My Food Job Rocks!

Mike Lee, a food futurist and innovation expert, discusses his journey into the world of food trends and futurism. He shares insights on the importance of humility in predicting the future, the role of design thinking in food innovation, and the need for empathy beyond just the consumer perspective. Mike also explores the concept of edutainment in food media, the intersection of art and food innov...

Adam Yee interviews James Gourley, a partner at an intellectual property law firm specializing in the food industry. They discuss the importance of understanding intellectual property (IP) for entrepreneurs, the different types of IP, and the nuances of trademark and patent law. Gourley shares insights from his career, including the significance of writing in law, how to choose the right lawyer, a...

Adam Yee interviews Zachary Cartwright, a principal food scientist and sales engineer at AquaLab. They discuss the integration of AI in podcasting, the importance of science communication, and the nuances of water activity in food science. Zachary shares his journey from biochemistry to food science, emphasizing the significance of effective communication and networking in career development. The...

During my trip to Japan I met Schyler Cole and had a great talk with her so I decided to interview her. Her journey is very interesting! Schyler Alexandra Cole is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Value Create Ventures in Tokyo, building a revenue-based financing venture to fill funding gaps for SMEs and startups. Her journey into entrepreneurship began with food: while earning her BA in Economics a...

Adam sits down with Alice Wistar, Head of Growth & Strategy at Palate Insights, for a chat about her career, her role as Chief of Staff for startups, and some insights on food service. Alice shares how she accidentally fell into her dream career from pivoting from med school ambitions to vegan gastronomy in Peru, to a crash-course MBA at Black Sheep Foods during the plant-based boom. They unpack w...

Rachel Atcheson, the Executive Director of Food Policy Pathways, discusses her journey into food policy, the importance of understanding policy definitions, the role of data in shaping food policies, and the influence of lobbying. She shares insights on navigating government structures, implementing innovative programs, and building a career in food policy. Rachel emphasizes the need for collabora...

Seth Waite shares his unique journey from studying political science to becoming a partner at a biopsychology firm. He discusses the importance of understanding consumer behavior, the transition from law school to nonprofit work, and how these experiences shaped his approach to marketing. Seth emphasizes the significance of talking to customers, understanding their emotional needs, and using data...

Satoshi Umino, CEO of Sustainable Food Asia interviewed me while I was in Japan at his office in front of a live audience. This podcast has been edited to remove the Japanese translation. I chat about the following trends happening in the USA: What's happening now: Protein, Tariffs, Labubu Economy What's not happening now: Plant-based, Sustainability Initiatives, Regenerative Trends that will pers...

In this conversation, Laurette Rondenet, CEO of Edlong Flavors, shares her journey in the food industry, the challenges of running a family business, and the importance of mentorship and leadership. She discusses the evolution of Edlong, the significance of decision-making in business, and the dynamics of company culture. Laurette emphasizes the need for awareness in the food science field and the...

In this conversation, Tim Bradley, founder of Pennant Video Company, discusses the significance of video marketing in the B2B sector, emphasizing the importance of mid-funnel content and the buyer's journey. He introduces the 'video marketing trifecta'—differentiation, demonstration, and validation—as essential components for effective video content. Tim also shares insights on overcoming camera s...

In this conversation, Adam Yee shares his journey into food science, detailing his early influences, educational experiences, and the challenges he faced in the food industry. He discusses the importance of networking, the role of AI in food science, and his entrepreneurial ventures, including product development and consulting work. Adam emphasizes the need for consistency and the value of starti...

Taylor Scott is a best-selling author, inspirational keynote speaker, and organizational development consultant. Through his books, workshops, keynotes, and licensed content, he inspires audiences at Fortune 500 companies, Universities, and community organizations nationwide to become their best, deliver their best, and experience the best life possible. Taylor leverages his personal experiences a...

Caroline Lafleur shares her journey from studying biology to becoming a food scientist and entrepreneur. She discusses her experiences in product development competitions, her time at Mattson, and the challenges of transitioning to a startup. Caroline emphasizes the importance of understanding the target market, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the role of branding in the food industry. She a...

In this conversation, Adam Yee interviews Sebastian Zorn, the head team performance dietitian for the Los Angeles Rams. They discuss Sebastian's journey into sports nutrition, his experiences at various colleges, and the unique challenges and opportunities in professional sports nutrition. Sebastian shares insights on the principles of sports nutrition, the impact of trends like NIL on college ath...

In this conversation, Adam Yee interviews Myles Powell, CEO of Myles Comfort Foods, discussing his journey from corporate America to the food industry. Myles shares his experiences with product development, transitioning from barbecue sauces to frozen foods, and the challenges of scaling a CPG brand. He emphasizes the importance of clean labeling, navigating retail partnerships, and the impact of...

Lewis Bollard, Programme Director for Farm Animal Welfare at Open Philanthropy, discusses the critical intersection of technology and advocacy in improving animal welfare. He highlights the alarming rise in chicken consumption and the inhumane conditions in factory farming. Lewis emphasizes the importance of innovative solutions, such as In-ovo sexing technology, and the need for corporate respons...

Chef Robert Irvine shares his journey from a young boy interested in cooking to a renowned chef and television personality. He discusses the leadership skills he gained from his military background and how they shaped his approach to managing teams in the culinary world. Robert emphasizes the importance of food as a vehicle for community building and healing, particularly for veterans. He also hig...

In this conversation, Adam Yee interviews Vincent, an Asian American food innovator and founder of Dang Foods. They discuss Vincent's journey from his educational background at Cornell to the inception of his company, which focuses on coconut chips. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating the food industry, sourcing ingredients, and the importance of product strategy. Vincent sha...

In this conversation, Jaime Tulley shares her journey from a background in food science and pre-med studies to becoming a co-founder and COO of Hey Day Canning Co. She discusses her early experiences in the food industry, the challenges of launching a canned food brand, and the innovative approaches they are taking to revitalize the canned food aisle. Jaime emphasizes the importance of passion, ad...

Jordan Buckner, founder and CEO of Foodbevy, shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his early ventures in the food industry to the challenges faced with his first company, T-Squares. He discusses the importance of product differentiation, the emotional toll of closing a business, and the transition to building Foodbevy as a community for emerging food brands. Jordan emphasizes the signi...

Dane Atkinson is the Founder and CEO of Odeko, the operations partner helping independent coffee shops run and grow through smart software, next-day delivery, and a modern supply chain. Since launching Odeko in 2019, Dane has focused on giving small businesses enterprise-level tools, and he led the company through over $280M in funding to further scale that mission. Before Odeko, he served as CEO...

Fred Hart is a brand consultant, creative director, and design strategist obsessed with building and studying CPG brands. Over the last decade, he's built a 30-person branding agency, transformed over 137 CPG brands, won an industry record 5 Designalytic Design Effectiveness Awards in the last five years, and been entrusted by visionary founders and Fortune 500 companies to craft strategic design...

Matt Roszell is an award-winning storyteller and communications leader with 25+ years of experience across biotech, tech, food and consumer brands. He now consults with companies—from startups to industry leaders—on brand and media strategy, investor communications, crisis communications and employee culture. He’s an expert in designing and delivering blockbuster branded media strategies that brea...

Alison Cayne shares her journey from urban planning to founding Haven's Kitchen, a cooking school that evolved into a consumer packaged goods brand. She discusses the challenges of navigating the food industry, the harsh realities of retail economics, and the impact of venture capital funding on food brands. Alison reflects on the lessons learned from shutting down Haven's Kitchen and emphasizes t...

In this episode, Adam chats with Yadu Dar about his career at Ingredion and his job at Plantible. They chat about the ingredient industry, how it has evolved since back in the day, and the challenges of working in a small less-than-a-decade old company versus a century old behemoth. Yadu gives great knowledge and insights in ingredient functionality as his team at Plantible explores the function o...