Ep. 24 — Ecolux Goods w/ Lael Barry

Ep. 24 — Ecolux Goods w/ Lael Barry

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Lael Berry, founder of Ecolux Goods, to talk about why a 22 karat gold straw is actually one of the most practical products on the market. Lael is a 20+ year entrepreneur, former hairdresser, and survivor whose entire business exists because of what she lived through. She walked me through how a disintegrating paper straw on a rooftop in California turned into a luxury reusable brand rooted in sustainability, wellness, and impact. We also dug into her first big startup that COVID killed overnight, the fear of facing friends and family after raising money that vanished, and how that failure actually became the unlock for everything that came next. If you are a founder who is wrestling with self doubt, exposure, or what it really means to build something with purpose, this one is for you. 🎙️ We dive into: • Why gold and silver are naturally antimicrobial and how that solves the reusable straw problem nobody talks about • The moment a paper straw fell apart in her cocktail and sparked the entire brand • How our ancestors already knew this and why silverware used to actually be silver • Why she had to face her biggest fear after COVID wiped out her education startup overnight • What raising money from friends and family teaches you about failure • How being seen as an entrepreneur is the hardest personal development school you will ever attend • Why a bored Lael is a dangerous Lael and what that has to do with building startups • What 20 years of hairdressing taught her about reading rooms and holding space • Why every person should work in service for six months of their life • How Ecolux is structured as a social purpose corporation funding ocean conservation, women in business, and veteran healing through plant medicine • The difference between building a business and becoming the person who can hold what you dream about Lael is the kind of founder who reminds you that the product is just the vehicle. The real game is impact and the ripple effect you leave behind. 🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next 🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey 📍 Fast Forward Podcast #FastForwardPodcast #EcoluxGoods #Sustainability #FemaleFounders #LuxuryBrand #SocialImpact #FounderStory #Wellness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership 00:00 Introduction to EcoLux Goods and Lyle Berry 00:54 The Inspiration Behind the Golden Straw 05:03 Sourcing and Sustainability in Production 08:30 The Concept of Wellness and Grounding 13:27 Facing Failure and Learning from Experience 17:51 The Challenge of Exposure and Personal Growth 22:45 Facing Self-Doubt and Building Resilience 24:16 Grounding Practices: Yoga, Meditation, and Travel 26:29 The Importance of Wellness and Self-Care 29:35 The Transformative Power of Hairdressing 34:50 The Value of Service and Empathy 37:52 Impact-Driven Business: The Future of Ecolux 41:00 Introduction to the Podcast

Ep. 23 — brndMethod Creative Agency w/ Kelli Kelley

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Kelli Kelley, founder and CEO of brndMethod Creative Agency, to talk about why creativity and results don't have to be a tradeoff and why most businesses aren't actually ready for AI even when they think they are. Kelli started her career in PR in New York at Walmart's Grand Fade of Glory, learned communications on the job sitting in editor lunches with Vogue, Elle, and Bazaar, and eventually built her own agency in Atlanta. She has spent the last 15+ years refining a methodology that anchors every creative decision back to the actual sales process and business goals of the client. If you run a B2B business, lead a marketing team, or you're a founder trying to figure out how AI fits into your strategy without wasting budget, this episode is for you. 🎙️ We dive into: • Why the first conversation with any client starts with the sales team, not the brand • How to bring real creativity into conservative B2B without crossing into cringe • The real reason most companies aren't ready for AI yet • Why the AI twin trend missed the point of authentic content • How the brndMethod AI marketing readiness assessment exposes the gaps before strategy starts • What happens when leads go to the void because no one connected the form • Why marketing should never be hung with the responsibility of closing sales • How Kelli pivoted from traditional PR to digital after seeing the writing on the wall in 2014 • The mindset shift that happens when you stop chasing shiny objects and start asking what is this for • How to feed the algorithm without sacrificing brand integrity • Why she sees every platform update as an opportunity instead of a problem • What the next 3 to 5 years look like for agencies that actually care about brand Kelli's perspective is sharp because she has lived through every era of marketing from print PR to AI and she understands that the fundamentals never change even when the tools do. 🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next 🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey 📍 Fast Forward Podcast #FastForwardPodcast #brndMethod #MarketingAgency #B2BMarketing #AIMarketing #BrandStrategy #CreativeAgency #Entrepreneurship #Leadership 00:00 Introduction to Brand Method Creative Agency 02:35 Merging Creativity with Results 05:05 Navigating the B2B Marketing Landscape 07:53 The Importance of Consistency in Content Creation 10:31 Adapting to Industry Changes and AI 13:16 The Role of Authenticity in Marketing 15:52 Kelly's Journey to Founding Brand Method 18:34 The Shift to Digital PR 21:09 Embracing Change and AI in Marketing 24:00 Assessing Readiness for AI Integration 26:21 Understanding Sales and Marketing Alignment 30:10 The Importance of Process in Business 32:00 Future Vision for Brand Method Creative Agency 36:04 Introduction to the Podcast

Ep. 22 — Winnie & Lu w/ Haley Hoover

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Haley Hoover, founder of Winnie & Lu and creator of the Airess drying rack, to talk about what it really takes to go from a napkin sketch to retail shelves at Nordstrom. Haley spent 11 years as a professional nanny before moving into healthcare sales, business development, and practice management. When she became a mom herself, she realized most baby products had not been rethought in 15 to 20 years. That frustration turned into Winnie & Lu, a product brand built around the idea of tools that are strong, elegant, and resilient. She walks through how she designed the Airess, why she chose gold plated stainless steel and food grade silicone, and the expensive early lesson where her first manufacturer fired her for having standards that were too high. If you are building a physical product, thinking about launching something while raising kids, or navigating the real peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship, this one is packed with honest lessons you can actually use. 🎙️ We dive into: • How 11 years of nannying shaped the design of the Airess drying rack • Why most bottle racks are designed for the nursery when the baby never touches them • The napkin sketch to Fiverr CAD to engineer to Alibaba manufacturing path • Getting fired by her first manufacturer for demanding too much quality • The reality of being a woman negotiating with overseas factories • Why service businesses and product businesses are completely different animals • How to be uncomfortable with uncomfortable decisions, comfortably • The undertow metaphor for riding out the hard parts of building a business • Why motherhood and entrepreneurship use almost the same skill set • Landing Nordstrom, Bye Bye Baby, Walmart, Amazon, and JCPenney • Her vision for building a company that actually supports working parents • Why failing publicly is less scary than the fear in your own head Haley's perspective on building a product brand as a mom, without a business degree and without apologizing for her standards, is the kind of real talk more founders need to hear. 🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next 🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey 📍 Fast Forward Podcast #FastForwardPodcast #WinnieAndLu #AiressDryingRack #FounderStory #WomenInBusiness #ProductDesign #MomEntrepreneur #ConsumerProducts #Entrepreneurship #Leadership 00:00 Introduction to Haley Hoover and Winnie & Lu 01:00 The Inspiration Behind the Airess Drying Rack 03:39 Design and Functionality of the Airess Drying Rack 08:03 The Journey of Product Development 11:40 Overcoming Challenges in Manufacturing 15:12 The Entrepreneurial Mindset 18:39 Balancing Business and Personal Life 21:40 Embracing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship 27:03 Navigating Work-Life Balance as a Parent 32:17 Creating Supportive Work Environments for Parents 37:11 Future Aspirations and Business Growth 38:44 Introduction to the Podcast

Ep. 21 — Oceanview Building Group w/ Anderson Dos Santos

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Anderson Dos Santos, founder and CEO of Oceanview Building Group, to talk about how he built a healthcare construction brand that doctors actually want to refer their peers to. Anderson moved from Brazil to South Florida at 16 with zero English, learned the language (and Spanish) on construction sites, and was running entire crews within three years. From there, he built his own company and niched hard into high-end healthcare and plastic surgery buildouts. 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8] Introduction to Anderson Dos Santos 02:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=131s] Anderson's Journey from Brazil to Construction 06:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=400s] Transitioning to Entrepreneurship in Construction 10:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=611s] Niche Focus: Healthcare Construction 14:12 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=852s] Creating Unique Patient Experiences in Healthcare 18:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=1111s] Integrating Technology in Healthcare Construction 21:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=1288s] Embracing Technology in Healthcare Practices 24:19 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=1459s] Balancing Work and Personal Life 25:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=1528s] Focusing on Impactful Decisions 29:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=1758s] The Importance of Timing in Decision Making 31:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=1916s] Navigating the Fast-Paced World of AI 34:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=2051s] Leveraging AI for Efficiency 37:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=2231s] The Future of AI and Personalization 40:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFhyj8oGh8&t=2435s] Vision for Oceanview's Future

Ep. 20 — United Womens Sports NIL & Slice Sports w/ Digit Murphy

In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Digit Murphy, founder of United Women's Sports and a 40-year veteran of women's sports advocacy, to talk about what it really takes to grow women's sports from the ground up and why most people are approaching it the wrong way. Digit has done it all: coached at Brown University for over two decades, built programs from worst to first, coached professional hockey teams in the US and internationally in China, and now works at the intersection of sports, entrepreneurship, and AI to create real opportunity for women athletes. Her perspective on why women's sports shouldn't just copy the men's playbook is something every sports fan and business builder needs to hear. Whether you're a sports fan, an entrepreneur looking at undervalued markets, or someone who cares about equity and opportunity, this conversation will shift the way you think about the business of women's sports. 🎙️ We dive into: * How being told "you can't play, but you can keep score" at age 9 became the catalyst for Digit's lifelong mission * Why she waited three years just to wear a jersey again and how that shaped everything * The journey from Cornell hockey recruit to 24 years coaching at Brown University * How Brown's women's hockey went from 11 Division I teams in the sport to nearly 40 during her tenure * The Title IX lawsuit at Brown and what side Digit was on (hint: the athletes) * Coaching professional hockey in Toronto, building a team in China, and preparing them for the 2022 Olympics * Why "shrink it and pink it" is the biggest mistake in women's sports * Her bold take on why checking shouldn't be in women's hockey OR men's hockey * How the PWHL adding checking is a step in the wrong direction * How Click AI is turning every woman athlete into a content creator with a brand deal pathway * Why brands are sleeping on a massive opportunity in women's sports NIL * The investment gap: what $5 million can do in women's sports vs. men's * Why women athletes with Ivy League degrees are making $30K a year as pros * How Slay Sports is raising capital and sourcing deals for women's sports properties Digit brings decades of founder energy, coaching wisdom, and a real vision for how women's sports can thrive on its own terms, not as a lesser copy of what already exists. 🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next 🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey 📍 Fast Forward Podcast #FastForwardPodcast #WomensSports #DigitMurphy #WomensHockey #NIL #SportsEntrepreneurship #TitleIX #AIinSports #PWHL #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #WomenInBusiness 00:00 Introduction to Digit Murphy and Her Journey 02:44 The Impact of Early Sports Experiences 05:29 Transitioning from Player to Coach 08:19 Championing Change in Women's Sports 10:47 Building Opportunities in Women's Sports 13:29 The Role of AI in Women's Sports 16:06 Creating Unique Value in Women's Sports 18:39 The Future of Women's Sports and Sustainability 21:14 Engaging Brands and Investors in Women's Sports 23:57 The Importance of Representation in Sports 26:37 Conclusion and Future Aspirations 36:47 Introduction to the Podcast