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Express Checkout

The Express Checkout podcast digs deeper than headlines to uncover the context, connections, and cultural shifts driving the world of consumer products. Join hosts (and CPG nerds) Nate and Jenna for analysis and conversations with the people and businesses shaping tomorrow's shopping cart.

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 43 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • Wednesday · 29 min

    The creator marketing playbook for brands

    Welcome back to another episode of The Express Checkout Podcast! This week, we’re sitting down with Arthur Leopold, CEO and co-founder of Agentio, the buying platform for creator media. We dive into how creator marketing has evolved beyond the old influencer model and why most digital attention now lives with creator content (yet there’s still a spend gap). We also get into the non-obvious creator matches that drive real results—like how a lobster fisherman became a top performer for Grüns—and why the best brands treat creators as a channel, not a one-off campaign. If you want to learn more about Agentio click below! Book a demo today!! Let’s get into it! The Breakdown 0:00 - What is Agentio? 2:54 - What is creator marketing? 4:53 - Influencer vs creator 6:59 - Making content that resonates 8:13 - CPG brand success stories 11:06 - The creator spend gap 16:19 - Activating creators the right way 18:52 - Creator partnership formats 23:18 - The future of creator marketing 27:10 - Creators building their own brands 28:27 - Outro 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to Express Checkout wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • August 19 · 1 hr 3 min

    The next wave of coffee is decaf.

    Welcome back to another episode of The Express Checkout Podcast! This week, we’re talking about AG1’s entrance in the greens gummy space, the decaf coffee movement, and why Alex Cooper’s beverage brand couldn’t make it. Plus, we’re getting into the headlines on Liquid Death’s weirdest new collabs, Goldfish going gluten-free, Purely Elizabeth’s acquisition and so much more. Stick around to the end for a fascinating interview with Jacques Spitzer, founder and CEO of Raindrop Agency—the creative agency behind brands like Grüns, Native, Poopourri, Magic Spoon, and so many more. We get into what it means to be an “aspirational” brand, and how the best brands are thinking about creative content. Let's get into it! The Breakdown 0:00 - What we’re been obsessing over 5:27 - AG1 enters the gummy game 11:32 - The decaf coffee movement is here 20:49 - Alex Cooper’s Unwell Beverage shuts down 28:00 - Liquid Death’s wildest stunts yet? 33:40 - Goldfish finally goes gluten-free 36:10 - Zero-sugar candy from David Protein’s founder 41:00 - Ferrero acquires Purely Elizabeth 46:04 - Interview with Jacques Spitzer of Raindrop Agency 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to Express Checkout wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • August 12 · 49 min

    Ulta's sexual wellness bet

    Welcome back to another episode of The Express Checkout Podcast! This week we’re exploring sexual wellness's leap into mainstream beauty retail with plusOne launching at Ulta, and how it differs from Sephora’s wellness strategy. Check out our full deep dive on sexual wellness here! Then, we dig into the laundry care category's unexpected glow-up, K-beauty's big Sephora takeover via Olive Young, the protein soda showdown, and how apple is quickly becoming the new pumpkin spice. Let's get into it! The Breakdown 00:00 Intro 07:43 Ulta launches sexual wellness with plusOne 15:31 The luxe laundry care boom 28:04 K-beauty comes to Sephora via Olive Young 32:02 Protein soda wars 44:30 Apple is the new pumpkin spice 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to Express Checkout wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • August 5 · 42 min

    How Sauz built a $22M pasta sauce disruptor

    Welcome back to another episode of Express Checkout (surprise! new name)!! This week, we sit down with Troy Bonde, Co-Founder of Sauz, the brand that's rewriting the rules of the $10 billion tomato sauce category. Troy takes us through his wild journey—from a COVID-era hand sanitizer dropshipping hustle to building Sauz into a nationwide brand at Target and Sprouts, backed by $22 million in funding. We dig into how Sauz found its brand moat, the story behind the name, their viral "pimping Troy out" social campaign, the new Basic Basil marinara launch, and what's next for the brand. Let’s get into it! The breakdown: 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - Introducing Troy 1:08 - From hand sanitizer to pasta sauce 5:35 - Learning CPG through angel investing 7:47 - Breaking category norms 11:33 - The story behind the name “Sauz” 14:37 - The California Naturals tomato lip balm collab 19:16 - Launching Basic Basil marinara 24:44 - Sauz’s viral social media strategy 29:31 - Measuring repeat purchase and loyalty 31:25 - Scaling distribution: Target, Erewhon, and beyond 39:17 - Closing thoughts 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to Express Checkout wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • July 29 · 35 min

    How coconut water is making a comeback

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This week we dive into coconut water's surprising resurgence—why a 2010 darling is suddenly back in the spotlight and what brands are doing to capitalize on it. Check out our full deep dive on coconut water here! Then, we dig into how the PB&J wars are heating up, a new squeezy peanut butter, Smash Foods’ fresh $18M raise, and the truth about Gen Z drinking habits. Let's get into it!The Breakdown 00:00 Intro 02:12 Why coconut water is the hottest bev right now 14:29 The PB&J wars heat up 22:14 Squeezy PB launches in US 24:42 $18M for jam 28:11 Gen Z is indeed drinking again 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • July 22 · 32 min

    Is this the next "it" grocer?!

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! We're excited to kick off this week's show with an interview with Kristina Garrido, Director of Emerging Categories at Whatnot. Whatnot is the fastest-growing livestream shopping platform in the U.S currently valued at nearly $12 billion. The app has processed 1 billion orders since its founding, across collectibles, beauty, and now food.In this episode Nate (just Nate, no Jenna today) also recaps his incredible 24 hours at Target’s HQ for their Food & Beverage Discovery Day where he had the opportunity to chat with SVP of F&B merchandising, John Conlins. Plus some fun CPG news including Coca-Cola’s “Spricy” trademark, Final Boss Sour’s $4M raise, and Fairlife’s production pause after a massive ransomware attack. Lets’s get to it! The Breakdown 00:00 Interview with Kristina Garrido, Director of Emerging Categories at Whatnot 13:34 24 Hours at Target HQ 25:01 Spicy Sprite?! 26:49 Final Boss Sour’s sick $4M raise 30:21 Fairlife shuts down 31:27 Outro 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • July 15 · 35 min

    How this THC brand is fighting the ban

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! We're excited to share a fascinating full-episode interview with Jake Bullock, the Co-Founder and CEO of Cann—the pioneer of the microdose THC beverage category. Jake breaks down the whole hemp-derived THC beverage landscape, from how it came to be (and Cann’s role in that) to the regulatory threat it now faces with the impending November ban. Plus, he shares how Cann is responding with a new product launch that just came out this week: Cann 0mg. Let’s get into it! The breakdown:0:00 - Intro1:34 - How Cann created the microdose THC beverage category5:52 - Navigating the dispensary channel and the 2018 Farm Bill11:11 - Cann's original vision for distribution13:16 - The regulatory threat: What the 2026 hemp ban means17:08 - The industry's push for federal regulation19:15 - Introducing Cann Zero MG (0MG)26:58 - Distribution strategy for 0MG31:04 - Lobbying efforts34:11 - Closing thoughts 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • July 9 · 51 min

    Real sugar is unapologetically back

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! We're excited to kick off this week's show with an interview with Tara Bosch, the founder of SmartSweets (exited) and the new better-for-you potato chip brand, Snackish.We then get into some of the themes we saw at this week's Fancy Food Show (starting at minute 17), including real sugar/real indulgence, the continued premiumization of frozen food (and restaurant-to-CPG pipeline), Indian flavors, and flavor-packed sauces. Then, we run through some of the most interesting headlines in CPG this week: how Refresh is trying to make gum cool again, the intimate wellness brand that wants to bring sexual care products to Sephora, the real fridge cig, and more. The breakdown:0:00 - Interview with Tara Bosch, founder of SmartSweets and Snackish17:04 - The Fancy Food Show recap and themes34:11 - Can functions make gum cool again?38:38 - The wellnessification of intimate care44:04 - There's still room for a cool ready-to-drink vodka seltzer49:16 - Nutribolt IPOs 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • June 24 · 40 min

    Protein-rich food is a physics problem.

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! Today, Jenna is joined by Mike Messersmith, CEO of Lasso Labs—a Harvard-born food tech startup using a patented fiber spinning platform to create high-protein, high-fiber foods with cleaner labels and no compromise on texture or taste. Mike shares his journey from legacy CPG to Chobani and Oatly (both at their peaks) to food tech founder, how the tech actually works, and why he believes the future of food will be won by changing the process, not just the recipe. Plus, we’re getting into the protein reckoning unfolding across the grocery store right now—why the whey shortage is a symptom of a much bigger industry shift, how Lasso’s tech could meet that demand, and combatting fear-mongering around processed foods. Let’s get into it! Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to Lasso 1:47 Mike’s background: PepsiCo, Chobani, and Oatly 3:58 From dairy to oat milk: category creation and disruption 11:49 What is Lasso and how the technology works 13:59 Inputs, outputs, and product applications 23:38 Building a brand vs. a B2B food tech company 26:28 Why big food companies haven’t cracked this yet 27:14 The whey protein shortage and what it really signals 34:02 Ultra-processed foods: separating fear from facts 38:47 Food physics vs. food chemistry 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • June 18 · 34 min

    Thrilled to try Tom Brady's Good Nuts.

    Welcome back to The Curious Consumer! This week, we're getting into e.l.f's foray into haircare, Tom Brady's Good Nut (this is not a joke), how AG1 is striving to stay relevant, the bubble-free boom, and the derm-as-creator skincare brand that's taking off in Target. Chapters:0:51 e.l.f. enters haircare8:40 Tom Brady's Good Nut and coconut water's rise16:32 AG1 Pro and the greens powder wars25:13 Svedka's new soda water29:03 REMEDY's $20M raise 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • June 3 · 48 min

    Performative grocery shopping + pro-peptides.

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! Today, we’re joined by Priyanka Ganjoo, the founder of South Asian beauty brand Kulfi Beauty—the first South Asian female-owned makeup line to be carried at Sephora. Priyanka shares her journey building an inclusive beauty brand, and the power of a strong emotional and cultural moat. Plus, we’re chatting about the boom of Erewhon lookalikes (and how they’ll survive when mass-market becomes a discovery channel), the water brands capitalizing on fear of microplastics, one brand’s attempt to legitimize peptides, and more. Let’s get into it! The breakdown: 0:00 Kulfi Beauty + the wave of inclusive beauty 5:36 Kulfi’s Sephora growth and changing audience 9:49 The power of the emotional moat in beauty 14:49 Everything is Erewhon now (the new age of bougie grocers) 21:52 Water brands vs. microplastics 29:34 Kellogg’s cereal front-of-pack framework 34:31 Target’s private-label chef collabs 40:10 Peptides are the wild west of wellness 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • May 28 · 36 min

    Why every brand is leaning into nostalgia

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This week’s episode is brought to you by Ever Ledger, the full-service accounting and finance partner specializing in high-growth CPG (they handle your books, tax, and modeling all under one roof). If your books are messy, your accountant is too slow for your speed, or you’re gearing up for a raise/expansion, check them out! Today we’re getting into the nostalgic side of CPG: the rise of Shirley Temple (dirty and otherwise), Jams’s genius NFL partnership, and OLIPOP's brand refresh. Plus, why the "$50 strawberry brand" was never really about strawberries, the “blended” pasta trend, and more. Let's get into it! The breakdown: 00:00 Intro 02:12 Rise of the Shirley Temple 05:13 Jams x NFL: The Uncrustables Opportunity 08:02 OLIPOP’s brand refresh 12:26 Oishii’s $150M Raise 17:52 Brami’s $33M Series B 24:14 David Protein’s unhinged marketing (per usual) 29:55 Banana water? 32:17 The next format of supplements 35:48 Conclusion 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • May 13 · 37 min

    Supplement brands are lying to you.

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This week, we have one of our most fascinating interviews yet: Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi, SVP of Science & Innovation at Ritual, a supplement company known for its science-backed formulas. She’ll be answering some of our biggest questions around the most controversial category in CPG: supplements. Let’s get into it! Quick note: There’s some background clicking noise in the first few minutes, but it goes away quickly! Stick with us, it’ll be worth it :) Share feedback on the pod! The breakdown:0:00 Intro + Dr. Sharafi’s background 1:58 Ritual’s evolution and mission3:59 Evaluating efficacy claims & misinformation13:11 Women-specific supplements & clinical trials18:43 Why people turn to supplements23:02 Why Ritual doesn’t make gummies…25:45 Consumer demand and innovation29:22 Four ways to spot misinformation in supplement marketing 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • May 6 · 51 min

    Calm your mind, one beverage at a time

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This week we sit down with Stacey Hartnett, SVP of Marketing at Chomps to talk about their biggest product launch yet: chicken sticks. Then, we dive into the week’s biggest CPG news. The L-theanine and caffeine combo taking over the functional beverage space, colostrum soda, the booming luxury laundry detergent category, and more. Let’s get into it! Share feedback on the pod! Check out our deep dive on L-theanine: https://www.expresscheckout.co/p/everyone-needs-to-calm-down The breakdown:0:00 Interview with Stacey Hartnett, SVPof Marketing at Chomps12:43 Feedback & podcast updates from our offsite13:19 The L-theanine + caffeine trend27:01 Armra's colostrum soda30:43 Popwtr: Lemon Perfect founder's new sparkling water bet37:27 Luxury laundry45:08 Thayers' creator-led product launch and what brands should learn from it51:04 Wrap up 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • April 23 · 41 min

    The THC loophole (and why it could close...)

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This week we sit down with Mark Rushmore, co-founder of Suri (short for Sustainable Rituals)—the UK-based electric toothbrush brand that caught Gwyneth Paltrow’s eye organically before landing in Erewhon, and now Target stores nationwide. (Check out our piece on UK brands entering the US!) We also cover the week's biggest CPG news—new updates to the THC regulatory saga, Beyond Meat's pivot into beverage, Gatorade's biggest refresh in 60 years, and the Finnish Long Drink's $325M acquisition by the makers of White Claw. Let's get into it! The breakdown: 0:00 Interview with Mark Rushmore, co-founder of SURI14:30 Recap on our 4/20 event!18:01 Updates on the THC ban + new proposed regulation28:03 Beyond Meat’s pivot into… protein soda?32:20 Gatorade’s newest brand refresh35:40 Why White Claw owners are betting on The Finnish Long Drink Check out our full interview with Long Drink co-founder Evan Burns here: https://www.expresscheckout.co/p/the-best-drink-youve-never-heard 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • April 15 · 39 min

    The best drink you've never heard of

    This week, we're sharing the second episode of our interview series, Brand’s Biggest Fan—featuring Evan Burns, CEO and Co-founder of The Finnish Long Drink—and Long Drink's biggest fan, DJ!We (admittedly) recorded this a few months ago, but were excited to share it today after the news of Long Drink's acquisition by the Mark Anthony Group of Companies, the company behind category-defining beverages including White Claw and Mike's Hard Lemonade.With this new acquisition, and Mark Anthony Group's goal of expansion throughout North America, you can now expect to see this bev everywhere. So, we decided it was time to share some of the behind-the-scenes of who built this company... and who's been evangelizing it.Buckle in for a great ep, where Evan shares the real, unsexy truth behind building a brand worth a multimillion dollar acquisition in just 4 years.The Breakdown00:00 Background on Long Drink06:11 Meet DJ, Long Drink's biggest fan08:23 How DJ discovered Long Drink16:30 Evan on fans, marketing & distribution20:49 Building a national brand (distro strategy + celeb investors)31:15 The future of Long Drink Follow us! Express Checkout - https://www.instagram.com/expresscheckout/ DJ Waldow (aka Long Drink Lover) - https://www.instagram.com/longdrinklovers/ 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • April 9 · 58 min

    Keeping up with the Kardashians…CPG launches

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This week we sit down with Daniel Solomons, CEO of Update—the caffeine-free energy drink that caught Kim Kardashian’s eye organically before she became a full creative partner. We break down the science behind paraxanthine, the surprise of 4,000+ Walmart doors, and what it means to build a brand around a completely new ingredient. We also cover every Kardashian-Jenner in CPG this week (yes, all of them)—Kylie’s pivot from vodka soda to beauty hydration powder K2O, Khloe’s new Khloud protein tortilla chips, and Lemme finally launching a multivitamin after 17 other SKUs. Plus: the Hershey reformulation saga, McCormick’s $45B acquisition of Unilever’s food business, goPuff’s surprisingly successful private label expansion, and Mars Men—an 18-month-old testosterone supplement brand already at $100M run rate. Let’s get into it!The Breakdown 00:00 Intro 0:05 Interview with Daniel Solomons (Update Energy) 20:28 Kylie's K2O Beauty Hydration Powder 27:20 Khloud Protein Chips 30:39 Lemme Launches a Multivitamin (Finally) 32:50 The Hershey/Reese's Reformulation Drama 44:43 McCormick Buys Unilever's Food Business ($45B) 47:50 goPuff's Private Label Expansion 50:10 Mars Men: $100M Testosterone Supplement Brand 58:26 Wrap-up 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • April 1 · 31 min

    Betting on meal replacements

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! This week we dive into Danone’s $1.15B acquisition of Huel—and what it says about the future of meal replacement, GLP-1 consumers, and food as pure function. We also cover Alix Earle’s skincare launch (Reale Actives), Cardi B’s surprisingly well-aligned haircare line, Olaplex’s acquisition by Henkel after losing 95% of its market cap, the rise of hard sodas, and Lucille—a long-overdue dignity-first nutrition brand for older adults. Let’s get into it! We recently wrote a report with data from our friends at Faire highlighting the dichotomy of “clean” vs. science-forward positioning for beauty and wellness brands. Check it out here. https://www.expresscheckout.co/p/the-state-of-beauty-and-wellnessThe Breakdown 00:00 Intro03:13 Danone bets on Huel18:07 Alix Earle launches a brand24:22 Cardi B's new haircare brand26:07 Olaplex gets acquired27:29 The "hard soda" trend32:49 The future of senior nutrition35:44 Wrap-up 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • March 25 · 40 min

    Drinkable sunscreen, protein mac, and killer brownies

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! Today we’re joined by the incredible Chimene Ross, CEO of Killer Brownie, for a discussion on the power of branding in bakery, running a family business, and moving from private-label to a branded product. We also dive into the convergence of beauty + wellness (ft. hydration powder with UV protection…), why owning manufacturing is the new CPG moat, and Little Spoon’s entrance into infant formula. Let’s get into it! Check out NECTAR’s Taste of the Industry sensory analysis on dairy-free products here. The Breakdown 0:00 Intro and Nate’s United Airlines adventure 1:24 Interview with Chimene Ross, CEO of Killer Brownie 16:07 Habiza Hummus and the new CPG moat 20:03 The beauty and food convergence 27:19 Kraft’s new protein Mac 32:00 Dairy-free taste parity report 36:00 Little Spoon enters baby formula 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

  • March 18 · 41 min

    What wholesale data tells us about beauty & wellness

    Welcome back to another episode of The Curious Consumer! We're coming at you with a special episode today with our lovely partners over at Faire, the global online marketplace for wholesale for independent retailers. Because Faire works with thousands of retailers and brands from around the world, they are an incredible source of data on burgeoning trends within countless categories.We collaborated on a report which dove into the beauty & wellness category—everything from which ingredients are trending, to the unlikely retailers stocking beauty products. Then, we talked to Jen Burke, Faire's Chief Revenue Officer, to learn a little more about the stories behind the data and how Faire works.Hope you enjoy this special episode!!! If you're a retailer looking to discover the coolest new products, or a brand looking to enter a breadth of retailers, check out Faire.com. Interested in partnering with Express Checkout on future content? Reach out to us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) Read the full report here: https://www.expresscheckout.co/p/the-state-of-beauty-and-wellness The Breakdown00:00 Recapping our Beauty & Wellness Report with Faire 8:08 Meet Jen Burke, CRO at Faire 8:56 The retailers and brands using Faire (and how it works) 19:24 The “clean” vs “science” dichotomy in beauty 28:03 Beauty + wellness expanding across categories 32:25 AI, discovery, and the future of retail 37:54 Trends to watch 40:43 Conclusion 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe to The Curious Consumer wherever you get your podcasts! New episodes drop weekly. 📧 Get the inside scoop Subscribe to Express Checkout, our newsletter packed with consumer insights, trends, and exclusive content straight to your inbox at expresscheckout.co. 🗣️ Let’s connect! Follow us for behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, and more: @expresscheckout 💬 Join the conversation Have a product you’re curious about? DM us your questions or drop them in the comments—your topic could be featured in our next episode! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, feel free to email us at hello@expresscheckout.co :) ⭐ Help us grow If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other curious consumers find us! Get full access to Express Checkout at www.expresscheckout.co/subscribe

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