Shows
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 28: Aidan Morris & Matt Wilson, Co-Founders of Orion SupplementsIn Episode 28, James and Sean sit down with Aidan Morris and Matt Wilson, Co-Founders of Orion Supplements — the Gen Z-driven, flavor-first protein powder brand shaking up the health and wellness aisle. In this episode, we cover:-Starting Orion in a college entrepreneurship class with $5,000 and a kitchen full of cocoa and PB Fit-Bootstrapping production with midnight shifts in a Cincinnati commercial kitchen and zero experience in supplement formulation-Building a community-powered brand by selling face-to-face in gyms and hitting the road in the now-legendary Orion RV (sleeping behind gyms included)-Designing packaging with personality — from...2025-05-2842 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 27: James Pidhurney, Co-Founder of ChalklessIn Episode 27, James and Sean sit down with James Pidhurney, Co-Founder of Chalkless, the patented grip enhancement brand shaking up sports, fitness, and even military training. In this episode, we cover:-Landing a double deal on Shark Tank with Mr. Wonderful and Rohan Oza (and what came after)-Building Chalkless from scratch by starting with driveway experiments and Gold Bond bottle hacks during the pandemic-Engineering the brand’s trade show booth experiences to maximize engagement, data, and sales-Surprising customer use cases — from pole fitness to pipe fitting to equestrian riders blocking horse sweat mid...2025-04-3043 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 26: Mike Rosinus & Julia Botsford, Father-Daughter Founders of GoHydrateIn Episode 26 of BrandBusters, James and Sean sit down with Mike Rosinus and Julia Botsford, the father-daughter duo behind GoHydrate, the clean hydration brand redefining what’s in your water. With Mike’s background in private equity and Julia’s 15+ years in big CPG at Kraft Heinz and Mars Food, they’ve turned a family hobby into a fast-growing DTC brand that’s competing in one of the most crowded categories in CPG.In this episode, we dive into:-The decade-long journey of GoHydrate—from Wall Street to wellness—and how a pivot away from creatine led to a rebrand a...2025-04-0241 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 25: Dylan Menter, Founder of Bear Balanced Creatine GummiesIn Episode 25 of BrandBusters, James and Sean sit down with Dylan Menter, founder of Bear Balanced, the world’s first creatine gummy brand. A Marine Corps veteran, SpaceX alum, and host of the How to Entrepreneur podcast, Dylan has built Bear Balanced into a category-defining brand in the booming sports supplement space.In this episode, we dive into:-The surprising origin story of Bear Balanced and how a gym mishap led to an industry-first innovation-Why gummies have become a dominant format in supplements and how they compare to traditional powders in bioavailability and effectiveness-T...2025-03-0545 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 24: Martin Forde, Retail Strategist & Former Dr. Squatch Retail DirectorIn Episode 24 of BrandBusters, James and Sean sit down with Martin Forde, a retail CPG sales expert whose career spans from PepsiCo to Dr. Squatch. Now running his own company, Martin helps brands craft winning retail strategies. In this episode, we dive into:-Why Martin chose to double down on retail sales over the popular DTC and Amazon-first approach-Key considerations for brands moving from digital-first to brick-and-mortar, including retail readiness, pricing strategies, and retailer selection-How DTC data can be leveraged to build a smart retail expansion plan-The role of omnichannel strategies...2025-02-2045 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 23: Daniel Schindler, CEO of BuoyIn Episode 23, James and Sean chat with Daniel Schindler, Founder and CEO of the hydration brand, Buoy, covering: -Differentiating within the saturated hydration category-Prioritizing "convenience and clean" in product development-Growing a DTC brand efficiently versus "at all costs"-Managing investors and communication cadence -Leveraging celebrities such as Chris Paul to endorse the brand vs. tapping into the medical community as brand ambassadors Daniel (and his new pup) offer a great perspective for brands that are operating lean and agile and show growth can start slowly and then scale suddenly. 2025-01-3040 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 22: Ryan Chen, Co-founder of NeuroIn Episode 22 (and our first of 2025), James and Sean chat with Ryan Chen, Co-Founder of Neuro, the Leading Functional Gum and Mint Brand. In this episode, we cover: -Starting a company with your best friend-Orienting innovation behind the brand's identify -Receiving and declining not one but TWO offers on Shark Tank to preserve the company's valuation and how the experience opened retail doors afterward-Expanding from digital-first to over 10,000 stores and how to determine which retailers are the right fit for your brand-Cultivating authentic relationships with celebrities like Apolo Ohno, Steve Aioki...2025-01-1643 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 21: David VanHimbergen, CEO of Reel PaperIn Episode 21, James and Sean "Keep it Reel" with David VanHimbergen, CEO of Reel Paper, covering topics such as:
-Transitioning from CPG behemoth Procter & Gamble to leading a challenger brand in the consumer goods space
-The innovation process within leading brands Crest and Tide
-Navigating retailer expansion, including selection, to # of stores, geos, products, and shelf placement and presence
-Differences in consumer purchasing behavior between DTC and brick-and-mortar
-Bucking the trend of sustainable brands, winning on product performance and pricing
-Moving...2024-11-2146 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 20: Nik Hall, Founder & CEO of Vita Five & REViVE Marketing PartnersIn Episode 20, James and Sean unpack the world of supplements with Nik Hall, Founder & CEO of Vita Five & REViVE Marketing Partners, covering:-Which supplements are here to stay and what's cyclical-Product category selection and outflanking big incumbents -Appealing to the 5 senses of prospective consumers-The economics of customer acquisition on Amazon-How to navigate (and survive) the process of being acquiredHaving been both brand and agency side, Nik brings a POV you won't want to miss. 2024-11-0752 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 19: Maggie Malek, CEO of CrispinIn Episode 19, James and Sean dive in with Maggie Malek, CEO of Cripsin, the OG Full Service Media & Creative Digital Marketing Agency behind THE Burger King, introducing Mini Cooper to the U.S., and the group that took on Big Tobacco.
We dive into:
-her career spanning the military, journalism, tech startups, to rising to the top of an agency
-adopting an intrapreneurial mindset to rise through the ranks
-navigating M&A and how to lead your team and clients
-how emerging brands should approach selecting an agency
-retail media being the next frontier of growth for brands
Maggie's...2024-10-2348 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 18: Matt Mullenax, Co-Founder & CEO of HuronIn Episode 18, James and Sean sit down with Matt Mullenax, Co-Founder & CEO of Huron, a fast-growing men’s care brand offering products with high-quality ingredients and captivating scents.
We cover:-Matt’s career path, from investment banking to Bonobos, and how his journey led him to launch Huron
-The challenges of launching a DTC (direct-to-consumer) men’s personal care brand
-The importance of customer-first thinking and how Huron emphasizes consumer feedback in product development
-The impact of scent on the men’s care market and why it’s a k...2024-10-0938 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 17: Brooks Powell, Founder & CEO of CheersIn Episode 17, James and Sean talk shop with Brooks Powell, Founder & CEO of the #1 alcohol-related health & wellness product, Cheers.
We cover:
-Launching health & wellness products that are early in their clinical evidence life cycle
-The science behind the product, why it works, and what the average alcohol consumer gets wrong biologically
-The value of building "in the open" and how a founder-led content marketing strategy can unlock retail distribution
-Chronicling his experience from Shark Tank from application to vetting to pitching before the Sharks and how it created a sales surge
-The power of manifesting your goals and building...2024-09-1950 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 16: Sean Lee on founding the Zevo Insect BrandIn Episode 16, James and Sean flip the script and James interviews Sean about founding the Zevo brand and his time in the P&G Ventures studio.
Sean is the co-founder and President of Cincy Brands (a CPG operating company), Co-host of BrandBusters, and Co-Founder of the Zevo Brand. Sean spent a decade at Procter & Gamble in Brand Management - leading brands like Iams pet food and Old Spice deodorant. He was the former CMO of Amify (sold to Cart.com). Sean has worked as an executive for private equity and venture capital-backed CPG and eCommerce businesses.
In this episode...2024-08-2850 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 15: Dr. Steven Goudy on Founding Dr. Noze Best While Working Full Time as a Pediatric ENTIn Episode 15, James and Sean dive deep with Dr. Steven Goudy, the founder of the innovative babycare brand, Dr. Noze Best, and Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ENT) and Vice Chairman of Research of Otolaryngology at Emory University School of Medicine.
We discuss:
-The journey from being a world-renowned pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) to founding a CPG brand centered on improving upper respiratory health in children.
-How personal experiences with his own children and patients sparked the key insight to create a hospital-grade nasal suction device.
-The importance of listening to repeated consumer needs and transforming those insights into actionable product...2024-08-1447 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 14: Cody Griffin on Life @ First Day, Dr. Squatch, & BainIn Episode 14, James and Sean talk shop with Cody Griffin, Head of Marketing at the emerging supplements brand, First Day, former VP of Marketing at Dr. Squatch, and Management Consultant at Bain. We discuss: -How management consulting is comparable to a residency in running a business and the most successful DTC and startups have smart people AND a bias for action-Understanding why you were hired (and trusting that) while demonstrating the skills you have that they don't know about -Being ruthless about your brand's growth levers, especially first purchase AOV, to improve first purchase...2024-08-0146 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 13: Zach Bryan, NFL & PE, Amazon Direct-From China, and Resurgence of Sonic LogosIn Episode 13, James and Sean discuss:
1. The artist's meteoric grassroots rise...and Sean's infatuation
2. NFL greenlights minority ownership stakes in teams from private equity firms
3. Amazon draws blood in the battle against Temu
4. Don't call it a comeback...how sonic logos are resonating with consumers 2024-07-1828 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 12: Clean Age Brand - Rachel Peters, Founder & CEO, and Brady DeLong, VP of SalesIn Episode 12, James and Sean have an engaging conversation with Rachel Peters and Brady DeLong.Rachel is the Founder and CEO of Clean Age, a personal care brand designed for teenagers with a strong presence in major retailers like Target and Walmart. With over 15 years of experience in CPG branding, Rachel shares her journey from inspiration to execution.
Brady, the VP of Sales and Operations, brings a diverse background in natural CPG and culinary worlds, adding valuable insights to the conversation.We discuss:-How Rachel's background and family life inspired the...2024-07-0948 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 11: Will Nitze, Founder of IQ BarIn Episode 11, James and Sean have a vibrant discussion with Will Nitze.Will is the Founder and CEO of IQBAR, a company that produces plant-based nutritional protein bars, hydration mixes, and instant coffee that boost brain and body performance. Before IQBAR, Will was a Sales and Marketing Manager for Wood Mackenzie, a global insight business for renewables, energy, and natural resources. He's a Harvard Grad and Host of the Eating Glass podcast. We discuss: -How Will got into CPG (and his first retail launch into the drug channel)-The power of boredom avoidance and getting...2024-06-1943 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 10: Walmart's Next Billion Dollar Brand, Pause Ads, and Buc-ee'sIn Episode 10, James and Sean discuss:
1. Walmart launching its first private label brand in 20 years
2. Major streamers to seek to boost consumer engagement via Pause Ads
3. How Buc-ee's, an American road trip icon, built a revered brand identity2024-06-0530 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 9: Uber Eats Videos, Tik Tok Ban, and Amazon Ad RevenueIn Episode 9, James and Sean discuss:
1. Uber Eats' new short-form video product to help drive restaurant discovery
2. The (potential) Tik Tok ban in the US and what it means
3. Amazon's record ad revenue quarter on the back of by Prime Video2024-05-0715 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 8: Chase's Retail Media Bet, Olympics' Ads Record, and Tortured PoetsIn Episode 8, James and Sean discuss:1. Chase's unveiling of Chase Media Solutions, giving advertisers access to merchant category spending behavior 2. NBC scores big with a record $1.2 billion in ad sales 100 days prior to the games taking place in Paris3. Sean reveals his inner Swiftie and discusses Taylor's marketing masterclass with the surprise double release of The Tortured Poets Department2024-04-2429 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 7: Getting Acquired, Amazon Fee Delay, and Dr. Squatch Up for SaleIn Episode 7, James and Sean discuss
1. Amify (our old stomping ground) was sold to Cart.com. We talk about what it was like to work for a growth-stage startup.
2. Amazon is delaying their new low inventory fee.
3. Dr. Squatch shopping around a sale of the Brand.2024-04-0937 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 6: Amazon Raises Inbound Fees, Walmart Acquires Vizio, and BrandBusting ManscapedIn Episode 6, James and Sean have a BALL breaking down:
1. What Amazon's raised inbound fees mean for brands
2. Why Walmart's acquisition of Vizio is a home run
3. How Manscaped blitzscaled by identifying a white space in one of the most competitive categories while destigmatizing a taboo topic2024-03-1338 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 5: Top Tips to Get the Most Out of Trade ShowsIn Episode 5, The Brandbusters - James and Sean - chat about how brands, retailers, and vendors can get the most out of attending tradeshows.
James is coming to you live from eTail West.
What you'll learn:
1. Should your brand or company attend a tradeshow?
2. Putting in leg work before the show (where the magic happens)
3. Tips to network at the show and build lasting relationships
4. Following up and following through.
Want exclusive content from James and Sean? Sign up for their newsletter.
...2024-02-2927 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 4: Target’s New Value Brand, Rise of Chinese Ecomm Sellers, & Staying OrganizedWelcome to BrandBusters with your hosts, James Schwyn and Sean Lee. They shoot you straight about the latest in CPG, eCommerce, and life - without the corporate jargon, buzzwords, and bullsh*t.
In Episode 4, James and Sean tackle Target's new value strategy, Chinese ecommerce sellers, Lyft's "fat-fingered" earnings, and how they stay organized at work.
1. How did Lyft fat-finger their earnings report to send the stock soaring 60%?
2. Will Target's new value brand - Dealworthy - attract value shoppers, or will it be a bust?
3. Are the 2020s the decade of Chinese eCommerce sellers, and will they put US sellers...2024-02-2235 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 3: Super Bowl 2024 Recap - Who Boomed and Who Busted?Welcome to BrandBusters with your hosts, James Schwyn and Sean Lee. They shoot you straight about the latest in CPG, eCommerce, and life - without the corporate jargon, buzzwords, and bullsh*t.
In Episode 3, James and Sean cover all things Super Bowl - from the numbers and the costs to the commercials. They cover:
1. The cost of a Super Bowl spot and the valuable eyeballs that come with it
2. Takeaways from the commercials
3. How to evaluate advertising creative
4. A real-time review of their favorite commercials that "boomed" or "busted"2024-02-1332 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 2: Streaming Ads, AI Shopping Assistants, BrandBusting Stanley, and Being an "A" Player at HomeWelcome to BrandBusters with your hosts, James Schwyn and Sean Lee. They shoot it to you straight about the latest in CPG, eCommerce, and life - without the corporate jargon, buzzwords, and bullsh*t.
In Episode 2, James and Sean take on the machines and a cultural zeitgeist brand. They cover:
1. The impact on consumers and brands of Amazon Prime Video (and others) showing streaming ads
2. Chatting with products before you buy them with Amazon's new AI
3. They "BrandBust" the Stanley Brand, discuss its meteoric rise, and its latest negative PR (ooooh spicy)
4. They talk about balancing family, life outside...2024-02-0734 min
BrandBusters CPG and eCommerce PodcastBrandBusters Ep. 1: Let's Talk eCommerce, Solo Stove, and Cool Sh*tWelcome to BrandBusters with your hosts, James Schwyn and Sean Lee. They shoot it to you straight about the latest in CPG, eCommerce, and life - without the corporate jargon, buzzwords, and bullsh*t.
In Episode 1, James and Sean dive into:
Amazon Vendor Central rumors about them stopping the sale of low-selling price items and what it means for brands.
They "BrandBust" the Solo Stove Snoop Dogg campaign
Chat fitness routines and how they stay sane for work and family demands
Talk about who they are and what to expect from the BrandBusters...2024-01-2718 min