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Artwork for Forktales

Forktales

Vigor
Golden Waffles
Plant-Based Dairy
Ramona's Food Group
Super Bowl
Cannabis Industry
Private Label
Cafe Spice
Duck Industry
Lemon Perfect
Dairy Industry
Greek Yogurt
Indian Cuisine
Tulsa
Detroit
Waffles
Mushroom-Based Beverages
Branding and Packaging
Entrepreneurship
Regulation
Food and Beverage Trends

A weekly podcast that feeds food and beverage brands with insights, ideas, trends, and anecdotes discussed with restaurant, hospitality, and beverage industry leaders.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes107Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MarketingArtsBusinessDesign

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Forktales

Latest Episodes

Amir Yazdi is the founder and managing partner of Bastian Capital, an investment firm focused on identifying, acquiring and growing restaurant and hospitality businesses. A former film producer, Amir transitioned into the restaurant industry more tha... more

Pete Olander is the founder of Happie, a plant medicine beverage company focused on cannabis-infused and functional mushroom drinks. Before launching Happie, he worked in private banking at J.P. Morgan and later in the nutrition and consumer packaged... more

Jenny Mehlman is Senior Marketing Director at Dairy Farmers of America, where she leads branded cheese and butter businesses. With a background in brand stewardship and innovation, she focuses on making legacy food categories relevant through consume... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Amir Yazdi
Founder, Managing Partner of Bastian Capital
Bastian Capital
Episode: Amir Yazdi – Restaurant investor, operator and growth strategist
Peter Olander
Founder of Happie, cannabis and mushroom beverage brand
Happie
Episode: Pete Olander – Founder of Happie and innovator in cannabis and functional wellness beverages
Jenny Mehlman
Senior Marketing Director, DFA (Dairy Farmers of America)
Dairy Farmers of America
Episode: Jenny Mehlman – Dairy marketing leader and champion of all things cheese and butter
Mike DiBeneditto
CEO of Golden Waffles
Golden Waffles
Episode: Mike DiBeneditto – CEO of Golden Waffles and Champion of Bold Brand Reinvention
Madelyn Alfano
CEO and owner of Maria's Italian Kitchen
Maria's Italian Kitchen
Episode: Madelyn Alfano – Restaurateur, hospitality leader and steward of Italian comfort food
Chuck Meehan
Chief Creative Officer, Pavone Group
Pavone Group
Episode: Chuck Meehan – Super Bowl creative veteran and champion of big ideas
Curtis Chin
Writer, filmmaker, activist, author of Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant
Episode: Curtis Chin – Writer, filmmaker and storyteller of culture and community
Elliot Nelson
Founder and CEO of McNellie's Group
McNellie's Group
Episode: Elliot Nelson – Restaurateur, real estate developer and future mayor of Tulsa
Sameer Malhotra
CEO and co-founder of Cafe Spice
Cafe Spice
Episode: Sameer Malhotra – Food entrepreneur and leader in authentic Indian cuisine

Host

Michael Pavone
Host of Forktales

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 8 ratings
  • A Must for F&B Lovers

    Loved the first episode of this new podcast that has the right mix of quick wit, storytelling, food & bev passion and a few nuggets of wisdom to take with you. Can’t wait to hear/watch more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andy Alabiso
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistent quality across episodes, with human, hospitality-centered conversations
Great mix of founder stories and practical growth tactics
Candid, industry-forward takes on branding and leadership in food & beverage
Strong storytelling and actionable marketing takeaways for sponsors
Insightful guests who bring real-world perspectives to brand strategy

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#117
Belgium/Business/Marketing

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Amir Yazdi – Restaurant investor, operator and growth strategist
Q: What is the biggest hurdle brands face when growing quickly?
Capitalization and building the right infrastructure, especially at the corporate level, HR, accounting, and operations, so you can push growth without breaking the business.
Amir Yazdi – Restaurant investor, operator and growth strategist
Q: What do you look for when evaluating a restaurant concept for potential investment or expansion?
I look at margin and scalability, whether the brand is legacy or emerging, and more importantly, how repeatable and transferable the operating model is across locations, including the back-office infrastructure and culture that can scale with growth.
Mike DiBeneditto – CEO of Golden Waffles and Champion of Bold Brand Reinvention
Q: So, how did you become the CEO of Golden Waffles?
The path came from a long career in broad line distribution and acquisitions, culminating in the opportunity with Golden Waffles where leadership and fit aligned with the company's growth needs.
Madelyn Alfano – Restaurateur, hospitality leader and steward of Italian comfort food
Q: What's the secret to Maria's enduring appeal?
The brand relies on genuine hospitality, consistent recipe integrity, a focus on comfort Italian food, and making guests feel welcomed as part of the family, not just customers.
Madelyn Alfano – Restaurateur, hospitality leader and steward of Italian comfort food
Q: What keeps eight locations aligned with the brand and culture?
She describes leading by example, adjusting communications to different teams, and instilling a shared culture through training that covers every role, ensuring guests feel like they are walking into their grandma's kitchen.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Forktales

What is Forktales about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on food, beverage, hospitality, and brand storytelling, bringing in industry leaders to discuss brand-building, product innovation, and growth strategies. Episodes span legacy family brands transforming through rebrands, the dynamics of co-ops and dairy branding, plant-based transitions, and high-velocity creative campaigns for big audiences. Listeners get practical takeaways on leadership, culture, go-to-market moves, and how to manage brand momentum across multiple locations and channels. The series often features founders, operators, and agency veterans who share hard-earned lessons, candid anecdotes, and forward-looking trends that matter to marketers, entrepreneurs, and restaurant operators alike. A standout trait is ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Forktales?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Forktales:

1. All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

How many episodes of Forktales are there?

Forktales launched 5 years ago and published 107 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Forktales?

Recent guests on Forktales include:

1. Amir Yazdi
2. Peter Olander
3. Jenny Mehlman
4. Mike DiBeneditto
5. Madelyn Alfano
6. Chuck Meehan
7. Curtis Chin
8. Elliot Nelson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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