Hustle Sold Separately: How to Generate Better Healthy Living w/ Ricky Echanique

Why “Hustle Sold Separately” With Mikuna’s Founder Matters — A Deeper Look at Chocho, Healing & Purpose-Driven Nutrition

On October 11, 2021, the podcast “Hustle Sold Separately” sat down with Mikuna’s founder, Ricky Echanique. The episode dives deep — not just into business or branding, but into healing, ancestral food wisdom, regenerative sourcing, and how a simple bean has become a vehicle for health, community, and change. 

For anyone curious about where Chocho comes from, how Mikuna started, or what real nutrition rooted in integrity can look like — it’s a conversation worth revisiting. Below, we unpack the key themes, reflect on what they mean for you, and show how this episode still guides our mission today.

🌱 From Pain to Purpose: Ricky’s Journey & The Birth of Mikuna

Ricky’s story begins in the Andes, where his family has farmed for generations, and continues through a personal struggle with digestive and autoimmune issues that modern diets often exacerbate. On the podcast, he shares how this struggle led him on a search — not for another quick fix supplement — but for something real: a clean, ancestral protein that nourishes body and roots. Star Worldwide Networks+1

Discovering Chocho — an Andean legume grown at high altitudes — was a turning point. What was once a traditional staple in Ecuadorian farms became the foundation of Mikuna: a brand built on heritage, transparency, and healing. The mission wasn’t just health — it was also about honoring soil, community, and integrity. MIKUNA+1

🌿 Why Chocho Matters — Nutrition, Regeneration & Belonging

During the podcast, several themes emerged that still shape how Mikuna approaches food and nutrition:

• Whole-food integrity over heavy processing — Chocho isn’t an isolate or a chemically stripped powder. It comes from a legume that carries fiber, natural nutrients, and a full food profile. That means nourishment in a form that’s closer to real food — gentler on digestion, more balanced, more sustainable. MIKUNA+1

• Regenerative & ancestral sourcing — Chocho grows in high-altitude Andean soils. The communities that cultivate it are rooted in land-care practices, traditional knowledge, and small-scale farming. Supporting Chocho supports people, heritage, and ecosystems. Star Worldwide Networks+1

• Healing & body respect — For Ricky, Chocho became part of a healing journey: away from inflammation, digestive distress, and modern food overload — and toward balance, clarity, and grounded living. That remains a core value for Mikuna. MIKUNA+1

• Purpose-driven business & community impact — Mikuna isn’t built around vanity or trends. It’s built around fairness, sustainability, and a belief that food can uplift lives — from Andean farmers to consumers across the world. MIKUNA+1

🔎 Key Takeaways from the Podcast (and What They Mean for You)

When you listen to “Hustle Sold Separately” — or read this reflection — here are the insights worth holding onto:

• Recognize that what you consume affects your whole being — nutrition, digestion, mental clarity, and energy. Clean, whole-food choices matter.

• Understand that food has roots — behind every ingredient there are soils, farmers, ecosystems, and histories. Choosing consciously supports more than just your body.

• Realize that healing and wellness are holistic — not just about macros or protein count, but about balance, respect for nature, and sustainable nourishment.

• See “protein” not as a commodity, but as a connection — between you, your body, and a broader vision of community, land-care, and legacy.

In short: with Chocho, you’re not just feeding your body — you’re participating in a movement grounded in integrity, heritage, and purpose.

🔗 Additional Mikuna Stories & Resources to Explore

• → /blogs/journal/regenerative-protein-how-chocho-regenerates-soil-supports-farmers-and-protects-the-andes-ecosystem — Learn how Chocho supports regenerative agriculture, soil health, and Andean farmers.

• → /blogs/journal/what-does-chocho-taste-like — Curious about flavor and texture? See how Chocho works in smoothies, cooking, and baking.

• → /blogs/journal/mikuna-cleanest-protein — Dive into our commitment to purity, minimal processing, and ingredient transparency.

• → /blogs/recipes — Explore recipes and practical ways to integrate Chocho into your daily meals beyond shakes.