How She Built a Better-For-You 2 Billion Dollar Empire with Allison Ellsworth, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Poppi

Superwomen with Rebecca Minkoff

Rebecca Minkoff

Society & Culture

4.8 • 543 Ratings

🗓️ 8 May 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On this episode of SUPERWOMEN, I sat down with Allison Ellsworth, co-founder of Poppi—the better-for-you soda brand that’s gone from tabling at the farmers’ market to one of the fastest-growing beverages in the U.S. Allison’s journey started with a gut feeling—literally. Struggling with health issues and searching for natural remedies, she discovered the benefits of apple cider vinegar. But instead of settling for the harsh taste, she hit the kitchen and created her own fix. What followed? A Whole Foods rep at the farmers market, a “Shark Tank” deal, and a rebrand that would catapult Poppi into virality and the mainstream. In this episode, she opens up about what it really took to scale Poppi: letting go of fear, maxing out credit cards, learning how to lead, building a brand from instinct, and saying no to “dumb money.” We talk team dynamics, viral TikToks, Super Bowl commercials, and why sometimes the boldest move is pausing everything to get the brand right. We also get into the power of believing in yourself, even when no one else sees the vision yet. After all, Allison is the self-proclaimed Chief Believe Officer. Whether you’re building a business or just love a good founder story, Allison’s energy, honesty, and unstoppable drive will leave you inspired—and maybe craving a can of Poppi. If you’ve ever been told “That’s not how it’s done,” this one’s for you. Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to order my book, “Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success.” Follow SUPERWOMEN (@rmsuperwomen) and Allison (@allisonellsworth) on Instagram. Support this podcast: https://bit.ly/rmsuperwomen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Do you ever see a successful woman on your feed or in a magazine and think, wow, it must be
0:05.6	nice to have it so easy. Well, think again. Behind that glossy cover or smiling face is a ton of hard work,
0:12.8	countless failures, and endless learning experiences. I'm Rebecca Minkoff and I'm here to tell you
0:17.8	that success isn't a walk in the park. It takes grit, resilience,
0:22.4	and a willingness to take risks. That's why I created Superwoman, a podcast that peels back to
0:27.9	varnish and gets into the nitty gritty of what it takes to make it as a woman in today's world.
0:32.6	From luminaries and game changers to women you've never heard of but should, this podcast is here to inspire you to take your next week, no matter how daunting it may seem.
0:42.4	We'll explore the sacrifices these women have made, the highs and loaves they've experienced, and the lessons they've learned along the way.
0:49.5	So if you're ready to be inspired and learn from some of the most successful women out there. Join me on Superwomen.
0:55.5	Together, we'll uncover the stories behind the successes and prove that with hard work,
1:00.7	determination, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible.
1:05.8	Hey, everyone, you're listening to Superwomen.
1:08.0	Today's guest is the iconic Alison Ellsworth, the founder of Poppy.
1:12.6	If you were born yesterday, you haven't heard of Poppy, but they are an incredible, healthier
1:18.1	for you soda alternative. They have taken over the beverage market number two in the space
1:23.8	in the United States. And it was exciting to hear about her journey starting from
1:29.2	farmers markets with a baby on her back, bottling the liquid to where the brand is today with
1:35.4	global recognition, the Super Bowl, and so much more. Take a listen as we go deep into what it took
1:41.1	to start the company, what it was like to pivot, and how she maintains this
1:45.9	exciting approach to business to this day. Alison, welcome. I'm so excited to chat with you today.
1:52.5	Let's dive in. Awesome. Thanks for having me. So you've been in the news quite a lot lately.
1:58.6	Yes. I love seeing all of your incredible marketing. It's wild. I was at
	...

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