Life of Gusto

My guest on this episode is Christian Douglas. Christian is an -award-winning landscape designer with over 25 years of experience creating beautiful and productive outdoor spaces for homeowners, hospitality, and celebrity chefs. Join us for a conversation about Christian’s first book, The Food Forward Garden: A Complete Guide to Designing and Growing Edible Landscapes. He shares insights from his design philosophy, what fuels his creativity, and ways we all can design edible spaces that are as inspiring as they are functional. You’ll find Christian on the Instagram @christian_douglas_design and on the web at christiandouglasdesign.com.

Meet Latanya Nowatnick, co-founder of Casa De Otay, a vibrant new coffee shop that began its journey in a small shipping baby blue shipping container. Latanya tells her story from growing up in an immigrant family to discovering her path as an entrepreneur through unexpected turns and shares her passion for bringing people together in beautiful spaces. Tune in to hear how she balances family life, battles imposter syndrome, and dreams big for her cafe's future. You can reach Latanya on Instagram @casadeotay and on the web at casadeotay.com. Both the Casita and Casa De Otay are located in the Millenia neighborhood in Otay Ranch in East Chula Vista.

My guest on this episode Will Cockrell. Will is an award-winning writer, senior editor, and consultant with over 20 years of experience at national magazines including Men’s Journal, Men’s Fitness, Outside, and GQ. Join us for a conversation about Will’s first book, “Everest Inc: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World.” Will shares the inspiration behind the book along with some insights into the history, motivations, and challenges guiding people to the highest place on earth. You’ll find Will on the web at willcockrell.com and on Instagram @willcockrellincolor.

My guests on this episode are Roberto Saldahna and Laura Rabelo, a Brazilian couple who, just before the lockdown in 2020, took a leap of faith and opened World Green Acai in Larkspur, CA, Despite the challenges of the pandemic, they managed to survive and are now fully open, creating a popular gathering place for Marin residents to enjoy authentic acai and other Brazilian treats. Join us for a brief conversation about their journey to California, what acai really tastes like, and their passion for sharing Brazilian food and culture. You’ll find World Green Açai on the web at worldgreenacai.com and on Instagram @worldgreenacai.

My guest on this opening episode for Season 3 is Lucy Davis. Lucy is currently Director of Product Design at Instagram. Tune in to hear Lucy share insights from her nearly two decades of experience in the design world. We also discuss some of the cultural considerations of user experience, a few of her own design inspirations, and her journey to working for one of the world’s most influential companies. You’ll find Lucy on Instagram. Her handle is @lucepdavis.