A favorite soda can be a huge part of people\u2019s identity \u2013 roughly half of the American population drinks at least one soda on a daily basis \u2013 which is why OLIPOP is completely reimagining the soda industry with its healthier, prebiotic, low sugar alternative that tastes as good \u2013 if not better \u2013 than its traditional counterparts.
Ben Goodwin has spent his entire career building the beverage industry and business skills needed to conjure great tasting flavors from great-for-you ingredients. Ben is not only OLIPOP\u2019s co-founder, CEO, and formulator, but also a huge reason why the innovative B Corp Certified startup\u2019s bright-colored cans are already in stores across the country.
At just 20 years old, he helped ferment (launch) a kombucha company, later founded and worked as lead formulator for kefir-based probiotic soda brand Obi, and then launched OLIPOP in 2017 with co-founder David Lester.
Hear Ben share OLIPOP\u2019s \u201c15-year overnight success story,\u201d the science behind the benefits of prebiotics vs probiotics, and his lifelong quest to disrupt the soda behemoths with a sustainable, healthy alternative \u2013 which IS still a soda!
Episode Highlights
00:00 Ben Goodwin on creating functional soda
00:54 Conor Gaughan introduces Ben and OLIPOP
04:42 Rough upbringing, passion for health, and dropping out of college
11:23 Founder mythologies, key habits, and first beverage formulation
17:57 Learning to tinker, microbiology, and building a first beverage brand
25:51 What is OLIPOP, the 3rd wave of soda, and making healthy taste good
32:13 First 4 flavors, scaling to stores nationwide, and the science of microbiomes
44:40 B Corp Certification, doing good and doing well, and defining positive impact
52:52 Where to learn more (and find the closest store with OLIPOPs near you!
53:41 End credits
If you liked this, listen next to our episode with Joey Zwillinger of Allbirds
More on OLIPOP PBC and Ben Goodwin:
Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone
Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify \u2013 it really makes a difference!
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.