The Story of a Brand

In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Kemp, the passionate owner of Bare Kind, a brand of bamboo socks that’s on a mission to save endangered animals one step at a time. 

What began with a desire to create a feel-good product has grown into a purpose-driven business that partners with over 30 animal charities, donates 10% of profits, and makes every sock design count.

What I love about this conversation is how grounded Andrew i...

In this episode, I sit down with Isaac LeKach and Lillian Shalom, the creative and entrepreneurial duo behind Flower Shop Perfumes Co., a brand that’s blurring the lines between scent, art, and emotion. 

What struck me most about our conversation is how personal their approach to fragrance is. For them, perfume isn’t just about smelling good; it’s about storytelling, self-expression, and creating a deeply emotional, almost spiritu...

In this episode, I sit down with Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, the visionary duo behind Fresh, one of the most iconic beauty brands of the last three decades. 

What began as a small apothecary shop in Boston evolved into a global brand renowned for blending modern skincare with timeless rituals. Lev and Alina share their journey with such openness—from selling artisanal soaps wrapped in hand-stamped paper to pioneering innovatio...

In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Landry, PhD, a scientist-turned-entrepreneur who’s bringing literal space-age technology to the skincare world. 

As the President and Co-founder of Delavie Sciences, Kyle shares how a partnership with NASA led to the discovery of a one-of-a-kind extremophile—an organism found on the outside of the International Space Station—that now powers their cutting-edge skincare line. This isn’t just abo...

In this episode, I sit down with Darren Litt, the founder of Hiya Health, a mission-driven kids' wellness brand that’s reimagining what it means to raise healthy children. 

Darren shares how a single disappointing Amazon order led him down a path of obsession with better ingredients, smarter packaging, and more meaningful health experiences for kids and families. What started with taste tests from his daughters turned into a natio...

In this episode, I sit down with Lindsey Carter, the Founder and CEO of SET ACTIVE, a brand that has reshaped how women experience athleisure—not just in terms of function, but also in terms of feeling. 

Lindsey shares her raw and powerful journey, from bootstrapping the brand at 25 with zero funding to building a movement rooted in authenticity, storytelling, and unmatched community connection. Her story is one of resilience, vis...

In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Cornish, the spirited co-founder and “Head Bandit” behind The Froot Thief—a fruit snack brand that’s turning heads and winning lunchboxes. 

Jonathan’s story is one of grit, gratitude, and big flavor. We discuss how a family-run business gave him and his brother their first break over 25 years ago, and how that act of faith continues to shape their approach today. That foundation—combined w...

In this episode, I had a powerful and insightful conversation with Eric Kasper, the founder of 1 Commerce. Eric isn’t just building another ecommerce platform—he’s building from the ground up based on hard-won experience, past failures, and deep empathy for the challenges founders face. 

We discussed how losing everything gave him clarity, how he rebuilt with intention, and how that journey became the foundation of a platform that...

What happens when you mix a deep love for small business with the drive to shake up an outdated industry? You get BloomNation. 

In this episode, I sat down with Farbod Shoraka, Co-founder & CEO of BloomNation, to talk about how a few powerful insights—and one unforgettable lunch—led to the creation of a platform that empowers thousands of florists and small business owners across the U.S.

We delve into how BloomNation evolved fro...

As someone who has worked with numerous consumer brands, I can confidently say that Little Spoon is one of those companies that truly understands today’s modern parent. 

I had the joy of sitting down with Angela Vranich and Ben Lewis, co-founders of Little Spoon, and discussing how they’re not just reinventing kids’ nutrition, but also rethinking how to meet families where they are—with convenience, trust, and transparency.

In th...

When it comes to building a better-for-you beverage brand, it’s easy to think it’s all about the product. But as Kayvon Jahanbakhsh, co-founder of Halfday Iced Tea, shares in this episode, building a brand people actually love is just as much about emotional connection, persistence, and timing. 

This conversation is packed with insights into what it truly takes to break through in a crowded category, especially when you're on a mi...

Every now and then, you come across a founder story that’s both heartfelt and hustle-packed—this is one of those. 

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Lombardo, co-founder of Halfday Iced Tea, a brand that’s redefining what iced tea can be. We talk about everything from starting the company out of a college dorm room to turning a personal health journey into a functional beverage brand that’s now on the shelves of Whole Foods, S...

I’ve interviewed a lot of founders, but few with stories as rich and enduring as today’s guest. In this episode, I sit down with Pepper Baumer, President & CEO of Crystal Hot Sauce, a product of Baumer Foods. We explore how this iconic, family-owned brand has been flavoring kitchens for over a century, surviving everything from World War II to Hurricane Katrina to global supply chain meltdowns. It’s a powerful reminder of what it m...

I always say some of the most innovative ideas come from personal experiences, and Nicole Smith’s story is proof. What started as a meaningful moment in Paris with her best friend evolved into Flytographer, a global platform that helps people capture unforgettable travel memories through professional photography. Nicole didn’t just build a business; she created a movement rooted in human connection, storytelling, and joy.

In this ...

Every once in a while, you come across a story so driven by purpose and heart that you can feel it in every word, and that’s exactly how I felt talking to the co-founders of ByHeart. 

In this episode, Ron Belldegrun and Mia Funt, Co-founders of ByHeart, guide us through their remarkable journey to reinvent infant formula from the ground up, driven by science, transparency, and a deep conviction that parents deserve better options.

I always love speaking with founders who are guided by purpose, and Reham Essa’s story is a perfect example.

 After years as a pharmacist, Founder and CEO Reham set out to create a skincare brand that prioritizes health, simplicity, and integrity over hype. EssenZen is about more than beauty; it’s about reclaiming what skincare should be: minimal, functional, and rooted in science.

In this episode, Reham shares how her background...

Something is compelling about a leader who brings both sharp commercial instincts and deep empathy to the table, and that’s precisely what I found in my conversation with Jeanelle Teves. 

As Chief Commercial Officer at Bugaboo, she’s not just driving growth; she’s redefining what it means to build a global lifestyle brand rooted in purpose, innovation, and real human connection.

In this episode, we talk about what it takes to evo...

As people who are passionate about purpose-driven CPG brands, we couldn’t wait to sit down with Jennifer Jorgensen, CEO of Back to Nature. 

She’s not just leading the charge at Back to Nature she’s revitalizing a legacy brand for today’s conscious consumer.  With a powerful blend of empathy, strategy, and bold decision-making, Jennifer demonstrates what it means to lead with both heart and business acumen.

In this episode, Rose H...

I had an absolute blast chatting with Erica Groussman, the bold and fearless founder of TRUBAR. Erica’s energy is infectious, and her story is a masterclass in trusting your gut, listening to your body, and never settling for the status quo. 

What started as a personal journey to clean up her own nutrition turned into a full-on movement—and a fast-growing brand that’s flipping the protein bar category on its head.

TRUBAR isn’t ju...