The Kara Goldin Show

Latest Episodes:

795 Alex Whitmore: Founder & CEO of Taza Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Alex Whitmore, Founder & CEO of Taza Chocolate — the pioneering craft chocolate brand known for its bold, stone-ground texture and radical transparency in sourcing.
Alex’s journey began with a single cup of traditional stone-ground chocolate in Oaxaca, Mexico — an experience that completely reshaped how he thought about food, sourcing, and business. When he returned to Boston, he and his wife Kathleen Fulton began making chocolate using the traditional methods he learned there, and Taza was born.
In this episode, Alex shares how Taza grew into one of the most values-driven chocolate companies in the U.S., why it became the first to implement third-party-certified Direct Trade cacao, and what it really means to publish exactly what farmers are paid. We also discuss how the chocolate industry has changed over the past 20 years, what’s happening behind the scenes with rising cocoa prices and supply chain pressure, and where Alex sees the future of ethical food heading next. This conversation is packed with insight for founders, operators, and anyone interested in building principled brands that challenge the status quo.

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To learn more about Alex Whitmore and Taza:
https://www.tazachocolate.com
https://www.instagram.com/tazachocolate
https://www.linkedin.com/company/taza-chocolate/

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/795

794 Heather Andersen: Co-Founder of New York Pilates Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Heather Andersen, Co-Founder of New York Pilates — the cult-favorite reformer studio that helped define modern Pilates culture in New York and beyond.
Heather’s journey began as a professionally trained ballerina, where Pilates was first introduced as part of her classical training. After an injury shifted her path away from dance, she spent years teaching privately and deepening her expertise under industry leaders before identifying a major gap in the fitness landscape: the need for high-energy, results-driven group reformer classes that still honored the integrity of the Pilates method. That insight led to the launch of New York Pilates in 2013.
In this episode, Heather shares how she built a culture-driven wellness brand rooted in anatomy, precision, and thoughtful design, why the current Pilates boom has created confusion around the method, and what it takes to scale a cult-favorite fitness concept without compromising quality. We also discuss instructor training, leadership evolution, brand consistency, and where modern movement is headed next. This conversation is packed with insight for founders, operators, and anyone building enduring brands in wellness and beyond.

To learn more about Heather Andersen and New York Pilates:
https://www.instagram.com/newyorkpilates/
https://www.instagram.com/heatherandersen_/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-york-pilates/
https://www.newyorkpilates.com

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/794

793 Will Nitze: Founder & CEO of IQBAR Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Will Nitze, Founder & CEO of IQBAR — the functional nutrition brand built to support focus, energy, and performance with clean, science-backed ingredients.
Will’s journey started with a personal challenge: persistent mental fatigue in a demanding 9-to-5 and frustration with carb-heavy, ineffective food options. That experience led him to launch IQBAR in 2018, creating plant-based protein bars, hydration mixes, and instant coffees formulated with meaningful doses of brain-boosting ingredients. Today, IQBAR is a fast-growing, nine-figure brand with national distribution, including Costco.
In this episode, Will shares how he turned a performance problem into a category-defining business, what it takes to stay relevant in a crowded functional food space, and why efficacy, simplicity, and focus have guided every product decision. We also talk about crowdfunding, scaling with a lean team, and what’s next for functional nutrition heading into 2026.

To learn more about Will Nitze and IQBAR:
https://www.instagram.com/willnitze/
https://www.instagram.com/iqbar/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-nitze/
https://www.eatiqbar.com/

Sponsored By:

LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free.

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/793

792 Jen Fisher: Author of Hope Is the Strategy Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Kara welcomes Jen Fisher, global workplace wellbeing expert and bestselling author of Hope Is the Strategy — the bold new book that reframes hope as one of the most powerful leadership tools of our time.
Jen is no stranger to redefining how we work. As Deloitte’s first-ever Chief Wellbeing Officer, she helped transform the way global organizations think about human sustainability, burnout, and what it truly means to thrive. Her own experience with chronic burnout and cancer pushed her to ask deeper questions — not just about how we work, but why.
Today, as the founder of The Wellbeing Team, Jen is helping companies build cultures rooted in empathy, wellbeing intelligence, and what she calls “strategic hope.” Through her book, her podcast WorkWell, and her work with leaders around the world, Jen is showing that hope isn’t just an emotion — it’s a business imperative.
In this episode, Jen shares the story behind her burnout recovery, why wellbeing programs alone won’t fix broken systems, and how leaders at every level can start being “hope dealers” inside their companies. We dive into the difference between toxic resilience and true sustainability, why vulnerability in leadership is a superpower, and how we can all bring more humanity into how we work and lead.
A must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re running on empty — and knows there’s a better way forward.

To learn more about Jen Fisher and Hope Is the Strategy:
https://www.jen-fisher.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jenfish23/?hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-fisher-cwbo/
https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Strategy-Underrated-Transforms-Leadership/dp/1394362978

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/792

791 Elizabeth Gore: Co-Founder & President of Hello Alice Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Elizabeth Gore, President and Co-Founder of Hello Alice — the technology platform helping more than 1.5 million small business owners access capital, connections, and education so they can grow and thrive.
Elizabeth sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, finance, and impact. Alongside her co-founder Carolyn Rodz, she built Hello Alice to address one of the most persistent challenges founders face: the lack of fair, affordable access to resources — particularly for overlooked and underestimated entrepreneurs. Through Hello Alice, Elizabeth has helped reshape how small businesses engage with banks, corporations, and financial institutions, while keeping founders’ real needs at the center of everything.
In this episode, Elizabeth shares how Hello Alice was built from the ground up, the early challenges of earning trust and scale, and what she’s learned from supporting millions of entrepreneurs across industries and geographies. We discuss access to capital, the evolving role of financial institutions, leadership lessons from rapid growth, and what founders should be thinking about as we head into 2026 and beyond. This conversation is packed with insight for entrepreneurs, operators, and anyone focused on building more inclusive systems that actually work.

To learn more about Elizabeth Gore and Hello Alice:
https://www.instagram.com/helloalice_com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethgoreusa/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/helloalice/
https://helloalice.com

Sponsored By:

LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free.

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/791

790 Darren Litt: Co-Founder & CEO of Hiya Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Darren Litt, Co-Founder & CEO of Hiya — the leading children’s health brand reimagining kids’ wellness with science-backed, pediatrician-formulated vitamins and supplements.
Darren’s journey began with a simple but powerful parental insight: most kids’ vitamins are essentially candy. Determined to do better, he set out to build a brand rooted in trust, transparency, and real nutrition. The result is Hiya—a profitable, fast-growing, largely bootstrapped DTC brand that removed sugar, artificial additives, and unnecessary fillers from children’s vitamins, while rethinking everything from formulation to packaging and the overall “kidsperience.”
In this episode, Darren shares how a personal frustration turned into a category-defining company, the early challenges of building in a crowded and regulated wellness space, and the pivotal decisions that shaped Hiya’s trajectory. We also talk about scaling a mission-driven consumer brand, creating long-term trust with parents, navigating a major majority-stake acquisition, and what Darren sees next for the future of children’s wellness. This conversation is packed with insight for founders, operators, and anyone building brands with purpose.

To learn more about Darren Litt and Hiya:
https://hiyahealth.com
https://www.instagram.com/hiyahealth/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-litt-3057402/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/gethiya/

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/790

789 Jacob Zuppke: CEO of Whisker Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Jacob Zuppke, CEO of Whisker — the company behind Litter-Robot, one of the most iconic and trusted products in modern pet care.
Under Jacob’s leadership, Whisker has grown into a multi-hundred-million-dollar consumer technology company, surpassing $1 billion in revenue over the past four years—all without raising a single dollar of venture capital. What began as a niche solution for cat owners has evolved into a category-defining brand built on product obsession, deep customer insight, and a relentless focus on design, performance, and autonomy.
In this episode, Jacob shares how Whisker transformed convenience into connected care, why data and design are shaping the future of intelligent pet care, and what it takes to build a true consumer love brand outside Silicon Valley. We also dive into scaling DTC alongside retail, leading without VC pressure, and how Whisker’s newest generation of products is moving beyond cleaning into personalized, proactive pet health. This conversation is packed with insights for founders, operators, and anyone building enduring consumer brands.

To learn more about Jacob Zuppke and Whisker:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobzuppke/ LinkedIn
https://www.instagram.com/jzuppke/
https://www.instagram.com/thelitterrobot/
https://www.whisker.com

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/789

788 Karena Dawn: Co-Founder of Tone It Up Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Karena Dawn — Co-Founder of Tone It Up, founder of The Big Silence, New York Times bestselling author, wellness entrepreneur, and mental health advocate.
Karena’s journey is anything but linear. What began as a passion for fitness and community grew into Tone It Up, one of the most influential women’s wellness platforms in the world. But behind the brand is a deeply personal story shaped by growing up with a mother living with severe mental illness, navigating her own struggles with depression and addiction, and learning how building something meaningful can also be an act of healing.
In this episode, Karena opens up about breaking generational silence, the reality of building a business while still finding yourself, and why telling the truth became non-negotiable. We talk about ownership, leadership, mental health, and the powerful full-circle moment of reclaiming Tone It Up. This is an honest, moving conversation for founders, leaders, and anyone learning how to build strength — personally and professionally.

To learn more about Karena Dawn and Tone It Up:
https://www.toneitup.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karena-dawn-27b88819a/

Sponsored By:

LinkedIn Jobs - Head to LinkedIn.com/KaraGoldin to post your job for free.

Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/788

787 Shan Berries: CEO of Shades By Shan Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Shan Berries, CEO of Shades By Shan — the inclusive, high-quality beauty brand built on representation, community, and real impact.
Shan’s journey is one of reinvention and purpose. After more than a decade in TV and radio, she took a leap of faith in 2018 and co-founded Shades By Shan with her sister Erika. Inspired by growing up with a single mother, Shan built the brand with giving back at its core. A portion of every purchase supports single parents through the MamaBerries Foundation, which has already helped more than 100 families across the U.S. Along the way, Shades By Shan has earned national recognition, viral bestsellers, and placement in major retailers including JCPenney.
In this episode, Shan shares how she pivoted from media to entrepreneurship, how mission and community can fuel brand loyalty, and what it really takes to stand out in a crowded beauty category. We talk about building products people love, scaling with purpose, the realities of retail and virality, and why representation in beauty still matters deeply. This conversation is packed with insight for founders, creators, and anyone building a brand rooted in authenticity and impact.

To learn more about Shan Berries and Shades By Shan:
https://www.instagram.com/shanberries/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanberries/
https://www.shadesbyshan.com

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/787

786 Jen Hardell: Founder & CEO of Subourbon Life Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we welcome Jen Hardell, Founder & CEO of Subourbon Life — the bourbon-based ready-to-drink cocktail brand redefining how—and when—America’s native spirit is enjoyed.
Jen is a visionary founder with deep operational experience in consumer and spirits businesses. With Subourbon Life, she identified a clear gap in the fast-growing RTD category: while vodka and tequila dominated shelves, bourbon lacked a lighter, more social, lifestyle-forward expression. She set out to change that by creating non-carbonated bourbon cocktails made with real aged bourbon, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, and a strong emphasis on community through the brand’s “Find Your People” philosophy.
In this episode, Jen shares how she translated operational rigor into building a founder-led spirits brand, the challenges of bringing an RTD bourbon from concept to shelf, and how Subourbon Life balances quality, consistency, and scalability in a crowded market. From flavor development and branding to distribution and leadership, this conversation offers valuable insight for founders, operators, and anyone curious about innovation in CPG and spirits.

To learn more about Jen Hardell and Subourbon Life:
https://www.subourbonlife.com
https://www.instagram.com/drinksubourbon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-hardell-287715334/

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Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/786