Episode description

This is the history episode you have to listen to! Joe Dobrow wrote the textbook on the history of the natural foods industry: Natural Prophets. He masterly weaves U.S. history and the natural foods industry history side by side.

Joe served as the head of marketing for Fresh Fields, Whole Foods Market, Balducci’s and Sprouts Farmers Market. The inside look at the industry educates us on where we've been and where we're going:

• What the baby boomer natural foods titans were like in their late 20's/30's
• Visionary and Whole Foods founder John Mackey - king of the industry
• Why someone starting a food business should read Natural Prophets
• Whole Foods's "Libertarian Philosophy"
• Learning to compete from John Mackey and Michael Jordan
• The natural foods industry enormous if not underreported influence on Silicon Valley
• MBArk - Joe's program to steer MBA's towards social impact businesses

Selected links from the show:
Natural Prophets
MBArk
Silent Spring
Mo Siegel/Celestial Seasonings
Stonyfield Farm
The Purpose Collaborative
About Joe Dobrow