The Irresistible Factor Kristi Bridges

I love the feeling of being both excited and scared. I want to live on that edge and I want to explore what that feels like and explore my limits…”  
Today Kristi is joined by the incredible Ret Taylor, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ned. Ned’s mission is to help people feel and live better through the true power of nature. From full-spectrum hemp oils to their famous Mellö magnesium, they are taking supplements seriously.  
In the summer of 2016, Ret reached a turning point, realizing that corporate America wasn’t where he belonged. He made the brave decision to trade in his BMW for a 4Runner and spend the next 50 days on his own in Colorado and Utah living and working outdoors. This coinciding with his mother’s battle with cancer was when he discovered his true purpose - to help others heal and thrive through nature. 


In this episode, you’ll gain insight into the transparency and quality that form the cornerstones of the Ned brand. They also discuss how Ret and his Co-CEO are big believers in the power of teamwork, recognizing that they’re stronger as a duo, and how they’ve enlisted the help of a business coach to set up guidelines that help them complement each other's strengths.  Additionally, they discuss what it means to live on the edge of what’s possible.
 You’ll also hear: 
Why being a Co-CEO  requires him  to leave his ego  at the door and focus on collaborationHow the Farm to Ned program benefits farmersThe 3-30-3 approach Ned takes to educate consumers about their productsDifferent marketing buckets that the brand uses to “show not tell”Where the friendly and approachable name for Ned came from

“The name of the game is who has the most grit. It’s not who’s the smartest in the room, it is not who has the best idea; it is who is just willing to get back up.” 
Today Kristi is joined by the inspiring Jamie Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Innovative Pet Lab.

Innovative Pet Lab (IPL) is on a mission to empower pet parents with at-home testing and personalized solutions to help pets live longer and happier lives.  

In this candid conversation, they talk about what it’s like to launch a wellness company in the fast-growing pet category. Jamie shares the highs and lows (and there are plenty of both) of launching a new product in a relatively unknown category. They not only have the challenge of  creating awareness for their brand but also have to educate consumers on a whole new category.  


They also discuss the  balancing act of being a female, empathetic leader while also making the tough calls that all successful business owners need to make. 

Jamie is the perfect combination of grit and grace.  Don’t miss this one. 

You'll also hear: 
Her path to becoming a founderThe importance of wellness for pets too!How and when Jamie knew that her business idea was viable and primed for longevityJamie is giving listeners 15% off any of their products with code “petday” through their website: 
https://innovativepetlab.com/ 
Enjoy!

“The most difficult thing or the uphill push has always been that we are ahead of a trend – everywhere.” 
Kristi is joined by Eva Maran of Shroomwell on this episode of The Irresistible Factor. Shroomwell is a mushroom company at the core. They create functional products from the mushrooms they grow themselves on their farms in the very small country of Estonia. Shroomwell was a true pioneer of the medicinal mushroom craze and now their biggest challenge is staying ahead of the trends in this rapidly growing category.
Eva talks about the incredible medicinal power of mushrooms and shares some really compelling (almost miraculous) stories of why the brand was started. She talks about their careful and methodical expansion into the US market  and how important the education component is going to be. 

Here’s what you won’t want to miss: 

- The truly incredible healing powers of their mushrooms
- The products that have made a really positive impact and got Shroomwell launched
- The importance of the  form of the product to the efficacy
- Which  US store shelves make the most sense for them
- The importance of finding partners who align with your vision 

“One of the superpowers of an entrepreneur is the ability to get hit in the face with a shovel and get up and go, ‘I’m okay, I’ve got this.’”
Today’s guest is David Spungen is a partner and wealth advisor at Corient, who happens to work with a lot of founders in the CPG business. He’s heard it all and isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the challenges of being a founder. Especially in this financial climate. 
David and Kristi talk through ALL the challenges of starting a food and bev company in the extremely oversaturated market and how to navigate raising in today’s tricky economy. They also talk about why market research is essential when starting a brand, alternatives to venture capital, and why resilience is imperative. We dig deep into the importance of recognizing your strengths and weaknesses as a founder and reaching out for support when you need it. 
David also happens to have a fascinating story about how he wound up falling in love with food in the first place. It’s a must for foodies! 
 Here’s what you won’t want to miss from the conversation: 
How David’s experience in a restaurant put on on this pathNavigating the oversaturated CPG market Some of the biggest mistakes David has seen founders makeHow David can help and the best time to reach out to him 

“...the goal is no longer to be fearless. It's to be bold and courageous. When I feel fear, which is inevitable when you're launching something new and doing something outside your comfort zone, I want to be courageous in the face of fear.” 
Kristi sits down with the incredibly inspiring Addison LaBonte - Founder and CEO of Sweet Addisons.  Addison has one mission - to bring joy to people through her delicious better-for- you cookies. A tall order for an ambitious young lady.
In this episode, Addison tells the story of how a debilitating illness shifted her original goal of becoming a CFO in a big corporation to becoming an Instagram influencer turned brand founder. Addison launched Sweet Addison’s in January of 2024 (yep, just a couple of months ago!) And she already has plans about how she’ll scale and grow the business. For such a young founder she’s already faced quite a few challenges, which she shares with candor. She leaves us with insightful advice about how to take fear and turn it into courage. This is an episode you do not want to miss! 
 Here’s what you won’t want to miss: 
- How Addison managed to cure her  ‘compartment syndrome’ by switching to a gluten-free lifestyle
- The harmful effects of gluten (especially in the US) 
- What the day-to-day looks like at Sweet Addisons in their early stage
- Her dream to pitch her business on Shark Tank 
- A sneak peek of her new flavor launching in March

“Challenges are opportunities. I mean, to me, I don’t see them as setbacks.” And talk about taking on challenges. This ambitious co-founder is on a mission to create a strong brand in what has become a highly commoditized category. Meryl Farr, Co-Founder and Owner of 4Sisters Rice intends to make rice the star of the plate. Meryl and her sisters are a family of farmers with deep roots in agriculture. Meryl credits her success to some truly harsh criticism from a Walmart buyer. That difficult meeting caused her to rethink the name and packaging of the product, and 4Sister’s Rice was born. Just in time for Covid. And as difficult as that was, it turned out to be lucky for them. They launched when staples like rice were flying off the shelves like toilet paper. They were meeting a need that they didn’t even know existed. Their distribution gains were fast and furious. They found themselves constantly pivoting to meet the demand of the market, the challenges of the supply, and the massive responsibility of keeping employees safe. Meryl’s inspiring attitude towards these challenges paved the way for the successful launch of 4Sisters Rice. Listen to her tell the story of the obstacles they faced, the importance of a positive mindset, what it’s like to work with her four sisters, and so much more! Here’s what you won’t want to miss from our conversation: - The story of how a meeting with a buyer at Walmart forced them to rethink their entire brand- A 30-day rebrand- Why tough critics are the key to success - What it’s like to be a woman in the male-dominated agriculture industry - The importance of supporting American farmers