Advertise on podcast: JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS

How does a young girl from Kazakhstan, whose mother encouraged her to wear high heels and oversized belts at age eight, eventually become a high-end fruit carving artist in Overland Park, Kansas? In this fascinating episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Zhamilya Koshmambetova, the founder and creative force behind Azaya Fruit Design Studio. This is a conversation about the power of creativity, the immigrant journey, and how a simple act of bringing fruit to a party blossomed into a unique and thriving business. Zhamilya shares her incredible international story. Born in Kazakhstan to an artistic family that championed self-expression, she traveled to Moscow for her education in advertising. It was there she met her husband, leading them on a global journey to Australia, Canada, and eventually Denver, before finally putting down roots in the welcoming community of Overland Park. This episode delves into the unexpected origin of her business. As a mother of three, Zhamilya was searching for a creative outlet when she noticed a recurring issue at social gatherings: many friends couldn't eat traditional sugary desserts due to health or dietary restrictions. Her solution? Bringing beautifully arranged fruit platters. What started as a thoughtful gesture for friends quickly escalated into a demand for her stunning, hand-carved fruit displays at weddings and major events. Zhamilya opens up about the realities of being a self-taught artist, learning intricate carving techniques from Russian masters on YouTube, and the constant drive to elevate her craft from simple platters to grand, architectural fruit table installations. She also discusses the importance of community support, leaning on her faith during challenging times, and her commitment to giving back through local charities like KC for Refugees. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on finding your niche, the beauty of building a business that aligns with your values, and why true entrepreneurial success is about more than just profit—it's about bringing joy, health, and a touch of art to your community. Key Takeaways The Power of the Pivot: How Zhamilya transitioned from a background in ballroom dancing and advertising to becoming a self-taught fruit carving artist. Solving a Problem: The origin of Azaya Fruit Design Studio, born from a desire to provide beautiful, healthy dessert alternatives for friends with dietary restrictions. The "Free" Marketing Strategy: How Zhamilya built her brand and portfolio by initially offering her elaborate fruit displays for free at large community weddings. The Importance of Community: The role of the supportive vendor community in Kansas and the necessity of asking questions and learning from peers. Faith-Driven Business: How Zhamilya’s faith shapes her approach to business, emphasizing the importance of giving back (Zakat/Sadaqah) and trusting the journey during difficult times.   IG: @azayafruits Address: https://www.facebook.com/azayafruits/    Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? Justin Ryan Bizzarro is a multi-dimensional entrepreneur, mentor, and strategist whose career is defined by the intersection of legacy, leadership, and human growth. With a journey that began in his family’s basement in 1998, Justin helped scale a 24-year-old ecosystem of food and technology enterprises into a global benchmark for vertical integration and lean manufacturing. While his professional foundation is built on complex supply chains, restaurant development, and brand acceleration, Justin’s true north is development—whether it’s a startup, an elite athlete, or a community. As the founder of GorillaBrave, he has transitioned from building businesses to building humans, utilizing his "Troop" philosophy to empower the next generation of culinary and agricultural entrepreneurs. Justin is a sought-after voice on free markets, food diversity, and high-performance culture. His influence extends from the boardroom to the soccer pitch, where he coaches with the same tactical precision and "warrior" mindset he applies to his corporate ventures. Whether he is hosting a global podcast that reaches millions or developing curriculum for youth athletes, his mission remains constant: accelerating human potential. A lifelong student of leadership and service, Justin holds a BA from Dickinson College and an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill, and is currently deepening his perspective through a Master of Divinity in Leadership at Denver Seminary. Based in Colorado, he is a dedicated father, a steward of his family’s legacy, and a persistent advocate for those brave enough to capitalize on their own opportunities.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does a kid immersed in the high-velocity, rebel culture of East Coast skateboarding and punk rock eventually become a leading figure in the San Francisco Bay Area bakery and restaurant scene? In this fascinating episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Matthew Kosoy, the founder of Rosalind Bakery and Jerry’s Roast Pork. This is a story about the intersection of tech, art, and food, proving that the DIY ethos of a skateboarder translates perfectly into the grit required to build a culinary brand from the ground up. Matthew shares his journey from building websites for BMX and skate brands in Philadelphia to moving to the Bay Area. Seeking an escape from the repetitive grind of startup tech culture, he found a new obsession: baking sourdough bread. What started as a hobby in his kitchen quickly exploded into a sold-out farmer's market booth, pushing him to take the terrifying leap of leasing an abandoned 3,400-square-foot grocery store in the food desert of Pacifica. This episode is a masterclass in learning by doing and failing fast. Matthew details the sheer physical labor of building his bakery—literally chipping up concrete and doing the demolition with family and friends—while maxing out credit cards and learning the business side on the fly. He shares how his willingness to be vulnerable, hire experts (like attending the San Francisco Baking Institute), and embrace failure allowed him to survive the grueling early years. Discover how the pandemic turned Rosalind Bakery into an essential community hub, and how Matthew’s relentless drive led him to launch Jerry’s Roast Pork in downtown San Francisco. He explains how a single product—a custom-developed hoagie roll—became the "hero" that connected his baking expertise to his Philadelphia roots. Tune in to hear how Matthew is now bringing his journey full circle, combining his tech background with his baking experience to develop a new ERP software designed specifically to help small and medium-sized bakeries streamline their operations. It’s an inspiring look at how stacking your unique skills can lead to unexpected, community-changing success. Key Takeaways The DIY Mindset: How the independence, creativity, and resilience learned from skateboarding culture directly applied to the struggles of entrepreneurship. Failing Fast: Applying software development principles to food—being willing to make mistakes, learn quickly, and pivot without losing momentum. The "Hero" Product: How focusing intensely on perfecting one item (the sourdough loaf, and later the hoagie roll) creates a strong foundation for a brand. Community Building: The importance of choosing a location that needs your product (like a food desert) and growing deep roots in that neighborhood. Stacking Skills for the Future: How Matthew is combining his past as a web developer with his present as a baker to build software that will help the entire baking industry.   IG: @jerrysroastpork Address: https://www.jerrysroastpork.com/  Roast Pork Sammie Location: 2 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA.   IG: @ rosalindbakery Address: https://www.rosalindbakery.com/  Bakery Location: 450 Manor Plaza Pacifica, California 94044   Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How do you bulletproof a food business in an industry notorious for its failure rate? You start by planning for the worst-case scenario. In this sobering but essential episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, Justin sits down with veteran bankruptcy attorney Barry Levine. With over 45 years of experience navigating business failures and Chapter 11 reorganizations, Barry delivers a masterclass in defensive entrepreneurship. This conversation strips away the romanticized version of owning a restaurant and tackles the harsh financial and legal realities that can sink a business—and ruin personal finances—if ignored. From the hidden traps of "trust fund taxes" to the vital importance of proper cost accounting, Justin and Barry provide an actionable roadmap for structuring your business to survive crises and pivot when necessary. Here is a breakdown of the vital legal and practical strategies discussed in the episode: 1. The Danger of Blind Optimism Entrepreneurs are natural optimists, but Barry warns that this trait becomes fatal when a business starts failing. Instead of making the hard choice to close the doors, owners often drain personal savings, take out second mortgages, or borrow from family to keep a sinking ship afloat. The Fix: Establish your "breaking point" metrics from day one. Know exactly what your absolute bottom line is, and have the discipline to cut your losses before you compromise your personal livelihood. 2. Shielding Your Assets: Entity Structure Operating a food business as a Sole Proprietorship or a DBA (Doing Business As) exposes all of your personal assets—including your home—to business liabilities. The Fix: Form a proper LLC or Corporation. Treat it as a completely separate entity with its own bank accounts and tax returns. Do not commingle funds, or you risk "piercing the corporate veil," which allows creditors to come after you personally. 3. The "Trust Fund Tax" Trap When money gets tight, struggling businesses often stop paying meals taxes, sales taxes, or employee withholding taxes to cover rent or inventory. Barry highlights that these are "trust fund taxes." The government views this money as theirs from the moment it is collected. If you fail to remit it, the corporate shield disappears, and you are held personally liable. The Fix: Outsource your HR and payroll to a third-party company or Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Let them handle the tax compliance and withholding so you never have the opportunity to repurpose those funds. 4. Navigating Personal Guarantees In today's lending environment, it is nearly impossible to secure a business loan without a personal guarantee. However, not all guarantees are created equal. The Fix: Understand the difference between secured and unsecured guarantees. An unsecured personal guarantee can often be discharged in bankruptcy. But if a lender (like the SBA) secures that guarantee with a second mortgage on your home, your house is directly on the line. 5. Cost Accounting & The "Micro-Adjust" Justin points out that businesses often fail because owners stick their heads in the sand regarding volatile ingredient prices (like wild fluctuations in dairy or beef). When costs jump, restaurants wait too long to raise prices, eventually hitting customers with massive sticker shock (e.g., a $62 lobster roll). The Fix: Run a cost analysis on your recipes monthly or quarterly. Adjust your menu prices incrementally. Customers are much more likely to accept a consistent 25-cent increase than a sudden $5 hike. 6. The "Bankruptcy First" Business Plan The most powerful piece of advice from the episode is a paradigm shift in how to start a company. Don't just plan for success; plan your business backward from bankruptcy. The Fix: Before you sign a lease or take a loan, ask yourself: If this fails in 12 months, what exactly do I lose? Structure your operating agreements, supplier contracts, and corporate entities to minimize the blast radius if the worst happens.   Address: https://bankruptcythrough.podbean.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1pJOOD1GCTNn3YpmqZ884j10DC_T1K3c    Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does a young girl from a tiny Thai village with no running water build a multi-location spa empire in Canada, all while preserving the authentic, communal spirit of her homeland? In this deeply restorative and insightful episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro welcomes Neata Goutier, the founder of Sabai Thai Spa, an established brand with seven corporate locations in Vancouver and a newly launched franchise model. This is a conversation about the intersection of hospitality, healing, and the long-game of building a legacy business. Neata’s story begins in a 200-person village in Thailand, where community support was a way of life and natural healing—through herbal remedies and massage—was a daily routine. Discover how she identified a massive cultural gap when she moved to North America: a fast-paced society that felt guilty about self-care. Neata opened her first spa 20 years ago with less than $1,000 and a vision to create a sanctuary where Westerners could experience the warmth, five-sense hospitality, and preventative health benefits of traditional Thai culture. This episode is a masterclass in slow, sustainable growth. Neata details her evolution from an exhausted owner-operator to a strategic CEO. She explains the critical importance of stepping back to work on the business rather than in it, the necessity of trusting your team, and why she spent nearly three years meticulously building out her systems and SOPs before ever offering a franchise. More than just a business playbook, this is a profound discussion on purpose. Neata and Justin delve into the difference between a money-driven "sole proprietor" and a true "entrepreneur" who seeks to elevate the world. Learn about Sabai Thai Spa’s incredible commitment to the environment—planting a tree for every massage and kelp for every product sold—and why Neata believes that the ultimate superpower in business is finding joy in the journey and leaving the world better than you found it. Key Takeaways Cultural Translation: How Neata successfully introduced the Thai philosophy of holistic, preventative self-care to a fast-paced North American market. The Power of Grassroots Marketing: Building a customer base by physically knocking on doors, introducing the business to neighbors, and sponsoring local sports teams and schools. Scaling with Systems: Why it took two and a half years to build the foundational systems (HR, accounting, training) required to support a franchise model, ensuring long-term success over rapid expansion. From Operator to CEO: The necessary, often difficult transition of handing over the keys to management and stepping back to focus on business development. Purpose-Driven Profit: How tying the business to environmental restoration (planting trees and kelp) provides deep motivation and connects the brand to a larger global mission.   IG: @sabaithaispa Address: www.sabaithai.com    Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does a kid selling rocks from his bedroom turn into a touring musician, and eventually the founder of a powerhouse marketing agency? In this episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, Justin sits down with John Smiddy, the visionary behind NutraMarketers (www.nutramarketers.com). This conversation dives deep into the gritty reality of building a business from the ground up. Justin and John bond over the mental toughness forged through physical disciplines like 75 Hard, exploring how training the body is the ultimate preparation for surviving the chaotic, high-stress world of entrepreneurship. John pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to market consumer packaged goods and nutritional supplements today. Listeners will get a masterclass in consumer psychology, learning why having a great product simply isn't enough if you don't understand the math behind your marketing. John breaks down the exact formulas for scaling: balancing customer acquisition cost (CAC), maximizing lifetime value (LTV) through strategic subscribe-and-save models, and crafting a unique "story within the formula" that builds instant brand credibility. Whether you are trying to break into a crowded retail market, dialing in your e-commerce strategy, or just need the raw motivation to keep pushing forward when you want to throw in the towel, this episode delivers the exact playbook you need to win.   Address: www.nutramarketers.com   Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

What does it actually take to turn a dilapidated fast-food shell into a thriving, community-centered brand? In this gritty and revealing episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro welcomes back Michael Spencer, the founder of Nash Dogs, for a raw look at the transition from food truck to brick-and-mortar. This isn't just a success story; it’s a survival guide. Michael walks listeners through the harrowing eight-month journey of converting an old Subway location into his new café. He shares the nightmares that no business plan can predict: peeling back wallpaper to find walls crumbling with black mold, HVAC units venting directly into block walls, and contractors quoting $30,000 for grease traps that the city eventually approved for $2,000. Discover the financial and emotional reality of scaling up. Michael explains how a project budgeted for $35,000 ballooned to $65,000, and how he had to teach himself mold remediation to save the budget. He opens up about a frustrating battle with a sign contractor who took his money and delivered nothing, highlighting the critical importance of integrity and iron-clad contracts in a world where handshake deals are fading. But the struggle yielded massive rewards. Michael details the strategic menu expansion that turned Nash Dogs from a lunch stop into a destination. Learn how adding high-margin items like homemade banana pudding (a customer favorite), loaded curly fries, and fountain drinks increased his average ticket from $11 to nearly $18. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, resourcefulness, and the power of asking questions. It’s about the difference between a task-oriented manager and an entrepreneurial leader, and why, in a world of shortcuts and "good enough," sticking to your morals and delivering excellence is the only way to build a legacy that lasts. Key Takeaways The General Contractor Trap: How Michael saved over $25,000 by calling the city water department himself rather than accepting a contractor's quote for a grease trap. Menu Engineering: The pivot from pre-packaged sides to high-margin, house-made items like banana pudding and loaded fries to boost profitability. The Reality of Renovation: The unexpected horrors of taking over a second-generation restaurant space, including mold remediation and HVAC failures. Marketing for Survival: Why waiting for customers to walk in is a death sentence, and Michael's strategy of hiring a marketer to aggressively pursue B2B catering. Integrity as a Strategy: The long-term value of keeping your word and building a brand based on trust, even when vendors and contractors fail to do the same.   IG: @nashdogs   Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does a family recipe born in the 1930s survive Jim Crow, traverse the country to Los Angeles, withstand a global pandemic, and spark a worldwide culinary phenomenon? In this fiery episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Kim Prince, the dynamic force behind Hotville Chicken and the Dulansville Food Truck. Kim is third-generation royalty of the Prince family—the undisputed originators of Nashville Hot Chicken. This is not just a story about frying poultry; it is a masterclass in legacy, resilience, and the relentless spirit of "keeping it going." Kim takes listeners back to her roots in College Grove, Tennessee, where she grew up on 13 acres in a family of educators and entrepreneurs. She shares the profound advice passed down from her grandmother: "Handle many pots." This mantra drove Kim to master multiple skills, from the entertainment industry to the kitchen, eventually leading her to bring the authentic heat of Nashville to Los Angeles in 2016. The conversation dives deep into the realities of operating in a tough market. Kim details the rollercoaster of opening a brick-and-mortar location in Baldwin Hills, only to face the "triple threat" of COVID-19, civil unrest, and gentrification that led to the demolition of her building. Rather than folding, she pivoted. Discover how she formed a powerful partnership with Greg Doolin (of Doolin’s Soul Food) to launch the Dulansville Food Truck, a mobile concept that combines the best of both their family legacies. This episode explores the soul behind the spice. Kim explains why she refuses to compromise the integrity of the product for rapid expansion, emphasizing that true Nashville Hot Chicken isn't just about heat—it's about a 24-hour marinade, hand-dredging, and a specific frying process that requires patience and love. She also touches on her work with World Central Kitchen, feeding communities during wildfires, proving that a business is only as strong as its connection to the people it serves. Key Takeaways: The Origin Story: The history of the Prince family and how they turned a revenge recipe into a global staple. The "Handle Many Pots" Philosophy: How diversifying skills prepares an entrepreneur for the unexpected. Resilience in Crisis: How Hotville pivoted from a closed restaurant to a thriving food truck through strategic partnership. Authenticity over Expansion: Why Kim chooses to keep the operation tight to ensure quality rather than selling out for rapid franchising. Community First: The role of the food truck in disaster relief and community support.   IG: @hotvillechicken IG: @dulanville IG: @dulangregory IG: @kimprincetwin   Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

The Union of Two Families The story of Compton's Original is not just about food; it is about the convergence of two couples—Barbara and James (owners of Queen Bee's Delightful Catering) and David and Yolanda (owners of Colbert Southern Gourmet). Despite attending the same church for over 30 years without knowing it, the couples connected through the catering circuit. The Vision: David wanted a restaurant; Yolanda did not. Barbara wanted a restaurant; James did not. They balanced each other out and decided to partner up to purchase an existing fish fry business from a retiring owner. The Transition: Moving from catering to a brick-and-mortar restaurant required a massive shift in mindset. Catering offers controlled, prepaid environments, whereas a restaurant requires predicting daily traffic, managing immediate customer service, and maintaining constant inventory. Trials by Fire: The Build-Out The journey to opening day was fraught with expensive and emotional hurdles. The team spent over a year paying rent on a closed building while renovating to meet their standards. The Contractor Nightmare: They hired a company to install a massive hood system (a $20,000+ investment). The contractor took the money, performed substandard work, and abandoned the job. The Response: Rather than suing, the partners chose to pray for the contractor and move forward, viewing the loss as a tuition fee for business wisdom. This decision solidified their partnership and reliance on faith. Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating city permits, grease traps, and Ansul systems proved to be a steep learning curve, highlighting the operational complexity of frying food commercially compared to catering. The Menu: Soul Food with Standards Compton's Original positions itself differently from the typical "fish fry market." They focus on fresh preparation rather than holding food under heat lamps. The Offerings: Beyond fried fish and shrimp, the menu features scratch-made sides like mac and cheese, collard greens with smoked turkey, red beans and rice, and James's signature garlic mashed potatoes. Health Consciousness: Listening to the community's desire for healthier options, they introduced grilled fish (sand dabs, catfish, red snapper) and salmon salads, moving away from a strictly deep-fried menu. Faith, Leadership, and Operations The episode heavily emphasizes the spiritual foundation of the business. Conflict Resolution: With four partners, disagreements are inevitable. They established a rule where majority votes rule, and they utilize prayer to navigate impasses. They hold "face-to-face" meetings to resolve issues, prioritizing the business's health over personal ego. Community Stewardship: They view their employees as family, often hiring from the local community and mentoring young staff members. They aim to create an atmosphere where customers feel they are at a family reunion, not just a transaction. Key Takeaways for Entrepreneurs Actions Follow Intent: You must know your intention before you act. If you intend to build a legacy, you cannot cut corners. The Value of Slow Growth: Growing too fast can destroy a brand. Taking the time to build a solid foundation (SOPs, culture, recipes) ensures longevity. Authenticity is Currency: In a world of AI and automation, the "human touch"—remembering a customer's name, asking about their day, and serving food with love—is the ultimate competitive advantage.   IG: @comptonsoriginalseafood Location: 1526 S Wilmington, Compton, CA 90220   Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does someone pivot from aspiring air traffic controller and real estate investor to cookbook author and radio show host? In this inspiring episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Lisa Parda, author of the new cookbook My Love Language is Food. This is a story about reinvention, the unexpected paths life takes us on, and the power of food to connect us all. Lisa shares her fascinating journey, starting with a childhood dream of guiding planes that led to a stint at the FAA, followed by a successful career in real estate. But it was meeting her husband that unlocked a latent passion for cooking—a creative outlet that balanced the demands of her professional life. Discover how a self-taught cook, who grew up on takeout and diet culture, transformed her relationship with food into a mission to help others answer the daily question: "What's for dinner?" This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the gritty reality of self-publishing. Lisa is candid about the challenges she faced, from scrapping her first manuscript to navigating the high costs and logistical nightmares of professional food photography. She shares the invaluable lessons learned from hiring the wrong—and then the right—creative partners, and the discipline required to turn a passion project into a marketable product. Lisa also dives into her strategies for building a brand without a traditional culinary background. Learn how she leverages her local radio show, "Lisa and Robyn on the Mic," and community partnerships to market her book, and why she believes in the power of "guerrilla marketing" tactics like collaborating with local artisans for holiday gift bundles. Tune in for a conversation that celebrates the joy of cooking, the importance of family meals, and the courage it takes to pursue a dream, no matter where you are in life. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful success comes from simply sharing what you love with the world. Key Takeaways The Pivot: How skills from unrelated careers like real estate and aviation can apply to food entrepreneurship. The Reality of Self-Publishing: The financial and creative hurdles of producing a high-quality cookbook, including the critical role of photography. Simplifying for the Home Cook: Why Lisa focuses on making recipes accessible and less intimidating for busy families. Community Marketing: Using local platforms like radio and community magazines to build a grassroots following. Food as Connection: The philosophy that cooking is not just a chore, but a vital tool for health, connection, and family legacy.   Address: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-love-language-is-food-lisa-parda/1149285733    Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does someone who fell in love with the chaotic energy of restaurants transform that passion into a thriving career as a technology consultant? In this insightful episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Brianne Harvey, the founder of Break Bread Consulting and the innovative new platform, Restaurant Resource. This is a powerful story about navigating a career path with intention, embracing the chaos of hospitality, and finding a unique way to serve the industry you love. Brianne shares her journey from a server and bartender in Southern California to a sought-after restaurant technology expert. She recounts the pivotal moment in her early twenties when, after dabbling in "real jobs" outside of hospitality, she had an emotional realization: she truly loved the vibrant, people-focused world of restaurants. This clarity propelled her up the management ladder, from running single locations to overseeing multi-unit operations before the age of 25. The conversation dives deep into her transition from operations to technology, a move sparked during her time as a consultant for OpenTable. While working with over a thousand restaurants, she discovered her unique talent for understanding the complex "spiderweb" of restaurant systems. She saw firsthand how improperly implemented technology was failing operators and became determined to bridge the gap between powerful software and practical, on-the-ground execution. This episode is a masterclass in modern restaurant leadership. Brianne unpacks the invaluable lessons she's learned, emphasizing three crucial pillars for success: The discipline to slow down and make thoughtful, strategic decisions. The humility to own your role, taking responsibility for your team's failures as well as their successes. The wisdom to identify the right leaders, understanding the critical difference between a task-oriented manager and an entrepreneurial one. Finally, discover the "why" behind her latest venture, Restaurant Resource—a comprehensive directory designed to be the "Yelp for restaurant vendors." Born from the chaos of COVID, it’s a tool built to empower operators by consolidating the fragmented world of software, suppliers, and service providers into one unbiased, easy-to-navigate platform. Tune in for a conversation packed with wisdom for any leader who believes that the heart of hospitality and the logic of technology can, and must, work together.   Address: www.breakbreadconsulting.com    Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does a family-owned business survive the death of its founder, a brutal reality TV takedown, and the sudden loss of its biggest manufacturing contracts, only to reinvent itself as a nine-figure snacking powerhouse? In this fascinating episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Michael Emanuel, the third-generation leader of MGT Foods (formerly Mr. Green Tea). This is a masterclass in resilience, engineering, and the art of the pivot. Michael shares the rich history of his family’s business, which began with his grandfather, a WWII bomber pilot, delivering green tea ice cream to New York City’s burgeoning Japanese restaurant scene in the 1960s. He recounts the lean years when his father drove the delivery trucks himself to keep the legacy alive, and his own decision to leave a Department of Defense engineering job to join the family fold. The conversation dives deep into the turning points that defined the company’s modern era. Michael opens up about their appearance on the reality show The Profit with Marcus Lemonis, which—despite a rocky start—led to the investment that built their first state-of-the-art facility. He details the engineering breakthroughs they pioneered, specifically the Vacuum Form Seal (VFS) technology that revolutionized mochi ice cream manufacturing by eliminating costly stainless steel molds. But the real story is about grit. When COVID-19 decimated their food service business and a massive contract with Yasso evaporated due to a Unilever acquisition, MGT Foods didn't fold. instead, they leveraged their manufacturing innovation to launch Biddy Bites, a clean-label, bite-sized cookie dough ice cream snack that exploded onto shelves at Wawa, Costco, and Trader Joe’s. This episode is packed with lessons on navigating supply chain disasters, the importance of "clean label" ingredients, and why sometimes the best way to grow is to stop waiting for permission and build the solution yourself. It’s an inspiring look at how a legacy brand can stay relevant by combining old-school work ethic with cutting-edge innovation.   IG: @mr_green_tea Address: www.mrgreentea.com    Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

In this inspiring episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Maria Leyesa, the passionate founder of Foodologie Baked Goods in Long Beach, California. This is a story about the power of the pivot, the importance of listening to your intuition, and how a hobby born out of necessity can transform into a full-fledged career. Maria shares her unconventional path from a career in healthcare to the kitchen. While her professional background was in occupational therapy, helping patients regain independence, her heart had always gravitated toward food. She recounts how the lockdown of 2020 became the catalyst for her transformation. Armed with nothing but curiosity and a craving for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, she embarked on a self-taught baking journey, obsessively testing recipes and learning the science behind every ingredient. This episode is a masterclass in building a brand with intention and authenticity. Maria details her strategic decision to launch with a hyper-focused menu of just four items—perfecting her cookies and brownies before expanding. She explains how she leveraged her "foodie" Instagram account, originally just a personal diary of her culinary adventures, into a powerful marketing tool that built a loyal community before she even opened her brick-and-mortar shop. Discover the unique philosophy behind Foodology Baked Goods. More than just a bakery, Maria has created a "one-stop shop" experience that blends her Filipino heritage, innovative flavors like Ube and Pandan, and a curated gift shop featuring products from other small businesses. She shares invaluable insights on the challenges of scaling a small business, the art of hiring a team that shares your passion, and why sometimes, the best business plan is simply to start, stay flexible, and relentlessly pursue quality over rapid expansion. Tune in for a dose of motivation for anyone who has ever dreamed of leaving the "safe path" to follow their true calling. It’s a reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and that the skills you learn in one career can be the secret ingredients to your success in the next.   IG: @foodologiebakedgoods Address: https://www.eatfoodologie.com/  Location: 195 Claremont Ave, Long Beach, CA 90903   Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does a retiree, after a 30-year career running a paint store, end up inventing a patented device that is disrupting the traditional wine world? In this relaxing and insightful episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Michael Fors, the inventor and founder of Liquid Jazz. This is a story about observation, second acts, and the pursuit of a better sensory experience. Michael shares his unique origin story, which began not in a boardroom, but on the rocky shores of Gloucester, Massachusetts. While watching the ocean crash against the rocks and smelling the salt air released by the agitation, he had an epiphany: could wine be opened up in the same way? This led to the creation of the Liquid Jazz Decanter, a patented vessel designed with internal "steps" that allows wine to gently rock back and forth, increasing surface area and aerating a bottle in just four minutes—a process that traditionally takes hours. This episode offers a fascinating look at the nuts and bolts of bringing a physical product to life. Michael details the hurdles of manufacturing, from navigating high mold costs in the US to managing supply chains in China, and the "faith" required to invest retirement funds into a dream. He discusses his old-school, boots-on-the-ground sales strategy—walking into vineyards and restaurants to give live demonstrations—and the challenges of aligning inventory with modern influencer marketing. Beyond the mechanics of business, this conversation delves into the psychology of the consumer experience. Justin and Michael explore how the rhythmic motion of the decanter offers a moment of tranquility and mindfulness in a chaotic world, turning the act of drinking wine into a soothing ritual. Tune in for a story that proves innovation has no age limit. It’s an inspiring look at how a simple observation of nature can lead to a product that enhances connection, flavor, and peace of mind. Key Takeaways The Power of Observation: How watching nature (ocean waves and river rapids) inspired a mechanical solution for wine aeration. The "Rocking" Technology: How the patented steps inside the decanter soften tannins and release aromatics in minutes rather than hours. Second Act Entrepreneurship: The reality of starting a global product business in retirement, including the financial and logistical risks. The Human Element: Why the product is about more than taste—it’s about creating a calming, shared experience that brings people together. Strategic Growth: Michael’s vision for partnering with larger distributors or wineries to scale the business while he focuses on the face-to-face demonstrations he loves.   IG: @liquidjazzexperience Address: www.liquidjazzezperience.com   Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

How does a chance discovery of artisanal beef jerky at a roadside stand ignite a journey that leads to building a nationally recognized, nine-figure CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) powerhouse? In this fascinating episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Eugene Kang, the visionary co-founder of Archer (formerly Country Archer). This is a masterclass in strategic growth, brand building, and the incredible power of seeing an opportunity where others see only a commodity. Eugene shares his remarkable origin story, which began not in a culinary school, but on a road trip to the Grand Canyon. He recounts the moment he and his partner tasted an incredible, craft-made beef jerky and, driven by a blend of passion and curiosity, tracked down the 80-year-old butcher who was making it. Discover how they took a monumental leap of faith, getting a bank loan as college students to buy the small, family-owned co-packing business, armed with an entrepreneurial spirit inherited from Eugene's immigrant parents. This is a story about the grueling, unglamorous, and absolutely essential work of scaling a business. Eugene details the pivotal first few years of learning the intricacies of USDA regulations, production planning, and the human element of manufacturing. He shares a powerful lesson about overcoming resistance to change, telling the story of investing in a state-of-the-art $60,000 slicer to increase efficiency, only to find his lead production manager—afraid of being replaced—refusing to use it. The conversation is a blueprint for breaking into a hyper-competitive market. Eugene reveals the "Trojan horse" strategy that landed them their first major retail accounts: securing the official license for Huy Fong Sriracha during a national shortage, creating a unique product that no buyer could refuse. He also provides invaluable insights into the art of packaging, forecasting, and why his core leadership principle, learned from his father, is that your people are your greatest asset. Tune in for an incredible story of how two college students transformed a small, private-label operation with eight employees into a national brand with over 200 team members, available in more than 25,000 stores. It's a must-listen for any entrepreneur who wants to understand the vision, grit, and humility it takes to build an empire.   IG: @archerjerky Address: https://archerjerky.com/   Entrepreneur interested in being on the show: https://calendly.com/justin-bizzarro/podcast   Hosted By: Justin Ryan Bizzarro (IG: @justinbizzarro and LinkedIn: FOLLOW ME )   Who is Justin Ryan Bizzarro? – Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998. He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial leadership speaker. Justin’s expertise are in human growth, motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, and entrepreneur acceleration. Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, in 2014. He is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity in Leadership from Denver Seminary. His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.   Our [ELITE] Food, Farming, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Beverage Entrepreneurs Community: Under [NEW] Construction Blog Anyone?: GorillaBrave Blog On Instagram: GorillaBrave on Instagram GorillaBrave Group on Whoop: COMM-473D96   Free Podcast.  No Advertisements.  The stories of Food, Beverage, Farming, Hospitality, and Nutrition Entrepreneurs and how their failures led to the successes in their lives and in their business.  What does the future have in store for the food, beverage, and nutrition entrepreneur?   JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Email: [email protected] Instagram: @justinandthefoodentrepreneurs ( #foodentrepreneurs )   All music is scored by host or royalty free.

What happens when a high-flying venture capitalist and best-selling business author, weary of a life of PowerPoint presentations and airplane rides, trades it all for dirt, dust, and a dilapidated historic house in Napa Valley? In this deeply inspiring episode of the JUSTIN AND THE [FOOD] ENTREPRENEURS Show, host Justin Bizzarro sits down with Richard Moran, author of the captivating new book, The Accidental Vineyard. This is a powerful story of reinvention, a testament to the human need to build something tangible, and a masterclass in the art of creating a family legacy. Richard shares the "why" behind his incredible journey: a desire to give his city-raised children a taste of a freer, more hands-on life, and his own personal quest to become a "maker." He recounts the monumental, 30-year undertaking of restoring an 1870s house, a project he envisioned from day one as the future setting for his four-year-old daughter's wedding—a vision that recently, and beautifully, came true. Discover the almost mythical origin story of the vineyard itself. This wasn't a calculated business plan; it was a miraculous accident. Richard tells the amazing story of how a neighboring vineyard manager simply showed up one day with a thousand leftover Cabernet vines and a simple question: "Do you want us to plant them on your property for you?" That single, spontaneous "yes" launched a family into the wine business. This conversation is a raw and honest look at the grueling reality of that decision. Richard gets candid about his initial incompetence—"I am not a gifted farmer"—and the humbling failure of their first vintage, which he admits was "terrible." He details the long, patient process of learning the craft of pruning, picking, and winemaking, a journey that ultimately led their small-batch, authentic wine to a list in a five-star Manhattan restaurant. Packed with wisdom from a lifetime of advising top CEOs, this episode is about more than just wine. It's a profound reflection on the core principles of leadership: the power of clear intent, the underrated skill of listening, and the courage to make a decision. For anyone dreaming of a second act or seeking to build something with meaning, this story is an unmissable lesson in patience, perseverance, and the profound joy of creating a place that brings a family together.