Sunny Brands

Odd Notion

The Sunny Brands Show spotlights visionary businesses and organizations creating meaningful social and environmental impact. Each episode explores a brand that's transforming how we approach positive change. Join hosts Eleazar Ruiz, Sarah Holdeman, and Rebecca Goldcrump on an inspiring journey through stories of transformation and innovation.

  1. Warby Parker

    06/19/2025

    Warby Parker

    The episode dives into an in-depth discussion about Warby Parker, covering its history, impact, and transparency as a B Corporation. The hosts recount Warby Parker's disruptive entry into the eyewear market and its initiatives, including eyewear products and vision services. They commend the company's mission of 'providing vision for all' and its initiatives like the buy-one-give-one program and Pupils Project. The episode scrutinizes Warby Parker’s latest impact report, highlighting areas of comprehensive transparency and growth along with criticisms for lack of clear and succinct data presentation. The conversation broadens to examine the challenges of maintaining B Corp values as a publicly traded company, citing Warby Parker's managing transparency, accountability, and reporting burdens. It concludes by discussing branding strategies, authenticity, and the overall importance of storytelling in impact reporting. 00:00 Introduction to Warby Parker 00:47 Warby Parker's Disruptive Business Model 01:46 Becoming a B Corp 03:01 Warby Parker's Mission and Impact 06:01 Critique of Warby Parker's Impact Report 09:30 The Importance of Transparency and Accountability 13:26 Debate on Impact Reporting 18:12 The Challenges of Being a Purpose-Driven Business 18:47 The Importance of Brand Messaging 19:14 Connecting Mission to Actions 22:34 Creating Impactful Reports 24:34 Warby Parker's Branding Success 27:04 The Complexity of Publicly Traded B Corps 32:19 The Burden of Transparency and Reporting 36:56 Final Thoughts and Commendations

    39 min
  2. David Ngene: Pacmodo

    05/06/2025

    David Ngene: Pacmodo

    In this episode of Sunny Brands, hosts Eleazar Ruiz, Rebecca, and Sarah sit down with David Ngene, co-founder of Pacmodo, to discuss his innovative approach to creating sustainable and functional backpacks. David shares his background, from his upbringing in Houston, Texas, to his educational journey in mechanical engineering and design, and his time at Nike as an innovation director. He talks about the vision behind Pacmodo, emphasizing a 'no more checked bags' philosophy aimed at making travel more seamless and environmentally conscious. The conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities in product design, sustainability, the importance of intentionality in business decisions, and the future plans for Pacmodo. 00:00 Introduction to Sunny Brands Podcast 00:34 Meet David Ngene: Co-Founder of Pacmodo 00:47 The Birth of Pacmodo: From Backpacks to Innovation 01:59 David's Journey: From Houston to Oregon 03:14 From Football to Design: David's Career Path 05:38 Landing at Nike: A Designer's Dream 11:13 The Vision Behind Pacmodo 18:45 Challenges and Opportunities in Building Pacmodo 19:34 The Importance of Sustainability in Design 21:54 Surprising Insights in Building a Business 23:41 Funding Pacmodo: The Kickstarter Experience 24:13 Kickstarter Beginnings: The Wild West Era 24:46 Back to Basics: Launching with No Budget 25:49 Market Testing and Feedback 26:20 Unexpected Success and Investor Interest 26:58 The Origin of the Name 'Pacmodo' 28:17 Design Philosophy and Market Appeal 31:06 Sustainability and Business Vision 34:25 Team Dynamics and Growth 35:07 The Future of Pacmodo: Sustainability and Innovation 43:55 Art and Design: A Personal Journey 46:45 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Launch

    48 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Sunny Brands Show spotlights visionary businesses and organizations creating meaningful social and environmental impact. Each episode explores a brand that's transforming how we approach positive change. Join hosts Eleazar Ruiz, Sarah Holdeman, and Rebecca Goldcrump on an inspiring journey through stories of transformation and innovation.