Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Carter
Hi Jon, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey with ODD BALLS started with a simple but stubborn desire: I wanted to create a truly clean, healthy energy bar for outdoor pursuits. Every bar I found in stores still had those unpronounceable ingredients—the kind of stuff I wouldn’t even stock in my kitchen. That wasn’t good enough. I wanted something real, something functional, and something that actually did what it claimed to do. That’s when I stumbled across a podcast about functional mushrooms. There seemed to be a mushroom for everything: inflammation, anxiety, focus, etc… and sure enough, there was one for energy.
That’s how I found the mushroom cordyceps. But I wasn’t just going to take someone else’s word for it—I had to see for myself. So, I quit all energy inputs for two weeks. No coffee. No energy bars. Nothing. Then, I started taking a cordyceps supplement. It wasn’t a “let’s go climb Everest” type of energy, but it was steady, consistent, and most importantly, it lasted. By 6, 7, even 8 PM, I still felt good, no crash, no desperate need to lounge on the couch. I was sold.
With that, I started developing a bar. Well, the first edition wasn’t exactly a bar—it was more like a gel. I just wanted to see how bad it would taste with mushrooms in it. But to my surprise, you couldn’t taste them at all! Other’s agreed. The feedback was great, and I was excited… until life threw a massive curveball.
Bam. Testicular cancer.
Everything stopped. Development went on hold. But I remembered that podcast. I started supplementing with mushrooms that had shown benefits in breast cancer studies. Within one week of being diagnosed, I was on the operating table to remove the tumor, and then came the waiting game for follow-up scans. Even though the pathology report initially said the cancer hadn’t spread, the scans told a different story. It had spread to my lymph nodes—both in my abdomen and my chest. Stage 3 testicular cancer. The recommended route: chemotherapy.
For weeks, I wrestled with the decision—holistic approach or chemo? At 30 years old, otherwise healthy and fit, this was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. Ultimately, I chose chemo. And in between cycles, I did more research on anything that would complement the treatment. That’s when I found a phase 2 clinical trial specifically on testicular cancer patients using a cordyceps infusion. The results were so promising, they were moving into phase 3. It felt too serendipitous. I had been working on a cordyceps-based bar before my diagnosis. And now here it was being used to treat a disease that could very well kill me.
That’s when I made a promise to myself: once chemo was over, I’d give this business idea a real shot. Not just as a snack company, but as a tool for awareness. If I could convince just one person to go in early and get something checked out, that would be success. And beyond that, I could introduce people to the amazing benefits of mushrooms in a fun way, while also giving back to nonprofits supporting young adults impacted by cancer.
After chemo, I went back to work part-time for the water conservation nonprofit I had been with before, but ODD BALLS became my focus. Development took another 1.5 years—lots of trial, lots of error. It started as MushBoom Bars, but after some family brainstorming, we landed on ODD BALLS. It was a bold call to action—both in name and in shape.
Today, we have two flavors featuring our Funguy Blend of specific Cordyceps and Lion’s Mane extracts. These aren’t just marketing buzzwords; they serve a real functional purpose. Erinacines for focus and nerve growth (which helped immensely with my chemo-induced neuropathy and brain fog). Cordycepin for energy and stamina (which helped me regain energy in between chemo cycles). Beta-glucans for immune support (which an integrative oncologist at Mayo Clinic told me was one of the few things they actually knew helped stimulate the immune system).
Also something I’m very proud of: there’s no additives, fillers, preservatives, or other un-pronounceable ingredients (except maybe the mushrooms)… A truly clean product, that also happens to taste delicious ;).
ODD BALLS isn’t just a snack. It’s a movement. A call to adventure. A reminder that taking care of your body doesn’t have to be boring. And if sharing my story gets someone to take their health seriously a little earlier than I did, then every single ODD BALL we make is worth it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not. Many challenges popped up along the way, and each one tested my patience and determination.
One of the biggest struggles was finding a copacker, which took way longer than expected—about 15 months in total. It took 4-5 months just to find the right one, and then another 10 months from our first conversation to finally having the product in my hands. During that entire time, I was making them myself in the kitchen, but at some point, I had to start turning away orders because it was simply too much to handle alone.
The search for a copacker wasn’t just about finding someone who could make energy balls—it had to be USDA organic certified, which was non-negotiable after my cancer diagnosis and a desire for a truly healthy product. Then came the financial side, and many potential partners gave vague answers like, ‘We won’t know the final price until we actually make your order.’ I could tell they were trying to nickel and dime me. The one I finally went with offered a simple per-package pricing model, plus shipping—no hidden fees, no nonsense. The final test? Meeting them in person to establish a real relationship. Because, in a very literal sense, my balls were in their hands, and I needed to know we were building a partnership, not just another transaction. So, I flew to Atlanta, where they’re based, and somehow, it all worked out.
But the challenges didn’t stop there. From bringing mushrooms through TSA (which, as you can imagine, raised some eyebrows) to shipping delays, meeting tight production timelines, and dialing in shelf-life with a raw product—it’s been a constant learning curve. The list is long. But after going through chemo, I’ve gained a whole new perspective. There will ALWAYS be a new problem tomorrow. But just like yesterday’s problem, we’ll find a way through it, and eventually, it’ll be behind us.
And unlike chemo, these problems aren’t life-and-death situations. That realization has helped me develop a mindset of expecting obstacles to arise and embracing the challenge of navigating them. Easier said than done, but I’m working on it.
As you know, we’re big fans of ODD BALLS. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
ODD BALLS isn’t just another energy snack—it’s functional fuel with a mission. We create energy balls that are packed with real, high-quality ingredients and backed by science. Our specialty? Potent mushroom extracts. Unlike many mushroom products on the market that use ground-up mushrooms, which don’t allow your body to absorb the beneficial compounds, we use concentrated extracts. This ensures that every bite delivers functional benefits—not just a placebo effect. It’s a lot more expensive for us to do it this way, but we’re not here to cut corners; we’re here to make a product that actually works.
Beyond function, ODD BALLS is about impact. Through our One Ball Initiative, we support nonprofits that help young adults impacted by cancer. In just the last 16 months of our infancy, we’ve contributed to organizations such as:
Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation
First Descents
Send It Foundation
Survivor Wellness
Alta Community Enrichment
Project Koru
Another surprising thing about our energy balls? Their density. People are often shocked by how filling they are despite their small size. That’s the beauty of real food—no fillers, no additives, no preservatives. Just pure, functional nutrition that keeps you going with real flavor.
We also prioritize sustainability. Our energy balls come in a larger pack of eight, reducing single-use plastic waste compared to individually wrapped bars. Since one ball is calorie-equivalent to a traditional energy bar, you’re getting the same fuel with a fraction of the packaging waste. On top of that, we use post-consumer recycled packaging to further minimize our environmental footprint.
At the end of the day, ODD BALLS isn’t just about providing clean energy—it’s about fueling adventure, raising awareness, and making a real impact, both for our customers and for the planet. It’s about the inner oddball in each and every one of us, and being an advocate for health. It’s a call to action.
Got an odd ball, bump or lump? Tel-a-doc today!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is making a real impact—both in people’s lives and in the world we live in. ODD BALLS isn’t just about selling a product; it’s about creating something meaningful. I want people to fuel their adventures with something that actually benefits their bodies, rather than being misled by so-called ‘healthy’ snacks loaded with fillers and empty calories.
We prioritize a shorter shelf-life product to ensure a longer shelf-life YOU.
Beyond nutrition, raising awareness for young adult cancer is deeply personal to me. My journey through testicular cancer shaped my perspective on life, and if I can help even one person catch something early or feel less alone in their experience, that’s success. That’s why we give back through our One Ball Initiative—because survival is more than just overcoming a cancer diagnosis; it’s about thriving afterward. I want those impacted by cancer to know that they can actually be stronger post-treatment, through nutrition and exercise.
Sustainability also plays a huge role in our mission. We’re reducing plastic waste by using larger packs and post-consumer recycled packaging. If we’re going to fuel adventures, we need to protect the one and only planet those adventures take place on.
At the end of the day, what matters most is using ODD BALLS as a vehicle for positive change—whether that’s through health, awareness, or sustainability. If I can leave the world just a little better than I found it, then I’ve done my job. I’m taking my nonprofit background and applying it to a for-profit business model.
Pricing:
- $23.49 per pack
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oddballsfunguy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oddballs_funguy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oddballs.funguy
