Leading For Wellness

Mitochondria fuel every cell in your body, but how often do you check in on their health?    In this episode, Dr. Hemal Patel, a tenured professor at UC San Diego and Chief Scientific Advisor for Versailles Discovery, joins Liesl Bernard to unpack why these tiny powerhouses hold the key to longevity and how an innovative at-home test can provide real insights into your energy levels, resilience, a...

Adversity often opens unexpected doors to purpose, growth, and deeper spirituality. In this episode, Liesl Bernard sits down with Johnny Blackburn, the founder and director of Mystics, a school for personal and spiritual development.    Johnny shares how a life-altering injury transformed his path and led him from consulting to a deep dive into spirituality and personal development. He reflects on...

Mastering leadership, understanding consumer behavior, and balancing intuition with business savvy are important to success in the functional beverage world—insights Jim Tonkin has cultivated over four decades. Jim, the “Functional Beverage Guru,” joins Liesl Bernard in this episode to share his journey of creating iconic brands like Essentia Water, Zico Coconut Water, and Suja Juice. From leaving...

“Our vision is to pop it fresh and have really quality popcorn with purpose. Our popcorn is with purpose because we put intentional ingredients into it,” says Tim Wood, the CEO of Fired Up! Popcorn and a full-time fireman at Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego. In this episode, Tim joins Liesl Bernard to share his journey from creating a simple, healthy snack at the fire station to building a business ro...

“There’s a lot of tradition and culture involved with the treatment and consumption of psychedelics that needs to be honored because of the nature of how all of it really started out years and years ago. We’re just kind of coming about it right now, and there’s a lot of wisdom there that we can understand,” says Gary Seelhorst, a pharma, biotech, and functional wellness executive. In this episode,...

“The beauty of kombucha, besides the big, bright flavor, are the health benefits. So, if you’re not offering those live probiotics, I just think you’re doing a disservice to the potential of kombucha for wellness and health,” says Michael ZonFrilli, creator of Bambucha Kombucha. Known for his chef-crafted, wellness-driven beverages, Michael brings both culinary artistry and a commitment to authent...

“Broccoli microgreens are the most potent antioxidant compound. They contain sulforaphane, which is beneficial for the immune system, has anti-cancer properties, and so forth. They’re also linked to longevity and anti-aging,” says Vladi Delsoglio, the CEO of Ederra, a farm-to-body functional food company. He joins Liesl Bernard in this episode to share how a personal health scare—being diagnosed w...

“80% of consumers in the US are deficient in Omega-3s,” shares John Stockman, the CEO of Nordic Naturals, a company that is known for their commitment to wellness through high-quality supplements. He joins Liesl Bernard to share his journey from the corporate world to leading a brand that's focused on delivering the purest, most potent, and freshest Omega-3 supplements. How much do you really know...

“I think there will be an ever-growing interest in wellness, but also in how supplements will propel us forward into the next decade, century, and beyond,” says Shaun Ahuja in this first episode of “Leading for Wellness.” Host Liesl Bernard, CEO of Kalon Executive Search and Staffing, sits down with Shaun to talk about his journey as the founder and CEO of Nutracode, a New York-based company known...

Welcome to Leading For Wellness, the podcast where we explore the intersection of business success and holistic health. Join Liesl Bernard, the CEO of Kalon Executive Search, as she talks with visionary entrepreneurs and executives who are transforming the wellness industry. Subscribe to Leading For Wellness and join our community of wellness leaders today.