Leading For Wellness

Petra Erlandson, VP of Sales, Alkemist Labs, has been working in the dietary supplement industry since 2006, with extensive experience in technical sales, business development, and technical support of cGMP compliant analytical testing, scientifically valid methodology, and reference materials.   Since joining Alkemist Labs in 2015, Petra has played an integral role in the expansion of their testi...

Liesl Bernard speaks with John Quilter, CEO of Saanroo, about his shift from a long corporate career into a family-owned wellness business. John shares why he stepped away from a high-travel leadership role, how he rebuilt balance in his life, and why Saanroo’s science-first approach sets it apart in the nutraceutical space. John explains why he left an 18-year global leadership career at Kerry an...

Sarah was formerly with Fonterra and held roles as Vice President International Farming based in China, Managing Director of Dairy Nutrition, and Managing Director of RD1-Fonterra’s chain of rural retail stores. Prior to joining Fonterra in 2011 she had more than 20 years’experience in dietary and animal nutrition, including ten years as Managing Director of Healtheries/Vitaco NZ Ltd.   During her...

Elina Sofia Wang, CEO and founder of ESW Beauty, shares her journey from personal health struggles to building a successful, community-focused skincare brand. Discover her strategies for growth, overcoming obstacles, and maintaining mental wellness as an entrepreneur.  Chapters  00:00 The Journey Begins: From Struggles to Success  03:06 Building a Brand: The Vision and Strategy  06:01 Overcoming O...

Paul Frantellizzi is a passionate and motivational leader with results-oriented entrepreneurial vision and a unique ability to bring great value to every relationship and business opportunity. A former native of NYC, Paul has a 40+ year history and experience with start-ups, executive management, the organic food industry, two-term Mayor, Police Commissioner, filmmaker, and a national sales and ma...

In this insightful interview, Tim Adams shares his expertise on performance, mindset, and holistic self-awareness. Discover how aligning mind, body, spirit, and emotions can unlock peak performance and authentic leadership.  Chapters  00:00 Introduction to Performance and Mindset  02:26 The Foundation of Coaching: Mind, Body, and Spirit  07:57 Lessons from the Sports Field: Precision and Performan...

Élan M. Sudberg is CEO of Alkemist Labs, a passionately committed contract testing laboratory specializing in plant and fungal authentication and quantitative analytical services to the food & beverage, nutraceutical, companion animal and psychedelic industries. He holds a degree in chemistry from California State University Long Beach, and has authored numerous articles on phytochemistry and...

Heather Howell shares her inspiring journey from leading global innovation at Jack Daniels to becoming CEO of Greater Than, a brand dedicated to women's hydration and wellness. Discover how she identified a white space in the beverage market, reformulated products to meet women's needs, and built a brand rooted in empowerment, authenticity, and community.  Chapters  00:00 Introduction to Greater T...

Joel Kocher shares his remarkable journey from tech industry leadership to pioneering in the nutraceutical space with a focus on nitric oxide and its impact on human health. Discover how science, purpose, and strategic vision are transforming health and wellness.  Chapters  00:00 From Tech to Nutraceuticals: A Journey of Purpose  02:57 The Miracle Molecule: Understanding Nitric Oxide  05:55 The Sc...

Rajat Mittal Shah is the Co-founder of Nutriventia, a science-backed nutraceutical ingredients company, a patented inventor, published researcher, and APAC Regional Co-Chair of Women in Nutraceuticals, and today, a candidate for the WIN Global Board of Directors. She brings something rare to this industry: a technology and systems mindset layered on top of deep pharma and nutraceutical experience,...

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Mark Tager discusses his journey from family medicine to the field of aesthetics, emphasizing the merging of wellness and beauty. He explores the importance of nutrition, exercise, and hormonal balance in maintaining skin health, while also addressing the impact of sugar and the science behind collagen treatments. Dr. Tager advocates for a comprehensive appro...

Jeremy Bartos, Ph. D., is the Chief Science Officer at INW, a contract manufacturing conglomerate specializing in dry dosage forms, liquids, softgels, and functional bars. He has over 18 years of experience working in the dietary supplements industry in a variety of R&D, product development, innovation, business development and sales roles. He specializes in probiotics, having formulated probi...

In this conversation, Liesl interviews Duffy MacKay, Senior Vice President of Dietary Supplements for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA). Duffy shares his extensive background in the supplement industry, discussing the evolution of dietary supplements, the role of CHPA in ensuring quality and access to self-care products, and the challenges faced by the industry today.   He emphas...

Scott Dicker is a recognized thought leader in the natural products and active nutrition industries, known for transforming complex market data into clear, actionable insights. As a leading voice in the space, Scott is a frequent keynote speaker at major industry conferences, where he helps brands, retailers, suppliers, and investors understand not just where the market is today — but where it’s h...

David Foreman, RPh, widely recognized as The Herbal Pharmacist®, is a pioneer in the natural health and wellness industry. As a registered pharmacist, he has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between conventional medicine and natural healing, championing an integrative approach to health. With a passion for empowering individuals to take charge of their well-being through natural solutions,...

Paul is a passionate and motivational leader with results-oriented entrepreneurial vision and a unique ability to bring great value to every relationship and business opportunity. A former native of NYC, Paul has a 40+ year history and experience with start-ups, executive management, the organic food industry, two-term Mayor, Police Commissioner, filmmaker, and a national sales and marketing direc...

In this conversation, Ari Gordon discusses the evolution of his company, Like and Likes, which helps brands grow on TikTok and Meta. He shares insights on the differences between the two platforms, the importance of effective content creation, and the costs associated with advertising on TikTok. Ari also emphasizes the role of influencer marketing and the necessity of having a strategic approach t...

Dr. Sandra Carter, M.A., MPH, Ph. D. is a pioneer in preventative medicine, sports performance, and integrative health — and a visionary entrepreneur who transformed the functional mushroom industry. After decades in public health and disease prevention, Dr. Carter founded M2 Ingredients at the age of 55, bringing scientific rigor and mission-driven innovation to a field on the cusp of mainstream...

In this episode, Liesl Bernard interviews Rafea Naffa, PhD bioanalytical chemist, Scientific Advisor for AIDP, about the critical role of magnesium in human health. They discuss the importance of magnesium for various bodily functions, its bioavailability, and the different forms of magnesium supplements available. Rafea emphasizes the need for daily magnesium intake, the symptoms of deficiency, a...

In this conversation, Liesl Bernard interviews Tom Aarts, a leading authority in the global wellness industry. Tom shares his journey in the nutrition sector, his passion for mental health, and his proud accomplishments, including the founding of the Nutrition Business Journal and the NBJ Summit. He discusses the importance of personalized nutrition, the impact of AI, and the growing trend of bioh...

Lisa Odenweller is a pioneering wellness entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Kroma Wellness, a modern functional nutrition brand dedicated to simplifying healthy living for busy, high-performing lifestyles. With over two decades of experience in the health and wellness industry, Lisa has committed her career to making premium, science-backed nutrition accessible, delicious, and effortless. B...

Ari Raz is a distinguished entrepreneur and executive in the natural foods industry, renowned for his leadership and innovative contributions.   Before joining The Coconut Cult in August 2021, Ari co-founded Once Upon a Farm, a company specializing in cold-pressed baby food, where he held the positions of CEO and later President from 2015 to 2021. Once Upon a Farm is currently on a $250M revenue r...

In this inspiring episode, Liesl Bernard interviews Susan Buckwalter Hartman, co-founder of Recoup Beverage, discussing her journey from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship, the unique aspects of Recoup's products, and the personal stories that inspired their creation.    They explore the challenges of building a brand in a competitive beverage market, balancing family life with entrepreneursh...

Madelyn Hadley is the founder of Madly Hadley, a San Diego-based innovative plant-based food brand. With a background as a private chef focused on plant-based cooking, she worked closely with naturopathic doctors and their patients to create delicious, health-conscious meals. Motivated by a passion to make her chef-quality, vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free recipes accessible to a wider audience, s...

Sam Schatz is the CEO of Biohm Technologies, a company pioneering microbiome-based ingredients using proprietary datasets that integrate genetic analysis, metadata, and AI. Joining Biohm in 2021 as President, he became CEO in 2023, driving business expansion, capital raising, and P&L management. Previously, Sam was Managing Director at AeroFarms, scaling it to 300+ employees. With more than 15...