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Essential Ingredients Podcast

Essential Ingredients Podcast

Written by: Justine Reichman
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Essential Ingredients powered by NextGenChef is an Online podcast, launched by Justine Reichman a socially minded Founder, Connector and Philanthropist. This podcast features a multi-generational group of startup founders, thought leaders and change makers who discuss the importance of building businesses from concept to purpose that directly align to your purpose and mission and support a regenerative future for and from people to planet. Topics include “building a business to support your purpose” to “global issues challenging our farming, production and supply chain“ to “telling your story” and “developing consistent branding”. In addition to the conversation segments, these talks also conduct interviews with Serial entrepreneurs, new founders and industry experts. Interested in sharing your story, email us to participate in our next podcast. Production of the podcast is held in San Rafael.Justine Reichman - Essential Ingredients Podcast Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 081: Your Skin is Talking: Why Internal Health Determines Skin Outcomes
    Jan 6 2026

    "Stop reaching externally for answers because intuitively, if you really, really sit quietly with yourself and feel, you have all the answers for yourself." —Dr. Jennifer Haley

    Our skin reacts long before we slow down enough to notice. Breakouts, inflammation, and chronic issues often point to patterns we normalize every day, from food choices to stress to environmental exposure. This conversation cuts through noise and shame and brings the focus back to what our bodies are already telling us.

    Dr. Jennifer Haley shares how her background in nutrition and dermatology reshaped the way she treats skin, not as an isolated problem but as part of a larger system connected to gut health, hormones, and the brain.

    Listen with an open mind and a grocery list nearby.

    • Skin as a reflection of internal health

    • Acne, rosacea, and the gut-skin-brain connection

    • How food quality and blood sugar affect inflammation

    • Dairy, processed foods, and hormone disruption

    • The role of stress, cortisol, and nervous system balance

    • Organic foods, pesticides, and everyday exposure

    • Why moderation works better than restriction

    • Cyclical health needs for women across life stages

    • Trusting intuition over rigid wellness rules

    Meet Jennifer:

    Dr. Jennifer Haley is a board-certified dermatologist with nearly 22 years of experience and a strong background in nutrition. After earning her undergraduate degree in nutrition from Cornell University, she built her practice around a holistic approach to skin health, integrating nutrition and wellness into dermatological care. Dr. Haley is an advocate for education and patient empowerment. She is actively involved in developing AI platforms for dermatology, hosts her own podcast "Radiance Revealed," and shares insights into skin health and lifestyle. Dr. Haley is recognized for her commitment to helping patients take ownership of their health and for her passion in making expert dermatological care accessible to all.

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    Episode Highlights:

    01:31 Hormone Disruptors: What's Causing Adult Acne?

    04:20 Detox and Prevention Tips

    08:26 Intuitive Eating: Listen to Your Body's Signals

    13:14 SIBO, Rosacea, and Dermatology: Connecting the Dots

    16:54 Optimal Mood Through Gut Wellness

    21:30 Diet Cycles: Thriving at Every Age

    24:15 Adapting Habits for Lifelong Health

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    26 mins
  • 082: Build CPG Faster— Stop CPG Product Chaos With One AI-Powered System with Karen Huh
    Jan 13 2026

    "The value you get out of Zucca and all the things it can do is far cheaper than what it would take to hire another person or hire an external consultant to do that work." —Karen Huh

    Building a CPG product should not feel like juggling spreadsheets at midnight. Teams lose time, money, and clarity when formulas, costs, and decisions are scattered across multiple locations. This conversation confronts that reality head-on and addresses why speed and focus are crucial in the food, beverage, and supplement industries right now.

    Karen Huh shares how two decades in CPG at companies shaped her view of broken product development workflows. That experience led her to build Zucca, an AI-powered operating system designed to unify how CPG teams ideate, formulate, cost, and scale products.

    Listen to hear how modern CPG teams are using AI to work smarter and move faster.

    • Building an AI-powered operating system for CPG product development

    • Why product launches break down as brands grow

    • How AI supports formulation, costing, and iteration

    • Reducing time to scale-ready formulas

    • Collaboration and single source of truth for CPG teams

    • Using AI as a teammate, not a replacement

    • What founders misunderstand about AI and speed

    • The future of AI in food and beverage innovation

    Meet Karen:

    Karen Huh is the co-founder and CEO of Zucca, an innovative operating system for product development in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, powered by AI. With over 20 years of experience, Karen has held leadership roles at Starbucks and numerous venture-backed brands, building a strong track record in product innovation and business development. Drawing on her in-depth knowledge of CPG workflows, she is dedicated to streamlining and unifying product development processes through advanced technology. Karen leads a diverse, expert-driven team at Zucca, helping brands of all sizes create, manage, and scale products more efficiently.

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    Episode Highlights:

    02:12 What Inspired Zucca

    05:32 Early Exposure to AI

    11:24 Challenges and Surprises in AI Development

    16:30 Zucca's Unique Features and Benefits

    19:02 User Experience and Implementation

    24:59 Impact on CPG Companies

    28:12 Customer Success Stories

    30:47 Accessibility and Pricing

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    33 mins
  • 080: Busy Lives, Better Health: How Drinkable Vitamins Fit Real Life with Leslie Danford
    Dec 30 2025

    "In an entrepreneurial journey, fear is a constant roadblock. But everything's at risk, and it's this balance between calculated risk while still managing a backup plan." —Leslie Danford

    Growth does not come from chasing every opportunity. It comes from making clear choices and standing behind them. This conversation explores what it really takes to build a brand that lasts without losing direction along the way.

    We sit down with Leslie Danford, founder of Vitaminis, to talk through her evolution from a small, kid-focused idea into a national functional beverage brand now on Sprouts shelves. She shares how customer insights reshaped her product strategy, packaging, retail approach, and long-term vision.

    Press play for a grounded look at what sustainable growth actually requires, and why patience, clarity, and trade-offs matter more than hype.

    • Building a functional beverage brand in a crowded market

    • Identifying and serving distinct customer profiles

    • Rebranding to support retail discovery and clarity

    • Getting into national retail and what it really costs

    • Choosing when to bootstrap and when to raise capital

    • Managing growth without expanding too fast

    • Navigating packaging challenges and sustainability goals

    • Balancing mission, margin, and long-term impact

    Meet Leslie:

    Leslie is the founder and visionary behind Vitaminis, an innovative brand specializing in convenient, nutrient-rich drinkable vitamin shots designed for modern families and health-focused individuals. With a background in both e-commerce and retail, Leslie has led Vitaminis through a successful rebranding and national retail expansion, including an exclusive launch with Sprouts. She is celebrated for her strategic focus on product development for diverse customer needs—ranging from busy Millennial Moms to adults seeking natural nutrition—and is deeply committed to sustainability and accessibility. Leslie's entrepreneurial journey is marked by fearless decision-making, fostering brand growth, and a mission to make nutritious choices easier and more accessible for communities everywhere.

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    Episode Highlights:

    00:51 Business Growth and Customer Profiles

    05:24 Drink Your Vitamins

    09:42 Collaborative Innovation and Exploring Alternative Form Factors

    13:27 Market Challenges

    15:57 Funding the Dream

    23:08 Calculated Growth + Back Up Plans

    27:19 Community Engagement, Environmental Benefits, and Future Goals

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    Podcast

    Health in a Sip: Fuel Your Day with Functional Clean-Label Shots with Leslie Danford

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    30 mins
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