ContenderCast with Justin Honaman

Fibrenew is the world leaders in the restoration, repair and re-dyeing of leather, plastic and vinyl. Their services offer a cost-effective, high-quality alternative to replacement and helps reduce landfill waste. Valued clients and partners who love them come from the medical, marine, aviation, automotive, commercial and residential markets. Fibrenew has helped more than 260 entrepreneurs from US...

Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, Drink Gifted was founded by Lefteris Giaprakis and launched in 2021 with a mission to inspire healthier lives. Made using the Earth's precious gifts, Drink Gifted premium super tonics are formulated with a unique blend of superfoods and adaptogens to support health and wellness. Lefteris joins Justin to discuss this new brand!

Designed for mobile workers, by mobile workers. Knack makes it easy to work, or play, anywhere you go. Chad Mellen, founder and CEO, launched Knack after serving as CEO of A.T. Cross and CMO for Tumi. Chad joins Justin to discuss this inventive new brand! Let's travel!

Cookie dough is such a nostalgic, fun treat, but the tummy ache and sugar crash that follows aren't fun! After spending countless hours experimenting in her kitchen, Erica Rankin, created Canada's first better-for-you edible cookie dough with a spin. Launched in 2019, Bro Dough is not only vegan, but contains plant-based protein (derived from peas), as well as natural sweeteners. The product conta...

The inspiration for creating the perfect crisp emerged in 2014 when founder Matt Parry was following a strict gluten-free diet. He found that although the diet was treating him well, he was really missing his favorite snacks. The diet inspired him to recreate the classic canister chip, making it something he could eat without guilt. Making healthy crisps with better ingredients was a challenge. Bu...

Delia Passi's life was turned upside down after a routine mammogram and the medical mismanagement that ensued resulted in two lumpectomies and a mastectomy. "It was torture," she said. To make sure no other woman endured the same, Delia quit her job as a magazine publisher and created the Women's Choice Award® by WomenCertified. It has been named one of the fastest-growing companies in the US for...

Suzie Yorke, founder of Love Good Fats, spent years cutting fat out of her diet only to find that she felt worse than before! After a little research, she learned that sugar and carbs might actually be the culprit. She immediately shifted to a high-fat, low-carb diet, and never felt better. The only problem was the serious lack of satisfying snacks. She wondered, was it possible to create convenie...

Developed in collaboration with a chef and nutritionist, Five Way's bone broths are simmered for hours to ensure that all of the vital proteins, collagen, vitamins, and nutrients are extracted from their ingredients in order to maximize its health-boosting qualities. A diet rich in bone broth has been proven to promote immunity, aid digestion, reduce inflammation, soothe sore joints, speed muscle...

Upful Blends creates and provides organic, wildcrafted, and ethically grown tea blends and supplements. They aim to continuously source alkaline, unadulterated, and nourishing plant medicine for the connection of the mind, body, and spirit. Chantel Robertson, founder and CEO, joins Justin to discuss this new brand.

It all began with one varietal, Cabernet, and the vision to produce one of the best under $20 for the U.S. market. Coupling co-Founder Dennis Hills' winemaking expertise, grower relationships, and keen sourcing knowledge, and Founder Yoav Gilat's business acumen, natural networking and vision, Cannonball Wines was born. Since Cannonball, the company has added Astrolabe, Angels & Cowboys, and High...

Beyond The Equator's story begins where all great food companies begin — on the farm. Their co-founder, Carl, has farmed sugarcane in southern Louisiana for almost 40 years. As his passion for farming grew, Carl began traveling beyond the equator with the hopes of farming on the world's purest soils. What originally began as a farming and exporting company quickly evolved into a nutrient-inspired...

TerraCycle® is a social enterprise eliminating the idea of waste®. In 21 countries, TerraCycle tackles the issue from many angles. They have found that nearly everything we touch can be recycled and collect typically non-recyclable items through national, first-of-their-kind recycling platforms. Leading companies work with TerraCycle to take hard-to-recycle materials from their programs, such as o...

Chai is a traditional Nepali black tea beverage made with mixture of exotic spices and herbs, served with milk (or milk substitute). It requires patience, concentration and an experienced touch to craft a great tasting Chai. Chai recipes are often family secrets, passed down through generations, each with their own twist and Pemba Sherpa has brought his family's recipe to life in Sherpa Chai. Pemb...

Blending sustainably grown wine from Italy and organic orange juice, the Modern Mimosa is a portable and effervescent delight that can go anywhere you do. When the Modern Mimosa was just a spark of an idea discussed over family dinner with Scott and Allie Griswold, their parents gave them two pieces of advice: make it taste good, and make sure you do good along the way. Scott and Allie created a M...

Bare® is a feeding system that feeds a baby AIR-FREE milk, in the UPRIGHT position and lets the baby CONTROL the FLOW/PACE of feeding. These three advancements lead to significant health benefits such as the elimination of gas, colic, and acid reflux symptoms. Founder and CEO, Priska Diaz joins Justin to discuss this baby feeding brand.

Walkee Paws™ are fashionable, stretchy dog leggings with waterproof rubber soles, designed to keep your pup's paws dry and clean after outside walks. They are comfortable and easy to put on and most importantly, due to the clever connection over your dog's back, they stay on! Founder and CEO Lisa Baronoff joins Justin to discuss this fun new brand!

Oo'mämē® is a line of globally inspired Chile Crisp. You say Umami, they say Oo'mame! Oo'mämē chile crisps have umami at their very core. That, and a serious dose of heat from the namesake chiles. The word umami comes from the Japanese word umai, roughly meaning deliciousness. Deliciousness, goodness, tastiness. It's all there. Known as the "fifth taste" after sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, umami...

Rare Cut was established to simplify your pocket square look with custom printed threads that always keep their shape. Meet the pocket square everyone is raving about - even Forbes. Just fold it and forget it. Anthony Orisses envisioned a pocket square with a timeless look and feel that never disappointed. Anthony joins Justin to discuss this trendy new brand!

Stringr was started by two friends – one a former news producer and the other a product manager and consultant who started his first company in high school. Lindsay Stewart spent over 10 years in TV news producing segments for ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News and Bloomberg, among others. That's when the idea for Stringr came to her. Brian McNeill spent over 15 years in product management and management con...

While it is amazing for brands to give away products or donate a portion of their proceeds on behalf of their customer base, in founding Sock Footage, Marisa Sheff was hoping to take the same 1 to 1 model one step further. Socks are the most needed, but least donated items at homeless shelters. As such, for each pair of socks purchased on the site, a donation pair is provided courtesy of the brand...

Wan Kim was first introduced to Smoothie King while studying at Boston University before going on to earn his MBA at the University of California at Irvine. Wan became a huge fan of the concept and opened the first international Smoothie King location in South Korea in 2003. Within six years, Wan had opened 120 stores in South Korea and eventually grew brand awareness to 94 percent on the peninsul...

Peter Manning makes high-quality, great-fitting clothes for the "Not-so-tall"™ guy, including shorter inseam pants, shirts you can wear untucked, and jackets that don't fit like tents. Co-founder and CEO Jeff Hansen joins Justin to discuss launching and growing this fashion and apparel brand.

Spencer Jane was formed during Logan Brown's first semester at Harvard Law School when she needed a suit for her law school's career fair. After multiple Ubers across town and exasperated texts to her mother asking if it looked like something fit, she found nothing. Logan wanted something that made her feel confident, comfortable in her own skin, and ready to be herself in an interview. She then f...

Agua Bonita makes the first 100% real fruit, ready-to-drink aguas frescas. Inspired by perfectly delicious, fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste, and fueled by a passion to create something culturally authentic, unique, better for the planet, and beautiful, Kayla Castañeda co-founded Agua Bonita. Kayla joins Justin to discuss this fresh beverage concept.

Disappointed by a market filled with products that were loaded with sugar and unnecessary junk, founder Eric Bonin wanted something better – something to feel good about serving to family and friends. Eric spent two years sourcing the best ingredients and perfecting a recipe that's known as much for what's left out, as for what's in it. Pillars all-natural, non-GMO Greek yogurts are naturally simp...