December 9th 2024
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Dr. Will Cole
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In this transformative episode of The Art of Being Well, I sit down with my friend Jason Karp, founder of Hu Kitchen and The Human Co., to explore the intersections of wellness, innovation, and activism. Jason reveals the inspiration behind Hu Kitchen’s mission, the rise of their famous chocolate, and his journey to creating True Food Kitchen and The Human Co. He shares how psychedelic therapy helped him heal from a dark time and inspired his dedication to wellness and transparency in the food industry. We also dive into his activist letter to Kellogg’s, the spiritual ties to food reform, and his response to critiques from the wellness community. Whether you’re passionate about wellness, food reform, or personal growth, this episode is packed with insights that will leave you inspired.
Jason H. Karp is the Founder and CEO of HumanCo, a mission-driven company investing in and building brands focused on healthier living and sustainability. He is also the Co-Founder of Hu Kitchen, which created the #1 premium organic chocolate in the U.S. After spending over 21 years in the hedge fund industry, where he led a $4 billion investment fund, Jason shifted his focus to fixing the broken food system in the U.S. As a long-time activist investor, he has been a vocal advocate for cleaner food options and continues his fight against the use of harmful ingredients, including launching a shareholder activist suit against Kellogg’s for their use of artificial food dyes. His efforts focus on promoting transparency in the food industry while also addressing the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases, chronic illnesses, and childhood obesity. Jason graduated summa cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
A few of my favorite things we cover in this episode:
- The founding of Hu Kitchen: How Jason Karp turned a vision into a beloved restaurant and the surprising story behind the creation of their iconic chocolate.
- Jason’s transition to True Food Kitchen and The Human Co.: Building a new legacy in wellness and innovation.
- The Human Co. portfolio: A deep dive into the brands under its umbrella and their shared mission.
- Healing through psychedelic therapy: Jason’s transformative journey from a dark period in his life to a place of renewal, and how it inspired his future endeavors.
- Jason’s role in the Psychedelic Science Funding Collaborative: Supporting cutting-edge research alongside some of the largest philanthropists in the United States.
- Jason’s activist letter to Kellogg’s in March 2024: The catalyst behind this bold move and its implications for big food reform.
- Addressing criticism from the wellness community: Jason’s response to the idea that wellness advocates shouldn’t care about brands like Kellogg’s.
- The spiritual connection to food reform: Jason’s thoughts on the deeper, often overlooked ties between spirituality, food, and the state of big food industries.
- Jason’s take on skepticism within the wellness community: Exploring concerns over alliances with figures like Bobby Kennedy and the wellness world’s role in broader cultural movements.
Links to things we talked about in this episode:
Happy listening and we hope you learned a little bit more on the art of being well!
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In Health,
Dr. Will Cole
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