Kim Allardyce, the CEO of Shire City Herbals, spoke about how an emphasis on professionalization helped reset and revitalize the now fast-growing brand of organic wellness tonics. This episode also includes a conversation with Vittorio Marzotto, the director of business development for Santa Margherita USA who chronicled the wine brand’s remarkable history and how his great-grandfather’s efforts to build a sustainable agri-business continue through today.

BetterBrand founder/CEO Aimee Yang spoke about how she analyzed the opportunity to create a better-for-you bagel, why raising her first $1 million was both remarkable and lamentable, the fortuitous way she met several investors, what she wanted to convey in branding and package design and why she embraces a “software mindset” when it comes to iteration.

Following a two-week period that saw five beverage brands collectively add nearly $60 million in new funding, the hosts discussed each deal and how the companies are planning to deploy the capital. They also spoke about the increasing prevalence of food and beverage conglomerates internally developing on-trend concepts while taking branding and design cues from entrepreneurial companies.

In this episode, we sat down with pioneering winemaker Joe Wagner, the founder of Copper Cane Wines & Provisions, who is best known for creating Meiomi, an industry-shifting brand that he sold in 2015 for $315 million. Wagner spoke about aligning his winemaking style with a “go with your palate” credo, how a potentially risky price reduction became a game changer for Meiomi and why he’s not affected by criticism from some within the wine industry.