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

July 21, 2021027 - Sharing Power & Knowledge with Justine Reichman of NextGenChef
With so much information available in the current age, finding trusted and convenient sources that are useful to our needs is more important than ever. This is the philosophy that has inspired Justine Reichman in her quest to supply a growing community with better information and resources for wellness and healthy foods. Justine is the Founder and CEO of NextGenChef and the host of the Essential Ingredients Podcast, where she serves her audience by providing them with amazing conversations to aid their decisions about nutrition and health. We talk about the centrality of volunteering work, and how Justine's roots in helping others led to the beginnings of her current initiatives. Justine is so excited about creating a healthier and better-informed future for the planet and its people, so listen in to get started on this journey with our amazing guest!

Key Points From This Episode:
Justine's background in the arts and her passion for volunteer work.
The launch of NextGenChef and what sparked the beginnings of the community.
The wide-ranging audience and topics of the Essential Ingredients podcast!
The family roots of Justine's entrepreneurial spirit!
Excitement about the current spread of health and wellness information.
How the Founder Institute supports entrepreneurs and Justine's work with them.
The growth and evolution of NextGenChef app into the amazing network and resource it is today!
Looking to the future with Justine and the family of brands she is working on bringing into the world.
Types of users that NextGenChef is aimed at and the goal of more informed choices for all.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Justine Reichman
NextGenChef
Essential Ingredients with Justine Reichman
The Founder Institute
10,000 Small Businesses
Goldman Sachs
Modern Species
Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn
Evolve CPG
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
34 min
July 14, 2021026 - Growing Upcycling with TJ Galiardi of Outcast Foods
It seems ludicrous that farmers and grocers throw so much good food away. Surprisingly, very few people have come up with solutions to this problem. Outcast Foods is the world’s first sustainable nutrition company that is disrupting the status quo of food waste using dehydration.

Today's guest is TJ Galiardi, Co-Founder, and CMO of Outcast Foods, and he joins us to talk about the explosive growth of his brand and the upcycling movement. Our conversation covers TJ’s process of working out how to dehydrate a wide range of fruits and vegetables considering that each product needs to be treated differently. We talk about the issue that while upcycling seems like a no-brainer, TJ and his partner found the process of convincing farmers and lawmakers about the benefits of repurposing surplus fruits and vegetables to be a huge challenge. Join us today and listen to TJ’s simple but highly effective solution to the issue of food waste!

Key Points From This Episode:
The idea of ending food waste by dehydrating surplus products and how TJ came up with it.
The different applications for dehydrated food; protein powder, B2B ingredient powders, fruit chips, and more.
What got TJ interested in the issue of food waste and doing something to solve it.
Challenges around convincing farmers and passing regulations to get the upcycling idea off the ground.
The evolution of the upcycling movement and the companies doing it in different ways.
Great sales Outcast Foods is experiencing and the role of the upcycling and sustainability movement in this.
How TJ got into food and nutrition and met his partner before starting Outcast Foods.
The approach to marketing and sales, the role of an online B2C model, and the areas that Outcast Foods is focusing on serving.
Why TJ became a vegan through the influence of his wife and the health benefits of the diet.
Success Outcast Foods has had in raising capital and the new facilities they are building.
The role of TJ’s partner Dr. Darren Burke in coming up with new product formulations.
The elements of TJ’s past have fueled his success in his current role.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Evolve CPG
TJ Galiardi on LinkedIn
TJ Galiardi on Twitter
Dr. Darren Burke on Twitter
Outcast Foods
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
36 min
July 07, 2021025 - Hemp & Agriculture with John Porterfield of Woolen Hemp
Hemp has got uses from the roots to the shoots and this magical plant along with organic farming is slowly helping America move toward a culture of health and sustainability.
Today’s guest is John Porterfield, founder of Woolen Hemp, and he joins us to talk about organic agriculture and the many uses of hemp. John has done a lot in his career to help farmers do more with less. His work ranges from practicing sustainable mining for minerals used in agricultural industries to growing hemp on farms in rotation to help companies eliminate weeds and make the transition to organic farming. Tune in today for an upbeat conversation where we sing the praises of hemp and organic!

Key Points From This Episode:
Convincing farmers to adopt organic practices by introducing hemp into the rotation.
The damage that mining and agriculture cause and John’s work finding greener organic processes.
John’s work with hemp products and advocation for hemp as a weed deterrent for farmers.
Stories of how hemp and organic processes are becoming more widely used by farmers.
Stats for how many farms are growing organic in Montana versus other US states.
The good work John is doing helping veterans get into organic farming in Montana.
The move toward American-made products and how the organic movement is pushing for this.
Connecting wool and hemp growers and the aim behind Woolen Hemp.
The process of making hemp textiles and how it is more sustainable and efficient.
John’s aims for what he hopes to achieve through the Organic Marketing Association.
The movement toward using hemp in the production of beef and the benefits of this.
Going back to how we did things before with hemp and organic.
John’s previous careers in the recreation and outdoor activity space.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
John Porterfield
Woolen Hemp
Hemp Holding Company
Montana Organic Association
Organic Marketing Association
Evolve CPG
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
51 min
June 30, 2021024 - Making Green Mainstream with Annalea Krebs of Social Nature
Social Nature is a product sampling community platform dedicated to helping people make greener choices, and today we speak to its Founder and CEO, Annalea Krebs.
Our guest is on a lifelong mission to ‘make green mainstream’ and we kick off our chat hearing about the different businesses she built as her journey unfolded. She weighs in on how her vision evolved as she built three companies, TheChange, ethicalDeal, and most recently, Social Nature.
We also talk about the methods Annalea has used to build communities around her companies over the years, the value of her bootstrapping experience to her current approach, and the exciting new developments to look out for from Social Naturelooking forward. So for an amazing conversation about how Annalea is driving consumers toward more sustainable choices while helping eco-friendly businesses reach new customers!

Key Points From This Episode:
Annalea introduces herself and her life’s mission to make green mainstream.
The different companies Annalea has founded and the evolution of her mission to link eco-friendly companies to consumers.
Comparing Annalea’s previous company, ethicalDeal, to Groupon.
Perspectives on bootstrapping a business versus taking venture capital.
Strategies Annalea used to measure the growth of businesses that used ethicalDeals.
The community acquisition and engagement methods ethicalDeal used: educational resources and more.
How ethicalDeal triggered the concept for Social Nature and the different business model Social Nature uses.
Providing customers with free samples online and capturing information for targeting.
Strategies Social Nature used to grow their community; partnerships, referrals, and reviews.
A deep dive into the ideal Social Nature client and the clever way it promotes their product.
How clients use Social Nature whether they are promoting a new or existing product.
Insights into consumer behavior and where the needle is moving based on the data Annalea has.
Exciting new projects and what is in store for Social Nature: a new product launchpad and more.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Annalea Krebs
Annalea Krebs on LinkedIn
Annalea Krebs on Twitter
Social Nature
ethicalDeal
Evolve CPG
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
52 min
June 23, 2021023 - Cleaning Up the Soap Aisle with Kristine & Daniel Sperling of Makes 3 Organics
Companies are not legally obligated to get certified before they use the word ‘organic’ in their marketing, meaning they can charge more for products that are no less nasty to consumers. Today we speak to Kristine and Daniel Sperling, Co-Founders of Makes 3 Organics, about their certified Organic, EWG verified skincare brand that customers don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to enjoy. We speak about the backstory of the company and how their ‘organic for everyone’ philosophy has driven them to make products that are not only the real deal but are also accessible in different ways. Kristine and Daniel weigh in on how pricing at a loss allowed them to scale fast enough to start turning a profit while keeping the cost of their product low. We also get into the logistics behind running this business, hearing our guests weigh in on why they do their own packaging, challenges to the supply chain posed by the pandemic, and the centrality of agility in entrepreneurship. Tune in for insights into the process of starting a successful business selling healthy products today!

Key Points From This Episode:
The founding story behind Makes 3 Organics starting with their daughter’s allergies.
Understanding our guests’ ‘organic for everyone’ philosophy and how it came to be.
How our guests have structured their business to keep their products affordable.
The financial and legal backgrounds our guests have and how it helps their business.
Challenges of moving from institutional backgrounds to a more agile entrepreneurial approach.
Why our guests started manufacturing themselves and how it led to co-packing opportunities.
How being organic and EWG compliant have shaped our guests’ process.
Dealing with confusion in the industry around branding as organic without certifications.
Why our guests moved to California and how this has been for their business.
Whether there is any interest in joining Makes 3 Organics from our guests’ daughter.
What the future looks like for Makes 3: new products and a more efficient supply chain.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Daniel Sperling on LinkedIn
Makes 3 Organics
EWG Verified
USDA Organic
Evolve CPG
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
37 min
June 16, 2021022 - First-Voice Storytelling with Pablo Muñoz Ledo of INTO
When customers know the stories behind the products they consume, they can see their connection to a wider ecosystem and feel more empowered to become active members in it. This is the founding principle behind the storytelling, transparency, and contact platform Into, and its Co-Founder and CEO Pablo Muñoz Ledo joins us on the show today. Into combines Pablo’s extensive experience in marketing and communication with his passion for supporting organic farming. In today’s conversation, we hear the story behind Into and the cutting-edge features it offers to connect purpose-driven producers with markets through storytelling. Pablo weighs in on the digital canvas format that allows producers the ultimate flexibility in multimedia storytelling that takes the form of cards that consumers can flip through on their devices. He talks about how the app uses image recognition technology to connect consumers with the stories of producers by simply taking a photograph of their product. Pablo also gets into how Into uses blockchain to secure the involvement of different parties in the production process in the storytelling journey. Another great feature of the app is its data collecting abilities, which allow farmers to see which parts of their stories are being engaged in most so they can get better at connecting with their audiences. Tune in to hear how Pablo is using technology for the good of the planet as well as humanity today!

Key Points From This Episode:
How Into provides a digital platform for connecting farmers to markets through storytelling.
Using the power of social media for people’s benefit rather than their harm.
The connections between the food we eat and the health of the environment.
An introduction to Pablo and the mission statement behind Into.
The history of Pablo’s experience in marketing and organic farming.
A deep dive into the features of Into which provides multimedia storytelling in a card-based UI.
How Into allows consumers to access the stories behind products using image recognition.
The analytics features of the Into platform helping farmers understand how to tell better stories.
Powerful drivers in the form of love and fear and how they can be leveraged to influence people.
How the pandemic has shifted humankind’s philosophy toward connection and love.
The power of ‘first voice’ stories and how the Into platform is enabling them.
Digging into the research Pablo has been doing into storytelling methods with pioneer brands.
Paths for consumers to take to support a product after viewing a story about it.
The many possibilities offered by the digital canvas format in Into.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Pablo Muñoz Ledo on LinkedIn
Aires de Campo
Into
100Stories
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
47 min
June 09, 2021021 - Independent Retail with Lisa Gebhardt of Marlene's Market & Deli
Despite decades of ascendancy, the health food market still has elements that make it niche and non-mainstream. Marlene's Market and Deli is a shining example of an established, independent store that has a committed customer base in its community, with a strong set of core values and goals.

Lisa Gebhardt is the daughter of the founder of the company and is now the owner and general manager of this inspiring business. She joins us on the show today to share her journey as well as the history and hopes for the future of Marlene's. We speak about the ins and outs of running an independent, family-owned business, and the impact that the pandemic has had on their operations. The conversation also covers their business priorities as well as the focus on education and learning around health.

Listeners can expect a personable reflection on 45 years in the health retail business, as well as some inside information on how Marlene's has become such a mainstay!

Key Points From This Episode:
What it means to be an independent, family-owned business in a connected community.
Lisa's mom Marlene's beginnings in the natural food movement 45 years ago!
The close relationships that Marlene's has with its local suppliers and vendors.
Shifts and pivots that Marlene's made in response to the pandemic.
Lisa's advice to retail brands and anyone considering opening a similar type of business as Marlene's.
The natural process of Lisa's involvement in the business over the years.
Priorities for stocking at Marlene's; non-GMO, organic, and sugar parameters.
Changes that occurred in Lisa's home towards better ingredients and healthy options.
Lisa's thoughts on trade shows, reps, brokers, and customers for sourcing new products.
Decisions around products that Marlene's produce themselves.
The future of Marlene's and the impact that the pandemic has had on their strategy.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Marlene's Market and Deli
Know Your Nutrition
Adelle Davis
Evolve CPG
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
36 min
June 02, 2021020 - Raising Crowd Capital with Jonny Price of WeFunder
What if you, as an ordinary person, had the opportunity to invest in a startup you loved, just like angel investors do? Wefunder is a platform that enables these opportunities, and today’s guest, Jonny Price, VP of fundraising at the platform, joins us to share some insights into how it all works. We talk about the benefits of this model of crowdfunding, both for investors and for founders. Not only does it democratize the space, but companies then have a built-in army of loyal followers. Disruptive technology that can work to distribute wealth is going to be a gamechanger in our increasingly unequal society, and with a company like Wefunder leading the charge, we are excited to see where this movement will go.

Key Points From This Episode:
What Wefunder does and the policy changes that enabled them to publicly crowdfund.
The fundraising model Wefunder uses is growing in popularity.
The difference between fundraising from individual investors and accredited investors.
How founders are typically using Wefunder and some of the use cases.
Wefunder’s market share in this crowdfunding space.
Tips Jonny would give founders who are looking to fundraise through Wefunder.
The dual benefit of using Wefunder: quicker fundraising and an army of brand ambassadors.
How a Wefunder campaign differs from a traditional pitch deck.
The company size that works best on Wefunder.
Where Jonny sees the democratized fundraising space going.
Investing in startups is not risk-free, but there is potential for great upside.
Get to know Jonny, his background, and why his family moved to Nashville last May.
The work Jonny did at Kiva and the Zip Pilot Program he worked on.
What Jonny’s role on the Community Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve entailed.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jonny Price
Jonny Price on Twitter
Wefunder
Kiva
Premal Shah
Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Businesses
CurlMix
Jason Calacanis
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
39 min
May 26, 2021019 - I Before We with Linwood Paul & Matt D'Amour of Subtle Distinctions
Self-awareness is the first step to the attainment of healthy relationships and effective leadership because it is only from a full cup that we can authentically give to others. This is one of the foundational ideas that the coaching offered by Matt D’Amour and Linwood Paul is based on and today we have them on the show as our guests to hear more about their philosophy. Matt and Linwood are the Co-Founders of Subtle Distinctions, an integrative coaching community whose aim is to cultivate thoughtful leaders from the inside out. Matt and Linwood both speak with a huge amount of wisdom on the subject of personal development today, and we start our conversation on their ‘I before we before all’ framework. Matt and Linwood unpack this concept, highlighting the idea that we have to find our truth before we can effectively engage with others from a place of compassion and power. We talk about the misconception of seeing self-care as selfish, the debt-based system of giving from an empty cup, and the need to reframe boundaries as things that hold a space in which to grow rather than keep others out. Matt and Linwood also share their six pillars of health today, KPIs that we can use to be more self-aware and to treat ourselves better such as sleep, nutrition, breathing, and moving. So for wise words on the subject of personal development as the entry point to agency, leadership, and relationships, tune in today.

Key Points From This Episode:
More agency and better relationships through the ‘I before we before all’ philosophy.
Why Matt and Linwood begin their relationship coaching with self-awareness.
What nourishing and being aware of the self involves.
How the ‘I before we before all’ concept fits into the Serenity Prayer.
Finding your truth and perspective on things by experiencing them for yourself.
Developing a personal strength first and only then focusing on compassion for others.
Misconceptions around viewing taking care of oneself first as selfishness.
Reframing a boundary as something to grow toward and expand within.
How trying to give when your cup is empty is a system based on debt.
Taking care of yourself first by living by the foundational six pillars of health.
Filtering the outside input we take in by seeing everything as food.
Knowing whether to do a thing or not by asking if it is enjoyable.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Subtle Distinctions
Matt D’Amour
Linwood Paul
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
24 min
May 19, 2021018 - Failing to Save The Planet with Ian Walker of Left Coast Naturals
Creating a sustainable business is about more than your carbon footprint. Sure, your environmental impact is important, but so is your societal and economic impact, including how you affect the communities you work in and how you treat the people who work for you. Today’s guest is Ian Walker, Founder, and President of Left Coast Naturals, an organic and natural food distributor of ‘better ingredient’ brands like Hippie Snacks, among others. Ian has come a long way from selling nut butter with a friend at a local market. Today, Left Coast Naturals distributes 27 different brands, over 200 organic and natural bulk foods, and manufactures three of their own brands. They have never wavered on their commitment to, not just make great food and serve their customers, but to do it in an ethical and environmentally responsible way too. In this episode, Ian shares the three pillars of a sustainable business and highlights his commitment to “asking too many questions,” as you’ll find out.

Key Points From This Episode:
The three pillars of sustainable business: environmental, societal, and economic impact.
Learn more about Ian’s background in sustainability, particularly from a business perspective.
Why going back to the basics of whole foods isn’t as complicated as others make it sound.
The importance of continuous learning and striving to be better than the day before.
How Ian arrived at this model, growing a manufacturing branded business in parallel with a distribution business.
How knowing not just what you want to be, but also what you don’t, can benefit your business.
The unique selling point that manufacturing their own products provides Left Coast Naturals.
Ian’s mission to streamline the growing trend towards consuming more whole foods.
How innovation has had to evolve as organic products have become more mainstream.
The process of creating whole food products that are both price and format-friendly.
Some of the biggest obstacles Ian has faced on this journey, including consumer perception.
How Ian hopes to combat greenwashing and elevate B Corps in the eyes of consumers.
Learn more about the inherent requirements for shelf-stable packaging, namely its seal and barrier properties.
Ian explains why the illusion of recycling or composting plastic packaging is a false narrative.
Why being challenged is an important part of leading the way in any field, and why businesses should be open to criticism.
How businesses are quick to adopt sustainable initiatives when it costs less, but hesitant when it costs more.
Ian’s commitment to “ask too many questions” when it comes to their non-GMO promise.
Predictions for the future of the whole and organic foods industry: there will be end solutions.
How a new generation of conscious employees is shifting companies for the better.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Ian Walker on LinkedIn
Left Coast Naturals
Hippie Snacks
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
55 min

About Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

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Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG) episodes

About Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)