“If we become in tune with our bodies, we become in tune with our life.”
Emily Hazell | Owner of the first ever happiness centre
Emily’s a foodie turned plant-based entrepreneur and founder of Serotonin Dealer — a whole foods eatery and education centre known for being a “day spa for your gut”.
Emily’s had her fair share of health and happiness challenges, but lucky for us, she gets beautifully raw and real so we can learn from them. The longer we chat, the deeper we go. Emily shares, and shares with vulnerability, authenticity, and class.
Here’s some of what to expect:
She shares…
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Her deep dive into depression and steep leap out of it
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Her skin struggle with acne (since she was 10!), and melasma
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How she balanced her hormones naturally
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Her experience with Roacutane and antibiotics
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How to be happy despite health hurdles
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The incredible work she’s doing at Serotonin
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How she lives her values whilst breaking all industry expectations — like no alcohol in hospitality. Cue hallelujah! 😉
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Exciting things coming up for Serotonin
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How business school changed her brain for the better. [30:31]
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“Ask, believe, receive” — stories about why you should have a go at asking for what you want [34:51]
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Hormones, tracking your cycle, the pill, and long-term skin health [40:36]
“Healing my gut allowed my skin to heal.”
[ON MOBILE: CHOOSE TO LISTEN IN BROWSER]
What was the most life-changing step you took for your health and happiness?
Sleep! People don’t understand how good sleep is! You must get 8 hours a night.
What is your favourite quote? [18:49]
Life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself.
Many of my friends went off to South America “to find themselves”, but they aren’t in South America.
There’s so much pressure to know what you want to do in life. But if you don’t know what you want to do with your life, it doesn’t matter!
Start with what you enjoy. What do you do in your spare time? There are 30 million people in Australia… you can turn that into a business.
Find what you like doing, and make that your work.
But first, decide who you want to be.
For me, it started with deciding that I want to be happy. That was the very start of Serotonin.
Serotonin Eatery, Melbourne
How did you decide who you wanna be? And how did you go about manifesting that?
I made a vision board of everything I wanted to be — happy, spiritual, calm — all these things I wanted to be. I put in on the wall in my bathroom, and little did I know at the time looking at it every day [lead to manifesting that]. Now all those things, I am.
How did you come to live in your values?
Learning to listen to my gut.
Another way to say that is to listen to your intuition. What do think one needs to do in order to be more in-tune with that feeling?
Stop listening to the “nay-sayers” — don’t tell them your dreams. Then find the people to tell, and surround yourself with those people.
And then living by myself. I started coming up with all these ideas, and there was no one there to telling me, “No. That is absolutely ridiculous.” So I kept rolling with them, and I stopped drinking.
So having no one to tell me that was crazy, and having the time to myself… to perfect the recipes and the ethos.
What are some of the exciting things coming up for you? [24:45]
Serotonin has…
- A dog-friendly courtyard
- Picnics in the Park
- The breakfast degustation 2018 launch in our brand new event space, Utopia Place.
Launching Vegan Airbnbs and some new cafe locations in the near future.
Food for your mood
You’ve been through a lot this year, but you’re still creating all these amazing things, and you put that down the 12-step formula. Where can people find your 12-step formula to natural happiness?
What’s your favourite of the 12-steps?
Eating! I’m a foodie, but only a foodie for these foods now!
I used to go to degustations, and they were delicious, but I couldn’t eat for 24 hours after. That’s why I’m so excited about our new degustations!
It’s really clean food, and you’re going to get all your nutrients. Plus, there’s a theatrical element — with music to affect your mood, along with other sensory elements [including essential oils] to create a beautiful experience.
Officially launched! Book here.
- 6 courses [seasonal menu]
- Matched drinks
- 90 minutes [but can stay for up to two hours]
- Can book between [2-30 people] Saturday and Sunday
Where do you get your inspiration from? [29:48]
Podcasts and documentaries.
My favourite podcast is Tim Ferris and Tony Robins
What’s one book that’s changed your life? [32:13]
The Art of Happiness – The Dalai Lama
It taught me that happiness is here and to have compassion in the present moment.
How do you have compassion in the present moment?
- Checking in — mindfulness reminders.
- Practicing gratitude — I write three new things I’m grateful for each day.
What are three things you’re grateful for today?
- Waking up without an alarm
- Meditation — it changes your eye-open experience of life
- And I’m grateful for you, you’re a great interviewer. 😉
If there was one piece of advice you’d give to someone struggling to love the skin they’re in, what would it be? [39:17]
Start with your gut. See a naturopath, I see Nat Draper, she’s phenomenal and owns Soul Pod.
How can people find you?
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Please thank Emily for coming on the blog for a Ra Chat by letting us know in the comments below — what did you find interesting? And what was your favorite part of the Chat?
xx Jess