The DTC Insider

In this episode of The DTC Insider, Brian Roisentul sits down with Jake Karls, Co-Founder & Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, to discuss what it really takes to build a brand people genuinely connect with.

Jake shares the journey of building Mid-Day Squares from a condo kitchen into one of the most recognizable brands in CPG, while explaining why authenticity, storytelling, and human connection have been the foundation of the company's growth from day one.

They dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, overcoming adversity, finding the right role as a founder, building a brand through vulnerability, and why documenting the journey can be more powerful than trying to create the perfect marketing campaign. Jake also explains why trust is the foundation of every great relationship, how brands create emotional connections that competitors can't replicate, and why authenticity remains one of the biggest competitive advantages in business.

Plus, they discuss AI, the future of brand building, creating communities instead of audiences, and why the brands that will thrive are the ones that never lose their human connection.
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This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR⁠⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠⁠BSR⁠⁠⁠⁠ helps 7-figure+ brands build and optimize strategic growth systems that unlock hidden revenue and scale profitably, without adding chaos, channels, or unnecessary spend.

To learn more about BSR, ⁠⁠⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠⁠⁠ or book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠call⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider, Brian Roisentul sits down with Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud, Seven Clay, and Anvil & Acre, to discuss what it really takes to build and grow successful DTC brands in an ecommerce landscape that never stops evolving.

Josh shares the lessons he's learned after launching three companies across different eras of ecommerce, explaining why strong business fundamentals, customer understanding, and operational excellence matter far more than chasing the latest marketing trends or growth hacks.

They dive into the realities of paid media, attribution, Amazon, customer retention, and why founders should fully understand their business before investing in advertising. Josh also explains how he built a community of nearly 1,000 brand ambassadors, dramatically reduced product returns through customer education, and why testing and continuous optimization remain essential for long-term growth.

Plus, they discuss AI, direct mail, email automation, scaling ecommerce brands, and what Josh would do differently if he were starting a brand from scratch today.

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This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠BSR⁠⁠⁠.

⁠⁠⁠BSR⁠⁠⁠ helps 7-figure+ brands build and optimize strategic growth systems that unlock hidden revenue and scale profitably, without adding chaos, channels, or unnecessary spend.

To learn more about BSR, ⁠⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠⁠ or book a ⁠⁠⁠call⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider, Brian Roisentul sits down with Arshad Bahl, founder of Amrita, to discuss what it really takes to build a profitable DTC brand in an industry obsessed with growth at all costs.

Arshad shares how the CPG landscape has changed over the last decade, why venture capital has shifted the priorities of many founders, and why he believes profitability, customer retention, and operational excellence matter far more than chasing revenue at any cost.

They dive into the retention strategies that have helped Amrita grow sustainably, including why the first three orders are the most important in a customer's journey, how to bridge the trust gap with new customers, and why referrals and word-of-mouth continue to outperform many modern acquisition channels.

Arshad also breaks down his approach to manufacturing, margins, customer acquisition, and channel strategy, sharing practical insights for founders looking to build stronger businesses without relying solely on paid media.

Plus, they discuss the importance of building a business around your values, creating opportunities for neurodiverse talent, and why a profitable $5 million business might be a better outcome than a stressful $100 million one.

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This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠BSR⁠⁠.

⁠⁠BSR⁠⁠ helps 7-figure+ brands build and optimize strategic growth systems that unlock hidden revenue and scale profitably, without adding chaos, channels, or unnecessary spend.
To learn more about BSR, ⁠⁠visit their website⁠⁠ or book a ⁠⁠call⁠⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider, Brian Roisentul sits down with Samuel Goodman, co-founder of Cheeky, to talk about what it really takes to build and scale a DTC brand from scratch.

From starting with no background in dentistry to becoming the largest custom night guard company in the US, Samuel shares how they identified a real problem, validated it through hundreds of customer calls, and built their first product using 3D printing.

They dive into the early days of the business, from testing demand with landing pages and ads to building a Shopify-first brand and scaling to thousands of customers through direct-to-consumer channels.

Samuel also breaks down how they expanded beyond a single product into a full oral care ecosystem, and what drove those decisions based on customer demand.

Plus, he shares the reality of breaking into retail, including years of outreach, getting their first meeting with Walmart, and what it actually takes to land on shelves and succeed once you’re there.
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This episode is brought to you by ⁠BSR⁠.

⁠BSR ⁠helps 7-figure+ brands build and optimize strategic growth systems that unlock hidden revenue and scale profitably, without adding chaos, channels, or unnecessary spend.

To learn more about BSR, ⁠visit their website⁠ or book a ⁠call⁠.

In this episode of The DTC Insider, Brian Roisentul sits down with Lekha Vyas, founder of SynQ Wellness, to talk about one of the most talked about trends in health right now: GLP-1 and what comes next.

From her background leading brands at companies like L’Oréal and Estée Lauder to building a new category in wellness, Lekha shares how she’s developing a plant-based alternative to GLP-1 drugs, delivered through a Listerine style strip that dissolves in your mouth.

They dive into the real impact of GLP-1 drugs, including long term side effects, dependency, and why more consumers are starting to question them.

Lekha also explains the science behind sublingual delivery, how it bypasses the gut, and why it could change the future of supplements and metabolic health.

Plus, she breaks down what it actually takes to build a breakthrough product, from 75+ formula iterations to early human testing, and how she’s approaching go to market, TikTok, and DTC in a hyper competitive landscape.
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This episode is brought to you by BSR.

BSR helps 7-figure+ brands build and optimize strategic growth systems that unlock hidden revenue and scale profitably, without adding chaos, channels, or unnecessary spend.

To learn more about BSR, visit their website or book a call.