In this episode of the Magic Minds podcast, host James Beshara interviews Alex Snodgrass, the creator of The Defined Dish and founder of Side Dish. They discuss the journey of entrepreneurship, the similarities and differences between creating a salad dressing brand and writing a book, and how to navigate the challenges of being a creator in the digital age. Alex shares her background, from growing up in a small town in Texas to becoming a New York Times bestselling author and building her own brand. She also talks about the importance of consistency, authenticity, and setting boundaries as a creator. In this conversation, Alex and James discuss the challenges and successes of starting a CPG brand. They talk about the emotional and mental aspects of launching a product, the importance of community and trust, the difficulties of navigating the grocery store politics, and the unexpected aspects of starting a physical product. They also touch on the topics of sustainability and sourcing, personal practices for maintaining joy and integrity, and the challenges of finding the right co-manufacturers. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview 02:04 The Journey of Entrepreneurship and Building a Brand 06:22 Finding Joy and Creativity in the Kitchen 09:01 The Importance of Evolving and Looking at Things from a Bird's Eye View 19:41 Navigating the Underbelly of Creating and Dealing with Criticism 27:39 Creating a Brand with a Long-Term View 32:53 The Challenge of Creating a Salad Dressing with Clean Ingredients 33:21 Starting a CPG Brand: Emotional and Mental Challenges 39:13 Navigating Grocery Store Politics 45:50 Sustainability and Sourcing 50:30 Building Community and Earning Trust 53:14 Finding the Right Co-Manufacturers 59:28 Personal Practices for Maintaining Joy and Integrity Dive into "Magic Minds" with host James Beshara, where wisdom and innovation meet comedy and storytelling from the world's most brilliant minds. From the heart of startup culture to the depths of philosophy, James engages with thinkers, doers, and artists to uncover secrets of creativity, productivity, and personal well-being. Inspired by his own transformative journey and the creation of Magic Mind, this podcast is a beacon for anyone looking to enhance their mental performance, self-growth, and perspectives. Join us to elevate your morning ritual and unlock your highest potential. James Beshara (⁠https://www.twitter.com/jamesbeshara⁠) is a renowned startup founder of multiple companies, a prolific startup investor in 200+ others including some of the biggest startup names on the planet, a husband and father of three little girls, and philosophy student and teacher in Los Angeles. James also co-hosts Yoga For Your Intellect (⁠https://www.YFYI.co⁠), a biweekly long-form conversational podcast with his teacher Joseph Emmett ( ⁠https://www.instagram.com/yogaforyourintellect⁠ ) and a daily podcast and Youtube channel dedicated to the timeless wisdom of the Upanishads (⁠https://www.thedailyvedantic.com⁠).