Episodes

Blue Standard & BetterBone are a consumer goods manufacturer and proud leaders in the charge to make closed-loop & sustainable manufacturing the norm, not the exception. Each day they strive to create safer, circular, and more sustainable alternatives to pet products and everyday consumer products. Betterbone is the only dog chew toy that is better for your dog and the planet. All-natural, nylon-free, non-splintering, dental cleaning design, sustainable materials, and absolutely no artificial fl...

Resident Home believes that your living space shouldn't just look good, it should feel good. That's why they created a house of brands that focuses on quality materials, timeless style, and most importantly, comfort. Head of Direct-to-Consumer Steve Ryan joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing home brand!

A meal that the Soom Foods family enjoyed in a town tucked against the Mediterranean Sea confirmed that the secret to bringing people together over good food could be a piece of cake. Literally! The ingredient that made the delicious difference in the dessert they shared that night was tahini. In the states, they felt that we had nothing close to the flavor found overseas. Eventually, they learned the magic lay in the Ethiopian sesame seeds used for ages to make the world's best tahini. So Soom ...

Fat is no longer a bad word…once upon a time, healthy fats were replaced with fake fats. Suddenly, fat became bad and our health suffered. Not when its good fat…our bodies crave good fats such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 which are derived from plants. Walnuts are little bites of good fats with benefits…loaded with Omega-3, fiber and other goodies, walnuts provide 9 key health benefits plus cut cravings and boost heart and brain function. Snack Primal CEO Mike Garliepp joins Justin to discuss this fas...

Coffee equipment when you're camping, traveling or adventuring is terrible. Wildland Coffee exists so you can make tasty, easy and convenient coffee while enjoying the outdoors. Zach Frantz is a lifelong camper and got fed up with the french press when he was sitting in the middle of the woods and thought, "why not just put ground coffee into a tea bag?" As it turns out, that's an amazing idea. Wildland's vision is to be the go-to coffee for everyone who loves the outdoors. Zach joins Justin to ...

Every Spring, Tea Drunk heads to the deepest mountains in China to eat, sleep and work alongside the heritage farmers to produce the world's most prized teas. They walk an untrodden path to preserve a 2000-year old art that is the epic romance between man and nature. Tea Drunk's unparalleled expertise allows them to commission and source teas that adhere to the rigorous standards set by a long heritage. It is their mission to bring the truly finest teas to the world. Through education and access...

In the words of Tony Daloisio, "This book is about you, the man you have become and the man you hope to become! It is about assessing your life, with your vision of a life-well-lived as the standard, the setting of aspirational goals in the movement toward that vision and charting a path to achieve that vision." Tony joins Justin – for his second visit on the ContenderCast – to discuss his new book!

The best taste is plant based! Millet and sorghum are sustainable ancient grains that serve as pivotal ingredients for next-generation plant-based products. These ancient grains are used to replace resource-intensive dairy analogs such as soybeans, almonds, tree nuts, and oats. Through patented formulation, Mill It has crafted the first ever plant-based buttermilk and plant-based buttermilk dressings that match the taste, texture, and consistency of dairy, while being rich in micronutrients and ...

What do you do when you want your Bloody Mary but can't carry along all of the ingredients to mix the drink? You grab a MaryCan! Premium canned cocktails – cocktails on the go – are a fast-growing category and the team at Bar2Table is working hard to introduce your favorite cocktails, with great taste, the highest quality and in great packaging. Charlton Gronlund joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing alco-bev brand!

Siouxie Boshoff started making her own gummy bears a few years ago. Mainly because she loved the satisfying goodness that gummy bears provide but also, she has a long-term health condition called lipedema which has made it essential for her to control ingredients in her diet. Artificial and chemical ingredients are something she avoids in her diet (and environment) wherever possible, and she tries to stick to organic and non-gmo ingredients, preferably minimally processed. This is really why she...

Bite started with two questions: Why does toothpaste come in plastic tubes and what exactly are we putting in our bodies when we brush our teeth? At the heart of Bite, they want to do better. That means asking each and every day, how we can improve. Whether it's mindlessly tossing out an empty toothpaste tube or glossing over the ingredients list, small daily actions can shape the future of our planet. By uncovering how we can be better to ourselves and to the earth, we are one step closer to a ...

Steven and Lena are husband and wife and life-long entrepreneurs. Steven is the visionary and marketer for Xero Shoes. He is a Masters All-American sprinter (one of the fastest men over the age of 50 in the US) and former All-American gymnast. He was also a professional stand-up comic, cognitive psychology researcher, and taught Tai Chi and Zen Archery. Steven is also the creator of Scriptware, the industry-standard word processor for film and TV writers. Lena is an avid hiker. In her previous l...

Yet a new frontier of enormous opportunity to improve results is hidden in plain sight. According to a Fortune 500 study, as much as 80% of working time is lost to tiresome meetings, unclear expectations, difficult decisions and other wasteful delays. Overcoming the lack of clarity behind this waste - on both an individual and organizational basis - would reap huge rewards. In The Power of Clarity, Ann Latham exposes the unrecognized confusion and explains how to eliminate it. This fascinating g...

It was 2019 in San Francisco when Ian Monat, a sommelier by day and gigging bass player by night, began to imagine a great-tasting, better for you hemp-infused seltzer. He already found that hemp enhanced his live music performances. The clear, uplifting effects helped with mood, focus, and dexterity. But adding hemp tinctures to soda water tasted terrible, and the ready to drink hemp beverages on the market were loaded with sugar. Ian partnered with a professional chef as well as startup invest...

Each bag of Kazoo Tortilla Chips is made using 40% upcycled corn germ. This reduces their water footprint by at least 20 gallons per 11oz bag (compared to 100% new growth corn), without compromising on taste. And that's awesome because sustainable food should taste great too! Founder Josh Death joins Justin to discuss this fast-growing snack food brand!

Everyone knows that cigarettes aren't as popular as they once were. As more and more people became aware of the massive health risks involved in their continued use, the popularity of the once ubiquitous oral accessory has dwindled, but that doesn't mean there aren't still lots of smokers out there who know they should quit but don't want to give up the allure of the cigarette altogether. There's no shortage of gums, patches, and other products out in the market, but none of them are quite as co...

Tire Agent was founded by Jared Kugel, a tire industry veteran for more than a decade. He has tires in his blood, since his family owned tire distribution centers and retail stores. Jared saw how traditional tire stores stuck with the decades old customer purchasing and installing experience. He believed people should be educated about the tires they purchase, receive top notch care, and have it done at their convenience of their home, work or anywhere else. He realized that a technology driven ...

Hälsa Foods (Halsa means "health" in Swedish) is the manufacturer of oatmilk yogurt. It is one of the first plant-based oatgurt made from whole grain oats and the world's first dairy-free yogurt without a single artificial ingredient. Co-founders Helena Lumme and Mika Manninen join Justin to share details on this fast-growing food brand!

Batteries Plus is the nation's largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb and smartphone/tablet repair franchise with a nationwide network of stores. With access to more than 60,000 types of batteries, light bulbs and accessories, they have the widest selection of battery and light bulb products available. Batteries Plus offers unmatched service to consumers, businesses and government entities at the national and local levels and delivers national brands at exceptional value. Scott Williams...

Starr Edwards is the charismatic entrepreneur behind San Diego's Bitchin' Sauce. A foodie at heart, she initially planned on pursuing a career as a personal chef. Then, with a young family to feed, she infused her fun, fresh flavors into a host of Bitchin' Sauces. An immediate hit at the local farmers market, it wasn't long before they made their way to grocery shelves. Today they are in Costco, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Kroger and many more retail stores. Starr joins Justin to discuss this bitchin'...

Wan Kim was first introduced to Smoothie King while studying at Boston University before going on to earn his MBA at the University of California at Irvine. Wan became a huge fan of the concept and opened the first international Smoothie King location in South Korea in 2003. Within six years, Wan had opened 120 stores in South Korea and eventually grew brand awareness to 94 percent on the peninsula. Wan went on to purchase the entire Smoothie King company in 2012 with the fundamental goal of pus...

In a quest to find a healthier alternative to traditional burgers, co-founder, Jason, quickly realized that the grocery aisles were full of imitation meats and veggie burgers but all were either highly processed, frozen, bland or loaded with preservatives. Not to mention they didn't even look appetizing! He was determined to create a better option full of fresh farm-grown veggies and ingredients that were not only healthier, but filling, delicious and colorful. This was the spark that led to the...

The first and only spirits line distilled with pure organic cane sugar, that also meets all five official certifications including Vegan, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, Kosher, and USDA Organic – meet Drake's Organic Spirits. For hard alcohol that's not hard on the planet—or your palate, taste the difference organic spirits can make. Founder and CEO Mark Anderson joins Justin to share his incredible story of building a unique, high-growth spirits brand!

The texture of a proper Japanese drinking moment can be a beautiful balance of experiences. Aroma and flavor are a given, but temperature, feel, sight, and sound all play equally important roles in elevating the sip above a mere drink. This is life in high fidelity. Sip slowly. Sip Honkaku. Founder Christopher Pellegrini joins Justin to discuss this growing brand.