Cameron Nagle

Starting Small

About the show

Starting Small, is a podcast hosted by entrepreneur Cameron Nagle. Tune in, as Cameron interviews CEO‘s, founders, and entrepreneurs, discussing the stories on how their organizations and businesses were created from the ground up.

Newest episodes

Halo Collar: Ken Ehrman

Nov 13, 2026 57 min

Ken Ehrman spent 21 years building I.D. Systems, a company that tracked things that weren’t dogs: letters for the U.S. Postal Service, then forklifts for Ford and GM, then rental cars. It went public on NASDAQ in 1999 and never turned a profit. Then his niece’s dog Ruby, rescued only a year earlier, got out of an invisible fence and was hit by a car. Ken took the same GPS and IoT know-how and built Halo. He paid $250,000 for the Halo Collar trademark and had Cesar Millan on board before there was a product. He launched online against a competitor people were searching 500,000 times a month. By the end of 2021, Halo had been valued at $400 million and was losing about $20 million a year. Funding dried up, so he rebuilt the ad spend and leaned on a $9.99 monthly subscription. Monthly recurring revenue is now $3.8 million, and Halo is on pace for close to $140 million in sales this year with $10 to $20 million in profit. A Halo dog hears the warning beep and turns around 12 million times a month. Inc. named Halo a Best Workplace for the second year in a row, with 100% retention, and Petco, PetSmart, and Tractor Supply are next. Make sure to check out Halo at: https://www.halocollar.com Join us live at the Starting Small Summit 2027 on Wednesday, Feb 17, at the Everest-Rohrer Auditorium in Mishawaka, IN. The lineup is Charlie Clifford (TUMI, ROAM), Hap Klopp (The North Face), Shahab and Durana Elmi (Cymbiotika), and Chuck Surack (Sweetwater). Get tickets here: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebo...

STEELPORT Knife Co: Ron Khormaei

Nov 6, 2026 46 min

Ron Khormaei left Iran alone at 15, a year before he’d have been drafted. He finished high school in Oregon and went on to earn a bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in electrical engineering, all from Oregon State, with plenty of exchange-student adventures along the way. He started out planning to be a doctor. His mom got her “Dr.” anyway. His first job was at a small Oregon display company, where he led an $18 million program funded by DARPA, the Army, and Boeing to build wearable augmented reality systems. Offered the job of running manufacturing at 100,000 units a year, he turned it down because he had no idea how to do that. He spent the next 13 years at HP learning how, bringing up a fab in Singapore, running procurement across continents, and launching a printer shipped across three regions at once. Then came Logitech, a turnaround there, and an itch to go back to small companies. Since 2010 he has been involved in eleven startups (“I didn’t say eleven successful startups”), and has taught at Portland State for sixteen years. One of those startups was FINEX, a premium American-made cast iron brand that started as a sketch a stranger sent him. Their Kickstarter raised $200,000 from 1,600 backers, and Ron sold FINEX to Lodge in 2019. Then he walked through William Sonoma and Sur La Table and noticed that not one kitchen knife in the store was made in the U.S. He teamed up with chef Ethan Zayas and launched STEELPORT in 2020, with a 65 Rockwell carbon steel knife that takes over 200 steps to make in Portland. It carries a coffee patina, and a one-piece handle wrapped around the full tang. STEELPORT has since added a patent-pending cutting board called SteelCore, with recycled paper composite on one side and walnut end grain on the other, held together by steel bars. It sold out when it launched in 2025, and in April 2026 it arrived at Crate & Barrel. Ron is also starting to license the SteelCore technology to other brands. Make sure to check out STEELPORT at: http...

Maman: Elisa Marshall

Oct 30, 2026 35 min

Elisa Marshall was 12 and running an eBay business out of Unionville, Ontario. She had asked for Spice Girl dolls for her birthday, listed a spare on eBay, and watched it go for $85. Her dad helped her work out why: Canada was a test market for the merchandise, so she could buy things that weren’t available in the U.S. anymore. She started buying up everything Spice Girls, from bubblegum to stickers to dollar-store rings she sold for $60 apiece, and checks were arriving in the mail before she was a teenager. After fashion school, she ended up with five jobs at once: fashion PR by day, a cupcake catering company, wedding planning, and interior design. On her second date with her now-husband Ben, a corporate lawyer who grew up in hospitality, she described the café she wanted: warm, homey, a space for events and brand collabs, in a city that was all industrial chic. Maman opened in SoHo in 2014, funded by their savings and money from family and friends, with parents painting walls and visiting friends sanding tables. Within the first week, Grub Street called their chocolate chip cookie the best in town. The lines wrapped around the block. In 2017, an editor from O Magazine tried the cookie and asked if they shipped nationwide. Elisa said yes, even though she had never shipped a cookie in her life, then recruited friends across the country to help figure it out. The cookie landed on Oprah’s Favorite Things list and took Maman national. They bootstrapped the first five locations. In 2020, right after wrapping a roadshow to raise outside money, the world shut down. Maman pushed into shipping, wrote its cookbook at home, and signed 14 leases while landlords were desperate. It has grown from five locations to 65. It’s now on Technomic’s Future 50 list, has a multi-year menu collaboration with Martha Stewart, and has a baby line. Elisa’s longer-term goal is a lifestyle brand that reaches into the home, with a Maison Maman hotel on the wish list. Make sure to check out M...

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 289 episodes

Halo Collar: Ken Ehrman

Nov 13, 2026 57 min

STEELPORT Knife Co: Ron Khormaei

Nov 6, 2026 46 min

Maman: Elisa Marshall

Oct 30, 2026 35 min

Realberry: Chad McWhinney

Oct 23, 2026 28 min

Chad McWhinney was in seventh grade in 1986 when he and his fifth-grade brother Troy built a roadside strawberry stand at their grandparents’ mobile home park. They sold out both days of the first weekend. Within a few years, four brothers were running close to 30 stands across Southern California, with around 100 employees, plus pumpkins and Christmas trees in season. They even got city ordinances changed to keep the stands legal. In high school, Chad worked out a deal with his principal to leave class during the day to run the business, on the condition that his teachers came to tutor him at night. After the 1991 Gulf War crushed sales, Chad enrolled in college, lasted about a week, and moved to Colorado after reading a Time magazine piece on a coming real estate boom in the Rockies. His dad offered to sell him the family’s inherited farmland in Loveland at appraised value, on one condition: he had to move back and become part of the community. Chad and Troy ended up assembling options on 28 neighboring farms, around 3,300 acres, at depressed agricultural prices. By the time they had to close, the market had come back. That land became Centerra. From there they went from land investors to full vertical developers, building master-planned communities, apartments, industrial, and hotels. The defining project was the restoration of Denver Union Station, completed in 2014, along with The Crawford Hotel inside it. The company now manages $3.4 billion in assets across seven states, has paid out $481 million in cumulative distributions, and is working on the revival of the Cal Neva at Lake Tahoe after more than 120 neighborhood meetings. For nearly 35 years the company carried the family name, McWhinney. In early 2026 it became Realberry, a nod to where it all started, and it opened its doors to investors writing checks closer to $100,000 instead of the $1 million-plus it used to require. Make sure to check out Realberry at: https://www.realberry.com Join us liv...

Caldera + Lab: Jared Pobre

Oct 17, 2026 29 min

Jared Pobre graduated USC in 1999 with a finance degree, took a short detour into wealth management, and quickly pivoted into the early internet industry instead. By 2001, during the dot-com crash and right after 9/11, he was watching startups collapse around him — so naturally, he started his own lead-gen business on the side while working a day job at Autobitel. Within three months it was doing six figures in revenue. He quit soon after. That business ran on a single client, a mobile carrier called WorldCom Wireless, until WorldCom went bankrupt four months in and left him holding the bag on publisher payments. He diversified, rebuilt, and eventually turned it into Future Ads — a fully bootstrapped ad tech company that grew into nine figures of revenue with no outside investors and no debt. In 2015, a roll-up group bought a third of the business and merged it into a new entity called Propel Media, with Jared staying on as the largest shareholder and eventually executive chairman. Propel later acquired a pre-revenue company called DeepIntent in 2017, which Jared helped fund and build — and sold entirely to private equity. Around that same time, Jared and his wife built a vacation home in Jackson, Wyoming, and he tried stepping away from entrepreneurship altogether. It didn’t stick. What did stick was a problem he couldn’t solve: the high-alpine climate was wrecking his skin, and nothing made for men actually worked. He started using his wife’s skincare products instead, got real relief, and realized a handful of other guys in Jackson were doing the exact same thing. He spent two years in R&D and ran independent clinical trials before launching Caldera Lab in January 2019 with a single product — The Good, a serum built specifically for aging, dry, weathered skin, something that essentially didn’t exist for men at the time. The brand stayed fully DTC, grew through COVID without ever getting the bump many beauty brands saw, and scaled to eight figures in revenue en...

ICON: Jonathan Ward

Oct 4, 2026 44 min

Jonathan Ward ended up on Broadway at seven years old by complete accident. His mom signed him up for an open audition on a trip to New York, mostly just to kill time, and he landed the part in Peter Pan. That turned into a full childhood acting career — Charles in Charge, his own show on Fox called Beans Baxter, and the lead role in Fern Gully next to Robin Williams. He was never actually famous, in his words, just famous enough to get a stalker, which is ultimately what pushed him out of the business entirely. Cars had always been the real thing for him. He'd been restoring them in a one-car garage since before he had a license. In 1996, he and his now-wife quit their entertainment jobs on a whim after a trip to South Africa and started TLC — short for Toyota Land Cruisers — with a dozen trucks, a $10,000 loan from his sister-in-law, and a website he traded a truck for because he didn't know what a web designer was. The neighbors in his industrial park ran a betting pool on which month the business would fail. Years in, Toyota's then-chairman personally called his shop and asked him to prototype a modern FJ40. Jonathan built three versions, Toyota's board picked one, and that work eventually shaped the FJ Cruiser. He took the money from that job and used it to build something fully his own — a ground-up, computer-designed version of the FJ40 with a modern V8, instead of the junkyard-parts approach everyone else was doing. Mickey Drexler, the guy behind Gap and J.Crew, told him not to cut a single corner to hit a lower price, and bought the first one himself. That truck became ICON. Years later, Ford's CEO — someone Jonathan had known back when he worked at Toyota — personally called and asked ICON to build a one-off Bronco to tease the model's comeback. Ford's own engineers didn't think it could be done. When it showed up at SEMA, Ford's team pulled it straight onto their own booth. TLC eventually got sold off so Jonathan could focus entirely on ICON, which now...

Ring: Jamie Siminoff

Sep 18, 2026 47 min

Jamie Siminoff invented the video doorbell in his garage. Five years later, Amazon acquired his company, Ring, for approximately $1 billion. In between, he appeared on Shark Tank, turned down Kevin O'Leary's offer, and went on to build what became one of the show's most successful businesses. The story behind Ring is far more complicated than a doorbell. Jamie spent years building companies, learning telecom infrastructure, and figuring out which ideas could grow into something meaningful. When DoorBot appeared on Shark Tank in 2013, the business was still operating under serious financial pressure. The exposure helped drive a surge in sales, giving Jamie the opportunity to rebuild the product and scale the company. We talk about the fear that someone else would build the billion-dollar business he envisioned, the decision to expand Ring from a video doorbell into a broader home security platform, and the pressure of delivering on the $1.15 billion in trust Amazon placed in him. Jamie also shares why he returned to Ring after stepping away, how AI is opening new possibilities in home security, and the potential of Firewatch, which uses Ring cameras to help create more accurate wildfire maps for emergency response. Make sure to check out Ring at: https://ring.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle This episode is brought to you by Behr. I'm right in the middle of a full exterior and trim refresh on my property, and I'm usin...

Kinzie Foods: Walter Kinzie

Sep 4, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Walter got his first job at four years old sweeping a lumber yard in Edna, Kansas, a town of 150 people. At seven, his dad co-signed a $125 bank loan so he could buy a pig — and the bank required him to come in quarterly to review his own P&L. By his senior year of high school, that one pig had grown into a fifteen-head cattle operation. One week into his freshman year of college, a rare kidney condition put him in and out of hospitals for three years. From a hospital bed, he taught himself how to produce concerts — a dream he'd had since watching one at his county fair at age seven. At twenty, he met another sick kid whose wish was simply to go to prom and graduate high school. Walter produced his first concert to raise the $70,000 the kid needed for care, using a loan secured against sponsorship contracts he hadn't even finalized yet. They raised $71,000. On the drive home, he decided he'd never put a ceiling on what he could achieve — and told himself that night he'd one day produce concerts for George Strait and Garth Brooks, and produce a presidential inauguration. He'd done all three by age 35, including Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration, and went on to run private events in 76 countries, including parties for billionaires the public never hears about. When COVID shut down live entertainment entirely, Walter refused to furlough his full-time staff — he sold his house and his office to keep paying them. Ninety days in, on a solo road trip to clear his head, he passed three drive-in movie theaters in one afternoon and had an idea: stage concerts broadcast to drive-ins nationwide. Within two days he had 125 theaters signed up. Within five days, Garth Brooks agreed to be the first artist. Within three weeks, 725,000 people were in line for tickets. That summer, Walter's company hosted 1.7 million people safely across drive-in concerts with Garth Brooks and Metallica, inventing the live-stream-to-theater technology from scratch. Kinzie Foods started as mason jars...

Green Compass: Meredith Cook

Aug 28, 2026 35 min

Meredith Cook grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of four kids in a small house with two working parents. She was later diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, which made traditional school a struggle, so she skipped college and trained as an esthetician instead — working odd jobs on the side, including driving medical specimens between cities at night for quick cash. She spent nearly a decade working under a Charlotte dermatologist after literally walking office to office asking to work for free just to learn. After her second son was born, she felt a disconnect she couldn't explain — not herself, foggy, disconnected from her kids and the people around her. She pushed through it quietly for years, assuming it was just what motherhood felt like. The turning point came when her brother, training for an Ironman in Wilmington, started experimenting with hemp and CBD for his own recovery and encouraged her to try it. Her husband bought everything on the shelf at the local health food store. The fog lifted — but so did her trust in what she was actually putting in her body, once she realized the hemp industry at the time had zero transparency or testing standards. Her husband's connections in agriculture led her to a friend growing USDA organic hemp through a pilot program. She started taking their clean product, felt like herself again, and started sharing it with her mom, her mother-in-law, and friends — watching a business snowball entirely from word of mouth. In 2019, she officially launched Green Compass with her brother and husband, built on a referral-based model where the people sharing the product were the same people who'd felt it change their lives. It grew to $40 million in revenue in two years, almost entirely without paid marketing or PR. When that channel began to shift industry-wide, Meredith resisted changing course longer than she probably should have — she was emotionally invested in the community that built the brand. Eventually, alongside customer...

FOND: Alysa Seeland

Aug 17, 2026 39 min

Alysa Seeland grew up on her grandparents' dairy farm in northern Illinois, chased a Division I volleyball scholarship through high school, and pivoted to speech and debate when she realized the sport wasn't going to be her path — placing second in the state of Illinois for original oratory her senior year. She studied communications and English literature at Gordon College, then cut her teeth in marketing at a Boston fintech startup that went through Techstars, learning firsthand how founders build trust with customers from scratch. Five months after her first son was born, a medical crisis nearly cost her life: emergency surgery, and a surgeon telling her to expect a second procedure within months. Instead of scheduling it, she found a decades-old book, "Nourishing Traditions," and went on a five-week bone broth diet. She never needed the second surgery — and went on to have five more sons. That personal healing became FOND. She sold her first jar at a farmers market in New Braunfels, Texas in 2015, working out of a commercial kitchen with her husband dropping her off, hoping she wouldn't come home in tears. She sold out. From there, FOND won a People's Choice Award through H-E-B's Quest for Texas Best program, landed a Whole Foods and Sprouts partnership, and grew into a genuinely regenerative supply chain built on direct farmer relationships instead of concentrate. In 2022, while raising a Series A, the co-manufacturer's facility burned down, wiping out over $4 million in product against a $150,000 insurance payout — all while she was pregnant with her sixth child. She walked away from the raise, put her own equity up as collateral for a $3 million rebuild loan, and launched an internal initiative called "Break It and Rebuild It" to get every channel profitable or cut it loose. Eighteen months later, FOND launched its tallow line and came back stronger. Today the company is profitable, debt-free of outside investment, growing 48% year over year, sold in H-E-B...

TUMI & ROAM: Charlie Clifford

Aug 7, 2026 56 min

Charlie Clifford grew up a self-described "scrappy Jersey guy" in a town of 5,000 people, and won his first entrepreneurial prize in sixth grade: a watch, for out-hustling a classmate whose dad rigged the contest by buying magazine subscriptions wholesale for his medical office. After business school at Indiana University, he joined one of the first Peace Corps pilot programs recruiting MBAs — sent to Peru to work with small businesses under a Stanford professor who'd later teach Nike's Phil Knight. He came home with $10,000, invested it in a scrappy import operation selling handcrafted South American leather goods, and in 1975 broke off to start his own company focused on travel bags. He named it TUMI, after a Peruvian ceremonial knife. The brand's real breakthrough came when Clifford shifted from leather to black ballistic nylon — a fabric built for flak jackets — manufactured through a partnership with a small shop in Vidalia, Georgia. Bloomingdale's 59th Street flagship picking up the line put TUMI on the map. A conversation with a longtime retail partner, who told Clifford he had "so much product" he should just open his own stores, led to the "side-by-side" concept and eventually freestanding TUMI locations. By the 2000s, TUMI was the brand road warriors carried through airports worldwide, and it went public in 2012. Clifford left the company in 2004, when the private equity partners who'd taken majority ownership after 9/11 decided to sell. He spent years distributing other people's luggage brands before realizing he wanted control over the product and the story again. In 2017, he and his former TUMI EVP Larry Lein founded ROAM — American-made, hand-assembled, and built around a philosophy that's the opposite of TUMI's black-on-black uniform: total color customization, so no two suitcases look the same. Make sure to check out ROAM at: https://www.roamluggage.com/ And TUMI at: https://www.tumi.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRK...

PrizePicks & The Hidden Jams: Adam Wexler

Jul 24, 2026 37 min

Adam Wexler played fantasy football since seventh grade — and turned that habit into a $4.15 billion exit. He built his first company out of a dorm room at the University of Georgia, launched a music discovery platform called Go Rankem in Athens, then pivoted into B2B SaaS with clients like Holiday Inn, IHG, Home Depot, UPS, and Coca-Cola before he ever touched sports. In 2015, he incorporated Side Prize. When the fantasy sports market collapsed under regulatory pressure that same year, he rebuilt from a shoestring budget and relaunched in 2017 as PrizePicks — built on a "stupid simple" premise: get sports fans in and out of the app in under 60 seconds. He ran it as CEO for a decade, scaled it into the largest daily fantasy sports platform in North America, and in 2025 sold a majority stake to Allwyn International in a deal valued at up to $4.15 billion — without ever raising venture capital. Rather than ride off into retirement, Wexler went back to where he started: music. He's now CEO of The Hidden Jams, a nonprofit platform funded by $5 million of his own money that crowdsources deep cuts and hidden gems from artist catalogs Make sure to check out Prize Picks at: https://www.prizepicks.com/ And The Hidden Jams at: https://thehiddenjams.org/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Sound is one of those things that makes or breaks a hosting experience — and we finally got it right. We went with KICKER KB6 speakers mounted abov...

Nick Stenson Beauty: Nick Stenson

Jul 21, 2026 31 min

Nick Stenson cut his first head of hair at 12 years old, in his mother's Chicago salon, with zero training and a customer's grandson in the chair. He was on track to become an orthopedic surgeon before realizing his mom was doing the same thing doctors do — changing how people carry themselves — one client at a time. He opened his first salon, Caviar Salons, in 2001, eventually running two locations and over 50 stylists. From there he became a creative director for L'Oréal and JCPenney Salons, styled Lady Gaga, Fergie, and Ashley Tisdale, and spent nine years at Ulta — starting with a team of seven and leaving as SVP of Services and Store Operations over a team of 400, after four promotions. In 2022 he launched Nick Stenson Beauty, a luxury haircare line built around aloe vera and creatine instead of ingredients nobody can pronounce. The brand is now sold at Ulta, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Amazon, with a professional distribution arm reaching salons nationwide. Twelve SKUs, all mix-and-matchable, no separate line for curly, straight, fine, or thick hair — just what your hair actually needs. Make sure to check them out at: https://nickstensonbeauty.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Modern Shade. They make hardtop gazebos, louvered pergolas, privacy screens, outdoor furniture — basically everything you need to take a backyard from functional to actually finished. Cedar wood, galva...

The Original Southside: Meredith Mills-Merritt

Jul 11, 2026 34 min

One family recipe has grown into one of the fastest-rising brands in ready-to-drink cocktails. Inspired by her mother's gin, lemonade, and mint summer cooler, Meredith Mills-Merritt founded The Original Southside with a vision to bring premium ingredients, elevated branding, and transparency to a category that had long prioritized convenience over craftsmanship. Leveraging her background in prestige beauty, she obsessed over every detail—from developing a proprietary gin to creating a cocktail that's certified organic, vegan, gluten-free, and 10% ABV. That attention to detail has fueled remarkable growth. Since launching in 2024, Southside has expanded into more than 20 markets, landed on shelves at Whole Foods and Total Wine, increased shipments by more than 370%, and continues its national expansion through Meijer, Rouses, and more than 90 additional Whole Foods locations. Beyond the product itself, Meredith is reshaping conversations around alcohol transparency as co-founder of the Clean Alcohol Collective, advocating for clearer ingredient standards across the industry. Make sure to check them out at: https://www.drinksouthsides.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, YETI. Summer is all about getting outside—whether that's hosting friends, firing up the grill, spending the day on the water, or packing up for a weekend away. That's why we've been using YETI. No matter where you...

TRUFF: Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni

Jun 26, 2026 32 min

What started as two college friends chasing side hustles and building an Instagram account called @Sauce has grown into one of the most recognizable premium food brands in America. Today, TRUFF can be found in more than 17,000 retail locations nationwide, with an innovation pipeline stretching far beyond hot sauce. Co-Founders Nick Guillen and Nick Ajluni join Starting Small to share how they set out to create the "Cîroc of hot sauce," spent nearly two years perfecting their original recipe, and turned a digitally native brand into a retail powerhouse. They unpack the early days of packing orders themselves, landing on Oprah's Favorite Things in year one, pioneering viral food content, and recently refreshing the brand with new packaging, Mild Sauce, and a line of Aioli & Dipping Sauces. Make sure to check them out at: https://www.truff.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Kichler Landscape. For more than 85 years, Kichler has been designing lighting that doesn't just illuminate a space—it transforms it. And for over three decades, they've been pioneers in landscape lighting, creating some of the most comprehensive and innovative outdoor lighting solutions available today. What I love about Kichler Landscape is that they think beyond simply putting lights in the ground. Their philosophy is all about intentional illumination—using layers of light to highlight architecture, show...

Yes Way Rosé: Erica Small and Nikki Huganir

Jun 19, 2026 29 min

Before Yes Way Rosé became one of the best-selling rosé brands in America, it started as an Instagram account. Long before they sold a single bottle, Erica Small and Nikki Huganir were building a community around a simple idea: wine didn’t have to be intimidating. It could be fun, approachable, design-forward, and still be high quality. That audience eventually became Yes Way Rosé. Since launching the brand in 2018, the duo has sold more than 13 million bottles, grown into the fourth best-selling French rosé brand in the U.S., and expanded into sparkling, canned, and most recently, non-alcoholic rosé. The newest launch was personal. After both becoming pregnant at the same time, Erica and Nikki searched for a non-alcoholic rosé that delivered the same experience as the French wines they loved. They couldn’t find one. So they spent nine months testing more than 50 formulations to create their own. Make sure to check them out at: https://yeswayrose.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes sponsors, Sylvox and The Best Adirondack Chair Company. You can find them below! https://thebestadirondackchair.com/ https://sylvoxtv.com/

Angela Caglia Skincare: Angela Caglia

Jun 12, 2026 32 min

Angela Caglia spent decades behind the scenes as one of Hollywood’s most trusted estheticians before launching her own skincare brand. Her career started treating celebrity clients in Los Angeles, including Barbra Streisand, who once asked Angela what her dream was after a facial appointment at her home. Angela told her she wanted to create her own skincare line someday. Streisand’s response? “Why aren’t you doing it?” That moment stayed with her. After years building her reputation through hands-on treatments and opening her Bel Air spa, Angela launched Angela Caglia Skincare in 2016 — combining luxury spa treatments with regenerative skincare science. Most recently, the brand introduced its patent-pending Human-Derived Stem Cell Technology designed around exosomes, growth factors, and peptides aimed at supporting skin renewal at the cellular level. Her Cell Forté Serum quickly became the #1 selling serum in its category after launch, with unusually high subscription retention for a luxury skincare product. In this episode, Angela breaks down the evolution from celebrity esthetician to founder, how skincare has shifted from surface-level beauty to longevity and regeneration, and why trust matters more than trends in luxury wellness. Make sure to check them out at: https://angelacaglia.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes sponsors, Backyard discovery, Sylvox, and The Best Adirondack Chair Company....

SIMPLi: Sarela Herrada and Matt Cohen

May 29, 2026 43 min

Long before SIMPLi hit shelves at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Erewhon, and Wegmans, Sarela and Matt were traveling globally working directly with farmers to source regenerative organic ingredients and rebuild transparency at the root level of food production. What started as a sourcing mission eventually became SIMPLi — a pantry brand focused on traceability, regenerative agriculture, and proving that better food systems can scale without cutting corners. In this episode, Sarela and Matt break down how they built relationships with farming communities around the world, why most consumers have no idea where their pantry staples actually come from, and what it takes to create a mission-driven food brand in a category dominated by massive incumbents. Make sure to check them out at: https://eatsimpli.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid break sponsor, Terramor Outdoor Resort. I just got back from Terramor Outdoor Resort in Bar Harbor, Maine, and I have to tell you — it's the first time in a while I've genuinely felt reset. Terramor is a luxury glamping resort with 64 upscale tent accommodations tucked into the woods near Acadia National Park. The food was incredible, the amenities were dialed in, and their guy, Omar, took us through this private saltwater immersion experience in nature that I did not see coming — cold, but completely shifted my body and mind - followed by a robe and hot tea right on th...

Chef Merito: Lauren Corugedo

May 23, 2026 22 min

Lauren Corugedo grew up watching Chef Merito operate like a hidden gem in Los Angeles kitchens long before the rest of the country caught on. Founded in 1985 by her Cuban immigrant grandfather, Chef Merito started with a single carne asada seasoning and built a loyal following through word of mouth, neighborhood markets, and authentic flavor that didn’t compromise to fit trends. Now, nearly 40 years later, the brand has expanded far beyond Southern California — landing in Costco, Amazon, major retailers, and even Dodger Stadium — while still staying rooted in the same recipes and cultural identity that built it in the first place. In this episode, Lauren shares what it’s like stepping into a second-generation family business, modernizing a legacy brand for a new generation of consumers, and balancing growth without losing authenticity. Make sure to check them out at: https://chefmerito.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Delavie Sciences: Dr. Kyle Landry

May 15, 2026 31 min

Dr. Kyle Landry wasn’t trying to build another skincare brand. Before Delavie Sciences, he was doing postdoctoral research at Harvard studying extremophiles — organisms capable of surviving radiation, extreme heat, and even the vacuum of space. That research eventually led him to a microorganism connected to NASA and the International Space Station that could withstand conditions most life forms couldn’t.' What started as a government and biosecurity research project turned into something completely different: a patented skincare ingredient called Bacillus Lysate. Today, that ingredient sits at the center of Delavie Sciences — a company bringing space-tested biotechnology into consumer skincare. Their Aeonia serum became the first biological cosmetic recognized as Certified Space Technology™, with studies showing major increases in hyaluronic acid production, hydration, and skin elasticity. Make sure to check them out at: https://www.delaviesciences.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Pocket Prep: Peter Murphy

May 8, 2026 28 min

Working full-time while studying for a professional certification, Peter realized the real problem wasn’t intelligence — it was the format. Most working adults were trying to study late at night, squeezed between jobs, bills, and family responsibilities, using outdated materials built for people with unlimited time. So in 2012, before “edtech” became a category everyone chased, Peter and his co-founders built a simple mobile study app to solve their own problem. None of them were developers. None were designers. They mocked up the first version in PowerPoint, pooled together less than $2,000, and launched an app that sold just two copies on day one. That app became Pocket Prep. Today, the company has helped more than 8 million learners prepare for over 140 certification exams across healthcare, IT, cybersecurity, finance, and the skilled trades — quietly becoming one of the most widely used study platforms for working professionals. In this episode, Peter breaks down the early years of building Pocket Prep, why consistency beats cramming, and how mobile learning changed the way adults prepare for high-stakes exams. Make sure to check them out at: https://www.pocketprep.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Eclife Premier. I recently installed their 30-inch Canyon vanity, and it completely changed the look of the bathroom. The fluted wood finish, the clean design, the storage — i...

Cymbiotika: Shahab Elmi

Apr 16, 2026 32 min

Shahab Elmi didn’t come from the wellness industry. He came from building and exiting companies — from telecom retail to media — before turning his focus to something much bigger: fixing a broken supplement industry. In 2019, he stepped into Cymbiotika with a simple idea — people shouldn’t have to guess what they’re putting into their bodies. What followed was one of the fastest rises in modern wellness. Cymbiotika went from a single product to a full line of liposomal supplements, generating millions in revenue early and eventually scaling to over 100 million supplement packets sold worldwide. The company grew rapidly while staying focused on transparency, bioavailability, and rebuilding trust in a space known for low-quality products. That approach helped drive massive retention and positioned Cymbiotika as one of the most talked-about brands in the category. Make sure to check them out at: https://scarlettchase.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Scarlett Chase: Sandra Powers Murphy

Apr 10, 2026 32 min

Sandra Powers Murphy spent decades building a career in finance — running her own firm, working with institutional clients, and raising six kids along the way. She wasn’t planning to start a footwear company. Then one night in New York, caught in the rain trying to make a train, she had to take off her heels and run ten blocks barefoot just to get there. That moment stuck with her. After years of traveling, networking, and watching her male colleagues move through long days comfortably while she rotated between shoes, she decided to solve the problem herself. That became Scarlett Chase — a luxury footwear brand built on over five years of R&D, combining high-end craftsmanship with orthopedic-level support. The brand launched in 2023, went fully direct-to-consumer, and quickly found traction with repeat customers who hadn’t found anything like it before. Make sure to check them out at: https://scarlettchase.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episode’s sponsor, Aluminum Artisans. They make handcrafted aluminum sculptures — everything from wildlife pieces to custom designs for homes, offices, and outdoor spaces. I’ve got their brown bear here in the studio, and the level of detail stands out right away. I’ve looked EVERYWHERE and you kept coming across 2 things. Either look very cheap or are outrageously expensive. I was super impressed at the incredible quality and value of Aluminum Artisans. Check them ou...

Colossal: Mary Hagen

Apr 3, 2026 27 min

Mary Hagen knew early she wanted to build something — launching her first business at 20. Today, she’s the CEO of Colossal, a company that’s quietly reshaped how fundraising works. Since joining, Mary has scaled Colossal by over 1000%, helping generate more than $207 million for nonprofits like the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Baby2Baby, PAWS, and the James Beard Foundation. But the real shift is how that money gets raised. Instead of relying on a few major donors, Colossal built a model around digital competitions and community participation — turning thousands of small contributions into millions raised. In this conversation, Mary breaks down what it actually takes to grow a purpose-driven company, why she believes leadership is about showing up — not just saying the right things — and how modern fundraising is moving away from exclusivity toward something far more accessible. Make sure to check them out at: https://colossal.org Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Starting Small is powered by Riverside.fm, the AI-powered platform that lets you record, edit, repurpose,and distribute studio-quality content as easily as if you had a crew behind you. Check them out now at https://creators.riverside.com/CameronNagle

Magiktea: Julian Tcherassi

Mar 27, 2026 35 min

Julian Tcherassi didn’t start Magiktea trying to compete with traditional tea brands. He found something most people had never heard of — palo azul, a tree bark used for centuries as a natural kidney remedy. When brewed, it does something unexpected. It turns bright blue in the light, thanks to its high concentration of polyphenols — with studies showing it contains up to 8x more antioxidants than green tea. That discovery became Magiktea — an alkaline, caffeine-free tea built around function, not just flavor. Today, Magiktea is stocked in over 1,000 retail locations, including Erewhon, Vitamin Shoppe, Bristol Farms, Lassens, Chamberlin’s, and Fruitful Yield — growing quietly in the better-for-you beverage space. Make sure to check them out at: https://magiktea.com/ Make sure to check them out at: https://www.dangerjonescreative.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Birdieball. It’s not your typical carpet mat — they use this aerated foam and turf setup that actually gives you a true roll, so the ball stays on line and reacts like a real green. You can customize the size, adjust speed, even add breaks and different hole setups — so you’re not just mindlessly hitting straight putts, you’re actually working on your game. I’ve got mine set up at home and it’s just made it way easier to get reps in consistently. If you’re trying to tighten up your putting without getting to the c...

Pulp Riot / Danger Jones: David Thurston

Mar 13, 2026 46 min

David Thurston didn’t set out to build the fastest-growing hair color brand in professional beauty history. But that’s exactly what happened. As the founder of Pulp Riot, David created a brand that shook up the salon industry — bold colors, artist-first culture, and a community that felt more like a movement than a product line. Just 23 months after launch, Pulp Riot was acquired by L’Oréal for $150M. The day the deal closed, David was sitting in a Jersey Mike’s when a bank notification popped up: $85M had just hit his account. Seven years later, he and his wife Alexis are back building — this time with Danger Jones, a brand that blends hair color, fashion, and film into something entirely different from traditional beauty companies. No corporate playbook. No venture capital. Just creativity, community, and a belief that artists deserve a brand that actually represents them. In this episode, David shares the full story behind Pulp Riot’s meteoric rise, what really happens after a life-changing exit, and why he decided to start over — building Danger Jones from scratch across 43 countries. Make sure to check them out at: https://www.dangerjonescreative.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episode's mid-break sponsor, Morelux. If you’re someone who practices at home — golf, baseball, or really any ball sport — you know how hard it is to find gear that’s actually built to take a beating. That’s what impress...

sunday: Christine De Wendel

Mar 7, 2026 38 min

Christine de Wendel spent more than a decade helping scale two of Europe’s biggest startup success stories — first at Zalando, then as COO of ManoMano. Both companies grew from early-stage startups into multi-billion-dollar businesses. But at 40 years old, with three kids and years of scale-up experience behind her, Christine decided it was time to build something of her own. That idea became sunday — a simple but powerful solution that lets diners pay their restaurant bill instantly by scanning a QR code. What started during the chaos of COVID quickly turned into one of the fastest-growing platforms in hospitality tech. Today, sunday processes billions in payments each year and is used by restaurants around the world — from independent spots to major dining groups like TAO, Boqueria, Bareburger, and La Pecora Bianca. In this episode, Christine shares the full story behind sunday: moving back to the U.S. after 15 years abroad, starting a company with a restaurant operator friend during the pandemic, raising $25M in just weeks, and building a company now processing billions in payments. Make sure to check them out at: https://sundayapp.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

MarqVision: Mark Lee

Feb 24, 2026 48 min

Mark Lee started MarqVision while earning his J.D. at Harvard Law, convinced that brand protection was about to break. Counterfeiting and IP theft had grown into a $3 trillion global problem, but enforcement still relied on manual takedowns and fragmented systems. He believed AI could change that. Five years later, MarqVision has raised $90M, doubled revenue in a single year, and is now trusted by 350+ global brands including LVMH, MLB, MrBeast, Lush, Allbirds, Casetify, Panda Express, and Stüssy. The company is helping brands move beyond reactive enforcement toward measurable “cleanliness” across marketplaces — a shift Mark believes will define brand protection in 2026 and beyond. Make sure to check them out at: https://www.marqvision.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Saddleback Leather Co. - Dave Munson

Feb 23, 2026 26 min

Dave Munson didn’t launch Saddleback Leather with a business plan. He was living in Mexico, burned out from ministry work, when he designed a leather bag he couldn’t find anywhere — simple, rugged, built to last. A local craftsman made it. Strangers kept stopping him to ask where they could get one. He went back, had a small batch made, and started selling them one by one. That small run turned into Saddleback Leather Co., now known worldwide for overbuilt bags backed by a 100-year warranty and a philosophy that products should be strong enough to be fought over when you’re gone. Dave went from selling on eBay to owning his own factory, collaborating with brands like Toyota and Major League Baseball, and building a loyal following of more than 250,000 customers who value durability over trends. Make sure to check them out at: https://saddlebackleather.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Starting Small is powered by Riverside.fm, the AI-powered platform that lets you record, edit, repurpose,and distribute studio-quality content as easily as if you had a crew behind you. Check them out now at https://riverside.com/

Art of Tea: Steve Schwartz

Jan 16, 2026 40 min

Steve Schwartz didn’t start Art of Tea because tea was trendy. He started it after watching Western medicine fail his mother. That moment sent him down a path few founders take — studying Ayurveda, working in herbal pharmacies, traveling the world to source botanicals, and learning how plants affect the body at a deep, functional level. Art of Tea began in a living room, blending by hand, making just enough money to survive week to week. Today, it’s an award-winning tea company trusted by the White House, Caesars Palace, Wolfgang Puck, Slack, and The Peninsula Hotel. Make sure to check out Art of Tea at: https://bit.ly/442ubxt Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

CellarTracker: Eric LeVine

Jan 9, 2026 42 min

Eric LeVine didn’t set out to build a startup. He was a Microsoft engineer during the dot-com boom who just wanted to keep track of the wine he owned. So he built a simple spreadsheet — an “Excel for wine” — to organize his own cellar. Friends started asking for access. Then friends of friends. In 2003, Eric put the tool online. That side project became CellarTracker. Today, it has 10M+ users, tracks over $21B worth of wine, and has quietly become the most trusted platform in the wine world. In this episode, Eric walks through turning a personal itch into global infrastructure, why obsession with data and community mattered more than monetization early on, and how CellarTracker now uses AI to help people know when to drink a bottle — not just what they own. Make sure to check out CellarTracker at: https://www.cellartracker.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Starting Small is powered by Riverside.fm, the AI-powered platform that lets you record, edit, repurpose,and distribute studio-quality content as easily as if you had a crew behind you. Check them out now at https://riverside.com/

LIT: Justin Norris

Dec 12, 2025 30 min

After years running a packed West Hollywood fitness studio and launching multiple FitTech products, revenue flattened, Justin Norris' health slipped, and the business stalled. A single cold plunge changed everything. The clarity he felt stepping out of the water sparked a pivot that would take LIT from a traditional fitness brand to a design-forward recovery company now backed by pro athletes and top investors. Today, LIT is redefining the recovery category with premium cold plunges, infrared saunas, and turnkey solutions for gyms, studios, and hospitality groups. In this episode, Justin breaks down how he rebuilt the business from the inside out — the mindset shift, the product decisions, and the bet on recovery becoming the next wave in wellness. Make sure to check out LIT at: https://www.litmethod.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Blue Sky. Blue Sky Clayworks has been hand-crafting whimsical, high-quality collectible ceramics for over 20 years — from seasonal candle houses and detailed figurines to tabletop classics you’ll want out year-round. Each piece is individually hand-painted and hand-packed to arrive perfect, and fans rave that the designs are unlike anything else you’ll find. Check out their 12 days of giving until Dec 12th for 20% off deals at https://blueskyclayworks.com/

Archer (Formerly Country Archer): Eugene Kang

Dec 5, 2025 28 min

At 22 years old, Eugene Kang bought a tiny jerky business from an 80-year-old butcher he met on a road trip. It was doing about $500K a year and relied entirely on private-label production. Over the next fourteen years, he rebuilt everything — the brand, the manufacturing, the product strategy — transforming it into Archer, one of the fastest-growing companies in meat snacks. From navigating USDA operations as a first-time founder, to unlocking national retail doors through a licensed Sriracha SKU that flipped early “no’s” into “yeses”, Eugene grew Archer into a projected $500M brand by 2026, with 90% YoY growth in 2024. In this conversation, he breaks down the operational grind, the rebrand from Country Archer to Archer, and how sticks became the engine behind one of the biggest category expansions in modern snacking. Make sure to check out Archer at: https://archerjerky.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

French Florist: Michael Jacobson

Nov 26, 2025 34 min

When Michael Jacobson took over his uncle’s barely-profitable flower shop in 2018, many saw a sinking business — he saw potential. Through a mix of technology, obsessive customer care, and operational discipline, he turned what was doing roughly $600K a year into a $9.5M+ powerhouse. Today, French Florist isn’t just surviving — it’s preparing to scale nationally through franchise expansion. In this episode, Michael walks us through the behind-the-scenes rebuild: from modernizing outdated systems, rethinking margins, and making flowers a product people rely on, to proving that even a flower shop can be built like a high-growth business. Make sure to check out French Florist at https://www.frenchflorist.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Suri. a sleek, travel-friendly sonic brush that delivers 33,000 vibrations a minute for a deep clean, has plant-based heads you can recycle for free, and now comes with a UV-C charging case that wipes out 99.9% of bacteria at the touch of a button. Brush better. Help the planet. And skip the landfill guilty-conscience — because SURI treats your teeth like the everyday essential they are. Explore it now at https://www.trysuri.com/en-us

Pocono Mountain Maple: Nicole Bentler

Nov 8, 2025 22 min

As the founder of Pocono Mountain Maple, a 450-acre certified organic maple farm located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, Nicole has always had a deep appreciation for nature. Under her direction, the farm produces Pocono Maple Water, a naturally hydrating, subtly sweet water tapped fresh each spring from organic maple trees. In addition to its flagship product, the property also offers the region’s only exclusive family nature retreat, blending wellness, sustainability, and outdoor connection in one unique destination. A Pocono native, Bentler returned to the region after more than a decade working in the health and wellness space. Driven by a vision to revive and reimagine a historic maple farm, she transformed it into a source of both nourishment and nature-based experience. Her work with traditional syrup and sap led to the discovery of maple water’s deeper potential—a rare, mineral-rich drink high in manganese that reflects the purity of its origins. Make sure to check out Pocono Mountain Maple at https://www.poconomtnmaple.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Register for Starting Small Summit 2026: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmallsummit Watch our mini-doc - Starting Small: The Raw Truth Behind Entrepreneurship and the American Dream: https://youtu.be/eHuq93wIxs0?si=eDB-ycngvWNapRLO Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Whisker (Litter-Robot): Jacob Zuppke

Oct 24, 2025 36 min

From early experiments in pet tech to running one of the most successful bootstrapped companies in the country, Jacob Zuppke has led Whisker (maker of Litter-Robot®) into a multi-hundred-million-dollar powerhouse. Over the past four years, Whisker surpassed $1B in revenue—all without raising a single dollar of venture capital. With millions of loyal customers across DTC and retail channels, the company is now preparing its most ambitious launch yet: a new generation of connected products that move beyond convenience into personalized pet care. In this episode, Jacob shares the grit of scaling without outside capital, how Whisker became a category-defining brand, and why the future of pet ownership is about more than just cleanup. Make sure to check out Whisker at: https://www.whisker.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Nomi Health: Mark Newman

Oct 17, 2025 46 min

Mark Newman has spent his career fixing broken systems. At just 20, he co-founded HireVue, a company that reimagined hiring through video interviews, scaling it into a platform used by millions worldwide before its acquisition by Carlyle Group. But it was his own experience in a hospital after the birth of his child that sparked his next fight—taking on the healthcare system. Today, as founder and CEO of Nomi Health, Mark is building a new operating system for healthcare, already touching over $100B in employer healthcare spend, serving millions of Americans, and proving costs can be cut in half without sacrificing care. In this conversation, Mark shares the grit of his early ventures, how Nomi scaled through the chaos of the pandemic, and why he believes employers—not insurers—hold the keys to healthcare reform. Make sure to check out Naomi Health at: https://www.nomihealth.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

MINNIDIP: Emily Vaca

Oct 14, 2025 38 min

Emily Vaca launched MINNIDIP in 2017 as a bold antidote to sad blue kiddie pools — designing a sleek, adult-friendly inflatable that was missing in the market. She bootstrapped the brand, protected it via early patents, and slowly built a passionate fanbase. In 2024, she blew everyone’s minds with the MINNIDIP Balloon Garland: a reusable, latex-free, single-inflation cluster that sold seven figures in 24 hours with a waitlist of 51,000+. In this episode, Emily shares the constraints she embraced, how she pushed through manufacturing dead ends, and how she designs with purpose and durability in mind. Make sure to check out MINNIDIP at: https://minnidip.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Highland: Boone Whiteside and Ben Medalie

Oct 3, 2025 41 min

What started on a Denver apartment stovetop has turned into an eight-figure clean haircare brand trusted by tastemakers and barbers alike. In this episode, Boone Whiteside and Ben Medalie share how they built Highland from DIY experiments into a business that redefines performance, health, and sustainability in haircare. From mixing pomades in a KitchenAid to landing in 150+ barbershops and salons across the country, their journey shows how staying lean, purpose-driven, and authentic can transform an industry. Make sure to check out Highland at: https://www.highland.style/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Thank you to this episodes mid-break sponsor, Edel Golf, customizing all scoring clubs to help get you at least one shot better, because even one shot can change everything. Makes sure to check them out at https://edelgolf.com/

BeatBox Beverages: Justin Fenchel

Sep 19, 2025 40 min

In this episode I'm joined by Justin Fenchel, co-founder and CEO of BeatBox Beverages, one of the fastest-growing RTD (Ready-To-Drink) brands in the U.S., redefining how consumers experience flavored cocktails. BeatBox went from an MBA project to a $245M projected brand in 2025, winning over Mark Cuban on Shark Tank and more recently, partnering with Shaquille O’Neal, who not only invested but co-developed the company’s most successful product launch to date, Shaq’s Blueberry Lemonade. BeatBox is now the #3 RTD nationwide and available in 130,000+ retail locations across all 50 states. The brand was named one of AdAge’s America’s Hottest Brands in 2024. Make sure to check out BeatBox at:https://beatboxbeverages.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Rotten: Michael Fisher

Sep 15, 2025 27 min

Michael Fisher was making gummy worms in his kitchen during COVID when he realized candy hadn’t been reimagined for today’s consumer. With no food science background, he started experimenting—less sugar, no artificial dyes, and all the nostalgia of sour gummies. That tinkering turned into Rotten, a candy brand with its own world, characters, and cult following. From a Kickstarter launch in 2023 to landing in retailers like Foxtrot and Hy-Vee within months, Rotten has grown fast by pairing bold branding with better-for-you candy that doesn’t compromise on taste. In this episode, Michael shares how he built Rotten from scratch, why brand world-building matters in CPG, and what the future of candy looks like when it’s fun and functional. Make sure to check out Rotten at: https://eatrotten.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

HOP WTR: Jordan Bass

Aug 30, 2025 32 min

After a career in venture capital and running e-commerce at The Wonderful Company, Jordan Bass set out to reinvent the occasion of “cracking a cold one.” In 2020, he co-founded HOP WTR—a sparkling water infused with hops, adaptogens, and nootropics—crafted to deliver the refreshment of a beer without the booze, calories, or regret. Launching DTC first, Bass and his team quickly proved demand, then scaled into retail within months. Early partners like Erewhon validated the brand, while flavors like Blood Orange became cult favorites. Today, HOP WTR is one of the fastest-growing names in non-alcoholic beverages, serving a generation of “enlightened overachievers” who want better choices without giving up the ritual. In this episode, Jordan shares how he turned a personal need into a category-shaping brand—and why momentum matters more than overthinking. Make sure to check out HOP WTR at: https://hopwtr.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Full Glass Wine Co.: Neha Kumar

Aug 15, 2025 34 min

In less than two years, Neha Kumar has helped build Full Glass Wine Co. into one of the fastest-scaling wine companies in the U.S., completing 7 acquisitions and growing to $200M in revenue in just 17 months. With beloved brands like Winc, Wine Access, Wine Insiders, and Cameron Hughes under its umbrella, the company is redefining how consumers discover and enjoy wine. In this episode, Neha shares the inside story of building at breakneck speed, integrating multiple brands, and creating a wine empire designed for today’s consumer. Make sure to check out Full Glass Wine Co. at: https://www.fullglass.wine/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Gardyn: FX Rouxel

Jul 25, 2025 33 min

After building a career in AI and tech, FX Rouxel set out to solve a massive problem: how to grow real food at home—without soil, land, or waste. He launched Gardyn, a direct-to-consumer hydroponic system that lets anyone grow fresh produce indoors with minimal effort and zero green thumb. Since launch, Gardyn users have grown over 3.5 million pounds of food, saved 60 million gallons of water, and eliminated 1.9 million pounds of food waste—all from their own kitchens. In this episode, FX shares how he turned a simple idea into one of the most innovative companies in home agriculture—and how technology can actually bring us closer to nature, not further from it. Make sure to check out Garden at: https://mygardyn.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Free Rein Coffee: Karl Pfluger, Paul Anderson, and Arlyn Davich

Jul 18, 2025 46 min

Co-founders Karl Pfluger, Paul Anderson, and Arlyn Davich teamed up with actor Cole Hauser to acquire a 25-year-old roastery in San Angelo, TX. Since launching in October 2023, they’ve served 250,000+ customers, claimed 10,000+ five-star reviews, and donated over 60,000 cups to veterans, first responders, teachers, and nurses. By September 2024, they secured their first national rollout, appearing in 1,700+ Walmart stores, and partnered on a custom “Cowboy Coffee Kit” with Stetson. In 2025, they added seasoned retail and brand leaders to the team to scale their omni‑channel presence. In this episode, they go deep on how they built a premium, purpose-driven American coffee brand in less than two years—and why serving those who serve remains their north star. Make sure to check out Free Rein Coffee at: https://freereincoffee.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Ozlo (sleepbuds): N.B. Patil

Jul 8, 2025 30 min

After 22 years at Bose, N.B. Patil left with the IP behind their discontinued Sleepbuds—and turned it into the most funded sleep product in Indiegogo history. He co-founded Ozlo with no brand, no marketing engine, and no team—just conviction that this product still had life. They raised $10M, shipped to 40+ countries, won Best of CES, and built a loyal customer base that actively shapes the product. This is how a former engineer brought a dead product back to life—and built one of the most trusted names in sleep tech. Make sure to check out Ozlo at: https://ozlosleep.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Forbes Functions: Cameron Forbes

Jun 20, 2025 27 min

In this episode, I'm joined by Cameron Forbes of Forbes Functions, a full-service event planning agency known for creating stylish, story-driven events for top brands, creators, and private clientsCameron launched Forbes Functions during the pandemic as a creative side hustle while working in finance. Now 26, she’s become one of the most in-demand event producers in the luxury space, known for designing modern, editorial-style experiences. In the past year alone, her company has seen a 250% YOY revenue increase, with 40–50 events annually and multiple six-figure projects on the calendar for 2025. Cameron’s eye for strategy extends to social, where Forbes Functions has grown 173.7% across Instagram and TikTok thanks to behind-the-scenes storytelling and a founder-led POV. With a 30% repeat client rate and a presence in NYC, the Hamptons, and Florida, Cameron is the go-to for clients who want events that are both personal and photogenic. She also leads an all-women under-30 team, fostering a mentorship-first culture. Make sure to check out Forbes Functions: https://www.forbesfunctions.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

REBEL: Emily Hosie

Jun 15, 2025 28 min

Emily Hosie spent over a decade inside some of the biggest names in off-price retail—Saks Off 5th, Holt Renfrew, and TJX—before launching REBEL, the first curated marketplace for open-box baby and home goods. After a year of being turned away by brands unwilling to admit the waste, REBEL secured major partners—and then a defining moment came. Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY filed for bankruptcy, and REBEL was tapped to process the returns. Overnight, volume surged and the tech had to scale fast. Today, REBEL processes 70,000 SKUs a week and operates a 300,000 sq. ft. facility in North Carolina. They’ve saved over 25 million pounds of product from landfill—all while becoming a go-to platform for Gen Z and millennial consumers looking for trusted brands at up to 50% off. Make sure to check out REBEL: https://fromrebel.com Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Halfday Iced Tea: Mike Lombardo

May 30, 2025 40 min

Mike Lombardo didn’t come from food and bev. He was a college student, Army National Guard soldier, and drummer chasing big ideas. But when his high school swim teammate Kayvon began managing ulcerative colitis by mixing prebiotic tea, everything changed. The two co-founders started bottling it out of a brewery in New Jersey—selling to one Whole Foods, cold-brewing by hand, and making just $18K in their first year. Then COVID hit, and they scrapped everything. In 2021, they relaunched as Halfday: a better-for-you iced tea with 3–5g of sugar, 8g of prebiotic fiber, and branding that reimagined the Arizona and Snapple classics they grew up on. They pitched their first retail account from a hospital bed, filled their first PO with 60,000 cans in six weeks, and packed boxes themselves to make it happen. One press article brought in $10K in DTC sales overnight. Now, Halfday is stocked nationwide, building a brand that stands out in one of the most competitive categories in CPG. Make sure to check out Halfday: https://drinkhalfday.com/ Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

Heraclea: Berk Bahceci

May 30, 2025 32 min

Berk Bahceci left a career in antitrust law in Washington, D.C., to build something deeply personal. Born in Turkey and raised around olive groves, Berk saw a massive blind spot in the U.S. market: despite being one of the top producers in the world, Turkish olive oil had no brand recognition on American shelves. So, he built one from scratch. In this episode, Berk shares how he vertically integrated Heraclea—from grove to bottle—and became the world’s first Fair Trade certified olive oil company. We talk sourcing, scaling without a single customer, and why flavored oils like garlic and lemon are flying off shelves. Make sure to check out Heraclea: https://heraclea.co Check out my new book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kRKGTX Sign up for Starting Small University to join our interviews LIVE and ask questions: https://startingsmallmedia.org/startingsmalluniversity Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle

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Podcast details

Created by: Cameron Nagle
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 13, 2026
Episodes: 289
Release period: Every two weeks
Avg. episode length: 31 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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