New Shark Tank Taste Test + A Seat That Chilled My Buns

I’ve got a brand new video out today, and it’s a big one! Brandon and I sat down to taste-test a bunch of Shark Tank Season 15 food and drink products, and things got… interesting. We’ve done this for every season since Season 11, and this round might be the wildest mix yet.

Also in this email: a video I posted three days ago but forgot to send a newsletter about (oops), plus a few deals I thought were worth passing along, including my mom’s favorite coffee and a best-selling meat thermometer.

Let’s jump in.

NEW VIDEO ALERT 📽️
Season 15 Shark Tank Taste-Test!

I roped Brandon into another father–son marathon: a 31-minute tasting frenzy of as many Season 15 Shark Tank food & drink products as we could get our hands on. If you’ve been following our annual series since Season 11, you know the drill: lots of chewing, a little bickering, and a final “Worst Pick” plus our Top 3 Favorites.

A few of the curiosities on the menu:

• Sugar-free chamoy (yep, the tangy Mexican candy sauce, without the sugar)

• Canned wild salmon that claims to be sushi-grade

• A popcorn alternative that doesn’t leave you fussing with kernels

• Banana ketchup that may be as good as the real thing

• Plant-based cookie dough that you’d never know is plant-based

• …and a handful more Shark-approved snacks and sips

From surprisingly awesome to “never again,” we rate them all in real time. Grab a snack and watch us power through the entire lineup:

NEW VIDEO ALERT 📽️
Ice Water Meets Your Seat

Ever wish your lawn chair had air conditioning?

Three days ago, I posted a review of the Ecto TOPR Cooling Cushion, a $160 gadget that pumps ice water through a cushion to keep your buns chilled in the summer heat. I meant to include it in a newsletter at the time… but, well, I forgot. So I’m including it here as the second feature in today’s email in addition to today’s Shark Tank video.

After setting it up with a small cooler, a power bank, and a bit of patience, I took it out into the Las Vegas desert to see how well it could battle the blazing sun. I used a thermal imager to check the temperature difference, compared different chairs, and even stashed a drink in the cooler to enjoy mid-test.

Is it just a gimmick, or does it actually keep you cool? I break down the setup, pros, cons, and comfort level, and even suggest a DIY alternative for those on a budget.

DEALS 🏷️
Best Selling Meat Thermometer: 37% Off

When a product hits #1 Best Seller status and goes on sale, it’s worth a closer look. This Alpha Grillers digital meat thermometer boasts a 4.7-star rating across 74,000+ reviews, and it’s even tagged as “most frequently kept.” My price tracker shows this one bouncing around a lot, but this current deal is the lowest I’ve seen in months.

Green Mountain Coffee Pods (72 Count) – 33% Off
This one’s personal because it’s my mom’s favorite coffee! Every time she visits, I make sure to have these pods stocked. So when I saw a 72-pack under $30, I had to share it. It’s a limited-time deal, and this price tends to creep back up fast, so grab it if you're a fan of Green Mountain or want to be ready for guests.

Bento Adult Lunch Box – 33% Off
I’ve tested Bento products before and always found them solid for the price. Right now, this adult lunch box is just $8, which is the bottom of its usual price range, which floats between $8 and $12. If you're looking for a simple, functional meal container, this one’s a great pickup while it’s at its lowest.

🧽 Dusting Hack: Use a Dryer Sheet to Repel Future Dust
After you dust a surface, especially areas like baseboards, blinds, ceiling fan blades, or electronics, wipe it down with a used dryer sheet. It not only picks up remaining dust, but it also leaves behind a slight anti-static coating that helps repel dust for days (sometimes weeks).

It’s especially great for those spots that seem to get dusty again the second you finish cleaning them. Bonus: it smells nice and reuses something you were just going to toss.

You can even keep a couple used sheets in a drawer for quick touch-ups.

ON THIS DATE 🗓️
Jogo Brew Straw (2023)

Exactly two years ago today, I posted my review of the Jogo Brew Straw, which is a filtered straw that can supposedly replace an entire coffee maker. I went into it with a healthy dose of skepticism, but left impressed that it actually delivered on its promises. If you missed it the first time around, this is still a gadget that comes up in conversation whenever I’m discussing coffee.

Don’t want to watch it? You can read my written version here.