StarrCast

What if the pressure to reinvent yourself every January is actually pulling you further away from who you already are?

In this episode of StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr sits down with Jennifer Walsh to explore why remembering your natural intelligence matters more than optimizing your life, your body, or your productivity. Together, they unpack how presence, ancestral wisdom, and human connection offer a more sustainable path to wellbeing in an increasingly artificial world.

• Why the "new year, new you" mindset can create unnecessary guilt and burnout

• How natural intelligence differs from artificial intelligence and why it matters now

• The role of quiet, stillness, and sensory awareness in restoring mental clarity

• How journaling, walking, and embodied practices support emotional resilience

• Why biohacking and constant measurement can disconnect us from bodily intuition

• 04:10 – Why "new year, new you" assumes something is broken

• 10:45 – Consumer wellness vs. inner understanding

• 18:30 – Reclaiming ancestral intelligence and bodily intuition

• 27:05 – Quiet as a practice in a noisy, digital world

• 38:20 – Grief, journaling, and the power of honest reflection

• 49:10 – Biohacking vs. bio-remembering

• 57:40 – How wellness and hospitality can restore humanity

Jennifer Walsh is the founder and Creative Director of the Lost Art of Being Human Lab. A longtime wellness entrepreneur, author, and speaker, she has spent decades exploring biophilic living, human connection, and what it means to live well in a technology-driven world.

• Natural intelligence

• Ancestral intelligence and embodied awareness

• Journaling as a reflective practice

• Walking and sensory immersion

• Mindful technology boundaries

"Wellness isn't about fixing yourself. It's about remembering who you are." This conversation invites listeners to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with the intelligence already within them.

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Connect with Jennifer Walsh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejenniferwalsh

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness

In this inspiring episode of The StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr travels to the breathtaking Austrian Alps to explore how strategic wellness development is transforming mountain destinations. Against the dramatic backdrop of Leogang's limestone peaks, Lisa visits Puradies eco-resort and sits down with owner Michael Madreiter to discuss the property's stunning Heaven Spa expansion and the remarkable story of how this region has achieved consistent double-digit growth through thoughtful spa and wellness investment.

Michael shares the 185-year family farming legacy that informs Puradies' authentic approach to hospitality, revealing how a modest guesthouse evolved into a luxury wellness destination without losing its agricultural roots. From the innovative design philosophy behind the 1,500-square-meter Heaven Spa to the collaborative regional strategy that's made Leogang a world-class wellness hub, this episode offers invaluable insights for spa managers, developers, and hospitality professionals looking to build sustainable, nature-connected properties that thrive year-round.

Why This Episode Matters: This conversation demonstrates how wellness amenities can solve the critical challenge of seasonality in mountain destinations while maintaining authenticity and environmental stewardship. Michael's journey from consultant to family business owner provides a masterclass in values-driven entrepreneurship and community collaboration.

For Spa Managers & Operators:

• Wellness facilities can transform off-season periods into profitable business opportunities, with November now approaching high-season demand for wellness hotels
• Approximately 70% spa utilization among hotel guests indicates strong return on wellness investment, even when not all guests book treatments
• Strategic collaboration with neighboring properties elevates an entire destination rather than creating destructive competition

For Developers & Investors:

• Design-led, nature-embedded architecture creates lasting value—Puradies chose Noa architects specifically for their ability to make structures feel like they've "been there for decades"
• Selective, quality-focused development attracts more discerning (and profitable) tourists than mass-market approaches
• The four-element design concept and "framing" philosophy creates intimate spaces within overwhelming natural landscapes

For Hospitality Leaders:

• Authentic heritage and local sourcing create differentiation—Puradies maintains working farmland, cattle, henhouses, and gardens that guests actively engage with
• Regional cooperation drives growth for all—Leogang properties invested in excellence collectively, resulting in 10-15 years of consistent double-digit growth
• Values-driven leadership attracts both guests and quality employees, creating sustainable business culture

What happens when darkness becomes the environment for insight, recovery, and self regulation?

In this episode of the StarrCast Podcast, we explore the rise of structured darkness retreats and why they are gaining traction across wellness, hospitality, and performance focused audiences. Guests Ananda Jey (AJ) and Diederik van Middelkoop unpack how controlled sensory deprivation is being reinterpreted as a tool for nervous system regulation, psychological clarity, and long term wellbeing.

Listeners will gain a grounded, experience driven understanding of why darkness retreats are moving from fringe experimentation into serious wellness programming, and what this shift means for operators, investors, and practitioners.

• Why darkness retreats are emerging as a response to chronic overstimulation and cognitive fatigue

• How sensory reduction can support nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and mental clarity

• The difference between unstructured isolation and professionally guided darkness experiences

• What operators need to consider when designing safe, ethical, and effective darkness retreat environments

• How this modality fits into the broader evolution of evidence informed wellness travel and recovery programs

• 00:00 – Why darkness retreats are re entering modern wellness conversations

• 07:45 – The physiological and psychological effects of prolonged darkness

• 15:30 – Safety, preparation, and integration as non negotiables in retreat design

• 24:10 – Personal experiences from inside structured darkness environments

• 34:50 – The role of facilitators, protocols, and ethical responsibility

• 46:20 – Where darkness retreats fit within future wellness and hospitality models

• 56:40 – Who darkness retreats are for and who should approach with caution

Ananda Jey (AJ) is a wellness practitioner and experiential program designer known for his work at the intersection of consciousness, recovery, and immersive environments. His approach emphasizes safety, preparation, and integration within transformative wellness experiences.

Diederik van Middelkoop is a wellness entrepreneur and retreat developer with deep experience in immersive and nature based modalities. His work focuses on designing environments that support psychological resilience, self regulation, and long term wellbeing.

• Structured darkness retreat protocols

• Pre retreat screening and preparation frameworks

• Post retreat integration practices

• Nervous system regulation principles

• Sensory reduction as a recovery modality

"Darkness does not create the experience. It reveals what is already there."

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Learn more about Ultimate Darkness Retreat: https://theultimatedarknessretreat.com/

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness

What happens when four of the most respected voices in global wellness hospitality gather in Milan to dissect the future of spa, hotel, and guest experience design?

This episode brings together Matteo Brusaferri, Emlyn Brown, Lynn Curry, and Laszlo Puczko for a rare, insight-packed conversation recorded live at the Wellness Hospitality Conference. From evolving guest expectations to seismic shifts in design, investment, and operational strategy, this dialogue explores how wellness is redefining the fabric of hospitality worldwide.

Listeners will walk away with a sharper understanding of the forces shaping wellness travel, the rise of new business models, and what hotels must do now to stay relevant in a transformed market.

• Why Italy is suddenly emerging as a powerhouse in global wellness hospitality

• The shift from "spa as amenity" to "wellbeing as a hotel-wide operating system"

• How design teams are rethinking movement, recovery, and nutrition inside luxury hotels

• The critical mistakes developers make when building spas, and the fixes that prevent costly rework

• Why wellness tourism needs a mindset shift from trends and technology to cultural alignment and guest resonance

• 00:00 – Why the Wellness Hospitality Conference was created and what it signals about Italy's industry evolution

• 04:09 – How international benchmarking helped elevate Italian spa standards

• 09:45 – The rise of club-style wellbeing spaces and the decline of the "amenity spa"

• 17:28 – Designing hotels for recovery: circadian lighting, room tech, and the future of the guest room

• 22:56 – The unseen complexity of spa operations and why most designs fail without operator input

• 31:40 – Thermal areas: cost, mistakes, and what must happen early in development

• 37:50 – Laszlo's "hamster wheel" analogy and how hotels can break free from trend-chasing

• 42:30 – How to craft micro-wellness experiences guests remember months later

Matteo Brusaferri – Founder of the Wellness Hospitality Conference and General Manager of LEMI Group, leading innovation in Italian spa equipment and wellness design.

Emlyn Brown – Group Director of Wellbeing, Mandarin Oriental. A global leader in wellness hotel development and next-generation hospitality concepts.

Lynn Curry – Founder of Curry Spa Consulting and one of the most respected spa development experts in North America.

Laszlo Puczko – Wellness tourism strategist and advisor known worldwide for integrating cultural insight, guest psychology, and destination development.

• "Club, not spa" membership-driven urban wellness models

• Thermal bathing and pay-to-play hydrothermal concepts

• Guest memory mapping for long-term emotional retention

• Operational service-mapping for end-to-end spa experience

• Wellness OS as an integrated, property-wide design philosophy

"Wellness isn't what you offer, it's what the guest remembers months later."

For leaders shaping the future of hospitality, this episode provides a roadmap for designing, operating, and investing in wellness experiences that matter.

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Visit Wellness Hospitality Conference: https://www.wellnesshospitalityconference.it/it/:

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness

What happens when one of the world's leading snowmaking innovators brings winter indoors, and transforms wellness in the process?

In this episode, I sit down with Sara Brenninger, the visionary shaping the future of indoor snow experiences at TechnoAlpin. We explore how engineered snow, biophilic design, and cold-contrast experiences are reshaping wellness architecture, guest rituals, and the business models behind next-generation spa environments.

• How indoor snow technology evolved from slope-making to multisensory wellness environments

• Why soft-cold modalities are becoming the preferred alternative to cold plunges and cryotherapy

• How snow rooms influence guest psychology, emotional recall, and multisensory wellness design

• The economics behind indoor snow: differentiation, experiential value, and monetization models

• The science and strategy behind TechnoAlpin's newest innovation, the Snow Sky

• 00:00 – Why snow continues to shape guest emotion, memory, and wellness culture

• 04:11 – How Sara entered the snowmaking world and grew within high-tech snow engineering

• 07:20 – Understanding how modern snowmaking systems actually work

• 10:42 – The origin of the indoor snow concept and its early R&D

• 14:55 – What makes snow rooms different from cold plunges and cryotherapy

• 18:10 – Why soft-cold is more accessible for sensitive, aging, or chronic-pain guests

• 22:47 – Customization, biophilia, and the architectural impact of snow experiences

• 26:12 – Pricing, monetization models, and ROI for operators adding snow rooms

• 31:40 – Introducing the Snow Sky,TechnoAlpin's newest immersive snow experience

• 34:58 – What's next for snow-based wellness and contrast-therapy innovation

Sara Brenninger, Executive Manager of the Indoor Snow Division at TechnoAlpin, leads global innovation in engineered snow experiences for wellness, hospitality, and mixed-use environments. Her work bridges technology, human physiology, and experiential design to advance the next generation of contrast-therapy solutions.

• Indoor snowmaking systems and programmable snow nozzles

• Biophilic design for multisensory wellness spaces

• Cold-contrast therapy protocols and soft-cold applications

• The Snow Sky (immersive falling-snow installation)

• Turnkey engineered snow rooms for hospitality and spa settings

"Snow makes people smile, and it makes them feel." Sara's message is clear: as wellness shifts toward experiential, next-generation thermal environments, indoor snow is becoming one of the most emotionally powerful, and commercially strategic, features a spa or hotel can offer.

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Connect with TechnoAlpin Indoor: https://indoor.technoalpin.com/en/

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness

What happens when four global leaders in wellness, integrative health, and spa innovation come together to discuss the future of wellbeing?

This week, The StarrCast is proud to bring you an amazing roundtable of experts, live from The Global Wellness Summit in Dubai:

Dr. Kathryn Dundas is a leader in integrative health and clinical wellbeing, known for her evidence-based, assessment-driven approach to personalized care.

Kirsty MacCormick is a global spa and wellness strategist recognized for building operational systems, signature experiences, and high-performing teams across luxury hospitality.

Rod Derifield is a senior executive in wellness operations whose expertise spans business development, facility programming, and experience-led wellness models.

Anke Brendt is a specialist in emotional wellness, coaching, and organizational transformation, focused on human-centered placemaking and staff wellbeing.

Together, we unpack the systems, strategies, and mindset shifts shaping how clinics, resorts, and wellness brands deliver transformative results. From data-driven health optimization to the rise of emotional wellbeing programs, you'll hear diverse perspectives that reveal where the industry is truly heading, and what it takes to stay ahead.

Whether you're designing wellness experiences, operating a destination spa, or navigating the intersection of healthcare and hospitality, this conversation offers clarity, direction, and grounded insight into the evolving landscape.

• Why emotional wellbeing and mental resilience programs are becoming essential pillars of modern wellness

• How clinics and wellness centers can use data, diagnostics, and assessment-driven programming to increase impact

• The rise of integrative health models that bridge lifestyle medicine, psychological support, and spa therapies

• Operational insights on staffing, training, and culture-building across multi-national wellness organizations

• The next wave of consumer expectations, from personalization to preventative health to holistic recovery

• 00:00 – What is driving the next wave of global wellness growth?

• 05:20 – Emotional wellbeing: Why it's no longer optional for wellness brands

• 12:10 – Integrative health: How clinics merge diagnostics, lifestyle medicine, and therapeutic care

• 18:45 – Operational excellence: Training, staffing, and culture in multi-location wellness organizations

• 27:30 – Creating psychological safety for guests and staff in high-touch wellness environments

• 35:40 – Personalization at scale: Where data, assessment, and programming intersect

• 42:10 – Predictions for 2025: Consumer shifts, market trends, and new wellness business models

• Assessment-led wellbeing program design

• Emotional wellbeing and psychological safety frameworks

• Pre-arrival diagnostic models for personalization

• Integrated clinical-spa hybrid operating structures

• Team culture and leadership development systems

"In wellness, people don't just need care, they need connection, clarity, and a system that supports who they want to become."

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Visit GWS: https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/2025-global-wellness-summit-3/

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness

What happens when luxury hospitality, holistic wellness, and human transformation intersect?

In this conversation with Magdy Abdelaty, we explore how modern wellness leaders are redefining the guest journey through emotional intelligence, culture-driven design, and deeply personalized experiences.

This episode reveals why wellness is shifting from a service to a philosophy, and what the next generation of spa and wellness leadership must embrace to stay relevant, regenerative, and meaningful.

• Why wellness no longer belongs in a silo, and how to embed it across the entire guest experience.

• The emotional and cultural intelligence required to lead modern wellness teams effectively.

• How Rosewood Chancery approaches personalized care and what it teaches about the future of luxury wellness.

• The essential role of intuition, presence, and storytelling in driving guest transformation.

• Why the industry must evolve beyond trend-following to build truly human-centered, sustainable impact.

• 00:00 – What wellness leadership means today

• 06:28 – Magdy's philosophy of human-centered hospitality

• 14:55 – The power of emotional intelligence in guest relationships

• 22:40 – Why the future of luxury wellness is rooted in personalization

• 31:12 – How Rosewood Chancery builds its integrative wellness ethos

• 42:08 – Navigating team culture and developing emotionally attuned practitioners

• 53:10 – Why intuition and presence create the deepest guest impact

• 59:38 – Magdy's vision for the future of global wellness design

Magdy Abdelaty is the Director of Wellness at Rosewood Chancery, London, where he leads a transformative approach to luxury wellness rooted in emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and personalized care. His leadership blends holistic philosophy with operational excellence to create deeply meaningful guest experiences.

• Holistic, emotion-led wellness design

• Personalized guest journey mapping

• Integrative hospitality leadership

• Cultural and emotional intelligence in team development

• Transformational wellness programming

"Wellness is not what we do to people, it's what we create with them." This episode invites leaders, practitioners, and innovators to rethink how they build experiences that feel authentic, intuitive, and deeply human.

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Connect with Magdy Abdelaty: linkedin.com/in/magdy-abdelaty

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness

Can a spa director also be a systems thinker, a creative artist, and a human performance strategist?

In this episode, Arnaud Dieutegard, Senior Director of Wellness, Spa & Retail at Four Seasons Costa Rica, shares how he's reimagining resort wellness, from creative leadership and culturally rooted experiences to peak performance programs grounded in science. Listeners will hear how one property is using data, design, and disciplined creativity to move beyond "amenities" and build a truly transformational wellness ecosystem for guests.

Arnaud traces his journey from a wellness-focused childhood in France to leading multi-property spa operations for Four Seasons, outlining how the role of the spa director has evolved into a strategic, revenue-driving position. Along the way, he unpacks new models in sleep health, retreat design, performance diagnostics, and the subtle art of teaching guests to listen inward instead of endlessly chasing external fixes.

• How the spa business has shifted from "nice-to-have" amenity to strategic, performance-driven revenue center in luxury hospitality

• Why today's therapists must act as wellness experts, guiding guests with personalized education, not just delivering treatments

• How Four Seasons Costa Rica blends ancestral healing practices with modern technology to create memorable, differentiated guest experiences

• A behind-the-scenes look at Peak Performance programs, including MRI, bloodwork, sleep analysis, and lifestyle interventions designed for long-term change

• Practical insights into creative discipline, how structure, time-blocking, and constraints can actually unlock innovation for spa leaders and wellness entrepreneurs

• 01:10 – What does a Senior Director of Wellness, Spa & Retail actually do across multiple Four Seasons properties?

• 07:45 – From hippie upbringing to Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and tuba: how early influences shaped Arnaud's view of holistic wellness

• 16:30 – The evolution of the spa director role: from "just keep guests happy" to driving revenue, strategy, and innovation

• 24:05 – Designing memorable spa concepts by merging ancestral rituals with modern technology at Four Seasons Costa Rica

• 32:50 – Inside the Wellness Chalet and wellness villa: building retreat-style experiences within a luxury resort environment

• 41:20 – How the Peak Performance program uses diagnostics and lifestyle intervention instead of quick-fix "biohacks"

• 48:40 – The Sleep Box: a curated toolkit for travelers that turns any room into a personalized sleep lab

• 55:15 – Discipline, creativity, and inner listening: Arnaud's prediction for the future of wellness and hospitality

Arnaud Dieutegard is the Senior Director of Wellness, Spa & Retail at Four Seasons Costa Rica, where he oversees on-property operations and supports multiple Four Seasons spas across the Americas. With a background that spans aesthetics, holistic therapies, music, and hospitality leadership, Arnaud is known for designing wellness concepts that are financially sound, culturally authentic, and deeply human.

• Cluster Wellness Leadership Model – Supporting several Four Seasons properties with shared expertise, concept development, and operational insight

• Ancestral + Tech Integration Framework – Designing experiences that pair local rituals (cacao, Ayurvedic and Chinese influences, Costa Rican ingredients) with modern modalities and devices

• Wellness Chalet & Wellness Villa Retreat Model – A contained, retreat-style environment inside a resort, where guests follow a pre-designed, stress-free wellness program

• Peak Performance Program – A high-touch, data-driven lifestyle intervention that includes:

• Pre-arrival MRI, blood panels, and at-home sleep study

• On-site coaching and analysis with a human performance physician

• Personalized supplement and habit recommendations

• Six months of post-stay follow-up with a multidisciplinary clinical team

• Sleep Box Toolkit – A curated sleep optimization kit including a continuous-measurement sleep ring, red-light panel, breathing tools, blue-light blockers, masks, and travel-friendly accessories

• Creative Discipline Framework – Time-blocked "creative workshops," constraints-based creation (like limiting instruments or colors), and structured routines that allow innovation without chaos

At its core, this episode is about shifting wellness from "more" to "meaningful." Arnaud reminds us that the next wave in hospitality isn't just about bigger menus or more technology, it's about teaching guests to notice their own cues, trust their bodies, and integrate what they learn after they go home. As he puts it, real transformation happens when discipline, creativity, and inner listening finally align.

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Connect with Arnaud Dieutegard: linkedin.com/in/arnaud-dieutegard

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness

What happens when science meets soulful healing?

In this episode of the Starrcast Podcast, Dr. Jason Culp, Director of Research & Development at Chiva-Som International Health Resort, reveals how integrative wellness is evolving beyond luxury into a global movement rooted in evidence, empathy, and everyday choices.

From Thailand's pioneering Chiva-Som to the rise of holistic health leadership, this conversation redefines what it means to live well, and lead well, in a world driven by change.

• How naturopathic medicine bridges the gap between science and self-awareness

• Why "lifestyle transformation" is the foundation of Chiva-Som's global wellness philosophy

• What makes research and development essential in the future of health resorts

• How Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine (TAIM) shaped Zulal Wellness Resort's regional identity

• Why social and family wellness are becoming the next frontier of longevity

• 00:00 – Returning to the origins of destination wellness: Chiva-Som's founding vision

• 04:12 – Dr. Culp's journey from New Jersey to naturopathic medicine

• 11:48 – The philosophy behind treating root causes, not just symptoms

• 17:23 – What makes Bastyr University training unique in integrative medicine

• 23:56 – Moving to Thailand and launching Chiva-Som's Research & Development department

• 30:10 – The science of evidence-based wellness in a $7 trillion global industry

• 36:25 – Inside the Chiva-Som experience: from nutrition to holistic therapies

• 42:50 – Developing Zulal Wellness Resort and Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine (TAIM)

• 48:15 – The rise of family and social wellness as the future of wellbeing

Dr. Jason Culp is a naturopathic doctor and Director of Research & Development at Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Thailand. With over 15 years of leadership in integrative health innovation, he bridges scientific rigor with holistic philosophy to define the next era of evidence-based wellness.

• Lifestyle Transformation Framework – Chiva-Som's core model for sustained wellbeing

• TAIM (Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine) – A regionalized wellness framework integrating heritage and evidence

• Family Cohesion Model – A social wellness paradigm promoting intergenerational health

"Wellness shouldn't chase fads, it should build trust through integrity and evidence." Dr. Jason Culp's philosophy reminds us that true wellbeing is not an indulgence, it's a responsibility.

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Connect with Jason Culp: linkedin.com/in/drjasonculp

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness

What if wellness could be scaled like culture?

In this episode of Starrcast, host Lisa Starr sits down with Adam Bamba-Tanaka, Chief Operating Officer of Therme Group U.S., to explore how the global company is redefining bathing culture for the 21st century. From Bucharest to Dallas, Tanaka unpacks the intersection of urban design, sustainability, and social wellness, revealing how Therme is creating civic-scale wellness destinations that merge architecture, technology, and community.

• How Therme Group is transforming ancient bathing rituals into modern wellness infrastructure.

• The strategy behind scaling wellness architecture for cities, blending sustainability, geothermal technology, and immersive design.

• Why social wellness is the next global movement redefining leisure, connection, and civic life.

• The economics behind large-scale wellness resorts, and how high-volume, low-seasonality models sustain profitability.

• Insights into how younger generations are reshaping wellness culture as the new "nightlife."

00:00 – Adam Bamba-Tanaka on his journey from Harvard urban planner to wellness visionary 06:40 – How Therme Group is scaling bathing culture across continents 14:25 – Inside Therme Bucharest: the world's largest urban wellness resort 22:50 – The blueprint for Therme Dallas and Washington D.C., redefining civic wellness 33:15 – The economics of well-being: how to finance billion-dollar wellness infrastructure 42:10 – Sustainability and technology: geothermal energy, ozone osmosis, and AI-driven water systems 50:05 – How the "Bathing Festival" in D.C. previewed America's social wellness revolution 55:00 – Why communal wellness is becoming the new cultural frontier

Adam Bamba-Tanaka is the Chief Operating Officer of Therme Group U.S., a global leader in large-scale wellness destinations. With a PhD from Harvard in Urban Planning and a background in sustainable city development, Adam bridges architecture, civic design, and wellness innovation, shaping how future cities will integrate health, nature, and community.

• Therme 2.0 Model – Global expansion of European wellness architecture.

• Urban Wellness Framework – Integrating civic design with social well-being.

• Ozone Osmosis Filtration System – Clean, sustainable water management.

• RFID-Based Guest Flow Design – Seamless operational technology for wellness resorts.

• Contrast Therapy Experience Model – Merging heat, cold, and rest for recovery and reconnection.

"Wellness isn't a luxury, it's a civic necessity. We're not building spas. We're building social infrastructure for human thriving." – Adam Bamba-Tanaka

Explore the intersection of architecture, culture, and wellbeing, and discover how Therme is redefining what it means to live well in the modern city.

Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning?

Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting

Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education

Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses

Other Links:

Connect with Adam Tanaka: linkedin.com/in/adam-bamba-tanaka-phd-12496123

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness,

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd

Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness

Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks

Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness