MOD Pizza founders Scott and Ally Svenson join Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three founders about strategic expansion, plus discuss MOD’s recent acquisition.Today we meet Evan, who recently turned his Richmond-based pizza restaurant into a vegan frozen pizza company. Then Zebbie, a restaurateur in Birmingham who's looking to take his hot chicken concept on the road. And Christiane, a Los Angeles area tequila-maker on a mission to improve her industry’s labor conditions. Thanks to the founders of Udderless Plant-based Pizza, Eugene’s Hot Chicken and Valor Bebidas for being a part of our show.If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you’d like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.And be sure to listen to MOD Pizza’s founding story as told by Scott and Ally on the show in 2023.This episode was produced by Katherine Sypher with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Cena Loffredo.You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Ben Goodwin was growing up, the concept of healthy soda seemed as oxymoronic as jumbo shrimp. But for Ben, that presented an irresistible challenge: to create a beverage that evoked the colas and root beers of his youth, but was low in sugar and good for the gut. After years of painstaking effort and one failed brand, Ben and his partner launched Olipop in 2018. Made with fiber and prebiotics and sweetened with Stevia, it joined the growing ranks of “functional sodas,” launching first in natural food stores and spreading quickly to the big chains. This year, the brand is expected to do nearly $500 million in sales, and, as younger consumers drift away from legacy soda, Ben says Olipop will only get bigger.This episode was produced by Sam Paulson with music composed by Ramtin Arabloui and Sam Paulson. It was edited by Neva Grant with research by Katherine Sypher. Our engineers were Robert Rodriguez and Kwesi Lee.You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Parachute Home founder Ariel Kaye joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three founders on being mindful and strategic in their next expansion steps. Today, we meet Daen, an entrepreneur in Australia considering investment for his line of men’s grooming products after ten years of self-funding. Then Deanna, a former educator in New Jersey seeking new press for the emotional health tool she designed for children. And Meaghan, a Florida-based hard seltzer maker trying to gut-check biases in her male-dominated industry.If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you’d like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.And be sure to listen to Parachute Home’s founding story as told by Ariel on the show in 2023.This episode was produced by Carla Esteves with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Cena Loffredo.You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Seth Berkowitz was in college, he was the cookie guy on campus. He’d grown frustrated that the only food he could get delivered late at night were standards like pizza or Chinese food. He had a sweet tooth, and he craved warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies. So he took matters into his own hands and started making and delivering cookies to students at his school. The operation soon went from a silly side hustle to a real business - and then an all-consuming struggle. But today, after decades of detours, long-shot decisions, and near-bankruptcies, Insomnia Cookies is now a $350 million dollar business.This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Andrea Bruce with research help from Katherine Sypher. Our audio engineers were Robert Rodriguez and Maggie Luthar.You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ring founder Jamie Siminoff joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three founders about balancing short- and long-term goals. Today, we meet Vico, an industrial designer in southern California who's launching a crowdfunding campaign for his patented ergonomic desk. Then Iyin, a Baltimore-based product specialist seeking to balance accessibility and profitability for her ethically-sourced chocolate brand. And Franchesca, an Atlanta area educator deliberating whether to pursue small-business certifications for her motivational classroom posters.If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you’d like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.And be sure to listen to Ring’s founding story as told by Jamie on the show in 2020.This episode was produced by Carla Esteves with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we’re bringing you something a bit different. Collards After Dark is an intimate evening of food and conversation that precedes the annual Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival. At this year’s event, Dalia facilitated a discussion between Gabrielle E. W. Carter and Dr. LaDonna Butler about the healing power of African-American culinary traditions. We also discussed seed-keeping as a form of resistance, the ritual of drinking potlikker and much more.Ms. Carter is a cultural preservationist and co-founder of Tall Grass Food Box. It’s a community-supported agriculture model that sources produce from Black farmers in her home state of North Carolina. She also hosts community meals on her family’s homestead in Apex, N.C. You may have seen in the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America. Dr. Butler is founder and executive director of The Well for Life, a St. Petersburg space dedicated to mental wellness and self-care. She’s also a therapist and licensed mental health counselor.The event was recorded on the evening of Feb. 18, 2022, in the garden of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg, before a diverse audience. The evening began with a screening of The Seeds We Keep, Carter’s short film about seed preservation and African-American land ownership.Related episodes:Behind the Scenes of the Tampa Bay Collard Green FestivalToni Tipton-Martin Celebrates African-American Chefs in ‘Jubilee’Zora Neale Hurston’s Foodie LifeJames Weldon Johnson’s Foodie Life

Chef Timineri's job is to help consumers understand what’s growing in Florida and how to incorporate it into our diets. From a test kitchen in Tallahassee, Justin creates recipes and cooking videos showcasing Florida produce, seafood and beef.In this interview with The Zest Podcast, he shares some of his favorite summertime meal ideas, offers advice for cooking with kids and recounts how he won the 2006 Food Network Challenge Great American Seafood Cook-off. He also issues a challenge to help home cooks meal-plan like a chef.Related episodes:10 Tips for Cooking with KidsWhy You Should Stop Haggling at Florida’s Farmers MarketsChef Niven Patel and Mohamed Alkassar Had a Productive PandemicChef Greg Baker on Mental Health: “It’s Okay to Not be OkayHacks to Help You Eat More VeggiesHow to Get Started on the Mediterranean Diet

4 Rivers Smokehouse regional manager Nick West recounts the touching origin story, shares the latest barbecue trends and offers tips for your next cookout.Related episodes:New Ways to BarbecueBern’s Steak House All-Access TourGet to Know Pitmaster Lee Ann WhippenRoll Up Your Sleeves for Some SERIOUS BBQ at DR. BBQ!Summertime Grilling Tips for Your Best Barbecue Season YetThe Art and Legacy of the Local Butcher Shop

Mermosa Wines is a mermaid-themed beverage company based in St. Petersburg, with a product line that includes ready-to-drink mimosas and other sparkling wines. The brand is sold in 16 states, available in stores like Walmart, Target, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Total Wine and others. Desiree Noisette is the company’s founder, president and "head mermaid.” That makes her Florida's first Black female winemaker. In this conversation, Desiree shares how she went from a law career to creating a line of beverages inspired by her ancestors. She also discusses the challenges of being a young woman of color in the wine industry.Food friends in Tampa Bay, there are still a few tickets left for WUSF Public Media's outdoor dining event, The Longest Table. The event takes place on Thursday, April 7, along the downtown St. Pete waterfront.Related episodes:Beer Kulture Raises the Bar for Diversity in Craft Beverage IndustryT-Pain and Maxwell Britten Want to Mix You a DrinkCocktails for Mom, or Anyone Who Could Use a DrinkMeet Your New Favorite Holiday: Florida Craft Beer Day

Seafood is big business in Florida, with an annual economic impact of more than $400 million. That’s according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. So how do we make sure all this valuable seafood is sustainable? What are the best and worst fish to choose? The short answer is: It’s complicated. Here to offer guidance is Angela Collins. She’s a Florida Sea Grant Agent with the University of Florida IFAS Extension.

It’s spring break season—the perfect time to slow down and teach the kids in our life a thing or two in the kitchen. But first, Wendy Wesley is here to teach us adults a thing or two about cooking with kids. Wendy is a registered and licensed dietician and nutritionist based in St. Petersburg. In addition, Wendy is a mom, and she teaches classes for home cooks of all ages.Foodie friends in Tampa Bay, get your tickets for WUSF's outdoor dining event, the Longest Table. It's the evening of Thursday, April 7 in downtown St. Petersburg.Related episodes:Lunchboxmafia: How to Make a Lunch They Can’t RefuseStudents Dish on Dorm Food, Shared Kitchens and Cooking in CollegeNo Recipe? No Problem: How to Cook Using Your IntuitionNutrition Tips for Young Athletes — And the Rest of Us

Plant City, in Hillsborough County, has bragging rights as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World. Its farms produce millions of berries each year. In fact, Hillsborough County, where Plant City is located, produces about 15 percent of the nation’s strawberries and nearly all of its winter strawberries, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. But this wasn’t always the case. Today, we’ll learn how a single event more than 100 years ago changed everything. I recently chatted with Jennifer Morgan. She’s a public relations and media representative for the Florida Strawberry Festival, which takes place March 3 to 13 in Plant City. Jennifer explains how strawberries—and the festival—became such big business.Related episodes:Chef Allen Susser Brings Good Mango MojoFlorida Fruit & Vegetable Gardening 101It’s Always Sunny at St. Petersburg’s Brick Street FarmsWriter Heather McPherson on What You Don’t Know About Florida FoodBehind the Scenes of the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival

You could call Chris and Kiona Wagner trendsetters. In 2019, before the COVID pandemic forced all of us to reevaluate our priorities, the couple decided to make a big change. They moved from bustling South Florida to the sleepy town of Monticello, just outside of Tallahassee. That’s where the Wagners run Rocky Soil Family Farm. They sell their fruits, vegetables, herbs and eggs at local farmers markets. They’re also adding spaces for a bakery and farm-to-table dinners. Maybe you’ve been dreaming about quitting your 9-to-5 and living off the land, as the Wagners did. But trading traffic for tractors isn’t always easy. During their transition to rural life, the Wagners welcomed twin daughters who—while adorable—take up quite a bit of their time and energy. They also have a teenage son. During the twins’ nap time, Chris and Kiona made time to chat with The Zest. In this conversation, the Wagners get transparent about how the fantasy of farm life lives up to the reality—and why, for them, it’s ultimately worth it. They also how we can all reconnect with our food without going off the grid. Chris starts by explaining how Rocky Soil Family Farm got its name.Related episodes:Why You Should Stop Haggling at Florida’s Farmers MarketsIt’s Always Sunny at St. Petersburg’s Brick Street FarmsConscious Cuisine: Rob Greenfield on How to Live without Grocery Stores and Restaurants

Winter is prime growing season in Florida. And each February, thousands of folks from across descend upon the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum to celebrate one crop in particular: collard greens. This year’s Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival is set for Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg. There’ll be plant giveaways, nutrition seminars, a collard green cook-off and more. But the significance of the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival goes far beyond the leafy vegetables. The event attracts around 3,000 people of all ages and races to the historically Black neighborhood of South St. Petersburg, making it a celebration of diversity. Heading into the festival’s fifth year, Dalia chatted with festival cofounders Boyzell Hosey and Samantha Harris. Boyzell starts by explaining how the event came to be. Listen to the end to learn who this year’s headliner will be.Related episodes:Toni Tipton-Martin Celebrates African-American Chefs in “Jubilee”How Chef Edouardo Jordan’s St. Pete Roots Gave Him a “Chitlins State of Mind”Documentary Explores Tampa Bay’s Black-Owned RestaurantsIt’s Always Sunny at St. Petersburg’s Brick Street FarmsHacks to Help You Eat More Veggies

Real talk—today’s episode won’t make you hungry. But it will make you think—about where your food comes from, and where it goes after you’ve eaten your fill. The eggshells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable scraps… to us, it’s trash. But with the help of Mother Nature, you can turn your trash into compost treasure. You’ll reduce waste and have rich soil to grow your own food. Quinn Metoyer is the founder of Miami Compost Project. The organization teaches people how to grow their own food and waste less. In my conversation with Quinn, you’ll learn the benefits of composting, how to get started no matter where you live, and mistakes to avoid.Related episodes:Conscious Cuisine: Rob Greenfield on How to Live without Grocery Stores and RestaurantsFlorida Fruit & Vegetable Gardening 101It’s Always Sunny at St. Petersburg’s Brick Street FarmsHistory of Citrus in the Sunshine StateHacks to Help You Eat More VeggiesMango Mania in Miami