Jason B James is a photographer and graphic artist celebrated for his bold, surreal, and concept-driven style. He transforms unconventional subjects into vivid, imaginative visuals that resonate with both local and global audiences. With a signature blend of creativity and practicality, Jason approaches every project—whether a product campaign, hospitality rebrand, CPG shoot, or food editorial—as a chance to tell a story, push creative boundaries, and keep the process collaborative and fun.

Inside the episode

• How Jason carved out a niche photographing standout visuals for CPG food brands

• His strategy for creating scroll-stopping, story-driven brand imagery

• Expert advice for emerging founders preparing for their first professional photoshoot

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.

Lauren Hodgen is a passionate food enthusiast and the creative force behind Citrus Diaries Studio—a design and social media agency dedicated to elevating food and beverage brands. Since launching her platform in 2018, Lauren has blended her personal wellness journey with creative strategy, building a business rooted in storytelling, authenticity, and visual impact. Today, she helps emerging brands show up with clarity and consistency across digital channels.

Inside the episode

• How Lauren’s personal journey with wellness and food led to launching Citrus Diaries Studio

• Her approach to creating brand visuals and content that connects

• Advice for food & beverage founders trying to stand out online and grow community organically

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.

Morgan Murdock is a digestive health dietitian turned founder on a mission to make gut-friendly foods more joyful, accessible, and delicious. Through her brand, Unbothered Foods, she’s reimagining snack time with sourdough crackers designed specifically for the GI community. With deep expertise in nutrition and a passion for people, Morgan is creating products that support digestive health and a positive relationship with food—without compromising flavor or fun.

Inside the episode

• How Morgan’s work as a digestive health dietitian led to the creation of Unbothered Foods

• The strategy behind formulating a cracker that’s both gut-friendly and delicious

• Practical advice for first-time founders bringing a health-forward product to market

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.

In a recent episode, I talked with Joe Rotondo, Founder & CEO of Smearcase, shared the story behind launching FroCo—the world’s first frozen cottage cheese dessert. The idea was born during marathon training when Joe couldn't find a high-protein ice cream option. This led him to experiment with cottage cheese and eventually developing a product that offers 40 grams of protein per pint.

Smearcase quickly scaled from a kitchen experiment to being stocked in over 100 stores, including Whole Foods and Sprouts, within a year. The brand's name, "Smearcase," is derived from the German word "schmierkäse," meaning cottage cheese, reflecting its roots and mission to redefine healthy indulgence.

This is a great episode for an emerging brand founder (especially in frozen)!

Inside the episode

• The Origin Story: How a post-run craving during marathon training sparked the idea for a high-protein frozen treat made with cottage cheese

• From Kitchen to Shelves: The rapid journey of Smearcase—from homemade experiments to landing in 100+ stores, including Whole Foods and Sprouts, in under a year

• Retail Breakthrough: The tradeshow that catapulted Smearcase into retail distribution

• Advice for Founders: Joe’s unfiltered insights for emerging CPG founders—especially those navigating the complexities of launching a frozen product

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.

I sat down with Aaron Gatti, a first-generation Italian American and the founder of Brami, a brand that’s reinventing Italian slow-food traditions for the modern consumer. Aaron’s passion for heritage, health, and innovation shows up in every part of Brami—from their Lupini Bean Snacks to their Italian Protein Pasta, both made in Italy and packed with plant-based protein.

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to bring something new (and meaningful) to shelf, how Brami balances authenticity with convenience, and the power of staying true to your roots while building a brand that resonates with today’s shoppers.

If you're creating a better-for-you product or trying to bring a cultural twist to the CPG space, you’ll want to hear this one.

Inside the episode

• Aaron’s story of being first-generation Italian American with a deep connection to Italian food culture

• Brami’s mission to modernize Italy’s ancient food wisdom for today’s health-conscious consumer

• Why they focuse on nutrient density + cultural authenticity as a unique positioning in the crowded snack and pasta categories

• Aaron’s advice to an emerging brand founder

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.

In this episode, I chatted with Esther Levy, a powerhouse in the natural and organic food & beverage space. With a BS in Food Science and an MBA, Esther brings deep industry knowledge and strategic insight—helping brands streamline operations and increase profitability.

As the founder of Evolve Food Consultants, Esther supports CPG brands across every operational touchpoint: from co-manufacturer searches and food safety to product development, supply chain management, and third-party certifications. Her approach helps early-stage and growing brands avoid costly missteps and build a foundation for long-term success.

Esther has worked with standout brands like:

• Good Girl Snacks – creators of the cult-favorite Hot Girl Picklers

• HomemadeISH – elegant, delicious, and easy-to-make cookies

• Tatsu Tea – performance matcha tea for energy and refreshment

• Popped Republic (Chesapeake Bay Snacks) – indulgent popcorn done right

• Craize – Latin-inspired non-GMO snack crackers

• Yough – the original yogurt pizza: more protein, fewer calories

• Miami Twist Hummus – clean-label hummus with bold flavor

• CoAqua – the coconut water people swear is the best they’ve ever tasted

If you’re a CPG founder navigating operations, scaling production, or searching for the right partners, this episode is a must-listen!

Inside the episode

• Esther’s journey into the natural & organic CPG world—and how she became a behind-the-scenes powerhouse

• The story behind launching Evolve Food Consultants

• How she helps early-stage brands avoid costly mistakes and scale with confidence

• Esther’s top advice for emerging food & beverage founders navigating growth

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.

Sunnie offers wholesome, grab-and-go snacks made exclusively with clean, whole food ingredients for today's busy families. Every Sunnie product is crafted without seed oils, refined sugars, or artificial additives, making it easy to nourish your family.

Sunnie was born from a shared mission between two moms, Lisette and Katy, who wanted better for their families. Frustrated by endless grocery store searches for packaged snacks made with clean, simple ingredients, they decided to create what they couldn't find.

Katy Tucker, Co-founder brings us behind the brand!

Inside the episode

• Katy’s professional background before becoming a CPG founder

• Early production days of Sunnie to receiving a purchase order from Target

• Sunnie’s brand strategy to expanding into larger retailers

• Katy’s advice for an emerging brand founder

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.

Besto is the first ever nut-free, seed oil-free, gluten- free pesto. Kaureen Randhawa created Besto because of her lifelong nut allergy and passion for better for you, whole food ingredients. Kaureen brings us behind-the-scenes of how she launched and now scaling Besto!

Inside the episode

• Kaureen’s career before becoming a CPG founder (and why she made the leap!)

• Besto’s brand story (it started with a logo on Canva)

• Besto’s brand strategy of bringing the first ever nut-free, seed oil-free, gluten- free pesto to market

• Kaureen’s advice for an emerging brand founder

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.