The Story of a Brand

In today’s episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I had the pleasure of chatting with Lisa King, the trailblazing founder behind AF Drinks.

Lisa’s journey is as inspiring as it is impactful—from launching Eat My Lunch, a social enterprise that addressed child poverty in New Zealand, to creating a globally recognized alcohol-free beverage brand. With a clear mission to normalize mindful drinking, Lisa is reshaping how we celebrate, socialize, and live healthier lives. Her story is a testament to the power of purpose-driven business.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

* From Social Impact to Innovation: How Lisa transitioned from Eat My Lunch to leading the alcohol-free revolution with AF Drinks.

* The Power of Purpose: Creating businesses with missions that change lives and solve real-world problems.

* Challenging Alcohol Culture: Why Lisa is passionate about making alcohol-free living fun, aspirational, and inclusive.

* The Role of Afterglow: AF Drinks’ unique ingredient that replicates the warmth and ritual of alcohol.

* Lessons for Entrepreneurs: Insights on building mission-driven brands that blend profit and purpose.

Join us in listening to this inspiring episode as Lisa shares her journey of resilience, innovation, and transforming social norms—one drink at a time! 🎧

For more on AF Drinks, visit https://us.af-drinks.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Spotify and Apple. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more. 

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more. 

In today’s episode of The Story of a Brand, I interview Alexis Russell, an incredible designer whose jewelry celebrates individuality, imperfection, and deeply personal stories.

As Founder and Designer of Alexis Russell Jewelry, Alexis shares her journey from foster care to entrepreneurship, crafting a life and brand built on resilience and creativity. Her designs challenge traditional norms in the jewelry industry, empowering her customers to embrace their authenticity.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

* Transforming Imperfection: How Alexis turned unconventional stones into meaningful and beautiful treasures.

* The Power of Belief: A store owner’s faith in her work became a defining moment in Alexis’ early career.

* From Foster Care to Founder: Alexis’ inspiring journey of resilience and creating a life she’s proud of.

* Customer-Led Innovation: The development of the AR Design Studio, allowing customers to design their dream pieces.

* A Place for Belonging: Building a brand that values authenticity, inclusivity, and individuality over tradition.

Join us in listening to this inspiring episode as Alexis shares how she’s redefining the jewelry industry, one unique piece at a time. 🎧

For more on Alexis Russell, visit: https://www.alexisrussell.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above. 

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for listeners of The Story of a Brand Show Podcast. Start today! Visit the link above. 

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I had the honor of chatting with Abingdon Mullin, a trailblazer in the watch industry and founder of Abingdon Co. 

What started as her quest for a pilot’s watch turned into a groundbreaking brand creating quality timepieces for women in fields like aviation, scuba diving, and motorsports. Her journey is inspiring and filled with lessons on innovation, resilience, and how to build products that genuinely serve their customers.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

* The Origin Story: How a lack of functional, stylish pilot’s watches for women, led Abingdon to create her own.

* Customer as the North Star: Listening to customers shaped everything from product features to design choices.

* Expanding Beyond Aviation: How Abingdon Co. grew to serve women in diverse industries like diving and automotive.

* Resilience in Business: Launching the brand during the 2008 recession and thriving against the odds.

* Community-Driven Success: Why Abingdon Co. celebrates its customers and treats them as part of the family.

Join us in listening to this inspiring episode, where Abingdon shares her passion for empowering women and building a brand that stands the test of time—literally and figuratively! 🎧

For more on Abingdon Co., visit: https://abingdonco.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand Increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.  

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

In this interview, I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Lander, founder of Autobrush, about his journey in reinventing how we approach oral care.

From starting out in affiliate marketing to building an innovative, ADA-approved dental care product, Chris has a passion for creating something meaningful that genuinely makes a difference in people’s lives. 

In this episode, he shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial path, the challenges of disrupting a traditional industry, and how Autobrush is improving the health and independence of its users.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

* Building from Curiosity: How Chris transitioned from affiliate marketing to creating a groundbreaking oral care product.

* Persistence in Innovation: The five-year journey to refine Autobrush into the revolutionary product it is today.

* Changing Lives: Stories of how Autobrush has provided independence for children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.

* From Skepticism to Recognition: Earning the ADA Seal as the first non-traditional toothbrush in the industry.

* Lessons for Entrepreneurs: Why staying lean, patenting your ideas, and treating people well are keys to success.

Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this inspiring episode as Chris takes us through his remarkable journey and shares his vision for the future of dental care! 🎧

For more on Autobrush, visit https://tryautobrush.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor of CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more. 

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more. 

In today’s episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I sit down with Michael Ark, the creative mind behind OCTOBUDDY, to explore his fascinating entrepreneurial journey. 

From life-changing moments in the Arctic to the creation of a viral sensation, Michael shared how his unique adventures shaped his approach to building a product loved by millions. 

His passion for innovation and commitment to making OCTOBUDDY more than just a tool—it’s a stylish companion—truly stood out.

Here are just a few of the topics we discussed:

* The Birth of OCTOBUDDY: How a trip to Indonesia inspired Michael to create a tool that became a viral hit.

* A Near-Death Experience: The Arctic expedition that taught Michael resilience and the importance of perseverance.

* Building from Scratch: Michael’s journey from hand-packing products in his apartment to scaling through Amazon.

* The Power of Community: How customer feedback has driven innovation, including OCTOBUDDY Max and Mini versions.

* Lessons in Entrepreneurship: Why following your passions, embracing failure, and having a dream are critical to success.

Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this inspiring episode as Michael shares the highs, lows, and everything in between on his journey to creating OCTOBUDDY! 🎧

For more on OCTOBUDDY, visit their Amazon store. 

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more. 

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more. 

In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Daniel and Michael Broukhim, the brothers and co-founders behind FabFitFun. 

These two have turned a simple idea into a subscription box that brings joy to millions, creating a platform that delivers personalized products, offers incredible deals, and fosters a vibrant community.  We dive into their journey, the challenges of building a subscription-based business, and their commitment to innovation, technology, and community.

Here are some of the key highlights from our conversation:

* Embracing Gratitude: Daniel and Michael share how gratitude and family support have been foundational in their journey.

* FabFitFun as a “Cool Older Sister”: The founders describe the brand as the stylish, savvy shopper in your life who finds the best deals.

* Community-Driven Innovation: FabFitFun’s unique approach to engaging its community has helped shape both product offerings and new brands.

* Navigating Complex Logistics: Building an in-house tech-driven logistics system allowed them to handle massive orders with customizations.

* The Future of FabFitFun: Expansion plans, including pet subscriptions and collaborations with trending brands, hint at an exciting journey ahead.

Join me, Ramon Vela,  in listening to this episode as Daniel and Michael share insights into what makes FabFitFun such a beloved brand. 

For more on FabFitFun, visit: https://fabfitfun.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand Increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above.  

Shopline - An All-in-One Commerce Solution for Brands: https://www.us.shopline.com/story

Shopline is offering a complimentary three-month trial when you schedule a demo. Seamlessly manage multi-channel sales, create user-friendly websites, and drive conversions with targeted marketing. Ready to streamline operations and accelerate your business? Visit our unique link.

Today, I had an incredibly insightful and inspiring chat with Marco Canora, the chef and visionary behind Brodo Broth Co. 

We dive into Marco’s journey of transforming his own health through bone broth, the challenges he faced bringing Brodo to life, and his vision for promoting whole, nutritious foods. Marco's wisdom on perseverance, finding joy in the process, and staying true to a mission will inspire.

Some of the key highlights:

* The Power of Broth: Marco shares his personal health transformation journey through bone broth, ultimately leading him to launch Brodo.

* Ancient Wisdom in Modern Times: Marco explains how broth has been a part of traditional culinary history and why it remains relevant as a restorative, nutritious choice today.

* Finding Purpose Through Challenges: How a rent hike and health crisis inspired Marco to innovate with Brodo’s unique walk-up window concept, serving broth as a hot beverage alternative.

* Nourishing the Body, Honoring the Process: Marco discusses the importance of creating a high-quality product that serves people’s health needs and the pride he feels in Brodo’s mission.

* The Reality of Entrepreneurship: Marco reflects on the restaurant and CPG industries, describing the resilience, patience, and passion needed to succeed in both.

Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this episode as Marco and I explore the intersection of health, traditional foods, and entrepreneurship. Get ready to be inspired by his passion for bringing real, nourishing foods to people everywhere.

For more on Brodo Broth Co., visit: https://www.brodo.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Spotify and Apple. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above. 

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for listeners of The Story of a Brand Show Podcast. Start today! Visit the link above. 

In this episode, Rose Hamilton, Founder of Compass Rose Ventures, sits down with Eziah Syed, Co-founder and CEO of MEND, to talk about his inspiring journey and mission to revolutionize healthcare through nutrition. 

Eziah shared deeply personal stories that fueled his passion for creating a brand focused on healing, both physically and emotionally. We dive into the innovative approach MEND is taking by merging clinical nutrition with behavioral science and the enormous impact it's having on patients, athletes, and the healthcare industry as a whole.

We also explore some of the biggest challenges in healthcare today, why prevention is critical, and how MEND gives doctors new tools to improve outcomes. 

Plus, Eziah shares insights on balancing innovation with execution, the importance of micro-habits for personal wellness, and his thoughts on staying mission-driven.

Key Moments:

* The personal story behind MEND’s mission to revolutionize healing

* How MEND’s clinical-grade products are transforming patient recovery

* The gap in traditional medicine and the role of nutrition in healing

* Insights into balancing innovation with operational discipline in startups

* The importance of micro-habits for personal wellness and resilience

Join us in listening to this powerful episode and discover how MEND is reshaping the future of healthcare!

For more on Mend, visit:  https://mend.me/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more. 

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more. 

In today’s episode, Ramon Vela interviews Meredith Mann, the Founder of The Peachie Spoon. We discussed her journey of creating her health-conscious brand and how she turned a personal wellness breakthrough into a thriving business. 

From managing blood sugar through balanced smoothies to launching her own protein powder, Meredith shared the passion and intention behind everything she creates. Her story of overcoming health struggles and her dedication to helping others “feel their best” made this an inspiring conversation.

Meredith also opened up about developing her protein powder, ensuring it’s free from unnecessary fillers while maintaining great taste and quality. Her approach to wellness is refreshing—focusing on nourishing the body without obsession and making healthy living easy for everyone. 

Whether you're interested in health, entrepreneurship, or simply want to feel better, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Key moments from the interview:

* Meredith’s personal wellness journey and how it led to creating The Peachie Spoon

* How balancing blood sugar with protein-packed smoothies changed her life

* The importance of creating products with integrity and transparency

* Challenges and lessons learned in developing her protein powder

* Tips for maintaining a healthy relationship with food and simplifying wellness

Whether you're interested in health, entrepreneurship, or simply want to feel better, you won’t want to miss this episode.

For more on The Peachie Spoon, visit:  https://thepeachiespoon.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more. 

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more. 

In today’s episode, Ramon Vela interviews Aditya Mahapatra and Sambhav Chadha, Co-Founders of Augmentum Media. We revisited their incredible journey of building a digital marketing agency specializing in health and wellness brand influencer programs.

It was fascinating to catch up with them two years after our initial conversation and see how much they’ve evolved. We dove deep into the challenges and strategies behind influencer marketing, especially in the health and wellness space. 

Aditya and Sambhav have developed a unique approach to influencer seeding, affiliate marketing, and paid partnerships. They are focused on driving genuine, authentic collaborations that yield tangible results for brands. Their passion for health and wellness and expertise in the influencer landscape make for an inspiring listen.

Key moments from the interview:

* The importance of building authentic, long-term relationships with influencers

* How influencer seeding helps brands find the right ambassadors for their products

* Scaling from seeding to affiliate programs to boost brand awareness and customer acquisition

* Why performance influencer marketing is the future of the industry

* Tips for leveraging influencer marketing to reduce costs in paid media

Join us for this insightful episode as Aditya and Sambhav share their experiences, strategies, and predictions for the future of influencer marketing in the health and wellness sector!

For more on Augmentum Media, visit: https://www.augmentum-media.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, Expand into the US market, Create an omnipresent and omnichannel footprint, Optimize customer journeys, Build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above. 

SARAL - The Influencer OS for Brands: https://storybrandoffer.com/

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Try it risk-free with an extended 14-day trial, exclusively for listeners of The Story of a Brand Podcast. Start today! Visit the link above.