U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

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U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

N/ATION Collaborative, LLC

43 episodes

2 weeks ago

A lot can happen in eighteen months, and we re-visited our season one conversation with The Modern Substitute's Myles Faulkner to discuss the state of the non-alcoholic category. In a follow-up to that original interview we talk about the rise of hemp-infused beverages, a continuing stream of celebrity-backed brands, and a mid-strength category that probably isn't getting enough attention yet. We also talk about some of Myles' faves, what he'd like to see from a hospitality perspective at the...

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Society & Culture,

Health & Fitness

All content for U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking is the property of N/ATION Collaborative, LLC and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

A lot can happen in eighteen months, and we re-visited our season one conversation with The Modern Substitute's Myles Faulkner to discuss the state of the non-alcoholic category. In a follow-up to that original interview we talk about the rise of hemp-infused beverages, a continuing stream of celebrity-backed brands, and a mid-strength category that probably isn't getting enough attention yet. We also talk about some of Myles' faves, what he'd like to see from a hospitality perspective at the...

Show more...

Society & Culture,

Health & Fitness

Episodes (20/43)

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

The State of Non-Alc, Featuring the Modern Substitute

A lot can happen in eighteen months, and we re-visited our season one conversation with The Modern Substitute's Myles Faulkner to discuss the state of the non-alcoholic category. In a follow-up to that original interview we talk about the rise of hemp-infused beverages, a continuing stream of celebrity-backed brands, and a mid-strength category that probably isn't getting enough attention yet. We also talk about some of Myles' faves, what he'd like to see from a hospitality perspective at the...

2 weeks ago

43 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Cannabis For Grownups: Why Boomers Are An Ideal THC Market

Repeat entrepreneurs who have just entered their seventies, Pharos Brands' co-founders Mary Eggers Bernuth and Rhyno Stinchfield are no rookies to starting something new. They're equally unabashed in their enthusiasm for introducing fellow baby boomers to the benefits of consuming cannabis beverages. We sit down with Pharos' Mary Bernuth to talk about what led her to expanding beyond a successful psychotherapy practice to enter the exciting, if unpredictable world of cannabis. We also talk ab...

1 month ago

37 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

REWIND: Is Mid-Strength ABV Having A Moment?

On the season premiere of ABC's iconic, entrepreneurial series Shark Tank, Dad Strength Brewing co-founders Ryan Kutscher and Craig Carey scored investments from not one, but THREE of the show's sharks; Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, and Rashaun Williams. In this bonus episode we replay clips from both our August, 2024 conversation with Dad Strength's Ryan Kutscher, and our February, 2025 one with Brandon Joldersma, CEO of low-ABV Arlow Wines. It's worth revisiting a trend that seems to...

1 month ago

18 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

The Mainstreaming Of Cannabis Wellness Culture

With a career background that has included stops at medical supply and equipment behemoth, McKesson, as well as executive roles at a variety of life sciences companies, Botanical Sciences CEO Gary Long knows healthcare. While his background may not seem like a traditional fit for the medical and hemp-derived cannabis world, his arrival along with other outsiders signal a transformation underway in a category becoming known more for its positive lifestyle impacts than for previous negative ste...

2 months ago

37 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Deconstructing The Future Of NA Spirits With De Soi's Morgan McLachlan

When De Soi/Amass Co-Founder Morgan McLachlan was growing up in British Columbia, Canada, making booze for a living wasn't on her radar. But a love of botany and the alchemy of beverage making drew her in, and eventually she became one of the few female master distillers in the world. In our conversation with Morgan we talk first about her journey into the world of alcohol, and why expanding into the non-alcoholic realm became a priority. We also touch on her thoughts of the burgeoning THC dr...

3 months ago

32 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Sip Into The Future: Hemp Beverage Expo Recap

As consumers turn toward functional beverages that don't involve alcohol, hemp-infused drinks seem poised to continue their rocket rise. But with growth comes challenges, not to mention regulatory headaches as legislators at the state and federal level grapple with this new industry. We attended the 2nd ever Hemp Beverage Expo in Atlanta to understand what's happening in the industry. Is the future of the category at the micro-dose level, or should brands scale up? What is the price tolerance...

3 months ago

21 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Carl Radke's Fourth Wall Vision For Elevated, Soft Cocktail Sips

Best known for his ongoing role in the hit Bravo series, Summer House, Carl Radke also has a growing passion for the non-alcoholic space, with a desire to create an elevated environment where people can enjoy social beverages without alcohol. In our conversation, Carl shares his perspective on why the category is in dire need of proper places to enjoy these drinks in the social setting for which they're intended, and how that led to the development of Soft Bar + Cafe, opening later this ...

4 months ago

41 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Rust Belt Revival: Shaping An NA Community In Cleveland

An underrated foodie town with a mosaic of tastes meticulously crafted in Cleveland's diverse neighborhoods, thanks to a couple of local innovators it's also a city that now supports a burgeoning non-alcoholic scene. On the heels of our visit to nearby Pittsburgh we sit down with Molly Cheraso, owner of the city's first and only non-alcoholic bottle shop, Verbena Free Spirited Shoppe, and Emily Tanski, owner of zero-proof bartending and events startup, Drink Fleurish. Together they have also ...

5 months ago

38 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Crafting An NA Beer Marketplace Powered By Community

Drinking craft beer is communal, a ritual meant to be shared amongst friends and family members. It is also often local, built around a shared community based on geography or shared interests. In today's bonus episode, we sit down with Mark Ruf and Tyler Keough, founders of the NA Beer Market, a new addition borne from the same platform that created the NA Beer Club in 2021. We talk about how the idea evolved from Mark sharing beers with his dad, to Tyler's passion for building community, and...

5 months ago

26 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Zero-Proof Pittsburgh: Part II

Who said local breweries can't do an NA beer profitably? And how did Pittsburgh wind-up with so much happening in the local non-alcoholic scene? In this Part II of our two-part series from the Steel City, we finish our interview with The Open Road's Mel Babitz, and the Loaded Food Group's Katrina Tomacchio (also known as The Northeast Ginger on IG), who talk about the local scene and what's coming up. We then chat with owners Mike and Jen Onofray of the city's Two Frays Brewery, with an updat...

5 months ago

31 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Zero-Proof Pittsburgh: Part I

Nearly a year removed from our first visit, we return to the Steel City in the new location (and future lounge) of the longest-running non-alcoholic specialty retailer in the country, The Open Road. With so much happening in the local NA scene, we split our visit into a two-part episode. In Part I, we include much of our interview with The Open Road's Mel Babitz, and Katrina Tomacchio of the Loaded Food Group (also known as The Northeast Ginger on IG), who share their thoughts on everything f...

5 months ago

24 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Takeaways From The Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo

Is the craft brewing industry in serious decline, or just in a state of transition to what it may look like tomorrow? We traveled to Indianapolis for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo to get answers to that, as well as to better understand the broader landscape of beverages, including THC and non-alcoholic beer. Interviewed in this episode: Julie Rhodes, Co-Owner, Kick Beverage Company, Inc. Jason Pickle, President, Volunteer Botanicals Also mentioned: Bart Watson, Brew...

6 months ago

16 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Building A World-Class Bitters Brand Through Community

After a hospitality career that included stops at some of the most exclusive brands in hospitality, Ian Blessing is no stranger to world-class food and beverage experiences. In this episode, we sit down to talk about how he and his wife, Carly, have built a unique, handcrafted product set around non-alcoholic bitters, a category that lends itself perfectly to collaboration. Using what he learned at legendary establishments like The French Laundry and the esteemed Opus One winery in Napa Valle...

6 months ago

41 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Unlocking Hemp's Potential In A Shifting Landscape

It's been quite a year in the U.S. hemp market, which is still just getting started. The explosion of hemp-derived THC/CBD beverages has, not surprisingly, collided with regulations that have come fast and furious at the state level. In an effort to make sense of it all we sat down with David Spang, Founder of Coastal Green Wellness, a hemp/CBD retailer with locations in South Carolina and Georgia, as well as a new line of THC beverages, Nine Dot. As someone who straddles the line between ret...

7 months ago

33 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Little Beer V: Celebrating Low-Gravity Drinking

Craft beer's evolution includes a spectrum of new and mindful choices. This episode captures the vibrant atmosphere of the fifth installment of Little Beer, a festival held in Duluth, Georgia celebrating lower-gravity brews such as English Ales and Lagers. In this bonus episode we chat with industry leaders there who understand the need for a full spectrum of beverage options to meet the changing needs of today's consumer. First up, two members of Asheville, North Carolina-based Burial Beer s...

7 months ago

14 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

From Kentucky Bourbon Country To Your Home Bar: The Spiritless Story

The origin story of Spiritless begins deep in Kentucky Bourbon country, where the trio of co-founders initially bought large quantities of Old Forester at their local Total Wine, while enlisting the services of a sump pump to help power their early experiments. Alongside her two other co-founders, Lauren Chitwood's brand journey dates back to before the pandemic, and in those early days they sought to craft a brand and liquid that would come to resonate with those seeking moderation. In this ...

7 months ago

24 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

The Mindful Merlot: Navigating Low And No Alcohol Wines

While the non-alcoholic beverage space is booming, the low and no-alcohol wine category has had its own unique set of challenges. This episode features an in-depth conversation with Brandon Joldersma, CEO of Surely, and the Founder/CEO of Arlow, two brands at the forefront of this emerging space. In our discussion Brandon shares his candid thoughts on the low-alcohol wine category he's trying to help create, explaining the potential he sees for its future compared to the fully non-alcoholic s...

8 months ago

33 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Bridging The Cannabis Divide Toward A Sustainable Future

While the hemp-fueled THC beverage category may be just getting started, it's been a more complicated path for an over-arching industry still waiting on perceptions and legislation to catch-up with consumer preferences. Today's episode features a sit down with Ricardo Baca, named one of the 7 Most Powerful People In America's Marijuana Industry, and founder/CEO of a leading integrated communications firm, Grasslands. In our conversation Ricardo talks about how his journalism work helped...

8 months ago

38 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Lowcountry Dry Fest: Redefining Wellness & Community

As mindfulness and moderation in drinking continues to become a bigger thing, so too are festivals that celebrate discovery in the non-alcoholic world, along with finding holistic wellness and community. In this bonus episode we recap our visit to Bluffton, South Carolina for the first-ever Lowcountry Dry Fest. Hear from the three principals behind this new event; Kayla Lewis of NAPS Chicago, Jessa Frances De La Rosa of Untoxicated World, and Jane Harmon of Amethyst NA Spirits. Mentioned in t...

9 months ago

19 minutes

U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

Built To Last: Athletic Brewing's Foundation Of Quality And Culture

While Athletic Brewing may today be known as one of the fastest-growing breweries the craft beer industry has ever seen, its origins were more deliberate and intentional, with a rollout strategy that stayed local for as long as possible. Bill Shufelt's founder story goes back nearly a decade, and in those early years he carefully constructed a foundation that would serve the company well as it emerged as one of the faces of a new mindset around adult drinking.In this episode we talk with Bill...

9 months ago

38 minutes