Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

In this conversation, Jen Brush, VP of Innovation and Product at Guayaki, discusses the origins and benefits of Yerba Mate, the evolution of Guayaki's product offerings, and the brand's commitment to sustainability and community. The conversation explores the challenges of navigating the beverage market, building brand loyalty, and the exciting transition to the new brand name, Yerba Madre, which reflects the company's mission and heritage. We touch on the brand’s commitment to shade-grown Yerba Mate, which takes more time and money but yields a better product and is better for the environment than sun-grown Yerba Mate. Jen also sh...

In this conversation, Vilma Livas, Chief Marketing Officer at Nature's Bakery, discusses the brand's purpose of providing healthier snack options for families and the importance of convenience, taste, and value in their product development process. We touch on the impact of the company's acquisition by Mars and how it has allowed for growth and innovation, particularly with new products like the Oatmeal Crumble and Hearty Bar. Vilma shares insights into her consumer-centric approach to product development and the importance of both consumer insights and retail partnerships in launching new products in the CPG industry. She shares the background behind...

In this conversation, Michael Fisher, founder and CEO of Rotten, shares his journey of building a candy brand from scratch with zero experience in the industry. He talks about the initial trap that many startup CEOs fall into, himself included, of chasing the symbols of success instead of focusing on the business fundamentals. Michael then shares his personal connection to candy and the creative process behind building a brand narrative that emotionally resonates with consumers. During the conversation, we touch on the power of learning from advisors, the role of Kickstarter in validating his product concept, and his focus...

In this conversation, Dr. Aaron T. Dossey discusses the surprising amount of land clearing around the globe for agriculture and its detrimental effects on the environment, including biodiversity loss and climate change. The solution, according to our guest, is insect protein as a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock because of the efficiency and nutritional benefits of growing insects for food. Dr. Dossey shares his journey into the field of entomophagy, detailing how he transitioned from a passion for insects to founding All Things Bugs LLC where he focuses on the commercialization of insect-based food products. In this conversation, Dr...

In this conversation, RJ Bee, the executive director of Heritage Radio Network, shares the story of how the network was founded and how they transitioned from a local radio station to a diverse podcasting platform focused on food systems storytellers. We discuss the mission-driven initiatives of Heritage Radio Network, like the fellowship program that trains fellows in food storytelling and podcasting, and the importance of community support for the nonprofit. RJ and Gage then discuss the interconnectedness of food systems, the challenges faced by farmers, and the potential of technology to innovate sustainable practices. RJ shares his vision for...

What’s in a brand name? Everything, according to today’s guest, Karin Hibma Cronan, a renowned brand strategist, and co-founder of Cronan, as we explore the role of questions in the art of naming and branding. Cronan is known for creating iconic brand identities and names that resonate with audiences. Their work has helped shape the success of major corporations, non-profits, and startups alike, making them a trusted partner in the world of strategic design. In our conversation, we discuss how the name of a brand or product sets the tone of the experience, the common attributes of a go...

What does it take for a mission-driven brand to thrive in the competitive world of retail? In this episode, we explore the intersection of retail success and mission-driven branding with Alli Ball, the visionary founder and CEO of Food Biz Wiz. Food Biz Wiz is a consulting and coaching company dedicated to helping emerging food brands succeed in the competitive retail market. Known for her impact on the food industry, Alli has empowered countless emerging food brands through her Retail Ready® program and award-winning podcast. In our conversation, we dive into the critical elements consumers want in mission-driven brands, t...

Vending machines might be convenient, but they are not exactly known for their nutritious, high-quality snacks, and it’s high time they got an upgrade! Today's guest is Ashley Nickelsen Founder, CEO, and Chief Snack Officer at B.T.R. Nation, a company on a mission to fix our broken food system, one snack at a time. Join us, as we dig into the problem with junk food in America, the reasons behind Ashley’s decision to build a healthier snack company, and what keeps her going in the face of each new entrepreneurial challenge. Learn about the rules that...

While many businesses and individuals are answering the call to be more impact-driven and sustainably conscious, few understand just how damaging their digital footprint is to their endeavors. Today we are joined by Avril Tomlin-Hood, the Founder and CEO of boa - a Vancouver, BC-based media buying agency focused on elevating sustainably-conscious brands. Avril is here to speak about our digital carbon footprints, particularly regarding media and advertising, and how we can band together to decarbonize our online world. We discover how our online exploits impact the real world, how small and simple adjustments can make a big difference...

Sustainable aquaculture may just be the long-awaited answer to responsible food consumption, and today's three remarkable guests are here to explain why this is most certainly the case. Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming three seafood brands to the show – Crave Fishbar, Gra-Bar Fresh Seafood, and American Unagi – which are represented by Todd Mitgang, Bart Molin, and Sara Rademaker, respectively. Sara, Bart, and Todd begin with how they became passionate about seafood before explaining the particular industry pain points that their brands are set on solving. Then, we learn about how the quality of seafood is measured and what...

Are you worried about the nutritional benefits of the food you eat? Do you lack the energy you need to get through the day, despite healthy eating habits? In this episode, we sit down with Sara Cullen, Founder and CEO of GEM, to discuss why so many people suffer from nutrient deficiencies and how her company delivers delicious, effective, and holistic solutions. GEM is a nutrition company dedicated to transforming human and planetary health through the power of food. It is on a mission to deliver delicious nutrition to everyone while building a healthier food system. In our conversation...

From Goop by Gwyneth Paltrow to Fenty by Rihanna, Casamigos by George Clooney to Feastables by MrBeast, celebrities are increasingly leveraging their influence to launch products and lifestyle brands. But what makes celebrity brands successful? Today’s guest is an Olympian and entrepreneur with a proven track record of successfully launching, managing, and scaling billion-dollar businesses and brands. When it comes to advising companies and vetting opportunities, Samyr Laine knows what it takes to win! In 2023, Samyr started Freedom Trail Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in consumer brands at the intersection of influence, culture, and lifestyle. In th...

What if your actions had a ripple effect? Instead of waiting for someone else to be the solution, what if you took charge of your own sphere of influence? Diana Ingles is an Eco-conscious Designer at Rootlebox and she joins the conversation today to discuss her journey to working in sustainable solutions, unpack some of the problems with consumer culture, and explore how we are approaching our work differently as designers. As well as getting an insight into Diana’s work at Rootlebox, you’ll learn more about the philosophy behind Modern Species. You’ll also hear about...

To stay relevant as a CPG brand, you need to be willing to evolve, and it’s no different in the organic industry. Today, we sit down with Matt McLean, Founder and Chief Uncle of Uncle Matt's Organic, to uncover the journey behind the nation's number-one organic juice brand. Uncle Matt’s Organic has grown from a small family operation to a leader in the organic industry, offering a range of delicious and healthy beverages. In our conversation, Matt shares the origins of his company, the biggest challenges they’ve faced, and the innovations that have propelled its growth over 2...

Welcome to this special Climify and Brands For A Better World crossover episode, as we sit in on Eric Benson's conversation with Lauren Choi.

We all know about those infamous red cups that flood American streets in a plague of crimson litter. But did you know that these same cups - that are considered unrecyclable by many - are recycled to make sustainable fashion wear? That is the mission of today's inspirational guest, the Climate Entrepreneur and Founder of The New Norm Fabrics, Lauren Choi. Lauren joins us to share her journey in climate entrepreneurship, and we...

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...

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...

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 th...

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...

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 vit...

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...

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. Jo...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 comp...

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 Am...

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 le...

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...

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...

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 deci...

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 su...

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 wh...

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...

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...

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 thro...

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 th...