Open Residency

Open Residency
  • 5.0 (16)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED DAILY

Hosted by Mark Brazil, co-founder of IKONICK, Open Residency dives deep into the minds of true operators—the individuals who are the last line of defense in their business. Each conversation offers a glimpse into the operator’s playbook, sharing real-world insights from those who’ve navigated the toughest challenges in business. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a leader, this podcast is a must-listen for actionable lessons.

Episodes

  1. SEP 9

    Sahil Bloom - Why You're Playing The Wrong Game in Life

    👉 Join our private community for operators, marketers, and creators (waitlist): openresidency.com/signup BTS & more: openresidency.com/sahil-bloom Designing a business is really about designing a life. This week, we dissect the business flywheel behind Sahil Bloom (author of the NYT Best Seller The 5 Types of Wealth) — his initiatives, team, and how he’s scaled it. At the core is the bigger theme: money as a tool (not the goal), the “15 more times” mindset, time as the real asset, and systems to protect your energy. This book changed my life. Enjoy the conversation! 00:00:00 Trailer00:01:15 Opening Act (The Good Life)00:05:55 A Life Changing Conversation00:10:26 Five Types of Wealth00:11:35 Life Razors: Simple Rules for Better Decisions00:20:19 Goals & Anti-Goals00:26:20 The Cost of Moving in the Wrong Direction00:28:16 Awareness, Attention & Control00:29:30 Universal Ads00:30:33 Maximizing Time00:46:21 The Art of Saying No00:52:41 The Importance of Relationships01:18:00 Open Residency’s Community01:18:19 Mental Wealth01:23:15 Mental Model Exercises01:26:27 How to Learn: The Feynman Technique01:31:56 Sahil's Daily Journaling Technique01:40:15 The Business of Sahil Bloom01:49:09 Sahil's 'Halo' Medium01:51:17 Sahil's Mission01:58:04 Investing Thesis02:02:43 Attracting Investors02:04:30 SRB Ventures02:08:53 Newsletter Growth Strategies02:13:45 Rapid Fire02:22:40 Outro When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi: amzn.to/41IaRo1 The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom: amzn.to/4p5CQbc Sisu Sauna: sisusauna.com Atomic Habits by James Clear: amzn.to/3JRJYYI Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman: amzn.to/3JMzJVE Instagram: instagram.com/sahilbloom LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sahilbloom Website: sahilbloom.com X (Twitter): x.com/SahilBloom Instagram: instagram.com/openresidency LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea Website: openresidency.com Email: info@openresidency.com Book a call with Mark: intro.co/markbrazil Want to scale your brand with CTV ads? Universal Ads is giving the first 50 Open Residency listeners $500 in free ad credits to get started.👉 Claim your credit: form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zT🔗 Learn more: UniversalAds.com 📌 Chapters🔗 Links Mentioned🎙 Guest: Sahil Bloom📬 Get in Touch🎯 Powered by Universal Ads (by Comcast CTV)

    2h 24m

  2. AUG 20

    The Most Valuable Marketing Conversation You’ll Watch in 2025

    BTS & more: https://openresidency.com/oren-johnFor operators, marketers, and creators — this one's for you. Oren John is rare: He deeply understands both sides of content marketing — the creative and the performance. People with taste and the ability to stay unemotional about metrics are hard to find nowadays. This convo is all signal, no fluff. We rapid-fire through content frameworks, creative reference systems, platform strategy, TikTok Shop, influencer partnerships, how Oren makes money, and a lot more. Enjoy the conversation! Chapters00:00 Trailer00:01:18 The Key to Great Content in 202500:02:25 Positioning Yourself00:05:11 Staying Relevant in the Content Game00:08:59 Idea Systems for Creators00:14:20 Mastering Short-Form Content00:19:53 Formats and Topics That Perform00:19:52 Universal Ads00:20:57 Oren's Content Strategy00:26:08 Quality vs. Quantity00:31:57 Making Great Content on a Budget00:41:19 Content Myths00:44:03 YouTube and the Future of Content00:54:42 Influencer Marketing Masterclass01:06:30 A $10k Winning Influencer Strategy01:14:22 How to Craft a Creative Brief01:23:20 Brand Partnerships01:27:07 Turning Content into Real Revenue01:39:27 The Team Behind Oren's Content Machine01:42:35 Lightning Round01:49:22 Outro Guest: Oren JohnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/orenmeetsworld/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orenj/Website: https://orenjohn.com/ Get in TouchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Email: info@openresidency.comBook a call with Mark: https://intro.co/markbrazil Powered by Universal Ads by Comcast CTVWant to scale your brand with CTV ads? Universal Ads is giving the first 50 Open Residency listeners $500 in free ad credits to get started.Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zTLearn more: UniversalAds.com

    1h 50m

  3. JUL 31

    Brian Garofalow - The Systems Skullcandy’s CEO Uses (That Entrepreneurs Don’t)

    ⚡️ BTS & More: https://openresidency.com/brian-garofalowIn this episode, I sit down with Brian Garofalow, CEO of Skullcandy, to unpack his leadership philosophy, product strategy, and how he's repositioning the brand for explosive growth in a crowded consumer electronics market. We dive into: Brian’s “People, Process, Product” framework for scaling innovation Skullcandy’s four-bucket system for managing product life cycle How a bold partnership with Bose redefined product perception A behind-the-scenes look at how Skullcandy balances hard sales data with cultural insight to find market white space Brian’s playbook for international expansion, avoiding opportunity-cost traps, and focusing where it counts Whether you're building a brand, leading a team, or thinking about product strategy at scale—this conversation is packed with insight from someone operating at the highest level of consumer growth. Enjoy! Chapters00:00 Trailer01:28 The Role of a CEO09:20 OKRs, KPIs & Operating Rhythms14:34 Key Metrics & that Brian Measures21:13 When to Kill a Product24:20 Skullcandy's 4 Buckets of Product29:29 Universal Ads30:34 Most Important Part of Building Product37:12 Skullcandy's Core Persona42:07 Marketing Mix48:35 Partnership Strategy53:35 The Bose Collab: What Actually Happened01:04:58 Utilizing Association for Brand Image01:08:02 How Skullcandy Strategically Partners w/ Creators01:13:06 Dissecting Competition & Pricing Strategy01:19:02 Supply Chain Breakdown01:24:10 Metrics Brian Obsesses Over01:29:30 Mistakes When Expanding into Retail01:33:20 Approach to International Expansion01:38:36 Lightning Round01:56:51 How Big Can Skullcandy Be?01:57:11 Outro Links MentionedMeasure What Matters by John Doerr: https://amzn.to/4oad857Zero to One by Peter Thiel: https://amzn.to/4lZAysqPurple Cow by Seth Godin: https://amzn.to/4fflmEESkullcandy Method 360 w/ Sound by Bose: https://www.skullcandy.com/products/method-360-anc-noise-canceling-earbuds?variant=44375520510009 Guest: Brian Garofalow, CEO at SkullcandyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/skullcandy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-garofalow-02b7bb2/Website: https://www.skullcandy.com/ Get in TouchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Contact: info@openresidency.comBook a call with Mark: https://intro.co/markbrazil Powered by Universal Ads by Comcast CTVWant to scale your brand with CTV ads? Universal Ads is giving the first 50 Open Residency listeners $500 in free ad credits to get started.Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zTLearn more: UniversalAds.com

    1h 58m

  4. JUL 10

    Caleb Ralston - Personal Branding Masterclass: From Beginner to Expert in 120 Minutes

    ⚡️ BTS & More: https://openresidency.com/caleb-ralston In this episode, I sit down with Caleb Ralston, Founder and Brand Strategist at Ralston, to break down what it actually takes to build a brand that sticks—and content that converts. We unpack real frameworks, hard-won lessons, and key insights from working with names like Gary Vaynerchuk and Alex Hormozi. We cover: - The Brand Journey Framework — a four-question system to shape your strategy - Association: how proximity builds powerful brand perception - The 80/20 Rule for content: balancing expertise with personality - Platform-specific tactics: what deserves your attention—and what doesn’t - How to build a content team that solves bottlenecks - Learnings from top-tier operators in branding and media Enjoy the conversation! Chapters 00:00 Trailer 01:09 Caleb’s Brand Journey Framework 01:39 4 Questions That Drive Brand Growth 03:41 Why Personal Branding Matters 05:20 The Power of Association 08:30 The Start of Ikonick 19:40 Creating Content with Purpose 23:15 How To Create Authentic Content 29:57 Universal Ads 31:04 The Value of Your Origin Story 43:45 Mastering the 80/20 Content Rule 47:01 Optimizing Content for Each Platform 48:58 Measuring Success Outside of Views 53:40 Choosing the Right Medium 59:09 Tailoring Content for Platforms 01:14:10 YouTube’s Power for Long-Form Content 01:18:48 Quality vs. Quantity in Content 01:26:45 Why People Lack Consistency 01:28:35 Scaling Across Multiple Platforms 01:33:55 Building Your Content Team 01:41:05 Hiring the Right People 01:49:12 Monetizing Your Content 01:53:38 Lightning Round 02"02:05 How Big Can Ralston Be? 02:03:18 Outro 🔗 Links Mentioned - One of Ten – https://www.oneof10.com - Frame.io – https://frame.io - Descript – https://descript.com 🎙 Guest: Caleb Ralston, Founder, Ralston - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calebralston/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebralston - Website: https://www.calebralston.com/ 📬 Get in Touch - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/ - Website: https://openresidency.com/ - Email: info@openresidency.com - Book a call with Mark: https://intro.co/markbrazil 🎯 Powered by Universal Ads by Comcast CTV - Want to scale your brand with CTV ads? Universal Ads is giving the first 50 Open Residency listeners $500 in free ad credits to get started. - 👉 Claim your credit: https://form.typeform.com/to/ckvJ86zT - 🔗 Learn more: UniversalAds.com

    2h 4m

  5. JUN 19

    Nick Shackelford - The new formula to run Meta ads in 2025

    ⚡️ BTS & More: https://openresidency.com/nick-shackelford In this episode, I sit down with Nick Shackelford, Head of Retention and Partner at BREZ, to break down modern customer acquisition and retention strategies for 2025. Nick has managed over $200M in ad spend and brings hard-won insights from scaling multiple brands — including his own agencies, Structured and Konstant Kreative — into this conversation. We get into: Why creative is now the new targeting, with Nick giving the keys on Meta’s evolving algorithm The ideal framework for customer acquisition in today’s landscape How to structure your testing budget between proven winners and fresh creative Conversion tactics that immediately lift performance — from mobile-first design to offer structure The retention strategies behind BREZ’s drop in subscription churn from 24% to 17%, on a mission toward sub-5% The tactics powering BREZ, one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the country, on pace to hit $50M in just two years How celebrities like Drake and Druski use subtle content strategies to drive massive viewership — and what brands can learn from it This is a deep dive on what’s actually working in marketing in 2025. Enjoy the conversation! Chapters 00:00 Trailer 00:57 Customer Acquisition & Creative Testing 05:52 How to Optimize Ads with Smart Creative 09:13 Targeting in a Post-iOS World 11:56 Media Buying Meets Creative Strategy 18:03 Influencer Army 19:35 Clipping Culture (Cheat Code) 25:13 Running Ads as a Founder + Managing Creative 33:38 Marketing Funnel Breakdown 39:32 Organic Content’s Role in Paid Performance 43:24 Learnings from Running a Creative Agency 45:30 Conversion Optimization & Offer Strategy 55:32 Retention Marketing + Subscription Tactics 01:04:35 Building Products & Activating Loyal Customers 01:08:06 Smart Product Strategy and Feedback Loops 01:16:20 Building a Brand in Public (Pros & Cons) 01:24:43 Playing the Long Game: Brand, Business & Burnout 01:27:49 Work-Life Balance, Tools & Final Reflections 01:35:00 How Big can Brez Be? 01:36:00 Outro

    1h 37m

  6. JUN 5

    Kent Yoshimura - The TikTok Strategy That’s Printing MILLIONS right now

    ⚡️ BTS & More: https://openresidency.com/kent-yoshimura In this episode, I sit down with Kent Yoshimura, Co-Founder & CEO of Neurogum, to unpack how the brand became one of TikTok’s fastest-growing success stories and scaled to over $100 million in revenue. We dive into: - The TikTok strategy that transformed Neurogum’s growth - How the team shifted their marketing mix to make TikTok their top-of-funnel channel—while maintaining a 52x ROAS on Amazon with zero ad spend - Their strategic approach to partnerships - A hiring process that’s led to 98% employee retention over three years - The origin story—and how they've sustained a competitive edge through patented manufacturing This one’s packed with gems. Enjoy the conversation. Chapters 00:00 Trailer 01:11 How to Crack TikTok 03:54 Neuro's Content Creation Pipeline 04:17 Coaching Creators on Engagement and Voice 06:09 The Culture Behind a Creative-Driven Brand 07:59 Anatomy of a Scroll-Stopping Hook 12:02 TikTok’s Untapped Power for Brands 15:15 The Best Influencer Strategy 16:43 Building a Full-Funnel Marketing Engine 27:00 Turning Customer Insights into Growth 32:06 Creating Content with AI 38:25 Fast Operators vs. Scalable Operators 39:32 The Masogi Challenge: Mental Toughness in Business 42:55 Running Ultra Marathons as Mental Training 45:55 How Kent Hires Creators and Builders 57:13 The Wild Origin Story of NeuroGum 01:01:06 What’s in NeuroGum? A Dive into Nootropics 01:12:11 Retail Distribution: Wins and Pivots 01:15:21 Why Data Shapes Every Decision 01:21:16 What It Takes to Be a Founder 01:34:15 What Shark Tank Didn’t Show 01:35:36 Lightning Round 🎙 Guest: Kent Yoshimura, Co-Founder & CEO of Neurogum- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kentaro/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentyoshimura/- Website: https://neurogum.com 📬 Get in Touch:- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/- Website: https://openresidency.com/- Contact: info@openresidency.com Powered by IKONICK- Get 30% off motivational art at https://ikonick.com/openresidency- Use code: OPENRESIDENCY30

    1h 46m

  7. MAY 15

    Ryan Bartlett - How a Failed Poker Pro Built a $1 Billion Business

    ⚡️ BTS & More: ⁠https://openresidency.com/ryan-bartlett⁠In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Bartlett, CEO of True Classic, to break down how they scaled to over $200M+ in annual revenue with a valuation approaching $1B. We get into: The evolution of their marketing strategy from pure direct response to brand building How they leverage customer feedback to drive product development through their membership program Their unique approach to customer service and community building Website optimization strategies that helped increase AOV from $36 to $112 Key operational insights on running a lean, efficient DTC brand This one’s packed with actionable insights for brand builders at every stage. Enjoy the conversation! Chapters00:00 Trailer01:20 Intro01:42 Identifying the White Space04:55 Mistakes in the First 12 Months06:02 Marketing Mix09:19 Ad Library Breakdown18:13 The Greatest Form of Marketing23:56 Tips for Scaling a Company37:28 Building a Strong Team Culture40:11 The Lost Art of Customer Service49:00 How Customer Feedback Shapes Strategy53:57 Metrics That Matter Most58:25 What Works in E-Commerce Today01:17:24 Alternate Marketing Channels01:23:22 Contrarian KPIs Everyone Overlooks01:27:34 Raising Equity and Debt01:29:23 Managing Credit and Inventory Risks01:31:14 Retail Rollout Masterclass01:34:30 Landing Major Retail Partnerships01:47:04 What’s Next for True Classic01:51:57 Lightning Round02:10:23 How Big Can True Classic Be?02:11:26 Outro 🎙 Guest:Ryan Bartlett, Co-Founder & Chairman of True ClassicInstagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ryanbartlett/⁠ / ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trueclassic/⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbtct/⁠Website: ⁠https://www.trueclassic.com/⁠ 📬 Get in Touch:Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/⁠Website: ⁠https://openresidency.com/⁠Contact: ⁠info@openresidency.com⁠ Powered by IKONICKGet 30% off motivational art at ⁠https://ikonick.com/openresidency⁠Use code: OPENRESIDENCY30

    2h 12m

  8. APR 25

    Nate Checketts - $100M+ CEO, Why More Effort Isn’t Always Better

    ⚡️ BTS & More: www.openresidency.com/nate-checketts In this episode, I sit down with Nate Checketts, co-founder and CEO of Rhone, to unpack how a luxury performance-apparel brand went from a single pant to a nine-figure omnichannel business with NBA deals, retail success, and a wildly unique internal wellness system. We dive into: Building Rhone from the ground up into a category-defining brand Their “12 Pursuits” framework: a monthly habit system blending physical and mental wellness How breathwork, sleep tracking, and community-driven wellness drive real performance The origin of GoldFusion and how Rhone rethought sustainability (without the greenwashing) Lessons from launching women’s and becoming a multi-category brand Buying out L Catterton and re-taking full control of the business How Rhone’s retail strategy beats the odds—and makes money Why investing in mental fitness may be Rhone’s true legacy This episode goes deep into the systems behind both a high-performance company and a high-performance life. Enjoy the conversation! Chapters00:00 Intro01:05 Start01:37 Rhone’s Approach to Mental Health02:12 The 12 Pursuits Program03:42 Creating Healthy Habits and Company Culture08:59 Monthly Focus: Sleep and Hydration13:29 Monthly Focus: Breath Work20:03 Goal-Setting with Family: Systems for a Meaningful Life30:35 How Nate Structures His Day for High Performance35:38 The Science Behind Rhone’s GoldFusion Technology39:01 The Complexities of Sustainability in Fashion40:29 Fabric Innovations That Actually Matter41:17 Expanding the Line: Product Strategy and Pivots43:10 What Focus Groups Really Reveal About Your Brand46:14 Big Inventory Mistakes and Product Flops49:13 Launching Women’s: Why It Took 8 Years54:41 Partnerships with NBA & LPGA56:45 Marketing in 2025: Influencers, CPMs, and Real Brand Loyalty01:11:52 How Rhone’s Retail Stores Actually Turn a Profit01:20:48 Building an Efficient Retail Footprint01:21:31 Distribution Risks and Channel Strategy01:23:55 Long-Term Brand Positioning01:25:03 Advice for Breaking Into Wholesale Retail01:26:41 Buying Out L Catterton: How and Why01:34:43 How Long-Term Thinking Changed the Business01:38:34 Leadership Lessons from Nate’s Father01:39:54 50+ Investments: What Nate Looks for in Founders01:45:24 Lightning Round: Favorites, Systems, and Sneaky Wins01:50:46 How Big Can Rhone Be?01:52:08 Outro Links Mentioned: Big Ass Calendar: https://jesseitzler.com/products/the-big-a-calendar Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://amzn.to/3YwIgAl The 5 Minute Journal / Productivity Journal: https://amzn.to/42G34rD EOS Operating System (Traction): https://amzn.to/4lqWvRf Sportsish (by Nate’s sister): https://www.instagram.com/sportsish/ 🎙 Guest:Nate Checketts, Co-Founder & CEO of Rhone Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natechecketts/ Rhone: https://www.instagram.com/rhone/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natechecketts/ Website: https://www.rhone.com/ 📬 Get in Touch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/ Website: https://openresidency.com/ Contact: info@openresidency.com Powered by IKONICKGet 30% off motivational art at https://ikonick.com/openresidencyUse code: OPENRESIDENCY30

    1h 53m

  9. MAR 6

    Oliver Zak - The $50M College Startup That Scored A Shark Tank Deal

    In this episode, I sit down with Oliver Zak, co-founder of Mad Rabbit, to break down his journey from launching a DIY skincare product in a crockpot to securing a Shark Tank deal with Mark Cuban and scaling into major retailers like Walmart. We dive deep into: What really happens after a Shark Tank deal and its long-term impactThe business of tattoos and how Mad Rabbit is disrupting an overlooked industryThe power of TikTok, influencers, and affiliate marketing in scaling a DTC brandSucceeding in retail & WalmartRaising venture capital, working with investors, and the lessons learned from Mark CubanHow community-building is at the core of Mad Rabbit’s successOliver doesn’t hold back on the realities of fundraising, navigating competition, and marketing strategies that drive real revenue. If you're an entrepreneur, a brand builder, or just someone interested in scaling a consumer product, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 00:00 Intro01:00 Early Life and Family Influence02:28 High School and College Ventures04:25 Learnings as a Generalist05:41 Oliver’s First Business06:29 Founding Mad Rabbit07:42 Developing the First Product in a Crockpot08:33 Process for FDA Regulations09:22 Company Breakdown from $0-$3 Million11:00 Shark Tank Experience17:33 Advice for Shark Tank / Raising Capital18:02 Business Behind the Tattoo Industry21:00 What a Shark Tank Deal Looks Like After the Show23:05 Revenue Effects from the Show24:00 VC Effects of Deal with Mark Cuban25:15 Challenges with Raising Money27:18 Communicating with Investors28:10 Advice on Raising Money29:02 Utilizing Investor Money31:06 Working with Walmart33:03 Getting into Walmart / Brokers36:35 Using TikTok to Drive In-Person Sales38:13 Succeeding in Retail42:45 Approach to Competition in the Space44:07 Marketing Mix45:57 Affiliate Program Infrastructure53:22 Incentivizing Affiliates55:57 Tattoo Artist Pro Team58:22 Tips for Building Community1:00:11 Mad Rabbit’s Creative Space1:01:53 Most Impactful Marketing Initiative1:04:57 The First Thing You Should Do to Build Community1:06:30 Biggest Failure1:08:39 Lessons from Mark Cuban1:10:01 Biggest Regret from Raising Money1:10:49 Lightning Round1:15:36 Weapons of Choice1:17:49 How Big Can Mad Rabbit Be?1:18:55 Outro Hard Things about Hard Things: https://amzn.to/4bBXhGF Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olvrzk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverhzak/Website: https://www.madrabbit.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/Website: https://openresidency.com/Contact: info@openresidency.com Get a 30% discount on the best motivational art from IKONICK at https://ikonick.com/openresidency (use code: OPENRESIDENCY30) ChaptersLinks MentionedGuest: Oliver Zak, Co-Founder & CEO of Mad RabbitGet in TouchPowered by IKONICK

    1h 20m

  10. FEB 19

    Manny Lubin - How Slate Milk Raised $30M+ by Reinventing Protein Drinks for the Healthy Minded

    In this episode, I sit down with Manny Lubin, co-founder of Slate Milk, to unpack the journey from a simple idea in 2017 to becoming a dominant player in the protein drink market. Manny shares hard-hitting lessons on brand positioning, product innovation, and some keys to winning in the beverage industry. We talk about: The early struggles of launching a better-for-you chocolate milk How Slate Milk stacked TAM’s to find its niche between bodybuilder protein shakes and chocolate milk The business of dairy including ultra-filtration, removing lactose, and optimizing for a low sugar, high protein product Raising over $30 million with key investors like Peter Rahal (RXBAR) and Drew & Amanda Cohen (Yasso) The Shark Tank experience Leveraging influencer marketing, UFC partnerships, and retail expansion to scale The biggest mistakes in CPG fundraising and marketingWhether you're an entrepreneur, fitness enthusiast, or just fascinated by building a challenger brand, this episode is packed with tactical insights you won’t want to miss. 00:00 Intro01:15 Brand Positioning, Starting Slate04:21 Target Audience and Market Growth05:13 Core Thesis of Slate07:14 Market Analysis, Stacking TAM’s09:54 Masterclass on Dairy Industry11:29 How Slate Makes Their Product12:45 Deep Dive into Product Development20:32 Mistakes When Building the Product22:01 Raising $30M and Investor Insights22:33 Advice from Peter Rahal, RxBar23:33 Advice from Nick Rellas, Drizly25:04 Advice from Drew and Amanda, Yasso27:32 Choosing Board Members28:42 Slow vs Fast Growth29:20 Board Seat Deal Structure30:39 Common Blindspots in Business31:45 Meeting with Stu Klane, Chobani33:26 Working with Skyview and Riverbank34:39 Advice when Raising Money35:24 Partnering with Maxx Crosby36:30 Intro with the UFC38:14 Launching with Kickstarter39:35 Marketing: Overarching Strategy41:26 Working with the UFC, Deal Structure44:08 Marketing: Top Funnel44:38 Influencer Partnerships49:24 Marketing: Middle Funnel53:14 Retail Strategies and Field Team Operations55:00 Succeeding In Stores, Advice from Retail Managers59:23 Getting in Whole Foods59:49 Direct to Consumer Buyer Funnel01:03:30 Fitness Influencers01:04:17 Cavinder Twins01:05:20 New Initiatives01:06:48 New Product Sneak Peek01:07:42 Operating as a Remote Company01:08:44 Co-Founder Dynamics01:11:28 Scaling Challenges01:12:27 Measuring Success01:13:05 Mental Resilience01:14:24 Misconceptions About Shark Tank01:16:35 Lightning Round01:23:27 How Big Can Slate Be?01:26:24 Outro Guest: Manny Lubin, Slate Milk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mannylubin/ / https://www.instagram.com/slatemilk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manny-lubin-56329785/ Website: https://slatemilk.com/ Get in touch in the comments below or head to: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/ Website: https://openresidency.com/ Contact: info@openresidency.com Powered by IKONICK Get a 30% discount on the best motivational art from IKONICK at https://ikonick.com/openresidency (use code: OPENRESIDENCY30)

    1h 27m

  11. FEB 5

    Bill Shufelt - How to Build a $800M+ Non-Alcoholic Beer Brand

    In this episode, I sit down with Bill Shufelt, co-founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing, to discuss his journey from Wall Street to redefining non-alcoholic beer. Athletic Brewing has grown from an idea to a $800M valuation, disrupting an industry and carving out a new market in craft brewing. We talk about: - The bold decision to leave a lucrative hedge fund career for entrepreneurship. - The science and innovation behind brewing non-alcoholic beer. - Overcoming early rejection and building a loyal community. - Lessons on scaling, fundraising, and maintaining a strong company culture. Bill’s story is an inspiring testament to taking calculated risks and staying true to a mission. Whether you're an entrepreneur, craft beer enthusiast, or just curious about the non-alcoholic beverage revolution, this episode has something for you. Tune in to hear how Athletic Brewing is making waves while staying grounded in community impact. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:32 Leaving Wall Street 02:12 Discovering the Need for Non-Alcoholic Beer 07:28 The Importance of a Strong Support System 10:30 Quitting a Stable Job 15:09 Finding the Right Co-Founder: John Walker 19:11 Launching the First Product 23:55 Crafting Company Culture 26:14 Working With the Right People 27:50 Meeting Investors 31:40 Launching, E-Commerce and Retail Distribution 33:02 The Keys to Building Community 36:40 Sober October, Dry January, Market Timing 41:00 Navigating Fundraising 42:52 Mistakes While Raising 45:29 Scaling Manufacturing 49:38 Advantages of Vertical Integration 51:23 Tackling Supply Chain Issues 53:25 Communicating Effectively With Investors 55:03 Evolving as a CEO 56:20 Hiring the Right People 01:00:06 Expanding Internationally 01:06:28 Giving Back Through Two for the Trails 01:11:13 Evaluating Investments 01:12:32 The Name 01:13:36 Lightning Round 01:18:28 Reflections / Learnings as CEO 01:20:47 Best Advice 01:21:35 Favorite Podcast 01:23:35 Giving Flowers to an Entrepreneur 01:25:11 How Big Can Athletic Be? Guest: Bill Shufelt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athleticbrewing/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-shufelt-650059138/ / https://www.linkedin.com/company/athletic-brewing-company-llc/ Website: https://athleticbrewing.com/ Get in touch in the comments below or head to: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/ Website: https://openresidency.com/ Contact: info@openresidency.com Powered by IKONICK Get a 30% discount on the best motivational art from IKONICK at https://ikonick.com/openresidency (use code: OPENRESIDENCY30)

    1h 27m

  12. JAN 21

    Dee Murthy - The Strategy to Raise $95M & Transform Retail

    What does it take to secure $95 million and revolutionize an industry? Let’s find out. This episode features Dee Murthy - the founder behind Ghost, the brand who’s revolutionizing how businesses handle excess inventory. From building a successful apparel brand to hosting 907 episodes of his own podcast, this conversation covers the full spectrum of his entrepreneurial journey. We dive deep into: • Raw lessons from nearly a decade of podcasting • The untold stories of his fundraising journey • Why picking the right investors can make or break you • The real challenges nobody talks about This conversation goes deep into what it really takes to scale a venture-backed company. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:22 Lessons from 907 Podcast Episodes 02:15 Leveraging Podcasting in Business 03:56 Launching the Podcast: Early Days and Growth 06:08 Building an Audience and Content Strategy 10:57 The Importance of Niching Down 13:41 Podcast Learnings 15:52 Avoiding Burnout and Maintaining Relevance 20:19 Introducing Ghost: A Marketplace Solution 30:23 The Future of Retail and Distribution 37:18 Fundraising Journey: From Idea to Seed Round 44:03 Fundraising Challenges 46:06 Building the Business from Scratch 49:09 Pivoting to a B2B Marketplace 51:25 Navigating the Venture Capital Landscape 01:09:41 Hiring and Company Culture 01:15:01 Lightning Round and Final Thoughts Get in touch in the comments below or head to: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openresidency/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmastrandrea/ Website: https://openresidency.com/ Contact: info@openresidency.com Guest: Dee Murthy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deemurthy/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deemurthy/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/deemurthy Website: https://ghst.io/ Powered by IKONICK Get a 30% discount on the best motivational art from IKONICK at https://ikonick.com/openresidency (use code: OPENRESIDENCY30 ) Note from Mark: If you landed on this page, I just wanted to thank you. This is the first episode of a new chapter that I am very excited about ! All feedback is greatly welcomed in the comments. I will read, respond and look to get better accordingly. I am going to continue to search for business operators that I am interested in and share my learnings with everyone. If you got any value from this episode, sharing it with a friend would mean a lot. Hope you enjoy!  - Mark

    1h 22m
  • 12 Episodes

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Hosted by Mark Brazil, co-founder of IKONICK, Open Residency dives deep into the minds of true operators—the individuals who are the last line of defense in their business. Each conversation offers a glimpse into the operator’s playbook, sharing real-world insights from those who’ve navigated the toughest challenges in business. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a leader, this podcast is a must-listen for actionable lessons.

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  • Creator
    Open Residency
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Open Residency
  • Show Website
    Open Residency

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