Today we're joined by the incredibly talented James Beard-nominated Valerie Gordon, the accomplished chef, chocolatier, and entrepreneur behind the beloved Valerie Confections. Join us as we dive deep into Valerie's inspiring journey—from her early days of baking at just seven years old to building a successful business empire from scratch.

Valerie shares her personal stories of motherhood, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of maintaining momentum in the face of adversity. You'll hear about the pivotal moments in her career, including the launch of her James Beard-nominated cookbook, her appearances on popular food shows, and the evolution of her brand over the past two decades.

Discover how Valerie turned her passion for baking into a thriving business, the trials and triumphs of navigating the food industry, and her vision for the future. Plus, she offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and highlights the significance of supporting independent food businesses.

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Jessica & Dominick dive into the world of sustainable apparel with Eric Henry, CEO of TS Designs. Eric shares his journey from his early entrepreneurial days to leading a pioneering sustainable apparel business. Discover how TS Designs has navigated the evolving landscape of the apparel industry, emphasizing the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit.

Eric discusses the challenges and opportunities of maintaining a transparent supply chain, the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the importance of local manufacturing. He also sheds light on the significant environmental issues tied to the fashion industry, such as the pervasive use of plastics and the problem of fast fashion.

This episode is packed with Eric’s wisdom on building strong business relationships, adapting to industry changes, and his innovative ventures, including the Burlington Beer Works co-op. Tune in to learn from Eric’s experiences and get inspired by his passion for creating a better world through sustainable business practices.

We'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us:

⁠hello@storyofastartuppodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠www.storyofastartuppodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow Eric & TS Designs:

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www.instagram.com/carmelaicecream

This week we're joined by Phil Wood, founder of Brass Monkey Ice Cream. He talks with Jessica & Dominick about his career as a self-employed travel photographer, the difficulties of scaling a new business, how to pivot when you need to, and what hay flavored ice cream can teach us about innovation in business.

Thanks for listening to Story of a Startup. If you loved it, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review.

We'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us:

www.storyofastartuppodcast.com⁠⁠

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hello@storyofastartuppodcast.com⁠

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www.linkedin.com/in/dominickmortarotti

www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-mortarotti-7227b5181

Welcome to Story of a Startup, a podcast for entrepreneurs. In this debut episode, you'll get to know Jessica and Dominick as they discuss the framework of the podcast, the distinction between entrepreneurs and startup entrepreneurs, and the story of Jessica’s own startup— Carmela Ice Cream.

You’ll hear about the challenges, lessons learned, and breakthroughs in the founding of Carmela and takeaway some foundational elements that drive startup success.

Plus get an inside look into what it looks like to start a new business with the first of a series of real-time updates on the progress of Jessica and Dominick’s newest startup, SUN LOVE.

Thanks for listening to the first episode of Story of a Startup. If you loved it, let us know by subscribing and leaving a review.

We'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us:
www.storyofastartuppodcast.com
instagram.com/storyofastartuppodcast
hello@storyofastartuppodcast.com

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www.linkedin.com/in/dominickmortarotti

www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-mortarotti-7227b5181

www.instagram.com/carmelaicecream