Episode 52: Cooking as Self-Care: Routines, Trends & Seasonal Tips
In this second part of my conversation with Kari from Food Friends, we dive deeper into seasonal cooking and everyday meal rhythms. We talk about easy summer hosting ideas, smart farmers market shopping tips, freezer-friendly staples, and what it means to create a “food flow” that fits real life—whether you’re single, partnered, or cooking for a family. We also share thoughts on food trends like glow soup and small luxuries, and how intentional cooking can be an act of self-care and connection.
In this episode: Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy / @foodfriendspod
Recipes & Resources:
Strawberry Hibiscus Tea
Amaretti Cookies (gluten-free)
Zucchini Rice Gratin
How to Shop at the Farmers Market
Summer Hosting Menus
What to Bring to a Summer Picnic or Potluck
Summer Salad Recipes via Food Friends (free!) Substack
Follow/Subscribe to “Living Well (or Trying To) with Janet” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your pods!
For more, follow @janetdoubleu
Partners:
BetterHelp - 10% off your first month with code “LWJ”
Pique Life - 15% off + free Starter Kit (rechargeable frother & glass beaker) on subscriptions $100+
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 51: Easy Summer Cooking and Hosting Advice with Chef Kari
I sit down with chef, writer, and podcaster Kari from Food Friends to talk about the art of seasonal home cooking and hosting with ease. Kari shares how she went from cooking Midwest basics to becoming a personal chef in LA for families, producers, and even Barbara Streisand. We get into favorite summer recipes, simple farmer’s market ideas, tips for planning stress-free dinner parties, and building lasting client connections through food. Whether you cook by feel or need a recipe in hand, there’s something here for everyone looking to bring more intention—and flavor—into their home kitchen.
In this episode: Food Friends: Home Cooking Made Easy / @foodfriendspod
Recipes & Resources:
Strawberry Hibiscus Tea
Amaretti Cookies (gluten-free)
Zucchini Rice Gratin
How to Shop at the Farmers Market
Summer Hosting Menus
What to Bring to a Summer Picnic or Potluck
Summer Salad Recipes via Food Friends (free!) Substack
Follow/Subscribe to “Living Well (or Trying To) with Janet” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your pods!
For more, follow @janetdoubleu
Partners:
BetterHelp - 10% off your first month with code “LWJ”
Pique Life - 15% off + free Starter Kit (rechargeable frother & glass beaker) on subscriptions $100+
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 50: 3-Day Solo Wellness Retreat - What I Did, Loved & Would Do Differently
In this episode I talk about why taking a real break—from work, home life, or both—isn’t just a luxury but a wellness essential. From the science-backed benefits of vacationing to the small messy moments we all have (like laundry mishaps), I open up about my own solo mini-retreat experience at a wellness resort near LA. From sound baths and Vinyasa yoga in a dome to one of the best deep tissue massages I’ve ever had (plus a solo dinner date with striped bass and red wine), I share what I did, what I wish I’d done differently (hello, digital detox), and how you can create your own version of a wellness getaway. Expect reflections on mindfulness, burnout, creativity, and self-care, plus practical ideas on how to structure your own solo or small-group getaway—even if you're not a planner.
I also answer listener Q&As about dating advice and meditation classes, and wrap up with a special giveaway announcement.
Follow/Subscribe to “Living Well (or Trying To) with Janet” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your pods!
For more, follow @janetdoubleu
Partners:
BetterHelp - 10% off your first month with code “LWJ”
Pique Life - 15% off + free Starter Kit (rechargeable frother & glass beaker) on subscriptions $100+
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 49: Soft Skills, Strong Impact: Building wildwonder with Rosa Li
In this continuation of my conversation with Rosa Li, founder of gut health tonic brand wildwonder, we get even more personal. She shares how working 100-hour weeks in finance shaped her approach to boundaries, why she believes vulnerability is her greatest asset as a leader, and how she manages energy—not just time—to avoid burnout. Has she ever considered leaving the entrepreneurial world and going back to work for someone else? Her answer might surprise you.
We also talk about dating as a strong woman, what kind of partner she gravitates toward, and how she views the idea of starting a family—not as a limitation, but as a source of motivation and deeper purpose. Plus, we explore how her flavors come to life (hint: it involves market data and gut instinct), and what it means to build with intention in a bro-dominated space.
This episode is for anyone balancing ambition with self-care, success with softness, and the very real messiness of trying to live well.
Be sure to listen to Part One of this conversation if you haven’t yet!
In this episode: Rosa Li of wildwonder
Follow/Subscribe to “Living Well (or Trying To) with Janet” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your pods!
For more, follow @janetdoubleu
Partners:
BetterHelp - 10% off your first month with code “LWJ”
Pique Life - 15% off + free Starter Kit (rechargeable frother & glass beaker) on subscriptions $100+
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Episode 48: Gut Instincts & Grit: Building wildwonder with Rosa Li
I sit down with Rosa Li, founder and CEO of Wild Wonder, the world’s first sparkling beverage brand to combine both prebiotics and probiotics for gut health—blending ancient Chinese herbal wisdom with modern science.
Rosa shares how her grandmother’s traditional tonic recipes shaped her approach to wellness and inspired the brand’s roots, and how a high-pressure career on Wall Street led her to prioritize sleep, movement, and nourishment. From weathering the Silicon Valley Bank crash to navigating a major distributor’s cyberattack, Rosa gives a real and grounded look into what it actually takes to build a purpose-driven business.
We also talk about:
Her sleep and wellness non-negotiables
The mental shift from working in finance to building a CPG brand
Representation in the food and beverage industry
Creating boundaries as a founder to avoid burnout
Why she leads with calm and transparency—even during crisis
If you’ve ever felt the pull between hustle and healing, or wondered how to lead a team while honoring your values, this episode will leave you inspired—and maybe even rethinking your own idea of "balance."
In this episode: Rosa Li of wildwonder
Follow/Subscribe to “Living Well (or Trying To) with Janet” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your pods!
For more, follow @janetdoubleu
Partners:
BetterHelp - 10% off your first month with code “LWJ”
Pique Life - 15% off + free Starter Kit (rechargeable frother & glass beaker) on subscriptions $100+
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Living Well (or Trying To), I’m your host Janet—wellness enthusiast, yoga pose outfit-checker, and someone who’s maybe 73% thriving at any given moment. On this show, we talk real-life wellness: the messy, the mindful, and everything in between.
This is a place where we love our veggies and meditation, but we also love a good night out dancing, pizza and ramen, and the occasional tequila shot…or 3. And we know that 5am mornings and 20-step routines are for some people, but not I - because I’m a night owl, but I can be healthy too. ‘Living well’ means different things to different people - what does a life well lived mean to you? Let’s dig in together.
Living Well (or Trying To) with Janet is part of the AsianBossGirl network.
Listen to Living Well (or Trying To) with Janet, Passion Struck with John R. Miles and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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