Tastemaker Talk

Like so many bloggers, Christie Vanover has seen her organic search traffic decline due to AI. That decline in views equals a decline in ad revenue. So she's been testing an automated way to populate social channels, using her existing blog posts, to shift where her traffic comes from. We're diving into what she's learned as a result on today's episode, along with a candid convo about entering the CPG realm as a creator. Enjoy!

Show Links

• Christie's website: girlscangrill.com 

• The Traffic Shift Course: https://www.thetrafficshift.com/ 

• CPGs: https://shop.girlscangrill.com/ 

• Follow Christie on all socials @girlscangrill

Rebecca Johnston (Devour Dinner) has been to every Tastemaker Conference since we opened our doors in Salt Lake City in 2018. Each year, she and Abbey kick off the conference weekend with a hug, which acts as a powerful symbol of what Tastemaker is all about.

We're chatting all about the impact of community--especially in the context of operating a one-woman creator business--and getting one of Rebecca's specialty pep talks on today's episode. Tune in!

Show Links

• Explore Rebecca's site, DevourDinner.com

• Best Cookie Recipes here!

  Free hugs at TC 2027 San Antonio 🥰

Today we're joined by Naomi Andres! Naomi is the founder of Knead Some Sweets, a baking and dessert blog she started at age 14.

We're exploring Naomi's early interest in baking, her journey into food blogging, and her approach to balancing her blog with a full-time job. We're also chatting about how Naomi plans to grow long-term and her advice for creators who are just getting started.

Show Links

• Find recipes and more from Naomi on her blog
• Follow Naomi on Instagram
• Join us for TC 2027! $599 Early Bird pricing only lasts through Feb 28!

Every quarter, Tastemaker founder, Abbey Rodriguez, writes an open letter to our community. For this quarter's message, Abbey is sitting down to have a one-on-one chat with you from her microphone, sharing pieces of her life, her thinking, and her goals--for Tastemaker, for the industry, and for herself.

Enjoy this special Tastemaker Talk segment: From the Founder!

Show Links

• Buy your Tastemaker 2027 ticket to San Antonio!

We are SO happy to be sitting down for today's episode with Jocelyn Delk Adams, discussing her journey from baking cakes in Chicago to becoming a successful TV personality and judge. We're also exploring lessons learned from her recent endeavors with her ready-made cake line, Everyday Grand--available soon nationwide in Walmart stores!

This episode emphasizes the importance of authenticity, hard work, and maintaining a clear brand voice while adapting to changes in the industry. Enjoy!

Show Notes

• Follow along with Everyday Grand on Instagram! 🍰
• Check out Grandbaby Cakes online
• Buy your Tastemaker Conference 2027 ticket

Today we're diving into copyright basics and AI's impact on content creators with Gavin Gillas, a former IP lawyer and co-founder of Copymight Coalition!

Gavin is here to give us an overview of the challenges creators face with AI platforms using their content without permission, and explore potential paths of resistance for creators and consumers. He's also breaking down exactly which aspects of AI-generated content are copyright-able (spoiler alert: almost none), emphasizing the importance of original creation even in the digital age.

Show Links

• Join the Copymight Coalition
• Connect with Gavin on LI
• Read more about the psychology behind Uncanny Valley
• Join us (and Gavin!) for Tastemaker 2027 in San Antonio to continue your learning!

Today we're joined by the lovely Mary Smith! Mary is the creator behind Mary's Whole Life, a gluten-free recipe blog and content platform. Chandice and Mary are unpacking Mary's journey, from being diagnosed with celiac disease to building a successful content creation business.

Mary is sharing her approach to recipe development, business growth strategies, and how she maintains work-life balance as a mom of three. Enjoy!

Show Links

• Follow Mary on Instagram
• Check out Mary's blog
• Join us for Tastemaker Conference 2027 in San Antonio!

We're honored to be chatting with Marta Rivera Diaz (Sense & Edibility) in this special episode of Tastemaker Talk. Please note: This episode engages with nuanced social, political, and historical realities. We approach these topics with care, but some listeners may find parts of the conversation challenging or emotionally charged.

Marta is a San Antonio local and trusted advocate in the Tastemaker community, and today we're having an honest conversation about the nuances of hosting our 2027 event in San Antonio. This conversation comes at a time when political tensions are high, and we wanted to dive head-first into the realities of San Antonio's political, cultural, and geographical histories--and what that means for us as a community intending to gather there.

Tune in, and let us know your thoughts and follow-up questions in the comments! 🫶

Show Notes

• To learn more about San Antonio

• Review the 2026 MLK march--the largest in the nation!

• San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum (SAAACAM)

• VisitSanAntonio.com

• How to help communities impacted by ICE

  • Explore the ACLU website/IG and use their templates to contact your reps

  • Donate if you can - The Kitchn has a round-up on their IG of local food banks/orgs who are organizing in Minnesota

  • Share your beliefs and use your platforms to speak out, especially if you feel safe enough to do so!

In our SEASON 3 PREMIERE EPISODE (!!!), Abbey sits down with Jack Thomas and Azara Krovatin to chat about building a creator business that lasts—especially in the food space—without relying on ads alone. They get into what makes a great knowledge product (courses, digital products, memberships), how to validate your idea fast, and how to build community by sharing your authentic food stories. This one is quick, but it's full of your next steps for fueling growth—without abandoning your values.

Show Notes:

• Register for Jack and Azara's February webinar!
• Get your TC 2027 tickets for San Antonio!

We had the BEST time at Tastemaker Conference 2026 at the JW Marriott Los Angeles LA LIVE -- such a good time, in fact, that we needed to close out Season 2 of the pod with our main takeaways. This quick episode explores the impact of community, the depth of the sessions, and the incomparable feeling of gathering with people who just get you.

We're already planning and looking forward to TC 2027 in San Antonio! It will be our TENTH Tastemaker, and we can't wait to do it big, Texas style!

GET YOUR EARLY BIRD TC 2027 TICKET - best rate of the year ends 1/18!