Podcast Summary:

What Are You Made Of? with Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco
Episode: Luxury, Longevity and Leadership: The Bold Vision of Josephine Musco
Date: March 2, 2026

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, host Mike “C-Roc” Ciorrocco is joined by Josephine Musco, a scientist, entrepreneur, winemaker, and founder of Elixr (OLYXIR). Josephine shares her incredible journey from her roots in Lebanon to building multiple thriving businesses in the U.S. The conversation centers on the themes of legacy, resilience, conscious health, innovation within the tea industry, entrepreneurship, self-care, and leadership. It’s a candid discussion, brimming with actionable insights about questioning the status quo, pursuing innovation, and living a holistic, intentional life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Josephine’s Roots and Core Values

• Josephine traces her strength and resilience to her Lebanese ancestry. She credits her upbringing, close family ties, and family values—particularly faith and perseverance—for shaping her entrepreneurial mindset.

  • Notable Quote:
    "I'm made of the struggles of my ancestors and the powers and the strength that they have developed...plus the faith that has shaped my family."
    – Josephine Musco [00:57]

• She fondly recalls Lebanon’s hospitality, warmth, and safety during her childhood, contrasting it with the U.S.’s vastness and anonymity.

  • Comparison:
    Lebanon’s tight-knit community versus the individualism and opportunity of the U.S., which she says helped her grow and “expand as a human being.”
    [03:39-05:43]

2. Transition to the U.S.: Motivation and Impact

• Josephine moved to the U.S. at 20 to fulfill her father’s wish for her to pursue higher education.

  • Her father’s passing before her graduation became a defining motivator in her quest to understand health and longevity.
    [05:48-06:54]

• She settled first in D.C., then moved to California for better weather and attended Berkeley for her master’s in business, corporate leadership, and restructuring.
  [07:13-07:18]

3. From Academia to Science & Patents

• Josephine became a scientist by trade after connecting with the USDA and working in their labs in Berkeley and Albany for over four years.
  • Her scientific curiosity was propelled by her father's illness, leading her to focus on health and antioxidants.
    [08:18-09:12]

Olive Leaf Research & Patents

• She patented a method to process olive leaves, producing a stable, highly potent antioxidant powder—more powerful than fresh picked blueberries, gram for gram.
  [09:12-10:47]

4. Innovating the Tea Industry

The Problem With Tea Bags

• Josephine discovered that conventional tea bags (even organic) often contain toxins—plastics, glues, and harmful coatings.

  • Notable Quote:
    "The tea bag is exactly like going to your printer paper, grabbing a piece of paper, dunking it in hot water or drinking it, except that that piece of paper has been layered with some plastic..."
    – Josephine Musco [12:46]

• Her solution was to invent the Elixr Tea Strip—a dissolvable blend of ground tea leaves and plant fibers, free from toxins and convenient to use.

  • She advocates for questioning the status quo and offers practical tips:
    "If you have a lot of tea bags in your cabinet, just cut them open and use the leaves with a strainer or something. Just don't use the tea bag."
    [12:46-13:43]

Education Over Mere Innovation

• Josephine is focused more on consumer education regarding tea bags' dangers than on immediate licensing of her patents.

5. Entrepreneurship Lessons & Marketing Strategy

• Grassroots marketing: Her early outreach placed Elixr strips in premium grocers and relied on in-store demos—bootstrapped, hands-on education.
  [15:00-15:33]

• The COVID pandemic forced a pivot to online sales, leveraging short, educational videos for consumer awareness.

• Finding reliable ad agencies was challenging; she cycled through 6-7 before finding the right fit, favoring short contracts for flexibility.

  • Quote:
    "I'm a tough negotiator. So I always signed very short contracts and was able to get out of the companies fast when I knew, when I realized it wasn't a good fit..."
    [16:38-17:07]

• She keeps an open mind about AI and new advertising trends (e.g., ChatGPT ad tools), but admits she prefers handwritten notes and defers tech to others.
  [17:13-17:44]

6. Josephine’s Multi-Faceted Entrepreneurship

• In addition to Elixr, Josephine runs:
  • A 23-acre biodynamic, Demeter-certified winery, producing wine from heirloom grapevines.
  • House of Malachi, an adornment brand based in LA, Berlin, and Bali serving high-end and celebrity clients. [18:37-19:44]

Upcoming Innovations

• Plans to expand strip technology to other products: sublingual vitamin strips and dissolvable face masks (no plastic). [19:44]

7. Longevity, Wellness & Conscious Biohacking

Red Light Therapy Skepticism

• Josephine challenges wellness fads, warning that red light face masks can cause unintended fat loss (“cavitations”) in the face.
  • Quote:
    "Long term use of these face masks with red light... people are sticking it on their face and they're seeing cavitations in their face after long-term use."
    [19:51-20:40]

Simple, Ancestral Health Practices

• Advocates for “go back to basics” in diet and self-care:

  • Eat unprocessed, unboxed food your grandparents ate.

  • Avoid synthetic clothes, fragrances, plastics, and overcomplicated skincare.

  • She only uses natural oils, minimal to no makeup.

  • Doesn’t rely on daily supplements; prefers high-protein, high-fat, clean eating (eggs, avocado, meat, raw honey, fruits, vegetables).

    • Quote:
      "Less is more. Go back to basics. If your grandfather and grandmother didn't eat that, just don't eat it."
      [22:12]

  • Questions mainstream dietary dogma like the stigmatization of eggs and emphasizes the toxicity of alcohol (despite being a winemaker).
    [23:56-26:37]

8. Winemaking Story

• Bought a property in California that included heirloom grapevines and historic winery buildings.
• Learned the craft with mentorship and now produces wine, though she doesn’t drink alcohol herself. Uses “the spit bucket” when tasting. [24:26-26:12]

9. Community, Networking & Leadership

• Josephine highlights her active Instagram presence and encourages listeners to connect.
• Mike shares the purpose behind his podcast and the quantum networking events and directory he facilitates.
  • Quote:
    "When I have a guest on, it's like reading a book... we've helped people make millions of dollars, create amazing relationships, and we're helping people go further, faster now."
    – Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco [28:00-28:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Legacy and Faith
  "I'm made of the struggles of my ancestors and the powers and the strength that they have developed...plus the faith that has shaped my family."
  – Josephine Musco [00:57]

• On Innovation in Tea
  "The tea bag is exactly like going to your printer paper, grabbing a piece of paper, dunking it in hot water or drinking it, except that that piece of paper has been layered with some plastic..."
  [12:46]

• On Questioning Trends
  "Once a trend catches on, nobody questions it. There's no question: Is this good for me, bad for me?...Go back to basics."
  [19:51-22:12]

• On Entrepreneurship
  "I'm Lebanese. I'm the best marketer there is."
  [14:50]

  "I always signed very short contracts and was able to get out of the companies fast when I knew...it wasn't a good fit."
  [16:38-17:07]

• On Simplicity and Health
  "I live a very, very simple life when it comes to biohacking. I don't...take supplements on daily basis. And I eat just high fat, high protein, clean diets."
  [23:47]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:57] — Josephine on ancestral strength and faith
• [03:39-05:43] — Comparing Lebanon and the U.S.
• [05:48-06:54] — Motivations for moving to the U.S.
• [07:13] — Attending Berkeley, master's in business
• [08:18-10:47] — Science career, olive leaf research, patents
• [12:46-13:43] — The Elixr tea strip and the problem with tea bags
• [15:00-15:33] — Grassroots marketing strategy
• [16:38-17:07] — Lessons in hiring and negotiating with ad agencies
• [19:44] — Future products: vitamin strips & face masks
• [20:31-22:12] — Red light therapy skepticism, minimalist wellness
• [23:47-23:56] — Clean eating philosophy
• [24:26-26:12] — The winemaking journey
• [28:00-28:56] — Mike on podcasting and networking
• [29:00-30:53] — Quantum events and relationship-building

Connect with Josephine Musco

• Instagram: @josephinemusco_
• Website: olyxir.com

This episode offers a wealth of insight into conscious leadership, innovation, and living with intention. Josephine's journey is both inspiring and instructive, serving as a practical guide for entrepreneurs, wellness enthusiasts, and anyone looking to question—and improve—the status quo.