In our first-ever emergency episode of Free Spirits, hosts Lars Miller and David Gonzalez sit down with Chris Lackner, founder and president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, to unpack the breaking news around proposed federal restrictions that could reshape the future of the functional beverage business.

Chris has been on the front lines of the policy debate, leading national efforts to protect the category and rally industry leaders. This episode offers clarity, action steps, and a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening in Washington and what it means for adult beverage operators, retailers, brand founders, and investors.

We cover:

• What’s actually in the bill and what changes are being proposed

• What operators can expect in the next 12 months

• The real risks to the beverage industry, and the myths

• How distributors, consumers, and brands are responding

• Why staying calm and strategic is critical right now

• What constructive regulation might look like moving forward

Whether you’re a startup founder, part of a national brand, or just passionate about Hemp THC drinks, this episode breaks down the policy, the politics, and the path forward.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to stay informed as the fight for the future of functional beverages continues.

What happens when a craft beer veteran brings creative collaboration into the functional beverage space?

In this episode of Free Spirits, Lars Miller and David Gonzalez sit down with Spencer Ploessl, an independent creative consultant and advisor at CannaConnect, to talk about the origin and future of Coco Flow—a coconut water-based functional beverage born from a unique collaboration between CannaConnect and Back Channel Brewing.

Spencer’s background spans two decades in craft beverage branding, sales, and distribution. Drawing on lessons from the beer industry—grain-to-glass education, collaboration brews, and taproom innovation—he now helps brands reimagine what’s possible in the adult beverage space.

This episode dives into:

• How Coco Flow blends multiple functional ingredients like coconut water, pineapple, lemongrass, and sea salt for hydration and recovery

• The strategy behind building a beverage brand through grassroots marketing and collaboration, not paid media

• What it takes to align creative direction, formulation, and business operations across multiple partners

• How product launches in the functional drinks space differ from traditional beverage business models

• Why scarcity, limited-edition drops, and experiential sampling are gaining traction in adult beverage launches

You’ll also hear a candid discussion on formulation goals, flavor development, consumer education, and how non-traditional distribution models can still drive real demand.

Whether you’re a beverage operator, brand builder, brewer, or marketer looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with insights into building functional drinks that cut through the noise.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

What happens when beverage innovation meets real-world data?

In this episode of Free Spirits, hosts Lars Miller and David Gonzalez sit down with Kevin Provost, CEO of Greenhouse Ventures and Co-Founder of More Better, to explore how real-world data is shaping the future of functional beverages, adult beverages, and consumer trust.

Kevin shares how his background in sales, accelerators, and startup operations led to launching More Better, a data and research company behind one of the largest formula-to-outcome databases in the beverage industry. With over 3,000 participants in their most recent longitudinal study, More Better is bringing hard data to a space that has traditionally relied on anecdote.

This episode breaks down:

• Why most beverage brands struggle to differentiate without real data

• How consumer research drives trust, repeat purchases, and shelf conversion

• What the “Infused: Better” study revealed about alcohol substitution, sleep, stress, and consumer behavior

• How to use research-backed insights in business operations, marketing, and distributor conversations

• The growing role of data in retail, DTC, and on-premise strategy

Whether you’re a founder, investor, or operator in the beverage business, this conversation will change how you think about data—not as a luxury, but as a necessity.

🎧 Listen and learn how the smartest players in the space are using consumer research to gain an edge in product design, compliance, and go-to-market execution.