Meet Racan Alhoch and Joe Cetrulo, the co-founders of Saint Pasta, who are serving up the most authentic (and mouthwatering) Italian-American food in Phoenix.

What’s the story behind Saint Pasta?
Racan: Joe and I were working on opening a pizzeria in Jersey City, NJ. A month before we were supposed to open I came to Phoenix to visit my girlfriend. On the last day of my trip, we got a call from our realtor telling us the building owners are reneging on our whole deal so our restaurant died before it lived and I decided to stay in Phoenix.

While living here I realized you can’t find high quality classic Italian-American dishes anywhere. Back home, you could walk into almost any Italian deli and order a good chicken parm or a pasta. So I called Joe and told him we should start our business here because we’d have almost no competition. The rest is history.

What does “Feel Good” mean to you?
Racan: To me, when I think “feel good” I imagine spending time with people I care about breaking bread, chatting about random topics, sharing laughs, and maybe a joint or two.
Joe: For me “feel good” is the freedom to do whatever I want. Which is why I’m an entrepreneur.

Do you like to smoke Sativa or Indica?
Racan: I lean more towards indica. After I smoke I love to listen to music or sometimes sloppily make my own music for fun.
Joe: I also lean indica and after I smoke I like to spend quality time with my wife watching our favorite shows.

If you could share a joint with any person alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Racan: I’d smoke with Aristotle because I’ve studied his philosophies a lot and I think a conversation with him while stoned would blow my mind.
Joe: Clint Eastwood but not really Clint Eastwood, just his character in the movie Unforgiven because he’s been through some sh*t.

Which artist are you excited about right now?
Racan: I’m excited about this really talented local chef named Joe Cetrulo. He’s really elevating the pasta game in the valley right now. It’s wild.
Joe: I’ve been closely following the work of this really creative marketer Racan Alhoch, he’s building a strong brand faster than I’ve ever seen. Wowzers.

What are your thoughts on edibles?
Racan: I like to use edibles in situations where I can’t smoke but would like to medicate. Before going to the movies, taking a flight, or an intimate concert venue where you can’t get away with lighting up.
Joe: Edibles aren’t my thing.

What keeps you up at night?
Racan: Saint Pasta
Joe: Saint Pasta

Big thanks to Joe and Racan for hanging with us! Head over to Saint Pasta to try their food for yourself and be sure to follow along with them on Instagram.

This Sunday we hung out with Melissa Mckenna, a yogi, entrepreneur and health enthusiast from Arizona.

Hey Melissa! Introduce yourself.
Hey! I just moved back to AZ after living in Beijing, China for 5 years. While I was living in the far east, I opened a chain of cold-pressed juice stores in China and Hong Kong. I have always been passionate about nutrition and believe nutrients can be a huge aid for healing your body. When it comes to nutrition, I love all things green and include them in every meal. Cannabis is no exception 😉

I currently work for BUTI Yoga and it has been absolutely life changing. This practice is movement medicine and deeply healing.

What’s your earliest memory of cannabis?
My earliest memory of cannabis was at a park in middle school. I did not partake, but most of my friends did. I remember the stigma against cannabis at the time and it makes me laugh now because it couldn’t have been more wrong.

What does “feel good” mean to you?
“Feel Good” to me means being balanced – body, mind, and soul. When you can completely let go of stress and outside factors and really be at peace with your present self.

What does your perfect Sunday entail?
My perfect Sunday includes sleeping in followed by a joint and yoga or hiking with my two teddy bear poodles. I also love a good Sunday Funday!

Do you like to smoke Sativa or Indica?
Indica, I predominately smoke to help me sleep or chill out. I like to read, write, or do yoga after smoking.

If you could share a joint with any person alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Rihanna, because she is a bad bitch and I love her.

Which artist are you really excited about right now (can be a writer, chef, sculptor, painter, musician, etc) and why?
My favorite artist is Barbara Kruger. I love everything about her work, from the aesthetic to the bold captions. She is so spot on and delivers powerful messages in a beautiful way.

To keep up with Melissa, follow along with her here.