Full Circle

About Full Circle

FULL CIRCLE is where sports, wellness, and business converge. We bring you insights into athleisure and active lifestyle brands, uncovering trends, strategies, and stories of success. Your essential guide in the ever-evolving world of sports and wellness. fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Ethan Song

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Feb 2024

Latest episode

29 May 2024

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 May 2024

   E8 Alder Apparel - Creating Outdoor Apparel for All Women

   Naomi Blackman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiblackman/?originalSubdomain=ca), co-founder of Alder Apparel (https://www.alderapparel.com/), shares her entrepreneurial journey, driven by the vision of creating an inclusive and sustainable outdoor apparel brand. She discusses how they identified market gaps, began with one product, and grew their business through community feedback and strategic partnerships. Ultimately, they delve into their challenges, key insights, commitment to their brand’s vision, collaborations with REI and Roots, and navigation of a direct-to-consumer and omni-channel business model. Get full access to Full Circle at www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (http://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) Alder Apparel website https://www.alderapparel.com/ (https://www.alderapparel.com/) Alder Apparel Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alderapparel/ (https://www.instagram.com/alderapparel/) Show notes: 07:26 The Genesis of Alder: From Personal Frustration to Brand Creation 12:03 The First Product Launch 14:41 Navigating Growth and Community Engagement 24:13 Expanding the Brand with Collaborations and Partnerships 30:34 Reflecting on the Entrepreneurial Journey and Future Aspirations Full Circle Conversations is a podcast hosted by Ethan Song (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansong/). Hear about the founding story of today’s leading athletic brands and learn about the trends that are reshaping the business of sports. Full Circle is where sports, wellness and business converge. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   22 May 2024

   E7 Athletic Brewing - Pioneering The Non-Alcoholic Beer Movement

   Bill Shufelt (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-shufelt-650059138/), co-founder of Athletic Brewing Co. (https://athleticbrewing.ca/), shares his transition from working in finance to creating a leading non-alcoholic craft beer brand. Recognizing the market gap for non-alcoholic beverages, he founded Athletic Brewing Company while embracing a healthier lifestyle. Bill expands on his journey by discussing the company’s challenges, successes, and their focus on community, authentic experiences, and positive impact. He also shares personal insights on fitness, work-life balance, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Get full access to Full Circle at www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (http://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) Athletic Brewing website https://athleticbrewing.ca/ (https://athleticbrewing.ca/) Athletic Brewing Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athleticbrewing/ (https://www.instagram.com/athleticbrewing/) Athletic Brewing Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AthleticBrewing/ (https://www.facebook.com/AthleticBrewing/) Show notes: 08:20 The Birth of Athletic Brewing 10:36 Crafting a Non-Alcoholic Beer Revolution 15:14 Building a Community and Brand from the Ground Up 28:15 Sponsoring Sports and Building Authentic Relationships 28:57 Spartan Races and Athletic Brewing 33:54 Challenges and Triumphs 42:56 Navigating the Evolving Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Naomi Blackman (Alder Apparel). Full Circle Conversations is a podcast hosted by Ethan Song (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansong/). Hear about the founding story of today’s leading athletic brands and learn about the trends that are reshaping the business of sports. Full Circle is where sports, wellness and business converge. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   15 May 2024

   E6 Left On Friday - A product first approach

   Laura Low Ah Kee (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-low-ah-kee-57616526/) and Shannon Savage (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-savage-3238b119/?originalSubdomain=ca), co-founders of Left on Friday (https://leftonfriday.com/), recount their inspiring journey from being Lululemon (https://shop.lululemon.com/) employees to pioneers of a premium swimwear brand. Recognizing the influence of leadership and empowerment, Laura and Shannon explain their brand’s vision, expanding on how an active lifestyle led them to recognize a market gap for high-quality swimwear. This inspired them to prioritize fabric innovation and fit. The conversation tackles their product development process, marketing strategies, and brand positioning in a competitive market, emphasizing product quality and customer experience as their guiding principles. Shannon and Laura reflect on their challenges and rewards, offering insights into building brands, maintaining vision, and creating products that empower. Get full access to Full Circle at www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (http://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) Left on Friday website https://leftonfriday.com/ (https://leftonfriday.com/) Left on Friday Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leftonfriday (https://www.instagram.com/leftonfriday) Left on Friday Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leftonfriday/ (https://www.facebook.com/leftonfriday/) Show notes: 05:42 The Lululemon Journey: From Start-Up to Success 10:17 Birth of Left on Friday 13:55 The Making of LOF Swimwear 16:59 Spreading the Word about LOF 21:30 Athlete Partnerships and Expanding the Brand Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Bill Schufelt (Athletic Brewing) and Naomi Blackman (Alder Apparel). Full Circle Conversations is a podcast hosted by Ethan Song. Hear about the founding story of today’s leading athletic brands and learn about the trends that are reshaping the business of sports. Full Circle is where sports, wellness and business converge. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

4. 

   24 Apr 2024

   E5 Hooké - Connecting streams with Fred Campbell

   Fred Campbell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-campbell-20488822b/?originalSubdomain=ca), founder of Hooké (https://hooke.ca/), discusses his remarkable journey from skateboarding and snowboarding videos to founding the outdoor brand, Hooké. He explains how a pivotal car accident redirected him towards creating an eco-conscious outdoor brand focused on fishing, hunting, and nature preservation. Fred provides insights on business challenges and milestones, his passion, and future vision, touching on recent projects like a book release and collaboration with Grower’s Co, highlighting his commitment to storytelling, conservation, and sustainable living. Fred's narrative intertwines passion, business sustainability, and appreciation for Quebec's natural landscapes. Get full access to Full Circle at www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (http://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) Hooké website https://hooke.ca/ (https://hooke.ca/) Hooké Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hooke.ca/ (https://www.instagram.com/hooke.ca/) Hooké YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf-DYuFqCbhsEctE6Ie4hSA (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf-DYuFqCbhsEctE6Ie4hSA) Show notes: 08:11 Building a Business in the World of Extreme Sports 12:17 Rediscovering Nature: The Roots of an Outdoor Passion 14:30 Transitioning to Hooké: Merging Passion with Business 17:00 The Creative Freedom of Running Your Own Brand 20:54 Content Creation Philosophy: Quality Over Quantity 24:41 Revolutionizing the Fishing and Hunting Industry 28:41 Democratizing Outdoor Sports and Promoting Conservation 30:00 The Positive Impact of Outdoor Lifestyle and Content 33:34 Celebrating a Decade of Brand Success and Reflections 38:45 The Journey of Building and Selling Grower's Co. 46:56 Vision for the Future and Embracing the Present Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Laura Low Ah Kee and Shannon Savage (Left On Friday) and Bill Schufelt (Athletic Brewing). Full Circle Conversations is a podcast hosted by Ethan Song. Hear about the founding story of today’s leading athletic brands and learn about the trends that are reshaping the business of sports. Full Circle is where sports, wellness and business converge. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

5. 

   22 Mar 2024

   E4 Run As You Are - At the intersection of running and technology

   In this episode, Ethan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansong/) interviews Larry Lau (https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrylau/?originalSubdomain=ca), a multi-faceted entrepreneur with a background ranging from digital marketing to being involved in the health and wellness sectors with MyoDetox (https://www.myodetox.com/). Larry shares his journey from being a casual runner to completing his first half marathon and how this transition sparked the inception of Run As You Are (https://www.runasyouare.co/) – a unique project at the intersection of running, health, and technology. Initially begun as an NFT project, Run As You Are evolved into a hybrid business model that marries health-backed assessments to personalize running gear recommendations with a strong community and e-commerce component. Strategies for engaging traditional running brands and utilizing consumer data to guide product development are also discussed, emphasizing a customer-centric approach that navigates the nuances of brand affinities versus health-led product choice. Get full access to Full Circle at www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (http://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) Show notes: 4:35 Introducing Larry Lau: A Unique Journey into Running7:12 From Digital Marketing to Entrepreneurship: Larry's Background11:59 The Genesis of Run As You Are: A Web3 Experiment24:53 Evolving Beyond Web3: The New Direction for Run As You Are30:13 The Future of Running: Personalized Health and E-commerce Integration42:57 A Sneak Peek into the Retail Experience and Future Plans Links discussed Run As You Are https://www.runasyouare.co/ (https://www.runasyouare.co/) MyoDetox https://www.myodetox.com/ (https://www.myodetox.com/) Vancouver running company https://vanrunco.com/ (https://vanrunco.com/) Nike https://www.nike.com/ (https://www.nike.com/ca/) Salomon https://www.salomon.com/ (https://www.salomon.com/) Adidas https://www.adidas.com/ (https://www.adidas.com/) ASICS https://www.asics.com/ (https://www.asics.com/) Marlow https://wearemarlow.com/ (https://wearemarlow.com/) Strava https://www.strava.com/ (https://www.strava.com/) Norda https://nordarun.com/ (https://nordarun.com/) Aesop https://www.aesop.com/ (https://www.aesop.com/) Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Fred Campbell (Hooké) and Laura Low Ah Kee and Shannon Savage (Left On Friday). Full Circle Conversations is a podcast hosted by Ethan Song. Hear about the founding story of today’s leading athletic brands and learn about the trends that are reshaping the business of sports. Full Circle is where sports, wellness and business converge. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   21 Mar 2024

   E3 TRX & Outfit - Randy Hetrick’s Entrepreneurial Journey

   Randy Hetrick (https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-hetrick-780a4/), the founder of TRX (https://www.trxtraining.com/), dives into the company's origins, mission, and future direction. He recounts his personal life as a Navy Seal and how it inspired the creation of TRX, initially born from the necessity of staying fit during deployment. Randy shares insights into TRX's evolution from a simple concept to a comprehensive fitness solution, along with the challenges and triumphs along the way. He also dives into his new venture Outfit Fitness. Get full access to Full Circle at www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (http://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) Show notes: 05:22 A SEAL's Journey: Challenges and Opportunities 08:26 Transitioning from Military to Entrepreneurship 17:25 Building TRX: Strategies and Challenges 22:40 Creating an Iconic Fitness Brand 25:47 Combating Counterfeits and Staying Competitive 29:11 Introducing Outfit Fitness: A New Venture 37:38 Outfit Fitness: Strategy and Future Vision Links discussed TRX https://www.trxtraining.com/ (https://www.trxtraining.com/) Outfit Fitness https://outfittraining.com/ (https://outfittraining.com/) Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage https://www.amazon.ca/Endurance-Shackletons-Incredible-Alfred-Lansing/dp/0465062881 (https://www.amazon.ca/Endurance-Shackletons-Incredible-Alfred-Lansing/dp/0465062881) Extreme Ownership https://echelonfront.com/books/extreme-ownership/ (https://echelonfront.com/books/extreme-ownership/) Peloton https://www.onepeloton.ca/ (https://www.onepeloton.ca/) Mindbody Online https://www.mindbodyonline.com/ (https://www.mindbodyonline.com/) Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Larry Lau (Run As You Are) and Fred Campbell (Hooké). Full Circle Conversations is a podcast hosted by Ethan Song. Hear about the founding story of today’s leading athletic brands and learn about the trends that are reshaping the business of sports. Full Circle is where sports, wellness and business converge. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

7. 

   16 Feb 2024

   E2 B, Halfmoon - Connecting the Dots

   Entrepreneur Andrea Morris shares her journey of founding wellness brand B Yoga, now called B, Halfmoon. After discovering yoga in Australia, she was inspired a few years later to create high-quality yoga mats that have become the standard in yoga communities worldwide. Andrea discusses setting clear company values and growing her brand over the past 10 years. She also shares her personal wellness routine and views on the future of the wellness industry. Get full access to Full Circle at www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (http://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) Show notes: 00:30 Andrea's Personal Journey and Discovery of Yoga 03:45 Transition into Entrepreneurship and the Birth of B Yoga 11:02 The Evolution of B Yoga and its Impact on the Yoga Community 17:03 The Importance of Brand Values and Community in B Yoga's Success 22:43 The Acquisition of Halfmoon 28:34 The Evolution of Yoga and Wellness Industry 35:19 Personal Wellness Routine and Goal Setting 40:02 Looking Forward: The Next 10 Years Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Frederick Campbell (Hooke) and Randy Hetrick (TRX, OutFit Training) Full Circle Conversations is a podcast hosted by Ethan Song. Hear about the founding story of today’s leading athletic brands and learn about the trends that are reshaping the business of sports.Full Circle is where sports, wellness and business converge. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

8. 

   14 Feb 2024

   E1 Bandit - The Power of Community

   In this exclusive interview, Nick and Tim West, the co-founders of Bandit discuss the company's journey, mission, and long-term vision. They share their own experience with running, how the brand started with socks, and has grown into a more comprehensive lineup of progressive running apparel. The co-founders also delve into their focus on building a community-centric brand, the development of a new training app, and the influence of the New York running scene on the brand's ethos and aesthetic. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) Show Notes: 00:32 Nick & Tim’s Personal Journey and Connection to Running04:34 The Birth of Bandit 10:09 The Role of New York in Shaping Bandit's Identity 10:52 The Unique Marketing and Growth Strategy of Bandit 26:28 The Importance of Community in the Brand 32:28 The Role of Membership in Enhancing Customer Experience 35:59 Introducing the Program: A New App for Runners 40:00 Observations on the Current State of Running Stay tuned for new episodes from upcoming guests including Andrea Morris (B, Halfmoon) and Randy Hetrick (TRX, OutFit Training). Full Circle Conversations is a podcast hosted by Ethan Song. Hear about the founding story of today’s leading athletic brands and learn about the trends that are reshaping the business of sports.Full Circle is where sports, wellness and business converge. For more Full Circle content, visit https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (https://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

9. 

   14 Feb 2024

   E0 Welcome to Full Circle

   Welcome to the very first episode of Full Circle. Every month, our host Ethan Song will interview world-class founders and executives in the world of sports, wellness and business to uncover concrete, actionable, and tactical insights to help you build, launch, and grow your brand. Get full access to Full Circle at www.rarecircles.com/full-circle (http://www.rarecircles.com/full-circle) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fullcirclepod.substack.com (https://fullcirclepod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Full Circle

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.