nastasha mckeon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
nastasha, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I wake up, feed my farm animals. (chickens, roosters, pig, dogs) make my munchkin breakfast, pack her lunch and get her off to school. Next is movement! I prioritize exercise first thing in the morning. It’s a non negotiable. So whether it’s working out withy my trainer Scott Baker from GFX, Hot yoga at Asteya, or a beach run, dance class with Cinco Movement or just jumping in the ocean for a surf, I move my body and get my daily dose of movement medicine before I jump into my busy work day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the Founder and CEO of Choice Juicery a local health and wellness brand, organic cafe and juicery chain. I’m the host of The Choice Lifestyle Podcast, Author of Plant Food Is Medicine, holistic nutritionist, breathwork facilitator, hypnotherapist, mom, surfer and clearly a collector of certifications! 😉 I think i’m unique because I come from a pretty rough background–a really rough childhood–filled with poverty, abuse, neglect and so much more. Despite my rough beginnings, I never let those things define who I was. I always aspired to live a successful life and that definition of success has changed and evolved a lot over the years. I don’t chase dollars in the bank alone, I chase a life well lived. I chase my passion and my purpose. I chase making a positive impact and enjoying the journey over the destination. I think my company Choice Juicery is unique because we have grown to the level we have without ever cutting corners or compromising on the single most important thing we have, integrity. We have always prioritized integrity over profits, which is rare in the the health and wellness space sadly. Too many companies are marketing foods/beverages, etc. as “healthy and natural” when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Making truly healthy food that tastes amazing has always been my passion and I feel incredibly blessed by our loyal communities that continue to choose us as their trusted source of healthy goodness over the years!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Growing up in a challenging environment, I learned that I could only depend on myself. I became radically independent and that served me so much in navigating the rough seas of my early life, but I think as I’ve gotten older that story of “I have to do it all on my own” is no longer serving me, in fact, I think it keeps the very thing that I desire away. Which is to have the love and support that I have craved so much in life.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Many times in business and once in life! I was on a surf trip in Panama surfing on a day I had no business being in the ocean. Completely alone in a huge swell at a spot that everyone surfing the day before said it would be too maxed out to surf. I woke up early and checked it and it didn’t look that much bigger than the day before and I thought “I could have it all to myself.” Of course, I paddled out and after several sets rolling through and realizing just how massive it was and how bad of a situation I had gotten myself into, I turned around to see a massive rouge wave coming through, bigger than everything else that morning. I paddled for my life, but didn’t make it over the lip of the wave. I was thrown over the falls, board snapped, lease tore, felt like I’d been hit by a freight train. Somehow I made it to the surface and realized I was likely going to drown there. I was beat up from the hit, I am not a strong swimmer without my board and now I was in some very high surf completely alone at a spot no one was going to paddle out that day. I choked back the tears and I started swimming. Wave after wave thrashing me around, sucking me back. “I can’t do this, I’m never going to make it…” I wanted to quit. But then I thought about my babies growing up without a mom, so I dug deep inside of myself and found the strength to keep going. That happened a couple more times before I reached the shore that day. Honestly, having kids has probably saved my life more than once. Even in business, when things get tough, you remember the humans you do it all for and it gives you what you need to keep going.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
HPP, Gamma Radiated or other pasteurized juices are good for you! False. I am so passionate about truly healthy juice which is Organic, Cold pressed, Undiluted and Raw! Meaning never been through a pasteurization process. Most juice companies today pasteurize and or dilute their juice to make a buck, and sadly most consumers are unaware falling for marketing tactics that tell them their juice is healthy. Stick with juice companies that put integrity over profits and you won’t be lead astray.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Someone once told me that “if you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life” and that has been so true for me. I could pinch myself every day! I feel so lucky to get to do what I love and work with humans that I love. It’s a blessing that I never take for granted. Of course there are always tough days, but loving what you do, having passion for what you do, helps you to get through those tough times, because you know you have something worth fighting for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.choicejuicery.com
- Instagram: @choicejuicery @nastashamckeon
- Facebook: nastasha mckeon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRYk1vCKa2ilUQ9BGQD1bA
- Other: My name has an extra “s” so everyone misses it! Also did not get to mention i am the host of The Choice Lifestyle Podcast! We are streaming on all platforms.
Image Credits
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