This entrpreneur said "no" to Shark Tank's Mark Cuban: the growth of Lindsay McCormick and BITE Toothpaste Bits

Lindsay McCormick started BITE Toothpaste Bits because she was tired of using the small toothpaste tubes when she was on the road for work. Now, BITE is a toothpaste phenomenon that has gone viral. The vegan entrepreneur started her business in her LA living room and now has scaled to meet the growing demand for vegan, cruelty-free, environmentally-friendly, zero-waste products. She and her co-founder, Asher Hunt, even appears on the hit show - Shark Tank - where they declined Mark Cuban's offer.

Find out how McCormick grew her business and turned it into one of the hottest products on the market, her journey into zero-waste and her life before becoming a successful entrepreneur as a travel videographer and working on House Hunters.

To order the bits for yourself, visit BITE. To learn more about Good Fork and past guests, and host Diana Edelman, head to Vegans, Baby. 

Transcript

spk_1:   0:06
you're listening to the Good Fork with host Diana Edelman of Vegans Baby from Las Vegas, Nevada. Interesting conversations, interesting people for more, head over to vegans baby dot com After the episode. Are you looking to save a little cash right now? I know I am, so I have some great deals for you. Daily Harvest right now is offering $25 off your first order when you use code vegans, baby, a checkout they are and all organic, all natural meal prep service. So you get cups of beautiful smoothies and bulls and savory and sweet, and I absolutely love them. There's also some deals right now over at Vegan Cuts, and they do subscription boxes like snack boxes and beauty boxes and even right now, a quarantine box. So head over to begin cuts dot com and use code Vegans, Baby, Just save a little money there, And if you're in the mood to shop, I actually have a whole shop on Amazon with some of my favorite products. It's amazon dot com slash shop slash begins baby head on over. Check it out and enjoy some shopping episode of the Good Fork. I am Diana Edelman of begins, baby. And, um, I am your host. This is a podcast, and we're also multitasking a little while we are all stuck in quarantine and doing a Facebook live as well because you got to keep entertained, right? Yes. Sorry s O. I have your Lindsay McCormick. You may want seeing Lindsay on your Facebook feed holding a cute little bottle of bite toothpaste bits. You may have seen her take a few weeks ago where she turned down Mark Cuban. Um, but so Lindsay is the founder of Buy toothpaste, and it is a zero waste sustainable. All natural to pay spite. And, uh, I have known Lindsey for a really long time. I think we're going on, like, 78 years old. The decade, almost 20 years. And it actually know each other because we started trouble traveling right around the same time. I had a travel block and she was a trap. You were travel video, basically, and we met in Vegas, and then we ended up meeting, like, all around world as we went. So, um, hi, Lindsay. Thank you so much for being here today. Um, it looks beautiful where you are. in L. A. While you're pointing to your house. Um, how is it going over there? What's it? What's what's on Los Angeles, like right now, So good. Do you thank you for having me on.

spk_0:   2:52
I'm so excited. I know we've been friends for almost a decade, and I feel like we have really, like, grown up together, like the past decade of our lives. So thank you for having on this pocket and get super cool. And Facebook lives so fun. Especially like this time, right? I feel like it's ah definitely unprecedented times that we are living in at the moment. So, you know, for for all intensive purposes of to be, uh, we're voluntarily self corn to, you know, stay home at hand. Well, we've been at home working out of our apartment, which I mean, if you're gonna be anywhere. It's a pretty nice view. So, um no, really. We're really counting our blessings. Durand. I'm I know that there's a lot of people who have been affected by Corona virus and their family members or their sick. And so, luckily, you know, I'm fine. My boyfriend's else. Minute cofounders. Find Nemo a little pop he's sitting right next to me. You were all good and we've all at light Been working from home actually since right after we shot chart. Take. So it's been a little bit of, ah, whirlwind of a month, but yeah, that we're hanging in there.

spk_1:   3:55
So before we even get into and by it, I want to talk about what you were doing in the community right now. Just the you know, you have been making hand sanitizer.

spk_0:   4:05
We have been so as soon as we started hearing about the Corona virus like this was no super early, that one of the first and it sold out was hand sanitizer. And although with bite now were manufactured in a facility up in our California wearing help, its right of the road here in l. A. And so what? We still have our in home labs. So as soon as I realized there was gonna be this need, especially for the, you know, homeless population in L. A. They it's I knew that we wanted to be able to do something. So we started. I started figuring out, like with same thing of toothpaste. Like what is to face what

spk_1:   4:40
is hand

spk_0:   4:41
sanitizer, and the World Health Organization has a recipe online. It's worth their formula and lying. You could basically followed to a T. So we at that point this was early enough in the pandemic that you could still actually pretty easily get ahold of the raw materials. You couldn't get sanitizer, get everything else. So we bought all of the raw materials we needed to be sort of making it. Don't ending it. It's now since been way harder. We're actually having a really hard time getting isopropyl alcohol, so we've kind of slowed down being able to make it. But we've been donating it to some really amazing organizations who are on the street like still handing out hand sanitizer and just really helping, like a segment of the population that has really been left to fend for themselves. So, you know, it's I think, one of the things that bite is we're all about saving the planet and animals. But like people really can't look outside of saving the planet if they're worried about protecting themselves. And so by helping people protect themselves, I feel like you know, it's still all kind of contributing toe what we're all in this for.

spk_1:   5:41
So Okay, you went from travel, as did I. Uh, how long were you traveling? A couple of years. Yeah.

spk_0:   5:48
Yeah. So I had a travel YouTube channel, and I did you know, I was working as a surf instructor on a snowboard instructor for a long time. So in the in between seasons, I, like didn't have enough money to live in l A. But I could go backpacking a different country, so I would do what? And then when I was 27 I actually took about a little over a year off, and that's when we met. And we yeah, 27. Because I've done

spk_1:   6:12
it. Now hold 2012. Right before I went to suite.

spk_0:   6:17
Yes. And so And we and I just went. I gave away everything I own, which bonus? It wasn't much, but it was weird charger and then went traveled all around the world and made a big, heaping Siris on it. And that's like our background mean that's how we met, Which is really

spk_1:   6:32
so from travel due to pace. How does that How do you mean? Okay, starts with a T. But that's about as close to anything who travel into a face. There is, how world did you get into two faced? It's a really good question. I wonder about that myself. Well, it was. It's not so much

spk_0:   6:53
about toothpaste out as it was like my love for the world and wanting to protect it. So you know, the inspiration to travel was wanting to see this beautiful planet, and my inspiration for Bite was wanting to protect it. So my little tiny way of doing that was toothpaste. I was actually traveling. So since making YouTube travel videos, I ended up getting a job in TV, and I was a TV producer. So I was traveling all around the country filming the show House Hunters, and I was going to those little toothpaste tubes. Those little

spk_1:   7:21
guys always a little pat on the back out, and it just came on. It was just

spk_0:   7:25
so wasteful. And so I wanted Thio be ableto get on alternative to just throwing out a plastic tube. And then, looking into that, I started realizing all the harsh chemicals and preservatives that's in commercial toothpaste, and I realized, like Okay, there's a lot that's going on. That's wrong here. And I really want to just make something even just for me That would be better on, but also, you know, with the good fork. And I know you're vegan and I'm thinking as well. I learned that a lot of commercial toothpaste is actually tested on animals, which was like mind blowing to me. There's something called the Rat Carries test, and it's actually it's formally required for all fluoride to base it on the market in the U. S. What? There are some Florida t pace. That's a cruelty free. And that means they've chosen basically not to do the required rat, Kerry says, which look good on them. But it also means 30. I don't really know how they're not doing that, because we've looked into all things do, based on what kind of was no, it sucks that that is a requirement. So on and then things like blistering could be animal drives. So that just kind of blew my mind right when, um and then I just kind of came up with the idea for But it was a super long narrative process. First, was it powder and then I wanted to, like, baked these little walls That I was like trying to make it my toaster oven, You know anything? And then finally, I was like, Okay, it's gonna happen. Gonna have to buy a tablet machine. And I'm gonna have to start trying to make this with, like, a dry powder. And, um and so I made in my living room, and then we ended up like it was kind of before the whole planet plastic problem was really like headline news. And it was still super weird, infringe and, you know, and the idea of, like, veganism had really caught on her, you know, And that whole thing. So it was still, But then we've been like, a year. You're reacting. Gone viral on Facebook within Facebook videos. Do

spk_1:   9:13
you were there right before that? And

spk_0:   9:18
then it would just kind of really just rocket launch the company. Yes. Oh, it's now it's me and my boyfriend who's my co founder. And then we have three other people working with us and, yeah, that's the story of bite and kind of how and how it all like works out in a weird way. So although toothpaste was not my background. You

spk_1:   9:38
can learn a lot from the Internet. You can learn everything you need to know. You're an expert in two faced. Yeah, but it's

spk_0:   9:44
all because I learned from people who are actually, except it's like I talked to ever like every day. It's hilarious, Like my contacts now with so many of the dentist dental hygienist, you know, like all these people that I could just bounce ideas off of and ask their opinion on things and then also just like reading online studies like looking all of religion itself there. So, yeah, I know what I'm hearing from the mouth about two things

spk_1:   10:05
now. The other side of this, though, isn't just that you made these these bits. It's everything is your waist,

spk_0:   10:11
right? So So I got my green tea. So taking steps, agreeing to you over here. Yeah. So everything something that was so important was the fact that we weren't contributing to a landfill waste. So everything about us if you're when you're on this description program, it comes in a glass bottle with an aluminum lid. It's awfully recyclable, but even better, it's meant to be kept and refilled, and we just send you composed Bullwinkle pouches and that out. What? We have our home compostable. Which means if you have a compost pile or compost bin, you can put it in there. Andi, it's not. You don't have to find the industrial facilities that you know. Sometimes those those cups they get a bad rep. So being able to come up with something that was truly like zero waste and more beneficial from the environment, something that was hi, I'm a list.

spk_1:   10:59
So how did you get from that to a viral video to hanging out short like Wow happened, Lindsay. It was a long journey, so

spk_0:   11:12
it was when we first went viral in August 2018. There's actually so with when it comes to Shark, take they. There's two ways to get on the show, I'm sure, actually, there's many ways from the show. I don't really know, but I do know they have you. You can go in through there casting thing, or sometimes they have cast people who reach out, and they're very, very upfront. Say, just because we reached out to you does not mean that you have a better or worse chance of getting on the show. It's just that they have people who who do that. So they reached out to us the first time and I was just too frazzled, like it was literally the exact same time that that happened. So I was like, Okay, well, we'll apply next for the next season and see how it goes And then, you know, like the whole casting being is is super. It's a process like a really long process. There's a lot of you to dio there's, I mean, as you can expect. And then once you find out like there's just use a practice because you're up there, will you really that's your one shot And like they're very clear where it's like there's no reduce like there's no like, hey, cut, I need to get that lying. But, oh, you hated opponent your go. And so it was definitely nerve racking, but really, really fun. So

spk_1:   12:25
did you have a plan like when you started all this really cool? I'm gonna put together a business plan, and you just kind of like because I know for me like I'm always at home. Let's just trying to see if it works and there is never a business plan. I just gotta run with it. And you're I mean, that. Is that you? Yeah.

spk_0:   12:39
So, yeah, um, same thing. So I made this for me because I needed it for my job. So I wanted to be able Thio travel and have toothpaste that fit, you know, could I could take her carry on that wasn't contributing a land fill ways. And then it was then when I had learned about all of the chemicals and animal testing, I was like, What money? Is it home too? So it really over me, and I was gonna make it no matter what. And then it, you know, as we've grown, we've of course, we have to start doing things like moving the business land. But whoever you know, at the beginning, it never was because I think that if I would have made a business plan, I think if I if I would have done focus group testing and all of these very preliminary things that people do before starting a business, I wouldn't done this because you like you can get the oiled hair industry. It's so incredibly competitive. And if you look at all these things like the odds are not stacked against you, but it's like you never know what the wild card of going viral or that about what? Just people are gonna really demand something different. You know that We're super lucky. The fact that I went into this, you know, just behind. Because if we would have stopped and I thought about that, we might have been discouraged. And we wouldn't have done it

spk_1:   13:54
like what it was like, do a business plan. I'm always just like, Oh, God, Because once you start outlining it, it's like, Wait, it's just it takes all the passion that everything is all set up like they condense that passion until business plan And I look out, I just don't want, like, I want someone else. Did you want for me? Because it's a lot. And I don't want to get discouraged. And I want to just kind of go and see what works and what doesn't. And then when the time comes, Okay, cool. Then you'll figure it out. So yeah. What? You got too sharp too. What? First off? Because you I mean, you're no stranger to being on TV like you've been interviewed a 1,000,000 times. You had your own YOUTUBE channel, but I feel like shark tank in. Being on that is a whole different piece for you. Like what was going through your mind Like, lady, what? First off, what did you have to do to prepare for Sharpay?

spk_0:   14:39
That's a really question. So there was so much preparation that went into it, especially because coming from the fact that like right, we didn't necessarily this wasn't built with, like, venture capital in mind at all. Like we never would have done a pitch like we didn't have a lick of the business plan like, perfectly laid out. Like all of those things we really had to build when we did shark tanks, we had again Would you really look at what makes our business attractive to business people? And like up until then, we had really just been like, we're making toothpaste and it's going really well, you know, And so it was really kind of stepping back and saying, OK, we go look at this like a business, and that was incredibly helpful. And I would say that hope for sure at the beginning when you're first starting your business. You know, if you're starting from passion and just wanted to solve a problem than getting into the numbers in the nitty gritty is probably the wrong time because you just want to be able, like for me. When I was sort of bite, it was like making part. It didn't matter if, like, no one bought her, No one got everyone liked it like I was gonna make it for myself And that when you start, you know, for Shark Tank really forced us to make us think like this is a business. And that was just super helpful to start really digging into those numbers and be forced to dig into those numbers and kind of figure out like, Oh, like, this is a working business and like, you know, these these things were like, you know, it's all really It was good. So for the preparation, I mean enough fun, even getting ready for your pitch right? Then you have to like brake pads. You practise the pitch and like the whole hoping that definitely from my background with TV and, um you do. But like that I control

spk_1:   16:16
Yeah, Yeah. Then Actual s O. That was like Steri su. Sure, Yeah. So then Okay. Leading up to it. Where did you come?

spk_0:   16:28
Eso Sorry. It's filmed in. It's a Sony. It's on. It's Ah, It's like, uh, you know how much I could get into it. Oh, but we film in l. A bellman. L A and everyone hold in from all over the country. But luckily, plus, it's right. It was not like, uh, it was It was a nice experience in that way.

spk_1:   16:50
Did you know who all the sharks were gonna be before you went in? You do not. Okay. Did you have like that in mind that you really wanted there?

spk_0:   16:59
So when it came, I had thought that, you know, all the sharks are amazing and they're all exceptionally good at what they do. And it's it's funny, because when we were preparing for it, one of the things that I did was come up with white boards and I had webbed wars. Our apartment and I had written down every shark and like the deals they had done what had gone, you know, all of things, like their pet peeves. Like what to say what not to say. Look, I got even do, like just there. Yeah, I got one walking in there unprepared. Look, I'm gonna And so I thought a shark, that would be They're all okay. They're all amazing in the right. But I got one that I had really, Um, his previous investments were very interesting. Would have been interesting to us, Was Robert and that was he had done put box, which is subscription business. He had done Sand Cloud, just go friendly business. And I thought that that would like it was very relevant to us and what would be helpful to us? So it was someone that I was interested in. But then, of course, it's like it wasn't love. Mork doesn't love, you know, is like you love them all. But I was particularly because of his history interests

spk_1:   18:06
over. So what lot done? I just want, like, I just hold the flavor play ball. It's basically so when you walk downstage and you see the sharks sitting there like do you have that moment of Oh, my God. Like this is really life. Holy crap. I'm here, like on this stage. Like what? When what went through your head like, Oh, so really

spk_0:   18:27
funny, like, right before. This is so good. We're friends, so I'm gonna get super weird. But, like always wouldn't before you walk on like they come and they do your final hair and makeup check and they like, do this. And there's, like, people around you, like touching and moving things. And I was just closing my house. You're like a minister village

spk_1:   18:47
material, and I living in a simulation that I

spk_0:   18:49
don't know. It just seems so surreal, you know? And then, honestly, you just black out like I don't remember really What it felt like, I think like Slater fight

spk_1:   18:59
player foot and you just

spk_0:   19:01
like like you've been there, you know, and like you do. And like, that's why we had practiced our pitch the point. What was muscle memory? We had like Asher, and I knew who was answering what question and what the answer would be like. We knew, like we had our junkets and being like anything that falls into hears me. Anything that falls into here is young one, like we knew everything. And so like, that was I think so. Helpful. Yeah,

spk_1:   19:29
How long did you guys?

spk_0:   19:32
Well, it's tough because it's like, I think, you know, the casting thing is a long time, but you don't really know for sure that you're gonna shoot like it's all up in the air in TV, junk, whatever. So we didn't really started preparing once we began the casting process. Okay? Way committed. You know, which was, um because we were, like, even if we don't get it, like in the end, this will be helpful to us. Because of what? You've gone through all of these questions and gone to everything. So we we I think No, I don't know how many other how much other teams prepare, but like we would in there like, but like we were accepted prepared likes I

spk_1:   20:11
was you And I know Asher, and I can see you are literally sitting every day like Bach cop up. Like figuring all this out, going over and over and over and over it again.

spk_0:   20:22
Sharking played on our TV. We're like is on 24 7 Like we've all been working there and it would just be on It would be

spk_1:   20:29
all. Did you watch?

spk_0:   20:31
Oh, I watch every single one of them, every single, literally from season one. Well, season when I didn't watch us much like the first few seasons, it was different because they, I think, like, had taken a percentage of every brand that went on there. So it was kind of vibe one, like from there on. After that, it was a totally different thing. So what I got, I watched. I think I watched, like, every single Star Trek episode at least once, probably twice, and like no being

spk_1:   20:59
like, it's not you, I

spk_0:   21:02
would kill it

spk_1:   21:04
on stage. You don't remember anything? Do you remember them? Offered me the deal.

spk_0:   21:09
Yes, I remember that. So although if you watch the episodes, you could see we forgot about Kevin's deal quite a few times. Oh, yeah, Way Got it. We got a deal from our an option, not what is. It called that offer from heaven and from Mark. But I was just so much higher than what we would even with hate. So I was like, That's not even an option. And then Mark Waas Ah, he wanted 15% and we you know, we went in there with asking for Blake for 5% for

spk_1:   21:42
Okay, there you got Sorry.

spk_0:   21:43
Why so 325,000 for 5%. And and that, like so I think like the strategy of starting to like every team, every like, company, 16 minutes a game. Every company has their own strategy. And I think that's something that definitely did. Is we? Uh, no. You don't know if this is the right move, right? When you leave my kinds, I put like we went in there with what we thought was fair and what's really there to, like, super negotiate. We just pretended like this is what the numbers say. Like, this is what we think is fair And we didn't really leave much room for, like, negotiating like, I just want I feel like when you're starting a partnership, I don't want to be nickel and dime ing you. I just wanna be like that's where we'll start this off. So that's kind of how I want to do it. I think like what makes that our TV and what you know other brands like to do or other people like to do is going with something way high, knowing that they'll negotiate or going Start going and lay low. You won't go shake it up and we don't really do that. And I That was, um yeah, different. I think that that was like, you know, we didn't really have to play it that way that I

spk_1:   22:48
want. So looking back would mean, Are you comfortable with that? Like, are you comfortable with the fact that you turned down offers?

spk_0:   22:54
Oh, yeah, for sure. So

spk_1:   22:56
because even if we would have

spk_0:   22:57
negotiated more, we still weren't on the same planet. You know, this whole, you know, it was gonna It wouldn't have worked in women, but I definitely like I mean, who doesn't love Mark Cuban? Like, who doesn't? Well, so when it comes thio your business and kind of going with With what? You know, we went in there and we knew it was right for us and our brand and our customers and what we wanted for the future of the company. It's kind of like even with the shining lights, like, you just got a parallel track, you know? So, yeah, this could be so amazing, but still we got to stay on track, you know?

spk_1:   23:27
Yeah. And So now you guys, you know you are moving forward with everything. What? What kind of stuff do you have coming

spk_0:   23:34
up? So you have. So we have our we come out with new flavors every season right now is actually my favorite one. So far, I I say that every season was true because I didn't have a weapon. It wasn't like they were. This is we have lavender lemon, which is springtime. Oh, magical like lavender. 11. 30 couples are you to send you some relaxing toothpaste? Yes, is there's like it's relaxing because the lavender but then the Citrus like makes it like right a little bit. So it's like that's a nice little compliment, but and then we have our toothbrushes, to which I, which are actually really awesome for travel. So these air, it was our baby to rush and it comes apart, so you could just, like throw it in your makeup bag or whatever, which is where you throw it, which is not hygienic, but we're experiencing. It went well, and, uh and then we're having We're coming out with new products as the goes by, too. So

spk_1:   24:30
anything you could sneak Hager of your mom on it wouldn't have anything right now for work, not for

spk_0:   24:35
us. But once I do, I'll let you know

spk_1:   24:38
when you brought you. Um, how did you come up with flavors?

spk_0:   24:42
So we actually were working with a small business flavor house here in Los Angeles at which is super awesome. I love being able to just really keep it local. And we I come up with what flavor like before this was like lavender lemon and we all talked about it. As a team like that we go. We all talk about this is a team and say what? Because that's what you think of that. And then we'll we usually ask some of our customers as well, like what they think. And then we start the flavor and process so like to make the lavender lemon. It's actually lavender oil sprayed onto a carrier, so it's like really legit, um, flavoring and then it into a powder. And then the powders are sent here to money in home lab, which is where we make the Santa hand sanitizer and all experiment around with it here to get the exact percentage and then send it to our lab to manufacture that scale. So it's kind of it's still very like hands on, Like I touch every point of the process. I don't know. Right now, we're coming up with our summer flavor, to which I can't tell you what it is that Whoa! As soon as we have it all. Thank you. Said to

spk_1:   25:44
I remember sitting in your living room when you were first starting this and you had a bull and you were literally flavored them. Mmm. You know, I'm gonna know this. Was that too much of this note to much of that? Like it's come such a long way. At what point did you move from, like your your living room, Thio. They had the bigger then you

spk_0:   26:06
so right after we went viral in 2080 and we immediately sold.

spk_1:   26:12
Tell people Wow, that everybody knows about how you went viral. What was

spk_0:   26:16
that? Okay, so I was making bite in our living room, and I was, like, hand pressing every single little tablet, putting it in a bottle with gloves on and then, like putting about, like, hand putting the label on and then shipping it out like I printed out the shipping label, the whole thing. Everything was one. And so that's the way things were made. And women's health was like, Hey, we're loved, like focus. Like do a little video on you. You're, you know, founded eco friendly business. We haven't lost anything like this before, so just send us some footage of you making bits and talking about buddy and send it to us. So I did. And it was literally like Asher and I shot at six. In the morning before I left for a TV shoot. Like I had no idea things in a viral I look like crap. So then we, like, send

spk_1:   26:57
it and I'm getting it. You

spk_0:   26:59
look like on. So we send it to him and I don't hear anything back for, like, months of nothing. And I'm a little busy people, whatever. And then one day my phone just starts going crazy like there. Whenever you get like a sale on Shopify it like, makes this little noise. And it just started like ding ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding like crazy. And I looked at it and I was like, What is going on? And I looked on Facebook and sure enough, the Women's health video had gone up and just started going crazy, viral like people were sharing it. I think at this point it's had, like, over 100 million views, and it just keeps on going. And then once that happened, then it was like Cosmo started playing. And then business insider reached out and then attention reached out. And then the next thing you know, they're really going. And so that was like awesome. But then also terrifying. And we're still in a living room and I was like, There is no appears. I was like, Oh, I can make these. It'll just take, like, a few weeks like I'll just you know, I'll just I'll just stay up all night making and there's absolutely the way Like and so we were sold out for two months and I thought, a manufacturer here in Los Angeles, and that will calm a fully GMP certain FDA served by lab, you know? So, yeah, that was the whole whole thing for a long

spk_1:   28:16
I mean, I feel I think I saw you right after all that one viral you were literally You had your little lab in your house and you come so far like I'm just someone I'm so proud of you. But I'm so excited to see all this for you. Um, so what What's been your biggest challenge with all of this?

spk_0:   28:37
Oh, good question. So, I mean, the thing about running it is especially the way that we've chosen to run it. We've chosen not to take outside, like not to take venture capital. We've chosen to kind of go our own way. And we're really, um, pretty bold and a lot of the choices that we make And we are really, like, always having to teach our, like anyone that we work with because we're doing so. Look, we're in a new we're almost having teach them along the way. So I would say, kind of like teaching every aspect of this like all of our supply chain, like, you know, how How do you How do you make toothpaste tablets, You know, because we're working with these companies have numbers to the silos for which makes sense, because we weren't really a thing. And so being able to do that and then constantly, just like the the technology in this is suitable space moves so fast and there's so much cream blushes. And Sam able to really pull adult like the B s from the actual awesome new technology is like a boat like it's very hard. I spent a lot of time doing that. And so I think, you know, really staying at the very forefront of that is a challenge. And then also because of that training, all of the training that goes along the way to every part of our supply chain.

spk_1:   29:55
So what are like the questions you most get asked Because for me, I know. And I mean, I know your product is fantastic, but also, like, I mean, have dentist approved it like, Does it do the same thing is like to to do based We called gel Yang pays like, isn't it? Is it the same thing? So like if I switched from like a marquise diamond rings around any work Colgate toe biter? Am I getting the same? It's am I getting the same benefits,

spk_0:   30:24
right? So we have a lot of dentists who have, you know, in our reviews on my roots are in our reviews on our son as well as on, like YouTube and on Instagram who have, on their own spoken so highly a fight we have ever done and out reach where we're paying dentists to endorse your brand. And I don't I don't really plan on doing that any time. I don't think it's something that you know. At first I didn't do it just because it was We don't

spk_1:   30:51
have time for it to really start

spk_0:   30:52
negotiations, and now we just have so many that have supported us on there that wound that we haven't really need to do that. But we are so basically a commendable dependent depends on what you're using when it comes to their like what it is. So if you're going right from Schmitz or from you know, a more natural toothpaste David's or something, then apples apples with the same. Except we don't have water or like, preservatives in it, or one of the things that go along with that. If you are coming from the crashed, your Colgate there, anything that you're you're you're used to, that we don't have. So it's like our foaming agent is is not the same a sodium oh sulfate So, like, it's like less of a foam, you know, and are we use a natural flavoring agent. And so it's not as, like pau in your face, minty. So, you know, it's definitely. And then the whole idea is even just lighting your toothpaste. What would earn across the board from customers and dentists is that it's weird at first, but then you went, but they know that they're, like, expired at first. But now we'll never go back, you know? And so that's kind of the total. Yeah,

spk_1:   32:00
E first. Okay, I'm fighting it. Like how it started a fight of it. Yeah. Push. Do I bite of it, Lindsay.

spk_0:   32:07
So I actually made a whole video about this so we could show people because we're, like, what

spk_1:   32:11
would you do if you really are

spk_0:   32:12
changing one of the most ingrained parts of your routine? You've been doing that well twice a day since you're three years old. So, like it really is different. So you what you want it? The secret is to bite down on it a bunch of times like lemon. We live by fighting about your mouth a bunch of times on, then brush at that like it will form like a paste basically and then brush it. That and that's when you're gonna actually activate the foreman need unit. That's when you'll get, like the minty ness all over your mouth. But I think you know some people and it's probably our fault tubes we called like bite. Not like like, many times, you know, And so it's people like water their mouth. They buy down once and they start brushing and there's like, there's chunks everywhere or it's not foaming. And I'm like we had not constructed these people correctly, you know? And I'm like, Okay, that's on us. So yeah, it's you want have definitely put it in there. You want to bite down a bunch of times and then it'll start to foam

spk_1:   33:02
and okay, so what products? What products you have now you've got your traditional minutes.

spk_0:   33:07
Yes. So we have minutes. We have make charcoal, and it's important to note to that. A lot of people will talk about charcoal being abrasive on your teeth. So our charcoal is actually a lo of grace and low abrasive ity toothpaste and the hors D A value was 24 which is one of the lowest you can get on. And so that was super important us to make sure that we had a little abrasive toothpaste. And then we also have a seasonal flavors. So right now it's lavender lemon. Um, then we're gonna have a spring one cup for a summer one coming out. We have our toothbrush, which is yes, And then we would abandon toothbrush. So, um, it comes apart. Oh, yeah, I forgot the broadcast. So our bamboo toothbrush comes apart and head. It's, um so it's easy to travel, and we'll also have heads more place, but you don't know the place that. And yeah, that's it. For now, it's interesting, Like see the pipeline on like I can't say it yet, but we'll have many new fun things coming.

spk_1:   34:03
He's moving, right?

spk_0:   34:05
So what we do up, just kids are flushed, man. Yes, we are very twist, which is, um, we first we released it with just our one out subscription or one ounce bottle, but then it was such a hit with the kids and the parents that we actually it's now subscription as well. So it's a very forward, a very twist flavored tablet.

spk_1:   34:29
So, like if I want a berry twist flavored tablet, can I Is It

spk_0:   34:33
totally can? Its Way said, Great for kids. So it actually a lot of adults who use it because you really like very flavoring. So it's like you're not into mint or if you're allergic to men, it's a great alternative if you don't want to switch up with our seasonal all the time. Um and it's like what's great about it, for a great about her parents is that it's tastes really God and then was right for his. That's just easy. They don't have the mess in the sink. It's not like there's, like, paste all over the place. So it's We've gotten a lot of parents, you know, again being like Thank you so much for making brush time better, you know? And so, yeah,

spk_1:   35:08
So how did you? Okay. He said, you know, I know you're begin. How about you? What made you get into the whole vegan lifestyle? Because now, like I mean, you are probably one of the most passionate people I know when it comes to like vegan and sustainability and zero waste. And like I mean you d i y everything at this point now what? What started the whole movement towards that?

spk_0:   35:32
So I had been vegetarian for for so long, which I thought was enough. And now that I'm beating like

spk_1:   35:39
that without even enough. But, you

spk_0:   35:40
know, it was because I loved animals. Okay, I think I've been vegetarian since I was, like, seven years old. I basically just hold parents. Is that this is it? I'm not doing it. I saw the Little Mermaid, and that was like in Bambi, and I was like that never get And they were pretty cool about it. They were like, Okay, you could just keep universe sandwiches, dinner like instead of your like work And so, you know, surround offsides. And and then I had always gone back and forth with being begin where I was beginning middle school, and I fell off the boat that I was reading in high school the boat college. So it was always and then finally I like Now it's like just it's actually it's just so easy now to go, but that's why people should do it. But it's just I've always known it's better for the environment. You know, leaps and bounds that comes down you blinking usage, water usage. 02 emissions. But then also just like the cruelty aspect. If you don't have to participate that you don't need that and why, why would you? That is not something that you know not don't wear leather. I don't wear silk on those things, which I'm finding is incredibly hard to dress like an adult and not where well or still, it's like, Oh my God, cashmere and self isn't everything. So it's it's going like, um, it's been we've been interesting. So but I just think you know what? It comes down to being gentle like to our bodies into our co habitants on this planet, all the earth. It was just the way that was a no brainer from you. So it's funny, too, like I'm leaving birds and then like low way zero a second, because I really do think that animal agriculture has a higher carbon footprint than anything else and yet on. And so it's like if I am at the store and I have to choose between, like a cheese sandwich, are often plus our paper or like a vegan sandwich wrapped in plastic like I still think that the region choice is the better choice all of the all of the things that go into it. So that's me personally for me. So I feel like everyone has to kind of figure out where where their values lie. And I'm really just kind of moved by this. But it's

spk_1:   37:45
not easy, you know, I was literally just eating.

spk_0:   37:48
I had a vegan dia cheese pizza last night, which normally this is like straight quarantine life, right? It's like normally I was having Avonex. I do make my own stuff, but I would like a vegan dieting. And then I hired by Ben and Jerry's, would want the peanut butter and Oreo ice cream or no,

spk_1:   38:07
I literally Lindsay. I obsessed with it and I go good, but I order like five of them when I have to get groceries now on. Only one ever comes because there's only one ever left it, that one. It's so good. Like there's nothing that we're missing, anything that

spk_0:   38:24
you want, you can get it so and so I think something that not that you should have to do it, but then It's like it's just

spk_1:   38:32
so easy now. Yeah. So what? The whole sustainability thing like when you decided to go low waist zero waste? What did she get rid of in your house? Like, what was the hot fight us aside.

spk_0:   38:42
This is a great high fight. Oh, he's so Prideaux is he's blogging, jumping all over her right now. It's very, um okay, So here are the easiest things, like, obviously for us. You know, switching out your toothpaste so delivered to your door. Don't think about it. Zero waste other things. They're incredibly easy. Switching to bamboo 12 paper. There are subscription companies that do it. They send you the toilet for every month. You want to think about it. It's pretty comparable in price, like maybe a little bit more than going to store. But also like it is when we go friendly Big blue, just like why we use it for to brush and like what's awesome? A bamboo is that it doesn't take a lot of water to grow And it doesn't take pesticides. Yeah, just going way to create everything. And then I would also say so. Like those air just too simple. Easy things you want to think about Jesus Yet when it comes to in the kitchen something that was more intimidating to me. But I just so highly recommend it is quote chopping and look, I'm gonna tell you it's weird the first time. It's super weird and you don't know to dio And like there's tear rates and you have to take a photo of like So what Ideo is I bought my like, you know, cloth bags off.

spk_1:   39:54
I

spk_0:   39:54
am gone and they have Tara waits on them, but I only ever, like, get the person of Whole Foods or wants to deteriorate when it's like a really expensive thing. And I'm buying because the mats pain in the butt. But basically, you can just, um, you go to the boat, then you fill it up with whatever you want, and then you take a photo of the skew, and then when you check out, you just show the person checking you out with a love, this view and they said, OK, that's how much the almonds cost. So that has been just Subaru, like even at the Florentine thing. It's like I have promised forever because I have a thing of taking me in my fridge that a jar of did he meet? And then I have more dry Dickie's than I like three amazing jurors, a tragic these guys.

spk_1:   40:38
So I'm like, I think, forever like his fight. I can't. I have about six cans, chickpeas and money,

spk_0:   40:45
and it's so easy to come in. It's so it's so easy, like and the I don't know when you it doesn't even take it, I'll say with bite and just like trying to have any sort of life like we're so busy. But it really doesn't take much more time. Especially that wasn't by things that just stay forever. So it's like I don't go to stores often. So what if, like, what? Six. Living more time than just like opening up a tab. Aha, Miss. Yes, not that much more time. Like you throw him in the food processor, as in stuff Have Thomas, it's so good. So yeah, I've I've kind of found, um, that to just successfully be zero total waste. Yeah, as much as you can is being able to make it easier for you if you tried. I know, but it's not easy you know, But it's It's like a no brainer. Yes. Oh, um, yeah.

spk_1:   41:34
So what about your products? Cause I know you make, like, your own fake ass in your own lotion, which is very good, by the way. I really like it. How do you do that? Also, like, what were you like Just one day I'm gonna make Moshe. No, no, no. I was just on the corner, and I just

spk_0:   41:49
I look up and I You know, you have to be careful because there are some things that are not correct on the Internet, so you have to double check everything. But when it comes, you know, when it consummating with the body lotion, it's you don't want to have your face, you could use it a coconut oil base with, um, Talavera and some like our boner Hobart oil. And it's gonna just seep in super well and six so nice. And that's all. I don't think it would cause, like the wood wise your skin. Yeah, there's just so many different things. You con's home as opposed Thio using these things, they're formulated in our lab because I'm all down with, like, safe synthetics like I think you know, I wear sunscreen that that comes out of a plastic tube, and it's it's like, No way natural and hoping, Ah, but you know, I think there is. There's a time and a place for things when you're putting something on your skin, which is literally biggest organ, your most absorbing. It's like you wanna mention that you're putting in things, that you would eat you because that's what it's seeping it in. So, um yeah, those kind of things. I just I like to make them. It's about the film that I make that off here. It's fun.

spk_1:   42:57
How do you deal? Because you brought up this this sunscreen in like a plastic to patty Deal with that. Like obviously you know you're still using it. What do you work this through? Your mind when you're purchasing a product like that, are offsetting it by doing something else you know, to make up purchase.

spk_0:   43:12
It's a good question to the first thing is like the first are in all of the things is reduced, so the first thing is like if there's not a sustainable alternative to something, I'm going to use it as little as possible. So what? Sunscreen. It's like Yes, of course I'm gonna wear it whenever I go outside. But like when I go, I go for a run every day and I wear a hat. Yeah, you know, and so I'm only putting on the sense sphere from actually like running around for the day. So those are the things where it's like, you know, as opposed to you. You know, if there was a sustainable alternative to it, I would probably be a little bit more, you know, liberal and using it. But I just think, you know it is a necessary thing in our lives is like The unfortunate thing is that plastic is is so convenient. So it's like, really, it's everywhere. And why avoid? I feel like as long as you as long as I'm just constantly trying Thio audit my lifestyle and out anything that I can That isn't alignment is like or that is not 100% necessary that I kick it out. But when it comes to things like, yeah, I just have one of the sunscreen brand That's not, you know, and a lot of people have already sent me the ones that come in 10 or whatever, but they're not made. I'm actually pretty particular about the way that sunscreens toe work, and it can be formulated incorrectly very easily. And that's something that I wouldn't use that wasn't like tested, you know, properly. Uh, then I would you know, there's Jose and say, there is, um, What's it called? It's just kind of like auditing things like multi vitamins, right? Like those. I will definitely find one veteran. Glass. You got this and you know, it's like, so that it's like, Okay, I wouldn't just I switch that out So I think those were kind of the way that that's the way that I look at it, the the checks and bounds.

spk_1:   45:03
So you have someone said, Hey, Lindsay, you know, I really want to go. Zero waste. Always. What's the first thing you tell

spk_0:   45:08
him to do? I would say Look at your daily routine and figure out the first thing that you could take out, because those are the things that add up the most so unnecessarily about, like it's not about buying a canvas bag. If you have a grocery shopping every other week, you on sitting, or if you're still gonna order Amazon prime like there's no point by a canvas that you know. And I would say, like, What are you using every single day? Because that's where your highest impact is. Yeah, you're the kind of person that buys a water bottle at, you know, bison of those cases of Costco plastic water bottles than for sure. Cut that out because like, there's no, it's like so easily Just get with a water bottle thing, but you're not. You don't get water bottles ever. Then, like buying us well, water bottles make any sense, you know, saying of you, if that's not something that you ever use. So

spk_1:   45:58
that is exactly like I everywhere. Yeah, everywhere. I feel happy, but I love it.

spk_0:   46:04
Yeah, so? So I think so. It's like if you're if that's something, if it's like for each person, your highest impact could be other would be different things. So it's someone who is, like, really end up makeup and you buy a ton of makeup. Then I would say looking into sustainable makeup brands would probably be your first step because you're obviously there's a big footprint there. Um, or and then also like, reducing enough Joe.

spk_1:   46:33
So, like good, sustainable Wake up who comes to mind,

spk_0:   46:36
Man, that is really hard here is like, uh, there's like not many I would say there's a brand elevate okay out there. Cool, but it hurts. That's something I'm not actually really into makeups. I don't know because I, like, have the same makeup. I feel like I like. I think I buy like one being a foundation, like every year and 1/2. It's pretty because I work from home, so I don't really make upon

spk_1:   47:00
very often sweats. Yeah, exactly. So that's, you

spk_0:   47:04
know, I think the easy things, the basic things or, like, swap out your toothpaste. What about your You know, I think that's like we have, oh, swap. You're foaming hand soap to either something that's refillable or far. So you know, and so those kind of things where it's like, kind of just what are you using every day?

spk_1:   47:24
Okay, so let's talk travel real quick before we're back up. Yeah, it's a friend, like basically all over the world at this point. What? Like I mean, you tracked in Nepal, you were like in the riots in Turkey when they had When was that? That was when I was in Thailand. For team. Yeah. What's been like your most Oh, my God. Experience in Oliver Travels, huh? Give me more than once by

spk_0:   47:52
I would say, I think you're the most amazing. Like when I look back and I'm, like, so awesome doing the Everest. A structural. Really amazing. You know, we didn't like climbing Everest in doing the track or two. Totally typical. But the track is anywhere. It took us needed through the experience a long way. And we didn't take a guide or Porter's. It was me and a girl we went to high school with who just happened to be doing a grad program and all. And we just had, like, a guidebook. And what

spk_1:   48:25
would be the end of the track by yourself? Yeah, I did not know that. I don't know about proved that

spk_0:   48:30
awesome. It was all so Yeah, it was it was huh?

spk_1:   48:36
And you got stop. Didn't you have to walk out of

spk_0:   48:38
Oh, my God. I forgot about that. Not fogged in. It was like, not so at the end of this track. It was such a long trek and like you're you don't shower, you wash your hair. Really? It's like it's like cold. I mean your butt. And once you get above the tree line, like the only way to get, um, like there's not much food like whatever it is an awesome experience. But then we ended up getting socked in where basically, fog had rolled in and didn't leave the Everest region. I think it was our fifth day that I was there like a team had a lot of money, like the guesthouse were at start running on a food like every one of you food. And I was like, Okay, finally, I'm gonna let you walk out, like with them because you don't know, like, is the father gonna go away and then flights will start against the flights, go by sight, so it's really dangerous. And so the night of the murders Ah, fog, you're like, OK, I'm just gonna We're just gonna walk out of this. And so we walked. And so it was an additional, I believe, like spore and 1/2. It was, you know, an additional three day walk, and then, like an 18 hour Jeep ride on the side of a mountain. It was it was crazy.

spk_1:   49:42
How did they get right? Slide it down.

spk_0:   49:44
Yeah, it's like you end up like it grazed into the bottom where there's, like this area that there's just like a small little mountain town. And there's the Jeep and then the Jeep broke down. Oh, my God, I forgot about that. And she broke down forever. And then we had to get another Jeep. It was crazy. So and that was over that because my friend who I had trekked with, um actually smartly for her that she knows is gonna happen. But we had, like, finished the track. And then she took a helicopter out because she had never taken a helicopter before. And she's like, Oh, I'll pay $2 to help out. And I was just like, I didn't go this far to take a helicopter out. Look, I'm gonna come out same way that I came in, and then we got sucked in and I was like, Oh, dear God!

spk_1:   50:24
And by myself at that point by yourself, Richard, unhappiness

spk_0:   50:29
that No, no, no. So I had to meet. I ended up. There was this guy who was like in the British Navy who had, like, a guide. And so I shared his guide. And so we were with a guy. But then he was chairing the guys in the Navy's pack, and he and I was hearing my own path, and they both were going so fast because, like, the guide was like, used to it, and the other guy didn't have it. And so I was like in the back, just like trying to keep out of this. It

spk_1:   50:55
was so it was amazing. It was like that. I'm just looking at your pictures of them being like, What did you do? Lindsay is like most adventurous person I've ever met in history, my life like like if it's adventure like it's you and then there's this whole other like, super business sappy side of Eva. It's just I mean, it's just

spk_0:   51:16
a little adventure. I think this is a totally different, totally different use of your adrenal glands,

spk_1:   51:23
specifically safe adventure. But that's about like, safe of the gets. Yeah, uh, okay. One last question. What's the breast vegan meal you've ever had? And where?

spk_0:   51:35
Well, no. Gosh,

spk_1:   51:37
about to begin. You know that.

spk_0:   51:38
I know I love this. And you think Judah had snow? Many, though. Let me think at what's yours.

spk_1:   51:50
You can't feel a bit. Sometimes I would be like one of which, James, Your dinners. Both of those James Beard dinners. I had this trap earlier. Of course

spk_0:   51:58
it would dissolve. Of course it will. Be that you? Yeah, for sure. It would be that.

spk_1:   52:04
So that was, remember. And it was on

spk_0:   52:06
event, so I really didn't even register in my thing. Yeah, OK, well,

spk_1:   52:10
you can't go to like a restaurant now. Would have that dinner sound like if you couldn't go okay. Pretending, pretending your dinner's in. Nexus me. The job

spk_0:   52:18
thing was like, he's like a class. Uh oh. World.

spk_1:   52:23
Yeah, it was. It's magnificent. It's okay. Okay. Mine. I have a couple, Um, the sparrow in Wolf, which you didn't meet. Ashraf. He did the first James Beard dinner in New York. And that's Brian Howard, um, video And that chef, Oscar Amador. And next time you come to Vegas, I'll take you there. Um And then I had this dinner at a restaurant in Parents Could breathe and So for the signatures I'm going to start in Paris. That is like they It is exquisite like you. Just that food was beautiful and gorgeous that they had, like, eclairs on macaroons. And, you know, big and macaroons are hard, actually hurts in general, I think we tend to be a little bit more of a struggle with this. Why? We always get what you So Okay, those are mine. So

spk_0:   53:11
order one. So I'm not as much of a foodie as you, but I will say OK, um so, like, my go to there is a vegan restaurant here in l. A called L. A Begin that I'm obsessed with. They have the best chicken wings in the entire world. Well, and then so I would say, like, that's like my go to. But that woman, um, I would say that it's like there's nothing sophisticated like a hole in the wall restaurant, but it's just so good.

spk_1:   53:44
So when you were in New York, did you eat any being restaurants there?

spk_0:   53:46
Well, yeah. Um, if you're in New York, there's a restaurant called, Is it? Ha

spk_1:   53:52
ha ha ha ha. It was. Quote these villain.

spk_0:   53:56
So good you know, we could not get a reservation there. I mean, just because we kept on forgetting until last minute, I just went and sat at the bar and ate their like, You gotta go. I mean, you've went, but it's like I would

spk_1:   54:08
actually, every time I go because look, when I go to New York, I literally you know, when you're beginning your foodie and there's, like, five million places to go, I don't know where to go first. And you literally like, every time I go somewhere, I planned my whole day around eating. So it's like Brooke, because I'm going here. And then I walked to burn it off and go get, like, second breakfast and then walk. And then look, Munchkin snapped, I, um no, The last time I was in New York I know. And I was right here. It's you. I'm not

spk_0:   54:35
getting back. Glad about worth it. And that's like, What is it I'm also obsessed with, like, uh, Roman Legion. Roman man. Good. Rob Rama? Yeah. Oh, yeah. We went to your grandson Mature market. Really good.

spk_1:   54:54
Good. Ok, how can everybody find you? How come people order to pace from you What? What? What? How do we do all this?

spk_0:   55:01
So we are bite toothpaste bits or bite toothpaste dot com There one were there and on instagram with white toothpaste. Minutes on Twitter were bite toothpaste. So basically by two faced by two Davids, you'll find us. And then my handle is havens in the con Instagram

spk_1:   55:17
Okay, And that and

spk_0:   55:19
all Talk thio and thrill spending so much time

spk_1:   55:23
you know or not, I can't do it. I'm not ready. It's hilarious if I see the Post, but I'm just like first. I'm not their funny second, I literally like my phone is There's just so much social media I have that It's just I don't want add another.

spk_0:   55:37
It's fair, but it's smooth. It's so funny. Reason. Laugh so

spk_1:   55:41
hard, you know, also using accounts. So this is the good for podcast. It will be going live shortly and offer more information about Lindsay. You could go to her Web site, or you could head over to Beacon Sadie, where we will have a share. Goats begins david dot com, and I am begins baby across all the different platforms and, um, thank you guys so much for being a part of this. Lindsey, I love you. Thank you. I am so excited for you And what the future holds. Even if stuck in quarantine right now, at least hoping productive. Fido loves you. I love you too, Hung. No. And you guys so much. Have a great day. Thanks, D, I think. Brady, What are you looking to save? A little cash right now. I know I am. So I have some great deals for you. Daily Harvest right now is offering $25 off your first order when you use code vegans, baby, and check out they are and all organic, all natural meal prep service. So you get cups of beautiful smoothies and bulls and savory and sweet, and I absolutely love them. There's also some deals right now over at Vegan Cuts. And they do subscription boxes like snack boxes and beauty boxes and even right now, a quarantine box. So head over to begin cuts dot com and use code. Vegans, baby, just save a little money there. And if you're in the mood to shop, I actually have a whole shop on Amazon with some of my favorite products. It's amazon dot com slash shop slash vegans baby had on over check it out and enjoy some shopping