Shows
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef142. Sam Citro Alexander- A Guest Ep!Hey there food fans! Today we are joined by Sam Citro Alexander. As CEO and co-founder of FoodHealth Co., Sam is the talented and quirky voice behind the FoodHealth Score, a simple 1 to 100 rating changing how people and companies understand what's actually healthy in the grocery aisle. After her time in the beauty industry, Sam shifted her focus to nutrition, frustrated by confusing food labels and wellness marketing that doesn't help real people, including her own grandmother. In Episode 142 of The Food For ThoughtCast, Sam explains how she took her personal dietary journey and created something magical that is...
2026-03-121h 02
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef141. Gregory León- A Guest Ep!Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! You're just in time for episode 141, which just happens to be the premiere of Season 4. Whether you're listening for the first time, or have been with us since the beginning, we are so glad you are here. Food fans, buckle up- because today you're going to learn that Milwaukee is a serious food city. Join us as we talk to Chef Gregory León, from Amilinda. Chef León is a two-time James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Midwest (2022, 2023) and a two – time semifinalist for Outstanding Chef (2024, 2025). Central to his leadership is a...
2026-03-051h 10
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef140. The OriginalsHey there food fans! What better from your favorite original food podcast than a conversation about "The Originals"??- the first and original PBJ! The first ever pancakes! The first fried chicken sandwich! Melissa and Steve are back for Episode 140 of The Food For ThoughtCast. We catch up about our Valentine's and Presidents' Days, what we've been eating and cooking, and how we've been living life in general. We take a little deep dive into history and culture to figure out who and where the original classics come from - chicken fried steak, ham and cheese sandwich, the first...
2026-02-2055 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef139. Cereal KillerIt's time for Episode 138 of The Food For ThoughtCast- Welcome back food fans! Melissa and Steve catch up a little about what they are cooking and eating and then dive right into this week's topic-- favorite cereals, custom builds, and forgotten favorites. We take a look at 11 forgotten cereals that vanished from supermarket shelves. Some of these we are old enough to remember and some are way before our time. Before you got cuckoo for Coco Puffs, did you find yourself urgent for Urkel-Os? We talk some of the best and some of the worst, and Melissa housed a...
2026-02-1248 min
LEAP Into Wellness Podcast NetworkTurning Point Podcast: Navigating School Finance with Melissa ReaganNavigating School Finance with Melissa Reagan - In this episode of the Turning Point Podcast, host Brett Smith sits down with Assistant Superintendent Scott Carpenter and Melissa Reagan, the business director for La Grande School District. Melissa discusses her 18-year journey within the district, from starting as a fiscal officer to becoming the business manager. The conversation covers the challenges and strategies of managing school finances, including handling different grants, budgeting surprises, and the importance of aligning financial decisions with the school's mission to support students and staff. Melissa shares insights on the balance between maintaining financial stability and...
2026-02-0922 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef138. Vittles La Revolucion!Hey there food fans! Welcome back to the Food For ThoughtCast-- you're just in time to talk about the foods of the early settlers, the time of the revolutionary war, and a few of the colonies. It's time for episode 138! Melissa and Steve are all over the place and all over the map, literally, in today's quick look at some of the most commonly eaten foods and cooking techniques used during this monumental time in our nation's history. There is a only a tiny, un-American amount of talk devoted to apple pie- but that's ok, we salvage it by...
2026-02-051h 03
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef137. A Sauce Only A Mother Could LoveSometimes sauces can be a real mother... Hey there food fans, welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! It's time for Episode 137. Today we are talking about the five mother sauces of classical cooking. We take a look at each one and explain how to make them and how they are used, and we give our favorite riffs and variations. These sauces are a great foundation for your cooking journey. Whether you find yourself making a braised beef short rib, mac n cheese, or spaghetti and meatballs- you'll need these basic techniques and methods to make it a success...
2026-01-2953 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef135. Fried Chicken Chat- A Solo Snack!Hey there food fans! It's time for Episode 135. It's a solo snack! Sometimes Stephen and Melissa cannot make the stars align to record together, but we dare not deprive you of the tasty content that you've grown to know and love- so today, you get Melissa. I'm talking about fried chicken! We'll go on a global tour of some of the notable types, talk about what makes them different, and then a little bit about the history, and I'll give you a crash course on breading and deep frying. I am so hungry right now, I wonder if KFC...
2026-01-1546 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef134. Pumpkin Spice Coors Light, White Girl Queso, and Chewy CookieNew Year, New Us! Hey there food fans, it's time for Episode 134 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Not to fear, it's the same old us that you've grown to love, and today we're catching up about all the New Year's cooking and eating. After we get that out of the way, Melissa needs to celebrates Steve's new hairdo with a one-time-only segment called "Just A Little Off The Top"- we take a look today at foods you think maybe aren't edible, but they actually are! Tangents are gone on, vocal stims activated, and hilarity ensues- don't miss our...
2026-01-0851 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef131. We Gave The ThanksWelcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- it's the Holiday edition! We missed you, food fans! We missed each other too. In Episode 131, Melissa and Stephen are reunited and doing the whole Peaches n' Herb whatcha been eating, whatcha been cooking dance. We recap our Thanksgiving meals, go on a thousand tangents, and talk about what lies ahead for meal prep and Christmas. Enjoy this random reunion and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! Thanks so much for listening and for watching us on YouTube.
2025-12-1149 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef130. Never Found KokomoWelcome back , food fans! It's time for episode 130 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Today, Melissa is telling Steve all about her recent cruise that left from Miami and sailed to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. It was a culinary journey of island foods, delicious seafood, Dutch lunch favorites, Carnival Horizon dining room favorites, and some birthday fun with an amazing chef's table menu. She gives a rundown of the greatest hits from her vacation, as well as some insight into the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse and Jiji's menus from the ship. While not sponsored by Carnival, they have really upped their c...
2025-11-2049 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef129. Airplane Food!Hey there food fans! Today we take to the skies--- well not really, but we are taking on the subject of airplane food. On Episode 129 of The Food For ThoughtCast we are looking at some of the best and worst airline menus from all around, and also speculating what we might serve if we had our own airline catering programs. Melissa dreams about having hot food on real plates someday, while Stephen says enchilada casserole for everyone. What is the best or worst hot meal you've ever had in-flight? Tell us all about it over on the socials. Don't f...
2025-11-1346 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef128. State Fairs and PhillySteve and Melissa are back at it with the travel recaps. Steve tells us all about his most recent trip to Philly, with some new foods and places to celebrate. Melissa has gone to the NC State Fair for the first time and has big props for the street corn nachos and crispy chicken pancake tacos. It's time for Episode 128 of The Food For ThoughtCast. We're glad you're here to share in all the amazing things we ate! Did you recently go somewhere with great food? Try something new? Tell us all about in it the comments on Facebook o...
2025-11-0657 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef126. Fan Feature- Melissa Thomas!Hey there food fans, we're back and bringing you our second ever Fan Feature! Today we are joined by travel writer (and fan of the show) Melissa Thomas, for episode 126 of The Food For ThoughtCast. We talk about trying new things when you travel, Melissa's recent trip to Scotland and all the amazing things they ate there, and how vacation calories don't count. Melissa can be found over at MelissasPage.com and also @melissaspage on Substack, where she encourages people to have the courage to solo travel and follow their dreams. Her writing style is inviting and informative and n...
2025-10-2355 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef124. Bennett Rea- A Guest Ep!Would you ever try beef tongue jello or Newt's fruit? What about tuna loaf or a mayonnaise ice cube with pears and nuts? Bennett would, and he has! Buckle up food fans, today we're talking to Bennett Rea from Cookin' with Congress. It's time for Episode 124 of The Food For ThoughtCast. You may have seen his content through Facebook or Instagram, the Los Angeles Times, Eater, or NBC California. Bennett is an incredible guest with tales of woe from all over the culinary map- including his unique, and data-backed take on why most American presidents' diets qualify them for...
2025-10-091h 02
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef121. Nicole Patel- A Guest Ep!Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! It's time for a guest episode. Today on Episode 121 we are honored to be speaking to Nicole Patel from Delysia Chocolatier in Austin, Texas. She was generous enough to share two collections with us that we were able to try while we recorded. Her whimsical and creative truffle collections and flavors are awe-inspiring and really fun to experience. Steve and Melissa bond over their shared love of both lemon curd and chipotle, and unfortunately Melissa cannot hide her disdain for licorice but Nicole is a really good sport about it. Nicole is...
2025-09-181h 06
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef120. Chefs Check-In Hey there food fans! We've missed you. We're back and ready for the next episode of The Food For ThoughtCast! This is a check-in episode. Steve and Melissa missed each other so much that we couldn't go any further without talking about the most amazing things we ate in the time we were apart. Melissa has finally found a restaurant close by that doesn't suck (finally...FINALLY) and we talk with Steve about trying to hunt birds with rocks. Melissa has a go at cottage cheese alfredo and we talk troubleshooting the texture. Steve had a great time...
2025-09-1145 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef119. Let's Talk About CasseroleHey there food fans! We've missed you! After a brief hiatus, we're back with episode 119 of The Food For ThoughtCast. What is your favorite casserole? Do you live for tuna noodle or despise it like Melissa does? We talk about the regional differences between casserole and hotdish, and likewise what technically makes a food a casserole. Is it the ingredients, or the pan it is cooked in? After this episode, we are no closer to an actual answer but we sure did have a great time. Thanks for listening and find us in all the podcast places-- don't forget...
2025-08-2150 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef118. Breakfast in BedWelcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 118! Steve has returned from his birthday weekend in Alpine, TX and Melissa is busy eating homemade pizza. Today we're talking a little bit about bed and breakfasts. What are some possible things we would serve if we ran one? Where would it be? Melissa has a quiche planned for every day of the week, and Steve dabbles in a la carte service. Full disclosure I looked up bed and breakfasts for sale near me and seriously considered trying to get a loan for like a full 27 seconds. This...
2025-08-0149 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef117. About AppalachiaHey there food fans, Episode 117 is here and it's all about the culinary history of Appalachia! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. First, Melissa gives a recap of her weekend in Black Mountain, North Carolina and tells Steve about all of the most amazing things she ate and then Steve and Melissa journey together through the awesome culinary history of Appalachia, courtesy of the museum education Melissa received on her recent weekend getaway. Find us where you find your other favorite food podcasts. No opossums were harmed in the recording of this week's podcast. Stay hungry out there...
2025-07-2451 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef116. DiscontinuedHey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast episode 116, it's time to talk about the 90s-- but first Melissa and Steve catch up a bit, we've both eaten ribeyes lately- and we can both commiserate about the heat. Tonight we're discussing some failed, discontinued snacks from the 90s that nobody seems to remember. There are a few standouts on the list, but for the most part we can agree-- please stop trying to make a cookie a cracker. Just stay in your lane, Keebler Elves! Find us where you find your finest favorite food podcasts, and do...
2025-07-191h 04The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef115. A Little Chat About SaladsWelcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, food fans! It's time for Episode 115- It's a little chat about salad. Not particularly extensive, but certainly always tasty talk for the day. We found a list of some of the most popular ones in North America, and gave our takes. Steve gets assigned Texas Caviar, and Melissa gives her opnion on iceberg lettuce. Don't know your Cobb Salad from your Chef Salad? Boy are you in luck! Find us in all the podcast places, and don't forget to watch along on YouTube! Thanks so much for listening.
2025-07-1041 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef113. Cookbook Time CapsuleWelcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast - It's time for Episode 113! After catching up a little, Melissa and Steve are taking you through the pages of a few of their cookbooks at home. We're asking each other.... What was the one recipe you bought this book for? What is your favorite part? What all have you actually cooked out of this book? Why did you buy it? Sometimes, not unlike some of our listeners I'm sure- we've purchased them for the title or the pictures-- and other times, the book has been a gift or had a special...
2025-06-261h 02
Parenting Shrink Wrapped#30 Trauma Is Real, Healing Is Possible: Understanding ACEs and Resilience with Laura Reagan, LCSW-CSend a textIn this powerful episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Laura Reagan—somatically oriented trauma therapist, founder of the Trauma Therapist Network, and host of the widely acclaimed podcast Therapy Chat (over 8 million downloads!).Together, they explore how trauma shows up in childhood and parenthood, how it hides in plain sight in the form of chronic stress responses, and why healing is not only possible—but essential.Whether you’re a parent, a professional, or a human who’s ever had a hard thing happen (so… all of us...
2025-06-2339 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef112. In Your FeelingsHey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. In Episode 112, Melissa and Steve are talking about breakup foods, first date foods, and a smattering of other off-topic rabbit trail tidbits- -you know, the usual! What do you eat when you are stressed, when you are sad? We've had an episode based on comfort food but today we want to look at this from a bit of a different angle. Do we think foods can really help change the way you feel? It's a strong resounding "maybe". We also go see what Reddit says, in a quiet...
2025-06-1944 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef111. No ContestOr yes Contest? You Decide! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 111. Today Melissa and Steve are chatting about the most outrageous restaurant eating contests. What would we do? Do we think we could win? What could possibly be worth all of the acid reflux? Hint: It's going to take more than a free T-shirt to get Steve to eat ghost peppers again. We recap Steve's recent trip to Amarillo and his steak adventure at The Big Texan. Melissa is dreaming about eating watermelons week by week, while Steve waxes poetic about ice cream backwash...
2025-06-1257 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef110. A Recipe or NotHey there food fans. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, today is episode 110 and we are extra feisty. Sorry moms! Melissa and Steve are talking about favorite recipes, what we do or don't use, how we come up with recipes, favorite cookbooks, and so much more. We go way off the rails in some spots, and hopefully it's entertaining because we sure had a great time. Sometimes a recipe is just a guideline, and sometimes you really have to follow it-- for the science! Find the pod anywhere fine pods are carried, and thanks for watching us on...
2025-06-0558 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef109. School's InHey there food fans! School may be letting out across the country, and certainly the graduations are going to be in full swing- but today on The Food For ThoughtCast, school is very much in. Steve and Melissa are taking a ( not comprehensive in any way) look at school lunches. What are your favorites? What would you burn in a raging pile of remorse and lighter fluid? What do school lunches look like around the world? Warm up your most special frozen fish stick and get ready for some square pizza, because it's time for Episode 109 and you don't...
2025-05-291h 01The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef108. Phillip Foss- A Guest Ep!Hey there food fans, welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! Melissa and Steve are honored (and Steve is so excited!!!) to talk to Chef Phillip Foss today. Chef Phillip is not only one of Steve's culinary idols, he's also got one heck of a story pioneering his way through the food world. He is currently at El Ideas in Chicago- an incredible restaurant that hopes to flip the script on fine dining. From their home page: Paying homage to Chicago's elevated train system, EL ideas is an abbreviation for 'elevated ideas in dining'. With the mantra o...
2025-05-2255 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef106. What Melissa Ate in DisneyHey there food fans! Have you ever wondered about the snacks and meals available in Walt Disney World? Us too, apparently! It's time for a travel recap. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- you're just in time for episode 106. Thanks so much for listening! Stephen patiently tolerates this as Melissa drones on and on and on about her magical trip to Disney World. We're talking hot dogs, corn dogs, sammiches, waffles, shakshuka, hotel breakfasts, snacks on the go, All- You- Care -To- Enjoy BBQ with a Toy Story theme, the folly of caramel apples, what to d...
2025-05-081h 13
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef105. Aloha Oe GueyHey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- today is a travel recap episode. Melissa and Stephen catch up with each other and then discuss the most amazing things they ate. He just visited Hawaii recently and had an incredible culinary journey. There was tuna poke , sushi, amazing donuts, fruit, and all sorts of drinks. With a food landscape as beautiful as the actual landscape, I really enjoyed hearing all about it and I can't wait to go someday. Thanks so much for listening. You know that we travel to eat, and we eat to thrive...
2025-05-011h 06The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef104. Aaron Shapiro- A Guest Ep!Hey there food fans! Today we are talking to Aaron Shapiro of Grillicious. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. Melissa and Stephen are celebrating 104 episodes today, and we are chatting about what it takes to make an idea a reality. Aaron tells us the story of Grillicious. From the evolution of an idea about not only how to flavor the grill, but also to help keep it nonstick- all the way to flavored spritzes for crafting beverages with less waste. We really enjoyed talking to Aaron, and we know you'll enjoy this episode! Head to https://www.grilliciouswipes...
2025-04-241h 02
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef103. Shawn Walchef- A Guest Ep!Today we have the honor of talking to Shawn Walchef, the owner and founder of Cali BBQ restaurants and Cali BBQ Media. It's time for Episode 103 of The Food For ThoughtCast; welcome back! Steve and Melissa want to know what California BBQ looks like , and how the whole thing started, and Shawn challenges us to go find our whales for this podcast (surprise and hint: it happens!). We talk about how dreams come to be, and the power of storytelling in relation to food. Shawn is an incredible visionary and entrepreneur with a gift for helping us restaurant and...
2025-04-171h 01
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef102. Veeda Bybee- A Guest Ep!Hey there food fans! It's time for Episode 102 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Today Steve and Melissa are talking to Veeda Bybee, an accomplished author of both fiction and nonfiction and a food enthusiast - not to mention the mastermind behind the cookbook A Few of My Favorite Things: Recipes Inspired by Family Friendly Musicals. We talk about the stories to be told through our families and the way food experiences help us learn and grow. We talk about culinary heritage and the way that food shapes us and unites us. We really enjoyed learning from Veeda, and hearing...
2025-04-1054 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef99. Kitchens and Mental HealthWelcome back to a very special episode of The Food For ThoughtCast. In Episode 99, Stephen and Melissa are talking about mental health in kitchens and the hospitality industry. We discuss what we do to cope, some of the better and worse experiences we've had in the business, and what we hope the future holds for the people in this business. We usually bring you some tasty recipe ideas or tales of where we ate on our travels, or just general food information- but none of these amazing experiences happen without being first connected to a human being. Until the...
2025-03-2052 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef98. Dan Abel Jr. - A Guest Ep!Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 98 and life just got a little sweeter. Today we are talking to the Willy Wonka of The Midwest, Dan Abel! He is the Chief Chocolate Officer at Bissinger's in St. Louis, Missouri- not only is he an incredible podcast guest and natural conversationalist, this guy really knows chocolate- and he should, after all- this chocolate-making tradition has a history that dates all the way back to 1668! We ask Dan all of the burning questions- does he still have a sweet tooth after all this time? Does he eat...
2025-03-131h 06
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef97. Carolyn Haeler- A Guest Ep!Today we have the pleasure of talking to Carolyn Haeler, the Executive Baker and mastermind behind Mightylicious. Their mission is to create flavor packed, gluten-free cookies made for everyone. Melissa and Stephen dive into the chemistry of gluten-free baking and hear all about how Carolyn created the brand and the amazing products after her own experience with Celiac Disease and the sad offerings in the world of gluten-free goodies. Everybody deserves to eat delicious foods! Whether you have a medical reason, are avoiding gluten just because, or just love delicious baked goods- we think you'll enjoy this tasty episode...
2025-03-0658 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef96. Now TrendingGet ready for Season 3 , ya'll! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. It's time for Episode 96- the culinary trends of 2025. Today Stephen and Melissa are looking at the lists that the experts compile of what is going to be big in food for the rest of 2025. We talk about flavors, sweets, savories, movements, popular snacks, and so much more. We agree with some of this stuff and end up heavily judging and even openly mocking the rest of it. Thanks for listening and for watching on YouTube.
2025-02-2746 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef94. Leftovers and ReheatsWelcome back to Episode 94 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Today, Steve and Melissa are tackling all of the questions you never asked about eating leftovers, reheating togo food, and using the air fryer for fried stuff. Melissa doesn't know how to record a podcast today and has a fight with the computer in the middle of the pod. Meanwhile, Steve is crushing life by smoking three meats at once, no rolling papers required. Please let us know if you sous vide your leftovers at home because that's weird. We are exploring the ways to use restaurant leftovers, when to...
2025-02-1344 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef93. A Tale of Three CitiesHey there food fans, we're back! It's a Friday release of your favorite food(ie) podcast. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for episode 93! Today it's a tale of three cities as we explore the culinary delights of Kansas City, Philadelphia, and New Orleans-- just in time for Super Bowl Sunday! Thanks for joining us, random microphone issues and all. Melissa is a monster who likes to eat tiny cute animals, and Stephen is just trying to figure out what to do with all the venison. Find us in all the usual podcast places an...
2025-02-0758 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef92. Whatcha CookingThis week is a bit of a wildcard on The Food For ThoughtCast. It's time for Episode 92! When you hear this episode, Melissa is in Disney World and Stephen is probably at work, womp womp. We're chatting today about New Year's Eve, what we've eaten, and what we're cooking. We're talking ostrich wings, pork chops, and birria. Please put down the sweet chili sauce, for the love of everything. Thanks so much for listening to the show and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!
2025-01-1648 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef91. Christmas Dinner Around The WorldHey there food fans, we're back from the holidays and we missed you so much! It's time for Episode 91 of The Food For ThoughtCast. We couldn't wait to catch up with each other and see what happened over Christmas- and since we recorded this during the Christmas Season ( celebrate all twelve days, you cowards!) - we decided to take a look at Christmas dinners from around the world. Melissa is gefilte fish-curious and for some reason Steve is mad about tamales, but just kidding. Enjoy and we're so glad to be back. Thanks for listening, and for watching on...
2025-01-0949 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef90. Brines, Cures, and Catch UpHey there food fans, this is a snack-sized episode of your favorite food podcast- It's episode 90 of the Food For ThoughtCast! Today Steve and Melissa are checking in with each other and doing a little review of brines and cures. What makes a turkey into a pastrami? Listen in to find out! If you like what you hear don't forget to rate, review, or subscribe and tell a friend! Thanks for listening and for watching us on YouTube!
2024-12-1936 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef89. A Few Of Our Favorite (And Not So Favorite) ThingsWhen the dog bites, run. And when the bee stings, you should probably get it looked at. But anyway, welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- today we are pulling an Oprah ( and a bit of the Grinch!) to tell you about our favorite things! This episode probably has enough rabbit trails to qualify it for national park status. Episode 89 is all about gifts for food fans and chefs alike, and also things we have no use for. Melissa says no shade to Pampered Chef (but there is) and Steve says he's not a Grinch but we all know...
2024-12-121h 03
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef88. Pumpkin Spice Mini Wheats and Tuna SaladDon't let the title fool you, we talked about both of these things for no good reason, but not served together. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- Steve and Melissa are catching up today on Episode 88 and talking all about what we made for those non-Thanksgiving events we attended and hosted last week. Thanks so much for listening and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!
2024-12-0552 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef87. Vintage Gobble GobbleIt's that time again, it's Turkey Day! (or Thursday for those who celebrate it) Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, episode 87! Melissa and Stephen are ready for the big day, and both feeling ready for pie and all the things. Today we are talking about retro and vintage Thanksgiving dishes, and tackling the important issues- like where celery doesn't belong. Thanks so much for listening and have a most excellent Thanksgiving!
2024-11-2850 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef86. A Matter of ConvenienceWhat is the one convenience item you always have in the house? For me, it's cream of chicken soup. At any time, I always have at least two cans in the pantry. No shame in my game! It's time for episode 86 of The Food For ThoughtCast- today Melissa and Stephen are talking about conveneince items. Chefs use them too! From jarred pesto, to rotisserie chicken, there are all sorts of things we like to use at home to either get food on the table faster or make something really tasty with a little less work. What is in your...
2024-11-2154 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef85. Creating ContentAre you content with your content? See that? It works two ways- just like our conversations! Lol! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 85! Today, Steve and Melissa are pondering what it takes to make amazing food content- whether audio or video , or both. We discuss how we decide what we will cook or post and we also chat about how we get ahead of the algorithm, as it were. Thank you so much for listening! Find some of our favorite food content creators below: Binging with Babish Arnie Te...
2024-11-1449 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef84. Ogres Have LayersWhat's the difference between a shallot and a scallion? Are red or yellow onions better for burgers? These questions and lots more answered on today's episode-Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! It's Episode 84, where we talk about onions and their uses (and their flavors, and their names). Melissa and Steve are excited to peel back all the layers of this topic, leaving no allium unturned. Whether you are just onion-curious, crazy about caramelized, or cautious about chives- you'll enjoy this episode. Thanks for listening. Find us where all finer podcasts are served. Don't forget to rate, review, and...
2024-11-0749 minThe Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef82. A Return To Reading TerminalDonuts and hoagies and kibbeh, oh my! It's time for a recap of Chef Stephen's recent trip back to Philly. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- it's Episode 82- A Return to Reading Terminal! We are talking all things saganaki, Thanksgiving sandwiches, and Steve celebrates crabfries! Today's episode is a personal victory for Melissa as Steve finds crinkle fries he actually likes, and truffle flavor that he doesn't. We travel just to eat and we can't wait to tell you all about it. Don't eat terrible airport food if you can help it. Find us in all the...
2024-10-2443 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef81. You Say It's Your BirthdayMelissa and Steve are reminiscing about birthday meals past, present, and future today! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. It's Episode 81! We kick things off by hearing about the amazing meal that Steve recently made for his lovely better half's birthday. We ponder the many ways to cook chuck ribs, how to make friends without salad, and how to make people feel special on their birthday. What is your ultimate birthday meal? Thanks for listening and don't forget to watch us on YouTube!
2024-10-1752 minThe Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef80. Inspectors of GadgetsHey there food fans!! Arguably this is just as important as the ingredients-- sometimes it all comes down to the gagdets and tools we use to make all of the tasty things. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- episode 80. This week finds Steve and Melissa chatting about gadgets, gizmos, tools, and appliances today. We find that we are often asked what our favorite brands or recommendations are for the home kitchen. While we aren't sponsored by any particular company, we definitely have some we prefer over others. This episode is a broad look at the topic. Which appliances...
2024-10-101h 00
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef79. Fan Feature!- Angela StandaferWelcome back food fans! We missed you all week but today's the day. It's a big first for The Food For ThoughtCast, join us on episode 79 as we welcome one of our fans, Angela Standafer, to the show! We're calling this a Fan Feature! Melissa, Steve, and Angela discover the allure of lutefisk, the stress of The Bear, the best ways to prepare octopus, what makes a food Norwegian, and so much more! Thanks Angela for coming on, and for supporting the show! Thanks for listening and watching- you know where to find us- don't forget to rate, review...
2024-10-031h 00
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef78. Keep on Truckin'Welcome back to the Food For ThoughtCast, today we are talking all about food trucks. When did they start? What are our favorites? On episode 78, Steve is sticking to his sandwich shop, but this time fantasizing about it being on wheels- while Melissa wonders if anybody is doing frozen donuts yet. We are discussing the most popular for us, what's nearby, and the ones that (maybe) don't exist yet. We give a little shout-out to friends and past guests of the show, Team Fat Kid Food Truck -they are working on a new project called The Shmitt Sandwich, once...
2024-09-2644 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef77. Amazing Things We Ate, Again.Hey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, episode 77! Sometimes we just need to tell you what we ate. It's not just one amazing thing in a week, sometimes it's an entire trip or even a food crawl - both near and far. Steve is back from his trip to Pensacola and Melissa is busy being a tourist in her new town. We're talking about amazing sandwiches, seafood, Italian, desserts, and all things tasty. Join us as we recap our week (and weekend) of all the good eats and where to find them.
2024-09-1957 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef75. Jim Lenzen- A Guest Ep!What does it take to be great? We're about to find out! Welcome back to episode 75 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Today Melissa and Steve are talking about wind-powered brisket (and other delicious meats) with Jim Lenzen from Jimmy L's in Sidney, Nebraska. Join us on the journey to learn how Jimmy L's came to be and get to know the man and the team that make it a success. They travel across Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming, featuring their food truck at large events while still taking part in the local communities that they are serving. Whether...
2024-09-051h 12
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef74. Checking In With The ChefsWhat's better than checking in with a friend? This is our Seinfeld, the literal episode about nothing ( and everything!). The chefs are playing catch-up with each other today about the food they've been eating, the food they want to eat, and everything in between. Melissa figures out the quintessential things she must try in North Carolina, at least, according to the Internet. We talk about chili and slaw on dogs and the oldest BBQ in the United States. Stephen tackles Terlingua with no Boy Scout cooking badge but surely he has defied the odds. Stephen kisses all the food...
2024-08-2953 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef71. David Page- A Guest Ep!Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- today is Episode 71! We've got a return guest today- David Page. David is a two-time Emmy award winning Executive Producer whose credits include: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Beer Geeks, and Tailgate Warriors. David is also the author of Food Americana and pretty soon, will release his food podcast- Culinary Characters Unlocked. Steve and Melissa had an amazing time talking to David about everything from Dim Sum to Michelin stars to Jewish red sauce. Don't know what that means? Listen to find out! Thanks so much for your support...
2024-08-081h 20
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef70. Thanks Hile!Today we are joined on The Food For ThoughtCast by friend of the show Jonathan Hile, a foodie and adventure coordinator for Pirate and Mermaid Vacations. It's episode 70! Random rabbit trails abound as we discuss the various foods of Pennsylvania, cold pizza toppings, and gas station sandwiches. Melissa's facial expressions cannot be excused and Stephen's dislike of cumin begins to wane but the show must soldier on. Find us in all the podcast places, and don't forget to watch on YouTube! Find Jonathan's travel business here: https://www.facebook.com/share/dG...
2024-08-0158 minThe Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef69. Sushi BasicsHey there food fans! It's time for episode 69 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Today we are talking about sushi. What is maki? Where did sushi come from? When did it become popular? Steve and Melissa basically obsess over sushi, as we both love it. We give some fun facts and also some cooked "starter" options if you're new to it. Also, if you never eat it or don't plan to try it, that's ok- more for us! Thanks for listening and don't forget to check us out on YouTube!
2024-07-2554 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef68. The Great DebateToday, we're dishing up hot takes with a side of super distracted silly conversation. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for episode 68! Steve and Melissa are giving their takes on some classic food debates in today's episode. We discuss all sorts of things from pizza ( to fold or not to fold), to peanut butter and jelly, all the way to the right way to pronounce "pecan." It's obviously "pecan", you just read it wrong again. Thanks so much for listening. Find us in all the usual podcast places and don't forget to watch us o...
2024-07-1859 minThe Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef67. Chef Hawkes- a guest ep!That's right, it's a Friday episode drop of your sort-of favorite food podcast because honestly, calendars are hard. Food is so much easier. We are joined by none other than Chef Dominic Hawkes- a pretty amazing guy we found somewhere on the internet! That's not quite the story, but it's still a meat-cute. See what we did there? Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast Episode 67! I'm not sure what we intended to discuss- but Steve, Melissa, and Chef Dominic went down about fifty rabbit trails and had a great time talking about food and l...
2024-07-121h 21
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef66. Board WalkDon't know your salami from your salumi? Boy are we glad you stopped by! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- it's time for episode 66! Tonight we're talking about charcuterie, from 'chair cuit'- French for 'cooked meat'. We cover all of the things that you can pile onto a board- and plenty that you maybe shouldn't. Steve is being a calf's liver apologist, as per usual. But it's delicious. Melissa thinks she's better than you (she's not) and is too good for regular lunch meat (she isn't). Please don't call Charcuterie boards adult lunchables, Prosper Montagne is r...
2024-07-0444 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef65. It's A Jerky WorldToday we're going on a road trip! Kind of. We each already did. Separately. With food! Ok now I'm confused. Hey but anyway-- Welcome back to Episode 65 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Today Melissa and Steve are talking about all of our favorite road trip snacks. Chips, trail mix, gas station coffee, jerky- you name it, anything you can eat in a passenger seat or driver's seat is obviously fair game. We discuss the perils of eating sunflower seeds while driving, getting food all over the car, and whether or not breakfast burritos are worth i...
2024-06-2758 min
Word to LIve by & Reagan ForumA Reagan Forum – Carlos LozadaOn May 29, 2024, the Reagan Foundation hosted a virtual event with Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Carlos Lozada for a discussion of his latest book, The Washington Book, which explores how people in power reveal themselves through their books and writings and, in so doing, illuminates the personal, political, and cultural conflicts driving Washington and the nation. It explores the construction of personal identity, the delusions of leadership, and that mix of subservience and ambition that can define a life in politics. During the program, Carlos sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller.
2024-06-071h 01
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef64. We've Got The PowerFresh off of a storm-induced power outage and finding our way back to very questionable Wifi, it is Melissa and Steve in rare form. Welcome back to Episode 64 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Today we are talking about what to cook when you've got no electricity, which foods don't need to be refrigerated, and the tragedy of folks that don't know how to use a manual can-opener. Now that we have power maybe we can fax them directions. Did we record this in the woods with cans attached to string? Maybe. If there's an echo just consider it double...
2024-06-0648 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef63. What's Taters?"Boil 'em, mash' em, stick' em in a stew" - pommes Anna, scalloped, au gratin, potato pave, mashed, smashed, chips, and fries. Nothing is off limits when this potato episode pops off! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it is time for Episode 63! Steve unfortunately hates ketchup, because #rude. Melissa still doesn't like truffles. But they can both agree on The Fisher Price Steakhouse. This episode is off the rails. Potatoes! What else can we say? Find us in all the places and thanks for your support.
2024-05-231h 21
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef62. The Amazing Things We AteWe ask each other at the top of every episode: "What is the most amazing thing you ate this week?" This week, though, there was too much to choose from. So many amazing things, in fact, that it became its own episode. Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's time for Episode 62! Steve just got back from the Florida Keys, and Melissa did what she does every week--- tried to find all the right food in all the right places! We talk pizza, cheesesteak, conch fritters, pig tails, pork shoulder, and Hemingway's cats. No not for eating, you...
2024-05-1649 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef61. Be PreparedHey there food fans, yes that is a Lion King reference. But anyway, it's time to talk about meal prep. Steve and Melissa are back with some ideas, tips, tricks, and of course : opinions galore. What do you like to eat during the week? Do you plan ahead? Do you eat breakfast on the go? What is your go-to meal prep strategy or do you just wing it every week? Welcome back to The Food For Thoughtcast- Episode 61! Thank you so much for listening here and for watching us on YouTube. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe.
2024-05-0955 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef60. Something To Taco 'BoutLet's give 'em something to taco 'bout! I know you see what we did there, and we hope after that atrocious play on words, you'll still hunger for this podcast. Also, puns! Welcome back to the Food For ThoughtCast- it's Episode 60! If it is of the tortilla persuasion- we're talking about it! Steve and Melissa chat it up about all things al pastor, puffy, choco, and fish. We gab and dish about we think does and does not belong in a taco. At the end of the day if tacos are wrong, we just don't wanna be right.
2024-05-0259 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef59. Taking on Take-OutWelcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast! Episode 59 has got Melissa and Steve pondering all the types of take-out, learning which type of take-out is the most ordered across the US, and finally : going completely off the rails as per usual. Find us in all the podcast places. Don't forget to watch us on YouTube! If you're new to the show or have been a Food Fan since the beginning- we're thankful for you! Share us with a friend or two, and don't forget those 5-Star Reviews. BRB gotta order some Lo Mein.
2024-04-251h 01
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef58. Stephen's Sandwich ShopSteve has mentioned it a couple of times that his dream is to open a sandwich shop. Today's episode takes us on a journey of both bread and cheese, meat and condiments, yes...... Reubens and recipes....for flavor , that is! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast. In Episode 58 we talk about all things sandwiches-- including our favorites, and what Steve would have on his menu. First we start with the normal "what was the most amazing thing you ate?" segment, which never disappoints, and then we dive into sandwich fillings, categories, and preferences. We argue about bagels, cheesesteaks...
2024-04-181h 09
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef56. Rolling In The DoughPi(e) Day was a little while ago, but one thing that is timeless and never late is the soothing sound of your two favorite food podcast hosts! Steve and Melissa are talking about mile-high meringues, fruit pie, tarts, pot pie, and pretty much all things stuffed in a crust. Pull up a chair, grab the Cool Whip (I said what I said), and grab a slice. That's right, it's Episode 56 of The Food For ThoughtCast! If you currently use Google Podcasts to enjoy the podcast, don't forget to head on over to YouTube Podcasts a...
2024-04-041h 01Word to LIve by & Reagan ForumA Reagan Forum – Craig ShirleyOn March 8, 2024, the Reagan Foundation hosted a virtual event with bestselling author Craig Shirley. Craig Shirley is the author of four critically praised bestselling books on President Reagan, Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All, Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America, Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan, and Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980. He joined us on March 8 to discuss his latest book on Ronald Reagan, The Search for Reagan: The Appealing Intellectual Conservatism of Ronald Reagan. The new book chronicles what Craig Shirle...
2024-03-2249 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef54. TV Dinners, The Other KindHey there food fans! Last week we talked about if TV Restaurants were real, and this week Steve and Melissa are tackling the other kind of TV dinners. Grab hold of an aluminum tray, make sure it's got compartments, and don't expect everything to be hot all at once. But if it is, be prepared to eat molten hot lava burning up your face hole. Let's go! It's Episode 54 of The Food For ThoughtCast. Are you a Hungry Man enthusiast, a Night Hawk connoisseur, or a Swanson turkey dinner purist? Let us know on all the socials. Thanks for l...
2024-03-211h 09
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef53. Scenes From A TV RestaurantIf you're like us, maybe you notice the food and drink in every frame of your favorite TV show. Did you ever wish you could be right there with your favorite characters? Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, it's episode 53! We're talking today about some seriously good (fictional) eats from our favorite shows and series. Have you ever wondered about the shakes at The Max? A burger from Chubbie's famous? Join Melissa and Steve as we imagine what we might order and what it would be like to step through the TV screen and into these famous restaurants...
2024-03-1456 minThe Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef52. The Music and Food ConnectionWelcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- It's time for Episode 52! Melissa and Steve welcome Matt, Shohn, and Dusty from The Soundtrack of Life Podcast. The first official game happens right here on The Food For ThoughtCast as Melissa challenges all the guys to a little food songs trivia- she spent a whole seven minutes getting this ready, y'all. It's intense. We had a blast talking to these guys about food and music and the links between the two. Music and food: two art forms based in creativity , love, and passion. Just two different mediums. They go hand-in-hand for s...
2024-03-071h 07The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef51. Top ThisIt's time for toppings, trimmings, sauces, and relishes because that's right, we're talking about condiments on episode 51 of The Food For Thoughtcast! Steve and Melissa have a lengthy conversation about how we dress up our food and we leave no stone-ground mustard unturned. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch us on YouTube! Thanks for listening.
2024-02-291h 28The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef50. These Are My ConcessionsJust when we've said all we thought we could say about food, it's episode 50 of The Food For ThoughtCast! Tonight, Melissa and Steve are talking all about foods at the movies- the history of some of your favorite candies, what we like to eat at each theatre, and everything in between. Are you team Red Vine or Twizzler? Do you just do snacks or a full meal when you go to the movies? Find us on all podcatchers and don't forget to watch on YouTube! This is the final episode of Season 1, and there will be no stopping as...
2024-02-221h 05
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me Chef49. Hail To The ChefsPresidents' Day is upon us and here at The Food For ThoughtCast we want to know what all the Chiefs eat.......Commanders- in -Chief, that is! Welcome to Episode 49! Steve and Melissa are looking at the sometimes strange, weird, wonderful, and delicious culinary habits of American Presidents past and present, both in and out of The White House. Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch us on Youtube! Thanks so much for listening.
2024-02-1551 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefSaving The Best For LastWelcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast, It's Episode 47! Today we are discussing the weird, sometimes impressive, at times confusing, but mostly odd: it's a list of some famous and infamous last meal requests! It may seem a little dark, but it is absolutely fascinating to see what people will choose for one last culinary hurrah in this situation. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe- find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and thanks for watching us on YouTube! Steve and Melissa both chose different types of pasta for our last meal. What would you order?
2024-02-011h 00Word to LIve by & Reagan ForumA Reagan Forum – Audrey BirnbaumAs part of our Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. exhibit, the Reagan Foundation has been hosting authors whose books cover the atrocities of the holocaust, mainly told through survivor’s eyes. In this week’s Reagan Forum podcast, we go back to our in-person event with Audrey Birnbaum, who shares with us the story of her grandfather and his time growing up amidst the rubble and antisemitism of war-torn Nazi Berlin in her latest book, American Wolf: From Nazi Refugee to American Spy. During this program, Audrey sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marke...
2024-01-2558 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefThis is Offally EntertainingThis week's episode is all about Offal. Off-icially that's any animal's internal organ used for culinary purposes. Join us for episode 46 of The Food For ThoughtCast as Melissa and Steve talk about liver, kidney, haggis , and so much more. Bad puns and entertainment ensue. Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and thanks so much for watching us on YouTube! Don't forget to rate, review, and subcribe.
2024-01-2555 minWord to LIve by & Reagan ForumA Reagan Forum – Nechama BirnbaumIn this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we back to our in-person event with Nechama Birnbaum, who shares with us the story of her grandmother and her time in Auschwitz in Nechama’s latest book, The Redhead of Auschwitz: A True Story. During this program, Nechama sat down in conversation with Reagan Foundation and Institute Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Giller to discuss The Redhead of Auschwitz which is a book as full of life as it is of death. It is about the intricacies of Jewish culture that still exist today and the tender experiences that are universal to all h...
2024-01-0351 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefOld Food, New YearHey there food fans! Happy New Year, it's almost here and we're taking a look at some food traditions near and far, young and old. Join me, Melissa, and my cohost with the most, Steve as we look at black-eyed peas, collard greens, cornbread and all the other things we're cooking and eating to kick off 2024. Thanks so much for listening to Episode 42 of The Food For ThoughtCast.
2023-12-2836 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefThe Braising GameHey there food fans! Welcome back to The Food For ThoughtCast- Episode 40. Today we are talking about braising. Which proteins work best? What is the difference between braising and other cooking methods? Does it matter which liquid you use? Do I need to own a Le Creuset? We'll give you a few good places to start if you've never done it, and some assorted tips and tricks. Tis' the season for a little braising action, join us! Melissa tries an air fryer for the first time and Steve continues his quest to harden his arteries. It's this week's Food...
2023-12-071h 08
Side Piece with Melissa PfeisterREAGAN CHARLESTON from Southern Charms New Orleans!!The beautifully talented Reagan Charleston is in the Side Piece house!! I love Reagan! We had such a real, honest chat and I loved her being so open to it all! Regan talks everything about doing Southern Charm New Orleans, the greats and the not best moments and where she stands now with all of her cast. She really dives in to going through a divorce on the show remarrying and having two kids and now having to go thru another divorce and all the insane difficulties of it. We also discuss what a badass she is from being not...
2023-12-0141 minWord to LIve by & Reagan ForumA Reagan Forum – Oren SchneiderIn this week’s Reagan Forum podcast we go back to our in-person event with Oren Schneider, the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, for his recent book The Apprentice of Buchenwald: The True Story of the Teenage Boy who Sabotaged Hitler’s War Machine, a true story of inner strength, resourcefulness and optimism. Of his grandfather’s life in the concentration camps, Elie Wiesel’s son once said, “Being an inmate of a Nazi concentration camp did not stop Alexander Rosenberg. It did not stop him from doing whatever he could to keep his father alive. And it did not stop h...
2023-11-3040 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefThe Fast and The CuriousSteve and Melissa are joined by Jacob Roth for an epic showdown for the ages-- we are trying to determine which is the best fast food chain. Welcome to episode 39 of The Food For ThoughtCast- with a fancy sportsball bracket of fast food joints, brought to you by Jacob. This is two hours of joyous shenanigans as we defend blasts, blizzards, burgers, and box meals. You can hear me call Jacob by the wrong first name and Steve absolutely lose his mind over Raising Cane's. Don't forget to subscribe and watch on our Youtube channel. When you get done...
2023-11-301h 57
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefThanksgrubbingHappy Thanksgiving! (or just happy Thursday, if that's what you're into) The Food For ThoughtCast invites you to join us as we say Thanks or No Thanks to regional varieties of classic Thanksgiving favorites. Steve and I talk a little about what is on the menu this year, and why pumpkin pie needs lots of Cool Whip to be palatable (or maybe it's just Melissa). Let us know what you're eating today and as always, thank you for listening and watching! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and Youtube. May your turkey be moist (yes, we said it) and...
2023-11-231h 02
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefThe Candy Corn SagaLet's play a game-- it's time for Smash or Trash your Trick - or - Treat Stash! But first, we need to discuss why you hate candy corn and are also wrong about everything else in life. Episode 35 of The Food For ThoughtCast is all about Halloween candy. Melissa and Steve discover they are oddly obsessed with most sugary products, whether they are good or not. Find this podcast in all the usual podcast places and don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Happy Tuesday release day!
2023-10-3144 min
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefWhen The Moon Hits Your EyeD.C., Naples, Chicago, Denver, New Haven.......... Where does your favorite pizza come from and what makes it special? Chef Stephen Gonzalez graces us with his presence once again as we take our first, and by no means last, look at pizza. We start out this pizza journey by going from region to region. It is highly intellectual banter that asks the difficult and hard-hitting questions like "does avocado go on taco pizza?" and "why won't Melissa buy an air fryer?" Join in for Episode 23 of The Food For ThoughtCast and thanks so much for...
2023-07-271h 05
Therapy Chat388: Burnout + Compassion Fatigue With Melissa WesnerThis week's episode features a recording of a Facebook live from last week. Host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C had a conversation with friend and colleague Melissa Wesner, LCPC on the hot topic of burnout in helping professionals and caregivers in general. Laura and Melissa discussed how burnout is affecting mental health professionals; identifying burnout and compassion fatigue symptoms using the ProQOL measure; and how to create an action plan to address emotional, physical, spiritual and relational needs including small changes that are sustainable. Melissa Wesner, LCPC is the Founder of LifeSpring Counseling Services, a group practice in Maryland th...
2023-06-301h 17
The Marketing Freelancer: Unicorns Unite#162 How to use YouTube as a Lead Generation Machine with Melissa MitchellContent Marketing Series #5 Are you frustrated because YouTube isn't bringing in the leads you hoped for, despite all your efforts to create awesome videos and promote them everywhere? Many entrepreneurs and marketers struggle to attract profitable clients on YouTube, even after putting in a ton of work. It can be discouraging to see little engagement and views, especially when you've poured your heart into creating compelling content. In this episode, YouTube strategist Melissa Mitchell shares her expert tips on how to generate leads and grow your business using the platform. Melissa is the owner of W...
2023-06-1349 minThe Marketing Freelancer: Unicorns Unite#159 Customer Insights: The Starting Point for all your Marketing Services with Melissa HarstineContent Marketing Series #2 Collecting customer insights for a client can be really hard. And it’s freakin time-consuming. I see so many people in large Facebook groups who ask market research questions and then no one answers them. Guess what– there’s a better way. Today, Melissa Harstine is sharing the key to gathering customer insights the right way. Her tips are going to unlock everything for building a great content strategy: how you talk to people, how you engage them, how you cold pitch them, and how to create content that converts. ...
2023-05-2348 min
Good Day for a Movie PodcastGuest Special // Melissa Reagan // FrequencyToday we welcome on Melissa Reagan to review the 2000 movie Frequency starring Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. Before we get into the movie we talk about some movies about food, the best world cuisines, and food in general. Melissa is a chef which is why we talked about food more than normal. Fun was (hopefully) had by all.
GD4AM: 84/100
IMDb: 7.4/10
Metacritic: 67/100
RT: 70%
An accidental cross-time radio link connects father and son across 30 years. The son tries to save his father's life but then must fix the consequences.
2023-04-241h 26
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefOn The Lamb...Chef Steve is back in the house as we talk about Easter food traditions. Ham, fajitas, deviled eggs, or maybe scotch eggs? To raisin or not to raisin? These are the important questions. Also why does mint jelly exist? The answer: its sole purpose is to make Melissa sad. We're going on the lam.....from boring food! Podcast logo by: fabstheartist Podcast music by: Nela Ruiz Podcast voiceover by: Nicole Carino
2023-04-061h 03
The Food For ThoughtCast: Call Me ChefI'm Just Here For The Food...Thoughts Still LoadingYour table is ready! Welcome to the first episode of the Food For ThoughtCast. I'm Melissa, but you can call me chef. Hiliarity ensues during a job interview gone wrong and I explain a little more about why I started this podcast . Thanks for listening. Podcast logo by: fabstheartist Podcast music by: Nela Ruiz Podcast voiceover by: Nicole Carino Links to these fabulous creators can also be found at www.foodforthoughtcast.com
2023-02-2324 min
The Marketing Freelancer: Unicorns Unite#67 The graphic designer who creates million dollar sales pages (Melissa Burkheimmer)Your client’s sales page is arguably one of the most important design and copy pieces when it comes to getting sales during a launch. Melissa Burkheimer is here to break down the design of a stellar, high-converting sales page. She is a sales page designer, creative director and launch manager who has worked extensively with 7-figure entrepreneurs perfecting their sales pages for their digital offers. Her tips on today’s episode will help you with your own website as well. But I really want to open your eyes to the niche services she’s providing...
2021-06-2259 min
The Marketing Freelancer: Unicorns Unite#61 The Intrapreneur who became marketing and operations specialist for a 7-figure team (Melissa Caputo)She has always been someone who had her hands in a bunch of different things but knew she was developing her talent for something big. Now Melissa Caputo embraces being the jill-of-all-trades in her marketing & operations role for Think Media — a 7-figure startup with YouTube expert Sean Cannell & Heather Ana Torres-Goitia. She put her hand up for a low-level, part time position and turned a side hustle into something bigger. She shares about the most amazing tips for getting hired and how to answer interview questions. I love her advice for reframing mistakes, owning your tale...
2021-05-1147 min