The Irresistible Factor

What do astronauts and longevity seekers have in common? More than you’d think. Dr. Filippo Ongaro went from training astronauts at the European Space Agency to pioneering anti-aging medicine—before shifting gears to health coaching. Now, he’s on a mission to help people build science-backed habits for long-term wellness. In this episode, Dr. Ongaro shares: - How space medicine shaped his approach...

Healthcare is in desperate need of transformation, and Dr. Zaman Shah is leading the charge. As a practicing physician turned entrepreneur, he founded Medway—an AI-driven company designed to streamline healthcare operations, reduce physician burnout, and improve patient care. In this episode, Dr. Shah shares how AI is tackling some of healthcare’s biggest challenges, from reducing administrative o...

Innovation often stems from personal challenges—and for Dr. Farnoush Fadavi (Dr. Fay) and Dr. Arash Aftabi (Dr. Artie), their journey from dental specialists to supplement entrepreneurs was fueled by resilience, passion, and a desire to help others. In this episode, we dive into how a life-altering injury led Dr. Fay to discover the power of enzymes for recovery, sparking the creation of Bala Enzy...

A 5 year milestone for Laurel Orley! Starting a CPG brand is no small feat, and keeping it going is truly something to celebrate!  Laurel Orley, founder of Daily Crunch, knows this firsthand. Before launching her brand, she spent years in corporate America working with major brands like Dove and Unilever. Her career in marketing provided an incredible foundation, yet she longed for something more...

In this episode of The Irresistible Factor , Kristi talks with Josh Rogers, Founder and CEO of Ancient Drinks, to explore how he turned frustration with sugary sports drinks into a groundbreaking beverage brand inspired by history’s first hydration formulas. Drawing on his background in branding and product development, Josh reveals the challenges of launching a health-focused brand in the crowded...

"The biggest challenge is really getting through these gatekeepers who don’t understand our culture." In this episode of The Irresistible Factor, I sit down with Bricia Lopez, Co-Founder of I Love Michelada, to explore her inspiring journey from growing up in her family’s Oaxacan restaurant in Los Angeles to building a thriving michelada brand. Raised in the restaurant business, Bricia w...

"I wanted more in life, meaning a purpose. why am I getting up in the morning?" In this episode of The Irresistible Factor I sit down with Kathrin Henon, Founder and CEO of Planet-Bake. Kathrin shares her unique journey from being in the fashion industry  to launching a health-conscious dessert brand that offers sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan doughnuts.  Kathrin is no stranger to bei...

"My fascination with food was from a place of fear rather than love. It was obsessive, toxic, and stressful." For many founders, their journey into entrepreneurship starts with passion, a great idea, or the dream of disrupting an industry. But for Ali Bonar, the founder and CEO of Oat Haus, it began with a deeply personal struggle—her battle with multiple eating disorders. Her journey of...

“I always say it’s kind of like building an airplane while it’s in the air.”       In this episode of The Irresistible Factor Whitney shares her inspiring journey of transitioning from a career in the fashion industry to launching a food brand driven by her family’s health needs. Despite her knack for baking, Whitney faced significant challenges in creating recipes that were keto, gluten-free, and...

“Every night, I read everybody's testimonials without fail, and I've had them since the beginning of the business. That's where the rubber meets the road, where the customer is telling you—this is my experience.”  Andrew Salisbury transitioned from owning a software company to doing something he really cares deeply about, cultivating and selling pure, organic coffee with real health...

“There are just not a lot of brands in the field that know what they're doing here. And I'm able to find products that work that i’m using in the clinic every single day. And instead of as a veterinarian gatekeeping those products, we share those products with pet parents and the public.” Today, let's welcome the incredibly inspiring and high-spirited Zonram Liao, better known as Dr...

"I think humans are designed to solve problems. So I don't think those problems ever go away." - Kelsi Peterson What a blast it was chatting with Kelsi Petterson and Cassandra Hume from Kelsi’s Kitchen today! These two amazing ladies are behind the most yummy and healthy chocolate bites, made from a raw food recipe. And they are  also on a mission to support ALS research with every...

"Be a little patient. Don't be so quick to want to jump into raising a bunch of money without grinding through it a little bit to better understand it. That's okay." Kristi is thrilled to have one of her favorite serial entrepreneurs back with us today: Jim Donnelly! As the former CEO and Co-Founder of Restore Hyperwellness, Jim knows a thing or two about the growing health and...

"We're entrepreneurs, we're fighters, and we persevere and get through it." In this episode Rhona Kallman, Founder and CEO of Boston Harbor Distillery and creator of Demon Seed Whiskey talks about being one of the pioneer women in the alcohol industry.  Rhonda has spent most of her adult life in an industry still  dominated by men. She started her journey co-founding the Boston...

Connect with your customers and understand their needs, stay focused on your business model, and trust your gut while being open to advice. Patience and incremental changes are key to sustainable growth. Above all, stick to your vision! This valuable advice from Andrew Pudalov, one of my favorite Podcast Guests, is what’s allowed him to achieve remarkable business growth.             2 years ago w...

“As a founder, you have to have a very strong core, you have to have a vision, and you have to stick to it.” Kristi is excited to be joined by Emily Gilels, Founder and CEO of Dosa by DOSA  on this week’s episode of The Irresistible Factor. During her travels to India, Emily discovered that Indian food in America was underrepresented. She felt a calling to bring the Indian food she knew and loved...

On this episode of The Irresistible Factor, Kristi is excited to sit down with Julie Cartwright, President of Pvolve, to share the journey of this groundbreaking fitness platform.  You may know that Pvolve is all about living better and busting the long ingrained idea that you have to push yourself to extremes (even at the expense of getting hurt) to feel like you’re getting a good enough workout....

Meet the awesome Carol Frank, Founder and Managing Director of BirdsEye Advisory Group, and an absolute legend in the pet industry. Over the past 10 years, there has been an incredible change in the way we treat our pets. Most people seem to see our furry companions in the same light we see our children.  And Carol has been at the forefront of the change.  After multiple career pivots, Carol  even...

I love the feeling of being both excited and scared. I want to live on that edge and I want to explore what that feels like and explore my limits…”   Today Kristi is joined by the incredible Ret Taylor, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ned. Ned’s mission is to help people feel and live better through the true power of nature. From full-spectrum hemp oils to their famous Mellö magnesium, they are taking su...

“The name of the game is who has the most grit. It’s not who’s the smartest in the room, it is not who has the best idea; it is who is just willing to get back up.”  Today Kristi is joined by the inspiring Jamie Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Innovative Pet Lab. Innovative Pet Lab (IPL) is on a mission to empower pet parents with at-home testing and personalized solutions to help pets live longer an...

“The most difficult thing or the uphill push has always been that we are ahead of a trend – everywhere.”  Kristi is joined by Eva Maran of Shroomwell on this episode of The Irresistible Factor. Shroomwell is a mushroom company at the core. They create functional products from the mushrooms they grow themselves on their farms in the very small country of Estonia. Shroomwell was a true pioneer of th...

“One of the superpowers of an entrepreneur is the ability to get hit in the face with a shovel and get up and go, ‘I’m okay, I’ve got this.’” Today’s guest is David Spungen is a partner and wealth advisor at Corient, who happens to work with a lot of founders in the CPG business. He’s heard it all and isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the challenges of being a founder. Especially in this...

“...the goal is no longer to be fearless. It's to be bold and courageous. When I feel fear, which is inevitable when you're launching something new and doing something outside your comfort zone, I want to be courageous in the face of fear.”  Kristi sits down with the incredibly inspiring Addison LaBonte - Founder and CEO of Sweet Addisons.  Addison has one mission - to bring joy to peopl...

“Challenges are opportunities. I mean, to me, I don’t see them as setbacks.” And talk about taking on challenges. This ambitious co-founder is on a mission to create a strong brand in what has become a highly commoditized category. Meryl Farr, Co-Founder and Owner of 4Sisters Rice intends to make rice the star of the plate. Meryl and her sisters are a family of farmers with deep roots in agricultu...

“...I think for me, it’s just an expression of creativity, it’s an expression of innovation. I think that, like you said, there’s almost no choice. When you feel that passionate about something, there is no other option. So, through building this company, I have done it very slowly, very intentionally.”Many founders start with the end goal of building a famous brand and/or a profitable one to sell...