Liora Dudar’s career has never followed the rules. Before co-founding Overtone, the viral color-depositing conditioner brand that reshaped the beauty industry, she was a photographer creating bold feminist art — including hand-painted tampon murals and raw photo essays that challenged beauty standards.

In this episode, host Kristin Taylor talks with Liora about the journey from art school to building a $55M brand, and the emotional weight that comes with turning creativity into a company. They get into the politics of self-expression, the pressure to “show up” online, and how guilt unexpectedly became a tool in Liora’s coaching style after leaving Overtone.

You’ll hear about:

• How a feminist photo project went viral and shaped her creative voice
  

• Why at-home color should be about identity, not conformity
  

• The early days of building Overtone from a kitchen in Tucson
  

• What scaling a fast-moving beauty brand really takes
  

• The physical and emotional toll of entrepreneurship
  

• How she rebuilt her life after exiting the company
  

• The surprising coaching framework she now teaches founders
  

• What self-expression means in a world that constantly watches
  

Liora’s story is for anyone navigating identity, creativity, leadership, or the complicated overlap of all three. It’s honest, artistic, and full of lessons for founders and creatives who want to build without losing themselves.

From Viral Art to a $55M Haircare Brand: Liora Dudar on Self-Expression, Creative Leadership, and the Real Cost of Building Overtone

Liora Dudar’s career has never followed the rules. Before co-founding Overtone, the viral color-depositing conditioner brand that reshaped the beauty industry, she was a photographer creating bold feminist art — including hand-painted tampon murals and raw photo essays that challenged beauty standards.

🚀 From Viral Brands to Mental Burnout: What It Really Takes to Build a Business What happens when your product goes viral… and then gets knocked off three weeks later? What’s the real cost of chasing the hype—and what’s waiting on the other side of burnout? 

In this episode of More Than the Hype, host Kristin Taylor sits down with Janet Gwen, the founder and creative director behind Janet Gwen Designs, a Charlotte-based brand known for aesthetic tech accessories and dreamy home decor made for modern homebodies.

Janet gets real about building a top-rated product empire from her high school bedroom, rebranding through multiple business phases, and ultimately choosing purpose over pressure. Now a performance marketer overseeing 20+ brands, she shares why she walked away from her company at its peak and what she's learned about creating with intention in the age of content chaos.

✨ What You’ll Learn:

• Why going viral isn’t always the dream—and how it can destroy your brand

• The truth about product-based businesses post-COVID (it’s not cute)

• What performance marketing really means—and why creative is king

• How BookTok resurrected Barnes & Noble and created a reading revolution

• Why “just start” is bad advice if you’re in a regulated industry

• The danger of chasing external validation (aka Forbes 30 Under 30 gone very wrong)
  

🔥 Resources & Mentions:

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

• Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap

• BookTok trends & Kindle Unlimited

• Midjourney – AI tool for creators

• The downfall of meme coins like $HAWT and what creators need to know
  

📚 Books Worth the Hype (and Not): ✅ Everything is Figureoutable – a mantra AND a method ❌ Some of Joe Dispenza’s work – vibes alone don’t pay the rent

👉 Subscribe & Review: If this episode hit home for you, share it with your people and drop us a review. Your support means the world 💛

📲 Follow Kristin Taylor & More Than the Hype

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🎙️ Connect with Janet Gwen

• 🌐 Website: janetgwen.com

• 🐾 Fun Fact: She’s a Ravenclaw, and a proud dog mom to Bonnie & Clyde

This week, our host Kristin Taylor flips the script and goes solo answering one of the most asked questions from her inbox:

“How did you start Mom Juice?”

What started as a last-minute guest cancellation turned into one of the most raw and transparent episodes we’ve ever dropped. Kristin shares the full journey  from blogging during college and planning galas at 20 in Charlotte,NC to building KT Winery and getting Mom Juice into Target, Total Wine, and Safeway.

Whether you’re an early-stage founder, brand builder, or someone sitting on a big idea you haven’t acted on yet; you’re going to want to tune in 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- How Kristin went from dreaming of writing romance novels (guess her pen name) to launching a wine company

- The exact steps she took to start KT Winery and develop the Mom Juice brand

- What it really costs to build a product-based business without outside funding

- How she landed a pitch with Target and got Mom Juice on shelves

- Why starting small but thinking big is the key to sustainable growth

- What founders should know before white labeling or launching a CPG brand

- The emotional toll of building and the gut-check moments that keep you going

🔥 Mic-Drop Moment:

"It’s never not felt right;  even when I was crying on the closet floor."

Who This Episode Is For:

- Founders in the early stages of building

- CPG entrepreneurs navigating retail and distribution

- When everything is just so hard and so demanding

- VCs looking to understand underdog founder journeys

- Brand builders balancing creative vision with cash flow realities

Links + Resources:

- Follow Kristin on IG → @kristin.taylor

- Follow the podcast → @morethanthehypepodcast

- Learn more about Mom Juice → momjuicewine.com

🎧 Like what you hear?

Make sure to:

✅ Rate + review the show

✅ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

✅ Share this episode with a founder friend who needs to hear it

More juice, less fluff. This is More Than the Hype. 🍷

In this episode of More Than the Hype, host Kristin Taylor sits down with Jaclyn Tracy, founder and CEO of SISTAIN, to talk about building a values-driven, nontoxic home goods marketplace. From curating clean, design-forward products to fighting greenwashing and leading with education, Jaclyn shares the real challenges and wins of growing a mission-based business in a confusing wellness space. Whether you're a founder, CPG enthusiast, or curious consumer, this episode dives deep into consumer trust, product sourcing, sustainability strategy, and why nontoxic living matters more than ever.

• How Jaclyn turned frustration with the wedding registry process into a business idea
  

• The difference between greenwashing and real sustainability — and how to spot it
  

• How SISTAIN verifies every product for safety, transparency, and ethics
  

• Why cookware, cutting boards, and candles should be your first swaps
  

• What it takes to scale a marketplace without a tech background
  

• The science behind microplastics and why “fragrance” is a red flag
  

Jaclyn Tracy is the founder and CEO of SISTAIN, a modern marketplace for nontoxic, sustainable home goods. With a background in marketing and a passion for conscious living, she created SISTAIN to make safer, ethically made products easier to access—without sacrificing style or performance. Jaclyn’s work is rooted in deep research, community care, and a belief that better choices at home can lead to a better world.

Follow her work: Instagram: @jactracy Website: thesistain.com Email: [email protected]

Loved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to More Than the Hype wherever you listen. Share it with a founder friend, wellness-minded parent, or anyone ready to clean up their home without the overwhelm.

Join our newsletter for the latest episodes, founder insights, and the best in modern CPG and clean living.

What You’ll Learn:Guest Bio:Subscribe + ShareStay in the Loop

In this episode of More Than the Hype, host Kristin Taylor sits down with Paige Parker, founder and CEO of Happenstance Whiskey, to talk about building Nashville’s only 100% woman-owned whiskey brand. From her early days in marketing at Anheuser-Busch to hand-blending a cabernet-style bourbon that’s now award-winning, Paige opens up about the grit, vision, and unshakable belief it takes to carve a space in a male-dominated industry.If you’re a founder, beverage industry hopeful, or someone building a premium CPG brand from scratch, this episode is packed with lessons on branding, fundraising, flavor development, and how to make every drop count in a complex three-tier system.What You’ll Learn:- Why 40% of bourbon drinkers are women—and still wildly underserved- How Paige identified a market gap and used it to launch Happenstance- The story behind developing a premium flavor profile from scratch- What “liquid to lips” marketing really means (and why it works)- The realities of funding, licensing, and scaling in the alcohol industry- How to build community and brand loyalty from day oneGuest Bio:Paige Parker is the founder and CEO of Happenstance Whiskey, Nashville’s only 100% woman-owned whiskey company. With a background in marketing, a sommelier certification, and a passion for spirits, Paige has created a bourbon brand that’s modern, approachable, and built for today's whiskey drinker—especially women who’ve been overlooked in the space for too long.Follow Her Work:Instagram: @happenstancewhiskeyWebsite: happenstancewhiskey.comSubscribe + ShareLoved this episode? Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to More Than the Hype wherever you listen. Share it with a founder friend, CPG builder, or whiskey lover who’s ready to build something bold.Stay in the LoopJoin our newsletter to get the latest episodes, founder tips, and CPG trends straight to your inbox.

In this episode of More Than The Hype, host Kristin Taylor sits down with Anna Zesbaugh who is the powerhouse founder of Hooch Booch and Corpse Reviver; to talk about what it takes to launch and grow a successful beverage brand. From turning a pandemic furlough into a full-fledged alcohol and wellness brand, to landing Corpse Reviver on the shelves of Walmart, Anna shares the gritty truth, business pivots, and branding strategies that helped her disrupt an entire category.

You'll hear how Anna:

• Launched a hard kombucha brand with just nine months of prep

• Created cocktail-inspired wellness drinks that resonate with modern consumers
  

• Navigated regulation chaos and consumer confusion with clear branding
  

• Shut down her first brand by choice to scale what worked
  

• Got into Sprouts, Erewhon and Walmart through cold pitching and smart retail strategy
  

Whether you're in CPG, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just obsessed with cool founders shaking up their industry, this one’s for you.

• Turning a furlough into a functional beverage business
  

• What it really takes to create an alcohol brand
  

• The power of packaging and experiential branding
  

• Why education matters more than marketing
  

• How to know when it’s time to shut down a brand
  

• Getting onto shelves at Sprouts, Walmart, and beyond
  

• Balancing wellness and alcohol in product strategy
  

Anna Zesbaugh Founder of Hooch Booch & Co-Founder of Corpse Reviver Website: drinkhoochbooch.com Instagram: @anna.zezzers | @drinkhoochbooch | @drinkcorpsereviver

Kristin Taylor Founder of Mom Juice | Host of More Than The Hype Instagram: @kristin.taylor Podcast IG: @morethanthehypepodcast

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow founder or beverage nerd. Don’t forget to grab your Corpse Reviver at Sprouts or drinkcorpsereviver.com!

🔥 Topics Covered:👤 Guest:💬 Connect with Host:🔗 Stay in the Loop:

In this powerful episode of More Than the Hype, host Kristin Taylor sits down with Emily Scorgie — PR strategist, content creator, and founder of Babble PR — for an unfiltered conversation on brand building, motherhood, and the real story behind media exposure.

Emily opens up about her journey from nonprofit work to launching her own PR agency while raising two kids under two — and why she walked away from traditional career paths to create something that actually fits her life. From influencer marketing truths to why your founder story matters more than ever, this episode is a masterclass in modern-day brand storytelling.

If you’re a CPG brand, mom entrepreneur, or business owner wondering when (and how) to invest in PR — this is your go-to guide.

🔥 What You'll Learn:

• What makes a brand truly press-worthy in today’s crowded market
  

• Why authentic founder stories drive more media than product launches
  

• The hidden costs of daycare and how it sparked Emily’s leap into entrepreneurship
  

• Real talk on influencer pricing, earned vs. paid media, and sample shipping strategy
  

• How Emily structures PR packages for startups without big agency budgets
  

🧠 Memorable Moments: “PR should be proactive, not reactive. It’s about telling your story daily.” “I quit my dream job at 12 weeks pregnant — because I knew what mattered more.” “If you seem too perfect, you’re not relatable. The ugly stuff is your power.”

👤 Guest Info:

•  Emily Scorgie

•  Founder, Babble PR

•  Website: babblepr.com

•  Instagram: @letsbabble

✨ Stay Connected:

• Follow host Kristin Taylor on Instagram

• Learn more about More Than the Hype

• Sip smart with Mom Juice

What happens when a creative strategist-turned-founder decides she’s done waiting for permission and builds a clean-label wine company from the ground up? You get KT Winery — now stocked in Target, Total Wine, and soon, first-class on international flights.

In this episode, More Than the Hype host Kristin Taylor sits down on the other side of the mic for a special bonus interview with Greta Okomo of Collaborative Change. From quitting corporate to funding a dream with her 401(k), Kristin gets radically honest about ownership, identity, and the cost of building while underestimated.

Who It’s For:

→ Early-stage founders & brand builders

→ CPG operators & DTC dreamers

→ Women raising capital or scaling solo

→ VCs ready to invest in untapped markets

→ Anyone who’s had to fight for their own seat at the table

What We Cover:

🧃 The business of wine: how KT Winery scaled from kitchen table to national retail

💰 Fundraising while underestimated — and knowing when to walk away

🧠 Why therapy is a founder tool, not a luxury

⚡ The myth of going “full time” and what real scaling looks like

💥 How to protect your vision from people who don’t respect it

🔥 Mic Drop Moment:

“They held our wine hostage to ‘teach us a lesson’... I moved every dollar out the next week.”

Links + Resources: → KT Winery — shop wines + sign up for the non-alc drop → Follow Kristin on IG: @kristin.taylor | @ktwinery | @momjuicewine  → Learn more about She’s Got the Juice — September 5-6 in Denver, CO

🎧 Listen Now: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anywhere you tune in

In this powerful episode of More Than the Hype, host Kristin Taylor sits down with Paige Goss — Founder and CEO of Point Solutions Group — to talk real numbers, raw challenges, and how she built a $10M+ tech and defense contracting business from scratch, without a technical background.

From moving cross-country while her wife was pregnant with twins to breaking into a male-dominated industry, Paige shares her no-BS perspective on what it really takes to scale, hire, and build a company culture that lasts. Plus, she dives deep into what makes a business “sexy”, and how she chooses the female-led startups she invests in.

This episode is packed with value for entrepreneurs, especially women navigating leadership in high-growth industries. If you’ve ever wondered what grit, growth, and building with purpose really look like—this one’s for you.

🔥 What You'll Learn:

• How Paige grew a $10M+ tech company without writing a line of code

• The power of financial fluency for women entrepreneurs

• Why culture is more than ping pong tables and happy hours

• Paige’s investment strategy and why she bets on women

• How to stay sane while building and leading at scale

• “EBITDA is sexy. And profitable businesses should be celebrated.”

• “If you tell me I can’t do it, I’m probably going to do it.”

• “You don’t build culture with a budget — you build it by being real.”
  

Paige Goss

• Founder & CEO,
• Point Solutions Group
• Connect on LinkedIn: Paige Goss

Stay Connected:

• Follow host Kristin Taylor on Instagram

• Learn more about More Than the Hype

• Sip smart with Mom Juice