Ep. 200 – [Live at WeWork Food Labs] 200th Episode Celebration Interview Collection Part 2

If you haven’t listened to episode 200 part 1, you can find it at myfoodjobrocks.com/200Wow

So the past three weeks looked like this: I drove from Sacramento to Texas, met some friends in Los Angeles and Phoenix, and then flew to New York. Met up with my friend David Despain in long Island and then the next week, had an orientation in New York with my Friday getting familiar with the brand new Food Labs in Austin Texas, in the SXSW Center, my new home. There’s a ton of things planned, and I am thrilled to see what happens.

For the second part, you’ll get a lot of the same as part 1. You’ll get aspiring new companies, inspiring past guests and everything in between. You can find timestamps on who’s on this section at our shownotes: myfoodjobrocks.com/200Wow2

So enjoy this live recording of the 200th episode at My Food Job Rocks. Thank you Alyssa Pizzaro from the San Francisco We Work Food Labs for the space. If there are any audio quality hiccups, let me know but keep in mind, that some things are out of my control because it is a live recording.

But first, here’s a note from a guest who couldn’t make it because she was in another state, Katie Jones from the Food Heroes Podcast. [Timestamp: 1:40]

Eleana Hsu – Koji Related Food Products

[Timestamp: 3:25]

I met Elana the week before this event at a house party hosted by Phil Saneski and friends. Elena will be leaving her job soon to start her own Koji company. Learn a  bit about the Koji world, where it comes from and what common foods it grows on. Learn also how to make your own and the types of experiments to explore further than soy sauce.

My Food Job Rocks – You have to do what you love

Sohail Nadepour – A La Carte Connections

[Timestamp: 14:20]

I met Sohail through a mutual friend, a college friend who’s not even in food science. Ken just happened to be in the same company as Sohail and one day they talked about passions. Sohail told him about food science and the first thing that popped up in Kendall’s head is me!

After helping Sohail network, he ended up working for Rachel Zemser which is allowing him to start his food science career.

Sohail is a really awesome example that it just takes one person to change someone’s life for the better and it makes me feel amazing. This short segment is the sole reason why I love doing the podcast and talking to people so that they too can have a career in food.

My Food Job Rocks – Despite having the temptation to eat my products, I get to be creative.

Amanda Drexler – Product Developer at CCD Innovation

[Timestamp: 3:25]

Next up is Amanda Drexler, an alumni from Cal Poly who just graduated this year. Amanda works at a consulting firm in Emeryville and for her first job, she’s gotten a lot of interesting projects. Because she's fresh out of college, I thought it would be a great opportunity to ask how she got her job. We give a shoutout to one of our favorite Cal poly professors too

My Food Job Rocks – I can see a product from the first stages to the end

Lauren Joyner, Founder of Loca Foods

[Timestamp: 30:15]

We catch up with Lauren Joyner and a lot of things have happened since about thirty episodes ago. Lauren found a manufacturer, will be launching a new formula, and Loca is growing. It’s so exciting seeing your friends grow so fast in this industry. Lauren also brought a friend, Lindsey, founder of Food-La-La who made these really interesting savory macarons. They are artistically made very well and the flavors are extremely well balanced.

We do a live audio tasting with these macarons and they are really good.

My Food Job Rocks – Connecting with people in the space that care deeply in what they’re doing

Rachel Zemser – Consultant at A La Carte Connection

[Timestamp: 38:55]

We also catch up with Rachel Zemser, who had a kid! And now she’s learning a ton on taking care of a little human. The great thing about Rachel is that she can control her schedule. Well, sorta. Rachel also announces that she’ll be on TV in the very near future, which is super exciting.

My Food Job Rocks – Every job I’ve ever had as a food scientist was fun and exciting

Ellice Ogle – Food Safety Consulting Tamdem Food

[Timestamp: 45:50]

I think I met Elice at an IFT event, but not sure. I see her often in a variety of events in the San Francisco area. She’s a hustler, for sure. Elice recently started her own company and I asked about how she likes it so far. Lots of talk about startup life here

My Food Job Rocks – I love food and meeting people who love food

Darryl Neal – Podcast Host of Beer Talk Now

[Timestamp: 49:00]

I met Darryl at an IFT event. Definitively. I had such a good talk with him the first time I met him, he took me out for beer and we talked for hours. At the end of the night, he wanted to do a podcast and started…6 months later! But every time I met him, it reminded him to start step by step. Eventually, he started Beer Talk Now and it’s so amazing seeing his creativity flourish because of this little project.

Darryl also had a kid! So congrats to Darryl!

My Food Job Rocks – It’s fun to see people get engaged in food safety.

Phil Saneski – VP of ReGrained

[Timestamp: 55:30]

Last but not least, is Phil Saneski, who’s been in two episodes, one where he was an intern at Rachel Zemser’s company and then last year with ReGrained! Phil and I have helped each other out throughout the years, with business, charity events, and other super fun stuff. Phil has been one of my greatest supporters and one of my best friends throughout my time doing My Food Job Rocks and I can’t thank him enough for his support. With some final introspection thanks to Phil’s question, I think this is the perfect ending interview for the night.

My Food Job Rocks: Self-explanatory

I’ll be taking a creative break from the podcast and will start again with episode 201 at the end of the month.

Regarding the future of My Food Job Rocks, all I can say is that I’m seeing the end. I love podcasting, but I think theirs is much more to do than just My Food Job Rocks. There are many many other projects I want to explore using this platform. Because I don’t want to be known as the guy who does My Food Job Rocks, but perhaps the food scientist who does podcasts.

But who knows? Like I told Phil, I don’t like to think that far. If I thought far, I would have never have ended up with a  podcast, or starting a company, or working in a beautiful building in Austin, Texas but I’ve learned that doing these things have made my life exciting!

I’m just an average person with an average podcast but the people I’ve helped are special to me and perhaps that’s all you need to do something great.

Again, I can’t thank you enough for listening to My Food Job Rocks. Whether you’ve consumed all 200 or just this episode, it really means a lot to me that you chose this podcast to listen to.

Thanks for joining us, I’ll see you next time on My Food Job Rocks

 

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