Episodes

Bobo’s founder Beryl Stafford and company CEO T.J. McIntyre spoke about their work dynamic, how they assigned responsibilities and guidelines for their respective roles and why “the one thing that really serves as the foundational element of who we are is the actual bar.”

Teddie Natural Peanut Butter president/CEO Mark Hintlian explained why the company’s obsessive commitment to quality and dedication to its employees have been bedrocks of its success. He also spoke about how Teddie communicates the nutritional benefits of its products and why he believes that some competing brands marketing “natural” products are misleading consumers.

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.”

Grillo’s Pickles founder/CEO Travis Grillo spoke about why he pursued his passion despite the naysayers and explained why he fondly recalls the days when he was struggling and broke. He also discussed the unconventional way that Grillo’s got into Whole Foods, how he considers new hires and investment and why he’s just as likely to take advice from a homeless person as he would from a billionaire.

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.

One of the beverage industry’s best known and most respected insiders, Ken Sadowsky has long been an investor and advisor to a range of category-leading brands. In this episode, he discussed how he assesses opportunities to align with and invest in early stage brands, offered his perspective on leadership and shared his thoughts on notable categories and emerging trends.

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.”