In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, my co-host Rose Hamilton, CEO of Compass Rose Ventures, sits down with Mike Fata, Founder and past Chairman & CEO of Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods. 

Mike’s story is one of personal transformation fueling a movement. What began with his own health journey, losing weight, regaining strength, and discovering hemp seeds, evolved into co-founding a company that pioneered an entire food category and scaled it all the way to a $419 million strategic exit.

Mike shares how belief, discipline, and governance shaped his entrepreneurial path. From facing stigma around hemp in the early days, to building a trusted brand on quality and education, to evolving his own leadership from founder to CEO to chairman, Mike gives us a masterclass in resilience and scaling with integrity. 

Today, he’s paying it forward as a mentor, investor, and author of “Grow: 12 Unconventional Lessons for Becoming an Unstoppable Entrepreneur.”

Here are some of the key moments from the episode:

* How personal health struggles inspired Mike to co-found Manitoba Harvest

* The power of storytelling and education in building belief in a new category

* Why governance, values, and discipline were non-negotiable guardrails for scaling

* The mindset shift required to evolve from founder to CEO to chairman

* Why mentorship and continuous improvement remain at the core of his legacy

Join us in listening to the episode and hear how Mike Fata transformed passion into purpose, purpose into a category-defining brand, and now, wisdom into mentorship for the next generation of founders.

For more on Mike Fata, visit: https://www.mikefata.ca/

To buy Mike Fata’s book, “Grow: 12 Unconventional Lessons for Becoming an Unstoppable Entrepreneur,” visit Bookshop.org, Amazon, or wherever you purchase books and audiobooks. 

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

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Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Rachel Katzman, the founder of Pvolve, a functional fitness company that’s redefining what it means to truly move your body with purpose. 

Rachel’s story is deeply personal and inspiring. What started as a search for relief from back pain and scoliosis evolved into creating a method that blends functional fitness with resistance equipment, delivering not only results but also long-term health and mobility.

In our conversation, Rachel opened up about her journey with Lyme disease, how it reshaped her perspective on wellness, and why she believes movement is medicine. We also explored how Pvolve scaled from a scrappy start-up to a global brand with both digital and studio presences, why clinical studies matter in fitness, and what it means to franchise a mission-driven brand.

Some key moments from the episode include:

* Rachel’s personal health journey and how it inspired the Pvolve method.

* Why functional fitness addresses more than aesthetics; it prevents injury, improves posture, and supports longevity.

* The pivotal role of clinical studies in validating fitness methods and building consumer trust.

* How Pvolve thrived during the pandemic with its digital platform and transitioned into a fast-growing franchise model.

* The impact of celebrity advocates like Jennifer Aniston in amplifying the brand’s credibility.

Join me, Ramon Vela, as we listen to the episode and discover how Pvolve is changing the fitness landscape with an approach that goes beyond sweat; it’s about strength, mobility, and living pain-free.

For more on Pvolve, visit: https://pvolve.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. 

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Today’s Sponsors:

REViVE Amazon Marketing Partners: https://revivemp.com/

REViVE Amazon Marketing Partners helps better-for-you CPG brands win on Amazon with niche expertise, founder-led strategy, and a true partnership model. Built by a CPG founder with a successful exit, REViVE only works with brands it believes in. Are you curious if Amazon is right for you? Book a Free Deep Dive Strategy Session today.

Workspace6 - Private Community for 7, 8, 9-figure Brands: https://www.workspace6.io/

Workspace6 is a private community where over 950 seven-, eight-, and nine-figure brand operators share insights, solve problems, and accelerate growth. It's the anti-fluff operator's room, and for your first 30 days, it's just $1. Get real answers and skip the trial and error.

In this episode of The Story of a Brand Show, I sit down with Lauren Kleinman, Founder of Dreamday and Co-founder of Quality Media.

Lauren shares her journey from working at Ritual and Scopely to building not just one, but two thriving agencies that are reshaping how brands approach PR, affiliate, and paid media. Her story is rooted in curiosity, courage, and a clear vision for how the media landscape is evolving.

What stood out to me is how Lauren built Dreamday around the idea of “performance PR,” combining traditional press with measurable ROI through affiliate links. Then, she and her partners created Quality Media to bring media buying, creative, and paid amplification under one roof. 

Together, the agencies form a closed loop where press, content, and paid all fuel each other, driving growth and brand equity in ways most agencies can’t match.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

* How Dreamday coined the concept of “performance PR” and why it’s more relevant than ever.

* The origin story of Quality Media and its unique performance publishing model powered by The Quality Edit.

* Why the media landscape is shifting to diversified channels, such as TikTok, Substack, and even ChatGPT search.

* How AI is reshaping agency work and why Lauren calls Dreamday and Quality Media “people-first, AI-enabled agencies.”

* Lauren’s personal journey as a mom, yoga teacher, and leader striving to create workplaces that become the highlight of her team’s careers.

Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to the full episode to hear how Lauren is building intentional, future-ready agencies while staying grounded as a leader. This is a must-listen for founders, marketers, and anyone curious about the future of brand storytelling and performance marketing.

For more on Dreamday, visit: https://www.dreamday.la/ For more on Quality Media, visit:  https://www.qualitymedia.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!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Saral - The Influencer OS: https://www.getsaral.com/demo

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. Let the SARAL team know you're a The Story of a Brand Show podcast listener to get an extended free trial! Visit the link above.

When it comes to building lasting health and wellness brands, few people have as much lived experience as Raza Bashir.

As Chief Innovation Officer at Iovate Health Sciences International, Raza has spent nearly two decades turning cutting-edge science into products that make a real difference in people’s lives. From MuscleTech to Hydroxycut, his fingerprints are on some of the most influential supplement brands of our time.

In this conversation, hosted by Rose Hamilton, CEO of Compass Rose Ventures, we delve into the journey of innovation: what it truly entails behind the scenes, why transparency is non-negotiable, and how balancing margins with quality is one of the most challenging yet critical aspects of brand building. 

Raza also shares what inspires his product innovation, lessons from products like Clear Muscle, and his perspective on the fast-changing landscape of consumer wellness.

Here are some of the key moments from the episode:

* The early days at Iovate and how a culture of speed and passion shaped innovation

* Why storytelling and consumer feedback remain as important as the science behind the product

* The Clear Muscle case study—how testing, iteration, and positioning made all the difference

* Building consumer trust through transparency, science, and third-party validation

* The future of supplements: precision nutrition, peptides, and the rise of consumer “stacks”

Join Rose Hamilton in listening to the episode and hear how Raza Bashir is helping shape the next era of health and wellness through innovation, trust, and intentional leadership.

For more on Iovate Health Sciences International, visit: https://www.iovate.com/

Iovate Brands: For more information on MuscleTech, visit www.muscletech.com For more information on Six Star, visit: www.sixstarpro.com For more information on Hydroxycut, visit: www.hydroxycut.com For more information on Purely Inspired, visit: www.purelyinspired.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. 

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Today’s Sponsors:

Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started

Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they’ve generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million per year.

Use code "STORY OF A BRAND” and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning. 

1 Commerce: https://1-commerce.com/story-of-a-brand

Scaling a DTC brand becomes harder the bigger you grow, especially when you’re limited to selling on just one channel.  While you’re focused on day-to-day ops, your competitors are unlocking marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and even retail shelf space—and capturing customers you’re missing. That’s where 1-Commerce comes in. 

They help high-growth brands expand beyond their sites, handle end-to-end fulfillment, and scale through a revenue-share model that means they only win when you do. 

As a Story of a Brand listener, you’ll get one month of free storage and a strategy session with their CEO, Eric Kasper.

I had such a powerful and eye-opening conversation with Lisa Curtis, Founder & CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods. 

Lisa shared her incredible journey that began in the Peace Corps in Niger, where she first discovered moringa, a nutrient-packed “tree leaf” that transformed her health.

What started as a simple act of self-care in a rural village has grown into Kuli Kuli Foods, a pioneering superfoods brand that now partners with thousands of small farmers across Africa and India, empowers women, and brings nutritious, climate-smart foods to shelves nationwide.

Lisa opened up about the early hurdles, navigating FDA approvals, raising money through crowdfunding, and hustling at farmers' markets, and how those small proof points led to partnerships with Whole Foods, Walmart, and more.

We also explored the resilience it takes to keep going for over 12 years, her gratitude practice, and the leadership lessons that continue to guide her. This episode is packed with inspiration for entrepreneurs and food lovers alike.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

• How a Peace Corps experience in Niger led to the discovery of moringa and sparked the founding of Kuli Kuli Foods.

• Overcoming early supply chain and regulatory challenges, including a $70,000 FDA hurdle with creativity and mentorship.

• The role of farmers' markets and crowdfunding in proving demand and landing Whole Foods as their first big customer.

• Building impact by partnering with 3,000 small farmers and reinvesting 10% of profits into community projects worldwide.

• Lisa’s advice for entrepreneurs: map out small proof points, celebrate wins, and keep the courage to start and persist.

Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to Lisa’s inspiring story of grit, gratitude, and global impact, and to discover how Kuli Kuli is changing the way we think about superfoods.

For more on Kuli Kuli Foods, visit: https://www.kulikulifoods.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!

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Today’s Sponsors:

REViVE Amazon Marketing Partners: https://revivemp.com/

REViVE Amazon Marketing Partners helps better-for-you CPG brands win on Amazon with niche expertise, founder-led strategy, and a true partnership model. Built by a CPG founder with a successful exit, REViVE only works with brands it believes in. Are you curious if Amazon is right for you? Book a Free Deep Dive Strategy Session today.

Workspace6 - Private Community for 7, 8, 9-figure Brands: https://www.workspace6.io/

Workspace6 is a private community where over 950 seven-, eight-, and nine-figure brand operators share insights, solve problems, and accelerate growth. It's the anti-fluff operator's room, and for your first 30 days, it's just $1. Get real answers and skip the trial and error.

I had a truly meaningful and inspiring conversation with Jenny Yue, Co-Founder of Ohme Foods.

Jenny shared how her personal health journey, such as losing 50 pounds, rediscovering fitness, and building confidence through small daily wins, became the spark that inspired her to create Ohme. 

What began as a New Year’s resolution to start every morning with a healthy breakfast has now evolved into a colorful, family-friendly snack brand that helps people kick off their days with wellness in mind.

We discussed the challenges of building a brand from scratch, including struggles with packaging, finding the right retail strategy, and navigating the early days of farmers' markets and pop-ups.

Jenny also opened up about the big wins along the way, like Urban Outfitters reaching out on Instagram to carry their products, and the joy of seeing both kids and parents embrace Ohme’s freeze-dried fruits and yogurt crunches. Her story is a reminder that small steps and small wins can add up to something truly transformative.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

• Jenny’s gratitude practice and how a supportive friend helped her gain clarity and confidence in tough moments.

• The personal wellness journey that inspired the launch of Ohme Foods.

• How starting with farmers' markets led to unexpected retail wins, including Urban Outfitters.

• The importance (and headaches) of packaging design and branding in standing out on shelves.

• Why freeze-drying preserves 95% of nutrition while delivering that crunchy texture everyone loves.

Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to Jenny’s story and learn more about the mission behind Ohme Foods, and get inspired by how personal transformation can spark an incredible business journey.

For more on Ohme Foods, visit: https://www.ohmefoods.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!

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Today’s Sponsors:

1 Commerce: https://1-commerce.com/story-of-a-brand

Scaling a DTC brand becomes harder the bigger you grow, especially when you’re limited to selling on just one channel. While you’re focused on day-to-day operations, your competitors are unlocking marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and even retail shelf space, capturing customers you’re missing. That’s where 1-Commerce comes in. 

They help high-growth brands expand beyond their sites, handle end-to-end fulfillment, and scale through a revenue-share model that means they only win when you do. 

As a Story of a Brand listener, you’ll get one month of free storage and a strategy session with their CEO, Eric Kasper. 

Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started

Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they’ve generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million per year.

Use code "STORY OF A BRAND” and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning.

I had the chance to sit down with Steve Booher, the founder and CEO of Always Full, and what an inspiring conversation it was.

Steve’s entrepreneurial journey spans decades, from walking away from a “lifetime” corporate job to building multiple companies across engineering, manufacturing, and ag-tech. Along the way, he learned hard lessons about trust, cash flow, and resilience. And now, he’s bringing all of that experience into the pet space with a product that solves a simple but universal problem—keeping your pet’s water bowl always full and always clean.

In our conversation, Steve shared the story of how a broken arm in his family turned into the spark for Always Full. What began as a sketch in AutoCAD evolved into a laser-precise, vortex-flushing, self-cleaning water bowl that pet parents (and pets!) are falling in love with.

From overcoming engineering challenges, to winning awards at SuperZoo and Global Pet Expo, to preparing for retail and online expansion, Steve walked us through what it takes to build not just a product, but a brand that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

* How Steve’s early career experiences led him to embrace entrepreneurship

* The tough lessons he learned building and selling multiple companies before Always Full

* How his wife’s broken arm sparked the idea for a better water bowl

* The engineering process behind Always Full, including the vortex flush and filtration system

* Why Always Full is gaining traction with consumers, retailers, and even industry awards

Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to this episode of The Story of a Brand as we dive into the journey of an entrepreneur who’s proving that solving real problems—like keeping your pets healthy and hydrated—can be both meaningful and transformative.

For more on Always Full, visit: https://alwaysfull.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!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Workspace6 - Private Community for 7, 8, 9-figure Brands: https://www.workspace6.io/

Workspace6 is a private community where over 950 seven-, eight-, and nine-figure brand operators share insights, solve problems, and accelerate growth. It's the anti-fluff operator's room, and for your first 30 days, it's just $1. Get real answers and skip the trial and error.

REViVE Amazon Marketing Partners: https://revivemp.com/

REViVE Amazon Marketing Partners helps better-for-you CPG brands win on Amazon with niche expertise, founder-led strategy, and a true partnership model. Built by a CPG founder with a successful exit, REViVE only works with brands it believes in. Are you curious if Amazon is right for you? Book a Free Deep Dive Strategy Session today.

From the Archives: Back in May 2024, I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Molloy, Co-founder and CEO of Memo Paris, to explore the fascinating world of fragrance and the art of memory it evokes. 

John shared his journey from fashion to perfumery, the courage it took to leave a corporate path, and how he and his wife, Clara, built Memo Paris around the idea of capturing places, emotions, and memories through scent. What stood out most was how fragrance becomes more than just a product; it becomes a bridge to culture, connection, and even self-expression.

In this conversation, we dived into how Memo Paris was born out of curiosity, love, and creativity, and how the brand has grown from just four fragrances to a collection found in over 60 countries. 

John opened up about the role of family, mentors, and his wife’s poetic vision in shaping Memo Paris, and how every bottle tells a story of place, beauty, and emotion.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• How John’s early mentors and family support gave him the courage to take the entrepreneurial leap

• The story of Memo Paris and how fragrances capture “places of grace” around the world

• Why building a fragrance brand is about long-term relationships, not quick trends

• The role of art, storytelling, and creativity in shaping Memo Paris’s bottles and scents

• Sneak peek into new launches, including the fragrance inspired by Cappadocia

Join me, Ramon Vela, as we listen to this inspiring episode of The Story of a Brand, where we discover how Memo Paris weaves together travel, memory, and artistry to create fragrances that truly tell a story.

For more on Memo Paris, visit: https://us.memoparis.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!

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Today’s Sponsors:

Saral - The Influencer OS: https://www.getsaral.com/demo

SARAL is the all-in-one influencer platform that finds brand-aligned creators, automates outreach, and manages everything in one place. Request a live demo today. Let the SARAL team know you're a The Story of a Brand Show podcast listener to get an extended free trial! Visit the link above. 

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Angus Rittenburg, Co-Founder and CEO of WYNK, to explore one of the fastest-growing trends in the beverage industry: low-dose THC drinks.

Angus shared his incredible journey from engineering at Tesla and SpaceX to launching a scrappy startup with a vision for healthier, more social alternatives to alcohol. What struck me most was how much of WYNK’s story is about holding onto a vision—even when the path forward wasn’t clear and staying scrappy, adaptable, and true to quality.

In this episode, Angus and I discuss everything from his early mentor, who taught him to value education over money, to the inventive mobile production systems that helped WYNK break into multiple states, to the massive regulatory unlock that allowed hemp-derived THC beverages to finally reach mainstream shelves. 

Along the way, we also explored the challenges of consumer education, the better-for-you movement in beverages, and what it takes to not just build a product but build a category.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

* How a mentor’s belief in vision over money shaped Angus’s entrepreneurial journey

* The scrappy origins of WYNK and how a mobile canning trailer became the company’s launchpad

* Why low-dose THC beverages are poised to disrupt alcohol consumption trends

* The regulatory shifts that allowed WYNK to expand beyond dispensaries into bars, restaurants, and liquor stores

* How WYNK is investing in quality and compliance to build not just a brand, but an entire category

Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to this fascinating episode of 'The Story of a Brand,' where we explore the vision, challenges, and triumphs behind WYNK, a brand rewriting the rules for social beverages.

For more on WYNK, visit: https://drinkwynk.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:

1 Commerce: https://1-commerce.com/story-of-a-brand

Scaling a DTC brand becomes harder the bigger you grow, especially when you’re limited to selling on just one channel.  While you’re focused on day-to-day ops, your competitors are unlocking marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and even retail shelf space—and capturing customers you’re missing. That’s where 1-Commerce comes in. 

They help high-growth brands expand beyond their sites, handle end-to-end fulfillment, and scale through a revenue-share model that means they only win when you do. 

As a Story of a Brand listener, you’ll get one month of free storage and a strategy session with their CEO, Eric Kasper. 

Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started

Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they’ve generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million per year.

Use code "STORY OF A BRAND” and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning. 

I had such a powerful and heartfelt conversation with Cara Dumaplin, the CEO & Founder of Taking Cara Babies. 

Cara shared her deeply personal journey—from her background as a neonatal nurse and wife of a pediatrician to her own struggles with sleep deprivation as a new mom. What I loved most about this interview is how Cara took her hardest moments, the valleys of her life, and turned them into seeds that grew into a mission to help parents everywhere.

We talked about how sleep impacts not only babies but the entire family, and how Cara’s work is about so much more than swaddles or schedules—it’s about empowering parents to believe in themselves, find grace in the learning process, and realize they are the true experts of their own children. Her wisdom, compassion, and dedication shine through every word.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

• How Cara’s darkest moments as a new mom inspired her mission

• Why helping parents get just a few extra hours of sleep is life-changing

• The philosophy behind Taking Cara Babies: empowering parents as the experts

• Practical guidance for parents at any stage, from newborns to toddlers

• Why grace, compassion, and presence are essential in parenting

Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to this episode and hear how Cara is transforming the lives of parents and babies with wisdom, heart, and hope.

For more on Taking Cara Babies, visit: https://takingcarababies.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:

REViVE Amazon Marketing Partners: https://revivemp.com/

REViVE Amazon Marketing Partners helps better-for-you CPG brands win on Amazon with niche expertise, founder-led strategy, and a true partnership model. Built by a CPG founder with a successful exit, REViVE only works with brands it believes in. Are you curious if Amazon is right for you? Book a Free Deep Dive Strategy Session today.

Workspace6 - Private Community for 7, 8, 9-figure Brands: https://www.workspace6.io/

Workspace6 is a private community where over 950 seven-, eight-, and nine-figure brand operators share insights, solve problems, and accelerate growth. It's the anti-fluff operator's room, and for your first 30 days, it's just $1. Get real answers and skip the trial and error.