Emerging Brands Podcast

Adrienne DeLisio is the Executive Director of Naturally New York, where she leads initiatives to foster sustainable business practices, drive conscious growth, support entrepreneurship, and nurture leadership within the Greater New York natural products community. With over 20 years of experience in brand marketing, Adrienne has a proven track record of building high-impact partnerships and execut...

Eat Gold Organics founder Brandon Milbradt, combines her passion for storytelling and wellness to create chocolate bars that blend science and enchantment. Drawing from her personal experiences and commitment to functional foods, she has crafted plant-based chocolate infused with adaptogens, mushrooms, and nootropics, designed to nourish both body and mind. Collaborating with experts in nutrition,...

As vice president of content and summits at New Hope Network (the team behind Expo West, Newtopia Now & more!), Jessica brings over 17 years of experience in the CPG industry, specializing in content, events and community experiences. Her career is dedicated to crafting strategic, innovative solutions that empower retailers, brands, investors and service providers across the CPG ecosystem. Driven...

Sophia Cheng grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong and started her career in management consulting. After looking for products that remind her of home, she founded Oddball. Oddball is a plant-based jelly snack. It doesn't use gelatin but instead uses agar agar which is what is traditionally used in Asian cooking. Oddball have 4 flavors available - Double Berry, Mango, Grapefruit, Grape - are all insp...

Primis Imports was created with the intention of providing the highest quality early harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oils and premier food items from Greece and beyond. Connecting to his Greek roots, Damian Primis founded the brand in 2022. It was during the pandemic where is career in music was on pause with Broadway shows and tours being cancelled. Damian decided to experiment in CPG. You can now fin...

With an extensive background in brand marketing, working at Snap Inc., Intuit, and Publicis Groupe, Megan Pruett took her newfound sobriety and transformed it into a business that is on its way to revolutionize the non-alcoholic industry. For The Love Of is a premium alcohol-removed wine company. Our brand was designed for all wine lovers who are intoxicated by the rich flavors, earthy aromas, and...

Veronica Panzardi is a recovering IBanker, who would rather do anything than have a mediocre meal. Veronica is the founder of Edggies, the easiest way to eat your veggies. Edggies are air dried veggie sprinkles that help busy people eat healthier, making adding nutrition as easy as sprinkling salt. Edggies delivers a portable, shelf stable, and flavor neutral solution. Veronica is an Argentine Ame...

Berk Bahceci founded Heraclea olive oil, known for its beautiful packaging of Turkish olive oil and bringing awareness on how to make olive oil more sustainable w/ fair-trade principles. He had a major career pivot story as he went from graduating law school to quitting being a lawyer his first year to turn his family's olive grove into an entrepreneurial business with his now wife. The branding e...

The original Pink Salt concept was launched in 2019 at the Fulton Galley Food Hall, located on Chicago's famed "Restaurant Row." Completing only brief stages at Au Cheval and Nico Osteria, opening and running a restaurant was a bold leap. Using the space as a launchpad, Pink Salt quickly became one of the city's most sought-after Thai establishments. During the pandemic, Pink Salt transitioned int...

Kate worked as a brand strategist before becoming the first hire at United Sodas. She thrives on the challenges of startup life and enjoys working closely with a small team. Outside of soda, you'll find her woodworking in her Brooklyn apartment. United Sodas is reimagining soda for the modern day. With better ingredients and no artificial aftertastes, each can is organically sweetened and just 35...

Emily Steele is the CEO and cofounder of Hummingbirds, a marketing platform designed to connect brands with community-minded content creators. Under her leadership, Hummingbirds has expanded to over a dozens of cities across the U.S., driving growth for small businesses and established brands alike by leveraging the power of local advocates. Emily shares how she was inspired by her small Iowa town...

Tori Lazar is a strategic storyteller and executive coach for multi-disciplinary women in highly competitive industries like tech, media, finance, and advertising. Through her creative leadership coaching studio, How to Fck Up Well, she helps her clients turn adversity into a springboard for personal growth, business innovation, and better leadership. She also partners with other organizations lik...

Chloe Gordon is a writer and social media manager at The Dieline, a creative platform serving the global packaging community with a focus on sustainability through innovation. She also leads as Club Community Manager at Algae Cooking Club and works as a Social Media Manager and Designer at TT Studios. In addition to her roles, Chloe offers freelance creative consulting. Her newsletter is one of my...

Andrea Popova, CEO at CPGD, a leading industry resource for founders and investors to discover emerging brands. Andrea's newsletter is one of the best in the industry with over 10k readers. She's a thought leader and generously takes us behind the scenes in this interview! A must listen for emerging brand founders.

Growing up witnessing her father's battle with alcoholism, Lily Geiger became deeply committed to creating a supportive community for individuals choosing a non-drinking lifestyle. Geiger recalls: " When I was growing up with my dad there were not many options for people who didn't drink that felt sophisticated, inviting, and made them feel a part of a social setting where everyone else is drinkin...

One Trick Pony is made from Argentinian peanuts and Patagonian salt. No oil, no sugar, family-run, and female-founded. Lucy Dana co-founded One Trick Pony with her brother and sister-in-law. While on a trip to Argentina, they realized how incredible the peanut were. One Trick Pony was born and is truly my favorite peanut butter on the market! Lucy takes us behind the scenes of how they created, la...

Jason Bronstad, CEO of MALK Organics, brings more than 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, with a proven track record of building high-performing teams at leading brands. After consulting for MALK in 2020, he stepped into the CEO role in 2021 with a clear mission—to bring MALK to the masses and educate consumers on why it's the cleanest, healthiest plant-based milk option ava...

Infused with global flavors and seasonal ingredients, Gotcha Focaccia™ is olive oil bread that's classy but never boring. Baked in Brooklyn. Made for your table. Using traditional Ligurian baking techniques, unique toppings and lots and lots of really good olive oil, Gotcha Focaccia™ is highly flavorful and oh so fun. Gotcha Focaccia founder Meira Bennett takes us behind the scenes of the brand an...

Crystal Whiteaker (she/her) is an Inclusive Branding and Leadership Development Consultant. She works with brands and leaders to create values-aligned, human-focused environments that center belonging. Crystal takes us behind the scenes of her unique career path and how she followed her intuition to build Crystal Lily Creative.

Special marketing episode! With 18 years of experience, Amy Kapolnek has primarily worked with emerging consumer brands on their brand launch and growth strategies. Amy started the fwrd group mainly because of the changes going on in the media industry. At the fwrd group, they specialize in strategic planning, marketing execution and Fractional CMO services for emerging brands in beauty, wellness...

Nate Rosen is a snacking-obsessed (even since childhood), entrepreneurial minded marketing and sales professional. Nate is an industry thought leader with experience running e-commerce storefronts, retail sales, social media management, and customer retention. He writes one of my favorite industry newsletter, Express Checkout. Nate is bringing us behind the scenes of his career and insights in CPG...

Tori Bell is Founder of Inclusion Unpacked, the community-based membership platform reimagining the future of DEI by infusing the same ambition, creativity and energy to belonging that start-ups bring to innovation. Tori brings us behind the scenes of her career, founder journey, and the honest truth of building an innovative tech company making real impact. An incredible listen for every founder!

Alexis Russell takes us behind the scenes of her personal journey of finding acceptance and the feeling of home growing up in foster care. Alexis has built a multi-million dollar jewelry business against all odds. This is an incredible conversation of how she found her own path.

Alessia Vettese is the founder and CEO of Pari, a premium, natural, zero-proof adult beverage brand designed for health-conscious, social, and high-performing Gen Z and Millennial women who want to look and feel their best. Alessia developed Pari after re-evaluating her relationship with alcohol. The brand is receiving buzz in the dry community for its natural ingredients and sweet taste profile....

Archie & Alfred was founded by Abby Studnicka, a passionate animal lover who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of pets and their owners. Abby grew up surrounded by animals and developed a deep love for them from a young age. Archie & Alfred is more than a dog product line; it's a lifestyle brand for the on the go pet parent looking for everyday products that blends effortlessly into an...