Episodes
Kenny Morrison – Founder of VCC Brands and Pioneer in Cannabis-Infused Beverages
Kenny Morrison is the founder of VCC Brands and CQ Drinks, and a pioneer in the world of cannabis-infused edibles and beverages. His expertise lies in crafting products that normalize cannabis consumption while staying ahead of shifting regulations, cultural trends, and consumer expectations.
In this episode of Forktales, Kenny talks about his journey from filming a cannabis dispensary to running one of the first in Los Angeles. He shares how CQ Drinks is challenging outdated stoner stereotypes by focusing on approachable, female-friendly branding and fast-acting THC delivery.
Laurel Orley – CEO of Daily Crunch and Innovator in Better-for-You Snacking
Laurel Orley is the founder and CEO of Daily Crunch Snacks, a women-owned, mission-driven snack brand known for its sprouted, air-dried almonds and bold flavor combinations. With a background in advertising, Laurel brings a deep understanding of branding, storytelling, and consumer insight to her entrepreneurial journey.
In this episode of Forktales, Laurel shares the family recipe that inspired her product and how she carved out a space in the crowded snack aisle. She talks about the mental health mission behind the Daily Crunch brand and the power of flavor-forward innovation.
Judy Joo – Chef, entrepreneur and leading voice in modern Korean cuisine
Judy Joo is a chef, entrepreneur, and TV personality who left Wall Street to follow her passion for food. A graduate of Columbia and the French Culinary Institute, she trained in world-renowned kitchens and went on to become an Iron Chef and the founder of Seoul Bird, a fast-casual Korean fried chicken concept.
On this episode of Forktales, Judy talks about using her engineering and finance background to run restaurants, breaking barriers in male-dominated industries, and redefining what authenticity means in Korean cuisine.
Denise Woodard – CPG entrepreneur and advocate for allergy-friendly snacking
In this very special 100th episode of Forktales, we’re joined by Denise Woodard. Denise is the trailblazing founder and CEO of Partake Foods, a line of allergy-friendly snacks inspired by her daughter’s food allergies. As the first Black woman to raise more than $1 million publicly for a CPG food startup, Denise has become a powerful advocate for inclusive entrepreneurship, food equity, and consumer wellness.
On this episode of Forktales, Denise shares how a push from her nanny and a chance zoo encounter sparked her leap from corporate life to founder. She discusses the challenges of allergy-safe food manufacturing, evolving her brand message, and why family, mission, and great-tasting cookies are at the heart of Partake’s success.
Josh Kesler – Restaurateur, community builder and champion of local food and art
Josh Kesler is a musician-turned-entrepreneur and the visionary behind some of Pennsylvania’s most community-defining projects. As the founder of The Millworks—a hybrid art collective, farm-to-table restaurant, and craft brewery—Josh has helped transform an underutilized urban neighborhood into a thriving hub for food, art and culture.
On this episode of Forktales, Josh talks about the risks and rewards of betting on a neighborhood, how amenities can drive revitalization and how ramen, beer and creativity continue to fuel his work.
Peter Newlin – Chief Vision Officer of Gastamo Group
Peter Newlin is the Chief Vision Officer of Gastamo Group and a driving force behind some of Denver’s most community-rooted and experience-focused restaurant concepts. He also brings a unique perspective to the restaurant industry that fuses brand creation, tech innovation and guest connection.
On this episode of Forktales, Peter shares why restaurants should serve the communities they’re in, not just their bottom lines. He talks about launching with a startup mindset, using AI to reduce risk and improve operations, and why loyalty programs should prioritize recognition over rewards.
Stephanie Jaeger – President of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI)
Women make up more than half of the hospitality workforce, yet hold only a small fraction of leadership roles. Stephanie Jaeger wants to change that. Stephanie currently serves as President of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), a global organization dedicated to supporting and elevating women in food, beverage, and hospitality.
In this episode of Forktales, Stephanie shares how she got involved with LDEI, the power of mentorship, the need for representation in culinary leadership and how LDEI is expanding its global impact. She also highlights barriers women still face in today’s hospitality industry.
Yanni Hufnagel – Founder of Lemon Perfect
Yanni Hufnagel knows how to build a winning team, whether on the basketball court as a former assistant coach for powerhouse programs like Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Nevada or in the beverage aisle. As the founder of Lemon Perfect, he’s turned a simple idea into one of the fastest-growing brands in the industry, proving that great taste and better-for-you ingredients can go hand in hand.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Yanni talk about the parallels between coaching and entrepreneurship, how an unplanned endorsement from Beyonce gave the brand a boost, moving the brand from Los Angeles to Atlanta (just a few miles from Coca-Cola) and a sneak peek at the new Lemon Perfect packaging.
Jeff Broadhurst – CEO of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group
Jeff Broadhurst has built a career centered on creating memorable dining experiences and bringing joy to guests with Eat’n Park’s iconic smiley cookies. As CEO, he’s helped shape Eat’n Park into more than just a restaurant, it’s a place where smiles are always on the menu.
In this episode of Forktales, Michael and Jeff talk about the success of the Eat’n Park and Parkhurst Dining brands, the joys of working in a family business, the importance of taking care of your team and some of the best things on the Eat’n Park menu.
Clara Paye – Founder & CEO of UNiTE Food
In this episode, we sit down with Clara Paye, founder and CEO of UNiTE Food, a company shaking up the protein bar industry with globally inspired flavors like Churro and Mexican Hot Chocolate.
Clara shares her journey from the plumbing industry to entrepreneurship, highlighting her mission to create a more inclusive wellness community by offering diverse and nostalgic tastes that resonate with a wide range of consumers.
Season 7 highlights
Season 7 of Forktales was a feast of stories and insights from food industry trailblazers. We explored how Biscuitville’s secret recipe became a Southern staple, how Rubix Foods stays one step ahead of flavor trends and how RoboBurger reinvented the burger experience.
Highlights also included Ben Jacobs’ mission to elevate Native cuisine, Doug Renfro’s spicy salsa innovations, and Andy Gellert’s global food import expertise. From mastering hospitality in airports to preserving the glitz of Vegas’ Golden Steer, each guest brought something extraordinary to the table.
Stephen Baldi – President of Baldi Management Group
People in airports are travelling for a variety of reasons. The common denominator? They all have to eat. That’s where Stephen Baldi and Baldi Management Group (BMG) comes in. BMG is an airport concessions and management consulting company that manages restaurants like Dunkin’, Smashburger and Jamba Juice in Reagan National Airport, JFK International Airport and Dulles International Airport.
In this episode, Michael and Stephen talk about the importance of hospitality and good customer service (especially in airports), the value of mentorship, how to hire good managers and how a pair of Air Jordans changed Stephen’s life.
