The wait is over! Season 9 of Essential Ingredients is finally here, and it's the most impactful and eye-opening season yet, and we can't wait to share it with you! Get ready to meet the visionary entrepreneurs, passionate activists, and pioneering innovators who are transforming our food systems in remarkable ways.

From the farmers who nurture the grains, to the millers who coax out their complex flavors, to the bakers who transform these flours into loaves that nourish the soul, these artisans play a crucial role in preserving the unique tastes of their regions.

The wellness industry has experienced a remarkable transformation in recent years, as consumers increasingly seek natural, holistic solutions to address their health and well-being. Founded by serial entrepreneur Shizu Okusa, Apothekary offers a range of herbal remedies, functional foods, and educational resources to empower people to take a more proactive approach to their health.

Our local markets and farms are brimming with a diverse array of ingredients. Yet, many of us pass them by because of their peculiar appearance or because we may be unsure of how to incorporate them into our cooking.

Exploradora Coffee is a socially conscious coffee roaster co-founded by Wade Johnson, her mother Alison, and her sister, Hollis. By exclusively sourcing from women farmers and reinvesting in programs for coffee growers, Exploradora Coffee promotes food security as well as economic and social empowerment.

Snacktivist Foods is a food innovation company that is transforming underutilized crops into healthier comfort foods using ancient grains and ingredients. Founded by former nurse Joni Kindwall-Moore, Snacktivist's mission is to elevate nutrition and sustainability through innovative plant-based products.

The traditional camping aisle has long been due for an overhaul. Into this space have stepped innovators who understand the modern outdoors person. Poe&Co. is a catering and food products company founded by chefs and partners Jamie Poe and Jayson Poe.

Because of our busy schedules, it's all too easy to rush through meal preparation on autopilot. Aishwarya Iyer’s passion for conscious cooking inspired her to create Brightland, where she strives to elevate people's connection to their food through products that encourage mindfulness.

This week, Justine sits down with Marshall Bartlett, the co-founder and CEO of Home Place Pastures, a fifth-generation family farm in Mississippi that has transformed over the past decade to practice regenerative agriculture through rotational grazing of grass-fed beef and pastured pork.

Founded by Connor Godfrey, Rasāsvāda is a spirit restorative company that creates herbal spirits using traditional Chinese medicinal plants and ingredients. Rasāsvāda aims to help consumers on their lifelong wellness journeys through plant-based remedies without preservatives that promote healing and restore balance.

Conscious drinking is gaining popularity as people recognize that alcohol consumption is a choice where informed decisions matter. Younger generations especially are looking for drinking experiences to satisfy their desire to socialize without sacrificing how they feel.

Led by Jared Damman, WildKind Packaging, a sustainable packaging manufacturer, utilizes innovative digital printing technology to make compostable packaging more accessible and cost-effective. With over 15 years of experience in product development and manufacturing, Jared was inspired to launch WildKind to create a meaningful environmental impact.

Listen in as Justine interviews 6Seeds co-founders, Kate Burns and Andreas Duess to discuss how understanding real customer behaviors through data empowers entrepreneurs to expand their brand beyond initial expectations.

Bread is a simple yet profound food that has sustained cultures for millennia. More than just a vehicle for nutrients, bread represents community, tradition, and comfort. This week, Justine interviews Molly Carney to discuss the time-honored craft of artisanal bread baking and its impact on community health and sustainability.

This week, Justine sits down with James Beard Award-winning ice cream maker and founder of Jeni's IceCreams, Jeni Britton and Michelin-starred chef, Jeremy Nelson, to discuss their new venture, Floura, a company creating high-fiber, prebiotic snacks and ingredients from upcycled produce trimmings.

While we're often told the importance of "eating the rainbow" each day, many struggle to fit those colorful servings of produce into their busy routines. This week, Justine is joined by Amber Benson, the Co-Founder of Ruvi, a company that uses freeze-dried technology to preserve the nutrients in fruits and vegetables while making them easy to enjoy anytime in a convenient powder form.

Soil health is the foundation of our food systems and ecosystems. In this episode, Justine interviews Sarah Wentzel Fisher about the transformative potential of getting more people involved in agriculture and stewarding soil health.

Kourtney Jason is the Co-Founder of Pacific & Court, a boutique book publicity and digital marketing firm based in Brooklyn. She helps small businesses and independent authors and publishers to expand their media outreach through various digital marketing services.

Aditya is the founder and CEO of Awarity, a digital advertising platform that helps small businesses efficiently build brand awareness. With over a decade of experience in marketing, he was able to make targeted and data-driven advertising affordable and accessible for all businesses.

Led by CEO Todd Rands, ELO Life Systems is developing sustainable, natural ingredients by engineering plant biofactories. With decades of experience in molecular biology, agriculture, and venture capital, Todd's vision is for ELO to make healthier, plant-based products accessible to all through agricultural innovation.