Founder Fridays

In this episode, we sit down with Waris Ahluwalia, founder of House of Waris, to explore the intersection of creativity, identity, and purpose-driven design. Waris shares the journey behind building House of Waris—from its roots in fine jewelry to its evolution into a broader cultural and lifestyle brand.We dive into how heritage, storytelling, and craftsmanship shape his work, and how he’s used design as a platform for connection and cultural dialogue. Waris opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship in the luxury space, staying authentic in a fast-moving industry, and building a brand that stands for more than just product.This conversation is a thoughtful look at artistry, resilience, and what it means to create with intention in today’s world.

In this episode, we sit down with Zeke, founder of Absorption Company, to unpack the story behind building a solution to a problem most people didn’t even know existed. We talk about the moment Zeke and Nate identified a major gap in how the body absorbs supplements and nutrients—and how that insight led to the creation of The Absorption Company’s innovative products. From early experimentation to bringing a science-backed solution to market, Zeke shares the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons learned while building a brand focused on better absorption, better results, and better health outcomes. It’s a conversation about innovation, education, and what it really takes to turn a personal frustration into a purpose-driven company.

Michael sits down with Anabel and Johnny Drain to explore the unpolished journey behind Good Bacteria — from early breakthroughs to hard lessons learned the long way. Together they unpack the highs and lows of building a brand rooted in biology, belief, and patience, and why nurturing a healthy gut isn’t so different from growing a resilient garden. This episode is a candid conversation about failure, regeneration, and what happens when you commit to growing things the right way, even when it’s messy.

Our guest this week is Frances Shoemack, founder of Abel Fragrance, a pioneer in the world of natural, non-toxic perfumes. With more than 12 years in the business, Frances shares how her journey began in the world of wine—and how her curiosity about sustainability and scent led her to create a fragrance brand that’s as conscious as it is beautiful. She talks about working with a master perfumer in New Zealand to craft Abel’s signature scents and what it means to build a modern fragrance house rooted in transparency, nature, and creativity.

In this episode, Carolyn Yachanin, founder of Copina Co, shares how she built a brand that makes it easy to add superfoods into your everyday routine. Copina Co creates delicious, herbalist-formulated blends that support hair, skin, and nail health—all through plant-based ingredients. Carolyn talks about what inspired her to start the brand, how she developed products that are both effective and great-tasting, and what she’s learned along the way as a wellness founder.

In this episode, we sit down with Ben and Jayme, the co-founders of And Repeat, a beautifully designed supplement brand built with intention — and a personal story. Jayme opens up about her journey navigating ADHD and the frustration of trying to find a natural alternative to traditional medication. That search led to the creation of a focus-support supplement that not only works — but looks good doing it. Together, Ben and Jayme share how And Repeat was born from a real need and driven by a shared mission: to offer natural, effective focus support for anyone struggling with attention — whether it's ADHD or everyday distractions. We talk product formulation, brand design, the balance of wellness and aesthetics, and why seamlessly fitting into your daily routine was just as important as the science behind the supplement.

In this episode, Sophia Chen, founder of Oddball, shares how she turned a simple idea—making better-for-you jello—into a mission-driven brand. Made with organic fruit juice and whole ingredients, Oddball brings fun and flavor back to healthy eating. Sophia talks about what inspired her to create a snack that’s both kid-safe and genuinely enjoyable, the unexpected lessons she’s learned as a founder, and how she’s redefining what “healthy” can taste like.

In this episode, we meet Mei Kwok and Emily Doyle and dive into the story behind Dune Suncare, a brand that set out to redefine what sun protection looks and feels like. From identifying a gap in the beauty and skincare market to building a brand rooted in inclusivity, performance, and clean ingredients, we explore the personal journey that sparked Dune’s creation. Our conversation covers the challenges of launching a modern suncare brand, the lessons learned along the way, and the vision driving Dune forward. Whether you’re a beauty enthusiast, an aspiring founder, or simply curious about the people behind the products you love, this episode offers an inspiring look at turning purpose into a brand.

In this episode, Katie Diasti, founder of Viv, shares how a shocking discovery in college about the environmental impact of traditional period products inspired her to take action. Learning that each pad can take up to 800 years to break down, Katie set out to create Viv—a brand offering earth-friendly, toxin-free period care designed to make a real difference. She talks about what motivated her to start the company, how Viv is changing the conversation around sustainability and menstruation, and what being a founder truly means to her.

In this episode, Serena Rathi, co-founder of Droosh, shares how her brand was inspired by family, culture, and the flavors of her Indian heritage. Growing up watching her Maa—her grandmother—cook beautiful, spice-filled meals for the family, Serena set out to capture that same warmth and authenticity through Droosh’s organic spice mixes and hot sauces. She talks about what it means to be a founder, how Droosh is bringing a modern touch to traditional Indian flavors, and the ongoing mission and growth behind the brand.

When Amanda Chantal Bacon launched Moon Juice in 2011, wellness wasn’t yet a lifestyle—it was a fringe idea. In this inspiring conversation, Amanda shares how she turned her personal passion for holistic health into a pioneering brand that transformed the way we think about nourishment, beauty, and self-care. She opens up about what it was like to build Moon Juice from the ground up when “adaptogens” weren’t yet a buzzword, the challenges of sustaining creativity and authenticity as the industry exploded, and what it truly means to her to be a founder today.

We sit down with Lily Geiger, the founder of Figlia, a non-alcoholic aperitivo brand born from a desire to spark more honest and inclusive conversations around alcohol consumption. Lily shares how Figlia came to be as a solution to the lack of delicious, zero-proof options for those who choose not to drink or are navigating their relationship with alcohol. Alcoholism can take many forms, and often, non-drinkers find themselves excluded in social spaces like bars and restaurants. Figlia aims to change that by offering high-quality, playful beverages that are just as fun and flavorful as their alcoholic counterparts. Tune in to hear Lily’s journey in creating Figlia and how she’s making space for everyone to enjoy a drink, without the alcohol.

In this episode, DamDam founders Giselle Go and Philippe Terrien share the story behind their modern Japanese skincare brand rooted in purity, craftsmanship, and care. After years in the fashion world, Giselle faced severe skin issues that no existing products could fix—until she and Philippe began exploring Japan’s natural ingredients and ancient beauty rituals. Their shared love for Japanese culture and its connection to nature inspired them to create DamDam, a skincare line made with whole, locally sourced ingredients that healed Giselle’s skin and continue to support local farmers across Japan. They open up about their journey as co-founders, how they built a brand grounded in sustainability and authenticity, and what it means to create beauty products that truly honor both people and the planet.

In this episode, we sit down with Harry, founder of Mill, the company behind the fully automated food recycler that turns nearly anything — even meat and bones — into nutrient-rich grounds, all without the smell. Harry shares his journey as a founder, what it took to bring this groundbreaking product to life, and how Mill is reimagining how we handle food waste at home. From tackling one of the biggest sources of household emissions to designing a product that’s as beautiful as it is functional, Harry takes us inside the process of building a company with purpose — and creating a cleaner, smarter future for our kitchens and our planet.

In this episode, we talk with Sara and Jesse, the founders of Croots, a brand that’s rethinking how we view croutons. Croots started with a simple idea: why should croutons only be used as a salad topping? Most of us snack on them anyway. By using simple, whole ingredients and artisan bread, Sara and Jesse created a product that positions croutons as a standalone snack. We discuss their journey, the inspiration behind Croots, and how they’re working to change the way people think about everyday foods.

In this episode, we’re joined by Gina and Hannah, founders of Era of Mago, a natural body care brand inspired by the Korean spa. Having grown up visiting the spa as a way to relax and reset, they created Era of Mago to bring that same renewed, refreshed feeling into everyday life at home. Gina and Hannah share how their personal rituals turned into a brand, what makes the Korean spa experience so special, and how their products help turn simple routines into moments of care and calm.

In this episode, we chat with Gabrielle and Luke, founders of Activist—a brand born when a health journey led them from New York back to their roots in New Zealand, where wild manuka trees surrounded their home. What began as personal healing grew into a globally loved brand celebrating the power of raw manuka honey. We dive into how Activist evolved from honey to a full range of wellness and beauty products, their connection to nature, and what it takes to build a purpose-driven business from the ground up.

In this episode, we sit down with Noah Simon-Waddell, founder of the cult-favorite probiotic yogurt brand, Coconut Cult. After struggling with serious gut health issues in his early 20s and realizing the impact of diet on overall well-being, Noah took matters into his own hands—literally. What began as a journey of healing through home-cooked meals led to the creation of a coconut-based yogurt designed to support digestion and microbiome health.Noah shares the inspiring (and unfiltered) story of how Coconut Cult was born in his kitchen, the early days of sharing it with friends and family, and how the brand exploded on Instagram thanks to its passionate following and real results. We dive into the challenges of being a founder, from navigating production hurdles to staying true to the brand's mission in a crowded wellness space. Plus, Noah gives us a sneak peek into what’s next for Coconut Cult as it continues to revolutionize the way we think about food, gut health, and entrepreneurship.

In this episode of the Founder Fridays podcast presented by Happier Grocery, we chat with Mayssa Chehata, founder of BEHAVE—a low-sugar, clean-label candy brand that proves you don’t have to compromise taste to eat better. Gluten-free, keto-friendly, and free of sugar alcohols, BEHAVE is designed to satisfy your sweet tooth without the blood sugar crash. Mayssa opens up about the inspiration behind the brand, what it takes to disrupt the candy aisle, and the honest highs and lows of building a business.

At just 14, Bradley Gifford was warned he was at risk for high blood pressure—a wake-up call that exposed a deeper issue: limited access to nutritious food and even less access to reliable nutrition education. That moment sparked the journey that would eventually lead to Spoonful, a brand creating nutrient-rich, grab-and-go overnight oats designed for busy lives. In this episode, Bradley shares his personal health story, the mission behind Spoonful, and how he's helping redefine what "eating well" looks like for people short on time but big on intention.