The Wild Party

What happens when an engineer with a background in aerospace and machine learning turns her attention to the chickpea?

On this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, Stefanie LaHart welcomes Kathryn Cook, Co-Founder and CEO of NuCicer, to explore how ancestral chickpea genetics could help change the ingredients we eat and the systems that produce them.

Kathryn shares the curiosity that carried her from materials science into aerospace, Facebook, and eventually food and agriculture. She also introduces the research of her father and co-founder, UC Davis Professor Douglas Cook, whose work with wild chickpea relatives helped lay the foundation for NuCicer.

Together, they discuss how NuCicer combines traditional cross-pollination with AI-assisted predictive breeding to develop chickpeas with higher protein content and useful traits for food production. Kathryn explains why a promising crop must work for everyone along the supply chain, including growers, ingredient processors, food brands, and consumers.

The conversation also explores the connection between demand for chickpeas and their role in crop rotation, the opportunity to incorporate protein and fiber through simpler ingredients, and why partnerships are central to NuCicer’s growth.

In this episode:

• Kathryn’s journey from aerospace and technology to agriculture

• The untapped possibilities within ancestral chickpea genetics

• How machine learning supports traditional plant breeding

• Why taste, texture, processing, and cost all influence adoption

• The relationship between farmer economics and sustainable practices

• Building a seed company through licensing and partnerships

• Turning scientific research into a commercially useful product

• Why curiosity and a willingness to feel uncomfortable matter for founders

Learn more about NuCicer: https://www.nucicer.com

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

What if creating a sustainable home didn't require buying anything new?

In this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, Stefanie LaHart talks with Stacy Verdick Case, founder of Peony Lane Designs and creator of Junkin with Stacy, about repairing, restoring and reimagining vintage furniture instead of sending it to the landfill.

After spending 20 years as an accountant, Stacy transformed skills she learned from her father into a passion for furniture restoration, vintage selling and DIY education.

In this conversation, you'll learn why older furniture was often built to be repaired, what “fast furniture” means for our homes and the environment, how beginners can tackle their first restoration project, why maintenance matters, and how Stacy built an audience by sharing her successes AND mistakes.

You'll also hear the wonderful story of Uncle Emil's $20 dresser—and how preserving a few handwritten notes kept one family's history alive.

In this episode:

• Why vintage furniture can be a sustainable choice

• Repairing versus replacing

• Beginner-friendly furniture restoration

• Paint, gel stains and surface preparation

• Finding vintage treasures at garage and estate sales

• How Stacy built Junkin with Stacy

• Authenticity and trust in content creation

• Stacy's breast-cancer advocacy

Visit Peony Lane Designs to learn more https://www.peonylanedesigns.com/

Subscribe to The Wild Party Podcast for conversations with the entrepreneurs, creators and changemakers building a more ethical and sustainable world. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMM3YNWz0PJapBf4NdX2cx2EwcFK3Kx4d

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

More than 20 years ago, Minh Tsai was working in finance when he realized he couldn’t find the fresh, flavorful tofu he remembered from growing up in Vietnam. So he decided to make it himself.

What began as a weekend project and farmers market stand eventually became Hodo, the tofu behind products served at Chipotle, Sweetgreen, Whole Foods and restaurants across the country.

In this episode, Minh joins Stefanie LaHart to talk about building Hodo slowly and sustainably, changing American perceptions of tofu, creating food people want because it tastes good not simply because it’s plant-based and why chefs and nutritionists could play a major role in tofu’s next chapter.

They also discuss Hodo’s new partnership with Calbee and Sagamiya, what Minh learned from more than two decades of entrepreneurship, and why his advice to founders is refreshingly simple: start small, stay authentic and have patience.

Learn more: https://www.hodofoods.com/

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

Julie Williams was building sustainable botanical skincare long before clean beauty became an industry buzzword.

On this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, host Stefanie LaHart talks with the founder of Leaf People about her remarkable journey from growing up in rural Alaska to traveling the world, studying botanical medicine and eventually creating a skincare company built around whole-plant extracts.

Julie explains how she developed her earliest formulas in her kitchen, worked with estheticians to test products and used direct customer feedback from the Aspen Farmers Market to grow the Leaf People collection.

We also explore what makes her approach different from conventional cosmetic formulation, the realities of ethically sourcing botanicals, why supply chains have become more challenging, and how Julie incorporates meditation, Reiki and other traditional practices into the creation of Leaf People products.

Learn more: https://leafpeople.com/

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

How do you take a product many consumers have never tried, challenge decades of ingrained behavior, and turn it into a mainstream brand?

On this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, Stefanie LaHart talks with Cherie Hoeger, Co-Founder and CEO of Saalt, a women-owned Certified B Corporation transforming period care through reusable products, education and social impact.

Saalt's story began after Cherie learned that family members in Venezuela were struggling to access basic period products. Her search for reusable alternatives ultimately led her to question why disposable pads and tampons remained the default and whether there was an opportunity to build something better.

Cherie shares how she and her husband developed Saalt's first menstrual cup through 14 design iterations, invested their own money into manufacturing, and intentionally created a brand they believed could take reusable period care mainstream.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Cherie identified a gap in an established category

• The financial realities of developing a physical product

• Why Saalt designed its first cup specifically with beginners in mind

• How branding helped differentiate Saalt

• Landing Target in the company's second year

• Why education became one of Saalt's most important marketing strategies

• Using TikTok and social media to change consumer behavior

• Breaking taboos surrounding menstruation

• Saalt's mission to help end global period poverty

• How a purpose-driven company can create measurable social impact

• Why businesses don't have to choose between profit and purpose

Subscribe to The Wild Party Podcast for more conversations with entrepreneurs and changemakers building ethical and sustainable businesses.

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

Can bread help fight climate change? According to Maddie Hamann, the answer is yes.

In this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, Stefanie LaHart sits down with Maddie Hamann, Co-Founder and Director of Marketing at Pacha, to explore how one of humanity's oldest foods is becoming part of one of our biggest climate solutions.

After earning a PhD in Oceanography and dedicating her career to understanding climate change, Maddie realized that scientific research alone wasn't creating the change she wanted to see. Instead, she pivoted into entrepreneurship, co-founding Pacha, a company producing sprouted buckwheat bread that supports regenerative agriculture while delivering exceptional nutrition and flavor.

Together they discuss:

• Why regenerative agriculture may be one of our greatest climate solutions

• How healthy soil creates healthier food

• The surprising nutritional power of buckwheat

• Why most gluten-free breads miss the mark

• Building a mission-driven company during the COVID pandemic

• Growing from hand-sliced bread to nationwide distribution

• Using storytelling to market products that genuinely improve people's lives

Whether you're passionate about sustainability, entrepreneurship, nutrition, or simply love great food, this episode will change the way you think about what belongs on your plate.

Special Offer for Wild Party listeners

Use code WILDPARTY20 for 20% off your first order at Pacha. https://livepacha.com/

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

What if one of the world's most powerful skincare ingredients has been growing on this land for thousands of years?

In this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, host Stefanie LaHart sits down with Ruth-Ann Thorn, founder of N8IV Beauty, the first Native American-owned luxury skincare brand.

Ruth-Ann shares the remarkable story behind her mission to bring Indigenous representation to the beauty industry while honoring generations of ancestral knowledge through sustainably sourced plant medicine and innovative skincare.

You'll learn:

• Why representation in beauty matters
• The science behind acorn oil
• How Indigenous philosophy defines beauty differently
• Sustainable business practices rooted in seven generations of stewardship
• The challenges of launching a purpose-driven beauty brand
• Why true luxury begins with health and connection to nature

This conversation is inspiring, educational, and a reminder that sometimes the greatest innovations come from the oldest wisdom.

SHOP NOW: Receive 20% off your purchase at N8IV Beauty by visitinghttps://n8ivbeauty.com/ and using the code WILDPARTY20 at checkout.

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

What if doing good didn't have to be so complicated?

In this episode, Stefanie sits down with Andy Choi, Founder and CEO of Do Good, to explore how businesses can build meaningful social impact into their growth strategy without getting buried in paperwork.

Together they discuss:

• Why starting a nonprofit is harder than most people realize

• The concept of Profit with Purpose

• How businesses can integrate giving into their business model

• Why consumers expect brands to stand for something

• How Do Good's innovative Nonprofit-as-a-Service platform is changing the future of philanthropy

If you've ever dreamed of making a bigger impact through your business, this episode is for you.

Learn More: https://home.dogoodpoints.com/

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

Consumers are asking harder questions than ever before. Where do products really come from? Can brands prove their sustainability claims? And what role does science play in building trust?

In this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, Stefanie LaHart sits down with MeiLin Wan, founder of GenuTrace, to explore the world of supply chain transparency and traceability. MeiLin shares how her journey from corporate executive to entrepreneur led her to build a company focused on helping brands verify their claims through scientific testing and innovative technology.

Together, they discuss greenwashing, ethical sourcing, isotope testing, forced labor prevention, and why proof matters more than promises in today's marketplace.

• What traceability actually means

• How isotope testing works

• Why greenwashing is becoming harder to get away with

• The role consumers play in driving accountability

• Lessons MeiLin learned transitioning from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship

Learn more: https://www.genutrace.com/

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise

What if your skincare routine could be reduced to just one product?

On this episode of The Wild Party Podcast, Stefanie LaHart sits down with Veena Krishnan, CEO and Co-Founder of Daybird, a clean, vegan, cruelty-free beauty brand on a mission to simplify beauty routines and challenge unrealistic beauty standards.

Veena shares her journey from chemical engineer working in the male-dominated oil and gas industry to building a fast-growing beauty brand that helps women reclaim their time, confidence, and mental space.

They discuss the pressure women face to look "professional," the rise of beauty overconsumption, the science behind skincare ingredients, launching a product in Whole Foods and Sprouts, and why Veena believes beauty should support your life, not become another obligation.

Whether you're a skincare minimalist or simply tired of endless beauty trends, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on what beauty can look like on your own terms.

Topics discussed:

• Why Veena left engineering to become a beauty entrepreneur

• The surprising inspiration behind Daybird

• Beauty standards and workplace expectations for women

• SPF, skincare science, and ingredient myths

• Building a vegan and cruelty-free brand

• How Daybird landed retail partnerships with Whole Foods and Sprouts

• Why simplicity is becoming the future of beauty

Use code WILDPARTY15 for 15% off your first order at Daybird. https://daybird.co/

***

If you are an entrepreneur or professional who would like to be on this podcast, please visit BoomtownMarketing.com and click on PODCAST. https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/podcast

We believe that every business has the potential to change the world for good and we want to support our community to help make the world more ethical, compassionate and sustainable for all future generations to come.

And if you are looking to build your business no matter what level you are at now, request your free marketing consultation at BoomtownMarketing.com and click GET STARTED.

https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/get-started

Advertise on The Wild Party Podcast and reach your audience. Learn more: https://www.boomtownmarketing.com/advertise