The Beef Medium Podcast

Laneygrn (Laney Green) the official Dessert Queen joins us on the podcast today.A full-time content creator at 22, Laney wasted no time launching her career right out of college. She is undoubtedly living the life reviewing food every day in San Diego, but it didn’t happen overnight. Turns out Laney’s been making videos since she was nine years old. After over decade of pure hustle experimenting with everything from makeup to lifestyle content, she ultimately landed on food as she was wrapping up school. During her time in college, she also started a user-generated content (UGC) marketing business, largely separate from her escapades as a social media personality. UGC’s a pretty big subsection of the industry these days but get this: barely anybody was talking about it when she started things back in the early 2020s. The risks she’s taken have ultimately paid off as she continues her career and it’s something anyone looking to get into content, young or old, can learn from. 

All hail KingSchratz (Dave Schratz), fast food legend and pop culture expert.Dave is an absolute content machine. His page was originally created in 2006, during YouTube’s earliest days, but he didn’t start taking content creation seriously until 2020 when the pandemic forced his personal training business to a halt. From long-form to short-form, Dave does it all, every single day, every single platform. It all started with an Instagram post where he offered to eat an entire Shaq-a-Roni Pizza from Papa John’s in exchange for 5,000 likes. From there, he took his childhood love for fast food and turned it into multi-thousand calorie eating challenges, mukbangs, and even tech reviews via his second channel, MoreKingSchratz. In today’s episode, we talk about his personal journey, his love for Wendy’s, his disdain for Subway, and much more.

The world of soda is vast and SodaSeekers aka Griffin Parker (@sodaseekers) joins us this week to help us navigate it. A Sporked Contributor and beverage expert, Griffin possesses an immense amount of knowledge (likely stored in his beard) about a variety of snacky topics including the truth behind Coca-Cola’s recent real sugar announcement, the intricacies of running a cotton candy business, the energy drink industry’s crazy competition between companies such as Red Bull Alani Nu, Celsius, and Ghost, and much more. Beyond the fun facts, the world of drinks is constantly changing, especially with it becoming rather political in recent years, so consider this your catchup on all the haps.At this point, SodaSeekers is the largest independent non-alcoholic beverage-focused page on Instagram. It’s a mouthful, but it takes a hell of a lot to get there including internet-breaking inside scoops and some very sexy graphic design skills. It’s rare that we have a guest with such subject matter expertise, so crack a can of your favorite drink and get ready for this absolute trip of an episode.

Sandwiches of History (@sandwichesofhistory), aka Barry Enderwick, has been at the top of our guest wishlist since the inception of this podcast. Today, we finally get to check that box.There’s no niche quite as niche-y in the food world as the one Barry has carved out. Having gained major traction during the lockdown of 2020, Sandwiches of History is exactly what it sounds like: every day, Barry and his fans dive into a new sandwich recipe from society’s past. From countless variations of egg salad to regional favorites like the North Shore Beef (a personal favorite of ours), Barry brings history to the plate in the most delicious — or sometimes diabolical — ways possible.Over the past five years, Sandwiches of History has grown into a full fandom with a cookbook, a roadshow, and a thriving community, all dedicated to exploring one of humanity’s most beloved foods. In this episode, we talk sandwiches galore, Barry’s early career at Netflix, his advice for aspiring content creators, and much more. And if you’re feeling ambitious while you listen, grab a couple slices of bread and get to cheffin’.

IDGAFFOODS (@idgaffoods) joins us on the podcast today. We’ve had a lot of great guests on here, but there will never be another episode quite like this.A former substance user now twelve years clean, IDGAFFOODS took to social media last year after becoming frustrated with the relentless unsolicited health tips constantly popping up online. His first video was in his kitchen, eating a jar of tomato sauce while recounting how he used to chase highs in places most people never see. Since then, he’s eaten countless foods off the pavement, drank gallons of seed oils, and plenty more, all in the name of taking his power back during this resurgence of food hysteria. After all, these aren’t the worst things he’s put in his body.An unintended bonus: IDGAFFOODS’s untraditional escapades have become something of a beacon for folks struggling with substance use, mental health disorders, and eating disorders. They look to him as a guiding light in a world full of armchair experts and self-declared health gurus. He’s only ever granted two interviews in his career: one to GQ, and the other to us. That’s something we’re incredibly grateful for, as it gives us the chance to share a fascinating story of recovery and learning how to enjoy life a little more.

Sanaaeats (@sanaaeats) is one of Foodtok’s most endearing creators so we’re stoked over here at Beef Medium to host her for her first podcast experience.At this point in her career, Sanaa has amassed nearly two million followers across platforms. Some folks may say that it takes a lot of luck to get to that point on social media but for her, two things have driven her to that point: a desire to get in touch with her true self and the want to connect with people on a deeper level. TikTok challenged her to leave her comfort zone, putting her on a path of full-time content creation as well as taking her to both New York City to Los Angeles, two of America’s most iconic food cities. She’s living her best life and we’re absolutely here for it.

Morgan Chomps (@morganchompz / @morganchomps) is a bit of a food icon if you ask us. Part reviewer and part creative mastermind, she’s been behind some of the space’s most memorable moments, from ordering a now-viral 50 count bucket of chicken nuggets at Wendy’s to buying herself wedding cakes, birthday cakes and other sweets just because she felt like it.Her story is fascinating. Morgan is one of only a handful of Beef Medium guests who make content full time, though it was never part of her original plan. After graduating college at the start of the pandemic she didn’t have many other options, so content became her path forward. Five years later she’s built a loyal following among snackers, sweet tooths and Walmart regulars.Recently Morgan left her home state of Colorado for the milder climate of Utah, which has introduced her to a whole new world of food culture. In today’s episode we talk about it all, including Crumbl, her love for Taco Bell, Mormon culinary staples and plenty more.

We’ve officially got our first couple on the podcast, y’all! Brayden DeGarmo (@caloriecarnage) and Nicole Ludwig (@nicolee.ludwig) join us today. Two wonderful foodie creators on their own and equally as entertaining together as @brayden.nicoleeats. Recently, they completed a move to Las Vegas from San Diego to further explore all that Sin City has to offer in dining and knowing them, they’re about to cover a lot of ground.Speaking of lots of ground, we get up to a lot in this episode. It turns out that like us, Brayden and Nicole are also true horror movie fans and with that comes some incredibly endearing stories of their first dates as well as a great segue into how both deal with the everyday challenges of body positivity in a world where anyone can remark on your body, your vibe, and your tastes.

Justin Brown (@therealfoodstalker)  is a legend in the Atlanta food scene. For the better part of five years, he’s been exploring restaurants not only across the state of Georgia, but all over the world. You’ll never see him post a bad review, though. Why? Justin’s philosophy is one of guidance. If you’re in his circle of foodies, he wants to point you to what’s good, not what’s bad. It’s as simple as that. If he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t post it, and with that comes a goldmine of knowledge for dining recommendations all over the South. When it comes to chicken wings, he’s got individual spots for individual flavors. Hot dogs? He’s got you covered. If those aren’t enough, wait until you hear his advice on handling negativity on the internet. The only thing he doesn’t care for? Haters.

Bill Oakley (@thatbilloakley) is an American legend from entertainment to eating. Originally known for this work during (what many fans refer to as) the golden years of The Simpsons, he's done quite a lot over the course of his career including writing cult classics Mission Hill and Space: 1969. as well as contributing to the likes of Portlandia, Futurama, and much more.Several years ago, Bill decided to indulge in his secondary passion of food a little more seriously, ultimately turning to the internet to launch his side career as a foodie content creator. It started with a review of McDonald's non-frozen Quarter Pounder back in 2018. Since then, Bill's amassed a community of hundreds via his Steamed Hams Society dedicated to all things food. His most recent effort is his Culinary Curiosity Dinners tour, meeting up with fans and foodies alike for evenings of culinary exploits and stories from his years an entertainment at restaurants across the United States. Join us as we listen to Bill's recounting of the moment the iconic Steamed Hams sketch became an international meme, his early experiences with McDonald's, and all the incredible things he's been up to as of late across his many creative pursuits.

My real-life brother Matt Ciampa (@mattciampa / @mattychomps) joins us today for a very special episode of Beef Medium—marking a big change: he’s officially my new cohost! This isn’t the first time we’ve shared the camera, though. The truth finally comes out: we actually started making content together back in the early days of YouTube as the LEGO-crazed duo brickboys518.It’s been nearly two decades since that journey began, and while we still love LEGO, there’s one thing that continues to bring us together above all else—food.Like me, Matt’s path led him into the world of food media. After graduating with a degree in film, he moved to LA, eventually becoming a producer for BuzzFeed’s Tasty and later an editing powerhouse for names such as Jubilee, Gordon Ramsay, the Try Guys, and countless other pop culture icons you know and love. Through it all, he’s continued to follow his culinary passions in a way that beautifully complements my own, which is why I’m beyond thrilled to team up again for this new chapter of the podcast.Today’s episode is a great reintroduction where even I learn things I never knew about him. My own brother. You’ll hear stories from our childhood, some of his favorite culinary and gardening tips, and yes, the time he ended up at a Christmas party with Smosh (among other colorful characters).

There’s no food item that takes you back to your childhood more than cereal. Today, we’re joined by the one and only Cereal Life (@cerreallife), the man who lives and breathes the stuff so much that he used to eat fifty bowls in a week. It’s always exciting when we get a category expert here on Beef Medium and cereallife is no exception. Full disclosure, this episode was recorded back in January but a lot is going on with our favorite cereal connoisseur. Cereal Life has now become a cereal dad, he’s working on a book about the spanning history of his favorite meal, and he’s hot off another stint acting as Questlove’s personal cereal curator. Yes, we said “another”—the man’s done it three times now.

Being a professional food taste taster is a dream job for many. Today, we’re living vicariously through the multi-talented Jordan Myrick (@jordanmyr1ck) as they walk us through just what it is they do and how they got there in the first place. Jordan’s resume is nothing to be laughed at, although considering they’re a comedian it definitely wouldn’t be inappropriate. From their regular appearances on Good Mythical Morning to being the host of Dropout’s new culinary competition series Gastronauts, they truly have done it all. Join me in hearing all about Jordan’s exciting career through entertainment as well as what advice they have for making it on your own terms in the world of food and beyond. 

Simply put, Luke Collins (known by most as Lukefoods) is an internet icon. For the better part of two years, he's been one of my favorite food reviewers which is why I just had to bring him on to the podcast. Luke's original plan was to get into gaming content, but after finding a path in food, he experienced mega-viral success which brought him over a million new followers in less than a year. Pretty much everyone who watches him knows that nobody can do it quite like him—he's genuine, he's hilarious, and all around, a good time. If you haven't gotten the chance to know Luke outside of his videos, this episode is for you. We explore how he got started, his health battles and weight loss journey, and plenty of fun antics throughout his time as an internet food critic

On a trip to Hardee's test kitchen down in Nashville this past September, I met a lot of wonderful folks, one of them being Chef Tim Clowers (@cheftimclowers). A true Tennessee native, he became something of a social media icon after closing his catering business to become a full-time content creator. Chef Tim’s story is one that stems from a natural desire to do something more with his life and help others in the process. The grandson of a pro chef, he started his career as a dishwasher and grill cook before dropping everything to travel the world on mission trips until he ultimately settled back in Knoxville. Everything he’s learned about the culinary arts after that was self-taught, and it’s taken him many places both literally and metaphorically. 

When Teddy Siegel (@got2gonyc) first started her social media pages dedicated to locating publicly-available restrooms in New York City, she had no idea that it would become a movement working to destigmatize bathroom access for the masses. As someone affected by a gastrointestinal disease myself (and a former New York City resident), I resonate heavily with Teddy's mission, but why am I having her on a food podcast? Well, the consumption of food and beverage ultimately leads to one place: the bathroom, and at some point, everyone's got to go.

Tyler Bowers (@teamsupernovafb) is probably the most knowledgeable person you'll ever meet when it comes to soda and he's one of my best friends in the industry. It all started as a platonic love affair with a Mountain Dew flavor called Supernova about fifteen years ago. Today, Tyler (or as we call him, Tebow) continues to bring snack news to the masses, through both his own pages and as a contributor for Sporked. Join us as we explore the depths of his fizzy knowledge.

Like many folks, my first introduction to Blue Kim (@bluebeachkim) was through Big Brother. She's far more than a reality star, though. In addition to being one of the most fun people I've ever met, Blue is a devoted foodie, a clever brand strategist, and even a Playboy model. Her story is one we can all learn from, regardless of our individual ambitions, as it's one of embracing who you are and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone to get more out of life. It's one I resonate with well and I think you will too.

When I first met Taylor Eats (@tayloreatsnyc), she had but a few thousand followers. After finding a niche curating food deals for the masses, she quickly added over a hundred thousand followers to her pages. Taylor’s relationship with food has taken many forms over her lifetime and in today’s episode, we explore how creating content while living in New York City has helped her expand many horizons. This one’s a blast. We get into everything edible through the lenses of true crime, nostalgia, mysterious allergies, and plenty more.

FoodBeast's Dylan Pavlik (@dylpavlik) and Reach Guinto (@reachhard_) are two of my favorite people from the industry. Being a part of one of the top food and beverage publications on the internet, they've got knowledge like crazy. It's only fitting that we deep dive on food hacks, the woes of fast food ice cream machines, and most importantly, the odd jobs they've held that have brought them here.