In this episode of The Natural Reaction, I sit down with the founder of Luv Mylk, Vincent Dotson, to discuss the origins of his hemp milk business based out of San Diego. Our conversation dives into Vincent's upbringing in St. Louis and how he seamlessly transitioned into the culinary arts once he settled on the west coast.

Throughout the podcast, Vincent schools us on the ins and outs of hemp milk and  the importance of having alternatives to dairy. We also uncover the dynamics of the thriving farmer's market scene in southern California and the impact of the plant based movement on the youth.

Timestamps:
01:19 San Diego by way of St. Louis, Missouri
02:36 San Diego State University
04:08 Adjusting to the west coast
06:01 Introduction to the Culinary Arts
08:20 Hemp seeds and their benefits
14:03 Plant based lifestyle
18:40 Process of making hemp milk
21:22 Luv Mylk flavors
22:38 Lactose intolerance
25:04 Farmers market
30:04 Luv Mylk brand
31:15  Hemp milk and THC
33:33 Future offerings
34:35 Applications of hemp milk
36:14 Challenges at the farmers market
39:43 Expansion of Luv Mylk
41:08 Building a small business
45:06 How does Vincent use Luv Mylk?
46:31 Being a black business owner in Southern California
49:23 Positive mindset
51:48 Future of Luv Mylk
53:35 School nutrition
56:02 Dairy industry
58:13 Luv Mylk in St. Louis
59:18 Accessibility to plant based alternatives

Connect with Vincent here:

Luv Mylk | Instagram
Luv Mylk | Website
 

In this episode of The Natural Reaction we have Kawan Glover, the author of ‘Favor’. We talk about his experience with brain surgery, stroke, opioids, and his goal to positively impact 8 billion lives through storytelling. Our discussion highlights the importance of having an "iron will" and maintaining a state of Gratitude in the face of adversity.

00:00 Intro

03:56 Iron will

08:00 The role of awareness in self-development

09:51 Childhood

13:02 Education and success

18:28 Warning signs

23:50 One moment

25:35 Brain surgery, stroke, and opioids

36:14 Spiritual awakening and family

42:20 Medical system and $1.2M in debt

48:53 Recovery, perseverance, and the evolution of purpose

56:17 Influence of literature on the soul and society

01:01:43 Positively impacting 8 billion people through storytelling

01:04:56 Final thoughts

Episode Resources:

Kawan Glover | Website
Kawan Glover | Instagram
Favor: How Stroke Struggle and Surgery Helped Me Find My Life's Purpose | Amazon

In this episode, our guest is Cindy Diaz, a registered nurse and holistic health enthusiast. She specializes in women's health and is the founder of The Healing Garden, a wellness sanctuary for women of color.

During our discussion, we dive into Cindy's career path in nursing and her goal to become a women's health nurse practitioner and midwife. She teaches us about the health challenges for women of color and the role that her education will play in addressing those issues.

Cindy opens up about the sudden passing of her mother and explains how this experience with grief revealed a pathway to self-discovery. She emphasizes the importance of having faith in God and being surrounded by good company. Through her perspective of gratitude, Cindy details how this experience inspired her to start The Healing Garden and the opportunities that this organization will create for women of color.

Our conversation reflects on how the entire community benefits when empathy, accessibility, and authenticity are put at the forefront. In one word, Cindy describes the atmosphere of events by The Healing Garden as "Bliss". Those events include a variety of activities such as group walks, farmer's market meet-ups, and fundraisers. She also emphasizes the power of getting out of your comfort zone and simply getting started.

Episode Resources:

Cindy Diaz | Instagram
The Healing Garden | Instagram

Timestamps:
00:00 What Kind of Plant Would You Be?
02:14 Introduction
03:10 Building Your Foundation
04:30 Personality Traits and Nursing 
06:24 The Importance of Empathy in Healing Environments
10:50 Women's Health Career Path
13:51 Improving Healthcare for Women of Color
16:45 Women's Health Education
22:13 Doula vs. Midwife
23:35 Gaining Inspiration Through Others
26:44 Life is about your Perspective
30:53 Cindy Reflects on the Death of Her Mother
39:40 Overcoming Grief Through Faith and Community 
44:50 Mother's Health and Wellness Lessons
48:00 The Importance of Accessibility and Authenticity 
50:30 Gaza Fundraiser
53:03 The Healing Garden Offerings
56:20 The Feeling of a Healing Garden Event
58:40 Opening Up to Heal
1:02:50 Outdoor Activities
1:05:00 Arc'teryx Partnership
1:11:19 Collective Healing for Men and Women
1:13:56 Final Thoughts 

Our first guest of The Natural Reaction is Denzel Hill, a friend of mine that also goes by the name of Mr. Under One Sun. In this episode we dive into how his experiences as a lifelong athlete sparked his journey into holistic healing and architectural design.

Throughout this conversation, Denzel expresses gratitude for the foundation that his parents and community built for him to thrive on. In honor of their sacrifices, he has committed himself to creating designs that seamlessly harmonize the natural and built world.

Denzel shares an optimistic perspective about the chain of injuries that occurred during his time playing football at Columbia University. We dive into how those blessings in disguise impacted his simultaneous pursuit of the NFL dream and academically rigorous ivy league degree in Architecture.

This discussion unpacks the steps that Denzel took to naturally heal his body from the inside-out and highlights the state of food security and nutrition in America. Denzel emphasizes the impact of food quality on our bodily systems and provides insight into how everyday people can begin growing their own.

Tune in to this exchange of ideas to witness the official launch of The Natural Reaction!

Episode Resources:
Denzel Hill | Instagram
Denzel Hill | Substack