In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, host Marina Castillo sits down with Lila Volkas (non-alcoholic beverage educator, holistic nutritionist) to explore the powerful intersection of mindful drinking, functional mixology, and plant-based wellness education.

Together, they dive deep into Lila’s journey from health challenges to herbal healing, her love for DIY elixirs and alcohol-free mixology, and how she now leads corporate team-building workshops that transform even the most skeptical whiskey drinkers into curious NA converts.

Whether you’re a sober-curious consumer, a non-alcoholic bar or bottle shop owner, or a functional beverage entrepreneur, this episode is a must-listen. You’ll learn how to create inclusive wellness experiences, use everyday kitchen ingredients like apple cider vinegar and citrus peels to elevate your drinks, and shift the narrative around celebration and community without alcohol.

We also discuss the rise of adaptogens, kava, herbalism in modern mixology, and how to empower your audience (or customers) with ingredient education and intentional storytelling. Lila shares her tips on making NA fun, inclusive, and healing, from her early days as a spin instructor and kombucha workshop leader to now leading high-impact beverage education courses all over the country.

🔗 Want to learn more or start creating your own beverage movement?
Visit LilaVolkas.com or check the episode description for links.

🎓 For mixologists, facilitators, and brands:
Grab our Ultimate Non-Alc Menu Kit to learn how to communicate your NA menus →
https://www.marinamars.com/product-page/the-ultimate-non-alc-menu-kit

Struggling to price your drinks? Wondering why your non-alc menu isn’t selling? In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, we’re walking you through the exact system used by top-performing sober bars and beverage entrepreneurs to create intentional, profitable, and scalable drink menus.

Marina shares horror stories from behind the scenes of bad menus, then introduces the Ultimate Non-Alc Menu Creation Guide: a plug-and-play system for bars, bottle shops, kava lounges, and wellness founders.

Learn how to:
• Price your drinks using real beverage math
• Track ingredient costs with ease
• Build drink menus that are balanced and reorderable
• Train your team to sell with confidence
• Design with herbs, elements, and storytelling

Whether you’re launching your first drink lineup or refreshing your seasonal offerings, this guide is your new best friend. Grab the full kit for just $77.

Download the guide here: https://www.marinamars.com/product-page/non-alc-menu-kit

Ready to finally take your non-alcoholic business idea seriously? In this episode, Marina shares the story behind the creation of the Non-Alc Business Jumpstart Kit—a powerful, done-for-you toolkit designed for aspiring founders of non-alcoholic bars, bottle shops, and beverage brands.

If you’ve been stuck in research mode, overwhelmed by where to begin, or unsure how to price, plan, and launch your concept—this is the resource built for this exact moment. Whether you're creating a sober space, developing a functional beverage line, or stepping into the wellness drink industry, this episode offers clarity, inspiration, and an invitation to act.

You’ll learn:
— Why most non-alc entrepreneurs stall out before they even begin
— What makes this space different from traditional beverage startups
— How the Jumpstart Kit helps you skip 100+ hours of guessing
— Why $77 might be the smartest investment you’ll make this year This is the blueprint you wish you had when you started.

For non-alcoholic beverage startups, kava bar owners, sober entrepreneurs, functional mocktail creators, and future-ready wellness brands—this is your call to action.

Download the Non-Alc Business Jumpstart Kit now: https://www.marinamars.com/product-page/non-alc-business-jumpstart-kit