This week, we're deep diving PepsiCo's $1.95 billion acquisition of the prebiotic soda brand Poppi, discussing the shift towards health-conscious beverages and their potentially misleading claims, and digging into influencer-adjacent beverage drama like cheater brands, "vending machine gate" and rumors about if the investments of Alex Cooper and Alix Earle in beverage companies have something to do with their public falling out (and Alix being "dropped" from the Unwell network). This deep dive touches on many topics: the broader trends in the beverage industry, influencer culture, the "Health Halo Effect" of unregulated better-for-you sodas, and, most importantly, the power of branding. Enjoy!

00:00 Intro

03:27 The Evolution of Poppi's Branding

06:00 The Rise and Valuation of Poppi

30:50 The Health Halo Effect

38:38 The Rise of Functional Beverages

41:22 The OliPop and Poppi Rivalry

48:05 Vending Machine Gate

01:03:16 Celebrity Investors in Poppi and Other Bevs

01:16:35 Alex/Alix, Unwell Network, and Influencer Podcasts

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