We recently connected with Girvin Ostia and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Girvin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for The Bigfoot Culture didn’t start in a boardroom or with a big business plan — it started at home and outdoors, in the middle of everyday life. Some of my favorite moments were making simple bowls of ramen noodles for my kids after long days, whether we’d been hiking, camping, or just winding down together. They started calling it “Daddy’s Noodles,” and those moments stuck with me. Food wasn’t just fuel — it was comfort, connection, and something we shared.
At the same time, I noticed a gap. So much “instant” food was either loaded with artificial ingredients or completely lacked depth and soul. And when you’re outside — on a trail, by a fire, or traveling — you want something quick, but you don’t want to compromise on nourishment or flavor. I kept thinking: Why does food have to be either convenient or good? Why can’t it be both?
That question became the foundation. I started blending broths with real, plant-based ingredients — black garlic, shiitake mushrooms, herbs — testing them at home, packing them on hikes, sharing them with friends and family. What excited me most was realizing this wasn’t just soup. It was something versatile: a sipping broth, a seasoning, a base that could adapt to wherever life takes you.
Logically, it made sense too. People are craving cleaner labels, functional foods, and products that fit into both busy lives and intentional living. But emotionally, it was about creating something honest — something I’d proudly serve my kids and take with me into the wild. That intersection of family, simplicity, and adventure is what made me believe this wasn’t just a good idea, but a worthwhile one.
What makes The Bigfoot Culture different isn’t just what we removed — the artificial fillers and shortcuts — but what we focused on instead: depth of flavor, elemental ingredients, and food that feels grounding. It’s built for the wild, but made for everyday life. And for me, that balance is what made this journey worth starting — and worth continuing.
This is just the beginning. The Bigfoot Culture is growing beyond food into a broader lifestyle brand rooted in the outdoors, exploration, and family time. My goal is to continue creating products that encourage people to unplug, get outside, gather around a fire or a table, and share meaningful moments together — because that’s what inspired this journey in the first place.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m the founder of The Bigfoot Culture, a brand rooted in simple, nourishing food and a lifestyle that values the outdoors, family, and slowing down enough to enjoy both. I didn’t come from a traditional food-industry background. In fact, I am an Electrical Engineer who loves food and all the different flavors that come with it. But cooking for my family, spending time outside, and wanting better options for ourselves led me here.
I got into this space because I saw a disconnect between convenience and quality. Instant foods were everywhere, but most of them relied on artificial ingredients, fillers, or flavors that didn’t feel honest. At the same time, I knew firsthand that when you’re busy, traveling, hiking, or just feeding your kids after a long day, you still want something quick. I believed there had to be a better option — something clean, deeply flavorful, and practical for everyday life.
What I create at The Bigfoot Culture starts with that belief. Our products are plant-based broth blends that can be used as instant soups, sipping broths, or seasonings. They’re made with real ingredients — no shortcuts, no artificial junk. They’re designed to be lightweight, versatile, and satisfying whether you’re at home, on the trail, or sitting by a campfire.
The problem we solve is simple but important: people want food that fits into their lives without sacrificing health, flavor, or values. We make nourishment accessible without overcomplicating it. You don’t need hours in the kitchen or a long ingredient list to eat well — you just need thoughtful ingredients and intention behind them.
What sets The Bigfoot Culture apart is that we’re not chasing trends. We’re focused on depth — depth of flavor, depth of purpose, and depth of connection. Our products are tested in real life, shared with family, taken outdoors, and refined with care. This brand was built from the ground up with integrity, not mass production in mind.
What I’m most proud of is creating something I can stand behind completely — something I feed my kids, share with friends, and bring with me wherever life takes me. I’m proud that The Bigfoot Culture feels honest and human, not manufactured.
What I want people to know most is that this brand is about more than food. It’s about encouraging people to get outside, gather together, and enjoy simple moments — whether that’s around a table or under open skies. This is a brand built for everyday life, inspired by family, and grounded in the belief that good food doesn’t have to be complicated.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I built my reputation the most organically — face to face, at farmers markets. Showing up consistently, letting people taste the product, and having real conversations has made all the difference. I spend time talking with customers about the ingredients I use, why I chose them, and how I actually use the products in my own life.
I’m honest about the fact that this is food we rely on at home. My wife and kids love it, and we reach for it when we’re tired, feeling under the weather, coming back from a hike, or just wanting something easy and cozy. Sharing those real moments helps people trust the product because it’s not a pitch — it’s lived experience.
I think what really helped build my reputation is connection. I tell the story behind the brand, I listen to people, and I let the product speak for itself through sampling. Over time, that consistency turned into recognition. At the markets, when people ask about broths, I’ve become known as “the broth guy.” When someone says that, I know the trust is there — and that trust is the foundation of my reputation.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.
Right now, I sell directly through my own website, which I built using Wix. I designed everything myself — from the logo to the layout and product pages — so I’ve had full control over how the brand is presented and how customers experience it.
It definitely required a lot of learning along the way. I had to research what makes a website effective, how to structure pages so they don’t overwhelm or lose customers, and I’m still continuously improving it. SEO has been a big part of that learning curve as well, and I’m actively updating the site as I understand more about how to improve visibility and conversions.
The biggest advantage of running my own website is the freedom. I don’t have to compete directly with other listings on a marketplace, and I get to fully control the brand experience from start to finish. It also makes it simple when I’m talking to customers at farmers markets — I can just send them straight to my site and they get the full story of the brand in one place.
That said, I am still exploring other platforms like Amazon and Etsy to understand how they might fit into the business in the future. For now, though, I value having a direct connection with customers and the ability to build the brand at my own pace while I continue learning and refining the system.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebigfootculture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_bigfoot_culture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebigfootculture
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBigfootCulture
Image Credits
All photos are taken by me.