Steeped In Wellness (Formerly The Matcha Guardians)

In this episode, we sit down again with Dr. Matthew Mosquera, a Harvard-trained addiction psychiatrist, for a deep dive into ketamine treatment — from its surprising history to its emerging role in mental health care. We kick things off by clearing up common misconceptions. While ketamine’s party-drug reputation persists, we explore its origins as a surgical anesthetic developed in the 1960s and h...

In this episode of Steeped In Wellness , we sit down with Dr. Aly Cohen, a triple board-certified physician in rheumatology, internal medicine, and integrative medicine, and one of the nation’s leading voices on environmental health. We explore how toxic chemical exposures in our daily lives affect our immune systems, hormones, and long-term health — and what we can actually do about it without pa...

In this episode, we sit down with Kait Stephens, CEO and co-founder of Brij , to explore what it really means to build a business and a family at the same time — and do it with intention. Kait walks us through her shift from a career in finance and investing to launching Brij, a platform that helps brands capture first-party data and build lasting customer relationships through QR technology. What...

In this two-part episode of Steeped in Wellness , we sit down with Elara just a few weeks before her due date, and again four weeks postpartum, to track her journey into life with two under two. Starting with a check-in during her 37th week of pregnancy, we cover everything from how she’s feeling physically and emotionally to how different this pregnancy has been from her first. Right away, Elara...

In this episode of Steeped in Wellness , we sit down with Caitlin Wilder, a mom, full-spectrum doula, lactation consultant, and the founder of Wilder Beginnings. With Diana out sick, Elara and Jon step in to guide a raw and real conversation about motherhood, postpartum truths, and breaking free from rigid norms around birth and parenting. Caitlin shares how her own births inspired her to become a...

In this episode of Steeped in Wellness , we sit down with Vinny Crispino, founder of Pain Academy and former competitive athlete, to talk about pain, healing, and redefining recovery. Vinny recounts the surfing accident that broke his back and launched him into a years-long battle with chronic pain. He shares how his injury left him disoriented and desperate, cycling through countless experts and...

In this episode of Steeped in Wellness , we dive into the healing journey of Bailey Nielson, founder of Solstice Holistic. Together, we explore what it means to be neurodivergent and how Bailey’s personal experience with childhood trauma, misdiagnoses, and conventional mental health treatments led her to create a trauma-informed, spiritually rooted practice. Bailey shares how traditional approache...

In this episode of Steeped in Wellness, we sit down with Cori Sartori, a certified integrative life and mindset coach, author, breast cancer survivor, and founder of SLC Life Coaching. We begin by exploring her deeply personal journey—from escaping a toxic relationship and struggling with addiction-enabling patterns to discovering healing through yoga, personal development, and ultimately stepping...

This week, we sit down with Carlos Boettcher, a seasoned war journalist whose life story reads like a history of modern conflict. Born during apartheid in South Africa and raised in a household of journalists, Carlos experienced instability and global upheaval from a young age. He recounts his early exposure to chaos, from the Rammstein air show disaster to watching his father report from war zone...

In this episode of Steeped in Wellness , we dive into financial wellness with certified financial planner Cole McClarren. We explore the often misunderstood role of a financial advisor and distinguish between true comprehensive planning and the sales-driven tactics sometimes mistaken for it. Cole walks us through what it means to be a fiduciary and why fee-only, conflict-free advice is so crucial....

In this episode of Steeped In Wellness , we sit down with chef Andrew Dunning to unpack his unique culinary journey and explore the philosophy and craft behind his elevated approach to cooking. We start with Andrew’s first food memory—witnessing a tableside Bananas Foster flambe as a child—and how that ignited a lifelong passion for food. He shares how this early spark eventually led him to work i...

This week on Steeped in Wellness , we dive into pelvic floor health with physical therapist Danielle Pasquale. Pelvic health isn't just for women, but critical for men too. Danielle explains her path into specializing in pelvic health, noting that a deep connection to working with women led her to this niche. She shares that pelvic floor strength is foundational for all movement, impacting athlete...

In this episode of Steeped in Wellness , we sit down with Amanda Reedy, a licensed clinical social worker and Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner, for an insightful conversation on therapy, trauma, AI, parenting, and emotional regulation. Amanda opens up about her therapeutic approach and explains how IFS works—emphasizing the idea that our minds consist of multiple parts, each formed by ex...

We've rebranded!   The Matcha Guardians Podcast is now Steeped in Wellness . For our first episode, we sit down with Lauren Seib, a pre- and postnatal fitness specialist, to talk about pregnancy, motherhood, and movement. Elara introduces Lauren, a longtime friend and fitness coach, and we explore how her personal journey from disordered eating and burnout in the publishing industry led her to bec...

In this episode of The Matcha Guardians , we dive into sleep—why it’s crucial, what affects it, and how we can improve it. Diana Weil, Elara Hadjipateras, and Jon Gay share their personal experiences with sleep struggles, night wakings, and the impact of lifestyle habits like alcohol, caffeine, and screen time. Jon shares how cutting alcohol after 5 PM has significantly improved his sleep, but one...

In this episode of The Matcha Guardians, we dive into the world of skincare with licensed esthetician Joan Gordon. Known for her personalized approach and expertise, Joan shares her journey from art teacher to skincare specialist, emphasizing the transformative power of tailored skincare routines and facials.  She explains how a facial isn’t just about relaxation but a way to rejuvenate the skin,...

In this episode of The Matcha Guardians , we had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Gary Soffer, an integrative pediatrician and allergy expert from Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Soffer’s journey into medicine was anything but typical, starting in the music industry before a personal experience with a sick relative inspired him to pursue a career in healing. Today, he’s a leading voice in integ...

This episode of The Matcha Guardians Podcast features Rebecca Washuta, a licensed dietitian, nutritionist, and health coach with expertise in weight loss and habit formation. Rebecca shares her journey from neuroscience and pharmaceutical sales to nutrition, sparked by her desire to address the root causes of disease through preventive health. She candidly discusses her career pivot, the challenge...

In this episode of The Matcha Guardians , Diana Weil and Elara Hadjipateras share intimate and vivid details of their birth stories, offering a raw and honest perspective on childbirth. They reflect on their experiences with humor, vulnerability, and practical insights, highlighting both the beauty and unpredictability of the journey to motherhood. Elara begins by recounting her scheduled c-sectio...

This week, we have the privilege of sitting down with Karen Malkin, a trailblazer in health coaching, integrative medicine, and brain health. We explore her inspiring journey from a lifelong passion for wellness to becoming a board-certified holistic health counselor and an expert in cognitive decline prevention. Karen’s story is a testament to the power of prioritizing the mind-body connection an...

In this episode of Matcha Guardians , we dive into the raw and unfiltered realities of parenthood with our husbands, Peter and Harley. From the very start, we throw them into the deep end, asking them to describe their experiences as new fathers in just one word. Peter emphasizes the immense responsibility that comes with fatherhood, noting how it has sharpened his focus and ability to manage work...

In this episode of The Matcha Guardians Podcast, we dive into an intimate conversation with Mike Reagan, an end-of-life doula and CEO of The Natural Funeral. Building on the previous week's discussion with Seth Viddal, this episode explores the often-overlooked role of end-of-life doulas and the compassionate care they provide during the final stages of life. Mike Reagan begins by debunking the co...

In this week's episode of The Matcha Guardians, we dive into a profound discussion on end-of-life care with Seth Viddal, co-founder of The Natural Funeral in Lafayette, Colorado. Seth shares his personal journey into the funeral service industry, which began through his own experience of losing close family members and the realization that the conventional funeral services did not adequately serve...

In this episode of the Matcha Guardians podcast, we dive into the intricacies of job hunting and resume writing with Angela Buccellato, the CEO of The Resume Rescue. Angela shares her journey into recruiting, highlighting how her experiences with defense and technical recruiting, and her frustration with the traditional job search process, led her to establish her company. Her mission is to help i...

In this episode  delve into the intricacies of parenting with Albiona Rakipi, a seasoned parenting coach and host of the Parenting Reframe Podcast. With over two decades of experience in early childhood education and speech-language pathology, Albiona shares her journey and insights into effective parenting, reflecting on both professional expertise and personal experience as a mother. Albiona beg...