Spilled Salt

Mural City Cellars co-owner Francesca Galarus joins the Spilled Salt podcast to share how she built a thriving urban winery in Philadelphia by prioritizing community, inclusion, and bold business strategy.

Maola Local Dairies Senior Brand Manager Bec Pfeffer joins the Spilled Salt podcast to discuss the launch of Maola More, a lactose-free ultra-filtered milk with protein and prebiotic fiber, and what it takes to bring a first-of-its-kind functional dairy product to market.

Seth Bahler of Oakridge Dairy joins host Maureen Ballatori on the Spilled Salt podcast to share how he turned a struggling 130-year-old family dairy into a fresh milk innovation brand.

Andrew Jason of Grand Farm joins this episode of Spilled Salt, exploring ag tech innovation, startup funding challenges, ecosystem building, and opportunities in global agtech partnerships.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Fred Hart joins host Maureen Ballatori to share insights on how packaging design, brand strategy, and evolving market dynamics are shaping growth and innovation in the CPG industry.

Julie Camardo, CEO of Zweigle's Inc., shares how she navigated succession, razor-thin meat industry margins, and company culture to lead a 140-year-old food brand into its next generation.

In this episode, Paul Mabray explains how Pour Now helps alcohol beverage brands measure sales attribution, improve beverage ecommerce, and create a better path from marketing to purchase.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Steve Turner of Turner’s Dairy explains how limited releases, partnerships, and creative marketing helped their fourth generation brand stay relevant and grow.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Truth Collective founder Bob Bailey explores how his agency is using AI to reshape brand strategy and creative workflows.

Season 8 of Spilled Salt kicks off with Maureen Ballatori and Dr. Jennifer Han, co-Founder and co-CEO of Seen Nutrition as they discuss building a real food calcium brand and driving evidence-based innovation in the bone health and functional food market.   Learn more about Agency 29 at www.agency29.com. Learn more about Seen Nutrition at www.seennutrition.com.

In a special recording for the Spilled Salt podcast at the 2025 Community Development Society Conference, five leaders in the Finger Lakes wine and agritourism industry shared strategies for workforce development, inclusive leadership, economic sustainability, and authentic storytelling.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, AgTech Alchemy co-founders discuss how their grassroots community is reshaping the ag tech landscape through in-person events, open dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving.

Mike Kreher of Kreher Family Farms, New York’s largest regenerative farm, discusses redefining soil health and sustainability through outcome-based practices and advanced agtech tools on the Spilled Salt podcast.

In this episode of Spilled Salt, Maureen is joined by Julia Taylor of Rosemary and Pine, a goatscaping business focused on regenerative land management. From career burnout to building a purpose-driven farm, Julia’s story highlights ag entrepreneurship, ecological innovation, and the power of community.

Founder and former brewer Jennifer Newman joins host Maureen Ballatori to share hard-won lessons on scaling startups, navigating market shifts, and why data-driven decisions matter in both tech and the beverage industry.

Scott Meyer of Chipp.ai joins host Maureen Ballatori on the Spilled Salt podcast to share how food, beverage, and agriculture businesses can use AI tools to save time, boost efficiency, and protect data.

Matias Figliozzi joins Maureen Ballatori on the Spilled Salt podcast to share how he turned his passion for economic development into an award-winning agri-tech startup, using UNIBAIO’s biotechnology to make agrochemicals more sustainable and efficient.

Cybersecurity expert Kristin Demoranville joins Maureen Ballatori on the Spilled Salt podcast, sharing her mission to simplify cybersecurity and prepare farm and agricultural organizations to respond quickly.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, John Eaton of UltraPhil joins Maureen Ballatori to discuss how startups can avoid costly mistakes through early validation, cross-functional collaboration, and expert guidance in beverage manufacturing.

Welcome back to season 7 of the Spilled Salt podcast! In this episode, host Maureen Ballatori is joined by a panel of experts at Cultivate 2025 to discuss soil health challenges, including profitability, soil testing metrics, carbon credits, and ag tech adoption. 

In this episode of Spilled Salt, host Maureen Ballatori sits down with biotech entrepreneur and scientist Murli Manohar to discuss his journey from farming in rural India to the cutting edge of agricultural innovation. 

In this episode of Spilled Salt, host Maureen Ballatori sits down with Colleen Hardy, co-founder of Living Roots Wine & Co., to explore the unlikely, intercontinental story behind one of the wine industry's most agile and resilient boutique brands.

On this episode of Spilled Salt, rancher Cassidy Johnston brings fresh insight to modern beef operations, advocating adaptability, sustainability, and smart management.

Host Maureen Ballatori sits down with Adam Bergman, Managing Director of Ecotech Capital, for a candid conversation on the state of ag tech investment strategies for startups and the broader implications of sustainability in agriculture.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt, Erin McMurrough, founder of Little Clover Wine Company, joins Maureen on the podcast, sharing her journey in brand building, leveraging non-traditional marketing, and adapting to consumer demand.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Tom Seymour shares his insights on the food and beverage industry, from launching a better-for-you snack to navigating CPG startup strategies. 

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Maureen Ballatori is joined by Damian Mason, who shares his journey from growing up on a farm to blending agriculture, business, and humor today.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Maureen is joined by Tracey Wiedmeyer, who shares the thrills and spills of life in an agtech startup, the journey of developing Gripp’s intuitive software for farmers, and how listening to the end user has become the key to his success.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Greg Jaffe joins host Maureen Ballatori to share his insights on agtech innovation, sustainable agriculture policy, and bioeconomy strategies, including transforming crop waste into energy and navigating the regulatory landscape for startups and agtech leaders.

Listen in to this episode of Spilled Salt to learn how Pauly Guglielmo turned his side-gig pasta sauce into a thriving business and launched Craft Cannery, a contract manufacturing company for food startups.

Join host Maureen Ballatori and Dr. Susan Brown in this episode of Spilled Salt to learn how breeding premium managed apple varieties is revolutionizing the apple industry and meeting consumer demand for high-quality, flavorful apples.

On this episode of Spilled Salt, explore how regenerative organic spirits, like Anytime Spritz, are leading the way in sustainable agriculture. Learn how farmers, agtech, and innovative brands are reshaping the alcohol industry with climate-smart practices and a commitment to regenerative organic farming.

On this episode of Spilled Salt, Dylan Vaca and Maureen Ballatori discuss the DeLong Company's Grown Climate Smart initiative that helps farmers adopt sustainable practices through financial incentives and brand partnerships.

On this episode of Spilled Salt, Sarah Hartmann, founder of Vêsucré, shares the ups and downs of building a sustainable and inclusive plant-based dessert brand in the frozen CPG space.

On this episode of Spilled Salt, discover key insights from Jolene Brown on building and sustaining a successful agriculture business. Learn about the importance of legacy, succession planning, and balancing emotion with logic in family-run farms.

When margins are tight, achieving scale is crucial for success. This is where a robust resource planning system can make all the difference. In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Maureen Ballatori sat down with Matt Brown, CEO of Wherefour, Inc., to discuss the importance of traceability in today’s food, beverage, and agriculture industries.

Jim Trezise shares his journey in the wine industry on this episode of Spilled Salt, highlighting how strategic action, collaboration, and advocacy have transformed the wine industry, and offering valuable lessons for beverage entrepreneurs on resilience, adaptability, and leveraging public-private partnerships.

Thinking of hitting record on your own podcast? In this episode of Spilled Salt, host Maureen Ballatori chats with editor and producer Jennifer Bosch Gyuricska on the whys and hows of podcasting as a powerful content marketing tool for food, beverage, and agriculture brands.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, host Maureen Ballatori chats with Bluewhite CEO Ben Alfi on transforming tractors into autonomous vehicles, enhancing farm efficiency, and safety.

Meet Paul Brock in this episode of Spilled Salt, a champion of sustainable viticulture who alongside wife Shannon is leading Silver Thread Vineyard with innovation and integrity.

Matt Cotton, founder of Rooted Food Sales, shares insights on navigating food service and bringing new brands to the table. From finding operator interest to working with distributors, his journey offers valuable lessons for food industry entrepreneurs.

In this episode of the Spilled Salt podcast, Warren Lee and Lachlan Campbell capture the essence of ProAgni's journey, their focus on sustainable farming practices, and the innovative solutions they bring to the agriculture industry.

In this episode of Spilled Salt, Will Blum, the founder of Bluebird Hardwater, shares his journey launching a new brand and scaling their product offerings in the highly regulated alcohol sector.   For a full transcript of this episode, visit https://agency29.com/blog/launching-and-scaling-in-a-competitive-industry-with-bluebird-hardwaters-will-blum.

Meet Omer Davidi, CEO of BeeHero, on this episode of Spilled Salt. He’s  revolutionizing precision pollination and empowering farmers with data-driven solutions, reshaping the future of agriculture.   Read the full transcript at https://agency29.com/blog/driving-data-informed-agriculture-and-precision-pollination-with-beeheros-omer-davidi/.

Listen in to Spilled Salt as Host Maureen Ballatori and guest Monica Watrous explore media coverage, entrepreneurship, and transparency - and building it all under the public eye - in the dynamic CPG industry.   Read the full transcript at https://agency29.com/blog/a-passion-for-journalism-and-emerging-brands-noshs-monica-watrous/.

Follow along on this episode of Spilled Salt as Maiah Johnson Dunn shares her journey from marketing maven to Finger Lakes-based wine enthusiast. A big part of Maiah’s work is breaking down barriers to inclusivity and demystifying wine. She dreams of someday opening her own winery.   For a full episode transcript, visit https://agency29.com/blog/breaking-down-barriers-one-bottle-at-a-time-wine-stories-with-maiah-johnson-dunn/.

From community advocacy to food entrepreneurship, Rhonda Destino is shaping the small business landscape in Rochester, NY. Don’t miss this episode of Spilled Salt as Rhonda and host Maureen Ballatori discuss navigating local government, fostering collaboration, and overcoming funding challenges for food ventures.

Adie Akuffo-Afful joins Maureen Ballatori on the Spilled Salt podcast to discuss entrepreneurial ventures, including WeFunder, a business concept linking local businesses, and a fractional art investment platform. Listen in for his insights on innovative projects, stakeholder satisfaction, funding opportunities and business growth strategies.

Meet Kaari Stannard, CEO and Founder of  Yes! Apples as she shares her thrills and spills from growing apples to brand creation. Kaari shares insights into family businesses, challenges, and innovative strategies shaping the future of fresh produce.

Join Maureen Ballatori and Matt Schrader in conversation on Spilled Salt as they discuss Matt’s unconventional journey from microbiology to winemaking. Matt shares how he’s strategic in the winemaking process, the importance of consistency in flavor profiles, and how he’s helping new consumers make friends with wine.