Ready To Drink Podcast

By The FreeMind Group

The Ready To Drink Podcast is built for founders, operators and leaders navigating the next era of beverage. These are honest conversations with the people doing the work, building bra

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FAQs about Ready To Drink Podcast:

How many episodes does Ready To Drink Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 80 episodes available.

Ready To Drink Podcast episodes:

April 20, 2026 Quick Sips: His boss told him the work was drying up, so he built a brewery instead. | JR Heaps | South County Brewery
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The 2008 housing crash didn't end JR Heaps' career - it started one.
JR was doing historic restoration and timber frame design-build work when his boss pulled him aside and basically said: the projects are drying up, you might want to chase that beer thing.
So he did.
He built his own version of the Brutus 10 homebrew system - pumps, temperature controllers, a 10-gallon setup he'd been dialing in for years. Then he went hunting for affordable commercial equipment and found four Grundy tanks from an old pub in Virginia, originally imported from England. Cut two of them apart to build his own mash tun and kettle. Welded the whole thing together himself.
That Frankenstein brewhouse? It's still making beer today - Kyle Neuheimer at Oakbrook Brewing in Reading, PA picked it up and it's still running. That's not just a cool origin story. That's a testament to what happens when a builder puts his hands on a problem.
JR Heaps is the founder of South County Brewery in Pennsylvania.
Ready To Drink | B2B media for the adult beverage industry
Check out SouthCountyBrewing.com

Find more founder stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts

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Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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4min
April 02, 2026The LEVIA Story with Kristin & Eric Rogers
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In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate Fochtman sits down with Kristin and Eric Rogers, the husband-and-wife founders who built, sold, and recently bought back their cannabis beverage empire, LEVIA. Transitioning from careers as "recovering marketers" for massive blue-chip brands like AT&T and Home Depot, the duo discusses the grit required to move from a kitchen-top concept in 2017 to a facility-based powerhouse.
The conversation dives deep into the "Retail Reality" of the beverage industry, including:
The Founder's Buyback: The strategic decision to reclaim their brand two weeks ago and return to independent roots.
Effects-Based Branding: Breaking down the science behind Achieve, Celebrate, and Dream to simplify the consumer experience.
Parenting & Prohibition: A candid look at normalizing plant medicine at home while maintaining strict 21+ boundaries and label transparency.
The Regulatory Landscape: Why federal banking, trademark protections, and state-level bills, like the upcoming Pennsylvania Hemp Beverage Bill, are critical for institutional readiness.
Check out LEVIA.Buzz
More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts
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Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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42min
April 01, 2026 Quick Sips: From "Crazy Idea" to Big Acquisition (and Buying it Back)
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In this Quick Sips from tomorrow's episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, LEVIA co-founders Eric and Kristin Rogers share the incredible "boomerang" story of their brand.
From spotting a gap in the market for zero-sugar, zero-calorie cannabis seltzers in 2017 to a major acquisition by Ayr Wellness and their recent move to buy the brand back - this is a masterclass in brand building and persistence.
Check out LEVIA.Buzz
More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts
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Save 10% on Happie Beverages: functional, clean and built to make you feel good

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Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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2min
March 27, 2026 Quick Sips: 84% of Americans Want THC Drinks
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Pete Olander, founder of Happie Beverages, sits down to discuss the massive gap between what the people want and what politicians are doing. With an 84% approval rating for THC beverages among adults, the data is clear - the "cannabis-curious" market is becoming the mainstream market.
Pete breaks down why he’s staying the course despite the political noise and why the future of drinkable hemp is brighter than ever.
Check out Happie Beverages: DrinkHappie.com
More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts
10% off. No foggy head, just function.
Save 10% on Happie Beverages: functional, clean and built to make you feel good

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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1min
March 25, 2026 Quick Sips: The New Way to Socialize: Why Hemp Hits Different with Goodmellow
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It’s not just about what’s in the glass, it’s about how you feel the next morning.
Dylan & Brandon, Co-founders of Goodmellow sits down with the Ready To Drink Podcast to discuss the evolving culture of hemp beverages. From coffee shops to late-night hangouts, the experience of social drinking is changing. It’s no longer about "large doses" of alcohol; it’s about intentional ingredients that let you stay social without sacrificing your next day.
Connect with Brandon & Dylan at Goodmellow.com
More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts
10% off. No foggy head, just function.
Save 10% on Happie Beverages: functional, clean and built to make you feel good

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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2min
March 24, 2026The Science of Terpenes: How Abstrax Tech is Revolutionizing Beer & Cannabis
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In this episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast, Nate sits down with Jack Peat, the entrepreneurial force behind Abstrax Tech and Abstrax Hops.
Jack shares his journey from selling weed at 15 to running a massive swimming pool automation business (including a wild story about a billionaire at the Ritz Carlton) and finally co-founding one of the most advanced terpene and flavor extraction companies in the world.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
2D Gas Chromatography: How "flying a helicopter" over chemical peaks helps Abstrax discover hundreds of hidden aroma compounds.
The Thiol Secret: Why sulfur compounds are the "ethereal" key to that fresh OG Kush scent.
Brewing Revolution: How Quantum extracts can 5x flavor aroma while increasing beer yield by 30%.
The Future of Hemp Drinks: Why the "hemp taste" is so hard to mask and how TTB-approved cannabis terpenes are changing the game.
Navigating 2026: Jack’s take on the current regulatory landscape for hemp-derived beverages.
Connect with Jack & Abstrax Tech at AbstraxTech.com & AbstraxHops.com
More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts
10% off. No foggy head, just function.
Save 10% on Happie Beverages: functional, clean and built to make you feel good

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show
Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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43min
March 23, 2026 Quick Sips: How to get 30% MORE beer from your hops with Abstrax Tech
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"Holy Hell."
That was the reaction when Jack Peat, founder of Abstrax Tech dropped the numbers on our latest clip. Imagine turning 500 lbs of hop pellets into 2,500 lbs of aroma equivalent while simultaneously increasing your beer yield by 30%.
Less biomass means less beer soaked up in the tank + much more shelf stability.
Catch the full episode of the Ready To Drink Podcast tomorrow to see how Quantum extracts are changing the game for brewers everywhere.
Check out AbstraxTech.com
More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts
10% off. No foggy head, just function.
Save 10% on Happie Beverages: functional, clean and built to make you feel good

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show
Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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1min
March 21, 2026 Quick Sips: The Story Behind Appalachian Girls Cannabis Co
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Co-founder Josh Crozier shares the story behind the naming of Appalachian Girls Cannabis Co, how it represents the spirit of Southeastern Ohio and the female cannabis plant.
It is about more than just a label, it is about representing a region historically exploited for its natural and human resources, while honoring the female cannabis plant that produces the intoxicating buds.
Based in the heart of Southeastern Ohio and grown with Hocking Hills spring water, this brand is built on purity and Appalachian pride.
Check out AppGirlsCannabis.com
More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts
10% off. No foggy head, just function.
Save 10% on Happie Beverages: functional, clean and built to make you feel good

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show
Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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1min
March 20, 2026 Quick Sips: PR Has a PR Problem & Why the Human Story is the Future of Public Relations
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PR has a PR problem.
It is something we are all trying to figure out right now: what is the right angle and what can we actually do to stand out? But the truth is, consumers are questioning transparency and authority more than ever. They see right through the kitschy skits and superficial campaigns.
Those of us who have been in this career have a real opportunity to get the stories of the humans out there.
This is the year founders need to focus on sharing true, emotional, collective narratives. We still need to talk about our products, but we all must bring the human story back to everything we do so that we can authentically connect with consumers and build lasting trust.
How is your brand bringing the human story to the forefront this year?
More stories at ReadyToDrinkPodcast.com + YouTube + Spotify + Apple Podcasts
10% off. No foggy head, just function.
Save 10% on Happie Beverages: functional, clean and built to make you feel good

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show
Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
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1min
March 19, 2026 Quick Sips: The Craft Beer Lesson the Cannabis Industry is Ignoring
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Over 32 million Americans walk into a grocery store every single day. Half of the U.S. population conducts a transaction at a convenience store on a daily basis.
If we want to build a sustainable, normalized hemp and cannabis industry, this is exactly where these products need to live.

Fifteen years ago, I was running craft beer development for a wholesaler, the industry loved to villainize approachable brands like Blue Moon and Goose Island. I was the guy on the island defending them. Why? Because they were the entry point to the journey.

If someone asked me about craft beer, the first drink I handed them was a Blue Moon. They would say, "Okay, I can do this." Then the second drink could be a little more obscure, and the journey naturally progressed toward your Surleys and Revolution IPAs.

You cannot go to step seven without going to step one.

Right now, parts of the cannabis industry are fighting to lock all THC products behind dispensary doors. But if you cold-plunge a new, sober-curious consumer straight into a high-potency product or a heavily regulated dispensary environment on their first jump, you turn them off. When you don't allow that consumer journey to flow correctly, they are gone from the entire industry.

Hemp-derived THC beverages are our Blue Moon. They are the approachable, low-dose, commoditized entry point.

To introduce the mainstream consumer to this space, we need these beverages sitting in age-gated, easy-access retail venues - grocery stores, convenience stores, and bottle shops. That is how you build the journey. That is how you grow the entire pie.

Education. Regulation. Normalization.
10% off. No foggy head, just function.
Save 10% on Happie Beverages: functional, clean and built to make you feel good

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show
Presented by The FreeMind Group - FMGStrategy.com
...more
2min

FAQs about Ready To Drink Podcast:

How many episodes does Ready To Drink Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 80 episodes available.