FIOR Scotch - Breaking the Scotch Rulebook
The Story of a Brand
When I sat down with , the founder of , I knew this was going to be more than a conversation about spirits; it was going to be about reinvention. Eric’s background in beverage alcohol and his vision to bring a new type of scotch to a new kind of drinker made this a compelling deep dive into brand building, innovation, and identity. isn’t trying to be your grandfather’s scotch. It’s a bold, flavorful, and inclusive brand crafted for those who might have never considered sipping scotch before. Eric shares how he’s breaking category conventions, embracing American culture while...
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Weezie - The Secret to Making Consumers Fall in Love With Towels
The Story of a Brand
What does it take to elevate a simple, everyday product into a beloved premium brand? In this episode, I sat down with , Co-Founder & CEO of , to talk about how she’s redefining the towel category with quality, intentionality, and customer delight at the core. Lindsey shares how was built from scratch with a focus on product excellence, brand storytelling, and community feedback. From launching with just a few SKUs to expanding into custom monograms and thoughtful gifting experiences, Weezie’s journey is packed with lessons on scaling direct-to-consumer (DTC) operations,...
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Tights Tights Tights - How to Reinvent a Legacy Retail Brand
The Story of a Brand
In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with , the energetic and passionate owner of , a brand that’s as fun to say as it is to shop. From the moment we started talking, it was clear that Allana brings heart, hustle, and a sense of humor to everything she does. We explored what it takes to scale a family business with integrity, how she’s reinventing a legacy retail experience for modern consumers, and what it means to stay true to your values in a fast-changing world. This conversation is filled with lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience, and how a niche business can...
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Greco Gum - The Science Behind Your Chew
The Story of a Brand
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn a simple idea, like chewing gum, into a performance-driven, clean-label product with serious staying power, this episode is for you. Today, I’m talking with , Co-founder of , a brand redefining what gum can be. Logan shares the real story behind launching a functional gum designed to energize, support focus, and fit seamlessly into active lifestyles. From early product formulations in a blender to landing on shelves in , this is a founder journey that proves how much grit, clarity, and consumer empathy it takes to disrupt even the most...
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Painterland Sisters - How Two Sisters Are Redefining Rural Entrepreneurship
The Story of a Brand
This interview left me feeling inspired and grounded. I sat down with and , the passionate co-owners behind , a family-run brand that’s redefining what it means to bring food from farm to spoon. Raised on a fourth-generation regenerative farm in , they’ve taken their roots and turned them into a vibrant, values-driven business that’s nourishing people and the planet. In our conversation, we dive into how their Icelandic-style yogurt is not just a product, but a platform for connection, connecting consumers to farming, sustainability, and rural America. We talk about the...
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Bodily - What Healthcare Forgot. Bodily Will Deliver.
The Story of a Brand
When it comes to rewriting the rules of women’s health, few founders are doing it with as much heart, rigor, and clarity as . In this episode, I sit down with the founder and CEO of , a brand transforming the postpartum and reproductive health space by making invisible experiences visible and giving women the support they deserve. We talk about the glaring gaps in education and product design that exist for birthing and miscarriage experiences, how Bodily is changing the narrative with science-backed, radically empathetic solutions, and what it takes to pioneer a new category while...
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IZIPIZI - Why IZIPIZI Thinks in Emotions, Not Just SKUs
The Story of a Brand
When a brand makes you smile just by looking at it, you know there’s something special going on. That’s exactly how I felt when I discovered , a company on a mission to bring style, joy, and accessibility to eyewear. In this episode, I sit down with , Co-founder and CEO of , to explore how they transformed a simple idea into a global lifestyle brand by leading with design, affordability, and human-centered values. Charles and I delve into ’s journey from a class project in France to its distribution in over 7,000 stores across more than 80 countries. We talk about the...
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Curious Elixir - The Science and Soul of Curious Elixir
The Story of a Brand
When you meet someone building a brand with soul, you feel it. That’s exactly what happened when I spoke with , the founder of , a line of booze-free cocktails that doesn’t just skip the alcohol but adds in adaptogens, bold flavor, and a whole lot of purpose. We discuss how this brand was born out of personal transformation, how JW is rethinking the celebration culture, and why staying curious has become a guiding principle for both life and business. This is a story about conscious consumption, brand intimacy, and staying true to your values, even when it’s hard. If...
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Aplós - If a Fashion Brand Made a Spirit
The Story of a Brand
When , Founder of , first tried Aplós, she knew there was something different, sophisticated, calming, and beautifully intentional. In this episode, Rose sits down with , Co-founder and CEO of , to unpack how he’s not just building a brand—he’s reimagining what it means to unwind. From to beverage, David’s journey is a masterclass in blending creative vision with operational strategy. We dive deep into how is breaking category codes while anchoring to timeless consumer desires. David shares how his fashion-forward, design-driven mindset helped shape a non-alcoholic spirit...
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BIOLYTE - How Theater Skills Built a Top CPG Brand
The Story of a Brand
When your product is born out of love, necessity, and a mission to help others, it shows. In this episode, I sit down with , CEO of , the first medical-grade hydration drink formulated to deliver the benefits of an IV bag in a bottle. What started as a way to help her mom during cancer treatment has grown into a mission-driven brand helping people stay hydrated across healthcare, athletic, and everyday wellness settings. We dive into Jesslyn’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey, how she leaned on her background in theater to sell products from the ground up, and how ’s...
info_outlineWhen Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, first tried Aplós, she knew there was something different, sophisticated, calming, and beautifully intentional.
In this episode, Rose sits down with David Fudge, Co-founder and CEO of Aplós, to unpack how he’s not just building a brand—he’s reimagining what it means to unwind. From Bonobos to beverage, David’s journey is a masterclass in blending creative vision with operational strategy.
We dive deep into how Aplós is breaking category codes while anchoring to timeless consumer desires. David shares how his fashion-forward, design-driven mindset helped shape a non-alcoholic spirit brand that’s as emotionally resonant as it is operationally sound.
Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or brand strategist, this episode is full of insights that will have you rethinking what brand-building really means today.
Here are a few key moments to listen for:
* How David leveraged a non-beverage background to challenge industry norms—and why not knowing the rules can be an asset.
* The concept of “disciplined disruption”: choosing which category codes to break and which to honor.
* Why bartenders—not just consumers—are key to Aplós’s advocacy and growth strategy.
* Building a go-to-market strategy rooted in both aspiration and data: from DTC learnings to luxury retail partnerships.
* David’s powerful mantra: “Be convicted in vision, malleable in strategy,” and what it means for modern founders navigating fast-changing landscapes.
Join us in listening to the episode to discover how David is crafting more than a product. He’s creating a cultural shift in how we gather, relax, and connect. This is a story of vision, values, and the bold art of brand building.
For more on Aplós, visit: https://www.aplos.world/
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Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/
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