Ben Goodwin of OLIPOP on Reimagining Soda, The Science of Gut Health, and Creative Formulation

Aug 15, 2024

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

A favorite soda can be a huge part of people’s identity – roughly half of the American population drinks at least one soda on a daily basis – which is why OLIPOP is completely reimagining the soda industry with its healthier, prebiotic, low sugar alternative that tastes as good – if not better – than its traditional counterparts.

Ben Goodwin has spent his entire career building the beverage industry and business skills needed to conjure great tasting flavors from great-for-you ingredients. Ben is not only OLIPOP’s co-founder, CEO, and formulator, but also a huge reason why the innovative B Corp Certified startup’s bright-colored cans are already in stores across the country.

At just 20 years old, he helped ferment (launch) a kombucha company, later founded and worked as lead formulator for kefir-based probiotic soda brand Obi, and then launched OLIPOP in 2017 with co-founder David Lester.

Hear Ben share OLIPOP’s “15-year overnight success story,” the science behind the benefits of prebiotics vs probiotics, and his lifelong quest to disrupt the soda behemoths with a sustainable, healthy alternative – which IS still a soda!

Episode Highlights

00:00 Ben Goodwin on creating functional soda

00:54 Conor Gaughan introduces Ben and OLIPOP

04:42 Rough upbringing, passion for health, and dropping out of college

11:23 Founder mythologies, key habits, and first beverage formulation

17:57 Learning to tinker, microbiology, and building a first beverage brand

25:51 What is OLIPOP, the 3rd wave of soda, and making healthy taste good

32:13 First 4 flavors, scaling to stores nationwide, and the science of microbiomes

44:40 B Corp Certification, doing good and doing well, and defining positive impact

52:52 Where to learn more (and find the closest store with OLIPOPs near you!

53:41 End credits

If you liked this, listen next to our episode with Joey Zwillinger of Allbirds