#219 - Managing People at Work with Seth Goldman of JUST Ice Tea

#219 - Managing People at Work with Seth Goldman of JUST Ice Tea

Author: Startup CPG October 21, 2025 Duration: 45:33

In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff welcomes Seth Goldman, co-founder of JUST Ice Tea, co-founder of Eat the Change, and the visionary entrepreneur behind Honest Tea and PLNT Burger. 


Seth discusses how the new venture has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing iced tea brands in the United States, powered by a mission-driven approach that balances purpose, sustainability, and growth. 


Throughout the conversation, Seth reflects on the evolution of his leadership philosophy—emphasizing transparency, empowerment, and accountability—as well as the importance of treating employees as whole people and maintaining authenticity in business. He also offers insights on building efficient teams, setting achievable goals, and scaling responsibly while preserving company culture. 


This episode provides invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders striving to create businesses that do good while doing well. 


Tune in now!


Listen in as they share about: 

  • Seth’s Entrepreneurial Journey
  • Launch and Growth of JUST Ice Tea
  • Leadership Philosophy: “Being Nice and Effective”
  • Setting and Managing OKRs (Objectives & Key Results)
  • Managing Different Work Styles
  • Embracing the Whole Person at Work
  • Communication & Structure
  • Building Lean and Sustainable Culture
  • Advice for Founders & Young Professionals

Episode Links:
Website: https://justicetea.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-goldman-234bb7124/ 

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.


Show Links:

  • Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
  • Join the Startup CPG Slack community (20K+ members and growing!)
  • Follow @startupcpg
  • Visit host Daniel's Linkedin 
  • Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
  • Episode music by Super Fantastics

Behind every product on a store shelf, there's a story of risk, innovation, and relentless hustle. The Startup CPG Podcast, brought to you by the community at Startup CPG, digs into those stories where theory meets the messy reality of building a brand. You'll hear founders recount the pivotal moments that nearly broke their company and the breakthroughs that saved it, moving beyond polished success tales. Conversations often turn to the buyer's perspective, offering a rare look at what actually gets a product onto retail floors. The focus is relentlessly practical, dissecting supply chain snags, packaging dilemmas, and marketing strategies that cut through the noise. This podcast operates like a field manual for the trenches of consumer packaged goods, built on the belief that shared knowledge is the best advantage. Tune in for candid exchanges that feel more like a mastermind session than a broadcast, all aimed at demystifying the path to shelf space and sustainable growth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Startup CPG Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#232 - 2026 Brand Resolutions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:17
In this special New Year's episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Daniel Scharff invites three founders from the Startup CPG community to share their 2026 brand resolutions—offering practical wisdom on focus, authentic…
Investor Spotlight: Trevor Rechnitz, Vanterra Ventures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:29
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Trevor Rechnitz, Principal at Vanterra Ventures, to explore the realities of fundraising—not just what looks good on paper, but what truly ma…
Founder Feature:  Taylor Espinoza of Unicorn Bites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:20
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Caitlin Bricker welcomes Taylor Espinoza, founder of Unicorn Bites, a fast-emerging better-for-you snack brand known for its 100% date-sweetened, allergen-free mini cookies.Tay…
#231 - Tools I Actually Use to Save Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:45
In this solo episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, founder and CEO Daniel Scharff shares the tools he actually uses every day to save time and run his business more efficiently in 2026. None of these are sponsors or partne…
Investor Spotlight: Brian Bustamante-Nicholson, Greycroft [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:08
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Brian Bustamante-Nicholson, a partner at Greycroft in the consumer brands vertical, to explore what growth-stage investors actually look for…
Founder Feature: Alan Scholnick of Datefix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:58
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Caitlin Bricker welcomes Alan Scholnick, founder and CEO of Datefix, for a thoughtful conversation on innovation, wellness, and entrepreneurship in the food industry. Alan shar…
Investor Spotlight: Family Fund with Josh Wand and Sean Kelly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:18
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Josh Wand and Sean Kelly, General Partners at the Family Fund, to explore what founders actually need to understand when navigating fundraisi…
Founder Feature: Houston Buehrle of Little Zing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:11
In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Caitlin Bricker welcomes Houston Buehrle, founder of Little Zing, a premium mustard brand rooted in a century-old Danish family recipe. Houston shares how he transformed his gr…