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What if the life you want is on the other side of the decision you’re afraid to make?

As we step into the final days of the year — that reflective space between what was and what’s possible — this episode of Mission-driven founders speaks directly to anyone feeling the pull toward change… but unsure how to take the leap.

In this deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Lauren Rudick, international yoga teacher and founder of Yoga Academy International, to explore what it truly takes to walk away from comfort, trust your intuition, and build a purpose-driven life.

Lauren shares her journey from sold-out retreats to redefining success on her own terms — navigating uncertainty, fear, and reinvention along the way. This episode isn’t just about yoga or wellness; it’s about career pivots, personal transformation, and the quiet courage required to choose yourself.

Whether you’re:

• Considering a career change
• Feeling stuck in a life that no longer fits
• Craving meaning, freedom, or alignment
• Or standing at the edge of a big decision as a new year approaches

This conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

As we look ahead to what 2026 may bring, this episode invites you to reflect, reset, and imagine what’s possible when you stop playing small and start listening to your inner voice.

✨ You don’t need to have it all figured out — you just need the courage to begin.

📖 Wanda interviewed Lauren for Authority Magazine, read the full interview here. She is also featured on the Women in Wellness book.

🙏 Deep gratitude to Lauren for sharing her story and wisdom with our community.

Learn more about Lauren and her retreats:

Instagram: laurenrudick

Website: laurenrudick.com

🌿 Join us as we celebrate innovation, empowerment, and the movement toward a more mindful, compassionate future. Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders on your favorite platform and never miss a story that inspires change!

📖 Get your copy of Women in Wellness on Amazon or on our website:

🌍 Explore Crunchy Mama Box and discover certified wellness products:

✨ Learn more about the CMB Certification Program

🎧 Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders

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What does it truly take to transform cutting-edge nutritional science into effective, trustworthy wellness solutions?

In this powerful, science-forward conversation, we sit down with Dr. Noelle Patno, PhD, MS, Chief Science Officer at Bened Life, to explore the real-world journey of turning microbiome research into clinically driven, high-integrity probiotic solutions.

Created for health entrepreneurs, supplement founders, medical professionals, researchers, nutritionists, dietitians, health coaches, naturopathic practitioners, and anyone deeply curious about the microbiome and how the gut influences both physical and mental health, this interview goes far beyond surface-level wellness trends. Dr. Patno breaks down:

• The real science behind probiotics and the human microbiome
• How food truly functions as medicine
• What founders must understand about research, formulation, and regulatory integrity
• How to avoid misinformation and low-quality supplement pitfalls
• The growing role of personalized nutrition in clinical and consumer health
• What it truly means to maintain scientific credibility while scaling a wellness brand

Whether you are:

• Launching your first supplement brand
• Expanding a nutrition-focused practice
• Teaching or researching in medical or nutritional sciences
• Or guiding clients through functional and holistic health

This conversation provides relevant, behind-the-scenes insight into how high-level science becomes real-world healing solutions—without compromising integrity.

📖 Read the full interview here.

🙏 Deep gratitude to Dr. Noelle Patno for sharing her brilliance, leadership, and scientific wisdom with our community.

🌿 Join us as we celebrate innovation, empowerment, and the movement toward a more mindful, compassionate future. Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders on your favorite platform and never miss a story that inspires change!

📖 Get your copy of Women in Wellness on Amazon or on our website:

🌍 Explore Crunchy Mama Box and discover certified wellness products:

✨ Learn more about the CMB Certification Program

🎧 Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders

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Step inside one of the most influential movements redefining how America lives: wellness real estate. In this episode of Mission-Driven Founders, Wanda Malhotra sits down with Amaya Genaro, Vice President of Community Services at Rancho Mission Viejo—one of the world’s largest intentional wellness communities and a standout case study in the Global Wellness Institute’s Build Well To Live Well report.

Amaya shares her deeply personal story, rooted in intergenerational living, spiritual connection, and farm-to-table wellness—all of which shaped her visionary approach to community development. Together, Wanda and Amaya uncover:

• How Rancho Mission Viejo blends intergenerational living with cutting-edge wellness design
• The history and mission behind this 23,000-acre development
• Why community, belonging, and ageless living are essential to long-term health
• How intentional environments can combat loneliness and support whole-person well-being
• The challenges and breakthroughs behind creating America’s most innovative wellness community

This conversation is an inspiring look at the future of real estate, lifestyle design, and community-driven health—built on purpose, connection, and a culture of care.

Click here to watch this interview on youtube.

Learn more about Rancho Mission Viejo:

Website: ranchomissionviejo.com

Instagram: @ranchomissionv

Youtube: Rancho Mission Viejo TV

🌿 Join us as we celebrate innovation, empowerment, and the movement toward a more mindful, compassionate future. Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders on your favorite platform and never miss a story that inspires change!

📖 Get your copy of Women in Wellness on Amazon or on our website:

🌍 Explore Crunchy Mama Box and discover certified wellness products:

✨ Learn more about the CMB Certification Program

🎧 Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders

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Apple

Discover how the CMB Certification Program empowers brands, giving them the recognition they deserve for creating clean, eco-friendly, and socially responsible products. The certification empowers consumers to make informed choices about their health by guiding them toward truly green products.

Join us as we elevate wellness and sustainability into a global movement—because together, we can make ethical living the norm, not the exception.

Support the show

Send us a text

In this inspiring episode of Mission-Driven Founders, Wanda Malhotra sits down with Francesca Giobbi — entrepreneur, social innovation strategist, and founder of the FreedomeE Colabocracy movement.

Francesca’s journey spans from Milan’s high-fashion world to becoming a global force for conscious business, collaborative economies, and purpose-driven leadership. After interviewing more than 10,000 entrepreneurs worldwide, she uncovered a universal struggle with client acquisition, market distrust, and outdated competitive structures. Her response was bold and visionary: Colabocracy — a model built on collaboration in labor with meritocracy, designed to rewrite the way we work and do business.

At the heart of her mission is the Freedom Wallet, an algorithm that tracks positive impact across social, environmental, commercial, and financial actions, helping entrepreneurs connect, co-create, and thrive through shared value. Francesca’s work empowers change makers to transform consumption into conscious action, build accountability through certifications like the CMB Certification, and shift the mindset from competition to collaboration.

Together, Wanda and Francesca explore the future of work, the power of collective intelligence, and why education, transparency, and conscious consumption are essential to building healthier ecosystems. They also dive into the personal journey behind FreedomeE — from burnout and rediscovery to building a platform that unites people, technology, and purpose across the globe.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, innovator, or mission-driven leader, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible when business becomes a force for collective prosperity.

Connect with Francesca:
Instagram: @francescagiobbi
Website: freedomee.network

Click here to watch on youtube.

🌿 Join us as we celebrate innovation, empowerment, and the movement toward a more mindful, compassionate future. Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders on your favorite platform and never miss a story that inspires change!

📖 Get your copy of Women in Wellness on Amazon or on our website:

🌍 Explore Crunchy Mama Box and discover certified wellness products:

✨ Learn more about the CMB Certification Program

🎧 Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders

Spotify

Apple

Discover how the CMB Certification Program empowers brands, giving them the recognition they deserve for creating clean, eco-friendly, and socially responsible products. The certification empowers consumers to make informed choices about their health by guiding them toward truly green products.

Join us as we elevate wellness and sustainability into a global movement—because together, we can make ethical living the norm, not the exception.

Support the show

Send us a text

In this inspiring episode of Mission-Driven Founders, Wanda Malhotra sits down with Benjamin Slinkard, known on stage as Kennedy Anne Scott — an award-winning educator, performer, and advocate from Nashville, Tennessee.

Benjamin’s journey from overcoming childhood bullying to becoming a Teacher of the Year and celebrated drag performer is a powerful story of resilience, authenticity, and purpose. As a Blue Ribbon Teacher for Metro Public Schools, he’s transforming classrooms into spaces of confidence and compassion — and as Kennedy Anne Scott, he’s using art and performance to amplify inclusion and self-expression.

Together, Wanda and Benjamin explore how education and creativity can drive social change, why representation matters, and what it truly means to live unapologetically. They also discuss the impact of the book No Tea, No Shade, which Benjamin co-authored — a collection of real, heartfelt stories that inspire acceptance, empathy, and empowerment for future generations.

✨ Whether you’re an entrepreneur, educator, or creative visionary, this conversation will remind you that purpose and authenticity are the foundation of every meaningful journey.

Support Benjamin:
Instagram: @mskennedyannscott
Website: mskennedyannscott.com

🌿 Join us as we celebrate innovation, empowerment, and the movement toward a more mindful, compassionate future. Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders on your favorite platform and never miss a story that inspires change!

📖 Get your copy of Women in Wellness on Amazon or on our website:

🌍 Explore Crunchy Mama Box and discover certified wellness products:

✨ Learn more about the CMB Certification Program

🎧 Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders

Spotify

Apple

Discover how the CMB Certification Program empowers brands, giving them the recognition they deserve for creating clean, eco-friendly, and socially responsible products. The certification empowers consumers to make informed choices about their health by guiding them toward truly green products.

Join us as we elevate wellness and sustainability into a global movement—because together, we can make ethical living the norm, not the exception.

Discover how the CMB Certification Program empowers brands, giving them the recognition they deserve for creating clean, eco-friendly, and socially responsible products. The certification empowers consumers to make informed choices about their health by guiding them toward truly green products.

Join us as we elevate wellness and sustainability into a global movement—because together, we can make ethical living the norm, not the exception.

Support the show

Send us a text

Step into the heartwarming intersection of design, wellness, and the bond we share with our pets with Mario Arbore, founder of Square Paws and an architect with over 30 years of experience. Mario is transforming the way we think about living spaces, showing how thoughtful, pet-focused design can elevate both human and animal well-being.

In this exclusive interview, Mario shares inspiring stories of pets’ intuitive ways of providing comfort and support, especially during challenging times. Explore how his custom cat spaces and personalized designs not only enhance feline health but also create joyful, balanced homes for their humans.

From unique furniture to artful, functional spaces, Mario combines architectural expertise with creativity, demonstrating how intentional design strengthens family bonds and supports mental harmony. Discover how the process of crafting these one-of-a-kind pieces benefits both the creator and the owners, nurturing a shared sense of well-being.

Learn about the therapeutic applications of Mario’s designs in animal-assisted therapy, and see how a well-considered environment can foster emotional resilience, calm, and happiness for pets and people alike.

This video is a special follow-up to our written interview, offering a deeper dive into Mario’s world of pet-centric design and wellness.
Read Mario’s full written interview here.

Support Mario:
Website: squarepaws.com
Instagram: @square_paws

🌿 Join us as we celebrate innovation, empowerment, and the movement toward a more mindful, compassionate future. Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders on your favorite platform and never miss a story that inspires change!

📖 Get your copy of Women in Wellness on Amazon or on our website:

🌍 Explore Crunchy Mama Box and discover certified wellness products:

✨ Learn more about the CMB Certification Program

🎧 Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders

Spotify

Apple

Discover how the CMB Certification Program empowers brands, giving them the recognition they deserve for creating clean, eco-friendly, and socially responsible products. The certification empowers consumers to make informed choices about their health by guiding them toward truly green products.

Join us as we elevate wellness and sustainability into a global movement—because together, we can make ethical living the norm, not the exception.

Support the show

Send us a text

On this episode of Mission-Driven Founders, we sit down with Cristy Kisner, founder of Cristy’s Kitchen, to explore her inspiring journey from a small town in Peru to opening a bakery in Roswell, Georgia that serves gluten-free, dairy-free, organic, and allergy-friendly meals.

Cristy shares how she built a business around wellness and inclusivity, offering meals that are both nourishing and delicious. Discover the stories of families positively impacted by her approach, and gain practical insights for turning your passion into a mission-driven business.

She also highlights her cookbook, Cristy’s Kitchen, featuring over 130 recipes designed to be both flavorful and functional.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or simply curious about building a business with purpose, this episode is full of inspiration, lessons learned, and actionable advice for creating a brand that truly serves others.

🎧 Tune in to this inspiring crossover episode — and join us in building businesses, lives, and communities rooted in wellness, sustainability, and purpose.

Support Cristy's Kitchen:

Website: cristyskitchenga.com

Instagram: cristyskitchenga

🌿 Join us as we celebrate innovation, empowerment, and the movement toward a more mindful, compassionate future. Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders on your favorite platform and never miss a story that inspires change!

📖 Get your copy of Women in Wellness on Amazon or on our website:

🌍 Explore Crunchy Mama Box and discover certified wellness products:

✨ Learn more about the CMB Certification Program

🎧 Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders

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Apple

Support the show

Send us a text

What does it really mean to show up anyway — especially when life doesn’t go as planned?

In this heartfelt episode, I switch roles and step into the guest seat with the incredible Lizbeth Meredith, author, speaker, and host of the Persistence U podcast.

Together, we talk about my chapter in Unmapped: Solo Women Travelers – Bold Journeys of Healing, Resilience, and Self-Discovery, titled “What Germany Taught Me About Showing Up Anyway.”

I open up about how a lost suitcase and a business trip turned into one of the most transformative lessons of my life — a journey that taught me about self-trust, vulnerability, gratitude, and the courage to move forward even when things fall apart.

At Crunchy Mama Box, our mission has always been to empower people to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Through our wellness platform — and now through the Mission-Driven Founders Podcast — we explore what it means to live consciously, balancing work, family, purpose, and self-care.

This conversation is for every entrepreneur, parent, and dreamer who’s learning to find strength in the messiness of life — and to keep showing up, imperfectly but authentically.

✨ Unmapped is available now, with half of all royalties supporting the YWCA’s mission to empower survivors of domestic abuse and promote racial justice.

🎧 Tune in to this inspiring crossover episode — and let’s continue building lives, businesses, and communities rooted in wellness, sustainability, and purpose.

Support Lizbeth Meredith:

Get your copy of Unmapped here

Listen to her podcast: Persistence U

Website: lameredith.com

🌿 Join us as we celebrate innovation, empowerment, and the movement toward a more mindful, compassionate future. Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders on your favorite platform and never miss a story that inspires change!

📖 Get your copy of Women in Wellness on Amazon or on our website:

🌍 Explore Crunchy Mama Box and discover certified wellness products:

✨ Learn more about the CMB Certification Program

🎧 Subscribe to Mission-Driven Founders

Spotify

Apple

Discover how the CMB Certification Program empowers brands, giving them the recognition they deserve for creating clean, eco-friendly, and socially responsible products. The certification empowers consumers to make informed choices about their health by guiding them toward truly green products.

Join us as we elevate wellness and sustainability into a global movement—because together, we can make ethical living the norm, not the exception.

Support the show