The Pour Decisions Podcast

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

Taste, Culture & Hustle: The PSR Brands Strategy Behind Patria Energy Drink with Patricio O Cano

The Hispanic energy drink movement is HERE — and Patria is leading the charge.
In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Patricio O. Cano of PSR Brands for a deep dive into how Patria became the only energy drink authentically speaking to one of the fastest-growing and most influential consumer groups in the U.S.
Patricio breaks down:
How Patria connects meaningfully with Hispanic consumers
Why cultural fluency beats marketing gimmicks
Lessons from going “big fast,” resetting, and rebuilding strategically
The future of Patria, P10 Performance, and PSR’s growing portfolio
The flavors, innovations, and category expansion PSR is betting on next
Whether you're a founder, marketer, or just obsessed with beverage innovation, this is a masterclass in authentic brand-building and consumer connection.

How Dean Mosca from INFUSD Cracked the Code on the Future of Functional Beverage

What if you could put omega-3, vitamin D, DHA, and creatine into water — with zero taste, zero smell, and full stability? That’s exactly what INFUSD is building, and today Dean Mosca joins Dino Sarti to break down the technology that’s about to transform the entire functional beverage space.
From his early days creating financial marketing programs, to building and selling companies, to discovering a breakthrough process that makes previously “impossible” functional ingredients fully soluble — Dean’s journey is a masterclass in reinventing yourself, staying curious, and spotting once-in-a-generation opportunities.
If you’re in CPG, supplements, functional beverages, or ingredient innovation… this episode is a must-watch.

Craig Dubitsky’s Entrepreneurial Chaos: Trading, Moving, Losing $250K & Winning Big

What happens when one of the most creative minds in CPG sits down with Dino Sarti? You get a conversation packed with unbelievable stories — from calling Coca-Cola every day for 2 years, to arbitraging commodities in his 20s, to launching multiple beloved consumer brands.
In this episode of The Pour Decisions Podcast, Craig Dubitsky (Founder of hello®, Co-Founder of eos, investor, creator, and now the visionary behind Happy Coffee) walks us through an entrepreneurial journey unlike anything you’ve heard before. He calls it luck. Everyone else calls it genius.
Expect humor, heart, hustle, and the best career detours you’ll ever hear.
Follow Pour Decisions Podcast for unfiltered conversations with the brightest minds in beverage, CPG, and entrepreneurship.

The Beverage Revolution No One Is Talking About — Until Now with Ryan Lewendon of Gianuzzi Lewendon

The CPG rules are changing — tariffs, MAJA, clean-label trends, and shifting consumer behavior are officially rewriting the playbook.
In this fast-paced conversation, Dino Sarti and powerhouse CPG attorney Ryan Lewendon of Gianuzzi Lewendon break down why now is one of the greatest eras ever for emerging brands to win.
Ryan dives deep into the future of beverage, the rise of clean-label supplements, under-appreciated deal structures, and the misunderstood megatrends reshaping coffee, tea, energy, non-alc, and functional categories.
If you’re building, scaling, or investing in CPG — this episode is required listening.

Better Sour's Flavor-First Approach That's Dominating Amongst Gen Z & Millenial Consumers

Candy isn’t just for kids anymore — and Better Sour is proof.
In this energetic episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti sits down with Bella Hughes and Samira Far, the lifelong best friends behind Better Sour — a fast-growing gummy brand redefining what “adult candy” can taste like.
They break down how they went from Hawaii roots to big exits, why the U.S. gummy market desperately needed global flavors, and how Better Sour went from 9 Erewhon doors to 3,000+ retailers in under two years.
Whether you’re an emerging founder, a CPG veteran, or a flavor-obsessed foodie, this conversation is packed with real talk, founder insight, and candy industry secrets.

How Larry Trachtenbroit from Alc-A-Chino Sold a Coffee Concept to Coca Cola with ONE Customer

What do you call a founder who wrapped a Dodge Viper in his logo, sold his first brand to Coca-Cola with ONE customer, and is now spiking the entire coffee shop? You call him Larry Trachtenbroit.
In this episode of Pour Decisions Podcast, Dino Sarti, Co-Founder at LA Libations, sits down with his longtime friend Larry to unpack 25+ years of beverage chaos — from Planet Java and Slap to Coke, VEB, Fairlife, and his latest platform play, Alc-A-Chino Coffee Shop. If you’re in CPG, beverage, or just love a good “right place, right time” story, this one’s a masterclass in hustle, timing, and knowing how to make stuff actually taste good.
Larry shares how he:
Turned a tiny coffee concept into a brand Coke had to buy
Learned “big company grad school” inside The Coca-Cola system
Helped pioneer branded milk and early better-for-you platforms
Navigates energy drinks, value plays, and why function always wins
Built Alc-A-Chino by “innovating in plain sight” off Starbucks & Dunkin’