Dr. Murad’s teaching that it became one of Sakara’s 9 Pillars of Nutrition, which were created to set the foundation for total wellbeing.Produced by Hangar Studios

NUSHU Founder Vanessa Cornell is on a mission to repopularize the age-old tradition of women’s circles. By coming together in a group committed to safety and non-judgement, we can create space for powerful co-healing. In participating in these groups, it allows us all to experience the healing power of human connection and examine our own sense of self in the world. Throughout this episode, we discuss the importance of holding space for others and ourselves and what it means to rely on community. Vanessa explains why listening actively to others is important and how we can all experience transformation and personal growth through listening and sharing. She also breaks down why creating boundaries with ourselves and others is important and how healing through sharing our personal truths can be the most freeing act of self-love. Though we aren't able to gather in groups at this time, as Vanessa explains, human connection is more critical than ever. It’s so important that we remain committed to being there and showing grace to our loved ones and ourselves.Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Frank Lipman, Functional Medicine doctor who incorporates western and eastern medicine into his work. He explains the connection between inflammation and aging and breaks down the difference between healthy and unhealthy aging. Dr. Lipman warns of the harm in fad diets and advocates for eating close to nature and staying away from processed foods. Throughout the episode, we also discuss the role movement, proper nutrition, and meditation plays in improving our health span and overall wellbeing and, he explains that ultimately health, vitality, and aging are all linked to our level of fulfillment, contentment, and happiness. Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, we sit down with Harvard-trained lawyer, Eve Rodsky, who left her corporate job to become a mother. During this transition, she struggled handling familial responsibilities and was carrying an invisible workload that left her feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. Eve advocates for the importance of being vocal and making these unseen responsibilities visible, in order to achieve balance in the home and with our partners. She shares her refreshingly candid and honest experiences with juggling parenting, feeling the pressure to do it all, and maintaining her sense of self amidst it all. She has dedicated her life to helping families put organizational home structures in place and understand the value of communication as a practice. She is the author of Fair Play, that speaks to the invisible workload many women have in their households and how through communication and compromise, they can reclaim their value. Eve provides actionable tips on how to achieve some form of work-life balance and discusses the importance of self-care and giving ourselves permission to put our needs first. Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, we sit down with psychotherapist, Suzannah Neufeld, to discuss the various issues the majority of women struggle with when it comes to the relationship to our bodies, societal and parenting pressures, and more. Much of her work focuses on helping women find their footing during the early days of motherhood and beyond. Throughout this episode, we discuss the prevalence of eating disorders in women, specifically mothers, and the intersection between the two. Suzannah also speaks candidly about the harms of performative parenting and how we all need to treat ourselves with grace and give ourselves permission to take time for ourselves. She reminds us that pregnancy is a time of great transformation (from our hormones, to our body, to our relationships) and how important it is to realize each of our journeys can look different. She also shares some practical tips with Danielle & Whitney for how they can continue to maintain their mental and spiritual health as they embark on their motherhood journeys.Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, Danielle and Whitney get personal in discussing all things pregnancy and motherhood. They discuss their experience in transitioning from maiden to mother and all the emotions that come with this profound life change. Danielle and Whitney share their moving and honest experiences of pregnancy, loss, feeling empowered in their bodies, while also discussing the role nutrition played in preparing them for their conceiving, pregnancy, and postpartum journeys. Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, we sit down with Harvard-trained psychiatrist and chef, Dr. Uma Naidoo, to discuss the direct connection between the foods we eat and how we feel both mentally and physically. Her nutrition-first approach when it comes to psychology and treating her patients advocates for us all to re-evaluate our lifestyle and nutrition choices and understand the impacts they have on our body. Her new book, This is Your Brain on Food, breaks down how food not only impacts our mental health, but can be used as a tool to combat a variety of health issues such as: depression, anxiety, OCD and more. Dr. Uma’s work advocates for us all to realize the importance of eating and living intuitively to ensure we’re providing our bodies with the correct inputs to look and feel our best.Throughout this episode, we discuss some actionable steps we can all take to evaluate our wellbeing and how to achieve a sense of balance when it comes to our lifestyle and nutrition choices. If you’re able, please donate to Every Mother Counts. This is a non-profit that is dedicated to serving the needs of pregnant and postpartum women all over the world and ensuring that all women have equitable maternal care. To learn more and donate, please visit https://everymothercounts.org.Produced by Hangar Studios

In this special two-guest episode, we chat with NY Times Bestselling author and chef Mark Bittman as he recounts his journey from restaurant critic and foodie to food policy advocate. We discuss the importance of knowing where your food comes from, along with the harmful impacts processed food plays in our overall health, and the hope for an increase in transparent, sustainable food practices in the future. Whether you’re a novice chef or avid cooker, Bittman reminds us that cooking is approachable and above all, a way to get creative and have fun. We also sit down with Sakara’s Culinary Director, Tyler Ranson, who gives us a sneak peek into the magic behind the delicious and nutritious meals that are created in the Sakara kitchen.  Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Terry Wahls to discuss the power of food as medicine and her personal journey of healing from multiple sclerosis through diet and lifestyle changes. Her own dramatic transformation from being wheelchair-bound to thriving inspired her to dedicate her life to helping people understand the role food plays in chronic and auto-immune diseases, such as MS. Dr. Wahls has over 30 years in private practice, is a professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa, the author of The Wahls Protocol, and the catalyst behind ground-breaking clinical trials that study the effects of nutrition and lifestyle changes on chronic diseases.Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, we sit down with Columbia-trained psychologist, Dr. Mariel Buqué, to talk about the mind-body connection and the role our soul plays in our overall well being. Dr. Mariel provides useful tools for how we can each reprogram our negative thoughts and patterns to achieve total body symbiosis. Throughout this episode, we also explore how we can be active agents in our own healing processes and discuss the importance of establishing a self-care routine to cultivate a healthy state of mind.Produced by Hangar Studios