In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Lael Berry, founder of Ecolux Goods, to talk about why a 22 karat gold straw is actually one of the most practical products on the market.

Lael is a 20+ year entrepreneur, former hairdresser, and survivor whose entire business exists because of what she lived through. She walked me through how a disintegrating paper straw on a rooftop in California turned into a luxury reusable brand rooted in sustainability, wellness, and impact. We also dug into her first big startup that COVID killed overnight, the fear of facing friends and family after raising money that vanished, and how that failure actually became the unlock for everything that came next.

If you are a founder who is wrestling with self doubt, exposure, or what it really means to build something with purpose, this one is for you.

🎙️ We dive into:

• Why gold and silver are naturally antimicrobial and how that solves the reusable straw problem nobody talks about
• The moment a paper straw fell apart in her cocktail and sparked the entire brand
• How our ancestors already knew this and why silverware used to actually be silver
• Why she had to face her biggest fear after COVID wiped out her education startup overnight
• What raising money from friends and family teaches you about failure
• How being seen as an entrepreneur is the hardest personal development school you will ever attend
• Why a bored Lael is a dangerous Lael and what that has to do with building startups
• What 20 years of hairdressing taught her about reading rooms and holding space
• Why every person should work in service for six months of their life
• How Ecolux is structured as a social purpose corporation funding ocean conservation, women in business, and veteran healing through plant medicine
• The difference between building a business and becoming the person who can hold what you dream about

Lael is the kind of founder who reminds you that the product is just the vehicle. The real game is impact and the ripple effect you leave behind.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations with founders, operators, and creators building what is next

🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #EcoluxGoods #Sustainability #FemaleFounders #LuxuryBrand #SocialImpact #FounderStory #Wellness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership

00:00 Introduction to EcoLux Goods and Lyle Berry
00:54 The Inspiration Behind the Golden Straw
05:03 Sourcing and Sustainability in Production
08:30 The Concept of Wellness and Grounding
13:27 Facing Failure and Learning from Experience
17:51 The Challenge of Exposure and Personal Growth
22:45 Facing Self-Doubt and Building Resilience
24:16 Grounding Practices: Yoga, Meditation, and Travel
26:29 The Importance of Wellness and Self-Care
29:35 The Transformative Power of Hairdressing
34:50 The Value of Service and Empathy
37:52 Impact-Driven Business: The Future of Ecolux
41:00 Introduction to the Podcast