The Pour Decisions Podcast

How to Build & Sell Billion-Dollar Beverage Brands like CPG Legend Lance Collins

Lance Collins, the legend behind BodyArmor, Core, Fuze, and now Recover 180, joins Pour Decisions for a rare, unfiltered deep dive. From billion-dollar exits to trademark wars and brand-building brilliance, this episode is a front-row seat to one of the most iconic playbooks in beverage history. Hosted by Dino Sarti and Danny Stepper, Co-Founders of L.A. Libations, this one is a must-watch for anyone in CPG.

The Real Cost of Building a Beverage Brand with Yanni Hufnagel of Lemon Perfect

In this candid, energizing conversation, Lemon Perfect founder and former college basketball coach Yanni Hufnagel sits down with Dino Sarti and Danny Stepper to talk about the wild ride of launching and scaling one of the most buzzed-about beverage brands in the U.S.
From humble beginnings and poor decisions to game-changing pivots and major wins, Yanni shares how grit, gut instinct, and hustle built a beverage empire.

From Celebrity to Beverage Mogul: How Millie Bobby Brown & Dolly Parton Got There with Collab Coffee

In this episode of Pour Decisions, we sit down with Danny Wright — CEO and founder of Collab Coffee — the brains behind Millie Bobby Brown’s Florence by Mills coffee brand and the just-announced Dolly Parton Cup of Ambition. From scrappy UK coffee roots to building an international creator-led beverage house, Danny breaks down how Collab is redefining what it means to launch with influence, not just celebrity.
We talk Walmart wins, RTD headaches, scaling across the U.S. and Europe, and their game-changing partnership with Beverage Forum — plus get a sneak peek at Beverage Forum Europe, launched at The O2 in London this fall.
This one’s a masterclass in coffee, culture, and commerce. Don’t miss it.

From Supplements to Soda: How Bloom Is Dominating the Beverage Aisle with Greg LaVecchia

On this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, we sit down with Greg Lavecchia, co-founder of Bloom, to unpack the wildly ambitious—and wildly effective—game plan behind one of the most talked-about brands in modern CPG. From launching energy and soda SKUs under a once nutrition-focused brand, to competing head-to-head with industry giants like Red Bull and Poppy, Greg shares the unfiltered truth about playing offense in a saturated market. If you're building in beverage, this is must-watch content.
What’s inside this episode:
- How Bloom leveraged $150M+ in influencer marketing to launch with scale
- Why Greg believes emotional storytelling beats functional product features
- How cross-merchandising across categories is part of Bloom’s master plan
- His take on beverage exits, strategic partnerships, and fake “overnight” success
- Tactical advice for getting retail buyers on your side before the line review

No Sugar, All Hustle: How Joyburst Cracked the Costco Code with Brad Woodgate

This isn’t your typical founder story. Brad Woodgate, CEO of Joyburst and creator of the No Sugar Company, joins Pour Decisions Podcast to share his truly insane journey—from dominating supplements to launching a no-sugar beverage brand with the help of Vanilla Ice (yes, that Vanilla Ice).
Learn how Brad built multiple 9-figure businesses, cracked the Costco playbook with high-stakes demos, went on tour with a rap icon, and even funded his own reality TV show.
Whether you're in CPG, dreaming of a brand launch, or just love a wild origin story—this episode’s for you.

From Corporate Giant to Craft Disruptor: Pete Marino’s Comeback Story with Lofted Spirits

What do you get when a legacy beer executive teams up with a disruptive whiskey company? A spirits revolution. Pour yourself a glass and buckle in for this one.
In this episode of Pour Decisions, host Danny Stepper (Co-Founder of LA Libations) sits down with Pete Marino of Lofted Spirits, formerly of Molson Coors, for a no-holds-barred conversation on the evolution of the beverage industry. From the origins of the Beverage Forum and a $48M deal with Coca-Cola, to how Lofted Spirits is pushing whiskey innovation with 300-year-old French oak barrels and strategic distribution through beer networks—this episode is a masterclass in modern beverage strategy.
You’ll also hear insider commentary on how brands like Surfside, BeatBox, and BuzzBalls are redefining the RTD category, why the beer network is the future of spirits distribution, and how total beverage companies are changing the game.

How a Mom-Turned-CEO Is Redefining Clean Hydration with Shannon Argyros, CEO of Positive Beverage

In this powerful episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, hosts Dino Sarti and Josh Schall sit down with Shannon from Positive Beverage—a woman whose personal journey shaped one of the most authentic and mission-driven brands in the functional beverage space.
From navigating tragedy to embracing leadership, Shannon shares how her family’s health needs led her to invest in and eventually lead Positive Beverage—a clean, zero sugar hydration brand fortified with vitamins and electrolytes. You’ll hear about their pivot to aluminum cans, her fight for clean ingredients, launching Positive Energy, and why authenticity matters more than ever.

From Bourbon to Regeneration: Ian Somerhalder’s Mission to Build a Better World with Brother's Bond

"This isn't just about beverages—this is about building a better world."
Actor, entrepreneur, and climate activist Ian Somerhalder joins Pour Decisions Podcast hosts Dino Sarti and Danny Stepper (Co-Founders of LA Libations) live at The Beverage Forum for a raw, passionate, and future-focused conversation. From scaling Brother’s Bond Bourbon to launching The Absorption Company to championing regenerative agriculture, Ian is on a mission to change both industry and impact.
In this episode, Ian reveals:
Why he believes Beverage Forum is driving the next era of consumer goods
How Kiss the Ground and Common Ground are fueling a regenerative food revolution
Why building purpose-driven companies is the only way forward
His vision for scaling both carbon capture and conscious consumerism

From Pharma to Energy Drinks: How PSR Brands Built a Beverage Empire for the Hispanic Market

How do you go from pharmaceuticals to owning one of the most innovative beverage companies in the U.S.? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with longtime friends and PSR Brands co-founders GMA Antman and Patricio Okano to unpack their incredible journey.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why GMA entered the beverage space later in life
Building functional drinks for the Hispanic consumer
Lessons from co-packing nightmares and why they built their own facility
Patented formulations, marketing to culture, and scaling through vertical integration
Sponsorships with Liga MX and how they stay true to their roots
If you’re building a beverage brand from the ground up—or thinking about it—this one’s for you.

How Dirty Shirley Became the Cocktail Everyone’s Talking About with CEO, Adam Kost

In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, we sit down with Adam Kost, CEO of Dirty Shirley, to talk through one of the most emotionally resonant beverage launches in recent memory. Born from childhood nostalgia and fueled by TikTok tribes, Dirty Shirley has become more than a ready-to-drink cocktail — it’s a cultural movement. Adam reveals how he turned a familiar flavor and feeling into a bold, female-forward brand with real staying power.
We talked about:
The childhood memories and emotional insights that sparked Dirty Shirley
How cherry juice, nostalgia, and rebellion shaped the brand identity
Why simplicity and shelf clarity drive consumer love in the RTD space
Adam’s background with brands like Heineken, AB InBev & Waterloo
Strategic partnerships with fashion, skincare, and lifestyle brands
Why the RTD category is just getting started — and who’s doing it right