ReGen Brands Podcast

On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, AC and Kyle sit down to record together in person for the very first time – and for the final episode of the show. We reflect on the full journey of ReGen Brands, from a spontaneous idea to more than 119 podcast episodes, a growing regenerative CPG community, and the launch of two non-profits dedicated to supporting regenerative brands. Along the way, we share the wins we’re most proud of, the impact the community made possible, and the lessons we learned building organizations to support the movement. We also open up about what didn’t work. From strategy and fundraising challenges to the broader macroeconomic headwinds facing regenerative brands, we walk through the real reasons behind the decision to shut down the ReGen Brands Coalition and the ReGen Brands Institute. Finally, we zoom out to explore the current state of regenerative CPG and where the movement might go next. From retailer incentives and path-to-purchase education to brand collaboration and the future of regenerative claims, we share our honest predictions for what it will take to unlock the next phase of growth.   Episode Highlights: 📈 How far regenerative CPG has come since 2022 🏆 The biggest wins from the ReGen Brands journey 🧩 The real reasons we’re shutting it down 📍 Where the movement stands right now 🔮 Our bold predictions for the future   Links: ReGen Brands Podcast ReGen Brands Coalition ReGen Brands Institute  JellyShot Regenerative Organic Certified® Regenified Land to Market A Greener World Soil Carbon Initiative (SCI) Expo West (Natural Products Expo West) Whole Foods Market Force of Nature Maui Nui Venison Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we sit down with Stacy Cushenbery, Senior Manager for Global Regenerative Agriculture at Oatly, to unpack how one of the world’s most recognizable plant-based brands is tackling regeneration at scale. We explore why Oatly chose an “equivalent acres” approach instead of chasing identity-preserved sourcing, and how that decision balances procurement flexibility with landscape-level impact. We dive into why mill partners are the hidden backbone of their program — organizing farmers, shaping agronomy plans, and making regen real on the ground. Stacy shares the nuts and bolts of what practices Oatly is paying farmers to adopt, how much support they receive, and what the company has learned about building trust and iteration into the process. And finally, we go inside the business model — how Oatly calculated program costs down to a cost-per-liter of oat milk and embedded those expenses directly into procurement budgets. It’s a conversation about pragmatism meeting ambition, about turning lofty sustainability goals into operational reality, and about how brands can work across systems to create genuine impact. Episode Highlights: 🌍 Working towards system-level change in their regional supply sheds 🌾 Incentivizing regen practices in their two main sourcing regions 💡 Choosing mass balance impact over a segregated sourcing approach 🤝 Partnering with mills as the backbone of farmer engagement 🧑‍🌾 Supporting farmers with flexible, farmer-choice practice menus 🌱 Incentivizing farmers with per-acre payments for practice adoption 📈 Mapping sustainability costs down to cost per liter of oat milk 🛠 Embedding regen incentive costs into the procurement budget 📺 Educating consumers through authentic farmer storytelling 🎯 Calling for recognition of the true cost of food to drive change Links: Oatly RegrowGrain Millers 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

On this episode, we're digging deep into why measuring soil carbon is so essential but so difficult, and what it takes to make it faster, cheaper, and easier. We’re joined by Chris Tolles, Co-Founder and CEO of Yard Stick, a soil carbon measurement company that's helping unlock the data needed to scale regenerative agriculture by affordably and accurately delivering the ground-truth data that proves the ROI of regenerative practices. Chris walks us through the graph that convinced him soil carbon was the climate solution to bet on — and why most current measurement methods are too expensive, too slow, or too inaccessible to meet the moment. You'll learn how Yard Stick's field-based spectroscopy technology changes the game, and why ground-level measurement will always matter more than watching from space. We also explore how Yard Stick is working with carbon project developers, land funds, and food brands — why these partners want the data, how they're using it, and what outcomes its helping them achieve. Plus, Chris tells us what it actually looks like to measure soil carbon on a thousand-acre farm, he gets real about the limitations of consumer demand to spur a regenerative revolution, unpacks the driver behind the underfunding of nature-based climate solutions, and shares his perspective on what the voluntary carbon market might look like in 10 years. Episode Highlights: 🌍 Improving soil carbon measurement to help reverse climate change 🧲 The one powerful graph that created his soil carbon conviction 💰 Why measuring soil carbon costs so much today 🧪 Replacing costly lab analysis with real-time soil spectroscopy 🤝 How they work with project developers, investors, and brands 💪 Reducing supply chain volatility with soil health insights 📉 Why nature-based solutions are still underfunded 💭 What will the voluntary carbon market look like in 10 years? 👀 Unpacking the bearish case for regenerative consumer demand 🌽 Embracing paradox and finding the “both and” Links: Yard Stick   Soil Carbon Capacity + Cost Graph Image Soil Carbon Capacity + Cost Graph Study Yard Stick Probe In Action Video Yard Stick Efficacy Scientific Paper Soil Health Institute’s ECONOMICS of Soil Health Systems on 30 U.S. Farms NYC Climate Week Soil + Ag People Walk/Run Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Measurement, Reporting, Verification (MRV) Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Soil Health Institute Clear Frontier SLM Partners General Mills Organic Valley Regrow Perennial Maui Nui Sol Simple Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Indigo Ag Verra (Carbon Registry) Quantis Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU)   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

On this episode, I’m joined by Kristina Tucker, the longtime Minister of Enlightenment at The Republic of Tea.   We explore the brand’s 30-year journey from launching the first certified Organic tea in 2003 to piloting new Regenerative Organic Certified® SKUs today. Kristina shares how the company sources over 400 teas and herbs from more than 80 growing regions, and what it takes to balance innovation, ingredient integrity, and supply chain complexity at scale.   We dive into how regenerative fits into their historical sourcing evolution — from organic to biodynamic to ROC™ — and why the brand is taking a thoughtful, "wait and learn" approach to rolling out regenerative products across their massive catalog.   You’ll also hear about the product, packaging, and business decisions that have contributed to their success and longevity in the tea category, their super unique fax-based origin story, and their commitment to supporting smallholder farmers across the globe.   So pour yourself something to sip on and get ready to learn about this Republic and its Ministers, Ambassadors, Citizens, and Embassies.   Episode Highlights:   🌿 Launching the first certified Organic tea in 2003 📦 Sourcing 400+ teas and herbs from over 80 growing regions 🌍 Why they have Ministers, Ambassadors, Citizens, and Embassies 🌱 Introducing 3 new Regenerative Organic Certified® SKUs 🧑‍🌾 Supporting smallholder, single-origin herb farmers across the globe 🌾 Navigating volume constraints to responsibly scale regen sourcing 🫖 Delivering 30+ servings per SKU in shelf-efficient steel tins 📊 Offering customizable assortments for retail partners 📈 Launching 10–20 new SKUs annually 👏 Supporting female farmer leadership in Sri Lanka   Links: The Republic of Tea Ministers, Ambassadors, Citizens, and Embassies The Republic of Tea Book Regenerative Organic Certified® Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) Women of Tea Sri Lanka Program   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

On this episode, we’re talking with Isabel Washington, the founder of Laurel’s, a rapidly growing ready-to-drink coffee brand powered by regenerative A2 dairy. We dive into Isabel’s personal journey discovering A2 milk, how it transformed her relationship with dairy, and why it became the cornerstone of her brand. You’ll hear how she spotted a massive gap in the RTD coffee aisle — where 90% of products were non-dairy — and why she designed Laurel’s first three SKUs to reflect what people actually order at real coffee shops. Isabel also pulls back the curtain on the scrappy, behind-the-scenes grind of building a CPG brand from scratch — from tying up all her money in the first production run to grinding through 40 demos in 50 days at Erewhon. And we talk about the bigger picture — how content, culture, and motivated moms will determine the future of regenerative food and beverage. Episode Highlights: 💡 Isabel’s A2 dairy awakening 🥛 Reclaiming dairy for Gen Z and Millennial women 🤔 Why RTD coffee had become 90% non-dairy 🧃 Moving from idea to shelf in just 8 months 🧋 Designing SKUs around what consumers actually drink 🏪 Driving early growth with 40 demos in 50 days at Erewhon 🌱 Prioritizing regen sourcing, even without marketing claims 💵 The complexity and cost of product certifications 📈 How social media content will determine regen awareness 🛍 Why motivated mothers are the most influential shoppers Links: Laurel’s Coffee Alec’s Ice Cream McKinsey & Company Erewhon Grüns Alexander Family Farm Painterland Sisters Jimbo’s 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