The HRN team went to the first annual Art of Cheese Festival in Madison Wisconsin to talk to the movers and shakers from all corners of the Wisconsin cheese world. In this episode Cutting the Curd host, Jessica Kesselman sits down with Liz Thorpe to hear about the Affinage classes she taught at the festival and with Shannon Berry, the cheesemonger and Certified Cheese Professional who cut the cheese for the entire weekend. Then former cheesemaker H Conley speaks with Rachel Kerr, the Festival Director for the Art of Cheese Festival to hear how the whole event came together.
What started as a meat-and-cheese catering business has become what owner Megan Lewis calls an 'octopus' a venture that offers classes, events, catering and food trailer under one tasty umbrella.
In the final episode of the season, HBR editor Adi Ignatius interviews Jason Buechel, the CEO of Whole Foods. Buechel discusses the challenges of succeeding a larger-than-life executive, the role of Whole Foods as a subsidiary of Amazon, and how the company is addressing changes in the business environment, such as climate change and hybrid work. Buechel emphasizes the importance of understanding the voice of team members during a leadership transition and being authentic as a leader. He also highlights Whole Foods’ focus on growth opportunities for employees and its commitment to sustainability. Buechel believes that AI will fundamentally change the retail and grocery shopping experience in the next decade. The episode concludes with Buechel sharing his favorite products from Whole Foods.