Tastemaker Conference feels strongly that community over competition is the key to success. Creators of all levels can benefit from interacting in a small-group setting with one another. The goal of these roundtables is to provide a more personal setting in which creators of all different backgrounds, niches, and experience levels can discuss industry topics with one another. And who knows–you might just meet your new creator bestie!

How do I participate in Networking Roundtables?

If you’d like to participate, PLEASE RSVP BY FILLING OUT THIS FORM (form must be completed by December 10, 2025 in order to be placed in a group). Tastemaker Conference will place attendees who have RSVP’d into randomly assigned groups.

Each group will have approximately 5-10 members. Roundtable groups will meet on both Day 1 & Day 2 from 7:30 – 8:00 in the main stage area, with designated tables for chatting over coffee! 

A discussion facilitator will be assigned to each group (by Tastemaker Conference, ahead of time). Facilitators will organize virtual introductions via email one week prior to the conference, so everyone will have a few friendly faces to look out for at TC26!

Kick off Tastemaker Conference with an energizing welcome from CEO Abbey Rodriguez and COO Chandice Probst. They will set the tone for an inspiring two days by sharing what is ahead for our community, offering a look at what 2026 may hold, and highlighting key themes shaping the creator landscape. This session is designed to spark excitement, ground us in purpose, and prepare you for the learning and connections to come.

This advanced workshop is designed for food bloggers who already have a YouTube channel but
want to grow faster, convert more viewers into loyal subscribers, and increase their video-driven
income. We’ll go deep into advanced strategies like content batching, performance analytics,
strategic SEO, retention-boosting edits, and community-building tactics that work specifically in
the food niche. You’ll walk away with a blueprint to streamline your content process and scale
your channel with confidence.

Lecture (Hour 1): Strategy + Systems for Scalable YouTube Growth

Learning Objectives
1. Understand the key growth levers for turning a stagnant channel into a thriving one
(content strategy, audience targeting, watch time optimization).
2. Develop a sustainable video workflow that integrates with the demands of blogging.
3. Learn how to repurpose blog content for YouTube to work smarter, not harder.
4. Identify the signals YouTube uses to promote content and how to create videos that align
with those signals.
5. Analyze performance data beyond views and subscribers to make informed decisions.
6. Explore monetization strategies tailored to food bloggers (brand deals, affiliate marketing,
product funnels, AdSense).

Lecture Topics
What actually matters on YouTube in 2026 (algorithm shifts, viewer behavior trends)
My 3-part framework: Hook – Hold – Help
Turning a recipe blog into a video content machine
Planning videos for both YouTube search & suggested feed
Productivity: Batching, scheduling, and avoiding burnout
Monetization pathways beyond ads (and how to make each video support your business)

———

Lab (Hour 2): Systems, Setup, and Content Walkthrough

Walking through Andrew’s setup — Learn how Andrew scripts, plans, shoots, and edits a high-performing video (could include a screen share of editing software, showing title/thumbnail strategy, analytics, etc.)

Lab Objectives
1. Practice using a repeatable planning framework to map blog content to YouTube format.
2. Learn how to write a compelling title and thumbnail concept before hitting record.
3. Understand how you structure and film your videos for audience retention and brand
consistency.
4. Leave with a customized checklist or content workflow to apply immediately.

When your to-do list runs longer than your ingredient list, “adding systems” sounds like the last thing you’d want to do. But the right systems don’t box you in; they make things easier! In this session, NerdPress COO Heather Wilkins will show how to go beyond typical to-do lists, implementing workflows that will help you scale your creativity and your business without draining your energy. You’ll learn how to hand off tasks with confidence, free your brain from the small stuff, and focus on what really matters most to you. We promise you’ll walk away excited to start putting workflows into practice!

AI Mode is redefining the way we find and interact with information, and it’s poised to replace traditional search as we know it. In this session, we’ll explore the latest changes shaping the search landscape, including Search Live, AI in Chrome, and Deep Search within AI Mode. We’ll dive into the coming era of Agentic Search—where websites and graphical interfaces give way to AI-driven assistance—and consider what it means for creators, businesses, and everyday life. Finally, we’ll look ahead to a future where AI is seamlessly integrated into our world through devices like smart glasses. Join us for an inspiring glimpse into the next frontier of search and how to thrive in it.

Session curated with TopHatRank.

Making money as a creator is just the beginning—what you do with it determines your future. In this session, we’ll move beyond the basics of earning and saving to explore how to build lasting wealth like a CEO. You’ll learn how to strategically grow and protect your income through smart investments, real estate opportunities, retirement planning, and equity diversification. With an approachable, inspiring teaching style and the expertise of a seasoned financial advisor, this class will equip you with the tools and confidence to make powerful money moves that transform short-term success into long-term financial freedom.

In Burnout, Breakdowns & Big Comebacks, Laura Ashley Johnson of Dinner in 321 invites attendees into her journey of loss, resilience, and renewal. She shares how losing everything she built, twice, taught her to rebuild with integrity, authenticity, and faith, supported by her family and the food blogging community. Throughout the session, Laura will guide participants in discovering what truly drives engagement and how to craft purpose-driven storytelling that connects far beyond algorithms. She’ll also emphasize the importance of building a supportive network of like-minded, values-driven friends and being open to growth opportunities that may initially feel uncomfortable. Laura will share her Three C’s for long-term success (creating quality Content, staying Consistent, and truly Connecting with your audience) as a practical roadmap for rebuilding stronger. To wrap up, she’ll offer a behind-the-scenes “day in the life” look at how she balances creativity, consistency, and connection in her everyday work as a full-time creator.

Traffic is changing faster than ever—AI search, Pinterest, and new discovery platforms are transforming how audiences find food content. But here’s the good news: creators who know what works are still growing strong. In this session, we’ll break down the latest trends and give you proven, tested tactics that deliver real results. Expect fresh insights from experts at Raptive, practical strategies, and a clear roadmap to turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s growth wins.

True inclusion requires more than awareness. It requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to learn. In this session, food creators share real experiences of feeling marginalized, misunderstood, or challenged in their work. Through these stories, we’ll explore what it means to create a community where are questions are welcomed, differences are respected, and learning is continuous. Walk away with actionable insights to cultivate a more inclusive and supportive food creator ecosystem.

Meet the brands who power the creator industry! Network with Tastemaker Conference sponsors, explore potential partnerships, and discover tools to help grow your business. In the Connection Hub you can meet for 15 minute 1:1’s with your favorite brands to ask questions, get support, and more!

Enjoy lunch provided by JW Marriott LA & Kingsview Partners and network with Tastemaker Conference exhibitors! Located upstairs in the Diamond Ballroom just a short escalator ride away!

Search is changing—and so is the way we need to organize our content. In this session, Carolyn Shelby will explore a smarter approach to structuring your site that helps readers (and search engines) better understand what you’re all about. You’ll discover how shifting your strategy can boost visibility, improve authority, and set your content up for long-term success.

Session curated with TopHatRank

In a world where AI can rewrite your recipes and algorithms decide who sees your content, the future of food blogging belongs to creators who build value beyond traffic alone. In this session, food copywriter and marketing strategist Emily Baksa highlights one of the most stable and underutilized assets for recipe creators: digital products. She’s helped food bloggers launch offerings that support and connect with readers, and will show you how to start thinking about them as a natural extension of your content — not another thing to juggle.

By the end of this session, attendees will able to…

• Understand how to repurpose knowledge into deeper, value-driven offerings that create more freedom from shifting algorithms without adding more work.
• Develop a revenue-generating idea that naturally grows from their existing content and audience, so it feels exciting to sell.
• Reframe selling and positioning as acts of service to build trust, connection, and credibility in their marketing.

Segmentation is the gold standard for retaining your email subscribers in 2026. A simple segmentation system can completely level up your email strategy by keeping your readers happy — which naturally leads to more clicks, fewer unsubscribes, and higher revenue from site traffic.

In this hands-on workshop, join email strategist Allea Grummert — founder of Duett and host of Happy Subscribers — as she breaks down tags, groups, and segments in a way that finally makes sense. You’ll get clear on which subscribers want which emails from you, and you’ll walk step-by-step through creating your own segmentation system (whether you use Kit, Flodesk, MailerLite, or another platform).

Then, together, you’ll draft the email that invites your subscribers to tell you their preferences — and learn how to use those preferences to send smarter, more relevant emails going forward.

You’ll walk away with:

• A clear segmentation system built inside your email platform of choice (no tech overwhelm required)
• A simple way for your subscribers choose the content or frequency they actually want in their inbox
• A template “preferences” email you can edit and send to your entire list after the workshop so you can prompt your subscribers to self-segment by clicking
• Long-term strategies for nurturing your list so subscribers stay happier, stick around longer, and engage more consistently
• Better sending decisions — meaning less second-guessing and more confidence in what you send (and who you send it to)

Meet the brands who power the creator industry! Network with Tastemaker Conference sponsors, explore potential partnerships, and discover tools to help grow your business. In the Tech Hall, you can book a 15-minute 1:1 with your favorite tech companies for personalized support, expert advice, or live troubleshooting. Spots fill fast, so sign up early!

Indulge in a hands-on Chocolate Sculpting Masterclass led by JWLA’s award-winning pastry chef and master chocolatier, Francois Behuet! This experience is a fantastic way to meet new friends and to connect over a shared love for learning new things– and eating delicious ones. With this year’s excursion taking shape as a luxury Chocolate Sculpting Masterclass, it’s sure to be as chic as it is sweet.

*Additional cost to participate

From fast-changing platforms to new styles of content and brand partnerships, trends are reshaping the way food creators connect with audiences. In this panel, creators with varied perspectives explore how approaches to content, community, and brand partnerships are evolving. Together, we’ll unpack the trends driving the next era of food media.

Unwind after Day 1! Join us from 4:30–5:30 pm for a relaxed happy hour hosted by the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, complete with cocktails, mocktails, and snacks. It’s the perfect chance to mix, mingle, and connect with fellow attendees after a full day of education.

Previously known as the Attendee Dinner Excursion, this VIP Dinner is sure to excite! Join your foodie friends for an immersive dinner experience in the heart of the Los Angeles Entertainment District.

Tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE, but transferable up to 30 days before the event.

Enjoy complimentary coffee and continue making connections.

Tastemaker Conference feels strongly that community over competition is the key to success. Creators of all levels can benefit from interacting in a small-group setting with one another. The goal of these roundtables is to provide a more personal setting in which creators of all different backgrounds, niches, and experience levels can discuss industry topics with one another. And who knows–you might just meet your new creator bestie!

How do I participate in Networking Roundtables?

If you’d like to participate, PLEASE RSVP BY FILLING OUT THIS FORM (form must be completed by December 10, 2025 in order to be placed in a group). Tastemaker Conference will place attendees who have RSVP’d into randomly assigned groups.

Each group will have approximately 5-10 members. Roundtable groups will meet on both Day 1 & Day 2 from 7:30 – 8:00 in the main stage area, with designated tables for chatting over coffee! 

A discussion facilitator will be assigned to each group (by Tastemaker Conference, ahead of time). Facilitators will organize virtual introductions via email one week prior to the conference, so everyone will have a few friendly faces to look out for at TC26!

Take a quick pause to refresh and reset with actor and creator Kalen Allen. In this uplifting session, Kalen will share insights and inspiration to help food creators approach their work with renewed energy and perspective.

Main Stage Open Dialogue

The creator landscape is changing fast, and this session is built as an open dialogue with the Tastemaker community. Join Mediavine CEO Eric Hochberger and CRO Amanda Martin, moderated by VP of Marketing and Communications Jenny Guy, for a candid, interactive conversation about how food creators can build smarter growth, stronger audiences, and sustainable monetization for what’s ahead.

Rather than a formal presentation, attendees are invited to ask questions and help guide the discussion, covering topics like audience loyalty, channels creators control, and monetization that supports long-term success and a great reader experience.

Come ready to participate and leave with practical insight for building a creator business that lasts.

You’ve mastered pageviews — now it’s time to unlock the deeper story your data can tell. In this session, we’ll move beyond the basics of Google Analytics 4 to explore features and reports that reveal how visitors truly engage with your content. You’ll learn how to spot opportunities for growth, identify what’s really driving results, and make smarter decisions backed by data — not guesswork. You’ll learn how to level up your analytics by using advanced tools and techniques that go beyond the out-of-the-box GA4 setup to uncover insights that drive growth and site improvements. Whether you’re a solo blogger or leading a team, you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how analytics can fuel strategy and spark site enhancements.

When your to-do list runs longer than your ingredient list, “adding systems” sounds like the last thing you’d want to do. But the right systems don’t box you in; they make things easier! In this session, NerdPress COO Heather Wilkins will show how to go beyond typical to-do lists, implementing workflows that will help you scale your creativity and your business without draining your energy. You’ll learn how to hand off tasks with confidence, free your brain from the small stuff, and focus on what really matters most to you. We promise you’ll walk away excited to start putting workflows into practice!

AI Mode is redefining the way we find and interact with information, and it’s poised to replace traditional search as we know it. In this session, we’ll explore the latest changes shaping the search landscape, including Search Live, AI in Chrome, and Deep Search within AI Mode. We’ll dive into the coming era of Agentic Search—where websites and graphical interfaces give way to AI-driven assistance—and consider what it means for creators, businesses, and everyday life. Finally, we’ll look ahead to a future where AI is seamlessly integrated into our world through devices like smart glasses. Join us for an inspiring glimpse into the next frontier of search and how to thrive in it.

Session curated with TopHatRank.

AI is changing everything—but that doesn’t mean the future has to be frightening. In this candid fireside chat, Carolyn Shelby and Marie Haynes will explore what’s ahead for creators and websites, offering perspective, clarity, and hope in a time of uncertainty. Walk away feeling informed, inspired, and confident that the future is bright.

Moderated by Arsen Rabinovich

Session curated with TopHatRank

Take a break, recharge, and grab lunch from one of the many restaurants nearby. This is the perfect time to connect with new friends, continue conversations from the morning sessions, or enjoy some solo downtime before diving back into the afternoon programming.

This advanced session is designed for experienced food bloggers, creators, and publishers who already understand SEO and content creation—but want to master the systems that drive visibility. You’ll go beyond the blog and learn how platforms, data, and technology decide what gets discovered, recommended, and monetized.

Most creators think visibility only comes from creativity and consistency—but behind every viral recipe is a hidden engine: structure.

In this session, you’ll uncover how recipe data, metadata, and content systems shape what audiences actually see across Google, Pinterest, TikTok, and recipe apps.
You’ll learn how to diagnose weak points in your recipe structure, apply technical fixes, and turn your existing content into scalable digital assets.

In two hours, you’ll move from theory to action, breaking down the frameworks that power visibility, then applying them through real-world examples you can implement right away.

In a world where AI can rewrite your recipes and algorithms decide who sees your content, the future of food blogging belongs to creators who build value beyond traffic alone. In this session, food copywriter and marketing strategist Emily Baksa highlights one of the most stable and underutilized assets for recipe creators: digital products. She’s helped food bloggers launch offerings that support and connect with readers, and will show you how to start thinking about them as a natural extension of your content — not another thing to juggle.

By the end of this session, attendees will able to…

• Understand how to repurpose knowledge into deeper, value-driven offerings that create more freedom from shifting algorithms without adding more work.
• Develop a revenue-generating idea that naturally grows from their existing content and audience, so it feels exciting to sell.
• Reframe selling and positioning as acts of service to build trust, connection, and credibility in their marketing.

Segmentation is the gold standard for retaining your email subscribers in 2026. A simple segmentation system can completely level up your email strategy by keeping your readers happy — which naturally leads to more clicks, fewer unsubscribes, and higher revenue from site traffic.

In this hands-on workshop, join email strategist Allea Grummert — founder of Duett and host of Happy Subscribers — as she breaks down tags, groups, and segments in a way that finally makes sense. You’ll get clear on which subscribers want which emails from you, and you’ll walk step-by-step through creating your own segmentation system (whether you use Kit, Flodesk, MailerLite, or another platform).

Then, together, you’ll draft the email that invites your subscribers to tell you their preferences — and learn how to use those preferences to send smarter, more relevant emails going forward.

You’ll walk away with:

• A clear segmentation system built inside your email platform of choice (no tech overwhelm required)
• A simple way for your subscribers choose the content or frequency they actually want in their inbox
• A template “preferences” email you can edit and send to your entire list after the workshop so you can prompt your subscribers to self-segment by clicking
• Long-term strategies for nurturing your list so subscribers stay happier, stick around longer, and engage more consistently
• Better sending decisions — meaning less second-guessing and more confidence in what you send (and who you send it to)

Wrap up your Tastemaker experience with an inspiring conversation led by Kevin Curry. This final keynote will bring together the ideas, energy, and connections from the past two days and leave you motivated to carry it all forward.

End the conference on a high note at our unforgettable closing celebration! Expect great music, plenty of drinks, and a playful Y2K vibe. Come ready to dance the night away—and don’t forget your best throwback look!