the Eco Echo

We get down and dirty with the living motivation that is Mark Samuel, founder of IWON Organics high-protein, plant-based snacks, granola and cereal. We get under the hood on the tactics that took them from Vitamin Shoppe to a national force. It's a must listen for any mission based brand or food and bev founder.Mark opens up about:- What makes him proudest- How IWON survived as peers disappeared- The need for capital- Growth strategies he's using right now for DTC and discovery- The big move from savory snacks to the cereal aisle - QVC! and far more. Listen and learn!Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

Is plant-based cheese the new plant- based meat? Can it be made of hemp and cauliflower instead of nuts?  Can cheese-free cheese NOT be "life, laugh, love, vegan?"  First-time founder and former marketing exec Veronica Fil and her chef partner Shaun Quade say yes. They took his bold cheese prototypes off their Australian restaurant menu and into the US market. Whole Foods came calling. Now they're selling meltable tasty cheese-free cheeses including American, baby. Stir some Rotel into the queso and get the story. It's serious inspiration to just go for an idea with the right whitespace and timing. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

Welcome the Cann Cannabis-based drink founder! Even if you don't party, we talk about promotion when you can't legally "advertise, " distribution when you can't be on shelf and why Cannabis drinks vs booze. Also: the queer origins of the Cann Social Tonic concept, how to make something tasty AND healthy and can you mix tequila and THC??!Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

What does it take to make a great brand in Natural? From the studio that did Bobo's Naturals, Good Pop, Fat Snax, Boulder Canyon snacks and more, we talk packaging, design and ask the question, "What if a brand had NO copy?" Tune in!Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

 for a rant on the changing culture of the natural industry and what it means for brands. We also unpack Beautycounter's $1B acquisition and retailer Grove bringing its products into retailer Target. Join Eco Echo for interviews & regular takes on the green, eco and natural industry from your friends Corey and Julie K. Our newsletter >  ecoecho.substack.comSupport the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

A mini-opinion ep where we ponder:- NewNew and other emerging apps where we can pay to control the lives of others, and other new news in the influencers, the creator economy and monetization of everything- Dr. Tusk, a curiously founder-less, mission-based brand with big claims and (we think) low credibility.Are we wrong on both counts? Let us know! Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

We talk to Lindsay McCormick who founded Bite Toothpaste Bits with an Etsy shop in her living room. Now it's at millions a year in revenue  - 100% direct, 100% equity, with ZERO VC funding and no Amazon shop. She gives us the details on how it's still possible to bootstrap your way to success. She's build believers with big heart, DIY product drops and an ex-TV producer's skills.  No Mark Cuban? No Fluoride? Champagne-flavored toothpaste? TUNE IN as we kick off season 2. Support the show

Our take on news in natural, conscious & better-for-you brands and marketing. This time we take on the retail whiplash of upmarket Dollar Stores, Whole Foods' new Ideal Market test concept, and a cool new Joints for Justice bringing a powerful cause in a sea of  #wokewashing. Oh yeah, and plastic-eating enzymes may save us after all! Tune in and hit subscribe! Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

Our take on the world of sustainable, conscious, better-for-you brands and marketing. We welcome the fabulous Ben Schott, author of the article had that the CPG, DTC and design worlds talking. And wondering whether they were part of the bland. And if you haven't read it, find "Welcome to Your Bland New World" on Bloomberg now, as well as his other pieces on tech, business, politics, ideas and finance.Tell us if you think the BLAND world is over - or too big to go away. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in sustainable, conscious, natural and better-for-you brands and marketing. We're back after a brief hiatus! We discuss surprisingly low numbers (or are they?) for online grocery and talk about a few encouraging sustainable moments stories: innovative refillables, bee-friendly KIND, and Julie's call for a new sort of CPG sustainability measure. Oh yeah, and Goop's gone democratized. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural, sustainable & better-for-you brands and marketing.Craig Dubitsky was an original Method board member, invented Eos lip balm and founded oral care brand Hello products, which recently sold to Colgate-Palmolive.We cover:How he sees "consumers" and "employeees"How to get & keep a brand's soulWhy anyone can Skype him from Hello's site (he drops his number here, too)Innovating with Emotion The convo that get him on-board Method back in the day.Why acquisition can help the brand be better Where they are going nextCraig is a guy who loves people and brings it to the shelf. Let him inspire you to make more authentic connections in your biz, work and life.  Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We interview Beatrice Dixon, Black female founder of the very hot, fast-growing brand of plant-based feminine care. Beatrice has a rare mix of no-BS real talk and higher consciousness that's a great model for purpose- or mission-driven leadership. This was a conversation that stuck with us - a truly inspiring mix of real talk on:12:55 Educating for real in social content20:36 Getting into major retailers 24:46 Not caring about racist backlash 28:12 Aligned Teams 36:07 Why Acquisition is not "Selling Out" 39:53 Why $10M revenue doesn't mean the founder has cash (and a BIG money breakdown on the costs and strains of a startup CPG company(49:07 Why She Never Thinks about What's Next Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in sustainble, conscious, natural and better for you brands and marketing. This week is a focused ramble:- Pandemic's effect on cities and startup hubs- Wal-Mart, Target, CVS and others take on the Plastic Bag (sorta)- A startup raises a Series A to save - ok, restart - America's home recycling by monetizing it... good idea?Join us and listen! Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. Tracy Gray is founder and managing partner of The 22 Fund, and Executive in Residence at Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI). As a Black woman, she intentionally funds  women and people of color. There's plenty of no-holds-barred conversation on what it will take to change the system, drive equity, raise money when you're not a white man. Her TEDx Talk entitled “Why It's Time for Women to Be Sexist with Investment Capital” led her to found a non-profit We Are Enough (WAE). WAE's only mission is to educate ALL women on how and why to invest in women-owned, for-profit businesses or with a “gender lens."Her long list of accolades includes a Bad Ass Woman in Green award and the Women of Courage award. This podcast will show you why!Support the show

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We dig way into Facebook, Zuckerberg and which brands stand to lose. Lululemon buys Mirror - will we ever shop or check our butts the same way? We salute male beauty (and CVS), pour one out for Odwalla and note a surprising brand pursuing Zero Waste.Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. Regrained was founded when 2 friends saw how much grain was wasted every time they home-brewed beer. A decade later, they're startup jedis, working with Big Brands and forging ingenious partnerships to address the climate crisis at huge yet hidden scale. How? That grain is now a branded ingredient in their Regrained snacks and soon much more.David MEETS Goliath, baby. Learn:- Why their product line is a proof-of-concept experiment, even though it's in 1500 doors- The surprising tech partner they cold emailed to get patented IP- Why their compostable packaging didn't work the first time- How used grain can be more valuable than virgin - Why hot dogs aren't upcycled - How he got on stages from TED to Iceland.This startup will make you rethink the blueprint - whether you're a startup, a supply chain partner or at a major player.Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. You'll never guess what's gonna run your closet and save the planet. Plus: Brandless returns, Vending Everything and we debate whether New Hope's Spark Change platform will spark change. Bonus: Joy wellness? Or just trend reversal?Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. Interview with Sharon Werner, highly awarded and world recognized designer of many iconic, category-creating brands. Many of her brand and packaging designs remain top sellers and relatively unchanged after one (or two or more) decades.  We dig into:- the origin story of the Mrs. Meyers brand look, voice and feel- why Lord Jones was a must-do product- what makes for successful partnerships between client and designer- what clients can do to ensure a more successful design - how she ensures a design is really working And more. Down to earth with zero pretense, Sharon inspires us to think about design differently in a world of fast, me-too trends. Get on your roller coaster! Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. Black Lives Matter is reverberating in the industry, especially in beauty and other female-focused segments. We talk about the cancelling of female founders from Bando, Reformation and Refinery29, weigh in on ads, and talk about the more action-driven choices across industries, from NetFlix to LEGO to Wal-Mart and NASCAR. Brands in any purpose driven space may be unprepared for the cultural scrutiny that's here - and not going away. Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. The tragic murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police officers has rightfully awakened, enraged and activated the world. Still a bit stunned, we left analysis of the events to experts but touch on brand responses, including &Pizza's paid activism policy. Also, some promising sustainability efforts and some male celebrities taking cues from NOTE: Sound quality low due to compromised wifi in Minneapolis. For thoughts on race in the world of green and wellness, please see our newsletter, dropping this weekend. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk to David Greenfeld of DreamPops. With him, Everything is Popsicle.™ Like driving revenue pre-distro via major partnerships. Self-manufacturing since day 1. Running the brand as a content company. Getting Beats by Dre as customer one with a cold email. Omnichannel and early DTC.David gives details on: - writing his own rules of partnership and working with Goop, Patron, SoulCycle and more- emails that get meetings- their content focus, platform-by-platform - why cooperation beats competition- why outside investment is overrated- working your product as a platform-  DreamPops beyond popsiclesThis design-driven vegan popsicle and snack company is making their own rules and keeping great company. Listen and be inspired. Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk about how Impossible Food gets everything right again with their 1000 store rollout support. Facebook, IG and TikTok get more commerce-friendly while Quibi thinks old. Is the gym dead? Is sexual wellness the new casual sex? Also: how we ended up caring about Pepsi's DTC play. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We interview the co-founder Three Wishes Cereal, a better-for-you, high plant protein take on our childhood faves. We dig into:-  product dev & food science journey- getting into key retailers fast - but waiting on Target - learning from Amazon & DTC- connecting with community. and buyers.- spouse co-working And so much more. This convo is as tasty and easy as the cereal. Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. How might acquisitions and innovation look different for the industry? We consult the oracles of CEO quotes and Krave's sale and discuss. Plus a prenatal brand that could use some messaging massage and talk QVC for GenZ. Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural, conscious and better-for-you brands and marketing is AKUA. Eco Echo interviews Courtney Boyd Myers, Founder of AKUA, maker of delicious Kelp jerky, pasta and soon, kelp burgers. What we cover in this episode: - Kelp as a regenerative resource & climate-negative superfood - Finding a future market for a future food - How to pursue a bold idea without a clear product development path or big budget- Figuring out challenging supply chains, production, retailer & marketing strategy- What her experiences at Four Sigmatic taught her about story-telling - Amazon, Thrive Market and very specialty retail - The one tool every founder needs - BONUS: discount code!And so much more.AKUA believes you should kelp yourself and we agree. Check out this episode and subscribe.Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. Covid19 is shining new light on retailer practices and worker's rights. Consumers increasingly want brands to do the right thing plus convenience. Will ask more of "conscious" post-Covid? Bonus: Is Sprouts looking to be the next Trader Joe's? Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural, conscious and better-for-you brands and marketing is OLIPOP. The healthy alternative to soda is a better-for-you masterclass in how to do natural brand building right. Eco Echo interviews Steven Vigilante, Olipop's head of Partnerships and e-commerce lead.What we cover in this episode: - Nurturing a great culture in company that's always been remote - Lessons from their explosive DTC and e-commerce growth in the 5 weeks since COVID-19 - Learning regionally vs launching nationally- Keys to amazing partnerships, buzz-building & organic growth - The importance of mission- What separates a good startup founder from a great founderAnd so much more.Olipop wants to be your best friend and so do we. Check out this episode and subscribe.Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk Millennial brands & Instagram under threat by GenZennials and TikTok. Authenticity is dead! Long live Realness! Also: Everlane Hate, the comeback of Big Food & Big Grocery and SWAT shopping vs event shopping in the quarantine age.Show Notes: 1:18 What happens to the "stay in" Millennial brands when you can't go anywhere? Friday Night In is no longer an aspiration, it's a govt order.5:00 Is this is the end of Authentic™ Branding? The rise of the real may also be the changing of guard to Gen Z and younger Millennials.8:01 TikTok is the medium of the moment and FOR the moment. 16:12 Chobani is already the #2 oat milk in America and it's only been around since January 2020. But WHAT is number one? 20:10 Everlane laid off striking workers. It's the latest example of what happens when the mission doesn't meet reality, at least in the eyes of consumers. P.S. Is Everlane fast fashion? We discuss. 25:33 Is Big Food back? Tough times call for big distro. 30:29 SWAT team shopping vs Sunday drives in the age of coronavirus - how we are navigating in-person grocery trips right now. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk about one-stop to get your ongoing COVID marketing updates, food and beverage analyst reads & predictions, and what's up and down CBD. Plus a random divergence into WFH. Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk about the categories we see benefitting from our socially distanced times. Plus: the brand that boldly launched amidst week 1 of COVID-19 and yet another thing that makes Grove Collaborative a retailer worth watching. Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk about consumer retail quake in response to COVID-19 and our roundup of the roundups of Virtual #Expowest. Plus: Why didn't cricket protein ever happen? Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk about  #cancelExpoWest drama and Liquid Death water.  Plus Honeypot whiplash and what happens when brands get political. Finally, does recent CEO drama signal the Millennial Brand™ is running its course? Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk about what happened to Brandless, Lucky's and Earth Fare. Plus the surprising brick and mortar partner of Dirty Lemon, a sustainable meal delivery startup, and #Oscarssogreen (kinda).Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We talk Coke sticking to single use (for now), when "organic" cause marketing may not make sense, and plant-based meat market disruption, low-proof liqueur subscriptions and Igloo's answer to styrofoam coolers. Join us each week for our hot takes on the latest in natural, conscious, sustainable and better-for-you brands, marketing, retail, startups and more. Support the show (http://ecoecho.substack.com)

This week in natural brands and the sustainable marketplace. We look at lawsuit winners (LaCroix) and losers (Coca-Cola?!!!) and potential implications for your brand story or acquisition strategy. Plus Burger King's breakthrough ads, an ambitious and watchable CBD launch strategy from Neptune Wellness & where Jeff Bezos is going with $10B. Join each week for our takes on the latest in natural products and natural brands, conscious branding, sustainable companies, better for you brands, and eco-friendly, too. We look at news in brands, startups, marketing, retail and innovation. Support the show