Eric Martindale: The Future Of Retail Is Digital
The Firebelly Social Show
Eric Martindale is the Founder and CEO of Elite Commerce Group, a full-service agency specializing in Amazon and retail media. Under his leadership, the company has driven over half a billion dollars in retail sales for clients, maintaining a strong focus on testing and innovation to stay at the forefront of digital marketing. A former Marine officer and adventure athlete turned e-commerce authority, Eric is also a passionate technocrat interested in futurism. His unique perspective stems from identifying and exploiting retail frontiers before they become mainstream. In this episode… Retail...
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Dinos Stamoulis: Real Food. Real Talk.
The Firebelly Social Show
Dinos Stamoulis is the Co-founder and Chief of Awesomeness at Paleonola, a company dedicated to crafting delicious grain-free products made from real food ingredients. Under Dinos’ leadership, Paleonola has grown from a local Rhode Island farmers market favorite into a nationwide brand and pioneer in the grain-free movement, maintaining its original values for over 14 years. He is passionate about helping consumers rediscover the power of real food and often shares insights on entrepreneurship and marketing with other founders in the food space. In this episode… Food trends come and go,...
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Rich Moniz: Eye Tracking
The Firebelly Social Show
Richard “Rich” Moniz is the Founder of Rich Insights Research, a firm that helps CPG brands scientifically optimize their packaging by studying real shopper behavior through advanced eye-tracking technology. With a track record of working with industry giants like Kraft, Mondelez, and Hershey’s, Rich has helped both global CPG leaders and emerging brands create packaging that truly stands out and converts at retail. His work bridges behavioral science and practical insight to help brands make clearer, more confident decisions. In this episode… Packaging has just seconds to earn a...
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Laura Markewicz Of Lotza On Turning Trends Into Traction
The Firebelly Social Show
Laura Markewicz is the Founder and CEO of Lotza, a party soda brand redefining how adults celebrate with bold flavor and purposeful function. Under Laura’s leadership, Lotza has achieved regional breakout success, advanced to the Startup World Cup regionals, and completed the SKU CPG accelerator amid the rise of mindful drinking. A former advertising executive with 15+ years of experience, she is driven to reshape the beverage industry with inclusive, fun-forward brands. In this episode… Fun used to come with a hangover and a little guilt baked in. What if celebrating didn’t have to be...
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Emily McIntyre On Building The Future Of Coffee
The Firebelly Social Show
Emily McIntyre is the CEO of Swift Coffee Sourcing, a boutique importer specializing in ethically sourced, high-quality coffee from Peru and Ethiopia. Under her leadership, Swift has nearly quadrupled growth expectations in its first year and boasts a newsletter open rate of over 50%, exemplifying her impact as a storyteller and connector in the specialty coffee industry. A former journalist, world traveler, and consultant to over 100 companies, Emily is known for her unconventional career path, operational expertise, and ability to blend narrative with business strategy. In this episode…...
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Jason Davis: NA Golder Lager With A Mission
The Firebelly Social Show
Jason Davis is the Founder and Brewer at Reveland Brewing and Peralta Beverage, LLC, a company dedicated to crafting elevated, high-quality non-alcoholic (NA) beers that bring real craft credibility to the fast-growing NA category. Previously, he was the R&D and Innovations Brewer at Berkeley Yeast, where he developed yeast strains and NA beer products. Jason's work earned industry acclaim, including thousands of pours at the Great American Beer Festival and key distribution partnerships. He studied brewing science at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and the Doemens Academy in Munich. In...
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Kat Weaver On Investor Psychology
The Firebelly Social Show
Kat Weaver is the CEO and Founder of Power to Pitch, a platform that helps early-stage founders craft compelling pitches and raise capital with confidence. Under her leadership, Power to Pitch has helped secure over $55 million in grants and venture funding. Kat is also a successful exited entrepreneur, active angel investor, and has built a community of over 30,000 LinkedIn followers. Her experience launching and scaling the first company straight out of her college dorm room gives her firsthand empathy for the founder's journey. In this episode… When it comes to raising capital, many...
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Von Teichmans On Popcorn With Purpose
The Firebelly Social Show
Matthew and Jasmine von Teichman are the Founders of Purplesful Snacking Popcorn, a company dedicated to creating healthy, antioxidant-rich purple corn popcorn while donating 25% of profits to children's nutrition charities. Purplesful has achieved widespread growth in both Canada and the US, including a significant launch into 400 Kroger stores, and is on a mission to donate $5 million over the next five years. Matthew is an accomplished ethical investor and three-time Profit 100 and Hot 50 CEO, while Jasmine brings her passion for philanthropy, healthy living, and hands-on leadership to the...
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Mark Samuel On A Better Relationship With Food
The Firebelly Social Show
Mark Samuel is the Founder at MARK’S, a seed oil-free snack brand that just launched a non-GMO kettle chip line. He also drives growth initiatives at Siddhi Capital, a leading venture firm in food and beverage. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, he is known for building high-performance, mission-driven brands, and his recent launch has received rave reviews for its clean ingredients and bold approach to snacking. Outside of his work, Mark is a passionate health and fitness advocate, a dedicated father, and the host of the candid industry podcast Let's Eat. In this episode…...
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Diana Fryc On Voodoo Brands, Good Design Street Cheese & More
The Firebelly Social Show
Diana Fryc is the Chief Growth Officer and Partner at Voodoo Brands, a leading brand strategy and consulting firm helping food, beverage, and wellness brands rise above the noise and drive impact. Under her leadership, Voodoo Brands has guided Fortune 500 corporations and startups through major growth challenges while expanding its strategic services. Diana also serves as Chairperson and President of Naturally Seattle, championing the growth of the Pacific Northwest’s natural products community, and hosts Gooder Podcast. In this episode… In today’s crowded food and beverage...
info_outlineBelle Sharon, PhD, MBA, is the Co‑founder and President of Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn, a Dallas-based, small-batch popcorn brand celebrated for its clean ingredients and bold, flavor-driven approach. With a background in food science, microbiology, food safety, and regulatory compliance, she leads ingredient sourcing and recipe development, ensuring all products meet FDA standards. Under her leadership, Belle’s has earned national acclaim by winning Best in Show for Matcha Latte and Best Salty Snack for Dubai Chocolate at the 2025 Sweets & Snacks Expo.
In this episode…
Breaking into the competitive snack food market with a mission-driven brand is no small feat, especially when trying to balance clean ingredients, family values, and innovation. Many entrepreneurs in the food space struggle to scale production while staying true to their principles. How can a small family-run company compete with national snack brands without compromising quality or identity?
Belle Sharon, a scientist with a PhD in molecular biology and an MBA, shares how she leveraged her expertise in food safety and compliance to create craveable, better-for-you popcorn. She discusses how her family, especially her young son, played a key role in inspiring a full brand reimagining, leading to a cleaner label, inventive new flavors, and character-driven branding. Belle also offers insights into running a business as a mom, keeping innovation agile with a small team, and collaborating with universities to develop young talent.
On this episode of the Firebelly Social Show, Duncan Alney talks with Belle Sharon, Co-founder and President of Belle’s Gourmet Popcorn, about how family and food science drive brand transformation. Belle explains the motivation behind their rebrand, the importance of consumer trust, and how her team stays ahead of trends. She also discusses the snack aisle challenges, personality-driven flavors, and retail expansion.