Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast ReGen Brands Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #106 - Carrie Richards @ Richards Regenerative - Wholesale Over DTC, Regenerative in Schools, and the Problem with Big Brands | 03 Jul 2025 | 01:09:31 | |
On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, we're talking with Carrie Richards – the fourth-generation rancher behind Richards Regenerative. Carrie takes us through her incredible journey from scrappy beef sales out of a friend's freezer to supplying over 40 school districts and major retailers like Sprouts. We dive deep into the challenges and contradictions of building a regenerative beef business – from dealing with misleading country-of-origin labeling and predatory brand partnerships to navigating the real math behind carcass utilization, processing costs, and wholesale margins. Carrie also shares her hopes in the future use of nutrient density data, her fears about the future of the cattle market, and the launch of Harvest Path – a software platform purpose-built to help small and mid-sized ranchers thrive. Episode Highlights: 🐄 Transitioning their family’s 6,500 acre ranch to regenerative 🛠️ “We had to build a meat company to become a finishing operation” 🌾 Rotating animals across three regions in California 🥩 Their unique model which is 90% wholesale 🏫 Serving 40+ school districts via Beef 2 Institution 👎 “The big brands use us as a marketing piece – and then disappear.” ⚙️ Harvest Path: their custom system that became a software business 📉 Concerns related to a booming cattle market and cheap imports 🔍 The hope in nutrition data and working with Edacious 💡 Musings on the state of the movement and where we’re headed Links: If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #105 - Kyle Says Goodbye, Passing The Mic But Not The Mission | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:35:27 | |
On this episode of the ReGen Brands podcast, we’re closing a major chapter and celebrating everything that’s made it so powerful. Kyle is officially stepping away as the show’s regularly scheduled co-host. In this heartfelt conversation, Kyle shares what’s driving this decision, and we both reflect on the journey to date. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories, favorite moments, some laughs (of course), and a lot of love. And although I’m losing my co-host for the podcast, Kyle isn’t saying goodbye to the regenerative movement - he’s just shifting how he plans to contribute. Plus, you already know I’m recruiting him back for as many guest co-host episodes as possible, so this is definitely not the last time you’ll hear his voice on the show. Tune in as we mark this moment, say thank you, and look forward to what’s next, together. Episode Highlights: 🎤 Kyle signs off as co-host after 105 episodes 🙏 Gratitude for the Regen Brands community and listeners 🔥 The new ways Kyle plans to support regen 💼 How the pod inspired Kyle’s next moves 😂 AC already recruiting Kyle back for guest, co-host episodes
Links: If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #96 - Expo West Recap: Regen Wins, Emerging Trends, & Essential Insights | 21 Mar 2025 | 01:15:20 | |
On this episode, Kyle and I are flying solo to bring you some updates and thoughts coming out of Expo West. What are the latest industry trends we’re tracking? What was the state of regenerative at this year’s Super Bowl of CPG? What were the biggest regen wins from the Pitch Slam, to NEXTYs, to fundraising announcements? We dive into all the most important regen CPG topics including certification presence, new product highlights, and new information on increasing consumer awareness and demand for regenerative products. We break down the activation of the “I ❤️ REGEN” campaign and celebrate the success in building community. Plus, we offer some key insights and stats you can’t get anywhere else. Whether you were at the show or not, drop us a note with your major takeaways or other topics you’d like to see us discuss. Episode Highlights: 🔥 Regen was well-represented at the show 👉 Why ROC™ is the leading regen certification 💥 Recoup & Wild Orchard dominate the Pitch Slam 💰 GoodSAM raises $9M Series A 🏆 11 regen brands and 6 regen products win NEXTYs 🤤 Our favorite new regenerative products ❤️ Spreading the love with I ❤️ REGEN 📈 Our top non-regen trends and insights 🚀 Promising new data for increasing consumer demand 🗣️ Powerful soundbites we saved to share Links: Recoup Beverage Wins Expo West Pitch Slam GoodSAM Foods Secures $9M Series A 2025 Expo West NEXTY Award Winners Growing Success At Retail Session (Regenified Consumer Data) Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #6 - Paul Greive @ Pasturebird | 19 Aug 2022 | 00:59:58 | |
AC and Kyle chat with Paul Greive of Pasturebird. In this episode we learn about Pasturebird’s origin story, the company’s north star of scaling pastured poultry to the masses, why chickens actually should eat grains, how Pasturebird found an ideal partner in Perdue Farms and so much more. Links: | |||
| #5 - Alec Jaffe @ Alec’s Ice Cream | 12 Aug 2022 | 00:53:50 | |
AC and Kyle chat with Alec Jaffe of Alec’s Ice Cream. Alec details how his life-long love affair with ice cream turned into Alec’s becoming the first certified regenerative ice cream brand in the world. We learn why regenerative and A2 dairy is better for people & planet, and we explore what the future holds for Alec’s and ReGen brands at large. Links: | |||
| #4 - Meghan & Keith Rowe @ White Leaf Provisions | 05 Aug 2022 | 01:02:49 | |
AC and Kyle chat with Meghan and Keith Rowe of White Leaf Provisions. The Rowe’s discuss why they started a regen baby food brand, the differences between ReGen Ag in Europe and the US, and their future plans to “regenerate your pantry” by building White Leaf into a family brand with staple products across multiple categories. Links: | |||
| #3 - Jamie Ager @ Hickory Nut Gap | 29 Jul 2022 | 00:57:29 | |
AC and Kyle chat with Jamie Ager of Hickory Nut Gap Farm. Jamie shares his family’s history in farming and tells us the journey of Hickory Nut Gap’s transformation from a single family farm to a regional regenerative meat brand aggregating products from farms all across the Southeast. Links: | |||
| #2 - Heather Terry @ GoodSam | 25 Jul 2022 | 01:00:51 | |
AC and Kyle chat with Heather Terry of GoodSam Foods. Heather shares her journey from actor to CPG entrepreneur and regenerative advocate. Heather shares an update on all things GoodSAM including new products coming soon, their direct-trade program, and GoodSAM’s approach to supply chain transparency. Let’s invest in hope instead of despair! Links: | |||
| #1 - Kristy Lewis @ Quinn Snacks | 18 Jul 2022 | 00:58:31 | |
On this episode, AC and Kyle talk with Kristy Lewis of Quinn Snacks. Kristy shares her story of going from a consumer who wanted a better product to starting Quinn Snacks and joining the constant fight to make the industry change for the better. Links: | |||
| #0 - Why ReGen Brands? Why Us? Why Now? | 15 Jul 2022 | 00:56:11 | |
Welcome to the first episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast! Join Kyle and AC as they talk all about regenerative agriculture, why you should care about it, and all the positive benefits it can bring to the world. You’ll learn each of their stories and how health issues fueled a passion for better food production practices that influences the work they do every day. Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn | |||
| #95 - Expo West Preview, Federal Funding Chaos, & I ❤️ REGEN | 24 Feb 2025 | 00:51:53 | |
In this episode, Kyle and I are flying solo to cover the latest and greatest from the world of regenerative CPG. We kick things off with Kyle sharing some insights from recent conversations he’s had with retailers, and we unpack recent changes Whole Foods has made to their regenerative standards. We break down all the things Expo West, including regenerative brands exhibiting, sessions we’re looking forward to, NEXTY finalists, where you can find regen on the agenda, and how ReGen Brands is showing up at the event. Secret sneak peek - we’re launching our first awareness campaign for ReGen Brands Coalition member brands and products, so be sure to check that out and listen to the full episode for more details. We touch on the early effects of the new federal administration change, specifically, the current federal funding freeze that is bringing some issues, and the optimism around change that could stem from the MAHA movement. We close things out with some fun and good news for the regenerative movement which you’ll find at the very end of the episode. Episode Highlights: 👍 Promising recent retailer interactions ✅ Whole Foods’ changing their regen standards 👉 Expo West preview and primer 👀 What regenerative brands are exhibiting + speaking? 🌎 Breaking down Climate Day, sessions, and interests 💰 Industry issues stemming from the federal funding freeze ❓ Is the MAHA optimism warranted? ⚖️ The pain and opportunity in political uncertainty 🖤 Introducing the “I ❤️ REGEN” campaign 👏 Kiss The Ground & Common Ground streaming on Prime Links: ReGen Brands Primer + Booth Guide - Expo West 2025 A Greener World & Whole Foods Announcement Trump’s Funding Freeze Creates Chaos and Financial Distress for Farmers Alec’s Culture Cups Named NEXTY Finalist Documentaries Public Watch Party Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #94 - Loren Poncia @ Stemple Creek Ranch - The Bay Area’s Regional Regenerative Meat Brand | 14 Feb 2025 | 01:04:24 | |
On this episode, we have Loren Poncia who is a rancher and the owner at Stemple Creek Ranch. Stemple Creek is supporting regenerative agriculture with their regeneratively-raised beef, lamb, pork, and chicken products mainly sold via their website directly to consumers and also available via select farmers' markets, restaurants, and retailers. Stemple Creek’s home ranch in Northern California stretches over more than 1,000 acres and their overall operation manages more than 8,000 acres of land. In this episode, Loren details the family’s journey from conventional dairy to regenerative beef production, why they ended up starting a brand even though he “never wanted to be in the meat business,” and how they’ve grown to a multi-million dollar regional brand over the past decade. Stemple Creek’s commitment to honesty, transparency, and quality was very apparent as Loren shared the story of managing their ranch, developing their brand, and growing their business. He shared his three keys to cracking the code on premium quality and taste in grass-fed beef, how their brand is approaching regenerative certification, and the challenges of maintaining a fresh meat program year-round. Episode Highlights: 🥩 Building a $10M regional regenerative meat brand 💰 Rotational grazing for profitability - not product claims 😯 Operating 15 enterprises on their home ranch 💃 Why regenerative is a “constant dance with Mother Nature” 🔑 3 major keys for the highest quality grass-fed beef 🍽️ How Bay area restaurants boosted their business ☑️ Being “first person certified” instead of third-party certified 🦆 The 55 migratory bird species that live at the ranch 👉 Pricing difference for domestic vs imported grassfed beef 🔮 Succession planning and long-term employee ownership Links: Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #93 - Jason & Kristina Walker @ Starwalker Organic Farms | 07 Feb 2025 | 01:07:51 | |
On this episode, we have Jason & Kristina Walker who are the Founders and Owners of Starwalker Organic Farms. Starwalker Organic Farms produces various beef, pork, and chicken products on a 3,000-acre Regenerative Organic Certified® farm in Northern California. They’re one of the biggest producers of organic pork in the United States, and they sell their regenerative organic products wholesale, direct-to-consumer, and through their branded CPG SKUs. The family also owns and operates a certified organic processing facility with slaughter, cut, and value-added operations serving their farm and many others in the community. In this episode, Jason and Kristina give us the low down on how they’re producing the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified pork, educate us on how essential processing is in building market access for regenerative farmers, and share the inside scoop on what is coming from their family of operations in the future. Safe to say the Walkers are doing a lot, and we really enjoyed getting the behind-the-scenes view into all the ways they’re pushing to produce, process, and market regenerative food. Episode Highlights: 🏗️ Building vertically integrated regen organic beef & pork value chains 😯 Raising 4,000 pigs on pasture 🐷 Producing the 1st Regenerative Organic Certified® pork 🛒 Launching their ROC™ beef jerky in Sprouts nationwide 🚀 The one big contract that changed everything 😡 The difficulty in finding certified organic meat processing ↗️ Going from wholesale to DTC to CPG 💰 Working with Mad Capital to fund their farming operations 👀 New ROC™ pork and beef products coming soon 👉 How distributors and retailers need to step up for regen Links: Regenerative Organic Certified® Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #92 - Sara Delaney @ Sarilla - The Regenerative Sparkling Beverage Brand Spotlighting Rwanda | 31 Jan 2025 | 01:32:19 | |
On this episode, we have Sara Delaney who is the Founder and CEO at Sarilla. Sarilla is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of ready-to-drink spritzers that are all made with organic and regenerative ingredients. Sarilla sources the majority of its ingredients via direct trade relationships with farmer cooperatives in Rwanda that are USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified and pursuing regenerative certification. In this episode, Sara shares how she was inspired to launch the brand to further her work supporting the people of Rwanda in their ongoing recovery from the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, and she shares how Sarilla has grown over time to find the right name, SKUs, and product positioning. Sara’s personal story is one of resiliency, empathy, and community and is definitely very alive in the Sarilla brand. She subscribes to the Rwandan wisdom that “to be alone is to die” - which underpins Sarilla’s social impact mission and should serve as good advice for all of looking to increase collaborative efforts in regeneration. Episode Highlights: 🙏 How supporting Rwanda sparked a CPG brand 💔 The Rwandan genocide and need for trauma healing 🌿 Why tea was the pathway to economic impact 🧘 Sourcing from legendary, regenerative Rwandan tea gardens 👉 Positioning SKUs as sober safe and non-alcoholic 👍 Why RTD beverage can be such an impactful category for regen 🎯 Finding the right brand name, SKU mix, and positioning over time 🔥 Why sometimes “rejection is protection” and “asking who not how” 🥤 Building in foodservice, hospitality, vending, and grocery 🫶 How community is the antidote to despair Links: Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #91 - Tim Cornie @ 1000 Springs Mill - Why Ag-Tech & Demand Are Key To A Regenerative Organic Future | 24 Jan 2025 | 01:08:07 | |
On this episode, we have Tim Cornie who is a farmer and the Co-Owner of 1000 Springs Mill. Tim is supporting regenerative agriculture as a farmer managing more than 800 acres of regenerative organic land in Idaho, by owning and operating a processing facility sourcing from many farmers in his region, and by selling CPG products in the 1000 Springs Mill brand that contain regenerative organic ingredients. In this episode, Tim shares how his regenerative efforts are inspired by the healthcare challenges that his family and community have faced, how a trip to Europe inspired him to “stop feeding cows and start feeding humans,” plus what it’s like to farm, process, and brand regenerative organic foods. Tim is super optimistic that new ag-tech solutions are going to help more farmers adopt regenerative practices, he sees great growth opportunities in making regenerative products more convenient, and he’s a firm believer that it all comes down to creating market demand. Episode Highlights: 🔥 Farming regenerative organic land fed by 1,000 springs 😮 How a German horse trainer inspired Tim’s farming style ⚡ Why we need to get Cybertrucks on the farm 🩺 How our health depends on changing the way we farm 😯 The powerful benefits of BARLEYmax™ ⚙️ Running a 250,000-square-foot processing facility 👉 How private label sourcing can support regenerative 🍸 The two booze brands sourcing their grain ⏰ Making regenerative food convenient 🎯 Why market demand always comes first Links: Regenerative Organic Certified® Why One Spirits Company Is Betting On Regenerative Ag And Farmers In Idaho (Forbes) Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #90 - John Strohfus @ Field Theory - Why We Need More Demand For “Conventional Regenerative” | 17 Jan 2025 | 01:23:41 | |
On this episode, we have John Strohfus who is the Founder and CEO of Field Theory and Minnesota Hemp Farms Incorporated. John is supporting regenerative agriculture as a row crop farmer managing 1,000 acres in Minnesota, by working as a broker and supply chain builder with multiple brands, and by selling CPG products in the Field Theory brand that contain regeneratively grown ingredients. In this episode, John educates us on what really matters to farmers, gives his take on conventional regenerative versus regenerative organic, and breaks down what it takes to find, aggregate, and broker regenerative ingredients for other brands. This was a super fascinating conversation and a great one to start of the new year. John’s three-pronged perspective as a farmer, broker, and brand builder really unlocked some amazing insights. We were pumped to have him join us and hope you learn as much as we did. Episode Highlights:
🔥 Perspective from a farmer, broker, and brand builder 🌱 Bringing hemp back to Minnesota in 2016 🚜 What’s holding farmers back from going regen? 🎯 Why we need more demand for “conventional regenerative” 👏 The lasting impact of Simple Mills’ direct trade sunflower program 🏆 What John likes about the Soil & Climate Initiative verification ⚙️ Building new direct trade regenerative supply chains 😯 Why linking regen practices to nutrient density might not work 🤔 Is CPG harder than farming? 🚀 How private label demand could help boost regen adoption
Links: Minnesota Hemp Farms Incorporated Regenerative Organic Certified Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #89 - Trump’s 2.0, Regenified’s New Consumer Research, & Big Recent Wins For Regenerative Brands | 03 Jan 2025 | 01:17:04 | |
In this episode, we’re bringing you into the new year with a first-of-its-kind format covering current events, new consumer research, and industry news. Kyle and I spend time talking about Trump winning the presidency and what that means for regenerative brands and the regenerative movement. How will tariffs affect cost of goods? Will mass deportations affect labor and cost of goods? Is MAHA for real and what impact will it have? Will the new administration fulfill their promises on inflation and the economy resulting in higher velocities of premium regen products and more investment into their businesses? We chat about the cultural implications from the election and how we think that will affect where regen goes over the next 4 years. How will all this anti-establishment energy affect change? What does the rejection of woke ideology mean for brands marketing the sustainability benefits of regenerative products? We cover Regenified’s recently released consumer report that highlights high interest in regenerative agriculture and growth opportunities for brands and retailers. What can we learn from the findings of this 850-person study? Regenified’s key findings highlighted rising consumer awareness and interest, the criticality of certifications, consumers prioritizing health and nutrient density, and consumer willingness to pay a premium for regenerative products. We unpack it all and share our perspectives. We share some big news from brands like Painterland Sisters, Long Table, Recoup, Little Sesame, and Diestel Family Ranch covering new products and retailer partnerships, big industry pitch slam wins, and new nutrient density analysis. Lastly, Kyle and I share some of the regenerative products we’re gifting to friends and family this holiday season. We’re pumped to bring you this new format and excited to do more episodes like it in 2025, so let us know what you think and want to hear us chat about next!
Episode Highlights: 🇺🇸 What does Trump 2.0 mean for regenerative brands? ↗️ Will tariffs drive up COGS significantly? 👀 Is MAHA for real? What are we expecting? 💰 Will brand investment increase like it did in the first term? 😡 What Trump's win tells us about current consumer sentiment 💭 How anti-woke energy might affect marketing sustainability 📊 Key findings from Regenified’s new consumer research 👉 Why regenerative awareness is still so low 🚀 BIG recent wins from regenerative brands 🎁 Our regenerative gifts for the holidays
Links: Food & ag organizations respond to Trump victory What a Trump Presidency Means for US Agriculture by Connie Bowen California Food & Agriculture officials wrestle with regenerative agriculture definition Regenified's 2024 Consumer Report Recoup Takes Title as New Beverage Showdown 28 Winner Long Table wins big at SKU Fall Showcase Painterland Sisters debuts new Passion Fruit flavor Painterland Sisters is now available in all 1,300+ Publix Super Markets Little Sesame Launches First-To-Markets Kids Hummus Cups Nutritional Analysis of Diestel Regenerative Turkeys Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #88 - A Deep Dive Into Our Inaugural State of Regenerative CPG Report | 20 Dec 2024 | 01:25:07 | |
On this episode, we are talking about all things related to our recently released State of Regenerative CPG Report. Many of you have already checked out the report or at least heard us talk about it briefly on Episode 81 where we unpacked the launch of our new ecosystem. The report synthesizes ReGen Brands' proprietary learnings from almost three years of studying regenerative CPG, including 80 podcast episodes interviewing brand founders, executives, and other key ecosystem stakeholders. It is designed to help you understand the ways regenerative brands are winning today along with the key challenges they face on the road to additional progress. This report is a super easy read but it's definitely dense, so we wanted to unpack ALL of it for you on this episode. So go download your copy and follow along or just listen in as we dive deep into our comprehensive state of the industry.
Episode Highlights: 💭 Why we wrote the report 💡 What we learned along the way 🚀 Unpacking how regen brands are winning today 🛑 Breaking down key challenges and calls to action 🏗️ What we’re building to help solve problems
Links: State of Regenerative CPG Report Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #87 - Camilla Marcus @ west~bourne - Chef Curation & Cultural Persuasion | 06 Dec 2024 | 01:15:40 | |
On this episode, we have Camilla Marcus who is the Founder & CEO at west~bourne. West~bourne is supporting regenerative agriculture with their chef-driven snacks and pantry staples - all impeccably sourced, utilizing regenerative, sustainable, and organic ingredients. The brand’s ethos is 'eat well. do better. gather often.' In this episode, Camilla shares her journey from chef to brand Founder, the philosophy behind west~bourne’s unique model, the challenges and triumphs of leading with sustainability in the CPG space, and how Camilla is driving impact far beyond the plate. We talk about west~bourne’s new Regenerative Holiday Box, Camilla’s new cookbook, My Regenerative Kitchen, and celebrate their big recent win with The Fresh Market. Episode Highlights: ❤️ Food is our common love language 🍽️ How restaurants influence popular culture 🚀 Making regenerative cool through food 🤝 Partnering with Glossier for their first CPG product 👩🍳 Building a chef-curated brand and product portfolio 🎯 Why climate solutions that aren’t health solutions aren’t solutions 🗞️ Trade media’s role in advancing the regen conversation 🔥 Their Regenerative Holiday Bundle & My Regenerative Kitchen cookbook 👏 Taking their avocado oil national with The Fresh Market 💥 Why radical collaboration is our rocket fuel Links: My Regenerative Kitchen Cookbook Union Square Hospitality Group Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #104 - Eric Smith @ Edacious - Helping Brands Prove That Regenerative Products Are More Nutritious | 30 May 2025 | 01:31:13 | |
On this episode, we have Eric Smith who is the Founder and CEO of Edacious. Edacious offers radically easy lab testing and intuitive nutrition software for food system professionals. They’re working on turning nutrition data into actionable insights for people and planetary health. Eric's on a mission to redefine food quality using hard data. Through his work at Edacious, he's helping brands measure, benchmark, and communicate the nutritional value of their products so consumers can truly understand what they’re eating. We explore:
You’ll hear Eric break down complex concepts like bioavailability and phytochemicals in clear, actionable ways – plus explain how regenerative brands can use this data to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. If we weren’t already super bullish on how nutrient density can create increased demand for regenerative products, then we definitely are now. Episode Highlights: 💪 Why Eric left climate investing to go all in on nutrition 📉 Most nutrition panels are wrong and based on outdated USDA data 🔎 Many “healthy” foods are nutrient-poor due to depleted soils and genetic dilution 🔥 The five steps every brand can and should take right now 🧾 Why regulatory risk goes away when you have third-party data 💥 Regen products often contain 10x or more of certain key vitamins 🥩 Ground-breaking insights from the recently released Beef study 👀 What brands are doing a good job marketing their nutrition data? 📊 Building the first public database of food quality benchmarks 🚀 How their Nutrition Profiling Score could change food forever Links: If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #86 - Ryan Pintado-Vertner @ Smoketown - How Do We Unlock Massive Demand For Regenerative? | 22 Nov 2024 | 01:18:13 | |
On this episode, we have Ryan Pintado-Vertner who is the Founder and CEO at Smoketown. Smoketown is a boutique brand consultancy that helps visionaries, mission-driven brands and nonprofits maximize their growth and positive impact without one compromising the other. They use empathy to help solve complex marketing challenges for their clients who are creating more justice, generosity, equity, and regeneration in the world. Smoketown is supporting regenerative agriculture with their recently released white paper: Unlocking Demand for Regenerative - A Crowdsourced Blueprint for Accelerating Consumer Demand for Regenerative Agriculture It will come as no surprise to anyone who has listened to this show before to hear that we are convicted in our belief that we need to figure out how to improve our ability to increase consumer awareness and demand for regenerative products. Well, Ryan shares that conviction with us and this white paper was his attempt to explore that concept and share his findings with the community. And boy did he deliver. The white paper is full of really insightful takeaways and recommended actions to take, and Ryan is here with us today to break it all down. You’ll also learn about his background as an activist and big-CPG brand builder, his previous work at Sometown with mission-driven brands, and his regen awakening that led to him producing this blueprint for driving change. Join us as we break down how the regenerative community can 1) Increase Consumer Empathy, 2) Refine the Messaging Frame, 3) Double Down on Loyalty and Share of Wallet, and 4) Boldly Collaborate for Big Awareness. Episode Highlights: 🙏 How his spiritual practice sparked a regen awakening ❤️ Why collaboration has to be a superpower 🎯 Making marketing decisions based on consumer empathy ❌ The limits of sustainability-themed messaging 📈 Why self-interest always outsells altruism 💣 The BIG need for more consumer research 🤝 How cross-promotion can help brands boost regen ROI 🧪 What we can apply from the proliferation of probiotics 🛒 Why retailers have to help drive high-level awareness 💪 How linking regen to nutrition is the biggest unlock Links: Unlocking Demand for Regenerative - White Paper State of Regenerative CPG Report Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #85 - Eric Gutknecht @ Charcutnuvo - How Does Regenerative Sausage Get Made? | 15 Nov 2024 | 00:54:24 | |
On this episode, we have Eric Gutknecht who is the President and CEO at Charcutnuvo. Charcutnuvo is supporting regenerative agriculture with their Regenerative Organic Certified® beef sausages and they are working to transition their entire product portfolio of beef, chicken, and pork sausage products to ROC™. In this episode, Eric gives us the real scoop on “how the sausage is made.” We cover his family’s five-generation history in sausage making, his sausage-making training in Europe, and what processes the brand implores that set them apart from the competition. Eric also gives us the lowdown on the regenerative organic beef they’re sourcing, how adding the ROC™ certification to their products has boosted velocities, plus what it’s going to take to see more regenerative sausage at your favorite retailer. Episode Highlights: 🌭 Five generations of sausage-making ↗️ Going from natural to organic to regenerative organic 🏆 What it takes to make better sausage 🍖 Maximizing carcass value and utilization 🦘 Sourcing ROC™ beef from Australia 🤑 Their 25% sales increase post-certification 💪 How Natural Grocers supports regen brands 🔥 New regen products coming in 2025 🥳 Securing ‘menu mentions’ to increase regen awareness 🎯 Why regen potential is equal to retailer commitment Links: Regenerative Organic Certified® National Restaurant Association Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #84 - Heidi Diestel @ Diestel Family Ranch - Why Regenerative Turkey Takes Both Feed & Fowl | 08 Nov 2024 | 01:05:48 | |
On this episode, we have Heidi Diestel who is a fourth fourth-generation turkey farmer and executive at Diestel Family Ranch. Diestel Family Ranch has been raising turkeys since 1949, and they’re supporting regenerative agriculture with their Non-GMO, regeneratively raised turkeys that are certified Regenified™. In this episode, Heidi schools us on their family’s journey raising turkeys and how their practices and products have evolved over the years, she gives us an in-depth look at how they raise their regenerative birds and source regenerative feed, plus she breaks down how they think about product innovation and what is coming in the future from Diestel. Listen folks, that calendar says November, so it is time to start thinking about that Thanksgiving turkey. We went in-depth for a big-time Turkey 101 with Heidi today, and we were fascinated by everything we learned. We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did, and more importantly, we hope you’re serving a regenerative turkey at your holiday meal here in a few weeks. Episode Highlights: 🦃 Four generations of turkey farming 🔪 Going from butcher shops to natural retailers 😂 Kyle’s obsession with Diestel turkey 3️⃣ The turkey farming trifecta: breed, feed, and time ⁉️ What’s a regenerative turkey? ✌️ Why regen turkey takes both fowl AND feed 🌽 Sourcing 650 tons of Regenified corn ↗️ Diversifying the product portfolio in the last decade 🍗 Creating products for the Thanksgivings of the future 🔥 A three-pronged playbook for regen poultry to scale Links: Diestel Becomes First Certified Regenified™ Turkey Brand Smoketown Report: Unlocking Demand for Regenerative Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #83 - Kyle Sullivan & Jesse Smith @ Figure Ate - Enterprises Supporting Ecological Stewardship | 01 Nov 2024 | 01:08:23 | |
On this episode, we have Kyle Sullivan & Jesse Smith from Figure Ate Foods and the White Buffalo Land Trust. Kyle serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications while Jesse serves as the Director of Land Stewardship. Figure Ate is supporting regenerative agriculture with their persimmon vinegar and beef biltong products, and the Figure Ate brand is a part of the larger White Buffalo Land Trust non-profit that is stewarding the 1,000-acre Jalama Canyon Ranch and serves as a global hub for regenerative land stewardship, ecological monitoring, research, education, training, and enterprise development. In this episode, we learn about why developing demand-building enterprises supporting ecological stewardship is a major key to regenerative success, Kyle and Jesse share the journey of launching the brand, formulating the initial products, and selling across multiple sales channels, plus we learn about some new projects and products they have in the works. Episode Highlights: 🌎 Creating a global hub for regenerative agriculture ⁉️ Why does a non-profit have a food brand? 👉 Building enterprises that support ecological stewardship 🤯 The ecological complexity at the Jalama Canyon Ranch 🍶 Why persimmon vinegar was product #1 🔥 Developing domestic Elderberry supply + new products 😡 Dealing with legal and regulatory challenges in marketing 💪 Leading with nutrition claims on packaging 👀 New biltong flavors coming soon 💫 The quorum of energies that will scale regenerative Links: Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities State of Regenerative CPG Report Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #82 - Benina Montes @ Burroughs Family Farms - Regenerative Almonds Farmed For The Future | 25 Oct 2024 | 01:22:47 | |
On this episode, we have Benina Montes who is the Founder and Co-Owner of Burroughs Family Farms. Burroughs Family Farms is supporting regenerative agriculture with their regenerative organic farm producing almonds, olives, and walnuts while raising pastured sheep and poultry. Their brand predominantly sells almond-based products like various nut butters and their new almond concentrate, along with whole-snacking almonds offered in various formats and flavors. In this episode, we learn about the Burroughs family's long history in farming and with food brands, Benina details their regenerative journey and how they became the first almond farm in the world to be Regenerative Organic Certified®, and we learn about why they launched their own brand and how it has grown over the last few years. Benina and her family are proving firsthand on their more than 1,000 acres that almond farming can be both regenerative and productive - leading to big wins in water infiltration, farm profitability, crop nutrient density, and more. They even host an Annual Regenerative Almond Field Day to share their efforts with other farmers, brands, retailers, researchers, and more. Episode Highlights: 🧑🌾 The Burroughs family’s history with farming and brands 🫙 Why they created their own brand 😡 How the entire almond industry incentivizes bare ground 🌳 Why farming in California is so different 🏗️ How new harvesting equipment enables regen practices 🔥 Their Annual Regenerative Tree Nut Field Day 🐑 The challenge of building off-take for both crops and livestock 🏆 Their NEXTY-winning Almond Milk Concentrate 🥈 Why they have two regenerative certifications 🛒 How retailers and distributors can support regen Links: 4th Annual Regenerative Tree Nut Field Day Sustainable Groundwater Management Act State of Regenerative CPG Report Regenerative Organic Certified® CDFA Defining Regenerative Agriculture Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #81 - ReGen Brands Launches Support Ecosystem For CPG Brands Supporting Regenerative Agriculture | 18 Oct 2024 | 00:58:58 | |
On this episode, we are celebrating some very big news. This week, we launched a new unprecedented, multifaceted support ecosystem for CPG brands supporting regenerative agriculture including two new non-profit organizations and one future for-profit organization. The three entities are called: ReGen Brands Institute, ReGen Brands Coalition, and ReGen Brands Capital. We’ve shared bits and pieces of our work on all of this over the past year, but we have not really given our audience a full update since August of 2023. And there’s a reason for that, as we’ve been quite hard at work building this new ecosystem.Please check out the updated website, read our inaugural State of Regenerative CPG report, and view the press release to get a nice, concise, articulate download of what we’re doing. In this episode, we wanted to give you a peek behind the curtain on what went into shaping this vision, building the inaugural entities, hitting some key milestones, and where we go from here. Long story short, if you want to know what the future of our work looks like, then this is a must listen. We’re so proud to take this massive step forward and we couldn't have done it without your support. We hope you’re as energized by this milestone as we are.
Episode Highlights: 🎉 The new ReGen Brands ecosystem 🤯 How we got here ↗️ Where we’re headed ❓ Why this new approach 🏫 Introducing, ReGen Brands Institute 📚 Our new research and education programming 🤝 Introducing, ReGen Brands Coalition 🔥 Our new trade association for regen brands 💰 Introducing, ReGen Brands Capital 🙏 Values-aligned capital for regen brands
Links: State of Regenerative CPG Report ReGen Brands Weekly Newsletter Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #80 - Samuel Taylor @ Long Table - Next-Gen Pancakes From Regeneratively-Grown, Heirloom Grains | 26 Jul 2024 | 01:09:35 | |
On this episode, we have Samuel Taylor who is the Founder and CEO of Long Table. Long Table is supporting regenerative agriculture with their pancake and waffle mixes made with regeneratively grown heirloom grains. In this episode, we learn how Samuel went from actor to CPG Founder due to the combination of a pancake obsession and an acrobatic love interest. He details how the brand went from the farmers market to appearing on Shark Tank, and he shares why regenerative, stone-milled, heirloom grains are a game-changer in terms of flavor, nutrition, and environmental impact. Lots of great stories in this one folks! Samuel didn’t land a deal on Shark Tank, but he scooped up the next best thing: “the best pancakes I’ve ever had” compliment from all the sharks and a million-dollar sales bump. A little over a year later, he’s looking to build out this brand both online and in retail while being a key purchaser supporting the regenerative grain shed of the upper Midwest.
Episode Highlights: 🥞 Next-gen pancakes from regeneratively-grown, heirloom grains 🎪 The acrobatic love interest that inspired the brand 🍿 Inventing popcorn flour pancakes 🦈 Going on Shark Tank with David Schwimmer 🤯 Doing $1M in sales the 6 weeks after Shark Tank 🌾 Building supply chains with the Artisan Grain Collaborative 🤤 Why stone-milled, heirloom grains are better 📈 Capital-efficient, omnichannel growth 🏅 Working towards Regenified™ certification 💰 Why regen brands need more investment
Links: | |||
| #79 - Ben Mand @ Guayakí - Guayakí’s Market Driven Regeneration™ | 19 Jul 2024 | 01:18:12 | |
On this episode, we have Ben Mand who is the CEO at Guayakí. Guayakí is supporting regenerative agriculture with their various yerba mate-based products that are farmed in regenerative organic systems. Yerba mate is a tree of the holly family that is native to the Atlantic Forest of South America, and the consumption of yerba mate is related to the unique relationship between Indigenous Peoples and their forest environments developed over millennia. On this episode, we learn how Ben has satisfied his appetite for impact across a wide array of brands, and he shares more about Guayakí’s Market Drive Regeneration™ approach - detailing what that means for their farming partners, their business, and their consumers.
Episode Highlights: 🍃 Creating the yerba mate category 🧉 The traditional gourd circle practice of sharing mate 📈 Going from incremental to exponential impact in CPG ❤️ Guayakí’s Market Driven Regeneration™ 🙏 Partnering with Indigenous communities 🤝 Farmer price premiums and infrastructure investment 👉 Making responsible business the new norm 🔥 Nailing the brilliant basics to tell the regen story 🔮 Future-proofing their product portfolio 🎯 How retailers should support regen brands
Links: #73 - Allie O'Brien @ Harmless Harvest | |||
| #78 - James Arthur Smith @ Seatopia - Bringing Regenerative Seafood Direct To Consumers | 12 Jul 2024 | 01:19:35 | |
On this episode, we have James Arthur Smith who is the Founder and CEO of Seatopia.
Seatopia is supporting regenerative aquaculture with its direct-to-consumer business building consumer demand for innovative aquaculture practices in hopes of scaling a truly regenerative seafood supply chain to feed the planet and restore our oceans.
In this episode, James breaks down the massive problems with current commodity seafood systems, how Seatopia is pioneering aquaculture 3.0, and why integrated multi-trophic aquaculture in the ocean is the same thing as regenerative agriculture on the land.
If you’re ready to take a deep dive (pun intended) into marine ecosystems and planet-positive commercial-scale food production then this episode is for you.
Episode Highlights:
🌊 James’ lifelong love affair with the ocean 🐠 Why wild caught isn’t necessarily better 👉 The parallels between agriculture and aquaculture 🐟 How Seatopia is championing aquaculture 3.0 🎣 Why we can’t feed the world with just wild-caught seafood 🔥 Sourcing from integrated multi-trophic seafood farms 🙅 Why regenerative doesn’t drive dollars 🔬 Using testing and transparency to boost product claims 😯 Fish isn’t actually supposed to smell ‘fishy’ 📈 Leveraging R&D for more whole-fish utilization
Links: | |||
| #77 - Jacob Muise @ Maui Nui Venison - Managing Maui’s Invasive Axis Deer For Regenerative Outcomes | 28 Jun 2024 | 01:21:17 | |
On this episode, we have Jacob Muise who is a Co-Founder and the CEO of Maui Nui Venison.
Maui Nui Venison is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of venison products made from wild-harvesting the invasive Axis deer population on the island of Maui.
Maui Nui Venison is the most nutrient-rich, and protein-dense red meat on the planet. Their stress-free, wild-harvesting methods ethically and responsibly manage the invasive Axis deer population of Maui in an effort to restore ecological balance to the island.
In this episode, we learn how Jake went from surfing the frosty waters off of Nova Scotia to the warm waters of Hawaii, the ecological imperative for managing the Axis deer population in Hawaii, and how Jake turned his obsession for Axis deer into the powerhouse brand that Maui Nui is today.
Now look, this is a little ‘outside of the box’ application of the term regenerative agriculture, and that may not fly for some of you purists out there. But guess what, we don’t really care. Because Maui Nui’s outcomes in terms of ecological benefit, human nutrition, and community benefit are unquestionably regenerative. And this is the first of two episodes in a row where we feature a brand with a nuanced take on regen somewhat outside of the norm.
And the word on the street is there are multiple top-secret reveals buried deep in this episode, so I think you’ll want to listen until the very end.
Episode Highlights:
🛶 How Axis Deer came to Hawaii 🏄 Jake’s journey from Nova Scotia to Maui 🦌 Why Axis Deer populations increase so rapidly 🍖 Turning a removal project into a meat business 🤯 Their unique, stress-free, night-time harvesting process ⚙️ Building USDA-approved processing for Axis Deer 😮 Ecological and economic imperatives for eating Axis Deer 🎯 Accidentally creating the ‘perfect meat triangle’ 🔥 Why taste and quality Always. Comes. First. 💥 Their upcoming broth collab with Kettle & Fire
Links: | |||
| #103 - Mary Purdy @ Nutrient Density Alliance - Regen’s Nutrition Advantage: What We Know & Where We’re Headed | 23 May 2025 | 01:09:52 | |
On this episode, we have Mary Purdy who is the Managing Director of the Nutrient Density Alliance.
The Nutrient Density Alliance’s purpose is to ignite awareness and mobilize action around the nutritional benefits and improved food quality of soil-building regenerative agriculture to drive demand for a more sustainable food system and improve human health outcomes.
You’ve heard us talk a lot about how the increased nutrient density of regenerative foods will be a powerful marketing mechanism to increase demand for regenerative products and spur more adoption of regenerative agriculture. Well, Mary and her team at the NDA are at the forefront of those efforts.
In this episode, Mary shares powerful insights on the science linking healthier soil to more nutrient-dense food, the urgent need for research and clinical trials, and why dietitians, farmers, and brands must work together. We explore the regulatory landscape, the importance of using clear consumer language, and how the industry can avoid greenwashing while advancing nutrient density claims.
We also tackle some big questions: Why aren’t dietitians and food service professionals being trained to understand the connection between farming practices and nutrition? What practical steps can brands take to communicate nutrient density without regulatory risk? And how can regenerative brands get healthcare influencers involved to drive demand?
We’re talking phytochemicals, phytonutrients, flavonoids, and all things at the intersection of soil health, human health, and regenerative marketing.
Episode Highlights:
🔬 The science backing up regen’s nutrition advantage 📝 “Healthy soil equals healthy food” is a sound bite we can all use 💡 Why brands should make “statements” and not “claims” 🤝 Partnering with dietitians to increase credibility and influence 🍅 Consumers don’t know about ‘nutrient density’ - yet 🚀 Building an undeniable case through research and case studies 👎 Why healthcare pros don’t learn about ag’s connection to nutrition 🎯 Increasing awareness while maintaining integrity 👀 What can brands do? (right now) 🏆 Why linking regen to healthcare is the holy grail
Links: Western Sustainability Exchange Recipe for Health (California) If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #76 - Newtopia Now Preview with New Hope Network | 21 Jun 2024 | 01:02:00 | |
On this episode, we have Jessica Rubino and Douglas Brown from New Hope Network. Jessica serves as the Vice President of Content and Douglas serves as a Senior Retail Reporter & Analyst.
New Hope Network’s purpose is to cultivate a prosperous high-integrity CPG and retail ecosystem that creates health, joy, and justice for all people while regenerating the planet. New Hope Network is at the forefront of the natural, organic, and conscious products industry. With solutions for the complete supply chain, including manufacturers, retailers, distributors, service providers, ingredient suppliers, media, and investors, New Hope Network offers a robust portfolio of content, events, data, research, and consultative services.
Most of you listening probably know New Hope best for their seminal, annual event, Natural Products Expo West, which Kyle and I broke down on Episode 66.
In this episode, we are talking all things Newtopia Now, which is New Hope’s newest event designed for buyers to discover their next best-selling conscious products through facilitated connections, deepened relationships, and actionable and inspiring content.
The unique floorplan at Newtopia Now is built around 4 neighborhoods, with one being ‘Regenerate’ showcasing brands building more regenerative supply chains and overall business models.
We get a special sneak peek preview into the event overall, what retailers and regenerative brands can expect when attending Newtopia Now, and I ask both Jessica and Douglas for their thoughts on the hottest topics in the world of regenerative CPG. Because I know y’all are tired of just hearing Kyle and I talk about them…
This was a super fun episode, and I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at Newtopia Now in August.
Episode Highlights:
💫 Introducing, Newtopia Now! 🤝 New experiences for brands & buyers 🚶 Strolling the neighborhoods and shopping the market 🍝 Creating new and deeper connections at curated dine arounds 💭 Translating customer feedback into product development ⚡ The exciting early potential of the regen movement 🤔 How almost all regen claims are 3rd-party validated 🔮 What will regen CPG claims look like in the future? 💪 Is nutrient density the silver bullet for regen demand? 🎯 Embracing empathy, interconnectedness, and deeper connection
Links: Marketing regenerative: How three ROC brands sell agriculture | |||
| #75 - Ladd Wahlen @ Roots Potato Chips - Single-Origin & Regeneratively-Farmed Potato Chips | 14 Jun 2024 | 01:05:25 | |
On this episode, we have Ladd Wahlen who is a fourth-generation potato farmer and Co-Owner of Roots Potato Chips.
Roots Potato Chips is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of single-origin, regeneratively farmed potato chip products.
In this episode, we learn how a college research project catapulted Ladd into his regenerative journey, how radically different his farming operation is from his conventional potato peers, and what its been like to go from farmer to also potato chip manufacturer and CPG brand operator.
Ladd’s farm is proving that you can build a regenerative model for commercial-scale potato production with the farm boasting 10 times the diversity of conventional farms, a 75% reduction in tillage versus conventional farms, and ground cover 90% of the year versus an average 33% of the year for conventional farms.
The Nature Conservancy has made the Wahlen’s farm a demonstration site to help other Idaho potato growers adopt regenerative practices and Ladd and his family hope that the Roots brand can become a commercial engine that incentivizes those same farmers to adopt these practices and while being paid for their efforts.
Episode Highlights:
🥔 Single-origin and regeneratively-farmed potato chips 🤩 Fourth-generation farmer + first-generation CPG founder ✍️ How a college research paper sparked Ladd’s regen curiosity 😯 The stark contrast between their farm and conventional farms 🥇 Being a demo farm for The Nature Conservancy 🚜 The impossibility of eliminating tillage in potato production 🤯 Starting the brand with 25 initial SKUs 👎 Why don’t retail buyers care more about regen? 🤝 Working with Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verification 🔥 Using the brand as a tool to convert potato farmers to regen
Links: Idaho farm offers model of regenerative potato farming | |||
| #74 - Johnny Hunter @ Castor River Habitat & Farm - Trial By Fire & Salvation By Regeneration | 07 Jun 2024 | 01:16:55 | |
On this episode, we have Johnny Hunter who is a third-generation farmer and the President of Castor River Habitat & Farm.
Castor River Habitat & Farm is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of rice products grown on their own farm and produced in their on-farm milling facility.
In this episode, we learn about the Hunter family’s deep agricultural roots, how Johnny was forced to go regen after ‘hitting rock bottom’ in 2012, and how the brand has grown since its inception in 2018.
Johnny is a masterful storyteller and this episode had a little bit of everything: thoughts on why we need to keep regenerative farmer-focused and rooted in reality, stories of collaborative commercialization with some of their retail and foodservice partners, plus what is ahead for Castor River including achieving Regenified certification and expanding sourcing beyond their home farm.
Episode Highlights:
🧑🌾 The Hunter family’s agricultural legacy 🤯 Committing to farming at 10 years old 💥The rock bottom year that sparked a regen transition 🎰 Why farming is like gambling and the house always wins 👏 Starting a brand to capture de-commoditized value 😂 Breaking into retail selling door-to-door at Hy-Vee 🤝 Their unique partnership with Just Salad 🦆 Why are they a habitat and a farm? 🔍 Onboarding with Regenified™ 🍚 Sourcing from other farms to fuel future growth
Links: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin | |||
| #73 - Allie O'Brien @ Harmless Harvest - Why Regen Is The Right Thing To Do AND Better For Business | 31 May 2024 | 00:58:20 | |
On this episode, we have Allie O’Brien who is the Vice President of Marketing at Harmless Harvest.
Harmless Harvest is supporting regenerative agriculture with its Regenerative Organic Certified® coconut supply chain which is now making its way into label claims across their product portfolio.
In this episode, we learn about Harmless’ unique supply chain in Thailand sourcing the nam hom coconut, their work implementing regenerative practices on the ground through their ReCAP program, how their regenerative organic sourcing is coming to life in product marketing today and in the future, plus the support their receiving from their parent company, Danone.
Get your notepads out folks because Allie was dropping knowledge on this episode. It was super interesting and informative to have our first VP of Marketing on the show and Allie went in-depth on all things related to creating meaningful marketing strategies for regenerative claims whether we’re talking certifications, packaging design, claims hierarchy, pricing architecture, in-store promotion, channel-specific execution and so much more.
Episode Highlights:
🩷 What makes their coconut water pink + unique? 🥥 Why they only use nom ham coconuts 🌴 Canal-based, smallholder coconut farms in Thailand 😮 Why there’s no organic premium for their partner farmers 🤝 Creating the ReCAP program to increase regen ag adoption 💰 How Danone is supporting their regen work 🥤 Bringing regenerative claims to their bottles 🎯 Why regen is about retention and not purchase 👍 How retailers and certifiers can boost consumer education 🤩 “It’s the right thing to do AND better for business”
Links: Harmless Harvest’s Regenerative Agriculture Harmless Harvest's 2023 Impact Report Harmless Harvest’s ReCAP Program | |||
| #72 - Alison Czeczuga & Zach West @ Gaia Herbs - Implementing Regen On Their Home Farm & Beyond | 17 May 2024 | 01:12:39 | |
On this episode, we have Alison Czeczuga and Zach West from Gaia Herbs. Alison serves as the Director of Social Impact and Sustainability while Zach serves as the Farm Operations Manager.
Gaia Herbs is supporting regenerative agriculture with their 250-acre Regenerative Organic Certified® farm in North Carolina and their more than 200+ SKUs that contain various Regenerative Organic Certified® ingredients.
In this episode, we learn how this natural channel supplement leader has developed, implemented, and expanded their regenerative strategy plus how they’re betting that tying regen to product quality and consumer wellness will be a winning commercial strategy.
We talked farmworker housing, composting programs, herbal extraction, product label claim challenges and so much more in this one. Tons of insights and of course some good laughs along the way.
Episode Highlights:
🤯 Integrating regen into their 200+ SKUs 🚜 Their 250-acre Regenerative Organic Certified® farm 🧪 How Gaia’s herbs & botanicals become supplements 🧑🌾 Their legendary H-2A visa farmworker crew 🏠 Gaia’s new state-of-the-art farmworker housing ♻️ Upcycling their ‘herbal marc’ into compost 🤔 The challenges of producing fully ROC™ SKUs 🤝 Working with other brands on the Sustainable Herbs Program 🧘 Why tying regen to wellness is the winning strategy 🗣️ How they’re approaching messaging and label claims
Links: Regenerative Organic Certified® H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers | |||
| #71 - Dana Ehrlich @ Verde Farms - Verde Farm’s 100% Organic & Grass-Fed Beef Goes Regenerative | 10 May 2024 | 01:05:46 | |
On this episode, we have Dana Ehrlich who is the Founder of Verde Farms.
Verde Farms is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of 100% USDA organic and grass-fed and grass-finished beef products. They have recently begun working with Land to Market to transition their supply to fully regenerative and have begun certifying certain SKUs.
In this episode, Dana shares the health and tourism journey that led him to South American grass-fed beef plus how they’ve grown the brand over time very unconventionally through private label business and branded sales to conventional and mass retailers.
Verde Farms is growing 50% year over year with category-leading velocities and recently took on its first major investment while also transitioning to self-manufacturing.
Tons of fun topics in this one on all things CPG plus Dana shares the behind-the-scenes look at getting their farmers to adopt more regenerative practices. Here’s a hint - the incentives have to do with boosting on-farm profitability.
Episode Highlights:
🔌 Going from semiconductors to CPG 🌍 How health and travel inspired the brand 🏗️ Building supply chain before brand 🤯 Landing their big break with Wegman’s & Costco 🥩 Moving all of their volume over to branded sales 🧑🌾 Transitioning their supply chain to regenerative 🤠 Why quicker time to slaughter weight is key for rancher adoption 🎯 Consumer first > Customer first 😯 Pivoting to self-manufacturing right before COVID 🚀 Partnering with Manna Tree to fuel future growth
Links: | |||
| #70 - Briana Buckles @ Yogi Tea - Embracing The Complexity In Regenerating Global Tea Supply Chains | 03 May 2024 | 01:15:23 | |
On this episode, we have Briana Buckles who is the Global Senior Sustainability Manager at Yogi Tea.
Yogi Tea is supporting regenerative agriculture with 9 global projects dedicated to increasing regenerative agriculture adoption in the supply chain for their Yogi Tea and Choice Organics brands.
Yogi has been around for more than 50 years, produces over 70 SKUs, and sources more than 150 ingredients from over 40 different countries. Their products are stocked across thousands of retailers in North America and Europe.
In this episode, Briana shares her 5-year journey trailblazing new regenerative agriculture initiatives at Yogi and how they are increasing regen ag adoption through a three-pronged supply chain visibility, intervention, and expansion approach. Plus, she shares the details on one of their projects in Rwanda with details on how they select farmers to support, partner with local technical assistance providers, and fund the work itself.
Episode Highlights:
💫 The original Yogi recipe 🤯 Sourcing 150+ ingredients from 40+ countries ✍️ Building a Sustainability program from scratch 🌍 Their 9 global regen ag projects to date 🔍 Why it all starts with supply chain transparency 🧑🌾 Their work with tea farmers in Rwanda 💲 How they think about the ROI of regenerative 😧 The challenges of certifying their complex supply chains ⚙️ How Yogi designs, implements, and funds their regen projects 🤩 Why every supply chain link needs to benefit from regen
Links: Yogi Tea’s Annual Sustainability Report | |||
| #69 - Matthieu Kohlmeyer @ La Tourangelle - Can Cooking Oils Go Regen? | 26 Apr 2024 | 01:16:04 | |
On this episode, we have Matthieu Kohlmeyer who is the Founder and CEO of La Tourangelle.
La Tourangelle is a French-American family-owned & operated culinary oil maker. They’re currently supporting regenerative agriculture with their Regenerative Organic Certified® Sunflower Oil and their soon-to-be-released regenerative olive oil.
In this episode, Matthieu shares La Tourangelle’s 20-year history as a CPG brand and 150-year history producing artisan oils, he shares what makes their production and packaging unique from other players in the category, and he also details their future plans to support regenerative agriculture.
Matthieu is a wealth of knowledge in all topics oil-related and he was nice enough to weigh in on the current seed oil debates, existing issues with counterfeit oils in the market, and why scaling regen in oil products might look a lot different than other categories.
Episode Highlights:
🗝️ Artisan oil-making dating back to 1867 🇺🇲 How Matthieu brought the brand to the US 🥫 Why tin packaging is better for the oil and the earth ✨ What makes La Tourangelle’s oils unique? 😦 Current fraud issues in culinary oil manufacturing ♻️ The added upcycling complexity in oil supply chains 🧑🌾 Farmer feedback on regenerative & organic ❤️ Why emotion > education for selling food 👀 What’s the truth about seed oils? 👏 Educating kids in their community garden
Links: Regenerative Organic Certified® Sunflower Oil | |||
| #68 - Jared Simon @ Manitoba Harvest - Regen Strategy For North America’s Leading Hemp Food Brand | 19 Apr 2024 | 01:09:58 | |
On this episode, we have Jared Simon who is the CEO at Manitoba Harvest.
Manitoba Harvest is North America’s leading hemp food brand, and they’re supporting regenerative agriculture with their recently released Regenerative Organic Certified® Hemp Hearts.
In this episode, Jared breaks down how hemp is grown and some of the agronomic differences between conventional, organic, and regenerative organic cultivation. Jared also shares how Manitoba Harvest is developing their commercial strategy around regenerative and what this means for both their branded business and B2B ingredient business.
Jared was super engaging and insightful, and we really enjoyed gleaning his insights on how a legacy, scaled brand like Manitoba Harvest starts prioritizing regen, opportunities he sees in the broader regen movement, and how their work is influencing the larger, publicly traded parent company they sit within.
Episode Highlights:
💥 Their 25-year history pioneering hemp foods 🌱 The differences between hemp and cannabis 💪 Why hemp is a nutrition powerhouse 🔬 Using AI-Powered nutrition research to drive innovation 👉 Investing upstream to add value 💡 How they think about their regen strategy 📈 Scaling ROC™ hemp with B2B & B2C 👀 The future of regenerative marketing claims 🔥 Educating Tilray’s other brands on regen 🎯 Getting to critical mass with retailers and consumers
Links: Hemp Oil Canada / Fresh Hemp Foods Regenerative Organic Certified® | |||
| #67 - Blaine & Brooks Hitzfield @ Seven Sons - Scaling Regen Meat To 75,000 DTC Orders A Year | 12 Apr 2024 | 01:19:17 | |
On this episode, we have Blaine & Brooks Hitzfield from Seven Sons. Blaine is the CEO while Brooks serves as the COO.
Seven Sons is supporting regenerative agriculture with its direct-to-consumer meat business that sells regeneratively raised beef, bison, pork, and chicken as well as seafood and other snack items.
Seven Sons sources their regeneratively raised meat products from their own 550-acre farm in Roanoke, Indiana, and from other regenerative farmers around the Midwest.
In this episode, we hear how the family farm transitioned from a conventional hog operation to a multi-species pastured livestock operation, plus Blaine and Brooks take us behind the scenes on all things direct-to-consumer e-commerce and how they’ve grown their business to 75,000 orders a year.
This was an absolute masterclass in operating a DTC brand, connecting with consumers authentically, and making regenerative products accessible through convenience.
Episode Highlights:
👏 Growing to 14,000 customers & 75,000 orders a year 😦 Their family journey from conventional pork to regen beef ⁉️ Are there actually seven sons in this business!? 🤯 Scaling to 53 pickup locations then shutting them down 👉 Why education isn’t a winning marketing strategy 😵💫 How to avoid “death by diversity” as a farmer 🍗 The challenges of pastured poultry economics 🎯 Winning with Quality, Authenticity, & Convenience 💲 Their winning DTC playbook (acquisition, retention, assortment) 💡 Being your own customer to improve your business
Links: | |||
| #102 - Joseph Cassinelli @ El Nacho - Tortilla Chips Reimagined Through Lucha Libre & Regenerative Ag | 16 May 2025 | 01:07:01 | |
On this episode, we’re joined by Joseph Cassinelli, who is the Founder and President of El Nacho.
El Nacho is supporting regenerative agriculture with their line of tortilla chips made with certified regenerative corn.
In this episode, Joe shares how El Nacho was born during the pandemic and how it turned him from a seasoned restaurateur to a new CPG Founder. He details the importance of their clean ingredients, ancient processing techniques, and intentional sourcing decisions to produce a bold, flavorful chip that is better for eaters, farmers, and the planet.
We get a behind-the-scenes look at their brand inspiration and desire to bring storytelling and joy to the snack aisle with their bold lucha libre-inspired characters like El Nacho, Ms. Mango, and El Diablo. Joe also gives his hot takes on how we can increase consumer demand for regenerative products, and shares some top-secret information about their innovation pipeline.
Grab some chips and guac and dial in on this one.
Episode Highlights:
🍴 How El Nacho was born in a chef’s kitchen during COVID. 🧑🌾 Why regenerative corn offers more nutrient density — and flavor 🎨 Lucha libre branding lets El Nacho tap into nostalgia, culture, and community impact 🌱 Building supply from the ground up — including planting regen blue corn for fall 🇲🇽 Latino influence is rising, and Mexican cuisine is set to go mainstream 💬 “It takes a village” - The need for retailer, buyer, and consumer alignment on regen 🧪 Ancient wisdom meets modern flavor — the art and science of nixtamalization 🛍️ Educating buyers — most don’t have a high “Corn IQ” 💣 Why we need to see regenerative tortilla chips in 7-Eleven 👀 An exclusive sneak peek at what flavors are coming next
Links: Painted Burro Restaurant Group Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Land to Market If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter | |||
| #66 - Kyle Krull & Anthony Corsaro - Expo West Recap: Claims, Capital, & The Fallacy of Competition | 05 Apr 2024 | 01:11:27 | |
On this episode, Kyle and I are flying solo to bring you some updates and thoughts coming out of Expo West.
For those who don’t know, Expo West is “the annual Super Bowl of CPG” with over 67,000 attendees this year and a gathering of anyone and everyone working on CPG brands supporting regenerative agriculture - from certifiers, to investors, to the brands themselves, and many more.
Kyle and I spend some time covering our personal highlights, favorite new products, plus the state of the union for CPG capital investment and regenerative marketing claims.
Episode Highlights:
🖤 The power of human connection 🤤 Our favorite new items from regen brands 🔊 Regenerative dominates Climate Day content ⭐ Regen brands take home 5 NEXTYs 😍 Big sourcing commitments and funding rounds announced 💯 Today’s major operating hurdles for regenerative brands 💰 Current investment landscape and implications for regen brands 👀 California defining “regenerative agriculture” 👉 The fallacy of positive competition in the regenerative movement 🙏 Using hope, empathy, and vulnerability to create harmony in regen CPG
Links: Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed Regenerative Organic Certified® | |||
| #65 - Hovik Azadkhanian @ Heirloom Coffee Roasters - Pioneering A Regenerative Coffee Revolution | 29 Mar 2024 | 01:11:20 | |
On this episode, we have Hovik Azadkhanian who is the Founder and CEO of Heirloom Coffee Roasters.
Heirloom Coffee Roasters is supporting regenerative agriculture with its 6-SKU lineup of Regenerative Organic Certified® whole bean coffees.
In this episode, we learn how Hovik is carrying on his family’s legacy as a third-generation coffee roaster, how the brand has grown from one Bay Area retail location to going nationwide with Sprouts in less than a year, and why regenerative agriculture is the key to saving coffee.
One thing is clear from this episode - when people tell Hovik he can’t do something, he is going to do whatever he can to prove them wrong. This spirit underpins Heirloom’s audacious goals which range from selling 100% regenerative organic certified coffee, to pioneering emissions-free electric roasting, and much more.
Episode Highlights:
🙏 Three generations of family coffee roasting 💡 Going from B2B coffee roaster to CPG brand 👉 “The fight to save coffee” 🥇 Why Regenerative Organic Certified® matters 🧑🌾 Creating better futures for coffee farmers 💫 Building “premium” into the brand and packaging ⚡ Using Bellwether’s electric coffee roasters 😮 From 1 store to nationwide in 9 months 🎫 Using KeHe’s “Golden Ticket” to land Sprouts 🔊 “We have to make it feel good and taste good to do good”
Links: The World's First Regenerative Coffee Research Lab Heirloom & Bellwether’s Electric Coffee Roasters Sustainable Harvest Relationship Coffee Regenerative Organic Certified® | |||
| #64 - Jody & Crystal Manuel + Brei Larmoyeux @ Gruff - Regenerative Organic Ancient Grain Grits | 01 Mar 2024 | 01:25:22 | |
On this episode, we have Jody and Crystal Manuel and Brei Larmoyeux, who are the Co-Founders of Gruff.
Gruff is supporting regenerative agriculture with its Regenerative Organic Certified® Ancient Grain Grits. Gruff’s grits are made from organic cracked Farro and are table-ready in just 12 minutes.
In this episode, we learn about Jody and Crystal's journey transitioning their farm from conventional to organic plus all the spectacular nuance of how they’re currently weaving annuals, perennials, and animals to create a winning regenerative organic system.
Crystal shares the story of how feeding their many children a nutritious breakfast inspired the creation of Gruff, and we have Brei and Kyle sidebarring on how we can bring these nutritious grits to bodybuilding bros and other performance athletes across the world.
Gruff is a vertically integrated, farmer-led, regenerative brand with a great story and a ton of growth potential - we enjoyed diving into it all with Jody, Crystal, and Brei.
Episode Highlights:
🤤 Ancient Grain Grits made with cracked Farro 💡 Crystal’s health journey that changed their farm forever 👏 A beautiful integration of annuals, perennials, & animals 🥣 The bulk kids’ breakfasts that inspired their hero SKU 🤝 Why crop diversity requires market diversity 🤩 Beefing up on-farm impact reporting with Mad Ag 💪 Growing for Purely Elizabeth & Patagonia Provisions 🎯 Making weeds an indicator instead of an enemy 🔥 The foodservice opportunity for farro grits 💥 1 Mom at a time, 1 family at a time, 1 eater at a time
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| #63 - Nick Wiseman @ Little Sesame - Winning At Retail With Regen Hummus | 16 Feb 2024 | 01:12:42 | |
On this episode, we have Nick Wiseman who is a Co-Founder and the CEO of Little Sesame.
Little Sesame is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of organic and regeneratively farmed hummus products that includes a flavor lineup of Smooth Classic, Jammy Tomato, Caramelized Onion, Herby Jalapeño, and the newly launched Preserved Lemon.
In this episode, we learn how Nick and his team pivoted Little Sesame from restaurant to retail during COVID, the “freshly-spun” difference that makes their hummus unique, and Little Sesame’s explosive growth strategy and results.
We covered a ton with Nick, and this episode is super rich with insights into everything from direct-trade farm relationships, to driving product velocities at retail, to building self-manufacturing as a competitive advantage.
Episode Highlights:
😍 “Freshly spun” hummus made with regen chickpeas 😯 Pivoting from restaurant to CPG during COVID 🍋 Their new lemon preserve hummus 🔥 The ROI in self-manufacturing 🤝 Partnering with their chickpea farmer, Casey Bailey 🤯 Farmer Casey’s “10-year regen experiment” and 17-crop rotation 🎯 Obsessing over velocities to drive growth 💰 Why brands need diverse capital stacks and new financial models 🥳 Using seasonal SKUs and brand collabs to grow 🚀 Planning 1,000+ demos for 2024
Links: | |||
| #62 - Joséphine Bournonville @ Omie - France's Radically Transparent Regenerative Leader | 09 Feb 2024 | 01:03:20 | |
On this episode, we have Joséphine Bournonville who is a Co-Founder and the COO at Omie.
Omie is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of more than 200 French pantry staples that are sourced from regenerative farmers.
Omie’s agri-engineers work with over 40 manufacturers and 200 farmers to bring this vast assortment to life. Farming operations are audited with a Regenerative Index score then Omie works with the operators to create a roadmap for improvement and further regenerative practice adoption. All of their products are given a Planet Score, with more than 90% of the portfolio scoring an A or B and nothing being offered that isn’t at least a grade C.
In this episode, we learn about Joséphine’s journey from clean-tech investing to agribusiness M&A to a regenerative food startup, and we hear how Omie has scaled from a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform into France’s leading regenerative brand.
Joséphine was an amazing endcap to our first international series! Omie is doing incredible work, and it was inspiring and informative to hear about their efforts and compare them to all the other brands we’ve had on the show.
Episode Highlights:
🇫🇷 France’s leading regen brand with over 200 products! 🚜 Joséphine’s journey from agribusiness to regen CPG 🤯 Working with 46 manufacturers and 260 farmers 🥣 Their new kids' cereal lineup featuring millet 🔥 The power of a strong DTC customer community 💯 Using radical transparency to build trust 📝 Roadmapping improvements with “the regeneration index” 👏 Dedicating 1% of sales to regen practice adoption 🔊 The recent farmer protests in France & Europe 🗯️ Engaging in advocacy + policy to drive change
Links: | |||
| #61 - Jay Albany @ Wide Open Agriculture - Regenerating The Western Australian Wheat Belt | 02 Feb 2024 | 01:12:16 | |
On this episode, we have Jay Albany who is the CEO of Wide Open Agriculture.
Wide Open Agriculture is Australia's leading regenerative food and agriculture company and operates 3 distinct enterprises. Under the name Dirty Clean Food, they operate a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform that sells 300 different regenerative and artisan products directly to wholesale customers and individual consumers. They’ve also launched a line of branded, oat-milk-based CPG products under the Dirty Clean Food name as well.
WOA is focusing its future growth on its third enterprise - producing and supplying Buntine Protein® created by processing Australian sweet lupin. Sweet lupin serves as a rotational crop in regenerative systems of the Western Australian wheat belt but currently does not have a large, profitable market as a human food ingredient.
Wide Open Ag’s business is a beautiful blend of targeting both local and global impact while operating under their “4 returns” mandate which includes financial, natural, social and inspirational returns.
Episode Highlights:
👏 Their mission to regenerate the Western Australian wheat belt 🔮 How Jay met the Founders and joined the team 🥩 Bringing better food to Western Australia 🍔 Landing a burger joint to catalyze their brand 📈 Growing Dirty Clean Food to $12M 🥛 Launching the world’s 1st regenerative oat milk 💰 Sweetening the economics of sweet lupins 💥 Introducing Buntine Protein® - a better plant-based protein 🔥 Why Buntine Protein® is better 👍 Tackling local and global impact at once to scale regen
Links: | |||
| #60 - Rafaela Gontijo Lenz @ NUU - Brazilian Cheese Bread Goes Regenerative | 26 Jan 2024 | 01:14:41 | |
On this episode, we have Rafaela Gontijo Lenz who is the Founder and CEO at NUU.
NUU is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of regenerative, cassava-based foods that includes cheese bread, chees bread pizza, tapioca sticks, and more. These items are sold in over 1,500 retail and foodservice points of sale in Brazil.
In this episode, we learn how Rafaela was inspired to leave her job at Johnson & Johnson to start a cheese bread company supporting smallholder farmers, her regenerative awakening and NUU’s regenerative journey, and their recent 4 million dollar fundraise that is set to power their future vision.
NUU is a certified B Corp, certified carbon neutral, led by an entirely female C-suite, and has been recognized by The United Nations as 1 of 50 global companies to help lead the regenerative food movement.
Episode Highlights:
🇧🇷 Our 2nd international episode with NUU from Brazil! 🤤 Why Rafaela left Johnson & Johnson to start NUU 🧀 Bringing better Brazilian cheese bread to the masses 🤩 Their indigenous, hero ingredient: yuca (cassava) 🧑🌾 Building supply chains to purchase from smallholder farmers 🤝 Engaging investors, NGOs, and the government in their regen journey 💡 Why all their SKUs are “air fryer friendly” 💰 Their recent 4 million dollar fundraise! ❤️ Why we need to re-feminize the food system 🔥 Using event ambassadors to drive discovery and trial
Links: NUU Secures $4 Million in Series A Funding The history of Pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation | |||
| #59 - Edd Lees @ Wildfarmed - Leading The UK's Regenerative Wheat Revolution | 19 Jan 2024 | 01:13:12 | |
On this episode, we have Edd Lees who is one of the Co-Founders at Wildfarmed.
Wildfarmed is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of regenerative wheat flours that are used in retailers, restaurants, and bakeries across the United Kingdom and powered by a network of 80 regenerative farmers.
In this episode, we learn how the brand was started when a famous DJ traded in his turntables for a tractor, how they’ve grown the business through a branded B2B2C strategy, and their big plans for their first Wildfarmed CPG product launch in 2024.
Episode Highlights:
🥳 Our 1st international episode with Wildfarmed! 🎤 How a grammy-nominated musician became a regenerative farmer 🔥 “First they laugh at you, then they hate you, then they want to join you” 👏 Scaling their B2B2C strategy from 1 bakery to 400 customers 🤩 Their regenerative standards and network of 80 farmers 😯 How they won a 25-year tenancy on their demonstration farm 🎯 Why their brand is all about being “Full of Life” ⚡ Their 1st branded CPG launch coming in 2024! 🤯 Partnering with a nationwide retailer to sell bread AND grow wheat 💥 Why stale category + high household penetration = opportunity
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