Episodes

Can Coolhaus make a comeback? Although the beloved non-dairy ice cream brand is reportedly on the chopping block, the hosts discussed a potential salvation akin to those of discontinued brands resurrected by new owners. This episode also features the latest installment of The Goat Pen with Carlton Fowler, the co-founder of Goat Rodeo Capital, who spoke about his “obsession” with outliers.

Renowned chef, restaurateur and “Top Chef” judge Tom Colicchio spoke about the development of his namesake food brand Colicchio Kitchen, his definition of “good food” and why he’s less intimidating than you might think. This episode also highlights a remarkable partnership between an upstart beverage company and an iconic spirit brand in a conversation with Social Hour co-founder Tom Macy and Nicole Austin, the general manager and distiller of George Dickel whiskey.

When car companies start making tequila and beer, all bets are off. In this episode, the hosts banter about Tesla’s foray into beverage alcohol, what happens when the boss visits a satellite office, a sneak peek at the new digs for BevNET’s winter events, how entrepreneurs can get inside the minds of investors and why we’re big on packing vacation snacks and drinks.

Andrew Merinoff, the founder of early-stage investment firm Dispact Ventures and CEO of passion fruit-based liqueur Chinola, spoke about how he attempts to identify trends before they become relevant, the key factors in his investment strategy, why he covets brand brands with a great story and how he’s navigated his first few months at the helm of Chinola.

Don’t try to sell consumers on what’s missing from your products; instead, emphasize and celebrate the best attributes of your brand. The hosts discuss this simple yet important distinction in this episode. We also feature an interview with WhistlePig’s head of whiskey development Liz Rhoades and chief blender Meghan Ireland about how a new generation of whiskey makers is striving to break traditional boundaries through experimentation and novel production methods.

This special edition of the podcast features actionable insights and advice from interviews with six founders, creators and leaders who joined us on the show during the first half of 2023. Our guests include SmartSweets founder Tara Bosch; Poppi co-founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth; Cann co-founder and CEO Jake Bullock; Chomps co-founders Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali; Afia co-founders Farrah and Yassin Sibai; and culinary icon Padma Lakshmi.

From sweet and savory salsa matcha and date-based energy snacks to craft cocktail tea bags and plant-based whale sperm tortilla chips (yes, we’re serious), the hosts shared their thoughts on the best and most notable products exhibited at the 2023 Summer Fancy Food Show. This episode also features an interview with Dave Colina, the founder and CEO of O2 Hydration, who discussed the sport drink brand’s repositioning and package revamp following the collapse of a major fundraising round.

Dillion Ceglio, the co-founder and CEO of better-for-you PB&J sandwich brand Chubby Snacks, spoke about the duality of building a brand that is inextricably aligned with its primary competitor, why he strives to be an expert in everything related to the production and sale of Chubby Snacks, and why he believes that entrepreneurship shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as a fun job.