Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak
Entrepreneurship isn’t just a career—it’s a relentless, all-consuming way of life.
Welcome to Founder2Founder a raw and unfiltered podcast where host Aaron Spivak pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build something from the ground up. No sugarcoating, no overnight success stories—just deep, honest conversations with some of the most driven, underrated, and game-changing founders of our time. From brutal setbacks to game-changing mindset shifts, Aaron goes beyond the polished success stories to uncover the unglamorous, deeply personal side of building a business.
As a seasoned entrepreneur himself, Aaron goes beneath the surface and gets into the nitty-gritty of what it truly takes to succeed. He’ll dive into the habits, behaviors, and routines that set elite founders apart, the tactics and strategies that are working today, and the mindset shifts required to push through the hardest moments. Through raw personal stories, late-night struggles, and breakthrough moments, guests open up about what it really means to grow, not just as a founder, but as a person.
Each week, Aaron sits down with visionary entrepreneurs from high-growth startup founders to seasoned CEOs, for real, unfiltered conversations about the highs, lows, and everything in between. Whether you're scaling a company, launching your first venture, or just looking for inspiration, this podcast will give you the insights, motivation, and real-world advice you won’t get just anywhere. If you're ready to strip away the illusion and get real about what it means to build, sacrifice, and thrive, this is the podcast for you. Join us every Wednesday!
Founder2Founder with Aaron Spivak
From $2,500 in Debt, to the World's Finest Tea Brand: Steve Schwartz on Building Art of Tea
In this episode of Founder2Founder, Aaron Spivak sits down with Steve Schwartz, Master Tea Blender, best-selling author, and founder of Art of Tea—an award-winning tea brand based in Los Angeles. After dropping out of college to care for his mother, Steve discovered Ayurvedic medicine and began a journey that would take him across the globe sourcing and blending the world’s finest teas.
Starting with $2,500 in credit card debt, Steve built a vertically integrated company that now supplies iconic restaurants and hotels. He shares how he turned tragedy into purpose, created the U.S.’s first tea sommelier role, and built a legacy-focused business with intention and heart.
Chapters:
02:32 – Losing His Mother and the Awakening of Purpose
04:11 – Discovering Ayurveda and the Art of Botanical Blending
06:23 – The Truth About Supermarket Tea
07:12 – The Power of Ritual: Why Tea Is Not Just a Beverage
08:52 – Choosing Steady Growth Over the Hockey Stick
11:03 – Building with a Multi-Generational Vision
12:35 – American Flips vs. Eastern Longevity Thinking
14:40 – Why Art of Tea Avoids Supermarkets
16:03 – Creating the First Tea Sommelier Position in the U.S.
17:22 – Expanding Art of Tea to the East Coast
19:13 – Controlling Quality Through Vertical Integration
21:16 – Coaching vs. Babysitting: Leadership Lessons
22:12 – The Daily Work of Unlearning Scarcity
25:37 – Childhood Scarcity and the Roots of Limiting Beliefs
28:08 – From Rabbi Aspirations to Global Tea Advocate
30:00 – Smiling as Strategy
33:14 – The Power of Giving Before You Receive
36:44 – Parenting, Abundance, and Entrepreneurial Mindsets
39:58 – Why Entrepreneurship Is the Best Way to Live
43:30 – Creating Safe Spaces for Founders to Be Real
45:29 – Betting on Himself With a Baby on the Way
47:09 – Filling an Org Chart by Removing Himself
50:11 – DJ Fails and the Power of Vulnerability
53:01 – The Real Reason People Join Founder’s Club
54:06 – Building Grit in the Next Generation
55:46 – One Day a Week Off: Shabbat as a Business Advantage
57:12 – What His Late Mother Would Say Now
59:14 – A Message to His 20-Year-Old Self
1:00:33 – The Power of Trust Over Fear
1:03:19 – What He Wants to Be Remembered For
1:05:53 – Getting Out of Your Own Way
1:07:20 – What’s Actually Going On With Matcha
1:11:39 – Matcha Sourcing Crisis and the Japan Trip That Changed It
1:13:55 – The Matcha Trend Explained
1:18:06 – Closing Reflections on Legacy and Leadership
Guest Links:
Website: https://www.artoftea.com/
Instagram: @artofteala @steveschwarx
LinkedIn: Art Of Tea Steve Schwartz
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