Episodes

Welcome to OpTEAmized, the podcast teaching athletes how tea can optimize longevity, recovery, & performance! My name is Vince LaPelusa, and I am a brazilian jiu jitsu purple belt who has been drinking tea for over 10 years now and my mission is to teach YOU how to work with tea so you can recover quicker, play longer, & be more competitive in your athletic pursuits. As athletes, we are always striving to be better, whatever that means for you. We are always thinking there is someone out there...

Welcome to OpTEAmized, the podcast teaching athletes how tea can optimize longevity, recovery, & performance. My name is Vince LaPelusa, and I am a brazilian jiu jitsu purple belt who has been drinking tea for over 10 years now and my mission is to teach YOU how to work with tea so you can recover quicker, play longer, & be more competitive in your athletic pursuits. As athletes we don’t always perceive tea & our athletic performance going hand in hand. Well, why is that? Is it due to marketin...

Welcome to OpTEAmized, the podcast teaching athletes how tea can optimize longevity, recovery, & performance. Let’s face it…as athletes we are under a lot of stress! Whether it be physical stress from our hard training sessions or mental stress from a competition coming up or a recent injury, being an athlete is stressful. Well, what if I told you there are teas you can work with to lower these anxieties & stressors? Today, my guest Lily Beyer & I are going to explore those herbs, some more po...

Welcome to OpTEAmized, the podcast teaching athletes how tea can optimize longevity, recovery, & performance. The health benefits of tea have always been discussed in the sense of antioxidants, anti-cancer properties, & other physical responses. While these are valid & need to be discussed, have you ever thought of working with tea from the mental, emotional, & spiritual aspect? Have you ever thought how these aspects effect your athletic performance? Today, my guest Suzette ('Sooz') Hammond &...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to OpTEAmized, teaching athletes how tea can optimize longevity, recovery, & performance. Today Vince hosted Jack Joseph of Komunity Kombucha. Jack & Vince grew up playing football together. In Jack's time on the field he discovered how the power of tea, herbs, & kombucha could help level up his game. Tune into today's episode to hear Jack's journey with herbs & tea & why kombucha might just be your new go to sport's drink?! Links: DrinkKomKom.com Komunity Kombuch...

Hey what's up TEAmigos?!? Welcome to OpTEAmized, teaching athletes how tea can optimize longevity, recovery, & performance. Today Vince wanted to take a step back & reintroduce himself, his athletic experiences, & how tea has played an important role for his journey. Tune into this brand new podcast premise to hear all about Vince's tea journey & how tea can impact yours. Looking to meet like minded athletic tea lovers? Want to learn from others on how tea is changing & optimizing their games?...

What's up TEAmigo?!? Welcome to OpTEAmized, the show teaching athletes how tea can optimize longevity, recovery, & performance. My name is Vince LaPelusa & I am your host on this journey. I am a tea lover, chemical engineer, Brazilian jiu jitsu purple belt, & I am thrilled to be here with you! Are you an athlete looking to optimize longevity, recovery, & performance naturally & holistically? Do you love your sport & plan to do it for the rest of your life? Do you often feel unmotivated to show...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. Today Vince hosted Rachelle Robinett founder of Pharmakon Supernatural. Rachelle is a supernatural herbalist looking to connect the functions of nature for your life. Are you new to herbalism or have been stuck in the weeds with all the herbalism terminology? Are you curious about adaptogens & understanding what they are? Have you recently contracted COVID & are looking for ways to keep you...

In Ep 5 of the Deep Steeps series, Vince answers the questions, "Why is loose leaf better than teabags?" & "What is my teabag made out of?". This episode feeds directly off "Ep 4: The 5 Brewing Techniques Of Tea". Dig into that episode first if you haven't! Vince will dig into the 4 reasons he chooses loose leaf & why you should to! If you drink tea often & care about your health, the planets health, & even your wallet then this is the episode for you! Looking to meet like minded athletic tea ...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. Today Vince hosted John Boyd founder of Buddha Teas. Have you ever wondered about whether or not it is important to drink organic tea? Or have you asked yourself what your tea bag is made out of? Well John & Vince discuss in detail the importance of both of those questions & much more! John was born in the UK & when he moved to the US he founded Buddha Teas with a mission of providing high...

In Ep 4 of the Deep Steeps series, Vince answers the questions, "What's the best brewing technique for tea?" or "Brewing techniques, isn't it just hot water on my tea bag?". This episode feeds directly off "Ep 3: The Effect Of Time & Temperature On Tea". Dig into that episode first if you haven't! Vince will dig into the 5 most common tea brewing techniques, their differences, & the pros & cons of each! Who knows maybe you can try a new technique today?! Looking to meet like minded athletic te...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. Today Vince hosted Dr. Paria Vaziri. Paria is a doctor of naturopathy whose aim is to assist women in taking control of their health through sustainable lifestyles rather than quick fixes. If you are someone who feels bloated, fatigued, have brain fog, or generally off, then tune into our conversation to hear Dr. Paria discuss her 4 areas of focus & how tea & herbs have helped her manage ea...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. Today Vince hosted Darya Rose PhD. Darya is an author of Foodist & Summer Tomato, podcast host, a neuroscience PhD, former dieter, wife, & mother. If you are someone who has tried every diet under the sun & failed, think of green tea as a weight loss supplement, or are simply interested in digging into how the neuroscience of dieting works, then this is the show for you. Tune into our conv...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. Today Vince hosted Miriam Novalle. Miriam is founder of T Salon & High Tea & has been in the tea world for over 30 years now! Tune into today's episode to learn how tea is a 5 senses experience, hear Miriam's many wild adventures within her tea journey, how actress Uma Thurman inspired Miriam's tea journey, & so much more. Find Miriam's work using the links below! TSalon.com HighTea.today...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. Today Vince hosted Dr. William Li. William W. Li, MD, is an internationally renowned physician, scientist and author of the New York Times bestseller “Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself.” His groundbreaking work has led to the development of more than 30 new medical treatments and impacts care for more than 70 diseases including cancer, diabetes, blindness...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. Today Vince hosted Naoko Tsunoda, founder of Key To Teas. Naoko grew up with a love for baking & worked in corporate jobs. After experiencing some tragedies in her life, Naoko realized her passion was doe tea & pursued it whole heartedly. She created Key To Teas with mission of creating modern-day tea culture by delivering the highest quality, innovative tea products with a social responsib...

What's up TEAmigos?! Have you ever wondered where the best tea houses are in the world? Have you ever walked into a tea shop & was overwhelmed with options? In this episode Vince hosts Monica Kieff of the Travel Through Tea Instagram blog. Monica started Travel Through Tea as a personal journal to keep note of all her tea travels. Now for all you tea & travel lovers out there this is the spot to check out for magical tea experiences around the world. Find Monica's work & travels at @TravelThro...

Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. Today Vince hosted Conor Millstein founder of Inside Out Movement Systems. We all know the benefits of movement and the importance of fitness. We want to do what we love without pain or restriction. IsO Movement Systems envisions a new definition of sustainable health and wellness, one that doesn't conform to the standard fitness model but instead insists on constantly raising the bar. They prioritize competi...

What's up TEAmigos?! Welcome to Fresh Steeps, uncovering the health benefits of tea for your active life. My name is Vince LaPelusa, tea lover & chemical engineer with a passion for healthy practices. I am honored to be your guide on this tea journey. Today I talked with Nazanin of the Tea Thoughts blog & shop. Nazanin has grown up in a house of tea & has known nothing else. Her love for the beverage has been a release for her in creative way through the blog Tea Thoughts. As her journey contin...

What's up TEAmigos?!? You may have noticed some changes to the show. I wanted to stop in & give you a little update on what's going on! If you have any questions or comments reach out to me via Instagram DMs (Insta link here). I look forward to continuing this journey with you & optimizing the show continuously for your entertainment, education, & pleasure. Have a great day! Looking to meet like minded athletic tea lovers? Want to learn from others on how tea is changing & optimizing their gam...

In Ep 3 of the Deep Steeps series, Vince answers the questions, "Why does tea leave a dry feeling in my mouth?" or "Why my tea is too bitter?". This episode feeds directly off "Ep 2: What Is In Tea? A Scientific Breakdown Of Your Cup Of Tea". Dig into that episode first if you haven't! Vince will dig into the proper steep times & temperatures for each tea leaving you with a better sense of how to make the most of your next tea experience. Be sure to subscribe so that you can stay up to date wh...

In this episode Vince hosts Tim Borowski. Tim is a myokinesthetic practitioner & healthcare entrepreneur (if you don't know what that is, don't worry he will explain!). Tim & Vince unock the amazing benefits of tea, herbs, & supplements & dig deep into the mind/body connection & how it often is the missing link of recovery. Check out Tim's work at axon-movement.com or on Instagram @Axon_MVMT. Sponsors: Thank you to our sponsor at TIT Teas! Drink tea & support breast cancer research by getting...

In Ep 2 of the Deep Steep series, Vince answers the question what is in my cup of tea? With his scientific background as a chemical engineer, he is interested in learning why tea tastes the way it does & what effects the flavor from a chemical point of view? He breaks down the compounds you can find into 1 of 7 categories: methylxanthines, polyphenols, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, or volatiles. Listen to him ramble on about the importance of each of these compounds & how they...

In this episode Vince hosts Drew McNamara, founder of Creative Souls. Creative Souls provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to earn money by creating art printed onto shoes and apparel. Making an impact one Creative Soul at a time! In this episode we not only dug deep into the Creative Souls mission & story, but also what it is like to live with disabilities & then shifted gears to travel experiences & how tea influenced the travel life. Check out Drew's work at BeCreativeSoul...