The Pour Decisions Podcast

From Recession Hustle to Top Beverage Agency: Dan Baum’s Story

What if the biggest problem in beverage marketing… is that most of it is boring? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Dan Baum, Founder & CEO of Multiply — the agency behind some of the most disruptive, attention-grabbing marketing in beverage. From scrappy recession-era survival to building a 17-year “overnight success,” Dan shares how Multiply carved out a niche by doing one thing better than anyone else: fighting boring. This conversation dives deep into what actually drives brand growth today — from creative that respects the consumer to why marketing alone doesn’t create velocity without distribution. If you're building, scaling, or marketing a beverage brand… this is a must-listen.

Coffee for Athletes? The Billion-Dollar Insight Behind Throne Sport Coffee

What do you do after helping build an $8 BILLION brand? You start over. In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Michael Fedele, Founder & CEO of Throne Sport Coffee, to break down his journey from Coca-Cola to BodyArmor (alongside Kobe Bryant and Mike Repole)… and why he’s now taking on the coffee category with Patrick Mahomes. From athlete insight to retail expansion, this is a masterclass in building modern beverage brands.

He’s 12 Years Old… and Already in 7-Eleven, Pavilions, and Albertsons?!

What were you doing in 7th grade? Robbie Sherwood was building a beverage brand. In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with the 12-year-old founder of Prismax, a better-for-you sports drink already selling in Albertsons, Pavilions, and 7-Eleven — with real velocity, real investors, and real momentum. From testing 11 leading sports drinks for a school project… to selling 10,000+ bottles and landing retail without slotting fees — this is one of the most unexpected (and impressive) founder stories in CPG right now. Whether you're a founder, operator, or just someone who loves a great underdog story — this one delivers.

The Packaging Secrets Every Beverage Founder Needs to Know (Berlin Packaging)

What does it really take to build and scale a beverage brand today? In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti (LA Libations) sits down with Roland Guzman of Berlin Packaging—a 20-year industry veteran—to break down the role packaging plays in growth, profitability, and brand success. From helping early-stage founders order their first 10,000 units to supporting billion-dollar brands with global supply chain power, Berlin Packaging sits in a unique position across the CPG ecosystem. If you’re building a brand—or thinking about it—this episode is a must-watch.

Chris Williamson on Neutonic, Creatine & What’s Next for Functional Beverages

What happens when one of the world’s most curious podcast hosts builds the drink he couldn’t find? Recorded live at The Beverage Forum Europe, this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast features Chris Williamson, host of Modern Wisdom and co-founder of Neutonic, in conversation with Dino Sarti, Co-Founder of LA Libations. Chris breaks down his philosophy on performance, why sleep matters more than diet or supplements, and how that thinking directly led to the creation of Neutonic—an evidence-based, fully dosed, no-sugar nootropic drink built for focus without the fluff. He also shares what’s next for the brand, including Neutonic’s expansion into creatine and retail. Whether you’re a founder, athlete, creator, or just tired of “fairy dust” supplements, this conversation cuts through the noise.

From Box Cutters to Building a Distribution Powerhouse with Czar Daniolco of HiTouch Libations

In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti and Danny Stepper, Co-Founders of LA Libations, sit down with Czar Daniolco, Founder of HiTouch Libations Distribution, to unpack his journey from stocking shelves at Whole Foods to building one of Southern California’s most respected high-touch distribution platforms. This conversation dives deep into the realities of beverage distribution—why labor matters, how velocity is actually created in-store, what happens when brands scale too fast, and why founders ultimately determine a brand’s ceiling. Czar shares hard-earned lessons from decades in the industry, including building HighTouch through hustle, relationships, and an obsession with execution. Whether you’re a founder, operator, or investor in food & beverage, this episode offers a masterclass in how products actually win on shelf.

Jim Tonkin Reveals the Truth About What it Takes to Win in CPG

What does it take to build 2,000 brands and still stay humble? In this epic conversation, beverage industry icon Jim Tonkin joins Dino Sarti and Danny Stepper from L.A. Libations to reflect on the pivotal moments, hard-earned wisdom, and untold stories that shaped a 50-year legacy in food and beverage. From bottling soda at 10 years old to launching Arnold Palmer Tea and investing in ZICO, Jim shares the ups, downs, and defining moments of his legendary career—including the fatherly advice that changed Dino and Danny’s future forever.
This one’s packed with life lessons, industry history, and some truly jaw-dropping stories you won't hear anywhere else.

P.O. Financing with Tej Singh from Spring Cash

In this episode of Pour Decisions, Spring Cash Co-Founder & CEO, Tej Singh, joins Danny Stepper & Dino Sarti, Co-Founders of L.A. Libations, to announce an industry-shifting partnership: Taste Tomorrow Capital, enabling emerging brands to finance PO’s and invoices from major retailers—fast, flexible, and founder-friendly.
Whether you’re building inventory for a Costco rotation, a Target reset, or running nationwide supply, this conversation breaks down exactly how modern financing works… without personal guarantees and without waiting months for cash.

The Truth Behind How Ball Corp Is Changing the Game for Emerging Beverage Brands

The can industry is evolving — fast. In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down Ball Corporation to uncover how one of the world’s largest can manufacturers is shifting its entire strategy to support startup innovation, customization, and the next generation of beverage brands.
From minimum order quantities to digital print, Alumat bottles to emerging brand partnerships — this is a masterclass on packaging, scale, and the future of aluminum.
What’s inside the episode:
🔥 Why Ball Corp opened its doors to emerging brands
🔥 How cans can stand out in just four seconds on shelf
🔥 The rise of aluminum bottles & digital printing
🔥 Why customization and small runs are the new frontier
🔥 Sustainability, recycling, tariffs & the future of PET
🔥 How Ball identifies “unicorn” brands early

ZICO 2.0: How Chris Gallant Is Rebuilding an OG Coconut Water Giant

What happens when a “failed” software engineer becomes a global beer strategist, launches his own brewery, scales a celebrity coffee brand, and then takes the helm of one of the OG coconut water brands? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Danny Stepper sits down with Chris Gallant, CEO of ZICO, to unpack one of the most layered careers in beverage—and the rebirth of a category-defining brand.
From ZICO’s early LA Libations days and a massive Coca-Cola exit… to being bought back, rebuilt, and relaunched into the fastest growing category in beverage, this conversation is a masterclass in distribution, retail, tariffs, supply chain, and real-world operator scars.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
How Chris went from consulting and beer in Brazil to launching his own brewery
Why “knowing nothing” is sometimes the best teacher in beverage
The behind-the-scenes story of Chamberlain Coffee and what most celebrity brands get wrong
How ZICO’s Coca-Cola chapter, Costco wins, and private label competition reshaped the playbook
Why coconut water is once again one of the fastest growing categories —and how ZICO is fighting back for shelf space
The story behind ZICO PURE Nam Hom, their premium pink coconut water, and why it might be the best product Chris has ever made
How tariffs, containers, and cold-chain challenges affect every single bottle on shelf
The leadership and board dynamics of running “the founder’s baby” as CEO