I can't think of a better way to kick off the new year and season 2 than with Alyssa Rapp, who joins me to discuss entrepreneurship, killer instincts and nurturing ambition. Currently the Chief Executive Officer of Empower Aesthetics, Alyssa is also the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Healthwell Acquisition Corp. I, a $250 million special purpose acquisition corporation that successfully IPO’d on NASDAQ. Since 2014, Alyssa has been a lecturer-in-management at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago’s Booth Business School since 2019. She is also the author of the Amazon bestseller, Leadership and Life Hacks: Insights from a Mom, Wife, Entrepreneur & Executive.

Our conversation hugely inspired me. We kicked it off talking about nature vs nurture, why hard work is extremely necessary but not sufficient for anything that's worthwhile, and how to cultivate drive and competitiveness in ourselves and the people we love (and are raising!). Alyssa shares how mentorship and role models have guided her to where she is now, and the importance of passion, purpose and integrity in business and in life. We also save some time at the end to glean some of her organizational wisdom when it comes to motherhood and being a sports parent - we both agree that scheduling too much makes you miss the juicy in-betweens, and exchange tricks on how to make space for the magic to happen.

I leave you with this from Alyssa: "To whom much is given, much is expected. And the best way to learn is to teach."

xx
Jo

Find Alyssa at www.alyssarapp.com

Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/

Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast

I am so excited to be kicking off SEASON 2 of EAT MY WORDS with you today! To start this new year, I'm taking you through my very own personal MORE OF / LESS OF LIST, to talk through some of the things I'm craving this year (send me yours - we can hold each other accountable!). 2026 means creating more rituals, more art and intentionality, and lowering the noise around me.

I'm so looking forward to this year with all of you - I'm grateful, excited, and thrilled to be here, and I hope you are too!

xx
Jo

Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/

Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast

This week we are going back to another great episode to close out our holiday season and usher in a new year! The magnificent Mary Buri is here to remind us of the importance of creativity and the strength of nature. As a garden designer, coach and the founder of Mars Kitchen Garden, Mary has worked one-on-one with more than 150 home gardeners—designing and building kitchen gardens, crafting planting plans, and coaching them through the full growing season, from seed to harvest.

After switching gears from the publishing world to raising her four children, Mary had a lightbulb moment that led to the beginning of her now incredibly successful business. She not only walks us through how to approach gardening, but also discusses starting fresh, and how having a hard time closing the loop on potential led her to channeling her creativity and curiosity into the business of helping others accomplish their garden dreams. The conversation moves from prioritizing needs despite existing demands on you, trying again after messing up, and granting yourself the space, freedom, time and permission to do some things less if it means doing the thing you want to do most.

Mary talks about not wanting her kids to see her saying no to important parts of herself, loving her job because she's good at it, and keeping her curiosity, excitement and delight alive while guiding others to find themselves in the dirt and the plants and the food.

This is a GOOD one - dig in and let me know how it lands,

xx

Johanna

Find Mary on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/maryburi/
Find Mars Kitchen at https://www.marskitchengarden.com/
and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/marskitchengarden/

Eat My Words Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmywordsthepodcast/

Eat My Words TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eatmywords_thepodcast