The Kasandrinos Effect

Tony and Effi Kasandrinos
  • 4.8 (59)
  • Nutrition
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Kasandrinos Effect is all about the things we deeply believe in: Mediterranean living, health, family, and everything behind building a family business. We're Tony and Effi Kasandrinos, founders of Kasandrinos Olive Oil, built around transparency, quality, and doing things the right way. Our goal is simple. Help you cut through the noise, make healthier choices with confidence, and bring a little more intention to the way you live and eat. We talk real olive oil versus fake, why sourcing and testing actually matter, and the small daily habits that make the biggest difference. We also get personal about building a business with our name on it, raising kids in the middle of it, and staying true to where we come from. So whether you're cooking dinner, going for a walk, or pouring yourself a fresh cup of coffee, we're glad you're here. New episodes every week. Learn more at kasandrinos.com

  1. 11h ago

    Ep. 15 - How To Build A Family Business People Actually Trust

    What can a Greek restaurant childhood teach you about building a business people actually trust? Tony and Effi Kasandrinos sit down with their cousin Efrosyni, known on the show as Afro, who is also part of the Kasandrinos International team. Together they trace what their parents and grandparents taught them, from immigrant roots in Greece to restaurant kitchens that ran on pure hustle. They get into the work ethic that came from busing tables as kids, the customer service rules their mom drilled in, and how those restaurant lessons now shape an olive oil business built on trust. If you care about where real values come from and what gets passed to the next generation, this one is personal. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights02:37 – The accidental way she almost became a waitress instead of a partner05:22 – The scary leap that turned a side gig into a full-time calling09:56 – The family restaurant still running in a tiny New York town11:04 – Busing tables at five years old, and the work ethic it burned in16:14 – The restaurant upsell trick that now runs their online checkout19:16 – The one rule their mom repeated: you are not staying in this business23:57 – The single most important thing the restaurant taught them about business27:02 – Why you can still talk to the actual owners of this company33:26 – The surprising bond that keeps this family talking every single day46:41 – Grandma Joan’s rule about money and happiness52:03 – The grandfather who retired from Kodak and outsold everyone into his 90s1:01:34 – The grandparent questions they wish they had asked sooner Mentioned ResourcesThe Original Candy Kitchen, the family restaurant in Williamson, New YorkRochester Institute of Technology (RIT)JP MorganKodakUnited States Marine Corps About the GuestEfrosyni Colati is Tony and Effi's cousin and is the Creative Director of the Kasandrinos International team. She grew up in a Greek restaurant family, built a career that included a role at JP Morgan, and now balances work with raising her kids. She brings the same family work ethic and customer-first mindset to the Kasandrinos brand. 🔗 Instagram | Website Important LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  2. Oct 13

    Ep. 14 - How To Eat Real Food When Everything Is On The Go

    What if the healthiest thing you could do had nothing to do with the gym? Fresh off a summer split between two countries, Tony and Effi Kasandrinos compare the two worlds they grew up between, and the gap runs far deeper than weather and food. They get into why Greeks stay healthy without gym memberships, how a three-hour dinner beats a rushed drive-through, why a grandmother in her 90s still plays cards past midnight, and what a slower pace really does for family, food, and stress. One country runs on convenience, the other on connection, and each one has something the other is missing. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights01:46 - How Greece packed 80 years of progress into 2002:29 - The cash-only country that went tap-to-pay in five years09:41 - Why no Greek restaurant wants to turn your table11:14 - The reason kids are still at dinner at 10 PM16:04 - Fast food that is a gyro, not a bun with 180 ingredients21:06 - The healthy-living paradox nobody talks about22:28 - Why Greeks skip the gym and still stay healthy24:02 - The grandmother in her 90s who called near midnight32:06 - The one thing Tony would import from Greece tomorrow43:03 - What Greeks completely misunderstand about America Important LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and edited by Podcast Your Brand.

  3. Oct 6

    Ep. 13 - Coach Mike Dolce - Why Losing Body Fat Is Easier Than Everyone Says

    What if everything you have been told about losing weight is the opposite of the truth? Mike Dolce has spent decades as the four-time World MMA Trainer of the Year, guiding elite fighters to the scale with a perfect record. In this episode, Tony and Effi sit down with the founder of The Dolce Diet to unpack why the weight-loss narrative most people believe is backward. Mike breaks down the habits that actually move the needle, what GLP-1 drugs are quietly doing to your muscle, where supplements really fit, and the simple morning routine he swears by. He also shares the come-to-Jesus moment, at 282 pounds, that rebuilt his life. If you have ever done everything right and still felt stuck, this conversation hands you the playbook the influencers will not sell you. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights00:04:04 – The childhood loss that quietly shaped a career in nutrition00:05:32 – How a 282-pound powerlifter ended up morbidly obese at his peak00:06:32 – The doctor's office moment that changed everything00:11:25 – The one thing almost everyone gets wrong about losing fat00:13:14 – Why Mike tells brand-new clients to stop going to the gym00:14:01 – The metrics you are tracking that mean absolutely nothing00:19:11 – The mirror is a facade, and what you should focus on instead00:39:18 – Why Dana White called him to fix the sport's problem children00:49:48 – What GLP-1 drugs are actually doing inside your body00:51:45 – The muscle-loss math no one selling GLP-1s wants you to hear00:55:24 – Where supplements really fit, and where they never will01:07:11 – The three rules Mike would give anyone for life Mentioned ResourcesThe Dolce DietThe Dolce Diet on Instagram (@thedolcediet)StronGRR SupplementsThe Dolce Diet: 3 Weeks to ShreddedThe Dolce Diet: Living Lean and the Living Lean CookbookRenzo Gracie's New York AcademyTeam QuestGNC (General Nutrition Center) About the GuestMike Dolce is the four-time World MMA Trainer of the Year and the number-one bestselling author of The Dolce Diet. He is the founder of the Dolce Method, a concierge health-coaching program, and spent decades managing the weight cuts of elite UFC and combat-sports athletes, earning a reputation as one of the most respected coaches in professional sports. A former competitive wrestler and powerlifter, he now focuses on helping everyday adults reclaim their health through single-ingredient whole foods, smart habits, and sustainable lifestyle change. He is a father of two. 🔗 Website | Instagram Important LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  4. Sep 29

    Ep 12 - 10 Simple Habits That Improve Your Health, Wellness, and Daily Life

    What if the ten things standing between you and a healthier life are this simple? Tony and Effi Kasandrinos sit down to walk through the ten habits they both try to live by every day, and they are refreshingly honest about which ones they have nailed and which ones they are still fighting for. No biohacking jargon, no extremes. Just the simple, repeatable things that actually move the needle. They get into walking before sunrise, the sleep number Tony's Oura ring revealed after months of tracking, a scary dehydration moment at Effi's daughter's soccer tournament, the canola oil hiding in the salad you thought was healthy, strength training that matters more as you age, the phone habits they both admit they are terrible at, mornings that actually start the night before, learning to say no, and the slow Greek way of eating and living that most of us have lost. Running through all ten is one idea Tony learned in the Marine Corps: consistency will beat motivation every single time. If you keep waiting to feel ready, you will keep starting over. These ten habits are simple, mostly free, and built to stack. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights00:33 The habit Tony refuses to skip, even before most people are awake01:45 The daily step count Tony quietly aims for05:48 What months of sleep tracking finally told Tony about his own body09:08 The soccer-tournament scare that changed how Effi thinks about water12:05 The one thing Tony adds to his water that most people forget13:54 The change Tony made for a year that dropped the weight17:46 The oil hiding in the healthy salad you just paid a lot for19:59 Why strength training matters more the older you get22:47 The habit Tony and Effi both admit they are terrible at25:21 The little device that locks your apps so you can actually focus28:35 Why a calm morning really starts the night before36:00 The hardest part of protecting your peace, and it is one word36:45 The Marine Corps lesson that beats motivation every time41:11 What to do the day after you fall off track45:49 The Greek habit most Americans have completely lost Mentioned ResourcesOura Ring - the sleep and recovery tracker Tony usesSanta Cruz Paleo - the electrolyte mix Tony adds to his waterNinja Creami - for turning ice cream into a higher-protein treatGauge Girl Training (Christine Hronec) - guest on an upcoming hormones episode75 Hard - the challenge Tony completed this year (official link to confirm) Important LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  5. Sep 22

    Ep. 11 - Nicole Shubalis - Why She Refuses to Call Her New Life Luck

    Could you leave everything you know to start over completely alone? Nicole Shubalis was a private chef in Chicago with a catering business and a full, go-go-go life. Then, on her 40th birthday, a trip to Crete cracked something open. At 42, she sold or gave away almost everything and moved to Chania alone, with just her dog. Tony and Effi sit down with Nicole live in Athens to unpack the real story behind the move: the pull she couldn't ignore, the paperwork that made it feel permanent, and the 2012 shooting that reshaped how she thinks about safety and fear. They also get into slow living, Cretan food, and training for her first HYROX. If you have ever wondered whether the leap is worth it, or told yourself someone else is just lucky, this one is for you. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights02:18 - The 40th birthday trip that quietly rewired her entire life plan07:12 - The identity line every Greek American will feel in their chest07:59 - The Cretan food scene that just earned a world ranking12:57 - Why her food videos flopped and what took off instead21:39 - The 2012 night in Chicago that changed everything23:34 - The part of the recovery that was harder than the injuries29:24 - What training for a HYROX taught her about her own ceiling40:45 - The 90 percent she gave away, and why it felt like freedom42:58 - What she felt on the one-way flight she had dreamed about43:47 - The unglamorous moment it hit her that this was permanent45:26 - The one comment about her move that she cannot stand55:39 - Her first six months in Crete summed up in a single word Mentioned ResourcesThe Ultimate Guide For Moving Abroad by Nicole Shubalis, a 70-page guide, available through her Instagram bioBringing Your Dog Abroad guide by Nicole ShubalisHYROX About the GuestNicole Shubalis is a Greek American private chef, yogi, and content creator who left Chicago to rebuild her life in Chania, Crete. French culinary trained, she ran a private chef and catering business in the States before moving abroad at 42. Through her brand Nicole Unpacked she shares expat life, food, slow living, and the honest behind the scenes of starting over. 🔗 Instagram | TikTok | Website Important LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  6. Sep 15

    Ep 10 - From Idea to Cookbook: How We Created Kasandrinos’s Kitchen

    What does it really take to turn a family's recipes into a cookbook that lasts forever? Tony and Effi Kasandrinos sit down to talk about their new cookbook, Kasandrinos Kitchen, and how a decade of shared recipes finally became a real book. It started as something they kept promising customers and almost never pulled off. They get into why they nearly self-published, the friend and publisher who turned a 20-minute call into almost three hours of advice, the recipes that made the cut and the ones they still wish they added, and why the book carries their family story alongside olive oil, the Mediterranean diet, and real cooking techniques. Then it drifts happily into Greece, harvest season retreats, and the best time of year to visit. If you have ever thought about making a book of your own, or you just want an olive oil first way to cook, this one shows the real work behind the cover. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights00:00 What the cookbook actually is, and why it is more than recipes01:24 The one thing Tony wants to send to his old English teachers02:38 The surprising way customers use olive oil that has nothing to do with food03:18 The next book they have already planned04:11 Why you should never buy flavored olive oil04:48 Tony and Effi each name their favorite recipe in the book07:10 The hardest part of turning family recipes into a cookbook08:52 The old app that got them posting recipes in the first place11:49 Why they almost self-published, and started calling print companies12:52 The 20 minute call that turned into a two and a half hour masterclass14:51 The text that turned a favor into a real published book16:32 The two-year process, the reshot cover, and endless rewrites18:16 Where you can buy the book right now20:54 The book's original name, and the newsletter it became22:39 The Greece retreat idea Tony cannot stop thinking about28:10 The Spartan race in Sparta they want customers to join29:03 The best and worst times to visit Greece for the first time Mentioned ResourcesKasandrinos Kitchen - the new cookbook from Tony and Effi Kasandrinos, on Amazon and at Barnes & NobleThe Mediterranean Code - the Kasandrinos newsletter, and the book's original nameVictory Belt PublishingKasandrinos Olive OilSpartan Race Important LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  7. Sep 8

    Ep. 9 - Laila Ali - How to Build a Legacy in a Legend's Shadow

    What does it take to build your own legacy when the world already knows your last name? Laila Ali grew up as Muhammad Ali's daughter, then went 24-0 with 21 knockouts and built a life far beyond the ring. In this episode she sits down with Tony and Effi to talk about creating her own lane without ever stepping out of her father's light. She gets into the fire that got her into trouble as a kid, why she started boxing at 18 against her father's wishes, the junk hiding in most spice cabinets, and how she is raising kids who know their voice matters. Her new children's book, A Spark of Greatness, turns all of it into a story for the next generation. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights00:03:31 - Why she never lost sleep over being known as Muhammad Ali's daughter00:05:05 - The one rule from her father that still guides every decision00:06:31 - The angry kid nobody knew what to do with, herself included00:07:11 - What her dad actually said when she told him she wanted to box00:13:52 - The surprising thread connecting her nail salon and the ring00:19:22 - The junk she found hiding in her own spice cabinet00:23:03 - Why a Hall of Fame boxer spent years on a book for four-to-eight-year-olds00:25:28 - The trouble that landed her in juvenile hall00:36:13 - What she tells her kids about grades, college, and pressure00:40:05 - The two books she says everyone should read Mentioned ResourcesA Spark of Greatness by Laila Ali, illustrated by Cozbi A. CabreraReach: Finding Strength, Spirit, and Personal Power by Laila AliFast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy PelzBody Intelligence by Dr. Romeo BrooksLaila Ali Lifestyle and Laila Ali Spice BlendsKatie TaylorChristy Martin documentary About the GuestLaila Ali is an undefeated boxing world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, with a career record of 24 wins, 21 by knockout, and no losses. The daughter of Muhammad Ali, she has built a life well beyond the ring as a television host, entrepreneur, bestselling author, home chef, and wellness advocate. She is the founder of the Laila Ali Lifestyle brand and Laila Ali Spice Blends, and the author of Reach and the new children's book A Spark of Greatness. She lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. 🔗 Website | Instagram Important LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

  8. Sep 1

    Ep 8 - Taking Wellness Back To Simplicity

    What if the wellness industry is the reason wellness feels so hard? Tony and Effi Kasandrinos turn the mic on the wellness industry itself, calling out how a trillion-dollar space built on trends, supplements, and quick fixes has made staying healthy feel harder than it used to be. They walk through what they actually do every day, sleep first, then walking, whole foods, hydration, and sunlight, long before supplements enter the picture. They get into the real cost of ice baths and red light devices, why gym memberships go unused every January, and the quick fixes, from fat loss shots to TRT, that skip the root cause entirely. If you have ever felt like wellness got too complicated, too expensive, or too loud, this one brings it back to basics. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights00:00 Why the hosts think wellness itself has become the problem01:29 The one thing doctors cannot even agree on when it comes to health03:21 The single habit Tony calls the foundation of everything else06:24 How American portions and processed food changed the game since the 80s11:48 The food swap Tony made that changed his whole diet15:40 Why losing weight fast does not always mean getting healthier18:06 The cheapest way to stay fit, and it is not a gym membership19:52 What supplements Tony and Effi actually take, and what they skip22:15 The Greek salad habit that can quietly add 1500 calories24:53 What an ice bath actually costs to own28:04 Inside the wellness facility Tony calls the best gym on the planet34:02 Why most gym memberships never get used past January36:41 The quick fix doctors hand out for low testosterone, and what it masks42:12 Proof it is never too late to build these habits, even in your 70s Mentioned ResourcesProject Wellbeing “Shaun’'s Gym” (Las Vegas) - the wellness facility Tony visits for blood work, with air pressure resistance equipment, imported ice baths and saunas, a DEXA scan, and VO2 max testing Important LinksLearn more about us: Kasandrinos.comBuy our book: Kasandrinos KitchenJoin our Facebook community: FacebookFollow us: Instagram | TikTok | PinterestLinkedIn: Tony Kasandrinos | Effi Kasandrinos Booth The Kasandrinos Effect is an original podcast brought to you by Kasandrinos International and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

See All (15)

4.8
out of 5
59 Ratings

About

The Kasandrinos Effect is all about the things we deeply believe in: Mediterranean living, health, family, and everything behind building a family business. We're Tony and Effi Kasandrinos, founders of Kasandrinos Olive Oil, built around transparency, quality, and doing things the right way. Our goal is simple. Help you cut through the noise, make healthier choices with confidence, and bring a little more intention to the way you live and eat. We talk real olive oil versus fake, why sourcing and testing actually matter, and the small daily habits that make the biggest difference. We also get personal about building a business with our name on it, raising kids in the middle of it, and staying true to where we come from. So whether you're cooking dinner, going for a walk, or pouring yourself a fresh cup of coffee, we're glad you're here. New episodes every week. Learn more at kasandrinos.com

Information

  • Creator
    Tony and Effi Kasandrinos
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 - Kasandrinos International
  • Show Website
    The Kasandrinos Effect

You Might Also Like