The Pour Decisions Podcast

“Wine Shouldn’t Feel Intimidating” — Elizabeth Banks on Disrupting the Industry

What happens when a Hollywood star steps into the beverage industry and actually knows the business? 🍷 In this episode of the Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with actress, producer, and Archer Roose partner Elizabeth Banks to talk about how the brand is redefining wine culture through canned wine innovation, accessibility, sustainability, and authentic consumer connection. Elizabeth shares why Archer Roose stood out to her immediately, how the brand is changing perceptions around canned wine quality, and why she believes wine should feel approachable — not intimidating. If you're a founder, operator, retailer, or beverage enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights on brand building, category disruption, and modern consumer behavior. 

From Music to Martinis: How Robin Thicke Created Mima

Robin Thicke joins the Pour Decisions Podcast with Dino Sarti to break down the creation of Mima — a new ready-to-drink martini brand built around low-calorie indulgence, elevated branding, and bold flavor innovation.
In this episode, Robin shares how Mima came together at “lightning speed,” why the espresso martini category was missing something in the market, and how working with L.A. Libations accelerated the brand from idea to execution in under 6 months.
If you’re interested in beverage startups, branding, entrepreneurship, RTD trends, or celebrity-founded consumer brands — this episode is packed with insights.
 

The Realities of Venture Capital in Beverage

What actually makes a beverage brand investable?
In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Scott Guthrie of L.A. Libations and Taste Tomorrow Ventures to break down what founders need to understand about raising capital in today’s CPG environment.
From valuation discipline and profitability expectations to deal flow, strategic investors, and why “velocity matters more than vibes,” Scott shares a candid look into how experienced beverage investors evaluate opportunities.
Whether you’re raising your first round or scaling toward acquisition, this conversation is packed with insights founders rarely hear directly from investors.

Pat Bolden on Building PLEZi Hydration with Steph Curry

Before the booths, the celebrity partnerships, and the growth… there were borrowed Expo badges and zero business leads.
In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with longtime friend and beverage industry veteran Pat Bolden of L.A. Libations for a candid conversation on the early days of the business, the evolution of Expo West, and what it really takes to build brands that last.
From sneaking into Expo West with fake badges to helping scale PLEZi Hydration alongside Steph Curry and Michelle Obama, Pat shares stories, lessons, and behind-the-scenes insights from nearly three decades in beverage.
This episode is equal parts industry history, founder advice, and two longtime friends reflecting on the journey.

They Turned Bone Broth Into a Functional Soda

Sparkling. Fruity. Bone broth.
It sounds unexpected… until you try it.
In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Ashley Leeper and Nick Foreste, Founders of Marrō, to break down how they created the first-ever ready-to-drink sparkling bone broth beverage.
From endurance recovery and gut health to protein innovation and retail expansion, Ashley and Nick share how they turned a traditionally niche wellness product into something people actually crave drinking.
This is one of the most unique functional beverage concepts we’ve seen—and a masterclass in solving consumer friction through formulation and branding.

How TikTok Shop Is Changing CPG Forever

TikTok Shop isn’t just another e-commerce platform. It’s changing how brands get discovered.
In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with John Nadiranto, Beverage Lead at TikTok Shop, to break down how social commerce is reshaping the beverage and CPG industry.
From affiliate-driven growth and viral UGC to fulfillment, creator matchmaking, and why TikTok Shop operates completely differently from Amazon, John shares what founders actually need to know to win on the platform.
If you’re building a brand in today’s market, this conversation is essential.

How Momentum Brewery Is Reinventing Beer Without Alcohol

Non-alcoholic beer used to feel like a compromise. Not anymore.
In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Lars Dahlhaus, Founder & CEO of Momentum Brewery, to break down how non-alcoholic beer is evolving—and why Germany is leading the way.
From a brewing method that skips dealcoholization entirely to a market where NA beer already makes up ~10% of total beer consumption, Lars shares what the U.S. can learn from Europe’s deep-rooted beer culture.
If you think non-alc is just a trend, this conversation will change your perspective.

From $1.5B in Supplements to Disrupting Drinks

Most founders are told to raise capital, stay focused, and play it safe. Brad Woodgate did the opposite. In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with the CEO of Joyburst to break down a 25-year entrepreneurial journey—from building a $1.5B supplement business to scaling a beverage brand past $100M… all without taking VC money. From pitching Costco with a Vanilla Ice song to launching products directly into major retailers, Brad shares an unfiltered look at what it really takes to win in CPG.

How Plaid Circus Is Reinventing the Non-Alc Category

What if non-alcoholic didn’t mean compromise?
In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Maile Pacheco, General Manager & Partner at Plaid Circus, to break down the next evolution of non-alcoholic beverages.
From sourcing retired bourbon barrels on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to creating complex, flavor-forward spirits without alcohol, Plaid Circus is redefining what non-alc can be.
This isn’t about mimicking alcohol. It’s about building something entirely new.

AI vs. Deductions: The New Way to Protect Your Margins

Most CPG founders are focused on growth. But what if the real opportunity is fixing the leaks? In this episode of Pour Decisions, Dino Sarti sits down with Komal Devjani, Founder of Revya AI, to break down one of the most overlooked problems in the beverage and CPG industry: invalid deductions. From UNFI and KeHE deductions to missed recoveries and margin leakage, Komal explains how brands are unknowingly leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table—and how AI is changing that. If you’re building a brand, managing retail relationships, or thinking about cash flow, this conversation will change how you look at your business.