In this episode of the Behind the Food podcast, hosts Jimmy Feeman, Sarah LaVallee, and Marla Stough discuss the founding of Moxie Foods, a company dedicated to making home cooking easier with their unique spice blends. They explore the challenges of cooking at home, the importance of content strategy, and the journey of building a brand from scratch. The conversation also delves into customer engagement, the use of TikTok for marketing, and the balance between brand identity and growth. The founders share their experiences of bootstrapping the business and their future plans for expansion into retail.

https://moxiefoodco.com/

IG: @themoxiefoodco

TikTok: @the.moxie.food.co

Takeaways

• Moxie Foods aims to simplify home cooking with spice blends.
• The founders understand the struggle of busy individuals wanting to eat well.
• Content creation is key to showing how to use their products.
• They focus on real-life cooking experiences in their videos.
• The spice market is competitive, but Moxie keeps it simple with fewer skews.
• Customer engagement is crucial for building brand loyalty.
• They are testing TikTok Shop as a new sales channel.
• Bootstrapping allows for careful financial management and growth.
• The brand identity is as important as the product itself.
• Future plans include expanding into retail while maintaining their digital presence.

Summary

In this episode of Behind the Wine, hosts Jimmy Feeman and Dan Sachs explore the world of wine, focusing on how to choose the right wines for Thanksgiving. They discuss the importance of understanding wine characteristics, the art of pairing wine with food, and share specific wine recommendations. The conversation also touches on the value of wine as an affordable luxury and the evolving drinking habits of younger generations. Listeners are encouraged to enjoy wine as a means of connection and celebration, especially during the holiday season.

In this conversation, Marc Brown discusses the importance of taking action and embracing the journey of personal growth and entrepreneurship. He emphasizes that even small steps forward are valuable and that the experiences gained, regardless of the outcome, contribute to personal development. Marc reflects on the risks involved in pursuing one's passions and the lessons learned along the way, highlighting the significance of resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges.

• Michael Diego's journey reflects the intersection of food, media, and community.
• The evolution of media has transformed how stories are told and consumed.
• Relish was born out of a desire to connect creators with local brands.
• Micro-influencers can drive significant local engagement for brands.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of community in the food industry.
• Building a successful startup often involves pivoting and adapting to market needs.
• The future of marketing lies in understanding and leveraging community ecosystems.
• Insights from creators can provide valuable feedback for brands.
• AI will not replace the need for authentic human content creation.
• Trust and authenticity are crucial in a world filled with synthetic content.

Connect with Michael

Michael Diego

Try Relish

Connect with the Hosts

👤 Jimmy Feeman – Linktree
👤 Daniel Yarzagaray – LinkedIn

In this conversation, Jake shares his personal experience with burnout, detailing the physical and mental toll it took on him. He reflects on how his pursuit of dopamine and external validation led to a loss of identity, emphasizing the importance of self-care and recovery.

Takeaways

• Jake experienced a severe burnout that incapacitated him for 42 days.
• He felt lost and unable to function during his burnout.
• Physical symptoms included electric shocks and panic attacks.
• His primary focus during this time was to recover and get better.
• The burnout was linked to his pursuit of dopamine and attention.
• He realized he was losing track of his identity due to external pressures.
• Chasing validation led to overwhelming stress and anxiety.
• Self-care became a crucial part of his recovery process.
• Understanding the impact of burnout is essential for mental health.
• Jake's journey highlights the importance of recognizing one's limits.

Summary

In this episode, Justin Abrams shares his journey into the restaurant industry, focusing on his role with the Pink Fin franchise. The conversation explores the intersection of technology and consumer experience in restaurants, the importance of influencer marketing, and the challenges of driving foot traffic. Justin emphasizes the need for founder-led marketing and the significance of understanding consumer feedback to ensure business survival. The discussion also touches on innovative marketing strategies and the evolving landscape of restaurant operations.

Takeaways

• Justin Abrams is involved in the restaurant space with a poke and bubble tea franchise called Pink Fin.
• The importance of technology in enhancing consumer experience in restaurants.
• Franchises need to leverage technology to streamline operations and improve decision-making.
• Influencer marketing is a powerful tool for driving foot traffic to restaurants.
• The need for restaurants to adapt to changing consumer behaviors and preferences.
• Building a custom tech stack can provide a competitive advantage for franchises.
• Marketing strategies should focus on local engagement and community involvement.
• The significance of founder-led marketing in establishing brand identity.
• Understanding consumer feedback is crucial for business survival.
• Restaurants must continuously innovate to remain relevant in a competitive market.

Connect with Justin

💼 LinkedIn

📸 Instagram

🐦 X/ Twitter

🌐 Website

🌐 Pink Fin

Connect with the Hosts

👤 Jimmy Feeman – https://linktr.ee/Jamesfeeman

👤 Daniel Yarzagaray – https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-yarzagaray

Jack & Jacob - Byte'm Brownie Bites

Summary

In this engaging conversation, Jason Burke shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing the challenges and triumphs of building New Primal, a better-for-you meat snack brand. The discussion covers the importance of resilience, community, and understanding the CPG landscape, as well as the role of DTC in brand growth. Jason emphasizes the significance of margins and pricing strategy, the need for innovation in the food industry, and the value of sharing knowledge with new entrepreneurs. The conversation also touches on parenting and the challenges of instilling a strong work ethic in children.

Takeaways

• The importance of community when moving to a new place.
• Resilience is key in entrepreneurship, especially after rejections.
• Understanding the CPG landscape is crucial for success.
• Margins and pricing strategy can make or break a product.
• DTC can be a powerful tool for brand growth.
• Building a sustainable business model takes time and patience.
• Founder-led marketing can create authentic connections with consumers.
• Raising kids with a strong work ethic is a challenge for many parents.
• The food industry is constantly evolving, and innovation is necessary.
• Sharing knowledge and experiences can help new entrepreneurs.

Connect with  Jason Burke & New Primal

👤 ⁠LinkedIn⁠

📸 @thenewprimal

🌐 New Primal

Connect with the Hosts

👤 Jimmy Feeman –⁠ Linktree⁠

👤 Daniel Yarzagaray –⁠ LinkedIn

In this conversation, Vy Vo discusses the complexities of space-time and the challenges associated with it. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and the role of luck in achieving success. Vy shares his personal insights on embracing challenges and the mindset required to navigate difficult subjects.

Takeaways

• I'm the chosen one to do space-time because it's freaking hard.
• I can bear the challenge of space-time.
• Luck plays a huge role in success.
• Just be lucky is my advice.
• You can't meet someone who's luckier than you.
• I can maybe do it, despite the challenges.
• The challenge of space-time is worth it.
• Space-time is a complex subject that requires dedication.
• Perseverance is key to overcoming obstacles.
• Embrace the journey of learning and growth.

Connect with  Vy Vo & Spacetime

👤 LinkedIn

📸 @Spacetimedrinks

Connect with the Hosts

👤 Jimmy Feeman – Linktree

👤 Daniel Yarzagaray – LinkedIn

🎙️ Jimmy and Daniel dive deep into the intersection of business, economics, and culture—from delayed-release caffeine pills 💊 to the rising costs crushing small businesses. They unpack how tech and policy choices are shaping a “work-more” world, why employee ownership models like ESOPs could fix broken incentives, and how retailers, brands, and distributors all profit differently in today’s food economy. 💰

What You’ll Learn

• Why “productivity tech” like delayed-release caffeine might be a symptom of a bigger cultural problem

• How ESOPs align employees and owners for long-term success

• The real reason big marketplaces (Instacart, Uber, etc.) make money

• What inflation, tariffs, and logistics inefficiencies mean for your grocery bill

👤 Daniel Yarzagaray – LinkedIn