If Sleepy Bear were a stuffed animal, this is the one stuffed bear we’d want to sleep with. We all can relate when a lack of a good night’s sleep causes us to wake up groggy or cranky the next day or when we experience more serious challenges such as sleep deprivation which can impact our mental state and our physical health. We sit down with Founder/CEO, Kyle Paradiso and ask Svn (7) Questions to learn more about his company and his product to help us all get more zzzz’s.
1. Why do most people have trouble sleeping at night? From the many ailments out there, why target sleep? (speak to the circadian rhythm, outside factors, Covid, Anxiety, etc.)
Sleep issues are nothing new but are becoming increasingly prevalent in America right now. A 2018 oxford study found that 3 out of 4 American adults reported trouble sleeping and that was pre-pandemic! Several factors contribute to poor sleep quality. I believe the most problematic being the growing use of blue light electronics and a general increase in the number of stressors we are exposed to in a digital society.
These devices were created to make our lives easier, but in turn, they take a huge unforeseen toll on our health. We now know that electronic devices can cause damage to our sleep cycle with blue light tricking our brains into thinking that it is still daylight even at night. This negatively affects our natural scheduled time release of regulatory hormones such as melatonin, which is responsible for telling our body when to go to sleep.
In the modern digital age, we are exposed to an overwhelming amount of stimuli. The sheer existence of devices capable of linking us to everything and everyone at any given time can be daunting. For those of us easily distracted, we are now able to access information 24/7, making it increasingly hard to “turn your mind off.” Not to mention the damaging mental/emotional effects we are seeing as a result of growing social media usage that has been directly linked to a rise of anxieties and stress. Basically, the digital age is bad for sleep and we all need to put our phones down more.
2. How were you introduced to CBD? Where does the name Sleepy Bear come from?
I got introduced to CBD through the very persistent recommendation of my girlfriend back in 2016. She had friends who had used it with great success and finally convinced me to give it a try to help deal with pain from a chronic injury I sustained during my military service.
Sleepy Bear was born from a desire to shy away from the stony-eyed industry norms. I wanted to create a product that visually would appeal to a wider, more mainstream audience, who wouldn’t traditionally think of themselves as cannabis users. By creating something inviting and soothing, it allows us to get away from some of the negative stereotypes around our beloved mother plant. I feel there is so much we can gain from cannabis as a society and we are only beginning to scratch the surface of the plant’s potential. However, we are constantly fighting against past stigma. I think one of the best ways to convert a skeptic is to physically give them a positive experience in a way or form they would not have expected.
Sleepy Bear just felt perfect once I envisioned it. After all who doesn’t want an adorable little blue bear rocking them to sleep
3. Where do you source your CBD from and what makes your company and products stand out? (speak to unique 3 in 1 formulation, your team, etc.)
We are proud to source our CBD from independent family farms in Southern California and to partner with top extraction professionals to get the highest possible quality extracts for our products. All our hemp is organically sun-grown, with zero pesticides, and zero herbicides. We test our hemp at three stages (flower, extract, final beautiful blue bear) at USDA/DEA certified labs for potency, purity, and all contaminants to ensure absolute quality standards at all levels of production. With our extracts, we go a step further combining nature and science in our formulas to deliver the best consumer experience. We use nanoemulsion technology to break down the particle size and increase the bioavailability and absorption speed of our cannabinoid extracts, fixing a common Achilles’ heel of ingestible products.
Something that makes our brand unique is the love for what we do and the care that goes into every aspect of our product. We strive to do everything we can to make a product that is not only the best for our customers but also the planet.
We wanted to provide products customers can feel good about purchasing from the inside out. It began with creating a health-conscious product using only premium extracts, natural flavors, and ingredients; and ended with designing eco-friendly packaging utilizing boxes made from 100% biodegradable hemp paper and bags from 100% recycled plastics.
4. Your hero products are the gummies, how did you come up with the formulation and specific combination of CBD, CBN, and Melatonin also known as your Sleep5/3/2™ formula?
When we were formulating Sleepy Bear we focused on the three main groupings for sleep quality stressors: physical discomfort, mental/emotional triggers, and hormonal imbalance. We envisioned creating a new approach to a nighttime formula with a combination to address not just one, but all three of these unique issues. Through extensive testing, our Sleep 5/3/2™ formula was born. By harnessing the restorative power of CBD, the sedative properties of CBN, and a brain boost of melatonin, we were able to create a unique sleep experience.
5. What should consumers expect when trying out your product for the first time, what advice would you give?
When trying our product for the first time I would recommend starting slow and building your way up as/if needed. The effects come on fast, so definitely be ready to hop into bed right after having some bears.
When trying to address sleep issues, everyone deals with their own unique list of stressors, they be physical, mental, hormonal or a combination. The beauty of our bears is that they are designed to be effective no matter the cause. We outline on our website the best dosage for a variety of scenarios, so our consumers can narrow down what protocol suits their exact needs.
As with everything in life,consistency is going to be key for the best results. We highly encourage at least two weeks of nightly dosing, preferably at the same time every evening. Patterns and routines are both huge parts of establishing better sleep habits.
6. Thank you for your service to our country. As a Veteran-owned and operated company, were there any unique hurdles for you transitioning from the military to being CEO of a CBD Company?
My journey into the cannabis industry was far from linear, I personally had to do a full 180 before we got to this point. For the majority of my life, I was staunchly opposed to cannabis in all forms. I was indoctranated with weed stigma, being raised in a household with a strict opposition towards drugs, that continued throughout my life as a high school athlete, college athlete, student at a military college, and then finally in my military service.
Unfortunately, I suffered a career-ending spinal injury and found myself in an all-too-common position for veterans: dealing with lifelong injuries and chronic pain. After multiple failed medical procedures and really feeling quite hopeless, I was finally guided into research involving the use of cannabis and other homeopathic remedies.
It was one of those light switch moments for me. I realized I had been so completely wrong about something for my entire life. I quickly saw how many veterans I knew who had an eerie similar realization as myself and I wanted to get to the root of how we had become so indoctrinated to think this way. I knew it was a deeply rooted issue that I wanted to become more educated on. I chose to pursue my graduate studies looking into the social aspects around veterans and cannabis, diving into the systemic issues behind the widespread veteran stigma against cannabis usage.
It was at this time when the 2018 Farm Bill was passed and the opportunity presented itself to transition my veteran cannabis experience from the academic to the real world. I realized that one of the best ways to gain support was to have a tangible product that would show all those positive values, built with the same passion. It was with this idea that Sleepy Bear was born.
7. Are there any upcoming projects or products you’d like to talk about on the horizon?
We are really excited to be releasing a collaboration product with our friends over at MASK Skincare in the next few months. As the world begins to open back up and travel becomes a part of our daily lives, we have partnered to tackle the stress of travel with our “Slept through the Flight” Kits. Our kit will combine our snoozetastic blue buddies with MASK’s amazing under-eye cannabinoid nourish face masks. Whether it’s at take-off or landing, this epic combo will keep you looking and feeling your best even after the most stressful of travel experiences. Kits will be available soon online, and at select independent retail partners and hotel locations nationwide!
BONUS: The world is a very different place right now, what’s one piece of advice you could give our audience?
I think it goes without saying that this last year has been deeply challenging for a variety of reasons for many of us. One of my main pieces of advice would be to focus on the things we can change, not the things we cannot. No matter what life throws at you there are still things that are in your power to control. How we react, how we care for ourselves and one another. This year has taught us how resilient we can be, and we need to always remember we are tougher than we think.
To learn more about Sleepy Bear Gummies, please visit sleepybeargummies.com and we proudly carry all Sleepy Bear products on svnspace.com Use the code: SLEEPYBEAR for 15% off your first order.
About Sleepy Bear
Proudly veteran-owned and operated, Sleepy Bear offers 30% discounts to Veterans on all purchases and pledges 3% of profits to veteran service organizations.
Founded in San Diego in 2020, Sleepy Bear was designed to be THE most effective and health-conscious sleep solution on the market. We hope to bring a new standard of safe and healthy sleep to people around the world! When we fix our sleep, it is truly remarkable how much healthier we become and we at SB hope to keep doing our best to help people get a good night’s rest.