Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

Evan Harrison shares his journey from working in radio, digital media, and live events to becoming the CEO of Kiss The Ground, a leading nonprofit championing Regeneration and healthy soil as a solution for human and planetary health. We talk about the organization's innovative content strategies, like their three feature-length documentary films, mini docs, 5 with a Farmer reels, 11 with Evan ser...

What is the role of philanthropy, business, and government in creating long-term impact? Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, joins us to explores why “either/or” thinking can limit progress, and why the most effective solutions often come from a both/and approach. We talk about how nonprofits are pioneering solutions to problems before there’s a marketplace, how the billionaires bailing on Th...

Adam Hiner, CEO of Pacha, shares insights on product innovation, sustainable practices, and the journey of building a healthy and regenerative food brand. We talk about the happy accidents and consumer feedback that lead to making new and better products, like their new gluten-free, sourdough buckwheat tortillas! Adam then shares why Pacha joined the Purpose Pledge, the challenges of building...

Chanya Punyakumpol, co-founder of Taan Thai, shares how a personal frustration when cooking Thai food at home sparked the creation of her brand. Instead of tracking down obscure Thai ingredients only to throw most of them away after one dish, she created perfectly portioned meal kits that contain exactly what you need, eliminating food waste without sacrificing authenticity. She talks about sourci...

Colleen Kavanagh, CEO of Zego, shares how she’s leveraging a $3 Million USDA grant to expand Zego’s capacity and enhance the U.S. gluten-free grain supply chain through the acquisition of a processing facility. She talks about the importance of listening to farmers, explains why Montana oats are the cream of the crop, and shares how she’s helping build the future of purity verified and nutrient de...

Kristin Fracassi, founder & CEO of Root & Splendor, and Alecia Nelson, the COO, share the origin story of a premium non-toxic laundry detergent and stain remover - developed by a mom of four who went down a rabbit hole on natural product ingredients and didn't like what she found. Kristin talks about working with formulation chemists and enzyme scientists, the moment when lab results confi...

This conversation explores the critical issues surrounding seed sovereignty, the threats posed by UPOV, and the collaborative efforts to promote food integrity and indigenous seed saving through the 'Free the Seed' campaign. Megan Westgate of Non-GMO Project and Lauren Cardeli of A Growing Culture talk about how they came to work together on this issue and share insights on the importance of biodi...

Val Emanuel and Rebecca Caputo, co-founders of Rif Care, share the story behind their brand, the first period care company to make products from hemp fiber and what it took to build that supply chain from scratch. Val and Rebecca talk about what conscious business really means in the feminine care space, where greenwashing is rampant and efficacy can't be sacrificed for sustainability's sake. They...

Gagan Levy discusses his book 'Start Your Own Damn Cult,' exploring how ancient yoga principles can be applied to leadership, business, and building authentic movements. The conversation covers the eight codes derived from the eight limbs of yoga, practical applications for leaders, and the importance of play, integrity, and systemic thinking in creating regenerative impact. Gagan’s shares example...

Jason Schwartze, founder of Moonglade Craft Soda, shares the decades-long journey from a kitchen obsession with perfecting ginger beer to a freshly launched line of certified organic farmers market-inspired craft sodas. He talks about his background as a park ranger and agricultural inspector, how that shaped his passion for regenerative farming and ocean health, and why joining 1% for the Planet...

Discover the inspiring story of Audra Query, founder of Girl Meets Dirt, who transitioned from a Wall Street career to building a seasonally rooted, award-winning preserves business on Orcas Island. This episode explores her journey of intentional living, embracing seasonality, and balancing entrepreneurial ambitions with a meaningful lifestyle. We talk about the benefits of doing things the hard...

Scott Zimmerman, CEO and founder of Loli's Foods, shares the story behind his brand of clean, fresh, and functional sauces, dips, and dressings and why manufacturing locally in Southern California isn't just a values choice, it's a competitive advantage. He discusses how self-manufacturing gave Loli's the control they needed to source the right ingredients and build deep relationships with regiona...

Three Latin-American food brands saw the opportunity to go further, faster, together – so they took it. Stefanie Garcia Turner of Tuyyo, Jocelyn Ramirez of Todo Verde, and Regina Trillo of Nemi share how they met, why they decided to merge their businesses and brands, and what their vision is for the new brand, unified under Tuyyo. The three woman-and-minoroty-owned brands share a mission of...

This is the Steaz comeback story! Hear how the brand founders were brought back into the company to help renew the purpose and passion of the brand, which led to a collaboration with Wild Orchard to launch the first line of Regenerative Organic Certified ® canned teas! We speak with Eric Schnell of Beyond Brands, who was one of the original founders of Steaz, to learn more about the history of Ste...

Gage shares his best practices for attending Natural Products Expo West – the biggest trade show in the United States for the better-for-the-world product industry! Tune in to hear 10 tips for making the most of the show, based on Gage’s ~15 years of experience attending Expo West as a brand, packaging, booth, and campaign designer who’s helped some of the industry most beloved brands stand o...

Holly shares her journey as a nutritional scientist and formulating chemist, and how that experience led her to develop JostArriba, an instant coffee with added brain health and mental well-being benefits. We discuss the nootropic and adaptogen ingredients, like Reishi, Lions Mane, Ashwagandha, and L-Theanine, and how Holly obsessed over not just the functionality of the ingredients, but how the f...

Karl Strovink, CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee, discusses the brand's evolution, its commitment to quality and sustainability, and the innovative approaches being taken to redefine coffee experiences. He highlights the importance of community, the role of creativity in coffee culture, and the challenges posed by climate change. Strovink also shares insights on leadership and the significance of caring i...

The conversation centers around the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), a USDA initiative aimed at supporting farmers in transitioning to organic practices. Ben Bowell and Jessy Beckett Parr discuss the program's origins, goals, and the collaborative efforts of various organizations involved. They highlight the importance of technical assistance, mentorship, and community building in...

In this episode, Cassidy Johnston shares her journey from growing up in the city to becoming a first-generation large scale beef producer and ranch consultant. She talks about a college research project exploring the relationship between environmentalists and ranchers and how that led her to an internship where she met her husband, and eventually to her life on a farm. She discusses the complexiti...

In this conversation, Madelyn Morris, co-owner of Mickelberry Gardens, shares insights into her journey of creating a honey herbal wellness brand that specializes in oxymels – a tonic made of honey, vinegar, and herbs. She discusses the benefits of oxymels, the importance of sourcing local and organic ingredients, and the value of B Corp certification. Madelyn share their founding story, the...

In this episode, Allison Carey, VP of Marketing at Raw Sugar Living, talks about the brand’s mission to provide better-for-you hair and body products at an affordable price, while also lifting spirits through positive messages, images, and experiences. She touches on the Gen Z consumer’s desire for authenticity, education, and values-alignment in the brands they support, and how the brand appeals...

In this conversation, John Tran talks about joining Vita Coco to help evolve their sustainability and social impact programs at the same time that were becoming a publicly traded company and going through the rigorous B Corp Certification process. He shared how they shifted their impact efforts from a collection of passion projects to a more coordinated and comprehensive ESG framework focused on p...

In this conversation, Jasen Urena and Ted Robb tell us how New Barn became part of the NestFresh family, and how the two brands are helping each other scale their positive impact. From New Barn’s long journey toward becoming Regenerative Organic Certified, to NestFesh’s 30+ years of being early adopters of certifications like Non-GMO Verified, Certified Humane, and Humanely Hatched, both brands lo...

In this conversation, Paul Schiefer, president of Amy's Kitchen, shares the inspiring founding story of the company, which began with a quest for better frozen meals. He discusses the innovative approaches to product development, the importance of company culture and values, and the value of embracing complexity in business. Paul highlights Amy's commitment to sustainability and their B Corp statu...

In this conversation, Kevin Bayuk shares what inspired them to create the Next Economy MBA program, who it’s for, and what the curriculum covers. We talk about the shortcomings of the existing MBA programs and the need for one that goes beyond basic ESG frameworks. Bayuk talks about how they’ve used participant feedback to continuously evolve the program, and how their alumni continue to stay enga...