Unit Economics

On today's episode, I sit down with  Lucy Dana , co-founder and CEO of  One Trick Pony , a peanut butter brand built around Argentinian peanuts and a novel approach to jar design. Lucy walks through the tradeoffs involved in supplier selection, inventory risk, and manufacturing control, including the very real consequences of getting early production decisions wrong. We get into how One Trick Pony...

In this episode, I sit down with Lauryn Menard, founder of GOB , a company rethinking single-use personal care products starting with earplugs made from mycelium. We talk about how GOB came to focus on a category most people overlook, and what it actually takes to commercialize a new biomaterial in a space dominated by low-cost, petroleum-based incumbents. Lauryn walks through the early research p...

In this episode, I sit down with Hilary Dubin and Caroline Huber, co-founders of Jones — a modern nicotine-cessation company built for people trying to quit vaping. Jones combines FDA-approved nicotine mints, a form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), with an app that provides behavioral support and community. Hilary and Caroline started the company after struggling to quit nicotine themselves...

On today’s episode, I sit down with Dan Cassaro, Dan Christofferson, and Meg Yahashi — the team behind Weast Coast Games , a modern board game company designing beautifully crafted tabletop games. Weast Coast grew out of Young Jerks (the branding and packaging studio they’ve been building for over a decade) and this conversation provides a look at what happens when a design firm decides to make it...

In this episode, I sit down with Elliott Walker and Tim Hucklesby, co-founders of  Nymzo  — a modern chess brand rethinking one of the world’s most traditional games. Elliott and Tim are longtime brand designers, and their perspective on product, positioning, and credibility shows up in every part of Nymzo’s story. We talk through how they identified a real gap in the chess market based on what th...

On today's episode, I sit down with Jamey Stegmaier, Co-Founder & CEO of Stonemaier Games — the studio behind modern board game staples like Wingspan, Scythe, and Viticulture. We dig into what it  actually  takes to run a board game company at scale: the economics of manufacturing in China, navigating tariffs and freight costs, the true timeline of bringing a game from idea to shelf, and how S...

In this week’s episode I sit down with Dave Allee, Founder of Almond Surfboards — one of the most respected surf brands in the market. Dave started Almond back in 2009 with a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, heritage, and timeless design, and over the past 15+ years he’s grown it into a brand that customers genuinely trust. We talk through what it actually takes to build durable, meaningful pr...

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Ilay Karateke, Co-founder & CEO of  Bezi , the Labneh brand working to introduce an entirely new category to U.S. grocery shelves. We dig into what Labneh actually is, why it hasn’t historically broken through in mainstream retail, and what it takes to introduce a new category rather than compete in an already understood space. We talk through the realit...

In this episode, I sit down with Nash Howe, founder of Currently Running — a new running apparel brand built at the intersection of product, art, and storytelling. Nash is like no one I've ever met. His passion for running, art, and brand building is infectious and it made for an incredibly compelling conversation. Nash walks through his path from creative work in film, photography, and music to b...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Fisher, founder and CEO of ⁠ Rotten⁠ , the better-for-you candy brand built for people who still want to indulge. Michael shares how Rotten came to life after years of R&D, early manufacturing trials, and the realization that healthier candy didn’t need to look or feel “health-first” to win consumers. We walk through what it actually takes to build and...

In this episode, we sit down with Alec Jaffe, founder and CEO of Alec’s Ice Cream — the first certified regenerative, A2-dairy ice cream brand in the country. Alec walks us through what it actually takes to build a modern CPG brand inside one of the most operationally challenging categories: frozen foods. We cover everything from how he found (and rebuilt) a shut-down 4,000 sq. ft. ice cream facto...

This week, we sit down with Kristen Pumphrey and Tom Neuberger, co-owners of P.F. Candle Co., the California-born home fragrance brand known for its clean, modern scents and iconic amber jar candles. Kristen and Tom share the full story behind their 15-year journey — from learning to make candles at age 12 and selling early blends on Etsy, to navigating craft fairs, bootstrapping every step, and u...

This week, we sit down with  Kathryn Shaw , co-founder of  Spring & Mulberry , the chocolate brand redefining sweetness with through its use of whole foods. Kathryn shares the deeply personal story that sparked the company and how it led her to rethink indulgence completely. She walks us through the surprisingly complex journey from kitchen experiments to commercial chocolate production: searc...

This week, we sit down with Tara Hankinson and LeAnn Darland, the co-founders and co-CEOs of Talea Beer Co. — one of New York City’s fastest-growing and most beloved breweries. Tara and LeAnn share the winding paths that brought them from the Navy, Google, consulting, and the New York Times into the world of craft beer, and how a chance job interview led to forming Talea just three months after me...

On this episode we're joined by Alastair Matthews and Michael Hunter, Co-founders of the artist-run jigsaw puzzle company, Le Puzz. They share their journey of turning a hobby into a successful business while emphasizing the importance of community engagement, strong branding, and adapting to the evolving macro environment. They discuss the impact of tariffs on their pricing strategy and their vis...

In this episode, we sit down with Zach Fried, Co-Founder and CEO of Craighill — the design-forward brand known for creating beautiful everyday objects. Zach shares his unique journey from a creative background in music to leading a design company. He discusses the challenges and learning experiences of launching Craighill, the importance of community and customer acquisition strategies, and the ev...