Driving Performance

In this episode of Driving Performance , Noah Friedman joins the show to talk about building at the intersection of community, capital, and consumer brands. A familiar name in the CPG world, Noah is the cofounder of Top Shelf Ventures , a venture and private equity fund backing standout opportunities across beverage alcohol and other “vice” categories, from spirits and beer to nicotine. He’s an in...

In this episode of Driving Performance, we sit down with Chris Tiffin—better known as Tiffin—founder of Aisle, the retail growth platform trusted by nearly 750 brands to turn real-world marketing into measurable in-store sales. Tiffin’s journey starts early. From running a high school landscaping business called *Weed Boys* to thinking he was headed for a finance and investment banking career, ent...

In this episode, we sit down with Josh Suggs — Founder & CEO of StreetTalk (formerly 203Media) — the agency redefining how brands win attention through viral street interviews and reaction-driven content. A self-taught creator who cut his teeth making Vine videos and YouTube vlogs, Josh has built one of the fastest-growing content agencies in the brand world by mastering what today’s audiences...

He needs no introduction — Brian Rappaport. Founder & CEO of Quan Media, Brian has become one of the most respected minds in out-of-home advertising, helping brands like Away, Banza, and Dagne Dover rethink how OOH can be highly targeted, measurable, and accessible — even without massive budgets. But Brian’s journey didn’t start in media. A native Long Islander who grew up in Jericho and atten...

We’re joined by Jackie Widmann — SVP of Marketing & Commercial at BERO , the premium non-alcoholic beer brand launched in 2024 by actor Tom Holland and John Herman (former President of Nutrabolt). Jackie walks us through her impressive rise across the food & beverage world. She reflects on the early days of her career as employee #5 at The Infatuation and how she helped scale one of the mo...

In this episode of Driving Performance, we sit down with Akash Raju, founder and CEO of Glimpse, the AI-powered platform helping consumer brands recover lost revenue by automating retail deduction management. Founded while Akash was still in college and officially launched in April 2024, Glimpse tackles one of the most costly and overlooked problems in CPG: deductions. Driven by retailer complexit...

On this episode of Driving Performance , Adgile cofounder Max Flannery sits down with Beekman 1802 cofounders and husband duo Dr. Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell for a story that’s equal parts unexpected, heartwarming, and wildly entrepreneurial. Josh and Brent grew up in small towns. Josh grew up in Wisconsin; Brent in North Carolina. Josh moved to New York to chase a career in advertising, w...

On this episode of Driving Performance , the boys crack open a few cans of SUNBOY with founder Yair Tygiel —and what unfolds is the wild, winding story of how a single coconut in New York City turned into the world’s first spiked coconut water. Yair grew up in the Bay Area, the son of Stanford professors, surrounded by ideas, experimentation, and a front-row seat to early-stage entrepreneurship. A...

On this episode of  Driving Performance, we’re joined by Dennis Katsnelson, VP of Marketing at Ithaca Hummus — a fast-growing brand on track to hit $50M in revenue with a lean team of just 18 people. Katsnelson found his passion for marketing at an early age. Growing up in a Belarusian immigrant family, his parents instilled the value of hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit. He attended the pre...

What does it take to spot the next iconic consumer brand before the rest of the world catches on? Andrew Maxman leads venture and growth equity at Imaginary — the powerhouse VC fund backing today's biggest names in consumer including Glossier, SKIMS, The Row, and Reformation. In this episode, Andrew walks us through his pivot from Goldman Sachs’ bond market into consumer investing — and how he ins...

What’s your favorite condiment? If the answer is mayo , this episode is absolutely for you. Avery Hairston , VP of Marketing at Ayoh Foods , joins Adgile cofounders Max Flannery and Tom Shea to talk about growing up in a marketing family,navigating the startup world and cultivating a network, spending five years at Banza—eventually leaving as Director of Marketing, and how he landed at Ayoh Foods....

What do Yale Law, Miss Universe, A-Rod, and a dual-ended mascara have in common?  Jeff Lee. In Season 3, Episode 2 of Driving Performance, I hopped in the truck with Jeff Lee, CEO & Co-Founder of DIBS Beauty , to trace one of the wildest, most intentional career arcs I’ve ever seen – and how it all ladders up to building one of beauty’s fastest-growing brands. We start with Stop 1: the persona...

DRIVING PERFORMANCE S3 IS HERE!!! And to bless us with her presence for Episode 1 is none other than Lisa Guerrera , founder of Experiment Beauty and all-around delight to chat with. And she came equipped with ALL the lessons for her fellow founders. Lisa traces a childhood love of chemistry into a beauty brand built on proof, not hype. The Experiment Beauty positioning is simple and sharp: effica...

Our final episode of season 2 of Driving Performance features Ben Berman, the visionary founder and CEO of Tomorrow Farms. 🌱 Ben is dedicated to revolutionizing the food and beverage industry by creating irresistible brands that prioritize people, animals, and the planet. Loved hearing his brand's origin story and what truly drives the Tomorrow Farms team towards success.

Introducing Luke Schneider, founder of @firedeptcoffee! 🚨☕ As a retired firefighter, paramedic, and US Navy veteran, Luke was inspired by the vital role that coffee plays in helping firefighters stay alert through long shifts. FDC not only provides a growing selection of high-quality coffee but also supports injured first responders. Thank you for doing what you do, Luke!

Loved having @paulvoge, co-founder & CEO of Aura Bora, on the pod! 🌿 Their sparkling water made from herbs, fruits, and flowers is known for fun flavors like Cactus Rose, Lavender Cucumber, and Olive Oil Martini. You'll find it at 7000+ retailers, Amazon, and DTC. 🚀 #AuraBora #SparklingRevolution

Introducing Aisha Chottani, CEO and founder of Moment! Moment is loaded with adaptogens and mushroom powders, geared toward reducing stress and clearing brain fog, while leaving the bad stuff out of the equation (no caffeine, added sugar, or artificial flavors). Tune in to hear how Aisha absolutely just gets it right.

Transforming snack time with canister snacks that taste AND feel good. Embrace good taste, good ingredients, and good vibes! Join us for a flavorful journey!

Loved chatting with @natashafedorowczak, who's steering the ship for @belliwellisnacks on the West Coast! 🚗 These gut-friendly, plant-based snack bars cater to IBS warriors 💪 they're gluten-free, dairy-free, low sugar, and certified low-FODMAP. We love BelliWelli!! 🙌 #BelliWelli #GutHealth #IBSAwareness

Welcome to the pod, @kendallmary! Kendall, AKA @theflexiblefoodie, is a CPG and DTC social media + influencer marketing consultant with 7 years of experience in the space. She helps brands build communities, content that converts, and teaches them how to create true friendships with their ideal customers. Always a blast chatting with Kendall.

It was so great to have our friend Brian Folmer on the show! Founder of First Look and Distro Box (think Shark Tank in a box), an investor to numerous brands, and advisor to VC funds and accelerators, he's the ultimate entrepreneurial guru. Brands like New School Source, Cadence, BelliWelli, and Mosh owe their success to First Look.

We loved talking with @rosalisays, founder of Wild Wonder! They're making wellness accessible by starting with a better drink for gut health and crafting delicious sparkling beverages with kombucha benefits without the vinegary taste or refined sugar. 

Adgile Media Group is thrilled to introduce Tom First, the mastermind and CEO behind Culture Pop! Also as a founding partner at TF Ventures, Tom's beverage expertise is unparalleled. Tom was an investor in Health-Ade Kombucha, essential water, and he's also the founder of the iconic Nantucket Nectars!

Introducing Michelle Cordeiro Grant, CEO & co-founder of Gorgie! She's on a mission to make wellness fun, starting with an awesome, good-for-you energy drink. Previously, she founded Lively, a lifestyle brand acquired for over $100 million. Join us for a chat with this powerhouse!

Introducing Eli Weiss, previously Sr. Director of CX and Retention at Jones Road, currently VP of Retention Advocacy at Yotpo! As a leader in the CX space, he has a podcast called Down to Chat, a newsletter called All Things CX and Retention, and a guidebook called CX Unlocked with Gorgias. Loved chatting with this CX guru - tune in!