Gooder

Tips To Run a Healthy Social Venture Featuring Nina Tickaradze, NADI

Nina Tickaradze is the Founder and CEO of NADI, a certified women-owned enterprise and social venture with a mission to create jobs for displaced refugees. NADI produces organic juices and healthy snacks that are sold in organic grocery stores and supermarkets across the US. NADI’s products are inspired by ancient Georgian health traditions and old family recipes.

Nina is a native of the country of Georgia and was educated primarily in the United States. Nina is the Founder of the Georgia to Georgia Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes relationships between the state of Georgia and the country of Georgia. Nina is also the Co-chair of the Atlanta Tbilisi Sister City Committee and builds stronger business and cultural ties between Atlanta and its sister city of Tbilisi, which is the capital of Georgia. Nina is passionate about the ancient culture of the country of her birth and is an advocate for educating others about Georgia’s history, hospitality, and vibrant food and wine scene. Nina is a Certified Sommelier through the International Sommelier Guild.

In this episode…

Do you have what it takes to run a social entity and achieve its goals? Social ventures come with their challenges, but the benefits of helping communities far outweigh the difficulties.

Nina Tickaradze runs a social entity with a mission to create job opportunities for refugees, and at the same time, serve people with healthy product options. Through running this company, she has learned that all businesses need to be unique in terms of their products, have funds, and have a purpose if they want to be successful. Business leaders also need to be in entrepreneurial networks to learn and have the support they require. 

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Nina Tickaradze, the Founder and CEO of NADI, to discuss tips on how to successfully run a healthy social venture. Nina explains the challenges of running a social venture and lessons she has learned as a leader, the importance of being in an entrepreneurial group outside of your organization, and her advice to other women leaders.

The Changing World of Allergens Featuring Catherine Jaxon, Mission MightyMe

Catherine Jaxon is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Mission MightyMe, a revolutionary food company on a mission to end the food allergy epidemic by making it easy for parents to include peanuts and other common food allergens in their babies’ diets early. Catherine is a mom of three, and her oldest daughter is allergic to most nuts. As a mom who knows what a burden food allergies can be, Catherine is passionate about helping other parents get proactive about preventing them. Prior to founding Mission MightyMe, Catherine was an award-winning journalist with CNN and is still an avid researcher and a journalist at heart.

In this episode…

Are your kids struggling with food allergies? Would you like to learn proven tips on how to prevent food allergies from infancy?

Food allergies are on a rise, especially in the United States. Studies show that about 50% of kids in the US have food allergies. As parents, how do you prevent these allergies? First, you need to know the types of allergen foods. Next, you have to figure out which food your child is allergic to. And finally, you need a solution. There are products being created to help you as a parent prevent food allergies from kids before it gets worse.

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Catherine Jaxon, the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Mission MightyMe, to discuss ways parents can prevent food allergies in their children. Catherine explains the importance of introducing microdoses of the allergen foods into babies’ diets early, the types of allergen foods we have, and the products Mission MightyMe creates to help prevent food allergies.

How To Run a Healthy Brand Featuring Sophia Maroon, Dress It Up Dressing

Sophia Maroon is the Founder and CEO of Dress It Up Dressing, a company that offers olive oil-based dressings with gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan, paleo, keto and Whole-30-friendly varieties. Since Sophia couldn't find a salad dressing on the market that resembled homemade — and because her brother challenged her — she decided to create Dress It Up Dressing using her mother’s recipe. Sophia is also a filmmaker with three kids.

In this episode…

Dressings should be as healthy as your salad. So, where can you get clean, high-quality, classic-flavored dressings to whip up a delicious and healthy dish?

People need to understand what they are eating — if it’s healthy or not — and that includes the dressing they use on their salad. Sophia Maroon shares her entrepreneurial journey of how she started her dressing and marinades company to provide tips to entrepreneurs on how to run a successful business — and educate people about healthy eating.

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Sophia Maroon, the Founder and CEO of Dress It Up Dressing, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey in making healthy dressings and marinades for salads. Sophia explains her 10-year journey of scaling Dress It Up Dressing and the mistakes she avoided, the kind of networks an entrepreneur should have to succeed, and her advice to entrepreneurs.

How To Drink Better and Drink Clean Featuring Donna Katz, G’s Hard Ginger Beer

Donna Katz is the CEO and Founder of G's Hard Ginger Beer, a company that crafts vibrantly flavorful, absurdly aromatic, refreshing, and memorable dry hard ginger beers that are ready to drink and ready to mix. Donna is an Australian native who moved to Napa Valley, California in 2013. In 2014, Donna began dry-farming a small block of grapevines by hand and making restrained-style wines. Donna started fermenting ginger for her own digestive health, often incorporating foraged and seasonal ingredients. She quickly came to realize she was making beverages she couldn’t buy — ones that had no added sugar or sweeteners and were crafted with only real ingredients.

In this episode…

Are you struggling to find healthy beverages that you can enjoy as a consumer? How can you have a great business catering to these needs as an entrepreneur? What tips can help you achieve these goals on both the consumer and producer side?

Many people nowadays are seeking transparency and cleaner alcohol options to support their active and healthier lifestyles. As an entrepreneur, you should view this as an opportunity to come up with a solution for them. That’s why Donna Katz shares her entrepreneurial journey, tips, and lessons she learned as an entrepreneur — and how people can stay healthy.

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Donna Katz, the CEO and Founder of G's Hard Ginger Beer, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey in beverages, specifically in the alcohol category. Donna talks about what inspired her to found G’s Hard Ginger Beer, the lessons she has learned developing the company, and the importance of growing through mentorship and industry networks.

Importance of Design Thinking in Innovation Featuring Snehdeep Brar, Lenny & Larry’s

Snehdeep Brar is the Head of Technical Services and R&D at Lenny & Larry’s, a company with a strong purpose of sustaining people's energy throughout the day with clean nutrition — without depriving you of your favorite snacks (like cookies). Snehdeep is a CPG leader with an aim to help businesses achieve targets sustainably, through enabling innovation, commercialization, processes, best practices, and capability building. She has worked with developed and emerging brands like PepsiCo, Century Snacks, and Mars.

In this episode…

What are consumer trends leaning toward in the food and beverage space? How can you gain insight, innovate, and cater to the consumer’s needs?

Life is so precious, and that’s why consumers are turning toward healthier options. The good thing is that a lot of companies are advocates for healthy living, like Lenny & Larry’s, and are exemplary, innovative brands. These successful brands learn from challenges, bring that consumer feedback into the innovation process early on, have conceptual thinking, and are quick to come up with ideas. 

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Snehdeep Brar, the Head of Technical Services and R&D at Lenny & Larry’s, to discuss design thinking in innovation within the world of BFY food and beverage. Snehdeep explains strategies to successfully work in different markets, the tools and tactics she uses to be successful, and advice to people working with different brands.

Making a Difference With a Healthy Food Brand Featuring Richa Gupta, Good Food for Good

Richa Gupta is the President and Founder of Good Food For Good, a Toronto-based, purpose-driven brand on a mission to make it easy for people to eat well and do good. Richa was driven to start this brand by her growing desire to make a difference in the world through food. Richa’s fierce belief in the power of real, whole food and her love for cooking empowered her to create food products that were both nutritious and delicious. Richa is a passionate consumer marketer with over 15 years of experience in Canada, USA, and India spanning consumer packaged goods, retail, and fashion industries.

In this episode…

How do you bridge the gap between convenience, quality, giving, and consumption? How do you provide food that people feel good about where healthy meets delicious?

Richa Gupta says that brand owners should learn as much as they can about their consumers' needs in order to make a product that is tailored to them, thus increasing sales and reducing waste. Additionally, brands need to align their values with those of the community to do good beyond the business.

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Richa Gupta, the President and Founder of Good Food For Good, to discuss ways you can provide healthy food to consumers and run a successful business all at the same time. Richa shares her entrepreneurial journey and lessons she has learned, the details of mindful consumption, waste, and recycling, and her advice to other entrepreneurs wanting to make an impact.

Positively Impacting the World With a Brand Featuring Rebecca Hamilton, Badger

Rebecca Hamilton is the second-generation Owner and Co-CEO at Badger, a natural and organic personal care manufacturer, known for its unique company philosophy, pioneering family-friendly benefits, and B Corp community engagement. In addition to her role as Co-CEO, Rebecca leads marketing and sustainability initiatives. She's an advocate for issues concerning the environment, ingredient transparency, and societal change. Rebecca has spoken at the White House, addressed the UN Convention on biological diversity in support of organic and regenerative agriculture, and testified before Congress on behalf of safer cosmetics. Rebecca has also attended the Senate and House briefings on Capitol Hill in support of family-friendly workplace practices and chemical reform.

In this episode…

How can you run a profitable business and have a positive impact on the world at the same time?

Almost everyone dreams of running a business that positively impacts the environment and community and has good returns. As a business owner and advocate for environmental issues, ingredient transparency, and societal change, Rebecca Hamilton knows exactly what it takes to bring about positive change. From mission-aligned partnerships to leadership activism, Rebecca shares her journey to success to inspire other entrepreneurs out there.

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Rebecca Hamilton, second-generation Owner and Co-CEO at Badger, to discuss ways to impact the world positively with your brand and have good returns. Rebecca explains how she uses Badger as a platform to enact positive change, impacts the National Women's Business Council has on women in business, and she gives advice to people who want to be advocates and good business owners, brand stewards, and leaders within their organization.

The Sauce Queen’s Tips For Successfully Running a Business Featuring Maria Covarrubias, Cien Chiles

Maria Covarrubias is the Co-founder and Culinary Expert at Cien Chiles, a company that creates sustainable, healthy, and delicious hot sauces that make meals better while making the world a better place to cook them. Maria is an experienced culinary developer with a demonstrated history in the food and beverage industry. She also works at Chosen Foods as a Corporate Culinary Specialist. Previously, Maria worked as a professionally trained chef under Thomas Keller's Restaurant Group, both in Napa Valley and New York City.

Maria has been inspired by the flavors, taste, and power of food from a very young age. She finds joy in cooking for her daughter, friends, and family and showcasing fresh ingredients in every meal. For Maria, sourcing fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients is a priority for everything.

In this episode…

Is your mission to offer the world sustainable, healthy, and delicious meals — and run a successful business at the same time?

Maria Covarrubias, “the sauce queen,” has learned many lessons throughout her career as a successful entrepreneur. Now, she is sharing her insights to help others achieve their goals, eat better, and live a healthy life. To be successful, Maria says entrepreneurs need to have mentors, stop chasing too many opportunities at once, know the ins and outs of the business they want to create, and much more. Achieving success is easier if you learn from entrepreneurs that have already made it.

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Maria Covarrubias, the Co-founder and Culinary Expert at Cien Chiles, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey as “the sauce queen.” Maria shares the inspirations behind her sauce ideas, the importance of having mentors in any venture of your life, and her advice to entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators.

Building Beloved Brands No Matter the Category featuring Erika Cottrell, Harbor Wholesale

Erika Cottrell is the Vice President of Marketing for Harbor Wholesale. Erika has extensive experience building beloved brands with inspired marketing and innovation that consumers, customers, and employees love. She is a consumer-centered leader leveraging entrepreneurial, mid-size, and Fortune 500 experience to lead the strategic planning, development, and execution of a company’s business objectives.

Previously, Erika was the General Manager of the Coffee Solutions Group for The Middleby Corporation and the Vice President of Marketing in the Consumer Foods Division for The J.M. Smucker Company.

In this episode…

Running a national CPG brand and a distribution company seems like two different playing fields — but they might not be as different as you think.

Managing both types of companies requires strong leadership skills, authenticity and genuine concern for employees, and knowledge about the ins and outs of a business. What other skills are necessary to run two different types of companies? Erika Cottrell is here to tell you.

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, host Diana Fryc is joined by Erika Cottrell, Vice President of Marketing for Harbor Wholesale, to discuss her path in the world of CPG and distribution. Erika shares how her experiences at Smucker’s helped her grow Harbor Wholesale, how she helped Smucker’s smoothly integrate two companies after an acquisition, and why she loves working at Harbor Wholesale.

Enabling Healthy Living featuring Mae Steigler, Organifi

Mae Steigler is the CEO at Organifi, a brand that uses the healing powers of superfoods to make healthy living easy, fun, and delicious. Mae is a maker of premium, great-tasting adaptogenic blends. Responsible for the brand's overall alignment, Mae is driven by her passion and responsibility for the development of Organifi’s people and processes.

Organifi has been named one of Inc.’s 5000 fastest-growing companies four times and was on Forbes’ “great places to work” list for the last three years.

In this episode…

Are you struggling to make healthy living the new norm for you and your family?

Mae Steigler says that choosing delicious, healthy options doesn’t have to be complicated. As she talks about some of the healing powers that superfoods have, she also shares how her company is empowering others to take action and live healthier lives. Mae believes healthy eating should be for everyone, and that’s why she’s creating content to educate people on its importance.

In this episode of the Gooder Podcast, Diana Fryc is joined by Mae Steigler, the CEO at Organifi, to discuss how Mae successfully runs an organic brand. Mae explains the impacts of eating organically-produced foods, ways to empower your team to be sustainable, and the importance of educating people on eating healthy. Plus, Mae talks about some of the leadership skills she’s learned and how she helped the company pivot during the start of the pandemic.