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

Hi Paloma, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always worked remote, and I’ve always been very interested in wellness. Remote work is such a gift, but it comes with its challenges, and I felt them firsthand: the loss of human connection, not feeling seen, blurred boundaries between work and home, and always feeling “on.” I realized that keeping up with my own mental health and wellness took even more effort than before.
When COVID hit, the importance of mental health finally came to the forefront everywhere. The pandemic offered me the perfect opportunity to pitch some ideas to support employees. I shared that I had seen this need long before, and that supporting mental health and wellbeing could happen right in-house – with my guidance and the incredible network of wellness providers I’ve collaborated with over the years. It was also an amazing chance for company leaders to show their teams true care and empathy. Fortunately, I got the green light, and I quickly became obsessed with creating something that really made a difference.
Apps are great as support, but live human connection hits two birds with one stone. It is this live human connection that forges relationships, ensures that employees actually return and take part in the services offered, and that the apps are always trying to replicate. You’re not just offering wellness, you’re promoting engagement and connection among colleagues who might never share the same room otherwise. That’s what inspired Wellbalanced Collective: a program built to bring real people together, foster healthy habits, and help companies show up for their teams in a meaningful, lasting way.

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?
My journey into wellness started about 14 years ago, born from a personal health crisis. Overcoming that challenge changed everything for me. I dove into Homeopathy, Ayurvedic health coaching, and mindfulness, and quickly realized how powerful simple tools like nutrition, mindset, and daily rituals could be. It felt like a spiritual awakening. I kept thinking, “This is amazing, why isn’t everyone paying attention?”
By my early 30s, I knew my calling: helping people is what I’m meant to do. I’ve always thrived in community, so supporting others and creating connection naturally go together. But the path wasn’t simple. Newly married and expecting our first baby, I took the “safe” route into Corporate America, and landed in HR.
Then the world shifted. Mental health finally became a mainstream conversation, and I saw the opportunity to bring my experience to the workplace.
Today, Wellbalanced Collective is where my decade of wellness expertise meets my HR background. Was it easy? Not at all. There are days of feeling the dreaded imposter syndrome and challenges navigating the unknown territory of running a business. But I remind myself that this isn’t just work, it’s my purpose. What sets us apart is our human approach: we bring real connection into the workday, foster healthy habits, and help employees feel truly seen. That combination is what makes our work so powerful and fulfilling.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting, I’d want her to feel the true soul of LA: the mix of healthy living, amazing food, and that unique coastal energy.
Farmers Markets & Food Stops: we’d definitely hit a few farmers markets, Hollywood on Sundays and Santa Monica on Wednesdays are my absolute favorites for the best produce. But we’d also swing by Brentwood for those Ensenada Tacos, the fried fish taco is unreal. And of course, no visit would be complete without stopping at Tarantino Bakery for fresh breads and baked goods, Bacio di Latte for gelato, and grabbing Ramen Nagi at the Century City mall because it’s seriously one of my favorite spots. Oh, and then there’s SUGARFISH. I’d definitely have to take her there too. Sidecar Doughnuts and Salt & Straw ice cream are my kids non-negotiable, so we would likely go there too.

Active & Outdoors: I’d take her to Stephanie Stevenson’s Friday class at Fryman Canyon, silent disco headphones, hiking, and Latin vibes – because Stephanie’s energy is contagious. We’d rent bikes at Santa Monica Pier and ride down the coast; and hike the Culver City Stairs via the back path over to Kenneth Hahn. Malibu would get its own two days: the Wine Safari and trails one day, a slower day at Point Dume and Broad Street Oyster Co. on the way back for lobster rolls and oysters.

Culture & Low-Key Evenings: A night at LACMA for Jazz Night with a glass of wine, a day at The Getty, and if the kids are around, Noah’s Ark at the Skirball. For breakfast or sunset, Back on the Beach in Santa Monica so the kids can play while we actually get to talk. Evenings are chill: sipping Lambrusco from EATALY, or any good Chilean Wine making healthy treats at home, cooking fresh finds from Santa Monica Seafood Market, or catching a show at the Hollywood Bowl and ending the week with a bonfire at Dockweiler.
I hope she reads this and come visit already!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, my husband Vayu and his unconditional support. Throughout this transition, he has been my rock, giving me the steady ground I needed to take this leap. I also have to give a huge shout-out to Olivia Reyes, the Director of HR at Ready Computing, who trusted me and gave me the space to build my very first wellness program from scratch. That experience became my “lab,” where I realized this was truly my calling.
And I can’t forget Cate Stillman, and her Wellness Pro Academy, whose guidance and structure helped me turn my passion into a professional reality. Looking back, it’s amazing to see how their guidance, support and encouragement all came together to make Wellbalanced Collective possible. I’m so grateful to each of them for being part of the journey.

Website: https://wellbalancedcollective.com

Instagram: @WELLBALANCEDCOLLECTIVE & @PalomaC_Wellness

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paloma-castro-b9406216a/

Image Credits
Pictures by Alejandra Sone (the ones that are of me by myself)

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