This week we explore the intricacies of launching a small business, the power of quality ingredients, and the importance of having a clear purpose with Vikki Krinsky, Chef and Founder of VK Energy Bar. A young actress turned private chef for Hollywood celebrities, Vikki was driven by keeping her client’s energy high and nutrition balanced on grueling days on set. The idea for VK Energy Bars was born when Vikki was tasked to rescue Seth MacFarlane from his caffeine obsession during the filming...

In this episode, we’re introduced to the next generation of virtual shopping with Samantha Lerner, the VP of Marketing at Obsess. Obsess builds stunning virtual storefronts that are revolutionizing online shopping experiences for brands such as Coach, Ferragamo, Dyson and Ralph Lauren for example. Samantha shares a mini masterclass on how audience shopping behavior differs in virtual reality and how brands are using Obsess to create deeper relationships with customers.   Key highlights of...

This week I’m discussing the power of community with the CMO of Podium Nutrition, Dylan Jones. Podium began by formulating pre and post workout powders born within the CrossFit community. My conversation with Dylan is mini masterclass for how to use audience understanding to make product decisions, develop a marketing strategy and forge like-minded partnerships. Dylan shares insights into how Podium measures customer retention, leveraging the all-important email subscriber list, and how his...

Today’s unfiltered truth comes from my guest, Ian Stewart, the CMO of Wedge Brands. Wedge Brands is a Private Equity firm run by surfers, who manages a portfolio of outdoor brands that includes Xcel Wetsuits. Wedge Brands has a unique model, focusing on providing back-office support to share across the brand portfolio, so owners can focus on growth, not logistics. This episode is a masterclass in brand building through e-commerce, from Ian who has done it his entire career. He’s stood...

We’re ringing in episode 50 with leadership and marketing insights from Global President of Kenneth Cole, Jed Berger. Listen in as Jed breaks down the multi-decade evolution of Kenneth Cole and how he’s using his entrepreneurial mindset to help the legacy brand continue to evolve with the changing demands of the young professional. Jed also shares how he’s focused on supporting the culture of Kenneth Cole by leading in alignment with brand purpose.  Some highlights of what we cover: How...

High quality products demand a perfect environment to thrive. Chief Marketing Officer of Grove Bags, Lance Lambert says that perfection can be obtained with a little bit of science, a keen eye for details, and a lot of handshakes. This week Lance and I are discussing how Grove Bags is showcasing the passion of the cannabis community with the perfect storage system that outperforms stereotypical jars and baggies on every level. Lance shares how his grassroots marketing efforts are focused on...

How can a crazy amount of horseradish be the key to creating an unforgettable brand experience? According to St. Elmo Steak House, they’re just giving people what they want. This week my guest is St. Elmo’s VP of Marketing and self-proclaimed “Shrimp Cocktail Hype Man,” Bryn Jones. St. Elmo’s Steak House is legendary in Indianapolis, attracting the NFL elite and celebrity drop ins. We dig into how he and his team are responsible for respecting the legacy of a century old iconic restaurant,...

In part 2, Ryan returns to discuss how The James Brand balances the needs of the knife community, with new audiences, as they reimagine the traditional pocketknife. Today we cover how sweating the details is key to creating a beloved brand. We discuss Ryan’s vision for his products to help people be a little more in the moment. And how the true role of a business is to generate value and distribute it back out to the world.  Some highlights of what we cover: How to navigate a marketing...

Look in your pocket or bag right now. Go, on…we’ll wait. Ryan Coulter from The James Brand believes what we carry every day says something about who we are. Do you need to be professional helicopter pilot or a mountaineer for permission to carry a pocketknife? We say, ‘heck no’! The James Brand is challenging traditional ideas of who is part of the modern knife community and why you might want to be a part of it too.   We discuss how The James Brand is making carrying a pocketknife cool...

On our last episode Michael Ventura shared how his methodology of marketing helped organizations navigate change, improve customer experience, and generate revenue. But as Uncle Ben famously said, “with great power, comes great responsibility.” Listen in as Michael returns to discuss the social responsibility of marketing with empathy and how you can maintain your moral code while gaining powerful insights and being a value to your brand.   Some highlights of what we cover: The three...

Have you ever brought home a new purchase, only to realize the product designers really missed the mark? We might even say aloud, “what were they THINKING?” My latest guest has created tools and practices every business can employ to avoid these disastrous experiences. The tool is empathy. On this week’s episode Michael Ventura an author, speaker, and empathy facilitator, joins me to discuss how he’s fine-tuned a methodology to turn human understanding into an invaluable business tool....

To start a BBQ restaurant, do you need a passion for food or a passion for opportunity? Restaurateur Thomas Ward has both. He grew up immersed in the food industry and honed his skill for entrepreneurship with his flagship bbq joint called Pig Floyd’s Urban BBQ. In this episode we explore how he cultivated his passion for building businesses and assessing risks – both in business and on the menu. We’ll also dig into how Thomas motivates his employees to stay and actually be excited for new...

Anyone can create something to sell, but will someone actually buy it? That’s the golden question for VC co-founder Drew Leahy and his team at Hawke Ventures. On today’s episode of Uncooked, we’re diving into how this marketing-savvy firm finds great businesses to invest in and how having a marketing team on your side from day one can make or break a startup’s success. If you’re in the early stages of your business or looking for investors, you won’t want to miss this conversation.   Some...

You know what they say, a way to a consumer’s wallet is… through their heart? At least that’s what emotional marketing expert Brian Gregory has found when creating Admanity’s algorithm for The ADMANITY® Protocol. In this episode of Uncooked we’re diving into the feelings behind the decisions we make and how technology can help us break down the emotions of our customers into a formula for marketing success. Some highlights of what we cover: Why finding the right formula is critical for...

Asking for feedback is only the first step of truly hearing what your customers have to say. Instreamatic CEO, Stas Tushinskiy, says his organization is here to “help brands find truth from voice,” and we’re here for it. This week on Uncooked, Stas and I are exploring new ways technology is closing the communication gap between and brands and consumers as well as how your organization can strengthen your listening abilities and help loyal customers see the humanity behind your brand.

There’s a reason why wine is often associated with simple, refined pleasures. At the root of any winery business is a passion for simplicity, which Dave Miner communicates in his brand purpose of “fermenting grapes into wine and making people happy.” This week on Uncooked, I’m sitting down with the founder of Miner Family Wines, a Napa Valley Winery specializing in unforgettable wine experiences that lend themselves to long-term customer loyalty.     Some highlights of what we cover: How...

Over the past few months we’ve had riveting conversations with brands who have mastered the art of brand loyalty. We’ve discovered the value of customer experience, created insta-worthy FOMO and explored the nuances of neuromarketing. All while striving to answer the ultimate question: how do we get customers to fall in love with our brand or service? In this week’s episode we’re recapping the sage lessons we’ve learned in our customer-centric journey so far.   Some highlights of what we...

This week baker, creative and self-appointed “Sublime Prince of the Esoteric Order of Cookie” Steve Lewis, shares his entrepreneurial journey to creating a local gem called Gideon’s Bakehouse. We dive into his obsessive 15-year process of creating the perfect chocolate chip cookie and how he attributes the addition of an immersive Disney Springs location to the groundswell of loyal customers of The East End Market in Orlando. We’ll break down insights into the role of social media and the...

Have you ever looked around and realized that you never wanted a moment to end? This week Chef Daniel Sabia returns to discuss how he cultivates those moments by understanding what his ideal client wants out of a food experience. He shares how he overcame the fears and uncertainties that come with entrepreneurship by focusing on his vision of a stronger community connected by food. Tune in to discover why transparency is key and how you can create a cohesive, on-brand message for all...

Why would you hire just any food catering company, when you can hire a team dedicated to building memories around three simple ingredients: wood, fire and food? This week I’m sitting down with Chef Daniel Sabia, founder of the full-service, farm-to-table experiential caterer called Wood Fire Food Company. He shares how he built a successful business through word-of-mouth, Instagram, and letting his food tell the story. Tune in to discover how highly curated customer experiences and a solid...

Shellise Josephs and Kadene Brown return to discuss how they created a product based on purpose and value for Black women. During our discussion, Shellise and Kadene share the importance of marketplace disruption, their desire to collaborate and other black beauty brands, and how to develop and navigate relationships with customers and collaborators alike.

Imagine always visiting a beauty counter, only to leave empty handed because there aren’t any products for your skin tone. Today I’m speaking with co-founders Shellise Josephs and Kadene Brown of the company they call BE.U.TYMRK.D. It’s an online marketplace that curates beauty products for black women, so they can be exposed to black beauty brands often missing in retail. We discuss how their accidental meeting in a ladies room led them to partnering up to better address representation for...

That urge to give your car a name or buy a dented product because it “looks sad” is the reason why companies invest so much time and energy into the personality of their brand. Today author Prince Ghuman returns to discuss how a compelling brand purpose is making room for smaller brands in the marketing landscape, what a celebrity endorsement can really do in terms of marketing appeal, and how companies are redefining what a brand experience means.   Today we’re discussing how companies...

If you’ve ever had to read between the lines of a conversation, you know the nuances of communication can be tricky to navigate. Neuromarketing is helping companies understand the nuances of what consumers want by reading between the lines of buying behaviors. My friend Prince Ghuman has literally written the book on how to navigate the brain patterns of consumers, and he’s here to tell you all about it.