Essential Ingredients Podcast

"It's all about labels, it's all about claims, and it's all about certifications. Regenerative is a mess. It's a hot mess. ... I can understand, articulate, and define it really easily, but the average consumer, I don't think, can for a myriad of reasons.... The entire reason regenerative agriculture was created is the beauty of it being a transition tool to improve conventional agriculture. The c...

"Life is so crazy, and you just want to be able to live it to the fullest and the best you can." —Elissa Goodman   Everyone's selling the next big wellness fix—but what if the real answers are simpler than you think?  We're bombarded with superfoods, supplements, and miracle diets, but the truth is, most of us are still searching for what really works. If you're tired of chasing trends and want to...

"Simplicity was something I learned from my family and grew up with. The fact is, you do not need fancy food, you do not need a huge variety of food. You can have some potatoes, and you can have one vegetable, and you make a brothy sauce with the vegetables, and you pour it over the freshly cooked potatoes. It can be so comforting and nourishing. So simplicity is something that is important for us...

"To be an effective climate optimist and person who cares about sustainability, you need equal parts of two different ingredients. The first is inspiration, because if you don't believe you can make a difference, and if you don't believe that what you do matters, then you're not going to try. You also need the other ingredient of empowerment. If you are really, really encouraged to try to make a d...

"An interdisciplinary approach to medicine is probably the way the future is going to go. There will be dieticians and a whole host of different people involved in helping someone to heal." —Jonathan Carp   For too long, we've been told that health comes in a medicine bottle or a doctor's office, but what if the real power lies in the food we choose every day? If you've ever felt frustrated by qui...

"In the old days, families worked together, like on a farm, and that's the model we wanted to create for ourselves at EO Products." —Brad Black    Most businesses die because they chase profits instead of purpose—a raw, honest truth that cuts to the core of entrepreneurial burnout and lost passion. A lot of entrepreneurs pour their hearts and soul into a business, only to become a slave to spreads...

"You can't be all things to all people, and a brand can't be all things to all people. A brand can be as big as it gets with tons of money supporting it. But, there has to be a point of difference to stand out to consumers." —Carmine Montalto   Most beauty founders drown in a saturated market, chasing viral trends while struggling to build brands that resonate. They sacrifice authenticity for algo...

"The truth is, when you start checking out other brands, you will start to notice how inconsistent they are. So just by being consistent, you're already ahead of the game." —Jeff Greenfield.    Most entrepreneurs are drowning in a sea of marketing noise, desperately trying to be heard while burning through limited resources with little measurable return. But the real battle isn't about having the...

"You follow your passion, and when you have a purpose behind it, everything becomes a little bit clearer." —Nancy Rimbergas   Clean beauty isn't just another Instagram hashtag—it's a real movement that starts with actually caring about what we're putting on our skin. Every lotion, cream, or serum is like a tiny decision that ripples out, affecting not just our body, but the whole planet. We're not...

"I had to find that niche, that core community of people who were trying to solve the same problems that I was and who were passionate about the solution. But if I hadn't found that, I think it would be tough to try to keep promoting your product and your brand without actually knowing where it fits." —Belinda Lau    Every toothpaste tube and toothbrush we've ever used might still be existing some...

Episode Description: "In the CPG industry, so many individuals are just so friendly and eager to help emerging brands and founders succeed. Ask for help and they're always willing to make an introduction." —Danny Auld  Early childhood nutrition is more than just filling tiny bellies with food. It's about creating lifelong eating habits that can shape health, curiosity, and cultural understanding....

Episode Description: "I would say stick to your values because once we start to slip on that, everybody knows it and we're not authentic anymore— and what people want is the transparency of who's making their food." —Sam Paone  We've all been there—watching those beautiful farmers market finds slowly wilt in the fridge, feeling guilty with every sad, soggy leaf. What if there was a delicious way t...

Episode Description: "How can we make growing your own food possible in environments where it normally wasn't? Or can we drastically lower the impact of water use, fertilizer use, or resources used to drive to the grocery store? That's a big impact that we can have if we can allow you to grow your own food right at home." —Conner Tidd     What if you could grow fresh, pesticide-free produce just s...

Episode Description: "Once you start eating your own food, it expands your taste horizons and you can't be afraid to experiment. If it doesn't work out and it's horrible, just put it in the compost bucket and start over. It's okay, you'll be fine." —Marjory Wildcraft   Food is not just sustenance; it's a fundamental human right that we've outsourced to complex, fragile systems. This disconnection...

Episode Description: "I don't have an MBA. I only have a food knowledge background, and that doesn't make me an expert, either. But I know how to inquire and how to connect. So I have just been digging and grinding through my process, always finding the answers when I need them." —Seena Chriti       Snack innovation is more than just creating a product—it's about telling a cultural story through f...

Episode Description: "We need to think more about the ecosystem, and it's not always the cheapest way to do stuff. I think we're just trying to make a difference. And if we can make a living while making a difference, then that's really important." —Jason Walker   Regenerative organic farming is more than just a method—it's a revolutionary approach to healing our planet's most critical resource: s...

Episode Description: "Trust that you can do the Math and that you have the tenacity and that nature will give you way more opportunities than you even need." —Jamiah Hargins    Imagine a world where water conservation isn't just a choice, but a critical strategy to survival.  Water isn't just slipping through our fingers—it's vanishing before our eyes. Yet, our current consumption patterns are wri...

Episode Description: "I want to create a world of mindful foodies. I don't see this as a little project. I see this as something big." —Janet Irizarry    Every bite we take is a vote for the planet's future, and our children are the most powerful voters we have. By modeling mindful eating to them, we can transform how future generations understand and respect the journey of their food. Janet Iriza...

Founder Resource Series   Episode Description: "My advice for people that are wanting to shift or starting out is to just jump in the water. Once you're there, you're going to figure out how to swim."  —Sebastian Stahl   A lot of startups crumble within their first year—a stark reminder that dreams alone cannot sustain a business. But the difference between survival and surrender often hinges on a...

Episode Description:  "You can over engineer things like a business plan. I think there's no substitute for going out and just trying things— that's the best and fastest way you can learn." —Ashwin Cheriyan   Modern life often makes it hard to balance convenience, health, and sustainability, leaving many searching for better options.  Ashwin Cheriyan, Thistle's co-founder and CEO, is a former corp...

Founder Resource Series   Episode Description: "I think consumers and company leaders are becoming more curious as to what the alternatives are and not just following simple workflows and playbooks. The transparency and the ability to educate around the possibilities— the alternative possibilities of manufacturing and ingredients that are available." —Riana Lynn     The possibilities for AI-powere...

Beyond the Basket: The Secret Ingredient to Building a Regenerative Community with Wen-Jay Ying Episode Description: "It's having a genuine interest in your consumers, not just a transactional experience— That is the best way to build community." —Wen-Jay Ying    Building a thriving community takes more than just a shared interest— it requires genuine connections, a sense of belonging, and a share...

The Secret Ingredient to Food Biz Success: A Shared Kitchen with a Side of Networking with Djenaba Johnson-Jones   Founder Resource Series   Episode Description: "I wanted something that I could call my own and not have to answer to anyone. We asked ourselves what we want for our future and we wanted to launch this business." —Djenaba Johnson-Jones       Shared kitchens are more than just a place...

Instant Noodles 2.0: Bringing Flavor, Health, and Sustainability to Your Favorite Comfort Food  with Thuong Tan Episode Description: "I'm going to create something that I love and my friends' love— because even on a bad day you have to wake up to run your business." —Thuong Tan     Comfort food has the power to transport us, to soothe the soul, and to bring us back to simpler times. For many, that...

 From Garage to Global: Spilling the Beans on Startup Success with Jon Lambert Founder Resource Series Episode Description: "You can run the best business in the world, but if you as an individual, fail, the entire thing falls to pieces." —Jon Lambert   In the world of startups, your network can be as valuable, if not more, than your net worth. A strong community can provide the resources, mentors...