Once Upon A Food Story

What if supporting your immune system starts long before you feel like you're coming down with something? Building resilience isn't just about taking the right supplements. It also means getting honest with yourself about how you're managing stress.

Tasha Rose, an herbalist and founder of her own wellness brand, believes in the incredible healing power of plants. Even though she has a cabinet filled with every imaginable adaptogen and herb, she understands firsthand that these remedies work best when the foundational habits are in place. She shares exactly how all these pieces come together to boost immunity and support overall health.

We dive into the science and traditional wisdom behind adaptogens and how they help our bodies respond to stress. We also talk about navigating all the wellness noise and why learning to trust your intuition is one of the most valuable things you can do.

In this episode, you'll learn

• How stress directly affects your body and your immunity
• The science behind adaptogens like holy basil and ashwagandha
• Which herbs help build resilience and when to take them
• How sleep, sunshine, touching grass, and hydration complement plant medicine
• Ways to support your body through seasonal bugs and changing hormones
• Why you must listen to your body when it whispers, not wait until it screams

Tune in for a fresh perspective on herbal medicine and practical ways to build resilience through both plants and everyday habits, Resources Mentioned:Nourish Your Nervous System with Adaptogens (Episode) Apothecary Reel Learn More about Tasha Rose:Website: Tasha Rose Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasharose.herbalist/ Learn More about Elise Museles:Get the Food-Mood Bundle Special Listener Offer (just $15) Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and Live Website: elisemuseles.com Instagram: @elisemuseles Facebook: @elisemuseles

Have you ever stood in the grocery store aisle, staring at a wall of olive oil bottles, and wondered which one is actually worth buying?

Most of us grew up hearing that olive oil is good for us. But what makes one bottle worth reaching for, and another barely better than a vegetable oil in disguise? The truth is, a lot of us have no idea what we're buying, how to taste it, or whether it even still has anything left to give us by the time it hits our pantry.

Katina Mountanos, founder of Kosterina and olive oil sommelier, is on a mission to change the way we experience olive oil. She comes from a Greek family with roots in a small town in southern Greece, where her family has pressed olive oil from their own trees for generations. That upbringing is the foundation that led her to found Kosterina, a high-quality Mediterranean extra virgin olive oil and lifestyle brand.

Katina shares how to read a label, what a harvest date is really telling you, the throat test that reveals whether your olive oil is still potent and alive, and why that peppery burn is a good thing. We also dive into how to cook with olive oil without fear, the rise of high-polyphenol olive oil shots, and how olive oil shows up in Katina's life well beyond the kitchen.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the harvest date matters more than the expiration date
• What kind of bottles protect the olive oil's quality and flavor
• What a cough after tasting olive oil really means (It's good!)
• The smoke point myth that's giving you the green light to cook with it
• The difference between a shot of olive oil and the oil on your plate
• Effective ways to use olive oil for skin and beauty rituals

If there's one thing to take from this conversation, it's that choosing a high-quality extra virgin olive oil is one of the simplest ways to upgrade how your food tastes and how your body feels.

Learn More About Katina Mountanos and Kosterina:

Website: www.kosterina.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kosterina/

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Shots

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Duo

Olive Oil Skincare

Substack: Extra Virgin Everything

Learn More about Elise Museles:

Get the Food-Mood Bundle Special Podcast Listener Offer (just $15)

Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and Live

Website: elisemuseles.com

Instagram: @elisemuseles

Facebook: @elisemuseles

For the first time in over 180 episodes, I'm doing something different. Instead of one story, I'm sharing 9 truths that have shaped how I think about health, food, and life.

After 15 years in wellness, these are truths I've collected along the way. Some from my weekly farmers market ritual, some from difficult chapters and challenging conversations, and some from realizing I was making feeling good way harder than it needed to be.

These are the words I personally live by, and they've changed how I eat, how I care for myself, and how I show up for the people I love.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why being committed to your health and being consumed by it are not the same
• The one word shift that turns self-criticism into self-awareness
• Exactly how stress can rob your body of nutrients
• What your energy is begging you to notice
• The one small change at mealtime that can help you feel satisfied
• Why joy is anti-inflammatory and how it nourishes your cells and your soul

These 9 truths are not meant to be another set of rules to follow. They're words to help you create more ease and guide you when life gets loud.

Resources Mentioned:

• Why Nonna Maxxing Is the Secret to a Happier Life (Episode)
• What the Seasons Can Teach You About How to Live (Episode)
• What We've Been Getting Wrong About Wellness (Episode)
• What Happens When You Bring Stress to the Table (Episode)
• The Food-Mood Bundle ($15 special offer!!)
• Elise's Favorite Matcha code ELISEMUSELES

Learn More about Elise Museles:

• Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and Live
• Website: elisemuseles.com
• Instagram: @elisemuseles
• Facebook: @elisemuseles

What if we're not supposed to feel the same way all year round?We expect ourselves to have the same energy, motivation, productivity, social capacity, and desire all twelve months of the year. But nothing in nature is constant, yet we somehow believe that we need to show up the same way in January that we do in July.

After years of shopping at my local farmers market and watching the produce and flowers change every few months, I started realizing that the farmers market was teaching me something bigger that went well beyond the food on my plate: Each season is an invitation to show up a little differently.

Living seasonally can help you feel more at ease, less burned out, and more aligned in your day-to-day life.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why fall's reminder to let go can help you make space for what's next
• The kind of rest winter actually asks for (it's not what you think)
• How to allow spring energy fuel your creativity and desire
• What your body craves for summer and how to tap into the energy
• The secret season that makes sense of that in between feeling
• Nature's biggest lesson about blooming all year long

When you start paying attention to the seasons around you, you begin to notice what the natural world is asking of you, and what your own body, energy, and life are asking too.

Resources Mentioned:

What We've Been Getting Wrong About Wellness (Episode)

Why Flower Therapy Is Real (Episode)

The Food-Mood Bundle (Good deal: $15 special offer!!)

Rise & Shine is back! Work 1:1 with Elise (discount automatically applied)

Learn More about Elise Museles:Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and Live

Website: elisemuseles.com

Instagram: @elisemuseles

Facebook: @elisemuseles

Want to feel calmer, happier, and more focused? Buy yourself some fresh flowers! It may sound way too simple, but flowers aren't just pretty, they're powerful. I call it flower therapy and in this solo episode, I dive into what the science actually says and how you can bring a little bit of this flower joy into your life, even if you consider flowers indulgent or extra.

Over the years, flowers have become a central part of my life because of the positive effect they have on me. I share my own personal experience and the research behind why a bunch of flowers on your counter can shift your mood, lower your stress (yes I'm talking cortisol levels), sharpen your brain, and change the energy in your home.

Because they feel so nourishing, I started referring to flowers as Vitamin F.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why this simple ritual is one of the easiest ways to shift how you feel
• How flowers impact your nervous system and lower cortisol
• A budget-friendly approach to enriching your life with flowers
• Which flowers are best for sleep, energy, or grief
• Fun ideas to eat your flowers
• Practical tips to make flowers last all week

Consider this your permission to bring more flowers into your life. Your mind and body will thank you.

Resources Mentioned:

Why Nonna Maxxing Is the Secret to a Happier Life (Episode)The Food-Mood Bundle ($15 special offer!!) Elise's Favorite Matcha code ELISEMUSELES

Learn More about Elise Museles:Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and LiveWebsite: elisemuseles.comInstagram: @elisemuselesFacebook: @elisemuseles

Every day there seems to be a new headline, a new chemical, a new pesticide, a new ingredient, or a new reason why you should be worried about something in your food.Suddenly eating, something that should be one of the most natural and nourishing parts of our lives, starts to feel stressful.

Some of these concerns are legitimate. We should care about how our food is grown, the ingredients we consume, and the systems that shape what ends up on our plates.

But when all of this information turns into fear and anxiety, it can affect our health in a different way.

I share how to stay informed without becoming consumed and how to make thoughtful choices without feeling like every bite requires research or every decision carries the possibility that you got it wrong.

In this episode you'll learn:

• What food fear is and how it can impact your everyday choices
• How to discern between diligence and fear
• The four questions to make informed choices without spiraling
• Ways to care about your health without losing the joy of eating
• Why stress around food matters just as much as the choices you make

This isn't about ignoring concerns or pretending everything about our food system is fine. It's about finding a more balanced way to navigate the information, make choices with confidence, and reframe your approach to food fear.

Supportive Resources:

EWG's Guide to Washing ProduceFRESHFARM website: www.freshfarm.org Embrace Your Confidence Style and Joy in MidlifeReduce Toxic Exposure at Home Without the OverwhelmWhat We've Been Getting Wrong About WellnessThe Food-Mood Bundle ($15 special offer!!) Elise's Favorite Matcha code ELISEMUSELES

Learn More about Elise Museles:Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and LiveWebsite: elisemuseles.comInstagram: @elisemuselesFacebook: @elisemuseles

Have you seen the videos? A grandmother kneading dough in golden afternoon light, no phone in sight, somehow living better than every biohacker on your feed. I got a little intrigued by it too.

It's called Nonna Maxxing, and on the surface it looks like a trend about homemade sourdough, long lunches, and slowing down. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized it has nothing to do with Italy, or grandmothers, or even slowness. It's about connection, permission, and joy. Nonna Maxxing invites you to be present instead of performing, to let a meal matter, to stop treating your own life like something to optimize.

This solo episode goes past the aesthetic and gets into what Nonna Maxxing can look like in your life, no matter how busy you are. Most of us crave the kind of spaciousness a Nonna-inspired life represents, and I share exactly why it's resonating so widely right now.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The real reason "Nonna Maxxing" is resonating, and why it has nothing to do with Italy
• Why doing everything "right" for your health might be the exact thing keeping you from feeling good
• The invisible habits turning your meals into a stress response, and the easy fix for both
• Simple ways to create joy, stillness, and connection without overhauling your life
• One five minute practice you can make today that will change your energy

So let Nonna influence you today, whether that's a phone-free meal, a quiet walk, or just five minutes of doing nothing at all.

Resources Mentioned (may contain affiliate links):

What We've Been Getting Wrong About Wellness (Episode)

What Happens When You Bring Stress to the Table (Episode)

Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half

The Food-Mood Bundle

Rise & Shine Coaching Program (50% off for podcast listeners)

Elise's go-to matcha (code ELISEMUSELES for a discount)

Learn More about Elise Museles:

Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and Live

Website: elisemuseles.com

Instagram: @elisemuseles

Facebook: @elisemuseles

Cooking at home can be stressful, especially when you're tired, standing in the kitchen, and not sure what to make. In those moments, it's easy to feel stuck before you even start.

Serena Wolf, a classically trained Le Cordon Bleu chef, bestselling author, and culinary instructor, believes cooking should be fun, flexible, and enjoyable. She encourages home cooks to think of recipes as invitations, not rigid rules.

As the author of the new book You Do You, Serena is on a mission to help you build confidence in the kitchen, which ultimately leads to trusting your culinary intuition.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to make ingredient swaps without second-guessing yourself
• Simple ways to build confidence in the kitchen
• Why there are no "stupid questions" when you're learning to cook
• How letting go of perfection brings more ease and enjoyment into cooking
• The reason small joys can lift your mood
• A surprisingly easy way to get more organized and reduce stress

You'll feel empowered to let go of pressure, build trust in yourself, and find a more joyful way to cook and eat.

Learn More about Serena Wolf:

You Do You

The Dude Diet

Website: serenagwolf.com

Blog: domesticate-me.com

Instagram: @serenagwolf

Learn More about Elise Museles:

Rise & Shine Coaching Program (50% discount for podcast listeners)

Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and Live

Website: elisemuseles.com

Instagram: @elisemuseles

What if everything you're doing to take care of yourself is preparing you for something bigger?

We usually think of wellness through a personal lens – the food, the routines, the healthy rituals. But what if those practices aren't just about feeling better? What if they're giving us the capacity to engage more deeply with the world around us?

Amy Ippoliti is a yoga teacher, author, and advocate for human and planetary health, who believes that caring for ourselves is essential, but it's not the final destination.

Amy pushes back on a wellness culture that tells us to retreat, protect our peace, and tune out the chaos. For her, taking care of yourself isn't about checking out. It's what builds the resilience and clarity to stay present to the people and the planet that need you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How yoga can help you become more self-aware and connected to your body
• Why knowing where your food comes from is key for optimal health
• The connection between soil health, nutrient density, and how you feel
• Simple ways to make fresh food more accessible
• Why community is one of the most underrated forms of wellness

This conversation is a powerful reminder that how you care for yourself shapes how you care for the world.

Learn More about Amy Ippoliti:

Website: amyippoliti.com

Instagram: @amyippoliti

The Art and Business of Teaching Yoga

Substack: amyippoliti.substack.com

Learn More about Elise Museles:

Rise & Shine Coaching Program (50% discount for podcast listeners)

Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and Live

Website: elisemuseles.com

Instagram: @elisemuseles

Facebook: @elisemuseles

Have you ever hit a moment in midlife where you looked in the mirror, or made a decision, or got dressed and thought, is this even me anymore?

So many women are navigating that exact feeling right now. The body changes. The shifting confidence. The noise around food, health, beauty, and what you're supposed to look like and feel like at this stage of life. It's a lot.

Lauren Dimet Waters has built an entire platform for women over 50 who refuse to age quietly, and she does it with honesty, humor, and a zero-tolerance policy for BS. As the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Fountain of 30, she helps women move through this chapter in life with confidence, a strong sense of style, and permission to finally be who they're meant to be without apology.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to filter the fearmongering around food and wellness
• Why finding your own style is more confidence-boosting than chasing trends
• The secret to building a closet that fits who you are right now
• Why socializing is one of the most powerful and underused health tools in midlife
• The one thing you need to make midlife feel easier and more fun

This conversation will give you a whole new lens for seeing midlife not as a decline, but as the chapter where you stop shrinking and start showing up as your most joyful, confident self.

Resources Mentioned:

Rewrite Your Food, Fashion, and Beauty Story

Your Midlife Food Story: What's Changed and What Matters

Learn More about Lauren Dimet Waters:

Website: https://www.fountainof30.com/

Instagram: @fountainof30

Podcast: Beauty Is a Bitch

Learn More about Elise Museles:

Rise & Shine Coaching Program (50% discount for podcast listeners)

Food Story: Rewrite the Way You Eat, Think, and Live

Website: elisemuseles.com

Instagram: @elisemuseles

Facebook: @elisemuseles