Episodes

July 21, 2025

314: Celebrating Celiac Awareness Month: Real Talk on Safe & Inclusiv…

What does it really take to feel safe, heard, and included when you’re dining with celiac disease? In honor of Celiac Awareness Month, this episode of Eating at a Meeting brings real talk—and real solutions—to the table with ...

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July 14, 2025

313: Building Better Bars at Events: How to Elevate the Attendee Expe…

When it comes to creating unforgettable experiences behind the bar, few have done it better — or longer — than Rob Husted. With nearly three decades of experience in bartending, mixology, flair, and education, Rob is a force ...

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July 7, 2025

312: Voices That Matter: Addie & Robyn Lao on Food Allergy Advocacy …

On this episode of Eating at a Meeting, I welcome Addie Lao, a courageous nine-year-old food allergy advocate, and her mom, Dr. Robin Lao, a pediatric nurse practitioner from Sacramento, California. Together, these two inspir...

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June 30, 2025

311: Serving Tea with Intention: A Fresh Take on Event Beverage Plann…

Tea is having a moment—and it's long overdue. In this week's episode of Eating at a Meeting, I’m joined by Amy March, executive chef and co-founder of The Steeping Room and Urban Tea House, to talk about why tea deserves a st...

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June 23, 2025

310: 5 Ways to Manage Event Food & Bev to Reduce Waste & Budget Effec…

I'm talking about managing food and beverage at events based on recent events I've attended and questions I've seen on social media or asked about at conferences. Join me to share your management tips. Want to create live str...

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June 16, 2025

309: Safe, Sober, & Inclusive: How Zero-Proof Bev Are Changing the F&…

What a month it’s been! As Women’s HERStory Month comes to a close, I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap it up than with a conversation that’s redefining inclusivity in food and beverage. Laura Silverman, founder of Zero ...

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June 9, 2025

308: Stirring the Pot for Good: How One Social Enterprise is Upliftin…

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 Huan...

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June 2, 2025

307: From Food Apartheid to Food Empowerment: A Story of Change

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 fre...

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May 26, 2025

306: Bridging the Gap: Foster Care, Food Security, and Social Impact

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 P...

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May 19, 2025

305: Secret Food Stories: Chef Asantewaa's Vision for Sustainable Din…

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 As...

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May 12, 2025

304: Building a Food Business That Brings People Together—One Cheese …

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 Min...

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May 5, 2025

303: Food Safety & Allergen Awareness in Restaurants with Denise Baro…

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 memo…

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April 28, 2025

302: More Than Comfort Food: The Rich History and Future of Soul Cuis…

To close out 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 I’m sat down with Chef Deborah VanTrece, a culinary visionary 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝. From her days as a flight attendant exploring global cuisines to becoming a 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝-𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐟, restaurateur, and 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫, Deborah has built a legacy on hon…

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April 21, 2025

301: Why Black Culinary History Matters in Events: Food as a Cultural…

This Black History Month, I sit down with my friend  Tie Whittaker, owner of Buttermilk Boutique. A professional pastry chef with over 13 years of experience, Tie blends her Southern roots and culinary expertise to create stunning pastries and...

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April 14, 2025

300: The Biggest Lessons from 300 Episodes on Food Safety, inclusion …

This is episode 300 of Eating at a Meeting! After five year and 300 episodes, one thing is clear—food and beverage are never just about what’s on the plate. They’re about safety, inclusion, transparency, and creating experiences where everyone...

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April 7, 2025

299: Taylor Swift’s Mocktail Success: Event Planners, Are You Taking …

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour wasn’t just a cultural phenomenon—it was also a showcase of unforgettable food and beverage experiences. For the last three U.S. stops and her grand finale in Vancouver, Sodexo Live! delivered the perfect menu to...

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March 31, 2025

298: Sodexo Live! San Diego Convention Center

Ready to go Behind the Plate? This week on Tracy chats with Sufi Karaien, Executive Chef at the San Diego Convention Center Corporation (SDCC), where he leads culinary operations for one of the busiest convention centers in the United States. ...

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March 24, 2025

297: Norovirus 101: What Event Planners Need to Know About Food Safety

Food safety isn’t just about what’s on the plate—it’s about protecting everyone who gathers to share a meal. This week on Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE, join me as I chat with food safety expert Francine Shaw, CP-FS, FMP, about one of the...

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March 17, 2025

296: Carrying Intentionality into 2025_ Food Safety_ Inclusivity_ and…

Unity at the table is more than gathering people; it’s about creating spaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Reflecting on my December commitment to make every table safe and welcoming, I recognize that intentionality isn’t...

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March 10, 2025

295: Trends Report: Vegan Food and Non-Alcoholic Drinks Take Center S…

The way we eat, drink, and celebrate at events is evolving, and the numbers prove it. This week on Eating at a Meeting Podcast LIVE — the first episode of 2025 —  I’m sitting down with Hugo Campbell, co-founder of Togather, to talk about...

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March 4, 2025

294: Beyond the Bar — A Recap to End the Year and Kick off 2025

David T. Stevens and I will recap the "Beyond the Bar" panel discussion he led and I participated in during IMEX at the Jimmy Kimmel Comedy Club in Las Vegas. During the discussion, we dove into the growing trend of non-alcoholic and wellness-focused...

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Feb. 25, 2025

293: How Food Defines Us: A Dialogue with Author Psyche A. Williams-F…

I’m thrilled to welcome Psyche Williams-Forson, cultural food scholar and author of “Eating While Black: Food Shaming and Race in America,” to the podcast! 🖤🍽️    Food is so much more than what’s on our plates—it’s identity, belonging, history, and survival. In her groundbreaking work, Psyche unpac…

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Feb. 18, 2025

292: Ensuring Everyone Can Attend - The Key to Inclusive Event Planni…

Tracy chats with Jami Paronto, Senior Global Account Director at HPN Global, about creating accessible food and beverage experiences for all attendees.    I met Jami at a recent event and was struck by some of the barriers she faced to...

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Feb. 11, 2025

291: The Food Allergy Generation Goes to Work_ Legal Challenges & Opp…

How are workplaces adapting to meet the needs of the "food allergy generation"? In this conversation, I sit down with Professor D'Andra Shu, a law professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, to explore the growing legal challenges and...

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