In this episode of Nourished with Nora, Nora sits down with Chef Johanna Hellrigl—mom, restaurateur, and visionary behind Alma, one of the most sustainable restaurants in the country. Recently featured in The New York Times and celebrated for her leadership in rethinking restaurant culture, Johanna is proving that food, health, and planetary wellbeing are deeply interconnected.

Together, Nora and Johanna explore:

• The principles that guide Alma's mission-driven approach

• How sustainability and health go hand-in-hand for both guests and restaurant teams

• Why "question everything" has become a core philosophy for shifting food systems

• The hidden health risks of plastics and what it takes to change restaurant norms

• The power of primary foods—community, relationships, joy—alongside what's on the plate

• The balancing act of being a chef, entrepreneur, and mom while pushing for systemic change

Johanna also shares her passion project with Dr. Manasa Mantravadi: designing stainless steel containers to replace ubiquitous plastic deli containers—bringing real solutions from restaurants into homes and schools.

Learn more about Alma: amarestaurant.bar
Follow Johanna: @chefjohannaherrigel on Instagram

On this episode of Nourished with Nora, I'm joined by Brian Keller and Charlie Carlisle, the co-founders of Rorra, the award-winning water filtration company that's transforming how families think about water. From stainless steel countertop systems to filtered shower heads, Rorra is helping people drink and bathe in water that's cleaner, safer, and healthier—without the plastics or compromises of traditional filters.

We discuss:

- The personal stories that inspired Rorra—from Brian's daughter's eczema journey to Charlie's experience with Denver's lead water crisis.

- Why water quality is as foundational to health as sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

- The risks of aging water infrastructure and hidden contaminants like PFAS and microplastics.

- How Rorra's design preserves minerals for taste and health while filtering out what's harmful.

- Stories from families and athletes already experiencing the benefits of Rorra water.

- What's next for Rorra, from new product launches to their long-term vision for public health impact.

As a mom and wellness advocate, I've tried countless filters—Rorra is the one I trust.

👉 Learn more or try Rorra here: rorra.com/nora

Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a pediatrician, CEO, mom of three, and the founder of Ahimsa—an award-winning company making stainless steel dishware for kids. But more than that, she's on a mission to reform public health, starting with what's on our plates.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why the American Academy of Pediatrics warned against plastics

• How plastic exposure affects hormones, puberty, and long-term health

• What "culinary medicine" really means—and why it's the future of healthcare

• The simple changes families can make to reduce plastic exposure

• How Ahimsa is changing what kids eat from at home and in schools

• Why school lunch reform = healthcare reform

This is a hopeful, empowering conversation about how we can take small steps in our homes—and big ones in our systems—to raise healthier, happier kids.

Resources & Links:

• Dr. Manasa's company: Ahimsa

• Conscious Cafeteria Program: ahimsaschools.com

• Follow @ahimsahomeusa on Instagram

• Join the school lunch revolution: eatreal.org/parents

• Find Nora on Instagram: @nourishedwithnora

Guest:
Dr. Leonardo Trasande, Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at NYU, leading researcher on the health effects of environmental exposures.

Topics Covered:

• What plastics are really made of—and how they get into our bodies

• The 16,000 chemicals in plastic (and how little we know about them)

• Why children are especially vulnerable

• Diseases linked to plastic exposure: from hormone disruption to heart disease

• Why only 9% of plastic is recycled

• The connection between plastic and economic loss ($250B/year in the U.S.)

• Which types of plastics to avoid: the worst offenders

• Practical tips for reducing plastic exposure

• How quickly the body can bounce back

• The power we have as consumers to drive change

• How to advocate for smarter plastic policy

Brought to you by Rorra
Clean, safe, and beautifully designed water filtration.
👉 Get 10% off at https://rorra.com/nora

Resources Mentioned:

• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Studies on phthalates, PFAS, and micro/nanoplastics

• UN Global Plastics Treaty discussions

• Safe Drinking Water Act

Take Action:

1. Swap plastic for stainless steel, glass, or wood in the kitchen

2. Don't microwave plastic—even if labeled "microwave safe"

3. Use water filtration where appropriate

4. Avoid receipts, black plastics, and synthetic fabrics directly on skin

5. Advocate for plastic regulation at state and national levels

In this heart-expanding episode of Nourished with Nora, chef, TV host, and humanitarian Andrew Zimmern opens up about the personal and political power of food. From childhood hunger to mental health to wild game and open-fire cooking, Nora and Andrew dive deep into what it really means to nourish ourselves and our communities.

They talk about:

- Why school meals are one of the most important public health issues of our time

- Andrew's journey through addiction, recovery, and finding purpose

- The power of friendship, real food, and asking for help

- Easy ways to get kids confident in the kitchen

- His go-to summer meals, bean obsession, and upcoming Blue Food Cookbook

Whether you're a parent, foodie, educator, or just looking for inspiration, this episode will leave you fired up and full of hope.

Nourished with Nora is brought to you by Rorra, the water filtration company bringing cleaner, safer water to families everywhere. Visit rorra.com/nora to get 10% off your countertop system or filtered showerhead today.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Nora sits down with creative leadership coach and former IDEO exec Meija Jacobs to explore what it truly means to play big—especially in the face of change, challenge, and self-doubt. They dive into Meija's inspiring journey from ballerina to brand strategist to executive coach, and how caregiving for her mother sparked a life-altering pivot.

Together, they unpack how to quiet the inner critic, embrace failure as fuel for growth, and lead with presence and intuition. From redesigning the Eat Real brand to redefining executive presence, Meija brings wisdom, warmth, and wildly actionable insight.

✨ Topics include:

- The "power pause" and how to dream in the storm

- What it really means to play big

- Why failure is essential to transformation

- Level 3 listening and emotional leadership

- Personal branding, team dynamics, and coaching with heart

🎧 Tune in and subscribe! More inspiring guests and transformative conversations are on the way.

🌟 Bonus: Meija is offering Nourished with Nora listeners a complimentary 30-minute coaching jam session! Details in the show notes below.

https://calendly.com/meija/nora-pod-30-min-coaching

Morgan Zanotti is not your typical startup CEO – she's a mother of three, a romance novel enthusiast, and the co-founder of Primal Kitchen. In this episode of Nourished with Nora, Morgan shares how she helped build a $200M real-food brand while staying true to herself and prioritizing what matters most.

In this warm and insightful conversation, Nora (CEO of Eat Real) and Morgan discuss everything from unconventional self-care (why Morgan swears by romance novels to boost her leadership skills) to scrappy startup strategies. Morgan opens up about balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship and doing business differently – including creating a company culture where "work-life balance" isn't just a buzzword. She also reveals how mission-driven leadership can spark real change, like Primal Kitchen's $1M pledge to bring healthier meals to schools through Nora's nonprofit, Eat Real. Whether you're a budding founder, a wellness enthusiast, or a working parent seeking inspiration, this episode offers an honest, uplifting look at building a business and life you love.

Listen now to discover:

• Unconventional leadership hacks: Why Morgan believes reading romance novels can make hyper-achieving entrepreneurs better leaders (yes, really!).

• Mompreneur balance: How this mom of three sets boundaries – from limiting work travel to stepping away for a fish funeral – and juggles family life with running a company.

• Scrappy startup culture: The inside story of co-founding Primal Kitchen – hiring friends over "perfect" resumes, keeping the team fully remote (way before it was cool), and fostering a fun, mission-aligned culture of paleo enthusiasts.

• Mission over margin: How Morgan and co-founder Mark Sisson "walked the talk" on values, including donating $1M to help Nora's organization Eat Real bring real food to school cafeterias across the country.

• Designing life on your terms: Morgan's approach to avoiding burnout – from structuring her summers in Wisconsin off the grid to embracing rest and play (surf trips included) so she can grind when it counts.

• Future-forward insights: Morgan's take on emerging trends – hear how she's leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT as a 24/7 "therapist" and business assistant, and why she believes technology could transform work and wellness in the years ahead.

Enjoyed this episode? Don't forget to share it with friends, subscribe to Nora's newsletter for more insights, and follow Nora on social media to stay updated on future episodes and content. Thank you for listening and being part of the Nourished with Nora community!

What does it mean to truly live with purpose—even in the face of life's biggest challenges?

In this heartfelt episode of Nourished with Nora, host Nora LaTorre sits down with Dr. Eric Weiss: one of the top open-heart surgeons in the world, a motivational speaker, and a mindset coach. Together, they explore how life in the operating room has shaped his view of purpose, resilience, and what it means to be truly alive.

This isn't just a conversation about medicine—it's a blueprint for living fully, loving deeply, and leading with heart.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations that nourish your life and leadership journey.