Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

Despite decades of ascendancy, the health food market still has elements that make it niche and non-mainstream. Marlene's Market and Deli is a shining example of an established, independent store that has a committed customer base in its community, with a strong set of core values and goals. Lisa Gebhardt is the daughter of the founder of the company and is now the owner and general manager of thi...

What if you, as an ordinary person, had the opportunity to invest in a startup you loved, just like angel investors do? Wefunder is a platform that enables these opportunities, and today’s guest, Jonny Price, VP of fundraising at the platform, joins us to share some insights into how it all works. We talk about the benefits of this model of crowdfunding, both for investors and for founders. Not on...

Self-awareness is the first step to the attainment of healthy relationships and effective leadership because it is only from a full cup that we can authentically give to others. This is one of the foundational ideas that the coaching offered by Matt D’Amour and Linwood Paul is based on and today we have them on the show as our guests to hear more about their philosophy. Matt and Linwood are the Co...

Creating a sustainable business is about more than your carbon footprint. Sure, your environmental impact is important, but so is your societal and economic impact, including how you affect the communities you work in and how you treat the people who work for you. Today’s guest is Ian Walker, Founder, and President of Left Coast Naturals, an organic and natural food distributor of ‘better ingredie...

The reason organic food only occupies 5% market share despite being so delicious and sustainable must be because of the preachy and argumentative narrative surrounding it.  Today we speak to Dennis Weaver about the work he has been doing to introduce the mainstream consumer to the fun side of organic. Dennis is the Founder of Change Your Food, Change Your Life, Organic. Eat me., and the Co-Founder...

Today we hear from Linwood Paul and Matt D’Amour about how honestly we answer the question: how are you? Together, Linwood and Matt are co-founders of Subtle Distinctions, a business that offers integrative coaching for individuals, business leaders, and their teams. They help others make great decisions, exceed their goals, and create thoughtful leaders from the inside out. Matt talks to Linwood...

Trademarks, copyrights, and patents play an important role in the value of a business, but it can be confusing to know how to use them effectively.  Erin Ogden is the Managing Attorney at Ogden Glazer + Schaefer, a business law firm that focuses on intellectual property, and she joins us today to help us navigate these tricky waters. Our conversation begins on the subject of Erin’s training and sh...

Search engine optimization is in a state of constant change, so it’s important to keep moving to fit with the algorithm. If you can do this, you can boost your online presence and maximize the traction you get from it.  Today, we speak with Casey Nifong, the founder of Mountain Laurel Digital, a full-service digital agency in Asheville North Carolina. In this episode,  we go into great detail abou...

Today, you'll hear from Linwood Paul and Matt D'Amour, co-founders of Subtle Distinctions, about why you should place connection before content when starting a conversation, either in a professional setting or in your private life. Join us to listen more about their insight as to how we have become so attuned to the 'new normal', and gently remind you that people crave connection with others. Key...

Fair trade is far more complicated than simply paying more for a product. It touches on all aspects of the supply chain and intersects with a range of issues. Anna Canning is the campaign manager of Fair World Project, a non-profit that advocates for fair trade policies and helps bring related topics into the public conversation. In this episode, we dive into the rigged economic system and how it...

In our first bonus episode, we discussed with Linwood Paul & Matt D'Amour, co-founders of Subtle Distinctions, about the concept of the path to action from the book Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High.  By tuning in, you'll hear about the four components of the path to action, why shaping your own story is important for taking better action, and how breaking down a th...

It takes both creativity and partnerships with mission-aligned people and organizations to effectively market ethical and organic consumer goods. Today we speak to Jamie Lamonde and reflect on her top marketing lessons from working with mission-driven companies. Lessons that she’s used to found The Kindship Group, a full-service agency that empowers businesses to grow in size and impact. As we exp...

With the right knowledge, we can shift the narrative of nutrition and organic eating, leading to sharper minds and more able bodies.  Today we’re joined by Zeke Khali, AKA ‘The Healthy Hueman’ to talk about his mission in making natural health and wellness accessible to all. In this episode, listeners will benefit from Zeke’s insights, as well as from his actionable ‘Stoplight’ approach to nutriti...

Candor isn’t just a word; it’s a practice that can promote a positive company culture and build stronger teams. Our guests, Linwood and Matt, are the co-founders of Subtle Distinctions where they cultivate thoughtful leaders from the inside out. In this episode, they break down the concept of candor and how to effectively use it in the workplace and our personal lives. You’ll walk away with action...

Solving the world’s biggest problems is no easy task, but with a sustainable mindset and a regenerative approach, we have much more than just hope to rely on. Today we talk with Adrian Reif, CEO and co-founder of Umana Venture Studio, an organization that’s working hard to provide lasting solutions to global issues. We open the episode by first asking Adrian about the travels that inspired him to...

Companies without a clear purpose are incapable of making an impact and reaching their full potential. In the words of today’s guest, the trick to becoming an impactful brand is to know that your “purpose is on purpose.” In this episode, we speak with Conscious Brands founder Rob Sinclair about creating conscious businesses that pursue meaningful impact in the world. We open our conversation with...

The organic chocolate company Alter Eco knows that there’s no quick solution to climate change reversal. Instead, they’re creating impact through long-term solutions that involve converting monoculture cacao farms to a regenerative agro forest model. Today we speak with Antoine Ambert about what Alter Eco is doing to transform the chocolate industry. A senior director of sustainability at the comp...

For the effective leader, curiosity is a powerful tool to build and nurture strong connections.  Today we speak with leadership experts Linwood Paul and Matt D’Amour of Subtle Distinctions about how fostering your curiosity will make you a better leader; especially at times when emotions run high.  From taking stock of your inner-world to helping people feel seen and heard, we touch on the leaders...

Hooray Foods' Founder Sri Artham is on a mission to create what many have called the holy grail of plant-based meat: crispy, smoky bacon – without the pig. Sri is today’s guest, who tells us more about Hooray, a company that makes delicious plant-based meats designed to look, cook, and taste just like the real thing. Tune in to find out what sparked Sri’s passion for food and products, given his b...

Today, you will hear from Daniel Kurzrock, CEO and Co-Founder of ReGrained, an ingredient platform, and packaged foods innovator, that specializes in upcycling overlooked and undervalued ingredients. In this episode, Dan explains how ReGrained works with brewery partners to rescue the grain after they have extracted the sugars needed to make beer, using this byproduct to create upcycled nutrition...

Today’s 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 started by eliminating plastics from her kids’ lunchboxes, then founded ECO lunchbox, a California green-certified business focused on plastic pollution aversion...