Buckle up for a wild ride as Brad Buchholz joins Devon and Todd for an enlightening discussion on the intricacies of working with contract manufacturers.  Brad shares a great deal of wisdom from his time at working at a prominent co-man and provides several tips for ensuring a good working relationship.  It is important for brands to be diligent in their interactions with manufacturers, to be very clear in their requests and requirements for formulations, yet understand that co-mans are trying to make a living too.

Join Todd and Devon as they talk with Dr. Lara Ramdin, the upcycled queen, about the importance of upcycling and how it relates to functional foods and nutraceuticals.  Food waste streams provide many opportunities for innovative ingredients and nutrient fortification, but they are not without challenges.  Dr. Ramdin shares her expertise and ideas for how we can reduce food waste and make strides towards an improved food system and better world.

Guest Blake Ebersole of NaturPro Scientific joins Devon and Todd for a lively discussion about the importance of clinical trials, from design and population to results and publication. They also discuss the uniqueness of studies used to study ingredients such as TamaFlex and SalmoFer. Complete with laughs about the fun of science, why women live longer, and sending biological samples (aka poop) to labs, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

There’s a lot to consider when CPGs are utilizing science-backed, branded ingredients.  Devon and Todd discuss important factors when working with ingredient companies, including quality, science, regulatory compliance, and marketing.  Devon also speaks with Spencer Lynn of AN Supps at the Vitamin Shoppe and they talk about formulating with science-backed ingredients in their sports nutrition products.  Something in this episode for everyone, from weekend warriors to college athletes and especially the athletes of life inbetween.

Delivery systems and technologies have a huge impact on the efficacious dose of clinically validated ingredients.  In this episode, Sebastian Balcombe, CEO of Specnova, joins Devon and Todd for a discussion on liposomal technology and other encapsulation methods such as beadletting and utilizing cyclodextrins.  Utilizing these delivery technologies helps improve the bioavailability and benefits of active ingredients.  They also help with the solubility, taste, and usage level, allowing these beneficial ingredients to be used in more applications. 

Mental health and well-being is such an important yet often overlooked facet of our lives.  Thankfully we have a plethora of great supplement ingredients that can help with mood and relaxation.  Devon and Todd head straight for the usual suspects, like L-theanine and magnesium, while also touching on new ingredients and studies that show much promise in this space.  And Devon even surprises Todd with a few dad jokes along the way!

GLP-1 is easily the biggest trend in the food and supplements industry right now, with companies left and right looking to jump on the bandwagon and make a buck. But not all products labeled GLP-1 are created equal! In this episode, Devon and Todd dive into the considerations around formulating products for this trend, whether to boost GLP-1 production in the body or support users of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Mounjaro. Devon also shares some of her personal experiences as someone currently on GLP-1 medication.

In a slight departure from discussing specific ingredient categories, Devon and Todd talk about the importance of university research in discovering new ingredients and validating their benefits. Todd speaks to industry expert Doug Lynch about tech transfer and patent agreements, while Devon shares what qualities she looks for clinical trials. After all, clinically validated ingredients have to start somewhere!

Devon and Todd rise to the occasion discussing several ingredients for men’s sexual health supplements.  As this category is rife with adulteration, which has duly attracted the attention of regulators, the Nutraceuticos cover various options (like nitric oxide boosters and botanicals that support testosterone levels) that allow formulators today to play it clean.  Complete with an efficacious dose of puns and humor!

At a recent trade show, Devon shared on stage that she was “very proud of her vagina” in the context of women’s health being an often overlooked space in the supplement world.  Todd and Devon discuss ingredients that benefit women’s health, specifically hormonal balance, perimenopause, and sexual health.