Everyday Endorphins

Excited to kick off Mental Health Awareness month featuring none other than the multi-hyphenate Larissa May, Founder of #HalftheStory, which is a non-profit that is on a mission to empower the next generation's relationship with technology.

We discuss...

• How Larissa’s struggles with mental health in college sparked inspiration for developing #HalftheStory

• How Larissa defines digital wellness and certain practices to enhance our digital well-being

• What it means to move from “passive” to “active” technology consumption

• Strategies for digital flourishing and for developing a healthier relationship to technology

• Larissa’s perspective on entrepreneurship, her morning routine as a founder, and theories on joy

• What brings Larissa endorphins

Dan Freed, founder of personalized nootropics company Take Thesis, came onto the podcast this week to discuss:

• Dan's struggles with ADHD as a kid, and non-linear career path that eventually led him to become a founder of a cognitive enhancement/nootropics company
• The neuroscience behind nootropics and how these supplements impact your energy, mood, focus, and cognitive functioning
• How to embrace failure and the power of utilizing your weaknesses as your superpower
• Dan's perspective on joy versus happiness and the importance of experiencing some struggle in life
• What brings Dan endorphins

Use the code ENDORPHINS10 for a discount on your order!

Amanda Yarnell, Senior Director of the Center for Health Communication at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, came onto the podcast to talk about:

• Amanda's background as a science journalist and how her previous experience led her to work at Harvard
• The inspiration for the 2023 Creators Summit on Mental Health, which was launched to build partnerships with well-being content creators dedicated to spread evidence-based messaging to their communities
• The methodology and researched shared by faculty at Harvard's Chan School of Public Health
• How Amanda envisions the future of content creation to impact how we engage with health-related news
• What brings Amanda endorphins

This week I'm thrilled to have Jo Piazza, award-winning journalist, podcast host, best-selling author, on the podcast. In this episode, Jo and I chatted about:

• Jo's love for writing and how she got into the field of journalism
• Why traveling can be magical, and how new experiences open up our minds to feel joy in unique ways
• Some of Jo's craziest travel experiences (one of which led her to meet her husband!)
• The inspiration for her latest book "The Sicilian Inheritance," which is a murder mystery novel that releases on April 2nd
• What brings Jo endorphins in life

You can pre-order The Sicilian Inheritance here!

Aviron Interactive is a rowing machine that utilizes gaming psychology to drive motivation and consistency, designed to make workouts fun for their users. Founder & CEO Andy Hoang, and CMO, Inessa Karlinsky, sat down with Stella Stephanopoulos on the podcast this week to chat about:

• Andy & Inessa's personal backgrounds in fitness, sports, and entrepreneurship
• Why gamification is becoming a trend in sports + fitness, and the future of fitness entertainment
• How game design can help us reconnect to the joy in exercise
• Lessons learned from entrepreneurship in gaining trust and pivoting when things don't go as expected
• How Andy & Inessa define happiness
• What brings Andy & Inessa endorphins

Sara Cullen, Founder + CEO of GEM, a real-food vitamin that's packed with essential vitamins in just one bite, came onto Everyday Endorphins this week to discuss:

• The health implications American's are facing from a lack of biodiversity within the traditional food system
• Why it's important to "eat" your vitamins and how the supplement industry doesn't necessarily fill the gaps in our diets
• Sara's personal health struggles and her inspiration for starting GEM
• Sara's approach to product design and the nutrients that are dense in GEM bites
• How Sara defines health + well-being
• What brings Sara endorphins

Use the code "EE30" for 30% off your first month of GEM!

This week I'm stoked to have Austin Wiberg and Hannah Minardi, co-founders of ⁠Standard Self Care⁠, the leading cosmeceutical skincare line made with clean, bioactive products, on the podcast to discuss:

• Their entreprenuerial journey's and inspiration for co-founding Standard Self Care
• The relationship between skincare, self-care, and our confidence
• Self-care "disparities" between women vs. men and why self-care is important for everyone
• Navigating challenges as an enterpreneur and the importance of cultivating a self-care routine
• How Austin & Hannah define happiness
• What brings Austin & Hannah endorphins!

You can use the code "Endorphins40" for 40% off your order!

I'm thrilled to have my friend, Kristina Headrick, who is the founder of Yia Mas, a lifestyle brand and workshop series inspired by the traditions of wellness embedded in Hellenic culture, on the show this week to discuss how we can apply the teachings of Greek philosophers to the pursuit of cultivating greater joy in life. In this episode we chat about:

• How building a relationship to one's culture, heritage, and identity strengthens our well-being
• Kristina's inspiration for building Yia Mas and their offerings
• The intersection between Hellenism and health practices
• How Greek philosophy informs modern research on the science of well-being
• Ways to cultivate eudaimonia and joy in life
• How Kristina defines happiness and what brings her endorphins

This week Emma Dunwoody, Human Design Coach, Author, and Host of The Human Design Podcast, sat down with Stella Stephanopoulos to explore:

• Foundations of Human Design and a breakdown of each profile/archetype
• How to understand your energetic blueprint using Human Design
• What it means to live in alignment and express your authentic self
• Strategies for releasing resistance to tap into flow state for manifesting
• Tips for building greater trust within yourself and allowing your intuition to guide you
• What brings Emma endorphins

This week Kristina Velkova and Sara Douglas, Co-Founders of Vitaclean, came onto the podcast to chat all about:

• The founding story of Vitaclean
• How Kristina's cultural background from Bulgaria exposed her to the healing properties of thermal water
• The power of filtered water + how that impacts our skincare and haircare
• Kristina + Sara's wellness non-negotiables and haircare routine
• What brings Kristina + Sara endorphins

Use the code EE15 for 15% off your own Vitaclean Vitamin C Filtered Showerhead

This week I'm joined by special guests Iliana Oris Valiente, Accenture Canada Innovation Lead, and Tamara Bowman, Digital Human Innovation Lead at Accenture, to discuss the role of digital humans in the workforce, and how to stay grounded in our *physical* reality as we live in an increasingly digital world.

Topics explored include:

• What are digital humans? How will they impact the workforce?
• Why Accenture has started investing in digital humans + Tamara's role in designing this technology
• Iliana's experience with her digital human and the use cases across Accenture
• How Tamara + Iliana envision this technology to enable greater work-life balance
• What brings Tamara + Iliana endorphins

Ali Kates, Emotional Health & Certified Trauma Coach, joins Stella Stephanopoulos this week to discuss:

• Uncovering why emotion is "energy in motion" and how this shows up in our bodies
• The science of somatic experiencing
• The difference between "big T and little t" trauma
• Learning how to hold space for both glimmers + triggers
• Ali's personal experience struggling with chronic illness and how these moments have informed her therapeutic approach with clients
• What brings Ali endorphins

This week I'm joined by Isa Watson, tech entrepreneur, author, and podcaster, to discuss how building a strong connection to the self enables us to lead a more intentional life. Topics covered include:

• Isa's unique career path + how this shaped her perspective on how our jobs influence our identities
• The inspiration for launching Squad, a social media app that helps foster greater connection
• What it looks like to validate yourself
• How Isa defines intentionality and why we need to create "joy calendars"
• What brings Isa endorphins

The mind is more powerful than you think. This week, Amina AlTai sat down with Stella Stephanopoulos to discuss:

• How Amina's experience facing burnout impacted her physical health
• What it means to approach leadership + mindset coaching from a holistic perspective, and how Amina's life experiences influenced this perspective
• The importance of diving deeper into our belief systems to manifest the lives we want
• Steps towards becoming more magnetic in your career + life
• How to develop a "self-care" mindset when building a career
• The importance of creating a "minimum viable wellness plan"
• What brings Amina endorphins

Doug Bopst is an award-winning personal trainer, author, speaker and podcast host. But before all that...Doug was formerly a felon and drug addict, sentenced to months in jail due to being found guilty of “possession with intent to sell.”

Doug's time in prison inspired him to become a better version of himself, and in practice, turn his own adversity into his advantage. Now, he interviews people from all walks of life on how they have turned their trials into triumphs and the exact tips, methods and tactics they used.

In this episode, Doug shares his life story, how he learned to shift his mindset on life's challenges, the power of sitting with your emotions, and of course, what brings Doug endorphins every day.

Link to Ice Bath Event on Saturday, 10/21 in NYC

I'm also stoked to announce that Everyday Endorphins is partnering with Juice Press on October 10th in honor of World Mental Health Day⁠. This festival, hosted by Project Healthy Minds, is the first of its kind to celebrate mental health. Come visit Hudson Yards on October 10th, check out the programming, and purchase a smoothie to support Project Healthy Minds!

Alexi Pappas, Greek-American Olympian runner, filmmaker, and author of the memoir Bravey came onto the podcast this week to chat about:

• The irony of experiencing deep sadness after great joy, and how Alexi overcame battles with depression following the Rio 2016 Olympics
• The inury metaphor as a way to better make sense of mental health and how to treat mental illness
• How the passing of Alexi's mother at the age of 4 impacted her childhood and perspective on mental illness as she's grown older
• The connection between creativity and athletics, as an Olympian athlete and filmmaker
• "Prehab" strategies and precautionary steps Alexi takes to prioritize her well-being
• What brings Alexi endorphins (besides the runners high ;))

Shop all CLEARSTEM products here and enter in the code ENDORPHINS for 15% off of your order!

Sasza Lohrey, host of the dating podcast BBXX: Let's Get Intimate, and I explore the following topics in this episode:

• Why building a deeper understanding of our *self* is the pathway towards creating deeper, more intimate, relationships with others
• Why we typically find romantic partners when we least expect it
• What it means to intentionally date
• The manifestation technique that Sasza used to find her current partner
• Reframing self care as a form of self respect
• Why the slow burn is the best, and how to be patient with yourself while dating
• Tapping into the divine feminine energy, and understanding this through the yin/yang framework
• What brings Sasza endorphins

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Steven Izen, Founder & CEO of Lokai and Elements of Balance, on the podcast. In this episode, Steven shares the following:

• How he's turned the pain from losing his grandfather into purpose by launching Lokai
• What inspired him to create his second business, Elements of Balance, plant-powered supplements and drinks
• Ways to navigate the highs and lows of life, especially when you feel like you're at a low point
• How he manages stress and limits negative thinking
• Secrets to success as an entrepreneur & the importance of staying organized
• Wellness hacks and his health non-negotiables
• How he defines happiness, & what brings him endorphins

You can grab your own Lokai bracelet here!

How can we better understand ourselves, our identities, and learn to embrace the realities of life? These are all questions I explore with Andrew Murnane, Co-Host of the Dualistic Unity podcast and content creator who has amassed 1M+ followers on TikTok, this week on Everyday Endorphins. In this episode, Andrew and I chat about:

• Life as one big synchronicity and how to recognize moments that align
• Andrew's struggles with self confidence and mental health growing up
• Why its important to not take things personally in life, and how to do so in a way that sets you free
• Relinquishing ideas we build of ourselves and learning to embrace uncertainty
• What it means to know yourself
• The reality of living in the present moment
• Why happiness isn't something to be "pursued"
• What brings Andrew endorphins

This week I had the pleasure of bringing Gary Vee's personal trainer, 5X World Record Powerlifter, and founder of Syatt Fitness, Jordan Syatt, onto the podcast. In this episode, Jordan and I talk about:

• Jordan's tips for sticking to New Years fitness resolutions (this episode was recorded right after the New Year)
• What inspired Jordan to pursue fitness / entrepreneurship 
• How Jordan developed his philosophy to fitness
• Why mindset is over half the battle when it comes to acheiving your fitness goals
• How men AND women struggle from body image issues, but might cope differently
• Strength training approaches for men vs. women
• How to develop a healthier relationship to exercise and repair body insecurity
• Lessons learned from the blue zones of the world
• What brings Jordan endorphins and happiness in daily living 

Dr. Ryan Neinstein is a board certified plastic surgeon, famous for the "Mommy Makeover" surgery that helps new mothers regain their confidence post-pregnancy. In this episode, Dr. Ryan shares why discipline is foundational to our health, and certain practices you can adopt into your own routine to lead a healthier life. We also discuss his passion for medicine, his perspecitve on health and wellness as a surgeon, and how our physical apperance can impact our confidence and mental health. 

Ever wondered why we behave certain ways, and why its so difficult sometimes to make better choices? This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Huberty, Ph.D., former Head of Science at Calm and Behaviorial Scientist, to discuss actionable steps towards changing our behavior and implementing healthier choices. Jennifer now serves as a fractional Chief Science Officer to digital health companies and as an advisory board member contributing to scientific thought leadership. In this episode, Jennifer shares the power of deidentifying with our emotions through meditation and other practices, the relationship between happiness and behavior change, and how her former role at Calm as Head of Science helped to lay the foundation of scientific research that is foundational to the app. 

We often attribute external achievements or success as the source of our happiness, and Stephanie Harrison is here to break down this old philosophy of happiness in today's epsiode on the podcast. Stephanie is the founder of  The New Happy, which shares a science-backed philosophy of happiness and offers quick daily tips to improve your well-being. She also received her Masters in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and in this episode, Stephanie dives deep into the inspiration for The New Happy, her favorite learnings from positive psychology, and the principles that are foundational to her theory on happiness. We also talk about science-backed strategies for generating greater well-being in our lives (spoiler alert: it's mostly through servicing others), and the power of training our attention towards focusing on things in life that bring you joy. 

New Year, Better Diet Habits? This week on the podcast, I sat down with Ariana Korman, Chief Operating Officer of Juice Press, MS, RD, CDN, to chat about why its so hard to stick to our food and nutrition resolutions in the New Year, and how to develop a healthier approach to eating well. We also discuss the product development process at Juice Press, their ethos around healthy eating, and how to identify and navigate diet fads. As a Registered Dietitian, Ariana also shares the gut-brain connection, how to identify if juicing is right for you, and what brings her endorphins everyday. 

This week I'm thrilled to have Elizabeth Gascoigne on the Everyday Endorphins podcast. Elizabeth is the founder of Absence of Proof, which is a non-alcoholic bar pop-up and online bottle shop. Since launching in August, Elizabeth has hosted numerous events throughout NYC centered around a night off drinking, amassed a large community on Instagram and TikTok of over 30K followers, and has been featured in publications like Guest of a Guest, Gotham Magazine, Edible Manhattan, and many more. In this episode, Elizabeth and I chat about her journey as a founder, why she's so passionate about the non-alcoholic space, how she deals with criticism online, and ultimately what brings her joy and happiness in daily living.

Touring DJ to rapper Azealia Banks and Music Producer Delia Beatriz, AKA Debit, came onto the podcast this week to chat about how techno music can generate feelings of euphoria and happiness. In this episode, Delia shares where she draws her inspiration from as a musician, how different genres of music can influence our mental state, and how she navigates the endorphin highs of performing onstage. 

There's nothing more calming than the feeling of a big bear hug or cuddling with your favorite blanket, and there's a science behind that. This week I had the chance to sit down with Marina Khidekel, founder of Hugimals World, which is a collection of weighted stuffed animals to help you live with less stress and more joy. Marina previously had a career as a health and wellness journalist, and formerly worked at Thrive Global as the Chief Content Officer. In this episode, Marina shares her perspective on how the coverage of mental health / wellness in the media landscape has evolved over the past few years, her inspiration for starting Hugimals, the benefits behind weighted pressure, and how she navigates the challenges of the entrepreneurial lifestyle.

This week I am thrilled to have writer, editor, and thought leader Julia Bainbridge, onto the podcast. Julia is the author of Good Drinks, a book that celebrates innovation in the non-alcohol space, and is also a recipient of the Research Society on Alcoholism's Media Award (2021). She was featured as one of Food & Wine magazine's 25 first-ever “Game Changers” for being "a pivotal voice in normalizing not drinking alcohol" and hosts a podcast called The Lonely Hour to explore social disconnection and other forms of loneliness. In this episode, Julia and I chat about the non-alcohol space, social connection, and making loneliness less taboo as it pertains to our health / wellbeing / and happiness. 

What is an alcohol-free discovery platform, and how can we slowly begin to re-evaluate our own relationship to alcohol? Check out this week's interview with Brianda Gonzalez, founder of The New Bar, to learn more about how The New Bar is creating the space for alcohol-free exploration. In this episode, Brianda and I discuss her inspiration to start The New Bar, the biggest challenges she's faced in the non-alcohol space, how she defines health / wellness, and what brings her endorphins.

This week I'm thrilled to have celebrity fitness trainer, Isaac Boots, onto the podcast to discuss all things related to happiness, overcoming hardship, and building a fitness empire. Isaac is the founder of Torch'd, which is a vigorous flow of body resistance, dance conditioning and intense targeted repetition to fire up and transform your body. In this episode, Isaac and I chat about his inspiration to develop Torch'd, the relationship between exercise and endorphins, how he overcame challenges during childhood, the importance of staying true to yourself, and ultimately, what brings him endorphins.

This week I'm thrilled to have my friend and neighbor, Patrick Janelle, on the podcast to discuss the power in creating community, and the experience of being an influencer. In this episode, Patrick shares his perspective on the culture of the influencer economy, and the relationship between wellness, happiness, and building community. We also chat about Patrick's favorite wellness spots in NYC, how he stays healthy, and what brings Patrick endorphins.

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with Amina Taha, Alo Yoga instructor and founder of The Amina Taha Method. In our interview, Amina and I talk about the science of flexibility, how Amina developed a passion for yoga, and ways to translate the lessons of yoga off the mat. On September 10th, Amina and I are hosting a live podcast event and rooftop yoga class at Alo Yoga in New York City. Details for the event are linked here - make sure to secure your spot by purchasing tickets on Mindbody. Hope to see you all there!

This week I had the honor of chatting with Kyle Hodge, Associate Commerce Director at GQ Magazine, about the intersection between streetwear, creativity and happiness, and the portrayal of men's mental health at GQ. In this episode, Kyle shares his journey into fashion / journalism, what the future of streetwear looks like, why its important to normalize conversations around mental health (especially as a man), and how he takes care of himself.