The PricePlow Podcast - #073: Patrick Mabe - Crushin' it at The Tactical Games with Core and Merica Energy

Jan 24, 2023

#080: Jason Budsock - Animal at Universal Nutrition

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/jason-budsock-animal-080 Unofficial holder of the "World record cement deadlift", it's Jason Budsock, VP of Products at Animal / UniversalUSA, who joins us for Episode #080 of the Podcast! In early January of 2023, we kicked the year off right by hosting Jason Budsock of Animal at Universal Nutrition on the PricePlow Podcast. Many know Jason for his two decades at Animal - He's JDawgXL in the forums and on Instagram, and is the Vice President of Products at the company. In this discussion, we talk about Animal's legendary past, the incredible product launches over the past year (see them on our Universal Nutrition news page), and what they have coming for us in 2023. We reminisce about The Cage, and Jason explains how they were the original EAA supplement, released in the early 2000s after following two studies published in 1999 and 2000. Some changes are coming to Animal Pak, a new value Whey Protein is on its way, and far more. Subscribe to the PricePlow Podcast on Your Favorite Service iTunesSpotify Google Podcasts Show Notes with Jason Budsock at Universal / Animal 0:00 - Introductions Jason is "the guy" at Animal and Universal Nutrition, but his official title is Vice President of Products, which goes from product concept all the way to launch. He's been at the company for twenty years! Shred. Animal Pak is the product that created an entire brand. He started at the Vitamin Shoppe during college (note to young followers interested in getting into this industry: so many careers begin in retail), got a food science degree, but realized he didn't want to practice as a dietician. So instead, he joined Universal Nutrition in the customer service department. 4:30 - 2006: Animal Flex and Animal Omega Working in retail helps you realize that there's far more than just sports nutrition. In fact, pre-workouts weren't even much of a thing back when Jason started! Jason explains that some of his first launches were Animal Flex and Animal Omega in 2006, two popular products that have long stood the test of time. 5:15 - The Animal Brand You can do a case study on the incredible branding that is Animal, which all started with Animal Pak. Mike tells a story that Animal Pak was the second product manually entered into the PricePlow database - it was the thing behind ON 100% Whey. Following Animal has been incredible - we've been secretly "stalking" the brand since we began! 6:45 - The Legacy of @UniversalUSA on Instagram One of Mike's favorite reminiscent things to do is to scroll way down on @UniversalUSA on Instagram, and look at the fun they had. Traveling the world and spreading the gospel of Animal Pak and Universal Nutrition, rolling with a huge crew, lifting, eating, having fun. Scroll down far enough on @UniversalUSA's Instagram, and you'll see the original lifestyle brand -- traveling the world, spreading the gospel of Animal Pak! Those are the times that we should all aspire to have in our lives. 7:45 - Animal was the original lifestyle brand Jason mentions that brands like Ghost have done great branding lifestyle content, Universal / Animal was the original lifestyle brand. They want to get back to that a little bit. They predate the "lifestyle" even further behind 5% Nutrition. Ben mentions guys like Frank McGrath and Evan Centopani - Evan is still involved. 10:00 - Animal provides an experience With the Animal Barbell club, and the Animal supplements (especially Animal Pak), there is an experience. It may not have been the first "pack" on the product, but it was probably the first one to go big. The current Animal Pak Pill Breakdown! But, as you'll see.. things will be changing in 2023! The "pak mentality" allows the brand to do so much more, and allow users to customize their experience, such as being able to remove their stimulant pill. Jason discusses Animal Rage being the first pre...

56 min