From Side Hustle to Snack Sensation: The Spicy Rise of Crosseye’s Ghost Pretzels
In this episode of Coffee & Grit, we sit down with John Hyden a Difference Maker, and someone who turned late-night kitchen experiments into a full-blown viral snack brand. What started as a creative outlet during the 2008 housing crash quickly snowballed into something way bigger… thanks to a little fire, a lot of flavor, and one pickle guy’s review that blew up the internet.
Meet the creator behind Crosseye’s Ghost Pretzels—a visionary who took an old nickname from the '90s and turned it into a bold brand that people can’t get enough of. We dive deep into his journey from job loss to gourmet pretzel hustle, how he bootstrapped everything from packaging to pricing, and the moment he realized… “this might actually be something.” You’ll hear:
- The full behind-the-scenes story of going viral overnight
- How he turned a rap name into a snack brand
- Why hoodies with his logo are flying off the shelves
- The tough love convo that helped him finally price his product right
- What it means to stay humble, keep learning, and build one pretzel at a time
This isn’t just a business story—it’s the American dream, dipped in ghost dust and seasoned with grit. 🎯 Want a taste? Visit
www.crosseyesghostpretzels.com or follow along on Facebook.
Learn more about Jason's work!
Website:
https://www.roar.consultingFacebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jtroarconsultInsta:
https://www.instagram.com/roarconsultinginc/Tik Tok:
tiktok.com/@coffeeandgritpodcastLinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-tracey?trk=org-employeesEmail: jasontracey@roar.consulting
Phone: (810) 522-8931
Get to know John’s work!
Website:
https://crosseyesghostpretzels.comFacebook:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Crosseyes-Ghost-Pretzels/100063547511188/Email: zmc@crosseyeghostpretzels.com
Become a supporter of this podcast:
https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.
