Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Watch the full episode here: inspiredinsider.com/andy-ruben-interview
Andy Ruben is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Trove, a re-commerce technology company that powers branded resale programs for major labels like Patagonia, Lululemon, REI, and Levi’s. Before Trove, he spent a decade at Walmart as the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, where he launched global sustainability efforts, led omnichannel and private-brand strategies, and integrated e‑commerce — including the rollout of grocery delivery.
Ruben founded Trove (originally Yerdle) in 2012 and introduced the first branded resale platform with Patagonia’s Worn Wear in 2017, helping advance the circular economy across more than 150 global brands. He advises BCG and Earthshot Ventures, serves as Lead Independent Director and ESG Committee Chair at Zevia, and has been featured on NPR, TED, and testified before Congress on sustainable business practices.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Andy Ruben, Founder and Executive Chairman of Trove, about transforming retail through branded resale and the circular economy. Andy shares his startup origin story, the evolution from peer-to-peer to B2B, and insights on customer retention. He also discusses business development missteps, his leadership experience at Walmart, and why speed and focus matter most when launching a new venture.
Watch the full episode here: inspiredinsider.com/andy-ruben-interview
Andy Ruben is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Trove, a re-commerce technology company that powers branded resale programs for major labels like Patagonia, Lululemon, REI, and Levi’s. Before Trove, he spent a decade at Walmart as the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, where he launched global sustainability efforts, led omnichannel and private-brand strategies, and integrated e‑commerce — including the rollout of grocery delivery.
Ruben founded Trove (originally Yerdle) in 2012 and introduced the first branded resale platform with Patagonia’s Worn Wear in 2017, helping advance the circular economy across more than 150 global brands. He advises BCG and Earthshot Ventures, serves as Lead Independent Director and ESG Committee Chair at Zevia, and has been featured on NPR, TED, and testified before Congress on sustainable business practices.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Andy Ruben, Founder and Executive Chairman of Trove, about transforming retail through branded resale and the circular economy. Andy shares his startup origin story, the evolution from peer-to-peer to B2B, and insights on customer retention. He also discusses business development missteps, his leadership experience at Walmart, and why speed and focus matter most when launching a new venture.
![[Top Software & Resource Series] What Leaders Rely on to Grow and Scale
Philip Hill is the CEO and President of Purebred Marketing. The Atlanta-based marketing agency creates digital marketing strategies and provides services such as SEO, web design and development, and email marketing. Philip is an avid dog lover and launched his first business in the pet space while attending the University of Alabama.
Sherrie Sokolowski is the Owner of SLS Event Planning and Consulting, a company dedicated to creating seamless, personalized events through thoughtful planning, creative vision, and detail-oriented execution. She has managed high-profile events, including Funnel Hacking Live, and has worked with industry leaders like Russell Brunson and Bill Glazer, producing sold-out experiences for audiences of up to 7,000 attendees.
Richard Jacobs is the Founder of Speakeasy Marketing, a company focused on building meaningful connections through podcasting and curiosity-driven conversations. He has conducted over 4,000 interviews with experts, executives, and innovators, creating opportunities for collaborations, lasting relationships, and ventures such as organizing a Bitcoin conference.
In this episode… Looking for the right tools, strategies, and resources to grow your business without wasting time on what doesn’t work? From AI automation to relationship-building, today’s top performers are blending technology with human connection in powerful ways. But how do you actually apply these insights to create real results in your own business?
Philip Hill, Sherrie Sokolowski, and Richard Jacobs share how they transform events, communication, and operations through systems, storytelling, and AI. Philip explains how tools like Perplexity streamline affiliate outreach, reporting, and workflows while emphasizing core business principles and relationships. Sherrie shows how strategic event planning turns experiences like Funnel Hacking Live into growth engines. Richard highlights how podcasting, consistent communication, and systems reduce friction, strengthen relationships, and scale law firm operations.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, host Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Philip Hill, Sherrie Sokolowski, and Richard Jacobs, to discuss leveraging AI, systems, and relationship-driven growth. They cover affiliate marketing automation, event strategy, and client communication systems. They also share practical tools, books, and insights on balancing automation with human connection. [Top Software & Resource Series] What Leaders Rely on to Grow and Scale](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VRb1N3hgW1c/mqdefault.jpg)

![[AI & SaaS Series] The Subscription Model Customers Actually Want With Morgan Mizrahi
Morgan Mizrahi is the Co-founder and COO of Rebillia, a subscription management platform that helps e-commerce, SaaS, and recurring revenue businesses automate billing, reduce churn, and grow revenue. An experienced e-commerce and retail leader, she brings hands-on insight into the challenges merchants face when scaling subscriptions. Morgan helped build Rebillia to provide flexible billing infrastructure, lifecycle management, and customer-centered workflows. She is also a podcast guest and industry voice on subscription commerce and long-term customer growth.
In this episode… Traditional subscription models often lock customers into rigid plans. As expectations shift in the AI era, merchants need billing systems that adapt to customer behavior, changing preferences, and new revenue opportunities. What does a modern subscription model look like when it is built around choice instead of churn? For Morgan Mizrahi, a subscription commerce and e-commerce technology leader, the answer is flexibility. She explains how Rebillia challenges the old subscription playbook by helping merchants offer adjustable plans that customers can update throughout the subscription lifecycle. Instead of forcing buyers into one-size-fits-all recurring plans, this approach gives customers more control while helping businesses improve retention and increase lifetime value. Morgan also shares how flexible subscription infrastructure can support e-commerce, SaaS, AI-powered applications, and partnership-driven revenue models.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Morgan Mizrahi, Co-founder and COO of Rebillia, to discuss the anti-subscription model for modern commerce. Morgan explains flexible billing, reducing churn through customer choice, and how AI agents and vibe coders are reshaping monetization. She also shares how partnerships create new revenue opportunities. [AI & SaaS Series] The Subscription Model Customers Actually Want With Morgan Mizrahi](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/W88JSvUYTOE/mqdefault.jpg)




![Why Most Brands Fail and How to Build One That Wins With Mark Rampolla
Book a Complimentary B2B Podcast Strategy Call:
https://rise25.com/bookcall
Download our B2B Podcast Strategy & Tools List PDF:
https://rise25.com/podcastcheatsheetyt
Mark Rampolla is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of GroundForce Capital, a private equity firm that invests in and supports purpose-driven consumer brands focused on health, wellness, and sustainability. He is a visionary entrepreneur and investor who works closely with founders to scale impactful businesses and build enduring companies. Mark is also the Founder and former CEO of ZICO Coconut Water, having pioneered the global coconut water category and led the company through its acquisition by The Coca-Cola Company. He later reacquired ZICO and continues to play a leadership role in shaping its growth and strategy.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
• [0:00] Intro
• [6:18] Mark Rampolla explains early market testing and discovering product-market fit
• [10:52] Importance of focusing on a core product over expanding flavors
• [14:42] How packaging and branding help products stand out on crowded shelves
• [19:01] What made Liquid Death a standout investment opportunity early on
• [21:53] Key red flags and green flags when evaluating founders and brands
• [28:24] How Mark strategically positioned ZICO for acquisition by Coca-Cola
• [34:17] The harsh realities and low success rates in the beverage industry
• [40:14] Why redefining success beyond money is key to entrepreneurial freedom
In this episode…
Why do so many promising brands fail while a select few break through and dominate their category? Is it luck, timing, or something far more intentional behind the scenes? What separates fleeting trends from enduring, billion-dollar brands?
Mark Rampolla, a seasoned entrepreneur and investor behind multiple high-growth consumer brands, explains that success comes down to disciplined focus and starting with a deeply defined niche.
Sponsor for this episode
At https://rise25.com, we help B2B businesses give to and connect to your Dream 200 relationships and partnerships.
We help you cultivate amazing relationships in 2 ways:
#1 Podcasting
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#1 Our Predictable Podcast ROI Program
We’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 200 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.
We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.
What do you need to start a podcast?
When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution — you just need to show up and talk.
The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI — plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.
We make distribution easy.
We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.
Cofounders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.
The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.
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Elevate business relationships with customers, partners, staff, and prospects through gifting.
At Rise25, thoughtful and consistent gifting is a key component of staying top of mind and helps build lasting business relationships. Our done-for-you corporate gifting service ensures that your referral partners, prospects, and clients receive personalized touchpoints that enhance your business gifting efforts and provide a refined executive gifting experience.
Whether you’re looking to impress key stakeholders or boost client loyalty, our comprehensive approach makes it easy and affordable to create lasting impressions. Get started today and experience the difference a strategic gifting approach can make.
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Contact us now at support@rise25.com or message us here: https://rise25.com/contact
Powered by Rise25 Podcast Production Company - https://rise25.com Why Most Brands Fail and How to Build One That Wins With Mark Rampolla](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WpOHKBENoz8/mqdefault.jpg)
![[SaaS & AI Series] AI Disruption and the New Future of SaaS With Kevin Surace
Kevin Surace is the CEO and CTO at Appvance, a company that provides AI-native software quality assurance and autonomous testing solutions for enterprise applications. He is also Chair of Token, bringing decades of experience as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, inventor, and futurist. Recognized as the father of the AI virtual assistant, Kevin has led multiple technology companies, earned broad recognition, includingbeing named Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, and holds dozens of patents. He speaks globally on generative AI, automation, innovation, enterprise software quality, and the future of work.
In this episode… AI is not just changing how software gets built — it is challenging the foundations of how SaaS companies create value, compete, and survive. As AI tools make it possible to generate code, automate testing, and streamline go-to-market workflows faster than ever, what happens to traditional SaaS moats?
For Kevin Surace, a veteran technology entrepreneur, inventor, and AI pioneer, the answer is that SaaS companies must rethink where they truly add value. He highlights how AI is democratizing software creation, allowing smaller teams and even non-coders to build products that once required large engineering teams and major funding. The result is a more competitive SaaS landscape where speed, execution, trust, governance, and customer outcomes matter more than software complexity alone. Kevin also explains why enterprise companies may not abandon major SaaS platforms overnight, but startups can still disrupt incumbents by building leaner, lower-cost alternatives. He also explores how AI-driven QA can uncover bugs that human testers miss, helping companies improve software quality while accelerating productivity.
In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Kevin Surace, CEO and CTO at Appvance, to discuss AI disruption and the new future of SaaS. They cover how AI is transforming software development, why QA automation is ripe for disruption, and what SaaS companies must do to adapt. Kevin also shares insights on cybersecurity, identity protection, and the joy-based mindset behind fulfillment and peak performance. [SaaS & AI Series] AI Disruption and the New Future of SaaS With Kevin Surace](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wu48_avAgtE/mqdefault.jpg)

