In this special episode filmed at Expo West 2026, we sit down with Meghan Luck, co-founder of Fable Fish, to explore how a childhood spent on Alaskan fishing boats transformed into a mission-driven snack brand. As part of 2026's Year of the Female Farmer trend, Meghan represents a new generation of female entrepreneurs reimagining traditional food systems by turning her family's smoked salmon recipe into an everyday snack that makes wild, nutrient-dense protein more accessible.

Fable Fish isn't just about functional snacking, it's also solving a problem in the seafood industry. When Bristol Bay's 2022 sockeye run reached a historic 79 million fish, Meghan and her dad, a longtime Alaskan fisherman, saw an opportunity to add value to underutilized byproduct: the perfectly good "necks and tails" that didn't meet retail specs for center-cut fillets. Meghan shares how Whole Foods Market's Local and Emerging Accelerator (LEAP) program has provided a community of founders facing similar challenges from packaging decisions to scaling sustainably. Her advice? Trust your gut, never cut corners on quality, and surround yourself with people who know what you don't.

At a glance:

00:46 – Inspiration for Fable Fish

02:32 – Historical Bristol Bay sockeye run

03:32 – Salmon byproduct

06:12 – Early iterations of product development

07:08 – Career history and evolution

11:45 – Whole Foods Market LEAP Program

16:10 – Business challenges

19:50 – Backstory on Fable Fish packaging

21:03 – How customers are consuming the product

22:58 – What is sockeye salmon?

26:50 – Meeting customers where they are

27:50 – Where Meghan hopes to see Fable Fish in 5-10 years

31:54 – Impactful drivers for Success

33:40 – Family ties

35:24 – Building the brand and responsibly scaling

38:51 – Delightful customer stories

40:26 – Lightning round

In this episode of Beyond the Board, host Sonya Gafsi Oblisk sits down with Katina Mountanos, founder of Kosterina. Listen as they discuss how personal frustrations in the grocery aisle turned into a brand rooted in Mediterranean tradition. After spending years in investment banking and CPG, Katina set out on a mission inspired by her family's ties to Greece: to bring truly high-quality, high-polyphenol extra virgin olive oil to American consumers. What began as a passion project built around incredible taste soon grew into something bigger, a wellness platform grounded in the science of the Mediterranean diet and the benefits of early-harvest olive oil.

Throughout the conversation, Katina shares what actually makes olive oil exceptional, from hand harvesting and same-day milling to carefully controlled transport, and why most people in the U.S. have never really experienced olive oil at its best. A certified olive oil sommelier, she also breaks down the role of polyphenols, the antioxidants that give high-quality EVOO its health benefits, and explains why the Mediterranean diet continues to rank as the #1 diet for overall health year after year. Along the way, she clears up common misconceptions, including the difference between filtered and unfiltered olive oil, and how Kosterina approaches clean, simple ingredients across its products.

Just when you think the conversation has covered everything olive oil, she shares what's next for the brand: vinegar. Included in the 2026 Whole Foods Market Trend Report as part of the "Very Vinegar" movement, Katina talks about how customers are reimagining unique ways to consume vinegars. This episode offers a look at how Kosterina is building a cross-category wellness brand centered on flavor, transparency, and the timeless principles of Mediterranean living.

At a glance:

06:45: Career History

08:10: Early passion for olive oil

09:30: Olive Oil 101

13:57: The impact of the Mediterranean lifestyle

16:06: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Shot

18:18: Trends Spotlight: Very Vinegar

19:29: How customers are reimagining vinegar

21:18: Visit kosterina.com for recipes, products and more

21:41: What's next for Kosterina

22:48: Lightning Round

The information provided on this episode is for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment. The content on this episode is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

In the countdown to this year's Expo West, we're beyond excited to take it back to where it all began — our very firstBeyond the Board Podcast conversation, recorded live at last year's Expo with none other than Cloud 23 founder, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham. The energy, the insight, the moment that started it all… and now we get to relive it. Stay tuned as this re-release is one you won't want to miss!

In this episode, we connect over:

• How a late night in the kitchen with his wife led to the inspiration and first recipe for Cloud23.
• Brooklyn's secret sauce to level up his dad's famous Bolognese recipe.
• Plus, we dive into how Gen Z consumers are shaping a better future food system.