Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

Claire Loudis shares rice’s impact on water, climate, and farmer livelihoods, and why Lotus Foods decided to change how rice is grown around the world. We talk about the many benefits of heirloom varietals and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method they’re scaling to grow more rice with less water and lower methane emissions. Claire then shares details on the nature-based practices that go into growing their Regenerative Organic Certified ® (ROC) Basmati Rice, the brand’s commitment to seed sovereignty, and the biggest challenges she sees the food industry facing in the coming years. 

Key Topics

• The water and climate impacts of rice
• Heirloom rice and its benefits
• The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) that results in More Crop Per Drop ®
• Regenerative agriculture practices in rice farming
• Launch of the first ROC Basmati Rice in 2020
• Seed sovereignty and biodiversity conservation
• Challenges the food industry is facing

Sound bites

• “Rice one of the highest emitting crops, after meat and eggs.”
• “Heirloom varieties often have better nutrition, flavor, and genetic diversity, so they're naturally hardier, locally adapted, and more resilient to climate disruptions making them a natural fit for regenerative and organic farming practices.”
• “Ultimately this pilot is to figure out what works, what we can scale, gauge farmer reception, measure yields of course, return on investment for those farmers, and to to work to understand how these practices impact our farmers on the ground, the people actually growing rice.”
• “Over 75% of plant genetic diversity has been permanently lost.”
• “The farmer is a is a key piece of hope for me. Their whole job is managing uncertainty and while climate change has made that harder, they remain one of the most innovative and resilient groups of people I know. They're tinkers at heart and always adapting. So I am energized and hopeful because of those people I've met.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Claire Loudis' background

01:14 The importance of heirloom rice and Lotus Foods' mission

03:03 Impact of rice farming on water and climate

04:35 Nutritional and genetic diversity of heirloom rice

09:01 Global rice consumption and cultural factors

13:18 Research on regenerative practices and pilot studies in Thailand

17:18 System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and its benefits

20:44 Farmer-led regenerative practices and community trust

29:15 Innovative regenerative practices observed in Thai farms

42:22 Supporting seed sovereignty and biodiversity through alliances

50:20 Claire Loudis' career path and motivations

55:53 Challenges and hope in the future of food and agriculture

01:00:14 Advice for aspiring changemakers in food sustainability

01:03:26 Personal favorite recipes and books

01:07:13 What a better world means to Claire Loudis

Links

Claire Loudis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-loudis-1b380538/

Lotus Foods - https://www.lotusfoods.com/

Lotus Foods on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/lotus-foods/

Lotus Foods on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LotusFoods/

Lotus Foods on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lotusfoods/

Lotus Foods on Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/lotusfoods/

Lotus Foods on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/LotusFoodsInc

Lotus Foods on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lotusfoods

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duke Stump shares the origins of Tractor Beverage Co, what they decided to create organic beverages from recognizable ingredients, and their unique focus on moments and ecosystems rather than trying to fit into categories. Discover how their ‘business as unusual’ philosophy drives innovation, unconventional marketing strategy, community engagement, and positive impact. Learn about the five metrics they focus on in their Organic Impact Tracker, and get details on their impact initiatives like their Tractor Beam publication, Mad Farmer Tour, We The Soil movement, and the Farmhand Foundation. We then wrap up with Duke sharing insights learned from his past work helping build brands like Nike, Seventh Generation, and Lululemon, and how he defines a ‘better world’.

Key Topics

• Tractor Beverage Co.’s origins and focus
• The ’Business as Unusual’ philosophy
• Ecosystem approach to branding
• Tractor’s organic impact metrics
• Community engagement and advocacy
• Innovative product development in beverages
• Supporting farmers and soil health
• Challenging industry categories
• Brand storytelling and design

Sound Bites

• “Why can't beverages be kitchen ingredients? You know, things you actually know and are familiar with.”
• “Right before COVID is when the founders signed a deal with Chipotle, who remains one of our best, strongest partners to date.”
• “At Nike, one of the things I learned is if you're competing you've lost the plot.”
• “Since day one, the only mandate that he gives to my team and I is ‘make it original’.”
• “Tractor isn't a brand strategy, it's an ecosystem strategy.”
• “I don't want us to get caught in the trapping of conventional thinking around everything needs to be calibrated around a measurable result.”
• “When I was at Lululemon, the invisible hand that drove that brand was community.”
• “The idea of sustainability is so abstract. It's a hard, it can be million things to different people. And so for us, we wanted to ground it in what was real but also meaningful for us.”
• “One thing I've learned over the years is never bring a playbook, bring a philosophy or principles.”

Chapters

03:00 Introduction to Tractor Beverage and Its Founders

05:47 The Journey of Beverage Innovation

08:56 Product Development and Market Strategy

11:58 The Unique Approach to Marketing and Community Engagement

14:53 Measuring Success Beyond Conventional Metrics

18:00 Commitment to Organic and Sustainable Practices

38:40 The Importance of Certification and Brand Identity

42:06 Supporting Farmers and Soil Health

47:12 Lessons from Iconic Brands

53:07 Curiosity and Following Your Passion

55:54 Seasonal Eating and Local Agriculture

61:01 Influential Books and Their Impact

01:03:09 Creating Conditions for a Better World

Links

Duke Stump on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/duke-stump-b3a58419a/

Tractor Beverage Co. - https://drinktractor.com/

We the Soil - https://www.tractorbeverage.com/wethesoil

Farmhand Foundation - https://www.tractorbeverage.com/farmhand

Organic Impact Tracker - https://www.tractorbeverage.com/impacttracker

Tractor Beverage Co. on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tractorbeverageco/

Tractor Beverage Co. on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drinktractor/

Tractor Beverage Co. on X - https://x.com/drinktractor

Tractor Beverage Co. on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@drinktractor

Tractor Beverage Co. on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drinktractor

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hank Watt shares the inspiring story of how he discovered the miracle berry and turned it into a successful business that was featured on Shark Tank and promoted by Jennifer Garner. Learn how the berry makes sour taste sweeter than sugar, how it helped Hank control his emotional eating, how he and his partner built the business, and future potential of this revolutionary product that can transform taste and improve health. 

Key Topics

• How Hank learned about the miracle berry and its effects
• What drove Hank & Juliano to launch the business
• Challenges in preserving the berry to scale operations
• Innovative freeze-drying process to preserve potency
• Market strategy and word-of-mouth growth
• Future applications for the berry

Sound Bites

• "I swear, I heard the angels and the chorus singing. I felt the whoosh of the gates. I felt like the sunshine come down on me. Like I I had this transformative experience immediately where I became a believer instantly.”
• “LA is a type of place where if you're keeping weight off for any period of time, especially a significant amount, people want to know like what's your secret?”
• “He was like, I've got a couple conditions. We have to keep the berry pure. It has to stay raw. Like we don't need to add anything to it. We need to also figure out how to preserve it because we cannot deal with a cold chain.“
• “The sharks have been phenomenal. The best business decision Juliano and I have ever made.”
• “Jennifer Garner put a video up on her Instagram… that put us on the map and it made us legit.”
• “These need to be on every table, kind of like butter, salt, and pepper. You know, it's there if you need it and you want it.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nature's Wildberry

02:57 The Discovery of the Miracle Berry

05:45 Transformative Experiences with the Berry

09:02 The Locus of Control and Personal Empowerment

11:53 Impact on Health and Diet

14:57 Business Journey and Challenges

17:52 The Berry's Unique Properties and Taste Testing

20:55 Community and Word of Mouth Marketing

24:01 The Decision to Start a Business

26:52 Lessons from Personal Experiences

30:10 The Future of Nature's Wildberry

32:53 The Journey Begins: Overcoming Doubts

35:14 Cracking the Code: Innovation in Preservation

40:27 From Concept to Consumer: The Direct-to-Consumer Shift

48:01 Shark Tank: A Game Changer for Growth

55:02 Future Aspirations: Expanding Horizons

01:00:44 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Patience and Partnership

01:08:12 A Better World: Quality of Life and Compassion

Links

Hank Watt on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hankwatt

Nature's Wild Berry - https://natureswildberry.com/

Nature’s Wild Berry on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/natureswildberry

Nature’s Wild Berry on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/natureswildberry

Nature’s Wild Berry on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@natureswildberry

Nature’s Wild Berry on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/natureswildberry

Nature’s Wild Berry on X - https://x.com/natureswildbrry

Nature’s Wild Berry on Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/natureswildberry/

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Les Szabo discusses the Purpose Pledge, a holistic framework for companies aiming to operate with integrity and in alignment with their higher purpose. He discusses why the Purpose Pledge was created, how they decided to focus on companies working in food and agriculture, and how they settled on their 10 commitments. The conversation highlights the need for shared standards, systems of support, and collaboration to drive systemic change in business practices. Tune in to hear how Les and the team plan to scale the pledge in the future, and how your brand can join the movement.

Key topics

• Purpose Pledge framework and commitments
• Importance of shared standards and transparency
• Role of support systems and catalysts
• Focus on food and agriculture impact
• Balancing ambition with realism in sustainability goals
• Collaborative supply chain transformation
• Measuring progress and accountability
• Industry-specific challenges and opportunities

Sound bites

• “Well-intentioned companies highlight where they perform well, but at the same time they ignore parts of the system.”
• “Our idea is that we have to have a common framework that's a true operational definition of purpose across 10 commitments.”
• “How are you honoring and serving all of your stakeholders? We we use this term ‘right relationship’, which originates from spiritual and wisdom traditions, and it means to be in integrity with somebody and where it's a true kind of reciprocal relationship.”
• "The industrial food system is one of the most powerful forces shaping climate change, public health, and social in inequality, often in in ways we fail to see.”
• “The goal is to have all commitments achieved within that nine-year period. Anybody can go to the site and and it makes those commitments very visible and easy to track.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Purpose Pledge and Dr. Bronner's

04:55 Defining Purpose and the Need for a Common Framework

10:00 Focus on Food and Agriculture: The Rationale

14:46 The Ten Commitments of Purpose Pledge

20:12 Commitment Achievement and Continuous Improvement

25:14 Collaboration and Community in Purpose Pledge

32:16 Challenges in Launching the Purpose Pledge

35:42 Understanding Living Wage and Its Implications

39:20 Navigating the Application Process for Companies

46:18 Eligibility and Commitment Areas for Companies

50:23 Expanding the Purpose Pledge Beyond Food and Agriculture

54:23 Purpose Pledge vs. Giving Pledge: A Comparative Insight

01:02:22 Envisioning a Better World Through Right Relationships

Links

Les Szabo on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/les-szabo-5a214314/

Purpose Pledge - https://purposepledge.org

Purpose Pledge on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/purposepledge/

Purpose Pledge Commitments PDF - https://www.purposepledge.org/s/Purpose-Pledge-10-Commitments-Full-Details-July-2026.pdf

…

LinkedIn post on the Giving Pledge article by Inc.- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7470679564374175744-BHM_/

LinkedIn post on the Purpose Pledge article by Inc. - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7470131248229810177-WTLs/

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us as Dr. Jeffrey Burke, a pioneer in the natural products industry with over 47 years of experience, shares his insights on the evolution of the industry, the power of plants, the beauty of supplements, the importance of regenerative agriculture, and how storytelling can inspire change. Discover practical advice and inspiration for health, sustainability, and building a better world.

Key topics

• Evolution of the natural products industry over 47 years
• Dr Jeffrey Burke’s journey into health, medicine, radio, podcasting, and more
• Why you should take supplements, even if you have a healthy diet
• The regenerative movement and soil health
• The power of storytelling in inspiring change

Sound bites

• “I did it because I wanted to be on the side where I could help to teach people an easier way to survive our lives in a healthier manner.”
• “I was barely even 20 and I was working with Dr. Earl Mindell and he had a radio show. He handed me my first microphone and I just never gave it back.”
• “A lot of people now look at things saying, you know, when I want to go organic, I want to start putting some good things in my system, and I think the same thing you're going to start seeing with regenerative.”
• “I think we need to takes supplement because there's things way past the soil that affect our health every day, including air quality, pollution, stress, lack of sleep, obesity, etc that are already wearing tearing on our health from top to bottom.”
• “We were so focused on the not using chemicals, we did absolutely nothing for our soil. Now we have this regenerative movement where we are actually doing things to rebuild the soil.”
• "Don't be embarrassed. Embrace your craziness. Embrace your mistakes because there is no such thing as perfection."

Chapters

03:00 Introduction to Jeffrey Burke and His Journey

06:04 The Evolution of the Natural Products Industry

08:57 Transition from Radio to Podcasting

12:00 The Importance of Education in Health

15:03 The Role of Supplements in Modern Health

17:52 The Impact of Regenerative Agriculture

20:53 Challenges Facing the Natural Products Industry

24:01 The Future of Health and Nutrition

26:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

37:36 Investing in Sustainable Agriculture

39:10 The Role of People in Change

42:41 The Power of Storytelling

49:37 Embracing Vulnerability

53:41 Finding Hope in Challenges

01:08:14 Learning from Industry Icons

Links

Dr. Jeffrey Burke & The Honest Health Podcast - https://www.drjeffreyburke.com/

Dr. Jeffrey Burke on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jeffrey-burke-86421931/

Honest Health on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/honest-health-with-jeffrey-burke/id1825645948

Honest Health on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3yMUkj5JbDfRPSLSuW8KKr

Honest Health on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@honesthealthwithJeffreyBurke

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christopher Gergen shares how his goal of bringing more capital to systems change led him to supporting the regenerative movement in his role as the CEO of the Regenerative Organic Alliance. We talk about the growth of the movement, including the increase in consumer awareness and the in the number of certified brands, as well as all the new data on the benefits of regenerative agriculture. Chris shares how Regenerative Organic Certified® is different from other regenerative certifications, including their role as a Catalyst Partner in the Purpose Pledge. The conversation then shifts into the biggest barriers to growth that the regenerative movement is facing right now, like consumer confusion, lack of a common standard, the cost of farmer’s transitioning, and the cost of regenerative products. We then wrap up with Christopher sharing advice, his favorite regenerative snacks, and what a better world means to him. 

Key Topics

• Christopher Gergen’s journey to becoming the CEO of the Regenerative Organic Alliance
• The growth of the regenerative movement
• Regenerative organic certification, and how it’s different from other standards
• Consumer demand and market trends for regenerative products
• Data that’s proving the value of a regenerative food system and products 
• Strategies for scaling regenerative agriculture and overcoming barriers
• Advice for others wanting to pursue passion and joy in their life and career

Sound bites

• “Regenerative organic certification is based on the foundation of organic, and it has three additional pillars of soil health, social fairness, and animal welfare.”
• “We're almost at 400 ROC® licensees. So within 18 months, we've gone almost double the number, bringing more ROC® products to shelf, which is super exciting!”
• “Customers are finding ROC® because now it's in almost every category.”
• “When you have side-by-side comparison, you can just taste the difference in how much more complex the ROC® wine is to the conventional alternative.”
• “We'd like to be able to go from 22 million acres of regenerative organic certified land to at least 30 million acres in the next three and a half years.”
• “More consumer awareness, more retail engagement, more brand adoption. And you've got more demand, more supply, more impact, more demand. And therein lies the flywheel, right?”
• “I ended up co-authoring a book called Life Entrepreneurs that looks at how people have been able to create meaningful impact in the world and meaningful lives for themselves.”
• “Figure out a way that you can connect your strengths and your passions and go after something that you feel like you can dedicate a lot of time and energy into, but don't lose sight of how you can also create a joyful, meaningful, loving life for yourself.

Chapters

03:00 Introduction to Regenerative Organic Alliance

05:54 Christopher Gergen's Background and Vision

08:48 The Growth of Regenerative Organic Certification

11:56 Consumer Demand and Market Trends

14:45 Nutritional Benefits and Flavor of Regenerative Organic Products

17:59 Understanding Regenerative vs. Organic Standards

21:03 The Future of Regenerative Organic Agriculture

38:41 Supporting Farmers in Transition

45:29 The Purpose Pledge and Supply Chain Integrity

46:05 Driving Demand for Regenerative Organic Products

55:37 Barriers to Transitioning to Regenerative Practices

01:04:11 Vision for a Better World

Links 

Christopher Gergen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophergergen/

Regenerative Organic Alliance & Certification - https://regenorganic.org/

Regenerative Organic Alliance on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/regenerative-organic-alliance

Regenerative Organic Alliance on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/regenerativeorganic

Regenerative Organic Alliance on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/regenerativeorganic

Regenerative Organic Alliance on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/regenerativeorganicalliance

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Evan Harrison shares his journey from working in radio, digital media, and live events to becoming the CEO of Kiss The Ground, a leading nonprofit championing Regeneration and healthy soil as a solution for human and planetary health. We talk about the organization's innovative content strategies, like their three feature-length documentary films, mini docs, 5 with a Farmer reels, 11 with Evan series, shopping guides, and the brand collaborations that help them reach new audiences. Then we dive into the $500,000 in farmer grants they awarded last year and their new research that shows consumer understanding of regenerative agriculture has increased threefold in just 3 years! We wrap up with some fun personal questions, and Evan shares his vision for a better world.

Key Topics

• Evan Harrison's career transition from media to environmental activism
• The success of Kiss the Ground films and content strategy
• $500,000 in farmer grants and their impact on land regeneration
• The threefold growth in consumer understanding of regenerative agriculture
• How $100 is the sweet spot for community donations and how they put that money to work
• Partnerships with brands and community engagement
• Rising awareness and understanding of regenerative agriculture

 Sound Bites

• “In the early days of the internet, I was the writer, the producer, held the video camera, did the edit – the whole thing. So content creation from the ground up.”
• “I'd never heard of regenerative farming. So it was really my daughter that kind of tuned me into it.” 
• “In this instance, the farmer is really the artist, the farmer is the rock star.”
• “The film that was named after our work, Kiss The Ground, absolutely put our organization on the map.”
• “We need to meet people where they're at. We need a content approach that can bring new people into the conversation instead of arguing about the details.”
• “There are now 200 regenerative products on shelves ranging from Costco to independent retailers across the country.”
• “The $500,000 in grants went across 212 farms, and when we look at their acreage that's being converted very conservatively, it's 73,000 acres."
• “Your $100 donation will help transition more than 10 acres of land.”
• “Our inspirational storytelling that reached 20 million people last year and engaged 5 million by engaged.”
• "Wherever you are, that's the place to be.”

Chapters

03:00 Introduction to Kiss the Ground and Evan Harrison

09:00 Evan's Journey from Media to Regenerative Agriculture

15:06 The Impact of the Kiss the Ground Film

20:50 Content Strategy and Audience Engagement

27:12 Supporting Farmers: Grants and Community Engagement

38:40 Momentum in Regenerative Agriculture

42:43 Partnerships Driving Change

47:27 Innovative Fundraising Strategies

50:49 Personal Reflections and Advice

54:35 Creating a Better World

Links

Evan Harrison on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanharrison/

Kiss The Ground - https://kisstheground.com/

Kiss The Ground on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kisstheground/

Kiss The Ground on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kisstheground/

Kiss The Ground on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kissthegroundCA/ 

Kiss The Ground on X - https://x.com/kissthegroundCA

Kiss The Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/kisstheground

…

Kiss The Ground 2026 Research: https://kisstheground.com/kiss-the-ground-research-2026/

Forbes Article: Regen Grows 3X in 3 Years -https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewwatman/2026/06/18/new-kiss-the-ground-research-consumer-understanding-of-regenerative-agriculture-triples-in-past-three-years/

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

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The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

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What is the role of philanthropy, business, and government in creating long-term impact? Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, joins us to explores why “either/or” thinking can limit progress, and why the most effective solutions often come from a both/and approach. We talk about how nonprofits are pioneering solutions to problems before there’s a marketplace, how the billionaires bailing on The Giving Pledge are missing the bigger picture, and how the new wave of businesses are deciding that profitability and positive impact can go work together. Kate then tells us about 1% for the Planet, how the membership works, and how the members are giving back and reaping the rewards. Tune in as we discuss how money, power, and responsibility shape the future.

Key Topics

• The role of philanthropy in society today
• How philanthropy differs from government action
• Why nonprofits often address problems outside the marketplace
• The “false dichotomy” between investing in businesses and funding nonprofits
• The Giving Pledge and why those bailing on the pledge are missing the bigger picture
• Why nonprofits are often unfairly judged on efficiency and overhead
• How business, nonprofits, and government can work together for long-term impact
• How 1% for the Planet operates and why its model matters
• The organization’s expanded definition of environmental giving
• The connection between climate change, systems thinking, and cooperative action

Sound Bites

• “One of the challenges with businesses giving back is that they have to focus on quarterly and yearly financials, not decades or centuries, which are more often the timescale of impact.
• “Nonprofits are more willing to get in and do a multi-stakeholder ,long-term approach that focuses on global impact and not just any one entity’s challenges.”
• “In an ideal world, we have both businesses and nonprofits working together either directly or indirectly, and all the systems are oriented towards a thriving future.”
• “I think the problem with where The Giving Pledge bailers is that they made it into a false dichotomy by saying they’re going to exclude nonprofits to focus on businesses because they think businesses are the ones that build our future.”
• “Nonprofits are not a nice to have. They play a really critical role in addressing those things for which there is not a marketplace.”
• “Nonprofits sometimes appear to be held to a higher standard with weird expectations that they can somehow deliver results without paying their staff or having resources to buy computers or whatever the tools of the job are.”
• “MacKenzie Scott is a great example. She's done her homework, has made some really sizable unrestricted grants, meaning she's trusting those organizations to allocate the resources where they can to have the greatest impact.”
• “Our amazing members at 1% for the Planet donate 1% of their annual revenues to environmental partners. So they're taking these market-driven resources and placing it in the nonprofit marketplace.”
• “We're not creating a false dichotomy between the business succeeding in the marketplace and the business contributing to positive outcomes for the future. It's the business saying they go together.”

Chapters

03:00 Intro and Kate Williams introduction

04:04 What philanthropy is for

05:14 Philanthropy vs. government

06:36 What “outside the marketplace” means

08:30 Why time horizons matter

09:39 Nonprofits as innovators in complex systems

10:53 Why business and nonprofit can both matter

12:18 The Giving Pledge and why some are “bailing”

17:19 Nonprofit overhead, efficiency, and unfair standards

21:01 Trusting nonprofits with unrestricted giving

23:34 The role of corporations and impact-driven businesses

25:33 How businesses can use capitalism differently

31:20 Self-funding impact through mission-driven business models

34:29 Why extractive models are a problem

35:29 How 1% for the Planet works

37:34 1% of revenue vs. 1% of profit

39:29 Defining “planet” in the network

40:06 Expanded impact areas at 1% for the Planet

44:37 Individual vs. corporate participation

45:18 Where the network is thriving right now

48:06 Challenges and opportunities for nonprofits

52:13 The wicked problem of climate change

54:13 Advice for following a similar path

55:33 Finding your own path with self-awareness

56:41 Ikigai framework for purpose

58:24 Snack and book recommendations

60:03 Who to interview next

61:12 What a better world means

Links

Kate Williams on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katewilliams87

1% for the Planet - https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/

1% for the Planet on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-percent-for-the-planet/

1% for the Planet on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/1percentftp

1% for the Planet on Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/onepercent

1% for the Planet on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt7Vb_t-ATwvYHTqs4Q2frQ

…

The Giving Pledge - https://www.givingpledge.org/

The Purpose Pledge - https://purposepledge.org/

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Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adam Hiner, CEO of Pacha, shares insights on product innovation, sustainable practices, and the journey of building a healthy and regenerative food brand. We talk about the happy accidents and consumer feedback that lead to making new and better products, like their new gluten-free, sourdough buckwheat tortillas! Adam then shares why Pacha joined the Purpose Pledge, the challenges of building a CPG brand (like cashflow), the benefits of self-manufacturing, and why passion is essential for success in this industry. Tune in to get advice from a leader who’s built multiple successful brands while leading with integrity.

Key topics

• Product innovation driven by consumer insights and feedback
• Strategic experimentation with new products
• The benefits of self manufacturing
• Purpose-driven business and sustainability commitments
• Purpose Pledge, what it means, and how it works
• The importance of focusing on core SKUs and honing recipes
• Profitability and cash flow challenges
• The importance of passion for success
• Inner peace to bring about world peace

Sound bites

• “I pulled a batch of crackers out of the oven and they were floppy like little tortillas. Then I started experimenting with tortillas and just said, yeah, the market really needs a better tortilla right now.”
• “We had our buckwheat buns, but we rebranded them as English muffins because all of our customers were saying, hey, this isn't a bun, this is an English muffin.”
• "Our bread tastes like real bread. It doesn't taste like this thing that was modified to try to imitate the texture of white bread.“
• “We've always had a plan to do something more than just be a company that's making money.”
• “When we saw Purpose Pledge coming forward, felt like it felt like an opportunity to do something that felt maybe more impactful and less just numbers driven.”
• “It's nice to have really great mentors who have been doing it and have done it before.”
• “We were really grateful for our DTC channel because we've had so much direct feedback from customers, which we wouldn't have had with just being a retail brand.”
• “One of the biggest challenges is just financing the company, you know, just keeping the lights on. 30%-50% of my job is just keeping cash coming in.”
• “Sometimes adding more SKUs does generate more revenue immediately, like if Whole Foods puts out six SKUs versus four, but the trade off is the velocity of all the SKUs is now lower.”
• “Peace really does start within us and maybe the most impactful thing we can do is to just like to start here and have and find peace with ourselves.”

Chapters

03:00 Introduction to Pacha and Product Evolution

05:57 Innovative Product Development and Consumer Feedback

09:08 Special Releases and Creative Experimentation

11:59 Joining the Purpose Pledge: A Commitment to Impact

14:59 Understanding the Purpose Pledge's Roadmap and Commitments

18:00 Customer Insights: What Consumers Love About Pacha's Products

34:31 The Benefits of Fermentation and Buckwheat

37:07 The Challenges of Regenerative Agriculture

40:02 Navigating the Food Industry: Profitability and Challenges

46:00 The Importance of Focus in Product Development

52:59 Personal Insights and Recommendations for a Better World

Links

Adam Hiner on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/adamhiner

Pacha - https://pachabread.com

Pacha on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/live-pacha/

Pacha on Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/live_pacha/

Pacha on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@livepacha

Pacha on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/livepacha

…

Purpose Pledge - https://purposepledge.org/

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chanya Punyakumpol, co-founder of Taan Thai, shares how a personal frustration when cooking Thai food at home sparked the creation of her brand. Instead of tracking down obscure Thai ingredients only to throw most of them away after one dish, she created perfectly portioned meal kits that contain exactly what you need, eliminating food waste without sacrificing authenticity.

She talks about sourcing real Thai ingredients directly from Thailand and building close relationships with local farms and factories near her production facilities. Chanya also reflects on the growing wave of ethnic foods making their way into mainstream retail, and what it means for communities to see their cuisines represented on grocery store shelves. She wraps up by reflecting on how Naturally Network is a rare space where founders can be honest about their struggles, trade hard-won tips, and remind each other that they're doing better than they think.

Takeaways

• Taan Thai was born out of Chanya's frustration with the wasteful experience of cooking Thai food at home in the US.
• Each kit is precisely portioned for one cooking session with no leftovers ingredients or food waste.
• Thai holy basil — the essential ingredient in Pad Kra Pao — is seasonal and hard to find in the US, so Chanya sources it directly from Thailand and air dries it to preserve its authentic aroma.
• The brand sources ingredients from local farms in Thailand and works with certified production facilities, creating a trickle-down economic benefit for local farming communities.
• Chanya sees the rise of ethnic foods in mainstream retail as one of the most meaningful trends in the CPG industry, both for accessibility and cultural representation.

Sound Bites

• "I don't want to throw the leftover coconut milk or leftover lemongrass that I didn't finish and create more food waste."
• "A lot of restaurants don't use Thai holy basil leaves. They use Italian basil or Thai basil, which is completely different."
• "We create a trickle-down economy that helps people locally actually get a part of the value we're creating."
• "I see a lot of different ethnic food coming out and becoming available more in this market. I like it because I get to try different cultures, get to try different kinds of food I've never tried before."
• "When you get to talk to people who are in the same space as you and being honest about it, we're like, oh, we also struggle on that."

Links:

Chanya LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanya-punyakumpol-110602347/

Taan Thai - https://taanthaifood.com/

Taan Thai on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/taanthaifood

Taan Thai on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taanthaifood/

Than Thai on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@taanthaifood

…

Naturally Network: www.naturallynetwork.org

…

Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/

Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/

Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/

Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/

…

Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/

…

Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/

Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/

Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork

Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio

Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/

Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio

…

The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.