100 episodes

Essential Ingredients powered by NextGenChef 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.

Essential Ingredients Podcast Justine Reichman

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.9 • 127 Ratings

Essential Ingredients powered by NextGenChef 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.

    013: Upcycling for Health— Transforming Produce Trimmings Into Nutritional Gold with Jeni Britton and Jeremy Nelson

    013: Upcycling for Health— Transforming Produce Trimmings Into Nutritional Gold with Jeni Britton and Jeremy Nelson

    “We're not doing a marketing campaign to try to convince you that we're doing good stuff. It doesn't work. What works is creating beautiful products as a team who's devoted because we believe in the mission.” —Jeni Britton
     
    “When you can put your ego aside and focus on the larger vision, you can achieve so much more than you can alone.” —Jeremy Nelson
     
    Upcycling in the kitchen isn't just about saving money— it's about redefining what "waste" truly means and unlocking a hidden world of culinary creativity. It empowers us to break the cycle of consumption and injects valuable nutrients back into our diets, promoting a more mindful and resourceful approach to cooking and eating.
    This week, Justine sits down with James Beard Award-winning ice cream maker and founder of Jeni's IceCreams, Jeni Britton and Michelin-starred chef, Jeremy Nelson, to discuss their new venture, Floura, a company creating high-fiber, prebiotic snacks and ingredients from upcycled produce trimmings.
    Listen in as Jeni and Jeremy delve into their personal wellness journeys and how it inspired Floura’s mission and innovative processes. They also explain the importance of fiber and prebiotics for microbiome health, the importance of upcycling, the power of building a company alongside customers, farmers, and investors, and the role of research in moving toward sustainability and planetary wellness.



    Meet Jeni: 
    Jeni Britton is a James Beard Award-winning ice cream maker and the founder of Jeni's IceCreams. She has over 25 years of experience in the food industry, constantly developing direct relationships with farmers and using fresh, local ingredients in her products. More recently, she has focused her efforts on gut health and microbiome research. As the co-founder of Floura, Jeni is leading the company's mission to upcycle fresh produce trimmings into high-fiber, prebiotic ingredients, and snacks to support overall wellness. She enjoys spending time in nature, where she finds inspiration for her creative work.



    Meet Jeremy: 
    Jeremy Nelson is a Michelin-starred chef from San Francisco and the Chief Product Officer at Floura. He has over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry with a background in plant-based and health-supportive cooking. At Floura, he applies his culinary expertise to develop delicious, nutritious products using upcycled fruits and vegetables. Jeremy is passionate about connecting with others through food and creating options that are good for both humans and the planet. In his role, he oversees product development and ensures Floura's recipes deliver on taste, nutrition, and sustainability.
     
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    Episode Highlights:
    02:04 The Floura Mission 
    05:30 Nutrition on a Personal Level
    09:03 The Bridge Between Health and Entrepreneurship
    12:52 Prebiotics and Fiber for Gut Health
    16:56 Upcycling For Health and the Environment
    20:46 Working Remotely
    28:05 What’s Next?
     

    • 32 min
    012: Nature's Nutraceuticals: How Medicinal Mushrooms Are Transforming Natural Medicine with Aaron Hodgins Davis

    012: Nature's Nutraceuticals: How Medicinal Mushrooms Are Transforming Natural Medicine with Aaron Hodgins Davis

    “In the case of a business, pick a few ideas, do them well, and scale them up instead of doing a whole bunch of things at a very small scale.” —Aaron Hodgins Davi
    The medicinal mushroom industry is primed for exponential growth as research continues to uncover the vast health benefits of fungal powerhouses. Research found that mushrooms support brain, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive health in ways no other food or supplement can match. As public interest in preventative healthcare rises, medicinal mushrooms are emerging as highly effective and easily accessible wellness all-stars. 
    Hence, many forward-thinking farmers are now helping to bring these adaptive allies from the forest to the forefront by making high-quality mushroom products available nationwide. One of them is Aaron Hodgins Davis. Aaron is the founder and operator of Hodgins Harvest, a certified organic mushroom farm in Hudson Valley. Through Hodgins Harvest, Aaron cultivates medicinal mushrooms organically and sustainably while educating communities about their health benefits.
    This interview offers fascinating insights into the past, present, and promising future of the medicinal mushroom industry. Listen in as Justine and Aaron talk about the wide-ranging health benefits of mushrooms supported by research, their adaptogenic properties and healing applications, and their potential in the preventive wellness industry. They also offer valuable advice for balancing a side hustle with a day job, maintaining focus, keeping realistic expectations, and overcoming challenges as an entrepreneur. 
     
    Meet Aaron: 
    Aaron Hodgins Davis is the founder and operator of Hodgins Harvest, a certified organic mushroom farm based in the Hudson Valley region of New York. As the chief fungi enthusiast at Hodgins Harvest, Aaron oversees all aspects of growing and producing medicinal mushrooms such as Lion's Mane, Reishi, Turkey Tail, and Shiitake.
    With over five years of experience in the mushroom farming industry, Aaron is passionate about cultivating mushrooms using organic and sustainable practices. He is also dedicated to educating communities about the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms through growing kits, extracts, and community outreach.
    Prior to starting Hodgins Harvest, Aaron worked in the documentary film industry for 15 years. He founded Hodgins Harvest as a side hobby that has now grown into a full-time career focused on the future of medicinal mushroom farming.
    When not working on the farm, Aaron enjoys foraging for wild mushrooms, cooking with culinary varieties, and staying up to date on the latest mushroom research. He aims to continue expanding Hodgins Harvest's organic mushroom operations in the years to come.
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    Episode Highlights:
    01:30 Hobby Turned Full-Time Business
    02:49 Balancing Side Hustle and Career
    07:25 Overcoming Challenges
    12:07 Medicinal Properties of Mushrooms 
    16:40 Scaling Up Operations
     

    • 21 min
    011: Making Fruits and Veggies a Delicious Habit with Colorful Concoctions on the Go with Amber Benson

    011: Making Fruits and Veggies a Delicious Habit with Colorful Concoctions on the Go with Amber Benson

    “You're not going to heal unless you're creating that environment in your body. We should understand that fruits and vegetables help you every single day.” —Amber Benson
     
    While we're often told the importance of "eating the rainbow" each day, many struggle to fit those colorful servings of produce into their busy routines. Without sufficient intake of these nutrient-dense whole foods, we miss out on essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and plant compounds shown to support longevity and decrease the probability of chronic illnesses. Hence, this widespread deficiency has become a major public health issue that demands innovative solutions.
    This week, Justine is joined by Amber Benson, the co-founder of Ruvi, a company that uses freeze-dried technology to preserve the nutrients in fruits and vegetables while making them easy to enjoy anytime in a convenient powder form. 
    Listen in as Amber discusses how their clean label approach and use of freeze-dried technology help more people increase their fruit and vegetable consumption. Justine and Amber also explore the importance of balancing fruit, vegetable, and fiber intake for wellness, strategies for educating consumers, making healthy eating easier through convenient fruit and veggie delivery, and more!
     
    Meet Amber: 
    Amber has a passion for healthy eating and a disdain for waste. The co-founder of Ruvi, she is on a mission to crush nutritional deficiency with the planet’s purest source of nutrition: fruits and veggies. Amber worked in food and supplements for 20 years and loves the challenge of starting a new business. She received an MBA from Brigham Young University. She’s married with three children and feels accomplished when she gets a healthy meal at her family’s dinner table at night. Her favorite fruit is papaya with a squeeze of lime.
     
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    Episode Highlights:
    01:16 Leveraging Freeze-Dried Technology
    04:25 The Benefits of Delivery Service
    09:02 How Fruits and Vegetables Impact Health and Wellness
    13:25 Product Development foe Healthy Eating 
    17:57 The Power of Easy and Readable Labels
    22:01 Go Ruvi, Get Ruvi
     

    • 26 min
    010: Natural Optimizers: Discovering Non-Synthetic Solutions for Enhancing Wellness Without Compromising Health with Dustin Baker

    010: Natural Optimizers: Discovering Non-Synthetic Solutions for Enhancing Wellness Without Compromising Health with Dustin Baker

    “Realistically, as we age, we just physiologically are not the same as we used to be. And that has not just a physical effect on us; it has a mental, cognitive, and emotional effect on us as well.” —Dustin Baker
    While modern medicine has achieved incredible feats, dependence on synthetic prescription drugs is not without its downsides. By their very nature, these medications are designed as "selective poisons" that incur side effects for many users. From minor issues like drowsiness or nausea to more serious long-term health impacts, taking synthetic drugs always involves trading one's well-being for another. As more people seek to proactively manage their health and optimize wellness without compromising on risks, the demand has grown for natural alternatives that can provide prescription-level benefits without the potential dangers. 
    Led by Dustin Baker, BioProtein Technology develops natural, non-synthetic supplements that provide the same benefits as prescription drugs without any side effects. Through innovative research and clinically-backed products, BioProtein Technology aims to help individuals enhance their health, performance, and quality of life in a safe and natural way.
    Listen in as Justine and Dustin share a behind-the-scenes look at product research and development processes, scaling a company, developing gender-specific products to meet more customer needs, and innovating revolutionary products for a healthier future without dependence on synthetic medications. 
     
    Meet Dustin: 
    Dustin Baker is the Founding President of BioProtein Technology and BioPro+, the first non-synthetic alternative to HGH - Human Growth Hormone and Peptide Treatments that works FASTER, EASIER, and SAFER. With over 15 years of experience in the fitness, health, and wellness industries, Dustin brings a passion for human optimization and performance to his role. Under Dustin's leadership, BioProtein Technology is focused on developing innovative, gender-specific products and continuing clinical research to support its mission of providing prescription-level benefits without side effects. When not in his office, Dustin enjoys spending time with his family and staying active in the community.



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    Episode Highlights:
    01:52 Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy 
    06:59 From a Small Company to a Global Organization
    11:05 Business Growth Strategies
    15:57 Developing Gender-Specific Products 
    21:03 Optimizing Wellness with NO Side Effects
    26:03 Natural Supplements for Brain Health 
     

    • 31 min
    009: Unlocking Supply Chain Efficiencies with Data Standards with Liz Sertl

    009: Unlocking Supply Chain Efficiencies with Data Standards with Liz Sertl

    “It's a big undertaking when you start thinking about data and how you want it to move. But that foundational layer of data and getting that right internally is the first step whether you're a small business, or whether you're a large business.” —Liz Sertl
    Supply chain visibility refers to the ability to access accurate and real-time data across all processes within the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to the final delivery to the consumer. This allows them to proactively address issues and inefficiencies, better manage risks and disruptions, and meet evolving customer demands. When implemented effectively, visibility can help reduce costs, improve on-time delivery rates, strengthen customer relationships, and boost overall supply chain resiliency.
    This week, we hear from Liz Sertl, a seasoned supply chain leader passionate about enabling efficient and sustainable commerce through global standards. As Senior Director of Supply Chain Visibility at GS1 US, she's helping businesses of all sizes streamline operations and future-proof for compliance using foundational data standards.
    Listen in as Liz pulls back the curtain on the real-world impact of clean, shared supply chain data. Justine and Liz also discuss how even the smallest operations can start reaping rewards today, tips for getting supply chain-savvy without breaking the bank, food safety regulations every business needs to address, the simplest path to competitive advantage, and much more. 
     
    Meet Liz:
    Liz Sertl is the Senior Director of Supply Chain Visibility at GS1 US. She has over 15 years of experience in supply chain management and data quality in the consumer packaged goods industry, having previously worked at Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola. Liz is passionate about enabling efficient and interoperable supply chains through the use of global standards. At GS1 US, she leads initiatives to promote supply chain visibility and data sharing across industries. Liz enjoys educating others on how foundational standards can drive impactful results for businesses of all sizes. In her role, she aims to increase awareness of key issues like food safety compliance and sustainability in the supply chain.
     
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    Episode Highlights:
    01:42 Supply Chain Efficiency and Data Quality 
    06:22 The GS1 Standard for Small Businesses
    10:43 Supply Chain Tech and Its Impact on Businesses
    14:47 Food Safety and Visibility
     

    • 19 min
    008: How Soil Stewardship Provides Solid Solutions for Climate Change and Food Security with Sarah Wentzel Fisher

    008: How Soil Stewardship Provides Solid Solutions for Climate Change and Food Security with Sarah Wentzel Fisher

    “Soil health can be complicated but it's also super simple and something that everybody can participate in.” —Sarah Wentzel Fisher
    Soil health is the foundation of our food systems and ecosystems. Yet many are disconnected from the living soil that sustains us. The soil is a complex web of microbial and ecological activity below our feet, working constantly to cycle nutrients, sequester carbon, and support plant life above and below ground. When soil health declines, it impacts water quality, biodiversity, our ability to grow nutritious food, and ultimately all living beings.
    In this episode, Justine interviews Sarah Wentzel Fisher about the transformative potential of getting more people involved in agriculture and stewarding soil health. 
    Sarah is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition and a regenerative farmer. Through her work with the Carbon Ranch Initiative, she aims to improve soil health on rangelands and educate farmers and ranchers on the importance of soil stewardship.
    Listen in as Justine and Sarah discuss the importance of soil health for functioning ecosystems and its central role in mitigating climate change, the impact of research in providing practical solutions, ways to inspire conversation around soil health, and more. 
     
    Meet Sarah:  
    Sarah has worked in food and agriculture planning for over a decade with a focus on supporting young and beginning farmers and ranchers. She was the editor of Edible Santa Fe from 2011 to 2017. From 2013 to 2015 she worked for the National Young Farmers Coalition as an organizer and is currently on the board of the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. She is a committed champion of the local food movement and of resilient and regenerative agriculture. In her free time, you can find her feeding pigs, turkeys, and cows, checking the compost pile, or possibly weeding a patch of beans at Polk’s Folly Farm where she lives.
     
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    Episode Highlights:
    02:21 Creative Conveing and Food Systems 
    06:27 Soil Health and Its Impact on Ecosystems 
    10:40 The Importance of Understanding Soil Health
    15:03 How Soil Health Impacts Climate
     

    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
127 Ratings

127 Ratings

mollydee3 ,

Great interviews

Interesting breadth of interview subjects & engaging conversations- well done!

Meri LQ ,

I love y’all

I am eternally grateful for this podcast. Justine and her guests bring life-changing, beneficial information each week and I learn something new every time I listen.

Socctrr🎃 ,

Tremendously helpful!

Wonderful hosts! Love and appreciate the podcast.I love the positivity and encouragement I get from this podcast.Such an encouraging podcast!!

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