U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Today's guest on The Quiet Pour is Cindy Pokriefka, an avid (and accomplished) distance runner who re-discovered the sport in her mid-twenties, having completed six marathons in the past six years.

In this episode, Cindy shares her thoughts on how running helped her during COVID, why it's so important to mental health, and how mindful drinking has helped her be present in social situations without feeling like she has to drink alcoh...

Our next guest on The Quiet Pour is no stranger to the craft beer scene, particularly in his hometown of Chicago.Dave was an early adopter of NA options when the quality took a big jump a few years ago, and he likes to rotate them in with his full-octane brews.

In this episode, Dave shares his thoughts on why he enjoys talking about beer (listen to his podcast, Beer In Front), what's in his fridge, and how mindful drinking has impac...

The occasions for non-alcoholic beer are ever expanding, but so, too, is the competition. Best Day Brewing founder Tate Huffard has spent the last five years working to build a brand to last. We dig into what's been the secret sauce to their growth, from the brewing process to the retail shelf, and what has helped them to stand out in an ever-crowded field.

We cover Tate's surf-culture origin story behind BDB, how the consumer occas...

For our very first Quiet Pour conversation we didn't have to go very far, and yes, there's a story there. Meagan Swingle (IG: untilallcanread) has always been happiest when she's outdoors near a lake or somewhere in nature, and in the past, certain social situations had a way of making her feel like she needed to be someone that she wasn't. 

In this episode, Meagan shares her current go-to NA staples (i.e. what's always in the ...

 What does mindful drinking actually look like in real life? The Quiet Pour is a new audio-only series featuring short, honest conversations with everyday people across the country. From going fully sober to simply cutting back or putting healthier drinks into their body, each voice will share a personal perspective on how a changing relationship with alcohol, or embracing functional beverages, has shaped their health, mindset...

NA bottle shops have become an integral part of the moderation movement. After a creative career in video and production, Obreanna McReynolds and her husband Dean Peterson took a leap in 2024 to open what is now Los Angeles’ largest non-alcoholic bottle shop. In this conversation, we explore how Burden of Proofbecame a cornerstone of the San Gabriel Valley, moving beyond the binary of "sober vs. drinker" to create a premium r...

After a corporate career rooted in fashion and media, Aplós Co-Founder and CEO David Fudge is now helping to move the non-alcoholic industry beyond simple imitation. In this conversation, we explore how Aplós is creating a sophisticated new flavor language using ingredients like yuzu, basil, and dandelion, designed to act as a lead in premium cocktails rather than a 1:1 alcohol proxy.

We dive into topics like the strategic choice of...

As the no-and-low alcohol category continues to mature and grow, additives and sugar content have become a defining battleground. In this episode, we sit down with Michael Colangelo, Founder and CEO of Nota Bene Flavors, to unpack what it really takes to build compelling taste in modern beverage brands.

Michael brings a rare blend of big-company rigor and startup agility, with a career that began with flavoring medicines at Pfizer, ...

Workplace wellness has never been more visible, from mental health benefits to flexible schedules, but has it truly become central to how companies operate, or is it still a leadership side project? That was one of the questions we explored with Jennifer Moss, an award-winning author and workplace culture strategist, in our first episode of 2026. A frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, CNN, Time, and The Wall Street Jour...

January will mark our 2nd birthday as a podcast, and like most restless toddlers, we're really only getting started. But before we turn the calendar to 2026 we first take a look back at highlights from just a few of our favorite Season 2 episodes, focusing on the many founders we've featured sharing why they're passionate about mindful drinking. Here's seven of those founders / leaders, talking specifically about their 'why':

Laurel...

When signed into law on November 12th, 2025, a bill ironically known as the "Government Shutdown Prevention Act," included language that would all but shut down the multi-billion dollar hemp industry, of which beverages are a major piece.

In this bonus episode we dive into seven questions that define what's next for an industry picking itself off the mat, and how consumers might respond. Questions we address include:

1) How will the ...

We know mindful drinking supports wellness and healthier choices. But has it also finally become something the cool kids are into? That was the question we posed to Sam Bail, Founder of Third Place Bar, who has been running pop-up events in New York City for three years. What's been different lately in her business? Getting calls from brands in fashion and beauty, wanting to feature non-alcoholic drinks at various industry and laun...

A lot can happen in eighteen months, and we re-visited our season one conversation with The Modern Substitute's Myles Faulkner to discuss the state of the non-alcoholic category. In a follow-up to that original interview we talk about the rise of hemp-infused beverages, a continuing stream of celebrity-backed brands, and a mid-strength category that probably isn't getting enough attention yet. We also talk about some of Myles' fave...

Repeat entrepreneurs who have just entered their seventies, Pharos Brands' co-founders Mary Eggers Bernuth and Rhyno Stinchfield are no rookies to starting something new. They're equally unabashed in their enthusiasm for introducing fellow baby boomers to the benefits of consuming cannabis beverages.

We sit down with Pharos' Mary Bernuth to talk about what led her to expanding beyond a successful psychotherapy practice to enter the ...

On the season premiere of ABC's iconic, entrepreneurial series Shark Tank, Dad Strength Brewing co-founders Ryan Kutscher and Craig Carey scored investments from not one, but THREE of the show's sharks; Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, and Rashaun Williams. 

In this bonus episode we replay clips from both our August, 2024 conversation with Dad Strength's Ryan Kutscher, and our February, 2025 one with Brandon Joldersma, CEO of low...

With a career background that has included stops at medical supply and equipment behemoth, McKesson, as well as executive roles at a variety of life sciences companies, Botanical Sciences CEO Gary Long knows healthcare. While his background may not seem like a traditional fit for the medical and hemp-derived cannabis world, his arrival along with other outsiders signal a transformation underway in a category becoming known more for...

When De Soi/Amass Co-Founder Morgan McLachlan was growing up in British Columbia, Canada, making booze for a living wasn't on her radar. But a love of botany and the alchemy of beverage making drew her in, and eventually she became one of the few female master distillers in the world.

In our conversation with Morgan we talk first about her journey into the world of alcohol, and why expanding into the non-alcoholic realm became a pri...

As consumers turn toward functional beverages that don't involve alcohol, hemp-infused drinks seem poised to continue their rocket rise. But with growth comes challenges, not to mention regulatory headaches as legislators at the state and federal level grapple with this new industry. We attended the 2nd ever Hemp Beverage Expo in Atlanta to understand what's happening in the industry. Is the future of the category at the micro-dose...

Best known for his ongoing role in the hit Bravo series, Summer House, Carl Radke also has a growing passion for the non-alcoholic space, with a desire to create an elevated environment where people can enjoy social beverages without alcohol. In our conversation, Carl shares his perspective on why the category is in dire need of proper places to enjoy these drinks in the social setting for which they're intended, and how that led t...