Let’s Talk Dairy

Jacqueline Van Schaik, global lead nutritionist, Fonterra, joins Dairy Foods for episode 64 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. During this podcast, she discusses GLP-1s and dairy. Read More

Drew DiSpirito and Joe Rotondo, founders of Smearcase, appear on Episode 63 of the "Let's Talk Dairy" podcast to discuss their frozen cottage cheese product, FroCo. Rotondo, who created his first brand, Rocky Clark, while in college, has experience in e-commerce and was named New Jersey's Best Bagel in 2018. DiSpirito, the CFO and COO of Smearcase, spent ten years in New York balancing corporate strategy with entrepreneurial ventures. Read More

Cindy Cooper, assistant director of Health and Wellness at The Dairy Alliance, discusses the Milk Dispenser Initiative in Episode 62 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. With 28 years of experience in school nutrition, she highlights how milk dispensers enhance the milk experience, increase consumption, and help schools meet USDA nutrition requirements, along with key takeaways for dairy processors. Read More

Dairy Foods Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Nicole Pavlica, Senior Director of Milk Adjacencies for Horizon Organic, as they discuss the brand's new Real Dairy Creamers which are made from four natural ingredients and presented in three flavors: Homestyle Vanilla, Chantilly Sweet Cream and Golden Caramel.  In this interview, Pavlica explains the challenges of creating real dairy creamers, the consumer data that influenced this product, and how the brand's dairy innovation principles went into the crafting of these creamers.

Jeff Mroz, co-founder of Pioneer Pastures, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 61 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. He discusses A2 milk and his company.Mroz, along with Kathryn Moos, founded Pioneer Pastures, a health company rooted in ultra-filtered milk from cows with the A2 gene. Drawing on their success building OWYN (Only What You Need) into a nationally recognized protein brand, in 2024 they launched Bozeman, Mont.-based Pioneer Pastures to help reshape the future of food by prioritizing gut health, accessible nutrition and dairy innovation.  Read More

Scott Dahl, an award-winning creative leader who serves as chief creative officer for Nordeast Marketing Group, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 60 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast, where he discusses the marketing of dairy products. Dahl served in leadership roles at Betty, BBDO, and OLSON, where he helped guide creative work across a wide range of industries, including tourism, consumer packaged goods, professional sports, hospitality, gaming, retail, financial services, and healthcare. Read More

Allison Leibovich and Regina Draper of Wayzata, Minn.-based Cargill join us for Episode 59 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast where they discuss ingredient reduction and free from. Read More

Keith Seiz, ingredient marketing expert for Erie, Colo.-based National Honey Board, joins us for Episode 58 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast, where he discusses honey and its relationship to dairy products. Read More

Matt Lochmann, project manager at ORBIS Corp., joins Dairy Foods for Episode 57 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss the New Dynamics of Foodservice Distribution. With 13 years at ORBIS, Lochmann has a solid understanding of the needs of dairy processors when it comes to one of their most precious commodities: Milk. Read More

Dairy Foods Magazine Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs for Dairy Council, as they discuss their "Smart Swaps" initiative, which is designed to help schools meet evolving nutrition standards and student expectations.  The program offers training resources along with kid-approved breakfast recipes featuring dairy.  In this interview, Bambacht explains why dairy is so crucial to a child's diet, what she feels are the biggest flaws in school meal programs, and the biggest single takeaway she wants consumers to understand about the initiative.

In this special episode of the "Let's Talk Dairy" podcast, Dairy Foods sits down with Denisse Colindres, nutrition communication manager for ingredient supplier Beneo, to discuss functional dairy foods and ingredients, focusing on claims for digestive health, satiety, weight management and energy support.

Dairy Foods Magazine Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Katie Cline, Vice President of Marketing for Bubbies Ice Cream, as they discuss the brand's new Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches line, which includes Key Lime Pie and Strawberry Shortcake flavors.  In this interview, Cline explains how the flavors were selected, what makes Bubbies Ice Cream so unique compared to similar products on the market, and what crafting this line taught her about ice cream product creation.

Adam Geissler, director of strategic accounts at New York City-based Augury, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 56 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. Augury is a provider of industrial artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that improve machine health and process health. He works closely with Augury’s largest food and beverage customers to support their organizational initiatives where Augury can provide the most impact. Read More

In this special episode of the "Let's Talk Dairy" podcast, Pure Bioscience Corporate Account Manager Cory Bifoss and Director of Technical Services AJ Bogan sit down with Dairy Foods to discuss alternative cleaning solutions for dairy membrane systems.

Ludovic Meilhac, expert partner at McKinsey & Co., joins Dairy Foods for Episode 55 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss dairy trends. Read More

Dairy Foods Magazine Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Andrew Cannon, Associate Director of Marketing for Crystal Farms, as they discuss the brand's new Dill Pickle Shredded Cheese, a combination of Monterey Jack cheese and Dill Pickle seasoning.In this interview, Cannon explains why they chose Dill Pickle as a flavor, the most difficult aspect of creating this product, and what he feels Crystal Farms does different than similar companies on the market.

Rachel Jaiven, director of marketing, Häagen-Dazs, joins Dairy Foods for episode 54 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. Jaiven discusses ice cream trends and sustainability. Read More

Dairy Foods Magazine Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Lindsay Lee, Senior Director of Family & Kids Yogurt at Danone North America, as they discuss Danimals new "Snack Hero" campaign, in which parents nationwide can have Danimals delivered to them within 30 minutes by ordering through InstaCart. In this interview, Lee explains how the company synched up with American Track & Field Star Allyson Felix for the campaign, the consumer trends that influenced this initiative, and the most important facts about dairy snacks parents should be most aware of.

Mark Braun, president and CEO, and Arturo Nava, senior marketing director at Hispanic Cheese Makers, known for its Nuestro Queso brand, join us for Episode 53 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss Hispanic trends. Read More

Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president of trade and workforce policy at the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), joins us for Episode 52 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss “Tariffs and Supply Chain Challenges.” Based in Washington, D.C., the IDFA, since 1990, represents the dairy manufacturing industry including cheese, milk and ice cream processors. Rasdall Vargas has the challenge of negotiating public posing and staying on top of the Trump administration’s rapidly changing policy announcements. Read More

Dairy Foods Magazine Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Rick Prow, R&D Chef & Procurement Manager for Epicurean Butter, and Charlie Ashworth, Foodservice Sales Manager for Epicurean Butter, as they discuss the brand's A1 Steakhouse Butter, which combines A1 Steak Sauce with creamy butter and fresh herbs. The product recently won a 2025 FABI Award.In this interview, Prow and Ashworth discuss what the award win means to the company, how much input A1 had on the final product, and the biggest challenges of creating a unique butter product.

Catherine Bayard, global product manager of Plant Attitude at Givaudan, joins us for Episode 51 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. Bayard manages the dairy and cheese alternatives category globally at Switzerland-based Givaudan, helping to create food experiences intended to do good and feel good for body, mind and planet. Bayard has more than 20 years of expertise in senior marketing and category management roles in diverse food and beverage categories. She holds a master’s degree in Marketing from ESCP Business School and a master’s degree in food science and agribusiness. Read More

BNP Media Group Publisher Doug Peckenpaugh sits down with Erik Brainard, President & CEO of Anritsu Infivus Inc. and Vice President of the Food Production Solutions Association Board of Directors, as they discuss the upcoming Food Solutions Exchange & Conference 2025.  The event will take place March 19-21 at Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, AZ. 

Katie Brown, EdD, RDN, president of the National Dairy Council (NDC), a nonprofit education organization founded by U.S. dairy farmers with a vision of a healthy, sustainable world with science as its foundation, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 50 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast.In this role, Dr. Brown sets the strategic direction for NDC’s Scientific, Regulatory and Affairs team and serves a subject matter expert and spokesperson on dairy’s wellness benefits and the responsible production practices of innovative dairy farmers as contributive to nutrition security, equitable food systems and a healthy population.  Read More

Jeff Falash, research and development manager for Neenah, Wis.-based NERCON, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 49 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss packaging trends.Falash began his career at Nercon 37 years ago. He started in assembly on the plant floor, spent time as part of its field services group, and eventually moved into his current role as R&D and service manager. Falash spends most of his days solving problems and consulting with NERCON’s applications team to solve customer issues as well as developing new solutions that will help customers achieve their production goals more efficiently. Read More

Dairy Foods Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Daniel Golik, Co-Founder of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream, as they discuss the company's focus on flash-frozen nitrogen ice cream which includes sugar-free and gluten-free options.In this interview, Golik discusses the benefits and craftsmanship of flash-frozen nitrogen ice cream, how to create healthy ice cream options without sacrificing taste, and the challenges of expanding an ice cream company to more store openings and nationwide shipping.

Dr. Carmen Licon, director at Cal Poly’s Dairy Products Technology Center, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 48 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy Podcast.”Prior to her current role, Dr. Licon’s academic career began in October 2017 as an assistant professor for Food Processing and Engineering at Fresno State’s Department of Food Science and Nutrition. She holds a M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural Science and Engineering from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Food Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico. She is also a Certified Cheese Professional by the American Cheese Society.  Read More

Todd Hutson, commercial manager at Tetra Pak, with 36 years of experience in the dairy industry, joins Dairy Foods for a special edition of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. He specializes in dairy filtration technology, focusing on high-value proteins and sustainable solutions to reduce energy and water consumption.Todd began his career at Filtration Engineering in 1989, which was later acquired by Tetra Pak in 2012. He has been with Tetra Pak since 2013 and took on his current role in 2022. Todd holds an accounting degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and actively volunteers as Treasurer and past President of the Champlin Crime Prevention Fund.

Kwee Choo Ng, regional product manager, Rice Ingredients and Functional Proteins, North America, at BENEO, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 47 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast, where she addresses ingredient reduction and “free from.” In her role as product manager, Ng is driving the ongoing development of BENEO’s range of rice ingredients and functional proteins from faba bean and rice by identifying opportunities and developing market-oriented solutions and new innovations. Given the portfolio, her main focuses are gluten-free bakery, clean-label solutions, and plant-based proteins for alternative products in the dairy and meat industries. Read More

Dairy Foods Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Ashley Waldman, Founder of Jubilee's, a company that specializes in flavored milk with reduced sugar to allow kids to enjoy a flavorful milk product while enjoying more health benefits. In this interview, Waldman discusses how to make a healthy milk product without sacrificing taste, how most dairy products can benefit from less sugar, and all the health benefits children can receive with more milk intake in their lives.

Dairy Foods Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Adam Seybolt, Director of Manufacturing at Stewart's Shops, and Matt St. Onge, Dairy Manager at Stewart's Shops as they discuss the brand's big wins at the 2024 World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin, taking the top prizes in Best Strawberry Milk, Best Mint Ice Cream, and Best Sherbert Ice Cream.In this interview, Seybolt and St. Onge highlight the challenges of crafting flavored milk, their personal principles in creating exceptional ice cream, and the importance of building strong relationships with dairy farmers.

Maeve Webster, president of Menu Matters LLC, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 46 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast, where she discusses food service trends. Webster is a consultant and thought leader for the food and beverage industry with nearly 25 years of experience. She founded the Arlington, Vt.-based Menu Matters in 2015 with the mission of supporting clients with exceptional one-on-one expertise that puts their strategies and objectives first. Read More

Dairy Foods Magazine Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Amanda Baran, Senior Product Manager at F'Real Beverages, as she discusses the blend-it-yourself milkshake companies latest flavor, Choco Choco Oat Shake. In this interview, Baran explains what makes the ingredients to the shake so healthy compared to similar products on the market, what specific consumer needs F'Real's products respond to, and the most significant innovations the company has contributed to the frozen novelty realm.

Dairy Foods Magazine Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Kallie Goodwin, Senior Vice President of Plant-Based Beverages, as they discuss collaborations with Silk to help educate children and their families about the benefits of plant-based products, especially served at breakfast time.In this interview, Goodwin discusses how Silk and Danoe are trying to appeal their products to lactose-free communities, how they're collaborating with actor Jeremy Renner and his Camp Renervation for at-risk youths to educate campers about plant-based nutrition, their work with The National Women Infants & Children (WIC) Association under the USDA, and common misconceptions about plant-based products.

Eric Garr, Regional Sales Manager, Food Safety, Checkweighing, and Contaminant Detection Specialist at Fortress Technology, has been with the company for 18 years, starting off as a Field Service Technician before advancing to his current role. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Fortress Technology LLC is world renowned for its custom metal detectors, checkweighers, and X-ray systems that are pivotal for protecting diverse food industries, including dairy, bakery, meat, confectionery, and snacks. It also serves pharmaceuticals, plastics, and textiles. Eric plays a pivotal role in supporting R&D projects and managing key global accounts. Read More

Glenn Campbell, regional director of operations for Williamston, S.C.-based Transervice Logistics, joins us for Episode 44 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss dairy logistics. Campbell started in the truck industry as a driver. He changed directions and moved over to fleet maintenance 23 years ago.  Read More

Dairy Foods Magazine Multimedia Specialist sits down with Marcello Di Gregorio, Marketing Manager of Museum of Ice Cream, as they discuss the National Ice Cream Day Celebration taking place on Saturday July 20th and Sunday July 21st across all their locations in New York City, Chicago, Austin, and Singapore.In this interview, Di Gregorio discusses how National Ice Cream Day came to be, what visitors can expect from the pop-up event, and what he hopes people learn from the experience to deepen their appreciation of ice cream.

Renee Henze, chief sustainability officer at International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), joins Dairy Foods for Episode 43 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss sustainability.Henze leads IFF’s Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy, execution, and reporting functions. She also leads the teams that drive sustainable innovation as it relates to customer engagement, sustainability, communication and marketing, responsible sourcing, human rights due diligence, and community impact.  Read More

Todd Meussling, senior manager of market development for Appleton, Wis.-based Fresh-Lock, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 42 of its “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. During this podcast, Meussling discusses sustainability and flexible packaging. Read More

Lisa Jackson, Director of Marketing at FlavorSum, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 41 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast and discusses the wide range of ingredients and flavors creating “buzz” on social media and beyond. Founded in 1941 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, FlavorSum has seen steady growth. In fact, in 2021, the FlavorSum platform united 5 North American flavor houses to build an organization with deep food and beverage expertise. Today, the fast-growing flavor company boasts 2 manufacturing facilities and 3 Innovation Centers in the U.S. and Canada. Read More

Jorge Izquierdo, vice president of market development for PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 40 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. Izquierdo discusses supply chain challenges. Read More Sponsored by:

Darin Copeland, Public Relations Manager at Prairie Farms Dairy in Edwardsville,Ill., joins Dairy Foods for a wide-ranging conversation on several trends impacting the dairy industry. Founded in 1938, Prairie Farms relies on the freshest dairy milk from more than 600 multigenerational, independent family farms to manufacture hundreds of dairy products. These include its top-selling full-fat, 2 percent, and lowfat milks in white and flavored varieties, dozens of flavors of ice cream and frozen novelties, its award-winning cottage cheese, yogurt, dips, frozen treats, and much more.During this Special Episode of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast, Copeland will be discussing lactose-free dairy trends, the latest in new product innovation, why supporting dairy farmers is crucial to Prairie Farms’ mission, and much more Read More

Amy DeLisio, CEO of the Dairy Council of California, joins us for Episode 39 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss animal-free dairy.DeLisio, MPH, RDN, brings a wealth of executive and professional expertise to the position. She previously served as the executive director for the Center for Wellness and Nutrition, Public Health Institute. Three years prior to that, DeLisio was a program director for the Public Health Institute. She also has written several articles for Dairy Foods.  Read More

Dairy Foods Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Marla Beurk and Judy Keenan of Dairy Management, Inc as they discuss a new program called "Innovate With Dairy" which is designed to provide smart guidance to dairy entrepreneurs and enable them to develop new products.In this interview, they discuss how their program benefits dairy workers, what consumer trends influence their work the most, how their digital resources work, and surprising research that shows how people are dissatisfied with most health and wellness products.

Jill Allen, director of product excellence in research and development at Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) joins us for episode 38 of the Let’s Talk Dairy podcast. She discusses dairy trends and predictions. Read More

Mark Fahlin, Category Leader – Dairy, Dairy Alternatives, and Specialized Nutrition at Cargill, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 37 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast, where he discusses the important role of dairy foods in promoting health and wellness in consumers of all ages. Read More

Kimberlee (K.J.) Burrington, vice president of Technical Development for Elmhurst, Ill.-based American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI), joins us for Episode 36 of the Let’s Talk Dairy podcast. Burrington also serves as author of Dairy Foods’ “Culturally Speaking” article.  Read More

Rebecca Marquez joins Dairy Foods for Episode 35 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast to discuss packaging. Marquez was hired at Herndon, Va.-based PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing, in 2016 as a manager of business intelligence, responsible for the execution and analysis of PMMI’s internal market research projects. Due to her proven track record of success in quantitative and qualitative execution and analysis, project management and business development skills, in March 2021, Marquez was given a leading role in the development and building of PMMI Media Group’s Custom Research initiative, a new offering of proprietary research services for PMMI members and packaging industry professionals. Read More

An Ho, director of food science and product innovation, at International Food Products (IFPC) joins Dairy Foods for Episode 34 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast. Ho’s credentials include a bachelor of science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Missouri-Colombia and a master’s in business administration in management and marketing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  Read More

Dairy Foods Multimedia Specialist Brett Parker sits down with Katey Evans, The Founder of Frozen Farmer, as we discuss their Elf on the Shelf Santa's Cookies Ice Cream, a tasty new product ready to roll for the holiday season.Frozen Farmer is using warm holiday nostalgia for the classic Elf on The Shelf toy to create an ice cream and ice cream sandwich product that not only treats consumers to a delicious new flavor but is meant to inspire warm Christmas nostalgia as well.In this interview, we discuss why The Elf on The Shelf was such a huge inspiration for a new ice cream product, the methods that go into perfecting a Christmas-themed ice cream flavor, and the distribution plan for the product.