The KAVANA Podcast with Melinda Strauss

Esty, the founder of I Don't Cook But I Give Out Recipes, one of the most popular kosher food Facebook groups with over 45,000 members, talks about how she started her group and her love for the community she has built. We also talk a lot about parenting! Esty runs a blog and Instagram account, @cookingwithtantrums, and shows us all what it's like to be a real parent with lots of kids, lots of cooking to do, and lots of forgiveness. And if you don't know what #weallpoop means, you haven't listened to the podcast yet 😂 

A few places you can find Esty: 

We literally could not stop at just one topic! Breezy and I have been friends for many years and this interview went in so many different directions that I can actually say this podcast is for EVERYONE! Breezy, the owner and designer behind clothing line Love and Laughter and owner of Breezy's Gifts, shares about her entrepreneurial spirit and what drives her, but we also spent some time discussing her abusive marriage and how she healed and found herself again. 

Hop on the soul train with KK (also known as Karen Koren, but really everyone calls her KK and you'll hear why)!!! KK is a public speaker, kallah teacher, and teen mentor, who also hosts her own podcast,  Soul Sessions.  In this episode, KK and I discuss everything from the way her upbringing helped shape her as a strong spiritual woman to her daughters diagnosis with alopecia.  

Heather Cox, Co-Founder and President of Certify My Company, is someone who continues to reinvent herself as her passions grow! Heather decided to become an entrepreneur at 30 years old and shares some incredible insight on how she started her business and how she found herself. Certify My Company assists diverse businesses with all aspects of certification, helps to increase their visibility in supplier markets, and connects certified businesses with the corporations eager to do business with them. If you want to know more about what all of that means (I had no idea certification for diverse businesses even existed!), you definitely want to listen to this interview because Heather is changing the world as an advocate for diversity!  

Fun fact about Heather (and you'll hear more about it on the podcast): She is a former acro-gymnast, tightrope walker and juggler!

Rivky Itzkowitz is the designer and owner of Impact Fashion NYC, a luxe modest fashion line cut to fit real body shapes. Rivky's dresses run from sizes 2-24 and they are absolutely gorgeous!!! What inspires me most about Rivky is that she is hustling to build the life and business of her dreams. Whether she's sewing wedding dresses in the back of the classroom or building her own business from the ground up, Rivky doesn't make excuses. I can't wait for you to listen to Rivky and get inspired to go after your own dreams! 

Yaffa Palti smile can light up the world! And when she speaks, she exudes passion, wisdom, and even a little silliness! That's what I love about Yaffa. She has the ability to take life seriously but also be playful at the same time. And on this weeks episode of the KAVANA Podcast, Yaffa tells us the story of her journey to loving herself and appreciate this life that was gifted to her, as life has been gifted to all of us. 

Fun fact about Yaffa: Yaffa delivered all of her babies without an epidural but is afraid to pop a balloon! 

Stephanie Pollak is one of the most inspiring women I know! We recently became fast friends because of our shared love of motivating others to take responsibility for their own lives and I am so grateful that she took the time to come on the KAVANA Podcast to share her story! I don't want to share too much with you here because the interview says it all. If you are feeling stuck or caged in your life, if you are choosing everyone over yourself, if you feel like you can't get out of bed today, listen to what Stephanie has to say!

FINALLY! I finally got the chance to turn the table on Naomi Nachman and interview her for a change. Naomi has interviewed me on her radio show, Table For Two on the Nachum Segal Network more times than I can count and it's always a blast! She is a personal chef, cookbook author, food blogger, influencer, travel junkie, the queen of Kosher Chopped competitions, the master of networking, and an amazing friend. 

Fun Fact about Naomi: Naomi used to dislike dogs but now she loves them and is even considering rescuing one! My dog, Louie, is to thank for that transformation and I'm so proud. 

What a treat to interview Sara Younger, the incredibly energetic, colorful, and creative party motivator behind Playland Parties. Sara has many strengths but I think her greatest gift is being able to figure things out as she goes. No matter what her circumstances, she finds a way. No is just not an option!  Google is Sara's best friend because seriously, people, you can learn everything you need to know about starting a business on Google. If you're feeling stuck and you're not sure how to get out of your current space, get ready for the inspiration and tools you need to make it happen! 

Fun Fact about Sara: the wallpaper in her office is actually made out of plastic tablecloths! 

What a joy to sit down with Beth Warren, the founder and chief executive officer of Beth Warren Nutrition, LLC, a New York-based private practice, and someone I'm lucky enough to call my friend. Beth and I have known each other since our college days (let's just pretend that was only a few years ago) and I am so proud of her continued growth! Beth is the author of two books, Living A Real Life with Real Food (Skyhorse 2014) and Secrets of a Kosher Girl (Post Hill Press 2018). Beth has been sharing her kosher expertise and practical approach to healthy living for years and I am grateful for the opportunity to share her wisdom and passion on the KAVANA Podcast. 

I had the pleasure of hanging out this week with licensed therapist, educator, and friend, Rachel Tuchman, to talk about her mission! Just like her Instagram profile says, Rachel is opening minds and smashing stigmas every day and she hopes you hear something today that changes your mindset on mental health and the image you hold of yourself.  

Fun Fact about Rachel: Her great uncle is the famous Russian pianist, Emil Gilels. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time. Rachel's mom's whole side is made up of famous classical musicians (her cousin leads the Moscow state Symphony Orchestra). Rachel may not have any musical talent BUT she says she inherited her drive and determination from them.

I'm excited for you to meet my fitness coach, Inna Koppel! Inna began her career as a personal trainer, and in that role discovered the importance of strength as the foundation of fitness. She began her own barbell training, studying and practicing basic barbell movements. This path led her to the Starting Strength method of barbell training and to the success of her gym, Woodmere Fitness Club, which boasts high-energy classes and barbell training for women. Inna has taught me that barbell isn't just about lifting or squatting a heavy bar. It's about fighting through my fears, finding my own strength, and being part of a community of empowering women who cheer each other on. 

Fun fact about Inna: She danced under the strict tutelage of a Russian Ballet teacher from the time that she was 5 years old until she was 17. When Inna immigrated to the US, her parents signed her for 4 hours of ballet a day to keep me her off the streets. 

Real Talk: Today's podcast is all about loving yourself! No interview, no script (oh, there's never a script), just a whole lot of my heart. Can you tell me something you're good at? One of your strengths? Something you're grateful for? I KNOW you can definitely tell me your weaknesses, the parts of your body you don't like, the mistakes you made today. Am I right?!? Why do we spend so much time punishing ourselves for our imperfections. Why do we feel guilt, shame, and embarrassment for the things we're not good at? What if we could be grateful and celebrate the things we're awesome at instead? Listen up because we ALL have something to learn about loving ourselves more. 

Nikki Schreiber is the founder and owner of Humans of Judaism. What started as a project to honor her late father, who passed away suddenly in November 2013, now has 150,000 followers on Instagram and 150,000 on Facebook, and has been named one of the top 10 best Jewish Instagram accounts. Nikki shares with us how she successfully finds the time to wear so many business hats, how she creates authentic content on social media, and talks about the friendships she's made through Humans of Judaism.  

Fun fact about Nikki: Her mother’s mother was born in the old city of Jerusalem, she was given her name ‘Miriam’ in the Hurva synagogue. Nikki's family lived in the old city for 7 generations and moved to New York in the early 1900’s.

Sometimes you make an unexpected friend through Instagram and it just CLICKS! Instant friendship! I am so excited to sit down (me hiding in my closet in NY) with Alyssa Goldwater (she's in her living room in Chicago with her new fancy wall art, pretty blue chairs, and napping children) to talk about her business journey and how she found her confidence.  

Fun fact about Alyssa: She crowd surfed at a Snoop Dogg concert in college!

Are you a Positive Patty? Maybe you're more of a Negative Nancy? What if you can find your Balanced Bari instead? I sat down with the very real and raw Bari Mitzmann to talk about embracing all that life throws her way. Bari is also the brains behind the Women of Valor Podcast, where she's created a community of woman that know life isn't perfect but we can live and love through it all! 

Fun Fact about Bari:  She can sing the alphabet and Row Your Boat backwards!