What We've Been Getting Wrong About Wellness
Once Upon A Food Story
Have you ever found yourself down a late night rabbit hole, adding something to your cart that promised to fix everything? It’s never been easier to reach for the supplement, the protocol, the skincare your favorite influencer is praising. We’re living in the most exciting time in wellness history. Peptide stacks, CGMs, red light therapy, cold plunges, biohacking tools… and a $6.8 trillion industry that keeps growing. Some of these innovations can genuinely improve our health and our lives. But somewhere in the middle of all this innovation and optimization, we started skipping steps....
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The Truth About Plastic in Your Restaurant Meals with Chef Johanna Hellrigl
Once Upon A Food Story
Have you ever thought about what's happening behind the scenes at a restaurant before your meal arrives at the table? Even if you prioritize organic, local, or farm-to-table, there's another layer most of us aren't seeing. The hidden ingredient? Plastic. Johanna Hellrigl, chef, restaurateur, and sustainability advocate is on a mission to reduce invisible plastic exposure inside restaurant kitchens, from packaging to storage to the everyday tools that touch your food long before it reaches your plate. As Johanna shares, this isn't just an environmental health issue, it's also a human health...
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Reduce Toxin Exposure at Home Without Overwhelm with Lindsay Dahl
Once Upon A Food Story
We’re living in a time where there’s more information than ever about what’s in our food, our products, and our homes…and instead of feeling empowered, it can be overwhelming, confusing, and even anxiety-inducing. As the Chief Impact Officer at Ritual and author of the new book, Cleaning House, Lindsay Dahl believes that it’s not about eliminating every possible exposure, but about becoming more informed and more intentional – without fear driving the process. From decades of experience in environmental health, Lindsay shares a pragmatic approach to navigating a world filled with...
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What Happens When You Bring Stress to the Table
Once Upon A Food Story
Ever sit down to eat and realize you’re distracted, rushing, or already thinking about the next thing instead of the food in front of you? That’s stress taking a seat at the table, and it’s quietly impacting your digestion, your metabolism, and your ability to enjoy your food. Even though I’ve been teaching and sharing about this for over a decade, I recently had a firsthand reminder of how stress can sneak into meals and have real consequences. Stress can show up in many ways – from multitasking while eating, rushing from one thing to the next, overthinking food choices, or running...
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Rethink Movement to Feel More Energized and Alive with Lara Heimann
Once Upon A Food Story
Has movement become just another task on your to-do list? Get your steps in. Lift the weights. Stretch before bed. But what if movement could be more than a box to tick. What if it could energize you, spark joy, and set you up for a better tomorrow? Lara Heimann is a physical therapist, yoga teacher, movement educator, and founder of the LYT Method™, who helps thousands of people rethink what movement really means. Instead of seeing it as punishment or performance, she shows how it can help you understand your body, build a strong foundation, and support your energy, mindset, and daily life....
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Cut Through the Clean Beauty Confusion with Melanie Petschke
Once Upon A Food Story
The products you use every day – from makeup to skincare – don’t just sit on your skin. They become part of your daily exposure, and understanding what’s really in them can impact your health and overall wellbeing. While clean beauty has been gaining attention, there are still important nuances beyond labels and marketing claims. This conversation goes deeper, giving you the clarity to make empowered choices every day. Melanie Petschke, board-certified nurse practitioner and co-founder of Crunchi, is raising the bar for makeup and personal care products. With over 15 years of research...
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Saffron for Mood, Skin, and a Balanced Nervous System with Hanna Mehrabani
Once Upon A Food Story
What if one tiny thread could lift your mood, support your skin, and help your nervous system feel more balanced? Most of us are familiar with saffron but have no idea that it has numerous benefits that we can tap into right away! Hanna Mehrabani, Earth scientist, skincare alchemist, and founder of Seeb Organics, shares why saffron is so much more than a luxury spice. She explains how this ancient ingredient has been prized for generations and what modern science shows about its benefits from emotional wellbeing to skin health. Hanna explores her entire saffron ritual and dives...
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Optimize Weight Health and Feel Your Best with Ashley Koff
Once Upon A Food Story
We talk a lot about weight. We talk a lot about health. But rarely do we talk about them together – even though they’re deeply connected. The concept of weight health looks at the bigger picture: hormones, habits, and your body as a whole, rather than separate parts. Ashley Koff, a leading voice in personalized nutrition and author of the newly released book Your Best Shot, brings decades of experience helping people decode how their bodies actually work. She combines science, practical tools, and compassionate guidance to show how to tune into your hunger cues and build a personalized...
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Wellness Trends You’ll Want to Try in 2026
Once Upon A Food Story
Every year, wellness trends seem to come at us faster and louder. Something goes viral, everyone’s talking about it, and suddenly it feels like you’re behind if you’re not doing it too. In this solo episode, I’ve selected nine key trends that I’ve personally explored or that align closely with my expertise in mind-body nutrition and eating psychology. These are all ways that could make a real difference in your year… and your life. While we all have different needs, I offer my perspective on what might be worth exploring, what can be adapted, and what you can skip without guilt or...
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How to Make Your Health and Yourself a Priority
Once Upon A Food Story
Ever feel like life is moving so fast you barely notice your own needs? You’re showing up for everyone else, checking boxes, and doing what’s expected… but somewhere along the way, you stopped showing up for yourself. It’s not because you don’t care. It’s because life is loud. Responsibilities pile up. And our culture rewards being busy and self-sacrificing, especially for women, caregivers, and anyone who’s used to holding everything together. In this solo episode, I share a simple, sustainable 3-pillar method to take back your power and finally make your health and yourself a...
info_outlineHave you ever brushed off walking as “just” walking? What if you reframed it as a ritual, a reset, and a powerful form of self-care?
In this solo episode, I share how I rewrote my walking story – and how you can, too! What started as something I barely considered important has become one of my most grounding and joyful wellness practices. Along the way, I discovered how intentional walks can support your body, mind, mood, and so much more.
I also explore my favorite types of walks – from blood sugar and morning walks to creativity and gratitude walks – and how just a few mindful minutes a day can lead to meaningful shifts in how you feel almost immediately.
If walking has ever felt “too simple” to make a real impact, this conversation will help you rethink it as one of the most accessible and powerful tools for optimal wellness and self-connection.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What’s happening with your brain, hormones, and nervous system when you walk
- Surprising science-backed benefits of walking, including boosted creativity and blood sugar balance
- How to make intentional walks your own with easy (and fun!) themes
- My favorite backup way to walk on busy days
- A playful challenge to help you create your own walking practice
You’ll feel empowered to embrace walking as a daily ritual and discover how small, intentional steps (literally!) can create powerful shifts in your clarity, energy, and calm.
Resources Mentioned:
How Walking Can Improve Your Mind, Body, and Mood with Joyce Shulman
My favorite tool when I can’t get outside: The WalkingPad
Learn More about Elise Museles:
Food Story: Rewrite the Way You, Eat, Think, and Live
Website: elisemuseles.com
Instagram: @elisemuseles
Facebook: @elisemuseles