On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, we’re joined by Joe Nicchi, Founder and CEO of CVT Soft Serve — the Los Angeles–based brand that turned a classic chocolate-vanilla twist into a cultural phenomenon. What started with a single soft serve truck in 2014 has grown into a beloved brand with multiple trucks, retail locations, and packaged pints that bring the CVT experience to even more fans. Along the way, Joe made national headlines when he pushed back on influencer freebie culture with his now-viral “influencers pay double” policy, reinforcing the authenticity that has defined CVT from the beginning.
In our conversation, Joe shares how he went from acting to entrepreneurship, what it’s really like to build a food business from a truck on the streets of LA, and the bold bets he’s made to grow CVT into an enduring brand. We talk about scaling beyond food trucks, the challenges of breaking into retail, and what it takes to carve out space in an ice cream market dominated by giants. Joe also opens up about the viral moment that changed everything, the toughest lessons he’s learned as a founder, and his vision for CVT’s future.
Whether you’re an ice cream lover, a fan of founder stories, or someone curious about building a brand from scratch, this episode is full of insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Joe Nicchi and CVT Soft Serve:
https://www.instagram.com/cvtsoftserve/
https://cvtsoftserve.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cvtsoftserve/

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LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free.

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/743

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, we’re joined by Tim Manschot, Founder and CEO of NOWATCH — the world’s first screenless wearable reimagining how we engage with technology. Instead of pulling you into endless notifications and distractions, NOWATCH blends cutting-edge biosensing with timeless, sustainable design to help you build resilience, recover faster, and live with more intention.
In our conversation, Tim shares the personal health journey that pushed he and his co-founder to commit to building a company rooted in neuroscience, mindfulness, and meaning.
We dive into what “compassionate technology” really means, how real-time stress prediction can change daily life, and the challenges of creating a whole new category in wellness wearables. From product design to consumer behavior to the future of intentional tech, this episode is filled with insights for founders, innovators, and anyone curious about how technology can support presence instead of distraction.
Whether you’re a founder, a wellness advocate, or simply someone rethinking your relationship with tech, this episode is packed with inspiration you won’t want to miss. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Tim Manschot and NOWATCH:
http://www.instagram.com/nowatch
https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmanschot/
http://www.nowatch.com/

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LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free.

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/742

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, we’re joined by Indie Lee, Founder of Indie Lee Skincare — the clean beauty brand built on resilience, transparency, and a mission to empower healthier living. Indie’s journey began in 2008, when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor that doctors believed was environmentally derived. After surviving surgery, she turned her awakening into action, creating her own skincare formulas at home and eventually launching Indie Lee Skincare in 2010.
In our conversation, Indie shares how she transformed her personal health crisis into a movement that helped shape the clean beauty industry, what it took to bring her kitchen-made formulas to market, and how the brand has evolved over the past 15 years. We talk about the challenges of pioneering clean beauty before it was mainstream, how she defines “clean” today, and the lessons she’s learned as a mission-driven founder balancing wellness, science, and growth. Indie also opens up about her most pivotal founder moments, the hardest challenges she’s faced, and her vision for the future of beauty and intentional living.
Whether you’re a beauty enthusiast, a wellness advocate, or a founder looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Indie Lee and Indie Lee Skincare:
http://www.indielee.com
http://www.instagram.com/indielee
http://www.linkedin.com/in/indie-lee-5b938/

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LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free.

Apple Card - Visit apple.co/cardcalculator today and discover just how much Daily Cash you can earn.

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/741

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, we’re joined by Sammy Kestenbaum, Co-Founder and CEO of PRETZELIZED — the snack brand pioneering a whole new category by combining pretzels with other classics to create two favorites in one. What started with the idea for a pretzel-meets-pita-chip hybrid has quickly grown into a national brand, now found in over 15,000 doors across the country with products like oven-baked Pretzel Crackers and twice-baked Pretzel Pita Chips.
In our conversation, Sammy shares the inspiration behind PRETZELIZED, how he and his team carved out white space in the brutally competitive snack aisle, and what it takes to convince retailers to back a brand-new snack format. We talk about scaling fast, standing out against industry giants, and the bold bets he’s making to grow PRETZELIZED into a household name. Sammy also opens up about the challenges of launching something new, the lessons he’s learned from building other iconic snack brands, and his vision for the future of snacking.
Whether you’re a lifelong snacker, a food industry insider, or a founder curious about breaking into CPG, this episode is full of insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Sammy Kestembaum and PRETZELIZED:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-kestenbaum-26154418/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pretzelized/
https://www.instagram.com/pretzelized/
https://www.7milebrands.com/
https://pretzelized.com/

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LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free.

Apple Card - Visit apple.co/cardcalculator today and discover just how much Daily Cash you can earn.

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/740

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, we’re joined by Mark Brooks, Co-Founder and CEO of Brainiac — the science-driven snack brand on a mission to close the brain nutrition gap and give families better options that fuel brilliance. With most Americans consuming less than 20% of the Omega-3s and choline needed for optimal brain health, Mark and his team are changing that with kid-favorite snacks powered by the BrainPack®, their proprietary blend designed to support memory, mood, focus, and adaptability.
In our conversation, Mark shares the inspiration behind launching Brainiac, the personal journey he and his Co-Founder Jonathan Wolfson went through as dads that sparked the idea, and how they built the brand alongside pediatricians, neuroscientists, and nutritionists. We dive into the science of brain nutrition, the challenges of educating parents in a crowded food space, and what it takes to grow a mission-driven brand into national distribution at Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, and beyond. He also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the lessons learned from his time leading Truvia and Thrive, the decision to certify Brainiac as a B Corp, and the future of the brain food category.
Whether you’re a parent, a wellness-focused consumer, or a founder in the CPG space, this episode is filled with insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Mark Brooks and Brainiac:
https://www.instagram.com/brainiacfoods/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-brooks-083a6458/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brainiacfoods/
https://www.brainiacfoods.com/

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/739

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, we’re joined by Mike Adair, Founder of Red’s — the premium frozen food brand on a mission to reinvent the frozen aisle with clean, convenient, and crave-worthy options. What began with a simple idea and a nod to his beloved dog Red has grown into the largest premium frozen burrito and breakfast sandwich brand in the country. Red’s is now a staple in grocery stores nationwide, delivering real food made with fresh-baked tortillas, non-GMO ingredients, antibiotic-free meats, and cage-free eggs.
In our conversation, Mike shares how Red’s went from a small startup to a national category leader, the bold bets he made on clean ingredients before it was trendy, and why bringing manufacturing in-house was a game-changing move. We explore the realities of competing with legacy giants in the freezer aisle, how frozen food can actually drive sustainability by reducing food waste, and what it takes to balance rapid growth with relentless quality. Mike also opens up about the toughest challenges he’s faced as a founder, his perspective on the future of frozen food, and the advice he’d give to anyone building a mission-driven CPG brand today.
Whether you’re a busy parent, a frozen food skeptic, or a founder looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with stories and insights you won’t want to miss. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Mike Adair and Red’s:
https://www.instagram.com/redsfoods
https://www.tiktok.com/@redsfoods
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-adair-4b70988/
https://www.redsallnatural.com/

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/738

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, we’re joined by Debbie Mullin, Founder & CEO of Copper Cow Coffee — the premium Vietnamese coffee brand on a mission to modernize and elevate the traditional Vietnamese coffee experience for U.S. consumers. What began as an idea to merge her Vietnamese heritage with a commitment to ethical sourcing and innovative design has grown into the leading Vietnamese coffee brand in America. Copper Cow is now a national favorite, found in over 3,000 retail doors including Target, Whole Foods, Costco, and H-E-B, and beloved for its signature single-serve pour overs, bold flavors, and all-natural creamers.
In our conversation, Debbie shares how she built Copper Cow from the ground up, the challenges of educating U.S. consumers about Vietnamese coffee, and how she positioned the brand to stand out in a crowded coffee market. We talk about her bold bets on design, direct farmer partnerships in Vietnam, and why she believes Vietnamese coffee is poised to take off globally. Debbie also opens up about her entrepreneurial journey, her Shark Tank experience, and the lessons she’s learned about balancing authenticity, innovation, and rapid growth.
Whether you’re a coffee lover, a mission-driven entrepreneur, or someone curious about building a brand that bridges cultures and categories, this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Debbie Mullin and Copper Cow Coffee:
https://www.instagram.com/debbieweimullin/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-mullin-308a168/
https://www.instagram.com/coppercowcoffee/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/copper-cow-coffee/
https://www.coppercowcoffee.com/

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Apple Card - Visit apple.co/cardcalculator today and discover just how much Daily Cash you can earn.

Bitdefender - A global leader in cybersecurity.  Save 30% when you go to Bitdefender.com/kara.

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/737

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I’m joined by Xeba Zareie, Founder of Preme — the gut health brand making daily digestion support simple, science-backed, and actually doable for even the most sensitive stomachs. What started in her Dallas kitchen has become a line of low-FODMAP prebiotic powders and drink mixes, co-developed with a functional medicine doctor, that are redefining what gut care looks like.
Before launching Preme, Xeba spent years battling chronic gut issues with little relief from conventional medicine. After discovering functional medicine and the power of a low-FODMAP diet, she set out to create products that not only worked for her but could help countless others struggling in silence. Today, Preme stands out for its transparency, third-party testing, and clean sourcing — offering the only FODMAP-friendly prebiotic beverage on the market. Xeba opens up about the highs and lows of starting a wellness CPG brand, why she chose to focus on prebiotics over probiotics, and the lessons she’s learned about building with integrity and intention.
Whether you’re interested in health, wellness, or the grit it takes to launch a consumer brand from scratch — this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Xeba Zareie and Preme:
https://www.instagram.com/premefoods/
https://www.instagram.com/x_eba/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/xeba-zareie/
https://www.premefoods.com/

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Apple Card - Visit apple.co/cardcalculator today and discover just how much Daily Cash you can earn.

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/736

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I’m joined by FX Rouxel, Founder and CEO of Gardyn — the smart indoor gardening brand reimagining how we grow and eat food at home. Gardyn empowers anyone to grow fresh, nutrient-rich produce year-round with no green thumb required. Using patented Hybriponics® technology, AI-powered plant care, and optimized LED lighting, Gardyn delivers 8–10 pounds of produce monthly — enough to feed a family of four — all from just 2 square feet of space.
Before launching Gardyn, FX was training for an Ironman when he noticed his energy plateauing despite following a healthy diet. He realized that much of the “fresh” produce he ate had lost nutritional value during long transit times. Drawing on his background in clean energy, automation, and AI, he created Gardyn as a more sustainable, nutrient-dense, and convenient alternative to the modern food system. Since then, Gardyn has been named one of TIME’s Best Inventions, recognized as one of TIME’s Top Greentech Companies, and honored by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards. FX opens up about the inspiration behind Gardyn, the challenges of rethinking food production, and his vision for a more sustainable, food-secure future.
Whether you’re passionate about wellness, sustainability, or the future of food, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about FX Rouxel and Gardyn:
https://www.instagram.com/gardyntech/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/gardyn/
https://mygardyn.com/

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Apple Card - Visit apple.co/cardcalculator today and discover just how much Daily Cash you can earn.

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/735

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, I’m joined by Van Hong, Co-Founder of Mint Tools — the professional hair tool brand designing high-performance, ergonomic styling tools built with stylists in mind. Mint was founded by two best friends who combined over 40 years of beauty industry experience and electrical engineering expertise to solve a major gap in the market: salon tools weren’t designed for the people actually using them. Today, Mint’s line of curling irons, blow dryers, and brushes deliver salon-quality results with comfort, safety, and durability at the forefront.
Before launching Mint, Van spent years as a stylist himself, constantly frustrated with tools that were heavy, clunky, and unreliable. Pairing that experience with his co-founder’s technical background, the two reimagined what professional styling tools could be. From salon demos to consumer feedback, Mint has built a reputation for innovation, transparency, and products that last. Van opens up about the process of testing new tools in salons, what makes Mint different from competitors, how he thinks about safety and design for wigs and extensions, and the exciting trends shaping the future of hair styling technology.
Whether you’re a stylist, beauty enthusiast, or curious about what it takes to turn an industry pain point into a thriving brand, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration. Now on The Kara Goldin Show.

Are you interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show, which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world? Let me know by contacting me at [email protected]. You can also find me @‌KaraGoldin on all networks.

To learn more about Van Hong and Mint Tools:
https://www.instagram.com/mintprotools/
https://www.mintprotools.com/

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RULA - Go to Rula.com/KARAGOLDIN for convenient therapy that’s covered by insurance.

Apple Card - Visit apple.co/cardcalculator today and discover just how much Daily Cash you can earn.

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/734

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.