Episodes

We're not exactly at odds, but there's definitely some healthy debate among the hosts around how to assess Expo West 2025. And it turns out, we're not alone. The biggest question on everyone's mind: how do we truly evaluate innovation, and what does it mean for the future of the food and beverage industry in the near term?

Dr. Pat Heist, the co-founder of groundbreaking whiskey brand Wilderness Trail offers a deep reflection on his entrepreneurial journey, from its debut 2018 to Campari’s $600 million acquisition of the company four years later.

Expo West 2025… OK, it wasn’t a classic. It would be hard to characterize anything we saw as "groundbreaking." Perhaps, however, incremental improvements, global flavors and innovative collaborations are enough to keep the train rolling. For now, anyway. We also sit down with Carolyn Hamlet, the founder and CEO of OKU, a trailblazing brand of energy gummies.

Mac Villarreal, the founder & CEO of I Eat My Greens, a pioneering plant-based soup company, takes us through his fascinating entrepreneurial journey, the impact of his brand’s innovative packaging, how he overcame initial retailer pushback, creating products that align with modern food trends and his patient, yet ambitious growth strategy.

Aura Bora is acquired. Hiyo adds $19 million and a strategic partner. And Celsius drops $1.8 billion on Alani Nu. Oh, and Spindrift is back in the soda biz. Yeah, it’s been a busy week, and the hosts have lots to say. We also sit down with Alex Duong, the founder & CEO of Fair & Square and Lena Zhuravsky, the founder of passionfruit centric-beverage brand Passion Joy.

Sammy Hagar’s passion for tequila runs deep. But the iconic rock star, best known for his time as the frontman of Van Halen, has an even deeper commitment to earning and preserving the trust of his fans. Santo Spirits is where those two worlds meet.

How many brands can you name that secured national distribution at Whole Foods just weeks after launching? In this episode, we dive into one such success story: Yaza, a rapidly emerging brand of Lebanese-style labneh. We also test yet another "pizza wine" and chat about Hailee Steinfeld's angelic take on RTD cocktails.