HERstory Episodes

What does it really mean to source "Pacific salmon"? Kim Brigham-Campbell and Terrie Brigham are sisters, members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and co-owners of Brigham Fish Market—a Native-owned, family-run business on the banks of the Columbia River in Cascade Locks, Oregon. Since 2014, they've been catching wild Columbia River salmon, sturgeon, and steelhead from the same tribal fishing platforms their family has used for generations, then smoking, filleting, and cooking it into the chowders, fish-and-chips, and barbecue-ready fillets that define destination dining in the Pacific Northwest. Their work is at the intersection of Indigenous food sovereignty, sustainable fisheries, and a food tourism economy that doesn't always name the people behind the fish. In this episode, Kim and Terrie talk about what treaty fishing rights look like in practice, how event planners and caterers can source seafood that honors Indigenous producers, and what …

Anamaria Gutiérrez is 23 seasons into running Este Garden, a women-powered, one-third-acre urban farm in East Austin growing vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and fruit and nut trees for four restaurants: Suerte, Este, Bar Toti, and Nixta Taqueria. Her path to the garden ran through a UT Austin business degree, a farmers market coordinator role, a farm fellowship, her own market food business, and a direct pitch to restaurant owners to let her build edible gardens on their properties. In thi...

Each March Tracy celebrates Women’s HERStory Month. To wrap up 2025's celebration, she had a conversation that’s redefining inclusivity in food and beverage. Laura Silverman, founder of Zero Proof Nation and Booze Free in DC, is leading the charge in the non-alcoholic beverage movement, proving that choice and inclusion belong at every table. With 17+ years of sobriety, Laura’s journey is deeply personal. After struggling with binge drinking in college and getting sober at 24, she saw firsthand how limited and uninspiring the non-alcoholic beverage landscape was. So, she built the resource she wished existed—a global hub connecting people with alcohol-free options, community, and education. 💡 As a thought leader in the adult non-alcoholic beverage movement, Laura isn’t here to vilify alcohol—she’s here to empower choice. Whether you're taking a night off, redefining your relationship with drinking, or just looking for something beyond soda and seltzer, her work ensures safe, equ…

This Women’s HERStory Month, I’m celebrating trailblazing women who are reshaping the way we think about food, community, health, and inclusion on the Eating at a Meeting Podcast. This week, I’m introducing you to Jin-Ya Huang—a social entrepreneur, artist, and community leader using food to break down barriers and build bridges. A social practice artist turned “accidental entrepreneur,” Jin-Ya is the founder of Break Bread, Break Borders (B4) — a catering social enterprise empowering refugee ...

In celebration of Women’s HERStory Month, I’m honored to highlight Femeika Elliott, a powerhouse in food justice, maternal health, and community empowerment, on the Eating at a Meeting podcast. How do we reclaim access to fresh, nutritious food and create healthier futures for our communities? Femeika is on a mission to transform food justice, maternal health, and sustainability in Knoxville and beyond. As the founder of Meik Meals, the Lotus Program, and Rooted East Knoxville Collective, she ...

Food has the power to nourish, heal, and connect—and this Women’s HERStory Month, I’m honored to celebrate Ally Smith, a woman making a profound impact at the intersection of food and foster care. As Development Director at Partnerships for Children, a private chef, and the creative force behind the “Gather With” cookbook project, Ally is redefining what it means to support vulnerable children and families through the power of food. Her journey has taken her from case management in the foster c...

This Women’s HERStory Month on the Eating at a Meeting Podcast, I’m shining a spotlight on incredible women who are reshaping how we think about food, sustainability, and culture. The third woman I want you to meet is Chef Asantewaa E. L., a culinary powerhouse and advocate for food sustainability in San Antonio. As the founder of Food Horizons and the Secret Food Stories initiative, Chef Asantewaa is bridging gaps between food, culture, and community as the founder of Food Horizons and the Se...

This Women’s HERStory Month, I’m celebrating women who are using food to build community, preserve culture, and spark meaningful change. One of those incredible women is Mahfam Moeeni-Alarcon , the founder and co-owner of Mingle + Graze, a cheese shop and eatery in downtown Chandler, Arizona, that is so much more than a place to eat—it’s a space for connection, learning, and inclusion. Mahfam’s journey from selling marinated olives at farmers’ markets to pioneering grazing boards in the Phoenix...

March is all about celebrating inspiring women in food and beverage, and I’m thrilled to kick off Women’s History Month with Denise Baron Herrera, co-founding chef and Chief Culinary Officer at Burton’s Grill and Bar and Red Heat American Tavern. Denise’s journey is not just about crafting memorable menus but also about leading the industry in food safety and allergen awareness. In this episode, we explore how Burton’s became a gold standard for scratch kitchens, safe dining, and true menu inclusivity—years before it became industry buzz. Denise shares the challenges, triumphs, and strategic decisions behind their allergen protocols, the power of staff training, and why saying “yes” to every diner is their mantra. Listen in for Denise’s advice for operators, her commitment to food inclusion, and the heartwarming guest stories that make it all worth it. Plus, find out what fresh food means to her and what accomplishment she treasures most.

🌟 Join me for the next Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE interview during Women's HERstory Month, where I sit down with the fabulous Cocktail Bandits! 🍹 ✨ In the heart of Charleston, where history meets innovation, Johnny Caldwell and Taneka...

Back in March, during Women's History Month, I re-introduced you to an extraordinary lineup of women I’ve honored over the past four years. These women are making change in the food and beverage industry with their passion, innovation, and...

To kick off Women's HERstory Month, and just ahead of and to celebrate Ramadan, I am elated to welcome the incredible Yvonne Maffei, MA, founder of My Halal Kitchen, as my next guest on Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE.  Internationally...

What started as the Women's International Beer Summit in 2020 to connect female homebrewers to other homebrewers during the pandemic is now the certified 501©3 The Women's Craft Fermentation Alliance (WCFA). The organization, co-founded by Melissa...

Lindsey Ofcacek, alongside Chef Edward Lee, started The LEE Initiative in Louisville, KY, in 2018 when they saw how the #MeToo movement was bringing to light what women in the restaurant and food and beverage industry were experiencing. An acronym for...

When I posted on my Instagram account that I was searching for women to highlight for Women's HERstory month, Chef Nina Curtis was the first to reply with the name Chef Karla Ortiz. Then, OMG! The additional "votes" for Karla kept rolling in, and then...

Jen Gilhoi and Cate Faulkner are the Co-Founders of the Zero Proof Collective in Minneapolis, MN. Sharing the lived experience of sobriety, they are purpose-driven and focused on reframing the “mocktail” experience so guests have plenty of elevated non-alcoholic (NA) options to enjoy, and bars, restaurants, hotels, and beverage companies can increase revenue with the new, fast-growing market. Through bi-monthly events, consulting, crafting, and serving elevated zero-proof cocktails, Jen and Cate are gathering business leaders to learn, collaborate and collectively communicate with clarity. Join Tracy, Jen, and Cate as they discuss how they are making #HERstory helping evolve culture so NA options are served everywhere with acceptance and inclusivity to valued customers and guests.

Wanting to honor the ancestry within her, Tambra Raye Stevenson, MPH, Founder/CEO of WANDA (Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture), is addressing the challenges of our current food system with Sheros and advocating for a Food Bill of Rights. Tambra lost her grandparents in Oklahoma from diabetes, stroke, and heart disease due to diet and our food culture predicated by the policies set in our cities, states, and country. So she takes the issue of public health and food and nutrition policy personally. As a mom, she began thinking about what are we telling the next generation about food, nutrition, and the culture of food. Through WANDA and Sisterhood Suppers, she is bringing awareness to how food is connected to our health, economy, and environment. Join Tambra and Tracy on Eating at a Meeting LIVE for a Women’s HERstory Month episode to discuss how she is revolutionizing our health and culture of food through the power of women and girls, amplifying the importan…

Randi Weinstein has been in the hospitality industry all her life, from being a host, bartender, and server to director of events for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival. In that last role, she noticed how many fewer female chefs there were than...

What if finding a safe place to eat with celiac disease was as easy as a few taps on your phone? Kayla King was just nine when she was diagnosed, growing up constantly on guard around food—and sometimes even binging whenever she actually found safe treats. Instead of letting her diagnosis limit her life, Kayla turned her obsession into innovation, founding MyMeal: a game-changing app helping people with dietary restrictions find restaurants that truly “get it.” She partners directly with Colorado eateries, digging into every ingredient, training staff, and building filterable allergy menus so diners can order with confidence—and even enjoy the same menu experience as anyone else. Kayla’s journey—from childhood advocacy and disordered eating to CEO—is proof that one woman’s struggle can lead to inclusive dining for an entire community. MyMeal isn’t just an app. It’s a movement for safer, smarter, and more welcoming meals out.

I first met Chef Stephanie Tyson and Vivián Joiner via a Zoom call for Les Dames d’Escoffier North Carolina Chapter during the middle of the pandemic. What I did not know about them, but have come to realize, is they are one of Winston-Salem’s...

This is a special Women's HERstory month edition Tracy does every March. National City has one of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in San Diego County and in the state of California. To help women seeking healthier diets in National City, a...

This is a special Women's HERstory month edition Tracy does every March. With a passion for global cooking and holistically nourishing the body through food, Chef Elizabeth Johnson, by way of her restaurant Pharm Table, shares plant-forward meals that...

This is a special Women's HERstory month edition Tracy does every March. Aliza Tuttle is combining her own personal experiences with food. Growing up volunteering with her grandma in the local soup kitchen, studying food systems and urban studies in...

Sera Cuni is a classically trained chef who grew up in a family of self-taught cooks who enthusiastically embraced their Italian and Czech heritages. She also learned early in life that the sharing a home-cooked meal together every evening was a...