Leandra Rouse - Friend of the Week

Leandra’s What — “Officially bone broth obsessed. Once a month I make a big batch of duck, chicken or lamb broth with good quality bones. I first got into drinking bone broth to improve on my digestive system (as it's known to seal and heal the gut), but now I drink one cup a day of this age-old medicine for a strong immune system during flu season, to support my body when I'm stressed out, and to give me beautiful, vibrant skin and hair. It is the very BEST real food way to get your body maximum nutrients."

I met Leandra during my days at Joyus when I recruited her to be our video fitness expert. We then trained together for almost three years before she launched her new corporate wellness program. Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, Leandra exudes aloha spirit and has a natural affinity with the outdoors. Here's a dreamy photo for a cold or rainy day: Leandra having a soak at a natural hot springs in the Sierras.

Friend Of The Week: 11 Questions

1. Nickname(s) Lea, Lean, Auntie Tequila (but only on Saturdays)

2. Where do you live? San Francisco, CA (but forever an island girl at heart!)

3. What are you working on or how do you spend your days? I’m knee deep in planning this year’s curriculum for my nutrition education business. I build wellness programs for growing businesses and am launching my first year-long education package this spring!

4. What do you do for fun? Hot-spring hunt!

Also see: Healthy-hack recipes Also see: Q.T with my “wives”Also see: Read smutty fictionAlso see: Climb hills Also see: Hula dance

5. What do you wonder about?  Lately I've been wondering what it would be like to have a business partner. To have someone to bounce ideas off, help me grow, and get me out of my pajamas a few times a week. Solo entrepreneurship is for the crazy and the strangely dressed.

6. If you could wake up with any superpower, what would it be? Future See’er: Ease decision anxiety. Sway presidential elections. Win at Blackjack.

7. What qualities do your favorite people have in common? #Boss

8. What's the most awkward accidental text or email you've ever sent or received? My husband accidentally text me from the bathroom of our first date “I think I’m going to marry this girl.” Awkward/best text of my life.

9. What is too serious to be joked about? Absolutely nothing. Humor is the best human gift for coping.

10. What is the most inspiring thing you've seen, watched, or read recently? You may have heard, but the FDA just came out with their latest dietary recommendations, and unsurprisingly, the data was confusing, impossible to apply to everyday life, and reflected big agricultural interests. But in response, Brazil’s national guidelines have gotten a lot of press and they are inspiring! Rather than calorie counting, their guidelines focus instead on eating whole, minimally processed foods in a social setting. And to top it off, they offer cute and simple-to-understand photographs of what a “healthy plate” looks like. Lindo maravilhoso! (If you are interested in learning more, check out this great interview with Michael Pollan.)

11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 5 years my husband and I will split our time between a farm in the North Bay and & my childhood home, Hawaii. My business will be wildly successful and allow for both location flexibility, plenty of travel and a couple of babies. I’m a sight see’er, remember? It’s all very clear to me.