Transcript of Episode 1: Noah Kotlove, CEO of Berry Street
Digital Health Heavyweights
0:00name is Norm Bolski, your host.0:02>> Phenomenal hires that have that you've0:04helped place because that's that's the0:05other thing like when it comes to0:06enterprise sales.0:07>> This is the digital health heavyweights0:09partner to be here and it's been fun to0:11work with you over the years.0:12>> We watch our dollars. We watch our but0:15people win with us and that's important.0:18Hello and welcome back to the digital0:20health heavyweights podcast with your0:21host Norm Bolski. And today we are0:24thrilled to be joined by the founder and0:26CEO of Barry Street, Noah Cotlo.0:30>> Thanks so much for having me, Norm. I0:32have to admit I'm exposing myself. I've0:34only listened via audio. I didn't I0:36wasn't ready to see the uh the boxing0:38gloves, so that threw me for a loop.0:40It's a very friendly podcast, but you0:42know, we are fighting rising health care0:45costs. So, we're all on the same team.0:48>> I love it.0:49>> Yeah. So, for all of our viewers and0:51listeners, you know, that are not as0:53familiar with Noah, Noah is founder and0:56CEO of Berry Street. Uh Berry Street is0:59on a mission to transform how Americans1:01eat through nutrition therapy by1:04connecting individuals needing1:06evidence-based nutrition care with1:08dietitionians and AI addressing 25 plus1:12conditions.1:14Street has raised $50 million in 20251:17and is very passionate about diet1:19behavior change. Previously, Noah was a1:23senior innovation consultant at1:25Accenture as well as the founder of1:28sobrietyoft.1:30Noah holds a bachelor's in economics1:32from the Wharton School at UPEN. And we1:36could not be more excited to have him on1:38the podcast. So, Noah, welcome.1:40>> Thank you. Excited to join you.1:42>> Yeah, we're we're big fans of uh healthy1:45eating and nutrition. We talk about that1:47a lot on this podcast. We also have a uh1:51video series called the healthy head1:53hunters where we, you know, cook some1:54healthy meals uh weekly, sometimes1:57monthly. So, you know, we're big fans of1:59what you're doing. So, Noah, what2:02inspired you to get into the healthcare2:04field?2:05>> Yeah, mine is very much like a a patient2:08centric uh journey. Um, and it's funny2:11because I actually grew up in a in a2:12healthcare household. My mom was a2:13nurse. Uh, my dad was an oncologist. It2:16always it always it's the moms with uh2:18the moms as nurses. I think is2:19definitely a commonality I see in folks2:21in the healthcare space. But yeah, mom's2:23an RN, dad was an oncologist and I2:25thought I'm not interested in healthcare2:27at all and kind of, you know, took my2:28entrepreneurial journey. But as a2:30patient myself, like so many Americans,2:33I really struggled with my diet pretty2:36much my entire life, even as a little2:37kid. Um, kind of a classic American like2:40'9s household. would get home from2:42school, two working parents, unfettered2:45access to a pantry full of, you know,2:47all of the most processed foods that,2:49you know, would make RFK's head spin.2:51Uh, and I just learned so many terrible2:54eating habits that continued in into my2:57adulthood. And so in my 20s, as I'm, you2:59know, kind of starting my3:00entrepreneurial career, I'm just3:01struggling more and more, gaining3:03weight, um, and increasingly as I got3:05older, experiencing all sorts of chronic3:08conditions that were, you know, kind of3:10odd for a man of my age. And, uh, around3:12the time I turned 30, uh, I was at my3:15absolute heaviest. I think a lot of3:16Americans can relate to this. I don't3:18even really know exactly how heavy I was3:19cuz I stopped stepping on the scale.3:21It's like, you know, I didn't want to3:22see that number. Uh, and I was feeling3:25my my lowest, you know, spiritually. And3:27I saw a doctor for an annual physical.3:30And just like every other doctor I had3:31ever seen, he told me, you know, you3:33really got to lose weight, which again,3:35a lot of folks hear that when they go to3:37the PCP, not usually particularly3:39helpful, right? It's like, yeah, doc,3:41like I I know that. Trust me, I'm I'm3:43trying. But this doctor actually had a3:45solution. He said, you know, you should3:47try seeing a dietitian. I've heard it's3:48covered by insurance. And I left that3:51visit thinking, huh, that's kind of odd.3:53like I don't I kind of I know what the3:55healthy foods are. I I don't think a3:57dietitian is going to help me here, but3:59maybe I'll try it out. Uh and so I tried4:01it and instantly uh or practically4:05instantly I should say I realized how4:07much of a misconception I I had about4:09what this care was going to be like. I4:11thought it would be really kind of you4:13know surface level eat this, don't eat4:15that. But working with a dietitian goes4:17so much deeper than that. um you really4:19get into your relationship with food and4:22you know whether folks realize it or not4:23I think most don't we all have a very4:26specific personal emotional relationship4:29with food um and unfortunately you know4:32in this country for a lot of for most4:34people I would say that relationship is4:35is you know tends to be a toxic one um4:38and so over many weeks working with my4:40dietitian to first just like understand4:42that relationship with food and then4:44start to you know unpack it and and4:46build it back I I, you know, learned4:48small tips and tricks, also bigger4:51changes to make in my life. Um, and I4:53ultimately ended up losing about 60 654:56lbs over the course of that journey with4:57my dietitian. And as crazy as it sounds5:00today, this was like relatively easy5:02after,5:03>> you know, decades of struggling um with5:05all sorts of crazy crash diets with, you5:08know, tons of restrictions. It was these5:10small, you know, consistent changes that5:12ended up really making the difference5:14and compounding because I could stick5:15with them. So, you know, had this5:17life-changing health healthcare journey,5:20uh, which was amazing in and of itself.5:22Um, but the entrepreneur in me was5:24fascinated by the insurance coverage5:26because it blew my mind. Uh, I was5:28self-employed at the time, so I had a,5:31you know, Obamacare exchange plan,5:34really high deductible. Uh, I often tell5:36people like it felt like I couldn't5:37sneeze near an urgent care facility5:40without getting a a hefty bill in the5:42mail. Um, and lo and behold, these EOBS5:45would show up in my mail after after5:46these dietitian visits. And after all5:48the, you know, crazy insurance math at5:50the top at the bottom every time, your5:53out-of- pocket cost $0. And after three5:56or four of these Z EOBS came in the5:59mail, I started kind of thinking like,6:01what the heck is going on here? The6:02doctor said it would be covered. I6:03didn't think it was going to be free.6:04Like, this is this is crazy. There must6:06be kind some kind of mistake. So, I6:08ended up, you know, starting to pull at6:10that thread and quickly learned, oh,6:11there's actually no mistake here at all,6:13most commercial plans have really6:16generous coverage to work with a6:17dietitian because it's considered6:19preventative care. Uh, so the next6:21question to me was, why is nobody using6:24this? Why is nobody even talking about6:25this? I, you know, barely knew what a6:27dietitian did. I certainly didn't know6:28it was free. Here's this benefit that so6:31many Americans could benefit from,6:33whether they're looking to lose weight,6:34like, you know, like I was. Um, and of6:36course we're battling an obesity6:38epidemic in this country, but nutrition6:40is relevant for, you know, reasons far6:42beyond weight loss, right? It touches6:43every condition, both chronic and acute,6:45and even for people who are generally6:47well, there's lots of reasons you might6:49want to improve your nutrition. So that6:51sent me on this journey um and and6:52quickly learned that on the patient side6:56really low awareness of the coverage and6:59really you know this form of care um7:01just like you know I experienced and7:03then on the dietitian side lots of7:05barriers to entry to dietitians even7:07being able to deliver this care in the7:08first place uh and so that's really7:10where Barry was born was to connect7:12patients with dietitians who accept7:15their insurance who specialize in7:17whatever they need help with who are7:18licensed in their geography and then7:20giving them the tools to treat the7:23patients virtually um and then support7:25them largely with you know AI7:27functionality to extend the impact of7:29the dietitionian between sessions.7:31>> That's fantastic. What are some of the7:33like main overarching principles that7:35helped you personally lose you know 607:38lbs and I'm sure that was a cascading7:40effect of like higher energy levels,7:42feeling better, you know.7:44>> Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you know, you7:46probably won't be shocked to hear, but7:47you know, magically or seemingly7:49magically, all of a sudden, a lot of7:50these chronic conditions that I was uh7:52struggling with started to, you know,7:53kind of fall by the wayside. But one7:55thing I should emphasize before getting7:57into like my specific story is each7:59patient's journey is is different. And,8:02you know, uh I think one of the uh8:04principles at Berry Street that we8:06really live by is there's no8:08oneizefits-all to care. So, whatever8:10worked for me doesn't necessarily work8:11for other patients. Um and so we put a8:13lot of of blood, sweat and tears into8:16you know matching that patient with the8:18dietitian who we believe is going to you8:20know give them the best chance of8:21success. And then again my journey was a8:23weight loss journey but we have plenty8:24of patients who are seeing their8:26dietitian for all sorts of other8:27reasons. We have oncological dietitians8:30we have eating disorder dietitians etc.8:32But for me it was a few things. One,8:34this is going to sound really simple,8:36but it's it's one of those things8:39straightforward but difficult uh to to8:41practice, which is um just like mindful8:43eating, dietitians call it, right? So,8:45just thinking um a little bit about8:47about what you're eating before you eat8:49it, right? Am why am I eating? You know,8:51am I going for this this snack in the8:53middle of the night because I'm actually8:54hungry or am I stressed? Am I anxious?8:57you know, just really trying to to put8:59that little bit of thought behind, you9:01know, why you're reaching for a9:02particular food.9:04This is going to sound uh kind of9:06counterintuitive is, but dietitians9:08often talk a lot about this concept of9:10food freedom. Um, and this was a big one9:12for me because uh I think something a9:14lot of folks struggle with and and9:15there's actually some parallels to my9:17work in the world of of sobriety, but9:19sometimes when people fall off the9:21wagon, then it's like, oh, you know, I9:23give up. I I screwed up and you know,9:25life life is is is hope. There's no9:27point in trying to get back on the9:28wagon, right? So, if you demonize9:32something like pizza, right, then you9:34have a slice of pizza and then the next9:36thing you know, you you know, you took9:37down maybe a whole pie because, you9:40know, sort of what's the point? I I9:41screwed up my diet. Now, uh now I'm9:43starting starting from zero again. So9:46dietitians can can really be helpful in9:48in helping patients kind of release some9:50of that and and find that food freedom9:52where, you know, it's like there's no9:54bad foods. Enjoy the hell out of that.9:56Uh I don't know if I can swear on this9:58podcast, by the way, but um9:59>> encourage10:00>> uh my my mother would be ashamed, but10:03enjoy enjoy the hell out of that slice10:04of pizza. uh and do it mindfully and10:07say, "I'm gonna, you know, I'm maybe10:08there's a pizza party at work, but I'm10:10gonna have this slice of pizza or maybe10:12two and it's not going to cause me to,10:15you know, slide into a weekend of, you10:17know, a debauchery." And and sort of10:18letting go of that guilt was really10:20impactful for me. And then there's10:22little tactics, right? I'm very much a10:23snacker and I'm an anxious snacker. And10:26something as simple as, hey, if you're10:28going to have a snack, pour it into a10:30bowl instead of eating it straight out10:31of the bag to just, you know, give10:33yourself that moment of pause to say,10:36okay, after I finish this, you know,10:37bowl of pretzels, do I want to almost10:40like opt in again, right? Do I want to10:41pour myself another portion of pretzels10:44or does that moment give me the chance10:46to say, you know what, actually, I'm I'm10:48okay now. I'm going to stop. It's it's,10:49you know, almost putting some some guard10:51rails in place to to set yourself up for10:54success. And that that made a huge10:55difference for me.10:56>> Yeah. And I think, you know, I watched10:58almost every11:00documentary around eating and obesity11:04and, you know, everything that's been11:06out there. And again like we are in a11:09country where we are constantly reminded11:13and marketed to and it tends to be the11:16high margin you know foods that tend to11:19be unhealthy you know that make11:21companies [clears throat] like Fredo and11:23you know other large food distributors11:25and uh food manufacturers you know11:28extremely wealthy companies. So again,11:30it's almost as if like our current11:33society is conspiring against us, you11:36know, to live these healthy lives. So11:39again, anyone struggling, it's not11:41because there's something wrong with11:42you. It's more like there's something11:44wrong with this country and how they are11:46willing to11:48do what's best for corporations and not11:51what's in the best interest of11:53individuals. So walk us through your11:55experience in founding, you know,11:57sobriety soft. Number one, it was like11:59your first entrepreneurial journey. And12:01second, I would also say that falls into12:03the healthcare sector as well.12:05>> Yeah, it's funny because I didn't really12:06think of it as a healthcare journey at12:08the time, but it ends up informing a lot12:09of the work that I do now. Um, you know,12:1110 plus years later. This was slightly12:13less personal, but still still quite12:15personal. So, I was, you know, pretty12:17much fresh out of college at the time.12:19This wasn't the earliest days of the app12:21store, but this was pretty early. The12:23app uh app store functioned a lot12:25differently back then than it does now.12:26I'm going to age myself, but this was12:29the these were the days where inapp12:31purchases didn't exist if you you know12:33the typical monetization scheme was paid12:36apps. And so family a close family12:38member of mine as I was growing up was a12:40recovered alcoholic was in NA and was12:43very vocal about it. Um and so I I was12:45very familiar with the culture and12:48community of Alcoholics Anonymous and12:50you know other 12step programs. And this12:52particular family member um I was12:54visiting home uh over a holiday and and12:57they shared you know there's like no12:59good apps for pe you know apps this was13:02when people were really starting to talk13:03a lot about apps there's no good apps13:05for this community um and there's not13:07you know a good digital resource um and13:09so I heard that and thought oh that's13:10that's kind of interesting like let me13:12let me dig in here and so I poured over13:14the app store and noticed that yeah this13:17person was right there were really one13:19just very lowquality apps targeting this13:22this community, but that were doing13:23quite well. Again, in this era of the13:26app store, you could tell how well13:28certain um apps were performing by they13:30had these like top charts. And so, there13:32were a ton of, you know, Alcoholics13:34Anonymous and other sobriety oriented13:36apps that were charging folks um that13:39were charting really well in certain13:41categories, but there were no free apps.13:43Uh and I thought that was quite odd,13:45especially because um it's funny, it's13:48very similar to the Bible in a lot of13:49ways. So there's a book that's sort of13:52the from which all 12step programs have13:55spawned uh called the big book, you13:57know, written by Bill W. Um it's it's an14:00amazing book to read whether you're14:01interested in, you know, um getting14:03sober or not. I'm I'm uh to be clear,14:06not not living sober. Um but again, like14:09a ton of uh respect and admiration for14:12that that community.14:14Anyway, so this book just like the Bible14:16uh is in the public domain. Yet all of14:19these, you know, very thin apps were14:21essentially just putting that book14:23inside an app container and charging14:25whatever $4.99, $5.99, $6.99 for it. And14:28so I thought, well, that that's unfair.14:30This is public domain content. I can14:33make this free and I can, you know, find14:35other ways of driving value and monetize14:37that way. I don't know exactly how I'm14:39gonna do that yet, but let me start14:41there. And so I had the first free app14:44targeting this community and you know14:46the power of free you know I would come14:48to learn later on in Berry Street is uh14:51very meaningful and so within a matter14:53of days it started to chart really14:55highly and then ultimately um you know I14:58was able to find more creative ways to15:01drive more value to those you know to15:03that user base and monetize that way.15:06Um, one of the kind of core principles15:08of that business that served us really15:09well was especially given the15:12sensitivity of of this community, like15:14we have to drive value for free and15:17we're certainly not going to extract15:19value for any from anything that you15:21know we're not special at at at driving,15:24right? So, public domain content most of15:26all, you know, there's there's no reason15:27that we should be monetizing that way15:29because, you know, this is free for15:31everyone to access.15:32>> Yep. Absolutely. What were some of your15:34greatest learnings and challenges at15:37sobriety soft?15:38>> Yeah. Um, I mean the biggest challenge15:41throughout that journey was the15:43sensitivity of that community. I mean15:45folks in recovery it's a very sensitive15:48vulnerable audience as it is. And then15:51you know we weren't affiliated with15:52Alcoholics Anonymous right? It's that's15:54a um kind of an amazing grassroots15:56organization. Of course it's a non15:58nonprofit. So we had to tread very16:00lightly in in areas where we you know we16:02were a for-profit business so we did16:04need to monetize but walking that line16:06was challenging and we were always you16:09know exercising an abundance of caution16:11but the audience would certainly let us16:13know whenever we crossed that line and16:15so that really taught me to um16:17[clears throat] you know it sounds trit16:19in startup world but like you know16:21remain close to your to your users right16:22and and build relationships and trust16:25with them of course so you can you know16:27get their feedback but I think the um16:30more kind of nuanced reason that's16:32important is you really start, I think,16:34to be able to um have, you know, be able16:38to predict how they're going to feel16:39about things. So then you're you're16:41crossing that line less frequently. So16:43that was that that was a challenge16:45throughout our lifetime, but it also16:47taught me a lot of really valuable16:48lessons about, you know, how to care for16:51a a user base in a community.16:54>> Yeah. So, you ran the most popular app16:56for Alcoholics Anonymous on both Apple17:00Store and the Android store. How did17:03that build the foundation for what17:05you're doing today?17:06>> Um, one was just sort of this sort of17:09starting small like right starting with17:11like a really kind of a kernel of an17:13idea and building out from there, right?17:14Like, you know, I Rome wasn't built in a17:16day. Um, or keep it simple stupid is is17:19something I try I try to live by. Um and17:21so starting [clears throat] with that17:22small kernel and building out from there17:24ended up uh working in that case and I17:26think I've followed that pattern in in17:28my ventures since then including Barry17:31Street right like we really in the early17:33days of Berry Street were maniacally17:36focused on the visit between the patient17:39and the dietitian that's the product and17:42so anything that's not in service of17:44that visit happening and that visit17:46being as effective and enjoyable as17:49possible is is not worth doing in the17:51early days. Right now we have more17:52resources. We understand the space17:54better. We can we can you know we have17:56the freedom and the ability to do a lot17:58more. But that laser focus early on it's18:02it's served us really well. I I you know18:04chat with uh you maybe like less18:06experienced younger earlier career18:08founders all the time and so a pattern I18:10see a lot is this sort of you know their18:13eyes are bigger than their stomach18:14almost right? they they are so excited18:16about what they're building and they can18:18see so far ahead of what they want to18:19do. Um but they pull too much of that18:21forward and almost editing what you want18:24to do to its you know to its simplest uh18:27to its simplest form. I I found that18:29recipe is is often you know a successful18:32one.18:32>> Yeah. And how did your experience at18:34Accenture again prepare you better for18:37being CEO and founder now?18:39>> Yeah. I'm smiling because honestly, you18:42know, it was a really amazing experience18:45to work at a big company like Accenture18:46and ultimately because I had started my18:49first company so early in my career. Uh18:52I had never really been you know I had18:54worked for a few early stage companies18:56right out of college but um you know18:58early stage companies are are a much19:01different beast. I had never really19:03worked at a quote unquote like real19:04company. And after a uh a COVID kind of19:08era venture hadn't gone as I had hoped,19:11I thought, you know, I've never tried19:12this like big company thing. I'm I'm19:13really interested to try it. And I was19:15very fortunate to end up uh getting19:18hired by a a pretty boutique group19:21within Accenture that does essentially19:23like startup consulting for Fortune 10019:26companies. So embedding within teams at19:29at those kinds of enterprises and19:32helping them uh really like build the19:35muscle of19:37>> coming up with new ideas, validating19:39them lean lean, you know, like19:41exercising a lot of the ultimate like19:42lean startup principles.19:44>> Gotcha.19:45>> But what that experience taught me more19:48so than anything was um how do I say19:52this? Almost like the invincibility of19:54startups.19:56when you're old, you know, when you19:57spend your entire career um in the20:00startup world, um you know, sometimes20:02you I think hold some kind of, you know,20:06whether it's fear or, you know, healthy20:08respect for like large enterprise,20:10right? It feels like large enterprises20:12could quite easily replicate what you're20:14doing and and ultimately, you know,20:15upend you. But uh what I learned from20:18from working you know kind of embedding20:19in those teams is actually you know the20:22things that make those teams incredible20:24at operating large scale businesses20:27actually very much prevent them from20:29being successful at that sort ofation.20:33>> Exactly. And so it gave me I think if20:35anything a lot more uh confidence as as20:38an entrepreneur and operator but also20:40that this idea that startups will always20:42exist because they you know you have to20:46have that sort of magical alchemy of you20:49know some combination of uh you know20:51naive fearlessness I what have you to be20:54able to tackle you know sort of new20:55problems and attack problems you know20:58from different perspectives. And so21:00ultimately this cycle of you know21:02ambitious entrepreneurs starting you21:04know companies in in particular problem21:06spaces and ultimately getting you know21:08in in most best case scenarios acquired21:11by some of these large enterprises like21:13that cycle will never end because those21:15large enterprises whether they realize21:17it or not are actually almost like by21:19definition not able to to solve problems21:22in in that same way.21:24>> And uh Barry Street great name what21:27inspired the name? Yeah, I wish I had a21:29better story for this, but we started21:31the company on Berry Street in, you21:33know, I I live in Brooklyn. Uh, so21:35Williamsburg and Brooklyn has a Berry21:36Street and so kind of a I think this is21:38is somewhat of a classic startup tale of21:41we used it as a placeholder and then,21:43you know, all these years later, uh,21:44have have never changed it. Um, but we21:46liked it for obvious reasons, right?21:48Berry conotes health as well as Berry21:51Street's kind of it sounds like a street21:52that exists in every town in America.21:55And so we thought, oh, it'll, you know,21:57it'll make this21:58virtual practice feel kind of local. And22:02it never ceases to amaze me how much uh22:04I'll meet people from different cities22:07um especially the venture capitalists in22:08San Francisco and they'll say oh like22:10vent like Berry Street in San Francisco22:12or you know Berry Street here or there.22:13It's like yeah sure yeah where you know22:15it's in the eye of the beholder.22:17>> Yeah. It's actually interesting that uh22:20one of my favorite bands of all time was22:23unnamed for a while and they were22:26playing a lot with Bob Dylan in the 60s22:29and around Woodstock New York they were22:32just the band like oh yeah that's the22:33band like the local band and then like22:36eventually when they had to finally like22:38name themselves for their first album22:40they just called themselves the band and22:43you know they became very popular and22:45they had the uh last walts in the 70s s22:48that Martin Scorsesei directed that you22:50know still watch to this day. And uh you22:54know it's funny how some of those things22:55work.22:56>> You just gave me a new fun fact to uh to23:00uh delight my dad with as a huge classic23:02rock fan. I I've never heard that story23:04of the band's origin. Yeah.23:05>> For anyone who hasn't heard of them,23:08please do yourself a favor and just23:10listen to their like greatest hits23:12album. Unbelievable. So good. Um, so23:15anyways, how is nutrition counseling the23:17most underunilized23:19benefit in all of the American healthare23:21system?23:23>> Yeah, I mean for starters, most America23:25the majority of Americans have access to23:28this care. Again on we started our roots23:30are in commercial. So on most commercial23:32plans this is a covered benefit both as23:35preventative care and medical care. So23:37about roughly twothirds of Americans are23:39on commercial you know health plans and23:41then even on Medicare and Medicaid um23:43the coverage is more limited but there23:44is coverage for conditions like diabetes23:48some cases pre-diabetes23:50on a kidney disease and so um there are23:53a ton of Americans who have access to23:55this care in some shape or form and then23:57like I stressed earlier it's uh24:00universally relevant whether you're um24:02you know [clears throat] battling24:03chronic obesity whether you're you you24:06know, struggling with uh, you know,24:08chronic conditions like polycystic24:10ovarian syndrome, whether you're24:12suffering from an eating disorder,24:13whether you're struggling with your24:15sleep, you know, food is upstream of all24:20of, you know, how we're feeling every24:21day, good, good, bad, and ugly. And so24:24that combination of the access that24:26people have this coverage to see a24:28dietitian um almost always for free but24:30if not for free at at a really low cost24:32and then the relevance makes it um you24:34know almost shamefully underutilized to24:36this point.24:38>> This episode was brought to you by the24:40digital health team at direct recruiters24:43as well as the MVP growth partners team.24:46We are really excited on the direct24:48recruiter side to work with companies24:50including Lavango, Telodox, Hinch24:52Health, Lira, Vera, Progyny, CARAM,24:56[music] Rightway and many other great24:58companies from MVP growth partners.25:00We're really excited to [music] invest25:02in early stage digital health companies.25:04Our first is one imaging which we25:06couldn't be more excited about and25:08posterity being second and many more to25:10come. [music]25:11Thanks for watching and listening and25:13back to our episode.25:16Yeah. And this year your team raised 3025:18or excuse me $50 million. What would you25:21say to founders going out to raise right25:23now because this is not an easy25:25environment to raise funds?25:28>> Yeah. Well, I guess it depends uh what25:30kind of company you are because for some25:31companies um I think it's uh25:34>> if you have an AI solution, it's very25:36easy to raise money. Correct.25:38>> Yeah. And and you know, in all25:39seriousness, I would say um one piece of25:41advice is like you need uh I'm a big25:45believer in in AI. I'm definitely an AI25:47optimist. And so I I think you'd be uh25:51borderline negligent as a founder if you25:53don't have, you know, um a perspective25:55on how AI is going to um is is going to25:58be leveraged in your business. So you26:00you know, we all have to have an AI26:02story, I think, as table stakes these26:04days. But beyond that, a big thing I26:06think that I've I've learned over time26:07is authenticity really is is so so26:11valuable if you're approaching, you26:13know, any sort of stakeholder, whether26:15it's a, you know, an investor, a26:18customer, a partner, um, and you're26:21doing so inauthentically and you're26:22putting on, you know, some kind of air26:24cuz, you know, some other founder told26:26you to act a certain way, act aloof, you26:28know, because investors will respond26:30well to that. I've never found success26:33in being anyone other than myself. And26:35ultimately, you know, maybe it'll take26:37some more than some more more time than26:39others to to find that fit, but you're26:41going to find, you know, a fit of, you26:43know, investors who that authenticity26:46resonates with. And so, you know, when I26:48do get a chance to to, you know, advise26:51founders who are earlier in their26:52journey, that's something I I really26:53stress is, you know, I'm going to give26:55you a bunch of advice, but also put it26:57through your lens, right? Because, uh,26:59don't don't show up as me. uh show up as27:01yourself.27:02>> I like that. And what justified that $5027:05million raise? Like that's a huge27:07number. Shows a lot of investor27:09confidence. Like what was the uh success27:14that allowed you to raise that? And then27:16what are you using it for?27:18>> Yeah. Uh a few things. One, we we grew27:20really fast. So we started in January27:232023. Um and in just about 2 years we27:26scaled to you know several tens of27:28millions in annualized revenue. You know27:30we had attracted a large number of27:33dieticians and patients. Um so that just27:36rapid growth you know in and of itself27:38will attract a a lot of attention. Of27:40course we also did so very leanly. So I27:42come from a bootstrap background. Uh27:44Bershoot's actually my first27:45venturebacked company and so a lot of27:47that bootstrap DNA is is uh ingrained27:50within me and so we were very27:51resourceful especially early on. um to27:54make a lot out of very little and and27:56again part of that was that kind of27:58laser focus. But beyond just like the28:00the sheer lean growth that we achieved,28:04of course the market in of itself is28:07really big. Uh obesity is is the obvious28:10uh is the obvious one to focus on and28:12that's a tremendous one. But beyond28:14that, you know, just nutrition in28:16America is such a a uh massive rat's28:21nest of of a problem. ELP1s certainly28:24helped uh that became uh very much a28:28tailwind for this this entire space and28:30and a big focus uh for investors. Um and28:34then the other thing I would say that28:35that helped a lot was we're very28:37provider obsessed. We, you know, from28:40day zero really emphasized taking care28:43of dietitians and uh, you know,28:46providing as much resources, value as we28:49as we possibly can for them. And you28:52know, investors certainly do their28:54homework and um you know, we'll do28:56expert calls and customer interviews and28:59you know, there's a lot that we still29:01need to do better at, but one thing uh29:03we're very confident in is that our our29:04dietitians and and then ultimately our29:06patients have great experiences and and29:09great things to say about Berry Street.29:11And a lot of that comes down to, you29:13know, the care we put into their their29:15experiences with our company. A lot of29:18people in general just like use29:20nutritionist and dietician29:22interchangeably. [clears throat]29:23Can you give us your definition of like29:26the difference between the two?29:28>> Yeah. Um, if you've talked to any29:30dietitian, this is a this is a huge29:32issue for them. Dietitians really do not29:35like to be mclassified as as29:37nutritionists. So, dietitian is a a very29:40clear credential, right? There's the29:41Academy of Dietetics. This is a national29:44governing body that dictates what it29:46what it means to be a dietitian. And29:47dietitians have to jump through a lot of29:49hoops to achieve that that credential.29:51They have to get um you know bachelors29:53and master's degrees. They have to do a29:55two-year internship. They have to take29:57their their exam to become a dietitian.29:59And they have to do lots of continuing30:01education every 5 years to to keep that30:03credential. Dietitians have to have to30:05go through all those hoops to be a true,30:07you know, medical professional, a true30:09clinician. um which is why they can bill30:12insurance. Nutritionist means absolutely30:14nothing. There's no, you know,30:16universally um kind of accepted uh30:19credential for nutritionist, right? So,30:21you know, you and I could decide today30:23on this podcast that uh we're both30:26nutritionists and we're starting the30:27digital health heavyweights nutritionist30:29company. And so, this is a problem for30:31dietitians because at some point in the30:33I don't know 20th 21st century,30:35nutritionist kind of became invogue um30:38as a as a term. I always say like30:40nutritionist sounds like something the30:42Kardashians have and dietician sounds30:44like something you know our grandmothers30:46had. And so you know the Academy of of30:48Dietetics actually uh in the in the past30:51I think decade or so changed the title30:54or gave dietitians the option of30:55changing the title from registered30:57dietitian to registered dietitian30:59nutritionist to try to combat some of31:01this I think just sort of societal you31:03know view I guess as like which which31:06one is has a better brand. But yeah,31:08don't get it twisted. Dietitians are31:09very different from nutritionists. I31:11should also call out um there are other31:12credentials that are, you know, um that31:15are equally valid. So, uh we also work31:18with a credential called CNS. So, these31:20are certified nutrition specialists. Um31:23so, we are primarily registered31:25dietitians, but there's other31:26credentials that carry similar if not31:28equal heft, but nutritionist as a ter as31:31a standalone term does not carry much at31:33all.31:34>> Okay. really thank you for clarifying.31:37Walk us through the patient experience31:40of one of Barry Street's members.31:42>> Yes. So, if you go to barrystreet.com,31:44you'll go through a really simple intake31:46flow where we'll ask you, you know,31:49where are you located? Um, you know,31:51what's what are you looking for help31:52with and you know what your insurance31:54is. Then, you know, our intelligent kind31:57of matching algorithm behind the scenes31:59will surface the dietitians who we32:00believe are going to be the best fit for32:02you. You can sort through their profiles32:04and and ultimately decide on which32:06dietitian you prefer to work with, find32:08a time that works for you on their32:10schedule and then from there we will32:12verify your insurance. So for every32:14single patient who's coming through32:16Barry Street stores, the promise we make32:17for them is we're going to tell you32:19exactly what this is going to cost. You,32:21you know, you probably heard that from32:23an advertisement from a friend or a32:25family member that this is free. And so32:26there's a high bar when you, you know,32:28when people expect something to be free.32:29Um, so we take a lot of burden on behalf32:32of our patients to verify not just that32:34they're eligible for the service, but32:35what is their actual out-of- pocket cost32:37going to be, if anything, the32:38overwhelming majority of our patients32:39pay $0 out of pocket, but some plans do32:42require a small co-pay or um, you know,32:44even smaller percentage of plans,32:46unfortunately, don't cover this. So,32:48before your first appointment, we'll get32:49back to you most of the time instantly,32:51but for some patients, it it can take32:53slightly longer because we have to get32:54in touch with their insurance company to32:56verify that cost. And then you meet with32:58your dietitian on our own our own33:00virtual like telealth platform um where33:02the dietitian will you know first get to33:04know you get to know what you're33:05struggling with and then from there um33:07we leverage AI quite a bit to help the33:09dietitian give you as many you know sort33:11of resources as possible. So the33:12dietitian will develop a custom meal33:15plan for you based on of course what33:17you're looking to achieve in this work33:19with them but also you know what your33:21preferences are. If you mentioned in in33:23your session that you don't like, you33:24know, I don't know, nuts, then, you33:26know, you rest assured your meal plan33:27will certainly not include, you know,33:29any any nutbased uh recipes. So, that33:32meal plan will include a shopping list.33:34You know, all all of these assets that33:36will, you know, again, just increase the33:38likelihood that you're going to be able33:39to follow um and adhere to these sort of33:42sort of these guidelines. You know,33:44ultimately like keep up these small33:45behavior changes over time. And then33:47depending on the recommendation of the33:48dietitian, you'll meet weekly or or or33:51bi-weekly for some set period of time33:54depending on the condition you're coming33:55in with. We typically have a uh you know33:57sort of defined clinical pathway that34:00our uh clinical team has developed that34:02they believe is is the most efficacious34:04for what you're you're working on34:07>> and who is covered, you know, and it is34:10a completely free service. If you have34:12which health plans is this completely34:15free? Yeah, generally speaking, by the34:17way, as a as a relative newcomer to34:19healthcare, one of my favorite terms is34:21is BUA. Once I learned BUA, I can't stop34:23saying uh BUA. But, you know, whether34:25you're on a on, you know, one of the34:27Blue Cross plans, United, Sigma, or34:29Retina,34:30>> again, extreme, I'm painting with a34:31broad brush, but most of those plans34:33will have uh will have some amount of34:35coverage. Some more than others, but34:37typically all all quite generous. And34:39then um regional plans, not to count34:41them out, um typically do as well. It's34:44really on the commercial side. The plans34:46that don't have uh coverage for a34:48dietitian typ like it's usually that an34:50employer, you know, in their in their34:52specific plan design um pulled it out34:55for whatever reason.34:58Broadstrokes 94 95% of plans35:02anyone can see the dietitian under that35:04preventative coverage. Um so that35:06doesn't require any diagnosis. It35:08doesn't require referral to get this35:10care. Now you know either if you don't35:13have higher authorization to go seek.35:16>> Exactly. Most of the time, again,35:17there's this is healthcare in the US, so35:19there's always a million exceptions to35:20the rule. And then if you either if you35:22don't have that preventative coverage or35:24if you, you know, if you run out of it,35:25then most plans have medical coverage as35:27well, then you will need a diagnosis35:29depending on the plan, some diagnoses35:31will will qualify for more visits, some35:33won't. So, for example, I have a very t35:35typical uh Etna plan. I get 10 visits a35:38year preventative and then if I uh have35:41a qualifying diagnosis obesity I35:44actually qualify for 16 more. So 2635:47visits a year which on a bi-weekly35:48cadence is is practically unlimited and35:50and that we find is is pretty typical.35:53>> Okay.35:54Very very good. And walk us through just35:57the commercial go to market strategy35:59like how are you getting your patients36:02in the door and you know what type of36:04customers have you been able to sell?36:06Yeah. Um, it's evolved uh quite a bit36:08over time, but it started very simply.36:10So, because this is already a covered36:12benefit on most commercial plans, we36:14didn't need to go pound the pavement36:17selling to health plans or self-insured36:20employers in order to to to get off the36:23ground, right? We could actually go36:24direct to patients and say,36:26>> "Hey, you know, you have coverage for36:28this care. Um, why don't why don't you36:30try it out?" And ultimately leverage36:33channels like Instagram and Tik Tok to36:35do that. quite effectively. And then on36:37the dietitian side,36:37>> what do you have to do to become an in36:40network provider? [clears throat]36:42>> Yep. So to solve that sort of zero to36:44one problem, we actually acquired an36:47existing dietitionian practice. So my36:49teammate Marjorie Marjorie Conn was a36:52successful private practice dietitian in36:54the Philadelphia area. Um, and as I was36:56doing my customer discovery in the early36:57days, her and I really clicked and and36:59kind of saw this this shared vision for,37:02you know, where dietetics could be37:04brought and how much um how much37:06opportunity there was being left on the37:08table here. And so we acquired her37:11practice to get some of those initial37:13contracts, uh, you know, in network37:14contracts with with health plans. But37:17ultimately, again, because it's a37:19covered benefit, we could continue to37:20add more dietitians and just enroll37:23individual providers. And ultimately as37:25you know that started to snowball and37:26our group got bigger, we could enroll as37:28a group, get group contracts and37:30ultimately you know expand to national37:32contracts eventually. Um and so on the37:35dietitian side being able to just enroll37:37them. And on the patient side being able37:39to just treat them as simple as that37:41sounds was a very uh effective way to37:43get started. And then now that we're at37:45the scale um that that we've achieved in37:47in a few years um we're able to evolve37:49beyond that kind of direct to consumer37:51go to market to work more directly with37:53the health plans with employers um with37:56TPAs to service their membership because37:59you know this this care is so cost38:01effective.38:02>> Fantastic. And can you walk us through38:03some clinical outcomes data like do you38:06have any statistics to show how Barry38:09Street's helping the endatient?38:11Yeah, one of the challenges in our38:13clinical outcomes is we are again not38:15just I I sound like a broken record, but38:17not just a weight loss company, right?38:18We're a nutrition company. And so we38:20have really dozens of different kind of38:22patient populations that we treat. Of38:25course, weight loss is is the obvious38:26one. And so we actually just uh released38:29um some clinical outcomes data around38:30our our GLP1 pathway program. And so38:34this pathway program involves three38:35paths. So there's patients who are38:37looking to explore getting on a GLP1 but38:39not yet ready to make that leap or maybe38:41their health plan prevents them from38:43accessing GLP-1 coverage until they you38:45know complete a program like this. Then38:47you know once patients are on the on the38:49medications you know giving them that38:51nutritional support that they need and38:53then lastly sustain we call it which is38:55you know the program to you know titrate38:57off those drugs and sustain the the39:00benefits that you you gain from them.39:01And so as part of this program, we39:03looked at the the clinical outcomes data39:05from our weight loss patients who were39:06on GLP-1s and our patients who were, you39:08know, exploring GLP1s but not yet on39:10them. And um we found some pretty39:12remarkable data. So, you know, my39:14clinical team would pick me under the39:15table if they heard me right now cuz I39:16don't have the data immediately in front39:18of me, but roughly speaking, patients39:20who stuck with the program for 6 months39:22who were on GLP1s lost an average of39:25about 24 lbs. and patients who were not39:27on GLP1s and you know stayed on the39:29program for uh 6 months lost an average39:32of about 17 lbs. And so of course a big39:34difference between those two but still39:36we're really proud of that outcome on39:38the nonGLP1 side. Not to say that one39:40journey is better than than the other.39:42We're we're big supporters and believers39:44of of weight loss medications. But it39:46just goes to show that patients can39:47achieve great outcomes with or without39:49the medication. And it really depends on39:51their specific situation which which39:53ends up being the best path for them.39:55With the explosion of GLP1 availability,39:58adoption, and now in the last couple40:00weeks even affordability,40:02how does Barry Street, you know, kind of40:04fit into this like cultural zeitgeist of40:07GLP1s and what does it mean for the40:09future of how this condition is handled40:12going forward?40:14>> Yeah, it's it's funny. Not so much40:16anymore, but uh maybe a year or two ago,40:18a lot of overzealous uh venture40:21capitalists would say, "Hey, you know,40:22in a future where everyone's on these40:24these new drugs, who needs a dietitian,40:27right? This problem is already solved.40:28Why would why would I need this?" But40:30the reality couldn't be further from the40:31truth. So, a few thoughts. One, again,40:34we are we are sort of medication40:35agnostic, right? Some patients really40:37benefit tremendously from these40:38medications. Some patients really don't40:40want to be on them for a variety of40:43reasons, personal or rational, right?40:45Maybe they try these medications and40:47they're having adverse side effects that40:48are just, you know, too much to bear.40:50And so for patients who who either40:53willfully or, you know, for other40:55reasons just, you know, do not want to40:57take these drugs, dietitians are proven41:00clinically cost effective way to to lose41:03weight. But you know more relevantly for41:04this trend like even if you're on the41:06medications it's really important that41:08you have that nutritional support. Um so41:11you know a lot of we've all read the41:13stories of patients you know losing lean41:15muscle mass and other some of these41:17other side effects of these drugs. It's41:19very unintuitive to be on these drugs41:21because you're not particularly hungry.41:23Um, and so the problem there is41:25patients, you know, sometimes aren't41:26eating enough, as as kind of funny as41:28that sounds, and then they're not eating41:30enough of the vital nutrients that their41:32their body needs to thrive. And so, um,41:34a lot of our dietitians are, you know,41:36experts in in GLP-1s. Many of them were41:38even, um, you know, parts of some of41:40these early clinical trials. Um, and so41:43there's a very specific way, uh, you41:45know, you might need to eat to make sure41:47you're getting your proteins and and,41:49you know, some of these other vital41:50nutrients in that, you know, sort of41:52existence where you're you're not41:53particularly hungry and you get full41:55quite often. You also might be digesting41:57certain foods differently than you did41:58before you're on the medication. And42:00then lastly, and this um, you know, is42:02the optimist in me. You know, I'm a42:04founder, so of course I'm an optimist. I42:05think it's really unfair and porative42:08uh, this idea that Americans, you know,42:10kind of want the easy button, right?42:11They want to be on drugs for the rest of42:13their life. I'm a big believer that42:14people want to live long, happy, healthy42:17lives. And ideally, they'd like to do so42:19without being reliant on medications.42:21And these medications are not easy to to42:23live on. They're truly like,42:25>> you know, technological breakthroughs.42:27Um, but they're not without their42:28challenges. And so giving patients a42:30path to get the most out of uh these42:33medications and then eventually uh a42:35glide path off of them where they can42:38again sustain those gains or or um you42:40know the progress that they've made from42:43the medication um but ultimately you42:45know build the behaviors that will serve42:48them without the sort of medication42:51preventing some of these bad behaviors.42:53>> Yeah. Again, if you have a suppressed42:55appetite, you can still eat like a Big42:57Mac and a, you know, milkshake and still43:00lose weight. Like, I don't know if that43:02is a good long-term solve for someone's43:05like long-term health journey, but like43:06if you only have one goal and one goal43:09in mind, like it is possible. So, the43:11way I look at it is GLP1s are a tool,43:14but they should not be a crutch. Um, and43:17I think when people are on GLP1s, yes,43:21it suppresses the appetite. Yes, it43:23makes it easier for someone to have a43:25lower caloric intake, but at the same43:28time, if you are not getting coached in43:31real time of okay, there will be a43:35reality in 6 months or 12 months or 1843:38months where you are off the drug and43:40like that is no longer going to be the43:42case where like you just have a43:43suppressed appetite. How are you going43:45to be able to maintain this new healthy43:48weight that you eventually are going to43:50be at? And how do you sustain that for43:52decades, you know, in the future?43:54Because again, what I'm seeing from my43:56lens is there are employers out there43:59that are just saying, "Hey, we can't44:01take the risk to cover this because we44:03could be on the hook to cover it44:05forever." And if that happens, like44:08we're not going to be able to44:09financially support that and we're going44:11to have to start raising premiums and44:14co-pays and all things like a benefits44:16department does not want to do. So a lot44:18of them are just carving it out saying44:20hey like GLP1s we're not even touching44:22it if you want it private pay buy it44:25yourself like we can't even you know44:28have it within the benefits design so I44:30think what Barry Street is doing is so44:34crucial because it is preparing someone44:37for life after being off the medication44:41and that is the key to long-term like44:43longevity and long-term health. Well,44:46absolutely. And and something people44:47don't really talk that much about, but44:49>> change.44:50>> Yeah.44:50>> That needs to be ingrained, not44:53necessarily just the number on the44:54scale.44:56>> 100%. But that kickstart is so we see it44:59every day with some of our patients,45:00right? If you're someone who's been45:01struggling with chronic obesity for your45:04entire life, starting to see that number45:07go down is a really powerful idea. Um,45:10but something else people don't talk a45:12lot about is adherence is also a45:13challenge because these drugs, you know,45:15have some unpleasant side effects.45:17Sometimes, you know, patients don't45:19stick on them long enough. And that's45:20actually kind of the worst of all45:22problems because it's an expense, you45:24know, maybe that the employer um or the45:26health plan bore, they didn't actually45:29get the outcome. Uh, and now the patient45:32is kind of back to where they were45:33before. And so worse because they lost45:37some muscle mass because they weren't45:39eating properly, nutrition as you said.45:42Same thing with uh losing the weight too45:44quickly and you know not maintaining45:47that and then like their metabolism is45:49even worse off even at the same weight.45:51So again, like there's just so many45:54intricacies45:56that you do need a clinician kind of45:58looking over and monitoring to make sure46:01you're setting yourself up for long-term46:03health. And I don't want to come off as46:05like the preachy, judgy person. I saw46:07this with my own like father in his46:10health journey. About 15 years ago, he46:12got gastric bypass and he lost all this46:16weight and that was fantastic. But like46:18he had heard the horror stories of46:20people [clears throat] that you know got46:22down within a year, two years and then46:26five ten years later they're right back46:28up and like their stomach expanded again46:31and like they might have had to get the46:33surgery for a second time or just said46:35all right well maybe I'm helpless and46:38this is my life now. Luckily and you46:40know really proud of him he noticed that46:43like hey I can't just keep doing the46:45same thing and expecting a different46:46result. So, you know, does he still eat46:50some of his favorite foods and, you46:52know, definitely isn't like the picture46:54of like a healthy diet necessarily, but46:56like major improvements, much different46:59portion sizes and uh, you know, has47:02really tried to prioritize like not um,47:06you know, acting like it's Super Bowl47:08Sunday every day and you know, maybe47:10being a little more choosy and picky47:11like when to uh, you know, have a uh,47:14splurge so to speak. So again, I saw it,47:18you know, in my own parents' journey47:21that yes, you can make a drastic change.47:23You know, you can get the quote unquote47:25easy button, but it's how you react47:27after. It's how you adapt after that,47:30you know, is really what's important. Um47:32>> Yeah. I I love that story, by the way,47:33because, you know, you're right. It's47:35not Super Bowl Sunday every day, but it47:37is Super Bowl Sunday once a year, right?47:39And so like that that again, back to47:40that idea of food freedom.47:42>> Yeah. Nobody's perfect. and having that47:44that that ability to to indulge and47:47right like life's short. We all have our47:49favorite foods. We should be able to be47:51enjoy them, but of course enjoy them in47:53moderation and and you know the rest of47:54the time and try to keep up those those47:56good habits. But you know letting47:58yourself off the hook every once in a47:59while uh is also a really impactful48:02idea.48:02>> I have a funny story because it happens48:05to be timely. This is like when everyone48:07gets their like holiday cards and48:09holiday gifts out. And historically, my48:12firm in the past always would send48:14cookies to our clients houses as like a48:16thank you for like the business and the48:18partnership. So, obviously me and health48:21and wellness like I have a very48:23different customer base than a lot of my48:24other partners. And one of my clients,48:28uh, Jim Pley, the CCO of Lavango, one48:31year calls me and goes, "Norm, I really48:33appreciate the gifts, but please no48:35cookies this year. Like my wife said, I48:38don't want them in the house. I don't48:39want the kids to have them. Like, just48:41send a thank you card. I don't need the48:43cookies." I'm like, "All right, fine."48:45And he said, "But just know moderation,48:48even in moderation, occasionally like do48:52your thing." So, you know, even uh you48:54know, folks who are in the space like48:56also acknowledge that hey, when push48:59comes to shove, no one's perfect. We're49:01all human and uh it's not about not49:04falling off the horse. It's you just got49:06to get up every time. Uh so, I do want49:09to ask you,49:11>> I ask every single person that comes on49:12this podcast, I'm going to ask you a49:14couple things that are all personal and49:16behavior-based. Uh we're all leaders in49:19this space. I think it's important we49:20practice what we preach. You're in a49:22very stressful job. You're the CEO of a49:24ventureback startup that just got a big49:26check and with that comes big49:28expectations. How do you de-stress and49:31how do you um stay very centered in a49:36very stressful environment?49:39>> A few things come to mind. One is uh you49:41know I'm I live in New York City. Um and49:43so whether I like it or not, I walk all49:45the time. Um, also my wife and I rescued49:49a border collie mix about a year and a49:51half ago. And again, whether we realize49:54it or not, that dog needs a lot of49:55walking. And so, um, I find, you know,49:58just going on long walks in in the city50:00is a great way to, you know, just sort50:02of relax and and get your mind, um, uh,50:06you know, kind of operating in a50:07different space. So, that's that's a50:09huge thing for me. I I you know, my step50:11my my uh step count every day is is is50:14usually pretty shocking if work's not50:16terribly busy. Um, and another one is50:19kind of very relevant to everything50:21we've been chatting about, but enjoying,50:23you know, enjoying meals with with my50:25wife, enjoying meals with family, uh,50:26enjoying meals with friends, and really50:28taking that time to, you know, set the50:30phone down and and just enjoy the50:32company and and enjoy um, a hopefully50:35healthy, but, you know, sometimes not50:37meal amongst, you know, uh, company50:39that, you know, does not want to hear50:42about business. And so I I I kind of get50:44to turn that part of my brain off and50:46and uh you know chat about other topics50:48which often helps me come back to to50:51business with a a renewed renewed focus.50:53>> And another thing we want to you know50:56always encourage people to do is you50:58know try new things. And I think part of51:00that is like in diet like trying new51:03recipes trying new cuisines. So in your51:05own health journey, are there any51:07favorite recipes that you've, you know,51:09mastered over the years that help you,51:11you know, again, ward off cravings? And51:14at the same time, you, you know, find51:17them very flavorful, but also nourishing51:20and makes you feel better.51:22>> Yeah. It's funny because I I had51:23listened to, you know, to some episodes51:25and knew this question was coming, but I51:27didn't know about this healthy twist. So51:28the recipe that I have in mind is is not51:30a particularly healthy one, but I'll51:31give you a very51:32>> make a version of it. Well, I'll give51:34you a very this is not quite a it would51:36be a stretch to call this a recipe. Um,51:38but this is a is a like classic example51:40of some of the less obvious learnings51:43that you know you'll get from working51:44with a dietitian. I love bananas. I have51:47eaten a banana like every morning for51:50you know as long as I can remember.51:51Eating a just a banana in the morning is51:53a lot of fructose and not much else. And51:56so my dietitian told me pair that banana51:58with a spoonful of of peanut butter and52:00you'll one you'll probably enjoy it52:02more. Um, but that combination of of the52:04fruit and, you know, some protein from52:06the peanut butter among, you know, some52:07healthy fats will help you, you know,52:10you'll sustain, you'll feel fuller52:11longer and and have that sustained52:13energy instead of, you know,52:15>> Yeah, exactly. Um, you took the word out52:17of my mouth. And so without that sort of52:19quick sugar rush and crash and so I have52:22a a banana with some peanut butter every52:23morning. And so again, a stretch to call52:25that a recipe. Um, but it makes a huge52:27difference. That's like such a tiny52:28change that that ends up um you know52:31really helping me on on on my dayto-day.52:33And then the recipe I was going to share52:34with you is I thought it was a family52:37recipe, but there's you know my mom has52:39been cooking banana bread for as long as52:41I can remember and her her grandma52:42before that. So sticking with the banana52:44theme and I thought it was this secret52:46recipe that was passed down for52:47generations and I bought a bag of I52:50think it was a King Arthur flour a few52:52years ago and was looking and it was the52:54exact same recipe. Yeah. So, I like it.52:57>> Well, again, like there are52:59>> healthy ways to make anything. And53:01again, sometimes you want it just the53:03way you was growing up. And, uh, there's53:07nothing wrong with that either. So,53:08again, thank you so much. Interestingly53:10enough, my wife eats at least two,53:13sometimes three, uh, rice cracker,53:17peanut butter, and banana like stacked53:21openf face sandwiches as her like53:23dessert. And it's powdered peanut53:25butter. So, like not the oil and fat,53:27but just like the taste. So, she's a53:29health nut. And that's like her, you53:31know, splurge, which I laugh cuz it's53:33like probably one of the healthier53:35things I would eat on a day.53:36>> I was going to say that sounds kind of53:37like um Elvis was famous for eating some53:40version of of that, but obviously a much53:43much more unhealthy version. So, that's53:45uh you know, Elvis would be spinning in53:47his grave if he heard about this rice53:48cracker. Correct. Uh rendition. My wife53:51has been a very good influence on me53:53when it comes to nutrition and health.53:55So anyways, you know, really appreciate53:57it, Noah, for joining us on the Digital53:59Health Heavyweights podcast. Congrats on54:02all your success and your team success54:04at Barry Street. And we could not be uh54:06bigger fans, and we're wishing for a lot54:09more success in the coming years, and54:10we'd love to hear from how you're doing54:13as the uh months and years go by. Take54:15care.54:16>> Thanks so much for having me, Ar.54:17>> Thanks.54:19Thank you for joining. Please like,54:21comment, and subscribe below if you54:23enjoyed it.
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