The Story of a Brand Show

Welcome to The Story Of A Brand Show. Hear the unique entrepreneurial journeys of 1000+ Consumer Brand founders. We tap into the doubts, failures, wins and inspirations that come with building Consumer Brand startups in extremely competitive times. Whether you own a brand or work for one, you will learn from our guests as they share the building blocks of their brand’s evolution. Who knows, you may even discover a few new products that become faves.

First Day - How First Day Built a $100M Brand Without the VC Treadmill 08/06/2026

First Day - How First Day Built a $100M Brand Without the VC Treadmill Growth conceals a weak business, but choice proves whether your brand has earned real trust. In a $20 billion supplement industry flooded with endless trends and questionable promises, earning true consumer belief requires much more than slick marketing—it takes radical discipline. In this episode, , CEO of , sits down with , Founder & CEO of , to explore how she transformed a deeply personal family history into an operating philosophy for building a trusted, science-backed wellness brand. Alice unpacks the strategic decisions behind turning into a powerhouse—scaling to nine figures with less than $1 million in outside capital—while prioritizing capital efficiency, unit economics, and long-term brand legacy over fast, short-term trends. Here is what we cover in this episode: * Generational History as an Operating Philosophy: How her family’s experience during the Great Chinese Famine shaped Alice’s deep sense of responsibility and mission in nutrition. * Saying No to $20B Market Fads: Why First Day deliberately walked away from massive, hype-driven product trends like apple cider vinegar gummies to protect brand trust and clinical integrity. * Building for Trust Over Speed: The key differences between optimizing a business for immediate exit potential versus constructing a brand with 20- to 30-year staying power. * Obsession with Customer Intimacy: How taking customer support calls personally—and hearing the real stories of overwhelmed parents and grandparents—grounded First Day’s value proposition. * Unit Economics over Fundraising: How Alice scaled the business to over $100 million in revenue with under $1 million in funding by staying ruthlessly disciplined about contribution margins from day one. * The Retail Delay Strategy: Why Alice turned down major mass-retail partnerships for nearly three years until the team, supply chain, and unit economics were truly ready to execute flawlessly. Join us in listening to this episode! For more on First Day visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/42341885

POCA - What Building Hims and Hers Taught Her About Starting Over 07/08/2026

POCA - What Building Hims and Hers Taught Her About Starting Over She Co-Founded Hims and Hers. Now She's Coming for Your Morning Routine. sits down with , Co-Founder & CEO of and Co-Founder of , for a warm and revealing conversation about the lessons learned scaling a billion-dollar brand, the gap in the low-sugar coffee and matcha category, and the deeply personal conviction behind her newest venture. * The suit story that changed everything. At 22, living at her mom's house on $30,000 a year, Hilary's boss quietly sent her to a private shopper and bought her two suits. It wasn't about the clothes. It was about being told, without words, that she belonged in the room. That moment shaped how she leads and how she shows up for others to this day. * What Hims and Hers taught her that no business school could. Building a category-defining brand from zero gave Hilary a front-row seat to what it really takes to scale with speed while staying true to the consumer. She brought every lesson into . * The gap nobody was filling. Hilary wanted a low-sugar, great-tasting coffee and matcha option that didn't taste like a compromise. When she couldn't find one, she built it. uses allulose and monk fruit for sweetness, adds a boost of fiber, and comes in flavors like vanilla, caramel, and pistachio. * Ritual is the product. is not just a beverage. It is designed to become the warm cup of something special that anchors your morning and your day. Hilary talks about building a brand that people reach for not because they have to, but because they genuinely want to. * Watch closely toward summer and fall. New flavors and innovations are on the way as POCA continues to clean up the coffee and matcha aisle. Right now they are available at pickpoca.com and TikTok Shop. Join us in listening to this episode for a genuinely inspiring conversation about building with intention, leading with belief in others, and finding the white space hiding in a category everyone else overlooked. Whether you are a founder, a wellness-minded consumer, or someone who just wants something sweet without the sugar crash, this one has something for you. Visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/42014615

Raw Sugar - What Retail Really Reveals About Your Brand 07/01/2026

Raw Sugar - What Retail Really Reveals About Your Brand Getting on shelf is not the win. Staying there is the business. , CEO of and co-host of , sits down with , CEO of , for a masterclass in what retail really reveals about a brand. With more than 20,000 doors across , , CVS, Walgreens, Meijer, Sally Beauty, Amazon, and DTC, is one of the most compelling case studies in mass retail execution in the clean personal care space today. * Clean personal care at mass retail prices is not a tagline. It is an operating model. Raw Sugar launched as a Target exclusive with a deceptively simple belief: clean personal care should not cost more than conventional personal care. That mission drove every formula, fragrance, packaging, and supply chain decision the brand has ever made. * Operational execution comes before brand strategy. The first thing any retailer watches is whether you can supply product on time, in full, at consistent quality. Michael is direct: the worst thing a brand can do is win the shelf and then fail to fill it. * Retail compresses the truth. In DTC you can retarget, rewrite the landing page, and buy yourself more time. In retail the shelf does not care how hard you worked. The consumer either gets it in seconds or they don't. And the weekly scorecards come fast. * A restage is a consumer trust event, not a design project. When evolved its packaging, the team knew that loyal consumers needed to recognize the brand, understand the change, and feel reassured rather than disrupted. Getting that choreography right is one of the most underestimated challenges in brand building. * Do not go too big too fast. Michael's sharpest advice for any founder heading into retail: hold back on the temptation to chase doors and scale before the brand is fully baked. Place is part of brand positioning. Make sure the channel is a logical extension of what the brand actually stands for. Join us in listening to this episode for one of the most practically useful retail conversations the show has ever produced. Rose and Michael cover shelf clarity, velocity, brand restaging, omnichannel discipline, and what it really takes to compete against the giants without acting like a smaller version of one. Whether you are already in retail or working hard to get there, this conversation will change how you think about the channel. For more on Raw Sugar visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41916895

Farmana - Health Is a Verb. Start Acting Like It. 06/25/2026

Farmana - Health Is a Verb. Start Acting Like It. Most supplement brands start with a formula. started with a philosophy. sits down with , Co-Founder of , for a deeply thoughtful conversation about twenty-two years of experience in the health and wellness industry, a personal transformation that changed everything, and a brand built on the radical idea that real nutrition should begin where it always has: the farm. * Health is a verb, not an adjective. Jason's core belief, forged through over two decades in the supplement industry, is that health is something you continuously do, not something you have. That insight is baked into every Farmana product and every decision the brand makes. * Farm to function. bridges the gap between whole food nutrition and functional supplementation, taking real, nutrient-dense ingredients from carefully vetted organic farmers and preserving their goodness through a proprietary freeze-drying process that keeps the food as close to its original state as possible. * The personal transformation behind the brand. Five years ago Jason weighed 260 pounds. Not through radical change but through a large quantity of small conscious choices, he found himself in the best health of his life at 46. That lived experience is the real origin story of . * The sea of compromise in the supplement aisle. With 25,000 products and 400 brands on typical health food store shelves, consumers face more confusion than clarity. Farmana was built to cut through that noise with formulations that don't compromise, combining whole food nutrition with proven functional ingredients in a single product. * Patience over guilt. Jason's most powerful message for anyone on a health journey: stop carrying the guilt of what you haven't done and start taking one conscious step at a time. You didn't get here overnight. You won't get out of it overnight either. Join us in listening to this episode for a conversation that is as much about mindset as it is about nutrition. Jason brings twenty-two years of industry experience, a personal story of transformation, and a genuine belief that better health is available to everyone willing to take that one next step. Visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41805565

Taza Chocolate - Stay True to the Craft. Outlast the Competition 06/12/2026

Taza Chocolate - Stay True to the Craft. Outlast the Competition A flood destroyed the factory, the FDA shut them down, and the company had almost no cash and then something remarkable happened. sits down with , Founder & CEO of , for a deeply human conversation about twenty-plus years of stone-ground, mission-driven chocolate making in Somerville, Massachusetts. From a transformative trip to to pioneering direct trade relationships with cocoa farmers in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Alex's story is one of the most compelling in the specialty food world. * The flood that almost ended everything. Just a few years into building , a freak thunderstorm flooded the factory, destroyed inventory, and triggered an FDA shutdown. What happened next surprised even Alex: suppliers, customers, landlord, and community all showed up. That moment taught him that business is deeply human at its core. * A trip to Oaxaca that changed everything. The name comes from "taza de chocolate," a traditional Mexican drinking chocolate. After visiting stone mills in southern Mexico in his twenties, Alex came home and built the only company in America making chocolate on traditional Mexicano stone mills — and that founding commitment still defines every bar made today. * Direct trade before it was a trend. Taza built relationships directly with cocoa farmers, paying above fair trade prices and publishing an annual transparency report. When the global cocoa crisis hit and prices spiked, those long-standing farmer relationships became a genuine competitive and operational lifeline. * Twenty years of staying independent. Taza raised only $120,000 at the start and never chased outside capital. Alex walks through what two decades of bootstrapping in an intensely competitive specialty food category actually teaches you about patience, resilience, and staying true to your craft. * Start with the Wicked Dark. Taza's number one seller is a 95% dark chocolate bar made with cocoa beans from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Alex also points new fans to the Mexican Style Chocolate Discs, the product that best captures who Taza has always been. Join us in listening to this episode for a rich and genuinely moving conversation about craft, community, and what it means to build a brand with deep roots and unshakeable values over two decades. Whether you are a chocolate lover, a founder, or someone who just needs a reminder of why the mission matters, this one will stay with you. Visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41614470

I and Love and You - The Operator's Playbook for Pet 06/10/2026

I and Love and You - The Operator's Playbook for Pet Pet food looks like a food category, but it behaves like a trust category and nobody understands that better than . , CEO of and co-host of , sits down with Michael for an operator masterclass that goes far beyond pet food into the deeper mechanics of how premium consumer brands get built, scaled, and sustained. With experience across , , , , and , Michael brings a rare pattern recognition that every founder, operator, and investor needs to hear. * Pet food is a trust category, not a food category. The dog or cat either eats it or doesn't. The pet parent either feels reassured or doesn't. Repeat purchase is the only real trust metric that matters, and building toward it requires discipline most brands skip. * Cats are the most underbuilt opportunity in premium pets. All the innovation went to dogs. Cat parents were always emotionally invested; the category just never gave them enough ways to express it. That is changing now, and it has to be intentional to work. * The Bobby Flay lesson every founder needs. Celebrity partnerships only work when they make the product promise more believable. Made by Nacho added depth to an existing thesis. It was not motion for motion's sake. * Distribution is not demand. Awareness is not trust. Getting on shelf is not the win. Turning and staying on shelf is the business. Scaling before your system is ready does not create growth, it creates expensive complexity. * Don't rush it. Michael's sharpest advice for founders under pressure to scale: take a breath, think it through, then come back. Speed without clarity is one of the most costly mistakes a growing brand can make. Join us in listening to this episode for one of the most practically useful operator conversations the show has ever produced. Rose and Michael cover category signals, acquisition lessons, channel strategy, celebrity partnerships, and the discipline required to scale without breaking what you built. Whether you are a founder, an operator, or an investor, this one will sharpen how you think about building consumer brands that last. For more on I and Love and You visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave T a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41601270

Apothékary - She Left Wall Street to Redefine Wellness 06/03/2026

Apothékary - She Left Wall Street to Redefine Wellness She left , moved to Mozambique for a year, and came back to build one of the most distinct wellness brands in America. CEO of and co-host of , sits down with , Founder & CEO of , for a masterclass in what it really means to build a brand system not just a product line. From a New York City billboard to a Series A close, Apothékary is proof that deep roots and radical clarity can outpace any amount of paid media spend. * Three iterations before liftoff. started as a pop-up store rooted in Ayurveda, evolved into powders, and eventually landed on liquid supplements, a format Shizu now considers a near-monopoly position. The lesson: your first product is almost never your final one. * Heritage as an operating system, not a mood board. Shizu's Japanese roots show up in how the company hires, iterates, and moves; guided by the principle of Kaizen, continuous improvement. It's not packaging. It's how the business runs. * TikTok crossed a million dollars a month and here's why. 's TikTok success isn't about chasing the algorithm. It's built on 20,000+ affiliates creating education-first content around a visually distinctive blue liquid dropper that stops the scroll and earns the click. * Retail forced brutal clarity. Entering , , and forced Apothékary to put ingredient benefits bigger than the brand name on packaging. The consumer doesn't have time for your founder story in the aisle and that discipline makes the brand stronger everywhere. * Distribution is the moat. In a category where products get copied, Shizu's sharpest insight is that the real defensibility is distribution, the ability to play in grocery, health care, and beauty simultaneously, backed by proprietary formulas and Shiseido as a strategic investor. Join us in listening to this episode for one of the most intellectually rigorous and practically useful brand conversations we've had on the show. Rose and Shizu cover signal, thesis, behavior, and proof, the four pillars of a brand that becomes easier to understand and harder to copy over time. Whether you're a founder, an operator, or an investor, this one will sharpen how you think. For more on Apothékary visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41524305

Eli Health - Your Hormones Are Talking. Are You Listening? 06/02/2026

Eli Health - Your Hormones Are Talking. Are You Listening? Most people get their hormone levels tested once a year — if they think about it at all. , Co-Founder & CEO of , is on a mission to change that. sits down with Marina for a fascinating conversation about the technology she spent nearly seven years building: a saliva-based, at-home hormone monitoring platform that delivers cortisol, testosterone, and progesterone results to your phone in minutes, giving people real-time visibility into one of the most overlooked dimensions of their health. * The gap nobody was solving. After searching online for a way to track her own hormonal data, Marina realized the product didn't exist. So she built it, spending more than six years on R&D, regulatory approval, and venture capital before bringing it to market. * Hormones affect everything, not just fertility. From energy and mood to sleep, libido, bone health, cardiac health, and cognitive performance, Marina breaks down why hormonal data is one of the most important and most underused signals in personal wellness. * The wearable parallel that puts it all in context. Checking your hormones once a year is like measuring your heartbeat once a year: technically useful, but dangerously incomplete. gives users the same continuous feedback loop that smartwatches brought to sleep and heart rate. * A six-second saliva test. Results in 20 minutes. Users collect saliva, wait 20 minutes, then photograph the test to receive results directly in the app. Repeat over time and you build a hormonal picture that no annual blood draw could ever provide. * Cortisol first, for good reason. launched with cortisol because it sits at the top of the hormonal cascade. When cortisol is off, everything else follows. Testosterone and progesterone, including their interactions, are coming next. Join us in listening to this episode for a genuinely eye-opening conversation about hormonal health, the future of at-home diagnostics, and what it means to build a category that didn't exist before you created it. Whether you're a health-conscious consumer, a founder, or someone who just wants to understand what their body is actually telling them, this one is for you. Visit: Try their Instant Cortisol Test: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41510510

Snakkidz - The Snack Bar Your Kids Will Actually Eat 05/21/2026

Snakkidz - The Snack Bar Your Kids Will Actually Eat What if the snack in your kid's lunchbox was doing more harm than good? sits down with , Co-Founder of , for a warm and eye-opening conversation about the state of kids' nutrition, the problem with processed snacks, and the family business born from one dad's refusal to settle for the status quo. makes chewy, gluten-free, better-for-you snack bars for kids — no dyes, no seed oils, low sugar, and short ingredient lists — and Steve's passion for educating parents is as compelling as the product itself. * It started with a kindergarten worksheet. When Steve's son came home with a word find sponsored by junk food brands, something clicked. That moment, combined with his manufacturing cousins' vision, sparked a family business built on the belief that kids deserve better — and parents deserve the truth. * The label lesson every parent needs. Steve breaks down exactly what to look for in a kids' snack: no artificial dyes, low sugar, no seed oils, and as few ingredients as possible. Simple rules that most popular snack brands quietly fail. * Kids have to love it — or it doesn't matter. Snakkidz went back to the drawing board on early flavors based on real consumer feedback. The result is a line of chewy, non-crumbling bars in flavors like Chunky Monkey, Strawberry, and Chocolate Chip that kids actually ask for again. * Lead by example, not by lecture. Steve and Ramon share a genuine conversation about how healthy habits in kids start with what parents model at home — from cooking together to reading labels to showing, not telling. * A family business built on trust. With a manufacturing background on one side of the family and marketing expertise on the other, was built on complementary skills and mutual respect — and that foundation shows in every decision they make. Join us in listening to this episode for a candid, practical, and genuinely heartfelt conversation about kids' health, nutrition education, and what it really takes to build a better-for-you brand from scratch. Whether you're a parent looking for a snack you can feel good about or a founder building in the food space — this one is worth your time. To learn more about Snakkidz, visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41366845

LensDirect - The Founder Who Refused to Quit 05/20/2026

LensDirect - The Founder Who Refused to Quit He sold the family business, watched someone else run it into the ground, and then bought it back. , CEO of and co-host of , sits down with , CEO of , for one of the most honest and layered founder conversations the show has ever hosted. has been in Ryan's family for a hundred years; from a great-grandfather selling frames off a pushcart on the Lower East Side to one of the most fiercely independent online vision care companies in America. This is not a comeback story. It's a discipline story. * The buyback nobody saw coming. After was sold by his family in 2004, Ryan spent years building subscription businesses before he spotted an opportunity to acquire it back. What he bought wasn't a thriving business — it was bruised, small, and undervalued. He saw the soul everyone else had overlooked. * Independence as a competitive strategy. In a category racing toward consolidation and capital, Ryan made a deliberate choice to stay independent, stay lean, and build brick by brick — even when overcapitalized competitors made it look like they were winning. * The $10 million bet that almost didn't pay off. Ryan made a massive infrastructure investment right before COVID hit. He breaks down why that decision — which could have sunk everything — ultimately became one of the defining moves in 's modern chapter. * Growth without identity is just expansion. Ryan and Rose dig into what it really means to modernize a legacy brand without erasing its soul — and why protecting the core identity matters more than chasing every shiny opportunity the market throws at you. * Working with family is a leadership story. From his father to his brother, has always had family threads running through it. Ryan shares what he's learned about patience, boundaries, and why there can only be one person calling the real shots. Join us in listening to this episode for a masterclass in founder discipline, brand identity, and what it really means to earn the right to exist in a competitive category — brick by brick. Whether you're building, acquiring, or figuring out your brand's next chapter, this conversation will give you a lot to think about. For more on LensDirect visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41352315

Boarderie - How Boarderie Cracked the Code on Premium D2C Food 05/13/2026

Boarderie - How Boarderie Cracked the Code on Premium D2C Food Most edible gifting businesses don't work at scale, the logistics are brutal, the margins get squeezed, and the moment quality slips, the whole experience breaks. built anyway, and it worked. , CEO of and co-host of , sits down with Rachel to unpack how a finance background, a COVID pivot, and an obsession with operational precision turned a 2,000 square foot commissary kitchen into one of the most impressive D2C food businesses in America. * A category nobody else wanted — and exactly why she chose it. Rachel saw what others missed: a $100+ year-old edible gifting category that had never been innovated on, wide open for a founder willing to do the hard operational work to get there. * Profitable from day one, on purpose. With a finance mind running the growth engine, was never going to be a "grow now, profit later" story. Rachel treated the ad account like a trading account — efficient CAC, disciplined spend, and a relentless focus on the bottom line from the very beginning. * Premium execution is an operations story, not a branding story. Shipping 35,000 handmade boards a day during peak season, with FedEx turning planes around in Memphis to keep up — the wow moment customers experience starts hours before the box ever opens. * Bootstrap founders learn what funded founders often don't. When there's no safety net, you have no choice but to figure it out. Rachel's team did every job themselves — paid media, content, logistics, production — before hiring anyone to do it for them. * Don't build for the coastal bubble. Build for the country. Rachel's sharpest advice for founders: stop chasing what's trendy in New York and LA, and start asking what the rest of America actually needs. That's where the real white space lives. Join us in listening to this episode for one of the most practically useful founder conversations we've had in a while. Rachel doesn't just inspire — she gives you a framework. From bootstrapping to to scaling dessert as a second category, this is a masterclass in what it really takes to build a profitable, operationally excellent consumer brand. For more on Boarderie visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41282905

The Mind Company - Train Your Brain Like You Train Your Body 05/12/2026

The Mind Company - Train Your Brain Like You Train Your Body sits down with , COO of , for a conversation that starts with a sobering question: what's actually happening to the human brain right now and what can we do about it? is the only company in the world to win App of the Year twice, from both and , and with three distinct apps — Elevate, Balance, and Spark — it's quietly building one of the most compelling mental fitness platforms in the world. * The data behind the mental fitness crisis. Average attention spans have dropped from two and a half minutes to just 47 seconds in the last two decades. IQs are declining. Critical thinking is being outsourced to AI. Dan breaks down the numbers and why the stakes have never been higher. * Three apps, one mission. Elevate sharpens cognitive skills through brain training games. Balance delivers highly personalized meditation, mindfulness, and sleep support. And Spark, the newest app, is a daily puzzle experience for curious people who want to learn something new every single day. * Human creativity in a world of AI shortcuts. In an app store flooded with AI-generated products, builds everything with human editors, writers, and designers. Dan makes the case that judgment, taste, and creativity can't be automated and The Mind Company is proof. * The right framework beats founder mode. Dan shares his management philosophy: give people responsibility before they've earned it, build clear decision-making frameworks, and trust your team to grow. It's how he's built every company he's been a part of. * Mental fitness is the superpower nobody is talking about. Whether you're a founder, a parent, or just trying to stay sharp in a distracted world, Dan's message is clear: take care of your brain the way you take care of your body — and start now. Join us in listening to this episode for a fascinating and genuinely thought-provoking conversation about the state of the human mind, what mental fitness actually means, and why the apps The Mind Company has built might be the most important ones on your phone. To explore all three apps — Elevate, Balance, and Spark — available now on iOS and Android, visit The Mind Company: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41266440

PawCo & Genius Dog - Your Dog is Like Family. Feed them Like it. 04/30/2026

PawCo & Genius Dog - Your Dog is Like Family. Feed them Like it. sits down with , PhD, Founder & CEO of , for a conversation that's as much about love and purpose as it is about pet nutrition. Mahsa didn't set out to disrupt the pet food industry — she set out to take better care of her dog, Paco. What follows is a story of science, conviction, and a growing movement of pet parents who believe their dogs deserve a whole lot more than a bowl of kibble. * A founder story that starts with a dog named Paco. After her PhD in nanoscience and time as an early scientist at Impossible Foods, Mahsa couldn't find a single pet food she felt good about. was born from that search. * The next generation of pet food. Fresh, plant-based recipes formulated with probiotics, postbiotics, and targeted health toppers for gut health, joints, skin, coat, and heart, treating dogs the way health-conscious pet parents treat themselves. * : beyond food, into the bond. Launching in May with a NASDAQ Tower announcement, is a monthly subscription box built around the idea that dogs thrive when they experience new things. Popcorn. Champagne. Games. Things your dog can't find anywhere else. * Don't wait until you're ready. Mahsa's most hard-won lesson: launch before it's perfect, build a team that believes in the mission, and let the customer feedback shape what comes next. * Impact as the north star. From shelter donations to customers whose allergic dogs finally found food that works, Mahsa measures success one dog at a time. Join us in listening to this episode for a warm, genuine conversation about building a brand from the heart and why pet wellness is just getting started. For more on PawCo, visit: For more on Genius Dog, visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41077360

Cloud Water Filters - Clean Water Isn't a Given Anymore 04/29/2026

Cloud Water Filters - Clean Water Isn't a Given Anymore , CEO of and co-host of , sits down with , Founder & CEO of , for a conversation that cuts right to the heart of one of the most overlooked categories in consumer wellness. isn't just a better water filter, it's a second-act founder's bet that the water sitting quietly under your kitchen sink is the next major frontier in the modern health-conscious home. * A second-act founder who chose harder, on purpose. After selling to , Ben applied everything he learned about recurring revenue and brand trust to tackle a far bigger, more complex problem: a water filtration category that hadn't meaningfully innovated in decades. * "Safe to drink" and "healthy to drink" are not the same thing. From PFAS forever chemicals to lead pipes contaminating water between the treatment plant and your home, Ben breaks down why reverse osmosis is the only technology that truly creates a clean slate. * The black box problem no one was solving. Legacy systems gave consumers zero visibility. Cloud's connected app delivers real-time water quality data, intelligent filter-change alerts, and remote diagnostics — turning a forgotten appliance into a trusted relationship. * Data as a moat. The behavioral and water quality data Cloud captures powers a customer service experience legacy players simply can't replicate — and drives the kind of lifetime retention that makes the unit economics work. * Demand was never the problem — hardware is hard. Chip shortages, tariffs, and capital-intensive inventory have been the real challenge. Ben's candor here is a masterclass in what experienced founders understand that first-timers often don't. Join us in listening to this episode for a genuinely eye-opening conversation about water, wellness, and what it really means to build a modern consumer brand in a category that's been quietly ignored for far too long. Whether you're a founder, an operator, or someone who just wants to know what's actually in the water your family drinks every day, this one is worth your time. For more on Cloud Water Filters visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41062830

Acely - He Scaled AllTrails. Now He's Coming for the SAT. 04/28/2026

Acely - He Scaled AllTrails. Now He's Coming for the SAT. sits down with , CEO of , for a conversation that spans two decades of startup building, a category-defining exit, and a brand-new mission to help high school students conquer the SAT and ACT. Ron is the kind of founder who doesn't just build companies he transforms categories. From scaling from a six-person team to a household name, to launching with his daughter as his first inspiration, this is a story about pattern recognition, relentless optimism, and knowing when it's time to go again. * AllTrails: the pivot that changed everything. Ron took over a struggling six-person app in 2015 and made one bold call on day one; stop targeting hardcore hikers and start welcoming everyone. That single brand pivot helped turn AllTrails into one of the most beloved outdoor apps in the world. * The pandemic bet that paid off. When COVID hit and outdoor recreation stopped overnight, Ron pushed all the chips in instead of retreating. By the end of that summer, everything had changed. * Hire smarter. Then get out of the way. Ron's operating philosophy: learner's mindset always, surround yourself with people better than you, give them a clear target, and let them run. * : a dad trying to help his daughter. An AI-powered SAT and ACT prep platform with 14,000 questions, 50 full-length tests, and adaptive study plans — built for a generation that lives on their phones. * Why niche beats horizontal every time. In a world of AI platforms trying to be everything to everyone, Ron is betting on vertical depth and the kind of trust that big platforms simply can't earn. Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this episode for one of the most candid conversations about what it actually takes to build and scale a consumer brand not once, but four times. Whether you have a high schooler prepping for college admissions or you're a founder looking for a real talk on scaling, this one delivers. Visit acely.com to learn more. For more on Acely, visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/41033190

Naturepedic - What's Inside Your Mattress and Why You Probably Don't Want to Know 04/23/2026

Naturepedic - What's Inside Your Mattress and Why You Probably Don't Want to Know Ramon Vela sits down with , Chief Growth Officer at , to dig into one of the most quietly compelling brand stories in the sleep and wellness space. isn't just another wellness brand riding the organic wave — it's a company built from genuine conviction, founded by engineers who refused to compromise long before "clean" was cool. From a river that caught on fire in 1969 to one of the most trusted names in organic sleep, this is a brand story worth knowing. * Origin story rooted in purpose. was born in 2003 when co-founder Barry — an environmental engineer — went to buy a crib mattress for his grandchild, read the label, and came home empty-handed. His refusal to expose a newborn to toxic chemicals sparked a pioneering organic mattress company, still handcrafted today by an 80% Amish workforce. * Transparency as the ultimate competitive advantage. In a market full of greenwashing, 's open-door factory policy says it all — editors, influencers, and consumers are welcome to see exactly how every product is made. No hidden chemicals, no shortcuts, no exceptions. * Influencer marketing that tripled revenue. Leaning into authentic creator partnerships helped Naturepedic find a human voice for a brand long written from an "engineer's gaze" — and fueled triple the revenue growth over the last six years. * What's actually in your baby's mattress. From phthalate-laden vinyl waterproofing to breathable designs that can breed black mold in nine days, Arin breaks down what most parents never think to ask — and why it matters more than almost any other purchase you'll make for your child. * The EOS mattress: built to never end up in a landfill. With 20 million mattresses dumped every year, Naturepedic's unzippable EOS line lets owners swap comfort layers instead of replacing the whole mattress — cutting returns, reducing waste, and letting couples with different sleep needs finally stop arguing. Join me, , in listening to this episode for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build a brand with no-compromise integrity over two decades. Whether you're a new parent, a founder, or just long overdue for a better night's sleep — this one is worth your time. Visit and check out their Earth Day sale for 20% off site-wide. For more info on Naturepedic visit, If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/40993450

Dutch Pet, Inc. - Pet Healthcare Is Broken. Dutch is Rebuilding it 04/21/2026

Aware House - What Etsy Got Wrong and How She's Fixing It 04/16/2026

Aware House - What Etsy Got Wrong and How She's Fixing It In this episode, sits down with , Founder and CEO of — a curated online marketplace built exclusively to support independent, small-batch makers. shares how frustration with overcrowded platforms like Etsy led her to build something better: a discovery destination where quality, craftsmanship, and transparency come first. * From frustration to founder. After watching get flooded with factory drop-shipped knockoffs, Lauren saw a gap and built Aware House to fill it — launching in 2023 with one clear mission: make shopping small easy and enjoyable. * Curation is everything. Every vendor is vetted for at least a year in business, strong product photography, and a transparent supply chain before making the cut. * 80%+ Made in the USA. The platform leans heavily domestic, and international vendors must have a direct, personal relationship with their artisanal partners — not just a factory contract. * Marketing is the universal struggle. Getting discovered is brutal. Lauren's advice? Get as niche as possible — then go even deeper. * Built without a roadmap. Lauren had zero entrepreneurial experience when she started, learned by doing, and didn't go full-time until August 2024. * More than a marketplace — a community. With 150+ vendor partners and growing, Aware House gives independent makers real visibility and discerning shoppers something genuinely worth buying. Lauren's story is a reminder that the best businesses often start with a personal frustration and the courage to just go build it. For more on Aware House, visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/40878475

SATHI - Affiliate marketing is broken, Yash Chavan built the fix 04/15/2026

A-Frame Brands - Why Getting Into Retail Might Be Your Biggest Mistake 04/15/2026

A-Frame Brands - Why Getting Into Retail Might Be Your Biggest Mistake Most Brands Don't Fail Because They Can't Get Into Retail — They Fail Because They Got There Too Soon. In this episode of , host sits down with , Founder & CEO of — the strategic operator behind multiple consumer brands built across 10,000+ retail doors. Ari has spent his career building brands from the inside out, and this conversation pulls back the curtain on what really happens after you land that big retail moment — and why that moment might be the beginning of your biggest problem. * Retail isn't the finish line — it's the test. Getting into 3,000 stores sounds like a win. Ari explains why it's often a financial trap — and why starting in your best 250 is the smarter play. * The celebrity is the catalyst, not the company. , , — the brands that win start with a real market opportunity and a great product. The famous face just accelerates what's already working. * Ideas are cheap. Execution is everything. The difference between a founder and someone with a good idea? The refusal to accept anything but success. Vision without follow-through is just a coffee conversation. * COVID launched a brand — and a founder. Ari packed boxes in his garage and biked orders to the post office to launch his first product. That scrappiness is what convinced early investors he was the real deal. * AI will change how people shop — full stop. Autonomous agents will soon be making purchases on behalf of consumers. If your brand isn't ready for that world, Ari's message is simple: adapt or disappear. Join us in listening to this episode — it's one of those conversations that will genuinely change how you think about building a brand. Whether you're chasing your first retail account or trying to scale what you've already built, Ari Bloom gives you the unfiltered truth about what it actually takes to win. For more on A-Frame Brands visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/40887565

Vitaminis - The Problem With Vitamins No One Talks About 04/08/2026

Dame - Building a Brand in a Taboo Industry 03/25/2026

Dame - Building a Brand in a Taboo Industry What if one of the biggest barriers to building a successful brand isn’t the product—but the stigma around it? In this episode, I sit down with , Founder and CEO of , for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about building a brand in a taboo category, challenging societal norms, and redefining what leadership and wellness can look like. What stood out to me most is how Alexandra blends conviction with vulnerability—sharing both the mission behind and the real, often difficult journey of building a business in a space that still faces systemic barriers. Key Moments from the Episode: *Alexandra shares how an early “yes” from a top IP law firm—despite a bag of handmade prototypes—gave her the validation and momentum to move forward *The challenges of building in a taboo category, from being denied advertising and loans to navigating platform restrictions that directly impacted growth *How crowdfunding became a breakthrough moment, with thousands of early supporters validating both the product and the mission *A candid look at leadership—what it means to make hard decisions, separate identity from business outcomes, and grow through difficult moments *The deeper mission behind : closing the pleasure gap and helping people understand that pleasure, especially women’s pleasure, is valid and essential Join me, , in listening to this honest and empowering conversation. It’s not just about building a brand—it’s about challenging norms, embracing growth, and creating space for conversations that truly matter. For more on Dame, visit: Also, visit her podcast "A Fine Human" () If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/40620410

Caddis - The Anti-Anti-Aging Brand Changing Everything 03/25/2026

Forrester Research - Retail Strategy in the Age of Marketplaces and AI 03/18/2026

Tovala - The Smartest Way to Eat at Home 03/17/2026

Tovala - The Smartest Way to Eat at Home I’ve interviewed a lot of founders over the years, but every now and then I come across a brand that truly reimagines an everyday experience. That’s exactly what happened in my conversation with , Co-founder and CEO of . Born out of a simple but powerful frustration: wanting a fresh, home-cooked meal without all the work that comes with it. David and his team have not just built a product, but an entirely new way to think about dinner at home. isn’t just a meal service or just a kitchen appliance; it’s a fully integrated system designed to deliver convenience without sacrificing quality. From navigating early skepticism and capital constraints to rethinking pricing and customer behavior, David shared the real, behind-the-scenes journey of building something that didn’t fit neatly into an existing category. It’s a story of persistence, smart pivots, and truly understanding what customers value most. Here are a few key moments from our conversation: * The early breakthrough moment when a single investor believed in the vision—despite a barely working prototype—and how that changed everything * Why chose to control the entire experience—from food to hardware—to deliver a true “home-cooked without effort” solution * The critical pricing pivot that unlocked growth by focusing on lowering upfront cost rather than total lifetime spend * How the brand overcame channel challenges, including rediscovering direct mail as a powerful growth lever * The evolution of the product into a multi-functional kitchen tool—and how that increases both value and adoption * If you’re a founder, operator, or just someone fascinated by how great products come to life, this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss. Join me, , in listening to the episode and discover how Tovala is redefining convenience, one meal at a time. For more on Tovala, visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/40515355

Vitamin Shoppe - Brand Is Not Marketing. It’s the Business 03/04/2026

Jetset - Most Brands Ignore Their Best Growth Lever 03/03/2026

Jetset - Most Brands Ignore Their Best Growth Lever In this episode, I sit down with , CEO of , someone I truly consider a pioneer in the DTC and retention space. We revisit his journey from building and scaling Email Aptitude—one of the earliest agencies dedicated solely to retention and email—to launching Jetset in a completely different economic and technological landscape. What struck me most is how his conviction around retention hasn’t changed—but how the strategy has evolved dramatically. We go deep into why customer experience—not just customer support—is becoming the real differentiator for brands. Forest shares how Jetset is redefining CRM by integrating sentiment analysis, proactive outreach, and immersive brand experiences to build long-term loyalty. In a world obsessed with acquisition, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the real gold is in the customers you’ve already earned Key Moments from the Episode: * Forest reflects on launching Email Aptitude in the early days of DTC and how retention was once a niche focus—long before it became table stakes. * Why “customer support” is not the same as “customer experience”—and how most brands are missing the bigger opportunity. * The introduction of Jetset’s internal framework, Sentiment IQ, which aggregates signals like NPS, engagement, reviews, and support data to proactively manage retention. * How brands can identify high-value detractors and intervene before churn happens—turning frustration into loyalty. * Why authentic surprise-and-delight moments, curated experiences, and deeper listening will define the next era of retention. Join me, , in listening to this thoughtful and strategic conversation about loyalty, customer experience, and what it truly takes to build a brand that wins long-term. If you care about sustainable growth, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. For more on Jetset, visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. . /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/40302130

Rose Hamilton - What the Next Generation Really Thinks About Brands 02/25/2026

Rose Hamilton - What the Next Generation Really Thinks About Brands In this episode of , host , CEO of , sits down for a deeply personal and insightful conversation with her daughter, Lexy Hamilton, a sophomore at . What begins as a mother-daughter dialogue quickly evolves into a powerful exploration of how the next generation is thinking about identity, decision-making, and the future of business—through the lens of both data and human connection. Throughout the episode, Lexy brings a fresh yet remarkably grounded perspective on topics ranging from storytelling and finance to AI and brand trust. Drawing from her academic experiences and personal values, she shares how clarity, authenticity, and emotional connection are becoming the most important currencies in modern business—and why the brands that succeed will be those that balance analytical rigor with human understanding. Key themes explored in this episode include: *How the next generation defines success through values, resilience, and staying true to personal identity—even in challenging environments *Why storytelling and emotional connection are at the core of brand building, and how marketing creates meaning beyond product utility *The concept of “cognitive burden” and why simplifying data into clear, actionable insights is a critical leadership skill *Where AI accelerates decision-making—and where human judgment, context, and empathy remain irreplaceable *What luxury brands teach us about scarcity, storytelling, and creating long-term emotional and financial value This episode offers a rare and meaningful perspective on how emerging leaders are shaping the future of business, blending data, creativity, and authenticity in new ways. Join us in listening to the episode and hear how the next generation is redefining what it means to build brands—and lead with clarity, purpose, and trust. For more on Rose Hamilton visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/40230455

Moxies - Building Tech That Protects Childhood 02/12/2026

Moxies - Building Tech That Protects Childhood In this episode, I sit down with , Founder of , for a powerful and deeply relevant conversation about kids, technology, and what it truly means to build with intention. Juliette walks us through the growing mental and emotional toll today’s attention-driven platforms are having on kids—especially girls—and why parents are desperate for better solutions. With Moxies, she’s building a gamified social platform for girls ages 8–12 that prioritizes safety, wellbeing, and healthy digital habits over engagement metrics. This isn’t about limiting technology—it’s about creating technology that actually serves our children. Key Moments from the Episode: * Juliette shares how a simple introduction led her to connect with someone she had admired for years—reinforcing the power of community and open doors. * We unpack the dangers of the attention economy and why current social platforms were never designed with children’s wellbeing in mind. * Juliette explains how was built “safe by design,” from co-registration with parents to moderated group chats and limited access through real-life group codes. * She shares compelling early research showing that 80% of users experienced increased wellbeing outcomes, including improvements in mood, confidence, and self-regulation. * We discuss why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting in the digital age—and why what kids are doing online matters more than simply the device itself. Join me, , in listening to this important and hopeful conversation. If you’re a parent—or simply someone who cares about the next generation—this episode will challenge you to think differently about technology and remind you that digital spaces can be built with care, intention, and wellbeing at their core. For more on Moxies, visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today’s Sponsors: Saral - The Influencer OS: SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/40090290

Walmart - Building Commerce Around Creators, Not Campaigns 01/28/2026

Walmart - Building Commerce Around Creators, Not Campaigns In this episode of , host , CEO of , sits down with , VP, Head of Content, Influencer, & Commerce at , for a timely and deeply insightful conversation about how commerce is being reshaped by creators, content, and culture. The episode weaves together personal history—Rose and Sarah previously worked together at —with a forward-looking exploration of how discovery has become the new engine of retail growth. Throughout the conversation, Rose guides listeners through the industry’s shift from intent-led shopping to discovery-led experiences. Sarah shares how creators now function as trusted guides, how Walmart is building a creator-first commerce platform at massive scale, and why trust, flexibility, and serendipity are essential to modern retail. Together, they unpack what it takes to connect inspiration to purchase in a way that feels human, seamless, and culturally relevant. Key themes explored in this episode include: * Why social commerce is already shaping consumer behavior and how creators drive modern product discovery * How Walmart approaches creator-first commerce by prioritizing value, trust, and long-term relationships * The concept of “serendipitous discovery” and why creators act as the new shelf space and sales associates * How trend intelligence and social listening inform assortment, content, and commerce decisions * What brands often get wrong when working with creators—and how authenticity and flexibility improve outcomes This episode offers a clear blueprint for founders, marketers, and retailers navigating the future of commerce. Join us in listening to the episode to hear how creators, content, and trust are redefining discovery—and why the brands that build ecosystems, not just products, will be the ones that win. For more on Sarah Henry visit: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review. Plus, don’t forget to follow us on and . Your support helps us bring you more content like this! /episode/index/show/storybehindthebrand/id/39900050

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