Predicting The Turn w/ Dave Knox
by Dave Knox
Predicting the Turn is a podcast dedicated to equipping business leaders with the tools they need to navigate today’s ever-changing business landscape. Our host, Dave Knox, is a global thought leader in digital transformation, an international public speaker, and an award-winning author with experience in the worlds of both Fortune 500 companies and startups. Through this podcast, you will learn how to meet your industry's inevitable disruption head-on.
Episodes
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Hero Bread CEO YuChiang Cheng on Winning Back Bread Quitters
What happens when a Topgolf, World Poker Tour and Virgin Games veteran takes over a bread company? YuChiang "YC" Cheng invested in Hero Bread through his family office, fell in love with the product and ended up as CEO. Now he's running Hero like an entertainment company runs a fan base, and the...
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Shoot 360's Craig Moody On Building A Basketball Gym Like A Video Game
One beautiful afternoon, Craig Moody asked his son's seventh-grade teammates why they were inside playing video games instead of shooting on the family court. They told him they'd rather play video games. A longtime high school and college coach, Moody didn't fight it. He cashed out his 401(k)…
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Wildgrain's Johanna Hartzheim On Why Gluten-Free Became The Bread Brand's Big Unlock
Johanna Hartzheim gave up on American supermarket bread, started baking sourdough every weekend while pregnant, and began par-baking and freezing the loaves her family couldn't eat. When the pandemic shut down the tech and music startup she and her husband had moved from Paris to build, that side...
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MoonBrew's Allan Shen On Turning Sleep Into A Nightly Hot Cocoa Ritual
Allan Shen grew up in his parents' herbal apothecary in San Francisco, where his "toys" were ginseng and reishi. That background shaped MoonBrew, the melatonin-free sleep brand that started life as NoonBrew, an afternoon energy drink, until customers kept asking for a sleep version. When the data...
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Mark Flint of The Escape Game: Why He Refuses to Franchise
A family vacation to London changed Mark Flint's life. He booked an escape room he had never tried because it was the number one thing to do in the city, and everyone in his group of eleven walked out having loved the same hour. That single experience became The Escape Game, which today runs...
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The Iphone For Dogs: How Ken Ehrman Built Halo Into A $100M Brand
Ken Ehrman spent 25 years putting tracking technology on forklifts, trailers, and rental cars. Then his niece's dog escaped an invisible fence and was hit by a car, and he realized the invisible fence was the last wired product left in the home. That tragedy became Halo, the GPS dog collar he…
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Made Good's Nima Fotovat: Burning The Boats To Build An Allergen-Free Snack Empire
When Nima Fotovat and his three sisters launched Made Good in 2014, they made a bet that parents, kids, and classroom allergy rules could all be satisfied by the same snack. Twelve years later, Made Good is in tens of thousands of doors, manufactures everything in-house at roughly 500,000 square...
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A Fifth Grader's Letter Made Double Good Walk Away From Costco with Tim Heitmann, Founder & CEO of Double Good
Tim Heitmann started Double Good as a 500-square-foot popcorn shop on Navy Pier in 1998 and grew it into a wholesale business that sold to Costco, QVC, and FTD. Then a handwritten letter from a fifth grader who had raised $300 for his band trip made Tim question everything. He walked away from...
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How IQBAR Accidentally Rode The Keto Wave Into Costco with Will Nitze, Founder & CEO of IQBAR
Will Nitze started IQBAR in 2018 to solve his own problem: long hours, a bad diet, daily brain fog. He designed the formulas for cognition, low net carb, low sugar, low glycemic. What he didn't know was that the rest of America was about to get obsessed with that exact macro profile for a...
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Califia Farms Wasn't Supposed to be Milk - Now it's an Empire
When there wasn’t enough fruit to make a juice business viable, Califia Farms co-founder Greg Steltenpohl looked out the window of his Central Valley factory and noticed something: demand for almond milk was quietly exploding. That pivot—from citrus to almonds—transformed a struggling startup…
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We’re Strict So Our Members Don’t Have To Be: Thrive Market’s Formula
Most grocery stores added “healthy” end caps; Thrive Market built a GLP-1 filterthat instantly rewrites your entire cart instead. In this conversation, Thrive Market’s Chief Marketing Officer Amina Pasha breaks down how strict EU-inspired ingredient bans, AI-generated smart carts, and a radically...
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She Lobbied The FDA To Redefine Pet Food. Here's What Happened Next.
When Lucy Postins started The Honest Kitchen in 2002, she didn't just launch a pet food company — she lobbied the FDA to create an entirely new standard for human-grade pet food. Two decades later, the brand she built is the leading human-grade pet food in North America, with a 50/50 revenue…
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His Daughter's Birthday Dinner Sparked The $100M Carbone Sauce Empire
Eric Skae was running Rao's — one of the most iconic pasta sauce brands in America — when his daughter told him she wanted to go somewhere else for her birthday. Not just anywhere: Carbone, the red-sauce Italian restaurant that had become the hottest reservation in New York. "It's the place for…
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How Two Brown Students Brought Korea's Alcohol Aid Market To America
When Gene Oh studied abroad in Seoul as a Brown University senior, he discovered something that would change his career trajectory: jelly sticks that protect your health when drinking alcohol. These products dominate Korea's billion-dollar alcohol aid market, yet remain virtually unknown in the...
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After Decades Of Machines, Keurig Launches Its Own Coffee Brand
For decades, Keurig has been synonymous with convenient at-home coffee brewing, revolutionizing how millions of Americans start their day. Yet despite being a household name in coffee makers, the brand has never sold its own coffee—until now. Christine van den Broeck, Vice President, Keurig Brand...
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Why TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie Chose ENOUGH Over Everything
Blake Mycoskie built TOMS Shoes into a $650 million empire, pioneered the "buy-one-give-one" model that revolutionized social enterprise, and made over 40 of his first employees multimillionaires. Yet three years after selling the company to focus on family, he found himself in a dark...
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After Decades Of Machines, Keurig Launches Its Own Coffee Brand
For decades, Keurig has been synonymous with convenient at-home coffee brewing, revolutionizing how millions of Americans start their day. Yet despite being a household name in coffee makers, the brand has never sold its own coffee—until now. Christine van den Broeck, Vice President, Keurig Brand...
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Why TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie Chose ENOUGH Over Everything
Blake Mycoskie built TOMS Shoes into a $650 million empire, pioneered the "buy-one-give-one" model that revolutionized social enterprise, and made over 40 of his first employees multimillionaires. Yet three years after selling the company to focus on family, he found himself in a dark...
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How Graza Rejected Growth-At-All-Costs For Brand Building
In an era when many consumer brands chased venture capital and rapid expansion, Andrew Benin, CEO and Co-Founder of Graza, took a different path. Since launching in 2022, his olive oil brand has become known for its distinctive squeeze bottle packaging and methodical approach to growth,...
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How Nature’s Path Pioneered Organic Breakfast Cereal 40 Years Ago
When most organic food brands faced pressure to sell to multinational corporations, Arjan Stephens and his family chose a different path. As President of Nature's Path Organic Foods, Stephens has helped steer the company his parents founded 40 years ago to become one of the last major independent...
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Why OLYRA's CEO Says Ignorance Is A Founder's Best Asset
How can a century-old family tradition from Greece successfully disrupt the competitive U.S. snack aisle. I sat down with OLYRA President and CEO Yannis Varellas to discuss his fascinating journey transforming a fifth-generation flour mill into a modern consumer brand. He details his approach to...
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The Secret Behind SharkNinja's Unstoppable Innovation
Ever wondered how a company goes from a single steam mop to a global empire of home and outdoor products? In this interview, SharkNinja's Chief Commercial Officer Neil Shah reveals the company's problem solving philosophy that fuels its rapid growth. He discusses how SharkNinja identifies…
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Brainiac's Mission to Feed Young Minds🧠
How do you tackle a challenge as vast as closing America’s brain nutrition gap? Mark Brooks, CEO and co-founder of Brainiac Foods, is answering that question by creating everyday foods packed with the nutrients kids (and adults) need for brain health and development. In this interview, he shares...
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goodwipes Is Disrupting the Dry World of Toilet Paper
Ever wondered if your bathroom routine could be a little more... luxurious? Charlie Siciak, co-founder of goodwipes is leading a charge to transform the traditionally unglamorous toilet paper category into a vibrant, beauty-inspired experience. In this interview, Charlie delves into goodwipes'...
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Fueling Adventures: Kindling's Disruptive Snack Journey
The journey from a booming pancake empire to a new venture in protein-packed pretzels is not straightforward, but for Cameron Smith, it's a path paved with intentional growth and invaluable lessons. In this interview, the co-founder of Kodiak Cakes and now founder of Kindling discusses his...
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The Curious Case of Booze-Free Beverages
What began as a personal quest to drink less has blossomed into a pioneering force in the non-alcoholic beverage industry. In this interview, JW Wiseman, founder of Curious Elixirs, shares the decade-long journey of his brand, from kitchen experiments to navigating market shifts and shaping the...
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How a Gut Health Journey Turned Into a Beverage Brand Revolution
In a crowded beverage market dominated by sugary, traditional options, Halfday is carving a new path with its prebiotic-infused iced teas. I sat down with co-founder Mike Lombardo to hear the story behind the brand's creation and growth, starting from a personal health journey to a successful...
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From Cold-Pressed Juice to Functional Wellness: Suja Life’s Evolution Under CEO Maria Stipp
Suja Life, once a pioneer in the cold-pressed juice industry, has undergone a significant transformation under the leadership of CEO Maria Stipp. Shifting from a single brand to a "house of brands," Suja has expanded its portfolio to include innovative products like Vive Organic wellness shots…
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How Chris Kirby Turned a Farmers Market Favorite into a National Brand
What if the secret to building a nationally recognized food brand started with nothing more than an ice cream scooper and a dream? That’s exactly how Chris Kirby, founder of Ithaca Hummus, turned a farmers market side hustle into one of the fastest-growing brands in the refrigerated dips…
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The Switch From The Freezer To The Fridge That Catapulted Belgian Boys
Breakfast is a daily ritual, but for years, the options on US grocery store shelves were uninspiring—until Belgian Boys entered the scene. Led by Anouck Gotlib and her husband Greg, the brand has transformed the way Americans enjoy breakfast with authentic, European-inspired waffles and pancakes....
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Jordan Nathan on Scaling Caraway and Innovating Non-Toxic Home Goods
Building a business around safer, non-toxic home goods isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity. That belief drove Jordan Nathan to launch Caraway in 2019, starting with ceramic non-stick cookware as a healthier alternative to traditional Teflon-coated pans. Since then, the brand has expanded into...
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Mathew Focht of Emerging Fund: Investing in the Future of Tech-Driven Hospitality and Experiential Concepts
In the rapidly evolving world of hospitality, technology and innovation are driving major shifts, and few understand this transformation better than Mathew Focht. As a co-founder of Emerging, a fund focused on tech-driven concepts in hospitality, Focht brings decades of expertise to the table. In...
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Transforming Grocery Shopping with AI-Powered Personalization at Hungryroot
In a world where personalized experiences are increasingly central to consumer satisfaction, Ben McKean has built Hungryroot into a leader in the personalized grocery service industry. McKean, who founded the company in 2015, shares his journey from a traditional packaged food business to a...
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The Evolution of Protein: How Koia is Winning Over the Wellness Generation
From founding the controversial alcoholic beverage Four Loko to becoming a leading entrepreneur in the better-for-you space, Chris Hunter has navigated an unconventional path to success. Now at the helm of Koia, a brand known for its plant-based protein drinks, Hunter has applied his...
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How a 137-Year-Old Company Stays on Top of Changing Consumer Trends
As the spirits industry navigates shifting consumer trends and evolving market landscapes, staying agile has become essential for growth, even for a company that is 137 years old. I sat down with Paul Basford, President of William Grant & Sons USA, to discuss how this family-owned, independent...
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Rising from the Ashes: How Boisson's Founder Hopes To Rebuild His Non-Alcoholic Beverage Brand After Bankruptcy
Coming out of COVID, the non-alcoholic beverage had incredible tailwinds, supported by plentiful venture capital and strong consumer demand. Boisson capitalized on these trends, quickly expanding to 11 retail stores across the country and placing themselves at the heart of the non-alc industry....
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How Four Sigmatic Pioneered Mushrooms into a Multi-Billion Dollar Category
Functional mushrooms are transforming the wellness industry, and at the forefront of this movement is Four Sigmatic, founded by Tero Isokauppila. A 13th-generation farmer from Finland, Isokauppila has pioneered mushroom-based products that blend tradition with modern wellness needs, building Four...
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How Bezel Is Redefining The Luxury Watch Market Through Technology
In a world where luxury and technology intersect, few are pioneering the fusion as deftly as the founders of Bezel. I sat down with Quaid Walker, a tech veteran turned watch enthusiast, to discuss how his team is reshaping the high-end watch market by marrying cutting-edge technology with…
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Reviving Tradition, Innovating Modern Mexican Soda: The Tepache Tale with Alex Matthews of De La Calle
The allure of Mexican traditions meets modern innovation in the vibrant world of tepache, a drink with ancient roots and a fresh, contemporary twist. I sat down with Alex Matthews, founder of De La Calle, to discuss his journey from curiosity to creation, bringing the authentic flavors of Mexico…
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From Thai Villages to Global Success: How Yellow Leaf Hammocks is Revolutionizing Relaxation
What started as a serendipitous discovery on a remote island in Thailand has blossomed into a mission to revolutionize how the world relaxes. I sat down with Joe Demin, co-founder and Chief Relaxation Officer at Yellow Leaf Hammocks, to learn about the inspiring journey behind the brand. We...
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How Wondercide Helps Families Protect Their Pack
Founded on a mission of fierce love by Stephanie Boone, Wondercide has evolved over 15 years to offer plant-powered pest control solutions to help families to “protect their pack.” I sat down with Brad Locke, who joined the company in 2023 as President. We discussed maintaining the brand's core...
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How PepsiCo’s Greg Lyons Support His Team’s Challenger Mindset
PepsiCo is transforming how we think about beverages, pushing boundaries beyond the bottle. Greg Lyons, Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo's Beverages North America Portfolio, shares his insights on driving this innovation. In this interview, Lyons discusses embracing a challenger mindset,...
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From Scrambled Eggs to Global Success: The Story of Ember's Entrepreneurial Journey
The story of Ember began with a simple observation over breakfast: cold scrambled eggs. Fueled by his background in thermal science engineering and a penchant for innovation, Ember Founder and Chairman Clay Alexander embarked on a mission to revolutionize the way people eat, drink, and live. I…
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How the Operators and Founder of KIND Snacks Are Redefining Consumer Growth-Stage Investing
In a dynamic landscape where consumer brands navigate ever-evolving markets, Camino Partners has emerged as a beacon of innovation and collaboration. I sat down with Elle Lanning, President of Camino Partners and veteran of KIND Snacks, to discuss the firm’s pioneering approach to investing and...
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Nori’s Journey from DTC Startup to Clothing Care Industry Disruptor
In a landscape dominated by established brands, Nori emerged as a disruptor in the ironing industry. Where others saw a commodity, Nori pioneered innovation where few dared to venture. I sat down with Nori CEO and Co-Founder, Courtney Toll, to delve into her journey from launching Nori despite...
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How Sunday’s Customer-Centric Approach Revolutionized Direct-to-Consumer Lawn Care
In the competitive landscape of direct-to-consumer brands, Sunday's innovative approach to lawn care is setting it apart. By focusing on a seamless end-to-end customer experience, Sunday has redefined how consumers interact with and care for their outdoor spaces. This strategy not only ensures…
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How Coconut Cult Blends Innovation and Community in the Yogurt Aisle
From humble beginnings in a kitchen, Coconut Cult has become a pioneering brand in the world of functional foods. I sat down with the Coconut Cult leadership team including founder Noah Simon-Waddell and CEO Ari Raz to learn more about their journey. We discussed the challenges and opportunities…
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How BODYARMOR Embraces the Mamba Mentality To Fuel Innovation and Growth
BODYARMOR has been disrupting the world of sports hydration since 2011. Founded by Mike Repole, the brand has witnessed a meteoric rise in the sports nutrition industry through game-changing innovation. Federico Muyshondt, CEO of BODYARMOR, took over leadership of the brand shortly after its...
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How Catalina Crunch Took The Fight To Sugary Breakfast Cereals and Snacks
Catalina Crunch has carved out a niche with its innovative approach to low-carb, high-fiber foods. Founded by Krishna Kaliannan, whose personal journey with type one diabetes sparked the creation of Catalina Crunch, the company has rapidly evolved from a passion project to a thriving business. I...
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How Cabinet Health is Pioneering Sustainable Healthcare, One Plastic-Free Pill bottle at a Time
Cabinet Health is on a mission to reduce single-use plastic from healthcare. In just a few short years, they have found like-minded partners in major companies such as Target, CVS and McKesson. I sat down with Co-Founder and President Russell Gong to discuss the origins of the company and Cabinet...
About this show
Predicting the Turn is a podcast dedicated to equipping business leaders with the tools they need to navigate today’s ever-changing business landscape.
Our host, Dave Knox, is a global thought leader in digital transformation, an international public speaker, and an award-winning author with experience in the worlds of both Fortune 500 companies and startups.
Through this podcast, you will learn how to meet your industry's inevitable disruption head-on.
Hosted by
Dave Knox
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