Turning Up The Heat w/ John Hyden

From Side Hustle to Snack Sensation: The Spicy Rise of Crosseye’s Ghost Pretzels

In this episode of Coffee & Grit, we sit down with John Hyden a Difference Maker, and someone who turned late-night kitchen experiments into a full-blown viral snack brand. What started as a creative outlet during the 2008 housing crash quickly snowballed into something way bigger… thanks to a little fire, a lot of flavor, and one pickle guy’s review that blew up the internet.

Meet the creator behind Crosseye’s Ghost Pretzels—a visionary who took an old nickname from the '90s and turned it into a bold brand that people can’t get enough of. We dive deep into his journey from job loss to gourmet pretzel hustle, how he bootstrapped everything from packaging to pricing, and the moment he realized… “this might actually be something.” You’ll hear:

• The full behind-the-scenes story of going viral overnight
• How he turned a rap name into a snack brand
• Why hoodies with his logo are flying off the shelves
• The tough love convo that helped him finally price his product right
• What it means to stay humble, keep learning, and build one pretzel at a time

This isn’t just a business story—it’s the American dream, dipped in ghost dust and seasoned with grit. 🎯 Want a taste? Visit www.crosseyesghostpretzels.com or follow along on Facebook.

Learn more about Jason's work!
Website: https://www.roar.consulting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jtroarconsult
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/roarconsultinginc/
Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@coffeeandgritpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-tracey?trk=org-employees
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone] 

Get to know John’s work! 
Website: https://crosseyesghostpretzels.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crosseyes-Ghost-Pretzels/100063547511188/
Email: [e-mail]