What do you get when you mix entrepreneurial drive, a flair for branding, and a calm, grounding beverage? You get Kaviva — and the man behind it, Spencer McManes.
In this episode, Brent and Tony talk with Spencer about how he went from working in tech and sales to co-founding a kava-based beverage company that’s redefining social rituals and sobriety. They cover the launch of Kaviva, the power of creating chill in a hype-heavy world, and what it really takes to build something that feels aligned with your values.
It’s part business story, part spiritual insight, and all good vibes. Expect real talk about addiction, branding, mental health, and what it means to carve out your lane without copying the noise around you.
They cover:
Leaving the tech world to launch a wellness brand
Discovering kava and its grounding effects
Creating a beverage company that reflects personal values
How Kaviva went from idea to product
Battling burnout and addiction
Building a brand that’s culture-first
Redefining how people gather and socialize
Lessons from failure and early missteps
The challenges of authentic branding
Being a founder in the wellness space
Follow Spencer
Spencer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencermcmanes
Kaviva: https://enjoykaviva.com/
Kaviva on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enjoykaviva
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Chapters:
00:00:00 Spencer McManes joins the show
00:00:16 Leaving tech for something more meaningful
00:00:41 Why Kaviva isn’t just a drink, it’s a vibe
00:01:05 Building a beverage brand from scratch
00:01:21 Finding grounding in a chaotic world
00:01:38 Early failures and real pivots
00:01:51 Creating culture, not just product
00:02:11 Entrepreneurship without burnout
