The Story of a Brand

Recent Episodes

April 22, 2025

Cure Hydration - How One Brand Made Hydration Cool (and Clean)

On today’s episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I’m joined by Lauren Picasso, the founder and CEO of Cure Hydration. What started as a personal struggle with staying hydrated as an endurance athlete led Lauren to launch a science-backed, clean-label hydration brand that is now available in...

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April 19, 2025

Dapper Boi - Confidence Is the Real Product

In this episode, I sat down with Vicky Pasche, the incredible force behind Dapper Boi, a gender-inclusive, size-inclusive apparel brand with a mission rooted in confidence and authenticity. What began as Vicky’s search for clothes that fit her body and identity...

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April 17, 2025

Malk Organics - The Simple Ingredient Strategy That Built Consumer Tr…

In this episode, I sit down with Jason Bronstad, CEO of Malk Organics, and talk about the journey of not just leading a clean-label brand but rebuilding it from the inside out. Jason shares how a deeply personal career pivot led him to a mission-driven company that’s...

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April 12, 2025

Pilot Project Brewing - The Incubator That's Launching the Next Big …

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Abel, Co-founder and CEO of Pilot Project Brewing, a first-of-its-kind beverage incubator helping brands navigate one of the most competitive and complex CPG categories: beverages. From launching home-brew experiments in his garage to...

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April 9, 2025

Staff - How to Turn a Plunger Into a Social Media Star

In this episode, I chat with Charlie Weisman, the creative force behind Staff, a brand that’s reimagining the most overlooked items in your home such as plungers, lint rollers, and oven mitts with joy, color, and a whole lot of personality. What started as...

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April 2, 2025

Bissinger’s - What It Takes to Craft a Chocolate Masterpiece

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Abel Jr., Chief Chocolate Officer of Bissinger’s, one of the oldest chocolate companies in the world, dating back to 1668. We dive into this remarkable brand’s royal beginnings in France, its journey to the U.S., and how Dan and his...

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April 1, 2025

Lifeway Foods - The Immigrant Dream That Built a $200M Wellness Brand

In this episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Julie Smolyansky, President, CEO, and Chairwoman of Lifeway Foods, a pioneering brand behind the kefir movement in the U.S. We dive deep into Julie’s incredible family story, from escaping the Soviet Union with just...

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March 27, 2025

Smart Apron - The Apron That Works as Hard as You Do

In this episode, I sat down with father-son duo Kevin and Kieran Hoy of Smart Apron to discuss how they’re transforming a tired, overlooked product into a modern-day solution for food service workers and beyond. What started with a stitched-up fanny pack has become a functional, durable, and smartl…

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March 26, 2025

Hemp Heros - How to Build a Wellness Brand Your Pets Will Love

In this episode, I sit down with David Hartigan, Founder and CEO of Hemp Heros, to talk about the real story behind his mission-driven CBD and functional mushroom company. From managing MMA fighters to becoming one of the few B Corp-certified hemp brands, David shares how...

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March 25, 2025

VitaWild - No Sugar, No Guilt—Just Good Hydration

In this episode, I sit down with Jacques Spitzer and James Schrader, co-founders of VitaWild, to talk about their passion for product integrity, building brands with intention, and why they refused to cut corners in making something their families—and yours—can feel good about drinking. They open u…

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March 21, 2025

Spritzal Cookie Company - How a Family Recipe Became a Retail Hit

What do you get when you combine a great-grandmother’s Swedish cookie recipe, a mother-daughter duo, and a lot of grit? You get Spritzal, a clean-label cookie brand disrupting the cookie aisle with shortbread bites made from real, simple ingredients. In this episode, I sit down with Taylor Walker, …

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March 20, 2025

Ooso - A Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Tea Inspired by Natural Wine

In this episode, I sit down with Oliver Spring and Sophia Racciatti, Co-Founders of Ooso, to discuss their journey of creating a sparkling tea inspired by natural wine. From late-night kitchen experiments to landing on retail shelves, they share how they built a brand that...

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March 18, 2025

Winx Health - Revolutionizing Reproductive Care: One Product at a Time

Women’s health should be accessible, judgment-free, and rooted in real solutions, but that hasn’t always been the case. In this episode, I sit down with Jamie Norwood, Co-founder of Winx Health, to discuss how her brand is challenging outdated norms, improving access to essential products, and...

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March 13, 2025

Wove - The 10% Luck, 90% Preparation Rule for Going Viral

Jewelry isn’t just about sparkle—it’s about storytelling, sentiment, and capturing life’s most meaningful moments. In this episode, I sit down with Simone Kendle, CEO of Wove, to discuss how this brand redefines the fine jewelry experience with...

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March 11, 2025

FullWell - What to Know Before You Conceive

What if prenatal and reproductive health went beyond pregnancy?  In this episode, I sit down with Ayla Barmmer, Founder & CEO of FullWell, to discuss the critical role of nutrition in fertility, pregnancy, and overall reproductive wellness for both women and men. As a registered dietitian and integ…

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March 10, 2025

Key Sparkling Water - Crafted Carbonation: Changing How You Enjoy Spa…

Most sparkling water brands sound the same, look the same, and talk to the same consumer, but Mike Pilkington, Co-founder & CEO of Key Sparkling Water, saw an opportunity to do things differently. In this episode, we discuss how Key Sparkling Water is challenging the status quo with real ...

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