Whiskey Hue

Hosted by Whiskey Hue

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

201

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

About the show

Raw, unfiltered conversations with the greats of business, tech, and culture. Hosted by Atul Prashar - investor, tech, media, and sports enthusiast, and connoisseur of sharp takes - each episode is packed with witty, insightful gems to make you the smartest person in any room. Big ideas. Big business models. The biggest names in the game. All mixed with whiskey and a ton of sarcasm. One Cube. Real Whiskey. Real Talk.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 3, 2026Episode 15935 min

WH159 LOGAN PAUL, KSI & THE BILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESS TRAP

Millions of followers. Massive sales. But where are the profits? How do you build a BILLION-DOLLAR beverage phenomenon almost overnight, only to watch sales come crashing back down? Welcome to PRIME HYDRATION , where influencer power meets the unforgiving reality of consumer economics. Over a pour of Basil Hayden , we unpack the rise of PRIME, the revenue curve behind the hype, and why HEADLINEVALUATIONS aren't CASH IN THE BANK . From shrinking sales momentum and fixed-cost traps to the sister brand that secured an exit, we examine what happens when CULTURE MOVES FAST but RETAIL COMMITMENTS MOVE SLOWLY . Plus, hilarious takes on a recent Theo Von and SophieCunningham podcast conversation, and 3 essential VC lessons every investor should know before writing a check into ANY business. This podcast is the Audio Version of the Sava360 Ventures Investor Report, 88 Prime Hydration, The Billion-Dollar Trap.* 00:00 Intro / WOTD: Basil Hayden 01:51 Current Events: Theo Von + Sophie Cunningham / HILARIOUS 09:00 Prime Hydration: Sales We’re Up + then Downnnnn 10:36 When the Influencer’s Brand Doesn’t Sustain Sales 11:32 Act 1: The Launch that Broke the Playbook 14:58 Act 2: Customer Acquisition Was the Superpower 17:35 Act 3: The Revenue Curve Tells the Real Story 20:20 Act 4: The Profits Were Not As Big As The Hype 22:45 Act 5: The Fixed-Cost Trap 25:25 Act 6: The Sister Brand That Got The Exit 28:20 Act 7: What I Would Ask Before Writing A Check 31:00 Act 8: The Bigger Cultural + Public-Market Lesson 33:10 Three Investor Takeaways For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar|LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . *DM for the entire Investor Report. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: Ideation Through Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠⁠⁠

October 27, 2026Episode 15859 min

WH158 Linda Chen, Investment Banker turned Spiritual Capitalist

120-hour IB weeks. High-stakes M&A deals. Private equity. AI entrepreneurship. And a surprising journey from fashion model to spiritual capitalist. Linda Chen , Founder & CEO of StarLogic AI , joins to discuss what Wall Street taught her about creating value, why most AIstartups lack defensibility, and how distribution can make or break a billion-dollar business. From AI commercialization and investor psychology tobuilding wealth and betting on yourself , Linda challenges conventional thinking about business and success. But the conversation goes deeper: Can intuition, spirituality, and personal conviction become your greatest competitiveadvantages? Recorded live with my Fordham University VC students ,this episode of Whiskey Hue explores the intersection of Money, Technology, Purpose and the courage to redefine success on your own terms. 00:00 Intro 00:38 Linda Chen: IB, PE, Founder Starlogic.Ai 05:13 +Fashion Model to Spiritual Capitalist 11:22 Disconnect in Investor Value 15:30 Distinguishing GenAI Businesses w/ Real Value Creation 23:34 AI Wrappers Are No Longer Enough 27:21 Experiences can be AI Proof Student Questions: 27:55 Lily: Transition from IB to VC? 31:32 Prof P: One Thing To Help Move a Room In Your Direction 34:21 Carlos: Linda- How Would YOU Redo Your Journey? 39:07 Emily: Personal Belief Leads To YOUR Journey of Success 40:50 Roxanne: Spirituality in Decision Making 44:09 Transcendental Meditation 45:25 Brooke: Starlogic.AI, Guided Intuition 49:58 Luca: Book Recommendations? 54:00 Linda: 1 Key Takeaway For An Enjoyable Life Experience. For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports + Investing, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar|LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠⁠⁠

October 20, 2026Episode 1571 hr 3 min

WH157 | ROOPA UNNIKRISHNAN: THE ART OF INVESTMENT CONVICTION, CORPORATE VC & THE THERANOS BET

What does it take to walk away from a billion-dollar opportunity when everyone else is investing? Rhodes Scholar, corporate strategy executive, and world-class shooting champion ROOPA UNNIKRISHNAN joins The Whiskey Hue for a fascinating masterclass in Corporate Venture Capital, due diligence, and investment conviction . From the growing influence of corporate VC across the S&P 500 to her firsthand experience evaluating and rejecting Theranos , Roopa reveals why discipline, pattern recognition, and the courage to stand alone separate exceptional investors from the crowd. This recording was taped live with my Fordham Venture Capital students, many of them highlighted in the timestamps for asking incredible questions for our Guest Speaker Roopa. In this dicussion, we explore founder evaluation, strategic investing, leadership, and the fine line between visionary ambition and outright fraud . Sometimes the most profitable investment decision is the check you DON'T write. 00:00 Intro 02:30 Placing Bets 03:30 Partnering With The Right Leaders 04:15 SP500 – 30-50% Have Corporate Venture Arms 08:30 Benefits of Corporate Venture for Startup Founders 11:30 Actual Corp Venture Dollars Being Deployed 11:30 How Corp Venture Analyzes a Startup + Founder 17:46 Venture: Proving Your Market Into Existence 19:15 Analyzing the Investment: Theranos l Elizabeth Holmes 30:30 Rifle Shooting Global Champion 32:30 Wearing the Burden of Your Decision For Years Until Proven Right 34:42 Fake It Til You Make It: Unless It’s Fraud 36:30 Corporate Venture Arms Capital Comes From Where? FORDHAM GABELLI STUDENT QUESTIONS: 40:22 Piper: Evolving Definition Of Success 44:06 James: What Do Investors Over + Underestimate 45:58 Linh: Why New York Over Other Markets? 48:37 Rahul: Due Diligence 50:58 Roxanne: Convincing Senior Leadership On Investments 53:16 Emily: Elevating Speaking To Match The Listener 55:50 Zachary: Investment Conviction 57:50 Nurturing Relationships 59:55 Carlos: Subject Matter Specialist Investing Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend! Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar|LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠⁠⁠

October 13, 2026Episode 15627 min

WH156: QUIBI, Mo Money, Mo Problems vs. MICRO-DRAMAS, the $3B Success

What Happens When You Predict The Future, Raise $1.75 BILLION , And Go Out of Business in Just 197 Days ? Welcome To QUIBI, Where the IDEA Was Right, But The BUSINESS MODEL Was Spectacularly Wrong. Fast-Forward 6 Years, And MICRO-DRAMA Is Booming. We Unpack the Explosive Growth, Flawed Unit Economics, And Why Raising MORE Money Can Sometimes Create BIGGER Problems. Over A Pour of KOVAL Oat Whiskey , We Explore the Intersection of Hollywood, Technology And VC, Revealing 3 Powerful Investor Lessons About Product-MarketFit , Timing And What Actually Creates Lasting Value.00:00 Intro 00:32 Koval Oat Whiskey: Chicago’s Finest 01:10 QUIBI. Gone in 197 Days. 02:32 Why It Matters Today. 04:23 Questions 05:02 The Idea was not the problem 05:53 The Numbers: Revenues and Spend 07:23 The BIG MISS 10:26 Mo Money, Mo Problems 12:26 The VC Lesson + Content Budgets 14:43 Content: The Conversion Asset 17:22 PMF à Growth Curve 19:33 The Business Model Keeps Changing 21:35 What is the Asset? |23:10 3 Key Investor Takeaways 26:49 In ClosingThis podcast is the audio version of the Sava360 Ventures Investor Report “ Quibi's $1.75B The Most Expensive Format Test in History ”. Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend! Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar|LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠⁠⁠

September 29, 2026Episode 1551 hr 2 min

WH155 Steve Garrow, Travelin Bone Entertainment, CEO/Co-Founder

What do hand-rolling cigarettes at age six, running international trading on Wall Street, venture investing and Hollywood have in common? Steve Garrow . Steve joins The Whiskey Hue to unpack a career built on fearlessness, calculated risk and constantly chasing the next big opportunity. From Wall Street to venture investing to Travelin Bone Entertainment , he shares lessons on PMF , hiring exceptional talent , de-risking investments and findingan edge . Today, he’s applying that playbook to bringing Hollywood scripts and IP to the massive South Asian market , creating multiple paths to monetize content and maximize ROI. Plus, how to avoid the “idiot tax,” solve complex problems, bet on great people and why working hard early can ultimately earn you the freedom to choose what you do next. Special Recording: Steve was a featured Guest Speaker in Atul's Venture Capital Class at Fordham Gabelli School of Business. 00:00 Intro 02:45 Learning bootleg Entrepreneurship 08:25 ‘4 Must Learns’ During College Years 12:45 I Hustled à Became Head of International Trading 16:20 NYU Stern Berkeley Center EIR 17:50 Search + Deploy: Operational + VC Excellence Merge 24:30 Travelin Bone Entertainment 26:15 Stacked Team of Oscar + Emmy Award Winners 27:00 Entering the South Asian Film Market, vetting projects 32:10 De-Risking an Asset - Controlled vs Uncontrolled 33:00 What looks like a “Win’ for TBE? 37:00 Amplify Opportunity to Repurpose + Monetize Content 37:45 Student Questions*. Entrepreneurship + Deal Flow 42:22 Emerging Sectors Where They Have Edge 46:10 Hiring High Caliber Talent 49:44 Avoiding the Idiot Tax 51:18 Identifying Signals Needed to Succeed 54:30 How TBE Decides Which Projects Work in S. Asia. 56:53 Career Trajectory Questions 58:30 Work Hard Early, Enjoy Fruits Later. *Thank you Gabelli BS, Fall 2026 VC students, Carlos, Patrick, Lily, Hrithik, James, Roxanne, Luca. Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend!Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar | LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠⁠⁠

September 22, 2026Episode 15429 min

WH154 Mr. Beast Inc. Can He Turn Internet Fame Into a Lasting Business?

MrBeast built one of the biggest audiences on Earth, but his chocolate company may be the real business story. We break down how Beast Industries turns ATTENTION into REVENUE , why a $100M TV show can actually be a customer-acquisition strategy, and what investors see in a $5 BILLION valuation . From Feastables and competitive moats to the risk of building an empire around one person, we ask the big question: Can MrBeast turn internet fame into a company built to last? Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:15 What is Mr. Beast Inc? 04:45 Valuation Is Not The Same Thing As Value 06:31 The Content Is The Marketing 08:44 Feastables: The Chocolate Bar Is The Business Case 10:34 When The Side Business Becomes The Business 12:03 Beast Games: When A $100M TV Show Becomes CAC 13:45 The Risk: What Happens If The Beast Stops Roaring? 15:40 Is This A24 Or Hello Sunshine? 17:32 The Multiple: What Are Investors Actually Paying For? 20:54 Applying a VC Lens to This Company 22:45 Defensive Moats 24:30 The Valuation Prices the Future 26:06 Final Thesis Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend! Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar |LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠⁠⁠

September 15, 2026Episode 15325 min

WH153 Athletes Are Becoming Media Companies | Investor Report

Jay Z famously stated: "I'm not a Businessman, I'm a Business, Man". True for today's athletes. Athletes aren’t just playing the game anymore. They’re becoming the business. In this episode of Whiskey Hue , I follow the money behind the rapidly evolving Athlete Economy , we begin with NIL, then equity-over-fees to athlete-owned IP, media companies and billion-dollar institutional investment. We break down Peyton Manning vs. LeBron James, the Kelce brothers’ ownership model, the infrastructure opportunity, and why women’s sports may be one of the market’s most underpriced assets. Then we close with three investor takeaways and one big valuation question: What is an athlete worth without the team? This is an audio version of our recent Sava360 Ventures Investor Report, "62 Why Athletes Are Becoming Media Companies". 00:00 INTRO 01:35 Everyone is Investing in Athletes 02:45 Athletes: Being the product to Owning the Production 04:27 Old Athlete Economy vs. New Ownership Frontier 05:42 Athletes: Equity over Fees 07:10 Trust: Brand vs. Athlete 08:16 Some Chicago Bears Love 😊 09:03 NIL Changed the Pipeline 11:30 Manning (Omaha Productions) vs. Lebron (Springhill Productions) 14:40 Kelce Brothers: Own the IP 16:10 Institutional Investors Ready to Play 19:12 Infrastructure will control the Markets 19:45 Women’s Sports / TOGETHXR 21:50 3 Investor Takeaways 24:07 Valuation: What is an Athlete worth Without a Team? Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend! Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar | LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠⁠

November 19, 2025Episode 1531 hr 6 min

WH152🎙️From Filmmakers To Whiskey Trailblazers: Anna Axster + Wendelin von Schroder

Two cousins. Countless miles. One bold mission: bring whiskey to a new generation - and a new audience. In this episode of The Whiskey Hue , we sit down with AnnaAxster and Wendelin von Schroder , founders of Lodestar Whiskey , who went from filmmakers turned accidental music execs - running their own label and touring America - to building a whiskey brand that’s rewriting the rules. They share how green-room pours with country stars turned into a full-blown love affair with the craft: from the viscosity and sweetness of their high-rye bourbon and single-malt blend, to why color, flavor, and texture aren’t accidents. We dive deep into what it takes to source barrels , launch in Southern California , and build community before chasing sales . And we talk representation - why it’s time whiskey spoke to women who’ve been left out of the conversation for far too long. It’s smooth. It’s fiery. It’s full of heart - just like the whiskey itself. Pour a glass, hit play, and discover how these two arelighting a new path in the world of spirits. EPISODE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intros 04:30 Lodestar Quick Intro 06:12 But First! Their Music Industry Escapades 13:30 Where the Whiskey Love began – First sips with Dads, to Green Rooms of Country Stars 17:50 Blended Whiskeys: consistency 20:53 Bringing Women into the World of Whiskey 24:22 Flavor, Color, Texture, Not by Accident. 27:22 What makes a Bourbon a Bourbon? 30:00 Sourcing the Barrels 33:00 Critical Mass for Sales 37:00 Launch a Whiskey, Build a Community First 42:50 Representation Matters To Women Consumers 53:00 Burn some Oak, taste some Vanilla 57:00 Flaviar: Whiskey Club 1:02:00 Anna and Wendelin celebrate their industry peersThis episode is part of the ‘Prof P’ series on the Whiskey Hue Stream. Recorded in part for my Fordham Gabelli students. Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend! Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar | LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 2. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠

October 21, 2025Episode 1511 hr 14 min

WH151 🎧 From band teacher to NFL coach! Coach Jill Gagliardi breaks down her incredible journey

Band teacher to NFL coach: Coach Jill Gagliardi breaks down her incredible journey from the classroom to coaching DBs with the Las Vegas Raiders. We talk mindset, game film, earning respect in a male-dominated space, and why every great coach is also a mentor, strategist, and culture builder. This one’s about leadership, legacy, and showing up with confidence - even when you're the only one in the room who looks like you. Coach Jill Gagliardi is currently with the NJ HS Lawrenceville Prep, and has also coached with the NFL Las Vegas Raiders 00:00 Intro with Avaan!! 06:18 How Music and the NFL entered her life. 12:30 Pop Warner Advocate for yourself 17:40 Evaluating and honing in Talent as a Coach 19:00 Coaching with an Elite HS + NFL Team 28:20 Brian Urlacher gets love as the QB of Da Bears Defense 29:00 Film Tape and Strategies That Work 35:00 Let’s break down a Play 37:28 Unique Voice in a Common Room 45:00 Short History of the NFL 46:00 National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches 48:00 Executive Decision-Making: Sports + IRL 56:00 Mindset is the Differentiator 1:05:49 Green Bay Packers-loving Security Guard (Booo!!) 1:07:21 Legacy 1:11:00 Make people ‘Feel’ Relevant This episode is part of the ‘Prof P’ series on the WhiskeyHue Stream. Recorded in part for my Fordham Gabelli students. Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend!Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports and Investing, visit: ⁠ ⁠Atul Prashar's - Venture Capitalist⁠ 2. LinkedIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AtulPrashar ⁠ 3. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner inNYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠⁠

August 5, 20251 hr 1 min

WH150: Dan Levitan (GP, Maveron) and Elana Levitan discuss consumer-centric, media and wellness markets

Dan Levitan (GP, Maveron) and his daughter Elana join The Whiskey Hue to unpack the wild ride from private to public markets. We dive into early wins like taking Starbucks public as an iBanker with his buddy Howard Schultz, then taking eBay, Zulily, and Allbirds and PotBelly (yay for my Chitown!!) public as a VC. We delve into the 10 lies of venture capital, and what today’s founders must understand about the evolving investment game. Elana brings fresh insight into media, wellness, and impact + a major milestone: Atul finally gets his name pronounced correctly. HUGE win for him, VERY SMALL win for humankind. #LetsRock 00:00 Note To Our Whiskey Hue Family 05:00 Intro 09:30 Maveron Defined 13:00 Vodka + Juice 17:30 Ten Lies of Venture Capital 23:30 Energy Drinks: Lucky Watermelon Candy 28:10 Venture Is Sexy. Venture is Tough. 39:12 Companies Raising Tremendous Capital + Remaining Private Longer 41:55 Secondary Markets 43:45 Younger Generation Influencing Investment Decisions 50:20 PotBelly – Great Early Win. Wouldn’t Do That Now: CapEx(!!) 55:00 Entrepreneurs vs. Larger Platforms 56:30 VC Game is Radically Shifting 1:00:26 Getting Atul’s Name Right. This episode is part of the ‘Prof P’ series on the Whiskey Hue Stream. Recorded in part for my Fordham Gabelli students. Please Rate, Review, Subscribe and Share with a Friend! Means a lot to us - thank YOU! For more info on: 1. Venture, Tech, Sports andInvesting, visit: Atul Prashar's - Venture Capitalist 2. LinkedIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AtulPrashar | LinkedIN 3. Learn Venture Capital Investing for less than a dinner in NYC: “ VC: IdeationThrough Execution ”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/APsVCCourse⁠⁠