We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Mellgren and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Most of the decisions i’ve made that were leaving comfortable sitautions behind have always led to opportunity or learning experiences. There is always value in taking risks. Maybe you get exactly what you expected or maybe you’ll learn something that helps you to grow. Either scenario I have found to be very successful. So sometimes to me it doesn’t feel like a risk. Taking myself out of the “comfort zone” is something i have made a point to do. I’ve changed my perspective on how i look at opportunities, so to me there isn’t much risk at all. There was a time when I was afraid of what i was leaving behind. A corporate lifestyle with a comfortable living. It wasn’t feeding my soul. I knew there was more for me to do. I just knew that if i follow this path i will bring excitement back to my life by following what i’m passionate about. I had to believe in myself. Now i see that’s not a risk, it’s an awakening.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started a Health and Wellness company called The Middle Branch. The name comes from my last name, Mellgren, which means “middle & branch” in Scandinavian. My specialty is using sound as therapy, working with stress & anxiety. To be honest, I’m excited about all of it. I’ve been a musician since i was 17 and instead of creating music for entertainment i get to use it to make people feel better about themselves. One of the most difficult decisions i’ve had to make was leaving the entertainment industry working for a record label and chasing something that i believed in. I know that when i experienced a sound meditation for the first time i was blown away. I couldn’t believe how it made me feel without taking any pills, prescriptions, and so on. My stress and anxiety just washed away. In that moment, I wanted to bring this to people. i wanted to show people that there are healthy ways of managing your stress and anxiety that don’t involve going to the doctor. There are things you can do to help your body before it gets to the point of needing medical assistance. I want to be the one who can reach folks that are in the corporate world. To teach people that may shy away from these activities how beneficial they are to the everyday human.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Pre or Post Pandemic (sigh) It really would depend on who was coming and what they would be up for. I love going to visit the Griffith Observatory. I’m a geek for the stars. Gabby’s Mediterranean is always a must stop. Go down to Venice on Abbott Kinney. Killer Shrimp in the Marina after paddle boarding in Mother’s Beach. Nothing like coming to LA and going hiking. I enjoy a little Fryman Canyon action every once in a while. Definitely some sushi, one of my favorite spots is Tsuri. I could do breakfast all day and also coffee. Kings Road Cafe is a must. Alfred’s coffee is another staple in my routine. I like spending time with friends in the community down in the marina. And if they like a good cigar, steps from the crib is V-Cut just on melrose.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Jennifer Schaefer, C. Ht. She is my teacher who has been with me on this journey. I’ve wouldn’t be here without her.

Website: www.themiddlebranch.com
Instagram: @themiddlebranch
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmellgren/
Twitter: none
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themiddlebranch
Yelp: none
Youtube: none

Image Credits
Lauren Abramson (1 photo) Jill Augusto (1 photo)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.