Why do most beverage brands fail?

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Larkai and Monte Burrow, founders of Blackleaf Organic Vodka, to break down what it actually takes to build a brand in one of the most competitive categories in CPG.

This isn’t a highlight reel.

We get into:

• The biggest mistakes they made early on
• Why great products don’t sell themselves
• What “entrepreneurship is a contact sport” really means
• How they bet on organic before it was trending
• The difference between storytelling and building real systems
• What they learned going from corporate (Diageo) to startup

If you’re a founder, operator, or thinking about launching a brand—this episode is a real look at what it takes to survive and scale.

Key Takeaways

• Most brands fail because they don’t stay close to the customer
• Product alone is never enough
• Organic isn’t a trend—it’s a long-term belief system
• Systems and execution matter just as much as story

Connect with the Guests

Kevin Larkai
Monte Burrow
Blackleaf Organic Vodka

In this episode, Jason Burke sits down with MLB All-Star Justin Turner and Kourtney Turner to talk about life outside of baseball, building businesses, investing with intention, and using your platform to create meaningful impact.

This isn’t just a conversation about sports. It’s about identity.

Justin and Kourtney share what it’s really like to move from professional athletics into entrepreneurship and investing—where success isn’t guaranteed, and learning requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to start from zero.

They break down how they approach investing, what they look for in founders, and why authenticity is the ultimate filter when choosing partnerships. For them, it’s not just about the product—it’s about the people behind it.

We also dive into the importance of support systems, how they balance roles as partners in both business and life, and why resilience is the common thread across sports, entrepreneurship, and investing.

Beyond business, Justin and Kourtney discuss the work they’re doing through the Justin Turner Foundation, supporting children battling serious illness and homeless veterans. Their commitment to community impact highlights a bigger perspective on success—one that goes beyond financial returns.

We also touch on their podcast, Holding Kourt, and how they’re using it as a platform to share their journey and connect with others navigating similar paths.

Key topics include:
• Why identity shouldn’t be tied to one career
• Investing in people over products
• The role of authenticity in partnerships
• Building strong support systems
• Balancing business and personal relationships
• The importance of resilience in high-performance environments
• Using your platform for community impact

Whether you’re an athlete, founder, investor, or someone navigating your next chapter, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about what you’ve done—it’s about what you build next.

🎧 Listen now and hear how Justin and Kourtney Turner are creating impact in the game and beyond.

Retail deductions are one of the biggest hidden profit drains in CPG. In this episode, Jason Burke sits down with Komal Devjani to break down deductions management, revenue recovery, chargebacks, trade spend disputes, and how brands can improve cash flow through better financial processes.

Learn common mistakes founders make, how to distinguish valid vs. disputable deductions, why remittance statements matter, and how technology solutions like Revya.ai help automate recovery and operational efficiency.

If you’re a CPG founder, finance leader, or operator looking to protect margins and scale responsibly, this episode is a must-listen.