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 LinksBuild a Brand WorkbookThe Brand Archetypes wheel!Check out Jordan's work at Studio 9 CoCheck 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
You may know Bjork Ostrom from his trailblazing work over at Food Blogger Pro, and we're thrilled to welcome him to the pod this week to chat about how food content creators can prioritize purpose to reach their business goals.Today, along with Abbey and Chandice, Bjork is covering everything from monetization methods in the evolving creator economy to Rice the pet frog. This is a fun one--enjoy!Show LinksTune in to the Food Blogger Pro podcastGet in touch with BjorkCheck out Bjork's must-have tech tool, the Things App!
Today Chandice is chatting with Megan Porta, who you all know and love from Eat Blog Talk! Together Megan and Chandice explore strategies for community building, how to embed your personal values into your business, and the importance of adaptability in the creator economy. Show LinksFind all things Eat Blog TalkReach out to MeganJoin us for Tastemaker 2026 LA!
Welcome to a very special REPLAY EPISODE of Creator Trends for 2025 with Mediavine!With VTC right around the corner, we didn't want to throw too much content at you all at once (that's not how our brains thrive, after all!). So we're encouraging you to listen to this replay ep with Amanda Martin (CRO at Mediavine), pick up a few new nuggets of wisdom, and then join us for VTC 2025 to stream Mediavine's on-demand session to keep the good times going!Get your VTC 2025 ticket here, and we'll see you Friday 9/12!
Today we're sitting down with our good friends from NerdPress, Andrew Wilder and Joel Carter. We're covering what branding actually means, and how authentic storytelling, brand differentiation, and core value alignment can help set you apart from AI-generated content. Today's Big Theme™️ is "Action creates clarity," and we hope that this episode speaks to those of us who have been feeling a little lost or listless lately.Show Links:Find NerdPress onlineGrow your WordPress site with Hubbub!Get in touch with Andrew or Joel at support@nerdpress.netDownload the Build a Brand with Impact FREEBIEGet your ticket to VTC in September to learn more about branding!Connect with NerdPress IRL at Tastemaker Conference 2026 in LA!
We're geeking out over today's episode, y'all! We're honored to be sitting down with Chef Carla Contreras, a food creative, content strategist, and the host of the Nourishing Creativity podcast. Chef Carla is giving us a Substack introduction, and she's making a very compelling case for why food content creators need to have a presence in the Substack arena. While sharing her warm energy and creative wisdom, Chef Carla is also giving us a teaser for her deep-dive sessions at Virtual Tastemaker in September AND Tastemaker 2026 in LA!Show NotesFor more of Chef Carla, tune in to the Nourishing Creativity podcastFollow Chef Carla on Instagram!Buy your VTC and TC26 tickets to learn from Chef Carla IRL!!
Foodie friends, you are not going to want to skip this one! We're chatting today with Liane Walker, a mom of three, a Siftr investor, and the Managing Director of Foodie Digital.In today's convo, Liane is providing insights on the challenges faced by food bloggers due to AI changes and algorithm updates, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and being a creator who can adapt.Show NotesCheck out Foodie DigitalCheck out Siftr SEO and follow along on IGConnect with Liane on LinkedInJoin us for Tastemaker 2026 LA!
Allea Grummert has worked with content creators across all niches, and she believes that when it comes to the creator economy, food creators are the honors students. What does that mean, exactly? On one hand, we're tenacious, organized, and resilient. But we also tend to push ourselves toward burnout and hold tightly to some unrealistic expectations for our work. Listen, food creators contain multitudes!Tune in to today's episode for Allea's expert perspective on what food creators are doing really well, and where they might be able to seek support. Because you don't have to do it all, and you certainly don't have to do it alone. Show NotesCheck out Allea's websiteBook a free 15-minute coaching call here!Tune in to Allea's podcastFollow Allea on InstagramStream “Substack vs. Kit” from the Happy Subscribers podcastDownload Allea's content calendarFollow Tilly the Cat on IGRegister for TC 2026!
Today we're sitting down with Emily Baksa to discuss how telling clearer, more authentic stories can help your content stand out in an AI-driven world. Emily is a copywriter and marketing strategist who helps food content creators gain creative and financial freedom so they keep loving what they do.Hit play to explore Emily's insights on content rewriting and how to use AI tools for efficiency, not to replace your unique humanity. Emily also shares her tips for embracing change, branding with intentionality, and "de-optimizing" your old content.Show NotesGet Emily's Cooking for Humans course here! $20 off with code: TASTEMAKERCheck out Emily's websiteFollow Emily on IGMeet Emily IRL at Tastemaker Conf 2026!
We are SO excited to chat with the formidable Joanie Simon, aka The Bite Shot, today! Press play to learn about Joanie's journey into food photography, including her transition from hobby to professional photographer. Today's Big Themes™️ uncover the importance of making mistakes, maintaining authenticity, and finding community in creative work. We also talk candidly about the business side of Joanie's photography practice, including her approach to cookbook projects, workload management, and balancing family life with professional pursuits.Show NotesRead Joanies book recs: The Art of Possibility and Hook PointFollow Joanie on IG or find her at thebiteshot.comGet your Tastemaker 2026 tickets rn!
Matt Molen is CEO of Email Crush and a top educator in email marketing, and today we're lucky enough to pick his brain about why email marketing matters for bloggers and content creators.Get your notebook ready, because this one is FULL of practical advice you can use immediately, including: Strategies for building and nurturing email lists through welcome sequences and consistent content deliveryHow to automate your systems for bigger impactMatt's FAVORITE subject line (that you can borrow)And so much more!Show Notes:Matt's FREE ROI CALCULATOREmail Matt to continue the convoFollow Matt on IGBuy your Tastemaker Conference 2026 ticket to keep learning!
On today's episode, Toni Okamoto chats with us about her food blogging and content creation journey building Plant-Based on a Budget. Throughout the convo Toni shares her strategies for building a loyal community via personal connections and budget-friendly content. Tune in to hear Toni's favorite ways to connect with her audience, which also happen to impact her ability to monetize and grow her reach.Show Links:Check out Toni's blogFollow Toni on IGListen to music from today's chat in our playlist!Get your TC 2026 ticket!
By popular demand, we are sitting down with Casey Markee to cover all of your most pressing SEO questions! In this episode Casey shares extensive insights about Google's AI mode transition and its impact on content creation, emphasizing the importance of high-quality, unique content. We also discuss technical strategies to help bloggers adapt to future changes in the digital landscape.Show Notes: Schedule an Audit with Casey (booking for August)Google’s AI-Powered SERPs: Strategies for recipe, travel, and lifestyle bloggersHow Evolving Search Results Impact Content Creators (TopHatChats)Niche blogging in the new Google reality: 5 strategies to thrive or dieFind Casey at mediawyse.com, or connect in the Food Blogger Pro and Food Blogger's Central Facebook groupsJoin us for TC 2026 in Los Angeles!