The Firebelly Social Show

Bryn Jones is the VP of Marketing of Huse Culinary, an upscale restaurant and retail food group based in Indianapolis. Huse Culinary owns and operates six restaurants and four restaurant brands, including St. Elmo Steak House, 1933 Lounge, Harry & Izzy's, and The HC Tavern + Kitchen. Bryn has spearheaded the expansion of the iconic St. Elmo Steak House cocktail sauce to 3,000 locations both region...

Eric Gutknecht is the CEO of CharcutNuvo, a company with a long-standing family tradition of sausage-making originating in Switzerland. As a fourth-generation sausage maker, he upholds his family's Swiss culinary heritage, producing what the company touts as the cleanest sausage in the US. Not only a savvy entrepreneur, Eric is an avid triathlete who uses his product to fuel his athletic endeavors...

Josh Sizemore is a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich history in the food and beverage industry, spearheading a swanky new pizza lounge to contribute to a groundbreaking, health-oriented snack brand. He was the CEO of Beloit Kombucha Company, a venture-backed kombucha brand with an unusual but unbelievable form factor. He is an entrepreneur with multiple successful ventures, including The CITRUS, E...

Aisha Chottani is the Founder and CEO of Moment, a brand dedicated to improving mental wellness through adaptogen-infused beverages. A Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant, she channels her expertise and global background into crafting drinks that promote stress management. Aisha's products are crafted from natural ingredients like ashwagandha and L-theanine to encourage balance and men...

Carlee Kelly is the Founder and Chief Product Innovator of Lettuce Eat, a company that elevates your commercial food concept and scale for international markets. A seasoned food and beverage industry expert, she is fondly known as a business-savvy entrepreneur and a nutrition science nerd. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in nutrition, channeling her passion for enhancing the food land...

Nadia Liu Spellman is the CEO and Founder of Dumpling Daughter, a Boston Area restaurant chain specializing in homestyle, authentic Chinese dishes with a focus on dumplings, buns, and noodles. Inspired by her family's rich culinary heritage, she launched Dumpling Daughter in 2014, successfully extending her family's legacy into the modern food scene. Nadia combines a passion for food with a drive...

Ted Dumbauld is the Founder and Co-CEO of SoNo 1420, an American maritime distillery renowned for its unique spirit offerings and award-winning bourbons. Under his leadership, SoNo 1420 has garnered double gold medals at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ted is a former nuclear submarine officer and an MIT MBA holder who ventured into the medical cannabis industry before piv...

Laura Jakobsen is the Co-founder and CEO of RIOT Energy, a brand focused on delivering clean, plant-powered energy drinks with zero artificial ingredients. As a former competitive ski racer, Laura brings an athlete's mentality to entrepreneurship, emphasizing perseverance and performance. She's passionate about challenging the status quo of the beverage industry and prioritizing consumer wellness...

Jason Reposa is the Founder and CEO of Good Feels, a company specializing in cannabis-infused beverages. With over 25 years of experience in technology and product development, he boasts two successful business exits. Jason has earned recognition for his trailblazing efforts in the infused beverage space and dedication to mission-driven entrepreneurship. A father of three, he emphasizes work-life...

Sara Delaney is the Founder and CEO of Sarilla, a company that provides alcohol-free, clean tea spritzers. With over 18 years of sobriety, she has channeled her passion for recovery into creating a healthier, more inclusive beverage option. Her transformative work in Rwanda, where she collaborated with women and genocide survivors, deepened her commitment to social impact, leading to initiatives i...

Robert (Bob) Zender is the Director of Marketing of Uglies Kettle Chips, a brand that has carved a niche in the snack industry by being the only upcycled certified kettle chips in the marketplace. With seven years of dedicated service, Uglies has transformed "imperfect" potatoes into premium small-batch kettle chips. Bob and the Dieffenbach family have been working with agricultural communities fo...

Sam Mitchell is the Co-founder of roo.bru, a health-focused beverage alternative to coffee. With a background in construction management from the University of Florida, Sam drew on his competitive surfing experience and interest in nutrition to create something better than the traditional coffee experience. He prides himself on his Australian roots, incorporating wit and a cheeky sense of fun into...

Mika Shino is the Founder and CEO of Issei, a brand that has reimagined the gummy candy world with a heartfelt mission. Of Japanese heritage, Mika ventured into entrepreneurship to offer her children healthier candy options inspired by her native mochi. Her innovative product, the world's first shelf-stable mochi gummies, has earned acclaim as the most innovative among thousands. With a profound b...

Alan Laws is the Founder and President of Laws Whiskey House, a distillery renowned for its uncompromising approach to whiskey production. Laws Whiskey House is known for using heirloom grains and a meticulous distillation process, earning world-class recognition for their bourbons and ryes. Formerly a Wall Street worker, Alan transitioned to pursue his passion and obsession with whiskey, establis...

Gabrielle (Gabby) Fitzpatrick is the Founder and CEO of Damn Right Cocktails, an organic premium tequila cocktail brand targeting modern millennial women. With a background as a bartender, Gabrielle pursued her passion for mixology and recognized a gap in the ready-to-drink spirits industry. Her commitment to creating bold, health-conscious, innovative products has garnered high praise and awards....

Jordan Silbert is the Founder and CEO of Agro Power Jerky, a company that creates high-protein snacks made from plants. With a history of success in the beverage industry with Q Mixers, he brings over 16 years of entrepreneurial experience to his fresh endeavor. Jordan is passionate about creating great-tasting, environmentally-conscious products. He is also deeply committed to contributing to a h...

Zack Burnett is the Co-founder of Bold Bean Coffee Roasters, a wholesale coffee roaster focused on sustainable supply chains, purposeful roasting, and value-added service and support. With nearly two decades of experience in the coffee industry, his journey began unexpectedly when his father proposed starting a small coffee roastery, igniting his enduring passion for specialty coffee. Zack has mas...

Rachel Klein is the Founder and CEO of Revival Foods, a company that stands out for its commitment to health in the sweets and snacks industry. With a passion for offering clean, pronounceable ingredients, Rachel has successfully launched new squeeze packs of almond butter, catering to consumers on the go. Her brand's high standards manifest in products free from added sugars and confusing additiv...

Mika Shino is the Founder and CEO of Issei, a brand that has reimagined the gummy candy world with a heartfelt mission. Of Japanese heritage, Mika ventured into entrepreneurship to offer her children healthier candy options inspired by her native mochi. Her innovative product, the world's first shelf-stable mochi gummies, has earned acclaim as the most innovative among thousands. With a profound b...

William Spencer is the Founder and CEO of h2go Energy Water, a mission-driven company dedicated to revolutionizing the energy drink industry with healthier, sustainable, and effective alternatives. He established h2go to offer a cleaner, organic alternative to traditional caffeinated beverages. Originally from Vermont, William is an avid snowboarder, mountain biker, and sunset aficionado. Besides...

Nickolas Abramovich is the Co-founder and Head Distiller of Doundrins Distilling, a company specializing in craft spirits with a unique local twist. With an engineering background and a passion for distilling, he has transformed Doundrins into a much-loved staple in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Their product range includes cherry-flavored rum, spicy pepper vodka, and a variety of fruit brandies. Nick...

Cale Nelson is the Chief Commercial Officer of Local Hive Honey, a brand with a century of heritage in producing 100% US local raw honey. With a keen focus on innovation and sustainability, Cale leads the brand's expansion into new product categories, including a line of honey-based hot sauces. He champions the importance of supporting local American beekeepers, both for quality products and for t...

Kerry Song is the Founder and CEO of Abbot's Butcher, a wellness company crafting delicious and versatile plant-rich protein products from real, whole-food ingredients. A Princeton grad, she left her corporate finance career at Morgan Stanley to pursue her passion for socially conscious business. Working with Tony Robbins' marketing team and experiencing a life-changing autoimmune diagnosis propel...

Shahreen Reza is the Co-founder and CEO of Astreas, a food innovation company developing high-quality nutrition blended with the finest dark chocolate to fuel your exploration. She is a serial entrepreneur with a history of successful start-ups, including her first company, PurifAid, which developed CleanTech using the byproduct of Scotch whisky to decontaminate industrially polluted water in Euro...

Or Reznichky is the Co-founder and CEO of Dripdash, a company that has introduced the first ready-to-drink Kyoto iced coffee in the US. The company has thrived under his leadership, achieving enough success to be acquired by a private equity firm. Based in San Francisco, he's an entrepreneur with roots in quantitative psychology and economics and a background in SaaS sales. Or is a firm believer i...