Tastemaker Talk

What if your dinner choices could help create positive change for the planet? Today Abbey sits down with Sam Kass, former senior food policy advisor to President Obama, to explore how our food systems are deeply intertwined with climate change. Sam’s book, "The Last Supper," reveals not just the issues, but also practical steps we can take to shift our eating habits for the better (without fear-mo...

We are SO excited to be joined by Tastemaker Conference 2027 MC, Kalen Allen! Kalen is an award-winning actor, television personality, and singer, reaching millions of people worldwide across his social media platforms and through his unique content. Today Kalen is chatting with Chandice about the responsibility attached to digital commentary, leading with your art rather than becoming dictated by...

Daphne and Leslie on the mics this week! Make some noiiiise! We just got back from Kit's Craft + Commerce event in Boise, and we had THE BEST time. Tune in for our 6 takeaways inspired by the mainstage rapid fire session, including the AI tips we think every creator should know, a piece of advice we would give to our past selves, and the joy of experiencing a very human moment together (that may o...

In this episode, Maria Lucey shares her journey from dietitian to successful YouTube content creator, exploring strategies for growth, monetization, and community building on YouTube. Discover how to leverage video content for long-term success and authenticity—tune in! Show Links Find Maria on her website Check out Maria's YouTube channel Follow Maria on Instagram Get your TC 2027 San Antonio tic...

Abbey is back on the mic for her Q2 2026 Founder's Message, and she's sharing all of her thoughts, drawbacks, and joys surrounding the evolution of the creator economy over the last 10 years. With lessons learned from Yesteryear , Abbey's Master's Degree research, and Billie Eilish, the overall message is that creators can get through anything because we are resilient, innovative, and well--creati...

Join us as we explore the latest trends in food content marketing with Anastasia Shtompel, Forbes Council Member and former Head of Marketing at a multi-million-dollar company. Hit play to discover how niche audiences, strong visual identity, and strategic collaborations can elevate your content. Anastasia is sharing the need-to-know info to position yourself not only as an influencer, but as a BR...

Alyssa Rivers, founder of The Recipe Critic, shares her inspiring journey through culinary school at age 41, overcoming challenges, gaining confidence, and pivoting her food blogging career. Discover her insights on mastering new skills, embracing vulnerability, and building real community in the digital age. Show Links Follow Alyssa on: Instagram Facebook Pinterest Youtube TikTok And join us for...

Today Abbey sits down with Jack Thomas to explore the future of food content through an ethical lens, covering everything from social commerce and monetization to transparency, sustainability, and the real impact of AI. Jack shares the mission behind ACRE and challenges creators to think deeper about trust, values, and the “optics of local.” Plus, a candid take on industry buzzwords (watch your ba...

In this episode of Tastemaker Talk, Shaunda Necole shares her journey of transforming her blogs into a media empire, emphasizing the importance of positioning as a media company, leveraging SEO, and building trust through content. She discusses strategies for creating a recognizable brand, adapting to generative search, and maintaining authentic connections with her audience. Show Links: thesoulfo...

Kelli Quinn is the VP of Product, Customer Success, and People Ops at VEOX Inc, and she's also a longtime photographer. Today she's joining Abbey to talk about where creativity meets technology. From her journey into the AI space to practical ways creatives can use it without losing their voice, this episode is all about staying adaptable, thinking for yourself, and using tech as a tool to unlock...

Ready to move beyond relying on one income stream? In today's episode, Lauren Less sits down with Chandice to talk about building a multi-income creator business. We're covering brand deals, social commerce, blogging, email lists, and how to grow without burning out. Show Links ⁠Find Lauren on Substack⁠ Follow Lauren on ⁠IG⁠ and ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Visit Lauren's blog⁠ ⁠Join us in San Antonio for TC27!⁠

Today Abbey is catching up with Laura Scherb, a food photographer and creator behind Page and Plate! Laura is sharing how she transitioned from food blogging to professional photography over the past decade, highlighting her evolution of creative style along the way. Because we can't get enough, we're also exploring Substack together, with Laura explaining how she uses it to share recipes behind a...

Josh Gale has spent the last year building @TheChefOutWest into an engaged community, and a full-time career. Today, he's chatting with Chandice about his journey to 1 million followers across platforms. While growth doesn't happen overnight, Josh is sharing the insights you need if you're looking to catalyze the process (without losing your unique POV). Tune in! Show Links Follow along on www.the...

Like so many bloggers, Christie Vanover has seen her organic search traffic decline due to AI. That decline in views equals a decline in ad revenue. So she's been testing an automated way to populate social channels, using her existing blog posts, to shift where her traffic comes from. We're diving into what she's learned as a result on today's episode, along with a candid convo about entering the...

Rebecca Johnston (Devour Dinner) has been to every Tastemaker Conference since we opened our doors in Salt Lake City in 2018. Each year, she and Abbey kick off the conference weekend with a hug, which acts as a powerful symbol of what Tastemaker is all about. We're chatting all about the impact of community--especially in the context of operating a one-woman creator business--and getting one of Re...

Today we're joined by Naomi Andres! Naomi is the founder of Knead Some Sweets, a baking and dessert blog she started at age 14. We're exploring Naomi's early interest in baking, her journey into food blogging, and her approach to balancing her blog with a full-time job. We're also chatting about how Naomi plans to grow long-term and her advice for creators who are just getting started. Show Links...

Every quarter, Tastemaker founder, Abbey Rodriguez, writes an open letter to our community. For this quarter's message, Abbey is sitting down to have a one-on-one chat with you from her microphone, sharing pieces of her life, her thinking, and her goals--for Tastemaker, for the industry, and for herself. Enjoy this special Tastemaker Talk segment: From the Founder! Show Links Buy your Tastemaker 2...

We are SO happy to be sitting down for today's episode with Jocelyn Delk Adams , discussing her journey from baking cakes in Chicago to becoming a successful TV personality and judge. We're also exploring lessons learned from her recent endeavors with her ready-made cake line, Everyday Grand --available soon nationwide in Walmart stores! This episode emphasizes the importance of authenticity, hard...

Today we're diving into copyright basics and AI's impact on content creators with Gavin Gillas, a former IP lawyer and co-founder of Copymight Coalitio n ! Gavin is here to give us an overview of the challenges creators face with AI platforms using their content without permission, and explore potential paths of resistance for creators and consumers. He's also breaking down exactly which aspects o...

Today we're joined by the lovely Mary Smith! Mary is the creator behind Mary's Whole Life , a gluten-free recipe blog and content platform. Chandice and Mary are unpacking Mary's journey, from being diagnosed with celiac disease to building a successful content creation business. Mary is sharing her approach to recipe development, business growth strategies, and how she maintains work-life balance...

We're honored to be chatting with Marta Rivera Diaz ( Sense & Edibility ) in this special episode of Tastemaker Talk. Please note: This episode engages with nuanced social, political, and historical realities. We approach these topics with care, but some listeners may find parts of the conversation challenging or emotionally charged. Marta is a San Antonio local and trusted advocate in the Tas...

In our SEASON 3 PREMIERE EPISODE (!!!), Abbey sits down with Jack Thomas and Azara Krovatin to chat about building a creator business that lasts—especially in the food space—without relying on ads alone. They get into what makes a great knowledge product (courses, digital products, memberships), how to validate your idea fast, and how to build community by sharing your authentic food stories. This...

We had the BEST time at Tastemaker Conference 2026 at the JW Marriott Los Angeles LA LIVE -- such a good time, in fact, that we needed to close out Season 2 of the pod with our main takeaways. This quick episode explores the impact of community, the depth of the sessions, and the incomparable feeling of gathering with people who just get you. We're already planning and looking forward to TC 2027 i...

Hey hey! WE HEAD TO TASTEMAKER 2026 IN JUST A FEW DAYS! To celebrate, we 're revisiting one of our main stage sessions from Tastemaker Conference 2025 in Las Vegas! This panel discussion has never been released to the public before, and we hope that it can spark some exciting ideas and a-ha moments for you as we usher in the new year. And get ready--we've got even more amazing experiences waiting...

We're so excited to be sitting down with Ben Jabbawy, founder of Grocers List, for today's episode! Grocers list is a platform built to help food creators drive more website traffic and capture more emails from social channels and unlock new forms of monetization. Ben is sharing all of his insider tips to help you take your next step toward growing your platform (without overwhelming your plate)....