#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

#0304 - Pvolve - Rachel Katzman

This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re joined by Rachel Katzman, founder of Pvolve—the clinically backed workout method that’s changing the way women train. Rachel didn’t set out to build a fitness company—she set out to find a workout that actually felt good. After struggling with traditional methods that left her in pain, she discovered functional movement. The result? A transformation that changed her body, boosted her confidence, and sparked a business that’s now backed by science and endorsed by Jennifer Aniston. Pvolve isn’t just another fitness trend—it’s a method designed to help women look and feel their best at every stage of life, using patented equipment and innovative programming you won’t find anywhere else.

On this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

• Rachel’s secrets to looking and feeling amazing

• How you can transform your body without pain

• How she developed the Pvolve home workout system

• Why Jennifer Aniston joined the brand

• And how Pvolve is empowering its community to become studio owners

🎉 Plus, we’re announcing a special Pvolve giveaway tomorrow—so stay tuned!

#0303 - Good Girl Snacks - Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar

This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re joined by Leah Marcus and Yasaman Bakhtiar, the Gen-Z founders behind Good Girl Snacks—the cult-favorite pickle brand that’s taking over your feed and shaking up the CPG space.

In just one year, they went from quitting their post-grad corporate jobs to building Erewhon’s #1 pickle, selling over 10,000 jars, landing in 50+ retailers, and closing a pre-seed round led by Collab Fund (think Olipop, Sweetgreen, Beyond Meat). All of this—with $0 spent on paid ads.

On this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

• How they turned a viral obsession into a real business

• The power of building in public and radical transparency

• What it’s really like bootstrapping year one

• How they disrupted the grocery aisle through social and community

• What’s next: new flavors, national expansion, and scaling post-fundraise

It’s startup hustle meets Gen-Z social savvy—don’t miss it.

#0302 - Carrie Minter Ebers - Carrie's Pilates

This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re joined by Carrie Minter Ebers, founder of Carrie’s Pilates Plus. From her early days as a successful model to building one of the most respected fitness studios in Los Angeles, Carrie’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and redefining what strength really means.

She’s not just shaping bodies—she’s shaping the conversation around fitness, mental health, and community. Her high-intensity Pilates method blends cardio, strength training, and mindfulness, creating a space where everyone is welcome and empowered.

On this week’s episode, you’ll learn:
Why Carrie fell in love with Pilates—and how it changed her life
How she designed and developed her own custom reformer machine

The key mindset shifts and business moves behind her entrepreneurial success

The full episode is out now—and trust us, you don’t want to miss this one.

PLUS: We’re announcing a special giveaway this Wednesday, so stay tuned!

#0301 - Wayward Film - Jacquelyn Fröhlich

This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re spotlighting the powerful indie film Wayward—a gripping coming-of-age thriller that dives deep into themes of defiance, self-discovery, and unexpected connection. Written, directed, and co-produced on a micro-budget by first-time filmmaker Jacquelyn Fröhlich, Wayward tells the story of Cleo, a rebellious pre-teen who forms an unexpected bond with a mysterious hitchhiker during a cross-country trip with her mother. As the lines between freedom and fear begin to blur, the film takes audiences on an emotionally raw and resonant journey.

Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, Jacquelyn brings a unique multicultural perspective to the film—infusing it with both magic and authenticity. Wayward is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of independent filmmaking, pushing the boundaries of survival, independence, and trust.

Wayward will be available to stream on Friday, April 4th on Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon. Follow along on Instagram at @wayward_thefilm.

In this week’s episode, you’ll learn:

• How to make a movie on a small budget without compromising vision.

• Why you need to stop waiting and start making your dreams a reality today.

• The inspiring impact of Tangerine—a groundbreaking film shot entirely on an iPhone.

• How the magic of collaborative creation brought Wayward to life.

#0300 - Timeless Skin Care - Veronica Pedersen

This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re sitting down with Veronica Pedersen, the founder and CEO of Timeless Skin Care — a brand that’s proof you don’t need investors or a massive marketing budget to build something big.

Veronica started Timeless with a single product — 100% Pure Hyaluronic Acid — and turned it into a globally recognized skincare line trusted by millions. Today, Timeless is known for its clean, effective, and affordable products, including their viral Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum, which has earned praise from dermatologists and is often preferred over luxury options like Skinceuticals.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Veronica:
• Dominated Amazon beauty sales in 2023
• Grew the brand without outside investors
• Started on eBay and scaled to global success
• Is now expanding into Target stores nationwide

She also shares her journey as a founder, the lessons learned along the way, and her take on what consumers really want from skincare today.

It’s an inspiring story of grit, growth, and building a brand that puts people first — don’t miss it.

#0299 - Red's - Michael Adair

On this week’s episode of Startup to Storefront, we’re sitting down with Michael Adair, CEO and Founder of Red’s — the number one premium burrito and breakfast brand in the country.

You’ve probably seen Red’s in the frozen aisle at Target, Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Publix, and just about every major retailer nationwide. What started 15 years ago in Mike’s family trailer while he was in business school has grown into a national brand — and Mike’s still at the helm, rolling up his sleeves (and sometimes burritos) to make it all happen.

His story is packed with everything we love to highlight on this show — grit, hustle, and real-world lessons that every founder can learn from.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Insider insights from Expo West — and why it’s one of the most intense events in the food and beverage world

• Why breakfast is booming — and how it’s become one of Red’s fastest-growing and most exciting categories

• The unexpected and heartfelt origin behind the name Red’s

We’re also celebrating a major milestone — this is our 300th episode, and we just hit 7,000 followers. Thank you for being part of this community! To celebrate, we’ll be announcing a special giveaway this Wednesday, so make sure you’re following along.

Let’s get into it — here’s our conversation with Michael Adair of Red’s.

#0298 - Heraclea Olive Oil - Berk Bahceci

This week on Startup to Storefront, we’re joined by Berk Bahceci, founder of Heraclea Olive Oil—a brand rooted in heritage, sustainability, and a deep love for the land.

Founder Berk Bahceci rekindled his family’s olive oil legacy in an effort to preserve the rich history of their family groves. Driven by a deep connection to his roots, Berk saw an opportunity to modernize his family’s conventional approach to production.  The result? A thoughtful blend of tradition and innovation—powered by solar energy, rainwater collection, and natural fertilizers—ensuring that every drop of Heraclea Olive Oil is not only delicious, but also a reflection of a deep commitment to sustainability. 

What began on a 100-acre stretch of mountainous land in Turkey—where life moves in harmony with nature—is now a brand that’s reshaping how we think about the most essential ingredient in our kitchens.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
 The history of olive oil and where it really comes from
 The ultimate guide to buying real quality olive oil
 How worker-owned funds can help transform entire communities
 The best way to store olive oil for peak freshness and flavor

This isn’t just a conversation about food—it’s a story about honoring legacy, embracing sustainable innovation, and building a brand deeply connected to the land it comes from.

 Tune in now—link in bio.

P.S. Keep an eye out—we’re announcing a very special Heraclea Olive Oil giveaway this Wednesday!  You won’t want to miss it.