Tastemaker Talk

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 LinksBuy your Tastemaker 2027 ticket to San Antonio!

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 work, and maintaining a clear brand voice while adapting to changes in the industry. Enjoy!Show NotesFollow along with Everyday Grand on Instagram! 🍰 Check out Grandbaby Cakes onlineBuy your Tastemaker Conference 2027 ticket

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 Coalition! 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 of AI-generated content are copyright-able (spoiler alert: almost none), emphasizing the importance of original creation even in the digital age. Show LinksJoin the Copymight CoalitionConnect with Gavin on LIRead more about the psychology behind Uncanny Valley Join us (and Gavin!) for Tastemaker 2027 in San Antonio to continue your learning!

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 as a mom of three. Enjoy!Show LinksFollow Mary on InstagramCheck out Mary's blogJoin us for Tastemaker Conference 2027 in San Antonio!

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 Tastemaker community, and today we're having an honest conversation about the nuances of hosting our 2027 event in San Antonio. This conversation comes at a time when political tensions are high, and we wanted to dive head-first into the realities of San Antonio's political, cultural, and geographical histories--and what that means for us as a community intending to gather there. Tune in, and let us know your thoughts and follow-up questions in the comments! 🫶Show NotesTo learn more about San Antonio Review the 2026 MLK march--the largest in the nation!San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum (SAAACAM) VisitSanAntonio.comHow to help communities impacted by ICEExplore the ACLU website/IG and use their templates to contact your repsDonate if you can - The Kitchn has a round-up on their IG of local food banks/orgs who are organizing in MinnesotaShare your beliefs and use your platforms to speak out, especially if you feel safe enough to do so!

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 one is quick, but it's full of your next steps for fueling growth—without abandoning your values.Show Notes:Register for Jack and Azara's February webinar!Get your TC 2027 tickets for San Antonio!

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 in San Antonio! It will be our TENTH Tastemaker, and we can't wait to do it big, Texas style!GET YOUR EARLY BIRD TC 2027 TICKET - best rate of the year ends 1/18!

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 in LA later this week!We hope you enjoy, and we’re excited to see so many of you so soon!!

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).Show LinksFollow Grocers List on IGLearn more about Grocers ListJOIN US AT TC 2026! Ben and his team will be there and ready to help you!

As the search stars would have it, we sat down to record this episode with Marie Haynes 10 minutes after Google's December 2025 update launched! Tune in to hear what Marie makes of it all, and for her interpretation of what this and other AI updates mean for food creators.Show LinksLearn more about Google's Core UpdateJoin The Search Bar, Marie's online community!Subscribe to Marie's newsletterGET YOUR TC2026 TICKET TO LEARN MORE FROM MARIE (special thanks to TopHatRank for curating this SEO education for us!)

We spend so much time talking about reaching new levels of your food content creation business, but what if you're at Level 1? In today's episode of Tastemaker Talk, we're sitting down with Kayla Burton from Food Blog Coaching to talk us through exactly what she would do if she wanted to start a food blog in 2025. Whether you're blogging-curious, a beginner blogger, or a veteran looking for a refresh--you'll want to hear Kayla's advice!Show Notes:Get coaching & free resources from Kayla's teamFollow Kayla on Instagram Listen to some of Kayla's fave artists in our Tastemaker Tunes playlist 😎 Get your TC 2026 ticket!!

We always love hearing from today's guest, Sandie Markle (Blueberri)! We're sitting down with Sandie to discuss the rapid changes in the tech landscape over the past 5 years, focusing on how AI, particularly generative and agentic AI, has transformed content presentation on search engine results pages (SERPs) and social media platforms. We're also teasing some of the takeaways you'll be able to find at Sandie's upcoming speaking appearance at Tastemaker Conference 2026! Show LinksConnect with Sandie on LinkedInFind Sandie on InstagramGet your TC 2026 ticket!

Laura Ashley Johnson has amassed a loyal following at Dinner in 321, but her story is far from an overnight success. Tune in to hear how Laura Ashley built her brand, lost everything, and started completely over...twice! Laura Ashley is sharing her tried and true strategies for growth across platforms, including how consistent content creation, quality, and audience connection helped her get back everything she'd lost. If you've ever felt like it's time to throw in the towel, take this as your sign to keep going (no matter how tough things get)!Show NotesCheck out Laura Ashley's websiteFollow along on InstagramSee Laura Ashley speak at Tastemaker in LA!

We had the BEST time at MVCon in early November, and we're excited to spend some time unpacking everything we learned with you today! We've always known that Mediavine cares about creators (they've been a sponsor of our event from the very beginning!), but we gained a deeper understanding of exactly how they are showing up for creators like us in Boston.Thanks Mediavine, and can't wait to see you in LA!Show NotesCheck out Mediavine's new publisher requirements (hint: you may qualify!)Check out Grocers List and see how it can help you growJoin us at Tastemaker 2026--EBF sale live Nov 18-23, unlocking $100 off!

Today we're catching up with our friend Rachel Korinek from Two Loves Studio! We're diving into Rachel's career transition from editorial to commercial food photography, and exploring her creative evolution along with her approach to storytelling through visual details. If you're in need of a creativity boost or food photography tips, this episode is just what you need!Show LinksCheck out Creative Photo Essays that our attendees made with Rachel on our 2024 Photography Retreat in ITALY!Explore Rachel's stunning photographs on InstagramGet your TC2026 ticket here!

This week we're discussing Natasha Pierre's upcoming session at Tastemaker 2026, which will teach you how to create a content strategy that will do #werk in 2026. Natasha is sharing insights on Instagram's evolving algorithm and strategies for creating more purposeful content on multiple platforms.Show Links:Find Natasha on IG @shinewithnatasha and @withshinestudioCheck out Natasha's fav creator, @olivianocedaGet your TC 2026 ticket to hear more in-depth content tips from Natasha!!

We are SO honored to have Rachel Cunliffe, founder and designer at Cre8d Design, joining us today--all the way from New Zealand!!Diving deeper into Rachel's article, "Why food blogs still matter (even in the age of ChatGPT)," we're dissecting the many ways that AI falls flat when it comes to recipe creation (or should we say imitation). If you've been needing a data-backed pep talk to keep going, creating, and sharing recipes that are uniquely you, this one is for you! Show NotesGet WordPress design supportSubscribe to Rachel's Substack, "Best Served Hot," for a weekly data report!Check out Rachel's food blog, Friday's PizzaFollow Rachel on Instagram!Learn more with Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford

Today our good friend Erin Collins of Meaningful Eats joins us for her second appearance on the pod! Erin and Chandice are going even deeper this time around, getting into the technical aspects and details to consider when self-publishing a cookbook. We're excited to bring this one to you today, especially as advancements in AI are making tangible keepsakes--like cookbooks--all the more important.Plus, be sure to stick around for the Q&A with printing expert and Firewire Publishing owner, Morgan Crockett! Morgan is answering the questions YOU submitted about self-publishing/cookbook creation via social media. Show Notes:Pre-order Erin's upcoming cookbook, Let's Celebrate Gluten-Free!Read Morgan's book rec, Who Not How by Dan SullivanJoin us for TC26 and get your very own, specialty printed yearbook!

The Tastemaker Team is BACK, baby! Today we're talking all about our brand/website refresh, which you can enjoy for yourself later this October!We're walking you through our thought process when it comes to the rebrand, including how to identify your brand personality, the importance of working with a team you trust (shoutout to Lindsay and Jordan! ), and making sure that you're regularly checking in with your brand values and updating them as needed.Show Links​Build a Brand WorkbookThe Brand Archetypes wheel!​Check out Jordan's work at Studio 9 Co​Check out Lindsay's work at Made to Thrive

We're so excited to bring you today's conversation with Justin Moore, founder of Creator Wizard and author of Sponsor Magnet! This conversation was recorded ahead of Justin's speaking appearance at VTC 2025, and we're stoked to be giving you a teaser of his full-length session: "How to Craft a Sponsorship Pitch No Brand Will Ignore."From helping us write a sponsorship pitch to Erewhon to discussing Justin's metal band days (yes, you read that right), this convo is a delight from start to finish. Show LinksWatch Justin's full VTC session - purchase your replays hereFind more from Justin at sponsormagnet.com