Episodes

She helped redefine premium soda. Now she’s rethinking the martini. In this episode, Sharelle Klaus shares how the lessons, missteps and successes of building DRY Soda informed the launch of Second Sip, a lower-proof gin designed for today’s intentional drinker. She reflects on how her second act is more focused, shaped by patience, distribution strategy, brand clarity and long-term scale.

Forget Hollywood. For actor and investor Ryan Phillippe, the real drama is unfolding in the beverage aisle. Speaking from BevNET Live L.A. 2025, Ryan – attending alongside Pretty Tasty co-founder Scarlett Leung – explains why functional beverages, credible health benefits, and shelf-grabbing design are the factors that separate forgettable brands from the next breakout hit. 

She went from selling hydration drinks out of the trunk of her car to building a $20M brand, without outside investors, industry experience or playing by the rules. Jesslyn Rollins, the CEO of rapid hydration brand Biolyte, reveals how grassroots hustle and relentless sampling helped her break into one of the most competitive categories in beverages, and why it’s now ready to make its boldest move yet.

As 2026 approaches, the Taste Radio hosts explore why uncertainty may actually favor emerging food and beverage brands. From changing definitions of value and retailer innovation to AI-driven discovery and standout new products, the episode highlights where real opportunity is taking shape in CPG.

In this replay of a 2023 Taste Radio interview with Poppi founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth – recorded when the BFY soda brand was still firmly in disruptor mode – you’ll hear the blueprint for PepsiCo’s $1.95 billion acquisition years before it happened: a brand that tastes great, moves at the speed of culture, wins both online and in-store, and boldly reclaims the word “soda.”

Candy-coated dates, cocktails in pouches, collagen-infused beauty drinks and “noise-canceling” tonics. The latest wave of launches begs the question: is niche now the norm in food and beverage?