Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

By Gage Mitchell of Modern SpeciesBusiness Health & Fitness Nutrition Arts Marketing Food

Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG) episodes

February 01, 2023107 - Bringing Purpose to Pet Food with Jess Berger of Bundle x Joy
All product markets and areas of business can benefit from a purpose-driven approach, and the pet food space is no different! Joining us for this episode is the Founder and CEO of Bundle x Joy, Jess Berger, and we have a fascinating chat with Jess about her winding career path and her passion for pets. We explore some important ideas around intentionality, the big mission that drives Jess, and some of the major issues that Jess has with the pet food industry at present. As a true pluralist, Jess is currently completing her doctorate in marketing and is staunchly dedicated to the empowerment of female entrepreneurs and doing things a little differently, so if you would like to get a dose of inspiration for living out the idea of purpose over profit, make sure to listen in!

Key Points From This Episode:
How alignment can help with a feeling of completeness and satisfaction.
The gap that Jess saw in the market and the target demographics for her products.
The realities of a truly purpose-over-profit business philosophy.
How Jess took her passion for pets and turned it into her current business!
Further education and the value of the different avenues of learning.
Tracing the roots of Jess' passion for business and marketing.
Jess' thoughts on goal setting and reflecting on achievements.
The different options that are available for building a brand these days.
Building a strong team based on individuals' strengths and passions.
Some of the plans that Jess has for the year ahead.
Explaining the business model and strategy at Bundle x Joy.
Jess' thoughts on the evolution of the pet industry going forward.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Modern Species
Jess Berger on LinkedIn
Bundle x Joy
Kauffman Entrepreneurship
The Big Leap
Rocket Fuel
The ONE Thing
Deep Work
Sprouts
Whole Foods
Pet Age
SuperZoo
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on Twitter
Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG
Brands for a Better World Community
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
56 min
January 25, 2023106 - Start Living Unchained with Subtle Distinctions
Breaking free from the shackles that we give ourselves can be one of the biggest challenges each of us faces, especially when these are shielded from our view. Today we sit down with Matt D'Amour and Linwood Paul from personal growth and development company, Subtle Distinctions, to talk about how they approach helping their clients transcend limiting beliefs, get over the fear of success, and step out of safety into an authentic and courageous version of themselves! The conversation covers the power of the stories we tell ourselves, how to go about 'installing new software', and applying the laws of minimum viable effort for progress. So if you would like to get some great tips for starting out on the most important journey each of us can undertake, join us to hear everything that Matt and Linwood have to say!

Key Points From This Episode:
Letting your own light shine and providing permission and an example for others.
Where to start with your journey towards living unchained!
Methods for rewiring our inner systems; accountability partners, meditation, creating evidence, and lifestyle factors.
The role of fear and hesitancy in holding us back from embodying our best selves.
Getting to grips with our grounding belief systems and the steps that our guests lay out for their clients.
The questions and small actions that can direct us toward the unchained version of ourselves.
Pulling the target back, playing the long game, and setting achievable goals.
Final thoughts from Matt and Linwood on showing up authentically and being somebody.
Matt talks about his 'sprint goals' for the year 2023!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Modern Species
Subtle Distinctions
Matt D'Amour on LinkedIn
Linwood Paul on LinkedIn
William H. Murray
Radical Honesty
Brad Blanton
Dr. Seuss
Pretty Woman
James Clear
Tim Ferriss
Mark Twain
The Promise of Sleep
Mr. T
City Slickers
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on Twitter
Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG
Brands for a Better World Community
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World Email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
55 min
January 18, 2023105 - Cash, Community, or Customers with Jordan Buckner of Foodbevy
Entrepreneurs need to be creative and forward-thinking to build a successful and sustainable business. Although making money is the main objective of any business, entrepreneurs are focused on much more than profit margins or the bottom line. Today's guest, Jordan Buckner, overcame many challenges while starting and running his own companies and realized that startups need help to succeed in the food and beverage space. He subsequently founded Foodbevy, a company helping aspiring entrepreneurs establish their brands in the food and beverage industry. In our conversation, we discuss his entrepreneurial journey, how to leverage fundraising platforms effectively, three aspects that will make your entrepreneurial journey easier, and what makes his subscription box service different from the rest. We also talk about his overall mission, supporting other entrepreneurs, how the food and beverage space has changed, how to establish a relationship between the customer and brand, and much more. Tune in and discover how entrepreneurs can contribute to society by finding innovative solutions to social issues with Jordan Buckner!

Key Points From This Episode:
Some background on Jordan and his professional career journey.
Learn about how he became interested in food as a business venture.
Jordan shares details about some of his first food startups.
Find out the reason he decided not to pursue funding opportunities.
What Jordan would do differently if he could start over.
He shares advice for building, funding, and sustaining a business.
His opinion on using fundraising platforms to acquire capital.
What inspired him to launch his own subscription box service.
How he approaches finding brands for his subscription service.
Details about Foodbevy, what motivated him to start it, and its mission.
Ways in which other entrepreneurs and communities can support each other.
Jordan reveals how he networks with and helps other founders.
Whether he has criteria for partnering with other companies.
The design and purpose of the Startup To Scale Podcast.
We discuss the future of the food and beverage industry.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jordan Buckner on LinkedIn
Foodbevy
Good Food Brands
TeaSquares
ChopBox
Startup To Scale Podcast
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on Twitter
Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG
Brands for a Better World Community
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 1 min
January 11, 2023104 - Over Deliver on Experience with Lex Evan of Lexington Bakes
Throughout a person’s career, they acquire many skills beneficial to entrepreneurism. Recognizing those skills creates fantastic opportunities to pursue your passions and follow your dreams. In this episode, we talk to Lex Evan, the Founder, CEO, and chef of the first conscious and sustainable bakery. Lexington Bakes is a luxury bakeshop creating decadent, handmade desserts using consciously sourced ingredients. Lex is known for his audacious and inventive personality and for turning big ideas into reality. He is also deeply passionate about positively impacting society and the planet through effective leadership and entrepreneurship. In our conversation, we hear about his experience building brands, why he decided to start selling baked goods, how they constantly sell out despite the price, and his commitment to using only consciously sourced ingredients. We also discuss what he has learned from previous leadership roles, arrogance as an antidote for imposter syndrome, how design and marketing strategies have changed for global brands, and insider details about Lexington Bakes. Tune in and discover how to leverage your experiences to pursue your passions with Lex Evan!

Key Points From This Episode:
Background about Lex and Lexington Bakes.
How his past work experience prepared him for the CPG space.
He shares where his inclination for leadership originated.
We unpack what it takes to be an effective leader.
The difference between arrogance and confidence as a business owner.
His experience working at Johnson & Johnson and the lessons learned.
Why Lex decided to leave his job and start a food company.
Reasons why he chose to sell baked goods over skincare products.
What makes Lexington Bakes products different from other baked goods.
Find out why a square cookie is better than a round cookie.
Learn tips for communicating a brand effectively to consumers.
Lex explains why his products sell out despite the high price.
Discover how a higher price point can help build a brand.
How to build trust in your brand: transparency.
Advice that Lex has for people considering starting their own company.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Lex Evan
Lex Evan on Twitter
Lex Evan on Instagram
Lex Evan on LinkedIn
Lexington Bakes
Lexington Bakes on Instagram
Lexington Bakes on TikTok
Lexington Bakes on Twitter
Lexington Bakes on Facebook
Johnson & Johnson
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on Twitter
Brands for a Better World - Evolve CPG
Brands for a Better World Community
Brands for a Better World on YouTube
Brands for a Better World Email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 7 min
January 04, 2023103 - From Curiosity to a Career (in Food) with Kimberly Schaub of PeasOnMoss
There are so many interesting and creative careers out there that slip by unnoticed by many of the population, and sometimes it takes a happy accident or chance encounter to align us with a career path that suits us brilliantly. Kimberly Schaub of PeasOnMoss exemplifies this idea, and her work as a research chef and curious culinary creator is making space for others to follow down a similarly unusual route. In our conversation, Kimberly talks about rethinking our impact on the planet, getting serious about regeneration, and how different parts of the food industry can aid sustainability for us all. She has a strong message about changing the greater culture around food, that we cannot wait for our listeners to hear, so tune in to hear it all.

Key Points From This Episode:
Tracing the roots of Kimberly's fascination with food and aspirations to be a 'research chef'.
What 'better for the world' means to Kimberly; and her emphasis on restoration and regeneration.
Finding the courage to share a creative idea with the world at any age.
The decision that Kimberly made to get into content creation and podcasting.
Creating examples of new careers and spreading this awareness within communities.
Learning by doing and getting over fear and self-doubt.
Kimberly's recommendations for episodes of her podcast to check out!
Bringing the gift of a fresh network and perspective to the industry you enter.
Kimberly shares some of the highlights from her career path in product development.
Thoughts on identity and how Kimberly sees herself in her current roles.
How Kimberly helps people explore and realize their amazing ideas.
Two other culinary podcasts that Kimberly has been inspired by recently.
Where the name PeasOnMoss came from and Kimberly's different professional roles.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Modern Species
Kimberly Schaub on LinkedIn
PeasOnMoss
PeasOnMoss on Twitter
Griffith Food
Justin Kanthak
RCA
Mark Crowell
CuliNEX
Chef Life Radio
Mind Cook
Plate Magazine
Sugar Mountain
Lundberg Family Farms
Bulletproof
Dave Asprey
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Evolve CPG
Evolve CPG Community
Evolve CPG on YouTube
Evolve CPG email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
1 hr 19 min
December 28, 2022102 - The Joyful Freelancer: Work-Life Balance is a Waste of Time with Gage Mitchell of Modern Species
How do you grow your “brand” as a freelancer? Does the hype around the importance of a healthy work-life balance make sense? This week, we feature an episode of The Joyful Freelancer that our very own Gage Mitchell was on recently to answer these questions. The host of the podcast, Katherine Gustafson, evoked Gage to delve into some of his favorite social media rants, how to engineer your life to be more fulfilling, and his approach to growing mission-driven brands. Tuning in, you’ll hear the origin story of EvolveCPG and Modern Species, the value of marrying work with your passions, why saying no can lead to better opportunities, and the reasons why strengths and weaknesses are situational, plus much more. Gage hopes this episode will motivate listeners to reach for their goals in the coming year, so listen in to find out more and feel inspired!

Key Points From This Episode:
Background about Gage, the work he does, and the projects he is currently working on.
Whether or not he works with Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) exclusively.
An overview of the many brands Gage has worked with.
How he approaches working with brands to showcase their values and products.
Growing your brand as a freelancer and why it is essential to be successful.
How freelancing led to the formation of Modern Species and EvolveCPG.
The inspiration behind the name of the company: Modern Species.
What Gage means when he says, “work-life balance is a waste of time”.
Why turning down work can actually lead to more and better opportunities.
Ways in which strengths and weaknesses are dependent on the situation.
Katherine and Gage share their experiences working as freelancers.
The importance of understanding your character traits.
What it is like being a creative working within a corporate space.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Joyful Freelancer on Instagram
The Joyful Freelancer on Twitter
The Joyful Freelancer on Apple Podcasts
The Joyful Freelancer on Audible
Organic Valley
Alter Eco
Mamma Chia
Nutiva
Yumbutter
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Gage Mitchell on Twitter
Evolve CPG
Evolve CPG Community
Evolve CPG on YouTube
Evolve CPG Email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
38 min
December 21, 2022101 - The Creative Shit Show: Sustainable Shit Show with Gage Mitchell of Modern Species
How can a brand use the power of design to make the world a better place? This episode features our very own Gage Mitchell’s interview on The Creative Shit Show Podcast, where he talks in-depth about designing solutions that make a positive impact on our environment. Gage talks about the power of design, how it can make a meaningful impact, and why it is important to note the responsibilities that come with it. Gage discusses why he is passionate about B-Corp, its relationship to globalization, and how it all relates to designer and customer awareness. Tune in to find out why clear impact-driven design is the future of sustainable environmental change.

Key Points From This Episode:
This episode contains Gage’s feature on The Creative Shit Show Podcast.
Gage discusses the work of Modern Species.
Why Gage is passionate about impact design.
The effects of globalization.
The power of design.
Gage’s hopes for the B-Corp movement, its advantages, and why it is significant.
Why manufacturers and wholesalers haven’t made a full shift to be more sustainable.
The components of the complex, multi-stakeholder supply chain issues.
How Gage has created his connections and found like-minded communities.
Where Modern Species is currently based and how they ended up there.
How packaging and printing can be beneficial for the environment.
Gage’s favorite ‘Shit Show’ moments.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Creative Shit Show Podcast Episode 15
B-Corp Certification
1% for the Planet
Non-GMO
AIGA
AIGA Seattle
Path to Impact
Colorado State University
Geoduck
Detroit Zoo
Green Graphic Design
Enneagram
Saboteurs
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Evolve CPG
Evolve CPG Community
Evolve CPG on YouTube
Evolve CPG email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
55 min
December 15, 2022100 - Defining Better for the World with Gage Mitchell of Modern Species
We spend a lot of time talking about better-for-the-world products, brands, and businesses. But what does that really mean? During our milestone episode, we are reflecting on the types of advice and stories that are shared on the show by guests who are working to do better in different ways. We take a detailed look at what it means for purpose-driven brands to be committed to better for the world. We also explore real-world examples of industry leaders who are successfully infusing business strategy with their values before touching on the role of supportive policies in encouraging more businesses to become better for the world. Tune in today to hear all this and more!

Key Points From This Episode:
A three-layered consideration for defining what it means to do better for the world.
The relationship between how, why, and what.
Gage’s four layers of better: purpose, sustainability and responsibility, outcomes, and measurable impact.
What it means for purpose-driven brands to serve others in a meaningful way.
Identifying real-world problems and testing solutions.
Clearly defining your values and principles to move forward with integrity.
Passion and commitment as illustrated by Seth Goldman.
The main idea of sustainability: considering the future.
Organic and regenerative agricultural practices.
How Sandra Ann Harris enacts upcycling this at ECOLunchbox.
What constitutes upcycling and why it has a positive impact.
Carbon neutral and net zero or net positive practices.
The ideal waste and pollution status of better for the world companies.
What it means for brands to care for others.
Five considerations for social responsibility: justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Distinguishing between equality and equity.
What it means to have Worker First benefits and policies.
Good governance and its far-reaching implications.
Five pillars of social impact and what they mean.
What non-profit organizations need beyond another check.
The far-reaching implications of changing policy in favor of better for the world businesses.
Leveraging collaboration as a better for the world business.
Distilling what better-for-the-world businesses aim for into measurable categories.
Understanding and leveraging your buying power and your actions as a consumer.
What the show aims to contribute to shifting mindsets.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Slides: Defining Better for the World
YouTube Version of this Episode
A Plastic Free Mission with Sandra Ann Harris of ECOLunchbox
Seth Goldman on LinkedIn
Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle
Simon Sinek’s TedTalk
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Evolve CPG
Evolve CPG Community
Evolve CPG on YouTube
Evolve CPG Email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
38 min
December 07, 2022099 - Technology Meets Natural Food with Karen Frame of Makeena
In recent times, we have seen a rapid rise in technology used to enhance in-store experiences and even incentivize better food choices. Today on the EvolveCPG Podcast, we are joined by Karen Frame, an early innovator of such technology in the natural foods industry. Apart from her experience in accounting, law, real estate, coding, and even education, Karen is also a serial entrepreneur. She started two other companies before founding and becoming the CEO of her latest venture, Makeena, an awesome digital insights company that helps brands in the natural products space better understand their consumers. Tuning in, you’ll find out who Makeena was made for, how consumers interact with it, and how the company is geared toward servicing the industry as a whole. Suppose you’re looking to gain critical insight into how the conscious consumer behaves post-COVID and why it’s beneficial to be a conscious business in this day and age. In that case, this episode about Makeena’s translated definitions of “happiness” and “abundance” is the perfect fit. You won’t want to miss it!

Key Points From This Episode:
How Makeena works, who it’s for, the brands it features, and examples of it in action.
What it looks like when consumers interact with Makeena.
Why Makeena is not just for the brand or consumer; it’s for the entire industry.
Why it was important for Makeena to be a B Corp and a One Percent for the Planet member.
Some data explaining the habits of the conscious consumer post-COVID.
The way companies approach Makeena (and what they ask Karen and her team for).
What conscious investors are looking for in prospective business partners.
Karen’s view on the future of retail and how it will impact better-for-the-world brands.
The benefits of being a conscious business.
How Makeena was formed.
How in-store grocery shopping can still be a valuable experience.
Karen’s insatiable inner drive to make the world a better place.
Happiness and abundance: the literal definitions of Makeena.
Where Karen’s passion for law came from and the type of law she practiced.
The accelerator that lit the fuse and helped Karen prove the Makeena doubters wrong.
A look at the two businesses Karen started prior to Makeena.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Karen Frame on Twitter
Karen Frame on LinkedIn
Karen Frame Email
Makeena
Makeena Email
Makeena App on Google Play
What’s in Your Cart? Makeena on YouTube
Wild Oats
Natural Products Expo West
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Evolve CPG
Evolve CPG Community
Evolve CPG on YouTube
Evolve CPG Email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
59 min
November 30, 2022098 - What We Eat Matters with Seth Goldman of Eat The Change
The foods that we choose to eat represent our single biggest environmental impact. This is the belief of today’s guest, activist entrepreneur Seth Goldman, who wants to inform and empower consumers to make choices that align with their concerns around climate change and wellbeing. Seth is the co-founder and Chief Change Agent of Eat the Change, a snack company on a mission to create chef-crafted, nutrient-dense snacks that are kind to the planet and delicious to eat! He is also the Cofounder of PLNT Burger and Honest Tea, Chair of the Board at Beyond Meat, and the author of Mission in a Bottle: The Honest Guide to Doing Business Differently—and Succeeding. Today, we speak to Seth about his original mission when founding Honest Tea in 1998 and how that vision evolved as he developed the family of brands under the Eat the Change umbrella (including Just Iced Tea). He also shares his drive to make a real impact rather than simply being a passenger on our planet. Whether you want to launch a product in the natural foods category or just lighten your carbon footprint, you’ll gain inspiration from this conversation about why what we eat matters. Plus, you’ll learn something about persevering as a purpose-driven brand leader in the big food ecosystem along the way!

Key Points From This Episode:
A deeper understanding of why what we eat matters.
Persevering as a mission-driven entrepreneur in the big food space.
The importance of being an actor rather than a passenger on our planet.
The story behind how Seth because a purpose-driven entrepreneur.
A snapshot of the food and beverage industry in 1998, when Seth launched Honest Tea.
The honesty, sustainability, and taste at the heart of Honest Tea’s mission statement.
Why Seth refers to what Eat the Change is doing as a “joyful experience.”
The significant impact that Honest Tea/Honest Kids has had for consumers and Coca-Cola.
Seth’s vision for the growing family of Eat the Change brands.
What Seth loves about innovating in the planet-friendly snack category.
Key advice for differentiating yourself as a mission-driven entrepreneur.
Why Eat the Change gives every employee a stake in the company’s future.
Why Seth says you can’t be a “desk chair entrepreneur” in the natural foods business.
Consumer insights you can gain just from visiting the stores you’re stocked in.
What the future of food looks like from Seth’s perspective.
Encouraging trends in the plant-based foods category.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Seth Goldman on LinkedIn
Seth Goldman on Twitter
Eat the Change
Mission in a Bottle
Honest Tea Mission Statement
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Evolve CPG
Evolve CPG Community
Evolve CPG on YouTube
Evolve CPG email
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
46 min

About Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

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We're bringing you the stories behind the people and products building a more just, healthy, and regenerative future for us all. Tune in weekly and together, we’ll learn about why these better…

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Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG) episodes

About Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)