Race 2 The Bottom

Tristan Bordallo, founder of Fr8topia, a freight brokerage, and host of Race 2 the Bottom, sits down with Blake Parsons of Ultimacha to explore what it really takes to bring a health product from kitchen experiment to shelf. In this interview, Blake shares his journey from high school physics teacher to founder of a premium matcha brand. Discover how his passion for health, quality sourcing, and e...

In this conversation, Tristan Bordallo hosts Hawkins Golden who shares his journey of building YoBe, a protein smoothie brand, from overcoming personal challenges to navigating the complexities of the food industry. He discusses the importance of customer feedback, the evolution of his product, and the mindset required to succeed as an entrepreneur. Hawkins emphasizes the significance of taste, th...

In this engaging conversation, host Tristan Bordallo of Race 2 the Bottom sits down with Beau Lawrence. Beau shares his journey from a long career in fashion to founding Ace Rivington, a denim brand focused on quality, storytelling, and community engagement. He discusses the importance of tailoring, the challenges of the fashion industry, and the strategic use of Kickstarter for launching his bran...

In this engaging episode of Race 2 The Bottom, host Tristan Bordallo sits down with Bridget Benaim to discuss her journey in the cannabis industry and the story behind her brand, Jayne. Bridget opens up about the challenges and breakthroughs of building a business in a highly competitive market, emphasizing the importance of quality over quantity and a wellness-focused approach to cannabis The can...

Host Tristan Bordallo of Race 2 The Bottom podcast sits down with Sara Delaney, founder of Sarilla, a beverage brand with a powerful purpose rooted in her transformative experiences in Rwanda. In this conversation, Sara shares her entrepreneurial journey and the story behind building Sarilla from the ground up. She discusses the strategic importance of rebranding, how travel shaped her perspective...

In this conversation, host and entrepreneur Tristan Bordallo sits down with Rafe Furst to explore his remarkable journey from studying AI at Stanford in the 1990s to co-founding Full Tilt Poker and navigating the highs and lows of the poker industry. Rafe shares insights on the intersection of technology and poker, the rise and fall of Full Tilt Poker, and the profound impact of mental health on h...

Tristan Bordallo hosts an engaging conversation with Tal Moore, who traces his entrepreneurial path from selling gumballs as a kid to launching his popcorn brand, Popsmith. Tal opens up about the role vulnerability, focus, and hard work played in his success, the challenges of building a brand from scratch, and why creating memorable, family-centered experiences drives his products. Guided by Tris...

Race 2 the Bottom: In this episode, Tristan Bordallo sits down with Fabrizio “Pep” Alvear to discuss his journey from first-gen immigrant to parcel industry entrepreneur. Pep shares how grit, mentorship, and strong relationships fueled his success, opening up about legal hurdles, tech shifts, and leadership values. He highlights the power of customer service, workplace culture, and building a last...

Tristan Bordallo—host of Race 2 The Bottom —sits down with Mutha Trucker, who shares his journey from being a truck driver to becoming a cultural voice for the trucking community. They discuss the challenges drivers face, the importance of maintaining strong relationships with brokers and shippers, and the future of trucking in light of technological advancements and regulations. Mutha Trucker emp...

In this conversation, Tristan Bordallo talks with Tamara Gurney about her journey starting a community bank, the power of relationships, and lessons from failure. They discuss the contrast between community banks and big institutions, with Tristan pointing out the race to the bottom in both banking and trucking. Tamara also reflects on being a woman in banking, her proudest moments, and her commit...

Tristan Bordallo—host of Race 2 the Bottom—sits down with Greg Dubuque of Liberty Linehaul Inc. to unpack four decades in freight. They dig into passion, resiliency, and the power of networking, the realities of today’s market, how diversifying into the event space reshaped Greg’s business, and why retention and culture drive performance. They also look ahead to technology’s role and what it means...

In this conversation with Tristan Bordallo, Marlon Ramirez shares his journey as an entrepreneur, discussing his experiences in founding airlines and transitioning to logistics and supply chain management. He emphasizes the importance of understanding market dynamics, the challenges of operating in competitive industries, and the necessity of documentation and managing expectations in business par...

In this episode of the Race to the Bottom podcast, Tristan Bordallo interviews Sebastian Zelger, CEO of Liqui Moly, who shares his journey from Germany to leading a successful automotive business in the US. They discuss the cultural challenges Sebastian faced, the importance of building connections with his team, and the strategies that led to Liqui Moly's impressive growth. Sebastian emphasiz...

In this conversation on Race 2 The Bottom, Curtis Knight II shares his journey of building Lemonicious, a unique beverage brand focused on all-natural fruit drinks. He discusses the challenges of the beverage industry, the importance of taste and quality, and the advantages of selling at farmers markets. Farmers markets provide a profitable and direct-to-consumer sales channel. Chargebacks from re...

In this episode of Race 2 the Bottom, host Tristan Bordallo interviews Tyson Lawrence, a seasoned veteran in the trucking industry with over 20 years of experience. Tyson shares his journey from starting at CH Robinson to founding his own brokerage later exiting. He discusses the importance of grit and resilience, the impact of private equity on business relationships, and the lessons learned from...

In this engaging conversation, Robby Thone shares his extensive journey in the freight industry, detailing his accidental entry into trucking, the challenges of starting and running multiple brokerages, and the importance of customer service and integrity in business. He reflects on the evolution of the industry, the impact of technology, and the significance of giving back to the community. Thone...