James Stephenson didn’t take the traditional route to entrepreneurship—he left school early, started DJing at 16, and was throwing parties before most of us figured out what a side hustle was. That early hustle gave him the foundation to build something entirely different years later: oHHo, a plant-powered wellness brand combining CBD, creativity, and really good flavor. From the UK rave scene to the U.S. wellness space, James brings his full story and all the vibes to this episode.

Tyler and James get into the nitty-gritty of launching a business in a highly regulated and fast-evolving industry. We’re talking kitchen-table product drops, surprise pivot moments, and a husband-wife co-founder duo making it work through clear roles, good communication, and shared vision. James talks openly about challenges like supply chain chaos, growing complexity, and the decision to stay scrappy (and cash-conscious) even as they scale.

This episode isn’t just about infused beverages and cannabis topicals—it’s a blueprint for building a brand that feels like you. James’ passion for music, flavor, and intentional lifestyle design runs deep in oHHo’s DNA. If you're into startups, wellness, or just love hearing how someone turns a festival food truck into a multi-product wellness brand, hit play on this one.

Takeaways

• Creativity can be your business superpower. From DJ to CBD innovator, James built oHHo with soul.
• Know your lane—and your partner’s. Co-founding with a spouse takes clarity, patience, and teamwork.
• Start small, stay scrappy, scale smart. Growing slowly gave oHHo the flexibility to build sustainably.
• Flavor matters. In a crowded space, standing out starts with a product people actually want to consume again.
• Customer connection is key. Physical stores, community events, and music-driven activations create brand magic.

 

Takeaways

• Creativity can be your business superpower. From DJ to CBD innovator, James built OhHo with soul.
• Know your lane—and your partner’s. Co-founding with a spouse takes clarity, patience, and teamwork.
• Start small, stay scrappy, scale smart. Growing slowly gave OhHo the flexibility to build sustainably.
• Flavor matters. In a crowded space, standing out starts with a product people actually want to consume again.
• Customer connection is key. Physical stores, community events, and music-driven activations create brand magic.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to oHHo and James Stevenson

02:40 James's Journey from Music to Entrepreneurship

05:40 Transitioning to the Cannabis Space

07:59 Building oHHo: Early Challenges and Strategies

10:56 Customer Acquisition and Retail Strategy

12:32 Navigating Partnerships and Family Dynamics

14:19 Product Expansion and Market Differentiation

16:58 Challenges of Complexity in Business

18:41 Future Plans and Product Launches

21:15 Personal Life and Work-Life Balance

27:58 Final Thoughts and Call to Action