ContenderCast with Justin Honaman
Business & Finance
About
Welcome to the ContenderCast with Justin Honaman, a leadership and Consumer Industries entrepreneurship conversation centered on shining a light on bright ideas. The ContenderCast is the top global Consumer Industries entrepreneurship podcast. Justin is a digital commerce leader, author, communicator, and Consumer Products / Retail industry thought-leader based in Atlanta, Georgia. For additional information and guest access, visit contendercast.com. Every winner started as a contender!
Episodes
- ZICO COCONUT WATER, GROUNDFORCE CAPITAL & AN ENTREPRENEUR'S GUIDE TO FREEDOM
Mark Rampolla built ZICO Coconut Water over nine years and sold it to Coca-Cola for over $200M. Then seven years later, bought it back. Now he's rebuilding it bigger than ever, going for $1B+, and documenting the entire process. Mark also…
- EVERBOWL
Jeff Fenster, founder of Everbowl, joins Justin to discuss the fast-growing brand. Everbowl is a Southern California fast-casual chain founded in 2016, known for customizable superfood bowls and smoothies promoting a healthy lifestyle.
- ALAFFIA :: CLEAN, GREEN, FAIR TRADE BEAUTY
Olowo-n'djo Tchala, founder of Alaffia, shares insights with Justin Honaman on establishing and expanding his clean, green, fair-trade beauty brand over a 20-year period.
- PAKING DUCK :: CUSTOM PACKAGING FOR CPG BRANDS
Jason Wong, founder of Paking Duck, discusses his company's approach to custom packaging for consumer brands, utilizing an innovative manufacturing model and proprietary tools to provide speed and flexibility.
- LOONEN :: STILL & SPARKLING SPRING-SOURCED PURIFIED WATER
Clara Sieg explains the founding of Loonen, a purified water brand. Her focus on avoiding toxins and plastics during pregnancy led her to investigate water quality, ultimately inspiring the creation of Loonen.
- AMERICAN VINEGAR WORKS
Rodrigo Vargas discusses American Vinegar Works' revival of artisanal vinegar production, transforming a historic industry into a modern craft brand to meet consumer demand for authentic products. The global vinegar market is valued at $10…
- SUCCESS IS A NUMBERS GAME: ACHIEVE BIGGER GOALS BY CHANGING THE ODDS
Author Kyle Austin Young discusses his book, which explains that goals have inherent probabilities of success and failure. He argues that acknowledging and managing these odds, rather than ignoring them, is key to achieving objectives.
- PEESPORT PREMIUM PEE BOTTLE
Peesport founder Henry Snow discusses his company, which produces portable pee bottles trusted by truckers, travelers, and others. Snow shares insights into the brand's growth, its focus on adventure and humor, and its aspirations to becom…
- COOKTOP SAFETY
David Eby, founder and CEO of Cooktop Safety, joins Justin Honaman to discuss the world's first AI-powered automatic safe smart cooking system. They explore SensorAI's predictive technology and its applications in aging in place, multi-fam…
- HIGH LEVEL SCIENCE
Ashley Parker Angel and Bobby Klebanoff discuss their wellness brand, High Level Science. The brand offers medical-grade supplements, including High Level Heart + Body + Mind and High Level Man, developed with a foundation in science and p…
- JULIE ORIGINALS :: DESERT DWELLERS FLASH CARDS
Julie Bonner discusses the creation of Desert Dwellers Flash Cards, which merge education with fine art to engage children with desert wildlife. The conversation with Justin Honaman also covers leveraging creative design for consumer produ…
- SIPSY
Hala Shamas, Founder and CEO of Sipsy, joins Justin Honaman to discuss her company's approach to alcohol retail and e-commerce. Sipsy aims to redefine the shopping experience through a blend of data-driven strategy and community-led conten…
- BREAKWATER SUPPLY
Josh Lipinski, founder of the digital-first outdoor brand Breakwater Supply, shares his experience transitioning from a 15-year career in tech to leading daily operations, including sourcing, product development, and e-commerce, for his co…
- SPICED UP SEASONINGS :: FROM CHEF CALVIN HARRIS
Chef Calvin Harris created Spiced Up seasoning blends to help people cook convenient, healthy, and flavorful meals at home, addressing the common trade-off between convenience and taste.
- MAIA YOGURT :: GRASS-FED GOODNESS. FULL OF LOVE, NOT SUGAR.
Founder Hamilton Colwell joins Justin Honaman on ContenderCast to discuss Maia Yogurt. The conversation focuses on the brand's dedication to creating a thick, creamy yogurt texture through a unique settling process, emphasizing a high-qual…
- CHEEKY COCKTAILS
Cheeky, a brand of non-alcoholic cocktail mixers founded by bartenders, utilizes high-quality ingredients and craft cocktail bar specifications. Founder April Wachtel joins host Justin Honaman to discuss the brand's approach to mixology.
- SHADY LADY HATS
Allyson Mandelbaum shares the origin story of her hat brand, Shady Lady, which she created because she couldn't find hats that met her standards for style and comfort. The brand, designed in Fairfield, CT, offers hats for both kids and adu…
- HOLLOW SOCKS + FIX-IT-STICKS :: MEET ENTREPRENEUR BRIAN DAVIS
Brian Davis, entrepreneur behind Fix-It-Sticks and Hollow Socks, discusses his ventures and the process of bringing new ideas from concept to market with host Justin Honaman.
- FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS TO BIG DREAMS: LORI PINE'S JOURNEY TO BECOMING THE JOY CEO!
Lori Pine, also known as The Joy CEO, shares her journey from a corporate VP at companies like Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola to becoming an executive life coach. She now focuses on empowering ambitious women to redefine their stories and li…
- OLIVA DORADO :: OLIVE OIL
Jeremy Sernick, founder of Oliva Dorado, joins Justin Honaman on ContenderCast to discuss his single-origin organic olive oil brand. They explore the superior taste and quality of Oliva Dorado compared to typical grocery store olive oils.
- AMY'S KITCHEN
Paul Schiefer, President of Amy's Kitchen, joins Justin Honaman to discuss the family-owned company, founded in 1987, which produces organic and non-GMO convenience and frozen foods.
- NORTH AVENUE CELLARS :: WINE
Charlie Fauroat discusses the wine brand North Avenue Cellars with Justin Honaman on ContenderCast. The brand was founded by four Georgia Tech friends who reunited after 20 years, blending their diverse skills to create a wine that tells a…
- SUNDAY :: LAWN CARE
Coulter Lewis, CEO of Sunday Lawn Care, discusses the company's subscription-based lawn care system. The service uses personalized, eco-friendly products and custom plans based on location and soil data to promote lawn health with fewer ch…
- NAN'S ORIGINAL RECIPES :: SALAD DRESSINGS
Corinne Cartwright joins Justin Honaman to discuss Nan's Original Recipes, a food brand inspired by Nan's resourceful cooking and healthy salad dressings made with quality ingredients.
- JUST CALL ME SHIRLEY :: PREMIUM CANNED SHIRLEY TEMPLE COCKTAIL
Co-founders Sydney Attis and Mikayla Garcia discuss their brand, Just Call Me Shirley, which offers canned Shirley Temple cocktails inspired by 1960s sophistication. The drinks feature natural cherry and lemon-lime flavors with retro red c…
- GOSPOTCHECK :: REIMAGINING HOW THE MOBILE WORKFORCE WORKS
Cory Knopp joins Justin Honaman to discuss GoSpotCheck, a company founded by childhood friends Matt and Joey. They explore how GoSpotCheck uses data and analytics to enhance the customer experience within the consumer goods and retail indu…
- BETTER & BETTER :: ORAL WELLNESS TOOTHPASTE
Vladimir Vukicevic, co-founder and CEO of Better & Better, joins Justin Honaman to discuss oral wellness toothpaste. They cover the product's formulation, which excludes ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, fluoride, and parabens, focus…
- CUSTOM NEON :: TURN YOUR IDEA INTO AN EYE-CATCHING LED NEON SIGN
Justin Honaman speaks with Jake Munday, founder and CEO of Custom Neon, a company that creates custom LED neon signs. The signs are handmade in the US, China, and Australia and are sold in more than 60 countries.
- PASSPORT GLOBAL :: YOUR PASSPORT TO GLOBAL GROWTH
Alex Yancher, Co-Founder and CEO of Passport, joins Justin Honaman on ContenderCast to discuss launching and scaling a business focused on global growth for DTC and marketplace companies. Passport provides technology, logistics, and compli…
- DISTILLERY OF MODERN ART
Seth Watson, founder of Distillery of Modern Art (DoMA), joins Justin Honaman to discuss the creation of craft spirits that foster community. DoMA distinguishes itself through exceptional spirits and unique label art, encouraging self-expr…
- OOLIE DIPS & YOGURTS :: IT'S A NEW ERA FOR EGGS!
ContenderCast features Faith Ferguson discussing Oolie, a brand that uses Free-Range eggs to create dairy-free dips and yogurts. Oolie emphasizes simple, creamy, and protein-rich foods, sourcing eggs from small family farms.
- KÜLTEE KAVIAR™ POPPING BOBA
Nils Schaede, Director of Marketing at Zentis, joins Justin Honaman on ContenderCast to discuss Kültee Kaviar, a brand of popping boba balls. The conversation covers the product's redefined experience, natural flavors, unique texture, and…
- STEWARDSHIP FOR BUSINESS: A PLAYBOOK TO DRIVE MORE VALUE INTO YOUR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Ira Gleser, formerly of Coca-Cola and Microsoft, discusses with Justin Honaman how customer relationships and earned trust create long-term business partnerships. The episode emphasizes understanding the value delivered to customers and th…
- TRUBAR
Erica Groussman, founder and CEO of TRUBAR, discusses the vegan protein bar brand, which uses 100% plant-based ingredients and is free of gluten, dairy, soy, sugar alcohols, and harmful seed oils. The brand, founded in 2019, has experience…
- SEAHORSE SNACKS
Stacy Martin, founder of Seahorse Snacks, discusses her experience with a rare CDH1 genetic mutation that necessitated the removal of her stomach. This condition requires her to eat frequently, leading her to develop innovative and delicio…
- MATCH MY MAKEUP
Victoria Ha, co-founder of Match My Makeup, discusses her company's scientifically derived foundation shade matching platform, which has been adopted by retailers like Net-a-Porter and Clarins. She also shares her experience working in hea…
- TONY ROMA'S
Tony Roma's is a full service, casual dining family restaurant where you can find premier BBQ ribs and steaks in locations across the world. With over 100 family restaurant locations on five continents, Tony Roma's is one of the most globa…
- TIP TOP K9 DOG TRAINING
Tip Top helps you quickly fix behavior problems and bring the best out of your dog! They got started 15 years ago in Oklahoma and now have locations across the U.S. where they help people communicate better with their dogs. With the Tip To…
- DIVE NETWORKS / DIVE BILLBOARDS
Let's dive in! Deborah Hall is CEO and Co-Founder of DIVE Billboards, a company renowned for transforming digital out of home (DOOH) screens with real-time, human-curated and brand safe content. Under her leadership, alongside Co-Founder M…
- DIXIE GRACE'S BOILED PEANUTS
Discover the unexpectedly craveable taste of Dixie Grace's Boiled Peanuts. Unique taste, layered in flavor and texture. Plant-based protein grown in the ground, not in a lab. Minimally processed with carefully curated ingredients. Beloved…
- SEEME INDEX :: AI FOR INCLUSIVE MARKETING DECISIONS
Asha Shivaji is an accomplished marketer, having collaborated with renowned global brands, such as Apple, Disney, Moet Hennessy, Estee Lauder, and Johnson & Johnson. Throughout her career, Asha has focused on revamping and modernizing mark…
- WYNK :: HEMP-DERIVED 1:1 THC:CBD ZERO-CALORIE SELTZER
WYNK was founded in 2020 by Casey Parzych, Angus Rittenburg, and Shawn Sheehan, three friends (a beverage manufacturer, mechanical engineer, and energy trader) looking for a new opportunity in the cannabis beverage market. Their challenge:…
- THE PEACHIE SPOON
Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle amidst changing diet trends and busy lifestyles can be overwhelming. In addition to being a wife and mother of three, Meredith Mann is a CPT and holistic nutrition and wellness consultant. She special…
- GOSILI :: REUSABLE SILICONE STRAWS, CUPS, FOOD STORAGE, & TABLEWARE
GoSili was founded in 2006 based on the principal that it was time to create a cultural shift away from toxic and excessive plastics. Founders, Giuliana Schawb and Stacey Feeley believed there was a better alternative to plastics, so they…
- BAKIT BOX :: BLEND BAKING WITH STEM!
Unlock the full adventure with Bake & Explore Kits, where engaging activities, global flavors, and fun challenges await. Or check out the Individual Baking Kits that offer fun and easy-to-follow recipes. Although these kits don't include a…
- MIGHTYLICIOUS BAKERY :: COOKIES, FLOURS, & MIXES
With just six simple ingredients, these cookies were designed for purists. They use the best quality peanut butter, eggs, vanilla, and maple syrup to create a cookie that is somewhere between fudge and cookie in texture. Meet Mightylicious…
- SHIPLAB :: THE ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT PARTNER
ShipLab is a San Diego based fulfillment center that is focused on providing simple and effective order fulfillment and inventory management to help entrepreneurs focus on growing their business, not just maintaining it. Co-founder Alan Si…
- RATIONALE BREWING
Jamie and his sons were sitting around the campfire having a few beers and talking about beer, naturally. His oldest was about to leave for college, so Jamie encouraged him to think for himself when it came to drinking alcohol, regardless…
- AMC GLOBAL :: LEADERS IN BRAND INNOVATION & LAUNCH
AMC Global delivers insights from real consumers in real markets to help you optimize your launch strategies. Shira Horn, Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Innovation, joins Justin to discuss market research, insights and anal…
- PICKYTARIAN :: ELEGANT, COMPOSTABLE, & DISPOSABLE DINNERWARE
Pickytarian, an e-commerce brand that creates stylish, sturdy, and compostable tableware for special occasions. Pickytarian stemmed from a desire to elevate an experience that is often riddled with single-use plastics, outdated designs, an…