What happens when a supplement company built on pharmaceutical-grade testing standards gets raided by federal agents? In Part 1 of our two-part series with Nootropics Depot, founder Paul Eftang and Director of Business Development Matt Harrier take us through their origin story, the harrowing 2021 FDA raid that changed everything, and why regulatory inconsistencies leave consumers more vulnerable than protected.

Paul started on Reddit’s r/Nootropics community, calling out mislabeled supplements that sent people to hospitals. When donations to test products revealed widespread fraud across the industry, he founded Ceretropic (later acquiring Nootropics Depot) to prove quality control was possible. Matt was part of the original Nootropics Depot team, and they united by their shared priority: making sure what’s on the label is actually in the bottle.

But their commitment to transparency and pharmaceutical-grade testing made them a target. In 2021, while Paul was out of the office, armed agents raided their facilities — not for safety violations, but for technical regulatory interpretations around compounds like racetams. The agents complimented their equipment and testing standards even as they seized products. Two years and significant legal costs later, a deferred prosecution agreement required destroying inventory and paying fines, but no criminal charges stuck.

This episode reveals uncomfortable truths about FDA enforcement: selective raids while warning letters go to others, funding through civil asset forfeiture, and regulatory ambiguity that punishes good actors while bad actors continue unchallenged. It’s the backstory that shaped why Nootropics Depot now operates pharmaceutical-grade supplement testing lab that most supplement brands wouldn’t even recognize.

Be sure to subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform and sign up for Nootropics Depot news alerts before we dive into this revealing conversation.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/nootropics-depot-fda-raid-203

Video: The FDA Raid That Changed Everything – Paul Eftang & Matt Harrier of Nootropics Depot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSZIlbPsT7c

Detailed Show Notes: Inside Nootropics Depot’s Origin, Raid, and Fight for Consumer Protection

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Rich Gaspari needs no introduction in the bodybuilding and supplement industry. From childhood dreams inspired by Arnold in muscle magazines to setting new standards for conditioning on the Mr. Olympia stage, Rich’s journey represents decades of dedication to the sport and science of bodybuilding. After a career-ending injury forced him to transition from competing to entrepreneurship, he founded Gaspari Nutrition nearly three decades ago with a singular focus: creating effective supplements backed by proper dosing and real science.

In Episode #202 of the PricePlow Podcast, Rich shares the complete arc of his entrepreneurial journey, from gym ownership and personal training to building one of the industry’s most respected brands. He discusses his science-forward nutritional philosophy that was well ahead of the curve, the devastating impact of the amino spiking scandal, going through bankruptcy, and his difficult-yet-principled decision to rebuild.

We also get into why Proven Egg became the cornerstone of his comeback, where he was once again ahead of the curve. Throughout the conversation, Rich emphasizes the importance of ethics, innovation, and adapting to changing markets while staying true to quality ingredients and efficacious dosing.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/rich-gaspari-202

Video: Rich Gaspari Discusses Three Decades of Supplement Innovation and Ethical Business Practices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNkeJCtr7MI

Detailed Show Notes: Rich Gaspari on Building, Losing, and Rebuilding Gaspari Nutrition

Where to Follow and Learn More

Connect with Rich Gaspari and Gaspari Nutrition

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Welcome back to Episode #201 of the PricePlow Podcast! We’re thrilled to be joined by Brooks Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer at Louisville Brands, and Nate Frazier, Founder and CEO of Red Knot Capital and Managing Partner at Gym Snack. Long-time listeners will remember Nate from Episode #098 when he was COO at GNC. Today, he’s back to discuss an exciting new venture that’s filling a massive gap in the protein snack market.

Gym Snack: Deliciously Savory High-Protein Snacks

Gym Snack is tackling a problem many of us face: protein fatigue. The market is saturated with sweet, chewy bars and gummies, but where are the savory options? Brooks and Nate have created a crunchy, plant-based snack delivering 30 grams of protein per bag with clean ingredients and zero seed oils. Using pea protein as the foundation, they’ve launched three distinct flavors that satisfy both taste and macro goals. The discussion covers everything from manufacturing excellence and vegan certification to the impact of GLP-1 agonists on protein absorption and the critical importance of authenticity in today’s crowded supplement market.

Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform, and sign up for Gym Snack news alerts before diving into this exciting conversation!

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/gym-snack-201

Video: Savory Protein Snacks That Actually Deliver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHw8X0eeb5g

Detailed Show Notes: Brooks Thomas & Nate Frazier on Gym Snack’s Mission

Where to Find Brooks Thomas, Nate Frazier, and Gym Snack

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Welcome to Episode #200 of the PricePlow Podcast, where Team PricePlow gathers to celebrate an incredible journey through the supplement industry.

Mike Roberto is joined by Ben Kane (first appearing in Episode #010) and Spencer Lynn (debuting in Episode #092), along with video producer Cody Fernley making his PricePlow Podcast debut.

This reflective conversation takes listeners through seven years of podcasting history, from that bold 2018 Arnold Sports Festival recording to becoming the industry’s go-to platform for ingredient science, business strategy, and supplement innovation. The team discusses memorable episodes with industry legends, the evolution of precision fermentation technology, the explosive growth of the functional beverage category through PricePlow’s Bevlab offshoot, and the balance between technical depth and entertainment value. They also honor the memories of Dallas McCarver, John Meadows, and Dr. Hector Lopez, whose contributions to the industry and the podcast remain impactful.

The episode turns into a business talk about some potential ventures Team PricePlow will get into, and different segments they want to attack after Bevlab and an upcoming Functional Foods target — namely if they should scale this into the peptide space.

From sitting down with CEOs of major retailers to exploring cutting-edge ingredient discovery platforms, the PricePlow Podcast has chronicled the supplement industry’s transformation in real time. Join us as we celebrate 200 episodes of science, strategy, and storytelling.

Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform and sign up for our alerts before diving in!

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/episode-200

Video: Team PricePlow Celebrates 200 Episodes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXXd6Y9K5QY

Detailed Show Notes: Reflecting on 200 Episodes of Supplement Industry Leadership

0:00 – Welcome to Episode 200

Team PricePlow assembles for this milestone episode with Mike Roberto hosting alongside Ben Kane (team member since Episode #019 with Dave Palumbo), Spencer Lynn, and Cody Fernley. The conversation opens with gratitude for listeners who’ve followed the podcast’s evolution from its 2017 launch. Mike notes how the show has refined its focus toward industry insiders, scientists, and marketing professionals, creating a specialized following that’s evident at trade shows. The team is drinking fitting beverages — Mike sips Cereal Killer C4 Energy (his favorite flavor ever) while Ben enjoys Welch’s Cran-Grap Ghost Energy Drink. Spencer and Cody also enjoy a Ghost Energy.

3:00 – The legendary Arnold episode

The team recalls Episode #010, recorded at the Arnold Sports Festival hotel lobby with NutraBio’s Dan Margolis while Ben was still with the brand. The crew commandeered a hotel table without permission, embodying the “ask forgiveness, not permission” philosophy that would characterize many future episodes. The chaotic energy of the Arnold, with big dudes everywhere and constant activity, provided a charged backdrop th…

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Welcome back to Episode #199 of the PricePlow Podcast! Today we’re diving deep into the science and innovation behind functional proteins with Brad Meyers, VP of Functional Proteins and Snacking at Glanbia Nutritionals. This conversation explores how the supplement and functional foods industry is evolving to meet growing consumer demands for higher protein, lower sugar products that actually taste good, all while navigating the rapid market transformation driven by GLP-1 medications and changing lifestyles.

Brad brings over 20 years of food ingredients experience to the table, including a fascinating background in sweeteners and natural ingredients before specializing in proteins. In this episode, we explore the food science fundamentals that make or break protein-fortified products, from understanding Maillard browning reactions to solving the infamous protein bar hardness problem.

We also get an inside look at Glanbia’s extensive applications lab capabilities, including their OvenPro platform specifically designed for high-protein baked goods, and discuss innovative future product concepts that could reshape on-the-go protein consumption.

Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform, and sign up for Glanbia Nutritionals news alerts below before we dive in!

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/glanbia-nutritionals-functional-proteins-199

Video: Functional Protein Innovation with Brad Meyers from Glanbia Nutritionals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcE2kcUwyfQ

Detailed Show Notes: Brad Meyers Breaks Down the Science Behind Better-For-You Functional Foods

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In Episode #198 of the PricePlow Podcast, we sit down with Nora Khaldi, founder and CEO of Nuritas, the groundbreaking company revolutionizing ingredient discovery through artificial intelligence and peptide science. Nora’s journey from pure mathematician and computer scientist to pioneering AI-driven nutrition innovation represents a fascinating intersection of technology and human health.

Most listeners know Nuritas from PeptiStrong, the natural anabolic peptide ingredient derived from fava beans that’s making waves in the sports nutrition industry. But there’s so much more to the Nuritas story. This episode explores how Nora, a mathematician, identified a fundamental problem in the supplement industry: an inability to create truly new ingredients to address rapidly evolving consumer health trends. Traditional ingredient development takes decades and costs hundreds of millions of dollars, making innovation nearly impossible for the nutrition sector.

Nora explains how Nuritas spent seven to eight years building proprietary AI technology called Magnifier, which integrates machine learning, proteomics, peptidomics, and molecular biology to identify bioactive peptides in nature. The conversation covers the company’s entire peptide portfolio, including PeptiSleep, PeptiYouth, PeptiControl, and the upcoming PeptiPump, along with the clinical science, regulatory challenges, and manufacturing processes behind each ingredient.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/nora-khaldi-nuritas-198

Video: Nora Khaldi on AI-Powered Peptide Discovery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ7Mmft2maA

Detailed Show Notes: From Mathematics to Peptide Innovation

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Welcome back to Episode #197 of the PricePlow Podcast, where we take you inside Helaina’s Manhattan research and development facility for an in-depth conversation with CEO Laura Katz and Pamela Besada-Lombana (Pam), Director of Early R&D. After our initial online episode with Laura back in June, we traveled to New York to experience firsthand the groundbreaking precision fermentation work happening in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. This episode reveals the sophisticated science, collaborative culture, and clinical validation driving effera® lactoferrin from a novel ingredient to an industry-changing reality.

In this conversation, Pam takes us deep into the yeast engineering process that makes effera possible, explaining how her team designs, builds, and optimizes microbial factories to produce human-equivalent lactoferrin more efficiently with each iteration. Laura shares recent clinical breakthroughs, including the landmark alloimmunization study that proved effera triggers no immune response while bovine lactoferrin does, along with emerging data on gut permeability and microbiome health. The discussion also explores Helaina’s empathy-driven culture, their data infrastructure capturing 170 million rows of metabolic information, and how they’re attracting innovative brands that value genuine science and transparency. This episode complements our earlier conversation with Helaina’s Dan DeMarino and Anthony Clark from the same New York trip.

Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform and sign up for Helaina news alerts before diving in.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/helaina-laura-katz-pamela-lombana-197

Video: Inside Helaina’s Manhattan Lab with Laura Katz and Pam Besada-Lombana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LWUrgTkF98

Detailed Show Notes: The Science and Strategy Behind effera® Lactoferrin

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Vitamin B12 is essential for energy production, nervous system function, and overall metabolic health, but not all B12 forms deliver equal bioavailability or stability. In Episode #196 of the PricePlow Podcast, we welcome back HTBA (HealthTech BioActives) for a comprehensive deep dive into the science behind their MecobalActive methylcobalamin ingredient and the groundbreaking clinical study that validates its efficacy in athletes who are not deficient.

Joining us are Teresa Pellicer, PhD, Pharmacologist and R&D Manager in Biotechnology at HTBA, and Bernardo Gonzaga, Global Division Manager for Functional Health Solutions. This conversation builds on Episode #188 with Edwin Gonzalez, where we explored practical applications of MecobalActive in functional foods.

Today, we go deeper into the molecular mechanisms, clinical evidence, bioavailability data, and manufacturing innovations that make MecobalActive a next-generation B12 solution for supplements, functional foods, and beverages. Teresa’s expertise in pharmacology and molecular biology shines as she explains why methylcobalamin represents the biologically active form your body actually uses, while Bernardo provides industry context on applications, regulatory considerations, and market opportunities.

Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform, and sign up for HTBA news alerts before we dive into the science.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/podcast/htba-mecobalactive-vitamin-b12-196

Video: The Science Behind MecobalActive Vitamin B12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v5NgW5jD-E

Detailed Show Notes: Teresa Pellicer and Bernardo Gonzaga Discuss MecobalActive B12

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Two of the supplement industry’s rising content creators join the PricePlow Podcast for Episode #195, recorded live from NNB Nutrition’s massive booth at SupplySide Global 2025. Lucas Kaelin (@WhatsUpWithLucas) and Konlan James (KJ from V1 Nutra) sit down with Mike and Ben to discuss the realities of building an audience in the supplement space, from navigating criticism to battling imposter syndrome.

The conversation takes an unexpected turn into the regulatory gray area surrounding supplement pouches, exploring why the FDA needs to provide clarification before the industry gets blindsided. As content creators who ask tough questions, Lucas and KJ offer candid perspectives on what it means to be “chronically online” while building legitimate businesses. This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the future of supplement content creation and the challenges facing the next generation of industry voices.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/konlan-james-lucas-kaelin-195

Video: Lucas Kaelin & Konlan James Talk Content Creation at SupplySide Global

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnmN1Pxk4lY

Detailed Show Notes: Content Creator Challenges with Lucas Kaelin & KJ

Where to Find Lucas Kaelin, Konlan James, and V1 Nutra

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Welcome back to Episode #194 of the PricePlow Podcast, where we tour LaCore Nutraceuticals in Van Alstyne, Texas with Kaitlyn McCammack, their Manager of Research and Development. Fresh off running the CREATEA Mighty Mango beverage — the collaborative innovation featured at SupplySide Global 2025 — we explore LaCore’s impressive manufacturing capabilities and discuss why creatine belongs in functional beverages.

LaCore represents a rare breed in supplement manufacturing: a facility offering everything from personalized nutrition packs to 12-ounce cans, stick packs to tetras, all while maintaining startup-friendly minimums. Katie walks us through their two Texas facilities, including a nostalgic former Johnson & Johnson building housing their can line with the biggest tanks we’ve seen. The conversation ranges from creatine for kids to liposome technology, proving that manufacturing innovation drives ingredient innovation.

Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on your favorite platform and sign up for LaCore Nutraceuticals alerts on PricePlow before we dive into this facility tour.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/lacore-nutraceuticals-194

Video: Behind the Scenes at LaCore Nutraceuticals in Van Alstyne, Texas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQi2MBma9RM

Detailed Show Notes: Manufacturing Innovation with Kaitlyn McCammack

Where to Follow Kaitlyn McCammack and LaCore Nutraceuticals

Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on any platform, sign up for LaCore Nutraceuticals alerts on PricePlow, and leave us a great review on iTunes and Spotify!

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