Serenity and Fire with Krista

Krista Guagenti

Welcome to Serenity and Fire. The podcast where wellness meets grit. I'm your host, Krista Guagenti, founder of Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique. Join me as we dive into the intriguing world of bio-hacking, clean living, cutting-edge spa treatments and the hustle, grind and grit of entrepreneurship. From my personal battles with weight-loss and infertility, to a 30-year struggle to create and launch my dream business, to building a sanctuary for those touched by cancer — I'm here to share real talk, inspire big dreams and spark a passion for holistic living inside each and every one of you.

  1. APR 7

    Processed Vs Ultra-Processed: What's the Real Difference?

    Your “healthy” grocery cart might be doing more damage than you think… and it’s not just because something is labeled “processed.” In this episode of Serenity & Fire, I’m breaking down one of the most misunderstood topics in modern nutrition: processed foods vs ultra-processed foods. If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store wondering, “Is this actually good for me or just marketed well?” — this is for you. What we cover: • The NOVA classification system (explained simply) so you can quickly identify what you’re actually eating  • The difference between minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed foods  • Why ultra-processed foods are fundamentally different — including:  engineered hyperpalatability (“bliss point”)  how they override satiety  changes in absorption and blood sugar response  long ingredient lists designed for shelf life, not health • The truth about controversial ingredients like carrageenan and why gut health conversations are so divided Why this matters: This isn’t just theory — it’s what we see every day. • Blood sugar spikes and crashes  • Signs of insulin resistance  • Increased stress load on the body  • Hormonal skin issues, puffiness, and congestion  • Accelerated skin aging through glycation (damage to collagen + elastin) And while tools like:  lymphatic drainage  sauna + cold therapy  corrective facials  LED light therapy  hyperbaric oxygen can be incredibly powerful… They work best as amplifiers of a stable internal environment, not quick fixes. If you’re ready to simplify your choices and feel more in control: 🎧 Hit play and start learning how to shop and eat with clarity If this episode helped you: 👉🏽 Subscribe for more real, no-BS wellness conversations  ⭐ Leave a review — it helps more people find the show  📲 Share this with someone trying to clean things up without the overwhelm Ready to take your wellness beyond the basics? Experience it in real life at Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique  👉 https://panacealuxuryspa.com Whether you're looking to reset, recover, or support your body on a deeper level, we’d love to have you.

    18 min
  2. APR 2

    How Menopause & Hormones are Impacting Your Health

    Your body didn’t “fall apart” overnight, it changed priorities. That midlife swirl of weight gain, sleep disruption, mood swings, and weird new symptoms has a name and a mechanism: perimenopause and menopause. I’m breaking down what’s actually happening inside your physiology so you can stop blaming yourself and start using strategies that fit this season of life. We talk through the hormone reality behind the chaos: progesterone dropping fast, estrogen swinging unpredictably, cortisol hitting harder, and blood sugar getting less stable. I explain why the old playbook of eating less, doing more cardio, and pushing harder can lead to fatigue, burnout, and stubborn body composition changes. Then we get practical with the new non-negotiables: protein targets you can actually calculate, strength training that preserves your metabolic engine, and sleep and blood sugar habits that protect your nervous system. We also go deeper on labs and hormone optimization, including why “normal” blood work can still leave you feeling awful, how functional and integrative clinicians interpret patterns differently, and what to know about hormone replacement therapy, delivery methods, and real risk factors. I share a very real and very under-discussed part of menopause: vaginal dryness, fissures, and urinary changes, plus why topical estrogen may be a game changer. And yes, we cover men too, testosterone decline is real, symptoms matter, and treatment should be monitored thoughtfully. If you found this helpful, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s quietly struggling. What symptom do you want me to unpack next?

    31 min
  3. MAR 24

    Seed Oils: Let's Break Down This Controversial Ingredient in Your Diet.

    In today’s episode, we’re stepping into one of the most debated topics in wellness right now: seed oils. Some people call them toxic. Others say they’re completely harmless. The truth, as always, lives somewhere in the middle. In this conversation, I break down what seed oils actually are, how they’re processed, and why they’ve become such a hot topic. We talk through the real concerns — including high-heat processing, chemical extraction, and refining methods like bleaching and deodorizing — and what that means for the oils most of us are consuming daily. From there, we get into what really matters: why polyunsaturated fats are more sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen what oxidation actually means (in simple terms) how omega-6 and omega-3 balance plays a role in overall health and why the modern diet tends to skew that ratio Most importantly, this episode is about practical application — not fear. You’ll walk away with a clear, grounded framework for: where seed oil exposure is highest (hint: restaurants are a major source) how to reduce your intake without becoming obsessive how to think about “middle ground” oils like nut oils what to look for in a high-quality extra virgin olive oil and how to make simple, smarter choices in your everyday life The goal isn’t perfection — it’s awareness, balance, and better decision-making. If this episode resonated with you, I’d love for you to: Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming conversations ✅ Leave a review — it helps more people find the show ✅ Share this episode with someone who’s trying to clean things up without going to extremes And if you’re looking to take your wellness a step further, we’d love to welcome you into our space... Visit Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique to explore our services and book your experience: 💚  https://panacealuxuryspa.com 💚 Whether you're looking to reset, recover, or simply take better care of yourself, we're here for you.

    22 min
  4. MAR 10

    Women Who Build: Leadership, Legacy, and the Long Game

    This episode was inspired by a Women’s History Month panel discussion called Women Who Build, where I was invited by Telhio Credit Union to reflect on leadership, entrepreneurship, and what it really means to build something that lasts. As I reviewed the panel questions, I realized they weren’t just questions for a stage conversation. They were the kinds of questions every founder and leader should be asking themselves. In this episode, I walk through those questions and share the leadership lessons that have shaped how I built Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique, from developing organizational capacity and building strong teams, to thinking about legacy, community impact, and the long game of entrepreneurship. We talk about the shift every founder eventually has to make. From being the person who does everything to becoming the person who builds people, systems, and culture that can grow beyond them. I also share how the people who raised me shaped my leadership philosophy, the surprising influence of a fictional character who helped shape my vision for building something lasting, and why businesses have a responsibility to strengthen the communities around them. This conversation is about more than entrepreneurship. It’s about leadership, resilience, and building something meaningful that can outlive you. In this episode, we explore: • The leadership philosophy that shaped how I built Panacea • Why founders must shift from “doer” to “builder” to truly scale • What legacy really means when you’re building a brand • How strong teams expand the capacity of an organization • Why businesses should act as anchors in their communities • The balance between empathy and standards in modern leadership • How innovation is essential to long-term sustainability If you're building a business, leading a team, or thinking about the long-term impact of your work, this conversation is for you. Because the most meaningful work we do as leaders isn’t just about success. It’s about building businesses, building people, and building communities that last. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

    21 min

About

Welcome to Serenity and Fire. The podcast where wellness meets grit. I'm your host, Krista Guagenti, founder of Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique. Join me as we dive into the intriguing world of bio-hacking, clean living, cutting-edge spa treatments and the hustle, grind and grit of entrepreneurship. From my personal battles with weight-loss and infertility, to a 30-year struggle to create and launch my dream business, to building a sanctuary for those touched by cancer — I'm here to share real talk, inspire big dreams and spark a passion for holistic living inside each and every one of you.