The Story of a Brand Show

I had such a powerful and heartfelt conversation with Cara Dumaplin , the CEO & Founder of Taking Cara Babies .  Cara shared her deeply personal journey—from her background as a neonatal nurse and wife of a pediatrician to her own struggles with sleep deprivation as a new mom. What I loved most about this interview is how Cara took her hardest moments, the valleys of her life, and turned them into...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Cynthia Sakai , Founder & CEO of EvolveTogether , and this conversation was both inspiring and deeply human.  Cynthia shared how her journey from jewelry design to launching a wellness-focused essentials brand began during the pandemic's chaos.  What started with masks for frontline workers quickly grew into a mission-driven company rooted in connection, int...

I had such an inspiring conversation with Noelle O'Connor , the founder of Tan Organic and Skin Magic . From building one of the cleanest sunless tanning brands in the world to creating a multi-use balm that families can trust, Noelle's story is packed with passion, resilience, and purpose. She opened up about the early struggles of running high-end spas during the recession, the pivotal moment wh...

I had such an inspiring conversation with Luna Aziz , the CEO & Founder of Legendairy Milk .  What started as her personal struggle with breastfeeding and milk supply has grown into a mission-driven brand that supports women through every stage of life—from trying to conceive to postpartum and beyond.  Luna's story is rooted in resilience, family support, and a deep commitment to women's health. H...

I had such a fascinating conversation with Anthony Boldin , Founder of LiveComplete . This isn't just another protein brand; what Anthony and his team are building could truly change how we think about food, nutrition, and even the future of plant-based eating. What struck me most was his passion, not just for creating a product, but for creating a platform that delivers "no compromises, sacrifice...

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Lolita Sanders , Founder of Umthi .  From the very first moment, it was clear how deeply personal her mission is— Umthi isn't just a skincare brand, it's rooted in family, culture, and the wisdom passed down through generations.  Lolita shared how her journey began with her grandmother's teachings and how she's transformed that legacy into a brand t...

I had such a great time talking with Dario Phillips , Co-founder of Slowtide . What started as a simple idea—a better beach towel—has grown into a lifestyle brand that's as much about art and culture as it is about function.  Dario shared how Slowtide turned a category often overlooked into something exciting, combining creativity, collaboration, and sustainability in a way that truly resonates wi...

I loved this conversation with Clive Sher , President & Co-founder of Little Bellies .  As a parent myself, I've heard many brands talk about "organic" or "better-for-you" snacks, but I've never heard anyone break it down the way Clive did. From the very start of our chat, I could tell how thoughtful and intentional he and his team are about what goes into their products.   Their mission goes beyo...

I had such an inspiring conversation with Lorraine Corcoran , Founder & CEO of Nyrah Beauty .  Her journey into skincare was deeply personal, sparked by her own search for products that truly worked for her sensitive skin.  What began as frustration turned into a passion for formulating clean, effective solutions that honor both the science of skincare and the integrity of natural ingredients. Lor...

I had such a fascinating conversation with Olivia Landau , Co-founder & CEO of The Clear Cut .  What started as her passion for educating people about diamonds has evolved into a thriving modern brand that's revolutionizing the way couples shop for engagement rings. Olivia shared how she went from being a gemologist and content creator to running a direct-to-consumer company that blends education,...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Meredith Mills-Merritt , Founder of The Original Southside , and this was such a fun and refreshing conversation, literally.  From the very first sip of her canned cocktail, I was blown away by how crisp, light, and perfectly balanced it tasted. What really struck me, though, was how much heart and thoughtfulness went into every detail of this brand, from th...

When I think of founder stories that move me to my core, Octavia Morgan 's journey is right at the top.  In this episode, I sit down with Octavia Morgan , CEO and Creative Director of Octavia Morgan , to discuss building a fine fragrance brand rooted in intention, courage, and community. From her early mornings in meditation to the emotional moment a customer cried after finally finding a scent sh...

When I first saw the product from NoNormal , I was intrigued. A coffee paste… in a tube? I'd never seen anything like it. But as someone who loves coffee and spends a lot of time outdoors, I instantly got the appeal.  In this episode, I chat with Alexander Haberlin , co-founder of NoNormal , about how a backcountry hike in Switzerland sparked a completely new way to experience coffee and how it ev...

I had a blast sitting down with Dan Schaefer , Founder & CEO of Native Pet .  We kicked things off with gratitude. Dan shared how his wife was his "first angel investor," backing his leap from BCG into entrepreneurship while raising a young family. From there, we got into the big idea behind Native Pet : "around-the-bowl nutrition." Instead of trying to replace what's in your dog's bowl, Native Pe...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with James Reynolds , Co-CEO and Co-founder of Coco5 , and what a conversation it was.  From the South Side of Chicago to Wall Street to the beverage aisle, James's journey is packed with powerful lessons on grit, reinvention, and staying true to your purpose. He opened up about a pivotal moment in college that transformed his life — when he walked away from bask...

In this episode of The Story of a Brand , I sit down with Gary Redmond , co-founder of BusterBox , a subscription box that delivers joy straight to your dog's doorstep.  What started as three friends looking to create something fun and meaningful quickly became one of the fastest-growing dog subscription brands in Europe. Gary shares the ups and downs of starting a business from scratch, from pack...

On this episode of The Story of a Brand , I sat down with Jeff Boyd , founder of MTE , a wellness brand that's redefining how we think about energy, recovery, and mood.  What started as a personal quest to feel better and support the people closest to him turned into a full-spectrum product created with intention, science, and heart. Jeff gets candid about burnout, anxiety, and how most of us are...

What does it mean to steward a family legacy while completely rethinking how food is raised?  In this episode, I sat down with Heidi Diestel of Diestel Family Ranch , a fourth-generation turkey farmer who's not afraid to ask hard questions about the food system and make bold changes. Heidi brings a rare mix of tradition, transparency, and a challenger mindset to an industry that often resists chan...

When I think of a product worth buying and a brand worth supporting, Avocado Mattress is at the top of my list.   In this episode, I sat down with Vy Nguyen , Co-CEO of Avocado Mattress , to discuss what it truly takes to build a mission-driven, vertically integrated company in a category dominated by commodity players.  Vy's story is rooted in deep gratitude for his family's immigrant journey, an...

In this episode, I sit down with Yanika Cordina , the founder and creative mind behind Cordina Hair , a brand built on innovation, determination, and one incredibly clever invention. What started as a DIY experiment to solve her hairstyling challenge has turned into a viral beauty tool trusted by thousands of women worldwide. Yanika walks us through her journey of turning a homemade prototype into...

In this episode, I sit down with Chris Abbenda and Owen Martinetti , the dynamic duo behind Snoozy , a functional gummy brand that's reimagining how we think about sleep, stress, and chill.  What started as a curiosity about CBD quickly evolved into a product line that's all about helping people wind down without the fuzziness or stigma of traditional solutions. We delve into everything from produ...

In this episode, I sit down with Rose Hamilton , a powerhouse marketing strategist, CPG advisor, and the founder of Compass Rose Ventures .  Rose shares an honest, insightful look into what it takes to build, grow, and scale a consumer brand in today's landscape, from digital-first storytelling to the emotional resilience founders need to survive the chaos of retail and fundraising. This conversat...

In this episode, I sit down with C. Vivek Lal, MD, FAAP , a physician-scientist and the founder & CEO of Resbiotic , to explore the incredible connection between our gut microbiome and respiratory health.  Dr. Lal shares how his clinical work with premature infants inspired a deeper dive into gut-lung science, ultimately leading to the development of Resbiotic —a science-first wellness brand that'...

In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Kemp , the passionate owner of Bare Kind , a brand of bamboo socks that's on a mission to save endangered animals one step at a time.  What began with a desire to create a feel-good product has grown into a purpose-driven business that partners with over 30 animal charities, donates 10% of profits, and makes every sock design count. What I love about this co...

In this episode, I sit down with Isaac LeKach and Lillian Shalom , the creative and entrepreneurial duo behind Flower Shop Perfumes Co. , a brand that's blurring the lines between scent, art, and emotion.  What struck me most about our conversation is how personal their approach to fragrance is. For them, perfume isn't just about smelling good; it's about storytelling, self-expression, and creatin...