The Pour Decisions Podcast

From Cheech & Chong to Cannabis CEO: Cheech Marin’s Next Big Move

From comedy icon to cannabis entrepreneur, Cheech Marin joins Dino Sarti on the Pour Decisions Podcast for a conversation that blends culture, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and the future of cannabis beverages. Cheech reflects on the legacy of Cheech & Chong, his passion for Chicano art, and how cannabis went from counterculture to a billion-dollar beverage category. The conversation also dives into hemp-derived THC drinks, retail expansion, changing consumer behavior, and why cannabis beverages could become the next major disruption in alcohol. Plus, Dino shares personal stories about growing up watching Cheech’s films and why this interview was such a full-circle moment. What You’ll Hear In This Episode: Cheech Marin’s journey into Chicano art collecting The cultural impact of Cheech & Chong How cannabis became mainstream Why THC beverages are exploding right now The future of hemp-derived drinks in retail Distribution growth with Breakthru Beverage Cannabis vs alcohol consumer trends The rise of cannabis beverages at Kroger, Target & more Building a lifestyle brand around cannabis culture.

How Sprouts Finds the NEXT Billion-Dollar Brand | Kim Coffin on Retail Innovation

What does it take to land on the shelves at Sprouts Farmers Market? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Kim Coffin, Chief Forager at Sprouts Farmers Market, to break down how Sprouts identifies emerging brands, stays ahead of consumer trends, and helps founders scale from early-stage innovation to national retail success. Kim shares how Sprouts approaches trend forecasting, why taste matters more than ever in functional products, and what founders need to know before pitching retailers. The conversation also dives into how Sprouts built its “Forager Finds” concept, the importance of founder relationships, and why being first to market often comes with challenges. Whether you're a founder, operator, investor, or retailer, this episode offers an inside look at how one of the most influential natural retailers thinks about innovation and category growth.

The Biggest Mistake CPG Brands Make With Marketing in 2026 with Sabina Gault of Konnect Agency

What actually makes consumers trust a brand in 2026? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Sabina Gault, CEO of Konnect Agency, to break down the evolving role of public relations, earned media, influencer culture, and why going viral doesn’t always translate into long-term brand success. Sabina shares hard-earned lessons from years of working across CPG, wellness, food & beverage, celebrity PR, and franchise brands — including why loyalty matters more than impressions, how brands should think about media relationships, and why AI search is changing the value of earned media forever. From TikTok Shop and LLMs to cultural relevance and brand positioning, this episode is packed with insights for founders, marketers, operators, and anyone building a modern consumer brand.

Why Sprouts Is Winning Gen Z Consumers

What does it actually take for a beverage brand to land on shelves at Sprouts? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dan Weisbach sits down with Jorge Espinosa, Category Merchant for Beverages at Sprouts, and Brody Burke from Sprouts' Foraging Team to discuss how Sprouts discovers emerging brands, evaluates innovation, and decides what products make it to shelf. From the highly talked-about Foraging Finds program to the growing consumer demand for ingredient transparency, this conversation dives deep into the future of natural retail and beverage innovation. The trio also discusses: How Sprouts’ 90-day test-and-learn model works What separates winning brands from the rest Why Gen Z sees Sprouts as a discovery destination The growing conversation around natural flavors How retailers stay ahead of emerging consumer trends Why transparency and trust matter more than ever in CPG If you’re building a beverage brand, working in retail, or obsessed with the future of consumer products, this episode is packed with insights from two of the leading voices in natural retail.

How Emerging Beverage Brands Can Grow on Thrive Market

What does it actually take to get a beverage brand onto Thrive Market—and more importantly, how do you succeed once you're there? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dan Weisbach sits down with Nika Levinson, Senior Category Manager for Beverage at Thrive Market, to discuss how one of the leading healthy online retailers evaluates brands, curates assortments, and identifies emerging trends across functional beverages, non-alcoholic drinks, and better-for-you CPG. Nika shares what Thrive Market shoppers are looking for today, how AI is shaping the future of online grocery, why curation matters more than ever, and the biggest opportunities for emerging brands looking to grow in e-commerce. Whether you’re a founder, operator, investor, or retailer, this episode offers an inside look at how modern consumers are shopping — and what brands need to do to stand out.

How Albertsons Plans to Win the Next Era of Grocery Shopping

What does the future of grocery retail actually look like? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dan Weisbach sits down with Monica Fishback, Vice President of Ready-to-Eat & Ready-to-Drink at Albertsons, and Cole Lulic, Merchandising Director at Albertsons, for a conversation on AI, innovation, consumer behavior, and how grocery retailers are evolving faster than ever. With leadership experience spanning Kroger, Target, Amazon, and now Albertsons, Monica and Cole discuss how modern retailers are approaching assortment strategy, emerging brands, digital transformation, and why human connection remains a competitive advantage in an increasingly AI-driven world. They also share how Albertsons plans to balance technology with the local grocery experience consumers still crave — while taking more risks on innovation and new brands. If you’re building a CPG brand, working in retail, or curious about the future of commerce, this episode is packed with insights from two of grocery’s newest and most forward-thinking leaders.

From Modern Wisdom to Neutonic: Chris Williamson’s Blueprint for Winning

What does it take to build one of the biggest podcasts in the world — and successfully launch a beverage brand in the middle of a difficult funding environment?
In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Chris Williamson, host of the globally ranked Modern Wisdom podcast and founder of Neutonic, to talk about podcasting, entrepreneurship, branding, consistency, and the mindset required to win long term.
Chris shares how he grew Modern Wisdom into a top 10 global podcast with over 2 billion plays, why attention to detail became his competitive advantage, and the behind-the-scenes story of how he landed David Goggins for one of the biggest moments in his show’s history.
The conversation also dives into building Neutonic, raising capital, what makes a great podcast guest, and why most people simply don’t try hard enough.
If you’re a founder, creator, operator, or aspiring podcaster, this episode is packed with lessons on persistence, preparation, and playing the long game.

How Walmart & BTS Helped Build a Culturally Relevant Lifestyle Brand

What does it actually take to launch 42 SKUs nationwide at Walmart — all perfectly timed to one of the biggest cultural moments in the world? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Danny Stepper sits down with Melody Richard (Walmart), Bonnie Kim (HYH America), and the LA Libations team to break down the incredible behind-the-scenes story of launching ARIH nationwide across 4,000+ Walmart stores. From express shipping and action alley displays to BTS fandom demand, digital-first strategy, and solving major launch challenges in real time, this conversation gives an inside look at how modern retail launches happen at scale.

The Future of Beverage Innovation: Kerry on Energy, Hydration & GLP-1 Trends

What does it take to power some of the biggest food and beverage brands in the world? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with John Cahalane, President & CEO of Kerry North America, and Simon Hague, VP of Beverage Solutions North America, for a deep dive into the future of beverage innovation, global flavor trends, sustainability, and the fast-changing functional beverage landscape. From reducing sugar without compromising taste to predicting the next wave of hydration, protein, and energy innovation, this conversation breaks down how one of the world’s largest taste and nutrition companies thinks about the future of CPG. The episode also explores Kerry’s entrepreneurial roots, working with emerging founders, regional flavor preferences around the globe, and why “taste is still king” — even in today’s function-first beverage world.

Jocko Willink on Discipline, American Manufacturing & Building Better Products

What does it take to lead under pressure, build category-defining brands, and create a mindset that thrives in adversity? In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Jocko Willink — retired Navy SEAL officer, leadership expert, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Jocko Fuel and Origin USA. Jocko shares how the leadership principles he learned commanding SEAL teams directly translate into business, why discipline and ownership matter in every aspect of life, and how he identified gaps in the marketplace to build brands rooted in quality, performance, and American manufacturing. The conversation also dives into the story behind Chris Pratt joining Jocko Fuel, the making of Way of the Warrior Kid, and why Jocko believes his true demographic is simply “people trying to get better.” Whether you’re a founder, operator, executive, or someone focused on personal growth, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, and building with purpose.