Catch Ups In My Kitchen

In my kitchen this week I am joined by Georgia Toffolo to talk about all things dog nutrition. Toff really needs no introduction as I'm sure many of you have seen her gorgeous smile on your screens before, but in this episode, Toff and I are going to talk about a slightly different topic which links to her new business Wild Pack.Wild Pack is a dog food brand paving the way for raw and natural food. We live in a world now where we are so aware of what we eat, how to live healthier lives, why we should be staying away from ultra-processed foods and how we should check the back of the labels to make sure we know what is inside our food. But what about our dogs' food? We have been conditioned to believe that the dried kibble that is crowding the shop shelves is the best option for our dogs' health when that isn't necessarily the case.After Toff got her gorgeous dog Monty she had quite a journey with his health, his coat looked terrible, his breath smelt and his tummy was always making strange noises, after Toff got recommended to feed her dog raw food it completely changed Monty and consequently Toff's life and therefore she decided to start a brand promoting this lifestyle for dogs to make dogs healthier and happier.In this episode we discussed the following topics:Toff's journey to Wild PackHow the idea came aboutHow the process of creating the product wasPackaging and logisticsWhy is raw so good for dogsWhat is actually in dog kibbleSigns to look out for that will indicate you need to change your dogs' foodIs food variety good for dogsDog treats, what is in them and how can they be betterThe realities of starting a businessIf you are interested in checking out WildPack then head to https://wildpack.com/This episode is sponsored by Pärla if you are interested in trying out Pärla then head to https://parlatoothpastetabs.com/?ref=HBhH65ShncNZFA and use the code GEORGIASYMONDS in order to receive 10% off your order This episode is hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

***THIS EPISODE COMES WITH A TRIGGER WARNING ***In my kitchen, I am joined by Lisa Unger who is an emotional and eating disorder therapist, she helps those who have been struggling all their lives with their relationship with food and with their relationship with themselves. Lisa supports her clients through compassion and understanding to feel empowered and give them the freedom to regain control of their lives again.In this episode, Lisa shares her own journey with an eating disorder and how she uses her own experience and recovery to help others with theirs. Eating disorders are a type of mental illness that stem from some sort of trauma no matter how big or small and in this episode I wanted to ask Lisa how we can help those that we love overcome their illness and support them in regaining their love of themselves and food. Food is mood and has such an impact on our long-term wellness but as with any mental illness addressing the issue should be done in a sensitive and delicate way. In this episode we discuss the following topics:Lisa's personal journey with her relationship with foodThe deeper cause of eating disorders and why they happen How Lisa turned her relationship with food around Signs that we should be looking out for that would indicate someone needs support or help How to talk to someone who has an eating disorder about getting help Diet culture and diets Do eating disorders ever go away The mirror critic/self criticism and self destruction To find out more about Lisa you can check out her website at www.lisaunger.co.uk or follow her on Instagram www.instagram.com/_lisaungerShe also has a free e-book that you can download here: The Hunger Within: Finding peace and freedom from emotional eatinghttps://mailchi.mp/053d4f1e8a88/gpsx4vzobeThis episode is hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week in my kitchen I am joined by James Collier Co-Founder and Head of Nutrition at HUEL. This is James's second time on the podcast which is so exciting and in this episode, we are focusing on three main topics, ultra-processed foods, pseudo-influencers and his journey with publishing his book.James has had an extensive career in Nutrition from working as a clinical nutritionist for the National Health Service to working for the Muscle and Body Building Industry and now Founding and Growing HUEL which was recorded to have 914,000 consumers in 2022. Therefore when it comes to Nutrition James really is at the front of all knowledge!At the moment we live in a world where social media is where we turn in order to expand our knowledge on different topics and there are many highly regarded Nutritionists out there in order to help us do that, however, there are also many people out there spreading the wrong information and so it can often get confusing on what to believe and therefore what foods to eat and not eat. Therefore I thought I would get James back on the podcast in order to advise us on how to personally make the right decisions when it comes to our food, diet and nutrition.We discussed the following topics:What does ultra-processed food meanAre all ultra-processed foods bad for usExamples of when ultra-processed food can be goodHow to know what actually is "good for us"Are we too obsessed with the science of foodInfluencers in the nutrition spaceHow to know who to believeHow influencers are spreading wrong informationJames's journey with getting his book publishedDon't forget to check out James's Substack for more amazing information on all things nutritionThis episode is hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In my kitchen this week I am joined by Elisa Lune who is a Skin Health and Gua Sha expert and we talk about all things skin, from signs that we should look out for which may indicate that we need to change up our skincare routine, to how to stop ageing and how to protect our skin from pollution.Elisa has worked in the skincare industry for many years from working on the shop floor in SpaceNK to working directly with top skincare brands such as Caudalie as well as taking courses in lymphatic drainage and Gua Sha. Therefore Elisa has a breadth of knowledge from products and trying too many which may cause "Space Face" (listen to find out what that means) as well as the ins and outs as to why Gua Sha is so essential for glowing skin.The skincare industry is just so huge now and with TikTok constantly telling us the do's and don'ts whilst also sharing many people's skincare routine, I thought it would be super insightful to hear it from an expert.We discuss the following:What signs we can look out for that show that we need to change something in our skincare routineFace mapping and what different spots in different places meanRed light face masksThe power of Gua Sha and Lymphatic DrainageWorking from the inside outHow diet and hydration affect your skinSkincare recommendationsShelf life on skincareIngredients to avoid in skincare productsLess is moreHow our skin changes as we ageProtecting our skin against pollutionAnswering some of the community questionsElisa also gave some amazing recommendations which I have linked below:The facial dry brush - https://sereniteskin.com/products/facial-dry-brushes?sca_ref=4201091.zqJT7BhYPiThe oil product - https://liveinthelight.co.uk/collections/living-libations-1/products/best-skin-seabuckthornThe gua sha tool - https://mandypitcher.com/products/cjb-pro-nephrite-stoneThe Caudalie toner - https://uk.caudalie.com/p/315C/vinoclean-moisturizing-toner-315c.htmlThis episode is hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In my kitchen this week I am joined by Rob Wallis, Co-Founder of Moth the first single-serve canned cocktail brand which brings you a perfectly balanced cocktail wherever you may need it. Moth wasn't always called Moth and it also wasn't always served in a can, so in this episode, I get to speak to Rob about the journey of MOTH, from having the idea to making it a reality and then pivoting in order to create a product which speaks to the consumers. In hindsight having a single-served cocktail ready to consume seems obvious as it isn't always convenient to have all the ingredients and spending the time creating the cocktail isn't for everyone, but no one was doing it. This is when Rob and his co-founder Sam had the idea to make the perfect old-fashioned that was as easy to drink as a beer. This is when Buveur was born which then re-branded into MOTH. In their journey, there was a lot of "luck" involved and being in the right place at the right time, although you may call it "luck" I would say that you create your own luck and there was a lot of hard work for 2 years before the pivotal moment that catapulted MOTH into what may seem like an overnight success. In this episode Rob and I discuss the following topics:Life before MOTHBuveur and the re-brand to MOTHThe name MOTH and what it meansThe vibe and culture they have created at MOTHRelationship with Co-Founder SamHow the journey started The pandemic and how it changed the companyBeing in the right place at the right timeWhat wellness means to Rob Top bars in LondonRob's last meal This episode was hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I am joined by Alex Smith who is the founder of Basic Arts, his aim is to help you re-strategise in order to make big moves and out-win your competition! Alex works with many businesses both within FMCG and other consumer brands in order to refocus the aim, get unstuck and excel in your field. Alex and I discuss the purpose and value of strategy and how it is often overlooked. We also discuss how strategy applies to all areas of our lives, business and personal. We often find ourselves focusing so much on how we are communicating at work, whether it's in the correct tone of voice for the business, whether we are moving in the right direction and towards the right goals and so on. But what about in our personal lives? This is as important!Do we have goals that we are striving for? Are we communicating in the way that we want to be perceived? Are we being our true selves? Strategy is the pillar for direction in everything that we do and it is the one thing that is so easily ignored! The topics that we discuss are:Alex's career to where he is nowWe buy brands and not productsChallenger brands and how they cut through Most common mistakes when it comes to strategyAuthenticity and the power of that in a business v fake it to you make it Having a plan vs Being fluid Hard work really pays off... doesn't existGrowing your Linked In following Personal Brand Top brands that are doing well at the moment Alex has also got a book called the No Bullshit Strategy, which is now available if you follow the link below: https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Bullsh-Strategy-Competitive-Advantage/dp/B0CHGZG4MK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BDUN91VOTEFX&keywords=no+bullshit+strategy&qid=1694381368&sprefix=%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-1Lastly, in order to get your dose of strategy tips and tricks - check out Alex's newsletter here https://basicarts.org/newsletter/ This episode was hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I am joined by Bethan Higson, Founder of Mother Root, who has created a magical, punchy, delicious and surprisingly healthy non-alcoholic drink, which is made using Apple Cider Vinegar.A combination of Bethan's background in wine and champagne crossed with her being "pregnant and thirsty" yet disappointed with the options available, brought her to discover that New York bartenders had been recently experimenting with adding different vinegars to their cocktails in order to create another dimension to the flavour profile. This then inspired Bethan to start experimenting in her kitchen in order to find the perfect drink that she could have whilst pregnant and during the early years of Motherhood. Through taking her experience in wine, champagne and aperitifs Bethan started layering up flavours and balancing the different tones which created this complex yet delicious drink which although consisted of no alcohol had the sharpness and mouth feel of an alcoholic drink due to the vinegar element. Bethan couldn't gate-keep this delicious recipe and so Mother Root was born in order to bring another, completely innovative drink option to the now expanding non-alcoholic market. As well as being a delicious drink, Mother Root has also been picked up amongst nutritionists and health experts due to the powers and benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar which is the main ingredient. So not only do these drinks taste amazing, but they consist of so many health benefits such as being anti-inflammatory, lowering your blood sugar levels and supporting your gut health.This episode is so fascinating and just pushes the boundaries of what is possible within the food and drink space.Bethan and I discuss the following topics:Her journey to Mother RootHer previous work within the wine industryHow wine has inspired the Mother Root recipe Her obsession with sour Taste vs FlavourDrinking alcohol and the mouthfeel it createsThe power of Apple Cider VinegarBethans relationship with drinking now Balancing being a mother and a founder This episode is hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I'm joined by Shivraj Bassi, Founder & CEO of award-winning wellness brand, Innermost. He graduated from Imperial College London and spent 10 successful years at Goldman Sachs in London and New York. After deciding to take a break from banking to reconnect with his health. During that process, he saw that more people were coming around to the benefits of better health, but against a backdrop of an industry full of confusion, contradiction, fads and gimmicks. He decided there had to be a better approach, which led to the creation and launch of Innermost.Innermost burst onto the scene in 2017. It's science-backed nutrition products are now stocked at more boutique fitness studios in London than any other nutrition brand as well as leading retailers including Ocado, Selfridges, John Lewis, Sephora and many more. The brand has also had huge success expanding internationally with listings in some of the most prestigious hotels, spas and fitness studios in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Revenues for the brand are growing at over 100% Year-on-Year. As part of the brand's corporate responsibility initiative, for every purchase made by customers, Innermost donates a school meal to a child in need. So far in 2023, they've donated over 20k meals.In this episode Shiv and I discuss the following topics:Shiv’s personal health journey before starting InnermostDe-bunking myths and misinformation in the industryTrends v Science and making sure we're following the right informationAyurvedic and Asian medicine and the influence it has on Innermost productsSupplements - do we all need themWhat signs should we be looking out for to indicate we need to add supplements to our dietAre there negative side effects to taking supplementsCan we overdo it when it comes to supplementsCan we become immune to supplementsProtein powders and picking the right one for your needsShiv's personal diet.This episode is hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I am joined by my very good friend Melissa Tattam in order to dive into her secret obsession with Organic food, eating a balanced diet, and learning about personalised nutrition and anti-inflammatories. I say secret because many of you know a lot about Melissa's life and lifestyle but this area is one that she keeps to herself due to not being a qualified nutritionist and not wanting to advise incorrectly or mislead anyone. But she has done so much of her own research and gone through her own journey that I thought it was time to share it.I think this episode is the epitome of the more you look the more you see because when you begin to research into health and wellness you realise how much we can do in order to be the healthiest version of ourselves.Melissa has recently taken her health to the next level by going through a personalised plan with Pippa Campbell who is a Functional Nutritionist and with that she has found out more about her body, what vitamins she is low on, what her body can and can't process and a lot lot more!Melissa is also passionate about making sure she is doing everything she can in order to feel the best version of herself and protect her body from the additives and chemicals that we surround ourselves with every day.We deep dive into the following topics:What does Melissa's diet look likeWhy is she obsessed with OrganicEverything in moderation - what that means to MelissaHer take on eating dairy and meatWhy she never buys any food in plastic packaging Her relationship with foodHer Pippa Campbell experienceWhat vitamins and supplements she takes and whyHer skin and what she uses What wellness means to her This episode is hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I am joined by the Co-Founder of Form Nutrition Natalia Bojanic where we talk about the power of protein in your diet for both your physical and mental health.I have been a consumer of Form protein powder for 5 or more years and this is because it really is the best tasting Vegan Protein out there with incredible ingredients. But before Form I wasn't a protein powder consumer because I was scared of what protein powder would do, but now I have started taking protein powder every day I can't imagine life without it. Therefore in this episode, I discuss with Natalia the power of protein and how it is actually the building blocks of not only our bodily functions, muscle repair and growth but also our mental health and hormone balance.Natalia comes from a background of PR and also of holistic health, naturopathic medicine and meditation. Therefore Natalia talks from a place of knowledge when it comes to health benefits both physically and mentally. Form has grown from strength to strength in the UK and they are now taking on America with help from their newest team member and avid Form consumer Orlando Bloom.Natalia and I deep dive into so many amazing topics in this episode including the following:Her life before Form NutritionWhy Form Nutrition came aboutHow Protein Powder works How Protein Powder doesn't bulk youWhy adding Protein Powder can be important to your dietWhy Protein is important for your mental health Ingredients to watch out for in Protein powders that aren't good for youThe plant-based diet Orlando Bloom as an addition to the team Expanding into AmericaForm Feeding Fund To get your hands on some Form Protein Powder (which I highly recommend you do) head to https://formnutrition.com/plant-based-nutrition/or head to Planet Organic or Holland and BarrettThis episode is hosted by Georgia Symonds and produced by Maisie Peppitt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.