writers & contributors

Meet Hummingbirds’ network of Grand Rapids content creators and learn how they can help your business introduce its brands and products to consumers in Michigan.

See the ways Detroit content creators fall in love with their city!

See how Des Moines content creators celebrated Farmers Market season.

See how Chicago content creators celebrated National Sports Day.

See the ways Detroit content creators celebrated National Cupcake Day.

See how Austin content creators celebrated National Day of Encouragement around their city.

Meet Hummingbirds’ network of San Antonio content creators and learn how they can help your business introduce its brands and products to consumers in Texas.

Meet Hummingbirds’ network of Cincinnati content creators and learn how they can help your business introduce its brands and products to consumers in Ohio.

Up to speed on the latest CPG marketing trends? Find out where influencers fit and learn how to use geo-targeted influencer partnerships to drive sales in 2025.

Follow along as Detroit content creators shine a spotlight on local nonprofits.

See how Chicago content creators celebrated National Coffee Day.

See how Des Moines content creators celebrated Farmers Market season 515 Day.

See how Chicago content creators toured the city’s best local shopping spots.

See how Austin content creators celebrated National Coffee Day around their city.

Learn how you can boost brand awareness, engage audiences in hyper-local markets, and increase CPG sales with Hummingbirds platform and creative partnerships.

Emily Steele interviews Alyzeh Rizvi, founder of Peepal People, a South Asian pantry brand bringing authentic flavors to your kitchen. Alyzeh shares her journey of creating a modern brand that honors her Pakistani heritage while appealing to a broader American market. We dive into Peepal People’s recent rebranding, their focus on healthy formulations with lower sodium and zero sugar, and their expansion plans into retail stores.

Emily Steele chats with Laurel Rundle, founder of AHA Marketing. Laurel explains their unique approach of partnering with professionals like doctors, doulas, and gym owners to distribute product samples. We chat about sampling strategies, from custom programs to shared-cost opportunities for smaller brands, and also touch on key factors to consider when building out your own sampling program.

Emily Steele interviews Caroline Grace, founder and CEO of Product and Prosper, to chat through building successful CPG brands in retail. Caroline shares insights to help emerging brands navigate retail complexities. She emphasizes the importance of proper positioning, packaging, and pricing, using the example of PAKTLI Foods to illustrate how refining a brand's story can lead to retail success.

See how Austin content creators celebrated National Book Lovers Day around their city.

Emily Steele interviews Candace Molatore, a creative director, photographer, model, and branding consultant from Portland, Oregon. Candace drops by to share insights into her career as a content creator and influencer, discussing the importance of building relationships with brands, the value of creative freedom in partnerships, and the realities of being a creator beyond the glamorous facade.

Meet Hummingbirds’ network of Austin content creators and learn how they can help your business introduce its brands and products to consumers in Texas.

Meet Hummingbirds’ network of Detroit content creators and learn how they can help your business introduce its brands and products to consumers in Michigan.

Meet Hummingbirds’ network of Chicago content creators and learn how they can help your business introduce its brands and products to consumers in Illinois.

Emily Steele interviews Morgan Lerner, Chief Creative Officer at GoNanas, the fastest growing baking mix company, using bananas to make indulgent, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-friendly baked goods. Morgan joins to share how GoNanas has grown from a college dorm room to ecommerce to now sold in over 4000 retailers. We discuss key strategies for growth and staying authentic on social media.

Emily Steele interviews Holly Chapman, Head of Brand at Papier, a stationery and personalized products company. Holly shares her journey from the communication industry to becoming Head of Brand at Papier. We dive deep into Papier’s US expansion and all the strategies employed to make for a truly omnipresent brand splash across the market.

Emily Steele interviews Umaimah Sharwani, founder of Paro, a food brand specializing in South Asian flavors. Umaimah shares her journey of creating Paro out of homesickness for her mother's cooking and her experience scaling digitally native brands. We cover various aspects of building a food brand, including the importance of being retail-ready.

Emily Steele interviews Leslie Bailey, co-founder and CEO of Indy Maven and Maven Space. Leslie shares her entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and rewards of starting both a digital media brand and a coworking space. We dive into the importance of finding community and support outside one's immediate circle and being willing to make mistakes and pivot when necessary.

Emily Steele interviews Alisha Espey, the Program & Events Director at the Downtown Davenport Partnership. We dove into one of the area’s biggest festivals, Alternating Currents and all the details that go into drawing big crowds and executing on powerful partnerships across the city. Alisha discusses how she and her team create awareness and leverage local expertise for community-driven events.

Emily Steele chats with Casey Harrison, CEO and founder of Polished Strategic Communications located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Casey shares her journey to founding her own communications agency and touches on the incredible clients she’s gotten a chance to work with like Women's Equity Brunch, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Business Equity for Indy and Indy Crew.