ReGen Brands Podcast

On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, AC and Kyle sit down to record together in person for the very first time – and for the final episode of the show. We reflect on the full journey of ReGen Brands, from a spontaneous idea to more than 119 podcast episodes, a growing regenerative CPG community, and the launch of two non-profits dedicated to supporting regenerative brands. Along the way, w...

On this episode, we sit down with Stacy Cushenbery, Senior Manager for Global Regenerative Agriculture at Oatly , to unpack how one of the world’s most recognizable plant-based brands is tackling regeneration at scale. We explore why Oatly chose an “equivalent acres” approach instead of chasing identity-preserved sourcing, and how that decision balances procurement flexibility with landscape-level...

On this episode, we're digging deep into why measuring soil carbon is so essential but so difficult, and what it takes to make it faster, cheaper, and easier. We’re joined by Chris Tolles, Co-Founder and CEO of Yard Stick , a soil carbon measurement company that's helping unlock the data needed to scale regenerative agriculture by affordably and accurately delivering the ground-truth data that pro...

On this episode, I’m joined by Kristina Tucker, the longtime Minister of Enlightenment at The Republic of Tea .   We explore the brand’s 30-year journey from launching the first certified Organic tea in 2003 to piloting new Regenerative Organic Certified® SKUs today. Kristina shares how the company sources over 400 teas and herbs from more than 80 growing regions, and what it takes to balance inno...

On this episode, we’re talking with Isabel Washington, the founder of Laurel’s , a rapidly growing ready-to-drink coffee brand powered by regenerative A2 dairy. We dive into Isabel’s personal journey, discovering A2 milk, how it transformed her relationship with dairy, and why it became the cornerstone of her brand. You’ll hear how she spotted a massive gap in the RTD coffee aisle — where 90% of p...

On this episode, we’re diving into the incredible origin story of Jasberry with the company’s Co-Founder and CEO, Neil.  You’ll hear how a life-changing high school friendship, a Google search for the world’s best rice scientist, and two years living in rural Thailand all led to a new superfood rice brand that you can now find on shelves at every Whole Foods nationwide. We unpack Jasberry’s missio...

On this episode, we sit down with Keith Bearden, CEO of Alter Eco , to unpack one of the most turbulent years in chocolate’s history.  We dive into why cacao prices have more than tripled over the past two years and how a new 39% Swiss import tariff is disrupting their business in ways we have never seen before. Keith shares how Alter Eco is helping farmers transition to dynamic agroforestry syste...

On this episode, we’re joined by Berklee Welsh and Christina Skonberg from Simple Mills — the number one cracker, cookie, and baking mix brand in the natural channel today.   We unpack how Simple Mills is focused on contribution over attribution, working with more than 4,000 farmers on 70,000 acres to build a regenerative supply that doesn’t necessarily translate into product-specific claims.   We...

On this episode, we’re going deep into the forest with Michael Farrell, Co-Founder of The Forest Farmers .  Michael and his team are managing over 10,000 acres of forest in New York and Vermont to produce what they believe to be the most regenerative sweetener on the planet. You’ll hear how The Forest Farmers’ keep forests diverse and thriving, why maple syrup is nutritionally and environmentally...

On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, we’re joined by Jason Haas – Partner and General Manager at Tablas Creek Vineyard. Tablas Creek is located in Paso Robles, California, is one of the pioneering wineries in the U.S. for regenerative organic farming, and was the first vineyard to become Regenerative Organic Certified®.   Jason shares the incredible origin story of Tablas Creek, born from...

On this episode of the ReGen Brands podcast, a voice you know and love is back. Kyle returns after his brief two-episode hiatus, but this time as the guest.    We’re diving deep into a foundational issue facing regenerative CPG: we still have no unified way of tracking how regenerative products are performing at retail.    From disjointed data systems and third-party paywalls to the chaos of unsta...

On this episode of the ReGen Brands podcast, we're joined by Joe Miller from Kalona SuperNatural — a 20-year veteran of the dairy world and a passionate advocate for organic and regenerative farming. We dig into Kalona’s unique vertically integrated ecosystem (that includes 19 different businesses!), the brand’s deep partnerships with family dairy farms, and all the ways regenerative is shaping th...

On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, we're talking with Carrie Richards – the fourth-generation rancher behind Richards Regenerative .  Carrie takes us through her incredible journey from scrappy beef sales out of a friend's freezer to supplying over 40 school districts and major retailers like Sprouts. We dive deep into the challenges and contradictions of building a regenerative beef bus...

On this episode of the ReGen Brands podcast, we’re closing a major chapter and celebrating everything that’s made it so powerful. Kyle is officially stepping away as the show’s regularly scheduled co-host. In this heartfelt conversation, Kyle shares what’s driving this decision, and we both reflect on the journey to date. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories, favorite moments, some laughs (of cou...

On this episode, we have Eric Smith who is the Founder and CEO of Edacious . Edacious offers radically easy lab testing and intuitive nutrition software for food system professionals. They’re working on turning nutrition data into actionable insights for people and planetary health. Eric's on a mission to redefine food quality using hard data. Through his work at Edacious, he's helping brands meas...

On this episode, we have Mary Purdy who is the Managing Director of the Nutrient Density Alliance .   The Nutrient Density Alliance’s purpose is to ignite awareness and mobilize action around the nutritional benefits and improved food quality of soil-building regenerative agriculture to drive demand for a more sustainable food system and improve human health outcomes.   You’ve heard us talk a lot...

On this episode, we’re joined by Joseph Cassinelli, who is the Founder and President of El Nacho .   El Nacho is supporting regenerative agriculture with their line of tortilla chips made with certified regenerative corn.   In this episode, Joe shares how El Nacho was born during the pandemic and how it turned him from a seasoned restaurateur to a new CPG Founder. He details the importance of thei...

On this episode, we’re joined by Brady Barnstable, Co-Founder and COO of Seven Sundays. Seven Sundays is a breakfast brand on a mission to restore human and planetary health, one cereal bowl at a time.  Brady takes us back to the early days of muesli inspiration in New Zealand, which inspired him and his wife, Hannah, to leave fast-paced careers in NYC and bootstrap a new CPG brand. We get deep in...

What’s up, y’all - welcome to a very special episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast. This isn’t just another episode—it’s episode 100. That’s right… triple digits.  And today, Kyle and I are taking a moment to reflect on everything this show has become since that first conversation back in 2022. We’re talking about where the regenerative CPG space was when we started and just how far it’s come—more b...

On this episode, we’re joined by Carolyn Gahn who is the Senior Director of Mission & Advocacy at Applegate .   Applegate has just announced that they’ve achieved their ambitious goal to source 100% of the beef in their beef hot dogs from certified regenerative grasslands. By implementing this change, Applegate is helping to transition 10.8 million acres of grasslands to certified regenerative...

On this episode, we are joined by Cole Mannix who is the Founder and President of Old Salt Co-Op .   Old Salt Co-Op is supporting regenerative agriculture with a collection of vertically integrated businesses bringing regeneratively raised meat to consumers. The Old Salt brand was created by a group of family ranches in Montana to provide a better food system and future for their land, their anima...

On this episode, we are joined by Will and Jenni Harris from White Oak Pastures, which may very well be the original and very first regenerative brand. White Oak Pastures is a 160-year-old, zero-waste, regenerative farm that raises 10 species of animals living in symbiotic relationships with each other and the land. Starting in 1995, the farm transitioned away from industrial agriculture technique...

On this episode, Kyle and I are flying solo to bring you some updates and thoughts coming out of Expo West. What are the latest industry trends we’re tracking? What was the state of regenerative at this year’s Super Bowl of CPG? What were the biggest regen wins from the Pitch Slam, to NEXTYs, to fundraising announcements? We dive into all the most important regen CPG topics including certification...

In this episode, Kyle and I are flying solo to cover the latest and greatest from the world of regenerative CPG. We kick things off with Kyle sharing some insights from recent conversations he’s had with retailers, and we unpack recent changes Whole Foods has made to their regenerative standards.  We break down all the things Expo West, including regenerative brands exhibiting, sessions we’re look...

On this episode, we have Loren Poncia who is a rancher and the owner at Stemple Creek Ranch . Stemple Creek is supporting regenerative agriculture with their regeneratively-raised beef, lamb, pork, and chicken products mainly sold via their website directly to consumers and also available via select farmers' markets, restaurants, and retailers. Stemple Creek’s home ranch in Northern California str...