Halfday Ice Tea (Part 1) - How a Dorm Room Idea Disrupted Iced Tea

Every now and then, you come across a founder story that's both heartfelt and hustle-packed—this is one of those.  In this episode, I sit down with Mike Lombardo, co-founder of Halfday Iced Tea, a brand that's redefining what iced tea can be. We talk about everything from starting the company out of a college dorm room to turning a personal health journey into a functional beverage brand that's now on the shelves of Whole Foods, Sprouts, and more. Mike shares how Halfday was built on a foundation of relentless iteration, a belief in gut health, and a flavor-first approach that makes it easy for consumers to get behind. With a mission rooted in Kayvon's fight with ulcerative colitis, Halfday has stayed true to one thing: delivering great-tasting iced tea that's actually good for your gut.  This episode is a powerful look at entrepreneurship, adaptability, and building a brand that truly resonates. In this episode, you'll hear: * How a college capstone project turned into a national beverage brand * Why product iteration—down to the can size—was key to Halfday's success * What it took to land their first retail buyer without even having samples * The story behind Halfday's Good Day Prebiotic Blend and why it matters * How Mike and Kayvon think about innovation, scaling retail, and brand storytelling Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to the episode and learn how Halfday is changing the iced tea category—one can at a time. Whether you're a brand builder, a gut health geek, or just love a good founder story, this one's worth a sip. For more on Halfday Ice Tea visit:  https://drinkhalfday.com/ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand a rating and review.  Plus, don't forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify.  Your support helps us bring you more content like this! * Today's Sponsors: Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they've generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million per year. Use code "STORY OF A BRAND" and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning.