Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG)

We're bringing you the stories behind the people and products building a more just, healthy, and regenerative future for us all. Tune in weekly and together, we’ll learn about why these better products and brands were created, how they’re helping fix broken systems, and what you can do to support them. My hope is that you’ll discover some new brands to love, and get some sparks of inspiration that will help you live your best life. // Hosted by: Gage Mitchell, Founder of Modern Species, a sustainable brand design agency helping better brands grow to scale their impact.

Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG) is a business podcast hosted by Gage Mitchell of Modern Species, with 227 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Gage Mitchell of Modern Species hosts Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG), a business show with 227 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #227

  More Nutrition, Less Methane with Claire Loudis of Lotus Foods

  Aug 26, 20261h 11m

  Claire Loudis shares rice’s impact on water, climate, and farmer livelihoods, and why Lotus Foods decided to change how rice is grown around the world. We talk about the many benefits of heirloom varietals and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method they’re scaling to grow more rice with less water and lower methane emissions. Claire then shares details on the nature-based practices that go into growing their Regenerative Organic Certified ® (ROC) Basmati Rice, the brand’s commitment to seed sovereignty, and the biggest challenges she sees the food industry facing in the coming years.  Key Topics The water and climate impacts of rice Heirloom rice and its benefits The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) that results in More Crop Per Drop ® Regenerative agriculture practices in rice farming Launch of the first ROC Basmati Rice in 2020 Seed sovereignty and biodiversity conservation Challenges the food industry is facing Sound bites “Rice one of the highest emitting crops, after meat and eggs.” “Heirloom varieties often have better nutrition, flavor, and genetic diversity, so they're naturally hardier, locally adapted, and more resilient to climate disruptions making them a natural fit for regenerative and organic farming practices.” “Ultimately this pilot is to figure out what works, what we can scale, gauge farmer reception, measure yields of course, return on investment for those farmers, and to to work to understand how these practices impact our farmers on the ground, the people actually growing rice.” “Over 75% of plant genetic diversity has been permanently lost.” “The farmer is a is a key piece of hope for me. Their whole job is managing uncertainty and while climate change has made that harder, they remain one of the most innovative and resilient groups of people I know. They're tinkers at heart and always adapting. So I am energized and hopeful because of those people I've met.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Claire Loudis' background 01:14 The importance of heirloom rice and Lotus Foods' mission 03:03 Impact of rice farming on water and climate 04:35 Nutritional and genetic diversity of heirloom rice 09:01 Global rice consumption and cultural factors 13:18 Research on regenerative practices and pilot studies in Thailand 17:18 System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and its benefits 20:44 Farmer-led regenerative practices and community trust 29:15 Innovative regenerative practices observed in Thai farms 42:22 Supporting seed sovereignty and biodiversity through alliances 50:20 Claire Loudis' career path and motivations 55:53 Challenges and hope in the future of food and agriculture 01:00:14 Advice for aspiring changemakers in food sustainability 01:03:26 Personal favorite recipes and books 01:07:13 What a better world means to Claire Loudis Links Claire Loudis on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-loudis-1b380538/ Lotus Foods - https://www.lotusfoods.com/ Lotus Foods on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/lotus-foods/ Lotus Foods on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LotusFoods/ Lotus Foods on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lotusfoods/ Lotus Foods on Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/lotusfoods/ Lotus Foods on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/LotusFoodsInc Lotus Foods on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lotusfoods … Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/ Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/ Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/ Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/ Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/ … Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/ … Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/ Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/ Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/ Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio … The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #226

  Unconventional Approach with Duke Stump from Tractor

  Aug 16, 20261h 11m

  Duke Stump shares the origins of Tractor Beverage Co, what they decided to create organic beverages from recognizable ingredients, and their unique focus on moments and ecosystems rather than trying to fit into categories. Discover how their ‘business as unusual’ philosophy drives innovation, unconventional marketing strategy, community engagement, and positive impact. Learn about the five metrics they focus on in their Organic Impact Tracker, and get details on their impact initiatives like their Tractor Beam publication, Mad Farmer Tour, We The Soil movement, and the Farmhand Foundation. We then wrap up with Duke sharing insights learned from his past work helping build brands like Nike, Seventh Generation, and Lululemon, and how he defines a ‘better world’. Key Topics Tractor Beverage Co.’s origins and focus The ’Business as Unusual’ philosophy Ecosystem approach to branding Tractor’s organic impact metrics Community engagement and advocacy Innovative product development in beverages Supporting farmers and soil health Challenging industry categories Brand storytelling and design Sound Bites “Why can't beverages be kitchen ingredients? You know, things you actually know and are familiar with.” “Right before COVID is when the founders signed a deal with Chipotle, who remains one of our best, strongest partners to date.” “At Nike, one of the things I learned is if you're competing you've lost the plot.” “Since day one, the only mandate that he gives to my team and I is ‘make it original’.” “Tractor isn't a brand strategy, it's an ecosystem strategy.” “I don't want us to get caught in the trapping of conventional thinking around everything needs to be calibrated around a measurable result.” “When I was at Lululemon, the invisible hand that drove that brand was community.” “The idea of sustainability is so abstract. It's a hard, it can be million things to different people. And so for us, we wanted to ground it in what was real but also meaningful for us.” “One thing I've learned over the years is never bring a playbook, bring a philosophy or principles.” Chapters 03:00 Introduction to Tractor Beverage and Its Founders 05:47 The Journey of Beverage Innovation 08:56 Product Development and Market Strategy 11:58 The Unique Approach to Marketing and Community Engagement 14:53 Measuring Success Beyond Conventional Metrics 18:00 Commitment to Organic and Sustainable Practices 38:40 The Importance of Certification and Brand Identity 42:06 Supporting Farmers and Soil Health 47:12 Lessons from Iconic Brands 53:07 Curiosity and Following Your Passion 55:54 Seasonal Eating and Local Agriculture 61:01 Influential Books and Their Impact 01:03:09 Creating Conditions for a Better World Links Duke Stump on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/duke-stump-b3a58419a/ Tractor Beverage Co. - https://drinktractor.com/ We the Soil - https://www.tractorbeverage.com/wethesoil Farmhand Foundation - https://www.tractorbeverage.com/farmhand Organic Impact Tracker - https://www.tractorbeverage.com/impacttracker Tractor Beverage Co. on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/tractorbeverageco/ Tractor Beverage Co. on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drinktractor/ Tractor Beverage Co. on X - https://x.com/drinktractor Tractor Beverage Co. on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@drinktractor Tractor Beverage Co. on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@drinktractor … Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/ Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/ Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/ Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/ Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/ … Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/ … Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/ Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/ Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/ Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio … The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #225

  The Hack for Cutting Sugar with Hank Watt of Nature’s Wild Berry

  Aug 6, 20261h 15m

  Hank Watt shares the inspiring story of how he discovered the miracle berry and turned it into a successful business that was featured on Shark Tank and promoted by Jennifer Garner. Learn how the berry makes sour taste sweeter than sugar, how it helped Hank control his emotional eating, how he and his partner built the business, and future potential of this revolutionary product that can transform taste and improve health.  Key Topics How Hank learned about the miracle berry and its effects What drove Hank & Juliano to launch the business Challenges in preserving the berry to scale operations Innovative freeze-drying process to preserve potency Market strategy and word-of-mouth growth Future applications for the berry Sound Bites "I swear, I heard the angels and the chorus singing. I felt the whoosh of the gates. I felt like the sunshine come down on me. Like I I had this transformative experience immediately where I became a believer instantly.” “LA is a type of place where if you're keeping weight off for any period of time, especially a significant amount, people want to know like what's your secret?” “He was like, I've got a couple conditions. We have to keep the berry pure. It has to stay raw. Like we don't need to add anything to it. We need to also figure out how to preserve it because we cannot deal with a cold chain.“ “The sharks have been phenomenal. The best business decision Juliano and I have ever made.” “Jennifer Garner put a video up on her Instagram… that put us on the map and it made us legit.” “These need to be on every table, kind of like butter, salt, and pepper. You know, it's there if you need it and you want it.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Nature's Wildberry 02:57 The Discovery of the Miracle Berry 05:45 Transformative Experiences with the Berry 09:02 The Locus of Control and Personal Empowerment 11:53 Impact on Health and Diet 14:57 Business Journey and Challenges 17:52 The Berry's Unique Properties and Taste Testing 20:55 Community and Word of Mouth Marketing 24:01 The Decision to Start a Business 26:52 Lessons from Personal Experiences 30:10 The Future of Nature's Wildberry 32:53 The Journey Begins: Overcoming Doubts 35:14 Cracking the Code: Innovation in Preservation 40:27 From Concept to Consumer: The Direct-to-Consumer Shift 48:01 Shark Tank: A Game Changer for Growth 55:02 Future Aspirations: Expanding Horizons 01:00:44 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Patience and Partnership 01:08:12 A Better World: Quality of Life and Compassion Links Hank Watt on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hankwatt Nature's Wild Berry - https://natureswildberry.com/ Nature’s Wild Berry on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/natureswildberry Nature’s Wild Berry on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/natureswildberry Nature’s Wild Berry on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@natureswildberry Nature’s Wild Berry on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/natureswildberry Nature’s Wild Berry on X - https://x.com/natureswildbrry Nature’s Wild Berry on Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/natureswildberry/ … Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/ Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/ Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/ Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/ Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/ … Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/ … Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/ Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/ Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/ Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio … The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #224

  Purpose-Driven Food System with Les Szabo of Purpose Pledge

  Jul 29, 20261h 4m

  Les Szabo discusses the Purpose Pledge, a holistic framework for companies aiming to operate with integrity and in alignment with their higher purpose. He discusses why the Purpose Pledge was created, how they decided to focus on companies working in food and agriculture, and how they settled on their 10 commitments. The conversation highlights the need for shared standards, systems of support, and collaboration to drive systemic change in business practices. Tune in to hear how Les and the team plan to scale the pledge in the future, and how your brand can join the movement. Key topics Purpose Pledge framework and commitments Importance of shared standards and transparency Role of support systems and catalysts Focus on food and agriculture impact Balancing ambition with realism in sustainability goals Collaborative supply chain transformation Measuring progress and accountability Industry-specific challenges and opportunities Sound bites “Well-intentioned companies highlight where they perform well, but at the same time they ignore parts of the system.” “Our idea is that we have to have a common framework that's a true operational definition of purpose across 10 commitments.” “How are you honoring and serving all of your stakeholders? We we use this term ‘right relationship’, which originates from spiritual and wisdom traditions, and it means to be in integrity with somebody and where it's a true kind of reciprocal relationship.” "The industrial food system is one of the most powerful forces shaping climate change, public health, and social in inequality, often in in ways we fail to see.” “The goal is to have all commitments achieved within that nine-year period. Anybody can go to the site and and it makes those commitments very visible and easy to track.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Purpose Pledge and Dr. Bronner's 04:55 Defining Purpose and the Need for a Common Framework 10:00 Focus on Food and Agriculture: The Rationale 14:46 The Ten Commitments of Purpose Pledge 20:12 Commitment Achievement and Continuous Improvement 25:14 Collaboration and Community in Purpose Pledge 32:16 Challenges in Launching the Purpose Pledge 35:42 Understanding Living Wage and Its Implications 39:20 Navigating the Application Process for Companies 46:18 Eligibility and Commitment Areas for Companies 50:23 Expanding the Purpose Pledge Beyond Food and Agriculture 54:23 Purpose Pledge vs. Giving Pledge: A Comparative Insight 01:02:22 Envisioning a Better World Through Right Relationships Links Les Szabo on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/les-szabo-5a214314/ Purpose Pledge - https://purposepledge.org Purpose Pledge on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/purposepledge/ Purpose Pledge Commitments PDF - https://www.purposepledge.org/s/Purpose-Pledge-10-Commitments-Full-Details-July-2026.pdf … LinkedIn post on the Giving Pledge article by Inc.- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7470679564374175744-BHM_/ LinkedIn post on the Purpose Pledge article by Inc. - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7470131248229810177-WTLs/ … Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/ Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/ Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/ Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/ Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/ … Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/ … Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/ Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/ Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/ Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio … The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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  Episode #223

  Supplements, Soil, & Story with Dr. Jeffrey Burke of Honest Health

  Jul 26, 20261h 12m

  Join us as Dr. Jeffrey Burke, a pioneer in the natural products industry with over 47 years of experience, shares his insights on the evolution of the industry, the power of plants, the beauty of supplements, the importance of regenerative agriculture, and how storytelling can inspire change. Discover practical advice and inspiration for health, sustainability, and building a better world. Key topics Evolution of the natural products industry over 47 years Dr Jeffrey Burke’s journey into health, medicine, radio, podcasting, and more Why you should take supplements, even if you have a healthy diet The regenerative movement and soil health The power of storytelling in inspiring change Sound bites “I did it because I wanted to be on the side where I could help to teach people an easier way to survive our lives in a healthier manner.” “I was barely even 20 and I was working with Dr. Earl Mindell and he had a radio show. He handed me my first microphone and I just never gave it back.” “A lot of people now look at things saying, you know, when I want to go organic, I want to start putting some good things in my system, and I think the same thing you're going to start seeing with regenerative.” “I think we need to takes supplement because there's things way past the soil that affect our health every day, including air quality, pollution, stress, lack of sleep, obesity, etc that are already wearing tearing on our health from top to bottom.” “We were so focused on the not using chemicals, we did absolutely nothing for our soil. Now we have this regenerative movement where we are actually doing things to rebuild the soil.” "Don't be embarrassed. Embrace your craziness. Embrace your mistakes because there is no such thing as perfection." Chapters 03:00 Introduction to Jeffrey Burke and His Journey 06:04 The Evolution of the Natural Products Industry 08:57 Transition from Radio to Podcasting 12:00 The Importance of Education in Health 15:03 The Role of Supplements in Modern Health 17:52 The Impact of Regenerative Agriculture 20:53 Challenges Facing the Natural Products Industry 24:01 The Future of Health and Nutrition 26:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 37:36 Investing in Sustainable Agriculture 39:10 The Role of People in Change 42:41 The Power of Storytelling 49:37 Embracing Vulnerability 53:41 Finding Hope in Challenges 01:08:14 Learning from Industry Icons Links Dr. Jeffrey Burke & The Honest Health Podcast - https://www.drjeffreyburke.com/ Dr. Jeffrey Burke on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jeffrey-burke-86421931/ Honest Health on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/honest-health-with-jeffrey-burke/id1825645948 Honest Health on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3yMUkj5JbDfRPSLSuW8KKr Honest Health on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@honesthealthwithJeffreyBurke … Brands for a Better World Episode Archive - http://brandsforabetterworld.com/ Brands for a Better World on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-for-a-better-world/ Modern Species - https://modernspecies.com/ Modern Species on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-species/ Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagemitchell/ … Print Magazine Design Podcasts - https://www.printmag.com/categories/printcast/ … Heritage Radio Network - https://heritageradionetwork.org/ Heritage Radio Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/heritage-radio-network/posts/ Heritage Radio Network on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HeritageRadioNetwork Heritage Radio Network on X - https://x.com/Heritage_Radio Heritage Radio Network on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heritage_radio/ Heritage Radio Network on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@heritage_radio … The Food Institute - https://foodinstitute.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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Recent guests on Brands for a Better World (formerly Evolve CPG). Study who booked and why before you pitch.

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