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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 str…
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....
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…
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...
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 op…
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...
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...
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 …
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 …
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...