Episodes

Misfit Foods co-founder Ann Yang opened up about how the stress of entrepreneurship led to unhappiness and depression, and, ultimately, her decision to leave the company. She also explained how therapy has become a critical part of her life, her belief that we live in a culture that “mythologizes who the entrepreneur is,” and the resulting pressure to build “a personal brand.”

No Cow founder/CEO Daniel Katz spoke about his passion for entrepreneurship and the genesis of his plant-based protein bar brand, which he launched with no business plan or extensive market research. He also discussed why his initial “play the numbers” retail strategy worked, why he rarely asks for advice, and why he decided to return as CEO less than a year after stepping down from the role.

Ray DeRosa, the founder of dandelion-based tea brand Lion Tea, understands the struggles of consumer education. In this episode, he explained how he’s tackled this issue by using a simple, yet powerful and efficient method to create brand loyalists. He also spoke about why “finding the partners that are going to provide you extraordinary support in the early days ultimately make you successful.”

Rizal Hamdallah, the Global Chief Innovation Officer of Ocean Spray, explained why he’s bullish about the future of personalized nutrition, how the company attempts to “develop and deliver innovative products that consumers didn't even know they needed,” and why he’s critical of how some brands are promoting sustainability.

This week’s episode features interviews with the founders of three innovative brands and focuses on how each landed placement in their dream retailers. Jesse Wolfe, the founder of O’Dang Hummus, Kuli Kuli founder/CEO Lisa Curtis, and Tyler Noyes, the co-founder of Kalahari Biltong, discussed their respective paths into popular chains, including Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Wegmans, and revealed key steps along the way.