Wake Up and Read the Labels!

Latest Episodes:

Not All Almonds Are Created Equal with Grace Runnels Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

There is an unmistakable link between what we eat and how we feel. After losing a son to mental health issues, Daily Crunch Snacks' Co-Founder Diane Orley dedicated her business mission to feeding the mind as much as the body. For her, that starts with a daily ritual of a handful of almonds.

Over 15 years ago, Diane’s sister visited India where she learned the health benefits of sprouted almonds. Inspired by her sister’s travel, Diane merged the practice of sprouting almonds with additional added flavors using clean ingredients. When her niece, Laurel Orley, was pregnant with her third child, her cravings were intense. Diane’s almonds were one of her favorite healthy snacks. Laurel saw potential in her aunt’s business and joined forces to start Daily Crunch Snacks.

In this episode, Jen talks with Grace Runnels, Brand and Content Marketing Lead at Daily Crunch Snacks about the story behind the brand, the benefits of sprouting almonds, and the importance of mental health at Daily Crunch Snacks.

Key Takeaways

[00:46] - A brief intro to Grace and Daily Crunch Snacks.
[02:22] - How Daily Crunch Snacks got their name.
[03:21] - Why not all almonds are created equal.
[03:39] - The beginning of Daily Crunch.
[05:46] - The almond sprouting & dehydrating process.
[09:08] - How to choose anti-inflammatory foods.
[10:33] - The ingredients in sprouted almonds.
[13:09] - The value of well-being for Daily Crunch Snacks.
[14:54] - What is the Daily Crunch staff culture?
[15:58] - The Daily Crunch’s connection to The Support Network.
[18:07] - Transforming mental health through food.
[19:18] - Grace’s Wake-Up Moment.

Quotes

[12:45] - “I'm curious for all you listeners. Have you ever looked at the packaging of your snacks, right? Most of the time, it's these hidden oils, or it's these hidden preservatives that are going to keep you from feeling good. So it's important to read those labels.” ~ Jen Smiley

[13:41] - “I think our whole team is just really inspired by trying to make people feel as good as possible inside and out and that the food you eat does have a big impact on that.” ~ Grace Runnels

[14:22] - “We're going back to the basics like you said, that clean, clean is misleading. All foods should be clean.” ~ Jen Smiley

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The Rise of Plant-Based Butter with Lauren Montgomery Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

When did you notice the connection between your diet and the way you feel? Lauren Montgomery aka Monty, the founder of Monty’s, grew up on the Standard American Diet (SAD). She battled anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia, but she never connected the dots that her diet was impacting her mental health.

Lauren cycled between being a hardcore vegan and a pescatarian until she settled on a plant-based, whole food, and dairy-free diet. Today, she promotes bio-individuality and finding the diet that works for you. Her business, Monty’s, creates clean, cultured cashew cream cheese and plant-based butter in NYC. Lauren believes plant-based butter is not just for vegans – it’s for everyone who wants simple, healthy, and delicious food. But running a business without preservatives comes with its challenges.

In this episode, Jen talks with Lauren about how she created her plant-based dairy essentials, became a health coach, and founded Monty’s.

Key Takeaways

[00:50] - A brief intro to Lauren and Monty’s.
[02:23] - How Lauren’s entrepreneurial family influenced her to create Monty’s.
[04:53] - Lauren’s diet.
[06:00] - Lauren’s thoughts on conventional dairy products.
[08:17] - How Lauren found alternative cheeses.
[09:43] - Lauren’s journey as a health coach.
[10:58] - Lauren's restaurant experience with inflammatory ingredients.
[13:00] - How Monty’s started.
[13:55] - Monty’s clean ingredients and shelf life.
[17:25] - Monty’s products.
[18:32] - Laurens's biggest challenges and successes in business.
[20:01] - Where to find Monty’s.
[20:58] - Lauren’s Wake Up moment.

Quotes

[06:48]- “A lot of grocery store products are precarious in general but so many plant-based products, dairy butter alternatives, that try to emulate the texture and taste of real dairy, add a lot of highly processed, inflammatory oils, gums, natural flavors, and preservatives.” ~ Lauren Montgomery

[19:28] - “I just started doing farmer's markets in LA. And I have, you know, people coming up to me and being like, I eat your butter every day. It changed my life and you're a part of my daily habits. And, to me, that's everything, you know, that's why I'm doing this. I'm not doing this for monetary gain or anything else.” ~ Lauren Montgomery

[19:46]- “I really want people to have a delicious dairy-free option that's clean and makes them feel amazing and is really a part of their daily life to make it better.” ~ Lauren Montgomery

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More Than a Hot Sauce Brand with Joey Repice Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

Like many great products, Joey’s Hot Sauce originated from love. In this case, the love Joey felt for his wife, who couldn’t find a delicious hot sauce free from additives, preservatives, and sugar. So Joey grabbed organic peppers from the farmer’s market and blended up a custom hot sauce in his Vitamix. On that day, Joey’s Hot Sauce was born.

From the Southern part of Italy, Joey’s mother lived off the land. Her family owned goats and ate fresh figs and oregano straight from the source. As a child, Joey watched his mother’s intentional approach to cooking, making use of every ingredient and treating meals with reverence. Those Italian roots and his mother’s appreciation for high-quality food inspired Joey’s love for fresh, simple ingredients, and eventually, Joey’s Hot Sauce.

In this episode, Joey talks with Jen about the inspiration behind his hot sauce flavors, why every flavor is fresh, clean, and simple, the importance of mind-body health for Joey, and why Joey’s Hot Sauce is so much more than a hot sauce.

Key Takeaways

[01:17] - A brief intro to Joey.
[02:24] - The origin story of Joey’s Hot Sauce.
[04:59] - How Joey’s background influenced his approach to cuisine.
[08:18] - Why health matters to Joey.
[11:41] - All about Joey’s Hot Sauce.
[18:33] - What it’s like owning a hot sauce business.
[20:55] - Joey’s Wake Up moment.

Quotes

[09:36] - “I just know that when I eat food that I know where it comes from, without sugar spiking my glucose, and when I exercise regularly, my mental clarity’s way better, my physical being is way better, I’m just better to be around.” ~ Joey Repice

[10:08] - “Joey’s Hot Sauce is not just about a hot sauce. It’s, in a sense, for me, about a lifestyle. I want people to be inspired to make the correlation of what they’re eating and how they’re feeling. There is a correlation there.” ~ Joey Repice

[13:09] - “It’s all high quality, all organic, there’s not one ingredient that can’t be organic. It has to be organic to be in Joey’s Hot Sauce.” ~ Joey Repice

[23:06] - “Wherever we put our money, what we focus on, the big money follows. So I have faith that we can really shift this broken system and fix it.” ~ Joey Repice

Links

Joey Repice
Joey’s Hot Sauce
Vitamix
Wake Up And Read The Labels: Cleaning Up Cereal with Parker Brook
Lovebird Cereal
Priscilla The Creeper
Lisa The Truffle Queen
Joey’s Hot Sauce Rebel Red Editions
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Bunny Bread*

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Leaving Law for Wake Up! with Seth Smiley Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Like many of us, Seth Smiley used to pay little attention to his health symptoms. Diagnosed with ADHD at 16 and struggling with heartburn from college onwards, Seth believed he’d need over-the-counter meds his entire life. Still slim and training to compete as a long-distance runner, Seth had no reason to believe his underlying health issues were anything to worry about.

It wasn’t until early in Seth and Jen’s marriage that Seth began exploring biohacking, anti-aging, and anything he could do to improve his running time, that the two discovered the power of diet changes. What started with vegetarian meals progressed into veganism and at some point, Jen’s Wake Up moment with simple ingredients.

In this episode, Seth talks with Jen about his life before clean eating, why men looking to bulk up need clean ingredients just like men hoping to lose weight, what Seth eats in a typical day, and why Seth ultimately decided to leave the law firm he built and join Jen full-time at Wake Up and Read the Labels!

Key Takeaways

[00:39] - A brief intro to Seth.
[01:51] - How Jen and Seth met.
[04:28] - The three words Seth uses to describe Jen.
[06:02] - Seth’s life before clean eating.
[11:09] - What Seth would say to men scared of losing weight eating clean.
[12:41] - What Seth eats in a day.
[16:11] - Who’s influenced Seth’s healthy mindset.
[18:34] - How Jen and Seth’s family reacted to their clean eating transformation.
[21:20] - What workouts Seth prioritizes.
[23:45] - Seth’s Wake Up moment.

Quotes

[10:41] - “I was thin but I didn’t know that I was inflamed. And so whenever [Jen] really started to dial-in on the clean eating and really had the wake-up moment about all the ingredients, that’s when I weighed the same but my waist size just dropped, almost overnight.” ~ Seth Smiley

[11:58] - “It’s not a weight loss thing, it is a get your body to be the size it’s supposed to be thing.” ~ Seth Smiley

[12:30] - “Clean eating just allows you to feel better while you're trying to achieve those personal goals, whether it be [to] work out or your physical physique.” ~ Seth Smiley

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Cleaning Up Cereal with Parker Brook Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

Sometimes all we need is a little push to propel us over the edge and chase our destiny. Before the birth of his daughter, Parker Brook was working for the big food industry while battling an autoimmune disease. Parker knew the products he marketed weren’t great for the general public, designed to increase hunger versus fulfill nutritional needs. And maybe even subconsciously, Parker knew that his own diet was contributing to the symptoms he wrestled with daily.

But when Parker’s daughter came into the world, he couldn’t ignore that intuition any longer. The thought of plastering mermaids on sugary snacks so kids just like his own would grab them at the grocery store wasn’t something he could stomach. And having an inside look into the types of ingredients big food stuffed their products with, he knew those mermaids were leading kids to chronic health conditions versus a balanced diet. So Parker quit his job and created Lovebird, a cereal free from fillers, chemicals, and inflammatory ingredients.

In this episode, Parker talks with Jen about developing a clean cereal, how clean foods mitigated his autoimmune disease, the shocking secret behind “natural flavors”, and the ways that communities can take control and eat clean.

Key Takeaways

[02:05] - Why the birth of Parker’s daughter inspired his clean cereal mission.
[03:36] - What bothered Parker about the big food industry.
[05:44] - How Parker felt working for the big food industry and his ultimate turning point.
[09:07] - What prompted Parker to educate himself on clean foods.
[11:08] - What ingredients Parker uses in Lovebird cereal.
[13:48] - The many ways to use cereal.
[14:37] - What “natural flavors” actually means.
[21:06] - Why buying organic is so important.
[23:54] - Where to find Lovebird cereal.
[26:48] - Parker’s Wake Up moment.

Quotes

[13:34] - “I was really trying to get to a balanced, as much as possible, blood sugar-neutral recipe with ingredients that were whole foods to kind of help manage that for people and quite honestly for myself and my family as well.” ~ Parker Brook

[16:27] - “I always look at, when I read ingredient labels, aside from how many are there, can I pronounce them, is there any weird stuff in there, I kind of question well, what’s the role of that?” ~ Parker Brook

[21:33] - “I think the fact that we have to label food as organic is kind of a travesty. Everything should be organic, and if it’s not it should be called something else.” ~ Parker Brook

[24:33] - “I think for the longest time we've been trained that whatever we buy at the grocery store is OK and follow your tastebuds. And I think our taste buds have been hijacked and it’s harder than ever to really understand what you’re eating.” ~ Parker Brook

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Fixing Your Kitchen Before Fixing Your Meds with Sheila Cunningham Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

Having spent 30 years as a registered nurse, Sheila Cunningham knew what it meant to treat patients afflicted with disease and chronic conditions. What she never experienced, and what they failed to teach in nursing school, was how to prevent illness by transforming your pantry.

It wasn’t until Sheila went from working in a hospital to working in a school that her own health started to decline and she could see first-hand how many children were afflicted with stomach problems, ADHD, and eczema. Also, how many parents fed them chemical after chemical, unknowingly fueling the inflammatory fire.

That’s when Sheila knew there had to be more to healthcare than the food pyramid and healing patients after the fact. She dove into nutrition school and, shortly after, discovered Jen Smiley. The puzzle pieces clicked and Sheila knew she had to share her new wealth of nutritional knowledge with the world.

Today, Sheila talks with Jen about why hospitals aren’t the key to holistic health, what parents don’t realize about food and their kids, why learning to read the labels became empowering for Sheila, and why nurses more than anyone need clean foods in their diet.

Key Takeaways

[00:39] - A brief introduction to Sheila.
[01:52] - What Sheila learned about food and nutrition in nursing school.
[02:26] - Why Sheila decided to become a certified nutritionist.
[05:40] - Why Sheila wanted to impact her community beyond traditional nutritional services.
[07:05] - Why nutrition school didn’t give Sheila the full picture.
[08:06] - How Sheila discovered the power of labels.
[09:29] - How Sheila’s personal health propelled her desire to master healthy eating.
[11:51] - What Sheila’s life looked like before clean eating.
[12:45] - Why nutrition school wasn’t enough for Sheila.
[14:45] - The most beneficial part of Clean Eating Academy for Sheila.
[16:42] - How clean eating has transformed Sheila’s life.
[22:08] - Sheila’s Wake Up moment.
[24:28] - How you can eat clean without breaking the bank.

Quotes

[12:58] - “Nutrition school definitely gets you to a certain point of knowledge. But for what I want to offer the world and my clients, I want to give them empowerment to learn on their own, and to know that just because you are looking at the outside of this pretty picture and saying oh, fat-free, low-carb, gluten-free, that you still have to look at the facts.” ~ Sheila Cunningham

[13:47] - “I learned through your program that you’re not healthy until you really start diving into what those ingredients are in your food.” ~ Sheila Cunningham

[16:45] - “The biggest difference is just feeling better, not feeling bloated when you’re eating, and also being able to go to the grocery store and recognize the fake advertising.” ~ Sheila Cunningham

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Feeling 20 at 40 with Anna Cash Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

Many people discover they’ve got major health issues through changes in appearance or struggles with daily tasks. It took a dentist appointment for Anna Cash.

Anna’s teeth were all but crumbling and her dentist advised she cut out gluten, suspecting the problem was gut-related. However, despite reluctantly removing sandwich bread and pizza, Anna wasn’t feeling much better. In fact, depriving herself throughout the day, Anna would reward her daily discipline with late-night McDonald’s runs and watch as the weight piled on.

On top of a dental mishap, the passing of Anna’s husband prompted anxiety, depression, and overindulging. Her mental health and poor diet led to frequent illness and trips to the doctor’s office. Although professionals pushed medicine, when a friend sent Anna a post by Jen Smiley, everything changed.

In this episode, Anna talks with Jen about learning to navigate clean eating, the medicine Anna no longer needs, how Anna’s changing her community with clean swaps, and what Anna’s embracing for the first time in her adult life thanks to waking up and reading the labels.

Key Takeaways

[00:40] - A brief introduction to Anna and her journey with clean eating.
[02:21] - Why Anna became gluten-free.
[03:15] - How Anna first navigated gluten-free foods.
[05:15] - When Anna discovered Jen’s program.
[06:36] - The moment Anna decided to commit to clean eating.
[09:23] - Why Jen’s course benefited Anna’s health journey.
[10:30] - What Anna noticed immediately after starting to read the labels.
[13:31] - How Anna switched to clean alcohol and the symptoms she no longer experiences.
[18:22] - When Anna realized her “healthy” lattes were making everything worse.
[19:28] - How Anna feels today.
[19:57] - Anna’s favorite clean meal.
[20:46] - Anna’s Wake Up moment.

Quotes

[07:32] - “I knew it was gluten but I wasn’t ready to accept it. And when a friend sent me your story, I was like, Anna, you know exactly what’s wrong with you and you’re the only one that can fix it. So I dove in.” ~ Anna Cash

[10:19] - “It’s so easy, it’s so sustainable, which, I have never found anything to be sustainable. I could do it for a while and be miserable and quit.” ~ Anna Cash

[11:09] - “I wake up before the alarm, even on a weekday. The weight’s just dropping off of me and the inches and I just want to get up and go do. I haven’t felt that since I was 20 and I’m 46 now.” ~ Anna Cash

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Cooking Clean, From Desserts To Cajun Classics with Robin Borne Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

When you discover your child has a food allergy, eliminating foods is no longer a decision. Robin Borne realized her son had a milk allergy and she tossed out the gallon her family chugged weekly. Even going dairy and corn-free, Robin felt tired and despite sweating hard in Jen’s spin classes, her weight loss goals seemed unreachable.

Jen’s class on clean eating was the puzzle piece Robin was missing. As the pandemic hit and moms across America made banana bread, Robin created clean alternatives. Her neighbors caught on to Robin’s desserts and before she knew it, Robin had a full-blown bakery business in her backyard. Today, Reborne Bakery offers clean alternatives to your favorite cookies, cakes, muffins, and of course, that chocolate chip banana bread.

In this episode, Robin talks with Jen about learning to love clean cooking, why her meals haven’t changed much, the biggest benefit to clean eating, how to cook cajun foods with a clean twist, and why reading the labels has transformed Robin’s life and the life of her six-year-old son.

Key Takeaways

[01:55] - What Robin’s life looked like before eating clean.
[05:49] - What diets Robin tried previously.
[06:14] - What prompted Robin to start dieting.
[06:47] - When Robin finally started seeing results.
[07:53] - How Robin’s meals changed with clean eating.
[09:11] - How Robin introduced her kids to clean eating.
[09:53] - Why clean eating allows Robin’s son to become an advocate for himself.
[10:21] - How Robin’s kids navigate clean eating in the outside world.
[12:24] - Why Robin started a clean desserts bakery.
[14:22] - How people react to Robin’s clean bakery.
[17:01] - Which classic cajun recipes Robin has cooked clean.
[20:11] - How you can find Robin’s bakery.

Quotes

[03:30] - “I’m sure, Jen, that your prospective clients always are scared of, ‘Well, I can’t give up cheese.’ But once you make that change and see the benefits, it’s rewarding and you just feel better.” ~ Robin Borne

[07:39] - “That was the most rewarding part. I just felt better, we all felt better. Even-keeled for energy levels, no afternoon crash, and it’s still working two-and-a-half years later.” ~ Robin Borne

[10:02] - “[My son] is now an advocate for himself, and I love that. So even when he goes to grandma’s house, he knows of course the grandmothers are going to offer a glass of milk, that’s fine. But he knows that that does not make him feel his best. So at age six, he can advocate for himself.” ~ Robin Borne

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Mindy Pelz: The Power of Fasting and Learning to Read the (Keto) Labels Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

At 43, Mindy Pelz felt like someone had hijacked her body. Despite avoiding obvious ingredients like sugar and exercising, she couldn’t sleep and felt depressed. Mindy snacked non-stop to combat hypoglycemia, but those snacks were “healthy”, so what could possibly be the problem?

That’s when she discovered the power of fasting. Through trial and error, Mindy learned to listen to her body and use fasting to stay sharp, stay healthy, and regulate the hormonal landmine of menopause. 10 years later, Mindy is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and functional health expert teaching people to retrain their health through fasting and smart choices.

Today, Dr. Mindy Pelz talks with Jen about how and when she fasts, reading labels beyond the word “keto”, what ingredient Mindy always avoids, how big brands spread the biggest food lies, and her top four tips for metabolic health.

Key Takeaways

[00:39] - A brief introduction to Mindy.
[01:25] - What and how Mindy eats.
[04:02] - How long Mindy’s been fasting.
[04:46] - Why breakfast is not the most important meal of the day.
[07:03] - How Mindy fasts.
[08:11] - What fasting actually means.
[08:59] - Why (almost) everybody should fast.
[09:53] - How to break a fast.
[10:41] - Where Mindy buys her protein.
[12:08] - The fastest way to lose weight.
[14:04] - What ketones do for your brain.
[15:17] - The power of “bad” symptoms.
[18:06] - Why keto labels don’t always mean “healthy” labels.
[19:17] - The one ingredient Mindy always avoids.
[20:27] - Mindy’s four tips for metabolic health.
[22:50] - Mindy’s Wake Up moment.

Quotes

[03:45] - “I’ve learned to use fasting as a tool for mental and physical performance. So I really look at what I’m doing that day, and if it’s back-to-back-to-back interviews, or videos, or writing, I won’t eat. I’ll keep those ketones going.” ~ @dr.mindypelz

[12:18] - “The fastest way to lose weight is fasting. I think we have not solved the weight loss challenge for people with diet. I mean, how many more crazy diets do we need to come up with? What we haven’t done is gone in the fasting door.” ~ @dr.mindypelz

[14:53] - “When people come to fasting what they don’t realize is that they come for weight loss, which is beautiful, and it’s a healing diet. This is going to help create a healing effect on your body.” ~ @dr.mindypelz

[19:28] - “We have villainized sugar – and I’m not a fan of sugar – but we can’t lose sight of oils. Oils are the number one reason people are insulin-resistant.” ~ @dr.mindypelz

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Anyone Can Eat Clean with Mollie Lodin Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

In the cycle of dieting, weight loss, and weight gain, results can feel out of reach. When Mollie Lodin stumbled upon the Wake Up program, the simplicity of Jen’s advice got her started on a health (and life) transformation.

Struggling with weight since her teenage years, Mollie tried every diet on the market. By 2020, she was labeling herself a “gluten-free vegan” but when sharing her dietary restrictions, the response was, “then why are you big?” Although offended, Mollie took the criticism seriously and wondered why she was still far from her weight loss goals. Didn’t gluten-free and vegan mean healthy?

Now 10 months into clean eating, Mollie’s lost weight and actually maintained it, impressed gym junkies, improved her sleep, and began a new career as a wellness coach and soon-to-be certified personal trainer.

In this episode, Mollie talks with Jen about why clean eating made a difference while other fads failed her, the biggest improvements Mollie noticed after switching to clean foods, how she manages clean eating as a single mom, and why Mollie describes clean eating as a “priceless” discovery.

Key Takeaways

[00:39] - An introduction to Mollie.
[01:22] - What diets Mollie tried before discovering Wake Up and Read the Labels!
[02:12] - What triggered Mollie’s weight gain and subsequent dieting.
[04:42] - How Mollie discovered Jen.
[07:12] - Why Jen’s clean eating philosophy immediately resonated with Mollie.
[10:21] - What separated the Wake Up program from other diets Mollie’s tried.
[11:40] - What Mollie noticed after switching to clean eating.
[14:26] - How Mollie convinced her daughter to eat clean.
[16:00] - Mollie’s new go-to clean meals and how she navigates clean eating outside her home.
[18:41] - How clean eating led Mollie to a career transition.
[21:05] - Why clean eating has been priceless for Mollie.
[21:54] - Mollie’s Wake Up moment.

Quotes

[07:26] - “What resonated with me the most was when you say, ‘if you can’t pronounce that word, your body doesn’t know how to break it down.’” ~ @mollielodin

[10:27] - “It’s so simple that I don’t even have to think about it. There’s not one thing I don’t eat, I just swap. And that’s what I love to tell people.” ~ @mollielodin

[24:26] - “If I can do it, anybody can do it. If I can do it at 300 pounds once in my life and as a single mom who doesn't get support, if I can figure out how to do it, anybody can do it.” ~ @mollielodin

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