This is the history episode you have to listen to! Joe Dobrow wrote the textbook on the history of the natural foods industry: Natural Prophets. He masterly weaves U.S. history and the natural foods industry history side by side.

Joe served as the head of marketing for Fresh Fields, Whole Foods Market, Balducci’s and Sprouts Farmers Market. The inside look at the industry educates us on where we've been and where we're going:

Selected links from the show:Natural ProphetsMBArkSilent SpringMo Siegel/Celestial SeasoningsStonyfield FarmThe Purpose CollaborativeAbout Joe Dobrow

Jody Levy knew she was going to be an artist in 3rd grade when she got into the flow state painting a Georgia O'Keefe piece. Fast forward to 2016, her watermelon water drink WTRMLN WTR (website) will be nationwide in 7500 stores this summer. Cold pressing 14 million pounds of watermelons in 2016.

Last month, many of the Denver Broncos drank it before they went on to upset the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. How have they achieved success so quickly in one of the hardest industries around?

This episode will help you to think deeper about your company's branding and marketing. I credit a lot of Jody and her team's success to their comprehensive understanding and execution of experience design. You'll learn how to apply the concept to your food project and more:

Selected links from the episode:WTRMLN WTRDenver Broncos

Jeffrey Kittay is a native New Yorker who spent time in the academic world as a journalism professor @ Columbia University.

Later, he worked as a publisher. Four months ago, he decided to start his own e-magazine: The New Food Economy.

I love the content. It is aimed to help entrepreneurs like us create change as part of the "food movement". We discuss:

Selected links from the episode:

The New Food EconomyJeffrey Kittay BioWhat can open-source do for the food movement?In Maine, a farm-to-campus revolution?Verdict: in Maine, Big Food Service wins againWelcome to certification nationContact Jeffrey

I'm so proud to have Dominique Barnes and Michelle Wolf on the show. They are the founders of New Wave Foods. They create seafood in a lab not the ocean. Their first product is recreating shrimp using plant proteins and marine algae. This interview blew my mind.

Fresh out of IndieBio, a biotech accelerator, and a $250,000 grant, they are currently raising capital with investors. Their first customer: Google. The lead vegan chef at Googleplex put in an order for 200 pounds.

The environmental and social issues of commercial seafood production are numerous and serious. It is precisely what makes New Wave so important. Listen to their story and be inspired:

Selected links from the episode:New Wave FoodsIndieBioWhy Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular MindSarcomereGoogle

One of the most formative biographies on food and business that I have read is A Man and His Mountain: The Everyman who Created Kendall-Jackson and Became America’s Greatest Wine Entrepreneur.  

Jess "Stonestreet" Jackson passed away in 2011. A self-made billionaire, he was vital to the transformation of California wine and was a champion in horse racing.

Using concepts from the legendary strategist, Robert Greene, I analyze the key traits and power laws that Jess Jackson followed. They allowed for him to build a wine empire. Enjoy the show:

Selected links from the show:

A Man and His Mountain: The Everyman who Created Kendall-Jackson and Became America’s Greatest Wine Entrepreneur.

Robert Greene Author Page 

Jess Jackson Dies at 81, a Wine Grower With a Taste for Thoroughbred Racing

Photo Credit: Under Creative Commons 3.0 - User:Packyourlunch

Cultivate Ventures is changing the Washington DC food scene. They invest time, money, and expertise into promising startups in the DMV.

A few years ago, Caesar Layton, the founder, was commuting to South East Asia as an agricultural economist. After poor customer service from an online grocery, he sent an email to them and got called back by the founder. A few months later, Caesar invested in the company and took over as the CEO.

Today, his firm is investing and advising. Wheeling and dealing. They are betting everything on the under-appreciated DC food scene. Caesar shares his story:

Selected links from the show:Cultivate VenturesRelay FoodsCultivate Ventures Bets Big on DC's Food SceneDAIBoratKick IncubatorSeeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger

Anthony Rodriguez is the founder of Lineage Interactive, A mini ad agency meets a production company. They work with Anna Rawson, David Ortiz, Chris Culliver, Amare Stoudemire, Diplo, Nas, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, Amare Stoudemire, 8 pro sports teams, and many other athletes, musicians and actors.

Lineage formally started 12 years ago with athletes who were struggling to get off the court income. He has been honing his craft since he was a kid, helping his parents build a cosmetics business that got into big box retailers like Target and Walmart.

While he maintains a low profile, Anthony is a power player in digital media for artists. He's proud of his "old school" mentality around building a business that provides real value. I had a great time speaking with him and there is so much we can learn to become better entrepreneurs:

Selected links from the episode:Lineage InteractiveThe Mask with Hendrik LundqvistAnna RawsonNew York Knicks

More about Anthony Rodriguez:

As the founder of Lineage Interactive, Rodriguez has ideated and produced creative content and strategy for some of the world’s biggest athletes, musicians, teams, and brands. By acting as the creative liaison between Fortune 200 brands and clients, he's able to bring them genuine and captivating digital content that their clients will love and share. His work is seen by millions on television, the web, and mobile platforms every month. Rodriguez is also the acting content director for five different charitable foundations.

Lineage Interactive is made of up three branches; digital marketing services for athletes and musicians, content as a service for Fortune 200 brands, and a production house that produces original content custom-tailored for all formats. Our DNA is rooted in agency work with athletes, teams, and brands. We are storytellers by nature and are responsible for communicating with over 41 million social media accounts daily. Because we actively manage a multitude of clients’ social platforms, we have a robust understanding of what content generates interest, engagement, and sharing.

She dreamed up EatPops in 2013 while studying for the Bar exam, becoming frustrated by the lack of healthy snack (and dessert) option. In 2014, it became a reality. EatPops is now in over 300 locations throughout the country, including stores like Fairway and Whole Foods .

Sophie was recently named to Forbes 30U30 and is making dessert healthy with her fruit and veggie pops.  Noni, Acai, Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Vanilla, and Mango are among some of the ingredients you’ll find in her popsicles. We reflect on her foray into the food biz:

Mentioned in this episode:EatPopsEmail SophieSophie in ForbesBristol FarmsLazy AcresThe Art of LearningSweet GreenThistle

“I was doing entertainment P.R. in Hollywood — you know, celebrities and calls at 2 a.m. — and was, what should I say? Burnt out,”  (New York Times) .. That was 5 years ago.

Today, she runs Cherryvale Farms, currently in 1400 stores with their “Everything But The...” baking mixes. Lindsey Rosenberg and I had a fun chat about her story and she dishes out advice for our listeners:

Selected Links from the show:
Cherryvale Farms
Small Food Brands, Big Success
About Lindsey
Chowhound Review
Hampton Creek (Beyond Eggs™)
Cherryvale Farms Twitter

They showed up to ExpoWest 2012 with an idea: transparent ingredient tracing using proprietary software and creative film production. Today, they are nationwide in US stores with their collection of cereals, breads, flowers, and seeds.

Danny Houghton is the cofounder of One Degree Organics. He leads ingredient expeditions around the world in search of pure veganic harvests. Every ingredient comes with a video (see below) where you meet the farmers and learn how it is made.

I really enjoyed learning about One Degree, the veganic movement, and their unique business model: technology, media, and sustainable food. Danny sheds light on:

"We only want to tell stories about ingredients we're proud to tell stories about." - Danny Houghton

Selected links from the episode:
One Degree Organics
One Degree Blog
Real Salt
B.C.’s One Degree Organic Foods feeds veganic farming movement
One Degree Organic YouTube Channel (Check it out!
Salt: A World History
Wheat Belly
Khorasan Wheat
Veganic Google Search

My 5 6 favorite One Degree Organic videos:
Sumatran Treasure - Veganic Cinnamon
On Colorado's High Plains - Organic Oats and Millet
Nutmeg and Mace - Discovering Siau Island
Peace and Purity - Missouri's Organic Pecans
Alquimia Farmers - Paraguay
Indonesian Safari - Veganic Vanilla + Cloves