Tom Bannister – Founder, Tom’s Perfect 10 Granola

The One Way Ticket Show

Born and raised in Manchester, England, Tom is a graduate of Oxford University and a seasoned advertising director for clients including Disney and Samsung.

A lifelong granola connoisseur, Tom founded Tom’s Perfect 10 granola in December 2021 in his New York City apartment as a way to bond with his wife, Eva Chen, Instagram fashion influencer, and their three kids during the pandemic. Tom combined his storytelling and social media skills to grow the Tom’s Perfect 10’s Instagram community.

With Tom's Perfect 10, Tom intertwines transparency in the brand’s process and personal life by sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes of each blend creation and intimate vignettes into his family’s life, creating a unique family brand in the granola market.

On this episode of the show, when questioned about where he’d like to go on his one way ticket journey, Tom offered: “The ideal state is to be just where you’re meant to be, like happy where you are today. And to try and make where you are today that place where just you want to be. And I think it’s a struggle we all have”. Very true!

In the course of our conversation, Tom also shared how he came to develop Tom’s Perfect 10, advice for other entrepreneurs, and as a former English Literature major, he weighs in on what Shakespeare would make of his granola.

Tom is just one of the exceptional individuals featured on the podcast where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guest where they would go if given a one way ticket, no coming back! Their destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or state of mind. Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.); Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Fashion Expert, Tim Gunn; Broadcast Legend, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Former United States Senator, Joseph I. Lieberman; Playwright, David Henry Hwang; Journalist-Humorist-Actor, Mo Rocca; SkyBridge Capital Founder & Co-Managing Partner, Anthony Scaramucci; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, chefs, writers, intellectuals, etc.