ReGen Brands Podcast

• #101 - Brady Barnstable @ Seven Sundays - Regenerating Cereal Supply Chains Without Marketing Claims

  On this episode, we’re joined by Brady Barnstable, Co-Founder and COO of Seven Sundays. Seven Sundays is a breakfast brand on a mission to restore human and planetary health, one cereal bowl at a time.  Brady takes us back to the early days of muesli inspiration in New Zealand, which inspired him and his wife, Hannah, to leave fast-paced careers in NYC and bootstrap a new CPG brand. We get deep into the hard realities of sourcing regenerative and upcycled ingredients, the missing middle of processing infrastructure, and what it takes to scale a direct trade program at the farm level. Brady also shares how Seven Sundays has resisted the temptation to “certify and shout” — instead focusing on building long-term, meaningful grower relationships and systems-level impact. You’ll hear why they’re bullish on sunflowers, oats, and sorghum in the Midwest, how they're navigating club and conventional retail, and what their new “Come Afield With Us” campaign is doing to bring consumers along their regenerative journey. This episode is packed with candid insight, supply chain wisdom, and big-picture optimism.  Episode Highlights: 🥣 Honeymoon to whole grains – how a bowl of muesli sparked a new cereal brand. 🌾 The cereal aisle of 2011 vs. today – and why Seven Sundays had to evolve to survive. 🔄 Why pivoting from product purity to consumer familiarity was key to growth. 🧑‍🌾 Building regenerative supply chains by starting with the processor, not the farmer. 🚛 Truckload volumes = regenerative scalability. Why size matters in supply planning. 🧼 Food safety friction – an underdiscussed barrier to more direct trade, regen sourcing 🌻 The Midwest sunflower model – 2,000+ acres and growing around a regional processor 🥄 Why Seven Sundays avoids certification-led regen claims on-pack (for now) 📦 Channel mix strategy – how club retail like Costco helped unlock profitability 🚜 “Come Afield With Us” – the brand’s new campaign to share their regenerative journey Links: Seven Sundays Whole Grain Milling Co. Lakewinds Food Co-op Sustainable Food Lab Soil Carbon Initiative (SCI) Kiss the Ground (Film) Practical Farmers of Iowa Heavenly Hunks / E&C Snacks Quinn Snacks If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

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• #100 - Lessons from the Frontlines, Laughs Behind the Scenes, and Bold Bets for the Future of Regen CPG

  What’s up, y’all - welcome to a very special episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast. This isn’t just another episode—it’s episode 100. That’s right… triple digits.  And today, Kyle and I are taking a moment to reflect on everything this show has become since that first conversation back in 2022. We’re talking about where the regenerative CPG space was when we started and just how far it’s come—more brands, more awareness, more momentum.  We’ll share the behind-the-scenes stuff too… the quirks, the laughs, the chaos, and the little rituals that have shaped our journey. We’re giving out some fun awards—like grittiest guest, sweatiest guest, best background, and most listened-to episode—and yes, we roast ourselves a bit too. We’ll also be sharing the regen products we’ve been loving lately and making some bold predictions about what’s going to happen between now and episode 200. But most importantly, we’re taking stock of what we’ve learned, where the industry’s headed, and why we’re still all-in on this work. Whether you’ve listened to one episode or all one hundred, we’re so grateful you’re here.  Episode Highlights:   🎉 100 episodes in! Our journey from “do we even have enough brands?” to a thriving regen CPG ecosystem. 🌱 Regen CPG growth: From curiosity to conviction — how the landscape has transformed since 2022. 🧠 Learning out loud: Reflections on building expertise while staying humble and accessible. 🛠️ Industry transparency: Nearly every guest has said, “we’re an open book,” and that’s helped shape the show’s impact. 📈 Consumer trends are strong: People want better, healthier food — and regen products are gaining ground. 😂 Funniest podcast moments: From tree-climbing kids to backdrop bloopers and breakfast on air.   🧂 The Roast Is On: Self-aware burns, verbal quirks, podcast habits — and all the inside jokes. 🏆 Regen Awards: Toughest guest, coolest background, sweatiest guest, and even best facial hair. 🌍 Global reach: From listeners abroad to farm visits on honeymoons—this show’s community is wide and deep. 🔮 What’s next: Predictions, hopes, and big questions for the next 100 episodes and the future of regen CPG. Links: All Podcast Episodes (Searchable) Alexandre Family Farms Kefir Kalona Supernatural Sour Cream Big Picture Foods El Nacho Tortilla Chips Philosopher Foods Little Sesame Preserved Lemon Hummus Wild Idea Bison Filet Maui Nui Meat Sticks If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

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• #99 - Carolyn Gahn @ Applegate - Applegate Bets Big On Regenerative Beef

  On this episode, we’re joined by Carolyn Gahn who is the Senior Director of Mission & Advocacy at Applegate.   Applegate has just announced that they’ve achieved their ambitious goal to source 100% of the beef in their beef hot dogs from certified regenerative grasslands. By implementing this change, Applegate is helping to transition 10.8 million acres of grasslands to certified regenerative.   Carolyn leads Applegate’s regenerative agriculture initiatives, and she joins us to share how the brand has gone from a single experimental product to transforming its entire hot dog portfolio to be certified regenerative.   We explore what made Applegate double down on regen even when consumers didn’t fully understand it, and how this shift reflects the brand's long-standing mission of “changing the meat we eat.” Carolyn gives us a transparent look at the supply chain complexity, the multiple certifications chosen, and how Applegate’s position within Hormel is actually helping move regen efforts forward at scale.   We also dig into Applegate’s nutrient density testing and human health trials, their efforts to create true market signals for farmers, and how storytelling is evolving to make regen accessible and meaningful for everyday consumers.   Episode Highlights:   🌭 Applegate went all-in: The entire beef hot dog portfolio is now certified regenerative—ROC and a custom standard for non-organic lines.   🤯 Consumer confusion ≠ deterrent: Despite low consumer understanding of “regen,” Applegate committed to the transformation anyway.   💡 Do Good Dog learnings: Applegate's first regen product provided critical consumer insights—even if the SKU itself wasn’t the final solution.   🧬 Nutrient density & health trials: Applegate is conducting a human health study to compare regenerative vs. conventional beef on health biomarkers.   🧠 Consumer education strategy: The team is shifting toward messaging rooted in proxies like grass-fed and biodiversity—not soil science lectures.   🏆 Hormel backing regen: Carolyn confirms Hormel is fully supportive—proving big food can be part of the regen solution.   🧩 Collaborative supply chain: From aggregators to fashion brands, Applegate is working across sectors to support whole-animal utilization.   🌱 Farmer-first mindset: The team is focused on building systems that work with long-term supplier relationships and localized solutions.   🔍 Certification clarity: Applegate requires third-party certifications for all claims—driving integrity while acknowledging standard complexity.   📈 Beyond beef: Applegate is carefully evaluating pork, poultry, and feed systems to expand regen thoughtfully and meaningfully.   Links: Applegate Applegate Beats 2025 Regenerative Goal, Transitions All Beef Hot Dogs to 100% Certified Regenerative Beef Hormel Foods Regenerative Organic Certified Land to Market Hickory Nut Gap Kettle & Fire EOV (Ecological Outcome Verification) Bionutrient Food Association The Hormel Institute If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

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• #98 - Cole Mannix @ Old Salt Co-Op - Montana’s Multi-Faceted Regenerative Meat Brand

  On this episode, we are joined by Cole Mannix who is the Founder and President of Old Salt Co-Op.   Old Salt Co-Op is supporting regenerative agriculture with a collection of vertically integrated businesses bringing regeneratively raised meat to consumers. The Old Salt brand was created by a group of family ranches in Montana to provide a better food system and future for their land, their animals, and their customers.   Old Salt sells meat direct-to-consumers online, they operate two restaurants in Helena, Montana, and they’re also operating and acquiring meat processing facilities in the region. All with the goal of selling damn fine Montana meat based on one simple idea: land is kin.   In this episode, Cole details why these family ranches created Old Salt in search of a better alternative to the commodity market, why their focus is to turn consumers into citizens, and how their model can eventually triple rancher margins by creating equity upside for producers.   We chat with Cole about the why and how behind the complex Old Salt ecosystem of enterprises, the legendary Old Salt Festival coming up in June, why he wants to start a grain-finished program, and so much more.   Episode Highlights:   🤝 Why 3 ranching families united to start the brand 💥 Their unique corporate structure and multiple businesses 🔥 Why land and community are the same thing 🐺 How their ranching partners co-exist with wolves 💭 Building an experiential brand not tied to claims or certifications 👀 Their plans to add a grain-finished beef offering 🤯 Why downstream consolidation is the problem - not production 👎 Regulatory and financial barriers preventing regional meat processing 💯 Turning customers into citizens 👉 Their plans to triple rancher margins   Links: Old Salt Co-Op Old Salt Festival Savory Institute Holistic Management International Ranching For Profit Le Pigeon Lazy Susan Carman Ranch Cairnspring Mills Range Revolution Dorito Effect End of Craving Meat Eater Steward If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

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• #97 - Will & Jenni Harris @ White Oak Pastures - The Original Regenerative Brand

  On this episode, we are joined by Will and Jenni Harris from White Oak Pastures, which may very well be the original and very first regenerative brand. White Oak Pastures is a 160-year-old, zero-waste, regenerative farm that raises 10 species of animals living in symbiotic relationships with each other and the land. Starting in 1995, the farm transitioned away from industrial agriculture techniques and began operating their farm as a living ecosystem.  As a brand, White Oak has been a pioneer in American grass-fed beef production, selling both Publix and Whole Foods their first domestic-supplied grass-fed beef over a decade ago. Today, White Oak operates a myriad of businesses at their home ranch in Bluffton, Georgia with a team of 160 people and their products are sought out by customers in 48 of the 50 states. In this episode, Will shares his journey from industrial cattleman to regenerative innovator, Jenni details how the business has shifted from grocery to e-commerce, and both of our guests share their story with their trademark transparency, humility, and Southern charm. Will and Jenni highlight the need for consumer-driven change in agriculture, Jenni shares how being on The Joe Rogan Experience has affected their business, and Will takes us behind the scenes of producing his book, A Bold Return To Giving A Damn. Episode Highlights: 🔥 Was White Oak Pastures the first regenerative brand? 💥 160 Years, 5 Generations, & A Bold Return To Giving A Damn 👀 How White Oak Pastures almost had a different name 💡 Will’s journey from industrial to regenerative agriculture ♻️ Vertical integration, endless enterprises, and zero-waste processing 🍗 Why White Oak produces and sells unprofitable poultry 🚀 How COVID and being on Rogan boosted their business 📚 Why Will wrote a book and how its been received 🥩 Domestic vs imported beef and dumb labeling laws 🛒 Why food system change must be consumer-led Links: White Oak Pastures A Bold Return To Giving A Damn The Center for Agricultural Resilience (CFAR) Internship Program FOND Bone Broth Figure Ate Joe Rogan Experience #2062 - Will & Jenni Harris Joe Rogan Experience #1893 - Will Harris Donate to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

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