Episodes

It may seem counterintuitive, but successful founders are often stung by self-doubt, a topic the hosts discussed in this episode, along with Neil Patrick Harris’ foray into the RTD cocktail business and a divisive brand collaboration. We also sat down with operations expert Andrew Guard to speak about scaling strategies, generating mainstream demand through flavor and working with non-nutritive sweeteners.

James Morrissey, the founder of beverage alcohol platform Global Brand Equities, discussed his vision to meet modern consumers where they live and drink via a contemporary approach to brand and promotion, how he cultivates mutually beneficial celebrity partnerships and why moving at “the speed of culture” is key to the company’s marketing strategy.

The hosts discussed the news that Michelle Obama has joined kids’ food and beverage company PLEZi Nutrition as a co-founder and strategic partner and spoke about the potential impact of the former first lady’s influence and political connections on the brand’s development. They also highlighted the 10 brands named as part of Target’s third Takeoff Food and Beverage program.

Emily Schildt, the founder and CEO of Pop Up Grocer, a specialty retailer known for its short-term locations and carefully curated selection of new and better-for-you products, spoke about its role as an “influencer retailer” and advertiser-first business model, how the company evaluates brand performance and why you might be surprised by its curation strategy.

The hosts assessed the fallout from a highly publicized claim of “copycat” branding (and the accuser’s subsequent apology), recapped a raucous pitch slam and shared a firsthand account of Omson’s rhapsodic rave. They also spoke about a somewhat controversial food and sampled plenty of tasty, trendy products in the studio.

Eddie Simeon, the co-founder of fast-growing mixer, bitters and soda brand Hella Cocktail Co., spoke about how the company has consistently pursued a thoughtful, and occasionally unorthodox, growth strategy that prioritizes strong unit economics and profitability, the synergistic relationship with its primary investor and how Hella’s three-founder team has been the backbone of its success.

The hosts explained how setting the trajectory of your company can often begin with a single pitch and sampled a variety of new innovative products, including bitter libations, zero-sugar sausage snacks and plant-based scallops. We also meet David Garci-Aguirre of Corto Olive, a super-premium brand of extra virgin oil that emphasizes freshness from harvest to plate.

Jake Bullock, the co-founder and CEO of pioneering cannabis-infused beverage company Cann, spoke about the role of community based, on-the-ground education in the brand’s ascendancy, why early-stage fundraising is about “finding the one,” the company’s scrappy strategy for getting product into celebrities’ hands and why he believes brands “need an enemy in all marketing.”

Jacqui Brugliera reported on the food and beverage scene at Coachella 2023, the hosts discussed whether #watertok is a faux controversy and riffed on several notable snacks and libations. We also meet Raffi Vartanian and Patrick Johnson, the co-founders of Ziba Foods, a mission-driven brand of Afghani-grown nuts, seeds and dried fruits that maintains an ethical supply chain from farm to bag.