The Natural List

Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Semiweekly

A New Hope Network podcast covering hot products, emerging trends and expert insights driving the future of CPG! Seaweed burgers and meatless meats. Mushroom elixirs and adaptogenic mocktails. Plastic-free packaging and waterless shampoos. The nearly $300 billion-dollar natural products industry is swimming in innovation. But which products and trends have staying power? During this podcast, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith share the latest industry news and the most compelling and (sometimes off the wall) innovations that are primed to transform the CPG industry and support a global shift toward healthier, more sustainable living.

  1. 15h ago

    Jessica’s favorite clean baby products and the suprising power of CPG ecosystems

    In this special episode of The Natural List, new mom Jessica Rubino shares some of her favorite baby care products that made the cut as a first-time mother. Something she didn't expect? Falling in love with useful subscription-based products, being influenced by a diaper influencer (yes, they exist!) and how heavily she leaned on trusted networks and word-of-mouth. It truly takes a village to raise a baby! Jessica and Adrienne's conversation reveals how person-to-person recommendations and strong community ecosystems have become such powerful marketing tools in baby care. New parents rely heavily on trusted networks to navigate an overwhelming landscape of options. This episode highlights how brands that thoroughly serve their customers' needs, whether it be innovative packaging solutions (like spray applicators) or developmentally appropriate delightful toys, are capturing market share and building fierce customer loyalty that translates into repeat purchases and enthusiastic recommendations. Listen to this episode for a full download of Jessica's baby care essentials and her unexpected pregnancy and postpartum necessities! Thank you to our sponsor, GnuSante. Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. In this episode: 2:10 - Diaper influencers exist, and they work! 2:53 – Coterie is the clean diaper subscription service Jessica’s family decided to use. 3:32 – This is Jessica’s first foray into a CPG subscription model. Spoiler: she loves it! 3:58 – Thank you to our sponsor GnuSante. 7:07 – Lovevery, a stage-based toy brand for your child’s developing brain, is also a subscription-based company with B-Corp certification and big sustainability, reuse goals. 8:50 – The Honest Company is a clean baby product company with multiple fragrance-free SKUs. 9:56 – Jessica has enjoyed seeing innovation in baby products, where products clearly solve problems, like The Honest Company’s spray-on zinc oxide diaper cream. 10:48 – Babo Botanicals carries an EWG-certified and USDA Organic baby balm that Jessica loves. 12:31 – Sign up for Natural Foods Merchandiser to stay up to date on retail CPG trends and more. 14:05 – Jessica’s biggest pregnancy and post-partum essential is Ultima Electrolytes. 16:03 – Jessica highlights strong networks and a strong social presence to reach new parents and moms when they’re searching for their “village”! 16:35 – Adrienne and Jessica are looking forward to Gigi being able to eat solids so she can eat so many of our favorite brands like Bari Baby Food, Once Upon a Farm, Serenity Kids and more! 16:58 – Gigi is already building a sophisticated palate.

  2. Aug 26

    New CPG trends from the Newtopia Now 2026 show floor

    Fresh off the show floor, we’re talking about new CPG trends from Newtopia Now! Newtopia Now is the destination for emerging CPG and natural product brands! This was our third year hosting the show in Denver, and it did not disappoint. Hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith are joined by Nancy Coulter-Parker, director of sponsored content at New Hope Network, to discuss the trends and products that caught their eyes. Functional beverages with subtle, natural flavors and innovative ingredients like fermented Reb-M sweeteners, Kana and trace minerals caught our editor’s eyes. Women's health products were everywhere, from truly 100% cotton period care to products supporting menopause, perimenopause, and cycle-specific needs with targeted formulations. Ancient grains resurging in bars, pastas and porridges, with Adlai pearls positioned as "the next quinoa" Ayurvedic ingredients like ashwagandha, shatavari and holy basil moving into mainstream supplements and products. Gut health is continuing its crusade with fermented elixirs, and unexpected flavor profiles like dill everything! Purpose-driven brands like Dr. Bronner's and Alter Eco demonstrate how regenerative practices can be profitable. Tune into this episode of The Natural List for all of these trends and more from the show floor at Newtopia Now 2026. Thank you to our sponsor GnuSante. In this episode: 0:42 – Hosts chat about favorite parts of Newtopia Now year three. 1:11 – We’ve gotten feedback that exhibitors and retailers have been connecting all over the show floor, thanks to the cozy, connection-heavy setup of this show. 2:47 – The quality of brands, products and stories behind the positioning has impressed our editorial team. 3:12 – Across all three neighborhoods we noticed clean, simple packaging stood out. 4:46 – Let’s talk trends! 5:10 – Functional beverages are always one of our favorite parts of the show. We saw subtler flavors, innovative and branded ingredients plus still lots of sparkling bevvies. 8:00 – Gut health is still king. We saw kimchi, gut elixirs and other fermented products. 9:00 – Dill everything is a big trend! 9:20 – Our team noticed more specific, intentional ingredients in the spotlight instead of blends. 9:30 – Ayurvedic ingredients are showing up in supplements like shatavari, holy basil and ashwagandha. 11:15 – Jessica posits that Ayurveda was the original “personalization” trend! 11:30 – Classic, simple and traditional natural products are having a resurgence, in line with our trend predictions from last year. 12:41 – Women’s health product innovation is happening! 13:20 – Personal care trends: menstrual care that is truly 100% organic cotton, skincare with ingredients more hydrating than water and sun care with natural colors and scents. 15:55 – We saw more products featuring fragrances and scents to support the olfactory senses during self-care routines. 16:32 – Jessica predicts flavor and scent innovation will keep blooming! 17:22 – Innovation in natural deodorant that… actually works? 19:00 – Jessica shares advice for first-time exhibitors. 1) Talk to everyone, not just retailers! 19:31 – 2) Step outside of your comfort zone. 19:43 – 3) Get really focused feedback; now is the time to refine! 21:21 – Adrienne and Nancy were impressed with the pet food innovation; brands Pezi and Whole Animal included human-grade ingredients and wagyu lung pet treats, respectively. 24:25 – We couldn’t get enough of Gato dates. Dates are still strong! 25:15 – Adrienne calls it: Adlai pearls might be the next quinoa. 26:41 - Dr. Bronner’s, Alter Eco and Ancient Nutrition are leading the way to show how purpose-driven companies can be profitable. We love to see them at Newtopia Now to celebrate and uplift the other brands at the show. 27:50 – Adrienne’s pick: Tozi Superfoods blue corn and amaranth tortillas. 28:30 – Multiple ancient or heritage grains popped up at the show don’t seem to be going anywhere soon! 28:51 – The Posana bar and Beni Bites bars were bringing global flavors to the bar category. 29:58 – We loved the brand Shooka, a shortcut to making shakshuka. 30:55 – Nutrient-dense convenience was trending, per our trend predictions last year! 31:41 – Stay tuned for more coverage of Newtopia Now on newhope.com!

  3. Aug 17

    Trends we can’t wait to see at Newtopia Now

    It’s finally time for Newtopia Now 2026! Pack your bags and join us in Denver this week for the third year of the show. Adrienne, Jessica and special guest Meredith iscuss the products and trends they’re most excited to see in Denver this week. This year Newtopia Now has 400 exhibitors on display. Close to half of those are first-time exhibitors, and often, these are totally new-to-market ideas or brands who have never exhibited before. That means attendees will be among the first to find these new products! Our guest is particularly excited about the innovations happening with organic meat, “second wave” functional beverages, Asian flavors and products formulated around hormonal health. Listen to this episode for a preview of what’s to come at Newtopia Now this week, and stay tuned for more in-depth trend reporting after the show. Thank you to our sponsors, GnuSante and Zego! In this episode: 0:30 – Adrienne recaps her trip in Spain, Meredith recaps her trip to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.2:11 – Sea Buckthorn Juice is having a resurgence! We’ll see it at Newtopia Now.3:04 – Thank you to our sponsor Gnubees.3:43 – Adrienne, Meredith and Jessica share the products they are looking forward to seeing at Newtopia Now this week!4:00 – We have over 400 exhibitors this year, and close to half of those are first-time exhibitors! Often, these are totally new to market ideas or first-time exhibiting at any show.4:48 – Meredith wrote an article with 30 products that will be launching at Newtopia Now in the Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine this week!5:14 – Meredith was inspired by the brands bringing Asian flavors to the market across categories.6:28 – Innovation in the “bar” category is here!8:05 – Popcorn innovation?8:23 – Subscribe to Natural Foods Merchandiser for updates and deep-dives on CPG products and trends.9:17 – Beverage trends include sodas sweetened with honey.11:13 – Kava is coming to CPG products after making its way from12:22 – A new ingredient Meredith has never seen in CPG before,“Kanna,” is a plant from South Africa and fits into the NA trend.13:39 – We are seeing Ayurveda, and Ayurvedic ingredients, being mainstreamed.13:51 – Meredith is excited to see more functional beverages that are formulated for women’s hormonal health.14:07 – Lil Melts beef tallow cubes take a popular ingredient and package it in an innovative format.15:00 – Ribbonwire Ranch: doing incredible things by offering a 100% organic beef stick17:57 – Personal Care trends: The CRIA haircare line is formulated for peri, pre- and menopausal scalps.19:06 – Sunscreen innovation: Scented mineral-based sunscreen, brands utilizing tallow in the ingredient list.20:49 – How do we define the wellness category? It may have changed a bit.21:12 – Ulta’s foray into wellness is one example of how this “trend” is now a mainstay for consumers.22:19 – There’s still time to register for Newtopia Now!26:37 – “Swellness,” a term coined by Adrienne Smith in 2022, with mixing supplements and overall wellness.27:00 – We’ll see you at Newtopia Now!

  4. Aug 12

    As predicted, bone broth is a CPG powerhouse

    There’s a boom in the bone broth business – say that five times fast! Host Adrienne Smith talked with Sam McBride, Kettle and Fire CEO and founder of Colter Ventures, about Kettle and Fire’s role in innovation in building out this category. The New Hope Network editorial team predicted that broth would be a big trend in our 2026 CPG trend predictions, and wouldn’t you have it, we were right! Sam and Adrienne discuss ways to use bone broth besides drinking it, where the category is headed and why the current iteration of wellness, along with trends like high-protein and nutrient-dense foods, fit nicely into what bone broth has to offer the natural products consumer. Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Thank you to our sponsor GnuSante. In this episode: 0:39 – We predicted bone broth as a trend in Fall 2025, and Kettle and Fire is a pioneer in this category! 1:15 – Welcome to our guest, Sam McBride, Kettle and Fire CEO and Founder of Colter Ventures. 1:28 – Thank you to our sponsor GnuSante. 2:38 – Sam and his family are bone broth connoisseurs, always looking for more ways to incorporate it into their diets. 6:15 – This could be a podcast just about bone broth recipes. YUM! 6:27 – Kettle and Fire Maui Nui Venison Bone Broth won a 2026 NEXTY award for Product Design and Storytelling. 6:55 – There's still time to register for Newtopia Now, happening next week in Denver! 9:00 – Kettle and Fire has four regenerative products: beef, chicken, Maui Nui venison, and bison. 9:30 – Sam shares more about Kettle and Fire's quality sourcing story and how it impacts the brand's sustainability evolution. 11:32 – Are consumers actually understanding the benefits of regenerative products? 14:22 – Sam thinks folks might be boiling health and wellness down to, "What is the highest quality item I can put in my body?" 15:38 – Adrienne asks the hard-hitting questions: What is trending in the bone broth category? Where is the category headed? 16:52 – What kinds of consumers are entering the bone broth category? 19:02 – Bone broth hits on the "what's old is new" trend that Jason Buechel and Mark Bittman discussed at Expo West this year. 19:54 – Subscribe to NFM for industry-leading products, trends, and data insights. 20:43 – Sam shares his forecast for the next iteration of the food industry. 25:19 – Kettle and Fire has spent the past few years building its supply chain so the brand can scale to meet demand. 27:22 – What's next for Kettle and Fire's innovation? Stay tuned to find out!

  5. Aug 5

    Create lasting CPG brands with data, human-centric storytelling

    Join Bill Giebler and Jessica Rubino for this episode of The Natural List as they bring the most important conversations from NBJ Summit 2026 to the broader health and nutrition community. The insights from this event have implications for every corner of the sector. From the explosive rise of social commerce—which added $1 billion to the e-commerce channel this year—to the promise and pitfalls of AI in personalization and the practitioner channel, Bill and Jessica explore what these shifts mean for brands navigating a rapidly evolving landscape. This episode distills the strategic thinking that will shape the industry's next chapter. Bill's key takeaway says it all: Stay curious, stay open, and lead with integrity backed by data—because the next disruptor is already on the horizon. 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES: Register for Newtopia Now (August 18-20, Denver, CO): https://www.newhope.com/events/newtopia-now Subscribe to Natural Foods Merchandiser: https://www.newhope.com/natural-foods-merchandiser 💼 CONNECT WITH OUR SPONSORS: GnuSante: https://www.gnusante.com/en-us 👥 CONNECT WITH THE HOSTS: Connect with Jessica Rubino: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-rubino-04a60744/ Connect with Bill Giebler: 🔗https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-giebler-69a7702a/ 📩 GET INVOLVED: If you want to be a guest on The Natural List, or are interested in becoming a sponsor, please email us at thenaturallist@newhope.com. For more information like this, check out our website: newhope.com #NaturalProducts #CPG #HealthAndNutrition #NBJSummit #SocialCommerce #AIinHealth #Supplements #TikTokShop #Peptides #BrandStrategy #NewHopeNetwork #TheNaturalList

  6. Jul 29

    The Natural List: Your Newtopia Now content preview

    Newtopia Now is less than one month away! 🎉 Join host Jessica Rubino and New Hope Network's Conference Specialist, Kenna Garber, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Newtopia Now 2026. Kenna is hands-on in creating the content that allows brands to thrive at this year's event, happening August 18-20 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Exciting news: 61% of Newtopia Now exhibitors are brand new to the event and likely to the market! This year's conference content focuses on what it means to be a brand that endures and how to get there. Through keynotes, exclusive buyer-side chats with retailers, and community events designed around connection, attendees and exhibitors will start to feel the ROI of this show right away! Jessica and Kenna discuss their favorite parts of Newtopia Now, the three show floor neighborhoods (Glow, Thrive, and Regenerate), can't-miss sessions, and why this year's programming goes beyond trend headlines into practical conversations driving the industry's future. Highlights include: ✨ Intimate buyer-side chats with top retailers ✨ Three highly anticipated keynotes on innovation, resilience, and consumer trust ✨ Ulta Beauty's presence on the Glow stage discussing their new wellness department ✨ New Trend Snapshots ✨ The Beauty and Wellness Pitch (August 20, 10:15-11:30 AM) ✨ Nutrition Capital Network pitch event (August 18) ✨ Women in CPG luncheon 🔗 IMPORTANT LINKS Register for Newtopia Now 🤝 CONNECT WITH OUR SPONSORS GnuSante Zego Foods 👥 CONNECT WITH US Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn 🔗 Connect with our guest, Kenna Garber on LinkedIn 🔗 📩 GET INVOLVED Want to be a guest on The Natural List or interested in becoming a sponsor? Email us at: thenaturallist@newhope.com For more information like this, check out our website: newhope.com 📖 ABOUT THE NATURAL LIST The Natural List is a podcast by New Hope Network exploring what's new and what's next in the natural products and CPG industry. Hosted by Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith, each episode features industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future of wellness. Subscribe for more episodes and stay ahead of industry trends!

  7. Jul 22

    Health concerns driving today’s purchases

    Erika Craft joins us again on The Natural List to discuss Nutrition Business Journal’s newest report! NBJ is the expert in tracking trends, consumer behavior and market sizing within the natural and organic products industry. Their 2026 Condition Specific Report focuses on the 22 health conditions and concerns driving supplement purchases. Jessica asks Erika the big question: Do you think that consumers are fundamentally shifting how they define what it means to be healthy and the conditions that they target to achieve that goal of health? Listen now to find out! Thank you to our sponsors, GnuSante and Zego. Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. In this episode: 0:39 – Thank you to our sponsor Zego. 1:40 – Welcome back to the podcast, Erika Craft! 2:09 – Where is Adrienne? Hint: Futbol de Espana! 2:44 – What is The Condition Specific Report? 3:47 – Erika describes her experience with taking a Function Health test. 6:08 – Register for Newtopia Now, the place to discover new brands before anyone else. 7:57 – The Condition Specific report is one of NBJ’s most anticipated reports of the year. 8:34 – How are consumers shifting how they define what it means to be healthy? 10:14 – The impact of data on consumers’ perception of health and the way they decide to spend on these conditions. 11:21 – Are we at peak ‘longevity’ trend? 11:49 – Healthy aging was the fastest-growing condition in 2025. 13:35 – Weight management, metabolic health growth and how GLP-1s are impacting the industry. 15:37 – Thank you to our sponsor Gnusante. 16:42 – Erika provides data-driven estimations on where the GLP-1 market is going. 18:32 – Brain health, sleep and stress are driving nootropic growth. 21:07 – Subscribe to Natural Foods Merchandiser (NFM) for a trusted daily resource that shapes purchasing decisions and drives industry growth. 22:39 – Erika shares what’s happening in the fast-growing women’s health market. 24:32 – Upcoming NBJ report will look at how supplement ‘optimizers’ are interacting with the industry right now. 25:02 – Erika emphasizes the importance of niche products; consumers seem to be driving toward them.

  8. Jul 15

    Editor's must-see CPG snack trends from Taipei

    What do jelly supplements, chewy textures, and innovative oils have in common? They all make an appearance in this episode of The Natural List and are trends from across the world in Taiwan. On this episode of The Natural List, we’re digging into the trends Meredith saw while attending the Food Taipei Mega Shows trade show in Taiwan. Spoiler alert: much was different, and much was the same! Meredith spotted new supplement delivery formats, noted interesting textural trends, and even found a few key differences between what the CPG industry is doing stateside and in Taiwan. No surprise, tea was everywhere! And of course, Adrienne and Meredith must taste-test a few of the most innovative products brought back from the show. Thank you to our sponsors, GnuSante and Zego! Enjoy our vodcasts here or on YouTube. Prefer to tune in via podcast? Join us on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. In this episode: 0:17 – Thank you to our sponsor GnuSante. 1:25 – World Cup catch-up 2:17 - Our guest Meredith is back from Taiwan where she attended the Food Taipei Mega Show. 2:48 – Meredith recaps her time visiting Taiwan 4:50 – Functional Beverage trends in Taiwan vs. U.S. 6:51 – Tea, boba and dual textures in beverages 8:19 – One of the biggest innovations: a boba replacement with no calories and no sugar. 10:28 – Protein, anti-seed oils: Are the biggest U.S. trends happening in Taiwan, too? 10:59 – Thank you to our sponsor ZEGO foods. 13:34 – New oil innovation happening in Asia! 16:00 – No Dubai chocolate in Taiwan, but something even more innovative. 17:14 – New supplement delivery format found at the Food Taipei mega show! 18:45 – Texture was one of the biggest differences Meredith saw on the show floor. 19:22 – Taste testing “floss-free” popcorn. 20:30 – For a deeper dive into all the products Meredith saw at the Food Taipei Mega Show, read her article on newhope.com.

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About

A New Hope Network podcast covering hot products, emerging trends and expert insights driving the future of CPG! Seaweed burgers and meatless meats. Mushroom elixirs and adaptogenic mocktails. Plastic-free packaging and waterless shampoos. The nearly $300 billion-dollar natural products industry is swimming in innovation. But which products and trends have staying power? During this podcast, co-hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith share the latest industry news and the most compelling and (sometimes off the wall) innovations that are primed to transform the CPG industry and support a global shift toward healthier, more sustainable living.

Information

  • Creator
    Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    147
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith
  • Show Website
    The Natural List

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