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Inside North Korea, Spring Adventures & a $1.95B Soda Disruptor šļøšøš„¤
A rare look inside North Korea, the best spring blooms, and how Poppi changed soda forever.
Valeria Ramos
March 20, 2025
Welcome to Good Intentionāthe monthly newsletter designed to help you live your most intentional life. š From good news and founder spotlights to book and podcast recs, we're all about sharing stories that inspire you to make the most out of life.
-Valeria
P.S. You can subscribe here if you havenāt already.
Good to Know:
The best places to see spring blooms in the U.S. š¤© šø
10 hangout ideas to send to the group chat this weekend. š
Our favorite drugstore lipglosses for spring/summer. š
Spicy romance reads, courtesy of BookTok. š¶ļø
A Good Watch:
As someone with a morbid fascination with North Korea, I was glued to travel vlogger Mike Okay's latest video, Inside North Korea After 5 Years of Isolation. Mike, one of the first Western tourists to visit in over five years, gives a rare, uncensored look at life in the countryās city of Rason.
His videos showcase some truly strange momentsāstudents performing Olympic-worthy routines in front of missile launch videos, self-censorship in everyday conversations, overwhelming propaganda, tours of factories with no workers in sight, and even being forced to keep window blinds down while flying over North Korea.
Iāve read a few books about North Korea (which Iāll recommend below), but every time I learn more about life there, Iām struck by how people living on the same planet, at the same time, can experience such an incredibly different, restricted reality. Itās a sobering reminder of the freedoms we often take for granted in the West.
With over 3 million views in just a week, this video is a must-watch for anyone curious about what goes on behind North Koreaās closed doors.
āWe had five North Koreans with us, three guides, a driver and a photographer. They were very friendly, always polite and they did their best to make sure that we felt at ease. But no matter how welcoming they seemed, there was no shaking this feeling that we were being watched.ā
North Korea book recs:
In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Founders Doing Good:
Husband-and-wife duo Allison and Stephen Ellsworth started Poppi with a simple missionāmaking gut-friendly soda both delicious and accessible.
It all began when Allison, struggling with health issues, discovered the benefits of apple cider vinegar. She started crafting her own fizzy, flavorful drinks and selling them at a farmers' market in Texas. After gaining popularity, they took their idea to Shark Tank, where they secured a deal that helped propel Poppi into the mainstream.
The Ellsworths didnāt just create a sodaāthey disrupted an industry.
By blending tasty flavors with better ingredients, Poppi carved out a whole new market for better-for-you sodas. Their vision recently led to major milestonesāa SuperBowl commercial and a $1.95 billion PepsiCo acquisition. This partnership will bring their drinks to even more people while staying true to their mission of revolutionizing soda.
Intentional Habit:
Carve out time for a daily strollāeven if itās just 15 minutes around the block.
What: Start your morning with fresh air, take a midday stroll to reset, or wind down with an evening walk. āļø
Why: Walking boosts your mood, reduces stress, and improves focus while supporting heart health, mobility, and energy levels. š
Make time for a little movement each day. This is an essential form of self-care. Your body and mind will thank you!
Quote of the Week
If softness was weakness, the flowers would never grow.
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