In Episode 13, James and Sean discuss: 1. The artist's meteoric grassroots rise...and Sean's infatuation 2. NFL greenlights minority ownership stakes in teams from private equity firms 3. Amazon draws blood in the battle against Temu 4. Don't call it a comeback...how sonic logos are resonating with consumers

In Episode 12, James and Sean have an engaging conversation with Rachel Peters and Brady DeLong.
Rachel is the Founder and CEO of Clean Age, a personal care brand designed for teenagers with a strong presence in major retailers like Target and Walmart. With over 15 years of experience in CPG branding, Rachel shares her journey from inspiration to execution.

Brady, the VP of Sales and Operations, brings a diverse background in natural CPG and culinary worlds, adding valuable insights to the conversation.
We discuss:
-How Rachel's background and family life inspired the creation of Clean Age
-The role of a venture studio in launching and scaling a CPG brand like Clean Age
-The challenges and strategies of a retail-first approach, especially in securing major retailers without a direct-to-consumer (DTC) foundation
-The importance of gender-neutral products and sustainability in appealing to Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers
-Insights into Clean Age's product roadmap and the importance of scent and body spray extensions
-Navigating the complexities of retail logistics and maintaining strong relationships with buyers
-How their launch at Walmart almost turned into a disaster based on the wrong case and pallet labels for the inventory.
-How personal routines and work-life balance contribute to entrepreneurial success
Rachel and Brady provide valuable insights into the unique dynamics of the teen personal care market and share their experiences and strategies for building a successful brand.

We hope you enjoy this episode and find their journey as inspiring as we did!

In Episode 11, James and Sean have a vibrant discussion with Will Nitze.
Will is the Founder and CEO of IQBAR, a company that produces plant-based nutritional protein bars, hydration mixes, and instant coffee that boost brain and body performance. Before IQBAR, Will was a Sales and Marketing Manager for Wood Mackenzie, a global insight business for renewables, energy, and natural resources. He's a Harvard Grad and Host of the Eating Glass podcast.
We discuss:
-How Will got into CPG (and his first retail launch into the drug channel)
-The power of boredom avoidance and getting comfortable with pain in business
-How to position a brand to last by riding trends and not tying yourself to them too closely
-Food industry trends and our own nutrition philosophy
-Where IQBAR is getting the best return in their digital marketing channels and thoughts on emerging channels
We learned a ton from Will and hope you get a lot of value out of the conversation!

In Episode 10, James and Sean discuss: 1. Walmart launching its first private label brand in 20 years 2. Major streamers to seek to boost consumer engagement via Pause Ads 3. How Buc-ee's, an American road trip icon, built a revered brand identity

In Episode 9, James and Sean discuss: 1. Uber Eats' new short-form video product to help drive restaurant discovery 2. The (potential) Tik Tok ban in the US and what it means 3. Amazon's record ad revenue quarter on the back of by Prime Video

In Episode 8, James and Sean discuss:
1. Chase's unveiling of Chase Media Solutions, giving advertisers access to merchant category spending behavior
2. NBC scores big with a record $1.2 billion in ad sales 100 days prior to the games taking place in Paris
3. Sean reveals his inner Swiftie and discusses Taylor's marketing masterclass with the surprise double release of The Tortured Poets Department

In Episode 7, James and Sean discuss 1. Amify (our old stomping ground) was sold to Cart.com. We talk about what it was like to work for a growth-stage startup. 2. Amazon is delaying their new low inventory fee. 3. Dr. Squatch shopping around a sale of the Brand.

In Episode 6, James and Sean have a BALL breaking down: 1. What Amazon's raised inbound fees mean for brands 2. Why Walmart's acquisition of Vizio is a home run 3. How Manscaped blitzscaled by identifying a white space in one of the most competitive categories while destigmatizing a taboo topic