%20(1).png)
The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It.
Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog training, to potty talk. It's time to save your rugs, and get REAL! Fresh Patch has been featured on Shark Tank, Oprah and the Today Show. We're here to discuss why every pet owner should have real grass and the benefits that come with it. So sit back, relax, grab some treats and cuddle your furry friend, you won't want to miss an episode!
The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It.
Grenada to California: One Man's Path to Finding Purpose at Fresh Patch
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a company that ships real grass to dogs? Meet Akim George, the beating heart of our Fresh Patch warehouse operations and the subject of our latest podcast episode.
Akim's journey is as unique as our product. Born in Grenada (specifically from Guave in St. John's parish, known as "the tongue that never sleeps"), he migrated to America at age 12, navigating the challenges of cultural adaptation while maintaining his Caribbean identity. His path eventually led him to Fresh Patch in October 2021, where he's climbed from entry-level to warehouse supervisor through dedication, innovation, and an infectiously positive attitude.
What makes Akim's story particularly compelling is how his personality shapes our workplace culture. His 4 AM wake-up routine, problem-solving approach, and the reggae music that flows through our warehouse create an environment where work feels less like work. Perhaps most endearing is his special relationship with our office dogs – particularly Stella, who joins him for morning "cardio" runs, and the treat bag he maintains by the office entrance that makes him a favorite among our four-legged team members.
When people learn about Fresh Patch's unique product – real grass delivered in boxes for dogs to use as potties – they often respond with curiosity and interest. Through Akim's experiences, we get a glimpse of how our innovative solution is perceived and the conversations it sparks. As he puts it, explaining Fresh Patch to others typically elicits positive reactions: "Wow, that's very interesting. I never heard of any idea like that before."
Whether you're a dog owner, entrepreneur, or simply enjoy authentic stories of career growth and workplace culture, this episode offers a refreshing look at what makes Fresh Patch special beyond our product. Subscribe to the Potty Talk Podcast and follow us @freshpatch on social media to join our community of pet lovers revolutionizing how dogs potty indoors.
Thanks for listening to the Fresh Patch podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch. We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatch.com. Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Youtube, Reddit
Welcome to the Potty Talk Podcast
Speaker 1Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast, where we talk about everything from dog training to potty talk. It's time to save your rugs and get real. This episode is brought to you by Fresh Patch, featured on Shark Tank, Oprah and the Today Show, and here are your hosts, Drew and Gabe.
Speaker 2Welcome everybody to the Potty Talk Podcast. My name is Gabe. I'm the partnerships coordinator here. My normal co-host, andrew, is on vacation, so we have an amazing guest co-host today.
Speaker 3Yes, so I'm Adriana. I am the social media and influencer partnership manager here at Fresh Patch.
Speaker 2Awesome. And we have another special guest here, our wonderful co-worker Awesome.
Speaker 4And we have another special guest here, our wonderful coworker. Hi, how you doing, and my name is Akeem George, currently, you know, the supervisor of Fresh Patch. How are you guys doing today?
Speaker 2Doing okay, man. You know Drew kind of is the engine that keeps Fresh.
Speaker 4Patch going.
Meet Akeem: Fresh Patch's Warehouse Supervisor
Speaker 2It's been a little stressful with him gone, but I think we're managing. You know Well, hey guys, thanks so much for joining again. Don't forget to subscribe, like the video. You can find our podcast not only on YouTube, but we're also on Apple Music, we're on Spotify, so check it out any platform you need. Hey, jaren, you want to take the first question?
Speaker 3So, akeem, just you know, tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey here at Fresh Patch.
Speaker 4Well, my name is Akeem. Like I said, you know Akeem George, currently serving the role of the supervisor here at Fresh Patch LLC.
Speaker 1You know, my journey here started back in October 2021.
Speaker 42021, you know, so far it's been tremendous, you know, and me always trying to figure out ways to be innovative and create. You know ways of getting my job done. You know, absolutely.
Speaker 2You started out like obviously you're the warehouse supervisor now, so you're kind of, like, you know, watching over people training new guys, that sort of stuff.
Speaker 4You kind of started from the bottom, yeah so basically I work from you know, I came in around the time when it was COVID man you know I moved in from Virginia, my sisters and my brothers.
Speaker 4They called me over here and say you know, you know, come to California and see how you like it. So far, you know I wasn't doing nothing around the time and then you know I was looking for something to do, just to not be, you know, stagnant and just sit down. So you know I got a call about a job and I took the opportunity. You know I started working from. You know, my way from the bottom and just gradually working my way up to the top. You know, in the best of my ability, yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, that's awesome man. I mean, you know, like we see it, like you're a hard worker man, like you know you deserve it.
Speaker 3Yeah.
Speaker 2That's pretty cool to see, it's not just hard working, but also fun spirited too Amazing yeah.
Speaker 3So you got some spirit to you that brings this place alive, the warehouse. We know when you're in there because we hear your music.
Speaker 2We hear you singing some.
Speaker 3Bob.
Speaker 4Marley, you know I just try to keep a positive attitude on a daily basis, no matter the challenges I'm facing. Just try to keep that mindset in every aspect of what I'm doing. You know who I'm encountering, whether it be people you know being amongst animals and stuff like that, you know hey you do a great job, yeah, like.
Speaker 2Adriana said you're like the beating heart.
Speaker 4Thank you, I appreciate it, man.
Speaker 2Yeah, the vibe carries on. Yeah, as warehouse supervisors, we discussed what does your typical day look?
Cultural Roots and Moving to America
Speaker 4like A day for me. You know I wake up around four o'clock in the morning, you know, get my day started. You know I got my kids to deal with my lady, you know for sure. So you know I get up, get myself prepared, make some breakfast, come here sometimes I have a cup of coffee, start the day off, you, you know. And then I proceed to like checking my emails, you know, checking in with my operations leader, my manager and such, and make sure you know whatever priorities need to be done for the day. You know that's what the tasks I take on and just try to show that leadership to the people I mean my coworkers around me. And yeah, that's like a typical day for me. Absolutely Make sure everything's going smoothly, Everything is working smoothly and make sure everything that's you know. Let's say, we're having an issue, make sure we're getting the troubleshooting problems solved, you know, and trying to stay ahead and just staying on top of things, you know.
Speaker 2You see many issues. Is that like a yeah?
Speaker 4yeah, sometimes you know but, there's always solutions to those problems. You know it's just how you take it on. You know, sometimes some days are more challenging than you know, but it's just how you deal with it. Man, absolutely at the end of the day yeah, for sure, play the music. Yes, a little reggae you know, try to get the vibes going. Uplift the spirit. You know, uplift Absolutely, yeah, man.
Speaker 3So, speaking of that, we hear an accent there.
Speaker 4Right.
Speaker 3Just tell us a little bit, you know about your background, cultural background.
Speaker 4Well, I hail from this country called Grenada, in the southern hemisphere of the world. You know, it's a part of the archipelago Caribbean islands. You know, I come from a parish called St John's, small city, which is Guave, also known as the tongue that never sleeps, you know yeah, you know, that explains a lot, yeah that's where my cultural background come from. You know, know. I moved here. I migrated to the States when I was 12.
Speaker 3Oh, wow.
Speaker 4Yeah, I lived in New York for a period of time and I moved to Virginia when I was around, let's say, 19, 20. And then spent like 10 years in Virginia, and then I flew out here just five years ago and yeah.
Speaker 2So how was that? How was that transition? Yeah? It sounds like yeah.
Speaker 3Very different places. Yeah, it's from.
Speaker 2like well, you did go from one city that never sleeps to another city that never sleeps, definitely yeah right, and now you're here, which is very sleepy town.
Speaker 4Yeah, it's like pretty much I want to say it's chill, it's calm, you know, and that's what it reminds me of Virginia in a sense. Yes, but you know.
Speaker 3By the beach.
Speaker 4Yes, definitely.
Speaker 2Coming from Granada to the US was that, you know, at 12 years old, like that's a very impressionable age, like you're still kind of developing and learning a lot about yourself. Yes, sir.
Speaker 4Was that a challenge for you or did you adapt? Definitely, because having a cultural background and having to learn how to communicate and stuff not learning how certain things as being from back home and then you come here and it's a different aspect of life. Just having to learn how to adapt and readjust, you know, is very challenging yeah.
Speaker 2And like jumping into the schooling system too.
Speaker 4Yes, sir.
Speaker 2Kids are mean.
Speaker 4But yeah, that never, you know, slowed me down. It just, you know, made me look into myself better and just keep trying to challenge myself to do better, you know. So you're pretty happy here.
Speaker 2Oh yeah, it's beautiful.
Speaker 4You know I love the states man. You know, especially here in California, the love you know I receive up here it's beautiful man, yeah, I bet people like are always stoked on your accent yeah, I get it all the time you know, yeah, but sometimes it's just like trying to make people understand.
Speaker 4Sometimes, you know, I would not all the time, you know, but sometimes it's just like trying to make people understand. Sometimes, you know, I would not change the way that you know. I learn how to speak for you to understand me, in a sense, because, you know, I feel like sometimes I have to continue repeating myself over and over. But you know, hey, man.
Speaker 2It's part of the identity.
Speaker 4Yeah, you know so I just try my best to you know, give people a positive feed and how you know, how to understand me in the way that I speak, you know.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, absolutely, I never have an issue with it. Yeah, anything. It's like oh, you put a little pizzazz on it, yeah, but you know it sounds better, just saying, just relating back to like school days and stuff like. You're one of our longest standing employees here at Fresh Patch, hence how you've been able to climb your way up to, you know, warehouse supervisor. Right so how did you, how did you find out? I mean, I know you kind of mentioned like you had a friend.
Working at Fresh Patch: People's Reactions
Speaker 4Yeah, so I actually got a call from, like I was saying, kaylin James's daughter that used to work here, yeah care, she was hanging out with a couple of friends at a bar and my friend, which is my brother they work close friend, they work on a military base together and for some reason they was hanging out at the same spot together and she posted an ad about a job one day and at that time I wasn't doing nothing and that's how you know.
Speaker 2I came to find out about the job, yeah, and yeah, man, that's awesome, it's so funny because, like a lot of our, you know you'll find that at Fresh Patch we have like a very family environment yes, definitely yeah a lot of the warehouse workers are like you know, so some people find it through Indeed, but most people it's like word of mouth friend of of a friend.
Speaker 4Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2How was the interview process?
Speaker 4Pretty. You know a little nervous, but yeah, you know, this is my first time actually being doing something like this you know, I've never really done a sit down interview, you know.
Speaker 3Yeah.
Speaker 4I'm here for the challenge, you know, and just trying to improve on myself, you know yeah always, you know, and just trying to improve on myself, you know, yeah, always.
Speaker 3We all know how unique Fresh Patch is as a product, as a brand. But what are, like, some of the reactions you get from telling people like where you work?
Speaker 4Most reactions that I get from people is mainly positive and you know, neutral feeling, feeling you know and explaining to them you know, hey, man, this is what I do. And they'd be like wow, that's very interesting, you know. Like yeah.
Speaker 4I never heard of any one idea like that before and you know it's mainly positive and neutral. You know, like that's always the feedback. There's never a case that I come across a way I'm explaining to them what I do and you know I get a negative reaction or anything to that nature. You know so for me it's just always positive. People show interest and curiosity.
Speaker 3Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4Trying to find out what the product is about. You know how this works, how this system, you know, is about.
Speaker 2For sure, and I was talking to adriana about it. I don't know if you like have this kind of thing happen to you, but I find that when people ask what I do and I kind of will be like, oh, I work at fresh patch, and then it's a real grass dog potty. It turns into like a whole spiel because they want to know more. They're like what is this like?
Speaker 4you know, like definitely you know, and I try to give them a good insight on what it's about. You know and just share my experiences.
Speaker 3You know, absolutely yeah no, I think we're definitely in that phase still of you know what is it like? Oh, it's you know, grass in a box to go potty and for your pets. It gets delivered and it does turn into an actual like conversation with people. So I feel like it's interesting to see people's reactions it is and it tends to be the same one, positive, but like really curious of like whoa one that I get a lot is like you guys make money doing that.
Speaker 4Actually, yes, we're very busy, yeah.
Speaker 3I think to me still, because I know, when I saw the job listing I was just like huh, okay, like grass in a box for the potty, okay, fine, like I'll just, you know, apply, and then getting the call back. But then you know, seeing the warehouse and you know every day that you, you know, you pass by for us at least in the office. It's like whoa like.
Speaker 2There's all these like orders and pallets like, if you walk out there on a monday, it's just like it's like walls of boxes, like yeah going out to people and it's like, wow, like people really use real grass with their dog like daily, which is like or different pets or different pets cats bunnies, most people here.
Speaker 4They be curious man you know just always want to find out how does this work and um what this is about, and I started like when I don't want to like go too deep into it.
Speaker 2I just started saying like, oh yeah, I work at a dog company and I love dogs. They're great.
Speaker 4So, yeah, you, I work at a dog company and you know I love dogs. They're great. So, yeah, you know, I try to give them details on what it's about. You know, as you guys say, you know it's the grass, you know for the dogs to go and pets to go potty training on, and just describe to them what it's about. You know, absolutely.
Bonds with Office Dogs
Speaker 2So I can tell you from my dog, who's been sitting here panting for the past, however long we've been recording. But you know you're definitely one of the favorites for the office dog. I know Oliver will come straight to you every morning to say, hi, right, and I know it's like that with a lot of the office dogs. So have you always been a dog person? Did you grow?
Speaker 4up with dogs? Yes, definitely man, I always being around pets, you know animals to say. You know, not with dogs. Yes, definitely, man, I always been around pets. You know animals to say. You know Not just dogs but cats. You know Every farm. Just growing up in the islands, you know, being a little country boy being around my grandfather, just you know, but definitely my great-grand, she always kept dogs around. You know my aunties, they always kept, you know, had my fair share of running from neighbors dogs and stuff.
Speaker 3So yeah, I always been around yeah, I mean, that's kind of what we have around. Here too, we have dogs running around but.
Speaker 4I see you chasing the dogs yes, oh, that's part of my routine in the morning. I forgot to include that, right, when you asked me what my typical day looked like. I normally get my cardio in with Stella when she comes in and we do two laps around the field.
Speaker 3You shouldn't work here if you don't like dogs, I agree. If you don't like dogs. If you don't like dogs running around or coming into your office or following you. This would not be the place for you.
Speaker 4I'm very pet friendly.
Speaker 2You actually watched. We had our TOO Jason on a couple weeks ago with Archie you babysat.
Speaker 4Archie, didn't you yes? I definitely did babysat, archie, how was that A?
Speaker 3few times I feel like Archie's a great experience man.
Speaker 4He always keep me worked up on the go you know, yes, he's a beautiful. He reminds me of myself in a sense. You know Like I love to do athletic stuff, play basketball, soccer and stuff like that.
Speaker 3And to see how he operates as know dog.
Speaker 4He's very athletic, he likes to keep moving, so a lot of energy yeah, so you know that energy gravitated to me, you know, when I first met him.
Speaker 2So I just love, you know, being around him and taking it on babysitting him every time you know, so funny to be done we were talking about how, as we were setting up, like we hear Archie, like barking in the background yeah, it's cause I'm in here.
Speaker 4You heard my voice and, just you know, really started going off.
Speaker 3Like we said, there's lots of dogs around the office, but who's your favorite?
Speaker 4That would be hard to say, you know but I don't necessarily have a favorite, and when you say a favorite meaning like the office on the office side of things or the production side of things.
Speaker 3Either way, either way yeah.
Speaker 2The dogs that are running around.
Speaker 4Well, Stella is one of my favorites.
Speaker 3She's been around from the OG.
Speaker 2She's's over here asleep oh she, she lifted her head.
Speaker 4Oh, she heard you say her name yeah, and all the dogs are my favorite. You know, I love all of them just as, equally the same. But stella just gravitated me to me more, you know just being around the longest, you know me being and working here I was going to say you guys got that bond.
Speaker 3Yeah definitely.
Speaker 4For sure.
Speaker 2Part of your daily routine.
Speaker 4Yeah, man, she keep me woke, you know. Yeah, keep me on a straight end. Assist me out there on the job.
Speaker 3Yeah, stella's great.
Speaker 2Stella's great After she does all her like running around in the morning and obviously with you and running down the hallways and then in the afternoons, that's when she comes in and she's just like nap time another thing with the keem in the office dogs is, you know, like you have, there's that little treat bag on the table right before you get into the office. You know you're always.
Speaker 4Yeah, I make sure you know I have something for them to get the day started.
Speaker 3Maybe that's why you're the favorite.
Speaker 4Yeah, just like my kid taking care of my babies. Man.
Speaker 2That's how I look at the pups around me. I will say, though, every time I'm with Oliver and we're coming back into the office, he always stops at the table.
Speaker 3He knows he's like don't forget, Don't forget I know, what this table means.
Speaker 4Oh, man, they know they have a routine. In the morning they come. I love to see them, man, it gives me a joy when I'm having a bad day and then I just Happy, yeah it just cheered me right up bro.
Speaker 2Yeah, and I get my day going. Jason on our podcast how having dogs in the office it isn't just great for the owner of the dogs, but it's great for everybody else too. Everybody benefits from it.
Speaker 3I mean, I don't have a dog, I'm like the auntie around the office but I can't have dogs at my place, so it's nice to can't have dogs at my place, so it's like nice to come and like have dogs. And like when the dogs aren't here, I'm kind of like aw, yeah, they love, the same time Like there's no dogs, yeah definitely my days be like okay, well, no, stella, I be talking to my manager Clay, and be like hey, man, if Stella is not here.
Speaker 4Why are you here?
Speaker 1If Stella is not here?
Speaker 4why are you here, Right? So, yes, definitely, they bring the energy man. Every time I see them, they just uplift my spirit, you know.
Speaker 3Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 2Previous episode we were talking to Drew about some of the craziest stories that he has working in the warehouse. It's a very interesting work environment it's fun, it's high energy you. Environment it's fun, it's high energy, you know all of that. Do you have any that come to mind? Crazy stories of just like working in the warehouse anything like that.
Speaker 3That you could share, yeah that you could share.
Speaker 2Yes, yes, PG please.
Speaker 4Oh yeah, definitely. I had a hiccup one time when I'm working out there, you know, just trying to get the job done in a timely manner, and I was stacking, actually, some pallets and there is this water spigot that yeah this cutoff valve that sticks out the pole. And apparently I came too close putting in the pallet and I ended up just nicking it a little bit and dude it was water everywhere. Flooded and man.
Speaker 3That wasn't too long ago, because I was here.
Speaker 4You was.
Speaker 2I was here, oh wow.
Speaker 3So, maybe two years ago. Definitely was two years ago?
Speaker 4Wow, so maybe two years ago? Definitely was two years ago, but luckily the team members that I have that came around, you know, lifted my spirit up to figuring out how to resolve the issue and just trying to make everything work for the next following days to come, you know, yeah.
Speaker 2How was that resolved? Like did you guys have to shut down for a little bit? We?
Speaker 4definitely had to shut off the main water system outside, you know.
Speaker 3And then moving on to positive, what's a favorite memory?
Speaker 4of working here, a favorite memory is just learning from each other every day, you know, just being around each other and just figuring out new ways to do the job. I don't so call have a favorite memory, like you know, because everyday I'm creating new memories, you know. So to me I wouldn't say I have a favorite memory so far, but it's just learning on a daily basis. For me, you know, that's what it's about, you know awesome man.
Speaker 2Well, thank you so much for joining us today. I appreciate you guys for having me. You know, absolutely. It's really fun learning more, like you know about your background and your story and stuff, and like that's something we want to do is bring more employees in and learn more about them and yeah, so much for jumping on today.
Speaker 4My pleasure.
Speaker 2So, thank you People if you're ordering grass specifically, standards right, no, no, no, larges.
Speaker 4Larges is your thing, larges is my thing. Well, everything is you know yeah, he's got his hands in. I indulge in everything, if you're ordering a large.
Speaker 2There's a very for you, so, yes, thank you for doing that also. I'm sure our viewers are thankful for that as well.
Speaker 4Thank you man. Yeah, appreciate it. Thank you for letting me allow me to share my story with you guys thank you so much for tuning in.
Speaker 2Just a quick reminder if you are still here, please hit that subscribe button, hit the like button. Follow us on social medias at fresh, that's you know TikTok, instagram, twitter, reddit, facebook, facebook, the list goes on and on, look us up, you'll find us and, yeah, give us a follow. Again, thank you so much for tuning in and hope to catch you guys next time on the next podcast. Again, my name is Gabe. I'm here with Adriana, adriana, and we have Akeem here. Akeem, the legend.
Speaker 2Yes, sir alright thank you guys so much and hope to catch you guys next week thanks for listening to the potty time podcast brought to you by Fresh Patch.
Speaker 1We hope you enjoyed the show. Give us a like or a follow, or shop all of our real grass supplies at freshpatchcom.
