Stay ConnectedWe Tried Wellness, an original podcast from Schmidt’s, takes on the latest and greatest trends in wellness and discusses their merits… or, sometimes, lack thereof. WTW is all about investigating practical tips and hacks we come across on social media and in our communities, and seeing how they fit into our lifestyle. Each episode, we’ll try a wellness trend and talk to influencers and experts in the field.
Brought to you by Schmidt’s.
It’s been a while since we’ve posted a new episode of WTW—as evidenced by our ode to Spring and Daylight Savings at the top of the episode. Forgive us? We promise this episode is worth the wait...
Today, we’re joined by Erica Indira Swanson, CEO and Owner of Tea Bar, a local tea business with four shop locations around Portland. In just four years, Erica has created a defining aesthetic and signature menu that’s won accolades everywhere from Bon Appetit to Vogue. The tea-infused beverages served in her shops are as beautiful as they are delicious, delighting the local Instagram community with colorful ingredients like green matcha, blue algae, and turmeric-infused golden milk.
Erica tells us about:
How her passion for travel and interior design, along with a knack for business and customer service (cultivated from an early age), has informed her vision for Tea Bar
How she maintains a spirit of lightheartedness in the face of mishaps
The continual learning process inherent to being an entrepreneur
The self-care practices that fuel her well-being
And for the record...you don’t need Amazon Prime to get an ice roller!!
Links to things we talk about:
The Jane Goodall Institute
Shop Lily of the Valley (or pick it up at your local Whole Foods)
Tea Bar website and Instagram
Erica’s Instagram (@ericaindira)
Breville Frother
Buzzfeed Millennial Burnout article
The Clean program
Link to the ice roller we have
You can follow us at @thenaturalmag and find more great content about all things wellness on schmidts.com/the-natural.
“Before I had words for it, I could feel that there was something more than just my words happening. My choices, and the way I moved, and what’s happening in a room—there was a texture to it. There were layers to it. And over time, I realized there were these other elements - emotion, energy - also the physicality of a space, or a person, or something that someone’s working through [...] I’m an intuitive counselor because my work is about feeling into all the layers of a person.
My work is everything - service - this is my purpose here.”
Today we’re joined in the studio by the incomparable Kirin Bhatti, a Portland-based, Canada-born intuitive counselor, healer, speaker, label-less being who is on a mission to help you uncover what your heart wants to know.
Kirin shares a grounding meditation (3:40 - 7:02) to start us off - and her words set the tone for our episode, offering a glimpse into the work she does through her practice, Brownswell Healing.
We talk about learning to uncover the prayers that live within each of us, Kirin’s work to help heal our collective loneliness and separation, aligning work with service to those around us, how to start developing a spiritual practice...and so much more.
Links to things we mention:
Kirin’s website: Brownswell & IG: @brownswellhealing (though she’s on a social media hiatus!)
How to Hijack Amazon Prime Now For Good
Learn more about Kirin’s teacher, Shayne Case
Carolyn Myss - an introduction to spirituality for, as Kirin says, “those who are skeptics”
“How I Built This” episode with Soulcycle founders Julie Rice & Elizabeth Cutler
What do you say we cut the intro short and get right to the good stuff this week?
We are honored to host Candace Molatore on this episode of We Tried Wellness! Candace is a true multi-hyphenate: Portland-native, social media strategist, self-love advocate, digital influencer. Candace tells us about about the formative experiences that influenced her decision to unapologetically celebrate her differences at an early age—and how she now uses social media to send messages of body positivity, self love, and inclusion to others who seeking representation and community…but also sometimes just some great fashion inspiration.
Later, J + A recount their experiences implementing social media timers on their cell phones. Did we find enlightenment by putting stricter time limits on our IG usage? Listen to find out, y’all.
Follow Candace (and tell her how much you loved this episode) at @hey.candace on Instagram.
Links / Other Things We Talk About
Tea Bar - aka matcha heaven & the place we always run into Candace
Candace’s favorite brands for size-inclusive athletic wear: Girlfriend Collective, ASOS & Athleta
We shout out the parachute from gym class in elementary school!! because honestly what was more fun??
Boutique fitness—no secret that it can be very motivating to workout with friends or even just a group of likeminded strangers. Our favorite classes? Jillian loves Orangetheory, Alison loves Burncycle, and and we both like PDX yoga studio YoYoYogi.
Bath bombs + face masks have not lost their appeal. Jillian is liking Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask & Arcona Tea Tree Mask right now. Alison is into Ren Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask & Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath.
The Great British Baking Show. Because how great is the Great British Baking Show?
Instructions for putting social media limits in place (if you’re interested): via Apple settings (for iPhones) or within the Instagram app directly.
In this timely goal-oriented episode of We Tried Wellness, we chat with conscious living, zero/low-waste expert Chloe Lepeltier. Inspired by the minimalist life she lived in Europe, Chloe aims to inspire and motivate her community to live a simpler, greener and happier life. She leads a community of 800+ like-minded people on a journey to zero-waste, while organizing Portland’s Zero Waste Conference and showing anyone visiting or living in Portland a tour of her low-waste home. After listening to the episode, you’ll want to follow her style and advice on Instagram.
Here’s some of the other things we chat about:
First and foremost, here is the Racked piece we keep talking about (this is about the third time we’ve mentioned it on We Tried Wellness). The $95,000 of free swag that these beauty and fashion editors received in just six months weighed the amount of a polar bear, and the packaging alone weight 309 pounds. That’s a lot of waste from publicists and brands. We can do better!
Did you know takeaway coffee in Europe is pretty rare? It’s very much an American thing to take your latte to go. So, if you don’t have time to sit down for your coffee or tea, try bringing your Klean Kanteen or reusable mug in for your caffeine fix and spare a paper cup (Starbucks will give you a $.10 discount, so it’s worth asking your local barista if you can rewarded, too!).
The Think Dirty app is an excellent resource to help you shop a little cleaner.
Ok, so who composts? Alison and I have been talking about this a lot recently. As apartment dwellers, it makes composting a little more difficult. Did some research and here’s a thorough guide to composting in an apartment. The Kitchn has a great guide, too.
Oregon has a master recycling program! If you’re local to us, check this out on how to become a Master Recycler like Chloe and become a leader in your community.
Any low-waste resolutions for your fashion? Chloe participates in the Instagram-friendly 10x10 challenge, which we’re totally considering to try (seems easy enough!).
We also tried a trash audit. The exercise consists of dumping everything that’s in your trash on the floor at the end of your auditing period (3 days to 1 week is a good start) and taking a hard look at it, dividing it into categories and sorting it by frequency. The audit helps give you an idea of your consumption habits, and helps you find the easiest ways to reduce your waste and make small changes in your own home or workplace. My most wasteful item was food and food storage. So I’ve since invested in this reusable food wrap (Chloe makes her own—here’s her DIY) and reusable bags.
P.S. Resident hummus lover, Alison, needs some advice on how to make her own hummus so that she doesn’t have to deal with all her empty hummus containers. Anyone?
You can follow us at @thenaturalmag and find more great content about all things wellness on schmidts.com/the-natural.
Articles and podcasts from The Natural should not be considered medical advice. If you have any questions about your health, please consult a medical professional.
The Portland fog has fallen upon us and we’re kicking off this unintentionally hygge-themed episode with some autumnal hibernation topics (think: sleep, snacks, and meditation). Joining us this time around are Keeley Tillotson and Erika Welsh, best friends and co-founders of Portland-based, nut-butter centric brand, Wild Friends. We chat with these inspiring women about making nut butter fun, one wellness trend at a time.
Other things we chat about…
You can follow us at @thenaturalmag and find more great content about all things wellness on schmidts.com/the-natural.
Michael Cammarata, CEO and Co-Founder of Schmidt’s, joins us to talk about the natural products industry, the passion that drives his career, and his own personal take on wellness. His POV on health might surprise you; it’s all about starting small, with simple changes that can have big results. Let’s be clear, though—Michael’s mission is to change the world, and he’s mastered the art of aligning personal purpose with professional. Get ready for the inspiration!
FYI - Jillian had a bit of a cold, which is why you hear her voice a little less this time. Don’t worry, she’s better now!
Other things we talk about..
Schmidt’s Lily of the Valley deodorant, created in collaboration with Jane Goodall (a personal friend of Michael)
Rethinking the gendered personal care strategy. Why are we segregating anyone from using certain ranges? Personal care should be inclusive, full stop.
Activated charcoal everything! May we recommend?
Combatting the #saddesklunch. Bon Appetit has some great tips.
How to prevent eye strain from staring at screens all day — the 20-20-20 exercise
We love a little face spritz to refresh throughout the workday! Our recs right now? Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Face Mist & Honest Beauty Elevated Hydration Mist.
You can follow us at @thenaturalmag and find more great content about all things wellness on schmidts.com/the-natural.
Alison here for the Episode recap. 👋
Meet Kristen Arnett. She’s a celebrity makeup artist, pioneer in green beauty, and leading voice in the Healthy Beauty Movement. We go beyond cosmetics to talk about learning to recognize your true beauty—but not in a cheesy way. It’s all about making peace with reality, shaking off the saccharine, and learning to appreciate that person staring back at you in the mirror.....no matter how “snatched”. Think you’re going to love what she has to say!
Also - sorry I laugh like a psychopath at the top. Just happy to be back, y’all.
TL;DL, or here’s what happened in Episode 8:
Our producer Josh got married! We love Josh! We generally agree that mutual ice cream appreciation is the truest sign of friendship.
Then the interview starts...check out Kristen Arnett’s website
And her social—she’s at @kristenarnettbeauty on Instagram and @greenbeautyteam on Facebook
We take a moment to appreciate Groucho Marx, eyebrow legend
Ingredient Glossary (on Kristen’s website). Super helpful reference if you’re wanting to seek out cleaner cosmetics
Lip Smackers—we don’t vouch for using them now, but definitely a classic balm with all the best flavors. Dr. Pepper, anyone???
We discuss whether Cleopatra drew her own selfies? Just curious
Check out Toss The Toxins (downloadable toolkit on Kristen’s website), another great healthy beauty resource.
Kristen brings in mint-infused water! It’s delicious and we’re obsessed. Click here to read more about the benefits of mint tea & make your own
And if you’d like to try wellness too, take some time to check out Kristen’s positive affirmation mirror exercise for yourself.
Tell us what you think about this episode on Instagram (@thenaturalmag) or in our Facebook group. Thanks for listening!
Jaime Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt's Naturals , joins us again as a special guest host! In this episode, Jaime and Jillian chat with the co-founder and CEO of barre3, Sadie Lincoln. Sadie explains all about the wisdom and psychology behind exercise, and how to enter your exercise with intention. But first, Jillian talks about how to survive red-eye flights and Jaime reveals her ultimate DIY dragon fruit bowl recipe.
EPISODE LINKS
Barre3
Barre3 on Instagram
Sadie Lincoln on Instagram
Jaime Schmidt on Instagram
Jaime's Dragon Fruit Bowl Recipe
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
The We Tried Wellness podcast is back! In Episode 6, hosts Alison and Jillian are joined by vegan chef Tara Thomas. Tara has been a whole foods-based vegan for more than three years, avoiding gluten and soy in her diet and recipes. During the interview, Tara enlightens our hosts about how being plant-based, health conscious, and earth-friendly is for the mind, body, and soul. Plus, Jillian and Alison share their experience trying a short-term raw food diet.
But first, Jillian shares her very first (and potentially last) float/sensory deprivation tank experience while Alison talks about how a recent interior design experience led her to the realization that simple acts of wellness can create positive energy in your home.
In this unique edition of We Tried Wellness, hosts Alison and Jillian are joined by photographer Chelsea Parrett, aka "The Purple Priestess", who walks them through the magic of tarot cards. Both Jillian and Alison receive a tarot reading and find out if there's any truth behind the cards.
Episode Links
The Wild Unknown
Chelsea Parrett
Chelsea Parrett on Instagram
Chasing perfection is something Kait Hurley knows all too well. "People who are struggling are high achieving," the former competitive distance runner and fitness marketer tell us. After figuratively hitting a wall, Kait introduced meditation into her life and has since taken control of her own mental health while helping others through her signature Move + Meditate method. In this episode, Kait walks Jillian and Alison through her method and how mental health doesn't look the same for everyone. But first, the hosts discuss what's been exciting them lately (adaptogens, cooking, and more). And later, Jillian and Alison talk about their experience trying meditation for themselves.
We want to know what wellness trends you're trying, have tried, or want to try. Join our (secret/not-so-secret) Facebook group—we'd love to hear from you! If you have any questions (or just want to say hi) reach out to us on Instagram, Twitter, or email us at hi@thenaturalmag.com.
Episode Links:
Burn Cycle
Juniper Ridge
Four Sigmatic
Kait Hurley
Kait Hurley on Instagram
A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to Be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives by Thupten Jinpa
Caffeine without the crash? Enter: matcha. Lauren Danson, founder of Mizuba Tea Co. indulges hosts Alison McClaran and Jillian Engel in the magical world of matcha. They investigate what makes quality matcha and the delicious ways to drink it. Later, Alison and Jillian put oil pulling to the test and find out if the benefits are really there.
Episode Links
Mizuba Tea Co.
Mizuba Instagram
Matcha Recipes
"Why You Should Warm Up to Matcha" on The Natural
Tusk
Planet Organic
Jaime Schmidt, founder of Schmidt's Naturals, drops by in Episode 2 to reveal the craziest wellness trends she's tried (think: silent meditation retreats circa before "wellness" was trendy). But first, hosts Alison McClaran and Jillian Engel talk about natural product trends they saw from Expo West, and later they find out if smiling really does change your mood.
Episode Links
Jaime Schmidt
Jaime's Instagram
Jaime's Twitter
Schmidt's Naturals
Float On
Behind the Science of Smiling
Our inaugural episode begins with a discussion of the latest Instagram trend: bathleisure, as seen on Rihanna and Kim Kardashian. Plus, Alison and Jillian discuss their trials with collagen and if they saw results. After that, they review their February horoscopes and what the stars have in store for their signs (Pisces and Virgo) this month.
Episode Links:
Rihanna Paris Vogue Cover
Kim Kardashian Bathleisure
Leandra Medine Cohen Bathleisure
Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer
Allure February Horoscopes
Hum Nutrition Raw Beauty
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