Mocktails with Marina

In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, we sit down with Abbie Romanul, founder of Raising the Bar, the zero-proof cocktail kit subscription that's become a staple for mindful drinkers, sober-curious folks, and wellness-forward hosts across the U.S.

Abbie shares her deeply personal jo...

In this powerful episode of Mocktails with Marina, host Marina Castillo sits down with Sarah Kiriliuk, the founder of Some Good Clean Fun and sober lifestyle advocate behind the popular Instagram account @somegoodcleanfun. With her PR and media background and deeply personal journey through perimenopause, motherhood, and midlif...

In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, host Marina Castillo sits down with Lila Volkas (non-alcoholic beverage educator, holistic nutritionist) to explore the powerful intersection of mindful drinking, functional mixology, and plant-based wellness education.

Together, they dive deep into L...

In this powerful episode of Mocktails with Marina, we explore why visibility in business isn't just about being seen, it's about being regulated. Whether you're building a non-alcoholic brand, launching your first product, or leading a team in the kava and sober-curious space, the ability to show up authentically and consistently is a

Is your backend blocking your breakthrough? In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, we dive into the chaotic, often-overlooked world of operations and uncover why so many non-alcoholic business owners, kava bar founders, and sober entrepren...

Struggling to price your drinks? Wondering why your non-alc menu isn’t selling? In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, we’re walking you through the exact system used by top-performing sober bars and beverage entrepreneurs to create intentional, profitable, and scalable drink menus.

Marina shares horror stories from behind the scenes of bad menus, then introduces the ...

Ready to finally take your non-alcoholic business idea seriously? In this episode, Marina shares the story behind the creation of the Non-Alc Business Jumpstart Kit—a powerful, done-for-you toolkit designed for aspiring founders of non-alcoholic bars, bottle shops, and beverage brands.

If you’ve been stuck in research mode, overwhelmed by where to begin, or unsure how t...

If you care about the future of kava, you need to hear this. In this powerful episode, I pull back the curtain on our advocacy work with both the Global and Arizona Kava Coalitions; covering everything from health department misunderstandings to national misinformation about kava’s safety.

We talk real policy, industry protection, and how owning a kava business is

The non-alcoholic space is booming—but make no mistake, the game is still rigged. In this episode, Marina exposes the power structures keeping non-alc brands stuck on the sidelines and what it really takes to win.

We unpack how the alcohol industry controls distribution, funding, and even social norms—while quietly investing in non-alc products to keep control. You’ll learn the psychology behind why drink culture is so hard to brea...

They told you that launching a non-alc business takes millions in funding, insider connections, and a nonstop hustle mindset.

They lied.

In this episode, I’m debunking the 3 most toxic myths keeping passionate founders stuck—and showing you exactly what it really takes to build a successful non-alc brand from the ground up.

You’ll learn:

• Why you don’t need venture capital to get started (and what to build instead)
• How “not bei...

Nobody cares what’s in the bottle. They care how it makes them feel. In this solo episode, Marina breaks down one of the most common mistakes in the non-alc industry: over-educating instead of emotionally connecting. If you’ve been pushing ingredients, benefits, and back labels instead of identity, aspiration, and community… this episode is your wake-up call.

You’ll learn:

• Why taste and function are not the main reason people ...

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Michelle LeBlanc, co-founder of Mantra Kava and Botanical Bar in DeLand, Florida, to talk about what it really takes to build a soulful, alcohol-free gathering space from the ground up.

Michelle shares how her diverse background became an asset—not a detour—in launchi...

In this powerful and relatable episode, we’re joined by Kendall Bierman, licensed therapist and founder of Kendall B Therapy, who opens up about her journey from self-medicating in college to building a career helping others break free from the same patterns.

Kendall shares how drinking once felt like a no...

In this episode, Marina sits down with Maggie Klaassens: alcohol-free coach, mom of three, and the founder of The Sober Summit and The Sober Hive. What started as a personal 100-day challenge to ditch alcohol turned into a purpose-filled mission to help gray area drinkers take back ...

In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, we're diving deep into the booming world of non-alcoholic product creation. If you've ever dreamed of launching your own functional beverage, sober-friendly tincture, or wellness powder, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

...

In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, host Marina sits down with Rebecca Styn, founder of Blind Tiger, a non-alcoholic cocktail company rooted in inclusivity, hospitality, and premium zero-proof experiences. Discover how Rebecca turned the challenges of the 2020 pandemic into a groundbreaking pivot that transformed her speakeasy-style bar, Room 33, into the birthplace of Blind Tiger—n...

In this powerful episode of Mocktails with Marina, host Marina sits down with Becky Moreno, founder of Unity SoBar and Unity Recovery Solutions, to explore the deeper meaning behind the growing non-alcoholic movement. Becky shares her raw and inspiring recovery journey—from navigating life as an alcoholic to becoming a bold leader in the sober entrepren...

In this episode of Mocktails with Marina, we explore a powerful and often overlooked business skill: setting boundaries as a business owner while maintaining professionalism, leadership, and client trust. If you're an entrepreneur in the non-alcoholic beverage industry, a CPG founder, or a wellness-based business leader, chances are you've experienced clients, collaborators, or leads pushing past agreed-upon limits—whether that's a...