Advertise on podcast: Whole Foods Market: Beyond The Board

Simu Liu – actor and chief content officer at MiLa Soup Dumplings – and co-founder Jen Liao join Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel for a special live episode. We cover: How Simu got involved and the story of his parents eating an entire shipment of nearly 100 dumplings How MiLa went from Ziploc bags on doorsteps to 1.7 million dumplings per day without losing the restaurant quality Why the top 5 Chinese food SKUs in grocery stores haven't changed in 25 years and how MiLa is changing that Best advice from Jen and Simu, whether you're starting something new or feeling stuck Trend Spotlight: Freezer Fine Dining Find MiLa Dumplings in the frozen aisle at Whole Foods Market and enjoy for National Dumpling Day on September 26. Enjoyed this episode? Follow Beyond the Board for conversations with the founders, innovators, and thought leaders shaping how we eat – and the stories behind the brands you love. At a Glance: 4:30 – Making a frozen dumpling that tastes like it came from a restaurant 7:15 – Simu's parents eat an entire shipment of nearly 100 dumplings claiming better than Din Tai Fung 17:30 – The top 5 Chinese food SKUs haven't changed in 25 years 23:00 – Best advice from Jen and Simu 27:30 – Simu's dream: a MiLa Super Bowl commercial 30:00 – Jen's dad gives feedback on her Dan Dan Noodle recipe to make it even better 31:20 – Why the brand is called MiLa: sweet and spicy, carve your own space 32:15 – Lightning round: favorite MiLa product, Marvel vs. Barbie, and more

Alysa Seeland, founder and CEO of FOND Regenerative, joins Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel for a special episode filmed at Expo West. We cover: How a health crisis at 23 and a bone broth diet led to selling out at a farmer's market on day one Fun ways to work nutrient-dense bone broth into everyday cooking (yes, even hot chocolate) The tallow trend and why Alysa wanted to launch it since 2019 (originally wanting to call it "flavored meat butter" ha!) FOND's regenerative sourcing journey – from 17 farmers to 581 Trend Spotlight: Tallow Takeover Enjoyed this episode? Follow Beyond the Board for conversations with the founders, innovators, and thought leaders shaping the future of food – and the stories behind the brands you love. Find FOND Regenerative bone broth and tallow on shelves at Whole Foods Market. At a Glance: 2:30 – A health crisis at 23 and the bone broth diet that changed everything 5:00 – Selling out at the farmer's market on day one 9:00 – From 17 regenerative farmers to 581 with Whole Foods 14:00 – What "regenerative verified" actually means – and why it matters 21:00 – The journey to getting on Whole Foods shelves (and hearing "no" first) 25:00 – Surviving a warehouse fire and choosing to self-fund growth 40:00 – Fun ways to use bone broth, tallow, and duck fat at home

Becca Millstein, co-founder and CEO of Fishwife, joins Whole Foods Market CMMO Sonya Gafsi Oblisk on how she disrupted the tin fish aisle. We cover: How tapas bars in Spain and a pandemic-era light bulb moment led to the fastest-growing premium tinned fish brand in America The story behind the name "Fishwife" and the iconic illustrated packaging Sardine girl summer, Kitchen Couture, and how Fishwife breathed new life into the category Enjoyed this episode? Follow Beyond the Board for conversations with the founders, innovators, and thought leaders shaping the future of food – and the stories behind the brands you love. At a Glance: 0:08 – What is Fishwife? 1:30 – From tapas bars in Spain to a pandemic light bulb moment 9:40 – The name "Fishwife" and reclaiming brash 11:10 – Building the brand with illustrator Danny Miller 14:30 – Sardine girl summer and the tin fish trend cycle 18:50 – Sourcing standards: building a supply chain with Whole Foods 27:00 – Innovation, collabs, and doing two brand partnerships a month 33:00 – The Whole Foods x Fishwife tote bags – designed in 24 hours 39:50 – Lightning Round

Jay Shetty – bestselling author, award-winning host of the On Purpose podcast, and co-founder of Juni adaptogenic sparkling tea – joins host Jason Buechel, Whole Foods Market CEO, for a special live episode. Jay shares the unlikely path from stocking grocery shelves in London to living as a monk for three years – and why he believes the cure for burnout isn't slowing down, it's reconnecting with purpose. From a practical framework for staying grounded to the childhood memory of sharing tea with his mom that inspired Juni, this conversation unpacks what it means to build a brand rooted in presence and connection. Enjoyed this episode? Follow Beyond the Board for conversations with the founders, innovators, and thought leaders shaping the future of food – and the stories behind the brands you love. At a Glance: 1:20 – From grocery store shelves to monk life 5:09 – Three years as a monk: what Jay learned about the mind-body connection 8:00 – Ancient wisdom meets modern science 18:00 – The role of purpose at work (and the Yale study that proves it) 24:00 – TIME: A four-part framework for well-being 30:33 – How food became central to Jay's wellness journey 33:00 – The origin story of Juni: a mother-son tea tradition 35:41 – Building a brand with his wife (and being her guinea pig) 40:50 – Why Whole Foods Market was always the dream 45:51 – Lightning Round

Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel sits with, David Chang, chef and founder of Momofuku Goods, who shares his hacks to making home cooking easy. We also discuss: Despite being a successful chef, David's kids remain his toughest critics. David's personal journey becoming a home chef in the pandemic helping to influence Momofuku Goods. David's life as a young chef in New York. Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Don't forget to like and subscribe to hear more conversations spotlighting innovation, perseverance, and meaningful impact.

In this episode of Beyond the Board, host Sonya Gafsi Oblisk sits down with Rosa Li, founder of wildwonder, to explore how her grandmother's healing tonics — rooted in centuries of traditional Chinese herbal wisdom — inspired her to create one of the fastest-growing functional beverage brands in the country. Rosa shares the deeply personal story of growing up in her grandmother's kitchen in Beijing, where simmering herbs and handcrafted remedies were the answer to everything from digestive health to glowing skin, and how that heritage became the foundation for a brand that bridges two worlds: Eastern herbal wisdom and California's vibrant produce stand culture. From launching at the height of COVID to landing on Whole Foods Market shelves and appearing on Shark Tank, Rosa opens up about the grit it took to build wildwonder from the ground up. She shares why she refuses to give up taste for health, how she's putting a modern twist on ancient wisdom with flavors like Raspberry Lychee and Pink Pomelo Limeade, and the emotional moment her dad started volunteering to stock wildwonder on Whole Foods shelves in Indiana, proudly telling store managers it was his daughter's product.

In this episode, we're sitting down with Laura Modi, co-founder, CEO, and mother of four, who left a career at Airbnb to revolutionize the infant formula industry with Bobbie. In this deeply personal conversation, Laura shares the late-night pharmacy run that changed everything, why she built a formula that meets European nutritional standards with domestically sourced organic ingredients, and what it means to finally see her "baby" on Whole Foods Market shelves. From navigating the 2022 formula shortage to launching at Whole Foods Market, Laura's story is one of grit, gut instinct, and an unwavering commitment to feeding the next generation better. She opens up about the stigma surrounding formula feeding, pitching investors while pregnant and why motherhood and founding a company aren't all that different.

In this episode of Beyond the Board, host Sonya Gafsi Oblisk sits down with Kimono Mom founder Moe to explore her remarkable journey, from her early career as a geisha to becoming a global content creator, and how her passion for Japanese home cooking ultimately led to a product on Whole Foods Market shelves. After experiencing postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Moe turned to YouTube as a way to share her story and reconnect with her love of cooking. Since then, she has built a community of more than 2 million followers across 190 countries and has traveled throughout the U.S., visiting over 100 Whole Foods Market stores and sharing her Umami sauce. This inspiring conversation on entrepreneurship and motherhood is one you won't want to miss. At a glance: 1:03 – Art of Geisha 3:35 – The start of content creation 5:00 – Beginning of Kimono Mom Umami Sauce 6:09 – Cooking with umami sauce 7:02 – Discovering Whole Foods Market 9:15 – One road trip to 100 WFM stores 12:09 – Redefining success as a mother 13:00 – Lightning Round

In this episode of Beyond the Board, host Sonya Gafsi Oblisk sits down with Viraj Puri, co-founder and CEO of Gotham Greens, inside one of the company's original rooftop greenhouses — perched right on top of the Whole Foods Market store in Brooklyn. Surrounded by fresh basil and rows of leafy greens, Viraj shares how a fascination with the farm-to-table movement and a background in environmental engineering sparked this idea: leverage climate-controlled greenhouses to grow fresh produce year-round in the heart of New York City. From a small demonstration-scale greenhouse in Brooklyn to 13 facilities across nine states and nearly 700 employees, Gotham Greens has redefined what it means to be a local grower on a national scale. Viraj opens up about the "three-legged stool" that built the business: brand storytelling, proven greenhouse technology, and a supply chain rooted in proximity to consumers, and how the relationship with Whole Foods Market helped fuel that growth. He also dives into the staggering environmental impact of their model, including saving 300 million gallons of water annually and producing 30 times more per acre than traditional farming, all while delivering pesticide-free greens to stores within 24 hours of harvest. Whether you're in the food industry or simply someone who cares about where your salad comes from, this episode is a fresh take on innovation, sustainability, and the future of food. At a glance:  1:20: Inspiration for Gotham Greens 2:35: The Business of Food 4:00: "Aha Moment" and Conscience Capitalism 6:00: Balancing Innovation and Quality 8:25: The relationship with Whole Foods Market 12:05: Year-long growing techniques 13:58: The importance of water efficiency 15:09: Addressing food insecurity 16:30: Lightning round

From starting his career developing the iPhone to revolutionizing home technology with Nest, Matt Rogers has always been driven by a mission to bring beautiful design and intelligence to everyday problems. In this episode of Beyond the Board, Mill co-founder Matt Rogers sits down with Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel to discuss his latest venture: food waste. Inspired by his own observations during COVID and trained by Steve Jobs to see details in everyday life, Matt recognized that food waste, responsible for 10% of global emissions and $400 billion in wasted food annually, was a problem worth solving. Now, Mill is bringing the same design excellence and customer obsession he learned at Apple to create an easy-to-use, sleek solution that makes reducing food waste as simple as using a trash can. This conversation explores how two mission-driven companies – Mill and Whole Foods Market – are working together to combat food waste. Matt shares insights on building missionary teams, the importance of starting with the hardest problem (the home), and the impact of bringing Mill Commercial into Whole Foods Market stores in 2027. From Apple's culture of customer obsession to Mill's vision of a world without waste, this episode reveals how great mission combined with great people creates transformative change. At a glance:  1:11 – The impact of Steve Jobs and Apple  3:45 – Entrepreneurial spirit 6:30 – Being customer obsessed   8:15 – Inspiration behind Nest 12:34 – Early days of Mill 16:28 – Tackling the challenges of composting 19:07 – The importance and ease of design 20:58 – The mobile app 21:41 – Mill x Whole Foods Market 2027 25:00 – The future of food waste 30:00 – Secret Sauce of Mill 32:30 – Lightning round

On this episode of Beyond the Board, Whole Foods Market CEO Jason Buechel sits down with Andrew Benin, co-founder and CEO of Graza, live from Expo West. Together, they explore how Andrew has disrupted the olive oil industry through unique packaging, product obsession, and authenticity. From a sensory experience while visiting his wife's family in Spain to becoming the fourth-largest extra virgin olive oil brand in America, Andrew opens up about the challenges of convincing traditional olive oil producers to embrace unconventional packaging, the shower moment that sparked the squeeze bottle idea, and how he saw opportunity when others saw difficulty. The conversation explores the risks and rewards of rapid growth, being discovered early on by Whole Foods Market and why Graza waited two years to expand beyond olive oil – hello, mayo! Don't miss this candid conversation about innovation, intuition and building something different in a crowded category. At a glance: 0:55 – Expo West 1:58 – The beginning of Graza 6:30 – The squeeze bottle shower moment 12:26 - Sizzle vs Drizzle 18:29 – Scaling through meaning 20:34 – Expanding the supply chain 22:06 – "Aha Moment" 23:27 – First time seeing the product on shelf 25:22 - Lessons learned 27:10 – Secret sauce of Graza 30:50 – The Whole Foods Market Experience 32:42 – Exploring Graza Mayo 37:50 – Customer Feedback 39:47 – Brand collaborations 41:46 – What's next? 43:52 – Defining success   45:45 – Lightning Round

In this special episode filmed at Expo West 2026, we sit down with Meghan Luck, co-founder of Fable Fish, to explore how a childhood spent on Alaskan fishing boats transformed into a mission-driven snack brand. As part of 2026's Year of the Female Farmer trend, Meghan represents a new generation of female entrepreneurs reimagining traditional food systems by turning her family's smoked salmon recipe into an everyday snack that makes wild, nutrient-dense protein more accessible. Fable Fish isn't just about functional snacking, it's also solving a problem in the seafood industry. When Bristol Bay's 2022 sockeye run reached a historic 79 million fish, Meghan and her dad, a longtime Alaskan fisherman, saw an opportunity to add value to underutilized byproduct: the perfectly good "necks and tails" that didn't meet retail specs for center-cut fillets. Meghan shares how Whole Foods Market's Local and Emerging Accelerator (LEAP) program has provided a community of founders facing similar challenges from packaging decisions to scaling sustainably. Her advice? Trust your gut, never cut corners on quality, and surround yourself with people who know what you don't. At a glance:  00:46 – Inspiration for Fable Fish 02:32 – Historical Bristol Bay sockeye run 03:32 – Salmon byproduct 06:12 – Early iterations of product development 07:08 – Career history and evolution 11:45 – Whole Foods Market LEAP Program 16:10 – Business challenges 19:50 – Backstory on Fable Fish packaging  21:03 – How customers are consuming the product 22:58 – What is sockeye salmon? 26:50 – Meeting customers where they are 27:50 – Where Meghan hopes to see Fable Fish in 5-10 years 31:54 – Impactful drivers for Success 33:40 – Family ties 35:24 – Building the brand and responsibly scaling 38:51 – Delightful customer stories 40:26 – Lightning round

In this episode of Beyond the Board, host Sonya Gafsi Oblisk sits down with Katina Mountanos, founder of Kosterina. Listen as they discuss how personal frustrations in the grocery aisle turned into a brand rooted in Mediterranean tradition. After spending years in investment banking and CPG, Katina set out on a mission inspired by her family's ties to Greece: to bring truly high-quality, high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil to American consumers. What began as a passion project built around incredible taste soon grew into something bigger, a wellness platform grounded in the science of the Mediterranean diet and the benefits of early-harvest olive oil. Throughout the conversation, Katina shares what actually makes olive oil exceptional, from hand harvesting and same-day milling to carefully controlled transport, and why most people in the U.S. have never really experienced olive oil at its best. A certified olive oil sommelier, she also breaks down the role of polyphenols, the antioxidants that give high-quality EVOO its health benefits, and explains why the Mediterranean diet continues to rank as the #1 diet for overall health year after year. Along the way, she clears up common misconceptions, including the difference between filtered and unfiltered olive oil, and how Kosterina approaches clean, simple ingredients across its products. Just when you think the conversation has covered everything olive oil, she shares what's next for the brand: vinegar. Included in the 2026 Whole Foods Market Trend Report as part of the "Very Vinegar" movement, Katina talks about how customers are reimagining unique ways to consume vinegars. This episode offers a look at how Kosterina is building a cross-category wellness brand centered on flavor, transparency, and the timeless principles of Mediterranean living. At a glance: 06:45: Career History 08:10: Early passion for olive oil 09:30: Olive Oil 101 13:57: The impact of the Mediterranean lifestyle 16:06: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Shot 18:18: Trends Spotlight: Very Vinegar 19:29: How customers are reimagining vinegar 21:18: Visit kosterina.com for recipes, products and more 21:41: What's next for Kosterina 22:48: Lightning Round    The information provided on this episode is for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment. The content on this episode is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In the countdown to this year's Expo West, we're beyond excited to take it back to where it all began — our very firstBeyond the Board Podcast conversation, recorded live at last year's Expo with none other than Cloud 23 founder, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham. The energy, the insight, the moment that started it all… and now we get to relive it. Stay tuned as this re-release is one you won't want to miss! In this episode, we connect over: How a late night in the kitchen with his wife led to the inspiration and first recipe for Cloud23. Brooklyn's secret sauce to level up his dad's famous Bolognese recipe. Plus, we dive into how Gen Z consumers are shaping a better future food system.

In this episode of Beyond the Board, we sit down with Olowo-n'djo Tchala, founder of Ayeya, to explore his journey from extreme poverty in rural Africa to building a purpose-driven brand. Olowo-n'djo left school in sixth grade to help his mother, learning traditional soap-making and shea butter production. Those early experiences shaped a mission rooted in dignity, trust, and economic empowerment, proving that business can be a vehicle for lasting social change. Olowo-n'djo shares his business model that prioritizes respect over charity, building inclusive "mini-corporations" that unite communities across ethnic divisions and create sustainable income for women. He also reflects on the persistence it took to build a relationship with Whole Foods Market by turning early rejection into a win-win parnership that expanded access to ethical products while creating jobs in Togo. Grounded in cultural preservation and measurable impact, Ayeya has helped support more than 250,000 families, funded clean water wells, built schools, distributed 18,000 bicycles to students, and advanced maternal healthcare initiatives. This conversation is a powerful reminder that purpose and profit, when aligned, can honor tradition, empower communities, and drive systemic change.