#16 | Breaking the Internet, One "Gluten Free" Pancake at a Time

#16 | Breaking the Internet, One "Gluten Free" Pancake at a Time

Welcome back friends. In this episode of Candidly Kasi, Kasi shares why she ignores the "golden rule" and always tests her food with her Nima Gluten Sensor after a trusted restaurant's gluten-free pancake tested positive for gluten due to cross-contamination when their dedicated gluten-free griddle was unexpectedly unavailable. She explains why she chose not to eat the meal, praises the restaurant for handling the situation professionally, and shares how the manager immediately made it right. Kasi also opens up about the unexpected aftermath of posting the test online. The video exploded to more than 6 million views across Instagram and TikTok, bringing thousands of hateful comments accusing her of faking celiac disease, overreacting, or making the video solely as an advertisement. She responds to the criticism by explaining what living with celiac disease is really like, how severe her reactions can be, and why using a gluten sensor gives her peace of mind. She also discusses the emotional toll of constantly having to plan ahead, bring her own food to gatherings, and advocate for herself in restaurants. Later, Kasi shares a very different experience at Salt Life, where a manager dismissed her concerns after another meal tested positive for gluten. She wraps up the episode with an important reminder for parents about monitoring what their children are exposed to online, previews an upcoming Q&A episode with Tobi Granger, LMHC. Follow Along: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural_minded_mama https://www.instagram.com/natural_minded_mama_ Episode Sponsors: Shop GET BLESSED BOTANICALS and use code KASI to save 15% https://getblessedbotanicals.com/KASI Shop NIMA Gluten Detecting Sensor and use code KASI to save 15% https://nimanow.com/KASI Shop Primal Queen Female Focused Beef Organ Supplements and save 25% at checkout https://www.primalqueen.com/KASI Shop Bees & Trees Honey and use code KASIDESTEFANO for 10% off at checkout https://www.beesandtrees.com/?ref=KASI [https://www.beesandtrees.com/?ref=KASI]

#15 | Fight-or-Flight, Massage Nightmares & Craniosacral Therapy

Welcome back to another episode. After years of struggling to relax during massages, I finally tried craniosacral therapy—and it completely changed how my body responds to stress. In this episode, I'm sharing my experience, what the treatment actually feels like, and why it helped shift me out of constant fight-or-flight mode. But first… you'll hear some of my most ridiculous massage stories, including an accidental Russian bathhouse scrub in Chicago, a detox massage that ended in disaster, and the couples massage with my friend Holly that I will never forget. I also talk about the connection between stress, sleep, jaw tension, and chronic pain, why my therapist recommended craniosacral therapy, how it helped me finally relax, and why I'm bringing my daughter Wilson to try it before my upcoming oral surgery. If you've ever felt like your nervous system is constantly "on," or you've wondered what craniosacral therapy actually is, this episode is for you. Follow Along: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural_minded_mama https://www.instagram.com/natural_minded_mama_ Episode Sponsors: Shop GET BLESSED BOTANICALS and use code KASI to save 15% https://getblessedbotanicals.com/KASI Shop NIMA Gluten Detecting Sensor and use code KASI to save 15% https://nimanow.com/KASI Shop Primal Queen Female Focused Beef Organ Supplements and save 25% at checkout https://www.primalqueen.com/KASI Shop Bees & Trees Honey and use code KASIDESTEFANO for 10% off at checkout https://www.beesandtrees.com/?ref=KASI [https://www.beesandtrees.com/?ref=KASI]

#14 | How Sammy’s Milk Started: Erin Hendricks on Clean Goat-Milk Formula, FDA Pushback & Feeding Babies Better

In this episode of Candidly Kasi, Kasi sits down with Sammy’s Milk founder Erin Hendricks to discuss how a mother's search for a better formula option turned into a thriving business. Kasi shares her own experience using Sammy’s Milk when she transitioned her daughter Wilson from breastfeeding, recalling how seamless the switch was and the personal support Erin provided in the company's early days. Erin opens up about the inspiration behind creating Sammy’s Milk after her own daughter struggled with conventional formula. She shares the extensive research, medical guidance, and determination that went into developing a nutrient-dense goat milk formula while navigating FDA regulations and industry challenges. The conversation explores the company's grassroots beginnings, scaling during the COVID pandemic, ingredient sourcing, non-GMO oils, methylated vitamins, and rigorous testing for heavy metals and pesticides. Erin and Kasi also discuss concerns surrounding mainstream formula options, infant formula regulations, customer success stories, and the realities of balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood. Erin shares her perspective on being present as a working mom, why educating parents matters, and offers advice for new mothers navigating infant feeding choices. Topics discussed: * The origin story behind Sammy’s Milk * Building a formula company from scratch * FDA regulations and industry challenges * Clean ingredients and label reading * Goat milk formula and gut health * Working motherhood and entrepreneurship * Infant nutrition and advocacy * Customer success stories and NICU experiences  Follow Along: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural_minded_mama https://www.instagram.com/natural_minded_mama_ Episode Sponsors: Shop GET BLESSED BOTANICALS and use code KASI to save 15% https://getblessedbotanicals.com/KASI Shop NIMA Gluten Detecting Sensor and use code KASI to save 15% https://nimanow.com/KASI Shop Primal Queen Female Focused Beef Organ Supplements and save 25% at checkout https://www.primalqueen.com/KASI Shop Bees & Trees Honey and use code KASIDESTEFANO for 10% off at checkout https://www.beesandtrees.com/?ref=KASI [https://www.beesandtrees.com/?ref=KASI] SHOP SAMMY’S MILK https://www.sammysmilk.com/ [https://www.sammysmilk.com/] (Use code SAMMYS10) and save 10% Follow Sammy’s Milk on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sammysmilk

#13 | One Vaginal Birth, One C-Section, and Zero Desire to Do Either Again

On this episode of Candidly Kasi, Kasi reflects on motherhood as her oldest daughter, Kiley, approaches her 20th birthday and prepares to join the podcast for a special birthday episode. Inspired by a conversation with a pregnant hairstylist, Kasi shares the stories of her two very different births. Kylie’s pregnancy was relatively smooth but ended with a difficult induction, intense labor, and a challenging postpartum recovery. Wilson’s pregnancy was marked by severe sickness, anemia, iron infusions, and ultimately a breech presentation that led to an unexpected C-section, panic attack, and a recovery that felt like a blur. Kasi compares the two experiences, reflects on how age and life circumstances shaped each journey, and shares updates on upcoming episodes and her own upcoming surgery. Follow Along: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural_minded_mama https://www.instagram.com/natural_minded_mama_ Episode Sponsors: Shop GET BLESSED BOTANICALS and use code KASI to save 15% https://getblessedbotanicals.com/KASI Shop NIMA Gluten Detecting Sensor and use code KASI to save 15% https://nimanow.com/KASI Shop Primal Queen Female Focused Beef Organ Supplements and save 25% at checkout https://www.primalqueen.com/KASI Shop Bees & Trees Honey and use code KASIDESTEFANO for 10% off at checkout https://www.beesandtrees.com/?ref=KASI

#12 | From Wired to Tired: My Wellbutrin Ride pt 2

In this Candidly Kasi update, Kasi shares the ups and downs of adjusting her Wellbutrin dosage over the past six weeks. From early wins to unexpected side effects, she opens up about navigating medication changes, sleep struggles, perimenopause, and mental health. As always, Kasi shares her personal experience—not medical advice—and reflects on the ongoing process of finding what works best for her body and mind. Plus, she previews upcoming episodes and life updates. Follow Along: https://www.tiktok.com/@natural_minded_mama https://www.instagram.com/natural_minded_mama_ Episode Sponsors: Shop GET BLESSED BOTANICALS and use code KASI to save 15% https://getblessedbotanicals.com/KASI Shop NIMA Gluten Detecting Sensor and use code KASI to save 25% https://nimanow.com/KASI Shop Primal Queen Female Focused Beef Organ Supplements and save 25% at checkout https://www.primalqueen.com/KASI Shop Bees & Trees Honey and use code KASIDESTEFANO for 10% off at checkout https://www.beesandtrees.com/?ref=KASI