#0319 - Map Labs - Evan Oder

Today on Startup to Storefront, we are diving into one of the most overlooked growth channels for restaurants and local businesses: Google Maps.

Most business owners do not realize how much their Google Business Profile impacts foot traffic, reservations, and real-world sales. While many focus on social media and ads, the smartest brands are dominating Google Maps and seeing real results.

Joining us is Evan Oder, founder of Map Labs, the number one Google Maps marketing software for multi-location businesses. Evan has helped thousands of brands climb to the top of search results without spending big on ads.

On this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

• How to enhance your Google listings using AI and SEO without trying to trick Google

• The future of search and how Google Maps and ChatGPT are reshaping discovery

• Why stunning photos on your Google Business Profile can attract real customers

• Why Google Maps is becoming the future of local search for restaurants and small businesses

• How Google’s ranking factors prioritize engagement, and why it is key for your SEO strategy

As a special bonus, Evan is offering a 3-month free trial of Map Labs software and a complimentary Google Business Profile audit. You can access the offer through the link in bio.

If you own a restaurant, manage a local business, or want to understand the future of digital discovery, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

#0318 Brami - Aaron Gatti

Today’s guest is Aaron Gatti, founder of Brami, the fastest growing pasta brand in the U.S.

Aaron’s story begins on a small farm in southern Italy, where he spent childhood summers with his grandparents. Not by choice, but because his parents couldn’t afford childcare back in the States. It was there he discovered the lupini bean, a Mediterranean superfood once used to fuel Roman warriors and the same ingredient his grandmother credits for helping her survive World War II.

Years later, that inspiration became Brami, a pasta made in the mountains of Molise, Italy, using just two ingredients: durum wheat semolina and lupini bean flour. No shortcuts, no over-processing — just premium Italian tradition with modern nutritional benefits.

While most alternative pastas in the U.S. are ultra-processed and nutritionally empty, Brami stands out by going back to the source. With a vertically integrated supply chain, they control everything from milling to storage, delivering quality you can taste and trust.

The result? Brami has grown 1,404 percent year over year and is now sold in over 5,000 stores nationwide, outpacing legacy brands like Goodles, Rummo, and Rao’s.

On this week’s episode you’ll learn:

• Why better for you pasta doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, and how Brami lets you taste Italy every day
• The secret to a healthy, one pot Italian meal that’s as easy as it is nutritious
• What makes Italian food feel so satisfying, and how Brami captures that with a twist
• How the lupini bean went from family secret to venture backed superfood
• How Brami scaled in retail and increased sales by 40 percent at Whole Foods

#0317 Iggy Rodriguez - Life After The Bachelorette

On this week’s episode of Startup to Storefront, we sit down with Iggy Rodriguez, whose career spans the intersection of sports, entertainment, and business.

From leading partnerships at the LA Dodgers and Therabody to helping scale VIP platforms like Velocity Black and Kapow, Iggy has spent years negotiating deals with teams, leagues, and luxury brands. Now, as Senior Director at OneTeam Partners, he helps brands tap into athlete name, image, and likeness across the NFLPA, MLBPA, MLSPA, and more.

On this episode you’ll learn:

• What it really takes to get on and stay on The Bachelor and Bachelorette

• How casting for reality TV works behind the scenes and what producers aren’t telling you

• The emotional cost of chasing fame and attention online

• Why your dating life changes after national TV

• How Iggy’s career path evolved from sports partnerships to licensing powerhouse

Plus, Iggy shares how he gives back — fostering dogs in LA and mentoring Special Olympics athletes.

#0316 Daniel Bennet - DX Creative

We’re sitting down with Daniel Bennett, a Los Angeles based digital creator and Head of Creative at his own media agency. Daniel has led social strategy for some of the biggest names in entertainment and gaming, including Grammy-winning artists like Diplo and Dillon Francis, as well as global brands like Call of Duty. But what really sets Daniel apart is his ability to blend storytelling and strategy in a way that resonates deeply with today’s audiences.

While he’s made his mark behind the scenes of major campaigns, Daniel has also built a personal brand that’s taken off. His relatable content about the chaos of your twenties — from the awkwardness of dating to the ups and downs of friendship — has struck a nerve, earning him over 200,000 followers in just 60 days. His growth has been rooted in one key principle: consistency.

In this episode, we dive into what it means to build a sustainable creative career in the ever-evolving digital landscape. We explore how the role of a social media manager has become as vital as a lawyer or a CFO, how Daniel transitioned from agency work to building a brand of his own, and what it takes to stay ahead in the creator economy.

On this week’s episode you’ll learn:

• How consistency became Daniel’s secret weapon for growth

• What it actually takes to hit 200K followers in 60 days

• Why creators and brands alike need to rethink how they view social media roles

• How Daniel took lessons from agency life and applied them to his consulting work

• What’s coming next in the future of content creation and why storytelling still wins

#0315 Jake Ireland - Off Hours

From the Track to the Tumbler: How Off Hours Is Redefining Bourbon for the Modern Drinker This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re diving into the story behind Off Hours Bourbon, the brand that’s rewriting the bourbon playbook. No smoky rooms, no old school gatekeeping, just a fresh take on a timeless spirit. Founded by Jake Ireland, Off Hours blends California cool with Midwest roots, creating a whiskey that’s approachable, design forward, and made for today’s consumer. With national retail expansion, a growing following, and standout partnerships including their new collaboration with La Colombe, Off Hours is setting a new standard in spirits. We break down the brand’s rise, their mixology competition for bartenders across the country, and the strategy behind appealing to a new wave of bourbon drinkers.

On this episode, you’ll learn:

Why Gen Z is shifting the alcohol industry and how legacy brands are struggling to keep up

How Off Hours and La Colombe are teaming up for a nationwide bartender competition

What it takes to build a bourbon brand that actually resonates with a younger audience

Why Off Hours leans into downtime, personal moments, and a more modern take on whiskey culture

What makes high proof bourbon and rye different and how to taste them

How Whole Foods style thinking is shaping female focused bourbon strategies

#0314 - Pizza Girl - Caroline D'Amore

This Week on Startup to Storefront: Caroline D’Amore aka Pizza Girl From growing up in her family’s iconic pizza restaurants to launching her own organic sauce line, Caroline D’Amore has always been surrounded by dough and hustle. In this episode, Caroline shares how she turned the nickname Pizza Girl into a nationally recognized brand.

From selling out her countertop pizza ovens in just two weeks to opening her first “pink and mortar” store in Venice Beach, she’s redefining what it means to build a modern food empire with bold branding, fearless storytelling, and a whole lot of marinara.

On this episode, you’ll hear:

How Caroline went from reality TV to real business

The viral product that changed everything overnight

Why Pizza Girl is about more than just food

Her mission to put women back at the center of the culinary conversation. 

#0313 - SuppCo - Steve Martocci

From the outside, Steve Martocci is a serial entrepreneur who’s helped shape the digital world as we know it, co-founding GroupMe, Blade, and Splice. But behind all the success, Steve faced a more personal challenge: his health. Years of struggling with his weight and overall well-being led him to make a life-changing decision in 2010. One that sparked not only a personal transformation but the foundation for his most meaningful company to date: SuppCo. SuppCo is a first of its kind health tech platform aiming to simplify and revolutionize the supplement industry. With an overwhelming number of products, conflicting advice, and no real regulation, most people are left confused about what to take, when, and why. SuppCo solves this by offering science-backed, personalized stacks that empower people to take control of their health, the same way Steve did over a decade ago.

🎙 On this week’s episode of Startup to Storefront, you’ll learn:

💡 How Steve built and sold industry defining companies like GroupMe, Blade, and Splice fast

⚖️ Why the supplement industry’s lack of regulation is fueling massive, unchecked growth

 📈 What made SuppCo’s launch strategy so bold it forced people to either love it or hate it

🏋️‍♂️ How functional medicine helped Steve lose weight, improve his happiness, and rebuild from the inside out

📲 What’s behind SuppCo’s unprecedented app engagement and how user feedback drives real time innovation

🌍 Why users of all kinds are connecting with SuppCo’s mission and loving the product

🔁 How real time feedback became the key to Version 2’s successful launch

🎧 Stream the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

#0312 HOMAGE - Ryan Vesler

Ryan Vesler, founder of HOMAGE, joins Startup to Storefront to share the story behind one of the most beloved vintage-inspired sportswear brands in the game. From an accidental cease-and-desist email with Larry Bird that turned into HOMAGE’s first licensing deal, to partnerships with the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and exclusive collaborations with Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce, Ryan Reynolds, and Rob McElhenney - Ryan breaks down how HOMAGE built an emotional connection with fans and investors alike.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Ryan turned his love for Ohio State into the legendary Archie Griffin T-shirt

• Why trading cards became a core inspiration for HOMAGE’s nostalgic aesthetic

• The inside story behind HOMAGE’s collaboration with Travis & Jason Kelce on New Heights

Follow along as Ryan shares how authenticity, emotion, and storytelling have helped HOMAGE become a cult favorite for sports fans everywhere.

#0311 - STFU Method - Jorge Perez

Today’s guest is Jorge Perez, creator of the creator of the STFU Method,, author, agent, producer, keynote speaker, and host of the Outliers TV podcast. With over 20 years of experience in entertainment and personal development, Jorge has spent his life helping people break toxic cycles and reclaim their power.

You’ve seen his work on Bravo, heard his voice on stage, and maybe even watched his award winning documentary on LA’s homelessness crisis, but his latest project goes even deeper. His new book, The Shut The Fu*k Up Method, is a no fluff, call you out while lifting you up guide to mastering your mindset.

Jorge wrote the book after seeing too many people stay stuck, even after attending every seminar and reading every self help book on the shelf. His message? You don’t need more advice, you need to shut the fu*k up... to the voice in your head that’s been lying to you.

In today’s episode, we dive into:

•  What the STFU Method actually is and how it helps people get unstuck

•  Why so many of us get trapped in the spiral of complaining

•  How to identify your self sabotaging thoughts and silence them

•  The mindset shifts that create real, lasting transformation

If you’ve been looking for a way to stop spinning your wheels, reclaim your focus, and finally move forward, this episode is the wake up call you didn’t know you needed.

#0310 - Gato Dates - Gabriella and Tonya

It all started with a date.

For Gabriella Labi, food has always been a source of joy, but after years of battling gut issues, inflammation, and bloating, she was forced to rethink her relationship with indulgence. Still, as a true food lover, she wasn’t willing to give up dessert. She wanted something decadent and nourishing, something that satisfied without the sugar crash or guilt.

At the same time, Tonya Reznikovich was convinced that if dessert wasn’t rich and indulgent, it simply wasn’t worth it. When Tonya’s sharp business instincts met Gabi’s wellness-first mindset, Gato was born.

Their goal? To redefine indulgence, with nut-butter-stuffed, chocolate-drizzled dates that taste as good as they make you feel.

What started as a personal solution soon became something much bigger. From sharing treats with friends and family to setting up shop at LA farmers markets, Gato quickly built a loyal community that treated these confections as part of their self-care rituals. Those markets weren’t just sales channels, they were the heart of the brand, a place to test, connect, and grow. Fast-forward, and Gato is now available in retail stores across the country, riding a wave of momentum that doesn’t appear to be slowing down.

On this week’s episode of Startup to Storefront, Gabi and Tonya walk us through their journey of building a better-for-you dessert brand without compromising on flavor, texture, or emotional satisfaction.

You’ll learn:

• The Co-Man Milestone, how they navigated production roadblocks and found the right manufacturing partner

• The surprisingly personal story behind the name GATO

• What happened when Goop came calling, including the emotional tears that came with a major wellness partnership

This is a story of turning necessity into innovation, indulgence into wellness, and a date into a movement.

#0309 - Discotech - Ian Chen

What if booking a nightclub was as easy as reserving a table for dinner?

That’s the vision behind Discotech, the world’s #1 nightlife app, and this week on Startup to Storefront, we sat down with co-founder Ian Chen to hear how he and his team are transforming the way we party.

With 1.5M+ app installs and users in over 120 cities across five continents, Discotech is more than a party app, it’s a platform that bridges technology, culture, and commerce to modernize an industry that’s long operated on paper guest lists and text threads.

Their platform helps clubs boost sales, streamline promoter workflows, and connect with a young, highly engaged audience, 88% of whom are between 18–45. And they’re just getting started.

In this episode, Ian shares:
— How the sober-curious movement is impacting club culture and creating space for new kinds of nightlife
— Why Gen Z is opting for quality over chaos and what venues need to do to stay relevant
— How Discotech is solving one of the industry's biggest pain points: outdated promoter systems

Whether you're in hospitality, tech, or just love a good founder story,  this episode's for you.

#0308 - Tosi - Stefanie and Chelsea Hults

From the very beginning, Tosi set out to solve a simple but powerful problem: how do we stay on the path to wellness when the world is full of snacks that derail us? The answer: create clean, crunchy, real food that actually fuels your life, not distracts from it. This week on Startup to Storefront, we sit down with the founders of Tosi, the brand behind the plant-powered bars made with simple, organic ingredients and none of the junk. We unpack how they turned personal observations about health and nutrition into a full-blown movement that’s now stocked everywhere from your local health shop to major retailers like Peet’s Coffee and Costco. At its core, Tosi is about trust, trusting what’s in your food, trusting your body, and trusting that doing the right thing (even when it’s not flashy) pays off. 💡

On this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

– How a pair of flashy shoes and a handful of cashews led to a chance encounter at Pavilions -and ultimately landed Tosi in Peet’s Coffee nationwide 

– What really happens behind the scenes at a Costco roadshow, and why in-person connection with customers is still one of the brand’s most powerful growth tools

– How to bounce back from life's humbling moments, overcome embarrassment, and reclaim your strength through purpose-driven work 

Plus: we’re teaming up with Tosi for a delicious giveaway. The announcement drops Wednesday, so make sure you’re following along. Because it’s not too good to be true. It’s simply too good.

#0307 - WILDE Irish Gin - Stuart Hall

This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re talking luxury spirits, bold branding, and storytelling with the team behind Wilde Irish Gin.

Co-founder Stuart Hall launched Wilde Irish Gin in 2021 with the vision of creating a premium Irish spirit that blends heritage, artistry, and unforgettable flavor. With a background in entertainment, marketing, and tech, Stuart brings a fresh perspective to a centuries-old category. Joining him is Billy Ray, a legend in the spirits world and Wilde’s Brand Director. From leading global campaigns for Ciroc and Woodford Reserve to launching award-winning mixer brand Mixwell, Billy’s mission has always been the same: create unforgettable experiences, not just drinks.

In this episode, we talk about:

Building a luxury gin brand from the ground up

Why storytelling matters in the spirits world

The intersection of flavor, culture, and identity

#0306 - Weezie - Lindsey Johnson

This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re joined by Lindsey Johnson, cofounder and CEO of Weezie, the brand redefining what it means to treat yourself with truly elevated bath essentials.

It all started when her longtime friend Liz had a lackluster experience searching for luxury towels. Newly married and recently moved, she couldn’t believe how underwhelming the options were—so she called Lindsey. Together, they set out to modernize the linen market, and after years of research, they launched Weezie: plush, absorbent, and meticulously crafted towels and robes made in Portugal and finished by hand in Atlanta. 

On this week’s episode you’ll learn:

• How Lindsey and Liz went from friends to cofounders

• What it takes to build a product that actually lives up to the hype

• Why resilience and critical thinking are key to scaling a startup