Former California First Lady, and Moshlife Founder Maria Shriver On How She Aims To Beat Alzheimer’s By Helping To Find a Cure or Treatment
I’ve always had a social mission. I’ve spent most of my life working on social issues or working as a volunteer — and for quite a variety of causes. I thought creating MOSH would be a good way to build something that I could eventually leave to my children, leave them a legacy, while also educating people about their health and the importance of nutrition. Creating MOSH brings all parts of my life together from my interest in social issues, my journalism and desire to educate, my focus on women and women’s health, and my keen desire to beat Alzheimer’s by helping to find a cure or treatment.
We had the distinct pleasure of interviewing journalist, former California First Lady, and Moshlife Founder Maria Shriver.
Maria Shriver is the Co-founder and CEO of MOSH, a mission-driven company that looks to educate consumers on what they eat and drink impacts their mental and physical health. Maria is also a mother of four, an Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist, a seven-time New York Times bestselling author, an NBC News special anchor, and founder of the nonprofit The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement and the new brain wellness company Mosh Life. Always curious about the world, Maria has devoted her life to reporting and interviewing some of the biggest changemakers of our time. In addition to her work for NBC News, she is also the founder of Shriver Media, which produces award-winning documentaries and films, bestselling books, a popular podcast, and a beloved popular weekly email newsletter called “The Sunday Paper.” Her latest book, I’ve Been Thinking …, and its companion, I’ve Been Thinking … The Journal, were written to offer wisdom, guidance, and inspiration to those seeking to create a meaningful life.
Thank you so much for doing this with us Maria! Frankly, it’s an honor. Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I became a journalist to tell stories- to be a messenger of people’s truths.
I’ve had a great career, working my way up from writer to producer to anchor at both CBS News and NBC News. In this role, I traveled around the world interviewing presidents, kings, activists, and humanitarians. And I found that being an active listener is most important in flushing out the truth to anyone’s story.
And by active listening, I mean you shouldn’t be looking down at your notes and tapping your pen when interviewing someone. Active listening- sometimes referred to as mindful listening- involves more than simply listening to people’s words. After you ask a question, your body language should convey that you are still engaged in the conversation and interested in what that person has to say.
It’s making a conscious effort to hear, understand, and retain the information someone is relaying to you rather than giving them only a fraction of your attention. Mindful listening is critical when interviewing anyone, especially politicians and world leaders, as it is without judgment, criticism, or interruption. It also involves being aware of your own internal thoughts and reactions, as these may get in the way of people communicating with you effectively.
While active listening does take practice, a simple nod or a well-placed “hmm” will encourage people to speak with you longer, allowing you time to ask those more in-depth, probing questions. It also increases their engagement by holding their attention and creating a sense of intimacy which can hearten them to let down their guard.
Active listening is a great practice, both personally and professionally. I’ve found something interesting and inspirational in everyone I’ve spoken with over the years. Granting your full attention to what someone is sharing with you at any moment strengthens relationships with the people you speak with while allowing you to get to the heart of their story.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Last year, my son Patrick Schwarzenegger and I launched the breakthrough brain health brand MOSH. We are on a mission to teach the world that what they eat today can impact their brain health tomorrow. Our first product line we introduced on World Alzheimer’s Day in 2021 are delicious protein bars. They are protein bars made for your brain made with mind-blowing ingredients and zero added sugar. We cannot wait to introduce more flavors and products to our customer base of brain health warriors!
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path as a food founder?
Believe me, becoming an entrepreneur at 65 years young was not on my vision board. But, truth be told I got motivated after being unable to find a protein bar company that was catering to my age group. I’m on the road, I’m in my car, on an airplane, and I need a source of protein and a source of energy. Also for years, everywhere I traveled speaking on behalf of women and Alzheimer’s, people asked me for ideas about healthy bars. What was out there that they could eat that was good for their brain health? What were the supplements out there with a proven track record? I didn’t have an answer for them because there really wasn’t a bar designed around brain health. I was taking a lot of supplements to help support my brain health so I thought, why not use what I learned to develop a bar that I would want to eat. So that’s what I did. My larger goal for MOSH is to build a company that overtime will make products that are good for your brain and that will also fund brain health research and help find a cure for Alzheimer’s.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I could never have done this without Patrick. I pitched this idea to bigger companies for several years and they passed, partially I believe due to my age. I think that companies weren’t convinced an idea brought to them by a woman in her 60’s would be viable in today’s market. So when Patrick said to me, “well, if you keep getting no for an answer and people keep turning you down, make it yourself. Step into your own power and follow your own advice.” So I decided to go for it. And then Patrick came in with his track record in the wellness and the CPG space. He knew the players, the issues, and how to get things done. He brings in a whole level and area of expertise that I know nothing about. And he’s been able to engage people his own age who are interested in this space. Ironically a lot of the young people in this space got into it because they have a loved one — a parent, grandparent– with the disease, and they want to get involved. Patrick has put together an amazing team, and I love that it’s a melding of generations.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I’ve always had a social mission. I’ve spent most of my life working on social issues or working as a volunteer — and for quite a variety of causes. I thought creating MOSH would be a good way to build something that I could eventually leave to my children, leave them a legacy, while also educating people about their health and the importance of nutrition. Creating MOSH brings all parts of my life together from my interest in social issues, my journalism and desire to educate, my focus on women and women’s health, and my keen desire to beat Alzheimer’s by helping to find a cure or treatment.
What’s next from MOSH and what can we look forward to?
We have big plans for MOSH! We want to meet our customers where they are and create products that support brain health for all parts of their day. Most importantly, we are attracting a community of brain health warriors. We are empowering people of all ages to be proactive and care for their brains. MOSH is a breakthrough brain brand, and we are on a mission to educate and encourage everyone to live a brain-healthy lifestyle.
Thank you so much for all of that. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience, Can you please share your “Five Things You Need To Create A Successful Food Brand”.
- A mission! Our mission at MOSH drives every single decision we make as a brand.
- A passionate team! Everyone at MOSH has some personal tie to Alzheimer’s and feels very connected to our “why”. We hired people who are best-in-class and because of our shared passion, we work together beautifully.
- A great partner! I am so lucky to do this work with my son Patrick.
- An insatiable hunger to learn! I have learned so much about everything from ingredient sourcing to packaging design. The learning never ends in this industry!
- Most importantly, a delicious product! All of the above would not mean anything if people were not excited about the bars we are bringing into the world.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Sign up for The Sunday Paper here: https://www.mariashriversundaypaper.com.
Shop MOSH here: https://moshlife.com.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success, and good health!
Former California First Lady, and Moshlife Founder Maria Shriver On How She Aims To Beat… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.