StarZero All shows Try the podcast clipper →

Apr 3, 2025 · 48m · how-i-built-this

Advice Line with Jeff and Curran Dandurand of Jack Black Skin Care

Guy Raz · 16m spoken Curran Dandurand · 8m spoken Brent Fersker · 4m spoken Jeff Dandurand · 4m spoken Inga Potter · 4m spoken Ashley Gold · 3m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

Guy Raz and Jack Black Skin Care co-founders Jeff and Curran Dandurand advise emerging entrepreneurs on retail distribution, inventory focus, and grassroots community building.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Guy holds 38.3% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Guy as informed peer 4.6 Guest teaching 2.2 Guest disagreement 0.2 Guy pushing back 0.4
05100:0015:0030:0045:001:05–6:07 · Guy as informed peer 4/10 Catching Up with Jeff and Curran Dandurand of Jack Black Guy questions Jeff and Curran on whether their original wholesale playbook would work today in a crowded skincare market, referencing Beyond Yoga's retail strategy. Jeff notes he wouldn't launch in the space today due to shrinking retail shelf space.6:08–17:28 · Guy as informed peer 5/10 Advising Inga Potter of Cold Current Kelp Inga Potter asks for guidance on advisors and retail expansion for her kelp skincare line. Guy suggests tapping into Maine's entrepreneurial network like the founders of Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees, while Curran advises small clinical trials.17:41–30:19 · Guy as informed peer 6/10 Guiding Ashley Gold on Luxury Brand Âme Atendre Ashley Gold seeks advice on customer acquisition for high-end tableware. Guy demonstrates brand positioning knowledge by citing Heath Ceramics and Alice Waters, suggesting placement in high-end Park City resort gift shops.30:38–42:27 · Guy as informed peer 5/10 Cultivating Community with Brent Fersker of GOSO Cookware Brent Fersker discusses building community around premium camp cookware. Guy draws a parallel to Bryan Johnson's grassroots public meetups, suggesting trailhead cooking demos, while Curran recommends focusing on content marketing.42:30–46:57 · Guy as informed peer 3/10 Retrospective Entrepreneurial Lessons from Jack Black's Founders Guy asks Curran and Jeff to reflect on early startup lessons from 25 years ago. Curran highlights distributor fraud and vetting hires, while Jeff regrets not mastering the science behind product formulations earlier.1:05–6:07 · Guest teaching 2/10 Catching Up with Jeff and Curran Dandurand of Jack Black Guy questions Jeff and Curran on whether their original wholesale playbook would work today in a crowded skincare market, referencing Beyond Yoga's retail strategy. Jeff notes he wouldn't launch in the space today due to shrinking retail shelf space.6:08–17:28 · Guest teaching 2/10 Advising Inga Potter of Cold Current Kelp Inga Potter asks for guidance on advisors and retail expansion for her kelp skincare line. Guy suggests tapping into Maine's entrepreneurial network like the founders of Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees, while Curran advises small clinical trials.17:41–30:19 · Guest teaching 2/10 Guiding Ashley Gold on Luxury Brand Âme Atendre Ashley Gold seeks advice on customer acquisition for high-end tableware. Guy demonstrates brand positioning knowledge by citing Heath Ceramics and Alice Waters, suggesting placement in high-end Park City resort gift shops.30:38–42:27 · Guest teaching 2/10 Cultivating Community with Brent Fersker of GOSO Cookware Brent Fersker discusses building community around premium camp cookware. Guy draws a parallel to Bryan Johnson's grassroots public meetups, suggesting trailhead cooking demos, while Curran recommends focusing on content marketing.42:30–46:57 · Guest teaching 3/10 Retrospective Entrepreneurial Lessons from Jack Black's Founders Guy asks Curran and Jeff to reflect on early startup lessons from 25 years ago. Curran highlights distributor fraud and vetting hires, while Jeff regrets not mastering the science behind product formulations earlier.1:05–6:07 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Catching Up with Jeff and Curran Dandurand of Jack Black Guy questions Jeff and Curran on whether their original wholesale playbook would work today in a crowded skincare market, referencing Beyond Yoga's retail strategy. Jeff notes he wouldn't launch in the space today due to shrinking retail shelf space.6:08–17:28 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Advising Inga Potter of Cold Current Kelp Inga Potter asks for guidance on advisors and retail expansion for her kelp skincare line. Guy suggests tapping into Maine's entrepreneurial network like the founders of Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees, while Curran advises small clinical trials.17:41–30:19 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Guiding Ashley Gold on Luxury Brand Âme Atendre Ashley Gold seeks advice on customer acquisition for high-end tableware. Guy demonstrates brand positioning knowledge by citing Heath Ceramics and Alice Waters, suggesting placement in high-end Park City resort gift shops.30:38–42:27 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Cultivating Community with Brent Fersker of GOSO Cookware Brent Fersker discusses building community around premium camp cookware. Guy draws a parallel to Bryan Johnson's grassroots public meetups, suggesting trailhead cooking demos, while Curran recommends focusing on content marketing.42:30–46:57 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Retrospective Entrepreneurial Lessons from Jack Black's Founders Guy asks Curran and Jeff to reflect on early startup lessons from 25 years ago. Curran highlights distributor fraud and vetting hires, while Jeff regrets not mastering the science behind product formulations earlier.1:05–6:07 · Guy pushing back 1/10 Catching Up with Jeff and Curran Dandurand of Jack Black Guy questions Jeff and Curran on whether their original wholesale playbook would work today in a crowded skincare market, referencing Beyond Yoga's retail strategy. Jeff notes he wouldn't launch in the space today due to shrinking retail shelf space.6:08–17:28 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Advising Inga Potter of Cold Current Kelp Inga Potter asks for guidance on advisors and retail expansion for her kelp skincare line. Guy suggests tapping into Maine's entrepreneurial network like the founders of Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees, while Curran advises small clinical trials.17:41–30:19 · Guy pushing back 1/10 Guiding Ashley Gold on Luxury Brand Âme Atendre Ashley Gold seeks advice on customer acquisition for high-end tableware. Guy demonstrates brand positioning knowledge by citing Heath Ceramics and Alice Waters, suggesting placement in high-end Park City resort gift shops.30:38–42:27 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Cultivating Community with Brent Fersker of GOSO Cookware Brent Fersker discusses building community around premium camp cookware. Guy draws a parallel to Bryan Johnson's grassroots public meetups, suggesting trailhead cooking demos, while Curran recommends focusing on content marketing.42:30–46:57 · Guy pushing back 0/10 Retrospective Entrepreneurial Lessons from Jack Black's Founders Guy asks Curran and Jeff to reflect on early startup lessons from 25 years ago. Curran highlights distributor fraud and vetting hires, while Jeff regrets not mastering the science behind product formulations earlier.

speaking balance: gold is Guy, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Guy 87.4% · guest 12.6%0:00 · Guy 87.4% · guest 12.6%3:00 · Guy 41.3% · guest 58.7%3:00 · Guy 41.3% · guest 58.7%6:00 · Guy 26.9% · guest 73.1%6:00 · Guy 26.9% · guest 73.1%9:00 · Guy 2.8% · guest 97.2%9:00 · Guy 2.8% · guest 97.2%12:00 · Guy 35.5% · guest 64.5%12:00 · Guy 35.5% · guest 64.5%15:00 · Guy 43.7% · guest 56.3%15:00 · Guy 43.7% · guest 56.3%18:00 · Guy 21.7% · guest 78.3%18:00 · Guy 21.7% · guest 78.3%21:00 · Guy 8.1% · guest 91.9%21:00 · Guy 8.1% · guest 91.9%24:00 · Guy 60.3% · guest 39.7%24:00 · Guy 60.3% · guest 39.7%27:00 · Guy 35.6% · guest 64.4%27:00 · Guy 35.6% · guest 64.4%30:00 · Guy 46.5% · guest 53.5%30:00 · Guy 46.5% · guest 53.5%33:00 · Guy 15.8% · guest 84.2%33:00 · Guy 15.8% · guest 84.2%36:00 · Guy 50.3% · guest 49.7%36:00 · Guy 50.3% · guest 49.7%39:00 · Guy 47% · guest 53%39:00 · Guy 47% · guest 53%42:00 · Guy 43.9% · guest 56.1%42:00 · Guy 43.9% · guest 56.1%45:00 · Guy 48.2% · guest 51.8%45:00 · Guy 48.2% · guest 51.8%48:00 · Guy 0% · guest 0%48:00 · Guy 0% · guest 0%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 2:42 Jeff's skepticism on entering modern skincare

Jeff bluntly rejects the idea of starting a men's skincare company today, citing direct-to-consumer crowding and shrinking shelf space in retail.

 Hardest push from Guy ▶ 3:17 Challenging pure DTC with Beyond Yoga example

Guy counters the prevalent direct-to-consumer narrative by referencing Beyond Yoga's success in beginning as a wholesale brand.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 43:27 Curran on distributor fraud risks

Curran educates on hidden pitfalls in early-stage distribution, detailing how unvetted distributors diverted products and committed fraud.

 Guy holds their own ▶ 24:31 Strategic branding playbook via Heath Ceramics

Guy provides a detailed case study of Heath Ceramics partnering with renowned chef Alice Waters to illustrate how luxury goods build cultural credibility.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicGuy as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementGuy pushing backWhy
Catching Up with Jeff and Curran Dandurand of Jack Black 4211 Guy questions Jeff and Curran on whether their original wholesale playbook would work today in a crowded skincare market, referencing Beyond Yoga's retail strategy. Jeff notes he wouldn't launch in the space today due to shrinking retail shelf space.
Advising Inga Potter of Cold Current Kelp 5200 Inga Potter asks for guidance on advisors and retail expansion for her kelp skincare line. Guy suggests tapping into Maine's entrepreneurial network like the founders of Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees, while Curran advises small clinical trials.
Guiding Ashley Gold on Luxury Brand Âme Atendre 6201 Ashley Gold seeks advice on customer acquisition for high-end tableware. Guy demonstrates brand positioning knowledge by citing Heath Ceramics and Alice Waters, suggesting placement in high-end Park City resort gift shops.
Cultivating Community with Brent Fersker of GOSO Cookware 5200 Brent Fersker discusses building community around premium camp cookware. Guy draws a parallel to Bryan Johnson's grassroots public meetups, suggesting trailhead cooking demos, while Curran recommends focusing on content marketing.
Retrospective Entrepreneurial Lessons from Jack Black's Founders 3300 Guy asks Curran and Jeff to reflect on early startup lessons from 25 years ago. Curran highlights distributor fraud and vetting hires, while Jeff regrets not mastering the science behind product formulations earlier.

Statements from this episode (7)

Opinion
Jeff Dandurand: Building a major men's skincare brand today is very difficult
“I think it'd be very difficult to start a men's skincare brand today. The space is very crowded. I've noticed going into stores that the retail space allowed for men's skincare has shrunk. I think a lot of that's because of the direct to consumer strategy that…”
Jeff Dandurand Apr 3, 2025 ▶ 2:43
Insight
Dandurand: Long-term brand success requires both brick-and-mortar and online presence
“I think for a strong brand, you need to have both. You need to be in brick and mortar, and you need to have a strong presence online. Because people do want to touch and feel and try the product, and they want to experience it before they buy it. So I think, y…”
Curran Dandurand Apr 3, 2025 ▶ 3:58
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Cold Current Kelp generated $50K in revenue without marketing spend
“We've done about 50,000 in the last 12 months. We're growing really organically. We haven't invested anything in marketing, so our, we're actually seeing a lot of growth.”
Inga Potter Apr 3, 2025 ▶ 8:55
Insight
Jeff Dandurand: Independent retail sales reps take 15% wholesale commission
“I mean, most of these salespeople are on straight commission. They're paid usually 15% of the wholesale order, so you don't have a lot of expense associated with having these people”
Jeff Dandurand Apr 3, 2025 ▶ 12:28
Disclosure
Jack Black opened nearly 1,000 accounts through independent sales reps
“Independent rep groups all over the country. And we use them to help us build and open up accounts for Jack Black. I mean, we had almost a thousand accounts like that in you know, over the course of years.”
Jeff Dandurand Apr 3, 2025 ▶ 12:56
Assertion Supported
Brent Fersker: GOSO Cookware raised $166,000 CAD on Kickstarter
“We raised a total of a 166,000 Canadian dollars.”
Brent Fersker Apr 3, 2025 ▶ 34:02
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Curran Dandurand: Jack Black was burned early by fraudulent product-diverting distributors
“We got burned from distributors that basically just diverted our product and we're total frauds”
Curran Dandurand Apr 3, 2025 ▶ 44:07
Made with StarZero

Turn any episode into a week of clips.

This entire site, over 800 episodes transcribed, diarized, checked and made playable, runs on the StarZero media pipeline. Drop in your own episode and the podcast clipper finds the moments worth sharing, cuts them, captions them, and reframes them for every feed.

Try the podcast clipper Learn more