Stick A Fork In It

She was a single mom. Two kids. Two jobs. And $37 left at the end of the pay period. Then she walked into a credit union — and everything changed. In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Shannon sits down with Bob Hyde of Suncoast Credit Union, one of Feeding Tampa Bay's most valued community partners. Bob shares what "people helping people" looks like beyond the tagline — from one family's journey from $37 to mortgage-free, to how Suncoast is helping make 100 million meals possible across Tampa Bay.

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Thomas pulls back the curtain on what hunger really looks like in Tampa Bay — and why it's nothing like most of us imagine. We talk about the Causeway Center, the merger with Trinity Cafe that changed everything, why they just opened a medical clinic on campus, and the philosophy that drives everything Feeding Tampa Bay does: 51% dignity, 49% food.

Ray Roa didn't get into journalism to change the world. He did it to get into concerts for free. Now he runs Creative Loafing Tampa Bay — and it just became employee-owned for the first time since 2009.

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Ray talks about what it really feels like to own the paper you grew up reading, why Creative Loafing refuses to put up a paywall, and what he believes about the future of local journalism in Tampa Bay. Plus — what's happening with Restaurant Month, his unexpected dream concert, and why kind...

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Ray talks about what it really feels like to own the paper you grew up reading, why Creative Loafing refuses to put up a paywall, and what he believes about the future of local journalism in Tampa Bay. Plus — what's happening with Restaurant Month, his unexpected dream concert, and why kindness is a muscle you have to train.

When Florida's schools and restaurants shut down, dairy farmers were forced to dump millions of gallons of perfectly good milk — while families just miles away went hungry. In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Andrea McClellan from M&B Dairy pulls back the curtain on what really happens on a Florida dairy farm, and the bill that's finally fixing a heartbreaking problem.

Tampa Bay's most trusted meteorologist Denis Phillips joins Stick a Fork in It to cut through the fear, the hype, and the dangerous social media myths spreading ahead of hurricane season — and he has a message every Tampa Bay family needs to hear. From the tragic story of 12 lives lost in Pinellas County during Hurricane Helene — people who believed they had nowhere to turn — to the viral "Super El Niño" panic spreading across TikTok and Instagram, Denis breaks down what's real, what's hype, and what you actually need to do before a storm makes landfall.

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, we sit down with Curtis — a Fresh Force program graduate who turned his life around through one of Tampa Bay's most powerful workforce development programs. Curtis shares the raw truth about his past, the moment he walked through the doors of Feeding Tampa Bay, and how a 10-week training program changed everything for his family.

Tampa food culture has a secret keeper — and his name is Jeff Houck. From Tampa Bay food trucks to the legendary Columbia Restaurant, this former Tampa Tribune food critic knows where every great bite in Florida is hiding. Now working inside the Columbia Restaurant Group, Jeff is on a mission to give back — literally.

Can food actually help cancer survivors heal? A research chef at one of the nation's top cancer centers says yes — and she's putting it to the test in a groundbreaking 12-week clinical study. In this episode, we sit down with Chef Jules, a research chef working in Moffitt Cancer Center's Population Engagement and Research Laboratory (PEARL), designing medically tailored meals specifically for breast cancer survivors battling chemo fog and inflammation. She breaks down the science behind food as medicine, why an anti-inflammatory, high-fiber diet can change outcomes for cancer patients, and what it actually looks like to cook healing food at...

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of pounds of fresh produce were about to rot in farmers' fields — because the restaurants that bought them had shut down overnight. Then Publix spent $10 million to change that. And they never stopped. That has helped feed thousands of people, through their partnership with the Feeding Tampa Bay food bank. It’s part of their combined efforts to end hunger. In this episode of Stick a Fork In It, we sit down with Brian West, Community Relations Manager at Publix, to hear the story behind one of Tampa Bay's most powerful community part...

Grace Sepulveda started a food pantry in her closet. She noticed the neighbors in her apartment building struggling to afford basic groceries. Since then, she has expanded it into multiple locations throughout the Tampa Bay area. Grace doesn't make a single dollar running her food pantries. She never has. She does it because her mother taught her one truth: "If you put food on someone else's table, the Lord will always put food on yours." Fourteen years and nine pantries later, Grace is still living that legacy — serving thousands of neighbors across Pinellas and Pasco counties with something most food ba...

In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Shirley sits down with Lisa Bell, Director of Community Benefit at BayCare Health System, to explore one of Tampa Bay's most innovative healthcare partnerships. BayCare has invested $500 million in community benefit in 2025 alone — and a big piece of that is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to tackle hunger head-on. They're not just talking about it. They're doing it:

What if the most powerful prescription your doctor could write wasn't for a pill — it was for food? In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Shannon sits down with Lisa Bell, Director of Community Benefit at BayCare Health System, to explore one of Tampa Bay's most innovative healthcare partnerships. BayCare has invested $500 million in community benefit in 2025 alone — and a big piece of that is partnering with Feeding Tampa Bay to tackle hunger head-on. They're not just talking about it. They're doing it:

Every summer, children in Tampa Bay are afraid of school letting out because summer means losing the meals they depend on. In this episode of Stick a Fork in It, Jayci Peters, Chief Experience Officer at Feeding Tampa Bay, shares how Cereal for Summer is fighting child hunger for its 11th year running. In this conversation, we dig into how a simple box of cereal became the heartbeat of a community movement, why $1 equals 5 meals for a hungry child, and the creative new ways local businesses are joining the fight. What you'll learn: - Why kids in Tampa Bay fear...

#blackhistorymonth Highlighting a leader who began as a temp driver and is now director of warehose and logistics 

Over the past six years our own Khalil Rasheed has gone from temp worker to Lead Driver and now Director of Logistics! And it wasn't just his calm, steadfast demeanor that got him there, but also how seriously he takes safety and planning, both on the road and in our warehouse. Tune in to learn how his experience managing military inventory brought him to Feeding Tampa Bay, and how he focuses on family during Black History Month...

Cold or flu? Our chat with BayCare is just too good to not reshare!

How do we avoid catching and spreading the flu? Well, our friend Dr. Kopec says we can start by washing our hands, and remembering to cover coughs with our sleeves. But tune in to learn why the flu might seem worse this year, and what to do if symptoms seem particularly bad for you or a loved one! Let's keep each other healthy and safe, during flu season and beyond.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay to see how we're working...

The Tampa Bay Lightning aren't just two time Stanley Cup winners — they're also a powerhouse of community connection and support. Elizabeth Frazier, VP of Community Relations, joins us on today's episode to share the team's philosophy of philanthropy, and the ways they strive to make their arena a home for every neighbor and cause.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay to see all the ways our partners are working to improve our community!

Many of you know Ty Pennington from shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition — but did you know that he cares just as much about taking care of our furry friends as he does about our families? That's why he partners with PetSmart Charities to ensure that our four-legged family members always have enough food to eat, too. Tune in to hear about his philosophy of what makes a home special, including the pitter patter of paws up and down the hallways.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see how our other partners continue to help th...

Feeding Tampa Bay is more than just a mission. It's a collection of people with so much heart, talent, and history they could have their own award-winning podcast. But since they're so busy providing help and hope to our community, we'll have to settle for meeting a few of them here. Welcome to Heroes of FTB, 2025 edition.

On this week's episode you'll meet James, Kristin, Zachariah, Kim, and Kate — who each share the unexpected journey that brought them into our world, and the meaning they find in the work each and every day. Tune in, an...

Feeding Tampa Bay is more than just a mission. It's a collection of people with so much heart, talent, and history they could have their own award-winning podcast. But since they're so busy providing help and hope to our community, we'll have to settle for meeting a few of them here. Welcome to Heroes of FTB, 2025 edition.

On this week's episode you'll meet Dan, Ashley, Marcellus, Toneice, and Nicole — who each share the unexpected journey that brought them into our world. And that's only half the fun! Next week we'll bring you five more teammates, wi...

If you feel like the crises of the world are growing and multiplying lately, you're not alone. Clara Reynolds, President & CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, recognizes how people are struggling with more and more problems, but don't have the tools or support needed to handle them. So what do we do? First, she says, we need to listen. Tune in to hear how her own journey through trauma led to helping others, and how the Crisis Center is changing the typical approach to social services in our community.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social...

If you want to plan out the future of food relief in America, all you need is a background in fundraising, an infectiously positive attitude, and a cello degree from Northern Illinois University. Or at least, those are the ingredients that have helped Julie Yurko, President and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank, become a celebrated leader in the Feeding America national network. On today's episode Julie teaches us how to learn from the experience of others, how to energize the people we work with, and how to lean into the positive side of life while we do it.<...

What does a "think tank" actually do? Well, in the case of the Urban Institute, they compile tons of research about and testimonials from actual community members, and use that information to improve programs and policies that serve them. Alexis Weaver joins us today to explain how important it is to ensure that the things we think are helping people, are actually helping them. And how social services and governments can learn and grow from this work.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn how you can help us grow from this work, too!

How is it possible that food banks are providing exponentially more meals to the community each year, but food insecurity is still growing all across the country? Brian Greene, President & CEO of Houston Food Bank, explains the problem in eye-opening detail. Tune in to learn how some nonprofits are changing their philosophy and approach to keep more people from slipping through the cracks.

And follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see how you can help us do just that.

Our dear friend Yvette Carter, Director of Open Arms Ministry and their food pantry, recently passed. So we're honoring her story and all of the endless love that flowed from her into the community by re-sharing the episode we recorded with her in 2023. If you're looking for some inspiration to lift you out of despair, tune in to hear her story of a journey from homelessness to giving hope to others. And let's keep building the world she envisioned together.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn how you can lean in to help build...

The safety and comfort of home is a feeling we can all relate to, and an experience every person deserves. That is why, even as housing prices soar, Habitat for Humanity continues its mission of building prosperous and vibrant communities. Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, joins us to explain how affordable housing improves the very fabric of communities, and how the people who need it most are often those caring for us, our families, and our children.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn more about our partners doing amazing...

What is a "community partnership school"? A hub for helping EVERYONE from students, to parents, to teachers themselves! The Children's Home Society of Florida and its community partners are focused on expanding school offerings to include things like medical and dental care, mentoring, parenting classes, and even housing resources.

They understand how hard it can be for children to get a good education when they're hungry or struggling at home, and how hard it can be for many parents to make ends meet. Join us on today's episode to learn how Mary Brown, Senior Director...

News is changing just as much as the world that it reports on, but is still a fundamental source of information for us and our neighbors. That's why we invited Natalie Taylor (ABC News) and Walter Allen (FOX News) onto the podcast, to talk about what it's like working in broadcast media today — especially as a couple on different sides of the local news fence. Tune in and learn with us!

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to see how we're evolving with the times as well, and how you can get involved.

Do you remember how exciting it was as a kid to get a new jacket or new shoes, and to show them off at school the next day? For over 20 years, Clothes to Kids has been making that feeling possible for children who have often had to go to school without socks, or wearing pants and shirts that don't fit. Jennifer Jacobs, Executive Director of Clothes to Kids, joins us on today's episode to tell us the story of how their journey started, and the joy she's helped bring to children all across Tampa Bay. Visit clothestokids.org to...

In just a couple weeks you can watch our 10th Epic Chef event LIVE on YouTube (streamed by our partners @MORTampa)! Co-host Rachel Bennett returns to the podcast today to talk about what makes Epic Chef so special, and to enlighten us about the culinary scene of Tampa Bay. Tune in to learn more, and if you want to attend this year's Epic Chef event in person, visit FeedingTampaBay.org/EpicChef!

As always, be sure to follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media for more updates.

How do you know which news sources to trust, and what stories are important for the community to hear? Conan Gallaty, CEO of the Tampa Bay Times, joins us on today's episode to talk about the history and importance of journalism in our country, and the state if digital information today. With so much information being blasted out at such high speeds, we're grateful that the staff of the Tampa Bay Times is so committed to getting the story right, and telling the stories that help keep us informed.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your fav social...

As a professional meteorologist and certified "weather geek" -- Denis Phillips is the man to turn to when skies are looking stormy. Many of you stayed tuned into his broadcast on ABC Action News during the hurricanes last year, and on today's episode he tells us what's most important to keep in mind for future hurricanes. If you haven't already heard our past episode with Denis, check it out to learn where his famous "Rule #7" came from, and how you can use it to stay safe this season!

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on social media to learn how else...

Seven months after hurricanes Helen and Milton devastated the West coast of Florida, many residents still have not been able to move back into their homes, or afford the expenses to get their lives back on track. That is why our friends at Grow Financial stepped in to provide direct support to our community in the form of direct recovery funding.

Tune in to hear how credit unions like Grow Financial are geared toward community service, offering things like financial literacy programs to their members. And listen to the uplifting story of our neighbor Julia...

One of the healthiest things you can do for yourself and the environment is support local industries -- and that's especially true when it comes to farmers! Andrea McClellan of M&B Dairy joins us today to share how her family provides milk to millions of families across Florida, and how partners like Feeding Tampa Bay ensure that milk gets distributed during summertime, storms, and even a pandemic. Tune in to learn how you can support local farmers, and stick around for the end of the show where we recap the most important takeaways!

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For decades Metropolitan Ministries has been giving people hope in our community by providing food, shelter, and human dignity. That is why our growing partnership with them is so meaningful, and why we're so grateful to have their president, Tim Marks, as the very first guest for our show's visual re-launch! Tim is entering a much-deserved retirement, and shares with us the importance of being a "servant leader". His journey is as unusual as that of many non-profit leaders, but his passion for telling human stories is familiar to us. Listen (and watch on YouTube or Spotify!) as he and...

Some BIG CHANGES are coming to Stick A Fork In It!

While we're working hard behind the scenes to put everything in place, we wanted to take a moment to revisit some of our most popular and impactful episodes. In this next retrospective, we hear a story of food insecurity to stability from out own board chair, Kareem Spratling. Despite being an esteemed lawyer now, he remembers how he and his mother struggled with hunger in his youth -- and he wants everyone to see as clearly as he does that hunger exists in places you might...

Some BIG CHANGES are coming to Stick A Fork In It!

While we're working hard behind the scenes to put everything in place, we wanted to take a moment to revisit some of our most popular and impactful episodes. In this next retrospective, we share some tears and inspiration with our longtime volunteer, Barb Smith. This selfless human being has put other people first her entire life, and when it came time for her to be cared for, she was surprised to find that retirement wouldn't really be an option for her. Tune in to learn how...

Some BIG CHANGES are coming to Stick A Fork In It! And while we're assembling all the pieces behind the scenes, we wanted to take this opportunity to revisit some of our most popular and powerful episodes. In this first retrospective, we learn how SOF Missions, led by Dr. Damon Friedman, has been rescuing veterans from suicide with the same physical, mental, and spiritual help that saved his own life after duty.

Keep an eye out for the big news announcement by following us @FeedingTampaBay on all social media channels!

Over the past six years our own Khalil Rasheed has gone from temp worker to Lead Driver and now Director of Logistics! And it wasn't just his calm, steadfast demeanor that got him there, but also how seriously he takes safety and planning, both on the road and in our warehouse. Tune in to learn how his experience managing military inventory brought him to Feeding Tampa Bay, and how he focuses on family during Black History Month -- which in his words, is every month!

Follow @FeedingTampaBaya to see our drivers and warehouse staff in action, and...

How do we avoid catching and spreading the flu? Well, our friend Dr. Kopec says we can start by washing our hands, and remembering to cover coughs with our sleeves. But tune in to learn why the flu might seem worse this year, and what to do if symptoms seem particularly bad for you or a loved one! Let's keep each other healthy and safe, during flu season and beyond.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay to see how we're working with other community partners to bring health and stability to our neighbors, and how you can get involved, too.