The Mindbodygreen Podcast

Byron Katie is a wellness icon. Unlike a lot of popular theories today, her system of self-inquiry, known as "The Work," helps people to separate their beliefs from what is true. In other words, she cuts through the bullsh*t pretty quickly. "The Work is not meant to support you to feel good. There’s no feel good in it. It’s about waking up to the reality," Katie said in our interview. That's the good stuff. She wasn't always the super-successful author, teacher, and beacon of light she has become. When I sat down with Katie, she shared intimate details about her awakening and what life was like beforehand. It wasn't easy. As a mother of three, she—understandably and relatably—was always worried about money, quite depressed, and stuck in a cycle of compulsive eating and smoking until one day in 1986 when everything changed. She started to see the world through different eyes and recalled with great detail exactly what that was like. That's how "The Work" was born. In this episode, Katie shares several exampl

If you've seen more men with mustaches growing in lately, you can thank Justin Coghlan ("JC"), one of the founding members of The Movember Foundation. With 20 participating countries, more than 5 million individual participants, and $850 million raised to date, Movember has become the world's largest men's health movement. Like most brilliant ideas, it started at a bar and was kind of an accident. After having a drink together almost 15 years ago, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery decided to revive the mustache as a style statement. Then a funny thing happened: People started asking them why. Once they realized they'd stumbled upon conversation-starting gold, they decided to leverage it for a good cause. JC and Garone's brother Adam joined the following year to increase momentum. "There's a women's hospital, a children's hospital, but there's no men's hospital. What are men doing for their health?" said JC. In addition to raising funds for prostate and testicular cancer, Movember is shining a light on men's m

Jimmy Chin is an adventurer, artist, and filmmaker whose awe-inspiring photos have graced the pages of National Geographic and Outside magazine, not to mention the feeds of his 1.7 million Instagram followers. He's directed and starred in Meru, a moving documentary following his attempt to conquer the most daunting mountains in the world, and has been named one of the most influential climbers in the world. Considering his career in the clouds, you'd never guess Jimmy grew up in the cornfields of Minnesota, where he dreamed of one day moving to the mountains he'd seen on family vacations. In the early stages of his career, he lived out of his car and chased the peaks and climbers that inspired him. It wasn't until one of his mentors passed him a camera on an expedition that he realized he had a knack for photography and framing. Over the decades to come, his camera earned a place in his pack as he took risks to get to the top, with a few stumbles along the way. A class-4 avalanche sent him 2,000 feet down a m

Tara Stiles is the co-founder of Strala Yoga and author of six books, including the new Guiding Strala: The Yoga Training Manual to Ignite Freedom, Get Connected, and Build Radiant Health and Happiness. She's also a new mom and a resident of DUMBO, Brooklyn, New York's latest booming wellness mecca. Tara started her yoga journey in the woods of the Midwest where she grew up. Tara remembers spending hours practicing meditation (although she had no idea that was what she was doing at the time). She moved out to New York to become a dancer, which transitioned to modeling and eventually yoga—and at the time, yoga wasn't nearly as popular as it is today. When she was just starting to dip her toes in the yoga world, Tara found herself at a retreat upstate where she met her now-husband, Michael Taylor. Her first impression of Mike was a good one (he was the only other person on the retreat who brought chocolate), and on their first date, he charmed her further by bringing his own sandwich, eating it on the floor o

Barry Stuart Sternlicht is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, and chairman of Starwood Property Trust, the largest commercial mortgage REIT in the United States. He's the brains behind W Hotels, Bliss Spa, and environmental flagship brand 1 Hotels—oh, and he's also a billionaire. But he wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His father was a Holocaust survivor from Poland, his mother a biology teacher (later turned stockbroker) born and raised in New York. When you ask Sternlicht how he got from a public school education to Harvard Business School, from arbitrage trading on Wall Street to building a $50 billion real estate empire, he immediately references his biggest influences: his father and Neil Bluhm (co-founder of JMB Realty). Sternlicht makes no bones about having learned from both their great successes and their abject failures. If you'd asked a 20-something Sternlicht what drove him to succeed, he'd have said, "I wanted to be rich enough to have a tennis court and a poo

Dr. Mark Hyman is a pioneer in the field of functional medicine and a nine-time New York Times best-selling author. He's an internationally recognized leader, speaker, and director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. We discussed his life and background in health—from working for a year in China to starting his yoga practice in 1979, when it was still a fringe activity. He also revealed the details of the two major health crises he's suffered in his life. The first occurred when he was living in Beijing, where he got mercury poisoning and developed a whole host of health issues from depression to muscle breakdown to chronic diarrhea. It was this struggle that propelled him into the field of functional medicine. Another occurred recently, and he'll share how he rebuilt his body's systems and health from the ground up using intravenous ozone—a very experimental and controversial therapy—IV infusions, and stem cells. Dr. Hyman and I will cover the debate over saturated fat—and why the AHA d

Kelly LeVeque is a certified holistic nutritionist, wellness expert, health coach, and author of the best-selling book Body Love, which has been taking the wellness community by storm. She serves as the guide for our new advanced functional nutrition program, where we'll teach you everything you need to know about functional food and the endless healing abilities of nutrition. "Live in balance, weigh what you want, and free yourself from food drama forever" is the mantra LeVeque lives by. She started her career in the medical industry, working with oncologists and cancer patients, and ended up in the world of holistic nutrition, working with celebrities like Jessica Alba. In this podcast, you'll learn why this background in science and medicine helps her understand nutrition and determine what's legitimate—and what's not. She'll spill on how to feed your cells with the fab four—protein, fat, fiber, and greens—and why a diet of steamed broccoli and chicken isn't going to help you live your best life. So many

Dr. Frank Lipman and mbg go way back—if you dive into the mindbodygreen archives, you'll see his contributions started in 2010, just a year after we launched the site. Aside from being my personal doctor, Dr. Lipman is internationally recognized as one of the leading experts on healthy detox and is a pioneer of the holistic, East-meets-West functional medicine movement. He noticed early on that Western medicine was ideal for helping acute medical events like heart attacks and broken bones, but it didn't solve chronic illnesses like insomnia, headaches, and indigestion. These tricky conditions called for alternative holistic and integrative techniques, which proved to be more effective. His philosophy is simple: In practice, he harnesses the healing powers of ancient traditions like Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and more, in the context of his Western medicine training. His work has shaped the way the wellness community heals themselves, encouraging his patients and followers to support their deto

Sadie Lincoln is the founder of Barre3, a beloved workout designed to give you a deep muscle burn, a strong endorphin high, and a centered mind. These days, Sadie's life in Portland, Oregon is bursting with success and joy, but she had her fair share of struggles on her rise to the top. Sadie met her husband and business partner while working at 24-Hour Fitness, and the duo instantly connected. After getting married and buying a house in the Bay Area, the couple decided to uproot, moving to Portland to pursue their dreams of launching their own business. They were surprised by how easily it all came together. Here, Sadie opens up about falling in love with her body, starting her own business (and how Madonna helped!), what she looks for in a Barre3 employee, and where she hopes the wellness conversation will be in five years. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail podcast@mindbodygreen.com. For all sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail sales@mindbodygreen.com. Want to join

Seamus Mullen is a world-class chef, a James Beard award semifinalist, the owner of two popular NYC restaurants, and a regular on the Food Network. Today, his life looks happy, healthy, and thriving. But it was just six years ago that he was suffering from a maelstrom of maladies, from rheumatoid arthritis to injuries from a motorcycle accident to a deep-vein thrombosis incident that nearly killed him. After his cocktail of prescription medicines caused him to have a grand mal seizure in Thailand, he knew something had to change. He began seeing Dr. Frank Lipman, a functional medicine expert (and a huge part of the mbg family!), who helped him realize how the food he was eating affected his body (laying the groundwork for Seamus' new cookbook, Real Food Heals). Seamus' recovery wasn't instant—he talks in the podcast about how it took a good six months for him to begin feeling different—but it was nearly complete, and, as he says in our chat, he hasn't taken a single step backward in his health since then. In

As the president of the National Resources Defense Council, Rhea Suh leads the 500 scientists, attorneys, and policy experts that make the NRDC one of the country's most effective environmental action organizations. As the world enters into an unprecedented age of climate instability, Rhea is at the forefront of the fight to protect our planet. From energy policy to wildlife conservation to transportation innovation, she's tackling the issues that move the needle on climate change in big ways. In this podcast episode, Rhea talks about the biggest threats to the environment now, and why the NRDC has never been more important. She shares how in the face of global obstacles she maintains her indomitable sense of optimism for the potential of this organization—and for our country. What motivates her most is something so many of us can relate to: keeping the planet safe for our children. You won't want to miss this inspiring conversation. To contact Jason with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail p

Samantha Boardman, psychiatrist and M.D., spent years treating clients with traditional psychiatric techniques—until a patient fired her. She told Dr. Boardman that every session made her feel worse. And it made sense. After all, therapy, the way most psychologists and psychiatrists are taught, focuses on the negative to the exclusion of the positive. And, Boardman realized, "she was right. I knew how to dial down her misery, but I knew nothing about how to build up her strengths and cultivate well-being." That's when she went in search of something different. She found it at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a master's degree in applied positive psychology. Now, Boardman practices positive psychiatry—an approach to therapy that focuses on building resilience and enhancing life rather than eradicating perceived negativity. In this podcast episode, we'll take a deep dive into how Samantha got her start, what motivates her to always keep learning, and what makes for a truly fulfilling life. To c

Sheryl O'Loughlin is the boss you always wish you had. The former CEO of Clif Bar and Plum Organics lives and breathes passion and purpose and creates dynamic environments in which her employees can do the same. And she's taking this mentality to the next level with her latest project, REBBL, a brand of coconut milk elixirs infused with super herbs. In this podcast episode, Sheryl gets candid about the trials of running a business and the toll they took on her mental and physical well-being. After nearly filing for bankruptcy and struggling with an eating disorder, Sheryl was left at rock bottom. Tune in to find out how she bounced back to sign on to the plant alchemy beverage that's causing serious buzz in the functional food sphere. Along the way, she shares the qualities that have helped her grow not one, not two, but three wellness empires. With insight into what makes her run away from investors to the unorthodox question she asks in every interview, this is one episode that any aspiring entrepreneur sho

Dr. Aviva Romm is a midwife, herbalist, ecologist, and writer who—after having four kids—went on to become a Yale-trained M.D. As one of mbg's most trusted voices in the areas of thyroid health, hormone balance, and women's health, she's a driving force in the holistic medicine community. Her new book, The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution: A Proven 4-Week Program to Rescue Your Metabolism, Hormones, Mind & Mood, is a goldmine for those suffering from a thyroid problem or for anyone feeling overwhelmed and physically spent by all of the demands of life in the 21st century. Dr. Romm journeyed from a bullied kid in Queens, to college at 15, and to center stage of the health and wellness world after that. She shares with us her perspective on the future of medicine, the connection between personal health and global health, and what prompted her to go 35 years without taking a pharmaceutical. Dr. Romm has us all wanting to learn more about the ways in which our bodies respond to the busy and stressful lives we lead. To

Greg Stehltenpohl is the man behind not one but two major brands in the health food space—Odwalla juices and Califia Farms non-dairy milk and milk products. As perhaps the first environmental sciences graduate from Stanford (he shares that story in future depth in the podcast), Greg started his career when a book literally fell off a shelf and into his lap at a bookstore—and forever changed his life. In this podcast episode, Greg opens up about building Odwalla into a multi-million dollar brand (it was eventually bought by Coke), and the hardships he faced along the way, including how he bounced back from the 1996 E. Coli outbreak that could've sunk the company. He also gets personal, diving into his personal health crisis, the time doctors told him he had 48 hours to live, and how the entire ordeal ultimately gave him a new perspective on business, and life. Now, Greg runs the non-dairy juggernaut Califia Farms, which has single-handedly shaped the alternative milk space. He shares his secrets to building no

Hillary Biscay has an impressive resume. In addition to being a graduate of USC (after turning down Harvard) and swimming competitively there, Hillary is an ironman champion, ultraman world champion, and the most prolific iron-distance competitor on the professional women's training circuit. What that means? She's competed in over 60 Ironman triathlons. Wrap your mind around that. In this podcast episode, Hillary opens about how she got to where she did in her athletic career. In her authentic, down-to-earth, and humorous way, she explains that her career took a lot of hard work, a laser-like focus, and an ability to never doubt herself—even when others doubted her. In fact, Hillary is so determined that she once competed with a broken hip (yes, really). While Hillary is no longer competing in ironman championships, she's moved to a new phase in her life: Motherhood. Here, she opens up how difficult the adoption process was, and explains the ins and outs of adopting a child in this country. Additionally, Hill

Lauren Bush Lauren always knew she wanted to give back. Raised in a family of people who believe in the power of the individual to make positive change (she's the granddaughter of former President George H.W. Bush and niece of former President George W. Bush). Her mother started a nonprofit organization when Lauren was just a child, and Lauren said conversations about how to make a difference were things they "talked about at the dinner table." Unsure of how to direct her energy and desire to give back, Lauren traveled to Guatemala with the World Food Programme the summer after her freshman year at Princeton. After her trip, Lauren felt a sense of purpose, and devoted herself to her new role as honorary spokesperson for the World Food Programme. The FEED bag—the iconic burlap bag which opened the door for all of FEED Projects subsequent fundraising efforts—was intended as a one-off, Lauren said. She hoped to raise awareness and funds for malnourished children via the WFP. Ten years and 96 million meals later,

Siggi Hilmarsson is the founder and CEO of Siggi’s Dairy, dubbed the fastest-growing yogurt brand in America by Forbes. Siggi moved from Iceland to the United States to study at Columbia University, but after graduating and heading to Wall Street with so many of his peers, he soon realized that this straight path wasn’t a good fit. Loving his life in New York but missing the food from his home country, Siggi started playing around in his kitchen, whipping up Scandinavian staples like Skyr (Icelandic yogurt) after work. He was disturbed by the fact that the average American yogurt contained more sugar than a can of Coke and committed himself to perfecting his own low-sugar, grass-fed dairy alternative. Now, 15 years later, Siggi has gone from delivering his yogurt personally by hand to selling 35 unique products in more than 25,000 stores across the country. In this episode, we’ll find out more about how Siggi’s Dairy went from a one-man show to a company with more than 40 employees and the important lessons S

John Mackey is the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market, a company that has shaped the American diet for the past three decades. After joining a vegetarian co-op as a teenager, Mackey discovered a philosophy that would drive him to create one of the nation’s biggest and most beloved supermarkets. Whole Foods has changed the way the world thinks about food and what we expect from a grocery store, thanks to their decision to exclusively sell foods without artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, or hydrogenated fats and their commitment to creating a truly unimagined shopping experience. John is not just your average, brilliantly successful entrepreneur. Embracing the vegan lifestyle for nearly 15 years, he is vocal in his belief that a plant-based diet can not only save the planet but also everyone living on it. John goes to great lengths to ensure that his company is run as consciously as possible—such as by sending his sickest employees (those struggling with obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart

Melissa Hartwig is the creator of one of the most successful diets of all time, Whole30. Chances are you or someone you know has tried Whole30, with the goals of increasing energy, losing weight, and improving health but also to cut the damaging emotional ties we all hold with food. What started as a husband-and-wife experiment quickly became an international movement that has spawned a mega-successful website, three best-selling books, numerous must-follow social media accounts, and more. Melissa is known as the super-fit poster child for the Whole30 lifestyle, displaying the kind of positive, entrepreneurial, and vibrant life that so many of us aspire to lead. However, many people are unaware of the fact that Melissa’s interest in health started after she hit rock bottom as a heroin and ecstasy addict who spent all day, every day, using. In this episode, Melissa shares her untold story for the first time, touching on everything from the trauma that started her drug problem to her divorce, the creation of Wh