We’re looking forward to introducing you to Marina Castillo. Check out our conversation below.
Marina, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building but most don’t see is the foundational work we do inside the Global and Arizona Kava Coalitions.
While others might focus on product launches or social media presence, we’ve been quietly influencing how fringe botanical businesses survive and thrive. We’ve built regulatory guides, hosted meetings with health departments, and clarified misinformation that could have shut people down or kept them from starting altogether. None of it’s glamorous, but it’s life-changing for the founders who rely on it.
It’s also the reason our consulting and education programs actually work. Because behind every pretty Canva template I give a client is a deep infrastructure of research, systems, and policy context, often built in real time by coalitions like ours. That’s the work I’m most proud of. Because it protects the entire ecosystem.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Marina Castillo, and I help people build businesses in the non-alcoholic and fringe botanical space; everything from kava bars to beverage brands to digital product empires. I’m the co-founder of The Modern Mocktail, a consulting and education company that supports sober entrepreneurs, bar owners, product creators and service providers who are redefining what it means to gather and celebrate without alcohol.
What makes our work special is that we don’t just teach people how to run a business; we help them lead movements. We blend operations strategy, regulatory awareness, and emotional clarity to make sure our clients don’t burn out or lose sight of their “why” while trying to grow.
I come from a unique background: I was once a showgirl and nightlife producer in Las Vegas, and now I’m a sober Christian woman building a new kind of nightlife rooted in wellness, connection, and community. Right now, I’m most excited about supporting a new wave of founders who are entering the industry with bold ideas but limited resources. We’re building scalable tools (like menu kits, pricing calculators, and digital workshops) that make it easier for people to get started without sacrificing depth, safety, or impact. It’s all about meeting the moment with the right kind of momentum.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was already me: stubborn, certain, and standing on a kitchen stool pouring coffee for my family like I ran the place. I wore a “World’s Best Waitress” pin before I could tie my shoes right. Not because someone told me to, but because I wanted to serve. I wanted to help. I wanted to create comfort and order in a world that felt loud and chaotic.
And then the world tried to convince me that wasn’t enough. That being soft was weak. That building a life around service, family, or joy wasn’t “ambitious” enough. That freedom only came from titles or corner offices or proving something.
But I’ve never needed permission to lead, especially not from a system that doesn’t even know what it’s worshiping anymore. I found my power in being exactly who I was, even when it looked traditional on the outside. What’s more rebellious than building a business around staying home, helping people, and refusing burnout?
I didn’t escape the box just to climb into a new one. I built something that lets me stay close to what matters, and I teach others to do the same.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I spent decades wandering; chasing success, chasing meaning, chasing a place where I felt like I actually belonged. I’ve lived a lot of lives trying to find that feeling of rootedness. And ironically, I only found it when I stopped running and found my husband… and God.
That’s when everything clicked. I stopped performing and started building. I stopped searching for the next big thing and started pouring into the simple, meaningful things that last: faith, partnership, service, legacy.
The wound was never just about where I came from. It was the ache of not knowing where I was going. And healing looked like slowing down long enough to build something real, then helping others do the same.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is absolutely real. But it’s not the only me.
There are versions of me that are private, sacred, quiet. Not everyone gets access to those. The depth of connection I share depends on the depth of alignment. If we’re building something meaningful together (spiritually, creatively, or relationally) you’ll see more of me. But I don’t perform intimacy just to be perceived as authentic.
What you see in public is honest. It’s just not everything. And I think that’s healthy.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If immortality were real, what would you build?
If immortality were real, I wouldn’t waste it building something on earth.
I already believe in eternity, just not the kind sold in tech labs or fantasy novels. Immortality is real, and that’s exactly why I’m careful about what I build now. I’m not interested in building monuments to myself. I want to build things that point people home. That remind them they’re loved, called, chosen, and that their time here matters.
So no, I wouldn’t use forever to chase more. I’d use today to be obedient. Because I’m not the main character, I’m just trying to steward what God gave me while I’m here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marinamars.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mocktailswithmarina
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinamars/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mocktails-with-Marina/61557641212745/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mocktailswithmarina
Image Credits
Hannah Smith Media
