A favorite soda can be a huge part of people’s identity – roughly half of the American population drinks at least one soda on a daily basis – which is why OLIPOP is completely reimagining the soda industry with its healthier, prebiotic, low sugar alternative that tastes as good – if not better – than its traditional counterparts.
Ben Goodwin has spent his entire career building the beverage industry and business skills needed to conjure great tasting flavors from great-for-you ingredients. Ben is not only OLIPOP’s co-founder, CEO, and formulator, but also a huge reason why the innovative B Corp Certified startup’s bright-colored cans are already in stores across the country.
At just 20 years old, he helped ferment (launch) a kombucha company, later founded and worked as lead formulator for kefir-based probiotic soda brand Obi, and then launched OLIPOP in 2017 with co-founder David Lester.
Hear Ben share OLIPOP’s “15-year overnight success story,” the science behind the benefits of prebiotics vs probiotics, and his lifelong quest to disrupt the soda behemoths with a sustainable, healthy alternative – which IS still a soda!
Episode Highlights
00:00 Ben Goodwin on creating functional soda
00:54 Conor Gaughan introduces Ben and OLIPOP
04:42 Rough upbringing, passion for health, and dropping out of college
11:23 Founder mythologies, key habits, and first beverage formulation
17:57 Learning to tinker, microbiology, and building a first beverage brand
25:51 What is OLIPOP, the 3rd wave of soda, and making healthy taste good
32:13 First 4 flavors, scaling to stores nationwide, and the science of microbiomes
44:40 B Corp Certification, doing good and doing well, and defining positive impact
52:52 Where to learn more (and find the closest store with OLIPOPs near you!
53:41 End credits
If you liked this, listen next to our episode with Joey Zwillinger of Allbirds
More on OLIPOP PBC and Ben Goodwin:
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference!
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.
The world currently removes less than .0001% of the carbon required to meet the IPCC’s 2050 goal – so there’s A LOT of work to be done – which is what makes Graphyte’s ready-to-go solution all the more valuable.
Barclay Rogers, a former environmental lawyer, mechanical engineer, and multi-time founder, is bringing his unique set of experiences and leadership skills to making scalable, affordable CO2 removal an immediate reality with his new startup, Graphyte.
Rather than rely on energy-intensive and still-developing technology like Direct Air Capture, Barclay and his team realized that they could use nature’s own hyper-efficient carbon capture process – photosynthesis – to leverage natural resources in their revolutionary Carbon Casting process, a first-of-its-kind technique that traps carbon in easy to store bricks forged from the biomass waste generated by farms, logging camps, and paper mills.
With their world-leading carbon removal operations already underway at their Pine Bluff, Arkansas facility, Graphyte is able to offer durable carbon removal that's scalable, affordable, and, maybe most importantly, ready right now.
Hear Barclay Rogers talk about Graphyte’s origin story, the importance of scalability for climate solutions, and why his native Arkansas is the perfect home for biomass-based carbon removal.
Episode Highlights
00:00 Barclay Rogers on carbon removal in the heartland
00:32 Conor Gaughan introduces Barclay Rogers and Graphyte
04:37 Arkansas roots, natural resources, and mechanical engineering
09:36 Environmental law, government, and pivot to entrepreneurship
19:20 Startup career, the carbon industry, and the potential of biomass
25:25 The origin of Graphtye, durable carbon removal, and scalability
33:43 Innovation curves, public policy factors, and the value of carbon
40:24 Breakthrough Ventures, climate change, and growing a community
46:11 Leaving a legacy and finding motivation
47:43 Where to learn more and end credits
If you liked this episode, listen next to Dr. Vince Romanin of Gradient on Heat Pumps, Zero-Carbon Infrastructure, and the Triple Bottom Line
More on Graphyte and Barclay Rogers:
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference!
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.
Tom Neyhart founded PosiGen in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to help the families and communities most impacted by the disaster rebuild their homes, save money, and boost energy resilience through solar power. He not only succeeded, but created an entirely new market by providing affordable solar and energy efficiency to low and middle income families.
Tom, who moved from CEO to Executive Chairman of the Board last year, pioneered a new era of solar development years ahead of other firms, positioning B Corp Certified PosiGen as a key leader in the industry. An inspirational leader, successful businessman, and serial entrepreneur, he held leadership roles in construction and retail before starting PosiGen in 2011. Tom grew the innovative company as CEO over the next twelve years, expanding from Louisiana to other states, skyrocketing its revenue, and receiving numerous recognitions, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Blue Ribbon Award and Department of Defense’s Patriot Award.
Hear Tom Neyhart talk about how a desire to help others led him to revolutionize solar power as we know it, what makes PosiGen’s unique model so affordable, and why prioritizing impact benefits people, the planet, and profits.
Episode Highlights
00:00 Tom Neyhart on rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina
00:48 Conor Gaughan introduces Tom and PosiGen3
05:25 Louisiana roots, serial entrepreneurship, and teamwork
14:44 Hurricane Katrina, helping others, and the origin of PosiGen
23:19 Selling solar savings, PosiGen’s unique model, and building trust
29:50 Pitching investors, B Corp status, and maximizing impact
39:59 The future of renewable services, public policy, and scaling solar
46:38 What’s next for PosiGen, exciting innovations, and leaving a legacy
50:19 Where to learn more and end credits
If you liked this episode, listen next to Michael Chanin of Cherry Street Energy on Scaling Solar, Utilities, and Market Competition
More on PosiGen and Tom Neyhart:
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference!
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.