Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG) (Gage Mitchell of Modern Species)

In today's episode, we speak with Alise Zindiga, CSR Manager at Printful, about the demand for sustainable products, the benefit of on-demand production, and the complexities of scaling sustainability across the globe.

Printful is a company that designs and sells custom products online with print-on-demand drop shipping. Find more about them here

Find more about Alise Zindiga here

Books we talked about:

We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast

Eating Animals

Today, we’re speaking with Jake Karls, Co-Founder and Rainmaker at Mid-Day Squares, about their game-changing show, everything style brand marketing, and how he,  Lezlie Karls, and Nick (Co-Founders) are committed to staying independent and true to themselves for the long haul.

Find out more about Mid-Day Squares here

Check out Jake Karls on LinkedIn 

In this episode, we are speaking with Aaron Wallach, Founder and Chief Energy Officer of Javazen, about the lessons learned from the brand’s initial launch and how he’s approaching the relaunch differently.

Javazen offers a harmonious blend of coffee, organic matcha, and cacao that fuels your body and mind creating the perfect balance of energy and focus. Find more here: https://javazen.co/

Do you have any questions or feedback about the product? Reach Aaron Wallach at aaron@javazen.co

Connect with Aaron Wallach on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-wallach-91037789/

Discount code for everyone listening: ZEN10

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Check out our new impact workshop, Exponential Good, at evolvecpg.com

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As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

In today's episode, we speak with Breyn Hibbs, Head of Social and Environmental Impact at Take Two about the complexities of calculating and communicating positive impact.

Take Two is an upcycled food company that makes barley milk out of the spent grain from beer brewing. Check out their website: https://taketwofoods.com/

Connect with Breyn Hibbs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breyn-marr-hibbs-4031508/

We also mentioned in this episode:

ReFED Insights: https://insights.refed.org/

Regrained: https://www.regrained.com/

Upcycled Food Association: https://www.upcycledfood.org/

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Check out our new impact workshop, Exponential Good: https://www.evolvecpg.com/brand-impact-workshop-exponential-good

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

In today’s episode, we’ll be speaking with Rob Sinclair, founder of ImaginALL Collective, about understanding the issues that are material to your brand in order to futureproof your company and move beyond sustainability towards regeneration.

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Learn more about ImaginALL Collective here: http://imaginallcollective.com/

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Connect with Rob Sinclair on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/consciousbrands/ 

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Check out our new impact workshop, Exponential Good: https://www.evolvecpg.com/brand-impact-workshop-exponential-good

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As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

While motivation and education can be effective in the right circumstances and the correct order, the bottom line is: if you're dumping your marketing dollars into motivation and education only, you're draining your brand of valuable time and money! 

In this mini-episode, your host Gage Mitchell goes solo to dive into the reasons why you shouldn't rely purely on education or motivation tactics in your marketing, with numerous recognizable scenarios that show why motivation can be unpredictable and inconsistent. We also look at why education only works with specific types of products and doesn't really serve you in the long term, before briefly touching on the psychology principles of using lots of information to sell. 

Tune in now to chew on this bite-sized and informative installment on why you might need to seriously rethink your marketing strategy!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Two reasons why education and motivation often fall apart when it comes to marketing!
• Gage walks us through 'motivation juice' and outlines why it's a difficult thing to deal with. 
• Talking about the unpredictable nature of motivation.
• Some examples of products that use psychology principles and why that isn't sustainable.
• Diving into an example that illustrates why self-control isn't consistent. 
• How motivation and education can be useful in the right order and circumstances.
• A sneak-peek into next week's topic: hot tips on what to do with motivation and your brand!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Modern Species

Episode 32: Persuasive Branding with Gage Mitchell of Modern Species

Evolve CPG Community

Continuing last week's episode about the problem with using motivation as a marketing tool, our host, Gage Mitchell, joins us to dive into the things a brand should focus on if they want to build a new behavior on consumers.

Find the Key Points of the Episode on our website: https://www.evolvecpg.com/the-show/make-it-easy-gage-mitchell-modern-species

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

In this episode, we are joined by Pallavi Pande, founder of Dtocs, to talk about the importance of pursuing something you’re passionate about, and the challenges of being a mompreneur.

Dtocs makes compostable tableware from naturally fallen palm leaves. Find more information about them here: https://dtocs.com/

Find the Key Points of the Episode on our website: https://www.evolvecpg.com/the-show/mompreneur-on-a-mission-pallavi-pande-dtocs

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

In today’s episode, we are joined by Robert Koenen, Chief Revenue Officer of Boxed Water is Better, to talk about plastic pollution, sustainable alternatives, and the difficulties entrepreneurs face when they want to bring change to the market.

Boxed Water is Better is a sustainable alternative to plastic water bottles and aluminum cans for the grab-and-go water market. Their cartons are 92% plant-based and 100% recyclable and refillable. Find more: https://boxedwaterisbetter.com/

Check out the Key Points of the Episode: https://www.evolvecpg.com/the-show/persistance-beats-resistance-rob-koenen-boxed-water-is-better

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

In today’s episode, we are joined by Douglas Raggio, Founder of Pass the Honey, about understanding biases and blind spots, and the necessity of being in it for the long haul if you're trying to change the system.

Pass the Honey does raw honeycomb you can snack on. Find more: https://passthehoney.com/

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

Today, we welcome Radhika Manwani, Associate at Sieo, to talk about their hybrid venture studio and marketing agency model. Also, we dive into the lessons learned while developing, launching, and growing a new product brand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sieo builds and grows impactful companies. Learn more: https://www.sieo.io/

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

In today’s episode, we speak with Allyson Bartlett, Director of Brand and Marketing for 1% for the Planet, about why and how companies and individuals are formalizing their commitment to the planet in ways that does good, feels good, and makes good sense.

1% for the Planet is a global organization that certifies environmental giving. Find more: https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

In this week’s episode, we're speaking with Matt D’Amour and Linwood Paul, Founders of Subtle Distinctions, about how the process of lifestyle design can help us achieve our dreams and therefore live our best lives.

Subtle Distinctions cultivate thoughtful leaders from the inside out. Direct your destiny here: https://subtledistinctions.com/

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

This week we are joined by Kate Fosson, Co-Founder, and CEO of Brand Pollinators, about the experiences and knowledge we collect during a long journey, and how she's using her unique combination of skill sets to help brands scale sustainably.

Brand Pollinators tells your brand story, connects you with more customers, and helps you scale sustainably. Learn more: https://brandpollinators.com/

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

Today we’re speaking with Kaitlin Mogentale, founder of Pulp Pantry, about identifying a problem to solve, asking for help along the way, and leaning into opportunities even if they're intimidating.

Pulp Pantry transforms scraps into snacks by utilizing overlooked resources in our food system, or upcycled ingredients. They are made more sustainable, and are, of course, better for you. Find more: https://pulppantry.com/

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

Today, we speak with Moji Igun, founder of Blue Daisi Consulting, about the importance of figuring out what sustainability means to you and how she's helping companies find their path to zero waste.

Blue Daisi Consulting is a sustainability consulting company that focuses on zero waste. Find more: https://bluedaisi.com/

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

In this episode, we're joined by Tim Richards, founder, and CEO of Philosopher Foods, to talk about the challenges of running a premium food product company, and the benefits of raw, sprouted, and generatively grown foods.

Philosopher Foods is a nut butter company, currently, focused on creating the most delicious, nutritious, ethical, and ecological nut butters that we can possibly produce. Find more: https://philosopherfoods.com/

Find more about Modern Species: https://modernspecies.com/

Join our FREE community for CPG leaders: https://community.evolvecpg.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-cpg/

As an ever-evolving show, we also love feedback. Send us your thoughts or ideas for who we should talk to next to evolve@modernspecies.com

Looking for ideas and inspiration to improve your contributions to worthy causes? In this episode we share a panel discussion from the recent 1% for the Planet Global Summit, in which we talked about some exciting ways that 1% for the Planet is enabling companies to connect, give back, and make a difference! We look at the examples of our four panelists, Isabelle Bicaci from Outer, Jack Dyer from Topa Topa, Shanon Tysland from Experience Momentum, and Stella Murray, who is an Architectural Lighting Designer and individual contributor. We unpack the worthwhile monetary and non-monetary opportunities that our panel found impactful, and the way 1% for the Planet provides space for its members to connect and collaborate. So, join us today to hear about how this great organization is making effective donations and action easy, exciting, and inspiring!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A look at how Outer utilize 1% for the Planet's tools to reduce their carbon footprint, and reforestation. 
• Topa Topa Brewing Company's history with 1% for the Planet and how they currently donate. 
• Exploring Experience Momentum's creative approach to giving during the pandemic.
• Stella Murray's personal goals and contributions to finding a solution to the current climate crisis.
• The different ways that you can sign up for 1% for the Planet!
• Rounding up how Modern Species approaches their giving; UFA, events, and more.
• Details about the campaigns for emotional support available through 1% for the Planet.
• Finding nonprofits to support, and thoughts on donating to existing versus new projects. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

1% for the Planet

Planet Impact Fund

Isabelle Bicaci

Outer

Shanon Tysland
Experience Momentum

Jack Dyer

Topa Topa

Stella Murray

Upcycled Food Association 

1% for the Planet Giving Circle

Wilderness Volunteers

One Tree Planted

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Do you want to maximize the odds of scaling your brand to $100 million and beyond? Then, you need to learn the rules of exponential growth for consumer brands! In today’s episode, we speak with Dr. James Richardson, Founder of Premium Growth Solutions and author of Ramping Your Brand: How to Ride the Killer CPG Growth Curve, about the actual data behind how brands grow and the importance of retaining customers. Based on years of anthropological research into how and why people pay for premium-priced consumer packaged goods, Dr. Richardson outlines his approach to thinking smarter about growth as a CPG entrepreneur and explains why he believes that your fans will get you through any recession. We also touch on the importance of consumer insights, growing your brand quickly enough to survive copycats, and creating a direct owned media relationship with your fans, plus so much more! To learn more about the value of doing your research and focusing on strategy over sales volume, make sure to tune in for this insightful conversation with cultural anthropologist, strategy consultant, and CPG expert, Dr. James Richardson!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The importance of collecting comprehensive data about your consumers.
• Insight into the different growth models Dr. Richardson outlines in his book.
• A major challenge facing brands in today’s market: growing too slowly to survive copycats.
• The key role of what Dr. Richardson calls “the new modern way of doing X.”
• Why Dr. Richardson cautions against ‘over-innovating’.
• Advice for retaining consumers: create a direct owned media relationship with them.
• What drew Dr. Richardson to cultural anthropology and then to market research.
• Why he says most of his clients are people who designed something clever, saw success, and are now having an ‘oh, shit’ moment.
• How Dr. Richardson engages with companies, starting with strategic planning work.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Premium Growth Solutions

Ramping Your Brand

Dr. James Richardson on LinkedIn

Dr. James Richardson on YouTube

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Email

ClimateDesigners.org Resources

Climify Podcast

No entrepreneurial journey is without its challenges, but even the biggest ones can be overcome with enough passion, drive, and support. Today’s guest is Sadrah Schadel, founder and CEO of No Evil Foods, a nationwide plant based protein company which she and her life partner started in their kitchen in 2014 with just $5000. After a few major hurdles which we discuss during today’s episode, they got to a point where they were weeks away from running out of money and having to shut their doors. Tune in to hear about the rise, fall, and recent rebrand of No Evil Foods!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Factors that inspired Sadrah and her life partner, Mike, to found No Evil Foods.
• An overview of the journey of No Evil Foods from Sadrah and Mike’s kitchen in upstate New York to a nationwide plant based meat provider.
• Factors that are foundational to the company culture at No Evil Foods, and the award they won as a result!
• Major hurdles that No Evil Foods has been presented with over the past few years. 
• Sadrah shares the challenges they experienced during the process of scaling their manufacturing. 
• How No Evil Foods differs from many other plant-based protein brands.
• Lessons that Sadrah learned through dealing with her employees' desire to form a union.
• The value of being transparent and showing vulnerability as a leader.
• The rebranding that No Evil Foods has recently undergone.
• Valuable advice for other entrepreneurs. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Sadrah Schadel on LinkedIn

No Evil Foods

No Evil Foods on Instagram

No Evil Foods on Facebook

No Evil Foods on Twitter

Climate Designers

Climify Podcast on Instagram

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

The green marketing space is one that is in constant flux and to be a part of it requires a steady commitment to learning and adjusting. Michelle Miller has dedicated herself to aiding brands and organizations that wish to stay abreast of the latest learnings and contribute to a better culture of sustainability wherever possible. Michelle is the Founder and CEO of The Green Marketing Academy, as well as the owner and Creative Director of Minty Made, and on today's show, we get to hear from our guest about how she uses these vehicles to make a difference through branding, marketing, education, and the sharing of knowledge and resources. Listeners can expect some great insight into the contemporary landscape of green marketing, as well as some personal reflections on the best practices for tangible progress in the world of business. Join us to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Michelle comments on the common points at which brands approach her for rebranding and a fresh identity.  
• Why staying realistic is so important to Michelle and the general project of increased sustainability.
• A look at Michelle's journey and some pivotal points on her path to her current work. 
• The beginnings of Minty Made; how Michelle has grown her side-hustle into something much bigger! 
• Some of the biggest challenges that Michelle has faced; time-management and dealing with the unknown. 
• The launch of the Green Marketing Academy, the ethos behind it, and what Michelle currently offers.
• The focus on action that Michelle has baked into her academy course. 
• Advice from Michelle for marketers around education, change, data, and more. 
• Pivots and shifts that Michelle has made since launching her business; a look at the evolution of her client base.  
• Michelle's connection to Patagonia's brand and mission, and some reflections on the experience of the 1% for the Planet summit.  

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Michelle Miller on LinkedIn

The Green Marketing Academy

Minty Made

1% for the Planet Global Summit

Patagonia

Let My People Go Surfing

Climate Designers

Climify Podcast on Instagram

Climify Podcast

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Email

We're re-running our most successful episodes of 2021 because there are some insights that we just have to go back to. This time, we speak about candor, positive culture, and how to build stronger teams with Linwood Paul & Matt D'Amour, co-founders of Subtle Distinctions.

Candor isn’t just a word; it’s a practice. By using candor you can create a positive culture and build stronger teams in business. Today we talk with the co-founders of Subtle Distinctions and find out how we can use candor in the workplace. 

To practice it effectively, we must first consider what it is in concept. In short, Linwood and Matt tell us that candor is truth, honesty, and a foundation of high professional and personal integrity. Following this, both Linwood and Matt add a great amount of detail to the concept, touching on Kim Scott’s model of radical candor. Then, they walk us through oversharing, speaking our truth, and how to communicate truth by sticking to fact. Linwood and Matt take time to consider how compliments oftentimes don’t mesh well with critique and observation and go on to share which words and phrases work well when practicing candor. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How leaders should approach candor. 
• First, we need to conceptualize candor to be able to use it.
• Using the model of radical candor to decide how candor can be, and should be used.
• Matt tells us what is, and what isn’t candor.
• How to you know where the line is of oversharing.
• The nuances that come with sharing truth.
• How to put your truth across in a way that it will be taken well.
• Different terms and words to use when approaching someone with facts and concerns.
• The danger of sharing compliments when sharing truth.
• Comparing compliments to smoke.
• Matt and Linwood roleplay a conversation where they share their truths with each other.
• Hear more on Marshall Rosenberg and Kim Scott.
• The best way to start practicing candor.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Linwood Paul on LinkedIn

Matt D’Amour on LinkedIn

Subtle Distinctions

Oprah Winfrey

Radical Candor by Kim Scott

Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Radical Honesty by Brad Blanton

Climify Podcast - Climate Designers

We're re-running our most successful episodes of 2021 because there are some insights that we just have to go back to. This time, we speak about how to market sustainability with  Carolyn Parrs, CEO of Mind Over Markets.

So many businesses struggle to find the right words to market their sustainable and social impact products. Today’s guest is Carolyn Parrs, CEO of Mind Over Markets, and she joins us to talk about the green consumer and the best ways to market sustainability. The purpose behind Mind Over Markets is to help sustainable and social impact businesses market themselves so they can be seen and heard more clearly in order to grow and thrive. 

Carolyn’s main marketing philosophy revolves around the fact that it is the brands that can communicate the clearest and the fastest that win at the end of the day. She talks about how she helps her clients find their main message by listening to their customer’s needs, whatever they may be – a tactic that ultimately wins people over more effectively at the end of the day!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Carolyn’s love of nature, skill in copywriting, and how she got interested in sustainability marketing.
• Different tiers of the green consumer and what their buying habits look like.
• How to tap into what already motivates people to convince them to buy your product.
• The services around distilling a marketing message that Mind Over Markets provides clients.
• Online marketing tips for keeping the messaging on your website clear and collecting emails.
• How to inform leads about the rest of your services after you hook them with the main problem you solve.
• Early adopters who help champion a cause and shift the opinions of less concerned groups.
• Big mistakes that brands often make when trying to market themselves.
• Digging into the problem you solve for your clients and building your story around that.
• The challenge of working out which group on the green spectrum to tailor your message to.
• Examples of how Carolyn has reframed her clients’ messaging to better suit their customers.
• The reality that it is often economic reasons that motivate people rather than green reasons.
• Big life incidents that make people more concerned about health.
• How unbalanced the American diet is and the need to eat more vegetables.
• Where on the green spectrum the LOHAS group exists.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Carolyn Parrs on LinkedIn

Carolyn Parrs on Twitter

Mind Over Markets

StoryBrand

Start With Why

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Climify Podcast

We're re-running our most successful episodes of 2021 because there are some insights that we just have to go back to. This time, we speak about sustainable coffee practices with Paul Evers,  Co-Founder and CEO of Riff, an innovative cold brew coffee company

Your morning cup of coffee has a far greater environmental impact than you might realize. Ironically, the current unsustainable practices have the largest effect on the industry itself. Today’s guest, Paul Evers, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Riff, an innovative cold brew coffee company that looks to use the whole coffee plant, reducing waste and increasing sustainability. In this episode, Paul unpacks coffee’s dirty, not-so-little, secret and shares how uncovering it led Riff to venture into an entirely new range of products no one else in the space is creating. Paul also talks about his other passion, craft beer, and how the sector’s growth has had cascading effects for other small business growth. Consumers have grown to trust their neighbors more than corporations and this is in large part due to craft beer. Tuning in, you will hear why reducing waste in the coffee industry will not just benefit the environment but could improve your health too!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Coffee’s big, dirty secret and how this led Riff to have a new product range. 
• The coffee industry has large stakes in more sustainable practices yet is contributing to environmental degradation. 
• The craft beer sector has been the catalyst for artisanal manufacturing in other industries too. 
• The importance of getting clear on purpose as a mission-driven brand. 
• Get to know Paul, his background in creative services, and the ethos that underlies his career. 
• What drew Paul to focus his work on beverage brands. 
• Insights into the first brand Paul launched and the major lessons from this first big step. 
• Building a brand is about more than just good marketing; it’s about community. 
• What led Paul to transition into the world of cold brew coffee. 
• We could potentially be overlooking a super fruit, cascara. 
• All of the benefits of creating demand for cascara, which should be done through creating awareness. 
• Paul’s advice for impact entrepreneurs and marketers. 
• Parallels between craft alcohol and cold brew coffee. 
• Why small, emerging brands are the bedrock of the economy.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Paul Evers

Riff

Crux Fermentation Project

Bobby Evers

Cascara

Climify Podcast

The way your product is packaged is almost as important as the product itself. Your packaging helps potential customers decide whether they should pick your product off the shelf, or go for one of your competitors’ products instead. During this episode, Gage covers 30 questions relating to product packaging within the realms of messaging, images, branding, form, and (of course) sustainability. From, “How would I use it?” to, “Is the packaging recyclable/compostable?” tune in to hear how you can use these 30 key questions as a guide to help you create better food packaging and sell more products as a result! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why your messaging is the most important part of your packaging. 
• Six questions that your potential customers are likely to be asking to help them determine whether or not they are going to buy your product.
• Key factors to take into consideration with regard to your images.
• How your branding can attract or deter customers.
• Examples of how to communicate your mission through your packaging.
• Questions to take into consideration regarding the form of your product.
• A real-world example of how the form of your packaging can make your product stand out.
• Six questions that potential consumers might be asking about the sustainability of your product.  

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Episode Slides

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Adobe Creative Jam

Sustainable Coalition

How2Recycle

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Adobe Creative Jam Event: Virtual Product Photography

No studio, camera, or product? No problem! Learn how to use virtual photography skills for photorealistic scenes, CPG product shots, portfolio mockups, and more… to elevate marketing and e-commerce imagery in the Virtual Product Photography Creative Jam on August 17. In-house, agency, and freelance designers will be challenged to stage a product shot quickly in Adobe Substance 3D Stager and submit it for feedback and prizes. No experience necessary. Sign up now to learn and compete at cjam.in/virtualphoto

It sounds confusing, but the word ‘recyclable’ doesn’t always mean that something can, in fact, be recycled. Hopefully, by the time you get to the end of this episode, you’ll have a greater understanding of the complexities of the recycling system as a whole. Through careful distillation of the procedural and consumer-based processes, you can begin to distinguish between greenwashing and truly recyclable products. Object, consumption, recovery, and market are all relevant to the conversation, along with contamination, consumer power, and demand. Join us to hear all this and more today! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why the word ‘recyclable’ cannot be trusted as an indicator that something can be recycled.
• How the three chasing arrows symbol only identifies that a material is plastic.
• The four layers used to determine whether or not something is recyclable.
• Considering the nature of an object along with its color. 
• Why objects made from a combination of materials are harder to recycle.
• The greenwashing that happens when objects are labeled recyclable, when only one component actually is.
• What needs to be considered surrounding processing contaminants.
• End-user education and communication. 
• The recovery question which determines if something can effectively be recycled.
• State-specific automation and recovery processes.
• Considering the cost to recycle versus the cost of the product and the demand for it.
• A reminder of your power as a consumer. 
• The effect of contamination on the recycling process.
• Why, if you don’t know if something is recyclable, it’s better to put it in the trash.
• The influence of recycling on how a material behaves in comparison to virgin materials.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Adobe Creative Jam Event: Virtual Product Photography

No studio, camera, or product? No problem! Learn how to use virtual photography skills for photorealistic scenes, CPG product shots, portfolio mockups, and more… to elevate marketing and e-commerce imagery in the Virtual Product Photography Creative Jam on August 17. In-house, agency, and freelance designers will be challenged to stage a product shot quickly in Adobe Substance 3D Stager and submit it for feedback and prizes. No experience necessary. Sign up now to learn and compete at cjam.in/virtualphoto

We're re-running our most successful episodes of 2021 because there are some insights that we have to go back to. This time, we speak about brand messaging for sustainable CPG products with  Pilar Ochi, Vice President of Marketing at Alter Eco, a sustainable sweet snacks company.

Making a sustainable CPG product a household name doesn’t sound as challenging as it is. 

Today we speak to Pilar Ochi, Vice President of Marketing at Alter Eco, a sustainable sweet snacks company. She joined the company because this was the first brand she found that does more for people and the planet than they talk about. While this sounds like any marketer’s dream, narrowing down the messaging and the direction the brand should be taking when you have so much to say has been quite challenging. She provides valuable insight into how to build a brand by finding the balance between owning the thing that makes your product special and owning the thing that gets it into a consumer’s cart. For all this and other helpful advice on how to build a brand, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Why making a sustainable CPG product a household name is so challenging. 
• How building a brand is a balance between owning the thing that makes you special and owning the thing that gets you into a consumer’s cart. 
• The challenge of mission-driven brands settling on one key takeaway.
• How companies benefit from hiring consumers because they don’t have to figure out what makes a consumer tick.
• How Pilar decided on the direction the brand should be taking from many possible options.
• The three pillars of Alter Eco’s brand strategy and which two they chose to focus on and why.
• How Pilar’s background in economics provided a framework for understanding human behavior at scale. 
• How Pilar’s different experiences at Clorox and Blue Bottle Coffee Company became the perfect foundation for her current job at Alter Eco.
• The difference between a brand marketer and a brand manager and how this varies across different-sized companies.
• Paid media versus influencer and PR and why Alter Eco does both. 
• The biggest challenge of scaling now that Alter Eco’s brand has been updated.
• How Pilar envisions the industry and the world evolving towards more sustainable products. 
• The shift Pilar has noticed away from a minimalist aesthetic to one that is more colorful, detailed, and sensorial. 
• Thoughts on how consumers are increasingly more interested in the simple things in life.
• How Pilar hopes the pandemic will impact consumers going forward.
• The marketing books that Pilar and Gage have found useful.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Pilar Ochi 

Alter Eco

Clorox 

Blue Bottle Coffee Company

Decoded: The Science Behind Why We Buy 

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Modern Species

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG Email

Evolve CPG

Success within the CPG space is an arduous undertaking that requires immense drive and passion for overcoming the inevitable challenges. Following your passion is a fundamental driver of today’s guest, Fred Haberman, an entrepreneur whose businesses reflect his values and ideals. One of those businesses, Freak Flag Organics provides ultra-organic foods with extra-amazing flavors to help people create healthy dishes right at home. In our conversation, he explains how his various businesses act as a platform to communicate ideas to help drive change, the challenges with the CPG space, and the hard lessons he has learned during his 28 years of entrepreneurship. Tune in today to find out why chasing your passions is better than chasing money with guest Fred Haberman!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Fred tells us why he decided to start his most recent company, Freak Flag Organics.
• How his businesses act as a way to communicate ideas and drive change.
• Hard lessons he has learned while working in the CPG space.
• Different aspects of a business that should integrate with marketing.
• Find out if Fred outsourced some of the work required for Freak Flag Organics.
• Fred’s thoughts on whether or not he would start another enterprise within the CPG space.
• We learn about the Freak Flag Organics product range and the inspiration behind it. 
• How long the brand has existed and what plans Fred has for the company.
• He shares what he feels are the most significant successes he has had so far.
• Fred’s advice for people interested in entering the CPG space. 
• Fred’s motivation behind starting Haberman and his experience in creative services.
• Details about his entrepreneurial experience and the businesses he has started.
• Some of the essential qualities needed to be successful.
• Why it is okay to ask questions and find the right people for help.
• What Fred has struggled with the most during his career.
• Where he got his passion and entrepreneurial spirit. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Fred Haberman on LinkedIn

Fred Haberman on Twitter

Freak Flag Organics

Haberman

Haberman on LinkedIn

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Setting out and starting a business takes courage, determination, and the ability to learn as you go. It also requires a certain commitment to the foundational causes of the work. For Adam Hiner, our guest on today's show, combining his passion for food and regenerative agriculture with his work ethic and growing knowledge of the entrepreneurial landscape has enabled him to build two really inspiring and conscientious brands. Adam is the CEO and Founder of Pacha, a gluten-free, grain-free, sprouted, fermented, paleo, and plant-based bread company, as well as the Co-Founder of Boochcraft, through which he and his team introduced the market to organic hard kombucha! In our chat, we get to hear from Adam about the important steps on his evolving path, the morals that ground his work, and some of the challenges he has faced and overcome so far. If you would like to hear about true innovations in the food sector, how Adam approached business during the pandemic, and the power of intuition in a data-filled world, listen in with us!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Adam talks about regenerative agriculture and how Pacha is involved and supports this movement. 
• Challenges in the baked goods space: distribution, freshness, packaging, and more. 
• The environmental and social initiatives that Adam and Pacha have linked with so far.
• A little about the organic, hard kombucha company that Adam started called Boochcraft.  
• Advice from Adam for aspiring CPG business owners on the realities of running a business and using intuition.
• How Pacha was birthed at the beginning of the pandemic and Adam's attitude towards riding that wave.
• Demand for kombucha and the surprising demographics that gravitated towards the products.  
• Adam's journey before launching Pacha; selling mortgages, restaurants, catering, and more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Adam Hiner ob LinkedIn

Pacha   

Boochcraft

Rate Rabbit

Unity Vibration

JuneShine

Trilogy Sanctuary

1% for the Planet 

CCOF

Episode 31 - Cultivating Heartset with Linwood Paul & Matt D'Amour of Subtle Distinctions 

Episode 37 — Nailing The Pitch with Kayla Castañeda of Agua Bonita

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

What are you doing to make the world a better place and help those around you? Creating change in the world requires dedication and handwork, leaving very little time to run a business, but what if you could use business as a tool for good? This is the approach of today’s guest, David Simnick, CEO and Co-Founder of Soapbox and Managing Partner at Impact Driven Brands. David believes that creating and running impactful businesses is how entrepreneurs can help meet the needs of society and help make the world a better place. In this episode, we discuss his early interest in politics, how a business can be used to create impactful change, why he chose to use business to help drive change, and the hard lessons he learned on his journey to success. Don’t miss out on this inspirational episode, and find out how you can create positive impact in the world through business with David Simnick!

Key Points From This Episode:

• We learn about David’s background and his professional career journey.
• What motivated him to shift from his previous career path to start Soapbox.
• Why he decided to use business as a way to create positive change.
• The similarities and differences he sees between politics and entrepreneurship.
• Learn the definition of a ‘sustainable’ positive impact.
• David’s approach to business and making a sustainable impact.
• A brief discussion about the role of the political system in society.
• An outline of the recent positive impacts Soapbox is creating.
• Learn why good packaging design is so vital for success.
• He shares some of the hard lessons he has learned working in the CPG space.
• What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in the CPG sector.
• Essential advice to aspiring entrepreneurs that will save you time and money.
• How growing a business and customer base helps you create change.
• The idea of learning what your customers love and then scaling those aspects.
• Find out why David decided to start and support other brands. 
• How many years it took for Soapbox to become profitable. 
• The various steps David takes to make sure his products are quality.
• Why it is important to couple the product quality with the cause.
• His experience with the ‘Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses’ program.

PROMO: Get 10% Off products at Soapbox, Bushwick Kitchen, and Goodnest with promo code "gagerocks".

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

David Simnick on LinkedIn

David Simnick on Twitter

David Simnick on Instagram

Impact Driven Brands

Soapbox

Soapbox on LinkedIn

Soapbox on Instagram

Bushwick Kitchen

Bushwick Kitchen on Instagram

Goodnest

Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs 10KSB

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email&

Design is so much more than aesthetics; it’s a tool for business. Today’s guest, Fred Hart, is a Partner and the Creative Director at Interact, a branding and design agency similar in many ways to our own. Fred’s passion for design began with sneakers and has since transitioned to food. Interact’s approach is underpinned by the principles of “simplify to amplify” and “brave design” and, during this conversation, we discuss the work they do with small, niche brands, as well as larger, more mainstream ones (Fred might even change your perspective on “big food!”) We also zoom out and talk about trends in the CPG market right now and Fred's thoughts on the future of the space. As Fred says, the opposite of bravery is conformity. If you want to know how to stand out, this episode is a good place to start! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Exploring Interact’s ‘simplify to amplify’ strategic principle. 
• The power of design as a business tool.
• Why Interact isn’t interested in design awards. 
• What brave design is (and an example of what it looks like). 
• A warning against putting every possible claim on your packaging. 
• Working with small, niche brands versus bigger, more mainstream ones (and why “Big Food” doesn’t wholly deserve its negative reputation).
• Work Interact has done with niche brands that Fred is most proud of.  
• Noteworthy design trends in the CPG market right now. 
• Fred’s thoughts on personalization as the future of CPG. 
• Interact’s approach to enhancing the sustainability of their company.
• Two brands Fred and his team at Interact began building when the pandemic hit.
• What Fred gained from the altMBA and AIGA Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders programs.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Interact

Fred Hart on LinkedIn

Cleanli on Instagram

altMBA

AIGA Business Perspectives for Creative Leaders

Lift Economy: The Next Economy MBA

The Green Marketing Academy

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Email

Although not particularly new to the US market, tahini has historically been found gathering dust at the bottom of the shelf in the international foods aisle instead of being celebrated in the kitchen for its versatility. Today we are joined by Amy Zitelman, CEO and Co-Founder of Soom Foods, to talk about the various culinary uses of tahini, why she and her sisters started importing it, and the sustainable, regenerative qualities of the sesame crop and supply chain. Tune in to hear from this inspiring entrepreneur who refused to allow the lack of evidence for a thriving tahini market in the US to deter her!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The role of consumer education when introducing products to a new market.
• Why Soom Foods founders, Amy Zitelman and her sisters chose to import tahini into the US.
• The rise of tahini in the national consciousness and its culinary versatility.
• What differentiates Soom from other tahini brands in the US.
• The importance of quality invariability in the US market.
• The pros and cons of prioritizing product simplicity.
• Soom Foods’ omnichannel sales approach.
• The sustainable and regenerative qualities of the sesame crop and supply chain.
• The advantages of regenerative agriculture.
• How Amy and her sisters manage the marriage of family and business.
• How the family dynamic permeates Soom’s company culture.
• Why ignorance is bliss when it comes to starting a business.
• The fine balance between trusting your intuition and calling on others’ perspectives.
• The value of feedback.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Amy Zitelman on LinkedIn

Amy Zitelman on Instagram

Soom Foods

Soom Foods on Instagram

The Green Marketing Academy

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

To make a true impact, your mission needs to be baked into the DNA of your brand from the get-go. Joining us today to share the keys to the success of an impact-driven brand is John Foraker, Co-Founder and CEO of nutrition-focused kids’ food brand, Once Upon a Farm. In this episode, we discover the most valuable lessons John learned from scaling Annie’s Homegrown, how he came to partner with actress and Once Upon a Farm co-founder, Jennifer Garner, and how he weaves impact into the brands he builds. Tune in for this revealing episode on scaling without compromising culture, and committing to making an impact.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing John Foraker, Co-Founder and CEO of Once Upon a Farm.
• John’s advice for scaling an impact-driven brand.
• The importance of baking impact into the DNA of your brand.
• The three most valuable lessons John learned from scaling Annie’s Homegrown.
• How and why both John and actress Jennifer Garner got involved with Once Upon a Farm.
• The fundamental belief that drives John to use business as a force for positive social change.
• The benefits of the public benefit corporation model.
• Hiring advice and criticism of the historical corporate mindset.
• The importance of authenticity as a leader (and the danger of imitation).
• Reframing the term “organic”.
• How John married his passion for food and farming with business.
• The value of graduate studies and continuous learning in business.
• Once Upon a Farm’s purity promise and their partnership with Save the Children.
• The evolving nature of B Corp.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

John Foraker on LinkedIn

Once Upon a Farm

Once Upon a Farm on Instagram

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner on Instagram

Annie’s Homegrown

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Social media can be a fantastic way to grow your brand and increase sales, but this is easier said than done, especially for people that are not extroverts. In this episode, we speak to Erica Rankin, CEO, and Founder of Bro Dough, a healthy plant-based cookie dough alternative. Erica is driven by her passion for health and fitness but also enjoys indulging in the finer things in life, particularly cookie dough! She combined these loves with her ambitions and competitive nature to start Bro Dough. Although not a natural extrovert, Erica was able to step outside of her shell and use social media to grow her business. In our conversation, we discover how she was able to leverage social media to expand her brand, the advantages and disadvantages of being a self-starter, and when is the right time to bring on investors. Tune in to hear how you can successfully use social media to increase sales and help you reach your full potential with go-getter Erica Rankin!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introduction to Erica Rankin, Founder, and CEO of Bro Dough.
• What makes Bro Dough unique compared to other cookie dough products.
• The events that led her to start Bro Dough. 
• How she combined her love for health and fitness with her entrepreneurial spirit. 
• Why Erica chose to focus on cookie dough for her product line. 
• She outlines the various ways Bro Dough can be used.
• Hear how she was able to overcome the challenge of less sugar.
• Learn the ups and downs Erica experienced while starting Bro Dough. 
• She shares an example of a massive hurdle she recently faced.
• Reasons why Erica decided to self-fund the business. 
• Advice she has for people considering bringing on investors. 
• Discover how Erica first began leveraging social media to grow her business. 
• Learn how she was able to grow her following on TikTok.
• We learn more about the course Erica has set up and what he inspired her to start it.
• Find out a compelling crowdfunding initiative she has planned.
• She explains what she has planned for the company in the near future. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Erica Rankin on Instagram

Erica Rankin on LinkedIn

Bro Dough

Bro Dough on Facebook

Bro Dough on Instagram

Bro Dough on TikTok

Bro Dough on LinkedIn

Grow With Erica

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

Episode 080 — Better Food Packaging in 30 Questions

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Discounts are the default incentive to grow sales for many businesses. However, a change in consumer behavior is causing them to hack into margins and deteriorate brand value. In this episode, we speak to Andrew Forman about an alternative approach gaining traction in the marketing space, donation incentives! Starting in finance as an investment banker, Andrew decided to pursue an MBA degree at Harvard. After studying, he wanted to make a social impact while following his ambitions in business, culminating in him starting Givz; an e-commerce marketing platform with a twist. Givz is a digital commerce platform that grows sales, creates positive impacts, and reduces discount dependency through the implementation of donation incentives. We talk about donation incentives instead of discounts as an alternative to grow your business and increase sales while also doing good for your community and driving positive change. Hear how discount incentives work, how offering discounts only helps your brand in the short-term, why donation incentives will help grow your business, and the overall benefits for the consumer. Tune in to hear how aligning your impact goals with your brand can drive healthy business and help make the world a better place with Andrew Forman!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A brief background about Givz and what they do differently.
• We learn about Andrew and his professional career journey.
• Details about how Givz started and became what it is today.
• The initial model Givz used and why it pivoted to its current model.
• He explains the motivation behind Givz and what the company aims to achieve.
• Find out about how he rebranded his business and attained the domain name.
• Benefits of using donation incentives instead of discounts.
• We unpack the impact of donation incentives on customer base and sales.
• Why he decided to study for an MBA degree at Harvard University. 
• The biggest benefit studying for an MBA at Harvard University.
• Why using the same domain name for two business models caused confusion.
• Outline behind the psychology of discounts.
• How the donation incentive at Givz compares to similar approaches. 
• Andrew tells us about the positive impact the Givz model has on customers.
• He shares what other brands could benefit from a donation incentive model.
• We discuss how free shipping works as a purchase incentive.
• Hear about the effectiveness of the donation incentive model on a brand. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Andrew Forman on LinkedIn

Andrew Forman on Twitter 

Givz

Givz on Instagram

Givz on Facebook

Givz on Twitter 

Givz on LinkedIn

Givz on YouTube

Givz on TikTok

Harvard University

TOMS

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Nutrition is key to living healthy but is a challenge due to the demands of work and life. Unhealthy snacks are what many people rely on to keep themselves energized throughout the day; often leaving them feeling tired, cranky, and hungry for more. What if there was a healthy alternative? In this episode, we speak to Mark Samuel, the Founder of IWON Organics; a company providing people with healthy, organic meals and snacks that make people feel good. Mark has had a life-long obsession with health and fitness and is passionate about helping people make better meal and lifestyle choices. In our conversation, we discuss why a founder should be deep in the business, the motivation behind IWON Organics, and the importance of nutritional balance. We also learn about how Mark got interested in health and fitness, starting with the ‘why’ for your brand, and an exciting new concept helping people win together. Tune in and discover the world of healthy and guilt-free snacking with Mark Samuel!

Key Points From This Episode:

• We start with a brief background about IWON Organics.
• The inspiration behind Mark’s passion for health and fitness.
• Find out why Mark decided on healthy snacks for his product line.
• Hear about the hard lessons he learned as an entrepreneur. 
• Why being deeply involved with your business is an avenue for growth.
• Mark explains his new concept of ‘winning together’ regarding nutrition.
• He shares what got him hooked on weight training.
• Hear how he ended up starting his own CrossFit gym.
• Whether he competed professionally as a weight trainer.
• Mark explains how following your passions is not always a good idea.
• Outline of the previous companies he was involved with centered around fitness.
• Why Mark chooses a healthy and active lifestyle.
• Find out if Mark was always passionate about health and nutrition.
• We discuss the consequences of eating unhealthy food.
• Reasons why eating unhealthy is a choice. 
• The benefits of collaboration between business and community.
• Advice Mark has for other founders and leaders in the industry.
• Discover why Mark thinks health should be a priority for everyone. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mark Samuel on LinkedIn

Mark Samuel on Twitter

IWON Organics 

IWON Organics on Facebook

IWON Organics on Twitter

IWON Organics on Instagram

IWON Organics on LinkedIn

IWON Organics Email

Winning Together

6 Pack Fitness

Fitmark

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Did you know that up to 40% of food in the USA goes to waste every year? In this episode of Evolve CPG, Caroline Cotto is here to discuss how conscious consumers and brands can fight this problem. Caroline is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Renewal Mill, President of the Upcycled Food Association, and she also is passionate about all things health, wellness and, food! Finding partners with the same mission is imperative and today, Caroline shares how her company found success with the help of theirs. We also discuss the importance of making sustainability a factor in the food that we buy before discussing how upcycling food is healthier for us and the planet. So to hear more about how to fight food waste and ultimately, climate change, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The mission and vision of Renewal Mill to consider the health of people and the planet.
• Why Renewal Mill wants to make sustainability sexy. 
• The products Renewal Mill used to market their upcycled ingredients. 
• How Renewal Mill found their partners and why they’re key for the company. 
• How marketing influences choices and who Renewal Mill is marketing their products to.
• What Renewal Mill’s partnership focus is for the future. 
• How upcycled food has become popular and where Caroline thinks it’s going in the future. 
• Why conscious consumers/brands must ask questions and demand better for our food.
• The importance of communicating to consumers in a truthful manner.
• Where Caroline’s passion for food and nutrition came from.
• Caroline’s research on what influences children’s food choices. 
• All about Caroline’s involvement in the Upcycled Food Association. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Caroline Cotto

Caroline Cotto on LinkedIn

Caroline Cotto on Twitter

Caroline Cotto on Instagram

Renewal Mill

Upcycled Food Association

Claire Schlemme on LinkedIn

Hodo Foods

Climate Designers - Climify

Climify on Apple Podcasts
Climify on Spotify

Climify on Instgram 

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

There are some insights that we just have to go back to. This time, we bring back this conversation about reducing human dependence on plastics with Sandra Ann Harris, Founder of ECOlunchbox.

We leave you with the episode notes:

Our guest has a passion for protecting the oceans by reducing human dependence on plastics. Concerned about the toxins commonly found in lunchbox containers, plastic pollution activist and environmental entrepreneur Sandra Ann Harris decided to eliminate plastics from her kids’ lunchboxes. In 2008, she founded ECOlunchbox, a California green-certified business focused on plastic pollution aversion, offering plastic-free food containers that are non-toxic and healthy for both people and the planet. Sandra is also the author of a new book, Say Goodbye to Plastic: A Survival Guide for Plastic-Free Living. In this episode, listeners find out how Sandra has tried to make an impact, no matter what she was doing, and why she was inspired to start her own company to combat plastic pollution. Hear about some of the challenges she faced, from production to funding, and the tactic she has used to inspire change, as well as how each of us can be part of the change – in whatever way we can. She also shares some of her tips for other thought leaders and entrepreneurs thinking about writing a book, and explains how she continues to personally evolve. Tune in today to find out more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hear a bit more about Sandra’s career arc, from journalist to aid worker to entrepreneur. 
• How the stories she chose to write as a journalist reflected her desire to make an impact.
• What it was about the plastic crisis that inspired Sandra to start ECOlunchbox.
• Some challenges that Sandra encountered in launching and growing her company.
• Sandra believes that, with curiosity and creativity, there is nowhere we can’t go and nothing we can’t achieve.
• The benefits of crowdfunding versus sourcing investors or self-funding your ideas.
• From personal health benefits to the benefit of the planet – how people came to recognize the negative impact of plastic.
• The value of using positive messaging rather than using negativity and fear to inspire action.
• We don’t need to know all the facts, we just need to be part of the change, however we can.
• Sandra shares the inspiration for her book: why this book, and why now?
• Pro tips for other thought leaders and entrepreneurs thinking about writing a book.
• How Sandra keeps evolving personally by continually taking on new challenges.
• Where to find Sandra’s book, Say Goodbye to Plastic: A Survival Guide for Plastic-Free Living.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sandra Ann Harris on LinkedIn

ECOlunchbox

Say Goodbye to Plastic

Kickstarter

Cradle to Cradle

The Upcycle

Lovemarks

Conscious consumerism has grown exponentially in recent years, with shoppers expecting more transparency and less waste from the brands they choose to support. While shifting towards more sustainable business practices obviously has a positive impact on the environment, there are also a number of benefits for your brand, which you’ll learn more about in today’s episode! To help us explore this topic, we are joined by Alicia Lahey, Co-Founder and CEO of Humble Snacks, Canada’s first organic potato chip packaged in 100% plastic-free, compostable bags. We discuss Alicia’s experience in big food, why she and her husband made the shift to a more sustainable lifestyle, and why she didn’t want to launch her own brand unless it came in better packaging, plus so much more. To find out how you can continue to innovate in the natural and organic snack category and ensure that your packaging mirrors the philosophy of your brand, you won’t want to miss today’s episode of EvolveCPG!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some of the challenges that come with adopting sustainable packaging solutions.
• Why Alicia and her husband were so committed to creating eco-friendly bags.
• Lessons learned from SunChips’ infamously noisy packaging.
• A look at Humble’s partnership with A Plastic Planet to develop their plastic-free bag.
• The importance of investing in plastic-free or plastic-neutral initiatives.
• Limitations of compostable packaging and how Humble seeks to solve them.
• How proving sustainable packaging successful will move the needle for larger brands.
• Alicia’s take on the future of better snacking (and where there’s room for innovation).
• Other product categories that Humble will expand into in the future.
• The inspiration behind their ‘humble’ brand name. 
• Why communication is key when working with your spouse in your family business!
• Hurdles Alicia and her husband had to overcome to get their product on shelves.
• Valuable fundraising tips for other purpose-over-profit founders.
• Identifying (and filling) a gap in the market for organic, light, crispy, skin-on potato chips.
• Insight into Alicia’s research and development process for Humble Snacks.
• How Alicia found her way into the CPG industry, starting with driving a truck!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Humble Snacks

Alicia Lahey on LinkedIn

Alicia Lahey on Instagram

A Plastic Planet

rePurpose Global

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Email

Supporting brands and companies that are impact driven is essential for driving change on a larger scale. With so many options for consumers, it is often hard to find the company to suit your needs while creating positive change, particularly for gift-giving! Today, we highlight the top 16 brands that we think are impact-driven and leave customers happy in this special holiday shopping guide. Helping us through this guide is Kate Fosson, CEO and Co-Founder of Brand Pollinators; a company focused on helping emerging, impact-driven brands grow. If you are looking for a gift for someone then we have you covered. In this episode, we learn about all kinds of products ranging from world-changing sprinkles to sustainable camping lunchboxes. Discover how to give the gift of sleep and relaxation, the perfect gifts for kids, brands for outdoor lovers, and much more! Eliminate the shopping stress and tune in to learn how to give with intention this holiday season with Kate Fosson!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A brief background about Kate and her company, Brand Pollinators.
• Kate explains how she decided on which brands to feature for this episode.
• She outlines the concept of gift-giving with intention.
• Discover a brand for kids that is driven by nature.
• A company that makes alternative baking ingredients with no artificial dyes.
• Learn about some impact-driven gifts for outdoor enthusiasts. 
• What the ‘hard-workers’ category of the guide is focused on. 
• Gifts for people who are in desperate need of relaxation and sleep. 
• The gifts for people who love hosting parties and for the host themselves.
• Hear about indulgent and sustainable gifts to help you make new friends.
• Find out about some fun and interesting collaborations.
• How the behavior of gift buying has shifted in recent years. 
• Find out how the buying guide has been structured for customers.
• Learn how the buying guide for kids has been designed and why.
• Why you should trust our choice of brands.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kate Fosson

Kate Fosson on LinkedIn

Kate Fosson on Facebook

Kate Fosson on Twitter 

Kate Fosson on Behance

Brand Pollinators

Brand Pollinators on Instagram

Brand Pollinators on YouTube

Brand Pollinators on LinkedIn

Brand Pollinators on Facebook

Impact-Driven Holiday Guide 2022

Shore Buddies

Ware

Alter Eco

Rock Hill Coffee

Episode 63: Mompreneur on a Mission with Pallavi Pande of Dtocs

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Creating a feeling of community and connection can be so impactful to individuals and businesses on multiple levels, and the ecosystem of care that emerges through engaged networks can bring forth remarkable results. These are the driving forces behind the work of today's guest on the show, Katrina Tolentino. Katrina is the Executive Director of Naturally Network, a position she found somewhat surprisingly, but one she quickly identified with and became staunchly committed to. In our conversation, we get into her passion for community building, the three ways in which she understands the concept of community, and how she is working towards more inclusion and representation in her current role. Listeners can expect a relatable and inspiring story from Katrina, whose amazing dedication is moving things forward in her industry and beyond. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Naturally Network connects different parties in the natural food market.
• Katrina's focus on inclusion and how this figures into her position.
• A look at Katrina's background, and the roots of her passion for community building.
• Katrina's attitude toward vulnerability and honesty when presenting.
• The way in which Katrina has utilized play and games in her work. 
• Charting Katrina's route into the natural product business. 
• Katrina's commitment to the natural products industry and the task of creating community.
• The evolution and future vision of Naturally Network.
• Where to find out more about and support Katrina's work!
• Some thoughts on the future of the natural products space.  

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Katrina Tolentino on LinkedIn

Naturally Network

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

People connect with a story far more than a tool. Joining us in conversation today is Season 3 host of The Startup CPG Podcast, Jessi Freitag, who specializes in helping people to leverage the power of digital systems to promote productivity and success. A multi-passionate coach, podcaster, and CPG expert, Jessi is here to share her story of promoting efficacy in the world of CPG by sharing her first-hand experience. While many people have great ideas and go as far as to start their projects, far fewer follow through and bring them to completion. Jessi’s secret sauce involves asking questions, building authentic connections, and capitalizing on the power of storytelling. If you’re looking to improve your output, stay connected, and motivate those around you, you can’t afford to miss today’s conversation. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Jessi’s portfolio of passions and how each informs her work at The Startup CPG Podcast, Iroh’s Corner, Liv Bar, and Boyle Brands.
• Leveraging the power of storytelling to motivate people.
• How building authentic connections with people leads to great opportunities.
• The integral role of well-placed systems to ensure movement towards your goals.
• What is required for a Podcast to succeed and how that applies to all of life.
• Learning to ask the right questions to extract useful information.
• Tools Jessi built for CPG: Warehouse and 3PL Fulfillment Database, and Freight Provider Database.
• How Jessi consults with individuals and businesses, connecting them to digital tools to organize information and maximize productivity.
• The three different areas Jessi’s certification work entails at Boyle Brands.
• Outsourcing tasks that fall outside of your zone of genius.
• Jessi’s advice for navigating a changing world.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jessi Freitag

Jessi Freitag on LinkedIn

The Startup CPG Podcast 

Iroh’s Corner

Boyle Brands

Atomic Habits

Airtable
Trello

Hubspot

Notion

The Big Leap

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

The foods that we choose to eat represent our single biggest environmental impact. This is the belief of today’s guest, activist entrepreneur Seth Goldman, who wants to inform and empower consumers to make choices that align with their concerns around climate change and wellbeing. Seth is the co-founder and Chief Change Agent of Eat the Change, a snack company on a mission to create chef-crafted, nutrient-dense snacks that are kind to the planet and delicious to eat! He is also the Cofounder of PLNT Burger and Honest Tea, Chair of the Board at Beyond Meat, and the author of Mission in a Bottle: The Honest Guide to Doing Business Differently—and Succeeding. Today, we speak to Seth about his original mission when founding Honest Tea in 1998 and how that vision evolved as he developed the family of brands under the Eat the Change umbrella (including Just Iced Tea). He also shares his drive to make a real impact rather than simply being a passenger on our planet. Whether you want to launch a product in the natural foods category or just lighten your carbon footprint, you’ll gain inspiration from this conversation about why what we eat matters. Plus, you’ll learn something about persevering as a purpose-driven brand leader in the big food ecosystem along the way!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A deeper understanding of why what we eat matters.
• Persevering as a mission-driven entrepreneur in the big food space.
• The importance of being an actor rather than a passenger on our planet.
• The story behind how Seth because a purpose-driven entrepreneur.
• A snapshot of the food and beverage industry in 1998, when Seth launched Honest Tea.
• The honesty, sustainability, and taste at the heart of Honest Tea’s mission statement.
• Why Seth refers to what Eat the Change is doing as a “joyful experience.”
• The significant impact that Honest Tea/Honest Kids has had for consumers and Coca-Cola.
• Seth’s vision for the growing family of Eat the Change brands.
• What Seth loves about innovating in the planet-friendly snack category.
• Key advice for differentiating yourself as a mission-driven entrepreneur.
• Why Eat the Change gives every employee a stake in the company’s future.
• Why Seth says you can’t be a “desk chair entrepreneur” in the natural foods business.
• Consumer insights you can gain just from visiting the stores you’re stocked in.
• What the future of food looks like from Seth’s perspective.
• Encouraging trends in the plant-based foods category.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Seth Goldman on LinkedIn

Seth Goldman on Twitter

Eat the Change

Mission in a Bottle

Honest Tea Mission Statement

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

In recent times, we have seen a rapid rise in technology used to enhance in-store experiences and even incentivize better food choices. Today on the EvolveCPG Podcast, we are joined by Karen Frame, an early innovator of such technology in the natural foods industry. Apart from her experience in accounting, law, real estate, coding, and even education, Karen is also a serial entrepreneur. She started two other companies before founding and becoming the CEO of her latest venture, Makeena, an awesome digital insights company that helps brands in the natural products space better understand their consumers. Tuning in, you’ll find out who Makeena was made for, how consumers interact with it, and how the company is geared toward servicing the industry as a whole. Suppose you’re looking to gain critical insight into how the conscious consumer behaves post-COVID and why it’s beneficial to be a conscious business in this day and age. In that case, this episode about Makeena’s translated definitions of “happiness” and “abundance” is the perfect fit. You won’t want to miss it!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Makeena works, who it’s for, the brands it features, and examples of it in action.
• What it looks like when consumers interact with Makeena.
• Why Makeena is not just for the brand or consumer; it’s for the entire industry.
• Why it was important for Makeena to be a B Corp and a One Percent for the Planet member.
• Some data explaining the habits of the conscious consumer post-COVID. 
• The way companies approach Makeena (and what they ask Karen and her team for). 
• What conscious investors are looking for in prospective business partners.  
• Karen’s view on the future of retail and how it will impact better-for-the-world brands. 
• The benefits of being a conscious business.
• How Makeena was formed. 
• How in-store grocery shopping can still be a valuable experience. 
• Karen’s insatiable inner drive to make the world a better place. 
• Happiness and abundance: the literal definitions of Makeena. 
• Where Karen’s passion for law came from and the type of law she practiced.
• The accelerator that lit the fuse and helped Karen prove the Makeena doubters wrong. 
• A look at the two businesses Karen started prior to Makeena. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Karen Frame on Twitter

Karen Frame on LinkedIn 

Karen Frame Email

Makeena 

Makeena Email

Makeena App on Google Play 

What’s in Your Cart? Makeena on YouTube

Wild Oats 

Natural Products Expo West

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Email

We spend a lot of time talking about better-for-the-world products, brands, and businesses. But what does that really mean? During our milestone episode, we are reflecting on the types of advice and stories that are shared on the show by guests who are working to do better in different ways. We take a detailed look at what it means for purpose-driven brands to be committed to better for the world. We also explore real-world examples of industry leaders who are successfully infusing business strategy with their values before touching on the role of supportive policies in encouraging more businesses to become better for the world. Tune in today to hear all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A three-layered consideration for defining what it means to do better for the world.
• The relationship between how, why, and what. 
• Gage’s four layers of better: purpose, sustainability and responsibility, outcomes, and measurable impact. 
• What it means for purpose-driven brands to serve others in a meaningful way.
• Identifying real-world problems and testing solutions. 
• Clearly defining your values and principles to move forward with integrity.
• Passion and commitment as illustrated by Seth Goldman. 
• The main idea of sustainability: considering the future.
• Organic and regenerative agricultural practices.
• How Sandra Ann Harris enacts upcycling this at ECOLunchbox.
• What constitutes upcycling and why it has a positive impact.
• Carbon neutral and net zero or net positive practices. 
• The ideal waste and pollution status of better for the world companies.
• What it means for brands to care for others.
• Five considerations for social responsibility: justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Distinguishing between equality and equity.
• What it means to have Worker First benefits and policies.
• Good governance and its far-reaching implications.
• Five pillars of social impact and what they mean. 
• What non-profit organizations need beyond another check.
• The far-reaching implications of changing policy in favor of better for the world businesses.
• Leveraging collaboration as a better for the world business.
• Distilling what better-for-the-world businesses aim for into measurable categories. 
• Understanding and leveraging your buying power and your actions as a consumer. 
• What the show aims to contribute to shifting mindsets. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Slides: Defining Better for the World
YouTube Version of this Episode

A Plastic Free Mission with Sandra Ann Harris of ECOLunchbox

Seth Goldman on LinkedIn

Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle

Simon Sinek’s TedTalk

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Email

How can a brand use the power of design to make the world a better place? This episode features our very own Gage Mitchell’s interview on The Creative Shit Show Podcast, where he talks in-depth about designing solutions that make a positive impact on our environment. Gage talks about the power of design, how it can make a meaningful impact, and why it is important to note the responsibilities that come with it. Gage discusses why he is passionate about B-Corp, its relationship to globalization, and how it all relates to designer and customer awareness. Tune in to find out why clear impact-driven design is the future of sustainable environmental change. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• This episode contains Gage’s feature on The Creative Shit Show Podcast.
• Gage discusses the work of Modern Species.
• Why Gage is passionate about impact design.
• The effects of globalization.
• The power of design.
• Gage’s hopes for the B-Corp movement, its advantages, and why it is significant. 
• Why manufacturers and wholesalers haven’t made a full shift to be more sustainable. 
• The components of the complex, multi-stakeholder supply chain issues.  
• How Gage has created his connections and found like-minded communities.
• Where Modern Species is currently based and how they ended up there. 
• How packaging and printing can be beneficial for the environment. 
• Gage’s favorite ‘Shit Show’ moments.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Creative Shit Show Podcast Episode 15

B-Corp Certification

1% for the Planet

Non-GMO

AIGA

AIGA Seattle

Path to Impact

Colorado State University 

Geoduck

Detroit Zoo

Green Graphic Design

Enneagram

Saboteurs

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

How do you grow your “brand” as a freelancer? Does the hype around the importance of a healthy work-life balance make sense? This week, we feature an episode of The Joyful Freelancer that our very own Gage Mitchell was on recently to answer these questions. The host of the podcast, Katherine Gustafson, evoked Gage to delve into some of his favorite social media rants, how to engineer your life to be more fulfilling, and his approach to growing mission-driven brands. Tuning in, you’ll hear the origin story of EvolveCPG and Modern Species, the value of marrying work with your passions, why saying no can lead to better opportunities, and the reasons why strengths and weaknesses are situational, plus much more. Gage hopes this episode will motivate listeners to reach for their goals in the coming year, so listen in to find out more and feel inspired!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Background about Gage, the work he does, and the projects he is currently working on.
• Whether or not he works with Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) exclusively.
• An overview of the many brands Gage has worked with.
• How he approaches working with brands to showcase their values and products.
• Growing your brand as a freelancer and why it is essential to be successful.
• How freelancing led to the formation of Modern Species and EvolveCPG.
• The inspiration behind the name of the company: Modern Species.
• What Gage means when he says, “work-life balance is a waste of time”.
• Why turning down work can actually lead to more and better opportunities.
• Ways in which strengths and weaknesses are dependent on the situation.
• Katherine and Gage share their experiences working as freelancers.
• The importance of understanding your character traits.
• What it is like being a creative working within a corporate space.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Joyful Freelancer on Instagram

The Joyful Freelancer on Twitter

The Joyful Freelancer on Apple Podcasts

The Joyful Freelancer on Audible 

Organic Valley

Alter Eco

Mamma Chia

Nutiva

Yumbutter

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter 

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Email

There are so many interesting and creative careers out there that slip by unnoticed by many of the population, and sometimes it takes a happy accident or chance encounter to align us with a career path that suits us brilliantly. Kimberly Schaub of PeasOnMoss exemplifies this idea, and her work as a research chef and curious culinary creator is making space for others to follow down a similarly unusual route. In our conversation, Kimberly talks about rethinking our impact on the planet, getting serious about regeneration, and how different parts of the food industry can aid sustainability for us all. She has a strong message about changing the greater culture around food, that we cannot wait for our listeners to hear, so tune in to hear it all.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Tracing the roots of Kimberly's fascination with food and aspirations to be a 'research chef'.
• What 'better for the world' means to Kimberly; and her emphasis on restoration and regeneration.  
• Finding the courage to share a creative idea with the world at any age.  
• The decision that Kimberly made to get into content creation and podcasting.   
• Creating examples of new careers and spreading this awareness within communities. 
• Learning by doing and getting over fear and self-doubt.  
• Kimberly's recommendations for episodes of her podcast to check out!
• Bringing the gift of a fresh network and perspective to the industry you enter. 
• Kimberly shares some of the highlights from her career path in product development.  
• Thoughts on identity and how Kimberly sees herself in her current roles.  
• How Kimberly helps people explore and realize their amazing ideas.
• Two other culinary podcasts that Kimberly has been inspired by recently.  
• Where the name PeasOnMoss came from and Kimberly's different professional roles.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Kimberly Schaub on LinkedIn

PeasOnMoss

PeasOnMoss on Twitter 

Griffith Food 

Justin Kanthak

RCA

Mark Crowell 

CuliNEX

Chef Life Radio

Mind Cook

Plate Magazine

Sugar Mountain

Lundberg Family Farms

Bulletproof

Dave Asprey

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Throughout a person’s career, they acquire many skills beneficial to entrepreneurism. Recognizing those skills creates fantastic opportunities to pursue your passions and follow your dreams. In this episode, we talk to Lex Evan, the Founder, CEO, and chef of the first conscious and sustainable bakery. Lexington Bakes is a luxury bakeshop creating decadent, handmade desserts using consciously sourced ingredients. Lex is known for his audacious and inventive personality and for turning big ideas into reality. He is also deeply passionate about positively impacting society and the planet through effective leadership and entrepreneurship. In our conversation, we hear about his experience building brands, why he decided to start selling baked goods, how they constantly sell out despite the price, and his commitment to using only consciously sourced ingredients. We also discuss what he has learned from previous leadership roles, arrogance as an antidote for imposter syndrome, how design and marketing strategies have changed for global brands, and insider details about Lexington Bakes. Tune in and discover how to leverage your experiences to pursue your passions with Lex Evan!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Background about Lex and Lexington Bakes.
• How his past work experience prepared him for the CPG space.
• He shares where his inclination for leadership originated.
• We unpack what it takes to be an effective leader.
• The difference between arrogance and confidence as a business owner.
• His experience working at Johnson & Johnson and the lessons learned.
• Why Lex decided to leave his job and start a food company.
• Reasons why he chose to sell baked goods over skincare products. 
• What makes Lexington Bakes products different from other baked goods.
• Find out why a square cookie is better than a round cookie.
• Learn tips for communicating a brand effectively to consumers.
• Lex explains why his products sell out despite the high price.
• Discover how a higher price point can help build a brand. 
• How to build trust in your brand: transparency. 
• Advice that Lex has for people considering starting their own company.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lex Evan

Lex Evan on Twitter

Lex Evan on Instagram

Lex Evan on LinkedIn

Lexington Bakes

Lexington Bakes on Instagram

Lexington Bakes on TikTok

Lexington Bakes on Twitter

Lexington Bakes on Facebook

Johnson & Johnson

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World Email

Entrepreneurs need to be creative and forward-thinking to build a successful and sustainable business. Although making money is the main objective of any business, entrepreneurs are focused on much more than profit margins or the bottom line. Today's guest, Jordan Buckner, overcame many challenges while starting and running his own companies and realized that startups need help to succeed in the food and beverage space. He subsequently founded Foodbevy, a company helping aspiring entrepreneurs establish their brands in the food and beverage industry. In our conversation, we discuss his entrepreneurial journey, how to leverage fundraising platforms effectively, three aspects that will make your entrepreneurial journey easier, and what makes his subscription box service different from the rest. We also talk about his overall mission, supporting other entrepreneurs, how the food and beverage space has changed, how to establish a relationship between the customer and brand, and much more. Tune in and discover how entrepreneurs can contribute to society by finding innovative solutions to social issues with Jordan Buckner!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some background on Jordan and his professional career journey.
• Learn about how he became interested in food as a business venture.
• Jordan shares details about some of his first food startups.
• Find out the reason he decided not to pursue funding opportunities.
• What Jordan would do differently if he could start over.
• He shares advice for building, funding, and sustaining a business.
• His opinion on using fundraising platforms to acquire capital. 
• What inspired him to launch his own subscription box service.
• How he approaches finding brands for his subscription service.
• Details about Foodbevy, what motivated him to start it, and its mission.
• Ways in which other entrepreneurs and communities can support each other.
• Jordan reveals how he networks with and helps other founders.
• Whether he has criteria for partnering with other companies. 
• The design and purpose of the Startup To Scale Podcast.
• We discuss the future of the food and beverage industry. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jordan Buckner on LinkedIn

Foodbevy

Good Food Brands

TeaSquares

ChopBox

Startup To Scale Podcast

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Breaking free from the shackles that we give ourselves can be one of the biggest challenges each of us faces, especially when these are shielded from our view. Today we sit down with Matt D'Amour and Linwood Paul from personal growth and development company, Subtle Distinctions, to talk about how they approach helping their clients transcend limiting beliefs, get over the fear of success, and step out of safety into an authentic and courageous version of themselves! The conversation covers the power of the stories we tell ourselves, how to go about 'installing new software', and applying the laws of minimum viable effort for progress. So if you would like to get some great tips for starting out on the most important journey each of us can undertake, join us to hear everything that Matt and Linwood have to say!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Letting your own light shine and providing permission and an example for others. 
• Where to start with your journey towards living unchained! 
• Methods for rewiring our inner systems; accountability partners, meditation, creating evidence, and lifestyle factors.
• The role of fear and hesitancy in holding us back from embodying our best selves. 
• Getting to grips with our grounding belief systems and the steps that our guests lay out for their clients. 
• The questions and small actions that can direct us toward the unchained version of ourselves. 
• Pulling the target back, playing the long game, and setting achievable goals.
• Final thoughts from Matt and Linwood on showing up authentically and being somebody.
• Matt talks about his 'sprint goals' for the year 2023!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Subtle Distinctions

Matt D'Amour on LinkedIn 

Linwood Paul on LinkedIn

William H. Murray

Radical Honesty 

Brad Blanton

Dr. Seuss

Pretty Woman

James Clear

Tim Ferriss

Mark Twain

The Promise of Sleep

Mr. T

City Slickers

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World Email

All product markets and areas of business can benefit from a purpose-driven approach, and the pet food space is no different! Joining us for this episode is the Founder and CEO of Bundle x Joy, Jess Berger, and we have a fascinating chat with Jess about her winding career path and her passion for pets. We explore some important ideas around intentionality, the big mission that drives Jess, and some of the major issues that Jess has with the pet food industry at present. As a true pluralist, Jess is currently completing her doctorate in marketing and is staunchly dedicated to the empowerment of female entrepreneurs and doing things a little differently, so if you would like to get a dose of inspiration for living out the idea of purpose over profit, make sure to listen in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How alignment can help with a feeling of completeness and satisfaction.
• The gap that Jess saw in the market and the target demographics for her products.  
• The realities of a truly purpose-over-profit business philosophy.
• How Jess took her passion for pets and turned it into her current business!
• Further education and the value of the different avenues of learning.  
• Tracing the roots of Jess' passion for business and marketing.
• Jess' thoughts on goal setting and reflecting on achievements. 
• The different options that are available for building a brand these days. 
• Building a strong team based on individuals' strengths and passions. 
• Some of the plans that Jess has for the year ahead. 
• Explaining the business model and strategy at Bundle x Joy.
• Jess' thoughts on the evolution of the pet industry going forward. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Jess Berger on LinkedIn

Bundle x Joy 

Kauffman Entrepreneurship 

The Big Leap

Rocket Fuel

The ONE Thing

Deep Work

Sprouts

Whole Foods

Pet Age

SuperZoo 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

At Firebrand Artisan Breads, making exceptional baguettes and brioche (which they do) is secondary to their mission of creating meaningful work for people who are often not given those opportunities. Matt Kreutz, the founder of Firebrand and our guest on today’s show, founded the company with the goal of making a positive impact on his community by hiring homeless and previously incarcerated people. During this episode, Matt explains how his open hiring policy, his commitment to living wages (and additional benefits), and his acceptance of the messiness that comes with the people-first approach has led Firebrand to become a thriving company of 100 employees with a long, bright future ahead. To hear about the life changing power of a bread-making business, tune in today! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The inspiration behind the founding of Firebrand Artisan Breads and the impact that Matt hopes it will make on people’s lives.
• Firebrand’s hiring and employment policy. 
• The people-first philosophy that underpins everything that Firebrand does.
• Why Matt opted to use a trust model for Firebrand. 
• Supportive measures that Matt has put in place to equip homeless and previously incarcerated people with valuable skills and resources. 
• What drew Matt into the world of baked goods at age 14.
• How Firebrand has evolved since its founding.
• An overview of Firebrand’s Sliced Bread program. 
• The importance of following your own path and not getting distracted by what other people are doing (or seemingly doing). 
• What it means to be a good leader.
• Matt’s goals for the future of Firebrand, and his hopes for the future of the industry. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Firebrand Artisan Breads

Firebrand Artisan Breads on Instagram

Firebrand Artisan Breads on LinkedIn

Matt Kreutz on LinkedIn

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Ever wondered about Gage Mitchell's journey into his current work and the early days of Modern Species? Today Gage gives listeners a short but sweet introduction to the career pivot he made about 15 years ago, what brought about this change, and the principles that he built into the foundations of his agency. Gage also talks about his prioritization of impact, indispensability, and avoiding the worst traps of capitalism, before sharing the four rules he baked into Modern Species from the start. So if you want a bite-sized shot of inspirational history, press play.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The main goal: helping to grow ethical brands and scale positive impact.
• Forming Modern Species and the four rules that were the foundation.
• Traveling Europe and Asia, and the impactful moments that broadened Gage's mindset.
• The beginning of Gage's journey into a different kind of graphic design. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World Email

What has become known as conventional agriculture is part of the reason for the state of grave environmental degradation we find ourselves living in, which is having negative impacts on our health. Although regenerative farming may be a new term, it’s actually an ancient practice based on the way nature intended us to consume food. Through Wild Orchard Regenerative Teas, Michael Don Ham is doing his part to improve the health of our natural ecosystems and our bodies. In this episode, you will hear about the benefits of regenerative methods and products and what sets Wild Orchard apart from other tea companies, as well as how Michael’s other company, RePure, is optimizing indoor air quality. To hear Michael’s story, as well as the invaluable role that you, as a consumer, play in the “better for the world” movement, tune in now! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• An overview of the Wild Orchard Regenerative Teas origin story, and the factors that make their products unique. 
• The three pillars of air quality and how RePure devices optimize indoor space for health.
• The health benefits of regenerative consumable products (using Michael as a case study!).
• Why the state of our blood is a key determinant of our health, and the factors that contribute to it. 
• Negative consequences of chemical agriculture. 
• Michael’s upbringing and how it has influenced his educational choices and entrepreneurial endeavors.
• The invaluable role of consumers in the “better for the world” movement.
• Michael’s thoughts on what the future of health looks like. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Wild Orchard Regenerative Teas

Wild Orchard Regenerative Teas on Instagram

Wild Orchard Regenerative Teas on Facebook

RePure

RePure on Instagram

Michael Don Ham on LinkedIn

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

We are bringing back another of our most listened episodes from 2022. This time, we’re speaking with Jake Karls, cofounder and rainmaker at Mid-Day Squares, about their game-changing, show-everything style brand marketing and how he and his co-founders (his sister, Leslie, and brother-in-law, Nick) are committed to staying independent and true to themselves for the long haul.

Key Points of the Episode:

• An introduction to Mid Day Squares and why they call themselves the first functional chocolate bar.
• The reason why Mid-Day Squares wanted to build a modern-day Hershey.
• The philosophy behind being a chocolate company that's unapologetically themselves.
• Why the lack of creativity limits innovation.
• Jake's thoughts on how brands can stand out by being themselves.
• The beginnings of Mid-Day Squares.
• The unique way Mid-Day Squares creates content about its journey and products.
• Jake's thoughts on why every individual needs to know their strengths.
• Why partnerships need therapy.
• How Mid-Day Squares chose its social media platforms.
• The different kinds of content they make for each social media platform.
• The power behind 'controlling the microphone’.
• The key to the authenticity factor.
• Jake expands on the idea of not taking investors.
• The lessons Jake has learned from his journey.

Tweetables:

“If you find your purpose, you'll likely be happier just because you'll be doing what you love every single day.” - Jake Karls [00:19:27]

“Do not yardstick. It's so dangerous. And when you stop doing that, you start to feel free.” - Jake Karls [00:41:30]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jake Karls on LinkedIn

Mid-Day Squares

The Big Leap

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Modern Species

During his junior year in college, Parker Olson embarked on the first of a series of nutritional experiments that would change the course of his life in ways he could never have imagined. After becoming aware of the incredible properties of functional mushrooms during one of these experiments, Parker became the youngest board member of the Puget Sound Mycological Society and subsequently founded Forij, a granola product packed with mushroom extracts that are both very healthy and very delicious (as strange as it sounds!). During this episode, Parker talks about his scrappy approach to entrepreneurship (his dedication to the cause really comes through strongly when he shares his experience of sleeping in a tent for two years), his involvement in the psilocybin treatment space, and his thoughts on the future of functional food. Tune in today to hear how mushrooms could change your life too! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The nutrition experiments that Parker started conducting on himself during his junior year in college.
• How Parker became aware of the functionality of mushrooms. 
• The founding story of Forij and the process Parker went through to develop the Forij products.
• Parker’s “claims to scrappy fame,” including the two years he spent sleeping in a tent. 
• Valuable takeaways from Parker’s entrepreneurship degree (and the things you can’t learn in a classroom).  
• Parker’s involvement in the movement to democratize psilocybin treatment. 
• What Parker’s role on the board of the Puget Sound Mycological Society entailed.
• Parker’s thoughts on the future of functional food. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Forij

Forij on Instagram

Parker Olson on LinkedIn

Puget Sound Mycological Society

Strategyzer Series

PsiloHealth

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Changing your behavior is no easy feat, especially when it comes to food. And for Bobbi Giudicelli, it took several dramatic health setbacks (both for herself and two close family members) to take action and truly re-examine how her relationship with food was affecting her quality of life. This led her to co-found Read The Ingredients, a company that produces some of the cleanest, healthiest, vegan, and gluten-free packaged meal alternatives available on the market. In today’s conversation, we draw on Bobbi's experience to explore the food industry: why it's broken and how processed food and big pharma are contributing to the declining health of all Americans. Bobbi explains why Read The Ingredients felt the need to dedicate the majority of its marketing budget to educating consumers before unpacking the unique challenges they face as a niche product at a higher price point and why she would never compromise the integrity of her products (even if it meant going out of business). Tune in for this thought-provoking conversation on the shortcomings of the traditional food industry and why it’s so important to empower the small brands that are challenging the status quo!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The story behind Bobbi’s company, Read The Ingredients, and how eating healthy can transform every aspect of your life.
• Understanding why processed food is so damaging to our bodies.
• Learn about the contents of Bobbi’s book, Freedom From A Toxic Relationship With Food.
• The three key things that inspired Bobbi to change her lifestyle and pursue clean eating.
• Why our food supply system is so broken and the impact this has on our overall health.
• How marketing is used to trick people into believing that a product is healthy.
• Big Pharma’s role in undermining the health of all Americans.
• The higher price point of Read The Ingredients products, its niche place in the market, and the challenges they face in educating consumers and marketing to them.
• Bobbi’s experience as a serial entrepreneur and why the food industry has been more challenging to navigate than any other.
• A rundown of how the odds are stacked against smaller consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and the flaws in current distribution models.
• Why Bobbi would rather go out of business than compromise the integrity of her products.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bobbi Giudicelli on LinkedIn

Read The Ingredients

Dennis Weaver on LinkedIn

Change Your Food - Change Your Life

Organic Marketing Association

Tiny Habits

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Much has been said in the last few decades about salt and its effects on our health. And more recently, some of the claims around its dangers have come into question and been clarified. Here on the show today is Darryl Bosshardt of Redmond, a company dedicated to making clean and natural salt more available to everyone. Our conversation centers on some of the misconceptions of the past and present, and what individuals should really be concerned about when considering their salt intake and general diet. We also get to discuss Redmond's company history and values, and what sets them apart as an organization. Listeners will come away with some fresh perspectives on this important piece of human history, as well as a clearer understanding of how to utilize salt's benefits in their diet, so be sure to tune in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Darryl's upbringing in Redmond, the family farm, and the historic sea beds of Utah. 
• The truth about how salt effects on our health.
• How salt and its usage have changed over the last hundred years.   
• Recent studies on salt intake, and holistic approaches to nutrients.
• Darryl talks about real salt and how our ancestors retained its health benefits.
• Why salt cannot be classified as organic! 
• Three questions to ask when purchasing salt; who, where, and what. 
• The simple process that Redmond goes through with their salt.
• A little about the other products that Redmond offers and the process for launching these. 
• The company philosophy around intention and purpose at Redmond.  
• Team activities and initiatives at Redmond; supporting morale and connection. 
• Darryl's thoughts on B-Corps and the next generation of business ethics.  
• A closing wish from Darryl around intentionality and the future. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Darryl Bosshardt on LinkedIn

Redmond

Evidence for relationship between sodium (chloride) intake and human essential hypertension

The dietary guideline for sodium: should we shake it up? Yes!

Salt: A World History 

Salt Your Way to Health

Dr James DiNicolantonio

The Salt Fix

Dr. David Brownstein

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

There is much to consider when launching a product in the retail space. Joining us today to discuss the tribulations he faced through the process of launching (and subsequently closing) Wander Nut Butters, is The Think Tank’s president, Jared Kligerman. Jared’s mission with The Think Tank is to aid small businesses in standing out from the crowd and engaging customers. In this episode, we find out how his experience of running his own small business made him a better advisor, and what he learned through the process. He shares his marketing approach and touches on the four cornerstones of a successful startup, namely margins, capital, time, and purpose. Tune in to find out why it’s essential to be flexible in the startup space and to never stray from the black and white when it comes to financial decision-making.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The Think Tank’s succinct elevator pitch.
• Learn about the impetus behind Jared Kligerman’s former company, Wander Nut Butters.
• Jared’s approach to marketing.
• How his experience with Wander Nut Butters aids his mission at The Think Tank.
• Wander Nut Butters’ early wins and subsequent challenges.
• The complexity of retail in Canada versus the US.
• Insight into the nuances of altering pricing to raise margins.
• The importance of thoroughly researching your category before launching a product.
• An overview of the arduous process of shutting down a business.
• The importance of being committed (but not attached) when it comes to business.
• Requirements for a successful business: margins, capital, time, and purpose.
• Key lessons Jared learned about himself through launching a brand.
• The importance of knowing your strengths before striking out as an entrepreneur.
• Why it’s essential to be flexible in the startup space.
• How Jared got involved with The Think Tank, what they do, and what his role entails.
• The expense of certain certifications.
• Unpacking the danger of assumptions.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jared Kligerman on LinkedIn

Jared Kligerman on Twitter

The Think Tank

Wander Nut Butters

True Founder by Marc LaFleur

Modern Species

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Entrepreneurs are able to build their businesses because of the passion that fuels them, which also gives them purpose, helps them focus, and develops their resiliency. Jordan Buckner is joining us today to help us unlock the power of passion and purpose. He is the Founder of Foodbevy, a community platform aimed at helping founders in food and beverage grow from startup to scale. We discuss the differences between passion and purpose and how to align the two, before examining how you can improve your life by focusing more energy on what you are passionate about. By tuning in, you’ll gain key insight into how Jordan and Gage relate to their passions and purpose, and what you can do as an entrepreneur who has lost the internal fire for your business. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• What passion is and where it comes from.
• The difference between passion and purpose.
• How passion is inherently found in us and also fueled by pursuing a topic of interest. 
• Looking at balance as it pertains to passion, purpose, and earning a living. 
• Prioritizing how you spend your time by centering it on your passions. 
• The importance of choosing a job that is aligned with your passion.
• What an entrepreneur can do when they lose passion in their business.
• Appreciating the process, art, and journey of business rather than focusing on the money. 
• Exploring Ikigai as a foundation for finding your passion. 
• What Jordan is passionate about and how he recognizes when his internal fire has been lit.
• Gage’s various passions and interests and how they align with his purpose. 
• How passion can’t be turned off, but it can decay if not used/pursued.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jordan Buckner on LinkedIn

Jordan Buckner on Twitter

Foodbevy 

Ikigai

Proceed and Be Bold!

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

As public interest in sustainability grows, there are more and more consumers looking for ways to eat the foods they enjoy with less impact on the world around them. This means that today’s CPG brands are forced to innovate when it comes to both flavor and sustainability to meet the increasing demand for affordable, climate-friendly, and perhaps most importantly, delicious products. Today, we are joined by Alec Jaffe, the Founder and CEO of Alec’s Ice Cream, to learn how he created the world’s first and only Regenerative Organic Certified ice cream brand, which makes our planet a better place not only through the way it’s created but through the smiles it creates in turn! Tuning in, you’ll hear how Alec stumbled into the joys of making ice cream as a kid, the gut-friendly benefits of A2 dairy, and his advice for other impact-driven entrepreneurs to help them shift their perspective on adversity, plus so much more! Whether you’re a CPG brand or simply someone who likes to eat delicious food while being kinder to the planet, you’ll benefit from this fascinating conversation about building “feel-good, taste-good, do-good" brands. To find out why changing your habits doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite foods and how Alec is creating what he calls an ice cream utopia, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The key to creating premium flavor profiles while also delivering on sustainability.
• An understanding of what A2 dairy is and why it’s better for you.
• What led Alec to become a Regenerative Organic Certified brand.
• Why being “naive enough to try” played a vital role in the success of Alec’s Ice Cream.
• Insight into what inspired Alec’s interest in sustainability and food systems.
• How starting from scratch gave Alec’s Ice Cream a competitive advantage.
• Reflecting on the growing A2 dairy trend (and the education that still needs to be done).
• The surprisingly simple secret that makes Alec’s unique flavor combinations so tasty.
• What tends to scare retail customers away from “weirder” flavor profiles.
• Challenges that Alec’s Ice Cream faces as an impact-driven company.
• The story of how Alec’s love for ice cream started with an elementary school project.
• A look at Alec’s career trajectory: from sports to tech to CPG entrepreneurship.
• What the future looks like for Alec’s Ice Cream and their innovative pints!
• Alec’s advice for impact-driven entrepreneurs: prepare to persevere through adversity.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Alec Jaffe on LinkedIn

Alec Jaffe on Twitter

Alec’s Ice Cream

Regenerative Organic Alliance

Salt & Straw

Modern Species

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World – Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World Email

While activism and change-making can require us to exercise emotional intelligence and perform certain balancing acts, there is also a power in standing up and unequivocally stating what you believe in. Miyoko Schinner is a champion of putting the truth in plain sight and allowing the cards to fall as they may, and today she sits down to talk about her inspiring journey through impact entrepreneurship and the lessons she has learned along the way. The conversation centers on her commitment to being honest and outspoken, and we discuss her difficult exit from her company, Miyoko's Creamery, vegan activism, food colonialism, and much more. Tuning in you'll hear all about the wisdom gained over a life in brand activism, her thoughts on non-profits, and how we can reinvent the future of food!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Care and strength; how Miyoko approaches sharing her truth with others.
• Pouring effort into building relationships with a true customer base.
• Activism versus product-peddling; Miyoko talks about the roots of her business ethos. 
• Understanding food colonialism and the impact of the Western diet.
• Advice from Miyoko to younger people struggling to make a change and start something new. 
• The benefits of age and experience; Miyoko talks about her journey and the seasons she has lived through.
• The role and responsibility of brands in stimulating social progress.
• Miyoko's thoughts on the non-profit model in today's climate. 
• Miyoko unpacks some of her recent struggles and departure from the company she founded.  
• Thoughts on success, money, and impact.
• The evolving role of a founder and visionary as a company grows and scales. 
• Where to find out more bout Miyoko and her upcoming projects!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Impact Driven

Modern Species 

Miyoko Schinner on Twitter

Miyoko's Creamery

Rancho Compasión

LEAP

The Vegan Good Life with Miyoko on YouTube

Forbes 50 Over 50

Maggie McGrath

NextWorld Evergreen

Seth Goldman

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Could the for-profit, for-purpose model be the most sustainable business model for making an impact? Today we are joined by Richa Gupta, Founder of Good Food For Good to share her entrepreneurial journey. She fills us in on her buy-one-feed-one business model and what inspired it, and shares her feelings on the non-profit model. We learn about her transition from fashion to food and what informed her approach to health and nutrition, before discussing the differentiating characteristics of impact-driven people. Tune in to learn how Richa is feeding the masses one delicious, nutritious sauce at a time!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What drove Good Food For Good founder Richa Gupta’s transition from fashion to food. 
• Richa shares her feelings about the non-profit model.
• The benefits of for-profit, for-purpose models.
• What inspired Richa’s entrepreneurship journey and why she focused on nutritious sauces.
• How her pregnancy informed her approach to health, nutrition, and mindset.
• Why Good Food For Good focuses on organic, no-sugar-added, and vegan products.
• Pumpkin seeds as a replacement for meat and legumes.
• The addictive nature of sugar.
• The inspiration behind Good Food For Good’s buy-one-feed-one business model.
• What differentiates impact-driven people.
• Richa’s proudest moment to date on her business journey.
• Who inspired her to shift her relationship with money and set big goals. 
• Richa’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Richa Gupta on LinkedIn

Good Food For Good

Good Food For Good on Twitter

TOMS

General Mills

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Here at Evolve CPG, we’re all about evolution. It’s time for us to practice what we preach and announce what’s next in our pipeline. In order for us to evolve in a way that works for you, we need your help. In this short episode, we fill you in on what’s new in the Evolve CPG community and how you can get involved! Although change can be unsettling, it’s necessary (and a far cry better than irrelevancy). Tune in to find out what’s next for Evolve CPG, how to leave feedback, and why your experience is so valuable to us.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Major milestones we’ve reached since embarking on the Evolve CPG journey.
• Why we’re pausing on creating new episodes.
• Please leave feedback and join our online community!
• What’s new in the Evolve CPG community.
• The necessity of change.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Evolve CPG Feedback Form

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Learning from the successes and mistakes of others can help us all to go from strength to strength. Spencer Lynn is the North East Regional Manager of KOS, a health and wellness brand on a mission to improve everyday nutrition and make the world a healthier place. During this conversation, Spencer shares his journey to working in nutrition, how the ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, inspired the founders of KOS, and how the brand is providing better nutrition to households and donating 10 million meals to those in need. Tune in to learn from this episode’s inspiring guest. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Allowing consumers to feel part of something bigger than themselves.
• The history and product range at KOS. 
• The power of social media in action: the story of an influencer sharing KOS products on TikTok.
• Distribution of KOS and where to find it online and in brick-and-mortar stores.
• Background information on Spencer Lynn and his journey into working in nutrition.
• Spencer’s best advice: learn from the successes and mistakes of others and allow them to learn from you.
• Spencer’s hopes for the future of food.
• How the ancient Greek tradition of preventative healthcare has influenced KOS.
• The complex and interesting world of CPG in comparison to ingredients.
• Amazon A and B testing.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Spencer Lynn on LinkedIn

Spencer Lynn on Instagram

Spencer Lynn on X

KOS

Dtocs

Episode 98

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

In this episode, we unpack plastic-neutral certification, the immense scale of the global plastic problem, and how rePurpose is helping combat the plastic pollution crisis. Joining us today is Anjali Malpani, Senior Business Partnerships Manager at rePurpose Global, a pioneering company focused on combating plastic waste through empowering brands and businesses. To understand how the plastic-neutral certification is driving meaningful change in the fight against plastic pollution and how you can support the brands that are making a tangible difference in the world, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hear about rePurpose’s plastic-neutral certification, what it means, and how it works.
• Introduction and a brief background about today’s guest, Anjali Malpani. 
• History about rePurpose, its mission, and what it has achieved so far.
• Why brands need to assess their plastic footprint from packaging.
• Current challenges and hurdles of reducing plastic pollution.
• How certifications can pave the way to sustainability and when to start.
• Discover when plastic-neutral certification is the right path for a brand.
• Setting actionable and reachable goals to begin being sustainable.
• Learn the difference between greenwashing and green-hushing.
• Focusing on making progress rather than seeking perfection. 
• Building sustainable waste management and supply-chain processes.
• A gift-themed rapid-fire question round for Anjali.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Impact-Driven Gift Guide
Anjali Malpani on LinkedIn

Anjali Malpani email

rePurpose Global

rePurpose Global on LinkedIn

rePurpose Global on Facebook

rePurpose Global on Instagram

rePurpose Global on X

Innovation Alliance for a Global Plastics Treaty

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

In this episode, we dive into the heart of the food waste crisis and explore innovative strategies to combat the staggering issue of food waste with Angie Crone, CEO of the Upcycled Food Association. The Upcycled Food Association is a nonprofit trade association focused on reducing food waste by growing the upcycled food economy through research, strategy, networking, and policy advocacy. In our conversation, we unpack the complexity of the food waste problem, the Upcycled Certified® Program, why solving the food waste problem is essential for combating climate change, and how trailblazing food brands are making it easier to be a part of the collective solution. Join us in this fascinating conversation and discover the urgency and compelling opportunities that lie in contributing to a sustainable, food waste-conscious future. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Overview of the food waste problem and the upcycling food process.
• Why solutions are needed and background about the Upcycled Food Association.
• The organization’s mission and how the upcycled food movement has grown.
• Learn about the Upcycled Food Association’s approach to providing solutions.
• Examples of how food waste can be made into something new.
• Angie highlights some of the organization’s main achievements. 
• Discover the rigorous upcycle certification process and its requirements.
• Explore why upcycling food is the best way of combating climate change.
• Insights into the positive impacts on the environment from upcycling food. 
• Hear the benefits of upcycling food throughout the supply chain.
• Opportunities upcycling provides to regenerative agriculture practices.
• She explains where listeners can buy certified upcycled food products.
• A holiday-round of rapid-fire questions for Angie.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Upcycled Food Association

Upcycled Food Association on X

Upcycled Food Association on LinkedIn

Upcycled Food Association on Instagram

Upcycled Food Association on Facebook

Upcycled Food Association on YouTube

An Everlasting Meal

Episode: The #1 Climate Change Solution with Turner Wyatt of Upcycled Food Association

Episode: Upcycling Opportunities with Daniel Kurzrock of ReGrained

Brands For A Better World: Upcycled Episodes

The EPA Wasted Food Scale

Market Hall Foods

Modern Species 

Modern Species Gift Guide

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Entrepreneurship is difficult for anyone but it is a whole lot more difficult for women who are carrying centuries of barriers, making running a business more difficult. Today we are joined by the president of the Women’s Business Enterprise Center (WBEC) East to discuss all things women-owned businesses and Women-Owned Impact Certification. You will hear all about what the certification entails, when it is necessary and when it isn’t, the barriers women face in the world of entrepreneurship, and how WBEC helps them overcome those barriers. You don’t want to miss this one so press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What makes a business eligible for Women-Owned Impact Certification and why Elizabeth thinks it’s important. 
• The kinds of people certification is beneficial for and why someone would jump through hoops to get it. 
• The common barriers and challenges Elizabeth sees for female entrepreneurs. 
• How the WBEC organization was founded and what it focuses on. 
• The differences between the WBEC national and regional organizations. 
• Elizabeth’s proudest accomplishments at WBEC East and how to support women-owned businesses. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Elizabeth Walsh on LinkedIn

Elizabeth Walsh on X

WBEC East

Impact-Driven Gift Guide

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

As humans, we have managed to destroy the natural balance of the earth and now, we have to work hard to return it to its normal state. In this episode, we are joined by Elizabeth Whitlow from the Regenerative Organic Alliance to discuss regenerative organic certification. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about why this certification is important, what it entails, the differences between regenerative practices and regenerative organic practices, and more! We even share a few companies that have the certification. You don’t want to miss out! Thanks for listening in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How the Regenerative Organic Alliance and the certification program were formed.
• Elizabeth explains regenerative organic certification and what it entails. 
• The fundamental differences between regenerative practices and regenerative organic practices. 
• Where to find regenerative organic certified products. 
• What Elizabeth is most proud of in the Regenerative Organic Alliance. 
• What ‘impact-driven’ means to Elizabeth. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Elizabeth Whitlow on LinkedIn

Regenerative Organic Alliance

CCOF

Above Food

Alec’s Ice Cream

Dr. Bronner’s

New Leaf

Wild Orchard 

Impact Driven Gift Guide

Modern Species 

If we truly want to live in a just and equitable society, we need to embrace diversity everywhere, from the board of directors to the factory employees to the product we buy. Today’s guest, Katrina Tolentino, understands this concept well as she is on the frontlines of supporting diversity in her industry through her role as the Executive Director of Naturally Network, an organization that creates change in the natural and organic products ecosystem through community-based programming. Katrina joins us to talk about the Minority-Owned Fellowship and how this program helps to transform the lives of those who get involved. We also learn about what it means to “naturally network” and how businesses and individuals can evolve by adopting the philosophy. To learn more about the importance of diversification and what it means to be impact-driven, press play now!  

Key Points From This Episode:

• What Naturally Network’s Minority-Owned Fellowship (MOF) is and how it works. 
• Fighting back against the old-white-boys club: the transformative nature of the MOF. 
• What it means to “naturally network”, and why it’s so important. 
• Other programs and offerings from Naturally Network, and how you can get involved.  
• Katrina’s holiday-themed rapid round of questions. 
• Our guest’s definition of being impact-driven. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Katrina Tolentino on LinkedIn

Katrina Tolentino on Instagram

Katrina Tolentino on X

Naturally Network  

Naturally Network’s Minority-Owned Fellowship 

‘Episode 96 - A Sense of Belonging with Katrina Tolentino of Naturally Network’

Impact-Driven Gift Guide 

SupplySide West

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact-Driven Community

Working together to support the planet and its people is imperative, and 1% for the Planet has made it easier than ever for businesses to donate their time and money to this invaluable cause! Today, we are joined by Kaylee Duncanson, Membership Manager at 1% for the Planet, to discuss their mission and how you can get involved. Tuning in, you’ll find out what 1% of the Planet is, how it was created, how businesses can qualify, some of the ways that you can donate, and so much more! You’ll also learn how to support businesses that are part of 1% for the Planet. To hear more about how you can contribute to our planet, press play now! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• What 1% for the Planet is, how businesses qualify, and why the donations are based on revenue, not profits. 
• Different ways to donate to the organization and the most popular way businesses are giving, beyond monetary donations. 
• How 1% of the Planet was founded and born from a passion for the planet. 
• The wide range of causes the organization supports and how they expand their network. 
• How many businesses are part of the organization and how to support businesses part of 1%. 
• What inspired Kaylee to get involved in 1% for the Planet. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kaylee Duncanson on LinkedIn

Kaylee Duncanson on Instagram

1% for the Planet

Impact-Driven Gift Guide

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World Email

Impact Driven Community

The transition away from fossil fuels may be daunting, but achieving a clean, net-zero future promises a world that is not only environmentally sustainable but also remarkably hopeful. Joining us today is Austin Whitman, CEO of The Change Climate Project, an initiative that offers Climate Neutral Certification and helps companies accelerate on the path to net zero. In our conversation, we break down everything you need to know about their Climate Neutral Certification program, the importance of addressing climate change as a collective, what we as individuals can do to help, plus a whole lot more. To hear all the details about the impact of these initiatives and how you can get involved, be sure to tune in for a conversation that is not only informative but also deeply inspiring!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What The Change Climate Project is and how they support other companies.
• A breakdown of their Climate Neutral Certification program.
• How they built their diverse community of leading consumer brands and volunteers.
• The many challenges facing humanity and why everyone should be focused on addressing the climate change crisis.
• Companies that are currently certified and where listeners can learn more and support them.
• Austin answers our rapid fire questions with a special holiday twist.
• Learn about the Modern Species Impact Driven Gift Guide and how to use it over the holiday season!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Austin Whitman on LinkedIn

The Change Climate Project

The Change Climate Project on LinkedIn

Modern Species 

Modern Species Gift Guide

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World Community

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

The brand Patagonia is renowned for its purpose-driven mission of finding solutions to problems, collectively working to battle climate change and help save our home planet. One of the solutions they’re focusing on is regenerative organic agriculture and food sourcing because, after all, everything we consume and eat has a profound impact on our planet. Today’s guest is part of that team working to create systems that foster healthier and “better-for-the-world” food practices. We are excited to introduce, Paul Lightfoot. Paul is the General Manager of Patagonia Provisions, the food business of Patagonia, and the Board Chair of Regenerative Organic Alliance, the non-profit that administers Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™). In our conversation today, we dive into the why behind Patagonia’s journey into the food industry, what inspired their collaborative craft beer program and delve into the Regenerative Organic Movement. To hear about Patagonia’s only acquisition and explore its initiatives to solving the environmental crisis, be sure to start listening now. Enjoy!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Patagonia Provisions: why a clothing company decided to start a food company.
• How Kernza® Grain happened and the why behind the collaborative craft beer program.
• Patagonia’s journey from the apparel business to the food business. 
• Patagonia Provision’s pursuits and ambitions in the food industry.
• Patagonia’s first and only acquisition and why crackers were the next space to invest in.
• What fires Paul up about the Regenerative Organic Movement (and what irks him). 
• What ‘Regenerate, Rejoice, Restore’ means to Paul.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Paul Lightfoot on LinkedIn

Paul Lightfoot on X

Patagonia Provisions

1% for the Planet

Regenerative Organic Alliance

The Land Institute

Kernza® Grain

Yvon Chouinard

Patagonia Provisions: Unbroken Ground (Film)

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

There’s nothing wrong with having beautiful, eye-catching packaging that grips a shopper from first sight. But what use is a pretty package if the contents inside are already spoiled? For this unique cross-show episode of Brands for a Better World, our resident host, Gage Mitchell turns interviewee as special guest, Adam Peek dons the host’s chair. Adam is the Senior Vice President of Sales at Meyers and also the host of the People of Packaging Podcast, and he’s here to discuss all things related to packaging and sustainability. We explore how brands can build trust and community with consumers before unpacking the role of packaging in food sustainability and preservation, how brands can get the most out of their packaging, and why it’s important for brands to simplify and clarify their on-packaging message.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Today, special guest, Adam Peek interviews Gage about packaging and sustainability. 
• How brands can create connections and build community and trust with consumers.
• The role of packaging in food sustainability and preservation. 
• How brands can use packaging to communicate their authentic commitment to sustainability. 
• Why it’s important for brands to simplify and clarify their message.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Adam Peek

Adam Peek on LinkedIn

Adam Peek on Instagram

Adam Peek on X

Adam Peek on TikTok

People of Packaging Podcast  

Meyers

‘The good news about packaging and the hope it offers for the future’ | Adam Peek | TEDxSaltLakeCity 

Utah HS Hoops Podcast 

Vicki Strull 

Impact-Driven Gift Guide 2023 

Brand Pollinators

Modern Species  

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter 

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact-Driven Community

Sustainable and green skincare products have become increasingly popular due to their focus on environmentally friendly practices and natural ingredients, but have we tapped into nature’s full potential? In this episode, we embark on a rejuvenating exploration of self-care and Latin American botanicals with the insightful Rebekah Jensen, Founder of Sanara Skincare, to discuss the importance of self-care for entrepreneurs, the untapped potential of Latin American botanicals, and her battle with cancer while trying to grow her business. We delve into her self-care practices that have been a guiding light through adversity and gain invaluable insights into balancing the demands of work and rest. As usual, we end our conversation with our rapid-fire questions for Rebekah. Tune in and discover how cultural wisdom can lead to products that create an impact and enhance the soul with Rebekah Jensen!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Rebekah explains the value of self-care routines for entrepreneurs.
• How solving her own skincare problems led her to launch a company.
• Discover how her kitchen was the start of Sanara Skincare.
• Overcoming market downturns and hurdles when launching.
• Finding the gap in the market regarding Latin American botanicals.
• Tapping into cultural wisdom to create a positive impact.
• Rebekah’s experience of battling cancer while growing a business. 
• The power of reconnecting with her body and her spiritual side.
• Some self-care practices that have helped Rebekah.
• Keeping a balance between the demands of work and rest.
• Details about Sanara Skincare’s incredible range of products.
• Staying on top of the latest industry trends to keep competitive.
• We end with our set of rapid-fire questions for Rebekah!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Rebekah Jensen on LinkedIn

Sanara Skincare

Sanara Skincare on Facebook

Sanara Skincare on YouTube

Sanara Skincare on Instagram

Sanara Skincare on TikTok

The Alchemist

Zappos

Naturally Network 

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World Email

Impact Driven Community

Can a brand, product, or marketing strategy change the world? Maybe not directly, but today’s guest believes that he can positively influence consumer behavior for a healthier and more sustainable future. Nick Budden is an innovation strategist on a mission to create $500 million in healthy, sustainable food innovation by 2030. He founded Flavor Forward Strategy to help food brands innovate with purpose and, in today’s episode, he joins us to talk about the psychology of behavior change, how you can use these principles to make a positive change in your life, and how brands can inspire life-changing behaviors through their products and marketing. We also share some recommended reads and resources, recipes to make vegetables taste better in 2024, and much more! If you're intrigued by the potential for brands to shape a better world, this episode is your gateway to understanding how you can become an agent of positive change. Tune in to be inspired to make a meaningful impact, one choice at a time.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How brands can inspire better behaviors by solving common problems in innovative ways.
• Examples of brands making a meaningful impact by influencing consumer behavior.
• Three elements that must converge for a behavior to occur (according to BJ Fogg).
• Benefits of employing process-oriented goals over outcome-oriented goals.
• Surprisingly simple and reliable strategies to build sustainable habits.
• Ways to reframe existing motivations rather than trying to create a new motivation.
• Why New Year’s resolutions typically don’t last and incremental changes work better.
• Consistency over intensity: why it's better to start with easy, practical, and enjoyable routines.
• Small interventions that add up to improve your daily lifestyle.
• The “nudge” that helped Nick make positive changes in his own life.
• Books to help you change your habits, ride the CPG growth curve, and even live longer!
• Why you should find ways to make vegetables taste good in 2024.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Flavor Forward Strategy

Nick Budden on LinkedIn

Fogg Behavior Model

Tiny Habits

Atomic Habits

The Power of Habit

Nudge

Ramping Your Brand

The Blue Zones

Liquid Death

GoodPop

Pledge Good Foundation

Pizza Hut BOOK IT! Program

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on Twitter

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World Email

Impact Driven Community

Feeling inspired by the new year and the recent episode on changing behaviors, this episode focuses on motivating actions that will lead to a better 2024 and world for all. Compounding small actions over time creates a significant impact, and this episode will challenge you to take that first step in helping create a better tomorrow. One thing a day, week, or month, it is totally up to you. In this episode, I offer listeners 54 ideas to help get started. From eating healthily to protecting your time, unpack ways to create a better you before creating a better world. Discover how supporting fair trade, fostering mental health in the workplace, engaging with local communities, and making eco-conscious choices can collectively shape a future we all want to be a part of. Taking better actions is not just a philosophy. It is a roadmap for meaningful change. To hear about the various actions individuals, brands, businesses, and communities can take to contribute to a better world, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Learn to eat better, dance freely, and master the art of self-kindness.
• Championing sustainability and exposing greenwashing villains.
• Transforming workplaces into happy spaces, donating profits, and setting impact goals.
• Discover how small acts in your community can create a ripple of positive change.
• Hear easy tips for recycling, sustainable transportation, and loving the Earth.
• Insights into Gage’s playbook on future-proofing your life.
• The secret sauce that makes Modern Species a beacon of change.
• Final words of wisdom for building a better world. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Better Action Slides

Episode 132: Changing Behaviors with Nick Budden of Flavor Forward

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World Email

Impact Driven Community

Traditional candy bars have a LOT of sugar. And, while it may not be great for our health, most of us still believe that our taste buds prefer that level of sweetness. But what if the optimal level of sweetness were actually way more subtle than we thought, and required only a small amount of sugar? Joining us today is Stu Davidoff, Founder of Gigantic Candy Bars, to talk about his mission to create a better ‘sorta sweet’ candy bar with less junk and more fun. He tells us about the formulation process behind their products, how they hit the perfect level of sweetness, and their commitment to sourcing better, healthier, and more ethical ingredients. We get into the typical junk you can expect to find in most candy bars, why most people don’t even notice his products have less sugar, and the instrumental lessons he’s learned after three years on the market. If you want to learn more about how to find that sweet spot, whether it’s in business or with candy bars, be sure to tune in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The story behind the founding of Gigantic Candy Bars.
• What inspired Stu to create his ‘sorta sweet’ candy bars.
• How they found the perfect level of sweetness for their products.
• Why most people don’t notice the reduced sugar in Gigantic products.
• The excessive amount of sugar (and other junk) found in most candy bars.
• Why Stu chose to prioritize non-GMO ingredients.
• Entrenched supply chain issues within the cocoa industry.
• Gigantic’s commitment to sourcing only fair trade cocoa.
• Their decision to only use plant-based, vegan ingredients.
• How they formulated vegan caramel for their candy bars.
• Other iterations on the traditional candy bar, and why Stu found them lacking.
• Ways that brands mislead consumers about the sugar contents of their products.
• Instrumental lessons Stu has learned after three years on the market.
• We end with our set of rapid-fire questions for Stu!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Stu Davidoff on LinkedIn

Gigantic Candy Bars

Gigantic Candy Bars Store Locator

Fix & Fogg

Fix & Fogg Everything Butter

glonuts

Lex Evan

Lexington Bakes
Lex Evan on LinkedIn

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Many of us know what upcycling means as it pertains to physical things, but what does it mean to upcycle your personal experiences? Joining us today is Will Nitze, the Founder of IQBAR – a company that produces ready-to-eat brain foods. Will is here to talk about what it means to upcycle your personal experiences for them to be more valuable to your future self and others, and in our discussion, we extend this metaphor to discover how downcycling, recycling, and reusing play out in the human experience. If curiosity is getting the better of you (and to find out why that’s a good thing!), press play now.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• What it means to upcycle your experiences. 
• Examples of downcycling, recycling, and reusing as found in the human experience.
• Understanding what works for you and what doesn’t.
• Why it’s important to process correctly and have great channels of distribution.
• The necessity of curiosity, and the power of storytelling. 
• Will explains what gives him his edge and unique creative style. 
• The ins and outs of IQBAR. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Will Nitze on LinkedIn

Will Nitze on Instagram

Will Nitze on X

IQBAR
Will Nitze LinkedIn Post on Curiosity 

Adam Brown on LinkedIn 

Four Sigmatic 

Mark Samuel

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Have you ever wondered what sets thriving entrepreneurs apart? The secret lies in a single skill: effective pitching. In today’s episode, we sit down with Kat Weaver, Chief Executive Officer at Power to Pitch, to discuss mastering the art of pitching for startups. Power to Pitch is a dynamic platform that equips founders with the tools and knowledge to craft winning pitches, compelling stories, and robust fundraising strategies. In our conversation, we delve into why successful pitching is critical for founders, the formulae for a great pitch, common mistakes people make, how she helps raise more capital through successful pitching, and more. To discover invaluable insights and tips to elevate your pitching game and propel your entrepreneurial journey to new heights, tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introduction and background to today’s guest, Kat Weaver.
• Power to Pitch and the services it provides founders. 
• Why successful pitching is not just relevant for fundraising.
• Kat shares the secret sauce to a successful pitch.
• The power of ‘keeping it simple’ and knowing your audience.
• Pitching pitfalls and common mistakes people make.
• Hear how Kat practices her pitching skills.
• Tips and tricks to enhance your confidence when pitching.
• Strategies for weaving a brand’s impact into a pitch.
• Details about the Power to Pitch program and how it works.
• Insights into the latest fundraising market trends.
• Navigating founders’ fundraising and market expectations. 
• Kat answers a rapid-fire round of pitching-related questions.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kat Weaver on LinkedIn

Power to Pitch

Power to Pitch on YouTube

Power to Pitch on Instagram

Start with Why

Katherine Gold on LinkedIn

Goldbug

Episode: Upcycling Experiences with Will Nitze of IQBAR

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Plastic pollution is a significant environmental issue with far-reaching impacts. The beauty and personal care industry alone generates around 120 billion units of packaging annually. Today’s guest has a vision to change that. Kelly Perkins is the Founder and CEO of Spinster Sisters, a B Corp-certified women-owned plant-based water and plastic-free skin, hair, and body care brand on a mission to make the best products for people and the planet. Join us as we dive into Kelly and Spinster Sisters’ journey toward becoming plastic-negative, the hurdles faced in eliminating plastic from their supply chain, and the motivations behind their decision to obtain B Corporation certification. If you are passionate (or even curious) about the urgent need for action to reduce plastic consumption and promote sustainable alternatives to plastic products, then this episode of Brands for a Better World with Kelly Perkins is a must-listen!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Peace Out Plastic: Spinster Sisters’ journey to become plastic-negative
• Why Kelly believes that the growing awareness of plastic usage is important.
• Various hurdles Spinster Sisters has faced in eliminating plastic from their products.
• Highlights Kelly has seen from their Peace Out Plastic Campaign.
• The decision to obtain B Corporation certification and the associated benefits.  
• What sparked Kelly’s interest in creating toxic-free personal care products.
• How her business and product line have expanded since founding Spinster Sisters.  
• Shampoo bars and their increasing popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kelly Perkins on LinkedIn

Kelly Perkins on Instagram

Spinster Sisters

Spinster Sisters on Facebook

Spinster Sisters on Instagram

Spinster Sisters on TikTok

FSC

rePurpose Global

Ep. 122: Plastic Neutral Certified with Anjali Malpani of rePurpose Global

Ep. 30: Business as a Force for Good with Veena Harbaugh Of B Lab US & Canada

Amy Aquino on Instagram

Nancy Birtwhistle on Instagram

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Kale is often considered the go-to green superfood. In the Battle of the Supergreens, however, moringa (or “super kale”) is a formidable opponent! While working with women farmers in West Africa, Lisa Curtis was introduced to the profound healing and energizing powers of moringa. Out of that experience, Lisa created Kuli Kuli, a Certified B Corp that allows Americans to experience the power of superfoods like moringa while also empowering farmers around the world. Today, this award-winning entrepreneur and thought leader joins us to share the incredible health benefits of moringa, Kuli Kuli’s journey from Peace Corps to grocery store, and some of the strategies the brand uses to educate consumers about its nutritious superfood products. We also touch on how Kuli Kuli is pioneering the future of food, delicious ways to add moringa to your diet, and so much more. To find out how Lisa is aligning mission and product to revolutionize the superfood industry, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The incredible health benefits of moringa compared with kale.
• Building a brand that empowers farmers and delivers nutritious superfood products.
• How Kuli Kuli is pioneering the future of food through the plants of the present.
• When Lisa first learned about moringa as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger.
• Tactics that Kuli Kuli uses to educate consumers about the power of moringa.
• Certifications and business initiatives that make Kuli Kuli a force for good.
• The combination of luck and preparation that launched the success of Kuli Kuli.
• Ways that regenerative agriculture can be more profitable than conventional agriculture.
• How you can use moringa to boost energy, reduce blood sugar, and more.
• Different ways to consume moringa, whether fresh, powdered, or frozen.
• Where you can get your hands on Kuli Kuli’s products (at a discounted rate!)
• Lisa’s favorite superfoods, indulgent snacks, impact-driven leaders, and more.
• What “better for the world” means for communities, packaging, and consumers.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lisa Curtis

Lisa Curtis on LinkedIn

Lisa Curtis on X

Kuli Kuli Foods

20% Discount Code for First-time Customers: MODERNSPECIES

‘Battle of the Greens: Moringa vs. Kale’

MUD\WTR

Alter Eco Truffle Thins

Jacqueline Novogratz

The Blue Sweater

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Are you ready to sink your teeth into the future of food? In this episode, we are joined by Adam Maxwell, CEO, and Kelsey Tenney, VP of R&D, from Voyage Foods, to discuss future-proofing the food industry with sustainable and delicious alternatives. Voyage Foods is a food technology company on a mission to create a future where sustainability, accessibility, and flavor go hand in hand in our food. In our conversation, we delve into their motivation for crafting tasty alternatives to ingredients with vulnerable supply chains, how they are changing lives with allergy-free peanut butter, their goals for expanding beyond their existing products, and their approach to future-proofing the food industry. Finally, we wrap up with a rapid-fire food-themed question round. Tune in and discover how to make food better for people and the planet with Adam Maxwell and Kelsey Tenney of Voyage Foods!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Adam and Kelsey met and their motivation for starting Voyage Foods.
• Uncover the supply-chain issues associated with our favorite foods.
• Discover how their mission with chocolate extends to other products, like coffee.
• Their approach to tackling food industry problems before they happen.
• Unpack their goal of making sustainable food accessible to everyone, forever.
• Learn how crafting allergin-free products forms part of their mission.
• How their food science backgrounds inform their future-proof approach.
• Mentoring and helping other food companies to grow along the way.
• Balancing transparency with protecting their R&D developments.
• Hear about the initial powerful reactions from customers to their products.
• What aspect of Voyage Foods people resonate with the most.
• Insights into the challenges and hurdles of working in the food CPG space.
• The future vision of the company and the impact it hopes to create.
• Their commitment to incorporating upcycled ingredients.
• A food-theme round of rapid-fire questions for Adam and Kelsey!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Voyage Foods

Voyage Foods on LinkedIn

Voyage Foods on X

Voyage Foods on Facebook

Voyage Foods on Instagram

Adam Maxwell on LinkedIn

Kelsey Tenney on LinkedIn

Alter Eco

Tony's Chocolonely

Upcycled Food Association (UFA) 

Indra Nooyi 

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

There is a certain magic in creating a tasty snack that instantly fills one with joy, and when others are battling to match your experience, you know you’ve birthed something truly special! Daily Crunch is a nut-snacks unicorn and today, we are joined by its co-founder and CEO, Laurel Orley, who explains what makes her brand different from the rest and why its competitors struggle to keep up. Our conversation explores the value of being Women-Owned certified, how Daily Crunch prioritizes mental health, the power of upcycling, and so much more. Tune in to discover the difference between learning in corporate and learning on-the-go, and how ruined plans may actually be a saving grace for budding entrepreneurs. Tune in now!    

Key Points From This Episode:

• What makes Daily Crunch unique, and why other nut companies struggle to keep up. 
• Daily Crunch’s highest-performing products and flavors.
• Laurel defines “upcycled” and explains why we should all be excited about it.
• Why Daily Crunch prioritizes mental health and how this manifests throughout the brand.
• The value and impact of being certified by Women Owned. 
• How the company navigates brand partnerships. 
• The advantages of throwing out the playbook and embracing the pivot.
• How Laurel’s background and skills in media have helped her as a CPG entrepreneur. 
• Her biggest wins and struggles since co-founding Daily Crunch during the pandemic.
• Cashew nuts, Japan, self-care, hot yoga, Daniel Lubetzky, and sustainability. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Daily Crunch  

Daily Crunch on Instagram

Laurel Orley on LinkedIn

Natural Products Expo West 

Upcycled Food Association 

Cleveland Kitchen 

Women Owned 

‘Episode 124 - Women-Owned with Elizabeth Walsh of WBEC East’

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

When you have a greater diversity of people at the table sharing their voices and insights, you inevitably get better solutions. Joining us today is Jamie Lamonde, CEO and Founder of Kindship Group, whose core mission is to scale and grow businesses for good. We talk with Jamie about her recent trip to Germany to attend BIOFACH, the world’s leading trade fair for organic food, how the experience compares to Natural Products Expo West, and her top tips for getting the most out of any trade show experience. Our conversation gets into some of the key differences between American and European food industries, the state of the organic movement and its relationship to non-GMO, regenerative, and biodynamic movements, and Jamie’s hopes for the future of these industries. Join us for an expansive conversation on global food industries, trade shows, and why greater inclusion and diversity are essential for a better world!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The upcoming Natural Products Expo West trade fair.
• What we are most excited about for Expo West.
• Tips to help get the most out of Expo West.
• An overview of BIOFACH, the world’s leading trade fair for organic food.
• How BIOFACH compares to Expo West.
• Jamie’s takeaways from her first trip to BIOFACH in Germany.
• The diversity of businesses that Jamie saw at BIOFACH.
• Some notable differences between the US and European food industries.
• Key insights from conversations on organic farming and regenerative agriculture at BIOFACH.
• Embracing how the regenerative movement can enhance organic, not compete against it.
• How bad actors and infighting within the movement can discourage consumers.
• A reminder of the concerted efforts being made to prevent organic fraud.
• Jamie answers our rapid-fire questions on favorite foods, impact-driven leaders, and more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jamie Lamonde on LinkedIn

Kindsdhip Group

IFOAM

Regeneration International

Natural Products Expo West

BIOFACH

Episode 10: Mission and Marketing with Jamie Lamonde of Kindship Group

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

To make a true impact, your mission needs to be baked into the DNA of your brand from the get-go. Joining us today to share the keys to the success of an impact-driven brand is John Foraker, Co-Founder and CEO of nutrition-focused kids’ food brand, Once Upon a Farm. In this episode, we discover the most valuable lessons John learned from scaling Annie’s Homegrown, how he came to partner with actress and Once Upon a Farm co-founder, Jennifer Garner, and how he weaves impact into the brands he builds. Tune in for this revealing episode on scaling without compromising culture, and committing to making an impact.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing John Foraker, Co-Founder and CEO of Once Upon a Farm.
• John’s advice for scaling an impact-driven brand.
• The importance of baking impact into the DNA of your brand.
• The three most valuable lessons John learned from scaling Annie’s Homegrown.
• How and why both John and actress Jennifer Garner got involved with Once Upon a Farm.
• The fundamental belief that drives John to use business as a force for positive social change.
• The benefits of the public benefit corporation model.
• Hiring advice and criticism of the historical corporate mindset.
• The importance of authenticity as a leader (and the danger of imitation).
• Reframing the term “organic”.
• How John married his passion for food and farming with business.
• The value of graduate studies and continuous learning in business.
• Once Upon a Farm’s purity promise and their partnership with Save the Children.
• The evolving nature of B Corp.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

John Foraker on LinkedIn

Once Upon a Farm

Once Upon a Farm on Instagram

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner on Instagram

Annie’s Homegrown

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

Conscious consumerism has grown exponentially in recent years, with shoppers expecting more transparency and less waste from the brands they choose to support. While shifting towards more sustainable business practices obviously has a positive impact on the environment, there are also a number of benefits for your brand, which you’ll learn more about in today’s episode! To help us explore this topic, we are joined by Alicia Lahey, Co-Founder and CEO of Humble Snacks, Canada’s first organic potato chip packaged in 100% plastic-free, compostable bags. We discuss Alicia’s experience in big food, why she and her husband made the shift to a more sustainable lifestyle, and why she didn’t want to launch her own brand unless it came in better packaging, plus so much more. To find out how you can continue to innovate in the natural and organic snack category and ensure that your packaging mirrors the philosophy of your brand, you won’t want to miss today’s episode of EvolveCPG!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some of the challenges that come with adopting sustainable packaging solutions.
• Why Alicia and her husband were so committed to creating eco-friendly bags.
• Lessons learned from SunChips’ infamously noisy packaging.
• A look at Humble’s partnership with A Plastic Planet to develop their plastic-free bag.
• The importance of investing in plastic-free or plastic-neutral initiatives.
• Limitations of compostable packaging and how Humble seeks to solve them.
• How proving sustainable packaging successful will move the needle for larger brands.
• Alicia’s take on the future of better snacking (and where there’s room for innovation).
• Other product categories that Humble will expand into in the future.
• The inspiration behind their ‘humble’ brand name. 
• Why communication is key when working with your spouse in your family business!
• Hurdles Alicia and her husband had to overcome to get their product on shelves.
• Valuable fundraising tips for other purpose-over-profit founders.
• Identifying (and filling) a gap in the market for organic, light, crispy, skin-on potato chips.
• Insight into Alicia’s research and development process for Humble Snacks.
• How Alicia found her way into the CPG industry, starting with driving a truck!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Humble Snacks

Alicia Lahey on LinkedIn

Alicia Lahey on Instagram

A Plastic Planet

rePurpose Global

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Email

No entrepreneurial journey is without its challenges, but even the biggest ones can be overcome with enough passion, drive, and support. Today’s guest is Sadrah Schadel, founder and CEO of No Evil Foods, a nationwide plant based protein company which she and her life partner started in their kitchen in 2014 with just $5000. After a few major hurdles which we discuss during today’s episode, they got to a point where they were weeks away from running out of money and having to shut their doors. Tune in to hear about the rise, fall, and recent rebrand of No Evil Foods!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Factors that inspired Sadrah and her life partner, Mike, to found No Evil Foods.
• An overview of the journey of No Evil Foods from Sadrah and Mike’s kitchen in upstate New York to a nationwide plant based meat provider.
• Factors that are foundational to the company culture at No Evil Foods, and the award they won as a result!
• Major hurdles that No Evil Foods has been presented with over the past few years. 
• Sadrah shares the challenges they experienced during the process of scaling their manufacturing. 
• How No Evil Foods differs from many other plant-based protein brands.
• Lessons that Sadrah learned through dealing with her employees' desire to form a union.
• The value of being transparent and showing vulnerability as a leader.
• The rebranding that No Evil Foods has recently undergone.
• Valuable advice for other entrepreneurs. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Sadrah Schadel on LinkedIn

No Evil Foods

No Evil Foods on Instagram

No Evil Foods on Facebook

No Evil Foods on Twitter

Climate Designers

Climify Podcast on Instagram

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Setting out and starting a business takes courage, determination, and the ability to learn as you go. It also requires a certain commitment to the foundational causes of the work. For Adam Hiner, our guest on today's show, combining his passion for food and regenerative agriculture with his work ethic and growing knowledge of the entrepreneurial landscape has enabled him to build two really inspiring and conscientious brands. Adam is the CEO and Founder of Pacha, a gluten-free, grain-free, sprouted, fermented, paleo, and plant-based bread company, as well as the Co-Founder of Boochcraft, through which he and his team introduced the market to organic hard kombucha! In our chat, we get to hear from Adam about the important steps on his evolving path, the morals that ground his work, and some of the challenges he has faced and overcome so far. If you would like to hear about true innovations in the food sector, how Adam approached business during the pandemic, and the power of intuition in a data-filled world, listen in with us!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Adam talks about regenerative agriculture and how Pacha is involved and supports this movement. 
• Challenges in the baked goods space: distribution, freshness, packaging, and more. 
• The environmental and social initiatives that Adam and Pacha have linked with so far.
• A little about the organic, hard kombucha company that Adam started called Boochcraft.  
• Advice from Adam for aspiring CPG business owners on the realities of running a business and using intuition.
• How Pacha was birthed at the beginning of the pandemic and Adam's attitude towards riding that wave.
• Demand for kombucha and the surprising demographics that gravitated towards the products.  
• Adam's journey before launching Pacha; selling mortgages, restaurants, catering, and more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Modern Species 

Adam Hiner ob LinkedIn

Pacha   

Boochcraft

Rate Rabbit

Unity Vibration

JuneShine

Trilogy Sanctuary

1% for the Planet 

CCOF

Episode 31 - Cultivating Heartset with Linwood Paul & Matt D'Amour of Subtle Distinctions 

Episode 37 — Nailing The Pitch with Kayla Castañeda of Agua Bonita

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG email

How can we bake a better world, one delicious bite at a time? Join us as we delve into the world of sustainable and inclusive baking with plant-based baking mama Kimberle Lau, Founder of Bake Me Healthy. Bake Me Healthy is a company that specializes in providing baking mixes crafted with clean, plant-based ingredients. It is more than just a baking mix company; it's a movement toward inclusive, sustainable, and convenient baking that prioritizes health, taste, and the planet. In our conversation, we discuss her entrepreneurial origins in skincare, how her food intolerances motivated her to start a plant-based, gluten-free, and allergen-free baking business, the importance of supporting women-owned companies, and why her products are better for people and the planet. She also shares valuable lessons from her entrepreneurial journey and indulges us with our rapid-fire question round. Join us as we delve into the sweetness of conscious baking to a healthier, happier planet, one delectable treat at a time with Kimberle Lau of Bake Me Healthy. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hear about her start in skincare and why she pivoted to plant-based baking.
• The opportunity she saw for an inclusive, healthy, and sustainable baking business.
• Why she finds the food industry more exciting than the beauty and skincare industry.
• Discover how she transitioned from baking for herself to developing a baking brand.
• She shares details about her research and development process. 
• The role Drexel Food Lab played in creating the Bake Me Healthy product range. 
• How her company champions upcycling techniques to combat food waste.
• Explore her passion for women-owned businesses and sustainability.
• Ways the Certification for Women-Owned Businesses offers support.
• Uncover her journey to sourcing sustainable packaging for her products.
• Unpack the hurdles and limitations of making compostable packaging. 
• She shares the biggest lesson from her professional career.
• Gain insights into her approach to innovation and customer feedback.
• Find out how listeners can support Bake Me Healthy.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kimberle Lau on LinkedIn

Bake Me Healthy

Drexel Food Lab 

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) 

Certification for Women-Owned Businesses

Upcycled Food Association (UFA)

1% for the Planet 

Food Rescue

Outcast Foods

Humble Chips (Humble Snacks)

Nowhere Bakery

Just Date 

Pallavi Pande

Dtocs

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Do you find yourself craving the crunch of potato chips but worry about their health and environmental implications? In this episode, we are joined by Betty Lu, Founder and CEO of Confetti Snacks, to delve into the world of sustainable snacking. Confetti Snacks specializes in creating delicious gourmet snacks using nutrient-rich vegetables infused with unique flavors from around the world. In our conversation, we discuss her experience traveling the world looking for unique flavors, her creative process behind the idea for a colorful veggie chip, how she acquired funding to test the concept, and how Confetti Snacks is making a positive impact on people and the planet. She also shares why authentic, genuine connections with end consumers are essential for success and answers our round of rapid-fire questions. Join us as we unwrap the story behind Confetti Snacks and explore the delicious possibilities of mission-driven snacking for a healthier, happier world. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Her motivation for traveling the world and what she learned from the experience.
• Betty’s idea of “travelpreneurship” and the value of traveling for entrepreneurs. 
• Why she founded Confetti Snacks and what she hopes to achieve with the company.
• How she was able to acquire her initial investment from the Singapore Government.
• Learn about how she was able to enter the US market and her plans to scale.
• The company’s product range and why they are better for people and the planet.
• Ways her products stay true to its cultural inspirations while communicating its mission.
• Upcycling and how Confetti Snacks is helping the fight against food waste. 
• Opportunities sustainability offers and reasons why companies should embrace it. 
• Confetti Snacks’ ColorForHunger program and the impact it is making. 
• She shares lessons from her career and valuable advice for budding entrepreneurs.
• Explore the real value of a brand and how to build a loyal customer base. 
• Hear how listeners can support Confetti Snacks in achieving its mission. 
• Rapid-fire questions: her favorite vegetable, country, impact-driven leader, and more!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Betty Lu on LinkedIn

Confetti Snacks

Confetti Snacks on Instagram

Confetti Snacks on LinkedIn

Confetti Snacks on Facebook

Confetti Snacks on X

Confetti Snacks on Amazon

ColorForHunger

Do the KIND Thing

KIND Snacks

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

What matters more, the product or the brand? As today’s guest Christopher Gavigan explains, the brand and the product should be one and the same and therefore equally important! Christopher is the founder of multiple businesses and initiatives, including The Honest Company and Prima – wellness brands that are centered on health and sustainability – and he joins us today to share his insights as a conscious leader and brand pioneer. After getting to the roots of Christopher’s passion for creating sustainable brands, we learn about Healthy Child Healthy World and The Honest Company, and how the former paved the way for the latter. Then, we discover the role that Jessica Alba played in the genesis of The Honest Company, what Christopher’s current work entails, why it’s vital to build and support impact-driven brands in all industries, and the pain points that Christopher was trying to alleviate with Prima. To end, we learn how our guest views success, how he’s navigated difficult obstacles as an entrepreneur, why he values consistency over intensity, and his vision of utopia.    

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcoming Christopher Gavigan as he explains what drove him to family health.
• Where and how he developed his instinct for creating brands. 
• How Healthy Child Healthy World helped birth The Honest Company. 
• The importance of building and supporting impact-driven brands. 
• Understanding Jessica Alba’s role in bringing The Honest Company to life. 
• Christopher’s current job title and role, and how it’s changed over the years. 
• The problems that he was trying to solve with the other company that he founded, Prima. 
• Core attributes that he looks for or builds into a company to ensure success. 
• The most surprising and difficult challenges that he’s faced as an entrepreneur. 
• Hu Chocolate, spending time outdoors, consistency over intensity, and reading.
• Christopher names Yvon Chouinard as an impact-driven leader who is worthy of our praise.
• Our guest’s vision of a better world. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Christopher Gavigan

Christopher Gavigan on LinkedIn

Christopher Gavigan on X

Christopher Gavigan on Instagram 

Christopher Gavigan Email

The Honest Company 

Prima 

Healthy Child Healthy World

Healthy Child Healthy World

Jessica Alba on Instagram  

Hu Kitchen 

The Creative Act 

Patagonia | Yvon Chouinard

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Get ready to unlock the secrets behind one of the most captivating beverages of our time: kombucha! Today, we sit down with Matt Thomas, Founder of Brew Dr., to delve into the world of kombucha brewing. We discuss how his kombucha company originally started as a tea company, the motivation behind launching his kombucha brand, and the shifts that the COVID-19 pandemic prompted in his business approach. Tuning in, you’ll hear about his exciting new SIPJOY product line, what makes kombucha so unique, and how Brew Dr. is making the world a better, healthier place through its products. Join us today as we sip on wisdom, unravel the magic of kombucha, and glimpse into the future of the beverage revolution!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Matt’s background and his entrepreneurial start in the tea business.
• How his kombucha business started from a single seed.
• The Kombucha SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) fermentation process.
• How the pandemic caused a shift in Matt's business approach.
• Balancing the growth of a sustainable business with entrepreneurial goals. 
• Food culture trends and the growing interest in kombucha.
• Motivations behind Brew Dr.’s SIPJOY product range. 
• What Matt has planned for the future trajectory of the company.
• Why Brew Dr. has chosen to use no artificial ingredients.
• Core values that drive Brew Dr.’s approach to making a difference.
• The evolution of the CPG industry toward sustainability. 
• Challenges Matt has faced along his entrepreneurial journey.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Matt Thomas on LinkedIn

Brew Dr.

SIPJOY

Nixie

Spindrift

1% for the Planet

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Sun and Swell is a wholesome food brand that’s on a mission to create a healthier and more sustainable food industry. Today we are joined by Sun and Swell’s Co-Founder and CEO, Kate Flynn, who walks us through the power of manifestation and how the practice has helped to transform all aspects of her life. Kate explains how manifestation works, the key components of purpose-driven manifestation, how manifesting helped her overcome many life and business challenges, and the role of masculine and feminine energies in determining how you manifest and what you prioritize as important. We uncover the world of limiting beliefs and discover how Kate has transcended hers, the toxic cultures that we can avoid both in life and at work, the undeniable power of intention, and the gift of failing forward. We also learn more about Sun and Swell including the brand’s origin story and history, where it currently stands in the market, its office setup, why it values simplicity, and why it reveres its B Corp and WBENC certifications. To end, our rapid-fire questions explore the human desire to understand our basic needs and wants, and we discover why trusting the universe is a key element of Kate’s philosophy. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Kate Flynn discovered manifesting, and how it’s helped transform her life and business. 
• Understanding why the concept of manifesting has had such a major impact on Kate. 
• The importance of patience, resilience, and a determined mindset for manifesting. 
• Kate’s entrepreneurial challenges and how she’s overcome them. 
• Balancing masculine and feminine energies, and making room for adequate downtime.
• The limiting beliefs that Kate has transcended. 
• Exploring the toxic cultures that manifest at home and at the office. 
• The power of intention. 
• Sun and Swell’s origin story and history, and where the brand stands today.
• Embracing the chaos of growth, failing forward, simplicity, and prioritizing. 
• Why Sun and Swell values its B Corps certification and being women-owned. 
• Shine, trusting the universe, kindness, and leaving the world better than you found it.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sun and Swell Foods

Sun and Swell Foods on Instagram 

Kate Flynn

Kate Flynn on LinkedIn

Kate Flynn on X

Kate Flynn on Instagram 

Kate Flynn Email 

Manifesting | Kate Flynn on LinkedIn 

Bryan Flynn on LinkedIn

CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa  

Women Owned 

WBENC

Patagonia

Yvon Chouinard

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Impact Driven Community

Have you ever found yourself in a grocery store, staring at rows of bland baby food jars and thinking, “There's got to be a better way?” Today, we sit down with David Fullner and Daniel Auld to discuss how their company, Kekoa Foods, is revolutionizing the baby food space. Kekoa Foods specializes in producing organic baby food and aims to provide nutrient-rich, natural, and organic food options that promote healthy infant development. In our conversation, we unpack how trying to find healthy, palate-expanding baby food for their son prompted starting their company, why variety in a baby’s diet is vital, how the company contributes to and celebrates diversity, and the hard lessons from their entrepreneurial journey. Discover why you don’t need to know everything about business to be an entrepreneur, the ups and downs of the CPG learning curve, why you don’t need to sweat the small stuff, and more. Join us as we explore how Kekoa Foods is nourishing the next generation with David Fullner and Daniel Auld!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How the premature birth of their son caused the start of their business.
• Discover the company’s ethos around diversity and community.
• Hear how they learned the fundamentals of running a business.
• Fostering healthy adventurous eaters with their baby food products.
• Find out where the habit of making their own food originated.
• Why it essential to involve children in making and cooking food.
• Ways their backgrounds and skills make for a good partnership.
• Learn about the lessons and unexpected challenges they overcame.
• Explore the current product range that Kekoa Foods has on offer.
• Their biggest wins and what they have planned for the company.
• Recommendations and resources for startups in the CPG space.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

David Fullner on LinkedIn

Daniel Auld on LinkedIn

Kekoa Foods

Everything Is Figureoutable

Sprouts Farmers Market

Rutgers University Food Innovation Center

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

America has a major sugar problem, which is evident in the fact that the United States consumes more sugar than any other country in the world! To explain how her company is helping to ease this particular pain point across the country, we are joined today by the Founder and CEO of Planet Bake, Kathrin Henon. Kathrin begins by explaining how her German background and America's diabetes problem combined to inspire her to help solve the sugar problem in the United States. Then, our guest explains why she adopted a vegan and sugar-free diet before walking us through the ins and outs of Planet Bake, the wonders of allulose, the value of avocado oil, and the problematic culture of brands hiding certain troublesome ingredients. We also learn about Kathrin's education and how it informed the way she built her brand, the important lessons she's absorbed as a founder, the future of Planet Bake, and why she loves being involved in research and development.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The (worrying) state of diabetes in America.
• Beyond the sugar: The ins and outs of Planet Bake. 
• Why Kathrin chose to adopt a plant-based, zero-sugar diet.
• Why our guest reveres allulose as the perfect sweetener, and her list of sweeteners to avoid.
• Understanding her choice to use avocado oil in Planet Bake's products.
• The way her degree in Strategic Design and Management influenced how she built her brand.
• How some brands hide problematic ingredients but Planet Bake is fully transparent.
• The biggest lessons she's learned as a founder and brand-builder.
• What Planet Bake aims to achieve in the next 5 years, including its in-house chocolate line.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kathrin Henon on LinkedIn

Kathrin Henon on Instagram

Planet Bake

‘The Declaration of Allulose and Calories from Allulose on Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels’

Daniel Lubetzky 

Frontline Impact

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

Beyond simply being delicious, food can be a means to start conversations, cross cultural divides, and even inspire social change. In this episode of Brands for a Better World, you’ll hear from Alison Cayne, Founder of NYC-based Haven’s Kitchen, about how she combined her passion for cooking with her desire to change people’s lives for the better and turned it into a purpose-driven career. Join us as we delve into the social impacts of our food systems, why home cooking is good for our health, the health of our communities, and the health of the planet, and the immense power that everyday consumers hold to drive meaningful policy change. We also discuss how Alison’s podcast, In the Sauce, helped her speed up her CPG learning curve, the ways that Haven’s Kitchen has evolved based on customers’ needs and in response to the world at large, why the best marketing strategies are common sense, and so much more! To learn about the many compelling ways that food can transform communities and encourage people to create a better world through cooking, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The important role that cooking plays in supporting the local economy and agriculture.
• An understanding of the correlation between home cooking and better food systems.
• Why we shouldn’t underestimate the power that consumers have to drive policy change.
• What led Alison to start a cooking school in the middle of her Master’s program.
• From urban planning and policy to food studies: how Alison’s interests have evolved.
• The story behind Alison’s cookbook and Haven’s Kitchen’s range of sauces.
• How the In the Sauce Podcast helped Alison accelerate her CPG learning curve.
• The personal satisfaction that Alison gets from being a connector in her industry.
• Insight into Alison’s unique CPG product strategy, supply chain, and packaging.
• Common barriers to feel-good home cooking that Haven’s Kitchen seeks to simplify.
• Theory versus practice: why the best marketing strategies are usually common sense.
• The Haven’s Kitchen initiative that donates 1% of gross profit to community-based organizations that fight inequity and hunger.
• New products, new channels, and more: what the future holds for Haven’s Kitchen.
• Alison’s favorite non-food hobby, best piece of advice, and more in the lightning round!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Haven’s Kitchen

Alison Cayne on LinkedIn

In the Sauce Podcast

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School: Recipes and Inspiration to Build a Lifetime of Confidence in the Kitchen

Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

We all know just how difficult it can be to enter the world of CPG, let alone thrive in it. But what may be even harder is knowing when it's time to let go of the brand you've worked tirelessly to build. Today we are joined by the former CEO and Co-Founder of Genius Juice and current Founder and Manager Partner at Genius Dreams, Alex Bayer. In our conversation, Alex walks us through the highs and lows of founding a CPG business, the tightrope of fine margins that the industry forces you to walk, the main things to consider when it's time to close shop forever, and the importance of making time for self-care as a dedicated entrepreneur.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Alex Bayer shares the lessons he learned in founding, growing, and closing a CPG brand. 
• How Alex got into CPG, and what inspired him to co-found Genius Juice. 
• Whether it's better to have a large or small product catalogue. 
• The biggest highs and most notable lows from Alex's 10 years at Genius Juice. 
• How they navigated the innate CPG challenges of operating within fine margins.
• Key factors to be aware of when entering the refrigerated-products market.
• The ins and outs of Alex's decision to close the doors on Genius Juice.
• Taking a look at the processes of shutting a business down, and how to do it the right way.
• Navigating burnout and protecting your well-being as an entrepreneur. 
• The services that Alex's consulting business, Genius Dreams offers and the clients it serves.
• Homemade smoothies, golfing, the CPG Vibes podcast, and Mark Samuel.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Alex Bayer on LinkedIn

Alex Bayer on Instagram

Genius Dreams

Genius Juice 

GPG Vibes

Aflac

HiTouch

Mela

Aura Bora 

Mid-day Squares

Taste Radio

Startup CPG

Genesis Nutrition

15 Minutes of Genius 

Mark Samuel on LinkedIn

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community

What if frozen food could revolutionize the way we eat, nourish our bodies, and save the planet? In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Drori, the visionary founder of Daily Harvest, to delve into the benefits of sustainably sourced frozen food. Daily Harvest is a plant-based meal delivery service that offers a variety of chef-crafted, pre-portioned, and frozen meals made from organic fruits and vegetables. Join us as Rachel delves into the mission and values driving her company, how frozen food helped her start eating healthier, why direct-to-consumer was the best approach for the brand, and its entry into the retail market. We discuss her recent decision to step back from her role as CEO, the steep learning curve of the food space, how the company navigated a product recall, and how Daily Harvest’s overall mission keeps her motivated. Join us to unlock the secrets of frozen food's potential to transform your diet, health, and the world with Rachel Drori of Daily Harvest!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Rachel’s passion for sustainability and Daily Harvest’s mission.
• The light bulb moment behind launching her first line of frozen food.
• Her reasons for pursuing the direct-to-consumer model. 
• Building brand awareness as a way to enter the retail market.
• Transitioning Daily Harvest’s product lines and business model.
• Daily Harvest’s efforts to help farmers shift to sustainable farming.
• Unpack why regenerative and organic farming is essential.
• The sustainability, nutritional, and quality benefits of frozen food.
• Learn about the opportunities the retail market offers. 
• Why educating the consumer is a core value of the company.
• Discover how she got celebrity investors interested in the company.
• Explore how the pandemic positively impacted the company. 
• She shares valuable lessons from her entrepreneurial journey. 
• Her new role in the company and why she stepped down as CEO.
• Find out what she has planned next for Daily Harvest.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Rachel Drori on LinkedIn

Rachel Drori on Instagram

Daily Harvest

Episode: A Smoothie Transition with Alex Bayer of Genius Dreams

American Farmland Trust (AFT)

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)

Serena Williams

Paris Hilton 

Wild Orchard

Modern Species 

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Gage Mitchell on X

Brands for a Better World Website

Brands for a Better World on YouTube

Brands for a Better World email

Impact Driven Community