Food + Beverage Therapy Jake Leonti

 LAIRD HAMILTON is a Waterman, Big Wave Surfer and Co-Founder of Laird Superfood, a functional ingredient company dedicated to support high performance, healthy and gratitude. Laird is often recognized as the greatest surfer of all time though he has never competed. He has, however, continuously innovated within the sport his entire life.
Laird brings that spirit of innovation of the coffee sector. We talk about his relationship with coffee, why Superfood is important to him and how they have been able to grow the company at an incredible pace. 


#coffee #functionalingredients #functionalbeverage #products #coffeeproducts #lairdhamilton #lairdsuperfood #surfing #bigwavesurfing #highperformance

Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian is the Founder of JNP Coffee, a green importing company driven to support farmers from Burundi. Jeanine is a friend, an entrepreneur and a leader in the coffee industry. In this episode Jeanine shares her story on how she ended up in the coffee industry and why she cares so deeply about her purpose that she is willing to put everything on the line to see it succeed.

Andi and I chat about female leadership in coffee and why we need more role models.


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George Howell has always been curious about coffee, a champion of the farmer and an advocate for exceptional taste. After selling a successful coffee chain, co-founding Cup of Excellence and establishing another successful coffee brand - George Howell Coffee - George and I take a moment to talk about Specialty Coffee today and the challenges we face. 
George is a mentor to the industry and I always enjoy our conversations and debates. 

Andi Trindle Mersch and I discuss mentors and more in this packed episode. Enjoy! 

#coffee #coffeeroasters #sustainability #coffeebusiness #coffeeshop #culture #wine #innovation #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurs 

Martin Mayorga is the Founder and CEO of Mayorga Coffee which he started in 1997.  Since then the business has grown exponentially and has fanned out to include Organic chia and black beans always with the mission to eliminate systemic poverty in Latin America.
We discuss learning from failure, leadership and purpose in this long yet focused conversation. 

Andi and I also talk about the importance of listening and the opposing views on Organic coffee production verses food production.

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Cafe Guru 

Helen Russell is the Co-Founder and Executive Chair at Equator Coffee in San Rafael, CA and she has a lot to say about the symbiotic relationship between Wholesale and Retail in the coffee business.
Helen also has a lot to say about the value of people, product and process and how to use this as a force for good as Equator has done through its commitment to the B Corp certification.

Equator Coffee was founded in 1995, around the exact time Intelligentsia, Counter Culture and La Colombe were all founded as the beginning of what would become the 3rd Wave of coffee.  Listen to Helen share their story and how Equator has been a leader in conscious capitalism and continuous to grow with people and planet in mind.

This episode also features, for the first time, my new co-host: Andi Trindle Mersch!
Andi has been working in the coffee trade for over thirty  years and is currently the VP Coffee Operations and Sustainability at Philz Coffee.
Andi is also a Board Member - Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity.

Jordan Karcher is the Founder and CEO of Grounds & Hounds, a coffee company dedicated to dogs and animal rescue shelters.  20% of all G&H profits go to benefit these initiatives. 
Jordan shares his story of how he bootstrapped his start-up fresh out of college. Selling his furniture on e-bay to fund the online business is only part of the tale. 

Listen and learn about entrepreneurship and the commitment it takes to succeed even when you are ahead of the curve.