Brunch & Learn Podcast

Meet Rachel Kishore:

Rachel Kishore has a background in finance, technology, food, and nutrition. After earning her undergraduate degree in Food & Nutritional Sciences, she began work at a nutrition BioTech startup before transitioning into FinTech.

Over the last 5 years, Rachel’s work in finance has focused on women's advocacy. In recognition of her leadership and engagement, she was honored as a Yahoo Finance HERoes Top 100 Women Future Leaders and featured on the Nasdaq Tower on International Women's Day.

Outside of work, Rachel is passionate about engaging in women's entrepreneurship and CPG organizations. She is the Founder of Empowered Economy, a community for female food founders, leaders, and innovators.

Connect with Rachel & Empowered Economy here:

• Website: https://empoweredrachel.com/empowered-economy/about
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/empowered-economy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweredeconomy/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/empowerdeconomy
• Slack Community: tinyurl.com/join-the-empowered-economy

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• New Year, New SKU event: https://tinyurl.com/new-year-new-SKU
• ThingTesting: https://thingtesting.com/
• PopUpGrocer: https://popupgrocer.com/
• GoodsMart: https://www.thegoodsmart.com/
• Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/
• GroundUp Nut Butter: https://grounduppdx.com/
• Sixteen Mill: https://www.sixteenmill.com/
• Anjali’s Cup: https://www.anjaliscup.com/
• Knead Love Bakery: https://kneadlovebakerynyc.com/
• Seed & Mill: https://www.seedandmill.com/
• Matchaful: https://www.matchaful.com/
• Nu Market: https://numarket.co/
• Startup Field Guide: http://startupfieldguide.com

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Meet Tina Martinez:

Tina has been professionally cooking since 2007 starting her career at restaurants in California and Washington DC before teaching culinary classes in Brooklyn. Then went on to assist some of the top food stylist in New York before beginning a 7 year stint at the Today Show where she styled food for the morning show. She now does recipe development, test and create video content for the Hearst Lifestyle Group, which includes Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Woman’s Day and Prevention. When she's not at work cooking, you can find me at the local brewery, hiking in a National Park or enjoying an afternoon at the beach.

Website: https://www.tinadegraff.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_saltgypsy

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

2024 Women Who Brunch Event Planning is Here!
Here's some opportunities we're looking for:

2024 Podcast Guests - Apply to this form to be considered as an upcoming guest: https://womenwhobrunch.com/brunch-and-learn-podcast

Women Who Brunch Event Sponsors, Collaborations, & Podcast Advertisers:
Find out more about how to work with us here, or reach out via email: [email protected]

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About Today's Guest: Tara Pate:

Tara Pate is the founder of Daysie, the first line of certified organic simple syrups designed for coffee and occasions.

Tara earned her undergraduate degree in advertising from the University of South Florida and a masters degree in integrated marketing from West Virginia University. She also has a graduate certificate in executive leadership in nonprofits from the University of Florida.

Originally from Sarasota, Florida, Tara married her high school sweetheart and lived in several places throughout the US while he served as an officer in the Navy. It was while living in San Francisco that she became fascinated with marketing for consumer- packaged goods, entrepreneurship and building brands. Tara worked in brand marketing for two multi-million dollar e-commerce food and beverage brands (NatureBox and DripDrop Hydration) during her time in the Bay Area.

In 2020, Tara moved back to the East Coast, planting roots in Charleston, SC and
taking on the marketing role at acclaimed hospitality group, The Daily and Butcher &
Bee. The idea for Daysie was born in the early days of the pandemic when Tara was working from home and longed for her daily latte from her favorite local coffee shop. Try as she might, she could not find an organic, high-quality simple syrup to sweeten her coffee drinks at home and realized she could fill the hole in the market. She officially launched Daysie in 2022.

Tara is a 2016 recipient of a Charleston Forty Under 40 Award, the co-founder and current board member of Pay it Forward Charleston, and a member of the Charleston Junior League. On nights and weekends, you’ll find her listening to podcasts about business, exploring new restaurants, walking the beach with their golden retriever Captain Waffles or working extra hours to take Daysie to new horizons.

Website: https://enjoydaysie.com
Tiktok & Instagram: @enjoydaysie

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Today's solo episode is brought to you by me, your host Nicole Dillon. It is officially fall which is arguably the best time of the year. There's something about all the fall festivals, apple picking, hot coffee with a warm apple cider donut, fall flannel and foliage vibes are everything. Not to mention I'm a true Libra.

If you didn't know this about me, I'm also wildly passionate about the Hudson Valley. I've been an event planning for over a decade and there's nothing I love more than planning, attending, and sharing events.

On the podcast we'll cover, some top events and activities to do this fall in September & October, including:

1. Lyndhurst Mansion
2. The Great Pumpkin Blaze
3. Tarrytown / Sleepy Hollow events, historical sites, and TaSH Farmers Market
4. Bethel Woods - The Big Sip & Peace, Love, and Pumpkins
5. Annual Halloween Parade in Nyack, NY
6. Field & Supply - Fall Market
7. Caramoor's - Día de los Muertos
8. Catskill Mountain Pumpkin Express Train Foliage Rides
9. NY Cider Week
10. Apple Picking Spots & Apple Fest

Happy Exploring! Tell me your favorite fall events over at WomenWhoBrunch on IG.

Support us:
Rate & Review this Podcast - on Apple Podcast
Sign up for our Monthly Newsletter for upcoming events & food news!

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

About Sajani & Kola Goodies:

Sajani Amarasiri , an immigrant female founder is on a mission to create a more culturally representative and equitable wellness industry, bringing together the best of her roots in Sri Lanka and life in America. Sajani was born and raised in Sri Lanka and came to the US at 18 for college, then worked in building tech supply chains at Microsoft and Amazon.

She leveraged that experience with her unique insights to her culture to create the first wellness company to directly source from, and give back to the communities today's trendy ingredients and rituals originate from.

Kola Goodies creates wellness goodies made of potent botanicals, directly sourced from small farmer collectives in South Asia, to meet today's wellness needs. Their tea lattes have recently won awards for their delicious taste and texture, while providing long-lasting, jitter-free energy - a great alternative to coffee!

Website: https://www.kolagoodies.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kolagoodies

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

About Dam Good™ English Muffins:

Dam Good™ English Muffins is a woman-owned, family-operated, mission-driven wholesale bakery that has been in business since 2017 - we make 4 varieties of all natural, preservative-free, vegan sourdough English muffins: “Original White,” “Multigrain,” “Cinnamon Swirl,” and “Whole Wheat.” We started with a New York State home processing license, and were baking out of our home in Croton. We have since moved our business to Peekskill, NY.

Website: https://www.damgoodenglishmuffins.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damgoodenglishmuffins
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damgoodenglishmuffins

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

About Jen:

Jen Toth is a digital illustrator and fashion model with a big heart for local haunts.

Like many, Jen spent most of the 2020 quarantine looking for ways to get out of her head. Inspired by the comradery in her community of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, she began scribbling local landmarks, bringing brick and mortar buildings to life through a mixture of watercolor and digital technology. Through clean lines and seductive curves awash in saturated hues, her whimsical illustrations capture the beating heart of each New York City borough.

Though she took an interest in sketching as a young girl, it was sartorial design sketches she witnessed on the job that made her fall in love with form. Today the self-taught artist is driven to explore other cities, and with this new medium, Jen hopes to embrace new communities and look for ways to give back.

In this Episode:

• What she loves most about NYC and being a New Yorker.
• What makes for a good community member.
• How she started to lean into a career that you didn't have formal training in.
• What does her creative process look like.
• What tools and advice she has for someone just getting started in illustration.
• Favorite pieces of her own work.

 

Website: https://www.jenscribblesny.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenscribblesny

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

About Lindsay:

As the CEO of Simek’s, Lindsey Hickey is on a mission to make mealtime a better time for all.

Hickey joined Simek’s in 2008 and became Co-Owner & President in 2010 to firmly established the company as a second-generation family-owned and certified women- owned organization.

Under Lindsey’s leadership, Simek’s has grown from a local frozen food company to the fastest growing frozen lasagna brand and meatball brand in the US, while helping millions of people along the way. Lindsey has fortified strategic partnerships with key retail industry leaders, launched innovative new items, expanded distribution into new markets, donated millions of meals, and removed ocean-bound plastic from the environment. Her mission is to create a guilt-free mealtime with convenient foods that are crafted with quality ingredients and homemade taste, that also make an impact in our community, country and world. With her passionate expertise, Lindsey led the Simek’s team to increase sales by 148% in 2022 as compared to 2021.

Lindsey believes in using business as a force of good and proudly led the organization through their B Corporation certification in 2022, making Simek’s the only women-owned frozen food brand in the US with this certification. She also led the launch of impact partnerships with Feeding America® and RePurpose, where every product purchased donates a meal locally and removes the same amount of plastic from the environment as used in the packaging and shipping of that product. In 2022, Simek’s donated over 2.8 million meals and removed the equivalent of 26.3 million plastic bags from the environment, furthering their mission to provide great food for the greater good.

Lindsey has been recognized for her outstanding leadership numerous times. In 2018, she was a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 40 under 40 recipient. Lindsey was recognized in 2023 with the Frozen & Refrigerated Women Achieving Remarkable Distinction (FORWARD) Award. She has also been featured in many national news articles, including Forbes.com and Frozen & Refrigerated Buyer, as well as local News channel’s TV segments and articles, for her achievements at Simek’s.

Website: https://simeks.com
Instagram: instagram.com/simeks
Facebook: facebook.com/simeksfoods

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Laura Sorkin is a farmer, writer and sugar maker who lives in northwest Vermont with her husband and two children. She has a BA from McGill University and a Masters of Environmental Management from Duke. She also graduated from the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Institute) in New York City and worked for several restaurants there. She is the author of Vegetables: The Ultimate Guide, and is currently working on a book about gardening for beginners. She is the co-owner of Runamok which produces maple and honey products and works with the marketing team there.

In this Episode:

•  The Maple syrup process and what the different grades mean.
• Runamok product line and the partners they work with in regards to maple and honey producers.
• View on agriculture changing or effecting farms or producers.
• What does the R&D process look like when creating new flavors or product lines.

Website: https://runamokmaple.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runamokmaple

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com

Laura Sorkin is a farmer, writer and sugar maker who lives in northwest Vermont with her husband and two children. She has a BA from McGill University and a Masters of Environmental Management from Duke. She also graduated from the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Institute) in New York City and worked for several restaurants there. She is the author of Vegetables: The Ultimate Guide, and is currently working on a book about gardening for beginners. She is the co-owner of Runamok which produces maple and honey products and works with the marketing team there.

In this Episode:

•  The Maple syrup process and what the different grades mean.
• Runamok product line and the partners they work with in regards to maple and honey producers.
• View on agriculture changing or effecting farms or producers.
• What does the R&D process look like when creating new flavors or product lines.

Website: https://runamokmaple.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runamokmaple

About Us - Women Who Brunch:

Women Who Brunch is a food community and event series for women who love connecting, networking, and learning from each other over the most important meal of the week...BRUNCH!

We're solving the problem of making adult friendships while doing cool stuff in the Hudson Vally, NY.

Visit our website for updates on events, recipes, brunch spots, product reviews, and more or say hi on Instagram!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenwhobrunch
Website: https://womenwhobrunch.com