Food & Beverage Episodes

June 27, 2025

The Froot Thief - The Untold Story Behind That Viral Fruit Spaghetti

In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Cornish, the spirited co-founder and “Head Bandit” behind The Froot Thief—a fruit snack brand that’s turning heads and winning lunchboxes.  Jonathan’s story is one of grit, gratitude, and big flavor. We discuss how a...

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June 25, 2025

Little Spoon - How to Build a Brand Parents' Trust

As someone who has worked with numerous consumer brands, I can confidently say that Little Spoon is one of those companies that truly understands today’s modern parent. I had the joy of sitting down with Angela Vranich and Ben Lewis, co-founders of Little Spoon, and discussing how ...

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June 24, 2025

Halfday Ice Tea (Part 2) - From Gut Issues to Grocery Shelves

When it comes to building a better-for-you beverage brand, it’s easy to think it’s all about the product. But as Kayvon Jahanbakhsh, co-founder of Halfday Iced Tea, shares in this episode, building a brand people actually love is just as much about emotional connection, persistence, and timing. Thi…

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June 24, 2025

Halfday Ice Tea (Part 1) - How a Dorm Room Idea Disrupted Iced Tea

Every now and then, you come across a founder story that’s both heartfelt and hustle-packed—this is one of those.  In this episode, I sit down with Mike Lombardo, co-founder of Halfday Iced Tea, a brand that’s redefining what iced tea can be. We talk about everything from starting the company out o…

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June 20, 2025

Baumer Foods - They Make Good Food Taste Great

I’ve interviewed a lot of founders, but few with stories as rich and enduring as today’s guest. In this episode, I sit down with Pepper Baumer, President & CEO of Crystal Hot Sauce, a product of Baumer Foods. We explore how this iconic, family-owned brand has been flavoring kitchens for over...

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June 10, 2025

TRUBAR - How Bold Packaging and Clean Ingredients Win

I had an absolute blast chatting with Erica Groussman, the bold and fearless founder of TRUBAR. Erica’s energy is infectious, and her story is a masterclass in trusting your gut, listening to your body, and never settling for the status quo.  What started as a...

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June 6, 2025

FIOR Scotch - Breaking the Scotch Rulebook

When I sat down with Eric Dominijanni, the founder of FIOR Scotch, I knew this was going to be more than a conversation about spirits; it was going to be about reinvention. Eric’s background in beverage alcohol and his vision to bring a new type of scotch to a new kind of ...

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June 4, 2025

Greco Gum - The Science Behind Your Chew

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn a simple idea, like chewing gum, into a performance-driven, clean-label product with serious staying power, this episode is for you. Today, I’m talking with Logan Wright, Co-founder of Greco Gum, a brand redefining what gum can be...

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June 3, 2025

Painterland Sisters - How Two Sisters Are Redefining Rural Entreprene…

This interview left me feeling inspired and grounded. I sat down with Hayley and Stephanie Painter, the passionate co-owners behind Painterland Sisters, a family-run brand that’s redefining what it means to bring food from farm to spoon. Raised on a fourth-generation regenerative...

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May 28, 2025

Curious Elixir - The Science and Soul of Curious Elixir

When you meet someone building a brand with soul, you feel it. That’s exactly what happened when I spoke with JW Wiseman, the founder of Curious Elixirs, a line of booze-free cocktails that doesn’t just skip the alcohol but adds in adaptogens, bold flavor, and a whole lot of purpose. We discuss...

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May 28, 2025

Aplós - If a Fashion Brand Made a Spirit

When Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, first tried Aplós, she knew there was something different, sophisticated, calming, and beautifully intentional. In this episode, Rose sits down with David Fudge, Co-founder and CEO of Aplós, to unpack how he’s not just building...

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May 22, 2025

BIOLYTE - How Theater Skills Built a Top CPG Brand

When your product is born out of love, necessity, and a mission to help others, it shows. In this episode, I sit down with Jesslyn Rollins, CEO of BIOLYTE, the first medical-grade hydration drink formulated to deliver the benefits of an IV bag in a bottle. What started as a way to help her mom duri…

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May 20, 2025

Chef Merito - How a Family Recipe Became a Flavor Empire

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Lauren Corugedo, Head of Marketing at Chef Merito. Chef Merito is a family-founded Latino brand that has been bringing bold, authentic flavor to kitchens since 1985. We dove into the brand's rich heritage, how it all started in her grandfather’s …

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May 19, 2025

Shroom Bar - The Bar Built for Fighters and Focus

When someone tells me they’re going all in, I listen.  That’s exactly what Tommy Walsh, Founder & Owner of Shroom Bar, did when he launched Shroom Bar, a protein-packed, mushroom-fueled bar designed for focus, energy, and endurance. In this episode, Tommy shares his founder journey, from mixing mus…

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May 16, 2025

Simek's - How a Family Recipe Became a B Corp Powerhouse

As someone who’s passionate about brands that lead with purpose and quality, my conversation with Lindsey Hickey , CEO and owner of Simek's , was a true highlight. Simek's isn’t just about frozen meals; it’s about nourishing people with food made from real...

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April 29, 2025

Misery & Mayhem - The Rise of a Performance-Driven Oatmeal Brand

When it comes to fueling ambition, some stories are just unforgettable. In this episode, Rose Hamilton, founder of Compass Rose Venture, sits down with Scott Turner and Nick Lagonia, the powerhouse duo behind Misery & Mayhem, a new protein-packed oatmeal brand that's redefining what "fuel" really m…

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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 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 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 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 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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May 19, 2022

Figlia - A Beautifully Balanced Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo

This episode is brought to you by .   Starting a new brand - particularly a very small brand - can be pretty isolating. So determination and vision are keys to success, says , founder of , a non-alcoholic cocktail with no added sugar or...

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