When De Soi/Amass Co-Founder Morgan McLachlan was growing up in British Columbia, Canada, making booze for a living wasn't on her radar. But a love of botany and the alchemy of beverage making drew her in, and eventually she became one of the few female master distillers in the world.

In our conversation with Morgan we talk first about her journey into the world of alcohol, and why expanding into the non-alcoholic realm became a priority. We also touch on her thoughts of the burgeoning THC drinks scene, and how the partnership with Katy Perry grew from a potential investor relationship into co-founding De Soi together.

Mentioned in this episode:

De Soi

AMASS Botanics 

Photo Credit/Cover: De Soi

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As consumers turn toward functional beverages that don't involve alcohol, hemp-infused drinks seem poised to continue their rocket rise. But with growth comes challenges, not to mention regulatory headaches as legislators at the state and federal level grapple with this new industry. We attended the 2nd ever Hemp Beverage Expo in Atlanta to understand what's happening in the industry. Is the future of the category at the micro-dose level, or should brands scale up? What is the price tolerance for consumers? And how do you build a brand for the long-term?

Interviewed for this episode:

Angus Rittenburg, WYNK

Jared Emerling, Float House

Also mentioned/included:

BDSA (analytics for the cannabis industry)

Plift

Kick Fizz

Go Brewing (U.S. of N/A episode w/Joe Chura)

Easy Man

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Best known for his ongoing role in the hit Bravo series, Summer House, Carl Radke also has a growing passion for the non-alcoholic space, with a desire to create an elevated environment where people can enjoy social beverages without alcohol. In our conversation, Carl shares his perspective on why the category is in dire need of proper places to enjoy these drinks in the social setting for which they're intended, and how that led to the development of Soft Bar + Cafe, opening later this summer in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. We also discuss what he's learned in his role with Loverboy, along with what other NA brands he admires, the burgeoning functional and THC drinks space, and what he thinks of the trend of celebrity-driven brands entering the market.

Mentioned in this episode:

Soft Bar + Cafe

Summer House

Loverboy

Athletic Brewing

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An underrated foodie town with a mosaic of tastes meticulously crafted in Cleveland's diverse neighborhoods, thanks to a couple of local innovators it's also a city that now supports a burgeoning non-alcoholic scene. On the heels of our visit to nearby Pittsburgh we sit down with Molly Cheraso, owner of the city's first and only non-alcoholic bottle shop, Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe, and Emily Tanski, owner of zero-proof bartending and events startup, Drink Fleurish. Together they have also launched Santé Supper Club, a new culinary series that draws upon the vibrant food scene that exists in the community, changing the definition of what an evening of great food, drinks and community can look like.

Mentioned in this episode:

Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe

Drink Fleurish

Santé Supper Club 

Feed The Resistance 2025 Summer Series (from Santé Supper Club)

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Drinking craft beer is communal, a ritual meant to be shared amongst friends and family members. It is also often local, built around a shared community based on geography or shared interests. In today's bonus episode, we sit down with Mark Ruf and Tyler Keough, founders of the NA Beer Market, a new addition borne from the same platform that created the NA Beer Club in 2021. We talk about how the idea evolved from Mark sharing beers with his dad, to Tyler's passion for building community, and why they feel that's a gap in today's retail space they hope to fill.

Mentioned in this episode:

NA Beer Market (use code NATIONBEER to get a free Good Liar beer on us!)

NA Brewskey (IG)

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Who said local breweries can't do an NA beer profitably? And how did Pittsburgh wind-up with so much happening in the local non-alcoholic scene? In this Part II of our two-part series from the Steel City, we finish our interview with The Open Road's Mel Babitz, and the Loaded Food Group's Katrina Tomacchio (also known as The Northeast Ginger on IG), who talk about the local scene and what's coming up. We then chat with owners Mike and Jen Onofray of the city's Two Frays Brewery, with an update on how they've been successful making non-alcoholic beer a growing part of their efforts. Lastly, we hear from The Open Road's Hailey Phillips, who shares some news of her own on a first-of-its-kind NA Cocktail Week coming up this July.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Open Road

Loaded Food Group

Katrina Tomacchio

Two Frays Brewery

Jackworth Ginger Beer

Cinderlands Beer Company

Hailey Phillips

Pittsburgh's NA Cocktail Week (happening July 7-13th)

Forging An Inclusive and Sustainable NA Community In The Steel City (original Pittsburgh episode in June, 2024)

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Nearly a year removed from our first visit, we return to the Steel City in the new location (and future lounge) of the longest-running non-alcoholic specialty retailer in the country, The Open Road. With so much happening in the local NA scene, we split our visit into a two-part episode. In Part I, we include much of our interview with The Open Road's Mel Babitz, and Katrina Tomacchio of the Loaded Food Group (also known as The Northeast Ginger on IG), who share their thoughts on everything from raising funds as a small business, to the growth in popularity in food and non-alcoholic drink pairings, as more people embrace and understand the category.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Open Road

Loaded Food Group

The Northeast Ginger

The Mocktail Mixer (happening 7/28/25)

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Is the craft brewing industry in serious decline, or just in a state of transition to what it may look like tomorrow? We traveled to Indianapolis for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo to get answers to that, as well as to better understand the broader landscape of beverages, including THC and non-alcoholic beer.

Interviewed in this episode:

Julie Rhodes, Co-Owner, Kick Beverage Company, Inc.

Jason Pickle, President, Volunteer Botanicals

Also mentioned:

Bart Watson, Brewers Association

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After a hospitality career that included stops at some of the most exclusive brands in hospitality, Ian Blessing is no stranger to world-class food and beverage experiences. In this episode, we sit down to talk about how he and his wife, Carly, have built a unique, handcrafted product set around non-alcoholic bitters, a category that lends itself perfectly to collaboration. Using what he learned at legendary establishments like The French Laundry and the esteemed Opus One winery in Napa Valley, Ian's approach is to deliver that experience to All The Bitter's customers, leaning heavily on the community of bottle shops and small retailers that help them market the brand.

In our conversation, Ian shares his thoughts on paying meticulous attention to detail, focused on quality ingredients with a dash of created memorable moments. We explore how this goal shapes everything from product development to the overall customer experience in their new bottle shop under the same name, even down to the delightful toy dinosaur surprise in every shipment that started with their kids. We'll also get a taste of current offerings and some exciting news about a new flavor on the horizon. Finally, we discuss the parallels between creating a premium in-person experience with a compelling online presence, and how All The Bitter aims to blend these worlds seamlessly. 

Mentioned in this episode:

All The Bitter

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It's been quite a year in the U.S. hemp market, which is still just getting started. The explosion of hemp-derived THC/CBD beverages has, not surprisingly, collided with regulations that have come fast and furious at the state level. In an effort to make sense of it all we sat down with David Spang, Founder of Coastal Green Wellness, a hemp/CBD retailer with locations in South Carolina and Georgia, as well as a new line of THC beverages, Nine Dot. As someone who straddles the line between retailer and beverage producer, David has a unique perspective on the industry.

In our conversation we start with David's founder journey to starting Coastal Green Wellness with his wife, Crystal. Given the ongoing legislative battles involving hemp in numerous states, particularly across the Southeast, David also shares his take on the current regulatory landscape and why at least some of what's happening is a net positive for the industry. We also delve into his reasons behind launching Nine Dot, exploring how its emergence is influencing new consumers as they enter the THC category through the accessible beverage format.

Lastly, true to his passion for education, David provides important guidance for newcomers curious about trying THC, addressing common misconceptions surrounding dosage and effects, and emphasizing how the ability to absorb THC is completely different from alcohol. This episode offers a blend of industry insights, entrepreneurial experience, and essential education for anyone interested in the evolving world of THC beverages and the broader hemp landscape.

Mentioned in this episode:

Coastal Green Wellness

Nine Dot

American Healthy Alternatives Association

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