U.S. of N/A: Non-Alcoholic and Mindful Drinking

What If The Bar Of The Future Isn't Built Around Alcohol?

After a corporate career rooted in fashion and media, Aplós Co-Founder and CEO David Fudge is now helping to move the non-alcoholic industry beyond simple imitation. In this conversation, we explore how Aplós is creating a sophisticated new flavor language using ingredients like yuzu, basil, and dandelion, designed to act as a lead in premium cocktails rather than a 1:1 alcohol proxy. We dive into topics like the strategic choice of using THC-free, broad-spectrum hemp in their first offering, to how the brand’s serene, minimalist aesthetic serves as a much-needed antidote to modern, high-stress culture. David also shares a little about the Aplós roadmap for 2026 and his vision for a "bar of the future" that prioritizes intentional rituals over intoxication. Key Takeaways: * The "Lead" Spirit: Why Aplós was built to perform like a primary spirit in complex mixology, developed alongside mixology legend Lynnette Marrero. * Function Without the High: The decision to lean into broad-spectrum hemp (0% THC) for its stress-relieving properties while (thus far) avoiding the psychoactive effects of THC. * Cracking the Balance: A look at the R&D behind their spirits versus their RTD (ready-to-drink) cans, and which one was harder to break the code on. * 2026 Growth: Scaling through "long-game" brand building and moving from DTC roots to a broader footprint in retail and Michelin-starred hospitality. Mentioned in this episode: Aplós [https://www.aplos.world/]  We'd like to thank our sponsor, Go Brewing! Use code NATION15 to get 15% off your order on either their delicious N/A beer [https://gobrewing.com/], or their THC brand, Easy Man [https://drinkeasyman.com/].    We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305451/fan_mail/new]

Understanding Ingredients And Additives In Zero-Proof Beverages

As the no-and-low alcohol category continues to mature and grow, additives and sugar content have become a defining battleground. In this episode, we sit down with Michael Colangelo, Founder and CEO of Nota Bene Flavors [https://www.notabeneflavors.com/], to unpack what it really takes to build compelling taste in modern beverage brands. Michael brings a rare blend of big-company rigor and startup agility, with a career that began with flavoring medicines at Pfizer, eventually moving to help emerging craft beverage brands that include Surely and Arlow Wines in the no-and-low space. In our conversation, we explore how the NA consumer has shifted from primarily abstainers to a majority of people who still drink alcohol on other occasions, and why that shift fundamentally changes how flavorists think about balance, texture, and expectation.  Michael shares his insights on the growing scrutiny around sugar content, sugar substitutes like stevia, and ingredient transparency, explaining how flavor chemistry intersects with wellness, reduced sugar goals, and shelf stability. The conversation also digs into common misconceptions around preservatives and “chemical additives,” separating fear from function, and offering a practical, science-backed view of what actually matters in formulation. Mentioned in this episode: Nota Bene Flavors [https://www.notabeneflavors.com/] Surely Wines [https://www.drinksurely.com/] Arlow Wines [https://drinkarlow.com/] We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305451/fan_mail/new]

Workplace Culture In The Age Of Mindful Living And Wellness

Workplace wellness has never been more visible, from mental health benefits to flexible schedules, but has it truly become central to how companies operate, or is it still a leadership side project? That was one of the questions we explored with Jennifer Moss [https://www.jennifer-moss.com/], an award-winning author and workplace culture strategist, in our first episode of 2026. A frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, CNN, Time, and The Wall Street Journal, Jennifer has spent her career studying burnout, happiness at work, and organizational wellbeing. Our conversation examined how forces like AI, hybrid work, and always-on digital culture are reshaping employee health, often intensifying stress rather than reducing it. Jennifer shared why, despite significant investment, mental health and wellbeing initiatives still struggle to move from the margins into the core of leadership strategy. We also discussed how the physical elements of work, from office environments to everyday nutritional choices, play a meaningful role in energy, focus, and resilience. And of course, how mindful drinking plays into all of the above. Mentioned in this episode: Jennifer Moss [https://www.jennifer-moss.com/] We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305451/fan_mail/new]

REWIND: A Look Back At 2025, And The Future Of Mindful Drinking

January will mark our 2nd birthday as a podcast, and like most restless toddlers, we're really only getting started. But before we turn the calendar to 2026 we first take a look back at highlights from just a few of our favorite Season 2 episodes, focusing on the many founders we've featured sharing why they're passionate about mindful drinking. Here's seven of those founders / leaders, talking specifically about their 'why': Laurel Harrop, Busty Lush [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/16443787-branding-and-bootstrapping-the-story-of-busty-lush] Lauren Chitwood, Spiritless [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/16812294-from-kentucky-bourbon-country-to-your-home-bar-the-spiritless-story] Ian Blessing, All The Bitter [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/17021402-building-a-world-class-bitters-brand-through-community] Mark Ruf, NA Beer Club [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/17241104-crafting-an-na-beer-marketplace-powered-by-community] Carl Radke, Soft Bar + Cafe [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/17373553-carl-radke-s-fourth-wall-vision-for-elevated-soft-cocktail-sips] Gary Long, Botanical Sciences [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/17815345-the-mainstreaming-of-cannabis-wellness-culture] Mary Bernuth, Pharos Brands [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/17933852-cannabis-for-grownups-why-boomers-are-an-ideal-thc-market] Special thanks to our sponsor, Go Brewing [https://gobrewing.com/] / Easy Man [https://drinkeasyman.com/], makers of delicious craft beer and infused brews! Use promo code NATION15 to take an additional 15% off your online order. We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305451/fan_mail/new]

Seven Questions About The Federal Hemp Ban

When signed into law on November 12th, 2025, a bill ironically known as the "Government Shutdown Prevention Act," included language that would all but shut down the multi-billion dollar hemp industry, of which beverages are a major piece. In this bonus episode we dive into seven questions that define what's next for an industry picking itself off the mat, and how consumers might respond. Questions we address include: 1) How will the hemp industry, accustomed to playing defense against state legislative banning efforts, shift their focus to going on offense?  2) With November, 2026 as the timetable for the new restrictions, will that allow enough time to lobby the federal government to change course?  3) Will a large number of consumers pursue a medical cannabis card to continue access to products they have become used to buying in traditional retail stores?  4) How might this impact efforts to re-schedule cannabis from a Schedule I controlled substance?  5) Will hemp beverage brands turn to other functional ingredients to try and fill the void? Ashwagandha, l-theanine, Lion's Mane and other nootropics have been promoted for their functional benefits, which aren't nearly as obvious as THC. 6) Are unhappy consumers likely to turn their focus toward legalizing recreational cannabis in more states? 7) How might this impact the overall non-alcoholic beverage space? Want to comment on our LinkedIn discussion [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7394724088721858562/?actorCompanyId=99083178]?  Also mentioned in this episode: Free Spirits Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-d07gQL1YU] (interview with HBA's Chris Lackner) Gary Long, Botanical Sciences [https://www.usofna.com/2305451/episodes/17815345-the-mainstreaming-of-cannabis-wellness-culture] (past U.S. of N/A episode) We'd love your feedback! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2305451/fan_mail/new]