In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott of Vdriven engages in a thought-provoking conversation with a special guest, Elliot Begoun, about the evolving landscape of the food industry. They delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs, exploring themes of resilience, innovation, and the importance of questioning the status quo. The discussion touches on the significance of board diversity, the impact of consumer behavior on business models, and the need for systemic change in the industry. With insights into the dynamics of omni-channel retail and the future of shopping, this episode offers valuable perspectives for anyone interested in the intersection of business and consumer trends. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate the complexities of the modern market and drive meaningful change.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott of Vdriven engages in a thought-provoking conversation with a special guest, Elliot Begoun, about the evolving landscape of the food industry. They delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs, exploring themes of resilience, innovation, and the importance of questioning the status quo. The discussion touches on the significance of board diversity, the impact of consumer behavior on business models, and the need for systemic change in the industry. With insights into the dynamics of omni-channel retail and the future of shopping, this episode offers valuable perspectives for anyone interested in the intersection of business and consumer trends. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate the complexities of the modern market and drive meaningful change. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott of Vdriven engages in a thought-provoking conversation with a special guest, Elliot Begoun, about the evolving landscape of the food industry. They delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs, exploring themes of resilience, innovation, and the importance of questioning the status quo. The discussion touches on the significance of board diversity, the impact of consumer behavior on business models, and the nee...

Episode 32 - Reconnected with Elliot Begoun

In this episode of the Reconnected podcast, we sit down with Laura Dickinson, a visionary leader in the natural products industry. Laura shares her journey from the corporate world to founding One Step Closer, a network dedicated to embedding purpose in business. We explore the challenges and triumphs of creating sustainable supply chains, the importance of regenerative business practices, and the power of community in driving meaningful change. Join us for an inspiring conversation about innovation, resilience, and the future of conscious capitalism.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the Reconnected podcast, we sit down with Laura Dickinson, a visionary leader in the natural products industry. Laura shares her journey from the corporate world to founding One Step Closer, a network dedicated to embedding purpose in business. We explore the challenges and triumphs of creating sustainable supply chains, the importance of regenerative business practices, and the power of community in driving meaningful change. Join us for an inspiring conversation about innovation, resilience, and the future of conscious capitalism.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this episode of the Reconnected podcast, we sit down with Laura Dickinson, a visionary leader in the natural products industry. Laura shares her journey from the corporate world to founding One Step Closer, a network dedicated to embedding purpose in business. We explore the challenges and triumphs of creating sustainable supply chains, the importance of regenerative business practices, and the power of community in driving meaningful change. Join us for an inspiring conversation about inn...

Episode 31 - Reconnected with Lara Dickinson

In this episode, we sit down with Casey Gaston, current Executive Leader of Whole Body &amp; Supplements at Whole Foods Market and former Leader of the Local and Emerging Brands program. With over 21 years at Whole Foods Market, Casey shares her path from oncology nursing to holistic wellness and supplements, ultimately stepping into a leadership role at the nation’s largest natural retailer.Casey shares valuable insights into what it truly takes for early-stage brands to succeed—from the power of purpose-driven retail to lessons learned working with emerging brands. She unpacks the vision behind Whole Foods Market’s LEAP accelerator and what helps products stand out on shelf, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the retailer’s approach to identifying and nurturing promising new brands.Get ready to be inspired as Casey shares how passion, perseverance, and strategic clarity can turn bold ideas into meaningful growth for emerging brands.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we sit down with Casey Gaston, current Executive Leader of Whole Body &amp;amp; Supplements at Whole Foods Market and former Leader of the Local and Emerging Brands program. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With over 21 years at Whole Foods Market, Casey shares her path from oncology nursing to holistic wellness and supplements, ultimately stepping into a leadership role at the nation’s largest natural retailer.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Casey shares valuable insights into what it truly takes for early-stage brands to succeed—from the power of purpose-driven retail to lessons learned working with emerging brands. She unpacks the vision behind Whole Foods Market’s LEAP accelerator and what helps products stand out on shelf, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the retailer’s approach to identifying and nurturing promising new brands.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get ready to be inspired as Casey shares how passion, perseverance, and strategic clarity can turn bold ideas into meaningful growth for emerging brands.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this episode, we sit down with Casey Gaston, current Executive Leader of Whole Body &amp; Supplements at Whole Foods Market and former Leader of the Local and Emerging Brands program.  With over 21 years at Whole Foods Market, Casey shares her path from oncology nursing to holistic wellness and supplements, ultimately stepping into a leadership role at the nation’s largest natural retailer. Casey shares valuable insights into what it truly takes for early-stage brands to succeed—from ...

Episode 30 - Reconnected with Casey Gaston (Whole Foods Market)

In this episode of The Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott sits down with Bart Jan Manten—musician-turned-entrepreneur and founder of Neolea, a premium olive oil brand born in Greece. Bart shares his unconventional path from the Dutch music scene to olive groves in Corfu, blending creativity with sharp business instincts to build a brand rooted in authenticity, innovation, and purpose.Bart opens up about transforming traditional olive oil production through cutting-edge techniques, launching the iconic white bottle, and making high-quality olive oil more accessible with Neolea’s new “Pan &amp; Plate” line. From his early influences to his work as an angel investor, Bart’s journey is a powerful reminder that our past experiences—no matter how unrelated they seem—can shape the most meaningful ventures.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of &lt;em&gt;The Reconnected Podcast&lt;/em&gt;, host Luke Abbott sits down with Bart Jan Manten—musician-turned-entrepreneur and founder of Neolea, a premium olive oil brand born in Greece. Bart shares his unconventional path from the Dutch music scene to olive groves in Corfu, blending creativity with sharp business instincts to build a brand rooted in authenticity, innovation, and purpose.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bart opens up about transforming traditional olive oil production through cutting-edge techniques, launching the iconic white bottle, and making high-quality olive oil more accessible with Neolea’s new “Pan &amp;amp; Plate” line. From his early influences to his work as an angel investor, Bart’s journey is a powerful reminder that our past experiences—no matter how unrelated they seem—can shape the most meaningful ventures.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this episode of The Reconnected Podcast, host Luke Abbott sits down with Bart Jan Manten—musician-turned-entrepreneur and founder of Neolea, a premium olive oil brand born in Greece. Bart shares his unconventional path from the Dutch music scene to olive groves in Corfu, blending creativity with sharp business instincts to build a brand rooted in authenticity, innovation, and purpose. Bart opens up about transforming traditional olive oil production through cutting-edge techniques, launchi...

Episode 29 - Reconnected with Bart Jan Manten

In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, Luke Abbott sits down with serial entrepreneur Jordan Buckner to unpack the wild, inspiring ride from his early ventures like Chopbox and Tea Squares to building Foodbevy—a platform helping food &amp; beverage founders navigate the chaos of CPG.Jordan gets real about what worked, what flopped, and the panic attack that forced him to hit pause and rethink everything. From scrappy kitchen startups to pitching major retailers with DIY packaging, this conversation dives into the hidden struggles behind “success,” the power of knowing when to pivot, and how Jordan turned failure into fuel for something bigger.

<description>&lt;p&gt;In this episode of the &lt;em&gt;Reconnected Podcast&lt;/em&gt;, Luke Abbott sits down with serial entrepreneur Jordan Buckner to unpack the wild, inspiring ride from his early ventures like Chopbox and Tea Squares to building Foodbevy—a platform helping food &amp;amp; beverage founders navigate the chaos of CPG.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jordan gets real about what worked, what flopped, and the panic attack that forced him to hit pause and rethink everything. From scrappy kitchen startups to pitching major retailers with DIY packaging, this conversation dives into the hidden struggles behind “success,” the power of knowing when to pivot, and how Jordan turned failure into fuel for something bigger. &lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this episode of the Reconnected Podcast, Luke Abbott sits down with serial entrepreneur Jordan Buckner to unpack the wild, inspiring ride from his early ventures like Chopbox and Tea Squares to building Foodbevy—a platform helping food &amp; beverage founders navigate the chaos of CPG. Jordan gets real about what worked, what flopped, and the panic attack that forced him to hit pause and rethink everything. From scrappy kitchen startups to pitching major retailers with DIY packaging, this ...

Episode 28 - Reconnected with Jordan Buckner

Welcome to the Reconnected Podcast—a home for sharing, understanding and growth for the retail grocery store industry. During each episode, we will meet an amazing member of our community as we learn about their story and jointly explore the intricacies and challenges of our supply chain. Through it all, we'll remember and honor that everything starts with the real people who spend so much of their lives supporting the retail food supply chain. We will bring together the voices of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers as we journey together to help our industry reconnect. We're excited to have you join us.&nbsp;

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