Founders in Full
Founders in Full is a podcast about what it really takes to build a business—from early ideas to the brand you see today.
Hosted by Dan Ritzke, marketing consultant and founder of Third Act Marketing, each episode features honest conversations with founders who’ve built successful companies on their own terms. Some run lean, scrappy teams. Others are scaling fast. But all of them have one thing in common: they invested in their brand and marketing to get there.
This isn’t about theory or hype. It’s about real founders making real decisions—defining their brand, reaching the right audience, and figuring out what actually works.
If you're building something of your own, you'll walk away with stories, strategies, and takeaways you can put to work.
Founders in Full
Episode 7: Sarah Spliethoff - Sunniemade
In this episode of Founders in Full, I talk with Sarah Spliethoff, founder of Sunniemade, a personal care brand on a mission to make sustainability feel effortless with plant-powered, plastic-free products that people genuinely love using.
After more than a decade in the agency world—working in experiential marketing, creative strategy, and brand development—Sarah set out to build a brand of her own. What started as a side hustle making bar soap in her kitchen has grown into a thriving business with a loyal customer base, a clear mission, and a uniquely thoughtful approach to product development.
We dive into:
- How agency life prepared her for building a brand from scratch
- What she learned from selling in-person and watching customers interact with her products
- Why shampoo bars became a breakout product—but not the whole story
- How she approaches growth without paid ads or outside funding
- The role AI now plays in helping her stay efficient as a solo founder
If you’re building a product business—or thinking about how to blend storytelling, strategy, and sustainability—this episode is for you.
About Sunniemade:
Sunniemade is a personal care brand that creates clean, plastic-free products designed to make sustainability simple and delightful. From shampoo bars to lip balms, everything they make is rooted in plant-based ingredients, thoughtful design, and a clear belief: doing better for the planet shouldn’t feel like a compromise.
Learn more about Sunniemade: https://www.sunniemade.com
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-spliethoff-2b777716/
About Dan and Third Act Marketing:
I'm Dan Ritzke, founder of Third Act Marketing. I work with founders and growing businesses to help them get clear on their brand, build smart marketing strategies, and turn big ideas into real momentum.
If the conversations on Founders in Full got you thinking about your own marketing — your story, your positioning, your growth strategy — let’s connect.
👉 Learn more at: https://www.thirdactmarketing.com
👉 Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritzke
Want to be on the podcast — or know a Founder with a story to tell and insights to share?
Founders in Full features real, honest conversations with founders about the highs, lows, and lessons of building a business. If you’d be a great guest (or know someone with a story worth sharing), I’d love to hear from you.
👉 Nominate a guest or apply to be on the show at https://www.thirdactmarketing.com/podcast