Veronica Panzardi is on a mission to help busy people make eating healthier easier, without compromising on taste or convenience. As an investment banker, she found herself juggling work, life, and the constant struggle of trying to make better food choices—while still enjoying the pleasures of the meals we love. It was at her bank, when she would work late and order takeout to the office, that she realized how difficult it was to incorporate more vegetables into my daily routine. After some...

Abbie Leeson, Co-Founder & Head of Innovation In 1990, Abbie and her husband Bruce co-founded The Ginger People with a mission to make the benefits of ginger more accessible to everyone. Fast Forward to today, and their family-owned company is a major player in the global ginger market. As the head of innovation, Abbie has led The Ginger People to new heights by expanding their product offerings, introducing Ginger Rescue dietary supplements, and enhancing the popularity of their GIN...

With over 15 years of experience in the global consumer goods industry, Karim Khalil has developed a keen talent for innovation and leadership. In 2020, he relocated from Lebanon to the United States and launched Yaza in 2023—the first brand to introduce authentic labneh to the U.S. market. Yaza not only pioneered the first flavored labneh but also aims to showcase traditional Mediterranean flavors, setting new standards for food quality in grocery stores and redefining how this beloved...

Chef Keesha O'Galdez is a Bronx-based culinary entrepreneur and the founder of Live Loud Foods. A former contestant on Food Network’s 'Chopped,' Keesha is passionate about creating bold, globally inspired flavors that promote health and well-being. Through her work, she seeks to inspire others by showing what's possible through dedication and creativity. Live Loud Foods is a women-owned gourmet snack brand delivering bold, health-conscious flavors with every bite. From Caribbean jerk nuts to...

Julia Perez is the Chief Marketing Officer at OWYN (Only What You Need), the premium plant-based nutrition brand behind the #1 plant-based protein shake in the U.S. With a decade of experience in high-growth, healthier-for-you food and beverage startups, her passion for fitness and wellness have come to fruition with OWYN, where she’s helped fuel omnichannel expansion and continued to bridge the gap between consumer-friendly appeal and the medical field. Julia has carved a niche as a...

SKU is a trailblazing consumer product accelerator based in Austin, TX. SKU provides an ecosystem that creates lasting change in CPG by providing all the resources founders need to accelerate the growth of their brands.  SKU’s world-class program is driven by a community of the nation’s top CPG leaders, successful founders and industry experts. Their intensive programs offer best-in-class education, hand-picked teams of  mentors and access to retailers and investors, all dedicated to...

A McKinsey consultant turned into a cheesemaker, Ilay is out to make labneh a thing as the co-founder and CEO of BEZI. She began her career as a financial services consultant at McKinsey and was sponsored by the firm to pursue her MBA at Columbia Business School in New York. During her time at Columbia, Ilay fell in love with the city, built her community through dinner parties at her home, known as Cafe Ilay, and completed her "business school summer internship" at a Mediterranean farm,...

Semira Nikou is the co-founder and CEO of Better Sour, a new sour candy startup celebrating global, heritage rich flavors with a commitment to healthier, low-sugar ingredients. Better Sour's flavors are inspired by the tart fruits the co-founders grew up eating as the daughters of Iranian immigrants raised in Hawai'i. Semira was previously a practicing attorney, most recently as a senior associate at a leading law firm in Washington, DC, where she advised clients on international trade and...

Laura Markewicz, Founder & CEO: Former advertising executive, entrepreneurship award winner, and second-time founder with 20 years of experience building brands and growing businesses. Lotza is a non-alcoholic sparkling citrus punch (to mix or enjoy solo) that aims to enhance what we enjoy about alcohol and combat its negative effects on our bodies. We've removed all the bad stuff found in other drink mixers and alcoholic beverages, and added in "lotza" the good stuff... mood-boosting...

B.T.R. NATION founder Ashley Nickelsen was inspired to create a truly clean snack while serving as the main caretaker for both of her parents as they battled rare forms of cancer. On a mission to create the snacks that were never available to her family, Ashley leveraged her background in food studies and biochemistry to the kitchen, making low-sugar protein bites boosted with plant-based, superfood ingredients. Today, B.T.R NATION remains dedicated to embodying her parent’s mantra of...

Chef Joe Sasto is an acclaimed chef, cookbook author, culinary innovator, and passionate advocate for the art of Italian cuisine. With a background rooted in Michelin-starred kitchens and the rich traditions of his Italian heritage, Chef Joe Sasto is a celebrity chef not only in the culinary world but within the social media landscape as well. Chef Sasto has a penchant for pushing the boundaries of culinary creativity and has gained widespread recognition for his distinctive approach to...

Debbie Mullin is the Founder and CEO of Copper Cow Coffee. Inspired by her Vietnamese-American heritage and brought to life using her experiences at the World Bank improving supply chains to reduce poverty in developing countries, Copper Cow was founded in 2016 out of Debbie’s sister’s garage to support sustainable farming practices in Vietnam, the world’s second-largest coffee exporter after Brazil. Copper Cow proudly partners with local Vietnamese farmers by investing in organic farming...

I’m so excited to share with you this week’s conversation with Crystal of Bowlcut. She is taking a refreshed look at beloved Asian sauces to ride the wave of the need for lower sodium, plant-based options. We discuss the importance of community and how she’s seen the benefits while growing up in her parent’s restaurant to now while starting Bowlcut. I learned so much from this conversation and it served as a great reminder to trust my gut. Founded in 2021, Bowlcut is the first and only...

Michael Tashman is the Founder and CEO of Churn Foods, the butter brand combining the finest grass-fed European-style butter with the highest quality ingredients. He entered the culinary world starting as a line cook while playing football at The University of Miami, and went on to attend both Japanese and French culinary schools. In 2020, Tashman launched Churn bringing a fresh, innovative take on butter to the American market. Churn’s butter offers chef crafted tools to home cooks across...

Maura Duggan is the founder and CEO of Fancypants, a delicious crispy cookie brand using high-quality ingredients with an elevated twist. She originally started Fancypants as a decorative cookie company in Massachusetts in 2004, along with creating her own manufacturing facility to ensure quality control and scale the business. Maura evolved the company with her husband and COO Justin Housman into a premium CPG cookie brand in December 2023. With sustainability top of mind for Maura, she’s...

Get Golden is founded by home cook and New York City ballerina of over a decade, Jenelle Manzi (Ballerina Journal⁠). After battling injuries and food allergies throughout her career, Jenelle has turned to food to savor, fuel, and heal. In that, she channeled her own experiences and knack for precision to create a snack company where health & indulgence go hand-in-hand—a feeling she likes to call gold. During our conversation we chatted about Jenelle’s balance between being a...

Happy Monday! I am so excited to welcome on the last guest of season 4, founder of Joydays, Amy Cohn. Joydays was created with one simple mission: to provide low glycemic, better-for-you snacks that are still packed with those classic flavors you know and love. What We Chat About The mission behind why Joydays was created Color cancer awareness & education How women approach business + competition Find Joydays — IG getjoydays | TikTok getjoydays | getjoydays.com Find...

Leesa Renae is a commercial photographer specializing in food, beverage, and product, based in the vibrant culinary scene of Portland, Oregon. Leesa thrives on translating the beauty and appeal of natural foods into captivating visual stories. What We Chat About Leesa’s career journey & how she found herself in food Developing creative processes Wellness practices at the intersection of self care & food Find Leesa — IG itsleesa__ | leesarenae.com Find me— IG...

I’m so excited to welcome Chiara to the podcast! She is such an incredible founder who has accomplished so much in such a short period of time. Chiara Munzi is the co-founders of ChiChi Foods, a first-to-market grain free hot cereal made from chickpeas. As a better-for-you alternative, ChiChi Foods is carving a new path in the breakfast category with a healthier, easy solution. Find ChiChi — IG chickpeaoats | TikTok chickpeaoats | chickpeaoats.com Find me— IG @citrusdiariesss | TikTok...

I am thrilled to welcome Lauryn, founder of S’NOODS, to the podcast! I’ve admired her leap into being a CPG brand owner for awhile now. It was so great to hear her story and learn more about her brand. Such a great listen 3 Lauryn Bodden is the founder of S’NOODS, the first chef-driven, globally-inspired noodle chip brand on the market. Conceptualized after winning Netflix’s cooking competition show Snack vs Chef in 2022, Bodden officially launched S’NOODS in February 2024. S’NOODS is...

I’m so happy to welcome Breanna of Kokada to the podcast this week! She makes one of my favorite snacks and has recently launched their version of dunkaroos which are just spectacular. Breanna’s story is so inspiring and will give you a much needed push forward on your journey. Breanna’s lifelong dream was to play sports at the highest level. Throughout her international travels through sport and work, she went out of her way to find sweet, “not too unhealthy” snacks that would satisfy her...

I’m so excited to welcome Maggie of Coffee With Maggie to the podcast! Maggie is a multi-hyphenate creative living and exploring in Seattle, WA. Her career and creative pursuits span her many interests, from working full time in social impact strategy to freelance creative work as a writer, photographer, storyteller and strategist. With a deep passion for food and coffee, she's also a committed home chef and barista. Whether she is building solutions for groundbreaking brain sciences...

I’m so excited to welcome Clara Veniard, founder of Coro Foods, to the podcast! Clara Veniard is the co-founder and CEO of Coro Foods, a premium salami brand that marries old world techniques with global flavors like Molé and Lemongrass. Clara's life and career has taken her all over the globe so it's not a surprise that she has a deep passion for food and international flavors. Beyond their flavors, Clara is dedicated to making the best product possible. That includes only using pork from...

I’m so excited to welcome fell podcaster and James Beard Award winner, Abena Anim-Somuah to the podcast! Abena’s work in the food space is truly admirable. Lifting up voices and stories of those are the beginning of their career but already making such a tremendous impact. It was so awesome to hear from Abena what her show means to herself. This episode is such a great listen!! Abena Anim-Somuah is a James Beard award-winning podcast host, writer, and entrepreneur. Born in Ghana and raised...