The mindbodygreen Podcast

Tom Colicchio entered the NYC food scene in 1993 cooking for restaurants including Gotham Bar & Grill and then opened Gramercy Tavern in 1994. In 2001, Tom left Gramercy Tavern to open his own restaurant, Craft, to focus on serving dishes with high-quality ingredients in the simplest way possible. He is the founder of Crafted Hospitality, which includes several restaurants across the U.S. and has a mission to bring healthy food to more people. Tom is also the head judge on Bravo’s hit show, Top Chef, and uses his platforms to highlight the issue of food insecurity and food waste.Tom joined me on the mbgpodcast to talk about his path to becoming a celebrity chef and why food issues became a prominent focus for him. He talks about his eye-opening experience as the executive producer of the documentary A Place at the Table, which delves into the roots of food insecurity in the U.S. “Right now in this country, we have around 40 million people who struggle to put food on the table,” said Tom.In light of this statistic, Tom is dedicated to getting healthier meals in schools. He worked with Michelle Obama to pass the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and has testified in front of Congress to push this mission forward.He’s also a huge advocate of reducing food waste as he's seen first hand the amount accumulated by Americans daily. “What we’re throwing out is not just food, it’s the resources it takes to make that food and produce that food. It’s a lot of energy, water, and also people’s lives,” explained Tom. He also lets us in on the one doable thing he does every Friday to limit waste and save money in his home and how we can get started reducing food waste in our home.After Tom started gardening six years ago he lost 20 pounds and shifted his food philosophy to being more plant forward. He talks about why he loves to cook seasonally and the three spring veggies he can’t wait to cook with. This episode will spark greater awareness about food access and encourage you to think about ways you can be a better food consumer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lissa Rankin, M.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of Mind Over Medicine, The Fear Cure, and The Anatomy of a Calling. She’s a physician, a mystic, and the founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute.Growing up as the daughter of a physician put Rankin on the traditional Western medicine track and she trained as a physician at Duke University, the University of South Florida, and Northwestern University. After practicing as an OBGYN for eight years in San Diego, she reached an all-time low. She was pregnant with her daughter, sick on seven medications, and overwhelmed by the guilt of not living up to her patient's needs. It wasn’t until she found herself sitting on the floor ready to end her life that she discovered what she calls her inner pilot light.Lissa joined me on the mbgpodcast to discuss this challenging time in her life and how her inner pilot light saved her. At the time, this voice told her to quit her job and she did not know what was next. For two years she felt directionless, but she, ultimately, started her own practice in Marin County, California.She found more and more patients coming to her with mysterious illnesses, but instead trying to solve their conditions simply with prescriptions, Lissa asked questions like “What does your body need to heal?” When her patients started to see positive results, she began researching spontaneous remissions and unpacking the profound impact of self-healing. While physician and mystic may not sound like they go together, Lissa believes the physician is the healer and believes there is immense healing available in the spiritual world if one is willing to access it.Lissa tells real stories of people who healed when they were told they didn’t have a chance. Her blend of expertise in the traditional medical world with experience in the spiritual realm provides a fresh perspective to healing that empowers the patient. Her words will leave you inspired to take your health into your own hands and help you find out how to trust your inner voice.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we think of musicians on tour we think of late nights, junk food, and a whole lot of partying—in other words, we don’t think wellness. While this may be true for many, SOFI TUKKER, a Grammy-nominated musical duo featuring Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern, take their wellness practices on the road with them. Sophie & Tucker joined me on the mbgpodcast shortly after releasing their new single Fantasy to talk to us about what brought them together, bringing positivity to the stage, and how they spark creativity.Sophie and Tucker attended Brown University, where they met, and as Sophie told me, “the lack of wellness [in college] is really what brought us together, and we bonded over it.” Tucker had been an all-star basketball player at Brown, then had a severe illness that caused him to be bedridden for seven months, which was what ultimately led him to pursue music. As for Sophie, she explains, “I kind of beat up my body emotionally, physically, and mentally.” It wasn’t until someone close to her was diagnosed with bipolar disorder that she realized the fragility of life and how daily choices can impact our mental health.As they set out on their collaborative journey, they related to each other’s need for greater self-care. And while they credit wellness with some of their success, they both said it comes down to a unique approach to the creative process.They explained that they see two avenues to creativity: one is to wait for inspiration to come and then get down to work and the other is to continue working through the lulls and be ready for when the creativity comes. They both have a strong work ethic, staying late in the studio and creating on tour so that when the spark comes they’re already there and ready to make it happen.In this episode we talk about:The four unexpected wellness practices they do to prep before a concertTheir favorite ways to restore energy after big showsWhat’s in the smoothie bowl they make every morningSophie and Tucker are candid about the fact that wellness is a complicated journey. For them, music is about connecting with others from a present place and sharing positive energy and they acknowledge that this isn’t possible unless they care for themselves first. When asked what the future holds, Sophie said, “I would love to be in a place where it’s clear the world that we’re creating our music, and what we’re doing stands for something much larger than Sophie and Tucker.” Their words will inspire you to take action towards your dreams, put your health first, and be unapologetically you along the way.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After watching her family members struggle with addiction and depression, and living an intensely stressful life while working for the United States Senate, Kelsey Patel found herself with debilitating back pain and anxiety. Uprooting her life, she moved to Los Angeles and was introduced to Reiki and the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). At the time she was skeptical of the healing powers of these modalities, but after seeing Reiki’s positive impact on her back pain and EFT on her anxiety, she took a leap of faith and started her Reiki training.Now a certified Reiki master, yoga instructor, meditation teacher, and expert in EFT, Kelsey is transforming people’s lives helping them to recognize their authentic selves and full potential.Kelsey joined me on the mbgpodcast and explained how growing up in North Dakota she was never exposed to energetic forms of healing and it took a free Reiki session with some relief from her back pain for her to give it a chance. Kelsey started with her Reiki 1 certification where you learn how to do self-Reiki, then continued to level 2 where you learn the symbols and how to heal your past self, and finally to level 3, the master level. She explains how EFT, a practice that includes tapping on acupuncture points was helpful in opening her energy fields.In this episode you’ll hear about:How to use EFT and Reiki for stress and anxietyThe five-minute practice Kelsey recommends for getting in tune with the energy around usThe visualization she does every day to set boundariesWe discuss why she loves using weighted-blankets and yoga nidra to decompress after group sessions and how she found out she needed time to calibrate after doing healing work. With all of the healers out there, she shared her thoughts on how to begin when looking for an energy practitioner and what to look out for when you’re working with someone new.A large part of Kelsey’s work is helping people to get started on their wellness journeys, and as she reminds us, hers was no easy road. Kelsey meets people right where they are and encourages people to change the stuck stories in their heads so they can heal their emotional and physical pain. You can get started on your Reiki and EFT journey with Kelsey's mbg class Reiki Healing 101. Her words will inspire you to open your mind to new possibilities so you can step into the life you’ve envisioned.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jolene Brighten, NMD, is a naturopathic medical doctor, a leading expert in post-birth-control syndrome, the author of the new book Beyond the Pill, and a member of the mbg Collective. After struggling with post-birth-control symptoms like cystic acne and amenorrhea—and hearing her doctor say she was the only person ever to experience it—she decided to make women's health her life's work. Now, she has patients reaching out to her every single day saying "You're the doctor who believes women's birth control stories."This week on the mbg podcast, I sat down with Jolene to talk about how we should be addressing the rarely talked about but long-term side effects of taking hormonal birth control. She explains the science behind what the pill is doing to our health and the implications it could have on future fertility.We also discussed why women are starting to look for other options, beyond just oral contraception. "While 100 million women are using oral contraceptives currently in the world, we are seeing a decline in the number of the new generation that is coming of age," says Jolene. We talk about why we are seeing this trend, and it comes down to people listening to what their bodies are saying.In this episode you'll hear about:The cases for which she believes the pill is necessaryHow our thyroid affects our overall health and the test women should get yearlyThe tests she recommends for those trying to conceive in the next six monthsThe gene mutation to get tested for before going on the pillSo whether you're on hormonal birth control or not, this episode is for you. Jolene is an advocate for women's health and wants you to have the full story—before you make big decisions about your health.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel like you always have to be perfect? Well, for years, Kimberly Snyder, New York Times best-selling author, nutritionist, and the author of the new book Recipes for Your Perfectly Imperfect Life, felt that way too.Throughout high school, Kimberly struggled with eating disorders and, ultimately, found yoga as a way to connect with her body and ground herself. Instead of adhering to a strict diet and exercise regimen, Kimberly strives to stay in tune with her body's needs through morning walks on the beach, a plant-based diet, and surrounding herself with people who lift her up.In this episode we talk about:What her difficult pregnancy taught her about perfectionism in the wellness worldWhy her food philosophy is all about digestion and fiber-filled foodsHer unique outlook on the cause of bloating (hint: It doesn't have to do with food) It wasn't until her mother passed away within days of her son turning one that she understood perfection came from within. "Your value is not in what you do; your value is in who you are. Just being you is enough," says Kimberly.Her openness about her challenges with body image and the lessons she's learned along the way will inspire you to find a greater love for who you are and make healthier choices.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here!Visit solaraymycrobiome.com to find a probiotic supplement that’s scientifically designed for your lifestyle and needs, and get 10% off with code MG10OFF.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How often do you really think about your hydration? Is it just after a hot summer day? According to Kevin Rutherford, triathlete and CEO at Nuun Hydration, that's not nearly enough—and focusing more on it may be the key to optimal health. Kevin joined me on the mbgpodcast to discuss the myths of hydration (hint: gulping down water is not the most effective strategy), and why people aren’t eating enough water-based foods. He unpacks how much water you should really drink every day and shares the five hydrating fruits and veggies he loves.“More and more people are realizing that to 'take care of myself I need to do more preventative versus reactive medicine,'" says Kevin.Nuun started out with a product for the sweaty athlete and while they continue to cater to those with an active lifestyle they are also developing products like the Immunity line for people who just want to be healthier and stay healthy.In this episode you’ll hear aboutKevin’s No.1 tip for staying hydrated on a planeWhy the future is female when it comes to sports nutritionThe most effective method for upping your water intake throughout the dayKevin’s words will inspire you to think differently about how hydration affects your health, and you’ll be left with some new and creative ideas about how to increase your fluids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of you may know Lo Bosworth from MTV's Laguna Beach or The Hills, but that's so early aughts. Since her time in the reality television spotlight, Lo has taken the wellness world by storm. Inspired by her own personal struggle with anxiety, she found solace in mindfulness practices and naturopathic care that helped fill the gaps traditional medicine couldn't. She now runs Love Wellness, a female-first wellness company that aims to create a more open and honest self-care culture.She's a graduate from the French Culinary Institute, where she deepened her passion for nutrition and learned how to master the best cooking techniques in the world. We dish on how holistic self-care, from her favorite hot yoga classes to her daily skin care routine, has changed her life for the better.In this episode, you'll hear about:Lo's best tips and tricks to calm a racing mindWhat she eats in a day, including her staple breakfast that powers her through her morningsLo's honest opinion on social media, and whether or not she actually uses it"Personally, I was struggling in the category of women's personal care," she tells us. "I saw so many different doctors, and it was finally when my doctor started recommending more natural or homeopathic approaches to healing my body that I started to get better."Lo's self-care journey will inspire you to take the next step in your health no matter where you are.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hannah Bronfman is the founder of HBFIT, a DJ, and the author of the new book Do What Feels Good. Growing up with a mother who was a reiki healer and lover of crystals, Hannah was introduced to wellness at a young age. We talk about the career changes, illnesses, and lessons that shaped her wellness journey and led to her philosophy “do what feels good”.She joined me on the mbgpodcast to talk about what we can do to bring more diversity into wellness and the simple yet impactful actions we can take today. She also shares her struggle with leaky gut and why she believes colon hydrotherapy is critical to gut health. In this episode you’ll hear about:The gut-healing reason she doesn’t drink water during mealsHer three tips for staying well while travelingHannah’s go-to breathing exercise to use in intense moments“Wellness to me is not about eating organic food and going to boutique workout classes, wellness to me is really about those in-between moments—how you’re talking to yourself.” Hannah’s words will inspire you to push the boundaries of what society expects from you and define “healthy” for yourself.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A spiritual icon, the author of 25 New York Times bestselling books, and the co-founder of The Chopra Center, Deepak Chopra, M.D., has traveled around the world inspiring people to ask questions and rethink their perceptions of the world.I sat down with Deepak for the second time on the mbgpodcast to talk about awareness and the challenges of love, life, and death. He explains how each of us experiences consciousness every day and the paradox of reality we all struggle with. We delve into the constructs that humans fall into and how an understanding of the realm of consciousness can help you get clear on your path.In this episode you’ll hear about:How to find love after heartbreakThe No.1 healing force we need to tap into todayHow to reconnect with someone who has passedDeepak encourages us to question assumptions and societal constructs while staying aware of our thoughts and how we may be exiting consciousness unknowingly. He also shares the one surprising mindful-awareness practice he does daily to evoke a full-sensory experience.You’ll hear about the inspiration behind his forthcoming book Metahuman, and how you can get started on making conscious choices and practicing what he calls meta-cognition. Deepak’s perspective and experience in the physical world is one that encourages us to dig deeper into our interactions and the spaces we inhabit so we can unlock our infinite selves.To contact Colleen or Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please email podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please email sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join our podcast email newsletter? Sign up here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices