874 Jennifer Martinez: Founder of Elevation Tea Company

What does it take to turn one big idea into a $100M+ brand that lasts? On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Matt Scanlan, Co-Founder and CEO of NAADAM—the cashmere brand that started with a trip to Mongolia and a plan to rethink the industry. We talk about the $98 sweater that helped put NAADAM on the map, what consumers get wrong about cashmere, and what Matt has learned about growth, profitability, failure, and knowing when to double down—or walk away. After more than a decade of building, Matt has plenty to say about what it really takes to create a brand with staying power. This is a great conversation for anyone building something of their own. Listen here or anywhere you get your podcasts. 🎧

What if one of the biggest opportunities in consumer products is hiding in a category most people don’t even want to talk about? On today’s episode, we welcome Sam Nebel, Co-Founder, Chief Commercial Officer — and King of All Wipes — at goodwipes, the bold personal hygiene brand changing the way people think about one of the most basic routines in our lives. Sam and his team have taken flushable wipes from an overlooked category and made them fun, culturally relevant, and increasingly mainstream, with goodwipes now sold at major retailers including Target, Walmart, and Kroger. In this episode, Sam shares how goodwipes is challenging the status quo in personal hygiene, what makes a wipe actually flushable, and why “butt health” may be the next frontier of wellness. We also get into what it really takes to win in CPG — from retail velocity, category analytics, manufacturing, and supply chain to building a company in the field instead of behind a laptop. Plus, Sam shares why “team > founder,” how his philosophy of “have fun and get sh*t done” shapes the culture, and what brands can learn from goodwipes’ unexpected collaborations with OLIPOP and Liquid Death. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, CPG, retail, brand building, consumer behavior, or how to turn an overlooked category into a brand people actually want to talk about — this one’s for you. Tune in now on The Kara Goldin Show. 🎧

What happens when a doctor and surgeon with millions of followers decides the gut-health industry still isn’t getting one of the basics right? On today’s episode, we welcome Dr. Karan Rajan, Founder and CEO of LOAM — a science-backed, doctor-formulated prebiotic fiber brand rethinking how we support the gut microbiome. After more than a decade as a doctor and surgeon, Karan became one of the world’s most recognized health educators, building an audience of more than 12 million followers by making complex medical science understandable and useful. In 2025, he launched LOAM after recognizing a major gap: an estimated 95% of adults aren’t getting enough fiber. In this episode, Karan breaks down what fiber actually does for the microbiome, what most of us misunderstand about gut health, and how to separate legitimate science from wellness hype. He also shares what it’s been like going from doctor and health educator to entrepreneur — and the responsibility that comes with putting his name and medical credibility behind a product. If you’re interested in gut health, wellness, science, entrepreneurship, or what it takes to turn expertise into a company built around solving a real problem — this one’s for you. Tune in now on The Kara Goldin Show. 🎧

What if managing everyday pain didn’t have to mean pills, creams, or simply living with it? On today’s episode, we welcome Heather Sloan, Co-Founder of Heali Medical — a wellness company creating wearable, drug-free products designed to help people manage pain, recover, and keep moving. A trained chiropractor with more than a decade of experience in medical sales, Heather saw firsthand how many patients and athletes were looking for better ways to manage pain and recovery in their everyday lives. Together with Co-Founder Enwei Li, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, Heather built Heali around a different approach. Starting with kinesiology tape incorporating magnesium and menthol, Heali has expanded into products addressing muscle recovery, headaches, period pain, pelvic discomfort, and more. In this episode, Heather shares how they turned that idea into a profitable, largely self-funded business, scaled into more than 26,000 retail doors, and what she’s learned about building and selling physical products along the way. We also get into some incredible founder stories — from Dragon’s Den and Floyd Mayweather to the lengths you sometimes have to go to simply get the job done. If you’re interested in wellness, consumer products, retail growth, entrepreneurship, or what it really takes to build and scale a brand without relying heavily on outside capital — this one’s for you. Tune in now on The Kara Goldin Show. 🎧

What does it take to turn a beloved local food brand into a franchise without losing what made it special in the first place? On The Kara Goldin Show, I sit down with Dinah Bengur, Co-Founder and CEO of Pitango Gelato Franchise Co. — the artisanal gelato brand known for authentic Italian gelato and sorbet made from scratch with high-quality ingredients. We talk about why Pitango decided to franchise, what Dinah learned from working with major franchise systems before building one herself, and what entrepreneurs should really understand before buying—or building—a franchise. We also get into choosing the right franchisees, protecting quality as you scale, the economics of restaurant growth, and what makes a concept truly replicable. If you’re interested in franchising, restaurant growth, consumer brands, or what it really takes to scale a great local concept, you’ll want to hear this conversation. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧