This week on the Tastemaker Talk podcast, we're picking up where we left off. Abbey is opening up about her personal experiences following the pandemic, including a divorce that shaped how she showed up in all aspects of her life–including her business.

In this episode, she and Chandice explore the ways in which they have continued to #holdspace for one another throughout these highs and lows, and how the Tastemaker Conference team and community has been a source of joy and support for each of them.

P.S. The Tastemaker Birthday Sale is still running for 2 more days!! We’d love to invite you to celebrate with us, and we’re offering $80 off your Tastemaker Conference 2026 ticket. Use the code BDAY80 and keep the party going, available now through April 30.

In this week’s episode, we’re diving deep into the personal and professional learning experiences that have shaped Tastemaker Conference over the past 8 years, and we’re not holding back. 

If you’ve ever wondered who we are, how we make it all happen, or why we continue to show up even in times of uncertainty, loss, and grief–this one’s for you.

AND to celebrate Tastemaker turning 8 this month, we are offering listeners an exclusive discount for Tastemaker Conference 2026 in Los Angeles.

Get your ticket here, and apply code BDAY80 at registration for $80 off your ticket price. Our gift to you, only running through the end of April! Thanks so much for being here. 🎉 ❤️

Unless you've been living somewhere besides Planet Earth, you've probably been following the tariffs being imposed by President Donald Trump, and the resulting stock market dip. Even though he recently put a 90 day pause on his original tariffs, you've likely still felt the weight of economic uncertainty and the fear that usually accompanies it for those of us who are self-employed.

That's why today we're talking tariffs, recession, and creator economics. We want to give it to you straight so that you can make empowered and informed decisions moving forward, which will hopefully help you confront feelings of anxiety too.

Show Links:

• Click here for Hot Jesus (iykyk 😂 )
• Read more about Trump's tariffs here

Welcome back to Season 2 of Tastemaker Talk!

We were honored to be joined by Kate Ahl of Simple Pin Media to discuss the rise of AI-generated content on Pinterest, which is competing directly with content creators driving traffic to their websites on the platform. The group discusses the context for how this AI slop came to dominate Pinterest pages, what Pinterest plans to do about it, and how creators can adjust their strategies in the meantime.

Show Links and Further Learning:

• Get in touch with Kate at SimplePinMedia.com
• Listen to this Simple Pin Podcast episode on using AI images
• Read the Futurism article that sparked this conversation
• Check out Lisa Nguyen and her awesome ramen shorts
• Info on Pinterest's plan to label AI content and how they're working towards giving users more control
• Official article from Pinterest on their move with AI content and Pinterest
• What to do about the new setting in Pinterest Canvas

In this episode, Daphne is out from behind the screen to discuss the benefits of membership programs for content creators with Jen from Memberful! This conversation emphasizes the importance of diversifying revenue streams and building independence and control. 

Jen shared her experience in building membership programs and highlighted the potential of membership to create long-term relationships with audiences, provide stability and control, and serve as a trusted community. 

Jen also emphasized the importance of starting small and gradually expanding when creating something new, and the potential for membership programs via Memberful to empower creators and provide a more sustainable approach to content monetization.

If you'd like to learn more about Memberful, visit their website today or get in touch with Jen directly at [email protected] . 

And if you'd like to learn more tips like these, be sure to register for Tastemaker Conference 2026 ASAP to come learn with us next January!

In this episode, Abbey was joined by Mike Muney, a veteran content executive with 12 years of experience across tech, entertainment, and media. Currently, he oversees the creator partnership and business development efforts for the Yahoo Creators program, a new platform for writers and creators to share their stories with millions of Yahoo readers.

Mike shared with the Tastemaker community Yahoo Creators' features, benefits, and monetization opportunities for content creators, showcasing its potential to reach Yahoo's large audience.

If you are a US-based food content creator, please visit http://yahoocreators.com to learn more about the program and apply. You can also head to http://creators.yahoo.com to browse their creator portfolio, and apply today if you think you'd be a good fit!

Tune in with Joey Petrarca from Chicory, a platform that enhances the reader experience for food bloggers. Joey explained Chicory's role in making recipe content shoppable and providing advertising opportunities, while also discussing the challenges faced by food bloggers and the importance of diversifying revenue streams. The conversation emphasized the need for creators to find their niche, build direct audience relationships, and adapt to changing trends in the industry.

You can get in touch with Chicory on their website, their Instagram, or by sending an email to [email protected] .

Or, of course, stop by their room at Tastemaker Conference 2025 if you will be in attendance!

Thanks, Joey and Team Chicory!

James Baldwin from Raptive, a strategic partner and sponsor of Tastemaker Conference, joined the Tastemaker team to discuss their industry-leading ad management platform and business solutions. James is the SVP of the Creator Performance and Technical Support Teams at Raptive, and the conversation covered the evolving nature of content creation, the importance of optimizing ad layouts, and the impact of privacy regulations on digital advertising. 

Listen now, and be sure to book 1:1 appointments with the Raptive team at Tastemaker Conference 2025 in the Whova app!

This episode covers:

🎁  Technical SEO Tips to untangle the Grinchy glitches holding back your site.

🎁  Schema Magic to make your recipes sparkle in search results.

🎁  Content Optimization Secrets to whip up irresistible posts for search engines and readers alike.

🎁  Insights into the latest trends and issues impacting content creators, so you stay ahead of the game.

Each "day" brings a new layer of actionable advice, and a sprinkle of holiday cheer to ensure your content sleighs the competition.

Don’t let your site sit on Google’s naughty list this season—tune in and make your blog the gift that keeps on giving! 🎅

To get in touch with Casey, reach out at mediawyse.com/contact

To make a donation to the Baja Animal Sanctuary, go to https://www.bajaanimalsanctuary.org/

This BONUS episode of Tastemaker Talk focused on financial planning for food bloggers and influencers, featuring financial advisor Shannon Avery. Shannon discussed the challenges of transitioning from hobby to business, emphasizing the importance of setting realistic financial goals, managing cash flow, and aligning business strategies with financial objectives. The conversation also covered Shannon's upcoming session at Tastemaker Conference 2025, her financial advising services, and practical tips for budgeting and tracking expenses.

Check out the financial planning tools she mentioned in the episode!