Good Intention

Episode 50: Mike Xhaxho and Connor Saeli are the founders of Waterboy. Waterboy offers hangover recovery and sports recovery hydration packets that have natural formulas and ingredients that help with dehydration, nausea, and hangxiety. 

Compared to Liquid IV, Waterboy has more electrolytes, more Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C, with fewer calories and no sugar.

In this episode, Mike and Connor chat about:

• Their journey from finance to entrepreneurship
• How they've grown their business and team since launching in 2021
• How their unique approach to social media marketing has benefited them
• Plans for scaling their business

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

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Episode 49: Founded in 2010 by Amanda Wadsworth and her mom, Kit Seay, Tiny Pies offers sweet and savory pies baked from scratch daily, using recipes that go back four generations in Amanda’s family.

Tiny Pies uses high-quality ingredients, sourced from local Texas farms when in season. Their pies are available in 5 retail locations in Austin, and they ship nationwide on their website. 

In this episode, Amanda chats about:

• How she turned a farmer’s market side hustle into a booming business
• Lessons learned from operating 5 retail locations
• How Tiny Pies creates joy in people’s lives through food
• What’s next for Tiny Pies in terms of growth & expansion

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

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Episode 48: Milly Fotso, the Founder of The Braided Life, a braiding salon in East Austin that aims to celebrate the Black hair experience. 

In this episode, Milly chats about:

• How moving from Cameroon to the United States impacted her childhood
• Why she decided to leave the corporate world at L’Oreal to start a business that celebrated all types of beauty 
• Memorable moments and lessons from opening her self-funded salon
• How The Braided Life aims to empower the Black community in Austin

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

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Episode 47: Morgan Potts is the founder and CEO of Granarly. Granarly is the world’s first whiskey-baked granola that comes in unique flavor combinations and is packaged in waterproof pouches so that you can bring your snack on any adventure! 

In this episode, Morgan chats about:

• Turning down vet school to start her own business
• How she got her products into retailers like Whole Foods and Central Market
• The importance of viewing business as an adventure 

You can use the code OFFICECHATS at Granarly for 20% off your order.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

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Episode 46: Thurman and Torrence Thomas are the duo behind THEBROSFRESH, an R&B, southern hip-hop, and rock band based in Austin, Texas. 

When they’re not writing, performing, and creating music, Thurman and Torrence are busy running a nonprofit organization they created called Tankproof.

Founded in 2011, Tankproof is working to address the 64% of minority children in the U.S. that are not water safe and at risk of drowning. In addition to swim lessons, the organization provides meals to youth, veterans, and homeless shelters.

In this episode, Thurman and Torrence discuss:

• Their career in music, including performing at this year's ACL festival
• What inspires Tankproof's mission to create equity and opportunity in underserved communities 
• The impact Tankproof is having on kids nationwide
• Their top advice for creatives and founders

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Episode 45: Andrea Lisbona is the founder and CEO of Touchland. While the pandemic brought hand sanitizer to the forefront of everyone’s minds, Andrea Lisbona’s vision to beautify the hand sanitizer industry began over a decade ago. 

In the early 2010’s Andrea sought to commoditize a stale industry that hadn’t seen innovation in 20 years with the creation of the moisturizing, sleek, fast evaporating, and cruelty-free sanitizing formulations from Touchland, that are available in elevated scent profiles.

In 2019, Touchland closed its first year in business with over $1.5M in sales bolstered by distribution with retailers like Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Sephora, Ulta, and Target. They also had a collaboration with Disney that increased their sales by 86% within just one week launching. 

Touchland is currently in over 1,500 retails doors, has won awards from Allure, and is loved by celebrities like Kris Jenner and Mindy Kaling.

In this episode, Andrea discusses: 

• Her journey immigrating to the U.S. from Spain to pursue her brand vision
• How Touchland utilized social media to accelerate its business growth
• The impact her company has had on a relatively untouched market 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

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Episode 44: Austin M. Pittman is the Co-Founder of Blue Norther. 

Founded in 2019, Blue Norther brews award-winning craft hard seltzer in Austin, Texas with real fruit and organic agave nectar. Their seltzers are lightly carbonated, free of strange aftertastes and confusing ingredients, and come in refreshing Southwest flavors like Prickly Pear, Wild Blackberry, and Watermelon.

They also operate the state’s first hard seltzer Tasting Room, where they host live music and more every week. Find Blue at H-E-B, Whole Foods, and other retailers in the Greater Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston markets.

In this episode, Austin chats about:

• What inspired him and his father to create a hard seltzer unlike any other 
• Lessons learned from getting Blue Norther into top retailers 
• Advice for founders to stay positive and maintain their entrepreneurial drive 

You can visit the Blue Norther Hard Seltzer tasting room at 440 E St Elmo Rd Building C1, Austin, Texas.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

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Episode 43: Katie Diasti is the founder and CEO of Viv, an eco-friendly period care brand that is free of harmful toxins. 

After graduating from Boston College in 2019, Katie knew her calling was to combine her passion for women empowerment and sustainability to build a brand that empowered consumers rather than thriving off their insecurities. 

In this episode, Katie shares: 

• How she turned a college assignment into a business that has raised $1 million in pre-seed rounds
• The process of developing eco-friendly menstrual products that are both effective and comfortable
• The importance of building a supportive community as a solopreneur
• 3 tips for entrepreneurs seeking investments

You can follow Viv on Instagram @vivforyourv!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

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Episode 42: Tracy Adkins is the founder of Jivana, a skincare brand made from a blend of Ayurvedic botanicals and skincare actives. Tracy is a nurse and Ayurvedic practitioner that unintentionally turned a home remedy for her toddler’s eczema into a small business.

In this episode, Tracy explains:

• Exactly what Ayurveda is and the role it plays in skincare
• How Jivana's products target the needs of three specific skin types
• The biggest lessons learned from running a small business

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

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Episode 41: Mbali Z. Ndlovu is the founder of Lukafit, an empowering activewear brand designed with curves in mind. Lukafit's mission is to celebrate women of all shapes, sizes, and shades along their health and wellness journeys.

In this episode, Mbali discusses:

• How her own health and wellness journey led her to create an activewear brand
• The importance of community both in business and life
• Her advice for entrepreneurs on staying mentally sound
• What sets her small business apart from others on the market

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe/follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thank you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.