Hunt Gather Nurture

Why do most beverage brands fail?

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Larkai and Monte Burrow, founders of Blackleaf Organic Vodka, to break down what it actually takes to build a brand in one of the most competitive categories in CPG.

This isn’t a highlight reel.

We get into:

•  The biggest mistakes they made early on 
•  Why great products don’t sell themselves 
•  What “entrepreneurship is a contact sport” really means 
•  How they bet on organic before it was trending 
•  The difference between storytelling and building real systems 
•  What they learned going from corporate (Diageo) to startup 

If you’re a founder, operator, or thinking about launching a brand—this episode is a real look at what it takes to survive and scale.

Key Takeaways

•  Most brands fail because they don’t stay close to the customer 
•  Product alone is never enough 
•  Organic isn’t a trend—it’s a long-term belief system 
•  Systems and execution matter just as much as story 

Connect with the Guests

Kevin Larkai
Monte Burrow
Blackleaf Organic Vodka 

In this episode, Jason Burke sits down with MLB All-Star Justin Turner and Kourtney Turner to talk about life outside of baseball, building businesses, investing with intention, and using your platform to create meaningful impact.

This isn’t just a conversation about sports. It’s about identity.

Justin and Kourtney share what it’s really like to move from professional athletics into entrepreneurship and investing—where success isn’t guaranteed, and learning requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to start from zero.

They break down how they approach investing, what they look for in founders, and why authenticity is the ultimate filter when choosing partnerships. For them, it’s not just about the product—it’s about the people behind it.

We also dive into the importance of support systems, how they balance roles as partners in both business and life, and why resilience is the common thread across sports, entrepreneurship, and investing.

Beyond business, Justin and Kourtney discuss the work they’re doing through the Justin Turner Foundation, supporting children battling serious illness and homeless veterans. Their commitment to community impact highlights a bigger perspective on success—one that goes beyond financial returns.

We also touch on their podcast, Holding Kourt, and how they’re using it as a platform to share their journey and connect with others navigating similar paths.

Key topics include:
 • Why identity shouldn’t be tied to one career
 • Investing in people over products
 • The role of authenticity in partnerships
 • Building strong support systems
 • Balancing business and personal relationships
 • The importance of resilience in high-performance environments
 • Using your platform for community impact

Whether you’re an athlete, founder, investor, or someone navigating your next chapter, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about what you’ve done—it’s about what you build next.

🎧 Listen now and hear how Justin and Kourtney Turner are creating impact in the game and beyond.

Retail deductions are one of the biggest hidden profit drains in CPG. In this episode, Jason Burke sits down with Komal Devjani to break down deductions management, revenue recovery, chargebacks, trade spend disputes, and how brands can improve cash flow through better financial processes.

Learn common mistakes founders make, how to distinguish valid vs. disputable deductions, why remittance statements matter, and how technology solutions like Revya.ai help automate recovery and operational efficiency.

If you’re a CPG founder, finance leader, or operator looking to protect margins and scale responsibly, this episode is a must-listen.

In this conversation, I sit down with Sam Nebel, co-founder of Good Wipes, to unpack his journey from identifying a simple everyday need to building a bold, disruptive CPG brand. Sam opens up about the realities of fundraising, the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, and the long-term mindset required to grow a consumer product company. His candid stories and practical insights make this a must-listen for anyone navigating (or dreaming about) the world of startups.

We talk about:

• How a personal need sparked the idea behind Good Wipes
• Why building a CPG brand requires patience, resilience, and a long game
• The truth about fundraising—timelines, myths, and what founders should expect
• How to approach investor relationships as true partnerships
• Why early wins matter and how to celebrate them
• Navigating rejection and staying grounded in your mission
• The power of field marketing and unexpected opportunities
• When founders should actually start fundraising

If you're an aspiring founder, a CPG enthusiast, or simply curious about what it takes to grow a brand from the ground up, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I sit down with investor and CPG veteran Melissa Facchina to explore her path from working in her dad's juice manufacturing business to founding Siddhi Capital and becoming a leading voice in the consumer packaged goods space. Melissa shares how hands-on operational experience shaped her investing philosophy and why strong founder–investor relationships matter more than ever.

We talk about:

• Melissa’s early start in the juice industry and transition from consulting to investing
• Why she launched Siddhi Capital to bring real operational support to emerging brands
• The shift from “growth at all costs” to building resilient, durable businesses
• Challenges and opportunities in today’s competitive beverage market
• Trends like keto and plant-based—and why product quality can make or break them
• How investors must be willing to admit when they don't have the answers and collaborate with entrepreneurs

Whether you’re a founder, investor, or CPG enthusiast, you’ll walk away with practical insights on navigating today’s evolving consumer landscape.

In this conversation, Jason Burke interviews Mike Fata, an accomplished entrepreneur and investor, discussing his journey from being a 300-pound teenager to a successful business leader. They explore the importance of health and wellness in entrepreneurship, the investor's perspective on business growth, and the intricacies of valuation and pitch decks. Mike shares valuable insights on how to navigate the fundraising process, emphasizing the need for clarity in revenue reporting and the significance of building relationships with investors before seeking capital. The discussion highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle for entrepreneurs and the need for a structured approach to fundraising.

Takeaways

• Mike Fata's journey began with a personal health transformation.
• Building a business takes time; it's a marathon, not a sprint.
• Health and wellness are crucial for sustained entrepreneurial success.
• Investors prefer entrepreneurs who are in it for the long haul.
• Valuation is complex and depends on various market factors.
• Pitch decks should be simple and to the point.
• Networking with investors before needing capital is essential.
• Understanding net revenue is critical for entrepreneurs.
• Investing in products you believe in can lead to better outcomes.
• A structured fundraising process can alleviate distractions from running a business.

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and one of the sharpest minds in the space — Denise Lambertson, founder of Constellation Capital. Denise shares how she went from being Madonna’s executive assistant to pioneering celebrity equity deals and eventually launching her own CPG venture fund.

We talk about:

• her one-of-a-kind path into investing
• how she thinks about product, marketing, and valuation
• why more women need to be at the table as both GPs and LPs.

If you’re raising money or thinking about what makes a great brand, this one is a must-listen.

Constellation Capital's Website

Jason's Website

This episode is everything I wish more founders knew about fundraising—from why net sales matter more than gross to how valuations are actually shaped (spoiler: it’s not just about your revenue multiple). We talk about the mindset it takes to build a brand that lasts, how to stay focused when the market is noisy, and why so many founders get stuck chasing exits instead of building businesses.

Whether you’re getting ready to raise or still in the messy middle, Rodney brings two decades of honest, no-BS insight. This conversation is one I wish I had ten years ago—and I think a lot of founders will feel the same.

Fundraising in 2025 feels different than it used to. It is harder, slower, and less forgiving than in years past. In this episode, I sit down with Steve Young—an experienced operator, investor, and partner at Manna Tree—to have an honest conversation about what is really happening in the investment landscape right now.

We cover:

• Why the bar for raising money has become significantly higher
• What actually makes investors say yes in today’s market
• How self-awareness has become one of the most valuable traits a founder can possess
• When it might be time to double down—or step aside
• Why a polished pitch deck no longer guarantees interest

If you are in the trenches trying to raise capital, scale your brand, or simply lead with more intention, this episode will meet you where you are.

My candid conversation with VC Andy Whitman — why he turned me down, what I learned, and what you need to know before pitching your brand to an investor. We get into the mistakes founders make, how investors actually think about valuation, and why the best time to raise money is when you don’t need it.