Episode 126: DOLE Sunshine Leaders Lara Ramdin and Orsze Hodi on science careers for women, marketing healthier foods, and trends
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Release Date: 01/19/2022
Episode 249: Hitting Pause
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: If you’ve been feeling a little… maxed out lately—and you can tell you’re still doing things out of momentum, not meaning—this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I’m sharing why I’m hitting pause on the podcast for now. Not because I don’t love it, and not because it didn’t matter. But because my life has changed so much since I started this show in 2019, and I’m realizing I need space. The kind of space where you can actually hear yourself again—without forcing the next step just to keep things moving. I talk about the fear of being seen as a...
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Episode 248: What to Let Go of in 2026
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: If you’re heading into 2026 feeling a little stretched thin—like you’re carrying too much, trying too hard, or overthinking every next step—this episode is for you. Today’s conversation is all about release, not in a dramatic “new year, new you” way, but in a practical, gentle, real-life way. Because sometimes the most supportive thing you can do for your health, your energy, and your goals… is let go of the habits, beliefs, and pressures that quietly drain you. We’re talking about perfectionism, comparison, guilt around rest, the all-or-nothing mindset,...
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Episode 247: Harnessing the Power of the Unfocused Mind w/ Dr. Srini Pillay
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Try the ReuLay app for mindset shifts (); email for a free 3-month subscription 👉In this episode of the Drama Free Healthy Living Podcast, host Jess Cording interviews Dr. Srini Pillay, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and executive coach, about harnessing brain science for better focus, overcoming fear, managing stress, and integrating creativity into daily life. They explore strategies like strategic unfocus (napping, doodling, daydreaming) to boost productivity, the CIRCA method (Chunking, Ignore mental chatter, Reality check, Control check, Attention shift) for...
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Episode 246: Empowering Women’s Sleep w/ Jackie Hutson from Piper & Mint PJS
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Make sure to check out Piper & Mint PJs on 👉 Jackie Hutson is a wife, mom to two energetic, sports-loving boys, and a founder who seems to live life in motion—in all the best ways. She plays in a competitive tennis league, loves diving into business and entrepreneurship, and brings an easy, grounded optimism into everything she does. Her entrepreneurial spark lit up early: at age 11, she made $5,000 selling Beanie Babies. Since then, she’s launched several product-based businesses, including an accessory line created while studying abroad in Italy. After college, Jackie built...
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Episode 245: Holiday Metabolism
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description In this solo episode, we’re unpacking what really happens to your metabolism during the holidays and why it’s not as dramatic or disastrous as the internet makes it seem. Instead of stressing over travel, late nights, celebrations, and all the festive food, we’ll look at how small, doable habits can help you feel steady, nourished, and grounded through the season. You’ll get a clearer understanding of how sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition influence your energy, along with realistic ways to support yourself without giving up the joy of the holidays. No...
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Episode 244: Transform Your Health with Functional Fitness | Jess Cording x Dr. Jessica Shepherd & Rachel Katzman
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Make sure to check out Pvolve at 👉 In this episode of Drama Free Healthy Living, host Jess Cording interviews Dr. Jessica Shepherd and Rachel Katzman about the innovative approaches in women's fitness today. They explore the benefits of functional fitness for improving posture, reducing back pain, and boosting energy. Dr. Shepherd shares her personal journey with functional fitness and how it transformed her physical health and mindset. The conversation highlights the importance of finding balanced fitness routines that not only change appearances but also enhance overall well-being...
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Episode 243: Solo Episode Easy Breakfasts to Support Healthy Metabolism
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description In this solo episode, I dive into why a nourishing breakfast does so much more than just “start your day.” It helps stabilize blood sugar, support hormone balance, and fuel your metabolism—especially for women over 35. If you’ve ever skipped breakfast or relied on a granola bar and coffee to get by, this episode will help you rethink what your mornings can look like. You’ll learn what to eat (and why) to keep your energy steady, your mood balanced, and your body supported. From easy make-ahead ideas like overnight oats and smoothies to savory options like veggie...
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Episode 242: Unmasking High-Functioning Depression w/ Dr. Judith Joseph, MD, MBA
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
📌Make sure to check out the book 👉 Judith Joseph, MD, MBA, is a Columbia-trained psychiatrist and the founder of and chief investigator at Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, New York City’s premier clinical research site, a clinical assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, and chairwoman of the Women in Medicine Board at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Judith Joseph was awarded by the US House of Representatives with a 2023 Congress Proclamation Award for her social media advocacy and...
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Episode 241: My Life Lately: Fall 2025 Update
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: It’s been a while since I’ve done a solo episode, and this felt like the right moment to sit down and share a little life update. A lot has changed for me this year — some of it amazing, some of it challenging, and plenty of it somewhere in between. In this episode, I’m talking about what day-to-day life looks like right now, how I’m finding my footing in a new season, and the little shifts that are making a big difference. Think of this as us catching up over coffee — honest, a little messy at times, and hopefully a reminder that none of us have it all figured...
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Re-Release Episode 206: What To Eat When You’re Exhausted
Drama-Free Healthy Living With Jess Cording
Episode Description: You know those days when you wake up tired, and before you know it, you’re reaching for coffee, donuts, chips, anything to keep going? You’re not imagining it—and you’re definitely not lacking willpower. When you’re running on empty, there are real changes happening in your body that make cravings stronger and energy harder to manage. In this episode, we’ll unpack what’s really going on when exhaustion hits, why your body asks for quick fixes, and how to work with those signals instead of feeling like you’re fighting against them. I’ll share practical...
info_outlineI feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to speak with Lara Ramdin and Orzse Hodi of Dole Sunshine Company. Lara is the Chief Innovation Officer and Orzse is VP of Marketing Americas at Dole, and they both bring some much insight as it relates to developing innovations and solutions to the increasing demand for healthy, affordable food.
As for the background on my two guests, Lara has an extensive global track record in R&D, product development and innovation. She is a passionate innovator, a design thinking practitioner and trainer, and a fierce advocate for young women in STEM. Orzse Hodi possesses an extensive background in the food and CPG environment, from brand reinvigoration, product innovation, and digital marketing.
I love chatting about the food world and there were so many fun takeaways from my chat with Lara and Orzse, but here are some of my favorites:
- Food can make such a difference in the human body, so remember to nurture your body from the inside out and make good choices about your health;
- A background in science can take women so many places, so if you like science, you can find in your career in one of the many fields associated with it;
- It’s important for consumers to understand the science behind nutrition and take ownership of what they put into their bodies;
- Healthy living means accepting the boundaries of the circumstances that surround you and exploring and trying new things.
You can learn more about Dole Sunshine Company via the Dole Sunshine Company website (https://dolesunshine.com/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/DoleSunshine/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DoleSunshine), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/DoleSunshine). You may connect with Lara (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-lara-ramdin-9930a13) and Orzse (https://www.linkedin.com/in/orzse-hodi-84b5989) via LinkedIn.