Podcast
That's A Food Job!
Hosted by FoodGrads · ENGLISH
No matter what your passion is, there’s a career for everyone in food—and we’re here to help you find it!
On this podcast, we interview professionals across the food processing sector to uncover the stories behind their unique roles Discover what they do, why they do it and how they are shaping the world of food.
Whether you're a student figuring out your next steps, a young professional seeking career guidance, or an industry veteran exploring new opportunities, this podcast offers valuable insights to help you navigate your career journey.
Join host Veronica Hislop as she speaks with experts from all corners of the food industry. From food scientists to farmers, plant managers to programmers, food safety technicians to skilled trades, supply chain managers to sales, we’ll explore a wide range of exciting careers.
We’re here to celebrate food industry professionals and proudly say—That's a Food Job!
116episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Scaling Chef Craft into Food Products with Kaylah Farina, Product Development Manager at Sigma US (#115)
Oct 1801:02:51Tap to summarizeKaylah Farina is the Product Development Manager at Sigma US, where she leads innovation projects for Bar-S Foods Co. She develops a wide range of meat products for retail and foodservice, including high-protein snacks and bold new concepts like a chili cheese dog burrito, which she describes as a mess-free chili dog on the go. Before moving into product development, Kaylah trained and worked as a chef. That experience continues to shape how she approaches recipe formulation and testing. She is also Chair of the Cactus Section of the Institute of Food Technologists, where she supports collaboration and community across the industry. In this episode, we talk about how product developers take ideas from concept to commercialization, how to collaborate effectively with chefs, scientists, and business teams, and how relationship-building can be the key to solving production challenges. Kaylah also shares how her background in theater gave her a unique edge in her career, and why empathy and adaptability are essential skills in the food industry. Shownotes Kaylah Farina: LinkedIn Bar-S Foods: Website/ Instagram / YouTube / TikTok / Sigma US: Website *** NEXT EPISODE TO CHECK OUT #101 – Matt Thell, Global Strategy & Innovation Leader at General Mills Inc *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT Connect on Twitter Connect on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Connect on TikTok Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Leave a rating on Spotify
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Bridging Academia and Industry with Nataly Lopez Baron, Manager of the Guelph Food Innovation Centre (GFIC) (#114)
Sep 2000:44:35Tap to summarizeNataly Lopez Baron is the Manager of the Guelph Food Innovation Centre (GFIC), an applied research centre that partners with food businesses to transform challenges into practical solutions through research, product development, and pilot plant testing. Originally from Colombia, Nataly earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees before moving to Canada to complete a PhD in Food Science and Technology at the University of Alberta. She has since worked in food research and product development across the dairy, cereals, and supplement industries, bringing that expertise and international perspective to her current role at GFIC. In this episode, we talk about how GFIC helps companies bridge the gap between homemade recipes and commercial-scale production, the unique infrastructure the centre offers—including certified pilot plants—and the success stories that have come out of GFIC’s partnerships. Nataly also shares her own career journey, and what it’s like to lead a food innovation centre where every day brings a new challenge. If you’re curious about how food products move from concept to commercialization, or what it’s like to work at the intersection of research and industry, you’ll enjoy this conversation. Shownotes Nataly Lopez Baron: LinkedIn Guelph Food Innovation Centre: Website/ Instagram / YouTube *** This week’s episode is sponsored by: University of Guelph’s Food and Agricultural Business Program: Prepare to thrive in Canada’s fast-changing food industry with U of G’s Food and Agricultural Business program. Gain agri-food expertise, business skills, and co-op experience that help you stand out — many students even land jobs before they graduate! *** NEXT EPISODE TO CHECK OUT #71 – Liana Yee, Junior Product Specialist at Export Packers Company Limited *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT Connect on Twitter Connect on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Connect on TikTok Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Leave a rating on Spotify
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Delving into the Craft of Beer Making with Santiago Ampudia Vasquez, Brewer at Blackburn Brewhouse and Assistant Professor at Niagara College (#113)
Sep 500:43:00Tap to summarizeSantiago Ampudia Vasquez is a brewer at Blackburn Brewhouse and Assistant Professor at Niagara College. Blackburn Brewhouse, based in Niagara Falls, produces a wide range of craft beers—from lagers and pale ales to specialty brews, seltzers, and ciders. Santiago holds a Master of Science and previously taught at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. After immigrating to Canada, he changed paths by enrolling in Niagara College’s Brewmaster program. Since then, he has helped the college secure first place at the 2023 U.S. Open College Beer Championship and earned a Silver medal for his Belgian Tripel, Te Tous et Bois, named after the French film that inspired it. We dive into what a brewer really does day-to-day in an independent brewery—why yeast care and cleaning can take up to 80% of the job—and the science that transforms grains into beer. Santiago also shares the skills that make a great brewer, the joy of creating new beers, and a bit of beer history along the way. If you’re curious about how beer is made, the mix of science and creativity in brewing, or what it’s like to work in the craft beer industry, you’ll enjoy this conversation. Shownotes Santiago Ampudia Vasquez’s : LinkedIn Blackburn Brewery: Website/ Instagram/ Niagara College: Website/ Instagram / YouTube / Twitter / Facebook *** NEXT EPISODE TO CHECK OUT #86 – William (Billy) Dietz, Co-Founder and Consultant at BDH Consultants and Author *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT Connect on Twitter Connect on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Connect on TikTok Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Leave a rating on Spotify
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Exploring Opportunities in Food Science with Prairva (Summer) Plepalakon, UC Davis Food Science and Technology Graduate (#112)
Aug 2100:46:13Tap to summarizePrairva Plepalakon, also known as “Summer,” is a recent Food Science and Technology graduate from the University of California, Davis, one of the most respected food science programs in the world. UC Davis has a big reputation in food science, pairing strong academic programs with deep industry and research networks. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Summer shares what it’s like to study food science at UC Davis and reflects on the co-op positions she’s taken on (including one with a company making protein from air). We talk about her advice for students who want to stand out, what she learned from attending the IFT First Conference, and how hands-on experiences have shaped her career goals. Summer was the winner of the Voices of the Future Podcast Challenge we hosted during our visit to IFT First. ** Shownotes Prairva Plepalakon: LinkedIn UC Davis Food Science Program: Website *** #92 – Davis Jaeger, R&D Leader, Culinary Expert and Food Scientist *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
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Supporting People and Culture in Ag with Leslie Nienkark, HR Business Partner at KWS Group (#111)
Jul 2400:48:19Tap to summarizeLeslie Nienkark is an HR Business Partner at KWS Group, one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. KWS specializes in breeding and selling seed for crops like corn, sugar beet, cereals, rapeseed, sunflowers, and vegetables. Although Leslie hasn’t spent her entire career in agriculture, her HR experience spans a variety of industries including media, software, architecture, and retail. This gives her a broad and insightful perspective on workplace culture. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Leslie shares what it’s like to work in human resources within the agricultural sector and explains the role HR plays in supporting both people and organizational goals. We talk about how KWS develops seed products, what makes a positive workplace culture, and why communication is key to employee retention. Leslie also offers practical advice for new professionals on what to ask when starting a role and how to navigate today’s evolving workplaces. This episode is especially helpful if you’re curious about HR as a career path or want to better understand how strong HR practices shape the food and ag industries from behind the scenes ** Shownotes Leslie Nienkark: LinkedIn KWS: Website/LinkedIn/Instagram/ *** #46 – Melissa Norem, Enterprise Director of Origination at Scoular *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
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Inside Food Product Development with Louisa Bachman, Food Scientist at KIND Snacks (#110)
Jul 1000:54:57Tap to summarizeLouisa Bachman is a Food Scientist at KIND Snacks. KIND offers a range of products, including nut and fruit bars, breakfast bars, granola clusters, and refrigerated nut butter bars. Before joining KIND however, Louisa earned her Food Science degree at UMass Amherst, where she both led their school’s Food Science Club and Alpine Skiing club. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Louisa shares what it’s really like to work in product development, walking us through how a concept turns into a product on the shelf. She breaks down the role of flavor iteration, sensory testing, and shelf life studies, while also offering a behind-the-scenes look at one of her favorite projects—developing savory KIND bars. Throughout the conversation, Louisa reflects on how collaboration, curiosity, and strong communication play an essential role in getting new products to market. We also talk about the skills that help food scientists succeed in the industry, how food trends shape innovation, and the importance of networking early in your career. Whether you’re a student exploring food science or someone interested in how the snack industry works, this episode provides valuable insight into a career in product development. ** Shownotes Loiusa Bachman: LinkedIn KIND: Website/LinkedIn/Instagram/ *** #94 – Michael Sharp, Director of Research and Analytics at the Heartland Food Products Group *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
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Inside Food Safety Leadership with Marin Pavlic, Director of QA Programs & Compliance at Sofina Food (#109)
Jun 1600:52:33Tap to summarizeMarin Pavlic is the Senior Director of QA Programs & Compliance at Sofina Foods and the current President of the Ontario Food Protection Association (OFPA). With over 15 years of experience in food manufacturing, Marin brings a deep understanding of food safety, team leadership, and regulatory compliance to his work—along with a strong belief in the power of networking and continuous improvement. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Marin shares how he built his career by learning to trust the expertise of his team, learning adjacent skills and networking within the industry. He discusses the importance of communication and team dynamics, the role of data in driving smarter decisions, and how regulatory changes can be used as a catalyst for growth. We also explore his passion for professional development and his work with OFPA to build community and mentorship across the food sector. If you're interested in food safety careers, building leadership skills, or how to grow in a traditional industry through learning and collaboration, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration. ** Shownotes Marin Pavlic: LinkedIn OFPA: Website/LinkedIn/ *** #77–Neha Mehta, Food Safety Quality Assurance Compliance Coordinator/Supervisor at Maple Leaf Foods Inc. *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
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Building AI for Food Scientists with Thomas Hayes, Co-Founder at Agilitas (#108)
May 2300:52:45Tap to summarizeThomas Hayes is the co-founder of Agilitas, a company building AI-powered tools to help food scientists formulate faster, smarter, and with more confidence. By transforming messy spreadsheets into an intelligent platform, Agilitas is tackling the “cold start” problem in food R&D and making it easier for teams to benchmark products, create base formulas, and retain critical institutional knowledge. In this episode of That’s a Food Job!, Tommy shares his unconventional path from chemical engineering to food tech founder. He talks about building a customer-first platform, the power of feedback loops in product development, and how AI is being used to reduce trial-and-error in formulation—without replacing the scientist behind the bench. We also dive into his global experiences working in Singapore and Saudi Arabia, and what those perspectives taught him about innovation, communication, and risk-taking. If you're curious about the future of food science, the role of AI in product development, or how to build something new in a traditional industry, this conversation is a must-listen. ** Shownotes Thomas Hayes: LinkedIn Agilitas: Website/LinkedIn/ *** #81–Harjeet Bajaj, President and CEO of Savourmetrics *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
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The future of CPG packaging with Tyler de Sousa, Co-Founder at Circulr (#107)
May 3, 202500:46:15Tap to summarizeTyler De Sousa is the co-founder of Circulr, a company helping Consumer Packaged Goods brands close the loop on their glass packaging through reuse. By managing the logistics of sourcing, collecting, and redistributing reusable containers, Circulr is making it easier for businesses and consumers to reduce waste and support a circular economy. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Tyler shares how a small pilot project turned into a growing social enterprise. He talks about the challenges of changing consumer behavior, the importance of industry collaboration, and how technology is helping scale systems of reuse. We also explore the personal side of entrepreneurship—staying motivated, taking risks, and creating real community impact. If you're curious about sustainability, innovation, or building purpose-driven businesses in the food industry, you won’t want to miss this one. ** Shownotes Tyler De Sousa : LinkedIn Circulr: Website/LinkedIn/Instagram/ *** SPONSOR CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. *** TIMESTAMPS Coming soon! *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → # 29 - Rebecca Bradley, Chief Marketing Officer at Terra Bioindustries *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
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Turning a food science degree into a sales career with Felicia Sia, account manager at Dempsey Corporation (#106)
Mar 27, 202500:47:40Tap to summarizeFelicia Sia is an Account Manager at Dempsey Corporation, a Canadian ingredient distributor specializing in innovative and technical ingredients. With a background in food science from the University of Guelph, her career has spanned multiple roles, including product development, technical sales and directing a cooking school for kids. In this episode, she shares insights into the world of ingredient sales, discussing what it takes to succeed as an account manager in the food industry. She explores the importance of active listening, building strong client relationships, and the key skills that set great sales professionals apart. Felicia also reflects on her career transitions, overcoming fears, and the value of taking risks. Her story offers inspiration for anyone considering a career change and looking for the confidence to take the next step. ** Shownotes Felicia Sia : LinkedIn Demsey Corporation: Website/LinkedIn/Instagram/YouTube *** SPONSOR CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNOW.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. *** TIMESTAMPS Coming soon! *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → # 29 - Marc Wall, VP of Sales at Sandy Shore Farms Ltd. *** SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FOOD INDUSTRY CAREER TIPS → Sign up for the newsletter *** COOL THINGS TO CHECK OUT 📖 Explore FoodGrads Career Guides (Ebooks) 📜 Get Career Advice (Blog) *** CONNECT 🐦 Connect on Twitter 📸 Connect on Instagram 💼 Connect on LinkedIn 🎵 Connect on TikTok 📹 Subscribe on YouTube *** SAY THANKS 💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts 🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify
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