About this podcast
Next Up is NxtGen Network's podcast for the food industry: real conversations with the people actually building school nutrition and foodservice, not just the ones giving keynotes. Industry leaders and rising voices get into the actual career stories, the wins, the setbacks, and the innovation reshaping K-12 foodservice from the inside. If you work in food and want to hear from people who've actually done it, this is your show. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 84 episodes
- Pork's Potential in School Meals · 1 h 2 min · Season 7 Episode 3Most districts that serve pork treat it as a limited-time offer or a once-a-month special. LaChell Miller, MS, RDN, CC, the Senior Manager National Nutrition Programs at the…
- Moo-Ving Dairy to your Menus · 1 h 11 min · Season 7 Episode 2Whole milk is back in school meals, and new added sugar and sodium limits may arrive in 2027-28.Built for school nutrition directors, menu planners and foodservice teams. Marlon…
- The Social Hour | The Behind NxtGen Network's Social Media Success · 1 h 0 min · Season 7 Episode 1AI won't replace you. The person who uses it will.In this special edition of the Next Up Podcast, Marlon sits down with NxtGen Network Social Media Managers Rachel and Kariss…
- The Miami-Dade Difference · 53 min · Season 6 Episode 11DRAFTWhat happens when a Food & Nutrition Officer spends 25 years inside one of the largest school districts in America — and refuses to settle for "good enough"? You get Angie…
- Fresh From The Vine | Sponsored by Red Gold Tomatoes K-12 · 24 min · Season 6 Episode 10Sponsored by Red Gold Tomatoes, this special live episode of the Next Up Podcast was filmed at the NxtGen Masterclass in Orlando, FL, bringing together school nutrition leaders…
- Menu Drives Your Business: Inside Health-e Pro's Mission to Save Menu Planners Time · 1 h 9 min · Season 6 Episode 9What happens when a retired school nutrition director decides to build the software she always wished she had? You get Health-e Pro — a USDA-approved menu planning platform with…
- Packing Bags and Paying Tabs · 47 min · Season 6 Episode 8In this episode of The Next Up Podcast, host Marlon Gordon sits down with Samantha Bourque from National Food Group and Zee Zees for a powerful conversation about food…
- If it's About Us Don't Do it Without Us | GENYOUth · 42 min · Season 6 Episode 7This conversation features members of the GENYOUth National Youth Council discussing the importance of student engagement in school meal programs. They explore the mission of…
- Behind the Brand: Zee Zees · 38 min · Season 6 Episode 6In this episode of The Next Up Podcast, host Marlon Gordon sits down with Tara Sharpe, K-12 Segment Director for Zee Zees® (National Food Group), for an in-depth conversation…
- Inside Eagle Mountain Saginaw’s Nutrition Mission · 37 min · Season 6 Episode 5In this episode of Next Up, we’re joined by Darlene Lopez and Megan Martinson from Eagle Mountain–Saginaw ISD for a powerful look at how food, culture, and education intersect…
- Garland ISD’s Culinary Revolution · 46 min · Season 6 Episode 4In this episode of Next Up, the team from Garland ISD—Craig Hempel, Jennifer Miller, and Chef Kevin Jenkins—breaksdown how they transformed one of Texas’s largest districts into…
- How One Choice Changed a District · 37 min · Season 6 Episode 3In this episode of Next Up, we sit down with Shannon Almand- the Director of Child Nutrition Services for Quitman ISD whose journey into child nutrition proves how powerful…
- Fueling Healthy Futures · 50 min · Season 6 Episode 2This conversation explores the vital work of Action for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health programming in schools across the United States. The…
- Astronauts, Chefs, & Dietitians: Building Better Meals Together · 59 min · Season 6 Episode 1***A little bit of technical difficulties couldn't stop us from a great conversation and tons of laughs. Make sure you stick around for the bloopers!***We’re kicking off Season 6…
- A Seat At The Table: Creating Spaces Students Love · 28 minHow can school cafeterias spark innovation, build community, and change the way students see nutrition? In this episode of the Next Up Podcast, we're live at Ignite 2025 and…
- Real Talk, Real People: Meet the Masters · 1 h 15 minWelcome to the debut of the Next Up Podcast Live at the NxtGen Masterclass—where creativity, purpose, and school nutrition collide. Marlon is joined by a panel of powerhouse…
- NxtGen Masterclass: Celebrating Innovation in School Nutrition · 42 min · Season 5 Episode 6How can we make school lunch cool again? What strategies actually boost student participation in school meal programs? In this episode sponsored by Multiteria, school nutrition…
- Beyond The Cafeteria: E S Foods' Mission to Nourish and Inspire · 1 h 0 min · Season 5 Episode 6In this episode, Tom Ferris shares his journey from a soccer-loving youth to a successful career in the food service industry. He discusses his early experiences in hospitality…
- Innovating School Nutrition: The Trailblazer Awards · 47 min · Season 5 Episode 5In this episode of the Next Up Podcast, produced by NxtGen Network, host Marlon Gordon welcomes guests Jenna Kaczmarski and Shani Hall to discuss the importance of innovation in…
- Zee Zees | Making Healthy Food Fun & The Fight to End School Meal Debt · 46 min · Season 5 Episode 4Join Marlon as he chats with Tara Sharpe and Kristine Buyers at the Zee Zees HQ in Michigan. The trio discusses Zee Zees' innovative approach to school nutrition that combines…
