Stonyfield Yogurt: Gary Hirshberg

In this episode of "How I Built This," Guy Raz interviews Gary Hirshberg, the co-founder of Stonyfield Yogurt, about the company's challenging journey to becoming a leading organic yogurt brand. Hirshberg recounts the early days of the company, starting with a single cow and a small grant from Catholic nuns, and details the numerous financial crises, near-death experiences, and personal sacrifices he and his partner, Samuel, faced. He shares anecdotes about borrowing money from his mother and mother-in-law, the pivotal moment when Bread and Circus started selling their yogurt, and the constant struggle to stay afloat. Despite the obstacles, Hirshberg's determination, combined with Samuel's yogurt-making skills and a bit of luck, eventually led to Stonyfield's success and acquisition by Danone, and later Lactalis. The episode also features a segment called "How You Built That," highlighting Steve Humble's custom-made secret door business, Creative Home Engineering.