Pete Olander is the founder and CEO of Happie Beverages, a functional CPG company building at the intersection of plant medicine, recovery science, and wellness. With a background spanning J.P. Morgan, enterprise software operations, and functional nutrition brand Nutrition53 — where he worked directly with professional athletes — Pete brings a systems-first mindset to an industry driven by belief. He founded Happie in 2019 out of personal conviction: that alternative healing paths through functional mushrooms, movement, and plant medicine are real, accessible, and underserved. Today, Happie’s Fungi Fusion line — featuring Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Reishi — is one of only three functional mushroom brands approved nationally by Total Wine & More. Pete maintains a 30-year unbroken training discipline including CrossFit, swimming, and daily recovery protocols, and lives the products he builds.
Time Stamps:
02:21 Pete’s Journey into Plant Medicine
05:24 The Endocannabinoid System Explained
13:26 Dosing Philosophy & Product Design
17:05 Social Stigma & Regulatory Outlook
22:05 Mushroom Beverages Deep Dive
32:26 Where to Find Happie Products
Pete’s Links:
@drinkhappie
@happiefusion
Journal Article Links:
Gaoni, Y., & Raphael Mechoulam (1964). Isolation, structure, and partial synthesis of an active constituent of hashish. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 86(8), 1646–1647.
Matsuda, L. A., et al. (1990). Structure of a cannabinoid receptor and functional expression of the cloned cDNA. Nature, 346, 561–564.
Devane, W. A., et al. (1992). Isolation and structure of a brain constituent that binds to the cannabinoid receptor. Science, 258(5090), 1946–1949.
Sugiura, T., et al. (1995/1996 foundational work; expanded 2002).
2-Arachidonoylglycerol as an endogenous ligand. Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators
Munro, S., et al. (1993). Molecular characterization of a peripheral receptor for cannabinoids. Nature, 365, 61–65.
Di Marzo, V., & Piscitelli, F. (2015). The endocannabinoid system and its modulation by phytocannabinoids. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 692–698. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0374-6
Lu, H. C., & Mackie, K. (2016). An introduction to the endogenous cannabinoid system. Biological Psychiatry, 79(7), 516–525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.028
Pertwee, R. G. (2008). Cannabinoid pharmacology. British Journal of Pharmacology, 153(2), 199–215.
Howlett, A. C., et al. (2002). International Union of Pharmacology classification of cannabinoid receptors. Pharmacological Reviews, 54(2), 161–202.
Volkow, N. D., et al. (2014). Adverse health effects of marijuana use. New England Journal of Medicine, 370, 2219–2227.
Castillo, P. E., et al. (2012). Endocannabinoid signaling and synaptic function. Neuron, 76(1), 70–81.
Patel, S., & Hillard, C. J. (2009). Pharmacological evaluation of cannabinoid receptor ligands. British Journal of Pharmacology, 160(3), 533–553.
Häuser, W., et al. (2018). Cannabis-based medicines for chronic pain. European Journal of Pain, 22(3), 455–470.
Hill, M. N., et al. (2009). Endocannabinoid signaling in stress adaptation. Journal of Neuroscience, 29(46), 14414–14423.
Russo, E. B. (2016). Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency reconsidered. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 1(1), 154–165.
Bonn-Miller, M. O., et al. (2017). Labeling accuracy of cannabidiol extracts. JAMA, 318(17), 1708–1709.
Huestis, M. A. (2007). Human cannabinoid pharmacokinetics. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 4(8), 1770–1804.
Learn More about Dr. Darian:
Website: https://doctordarianparker.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darianparker/
Dr. Darian’s Partnerships:
Stick Mobility
Get your flexibility back and prevent injuries with Stick Mobility. Training Sticks improve range of motion, muscle activation, coordination, and body awareness to build a strong foundation for better movement. Go to this Link or copy to your browser https://stickmobility.com/darian-parker and use the discount code: 1CEC828F154 to get 10% off of your purchase.
Health Loft
Nutrition is an important piece in reaching your health and well being goals. That is why I have partnered with Health Loft. Health Loft connects you with a registered dietitian for personalized nutrition. Sessions are remote, covered by insurance for many people, and your first session is free. Health Loft will check your insurance benefits for you to determine if you would have to pay anything for future sessions. Click here to book your first free session: https://healthloftco.com/partners/parkerpt/
CONNEQT HEALTH
CONNEQT Health is transforming health monitoring by making advanced arterial health insights accessible to everyone through the CONNEQT Pulse. This device empowers individuals to measure and understand key indicators of their vascular health through the first and only FDA-cleared at-home device that goes far beyond the traditional blood pressure cuff. Please use the link below to purchase a CONNEQT Pulse. You can receive 10 percent off the purchase of the unit by using the code: Parker10.
Blumaka
Run better. Move smarter. Save 20%.
Blumaka insoles are built for performance and sustainability, offering elite-level cushioning, grip, and durability with up to 85% recycled foam. Use code FSF20 for 20% off: https://blumakastore.myshopify.com/discount/FSF20
Dr. Darian Parker 
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