The hardest part of building a consumer brand isn't the product; it's everything that comes after. Caliwater co-founder Oliver Trevena knows this firsthand.

In a candid conversation, Oliver, who launched the cactus water brand alongside fellow actor Vanessa Hudgens, pulls back the curtain on the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship. He speaks openly about the realities of fundraising, the challenges of securing and scaling distribution, and the emotional toll that building a brand can take.

Oliver shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a consumer brand that stands on its own, beyond the power of celebrity names.

Show notes:

0:25: Oliver Trevena, Co-Founder, Caliwater – Oliver discusses his move from Los Angeles to Miami, noting the city's strategic importance as a new market for the brand. He explains how Caliwater was created to be a functional hydration beverage with lower sugar and calories than coconut water. Oliver emphasizes the importance of authenticity in celebrity-backed brands and highlights Vanessa's hands-on involvement. He addresses the challenges of building a beverage company and notes that the impact of celebrity isn't as impactful as may seem. Looking ahead, Oliver discusses his long-term vision for Caliwater and why patience is a virtue in CPG.

Brands in this episode: Caliwater

Protein is showing up in more products than ever before, but does it need to be in your soda? The Taste Radio team digs into the fast-growing ingredient trend, breaking down taste, functionality and whether more equals better. The hosts also tease an exciting first: BevNET's inaugural trade show booth at the upcoming Winter FancyFaire*.

Show notes:

0:25: Faire Trade. How Many Margaritas? Gains And Grams. A Smaller Cult. Tapping Target. Shirley & Sake. – Mike is in Mexico, but the whole team is heading to San Diego for the Winter FancyFaire*. Ray, John, and Jacqui preview BevNET's presence at the annual trade show, along with a Naturally San Diego–hosted event featuring an indulgent spread of tacos, margaritas, and Taste Radio interviews. The conversation then turns to the continued rise of protein across food and beverage categories, examining how consumer demand, usage occasions, and flavor influence the trend's long-term staying power. The hosts also share hands-on reviews of new and noteworthy products spotted primarily at Target, including The Coconut Cult's single-serve probiotic coconut yogurts, Olipop's limited-edition Shirley Temple flavor, So Good So You's sparkling organic energy drinks, Snow Monkey's sake-based RTD cocktails, and a premium raw coconut water brand. The episode wraps with an open invitation for brands to share products with the BevNET and Taste Radio team.

Brands in this episode: Gorgie, Naked, Super Coffee, Projo, Pure Genius, The Coconut Cult, Olipop, Boylan, So Good So You, Mid-Day Squares, Snow Monkey, Stiller Soda, Spindrift, Bulletproof, Sprite, Ra Coconut Water, Throne Sport Coffee

She helped redefine premium soda. Now she's rethinking the martini.

In this episode, Sharelle Klaus shares how the lessons, missteps and successes of building DRY Soda informed the launch of Second Sip, a lower-proof gin designed for today's intentional drinker.

Sharelle reflects on how her second act is more focused and collaborative, shaped by patience, humility, and a deeper understanding of distribution strategy, brand clarity and long-term scale.

Show notes:

0:25: Interview: Sharelle Klaus, Co-Founder, Second Sip – Sharelle talks about how Second Sip, a 20% ABV gin, is designed to let people enjoy more drinking occasions without sacrificing quality. She explains how drawing on lessons from DRY Soda helped develop a brand that is focused on solving problems for consumers, bars, and distributors alike. Sharells discusses how Second Sip, which was developed with industry heavyweights Leo Robitschek and master distiller Nick Strangeway, earned validation from elite bartenders in New York and London before launch and highlights the brand's rapid on-premise success, distributor enthusiasm, and growing direct-to-consumer demand. She talks about the importance of emphasizing focus, timing, and taste to build a lifestyle gin that becomes consumers' everyday choice.

Brands in this episode: Dry Soda, Second Sip