Send us a text

This week on The Fresh Bunch Podcast, we’re joined by David Mitchell, President of Mitchell’s Florist & Flower Delivery — a family-owned shop that’s been blooming in Chicago’s southwest suburbs for more than 50 years. From humble beginnings in a converted farmhouse to becoming a floral staple in Orland Park and Hinsdale, Mitchell’s story is one of tradition, resilience, and reinvention.

David opens up about what it’s really like running a multi-generational flower shop — the joy, the pressure, and yes, even the occasional funeral order with a mobster punchline. We dive into the realities of navigating tariffs in floral buying, the underrated power of standing orders, and why practicing gratitude is essential in the fast-paced world of events.

You’ll also hear about David’s leadership within the Society of American Florists, his behind-the-scenes perspective on the Outstanding Varieties Competition, and — because no Chicago story is complete without it — a very important debate on Italian beef.

This episode is packed with heart, humor, and honesty. You won’t want to miss it.

https://www.instagram.com/mitchellsflowers/

https://safnow.org/outstanding-varieties-competition/

Send us a text

This week on The Fresh Bunch, we’re joined by the one and only Susan McLeary—visionary floral artist, educator, and boundary-pusher behind Passion Flower Sue. Known for her exquisite living artwork, Susan creates everything from surreal headpieces to full-body floral wearables, and her work continues to redefine what flowers can do.

We dive deep into Susan’s world of floral art, fashion, and form, discuss her creative process, and explore how she balances art, business, and a love for hydration chambers! She shares insights on teaching both beginners and pros through her Virtual Studio, workshops, and bestselling books, The Art of Wearable Flowers and Flowers for All.

Susan was also a featured designer and speaker at Fresh Fest 2025, and you can catch her two incredible sessions—free—now on our YouTube channel.

From floral couture to industry inspiration, this episode is packed with creativity, wisdom, and Passion. Don’t miss it!

Learn more about Sue, and sign up for her new classes at: https://www.passionflowersue.com/

Send us a text

This week, The Fresh Bunch is joined by the ever-inspiring Sukii Qi — the Lifestyle Alchemist and Floral Artist behind Say Sukii. Sukii takes us on a deeply personal journey that began in the floral department at Whole Foods and blossomed into the creation of her own creative sanctuary.

Through grief, she found healing in flowers and followed a dream of freedom — what she calls the golf-shorts-on-Tuesdays lifestyle. By tuning into her inner voice, Sukii built a business rooted in beauty, intention, and gratitude.

As she approaches 10 years in business this November, Sukii shares her insights on transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, why not all money is good money, and how community, creativity, and energy fuel her purpose.

From creating safe spaces in her studio to diving into human design, Substack, and modern alchemy — this episode is a soul-nourishing dive into what it truly means to bloom from within.  Want to know the frequency of a rose? Tune in.

Website: saysukii.art
Instagram: @saysukii

SAY SUKII ART

Conceptual art created & directed by Floral Artist, Sukii. 

Send us a text

In this special episode of The Fresh Bunch, Mike, Mimi and Ryan are joined by 2 of the freshest members to the Jet Fresh team, Connor and Ty Black.  Connor is the youngest of Mike's sons, who just about 1 year ago today started working full time at Jet Fresh. Ty, our dynamic sales assistant and budding influencer, is also Connor's wife.  Listen in as we eventually get to learn what it's like being a new employee, in a new city, with a new marriage, in a new family, in the floral industry.

Send us a text

The Fresh Bunch kicks off its rebrand with a fresh dose of inspiration from Juliana Bustillo, Founder and Creative Director of Ora the Floral Agency—"the first" floral-exclusive design agency built to help traditional brands and farms enter the new age.

From humble beginnings to partnering with MasterCard and being featured on Domestika, Juliana has grown Ora into a multi-person powerhouse agency that services members of all sides of the industry. But Ora is more than beautiful blooms—it’s a forward-thinking agency with a dedicated team of cool hunters forecasting trends and shaping what's next in floral design.

We talk with Juliana about creativity, scaling a team, trendspotting in the floral world, and how systems and tools (like better expense management) help her focus on what really matters: creating unforgettable experiences through flowers.

Learn more at: orafloralagency.com

Send us a text

Coming to you LIVE from the AIFD Symposium in sunny Palm Springs, California, Ryan is taking over, joined by an incredible lineup of floral industry powerhouses and friends!

In the first half of the episode, we dive into fresh perspectives, AIFD's 60th anniversary, family connections and more with Vonda LaFever and Ellie LaFever of Flower Clique. Plus a special conversation with Renee Tucci, the incoming president of AIFD!

Then we shift gears and guests with fresh insight and inspiration from Angelique Witcher of Accent Decor and Lottie McKinnon from Teleflora, who share their unique experiences and perspective at AIFD from a sponsor's point of view.

Learn more about AIFD and next year's symposium in Orlando, FL at: AIFD.org/

Send us a text

This week on our still-unnamed flower podcast, we’re joined by the multi-brand powerhouse Natalia Regateui. Natalia plays a key role on the marketing team behind Esmeralda, Sunshine Bouquet, Genviv Breeding, and now Flores Del Este—some of the most recognizable names in floriculture.

rrAs the Fresh Flower Bunch continues riding the rebrand rollercoaster, Natalia offers fresh insight and honest feedback to help us inch closer to locking in the perfect identity.

But that’s not all—we fill the flower hour diving into the branding pillars that have helped shape these respected floral companies. From the creators of Playa Blanca to the jaw-dropping quality standards upheld by Sunshine and Esmeralda, Natalia breaks down what it takes to stand out in today’s competitive flower market.

And of course, we couldn’t let her go without reminiscing about the unforgettable Fresh Fest Gameshow—a moment of flower-fueled chaos and laughter that still has us smiling.

Tune in for brand talk, bouquet banter, and plenty of fresh perspective. 

Send us a text

This week, 2 Fat Guys Talking Flowers dedicates a special episode to the memory of our dear past guest, Frank Biddle, who recently passed away. We are replaying episode #142, where Frank, the visionary behind FBI Flowers and Tradewinds International, shared his unique experiences and life lessons.

Join us as we re-listen to Frank's incredible stories from his 30+ years in the floral industry, from the highs and lows of importing and exporting to running a successful business. He offers profound insights for florists and farmers, rooted in his dedication to quality and strong relationships.

Beyond his professional achievements, Frank also delighted us with stories about unexpected challenges (like picking wax flowers!), the importance of strong business relationships, and even his adventurous spirit with a nod to volcano climbing.

This re-broadcast is a heartfelt tribute to Frank Biddle's incredible life and his lasting impact. His stories and wisdom will continue to resonate with all of us.

Send us a text

The Fresh team is back in the studio—reunited with Mike, who is back in the studio. But he is missing mommy Black, Sid, and those sweet Whippoorwill birds. This week, we inch closer to our rebrand and shout out everyone sending us name and theme song ideas—keep ’em coming!

We dive into some serious industry talk: the challenges of expiring work permits & labor shortage, the growing dominance of major floral players buying up farms, and the evolving summer flower show circuit (meet us at AIFD, DEVX, SAF). Plus, we tease some exciting co-hosts and guests on the horizon. Buckle up, flower friends—it’s another fresh ride!

Send us a text

We’re back — and Mike is back at the cabin — with a whole lot to unpack. In this episode, we kick things off by figuring out our new intro music, rethinking the podcast name, and trying (hilariously) to agree on a new sound. Cabin Mike brings the bird sounds and boat vibes while we get deep into cereal critiques.  

Then we shift gears to reflect on two major wins: Fresh Fest and the Blooms + BIRDIES Golf Tournament. We’re still buzzing from the community love, creative energy, and massive support from our sponsors, speakers, designers, and everyone who made it feel less like an event and more like a floral art movement. This one’s a little chaotic, a little nostalgic, but all heart from your Fresh Podcast hosts: Mike, Ryan, Mimi and Joel of Jet Fresh Flowers.