mike brown

Meet the trailblazer behind the freshest face in the sparkling water game, Mike Pilkington. He is the co-founder of KEY Sparkling Water. He’s a graduate of Wayne State University (BA - Psychology) and University of Detroit Mercy (MBA).

Going beyond the bubbles, Mike has a history steeped in grit and growth. From supercharging Death Wish Coffee into one of the top coffee brands in the United States to navigating the waters of Sysco's strategic acquisitions and leading Sysco Albany's operations, his leadership and vision have been second to none. 

Now, at the helm of KEY, he's here to deliver a gulp of authenticity with the right kick of real fruit all in a can as rugged as your ambition.

In This Conversation We Discuss:

• [00:42] Intro
• [01:43] revolutionizing the sparkling water market
• [02:30] Entering the crowd space to disrupt the norm
• [03:22] Building a startup biz with a clear vision 
• [04:28] Forming connections and scaling success
• [06:03] Self-awareness and ego-free leadership
• [07:17] Strategic hiring and delegation
• [08:13] Honest self-assessment goes a long way
• [09:35] Assembling a winning team
• [12:08] Failing openly and embracing transparency
• [13:00] Focusing on capacity, not credentials
• [13:56] The fragile nature of startups
• [15:03] Navigating early-stage startup roles
• [16:18] Episode sponsors
• [21:27] Leveraging multichannel strategy
• [22:48] How to start? Just get started
• [25:02] Lead generation and touching bases with people
• [27:04] Utilizing word-of-mouth
• [27:45] The power of telling your story
• [28:34] People are accessible, just reach out
• [29:47] Get real fruit, shenanigan-free sparkling water

Resources:

• Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube
• Real fruit and shenanigan-free sparkling water keysparklingwater.com/
• Follow Mike Pilkington linkedin.com/in/mike-pilkington-yes/
• Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connect
• Book a demo today at intelligems.io/
• Revolutionize your inventory and fulfillment process portless.com/

If you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

We catch up with Rockstar Husqvarna's amateur sensation about winning the final round of Supercross Futures and another run at some Loretta Lynn's championships.

Michael Holley and Reeta Hubbard “The NFL Chick” react to Draymond Green’s ejection for stepping on Domantas Sabonis. Vincent Goodwill joins them to discuss whether the Warriors can come back against the Kings after going down 0-2, if Draymond Green should be suspended and how injuries to Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo may affect the NBA Playoffs. Charles McDonald joins the show to discuss how Jalen Hurts’ contract impacts the upcoming deals for Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.

00:00                   Draymond Green’s stomp on Domantas Sabonis

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19:00                   Kings beat Warriors in Game 2; Should Draymond be suspended?

28:40                   Injuries caused by charging: Giannis, Ja Morant

32:04                   The Heat have a chance against the Bucks

33:52                   Suns ready to bounce-back against Clippers?

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37:46                   Jalen Hurts’ contract impact on other QBs

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50:42                   Holley regrets not forcing his kids to be athletes

We check in with Rockstar Husqvarna's Jalek Swoll to see how his recovery is going, how the injury occurred, this being a contract year, and more.

While no one can argue that New York is the Mecca of Basketball, it's hard to deny that their legacy is filled with a copious amount of disappointment.  However, in what has been a hell of a turnaround for a young struggling team, the Knicks are now riding the high of a 9-win streak and are looking strong headed into the post-season.

Also, the Memphis Grizzlies doing Memphis Grizzlies things as Ja Morant is officially out indefinitely for counseling, Dillon Brooks is causing problems with last year's champs, and the Grizzlies still somehow come up big in these big time games.  How are they doing it? We'll discuss further in the pod.

Finally, between the Brooklyn Nets who should've been "re-building", the Lakers who are resurging even without Lebron James, the Kings who have come into their own under the tutelage of Coach Mike Brown, and the struggles of smaller market teams who can't seem to pull it together, we break down the current NBA Landscape and everything we've seen thus far.

As always, join us here on "Athletes Anonymous presents After the Buzzer" for more in the NBA world EVERY Tuesday!

Good Vibes and Love,

Poi N Soy

In this first episode of Moto Moms we talk to the G.O.A.T.'s mom, Jeannie Carmichael about training with RC, hearing fans boo, what she's most proud of, and much more.

Mike Lindell talks about his bid for the Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and how Governor Ron DeSantis held a "Truth" panel with a Dominion attorney, Libby Locke. Plus! His new MyPillow 2.0 pillow is amazing!
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Get Doug’s new book: “Re-Making the American Political System” at his website: www.DougBillings.us

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Click on the Subscribe tab! CHEAP! $10/month or $120/year. Even WOKE unemployed Commusocialists could afford this!

Andy White, Brand Manager for FXR, talks about his history racing in Canada, getting into the industry, and helping grow FXR Moto.

Newnan Carnegie Director Susan Crutchfield joins local author Hometown Novel Writers Association president Mike Brown to discuss the importance of local libraries like The Carnegie and how they work to bridge the digital divide by providing the human element to the literary experience.

Hometownnovel.com
TMBrownAuthor.com
NewnanCarnegie.com

Part Two, in a two-part documentary follow-up to the audio drama #MATTER, spotlights community driven efforts to uproot and reimagine public safety, joined by some of the nation's leading activists, historians, and thinkers.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with ONEOPP, a social justice coalition working to end police brutality.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part One, in a two-part documentary follow-up to the audio drama #MATTER, traces modern policing down to its roots, and considers unexamined repercussions joined by some of the nation's leading activists, historians, and thinkers. This episode is brought to you in collaboration with ONEOPP, a social justice coalition working to end police brutality.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:00             Nikola Jokic wins 2nd consecutive NBA MVP Award. Why do people disagree with Jokic being MVP after his historic season?

23:03             Kurt Helin explains why he voted for Jokic to win MVP. Will Embiid take out his anger on the Miami Heat after coming short of MVP Award?

40:47             Charles Robinson agrees with Pete Carroll that Geno Smith gives the Seahawks their best chance to win right now. Charles takes some guesses on what else is to come this offseason.

54:39             Kelcey Wright Johnson gives some insider info on how the Grizzlies are reacting to Ja Morant’s knee injury. 

1:08:21           Marcus Thompson says its not a playoff series until players try to get their opponents suspended.  The Kings sign Mike Brown to be their Head Coach.

1:33:03       Chris Paul was irate after a young fan pushes his family.

But first…

Pass the Popcorn: WHY, Phylicia?!

We grapple with how to deal with Phylicia Rashad’s support of a serial rapist being released from prison.

DIS/Honorable Mentions

Nikole Hannah-Jones chooses Howard University after tenure controversy at UNC Chapel Hill

Tre’Vell gives a DM to Brandon Anthony and L.A. Black Pride for disrespecting Chika

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Laura Swisher is the senior producer.

Dr. David Ragland is an inspirational figure and activist in the new reparations and reconciliation movements…and there is so much GOLD in this episode and so many references...it will take longer than I have capacity for to document it all for this episode. That’s the beauty we get when talking with professional educators. Here are major themes:

Dr. David Ragland...

• Is co-founder of The Truth Telling Project
• Director of the Grassroots Reparations Campaign
• Is recognized for his research on advocacy through Georgetown U’s Advocacy Labs
• Inducted into the Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College
• Senior Bayard Rustin Fellow at the Fellowship for Reconciliation
• a board member for the Peace and Justice Studies Association
• ...and he talks about how the Ferguson uprising is central to his story. 

Check out these SIX articles he’s written for YES! Magazine:

• Part 1: Reparations Are A Peace Treaty
• Part 2: With Reparations, We Must Demand Repair - and Heal Ourselves
• Part 3: On Reparations, Let Impacted Communities Lead the Way
• Part 4: Beyond Compensation for Reparations
• Part 5: A Culture Shift Can Only Happen With Reparations and Truth Telling
• Part 6: He mentions that he hasn’t written yet! But we also found a much earlier article from 2017 - In Truth and Reconciliation, First Things First - The Truth

These are the five areas outlined by the UN for reparation:

1. Compensation
2. Restitution
3. Satisfaction
4. Guarantees of Non-Repeat
5. Healing

Need to know:

HR 40: HR 40 is proposed legislation - the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act. The legislation, which was first introduced nearly 30 years ago, establishes a commission to examine slavery and discrimination in the United States from 1619 to the present and recommend appropriate remedies. It refers to the broken promise of 40 acres and a mule, to freed slaves, by General Sherman, in 1865. In the US there has never been significant truth and reconciliation actions taken for enslavement or for native american genocide, as there have been in other countries like South Africa has, for apartheid.

The newly elected Congresswoman Corey Bush (Missouri) and Dr. Ragland co-founded the Truth Telling Project with her after meeting during the Ferguson protests.

Resmaa Menakem is mentioned and of course we love his body of work including his book “My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies” which Fleur Larsen mentioned in Season 1. You can check out his interview with Krista Tippet too.

Dr. Ragland talks about our mutual friendEdgar Villanueva and the Decolonizing Wealth Project as well as Liberated Capital, a reparations giving circle...

Reparations is the repair of moral and material harm.

The Truth Telling Project: A truth process or healing, created as a response to police violence.

In this episode we say the names of these remembered folx who have been murdered by police and those whose names are not said, will not be forgotten. I’ve tried to link to pieces that share a bit about who they were...

• Tamir Rice, objects of care
• Mike Brown, rebuilt memorial
• Kajieme Powell, anniversary march
• Ma’Khia Bryant, vigil
• George Floyd, sacred space
• Sandra Bland, memorial

And this is my favorite quote, because we, societally, never talk about what was stolen...and often we refer to it as bringing “civilization” right? 
DR: "I'm kidnapping you Kuta Kente. Now, your name is Toby. Your religion is Christianity. And you can't play drum no more. You can't cook the food you ate no more. Your kids are going to be slaves, and their kids are going to be slaves.”

MM: “And they will learn nothing of your culture previously because it will be outlawed for you to practice it.”

NOTE: So we’re learning that this podcast is becoming part of university curriculum across the US and Canada! If you happen to be studying this episode, and want to add more links related to this episode...email us! hello@theethicalrainmaker.com because if you are doing the research anyway… ;)

We are self-funded. So. If you’d like to inspire this beautiful series through your financial contribution - we’ll take it on Patreon! 

Subscribe to this podcast to get the best of what we have to offer.I promise there are more incredible episodes on their way - every other Wednesday.

The Ethical Rainmaker is produced in Seattle, Washington by Kasmira Hall, and Isaac Kaplan-Woolner, and socials by Rachelle Pierce. Michelle Shireen Muri is the executive producer and this pod is sponsored by Freedom Conspiracy. 

Morgan DeBaun is the founder and CEO of Blavity, Inc., home to the largest network of platforms and lifestyle brands serving the multifaceted lives of black millennials. Their mission is to "economically and creatively support Black millennials across the African scape, so they can pursue the work they love, and change the world in the process."

During our conversation, we talked about everything from Morgan’s upbringing growing up in St. Louis, her early career and what her mindset was like, the series of events that inspired her to launch Blavity, the mission for the company and what she hopes to accomplish, what she’s most excited about for the future, and much more.

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Every week we will take a deep dive into a business and share with you some of their marketing & business strategies that helped these businesses scale.

In Episode 25, we dissect into Death Wish Coffee Co. business & marketing strategy – Death Wish Coffee has claimed that they make the world’s strongest coffee & backup their claim by showing how it’s made and where it’s sourced from. The company originally started out as a coffee shop in New York by founder Mike Brown back in 2012. In 2019, the company reported to generate over 12 million dollars in revenue. 

ABOUT MATT SKOPAK:

An adventure and fitness addict with a passion for entrepreneurship and numbers. Lead Investor in Sweetberry Bowls and CFO of Sugar & Kush CBD.  Rutgers MBA 2020 in Entrepreneurship & Accounting

ABOUT SEAN AZARI:

In 2015, Sean launched a creative ad agency called Breakthrough Social specializing in content creation & distribution, marketing campaigns, & paid media that helped brands build awareness and drive sales. Prior to starting his agency, Sean worked in finance for 4 years as an Investment Banking Analyst at Credit Suisse & studied Mathematics & Statistics at Rutgers University.

Connect with Sean:

• Instagram @Sean_Azari
• Facebook @azarimedia
• Twitter @Sean_Azari
• Email: Sean@breakthrough.social
• YouTube
• His Agency: Breakthrough Social
• His eCommerce Brand: Rebhorn

***Note - Please excuse the sound on this one - We had some crazy reverb due to the venue & it effected the audio. However, now I know about what caused this so I will be more aware in the future (not including the next episode, because it happened there too & I turned them into production at the same time). Sorry y'all...I'm new to this, but I'm getting better. "I will fail my way to success"***

On this episode we’re talking to the crew behind Cincinnati’s newest brewery…Rebel Mettle…located on Central Avenue between 4th & 5th Streets in downtown’s business district.

 They’ve been open for about a month now, but we sat down with them for this interview only a few days before their grand opening. They were, literally, finishing up painting the floors when we showed up & had a sizable punch list of things to get to, so I was blown away when the whole team sat down w/ us! It was really great & there was definitely a noticeable “buzz” of excitement in the air about the quickly approaching Opening Day! 

 The big takeaway, for me, in this episode is the importance & value of the team.  It was immediately obvious that every single one of these folks had invested time, sweat, & beers to getting this place ready & each & everyone of them was as full of pride as they were exhausted.  Owner, Mike Brown, stressed the importance of everybody there as well as the one missing member, DWan, who we ended up meeting when we stopped down during the opening weekend. Mike talked about their value & his approach to managing several times through the interview & it was obvious he looked at his team like a family. I think the trust in one another was obvious & they were ready to start opening the taps to share their passion with their new neighbors & guests! 

 I was really impressed w/ everyone I talked to that day & all the beers I sampled were on point! I’ve been back a third time, too, & the most recent beer releases were super tasty too! I’ll be watching closely & showing them love for years to come!

Podcast Production: John Bl@ze
Theme Music: "Farmers Name" by Highly Likely
Sponsor Music: "Circles" by Cory Christopher Beats
Episode Sponsors: Vets & Brews & Donohoo Accounting Services

This week's guest is Comedian Mike Brown (Correspondent for TBS' Full Frontal w/ Samantha Bee) We talked about why Tower Heist is in his top 5 Eddie Murphy Movies; Why Eddie's best comedies get horrible reviews; Who would win in a Verzuz Battle (Eddie Murphy Or Jim Carrey) and more. A very in-depth conversation that will make you re-watch this movie.

Tell An Eddie Murphy fan to tell an Eddie Murphy fan that you love this podcast