Morning Matcha

This week, Nikki sits down with Dr. Deepika Chopra — optimism doctor, happiness researcher, and founder of THINGS ARE LOOKING UP. Deepika began her career in the male-dominated world of investment banking, and, although she learned a lot about independence, knew it wasn’t the right fit for her. This experience, coupled with a unique upbringing that blended the spiritual and the scientific ultimately led her into a non-traditional psychology path, ultimately becoming known as “The Optimism Doctor.” In this episode, Deepika shares her positive rituals, color therapy, the importance of life purpose, and just how many days it realllllly takes to break a habit. After this episode, we’re definitely feeling up and the future is looking even rosier.

From reality star to recovering from reality, today’s guest has a powerful journey of transformation. Alexis Haines was born into a traumatic childhood, dabbling with drugs and alcohol to numb the trauma. After making headlines for her part in the Bling Ring (a group that would regularly burglarize celebrities) she found herself in jail and ultimately turned her rock bottom into a blessing in disguise -- one that catalyzed her sobriety journey. This episode is a true healing story, one full of unexpected plot twists and turns... and ultimately a happy ending.

Sasha Plavsic, founder of ILIA Beauty, needed a career change. After studying typography and design in London and freelancing for notable branding agencies, she found herself working in the corporate world at Urban Decay. Although she had created an illustrious career for herself, she still felt a sense of aimlessness which motivated her to investigate the beauty industry, where she soon realized the need for clean products -- thus, the beginning of her cosmetics brand, ILIA Beauty.

In this week’s episode, anti-diet dietician and intuitive eating coach Christy Harrison shares her belief that all of us actually can make peace with food and break free from diet culture. Disordered eating can come in many shapes and forms. Did you know that even “knowing where your food comes from” is a disorder? Basically, anything that makes you go down a rabbit hole, feel shame, steals your joy, or distracts you from your purpose qualifies as unhealthy habits in the all-encompassing world of diet culture. Host of the podcast Food Psych and author of the book Anti-Diet, Christy also offers private intuitive coaching. This one is truly a must-listen for every one (statistically speaking).

On this week’s episode, Nikki grabs matcha with Emily Culp from Cover FX, the leading vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics brand you’ve probably seen at Sephora and Ulta. If you’ve ever wondered if it’s reallllly possible to be a bonafide SHE-E-O while raising two children and making an impact in the world, Emily shows us that, yes, it is, and she’s living proof. Listen in for this and so much more, including the next innovation in beauty functional makeup (AKA: products that support the microbiome). Yes, please!

Today’s guest, Adrienne Nolan Smith, has had more than her fair share of disenfranchising and devastating moments with the American healthcare system. Not one to be beaten by the system, Adrienne began working in a healthcare company with hopes to transform the industry from within. This eventually led her to start WellBe, a platform that uses research-backed lifestyle changes to improve your short and long term health, as well as serving as a guide and support system when chronic health issues do arise so you can figure out the root causes and heal them naturally. Listen in to this incredible healthcare warrior who has even become a Board Certified Patient Advocate to fight on our behalf.

Even if you’ve only dipped your spiritual toe in the meditation waters, chances are you’ve already heard of today’s guest, Biet Simkin. Yes, she’s a renowned meditation teacher and spiritual author but she also brings a sense of modern sensibility (and a little edge) to ancient wisdom -- and is often referred to as the David Bowie of spiritual circles. How cool is that!?! Today, Simkin brings 30+ years of spiritual teaching and a lifetime of heartbreak and rock n’ roll to the fullest podcast and we couldn’t be more thrilled -- or is that blissed out?

Finally, it’s here: the skin episode. This week Nikki sits down with Celeste Thomas: a registered skincare nurse, complexion guru, and the founder of skincare blog, The True Spoon. Celeste candidly unpacks and demystifies a variety of skin myths and taboos, and also shares her must-have skincare products that won’t break your beauty bank. Listen up for a healthy glow.

“Facebook is really the enemy of new motherhood.” -- Diana Barnes After hearing about the harrowing case of Carol Coronado, the mother who took the lives of her three children in a postpartum psychotic state and was sentenced to three life sentences with no possibility of parole, Eamon Harrington and Veronica Brady needed to try to understand the seemingly incomprehensible. They began the podcast Not Carol, now also a feature-length documentary. This week, we are fortunate enough to have Eamon and Veronica on the show, as well as Diana Barnes, a psychotherapist specializing in women’s reproductive health and cases of infanticide. Together they unpack the issue of infanticide law, the difference between postpartum depression and psychosis, the role social media plays on mothers battling the illness, and the sad realization that the majority of cases come from a lack of support and resources for new moms. It’s a heavy topic, but one we are privileged to support and share with our community. Please listen gent

Jordan Younger is the blogger formerly known as The Blonde Vegan. After years of issues with health and digestion from a young age, Jordan decided to document her journey, becoming one of the earlier adopters of wellness blogging. When her career coincided with the boom of Instagram she quickly became wellness-famous. Like many of us, Jordan became interested in the wellness space but experienced borderline extremes in pursuit of vitality. Realizing the need for a more even-keeled approach, she rebranded to The Balanced Blonde and became a leading voice on orthorexia, even appearing on Good Morning America and The Today Show. On this week’s episode Jordan chats Lyme Disease, vegan trolling, and the importance of finding your own balance.

This week we’re sitting down with Molly Goodson, founder and CEO of The Assembly because… wellness. The Assembly is not your normal health club or co-working space, rather it’s a wellbeing club built by -- and for -- people who love to work out, work hard, and do it with friends. Listen in to Molly’s story for the ups (and occasional downs) of life in the entrepreneurial lane and why she thinks it’s oh so worth it!

This week we’re taking our orgasms sky high and talking all things CBD and feminine pleasure with Foria’s Director of Education, Kiana Reeves. Foria Wellness is a pioneering cannabis and hemp brand offering unique products for pleasure enhancement, pain relief, and overall wellness. So if you’re ready to receive the healing benefits of a CBD climax or curious to explore a greener solution to your period pain, this episode is for you.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or are just interested in elevating your personal brand (and honestly, who isn’t?) then this ep is for you! This week we talk branding and biz with VP of Brand at Peckish, Lauren Egan. If you’ve got a question or seven on how to elevate your product, ‘gram, or that pesky idea floating around your head… you can get ‘em answered right here.

This week we’re sitting down with Kathryn Duryea, founder and CEO of Year & Day, the cult tableware brand getting shoutouts from Vogue, Architectural Digest, and yours truly. Unlike our parents, you no longer need to wait until you’re rolling in cash to invest in “good plates.” Year & Day marries luxury design with a price you can actually afford. The company was born when Kathryn realized that our tables are the places we nourish our bodies, relationships, and souls… so why shouldn’t we be making that experience as beautiful as possible? We could not agree more. Hear more of Kathryn’s story here and then go treat yourself to some adult tableware!

fullest favorite and monthly contributor Katie Dalebout is the author of Let It Out, a book about journaling and also the host of the Let It Out podcast which was included in Huff Post’s Top 10 Women Hosted Podcasts. Join us as we all realize our own voice, and that there are enough airwaves for a gamut of perspectives.

This week we’re drinking our matcha from teacups as we pod to you from London. On a recent trip to the UK, Nikki caught up with Cora Hilts of Rêve En Vert; the online boutique often referred to as “the Net-A-Porter of sustainable fashion.” After studying environmental politics, Cora realized fashion’s huge footprint, but also saw a lack of retailers offering luxury items that were good for planet Earth. Next thing you know, she borrowed money from her parents, started a website, and Rêve En Vert was officially born. If you’re looking for info on ways to detox and clean up your closet without compromising on self-expression and style, this one’s for you.

This week we’re adding some honey to the fullest podcast! Nikki sits down with Carly Stein, founder and CEO of Beekeeper’s Naturals. Transformed personally and moved by the healing magic of bees, Carly made it her mission to share bee medicine with her local community. She began small at local farmer’s markets, but in true Queen Bee fashion, her offering rapidly expanded. Now Beekeeper’s Naturals has been featured on the Wall Street Journal, Goop, and Pop Sugar to name just a few. Listen in to find out what all the buzz is about.

This week we’re sitting down with Kerrigan Behrens, one half of Sagely Naturals, the company responsible for making premium, lab-tested CBD products from organic and non-GMO hemp. After doing their research, Kerrigan and her business partner found that 80% of people don’t actually want to get high. Most people just want to feel good, relaxed, and free from pain. Since starting their business in 2015, they’ve since expanded to 13 products that can be found everywhere from health food stores to Neiman Marcus. They’re some of the originals in the hemp space and have seen the industry truly transform. If you’re CBD curious or just interested in the policy and business surrounding America’s hottest new agricultural boom, this episode is for you. For 20% off at sagelynaturals.com, use code MATCHA20. Expires June 5th, 2019. One use per customer.

If you’ve ever had a serious case of the ex, this episode is for you. Nikki sits down with Elle Huerta, the CEO and founder of MEND, the self-care app for heartbreak. MEND uses research rooted in science to help you feel better and faster after the agony that is breaking up. Over 2,000,000+ people have completed the in-app training in over 176 countries and MEND is making headlines in Vogue, The New York Times, and Forbes. Ready to heal your own heart and feel expanded by one woman using her own experience with darkness to create some good globally? Check out Elle’s story here.

Founder of Solluna, celeb nutritionist, and New York Times best-selling author, Kimberly Snyder joins us for the final episode of the season. Kimberly has helped and healed a mixed bag of A-list stars including Fergie, Rooney Mara, Deepak Chopra, and even actual Greek god, Thor. Celebrity endorsements aside though, it’s Kimberly’s approach to wellness that leaves us starstruck. Kimberly’s message is simple: for true healing, we need to address both the mind and the body. If you’re looking for a toolbox of tips and tricks to jumpstart your own beauty, health, and grace from one of the country’s most famed wellness experts — this episode is it.