Essential Ingredients Podcast

Justine Reichman
  • 4.9 (172)
  • Nutrition
  • Updated Weekly

Essential Ingredients powered by NGP is an Online podcast, launched by Justine Reichman a socially minded Founder, Connector and Philanthropist. This podcast features a multi-generational group of startup founders, thought leaders and change makers who discuss the importance of building businesses from concept to purpose that directly align to your purpose and mission and support a regenerative future for and from people to planet. Topics include "building a business to support your purpose" to "global issues challenging our farming, production and supply chain" to "telling your story" and "developing consistent branding". In addition to the conversation segments, these talks also conduct interviews with Serial entrepreneurs, new founders and industry experts. Interested in sharing your story, email us to participate in our next podcast. Production of the podcast is held in San Rafael.

  1. 4d ago

    Regenerative Wine: Jeff O'Neill & Allison Jordan on Land Stewardship

    "It is getting pesticides out of the vineyard. It's making sure that when we send a worker home, they're not going home and hugging their child with any other pesticide or herbicide. It is a mission, but it does start with the dirt, and it has to flow all the way through the winery into the bottle." —Jeff O'Neill "A lot of times, people think about the environmental side of sustainability, but it's also about the social pieces— how you treat your employees, worker health and safety, and also how you exist within the community." —Allison Jordan Regenerative organic wine sounds like a buzzword — until you stand in a vineyard that's actually living it. This week, Justine Reichman sits down at Ram's Gate Winery with Allison Jordan (VP of Environmental Affairs, Wine Institute) and Jeff O'Neill (founder, Ram's Gate and O'Neill Vintners & Distillers) to unpack what real stewardship looks like when an entire industry commits to it. Key takeaways: How the California Code of Sustainable Wine Growing turned 200+ best practices into a statewide movement, covering everything from soil health to worker safety What it actually takes to earn CCOF Organic and Regenerative Organic Certification — including the 3-to-5-year soil conversion most people never hear about Why Ramsgate planted fruit trees inside its vineyard rows, and what that agroforestry bet could mean for the next 20 years The honest answer to the question every skeptic asks: Does regenerative wine actually taste as good? This conversation is proof that sustainability isn't a marketing layer — it's a rebuild from the soil up, and it's changing what "good wine" means. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/essential-ingredients-podcast/id1534417325  Meet Jeff: As the visionary founder and owner of Ram's Gate Winery, Jeff O'Neill is a transformative leader in the wine and spirits industry. An accomplished entrepreneur and CEO of family-owned and operated O'Neill Vintners & Distillers, Jeff brings decades of expertise to his craft. Ram's Gate Winery is the culmination of Jeff's passion for producing world-class wines, offering an unparalleled visitor experience at an Estate designed by architect Howard Backen and interiors by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy. A passionate advocate for the planet, Jeff has been a leader in environmental stewardship for over 20 years. His deep commitment to building a more sustainable future for the wine business earned him recognition as Wine Enthusiast's Person of the Year in 2022. Website Instagram Facebook Meet Allison:  Allison Jordan serves as the Vice President of Environmental Affairs for the Wine Institute and as the Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. In these roles, she oversees the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program and the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing Program, while also representing the Wine Institute on the board of directors of the National Grape Research Alliance. Previously, Allison held leadership positions at SureHarvest and the Resource Renewal Institute. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the Goldman School at UC Berkeley and a B.A. in Psychology from Allegheny College. She is a fellow in the German Marshall Fund's American Marshall Memorial Fellowship program. LinkedIn Connect with Wine Institute Website Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Podcast Chapters: 01:08 Meet Allison Jordan: The Voice of California's Wine Institute 02:36 Inside the California Code of Sustainable Wine Growing 06:58 Meet Jeff O'Neill: 40 Years Building Regenerative Wine 09:51 What Regenerative Organic Certification Really Requires 12:38 Ram's Gate's Agroforestry Bet: Fruit Trees in the Vine Rows 14:23 Does Regenerative Organic Wine Actually Taste Better? 16:26 Why Today's Wine Consumer Demands Transparency 19:14 Scaling Regenerative Practices Across California Vineyards 23:23 Jeff O'Neill's 50-Year Vision for California Wine

  2. Jul 14

    109: Andrew Salisbury's Regenerative Experiment for Antioxidant Coffee

    "Farming in a way that's good for the health of the consumer and good for the product is also good for the environment. And so everybody wins, and then our consumer wins." —Andrew Salisbury  Coffee health benefits aren't just marketing; they're backed by nearly 30,000 studies, yet almost none of that research made it into the bag of coffee sitting in your kitchen.  In this episode of Essential Ingredients, Justine Reichman talks with Andrew Salisbury, founder of Purity Coffee, about the personal frustration that led him to rebuild coffee from the soil up. It started with his wife's low energy and a stubborn question: was her daily coffee helping or hurting? That question sent Andrew to two coffee scientists at Vanderbilt, who handed him a list of health benefits tied to coffee — and a gap no company was filling.  Andrew explains why coffee is actually the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet, ahead of blueberries and kale, and why most companies stop at "avoiding the bad stuff" instead of maximizing the good. He walks through Purity's three-level testing process — bean, soil, and now the body — and explains why regenerative, shade-grown farming produces higher yields and more antioxidants than industrial methods, while also sequestering carbon rather than releasing it. The conversation moves from roast curves and chlorogenic acids to the real economics of paying farmers a premium, and why climate change is expected to cut Arabica coffee supply in half by 2035.  This is a conversation about what happens when a company refuses to accept "that's just how it's done." Listen to the full episode to hear how one entrepreneur is trying to make your daily cup a genuine act of health: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/essential-ingredients-podcast/id1534417325   Meet Andrew:  Andrew Salisbury is the founder and CEO of Purity Coffee, a specialty coffee company built on a simple but radical premise: every decision from farm to cup should be made for human health first. After investigating his wife's low energy and digging into research at the Institute for Coffee Studies at Vanderbilt, Andrew discovered that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet—and that no brand was optimizing coffee specifically for health. Partnering with leading coffee researcher Professor Adriana Farah, Andrew spent 18 months developing Purity's approach: shade-grown, regeneratively farmed, organic coffee that is independently lab-tested to minimize mold, mycotoxins, pesticides, and heavy metals while maximizing antioxidants and polyphenols. Through Purity Coffee and the emerging concept of "circular health coffee," Andrew is helping reshape how the industry thinks about regenerative agriculture, soil health, and clean sourcing, proving that what's best for the drinker can also be best for farmers and the planet. Website Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok  Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Podcast Chapters: 01:19 Meet Andrew Salisbury: Founder of Purity Coffee 04:37 Coffee's Surprising #1 Antioxidant Ranking 05:31 Why No One Built Health-First Coffee Sooner 10:03 Inside Purity's Three-Level Coffee Testing 12:14 How Regenerative Farming Fights Climate Change 15:23 Clean Sourcing: Farm-to-Cup Transparency 23:54 Balancing Sustainability With Accessible Pricing 33:50 The Future of Coffee and Soil Health 40:44 Where to Find Purity Coffee

  3. Jul 7

    108: 30-Second Health: Alex Fredericks on Building Voice Biomarker Tech

    "Most people don't understand that the best medicine cabinet is the thing that you put in your body, the food that you eat… So you could eat yourself well as equally as you can eat yourself sick." —Alex Fredericks Voice biomarker technology is turning a 30-second recording into a full-body readiness report — and it's already caught things doctors missed.  In this episode, Justine Reichman sits down with Alex Fredericks, founder and CEO of ToneWell, to unpack how a PEMF frequency technology he encountered as a consultant became a static, auditable database of 150,000 biomarker data points that can flag hydration, hormones, inflammation, and toxins from nothing more than your voice. Alex walks through the real mechanics: a locked algorithm does the analysis, while AI only powers the concierge layer that turns raw output into daily, actionable priorities — a distinction he insists on, because "AI is the workflow, not the analytic."  He shares two striking real-world moments: a client whose 3:30am hormonal spikes were traced to conflicting medications after she recorded a voice snapshot in the moment, and his own nephew, whose oddly low iron reading led to catching a serious kidney infection early. The conversation moves into food, toxins, and gut inflammation, and why Alex refuses to build a diagnostic tool — Tonewell tells you what's going on, not what's wrong, leaving the declaration to practitioners. It's a grounded look at where AI genuinely helps health decisions, and where it should stay firmly in its lane.  Listen to the full conversation for the jiu-jitsu principle — "flow with the go" — that shaped Alex's entire approach to building in a crowded wellness market.  Meet Alex:  Alex Fredericks is the founder and CEO of ToneWell, a voice-based wellness intelligence platform that turns a 30-second voice recording into a ranked, personalized readiness report across energy, sleep, stress, hydration, inflammation, and toxins. Drawing on more than two decades building brands and growth systems in music, consumer goods, and tech, Alex specializes in turning complex bio-data into clear, actionable insights. A self-described Gen X latchkey kid and lifelong problem solver, he approaches AI in wellness with a strict filter: if it doesn't improve decisions and reduce friction, it's entertainment—not innovation. Before Tonewell, Alex worked across the green, organic, and holistic wellness space, helping companies translate emerging technologies into usable products.  Alex is also a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, and the principle "flow with the go" shapes how he builds resilient systems, sustainable habits, and tools that help people build better relationships with themselves. Website LinkedIn Connect with ToneWell:  Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube   Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Chapters: 01:08 Meet Alex Fredericks: From Growth Engineer to Wellness Founder 05:48 The Voice Resonance Breakthrough Behind Tonewell 07:37 How a 30-Second Voice Scan Collapses Decision Time 10:25 "Flow With the Go": The Jiu Jitsu Rule Behind ToneWell 13:46 Real Case: Catching a 3 A.M. Hormonal Imbalance 19:50 Why Alex Delayed ToneWell's Subscription Model 24:16 Real Case: An Early Kidney Infection Catch 26:36 Inside the AI Concierge's Safety Rails 31:27 What Actually Happens Between Voice and Report 37:43 Why Food Keeps Showing Up in Every Voice Scan

  4. Jun 30

    107: The Hormone Conversation Men Aren't Having

    "Sometimes, giving a name to something can help someone, because then you have a plan, you can go forward and see changes, and to know that there's not something wrong with you. You're suffering with other men and women in the same age group." —Dr. Drew Sinatra "There's also that perspective that can be helpful, especially if you're in a partnership: what I do for my health is good for me, but it's also good for you. If I help myself age well, it means you're less likely to have to take care of me, and we're going to have a better time." —Dr. Lisa Brent There's a quiet epidemic happening in men's lives, and almost no one's naming it. He's more tired than usual. Shorter fuse. Less interested in the gym, in sex, in connecting with the people around him. His doctor might call it depression. His wife might just think he's "checked out." Nobody's checking his testosterone. In this episode, Justine and naturopathic physician Dr. Lisa Brent sit down with Dr. Drew Sinatra to talk about andropause — the slow, often invisible hormonal shift men go through in midlife. Drew explains why testosterone decline gets missed for years, why so many men get handed an antidepressant instead of a hormone panel, and what it actually takes to find the real root cause. This isn't a conversation about chasing gym-rat testosterone numbers. It's about vitality: energy, mood, motivation, connection — and what happens when men finally get permission to talk about it. Lisa and Drew also get into something heavier: the male suicide rate that peaks in midlife, and how isolation, exhaustion, and unnamed hormonal shifts often collide. The fix isn't just a prescription. It's labs, lifestyle, and surprisingly, community. Share this with the man who's been "off" for a while now. He might not know why. This episode might help him find out.  Meet Drew:  As a California- and Idaho-licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in Integrative Medicine, Dr. Drew Sinatra helps people investigate the "why" behind an illness or symptom – providing the best of natural and conventional therapies to re-establish vitality lost to chronic stress and illness. Through his concierge-like medical practice, with its exceptional care and support, he empowers people to become the CEO of their health and wellbeing. Website LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Meet Lisa:  Dr. Lisa Brent is a licensed naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist specializing in women's health. With a commitment to holistic and patient-centered care, she integrates primary care training with expertise in lifestyle medicine, nutrition, bioidentical hormone therapy, and gut health. Dr. Brent is dedicated to empowering her patients through education, individualized wellness strategies, and compassionate support. She is the founder of Be Well Natural Medicine, hosts educational events such as the Women's Health Symposium, and provides care both in-person and via telehealth. Website Instagram Facebook Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Chapters: 01:31 The Importance of Midlife Health Talk  04:22 What is Andropause?  11:00 Symptoms Nobody Connects 15:40 The Truth About Testosterone Supplementation 19:35 Mental Health for Midlife Men 26:15 What to Look For? Important Questions to Ask 31:25 Environmental Disruptors and Testorterone Levels 36:20 The Importance of Support Systems to Overall Health 38:32 Advice for Better Wellbeing

  5. Jun 23

    106: Healthy Drinks Exposed: Why Nothing on the Label Adds Up

    Most "healthy" drinks aren't what they claim—and your body feels it long before you realize why. In this episode, Justine Reichman sits down with entrepreneur Bryan Appio, founder of Dry Water, to unpack what really happens when you start paying attention to what's inside your hydration. After losing everything during the pandemic, Bryan hit a breaking point that forced him to rethink his health from the ground up—leading to a product built on transparency, not shortcuts. They dive into the hidden truth behind "natural flavors," why most electrolyte drinks are loaded with sugar or unnecessary salt, and how the wellness industry often prioritizes profit over clarity. But more importantly, this conversation shifts how you think about everyday choices: what you drink, how you fuel your body, and why simplicity might be the most powerful upgrade you can make. This episode will change the way you read labels—and the way you take care of yourself. Key Takeaways: Why "natural flavors" can hide dozens of unknown ingredients The real problem with most electrolyte and hydration drinks How small daily habits impact long-term health Why clean, simple ingredients matter more than marketing claims The mindset shift that turns failure into your next breakthrough If you've ever felt tired without knowing why—or questioned what's really in your food and drinks—this conversation will hit home. Meet Bryan:  Bryan Appio is the founder and CEO of Dry Water, a next-generation hydration company committed to clean ingredients, transparency, and everyday wellness. A lifelong entrepreneur, Bryan previously built and exited an early staffing "gig economy" model, before redirecting his focus to health and sustainability after the pandemic exposed his own gaps in nutrition and hydration. Motivated by personal health challenges and a deep frustration with misleading "natural flavor" claims and sugar-laden sports drinks, Bryan spent years reverse-engineering the hydration category. He developed Dry Water as a daily wellness solution built on real fruit, plant-based ingredients, zero sugar, and no artificial additives, designed to support gut, brain, and metabolic health while minimizing reliance on pills and highly processed products. Under his leadership, Dry Water has grown from kitchen experiments to a national brand available in major retailers like Walmart, Walgreens, Target, and Kroger, reaching hundreds of thousands of customers largely through education-driven, word-of-mouth growth rather than heavy ad spend. Bryan's approach centers on regenerative business principles: investing in consumer education, prioritizing clean supply chains even when crops fail or costs rise, and refusing to compromise on non-negotiables around ingredient integrity. A strong advocate for women's sports and youth wellness, Bryan has partnered with League One Volleyball (LOVB) to bring cleaner hydration to thousands of young athletes and professional players, aligning performance with long-term health. Through Dry Water, he is demonstrating that it is possible to scale a profitable, high-growth CPG brand while honoring transparency, ethical sourcing, and the long-term well-being of people and planet. Website LinkedIn Instagram X TikTok Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Chapters: 00:52 Building Dry Water: The Journey and Challenges  06:43 Natural Flavors and Transparency  11:50 The Impact of Dry Water on the Market  27:37 Regulations and Scaling Challenges  30:35 Building a Team and Customer Relationships  32:23 The Role of Education and Marketing  37:13 Investing in Female Sports and Empowerment  41:21 Balancing Growth and Personal Values  46:20 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:    Resources: Discount Get 30% off on your entire order + free gift when you shop at: https://drywater.com/    Use code: EI30 Podcast The "8 Glasses of Water A Day" Myth Debunked! with Gina Bria Water— The Ultimate Essential Ingredient— 100th Episode Celebration!! with Gina

  6. Jun 16

    105: Is Your Anti-Aging Routine Aging You? Inside the Luxury Skincare Machine

    "We had to start our own lab because the standards I wanted I couldn't find in any product, aging can be a joy, empowering, and beautiful." —Daniella Inbar What if your age isn't the problem?  In this episode, Justine sits down with Daniella Inbar—cosmetic chemist, product developer, and founder of Inbar+Co. and Resonance Marin Spa. After 30 years inside the luxury beauty industry building brands and developing products, Daniela did something radical: she walked away from the "dishonest" luxury beauty machine. As the daughter of a pioneer in the German aromatherapy movement, Daniela grew up with a holistic approach to wellness rooted in authenticity and tradition, rather than beauty ads. Today, she isn't selling traditional anti-aging products. Instead, she forms skincare that actually listens to your skin's microbiome rather than lecturing it. Tune in as Justine and Daniella pull back the curtain on the "clean beauty" myth, explore why aggressive actives and harsh cleansers might actually be aging your skin faster, and discuss the complex reality of building a truly sustainable consumer brand. In this episode, you'll learn: • How over-complicating your routine and using aggressive products disrupts your skin barrier, causing congestion and accelerated aging. • Why "chemical-free" is a marketing gimmick and why lab-made synthetics can sometimes be safer and more sustainable for the planet than trendy natural ingredients. • The complex logistics of running an eco-conscious spa and skincare line—from choosing cotton over microfiber to the carbon footprint debate of glass vs. aluminum packaging. • Why the best skincare approach is to do less, work in systems, and support your skin's natural biology. Meet Daniella:  Daniella leads the INBAR+co system as Founder + Formulator. Her work begins with formulation: creating products for professional-use logic, refining them through the Resonance Marin spa environment, and releasing them as retail formulas only when they hold beyond the spa. The lab sits inside Resonance Marin, and clients pass it on their way to treatments. That proximity matters. Formulation, service, feedback, and quality control are not abstractly connected. They share a physical space. At 58, with no invasive procedures, Daniella lives the brand's age-positive position herself: support the skin, do not erase the face. Her guardrails are restraint, barrier respect, material responsibility, and visible results over time. LinkedIn Instagram Connect with Inbar+Co:  Website Instagram Connect with Resonance Marin: Website Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Chapters: 04:49 Challenges and Changes in Sustainability 07:41 The Role of Authenticity and Tradition in Skin Care 13:54 The Evolution of Skin Care Products 21:09 Consumer Perception and the Importance of Education 31:56 The Future of Sustainable Beauty 38:00 The Impact of Sustainable Choices on the Planet 53:54 The Role of Biotech in Sustainable Skin Care 01:00:34 The Importance of Consistent and Thoughtful Practices 01:01:36 The Role of Policy in Supporting Sustainable Practices

  7. Jun 9

    104: Beauty Crush with Karen Behnke

    "We try to take sustainability to every aspect of what we do, because when you build a company, you have impact." —Karen Behnke In this episode of Essential Ingredients, Justine sits down with Karen Behnke, a serial wellness entrepreneur and a true pioneer in the clean beauty movement long before it became mainstream. From co-launching Goop Beauty with Gwyneth Paltrow to being recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the most innovative entrepreneurs, Karen's journey is anything but ordinary. But this conversation goes deeper than accolades. Karen shares the moment everything shifted—when she realized that despite her background in wellness, she had never questioned what she was putting on her skin. That realization sparked a mission to challenge the beauty industry and rethink how products are made, sourced, and experienced. You'll hear how her work now blends organic farming, biotech innovation, and sustainability, including growing rare grapes on her own certified organic vineyard and developing plant-based exosome technology. It's a powerful look at how beauty, health, and the planet are more connected than most of us realize. This episode is for anyone curious about what's really in their skincare—and what it means to choose better. In this episode, we cover: • The turning point that changed Karen's view on the beauty industry • Why clean beauty is about more than just ingredients • The connection between farming, skincare, and environmental impact • How innovation is shaping the future of beauty • What consumers should start paying attention to today • If you've ever wondered what you're really putting on your skin, this conversation will shift the way you think. 🎧 Share this episode with someone who cares about clean beauty and conscious living. Meet Karen:  After selling her pioneering corporate wellness company to United Healthcare and while serving on the Board of 24 Fitness, Karen ignited the clean beauty movement by launching Juice Beauty in 2005.  As the first luxury beauty brand to pioneer sustainable, organic, vegan, and cruelty-free formulations, Juice Beauty gained millions of loyal customers nationwide through ULTA Beauty, maintaining a 'Top 15 Prestige Skincare Brand" for 15 years under Karen Behnke's leadership. Her innovative product development approach led to five patents and the establishment of a unique farm-to-beauty ingredient supply chain in Sonoma County. She also forged landmark partnerships with Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson. She sold her majority stake to private equity and left the CEO role in 2023. Website LinkedIn Instagram Connect with Beauty Crush:  Website Instagram Facebook TikTok Youtube Connect with Juice Beauty:  Website Instagram Facebook YouTube Reddit Connect with Goop Beauty: Website Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok Pinterest Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Chapters: 01:59 Karen's Journey Into Clean Beauty 04:01 Challenges and Successes of Juice Beauty 06:17 Collaborating with Gwyneth Paltrow 10:26 Transition to Beauty Crush and Innovation 15:10 Sustainability and Biotech in Beauty Crush 26:44 Consumer Education and Future of Beauty 30:47 The Importance of Positive Resilience on Work and Life

  8. Jun 2

    103: Breaking Stereotypes: The Rise of Israeli Wine

    Discover the rich history, unique terroir, and innovative practices shaping Israeli wine. Joshua Greenstein shares insights on how Israeli wines are breaking stereotypes, embracing ancient heritage, and advancing sustainability. Keywords Israeli wine, wine innovation, terroir, sustainability, biblical grapes, kosher wine, wine tourism, wine history, wine tasting, wine industry Key topics Israeli wine history and misconceptions Terroir and soil diversity in Israel Innovative grape varieties and biblical heritage Sustainable and kosher winemaking practices Challenges and opportunities in the Israeli wine industry Key  frameworks Terroir and soil diversity Ancient and biblical heritage in winemaking Sustainable and kosher practices Sound bites "Chill your red wines for a few minutes." "Israel's soil tells a story in every glass." "Argamon is a cool, funky grape from Israel." Resources Israeli Wine Producers Association (IWPA) - https://www.iwpa.org

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4.9
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About

Essential Ingredients powered by NGP is an Online podcast, launched by Justine Reichman a socially minded Founder, Connector and Philanthropist. This podcast features a multi-generational group of startup founders, thought leaders and change makers who discuss the importance of building businesses from concept to purpose that directly align to your purpose and mission and support a regenerative future for and from people to planet. Topics include "building a business to support your purpose" to "global issues challenging our farming, production and supply chain" to "telling your story" and "developing consistent branding". In addition to the conversation segments, these talks also conduct interviews with Serial entrepreneurs, new founders and industry experts. Interested in sharing your story, email us to participate in our next podcast. Production of the podcast is held in San Rafael.

Information

  • Creator
    Justine Reichman
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Justine Reichman - Essential Ingredients Podcast
  • Show Website
    Essential Ingredients Podcast

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