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

If you care about the future of kava, you need to hear this. In this powerful episode, I pull back the curtain on our advocacy work with both the Global and Arizona Kava Coalitions; covering everything from health department misunderstandings to national misinformation about kava’s safety.

We talk real policy, industry protection, and how owning a kava business is the most effective tool for creating long-term change.

You’ll learn:

• How kava bar owners are uniting to prevent what happened to hemp from happening to kava

• Why being a business owner gives you more power in public policy than just being passionate

• What the Kava Coalition is doing globally to protect growers, products, and cultural roots

• And why this is a hill we’re willing to die on

Grab your free copy of the Top Tips for Kava Bars guide: https://www.marinamars.com/product-page/toptipsforkavabars

It’s a must-have for anyone running, or dreaming of running, a kava bar.

Ready to turn your passion into real impact? Check out Bula Boss, the ultimate program for non-alc founders ready to lead this industry with clarity and strategy: https://www.marinamars.com/bulaboss

Let’s raise the bar together!

The non-alcoholic space is booming—but make no mistake, the game is still rigged. In this episode, Marina exposes the power structures keeping non-alc brands stuck on the sidelines and what it really takes to win.

We unpack how the alcohol industry controls distribution, funding, and even social norms—while quietly investing in non-alc products to keep control. You’ll learn the psychology behind why drink culture is so hard to break—and how non-alc brands can use that exact psychology to build something magnetic.

Whether you're building a bottle shop, launching a beverage, or just tired of being underestimated, this episode will give you the fire (and strategy) to play bigger.

This is your permission slip to disrupt.

Ready to make waves? Bula Boss is officially open.

🎯 Join the movement: www.marinamars.com/bulaboss

They told you that launching a non-alc business takes millions in funding, insider connections, and a nonstop hustle mindset.

They lied.

In this episode, I’m debunking the 3 most toxic myths keeping passionate founders stuck—and showing you exactly what it really takes to build a successful non-alc brand from the ground up.

You’ll learn:

• Why you don’t need venture capital to get started (and what to build instead)
• How “not being an expert” can be your superpower
• Why burnout culture is the trap, not the blueprint
• Real-world stories of scrappy, sustainable non-alc brands that blew up by doing things differently

Whether you’re dreaming of a bottle shop, a bar, a beverage line—or still figuring it out—this episode is the mindset shift you didn’t know you needed.

🎯 Ready to change the rules and finally move forward?

Learn more about the Bula Boss program: www.marinamars.com/bulaboss

Nobody cares what’s in the bottle. They care how it makes them feel. In this solo episode, Marina breaks down one of the most common mistakes in the non-alc industry: over-educating instead of emotionally connecting. If you’ve been pushing ingredients, benefits, and back labels instead of identity, aspiration, and community… this episode is your wake-up call.

You’ll learn:

• Why taste and function are not the main reason people buy
• How to shift your brand from informative to irresistible
• What it actually takes to build a non-alc brand that people want to rep

If you’re in the bottle business, running a bar, or launching something new, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

🎯 Want to learn how to build a movement, not just a menu?

Join Bula Boss—where we teach you how to sell culture, identity, and community.

www.marinamars.com/bulaboss

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Michelle LeBlanc, co-founder of Mantra Kava and Botanical Bar in DeLand, Florida, to talk about what it really takes to build a soulful, alcohol-free gathering space from the ground up.

Michelle shares how her diverse background became an asset—not a detour—in launching a business rooted in the energy of the root chakra. We dive into the mission behind Mantra, the power of creating a true third space, and the importance of asking for help when you're stuck. From branding to balance, community to clarity, Michelle’s story is a powerful reminder that every step of the journey matters.

Whether you’re a kava lover, a sober entrepreneur, or just someone dreaming of building something meaningful—you’re going to want to tune in.

Topics we cover:

• Creating a grounding space inspired by the root chakra

• Navigating business with your partner

• The Florida kava and alcohol-free scene

• Lessons from launching a sober-friendly business

• Asking for help and paying it forward

📍 Learn more about Michelle and Mantra Kava: www.mantrakava.com
📸 Follow them on IG: @mantrakavabar
📬 Have questions or want to collaborate? Reach out at hello@marinamars.com