Podcast Summary: Becoming NEXTonSCENE™

Episode: Lights, Camera, Sake: The Dual Life of Marina Giordano

Date: September 25, 2025
Host: NEXTonSCENE Media, LLC
Guest: Marina Giordano

Overview

This episode spotlights the dynamic journey of Marina Giordano—by day, an Emmy Award-winning TV director, and by night, a nationally recognized sake and wine expert. Marina shares how she bridged her passion for education with sake, built up the New England sake scene, and founded Sake Day East, now celebrating its fifth year. She unpacks her dual career path, the evolution of Sake Day East, the logistics and emotions of event planning, and her vision for Boston’s cultural landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marina’s Journey Into Sake

Timestamp: 01:30–03:36

• Career Crossroads: Marina anticipated automation eventually affecting her TV career. She began studying wine, pursuing WSET Level 3, before her first, transformative encounter with sake:

  “I took a little sip and I was like, wait a minute, what is this made from? You said this is made from rice—like, how is—How can it taste like fruit? It tastes like banana. It tastes like melon. It smells like flowers.” —Marina Giordano [02:07]

• Deep Dive: Immediately after, she searched for sake classes, attended a three-day course in Dallas, then traveled to Japan for advanced training.
• Teaching Mission: Invited by her mentor, she returned to Japan for a teaching certification and now delivers sake education across the US.

2. Founding and Growing Sake Day East

Timestamp: 03:50–06:33

• Origins: Not enough quality sake in Massachusetts compared to California/New York. Inspired by San Francisco’s Sake Day, she envisioned a similar event for New England.
• Humble Beginnings: What started as an intended 30-person tasting swelled to 200 at year one.
• Growth:

  “This year, hope to have over 250 guests. We're looking at almost a hundred sakes at this point.” —Marina Giordano [05:26]

3. Evolution and Community Response

Timestamp: 05:32–06:33

• Early Years: Marina did all initial outreach, building awareness among vendors and the local community.
• Shift: By year five, importers and distributors now approach her:

  “Now this year I’ve had...people reaching out to me, 'Can I be a part of Sake Day East? Can I pour my sake there?’” —Marina Giordano [06:12]

• Mission Fulfilled: Boston’s sake culture is blossoming.

4. The Sake Day East Lineup

Timestamp: 06:33–07:39

• Diverse Exhibitors: Features local brewers (Father Star in Massachusetts, Brooklyn Kara in NY), Japanese breweries, and sake importers from across the US and Japan.
• Industry Structure: Marina explains the roles of importers and distributors, noting many bring niche portfolios (10–15 sakes).

5. Behind-the-Scenes of Event Planning

Timestamp: 08:02–10:01

• The Reality: Event planning is a full-spectrum undertaking—outreach, licensing, marketing, ordering supplies, logistics, and budgeting.

  “You’re wearing every single hat…You also have to think about stuff nobody wants to think about, like applying for a liquor license.” —Marina Giordano [08:49]

• One-Woman Show: Except for volunteers, Marina does it all:

  “Can we speak to someone from your team? ... I am the team.” —Marina Giordano [09:56]

6. Family & Volunteer Involvement

Timestamp: 10:01–11:42

• Family Affair: Both kids help with logistics (though not avid drinkers). Niece volunteers annually while attending college.
• Dedicated Crew: Three core team members have supported the event from year one.

7. Sake Day East Experience—Beyond Sake

Timestamp: 11:42–14:12

• Vendors:
  • Food: Yagi Noodles (Newport, RI), Smokin Pans BBQ.
  • Pottery: Koko Tsua (longtime collaborator, sake cups & more).
  • Skincare: High Tea Skincare (products with fermented rice & green tea).
  • Other Services: A real estate lawyer and specialty items for VIPs (bento, charcuterie).
• Guided Tastings: Pre-event, small-group sessions led by experts, each with a specific theme (paring, yeast, regionality, local brewers).

  “They're like guided, guided tastings…you get kind of like a one-on-one interaction.” —Marina Giordano [13:15]

8. Format and VIP Experience

Timestamp: 14:12–15:18

• Tasting Times: Guided tastings start at 3:00 pm; VIP entry at 5:00 pm (only 75 tickets).
• VIP Perks: Early access, intimate participant-to-expert ratios, exclusive sakes, plus the ability to taste before the crowd.
• General Admission: Runs 6:00–8:00 pm, with full access to sake tables and food vendors, discounted food at local food hall.

9. Event Rituals & Marina’s Process

Timestamp: 15:18–16:38

• Preparing for Showtime:

  “Once we're set up and we're close to admission, I...take like a second to sort of center …now the event’s gonna start…it’s kind of like doing a show: once you’re on, you’re on.” —Marina Giordano [15:42]

• Experiencing the Event: She mingles, sneaks tastings, checks in with students, and seeks feedback for future improvement.

10. Advice for Sake Newcomers

Timestamp: 17:09–18:28

• Encouragement:

  “Honestly, you think you don't like sake? You had hot sake. You had a sake bomb...That's not what sake is. …There's always something for you.” —Marina Giordano [17:25]

• Personal Example: Her sister-in-law needed several years to find sakes she loved at the event.

11. What’s New & Fun Additions

Timestamp: 18:28–18:34

• Entertainment: Live music is being introduced this year.
• "Everything works out":

  “Things happen and then at the end it just like works itself out...That's definitely a takeaway.” —Host [18:28–18:34]

12. Rapid Fire Questions

Timestamp: 18:34–21:11

• Favorite Pairing:

  “Sake with brunch–like a daiginjo…it goes really well with egg…with toast… with fruit…with coffee.” —Marina Giordano [18:46]

• Boston Cultural Contribution:

  “It’s raising the awareness of sake…But it’s also bringing cultural awareness to the Japanese community...” —Marina Giordano [19:22]

• Dream Toast: Reuniting with fellow certified sake educators worldwide.
• After the Event:

  “Sleep.” —Marina Giordano [21:09]
  And: “I’m packing my house. I bought a house—in this process, not the best thing to do when you’re trying to plan a huge event.” [21:11]

13. How to Get Involved

Timestamp: 21:49–22:22

• Find Her & The Event:
  • Instagram: @sakidayeast, @winesakichick
  • Website: sakidayeast.com
  • Tickets: Eventbrite ("Sake Day Boston")
  • Certifications and upcoming courses announced via socials

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On career pivots and passion discovery:

  “20 years ago I came to this realization, my job's going to go away. And I started searching for other things I liked as much as TV.” —Marina Giordano [01:33]

• On the surprise and wonder of sake:

  “It tastes like banana. It tastes like melon. It smells like flowers. Like, how are they—?” —Marina Giordano [02:11]

• On event growth and gratitude:

  “That first year it went from what I thought was gonna be a 30 person event to a 200 person event with about 60 sake and just kept growing from there.” —Marina Giordano [05:21]

• On being a solo founder:

  “You are speaking to me. I am the team.” —Marina Giordano [09:56]

• On event night nerves and energy:

  "Once the event has started, it’s just fun to just walk around and talk to people...making sure they're having a good time." —Marina Giordano [16:33]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:30 – Finding sake, training in Japan
• 03:50 – Launching Sake Day East, early days
• 05:44 – Event growth and industry interest
• 06:33 – Sake Day East lineup & partners
• 08:02 – Inside event planning
• 10:01 – Family & volunteer contributions
• 11:42 – Non-sake vendors & add-ons
• 13:07 – Guided tastings explained
• 14:12 – Structure: tastings, VIP, general admission
• 15:18 – Rituals and event-night mindset
• 17:09 – Advice for newcomers
• 18:34 – Rapid fire round (favorite pairings, dreams)
• 21:49 – Where to find Marina and Sake Day East online

Final Thoughts

Marina Giordano’s passion, candor, and community focus shine throughout the conversation, offering listeners deep insight into both the technical and personal sides of event leadership. For those new to sake or interested in building community through niche passions, this episode illustrates both the challenge and thrill of creating something unique and lasting—right down to the “one-woman show” style of Marina’s leadership.

Find Sake Day East and Marina online:

• sakidayeast.com
• Instagram: @sakidayeast, @winesakichick
• Eventbrite (search: “Sake Day Boston”)

Memorable Sign-off:

“You are amazing. This was so much fun. …It is so worth it. And we will see you at Sake Day East.” —Host [22:22]