ContenderCast with Justin Honaman

What does it take to think differently, lead boldly, and keep moving forward when even your biggest ideas don't go as planned? In this episode of the ContenderCast, Justin sits down with legendary retail executive Ron Johnson, former CEO of JCPenney, the leader who helped transform Target, and the architect behind Apple's groundbreaking retail stores and Genius Bar. Ron shares lessons from working...

Lindsay McCormick is founder and CEO of Bite. Kick the tube with Bite Toothpaste Bits to help end the 1 billion toothpaste tubes entering landfill and oceans each year. Lindsay is reinventing toothpaste because it's something we put into our bodies by brushing it into our gums and mouths twice a day, every single day of our lives. Flip the label on your typical toothpaste tube and it is full of ch...

After 25 years in corporate marketing, Suzanne Appel turned her entrepreneurial drive into Young CEO Squad, helping kids build real businesses and the confidence to lead. Suzanne joins Justin to discuss her journey as a solo founder and mom, bringing entrepreneurship to more than 300 classrooms nationwide, and exploring AI as a tool for young entrepreneurs. With every kit sold helping fund worksho...

Vacation Darts is a lifestyle and apparel brand founded by Joey Coffin, a 36-year-old former Yelp restaurant manager based in Vancouver (originally from Toronto). A "vacation dart" refers to a cigarette that is smoked exclusively while on vacation. The tongue-in-cheek motto behind the brand is that "vacation darts don't count". It is a rule-free mindset representing the permission to drop everyday...

Natalie Heiter is the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Lofty Pops, a fast-growing, Detroit-based handcrafted ice pop brand. She launched the venture alongside her brother and business partner, Philip Stakich, in July 2024. The siblings debuted Lofty Pops with an initial kiosk at the Detroit Zoo in July 2024. Philip brought prior food-truck and operations experience from running Mari...

Cara Brzezicki is the inventor of The Coffee Stopper, a small, reusable silicone accessory that helps prevent coffee from splashing out of takeout lids. It came from one of those everyday annoyances that made Cara wonder, "Why has nobody solved this?" Cara was not a product-development expert when she started. She simply saw a problem, believed there had to be a better solution, and figured out ho...

Welcome to NULASTIN. They are a transformational beauty brand built on routine, results and longevity science. Their clinically proven, elastin replenishing formulas support healthier looking hair, visibly fuller lashes and brows and resilient skin. Your journey with NULASTIN goes beyond before and afters. It's about reaching confidence milestones that help you feel like you again. Award winning m...

You deserve the best care for your child's health. At Dr. Noze Best they bring hospital-grade efficiency and safety right to your home with innovative healthcare products developed by a pediatric ENT that support a healthier, happier respiratory system for your baby. Christy Brown is the CEO of Dr. Noze Best. Under her leadership, the brand has scaled rapidly, expanding into major retailers like T...

Waiakea® was founded in Hilo, Hawai'i in 2012 as the first Hawaiian volcanic water and triple bottom line premium water of its kind, adapting an unparalleled platform of healthy, sustainable, and ethical attributes and initiatives. Their mission is to provide healthy Hawaiian volcanic water with the blessing of indigenous kupuna and konohiki, while contributing to and promoting clean water access,...

Ron Friedman, PhD, is an award-winning psychologist who helps leaders build high-performing teams. He is the bestselling author of The Best Place to Work and Decoding Greatness. His new book, Superteams: The Science and Secrets of High-Performing Teams, reveals what the best teams do differently. Superteams reveals what the best teams do differently, based on the most comprehensive study of elite...

Made with real ingredients, 5 electrolytes, and a natural taste you'll love, Coco5 is perfect for at the gym, on the go—and even the morning after a long night out. Treat yourself to active hydration that's actually good. Real good. That's Coco5. Jim Reynolds joins Justin to discuss this high-growth brand!

Snakkidz was born out of a simple yet powerful eureka moment: Why should parents have to choose between a snack that's healthy and one that's fun and tasty? They decided it was high time to blend the best of both worlds into every bite, making snack time the highlight of the day, not just another hurdle to overcome. They are all about making 'healthy' the new 'happy' for snack time for kids and pa...

LensDirect is a family-owned, New York-based online retailer specializing in contact lenses, eyeglasses, and specialized lens replacements for existing frames. Operating for over 30 years, they offer major brand contacts, LensDirect branded eyewear, and a popular mail-in service that replaces old lenses with new prescriptions. CEO, Ryan Alovis joins Justin to share the LensDirect story!

Mark Rampolla built ZICO Coconut Water over nine years and sold it to Coca-Cola for over $200M. Then seven years later, bought it back. Now he's rebuilding it bigger than ever, going for $1B+, and documenting the entire process. Mark also leads GroundForce Capital, a $600M firm investing in companies like Liquid Death, Bobbie, and Humm Kombucha. And he's using this rebuilt operating system—Freedom...

Everbowl is a Southern California-based fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in customizable superfood bowls and smoothies aimed at promoting a healthy, "unevolved" lifestyle. Founded in 2016, it features fruit-based bases like acai, pitaya, and graviola topped with fresh fruit, granola, and nuts. Founder Jeff Fenster joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing brand!

Olowo-n'djo Tchala (Olo) is the founder of Alaffia, the fair-trade beauty brand he built for two decades. Olo joins Justin to discuss launching and growing this clean, green, fair-trade brand!

Jason Wong is the award-winning Founder and CEO of Paking Duck, a revolutionary packaging manufacturing company that's redefining how consumer brands bring products to market. Born in Hong Kong and immigrating to America at age 8, Jason combines his bicultural perspective with serial entrepreneurial success—starting his first business at age 14 and achieving his first major win at 23 with Doe Lash...

When Clara Sieg was pregnant with her daughter, she became acutely aware of what she was putting in and on her body. She focused on avoiding toxins and plastics, and there seemed to be thoughtful alternatives in nearly every category - from food to personal care to home cleaning. But when it came to water, things got murky. She couldn't make sense of what was actually in tap water, and the more sh...

Boston-based American Vinegar Works is bringing artisanal vinegar back to the US, reviving a centuries-old fermentation process from the 1820s, transforming it into a modern craft brand that meets growing consumer demand for authentic, clean-label, premium pantry staples. The vinegar market is a $10.8B global industry, and specialty vinegars are among the fastest-growing categories, projected to e...

Every goal that you're pursuing has two hidden numbers attached to it—a probability of success and a probability of failure. Whether you're trying to start a business, run a marathon, get a promotion, earn a pilot's license, grow a bumper crop of tomatoes, or sign an acting deal, these two percentages are always lurking in the shadows predicting what is going to happen. But most of us never think...

PeeSport is America's #1 Pee Bottle Company. They're making life easier and more fun for thousands of people. Their product is fun, useful, and life changing. Thousands of truckers, travelers, clinics, festival-goers, and adventurers trust PeeSport for relief on the go. But they are not just selling pee bottles, they are building something bigger. A brand that makes people laugh, that's all about...

Introducing the world's first AI-powered, fully automatic safe smart cooking system ( www. CookTopSafety.com ) and SensorAI – AI innovators specializing in predictive and preventative technology solutions. The CTS focus is on aging in place, multi-family and student housing, IoT connected kitchen and SaaS. Cooktop Safety (CTS) founder and CEO David Eby joins Justin to discuss innovation in tech an...

High Level, co-founded by Ashley Parker Angel and Bobby Klebanoff, is revolutionizing the wellness industry with a unique dual-business model. When the worlds of entertainment and medicine come together, something extraordinary happens. Ashley Parker Angel, known for his dynamic stage presence and transformation coaching, and Dr. David Rizik, a global leader in cardiovascular medicine, teamed up t...

From concept to completion, creating the Desert Dwellers Flash Cards has been an enriching and fulfilling experience. These flash cards blend education and fine art, designed to captivate young minds and foster a love for the unique wildlife of the desert. Julie Bonner joins Justin to discuss how to best leverage creative design with consumer products!

Hala Shamas is the Founder and CEO of Sipsy, a discover-driven alcohol retail and e-commerce platform redefining how consumers discover and shop for spirits. With a background in digital growth and brand building, she has scaled Sipsy from a startup concept into a multi-channel business spanning brick-and-mortar retail, nationwide shipping, and tech-enabled e-commerce. Hala blends data-driven stra...