Zack Gallinger-Long

The Chocolate Pod

Business EN ↓ 6 episodes

Ever wonder what it really takes to turn cacao beans into incredible chocolate? The Chocolate Pod takes you behind the scenes with the passionate chocolatiers, makers, and innovators who are crafting some of the world's best small-batch chocolate. In every episode, you'll hear the real stories—the aha moments, the expensive mistakes, the late nights perfecting a recipe, and the pure joy of creating something people love. Whether you're a chocolate superfan curious about what makes craft chocolate special, an aspiring maker wondering if you could do this too, or just someone who appreciates a g...

Author

Zack Gallinger-Long

Episodes

Women in Craft Chocolate: Live from the Oregon Chocolate Festival 14.04.2026 25:50

This week on The Chocolate Pod , we’re bringing you a live recording from the Oregon Chocolate Festival, featuring a panel of women shaping the craft chocolate industry. Hosted by Darlene Gallinger-Long, this conversation brings together chocolate makers and chocolatiers to share how they got started, the realities of building a business, and the resilience required to stay in it. From evolving cr...

Missionary Chocolates: Dr. Melissa Berry, ND 06.03.2026 24:44

How does someone go from studying naturopathic medicine to building a chocolate company? For Dr. Melissa Berry, the answer began with a simple act of care: creating a chocolate her mother could safely enjoy. What started as small experiments in the kitchen gradually evolved into Missionary Chocolates , a brand known for its handcrafted vegan truffles and thoughtful approach to ingredients. Along t...

Branson's Chocolates: Deena Branson 02.03.2026 23:45

When a long-standing chocolate shop in Ashland, Oregon closed its doors, Deena Branson saw a craft worth carrying forward. After purchasing the equipment from the store, she founded Branson’s Chocolates and drew on her experience in craft chocolate industry to guide her as she refined recipes and continued learning. Unwrap the story of Branson's Chocolate in this episode of The Chocolate Pod...

AhHome Chocolate: Evergreen Love 13.02.2026 18:59

It all began with the Chocolate Team. A love cultivated since childhood… AhHome Chocolate is the brand founded by Evergreen Love, built on that early devotion and shaped by years of persistence. Today, that vision lives inside a chocolate factory and chocolate lounge in Trinity County, California, where Evergreen crafts superfood chocolate from scratch and creates a space designed to uplift her co...

Arcay Chocolates: Anabella Arcay 05.02.2026 15:11

Arcay Chocolates is a family-owned chocolate business in Washington D.C. The founder, Annabella Arcay, started making chocolates in her home country of Venezuela in her kitchen in 2006. Over the years, Annabella became a master chocolatier and gained international notoriety after receiving 42 medals at the International Chocolate Awards! Listen to her story and the challenges she overcame along th...

Introducing: The Chocolate Pod 03.02.2026 3:03

🍫 The Chocolate Pod is a podcast about the world of craft chocolate and the stories behind it. Hosted by Zack Gallinger-Long, each episode features conversations from across the craft chocolate industry, sharing perspectives and experiences rarely heard outside the trade. These conversations explore the decisions, creativity, and dedication behind every bar. Along the way, you will get a behind t...