In this episode of Drama Free Healthy Living, host Jess Cording speaks with Arash Hashemi, the creator of Kaizen, the world's lowest carb, highest protein rice and pasta, and the founder of the online community Shred Happens. Arash shares his inspiring journey from being a Fortune 100 finance executive weighing 350 pounds to transforming his life and health through diet, mindset, and lifestyle changes.

The discussion covers his favorite Persian dishes, the evolution of Kaizen foods, and the importance of finding sustainable, enjoyable ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Arash also talks about the mental challenges associated with weight loss and the role of social media in shaping perceptions about health and fitness. The episode emphasizes the importance of adapting to life changes and maintaining a positive, practical approach toward health goals.

🖋️ Some key points

00:41 Guest Introduction: Arash Hashemi

01:10 Arash's Health Journey

02:13 Persian Cuisine Favourites

04:11 Creating Kaizen: The Healthiest Pasta

05:29 Jess's Personal Health Adventure

08:49 Arash's Weight Loss Strategies

18:08 Mental Shifts and Small Goals

20:40 The Reality of Fitness on Social Media

21:18 Practicality in Fitness Goals

23:37 Adapting to Life's Changes

26:20 Weight Loss Surgery Considerations

28:44 The Mental Aspect of Food

30:55 Kaizen Foods: A Healthier Option

34:18 Defining Healthy Living

Arash Hashemi BIO

Arash Hashemi is the creator of Kaizen, the world’s lowest-carb and highest protein rice and pasta, and the personality and recipe developer behind @Shredhappens, an online social media community of millions.

A former Fortune 100 finance executive, Arash battled an unhealthy relationship with food for all of his adult life. In 2017 at 350 lbs., he decided to leave his flourishing finance career and devote himself to getting healthy and changing not only his diet, but mindset and lifestyle.

With no immediate plans other than losing weight and discovering health, Arash began @ShredHappens as a simple accountability tool to share recipes and chronicle his weight loss. He fell in love with creating and sharing healthier versions of his favorite foods. The Instagram account quickly grew into an engaged online community, which allowed Arash to focus solely on his passion: creating healthy recipes, often with a Mediterranean or Middle Eastern spin, reflecting his Persian roots.

Despite his remarkable success, Arash missed his favorite food – pasta. He could not find an alternative that suited his new dietary lifestyle. He and his wife Madalina were determined to create an option that would satisfy his cravings and meet his needs.

After years of fine-tuning, Arash and Madalina introduced Kaizen Food Company’s pasta and rice in 2021. Kaizen is a continuous improvement philosophy, which places emphasis on small, consistent changes – like what drove the success of Arash’s health journey. Kaizen is the world’s lowest-carb, highest-protein gluten- and grain-free pasta. Made with lupini beans, Kaizen has 85% fewer carbs and three times the protein of traditional pasta.

Arash resides in Amherst, MA, with his wife Madalina and enjoys traveling the globe in search of inspiring cuisines and time with their two dogs.

🌎 Connect with Arash Hashemi

Website

www.kaizenfoodcompany.com

www.shredhappens.net

Social media links

Instagram

Kaizen: https://www.instagram.com/kaizenfoodco/

ShredHappens: https://www.instagram.com/shredhappens/

Facebook

Kaizen: https://www.facebook.com/KaizenFoodCo

ShredHappens: https://www.facebook.com/shredhappens

TikTok

ShredHappens: https://www.tiktok.com/@ketorecipes

🎤 Podcast post-production EZPZ Podcasting.

📌Grab a copy of “Rise Above the Story” HERE

In this episode of 'Drama Free, Healthy Living' host Jess Cording, a registered dietitian, health coach, and author, talks with Karena Kilcoyne, a former trial lawyer turned wellness expert and writer, about trauma healing and establishing a more balanced relationship with food and fitness.

Kilcoyne shares her personal journey from facing traumatic experiences and her transformation into a wellness advocate. She discusses the importance of acknowledging trauma and taking steps to heal, the role of the stories we tell ourselves, and how these narratives shape our lives.

Kilcoyne emphasizes the importance of releasing suppressed emotional energy and rewriting limiting stories to find true peace and emotional freedom. The conversation covers a range of topics from early career challenges, the impact of trauma on personal and professional life, to self-care essentials and the significance of acknowledging and honoring emotions. Jess and Karina explore how trauma affects daily life and relationships and offer insights into creating a supportive environment for healing in both personal and professional settings. They conclude with the definition of healthy living as tapping into self-love and changing negative brain patterns.

🖋️ Some key points

(00:37) Deep Dive into Trauma Healing with Karena Kilcoyne

(02:35) Journey from Law to Wellness

(03:17) The Power of Storytelling in Healing Trauma

(06:27) Exploring the Impact of Trauma on Daily Life

(11:40) Taking the First Steps Towards Healing

(22:33) The Role of Therapy and Self-Awareness in Recovery

(30:22) Creating a Trauma-Informed Workplace

(35:02) Self-Care and Emotional Honouring in Healing

(37:55) Connecting with Karina and Closing Thoughts

Karena Kilcoyne BIO

Karena Kilcoyne is a former trial lawyer who specialized in criminal defense, including complex white-collar and civil litigation in federal and state courts. Later in her practice, she worked as in-house counsel for a publicly traded worldwide manufacturing company.

Karena now passionately shares her own personal story of trauma and healing. Through vivid, evocative, and transparent storytelling, she teaches others how to rise above their own stories and find true peace and emotional freedom. She shares these powerful ideas through video and personal posts on Facebook and Instagram. Karena also corresponds regularly with the subscribers of her email newsletter.

When she’s not helping others rise above their stories, she’s curating a colorful life full of books and art from far-flung places. Karena lives in Florida with her husband, David, and their furry son, Irwin.

Learn more about Karena HERE. See VIDEO of Karena discussing the book.

🌎 Connect with Karena Kilcoyne

Website: riseabovethestory.com

Social media: @karenakilcoyne

🎤 Podcast post-production EZPZ Podcasting.

📌Check the Shimmer website HERE (https://www.shimmer.care/)

In this episode of Drama Free Healthy Living with Jess Cording, host and registered dietitian Jess Cording interviews Chris Wang, the founder of Shimmer, an AI-assisted ADHD life coaching platform.

They delve into Christal's personal journey with ADHD, diagnosed at 29, and how it led to the creation of Shimmer aimed at helping others cope and thrive.

Key topics include navigating ADHD symptoms, understanding its impact on daily functioning and relationships, and exploring self-care essentials for those affected by ADHD.

The discussion also covers gender differences in ADHD presentation, the process of getting diagnosed, and the importance of advocacy. Highlighting Shimmer's unique approach to ADHD coaching and personal self-care insights, the episode offers valuable support and resources for individuals with ADHD and those seeking to understand more about the condition.

🖋️ Some key points

(00:37) Deep Dive into ADHD with Chris Wang

(00:42) Understanding ADHD: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Personal Journeys

(14:18) Navigating ADHD: Strategies and Self-Care

(16:50) Introducing Shimmer: A New Approach to ADHD Coaching

(22:16) Personal Insights and Self-Care Essentials for ADHD

Christal Wang BIO

For Chris Wang, she was 29 when she was diagnosed with ADHD. While a light went off with the diagnosis, she lived most of her life feeling frustrated and like she was failing. Now, she's on a mission to help women just like her.

Chris created Shimmer, an AI-assisted, ADHD live coaching platform that meets women where they are in life, helps them cope, stay accountable and see real results. They have already helped thousands of women – 83% of their members have reported improvement in symptoms in just six weeks. Shimmer is affordable too, costing up to 10 times less than traditional coaching methods.

🌎 Connect with Christal Wang

Shimmer https://www.shimmer.care/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/adhd.christal/
LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/wangchristal
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shimmer.health

X https://twitter.com/shimmer_care

🎤 Podcast post-production EZPZ Podcasting.