Episode 308: Advocating for Your Health with Sarah & Boo Simms of Lady & Larder

These ladies are putting our sister relationship to shame! In this episode we interview twin sisters, Sarah & Boo Simms, owners of Lady & Larder. You can thank them for being one of the forces that started the charcuterie board trend that’s all over social media right now! Sarah & Boo are big on family and they talk to us about how they balance their work and personal relationship. They also talk about how they supported each other when Sarah was diagnosed with cancer last year. The story makes us just as emotional now as when we heard it the first time, but it’s a great reminder to not only stay on top of your health, but to also advocate for yourself when you know something isn’t right. Get ready to cry, laugh and take notes because these sisters are dropping serious gems that you won’t want to forget!

More about the Simms sisters: Twin sisters Sarah and Boo Simms are the culinary and creative duo behind Lady & Larder – the Los Angeles based cheese shop credited with starting a global grazing board movement in 2016. The two have deep roots in the California hospitality industry and both share extensive backgrounds in the food and beverage industry – Sarah on the culinary and operations side and Boo in design and marketing. Raised under the notion that the dinner table was (and still is) a sacred place, Sarah and Boo maintain that the only thing bigger than their love of food is sharing it with others.

Lady & Larder was built around their profound respect for American-made seasonal ingredients and an immense appreciation for the role beautiful food plays in creating moments of connection and joy - offering small-batch cheese, natural wine, craft beer, farm fresh flowers, local bread and curated gifts that spark joy. Since their start, Lady & Larder has become the go-to source for those looking to entertain in Southern California - specializing in edible displays, created with seasonal crudités, fruit, cheese and charcuterie. For those looking for something special out-of-state, Lady & Larder also offers DIY cheese and charcuterie board kits, custom virtual classes and an array of seasonal gifts that ship nationwide.

Most recently Lady & Lady was featured as one of Oprah’s Favorite things in 2019, was featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Forbes, Los Angeles Magazine, O Magazine, and Martha Stewart Weddings . To learn more, visit ladyandlarder.com and check them out on IG @ladyandlarder.

About Lady & Larder

We are Lady & Larder. We live in Los Angeles, California. We are 100% women-owned. We are twin sisters and best friends. We grew up in the kitchen.

We provide the very best American made cheese and cured meats along with a selection of radically seasonal and impeccably sourced local accoutrements. We believe in supporting a 100% domestic and sustainable food culture, one that will continue to thrive for generations to come. Our goal is simple: use the best stuff we can get our hands on. We have found that the finest ingredients come from small batch producers and we, like you, know there is no substitute for quality. These American farmers, butchers, and cheesemakers are truly the best of the best. We are proud to support their unwavering commitment and dedication to their craft. So, build your board, invite your favorite people over and celebrate these inspiring makers with us. Cheers!

Gems from this week’s conversation

“Do every job you’re in to the best of your ability. Pick up skills, don’t burn bridges, and years later you’ll look back and you’ll realize your toolbox is full.”

“Sometimes people ask you a question and you answer and you’re like, ‘Wow, I know what I’m talking about.’”

“We’re all just out here winging it.” - Sarah & boo on adulting

“As twins, you go through a period where you try to do things individually and figure out how you’re different.”

“We fill in the blank for each other a little bit.” - Boo, on being a twin

“I feel like a more whole version of myself when I’m with her. When I’m by myself, I feel [I’m] lacking.” - Sarah

“With siblings, you’re just a little more raw.” - boo
”Completely raw.” - Sarah

“It’s the best part about having a business together. We get to share all the highs and low. It makes all the victories sweeter when it’s with someone you love and knows how important it is.” - Boo

“It makes us a stronger business owner, a stronger partner, stronger parents if we can set our foundation up and make sure our health is taken care of.” - Sarah

Pick or Tip of the Week

Our collective tip for this week is to schedule your physical! Go to the doctor. Stop pushing off what is necessary for you to do for your health.

Bricia’s pick is the Lady crackers from Lady & Larder. They’re so good and perfect for your cheese boards! You can pick them up in store if you’re local to Santa Monica, CA or order them online.

Paulina tip that everyone should know is that every insurance carrier has a patient advocacy office. If you have questions, comments or complaints, speak up! This is the department you want to talk to and they’ll make things right for you.

Links

Follow everyone on Instagram - @ladyandlarder @lafemmepicure aka Sarah and @boosimms

Boo & Sarah are mirror twins. Sounds pretty cool!

Visit the American Cancer Society website to learn more about what cancers to get screened for at certain ages. It could save your (or a loved one’s) life!

At Sarah’s request, her email is sarah@ladyandlarder.com. If you have cancer, have a loved one with cancer, need resources or connections or just need to talk, please send her an email. She wants to help,

Episode 307: The Money Talk: Investments, Debt and Sharing Finances with Jully-Alma Taveras of Investing Latina

It’s Financial Literacy Month! We always have money on our minds and in this episode, Jully-Alma Taveras sits down with us for yet another money talk. This time we chat about how to have the money talk with your partner. From shared accounts, personal savings or even tackling debt together, Jully gives us advice on how to have these conversations with loved ones and what’s best for certain situations. We also talk about how Latinxs are finally creating spaces for themselves in the financial marketplace and it’s about 👏🏽 damn 👏🏽 time 👏🏽. Get your wallets ready because this episode is going to help your money grow!

More about Jully: Jully-Alma Taveras is the founder of Investing Latina, a Plutus Award-winning bilingual personal finance expert, and the brand ambassador for anda Bank Account. This FDIC-insured bank account bridges the old with the new in digital banking. She tells money stories from the lens of a Dominican Republic-born immigrant living in New York that went from being a shopaholic to a smart spender and diligent investor. Her money philosophies have inspired thousands of women to live minimally and spend intentionally so that they can invest and build greater wealth.

Jully is a sought-after Fortune 20 speaker and facilitator who has led workshops at Nasdaq, Google, Verizon, and The White House Economic Council (2021). She has taught over 8,000 people how to invest through her Investing Workshop program. Although she has a social following of 43k+ on Instagram and collective social impressions of over 23 million, she is highly approachable as an educator. She is the eldest of three in her own family, so her audience sees her as the older sister who will force you to do better while also being your cheerleader.

Our Conversation with Jully

Who is Jully-Alma Taveras?

Investing Latina

Anda Bank Account

Talking finances with your partner

---

How many accounts do you have?

1. Shared Checking account

2. Personal checking account

3. Basic Savings account

4. Personal High Yield Savings account - to get the most amount of money (keep a few months’ worth of savings here. This is your emergency fund.)

5. Retirement / brokerage account

6. Crypto account (personal and joint)

---

What is an NFT?

What is a cold wallet? A warm wallet?

How to have a healthy savings account

Having “the money talk” with your partner

Handling debt

---

Jully’s top tips for building a healthy financial foundation

(This is non money specific advice.)

1. Build confidence in yourself. You have to feel like you can do this and know that you might mess up but you can make it happen.

2. Figure out what is most important to you and factor it into your budget. Know that this may change later on in life!

3. Take action. Just do it! Don’t be afraid and don’t ignore it. Money is a tool - use it wisely.
   

Episode 306: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Back to Pre-Pandemic Busyness

It feels like life is starting to get back to normal! This episode is a classic catch up session between the sisters. Between travel, birthdays and kid’s activities, it’s been a minute since they have been home and able to catch up. Bricia is still spending her weekends going to baseball and Joshua Tree but Paulina was finally able to catch her breath at home, so she got a jump start on her spring cleaning. Bricia also talks about her trip to Utah and the incredible people she connected with. Sounds like we can expect some cool new guests in the podcast’s future! 

A Conversation Between Two Sisters

Bricia’s binge watching WeCrashed on Apple TV + after listening to the podcast episode on How I Built This and watching the documentary on Hulu

Paulina just finished the second season of Bridgerton

Spring Cleaning - We have too much shit in our houses 🤣

Did you know you can write off the items you donate to Goodwill?

Paulina’s facial with Natalie from N4 Skincare

The Traeger Summit Event. Check out Bricia’s recap!

She met Chef Eduardo Garcia and Mary from Five Marys Farm

Also, #notsponsored but she really loves her Traeger Grill

Finally, did you know Bricia has been working on a new cookbook? Order her first cookbook Oaxaca now!

Pick or Tip of the week

Paulina and Bricia are still both using the Byte aligner trays. Since Paulina wears her all day, she needs to remove them before she eats and brush her teeth before she puts them back on. She’s loving these mini disposable toothbrushes from Crest. One side is a toothpick and other side is a brush. She brushes wherever she is and it’s helpful with her aligners and perfect for traveling, camping and just keeping in your bag for emergencies.

Still #notsponsored, but Bricia loves the Ranger portable grill by Traeger.

Episode 305: Generational Wealth, Rallying for Your Community and Moving On with mom boss with Patty Rodriguez

One of our greatest amigas, Patty Rodriguez, is back for a new episode! If you’re Angelenos like we are, you know that she just made a major move, leaving KIIS FM after over 15 years as a producer. Now she’s ready to grow in other ventures and she’s starting with helping her community. Patty talks to us about equity crowd funding for her company, Lil Libros, and why the time is right for our community to learn to invest & build generational wealth. She reminds us that it takes courage to change & make our dreams come to life, and we can’t wait to watch her dreams come come true during this next chapter of her life.

Patty is a great role model, an example leader and an inspirational super mama just looking to make her community a better place. We are honored to know her, excited for her next moves and hope you enjoy her episode!

More about Patty: Patty Rodriguez is one of the most influential American Latino leaders as a nationally recognized entrepreneur, radio producer, media personality, founder, angel investor, and best-selling author. Proudly raised in Los Angeles by Mexican immigrant parents, she has dedicated her work to elevating the voices and stories of the American Latino experience.

Patty founded Lil’ Libros, the #1 family-trusted bilingual children's media publisher, inspired by her journey toward motherhood and desire to raise her children in a bilingual environment that valued understanding, respect, and appreciation of their family's culture. After Lil’ Libros received numerous rejections from major publishers, she immediately recognized the historically underserved market she represented. Patty took matters into her own hands, partnering with childhood friend Ariana Stein to propel Lil’ Libros into what would become the critically acclaimed publishing company and industry titan. With over a million books sold, Lil’ Libros is recognized in the Latino community and beyond with shelf space at Target, Barnes & Noble, museums, boutiques, and independent sellers alike nationwide.

Her passion for uplifting her community extends past children's books, as Lil’ Libros became the first children’s media company to be community-owned. In 2021, over $2 million in equity crowdfunding was raised from over 5,000 investors in less than five days. As an influential Latina entrepreneur, Patty has also made angel investments in early-stage startups, including Hedley & Bennett and BLVD MRKT.

Being a storyteller at heart, Patty launched sin miedo productions in 2021 with longtime friend, Erick Galindo. Their first project, Out of the Shadows: Children of ‘86, is currently in production with iHeartMedia and explores the lives of children who were raised by the three million immigrants granted amnesty through the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Patty got her start at iHeartMedia’s 102.7 KIIS FM Los Angeles, infusing culture on and off the air for over 15 years working as a Senior Producer and On-Air Talent of the internationally syndicated radio show, "On Air With Ryan Seacrest." She also founded MALA by Patty Rodriguez, a jewelry line aiming to empower women to take pride in their identity through fashion. Fans of the collection include Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Becky G.

Among her accomplishments, Patty launched a grassroots campaign asking MAC Cosmetics to create a line in honor of the late Selena Quintanilla. Her petition collected over 30,000 signatures in just days, receiving national coverage in English and Spanish and capturing the attention of the makeup giant. The MAC x Selena collection was successfully released in October of 2016, making it the best-selling cosmetics collection of all time, proving the buying power of the Latino community.

Patty has been recognized as California’s Woman of the Year, along with having received the LA Times Latinos De Hoy Cultural Influencer Award. She has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, LA Times, People, Buzzfeed, Univision, Rolling Stone, CNN Latino, Latina Magazine, People En Español, Cosmopolitan, and American Latino TV to name a few.

She currently lives in Los Angeles with her two beautiful boys, Alexander and Oliver, and their ten guppies.

Gems from this week’s episode

“Have the courage to make a change in your life.”

“What I want for my kids to understand is that there’s a purpose for every step that we take.”

“If you know me, my inner compass is what drives me 99% of the time. If I’m not excited, that’s the universe telling me that’s not the decision you should be making.”

“I felt that this was the least we could do for the community that helped build lil libros.”

“It was never for us, but now it is.” - Patty on financial literacy , generational wealth and becoming an investor 

Become an Investor!

You still have time to invest in Lil Libros! Visit wefunder.com/lil.libros until 4/30/2022 to invest in this community built company. If you have questions, send Patty a DM on Instagram (linked below)! We can build generational wealth together.

“Let’s make our children feel that this is part of our environment.” - Patty Rodriguez

Links

Follow Patty on Instagram @pattyrodriguez

Learn more about Lil Libros on their website and follow them on Instagram @lil_libros

Club de Cuervos on Netflix - the show that Patty was binge watching when she had the idea for equity crowd funding for Lil Libros

Episode 304: Bring the Receipts to the Table! Learn How to Successfully Communicate with Your Partner with Dr Veronica Eyo, LCSW

As mothers, the caretakers, let’s be honest - after the past two years, we are burnt out. After pushing through for months, we think we’ve reached the light at the end of the tunnel, the final countdown to this pandemic and now we feel like we are back to normal… but are we really feeling okay?

In this episode Dr. Veronica Eyo, LCSW, talks about how we can learn to repair the relationships we have with our partners, kids and even ourselves, after what was a dark period for many of us. We lost a lot of time connecting with our partner because we were focusing on other things - our health, working & learning remote, caring for loved ones - and she’s walking us through steps on how to reconnect with each other successfully. Yes, that might mean that we might have to bring some notes notes to future arguments but trust Dr. Eyo when she says it’s for good reason! At the end of the day, there is always room for repair and this episode will encourage you to change for the better. Trust us too, we’re taking lots of notes (and then bringing them back to the table at a later date. 😂)!

Before the episode

Paulina also talks about her weekend trip to Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico and the Airbnb she stayed in. Since she often vacations in Airbnbs with her family and Bricia is currently working on a rental property, she asks her for her suggestions on what all rental homes should have for families. Check out her list below.

• Kitchen - basic pantry items like salt, pepper, commonly used spices, olive oil. A microwave is great for heating up kid-friendly food like pizza. Plastic utensils, dishes and cups are also a great option, because no one wants to deal with broken glass with kids!

• Bathroom - basic shampoo, soap and clean towels. If you have a busy rental, make sure you update the towels and linens often! If they get used a lot, they may lose their quality.

• Great instructions for television use, instructions for jacuzzi/pool, etc. While it’s helpful to reach out to the property owner, it would be better if you really didn’t have to. 🤷🏽‍♀️

• Basic cleaning supplies - extra trash bags, paper towels, broom/vacuum, etc.

• First aid kit! Because accidents happen.

What would you add? Share with us in the comments!

More about Dr. Eyo: “Hello. I am Dr. Veronica Eyo, a Bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and it’s my passion to help mamas, new and seasoned, navigate the challenges of parenthood. I graduated with my doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California where I researched the factors that influence the success of student mothers in higher education institutions.

My journey as a therapist has led me to work with clients throughout different stages of life. I began working with older adults particularly with end-of-life issues before I transitioned into working with adults and couples. During my time working with adults, I mostly worked with women in their twenties and thirties, to manage difficult emotions, set appropriate boundaries, discover their resources, and ultimately grow into feeling confident and competent in themselves. My work with couples focused on deepening communication and understanding to build empathy and trust. 

 I transitioned my practice into primarily working with mothers after I became one. Some of the experiences that I navigated, especially in the beginning, led me to seek specialized training in working with moms but especially with mamas of color. I believe that our shared experience can add to the building of rapport in navigating this pivotal life change. 

I have advanced training in diagnosing and treating antenatal and Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMADs), as well as trauma and infertility. I’m certified in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International. Additionally, I am certified in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).”

Gems from this week’s episode

“The last two years it’s mostly about managing the mom role, the wife role, but where do I find time for me?”

“I’m pouring from an empty cup.”

“I’ve lost time for me and I’ve lost time to connect to my partner.”

“How do you take care of yourself? Do you even know how to take care of yourself? We forget.”

“As a therapist and a mom, I believe in repair. We can try again.”

“I think as mothers, we put these expectations that we have to be the best communicators or we always have to show up for [our families], but the thing is, we’re human too. And we also have other things that pull us. “

pick or tip of the week

Paulina’s tip this week is to schedule date time with your partner. It can be hard to be spontaneous with a busy schedule (work, kids, etc.) but if you commit to setting aside time to be with your partner, it’s something you can both look forward to.

Bricia also suggests a scheduling tip. Set aside one hour a week for house keeping. Imagine that running your home is like running a business and you & your partner are co-CEOs. Following through with it is the hardest part but it’s something you can do together and another way to practice communication and delegate who does what.

Links

Learn more about Dr. Veronica Eyo. Visit her website for more resources and to schedule an appointment. You can also follow her on instagram @drveronicaeyo for more communication & mental health tips.

Dr. Eyo also suggests reading The 5 Love Languages of Children for more insight on how to communicate with your children.

Episode 303: Empowerment, Support and Strength: Learning about Community Resources with Jessika Ahlberg of My Safe Harbor

Shining a spotlight on community resources is something we love, and today’s episode features one of our favorite organizations. This week we interview Jessika Ahlberg, program director at My Safe Harbor in Anaheim, California. This organization focuses on empowering mothers and strengthening families through education programs and community get togethers, and the success rate of program graduates is awe-inspiring. These are mothers who want to learn, work hard and support themselves and their families in ways that might not be possible without the resources provided by My Safe Harbor. We are honored to be able to donate to this wonderful group so that they may continue to support local moms who need encouragement in their lives and with their families. To learn more about this group and how you can help, listen to the rest of this episode and visit MySafeHarbor.org.

Before the episode, Bricia is talking about her new cookbook and the full on photoshoot production thats happening at her house! She also talks about last weekend, where the entire Lopez family got together at the park for a carne asada cookout for the book (and we taught you the right way to secure tables at the park LOL) and she also talks about her son’s freak accident.

A lesson from this episode

“You can’t be a good mother without mothering yourself first.”

Pick or tip of the week

Paulina’s pick is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. She’s read it multiple times before and Bricia suggests even reading it once a year. Paulina goal is to pass the book around to everyone in the restaurant staff because she feels it always has new lessons to provide, no matter how many times you read it.

Bricia’s tip is from their life coach, Victor Pierantoni. He gave her a tip on how to take visulization to the next level. You visualize it from three points of view and read it every night. Check out their tips below and let us know if it works for you!

How to Visualize Your Goals into Reality

1. Write it in your goal down in a journal as if it’s happening.

   example: You want 5 kids.

2. Visualize someone talking to you about your goal and write it down as it someone is talking to you about it.

   example: “Omg Bricia, I can’t believe you have 5 kids!”

3. Visualize and write it down as if two people talking about it together.

   Example: “Wow, did you see Bricia has 5 kids?! How does she do it?”

   “She’s such a great mom! Her kids are great and so well behaved.”

Links

Learn more about My Safe Harbor on their website. You can also follow them on Instagram @my.safe.harbor and like their page on Facebook.

Episode 302: Keeping it Real with the Super Mamas: Staying Motivated through Tough Times

Good days and bad days are totally normal, and this vent session will remind you that we all go through it!

First, Paulina starts us off with the story of how she lost her toenail. We’ll give you fair warning: if you’re squeamish, you might want to skip to minute 12 of our episode. 🙈 And that’s not all that’s happened to her lately! Her husband got covid, and so did she! Remember when she and her family first tested positive for covid in 2020? Then Bricia talks about working on her latest cookbook and the stress of creating new recipes on top of work and mom life. She gets busy and realizes that it’s okay to outsource sometimes.

Ultimately we’re still learning that even during some of our toughest days, there is always goodness to look forward to, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia is watching Inventing Anna on Netflix. It’s so good that you’ll want to binge it all in one night.

Paulina just watched Cheer on Netflix. The motivation and determination the athletes have really helped her push through during her injury and covid. Paulina is also obsessed with Coach Monica’s leadership skills and is taking notes from her too.

Links

Paulina mentions having a home birth with her last daughter to avoid needles. Listen to that episode here.

Watch Dopesick on Hulu. An incredible story, but scary reality.

Paulina was riding dirty around her house on a medical scooter like this one.

Remember when Paulina got covid for the first time in 2020?

Lastly, if you don’t have our Oaxaca cookbook then what are you waiting for??

Episode 301: Big Feelings, Changes & Body Positivity: A Girl’s Puberty Talk with Dr. Marni Sommer

“Big feelings are taking over our house!”

The time has come… for the dreaded puberty talk! 🤭 Lucky for us, our guest is making the conversation a little easier. Dr. Marni Sommer, professor at Columbia University and co-author of “A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods” sits down to share more about her book and how parents shouldn’t be embarrassed to talk to their kids about growing up and bodily changes. For many of us growing up, the only source of information was from our girlfriends, but that doesn’t have to be the case for our daughters.She explains that the secret to talking to your daughters, nieces or whichever young girls who look up to you in life about the changes their bodies are going through is by being a source of safe, factual information. Dr. Marni also shares tips on handling big feelings, surprise periods and reassurance that these changes are normal and happen to everyone. We’re taking all the notes for the changes awaiting us with our daughters!

More about Dr. Sommer: Marni Sommer, DrPH, MSN, RN, is a Professor at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University and co-author of A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods. Dr. Sommer has been working in global health for twenty-four years. Her areas of expertise include conducting participatory research with adolescents, understanding, and promoting healthy transitions to adulthood, the intersection of public health and education, gender and sexual health, and the implementation and evaluation of adolescent-focused interventions.

Dr. Sommer founded Grow and Know, Inc. in 2010. Her current research focuses on the intersections of gender, health and education for girls and boys transitioning into adulthood around the world. Her research with girls in Tanzania formed the basis of the original book project. She continues to conduct research and advocacy on puberty, periods, and education globally.

Our Conversation with Dr. Marni

Fear of Change

First Period Stories

Where do we start? When does it start and what topics do we cover?

How can we include dad in on this conversation?

How to talk about sex and naming all the parts

What signs should we look for when it comes to puberty and periods?

Period Kits

About the Book

A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods is a body-positive illustrated book that helps girls ages 9-14 understand what to expect about puberty and everything that goes with it. An important point of differentiation from other popular puberty books is that this new offering provides “my first period” stories and advice from diverse girls across the U.S. to help young women understand that everything they’re going through is normal. Parents will also appreciate that the book incorporates factual health content and practical tips developed by adolescent health experts at Columbia University. The goal is to empower girls to feel more confident and knowledgeable about their changing bodies. The book is available for purchase now via Amazon and other major book retailers.

Links

You can get your copy of A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods on Amazon now.

Check out agirlsguide.org to learn more more about the book and check out videos like the one below!

Episode 300: Regarding Her Big Owner Energy with Dina Samson, restauranteur and co-founder of RE:Her

Everyone is always what else we do for work (because yes, we have real jobs besides the podcast!) and in this episode we talk about one of Bricia’s passion projects. This week we interview Dina Samson, restauranteur and co-founder of RE:Her. The non-profit started as a covid era support group for women owned restaurants like the Lopez family’s Guelaguetza and Dina’s Rossoblu and Superfine Pizza, and now continues to support & encourage women in the hospitality industry and the communities they serve. Dina also runs us through her busy days as a twin mom and how she structures the rest of her restauranteur work between mom life, and she’s sharing her best advice for restaurant owners that mamas can also use when raising their kids. 

More about Dina: Dina Samson adeptly assumed the role of “unexpected restaurateur” when she opened her first restaurant, Sotto, alongside husband/chef Steve Samson, in 2011. Since then, she has become the visionary and operational glue for their two concepts, Rossoblu and Superfine Pizza which fall under their newly formed Mighty Nice Hospitality Group. 

True to their hospitality group’s core values of compassion and community, Dina has co-founded RE:Her, Independent Hospitality Coalition, and FeedLoveLA, all organizations which focus on supporting and uplifting the Los Angeles restaurant community. Samson is both a James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership and C200 WinLab fellow. 

More about RE:Her: Nine female restaurateurs in Los Angeles formed Regarding Her (aka RE:Her) in November 2020 as a response to the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the restaurant industry. Their first undertaking, 10 Days RE:Her, united over 100 female food and beverage entrepreneurs across Los Angeles for a 10-day festival featuring unique collaborations, thematic menus, virtual events and conversations, and more.

RE:Her is a 501(c)(3) non-profit fund actively seeking donors and sponsors to support its services and initiatives, including its RE:Her Grant Program, designed to distribute cash grants to women-owned restaurants in Los Angeles County impacted by the pandemic. 

The members of RE:Her’s leadership team operate the organization, and do so pro bono. Their hope is that their work will support and empower the community they hold dear – the female-led culinary world of Los Angeles and beyond – and, in doing so, help to save HER restaurants.

Our Conversation with Dina

Tell us about the non-profit. What is it about and who is it for? 

How do you structure your day? 

What else do you do besides RE:Her?

How to become a member of RE:Her

Dina’s best advice for restauranteurs

Mom tips!

Pick or Tip of the Week

We always talk about the importance of self care! One of Paulina’s self care practices includes studying her Bible. She always reads it in the morning and journals, and she found pens and highlights made specifically for thin Bible pages. They’re by Mr. Pen in the Amazon store and they have plenty of options at different price points. It makes her self care experience that much better!

Bricia pick is the Good Notes app on her iPad. You can create anything for taking notes! She uses it for her Bible study and even created her own template based on the templates available on the app.

Links

Follow Dina, her restaurants and projects on social media - @dinasam, @rossablula, @superfinepizza, @regardingherfood, @independenthospitalityla and @feedlovela

Become a member of RE:Her! More regions coming soon.

Kanye West - The College Dropout album

Watch the documentary jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy on Netflix

Episode 299: Revolutionizing the Gifting Experience For Our Kids with Elian Savodivker, founder of Nabu

Tired of gifting the same toys to kids? Our guest this week is super papá, Elian Savodivker, CEO and Co-Founder of Gift Nabü. Gift Nabu is a fun (and tactful) way to ask for swim lessons, zoo membership, dance classes, etc for your child’s birthday. Their goal is to increase access to incredible experiences for children who would otherwise be left out. He also talks about running the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Education Scaling Program, where he met Paulina!

Before the episode, we also talk about our crazy experience at the 2022 Super Bowl! You’ll have to check out our recap video on Instagram too.

More about Elian: Elian Savodivker is the CEO and founder of Gift Nabü, a startup that is revolutionizing the gifts we give kids. Parents can create a birthday campaign for their child's birthday and share it with friends and family. Then, those friends and family can gift towards the campaign and the parent can book!

STEM, arts, and sports summer camps can be life changing experiences for kids, however they are often unaffordable for many families. With Gift Nabü’s collaborative gift giving. friends and family contribute toward the gift your child will never forget.

Apart from his work on Gift Nabü, Elian has helped hundreds of Latinx entrepreneurs through LBAN and the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Education Scaling Program for which he has run since 2019.

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s tip this week is to READ THE REVIEWS before you purchase something on Amazon! She ordered some Valentine’s Day goodies for her daughters’ classmates off of Amazon and didn’t check the reviews as well as she should have. You’ll have to listen to the episode to listen to the major oops she almost gave to the classmates LOL - she was almost that mom.

Bricia is loving these cute shoes from Bobux for her daughter. They’re perfect for everyday wear!

LINKS

Learn more about Gift Nabü on their website. You can also follow them on Instagram @giftnabu and like the page on Facebook.

Can’t decide what experience is best for the little one you’re gifting? Let Nabü help! Check out their experience finder to help narrow down your choice of gift. Have a child's birthday coming up? Now you can onboard at giftnabu.com

A Few More Links…

The BEST Super Bowl Performance of All Time!

Am I the only person who expected an Eminem vs Slim Shady hologram to happen? #SuperBowl

— Bricia Lopez (@BriciaLopez) February 14, 2022

Episode 298: Finding the Funny in Life with stand up comedian, Aida Rodriguez

You know we love a good laugh and our latest guest is a pro at dishing them out! This week’s guest is stand up comedian, writer, producer actress and more, Aida Rodriguez. She’s the first Latina with an hour long comedy special on HBO Max and after this interview, we know exactly why she deserves it. From being “unhoused” with her children to shooting her comedy special during two hurricanes, talks about why we need to continue to lift up Latinx creators and why we don’t always have to be victims but can be victors. We also talk about funny moments, serious moments and she also reminds us that unless we have a healthy mental headspace, we will not see success in our lives. Aida has so many great projects coming down the pipeline (starting with her special that’s out on HBOMax now); she is serious, funny and a seriously funny mama that we will absolutely be having on the show again soon! 

More about Aida Rodriguez: Aida Rodriguez is a Comedian, Writer, and Actor. Lauded by Esquire Magazine as “raucously funny,” she has become a favorite with fans and critics alike. With her first hour standup special set to premiere, her own TV series in development, both at HBO Max, and a deal for an animated series with ITV, Aida is bound for the comedy stratosphere.

In November 2021, Aida’s first hour standup special Fighting Words premiered on HBO Max. In the special, the comedian takes to the stage to address today’s audiences about cancel-culture and the social issues of the day, not just because they’re ripped from the headlines, but because they are in the pages torn out of her personal life. Additionally, Rodriguez is developing her own half hour comedy series with HBO Max based on her own incredible life story, which includes surviving two kidnappings, sexual abuse, and a period of homelessness. Co-written and Executive Produced by Rodriguez, Chris Case (Showtime’s Flatbush Misdemeanors) and Nastaran Dibai (Netflix’s Dear White People), the project examines the struggle of a comedian (Rodriguez) who is trying to kick start a career while raising two very different teenagers on her own over multiple time zones. It is an uplifting story of survival and triumph in the face of a darkly funny Miami inner-city upbringing, where she learned skills that allowed her to thrive and endure. In addition to her HBO Max projects, she is developing an animated series with ITV.

In 2020, Aida headlined the HBO LatinX standup special Entrenos while also appearing in Showtime’s Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All Star Comedy Jam, one of only four women to have performed on the series in its 15 seasons. Prior to that, she had her own half hour special on Netflix’s hit comedy series They Ready, Executive Produced by Tiffany Haddish and Wanda Sykes. In reviews Decider gushed that the special “will have you laughing, crying and begging for more” and Esquire Magazine declared “This is Rodriguez's genius—using comedy to turn pain into progress, to give voice to the voiceless, and to laugh instead of cry.”

In addition to her TV projects, Aida was handpicked by director Taylor Hackford for his feature film “The Comedian” starring Robert De Niro. She is also the five-time host of PBS’ Imagen Awards, which recognizes and rewards creative excellence of Latinos in television and film. She is a guest writer for Buzzfeed as well as a regular Commentator on the popular online progressive political talk show The Young Turks. Rodriguez hosts her own podcast, Truth Serum, which is an interactive weekly wrap up show covering the week’s hottest topics, where inclusivity and diversity are a standard, not an initiative.

A longtime favorite on the standup circuit, Aida was a finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing and has been featured on several comedy fan-favorite TV series, including Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar, HBO’s Pause with Sam Jay, and TBS’ Tournament of Laughs. She tours the country performing her distinct brand of poignant and insightful comedy to sold out audiences, inviting her longtime fans to laugh hard, think hard, and feel hard.

Our Conversation with Aida

New Year’s Resolutions

All about Aida

How she got started in stand up comedy

Aida’s HBOMax special - Fighting Words

Her joke writing process

Where Aida finds her strength

Trauma Bonding and Mental Health

Pick or tip of the week

Paulina is late to the game but glue dots! They are so great for crafts because she stick everywhere and come off. She used them this week for the girl's’ Valentine’s Day crafts and they used them last year for their sister Liz’s bachelorette party.

In case you didn’t know, Bricia loves coffee. She and her husband stumbled upon Mariposa Coffee Company in Yosemite last year and now have a subscription. Every morning she grinds fresh beans and puts them in her french press. She gets the Mariposa Morning blend and Mariposa Blueberry and she loves them both!

LINKS

For more information go to www.FunnyAida.com

Follow Aida on Instagram and Twitter - @FunnyAida

Aida and her children recommend the book, Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

Episode 297: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Damn Loca, Where You Been?

Surprise! We’re back after a much needed break.

No, we weren’t fighting 🤣🤣In all honesty, we needed to let the podcast take a backseat while we focused on the restuarnt, our families and especially our mental health. We felt we needed to recharge because 2021 was more difficult than 2020 in a sense - we were dealing with the aftermath of the beginning of the decade. Our family’s restaurant and other businesses needed more of our attention, and we couldn’t dedicate as much time as we wanted to the podcast. So we both did some reflecting and thought about what we really wanted out this community we’ve created.

And you know what? That hiatus worked. We’re refreshed and know exactly where we’re taking our little podcast project. So sit back and catch up with us as we explain where we’re at in our lives and where we’re taking you next. Super Mamas, let’s do this!

GEMS 💎 from this episode

I had a choice. Do I sit back and wait for life happen to me? Or say okay I have to do something because I don’t want to live my life like this anymore. - Paulina

I needed to learn, I needed to grow and now I’m here. - Paulina

The more you grow and the more you put yourself in situations that make you uncomfortable, thats where growth happens. - Bricia

As you grow you have to deal with the demons that are inside of you. - Bricia

When we get stuck doing something we don’t like, more often than not its just based off other peoples expectations. - Bricia

It’s important that the decisions that you make aren’t based on others expectations, but are based on your inner reflections and what you choose to do for yourself and what’s best for you in that moment. Not let other peoples opinions drive you because that could be the end of your mental health. - Bricia

Pick or Tip of the Week

Paulina’s pick is the show Never Have I Ever on Netflix. It’s the cutest show and it’s a good introduction to what teenage years could be like for any parents who are about to be there, like Pau. 

Speaking about shows of high school kids, we’re still very into Euphoria - but these are two different high school experiences and definitely not a show for kids.

Bricia’s pick this week is also a show. The Sex Life of College Girls created by Mindy Kaling. Another show that isn’t for kids (I think we’re starting to see a theme here LOL) but more great prep for parents whose kids are going to college soon.

LINKS

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

Check out our previous interview with Victor Pierantoni, Paulina & Bricia’s life coach

Bricia also talks about Viome, a microbiome gut health test. You send in a few samples to learn what food you should avoid, what to minimize and what are your super foods and things to enjoy. You also get suggested supplements best on your results. Bricia was shocked at her results but is going to try it out for the next six months to see if she can feel any changes. This is not sponsored, just something she wanted to try. Please talk to your doctor for personalized medical advice.

Episode 296: Representation Matters in Children’s Television, a chat with with Sonia Manzano, creator of PBS’ Alma’s Way

We have a Latina television icon on the show! We interview actress & writer, Sonia Manzano, AKA Maria from Sesame Street. This super mama has over 40 years experience bringing quality television to children & families on Sesame Street, and now she’s helping teach even more heartfelt lessons through her new PBS show, Alma’s Way. Together we talk about the importance of representation and why age appropriate TV will teach children lessons they’ll carry for life.

More about Sonia: Sonia Manzano is a first-generation American of Latino descent who has affected the lives of millions of parents and children since the early 1970s, when she was offered an opportunity to play “Maria” on Sesame Street.

Manzano was raised in the South Bronx where her involvement in the arts was inspired by teachers who encouraged her to audition for the High School of Performing Arts. She was accepted there and began her career as an actress. A scholarship took her to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and in her junior year, she came to New York to star in the original production of the off-Broadway show Godspell. Within a year, Manzano joined the production of Sesame Street, where she eventually began writing scripts for the series. She was thrilled to help write the story line for “Maria’s” marriage and birth of “Maria’s” baby, played for a while by Manzano’s real-life daughter Gabriela.

Manzano has performed on the New York stage in the critically acclaimed theater pieces The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated and Love Loss and What I Wore.

Movies include Deathwish, Follow That Bird and Elmo in Grouchland.

She is an advisor for literary NY institution Symphony Space and is often a reader for Selected Shorts. She regularly reads for their adult literacy program All-Write.

She has written for the Peabody Award-winning children’s series, Little Bill, and has written a parenting column for the Sesame Workshop web site called Talking Out Loud. Her children’s book, No Dogs Allowed! published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing in 2004. In 2005 General Mills selected No Dogs Allowed! for their Spoonfuls of Stories series. Over one million copies of No Dogs Allowed! were given away in cereal boxes courtesy of General Mills.

Her first young adult novel entitled The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano, published by Scholastic was a Pura Belpre Honor.  Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx, is a memoir published by Scholastic, 8/25/2015. Miracle on 133rd Street is a picture book published by Simon and Schuster, 9/25/2015.

She enjoys traveling the country giving comedic speeches with substance. 

More about Alma’s Way: Inspired by Manzano’s own childhood, ALMA’S WAY centers on 6-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl who lives in the Bronx along with her parents, Mami and Papi; younger brother, Junior; her Abuelo; and their lovable little dog, Chacho. In every episode, Alma speaks directly to young viewers with asides and her “Think Through” moments, where she stops, thinks, and processes. She models optimism and determination, showing that if she puts her mind to a problem, she can figure it out. Young viewers will tag along with Alma as she learns to speak up for herself, make tough decisions, figure out how to help friends, and so much more. Infused with Manzano’s humor and grounded in a social and emotional curriculum, the series will give children ages 4-6 the tools to find their own answers, express what they think and feel, and recognize and respect the unique perspective of others. 

“The stories on ALMA’S WAY are designed to help kids learn to think for themselves and take into consideration the perspectives of those around them,” said Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer, Fred Rogers Productions. “As Alma thinks things through, she models self-advocacy, empathy and social awareness. She’s a smart kid with a big heart — we hope young viewers will think she’s way, way, way fun to watch!”

Each episode showcases different aspects of Latino cultures through language, food, music, and customs. All viewers will see how other families are both alike and different from their own. Music is the “backbeat” of the series and includes traditional Puerto Rican styles like Plena, Bomba, and salsa along with other Latino genres such as Cuban son and Colombian cumbia. The original theme song, written and produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Bill Sherman, is performed by Flaco Navaja and Summer Rose Castillo, who plays Alma. The series music is composed by Asher Lenz, Stephen Skratt, and Fabiola M. Mendez. The series will be available for viewers in both English and Spanish on all PBS KIDS platforms.

LINKS

You can watch Alma’s Way on PBS stations - check your local listings - and streaming for free on PBS Kids.

Episode 295: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: A Catch Up Session

We’re back from a long hiatus! We recorded this episode earlier this month but honestly, mom life and work life has gotten the best of us so we’re barely publishing now. The end of the year is always a time for us so we have a lot of updates! Between our kids celebrating Halloween, celebrating milestone birthdays for Krista and Paulina, plus Día de Muertos and family changes, there is so much going on in our lives. We’re so excited to be back recording new episodes and we promise we have more things coming your way! We couldn’t stay away any longer - we missed our sisters! Come catch up with us! 

Super Mama Lesson of the Week

Sometimes we can mean something but the other person may receive it a certain way. It’s not about you it’s about them. - Bricia 

Episode 294: Breathing Anxiety Away, a Conversation with Breath Work Coach, Ana Lilia

Breathing is something we do naturally, without giving it a thought, but what happens when you breath on purpose, when you do it properly? According to Ana Lilia a certified breath work coach, teacher and healer, it can literally change your life.  Ana Lilia specializes in managing anxiety, unique stress, fears and overwhelm amidst world affairs and in this episode she shares with us all the benefits and techniques that  she uses with her clients through guided breathwork, meditation and visualization exercises that can help us deal with all of these feelings regularly.  Make sure you take note and remember to be kind to yourself and  just breath Super Mama! 

More about Ana Lilia: Ana Lilia is a certified breathwork teacher and healer leading thousands of people to intimately connect with their breath as a pathway for transformation. Ana channels her intuition and seamlessly blends active breathwork, intuitive guidance, and curated music to create personalized and healing journeys. Ana specializes in managing anxiety with her exclusive 7 day Breathwork for Anxiety program where she offers a combination of guided breathwork meditations, visualization exercises, and intentional journaling. She also leads a weekly “Community Gathering” to help individuals manage the unique stress, fears, and overwhelm amidst the global pandemic. 

Ana regularly facilitates breathwork experiences within corporations and on behalf of leading brands, including Hyundai, Columbia Records, USC, Recording Academy and American Heart Association. She has led sessions at WeAllGrow Latina, the country’s largest conference for Latina creators and entrepreneurs, and at wellness retreats in Los Angeles and Peru. Her work has been featured on NBC Nightly News with Lestor Holt, BravoTV, Los Angeles Times, Harper's Bazaar and more.

Episode 293: Venting with the Super Mamas- My kid got into a fight at school, Am I a bad mom?

This week we have a venting Session with the Super Mamás, Paulina got a phone call from school saying one of her daughters got into a fight at school and immediately the Mom Guilt kicked in, Is it my fault? Am I doing something wrong? Am I a bad mom? When our kids do something considered bad, we immediately start blaming ourselves as parents, but is it really our fault? How can we divide our time and attention to all of our kids needs when haven multiple kids, and trying to balance work and life at the same time? Is there really a right answer to this? What do you think?

Episode 292: Bringing Good to The Hood through Holistic Wellness with Dani Solorio from Compton Health Bar

This week is all about feeling good inside and out! We got to chat with the amazing Dani Solorio, a renowned herbalist, Certified Nutrition Health Coach and founder of Compton Health Bar, a Holistic wellness space in Compton California. Dani's mission to bring Good to the Hood has become a movement that gives people in the community more access to Holistic practices to improve physical and emotional health. We talk about the ways that herbalism can help us deal with stress related issues as well as many other health issues affecting womxn today. Dani is a reminder to all of us that nature is there to nurture us inside and out.

More about Dani Solorio: Continuing the family traditions of generations of healers, Dani Solorio is a renowned herbalist and the founder of Compton Heath Bar, an holistic wellness space in Compton, California. She is also the residential herbalist for Telemundo’s Acceso Total.
Driven by her mission to bring health to the hood, Dani helps people reconnect to ancestral healing practices through her all-natural herbal remedies. She is at the forefront of the wellness movement in Compton, California, as well as for LGBTQIA+ and the Latinx community across the country.
Dani was born in Zacápu, Michoacán, Mexico and arrived in the United States at age six. As an undocumented student, Dani’s entreprenural journey began early when she realized that college was not an option. After working in warehouses and restaurants for years, she saved up enough money to open her first business, a small video store. As her business grew, so did her drive to open up one of the only natural medicine stores in Compton, California. Since 2012, Compton Health Bar has been nourishing the BIPOC community and celebrating traditional herbalism and healing practices.
Dani and her movement to make holistic health more accessible have been featured in a mini-documentary by BESE, along with dozens of features in CBS, PBS, Found/LA, Los Angeles Business Journal, Voyage LA, LatinX, and numerous podcasts.

Episode 291: Changing the Conversation in Fashion with Diversity and Representation with Karla Martinez de Salas, Editor in Chief of Vogue MX & Vogue Latin America

Karla Martínez de Salas is a twin mama and Editor in Chief of Vogue MX & Vogue Latin America. We talk about her journey in fashion, traveling the world and working at different magazines before landing in Mexico City, where she now works at Vogue. Karla is changing the industry by featuring people of different skin tones, backgrounds, body shapes and more in the magazine. She does this not only for her young daughters, but for all people who deserve & are grateful for representation.

More about Karla Martinez de Salas: Karla is editor-in-chief of Vogue Mexico and Vogue Latin America. She began her career as an assistant at American Vogue and became an associate fashion editor in 2002, collaborating with renowned Vogue staffers including Grace Coddington, Tonne Goodman, Camilla Nickerson, and Phyllis Posnick. From 2005 to 2010, Martínez de Salas was the fashion director for T The New York Times Style Magazine, where she covered fashion, interior design, art, and travel. At Interview magazine, she took on fashion direction, specializing in photography and design, and then became the fashion and accessories director of W magazine. In 2016, she became the editor-in-chief of Vogue Mexico and Latin America and, since then, she has spearheaded new alliances in the market. She has been interviewed by major publications such as El Heraldo Mexico and The Business of Fashion New York and Spain, where she has explored her expertise as an opinion leader in the direction of the fashion and luxury industry. She has also appeared on television and radio, where she has shared her achievements and projects.

Martínez de Salas' work for Vogue Mexico and Latin America was honored by Mexico's Fashion Digital Awards for best editorial content, and she was recently included in the BoF U.S. list of the top 500 international fashion leaders. Rather than feature the same light-skinned models and global celebrities as her sister titles, de Salas broke new ground in 2018, when she put the indigenous actress Yalitza Aparicio on the cover, not to mention the striking Mendoza sisters (three generations of Oaxacan tortilla makers), and has continued to celebrate the diversity and depth of the country that she proudly calls home. She continues to reflect her extensive knowledge in the publication of each issue of Vogue Mexico and Latin America and enriches the presence of the "Fashion Bible" in this growing region. Martínez de Salas is also part of Project Paz, a nonprofit organization headquartered in New York, whose goal is to create extracurricular activities for low-income children in Ciudad Juarez to promote peace.

She is a mom to twin girls.

Episode 290: Keeping It Real with the Super Mamas: Mastering New Skills & Back to In-Person School

How is summer break almost over?! This week we are catching up with each other since our kids have been so busy at summer camp, which they’ve loved. We talk about the relationships they made during camp and new skills - like singing, piano lessons and skateboarding - they’re picking up & thriving in. By the way, did you know it takes 10k hours to master a skill? Lastly we’re dropping some special gems during this week’s pick of the week, so turn your speakers up!

Pick or Tip of the Week

Bricia’s pick this week is a podcast that’s she’s been obsessing over called My First Million. One episode in particular, with Codie Sanchez, has been the reason for the shift in her mindset to create more opportunities for herself. She’s thinking big instead of staying inside the box. Check out the episode linked here and let us know what you think about it!

Of course Paulina’s pick has to be about going back to school! Every school year, the teachers at Paulina’s daughters’ school create school supplies lists. This school year we’ve partnered with Amazon and joined their #ClearTheList movement. Amazon will help the #ClearTheLists for these education heroes across the country by purchasing products from their Amazon Wish Lists that they most need and want ahead of this school year. And you can help too! Whether you’re fulfilling a list for one of your loved ones or just doing a good deed to help a stranger out, you know we’ll always encourage our Super Mamas community to help a sister. This is such a feel good campaign, and we love to see students & teachers benefit from it!

For more info on this campaign and how you can create your own Amazon Wish List, check out our latest Instagram post - and yes, there is a giveaway!

Links

Eduardo, the Beyblade Collector, has the coolest setup like these tops and stadium.

Watch Volume 2 of Song Exploders on Netflix to check out Dua Lipa’s voice. It’s the vibe we get when we listen to Sabina sing.

We also talk about how long it takes to master a skill, which is apparently 10,000 hours. I guess we’ll work on our skills one hour a day for the next 30 years. 😂

Episode 289: Eating Good Food & Feeling Even Better: the Mind-Gut Connection with Dr. Emeran Mayer

We all know that when we eat good food we feel good, but what does that have to do with our mind? 🤔🧠Gastroenterologist & author Dr. Emeran Mayer has had a career long interest in the brain-gut connection, and in this episode he tells us about the complex signals that go from your brain to your gut when you eat. We also talk about fasting, the connection between food & stress, how we can change our eating habits for a healthy mind & gut and SO much more. This episode will make you think twice about the food you’re putting in your body… and maybe make you a little hungry too. 

More about Dr. Emeran Mayer: Dr. Mayer is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Executive Director of the G Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress & Resilience and Founding Director of the UCLA Brain Gut Microbiome Center. 

He has been one of the pioneers in the science and practice of brain gut microbiome interactions with applications in a wide range of diseases in gastrointestinal, psychiatric and neurological disorders. He has published more than 388 scientific papers and co-edited 3 scientific books. He is the recipient of the 2016 David McLean award from the American Psychosomatic Society and the 2017 Ismar Boas Medal from the German Society of Gastroenterology and Metabolic Disease.  His current research interest is focused on the role of brain gut microbiome interactions in human diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, autism spectrum disorders, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease.

In addition to his academic interests, Mayer has a longstanding interest in ancient healing traditions and affords them a level of respect rarely found in Western Medicine.  He has been involved in documentary film productions about the Yanomami people in the Orinoco region of Venezuela, and the Asmat people in Irian Jaya.  He has recently co produced the award winning documentary “In Search of Balance” and is working on a new documentary “Interconnected Planet”. He is a strong believer in Buddhist philosophy, was a member of the UCLA Zen Center for several years, and got married in a Tibetan monastery by Choekyi Nyima Rinpoche in Kathmandu.  He regularly pursues meditative practices.

He has spoken at UCLA TEDx on the Mysterious Origins of Gut Feelings in 2015 and have been interviewed on National Public Radio, PBS and by many national and international media outlets including the Los Angeles and New YorkTimes, Atlantic magazine and Stern and Spiegel Online. He is the author of the 2016 bestselling book The Mind Gut Connection published by Harper&Collins and translated in 16 languages

In his upcoming book, The Gut Immune Connection, Mayer proposes a radical, unifying concept about the chronic disease epidemic we are finding ourselves in.  He discusses how changes in our diet, lifestyle and the way we interact with the world during the last 75 years have led to a profound dysregulation of the community of trillions of microbes living in our gut, resulting in a progressive chronic activation of our immune system.  This aberrant immune system activation is emerging as the root cause of our current epidemic of interrelated chronic diseases affecting every part of our body. In addition, it makes us more vulnerable to viral pandemics. He uses the One Health concept to explain the intricate interconnectedness between the microbes living in our gut, in the soil, the health of our plants and our own health. He proposes a solution to the chronic disease epidemic, which emphasizes the implementation of major lifestyle changes, and focuses on a radically different approach not only to our diet but to the world.

Dr. Emeran’s Top Tips for a Healthy Mind & Gut

• Time restricted eating is the best lifestyle change you can make. It will clear the acid and bacteria from your gut overnight. This can also be achieved with fasting.

• In terms of food - a largely plant based diet that is minimally processed and includes fresh fruits and vegetables make a big difference.

  • Beans are one of the healthiest foods. They are high in fiber and protein content.

  • Reduce your intake of red meat and fat, and increase the amount of fruits and veggies. This plus the time restricted eating will help you feel a difference in your mind and gut.

• Avoid situations where you don’t realize what you’re eating. For example: eating while commuting, road trip junk food, etc.

• Quantities of food make a big difference. Be mindful of portion sizes.

Links

Learn more about Dr. Emeran Mayer on his website - EmeranMayer.com.

Follow him on social media: @emeranmayer on Instagram, @emeranamayer on Facebook and Twitter and YouTube.com/EmeranMayerMD.

You can purchase both of his books, The Mind-Gut Connection and The Gut-Immune Connection on his website or anywhere books are sold.