How Jamie Lea Built a CBD Brand From Scratch in a Pandemic | Founder of Toasty

Starting a business is never simple, especially in an industry with steep regulations and high barriers to entry. But Jamie Lea didn’t let that stop her. Kara Duffy talks with Jamie, the founder of the CBD and wellness brand Toasty, about turning a pandemic layoff into the push she needed to create a company from the ground up. Jamie shares how her background as an NCAA volleyball player gave her the competitive edge to navigate a complex market, the unexpected challenges of launching in the CBD industry, and why building a strong network of women has been essential to her success. You’ll hear how she approaches branding, product development, and business growth, and why she believes asking for help is one of the most powerful skills an entrepreneur can develop. If you’ve ever wondered how to launch a CBD brand, break into a regulated market, or transform a setback into an opportunity, this conversation is full of real talk, actionable takeaways, and inspiration to build your own path forward. Chapters: 00:00 – How a pandemic layoff sparked a new business 03:00 – What Toasty is and the community it serves 06:00 – Lessons from being an NCAA athlete 09:00 – Growth mindset and getting out of your comfort zone 10:00 – Why Jamie chose the CBD industry 12:00 – From DTC to retail: building a sales strategy 13:00 – Navigating regulations and barriers to entry 15:00 – The power of a supportive network 18:00 – Asking for help and finding resources 20:00 – Surprising challenges of launching a CBD brand 22:00 – Staying motivated through obstacles 24:00 – Leadership goals from an early age 25:00 – Building and leading a strong team 27:00 – Why you can’t do it all alone 28:00 – Creating work–life balance as a founder 30:00 – Who the Toasty customer is 33:00 – Inclusive branding for all ages 34:00 – How branding captures the “toasty” vibe 36:00 – CBD as an alternative to alcohol 39:00 – Changing perceptions around cannabis and CBD 40:00 – Where to learn more about CBD 42:00 – What “powerful” and “ladies” mean to Jamie 44:00 – Lessons learned about patience and self-belief 46:00 – Overcoming self-doubt and creating your own lane 48:00 – Funding a new business and finding a mentor 50:00 – Rating herself on the Powerful Ladies scale 51:00 – How to support Toasty and get involved The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms. Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think. Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices