Podcast

We’re grateful to have such a wide range of expertise and such a depth of commitment from our FTB board members. And that members like Roberto Torres (owner of The […]

Today’s guest, Roger Germann, tells us that every person who visits the Florida Aquarium is helping them to preserve nature and provide a better life to the animals they care […]

Soldiers often learn to suffer in silence, which is why it’s so important that they have advocates like retired Col. DJ Reyes. His work with Veteran Treatment Courts in Florida […]

According to today’s guest, Hillsborough County has more teacher vacancies than any other county in the state. And as President of the Hillsborough Classroom Teacher’s Association, Rob Kriete knows what […]

BayCare doesn’t just specialize in providing care for your body, they understand the importance of taking care of your mind, as well. Dr. Christina Canody joins us today to talk […]

If we want life to improve for ourselves and our neighbors, we’ll need to get involved in the conversations that can change that for us. And one of the many […]

Can you believe there are already over 150 episodes of this show!? Given all we’ve seen and done in that time, and all the people we’ve met and talked to, […]

In Phil Lee’s own words, Florida Blue is a “health solutions company” — not just an insurance provider. On today’s episode he explains what it means to focus on preventive […]

For YEARS our caring friends over at ABC Action News have been helping us raise awareness about the struggles, needs, successes and humanity of our neighbors around Tampa Bay. And […]

If you’ve watched Feeding Tampa Bay’s Epic Chef competition in the past, you know just how exciting it is to see the best culinary artists in the region face off […]

You may be thinking that with our new community center on Causeway Blvd. Feeding Tampa Bay is all set! But the work is just beginning, friends. Now that we have […]

As our mission has grown, the way it’s represented has to grow, too. And we’re so thankful to have had the experts at ChappellRoberts by our side for over 10 […]

Many of us know how scary it is to leave high school and try to find our place in the big, wide world. So the mission of Workforce Development Partners […]

Our annual cereal collection event is here! Every year our partners at 10 Tampa Bay help us collect TONS of cereal so that kids in our community can have breakfast […]

There’s no singular path to accomplishing our goals in life, and on today’s episode our president & CEO, Thomas Mantz, shares the secret sauce behind his successes at Feeding Tampa […]

If you’ve spent enough time around Feeding Tampa Bay then you already know that food IS medicine! And the TampaWell project, created by our partners at Tampa General Hospital, is […]

Awareness of and involvement with the community around you is the most important part of advocacy work, according to Lorena Hardwick, our own Chief External Affairs Officer. It can be […]

Former Senator Janet Cruz still remembers how her grandparents’ clothes smelled of cigars when they returned home from Ybor City’s historic cigar factories. She recalls a childhood where neighbors shared […]

Joining us again on today’s episode is mental health expert, Natasha Pierre, to help us honor Women’s History Month by talking about how women can make the present a historic […]

Twenty years cycling between home-life struggles and military combat zones has taught Dr. Damon Friedman everything he needs to know about the importance of personal and interpersonal healing. After battling […]

There is no better way to support our struggling neighbors than understanding what their struggles consist of, and how they can be helped. That is why Kareem Spratling is the […]

Dr. Sharma of Tampa General Hospital joins the show again (previous episode here) to help us understand how integrative medicine expands health possibilities without requiring a lot of pharmaceuticals or […]

Did you know that Feeding Tampa Bay has programs for volunteers of all ages? On today’s episode, we talk about the Student Ambassador program, and meet two of the local […]

Your favorite yearly episode is here! Meet the inspirational human beings who act as the heart, the arms, the legs, and the soul of our mighty little organization. We talk […]

Your favorite yearly episode is here! Meet the inspirational human beings who act as the heart, the arms, the legs, and the soul of our mighty little organization. We talk […]

The ChappellRoberts marketing agency is the creative force behind many of Feeding Tampa Bay’s bright, inspiring campaigns each year. And on today’s episode, we’d like to introduce you to their […]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Linebacker Markees Watts says he is blessed to have always had support along his journey to the NFL. And he knows how much of a difference it […]

We’re all aware that life can be difficult for an active-duty soldier, but extreme difficulties can also pile up in different ways for retired veterans. Many of them struggle to […]

One surprising fact that has become clear in all our decades of food banking is this: food alone can’t end hunger. That’s why our colleagues like Matt and Kaity work […]

Our President and CEO, Thomas Mantz, is running in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday 10/8! He personally runs for better health, but this time he is running to better the […]

Access to healthy food helps to prevent so many long-term medical issues, that’s why BayCare works so closely with Feeding Tampa Bay to ensure that our neighbors can get that […]

Growing up, many of us don’t learn all of the ins and outs of what truly goes into a healthy diet. Then when money is tight and stress is high, […]

At Feeding Tampa Bay, we create opportunities for neighbors of all ages to get involved in helping their community. We even have specific volunteer groups composed of kids, teens, and […]

Last week we had a tasty conversation with Chef Marty Blitz of the famous Tampa restaurant, Mise en Place. And the multi-course meal wouldn’t be complete without introducing you to […]

The legendary Mise en Place has been a leader in innovative dining for over 30 years in Tampa Bay. Meet the restaurant’s Executive Chef, Marty Blitz, the creative driving force […]

In case you missed it last year, we’re re-sharing the episode with FTB Director of Disaster Relief Jim Carpenter! Want to know what weather channels to watch when a storm […]

Hurricane season is fast approaching here in Florida, and disaster relief is an important part of the food banking world. On today’s episode we welcome back Robin Safley, Executive Director […]

When addiction takes over the steering wheel of your life, you’re bound to crash and hurt the people around you. On today’s episode, our friend Joel Sittloh shares how he […]

The people who dedicate their lives to helping others possess a strength that can be difficult to imagine. And few people embody that strength more than Yvette Carter, director of […]

Few people understand the power of food better than professional chefs. That’s part of the reason Chef Ferrell Alvarez, who partly owns some of the most celebrated eateries in Tampa, […]

Many of us don’t actually know how to check in on our own mental health. Many more don’t realize how much of an effect mental health has on every part […]

It takes an incredible emotional strength (and sometimes an incredible partnership) to turn personal tragedy into hope for others — but that is exactly what Mike & Kathy Fooshee have […]

For nearly 30 years Sweetwater Organic Community Farm has educated Tampa residents about easy farming techniques, by inviting them to plant and harvest crops alongside their neighbors. Everyone from kindergarteners […]

What happens when a father of 7 breaks his back on the job, and is unable to continue working, while the cost of rent and groceries rises all over the […]

How do you plan for the most ambitious social project ever undertaken in Tampa Bay? With the help of experienced, dedicated people like Todd Wickner, who’s managed successful restaurants and […]

As a widow and mother, Barb is back to work at 71 and still struggling to make ends meet. She has been a lifetime caregiver and loyal volunteer, making asking […]

With so many sources of news available on TV and online, it’s difficult to know what to trust. We invite the Emmy-award-winning duo Michael Paluska and Reed Moeller from ABC […]

We’re fortunate to have had the support of Tampa’s Mayor, Jane Castor, through thick and thin in recent years. She stood by us during the pandemic, providing Feeding Tampa Bay […]

There was so much more to discuss with our recent guest, Katie Fitzgerald, that we just had to have her back on the show. Last time we talked about the ways […]

After spending years teaching students directly, Addison Davis finds himself in charge of all the school’s in one of the nation’s largest counties. How does someone in that position ensure […]

Hunger-free means everybody who needs food knows where they can go to get some, as our Chief Programs Officer, Matt Spence, recently explained on our show. And on today’s episode […]

Continuing from yesterday’s episode of this year’s Humans of the Food Bank, we bring you 5 more of our incredible colleagues sharing their personal journeys! Tune in to meet the […]

Everyone’s favorite annual episode is here! We love to wrap up each year with an episode that helps you get to know our staff, who they are, what they do, […]

Our beloved show host, Matt Spence, returns to share what he’s been up to for the past few months — which entails everything from Ninja Warrior training to mapping out […]

Katie Fitzgerald never intended to work in food banking, but along the storied path to her current position, she learned just how many doorways access to food can open for […]

Billions of pounds of perfectly edible food goes to waste every year in the United States alone. As one of the largest food recyclers in the country, Feeding Tampa Bay […]

We know that our pets are family, and their health and happiness is as important to us as our own. That’s why we partner up every year with the Humane […]

How do we bring stability to our community and even our Florida neighbors? Our Director of Facilities and Disaster Response, Jim Carpenter, joins us at the table once again to […]

What does the study of Anthropology have to do with fighting hunger? Well, more than you’d think! Not only does studying human nature tell us tons about how people cope […]

As a former reporter with ABC Action News, Don Germaise made the decision not to really retire but instead to “hunker down” into a life dedicated to community service. In […]

Tampa General Hospital believes, like we do, that food is medicine. But they also know that exercise and education are medicine, too, and they’re committed to helping our neighbors access […]

No doubt you probably have some Vigo & Alessi food products in your own pantry right now. Well they’re celebrating 75 years of being based in Tampa by teaming up […]

2022 marks the SEVENTH year of our much-loved Epic Chef competition, where the top chefs in Tampa Bay face off in a contest of culinary creativity. Guests watch in person […]

Trinity Cafe promises to feed all who need food, rain or shine, pandemic or peace, 365 days a year. And the meals are so much more than just basic sustenance. […]

Becoming a parent for the first time is scary, and can be overwhelming. That’s why Jake Edling, father of seven and acclaimed dad-expert, wrote “The New Daddy Experience” — a […]

On this special Father’s Day edition of Stick a Fork in It, we welcome a few of the food bank’s new and long-time fathers to share stories of the work, […]

We all love our furry friends, and the last thing we want is to see them going hungry when we fall on hard times. That’s why PetSmart Charities decided to […]

Recorded on location at the WellBuilt Bikes shop in the University Mall, we talk philanthropy and philosophy with grassroots community organizer, Jon Dengler. He shares how a single conversation with […]

What if your child could get a dental check-up without having to leave school? And if your elderly neighbor could get food for free when their money is tight? And […]

It’s become a tradition over the past 7 years for us to collect thousands of cereal boxes during the summer, to help feed children who normally depend on their schools […]

We return to our two-part episode featuring our friend Ian Adair from the Gracepoint Foundation, and our conversation about mental health in times of crisis. In part one we focused […]

What can you do when there seems to be crisis all around you? Mental health guru Ian Adair joins us once again for a conversation about coping in healthy ways […]

Lisa Unger has had a passion for writing stories since she was a girl, and for the past 20 years has put out one new novel each year. She joins […]

Sometimes all it takes to start the spiral into inescapable poverty is a few unpaid parking tickets. When someone is already struggling with money, small legal fines can result in […]

After a year of perfecting the recipe, we finally get to sit with LJ Govoni and Shannon Brooks to taste their delightful creation, “Hops for Hunger” — a collaborative project […]

George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida is like a second home to New York’s own Yankees. Over the course of their 27 seasons here, some of the biggest names […]

Behind all of the phenomenal work done every day by our food bank staff and volunteers are the members of the Feeding Tampa Bay board of directors, who guide and […]

Tens of thousands of volunteers grace our programs with their presence every single year, and make our mission of ending hunger in our community possible. On today’s episode, meet 6 […]

It’s becoming a tradition to spend our last few episodes of the year getting to know the huge-hearted people who carry our mission on their backs. Our food bank is […]

Author, comedian, and Executive Director of the Gracepoint Foundation, Ian Adair has spent 25 years managing communications in the non-profit world. He uses humor and human connection to introduce people […]

Accessible housing, tax assistance, early childhood education — United Way guides people through some of the most difficult trials that life serves up, and many of us have no idea […]

Raising a family and growing a business on a resort overlooking the sandy shores of St. Pete Beach, MaryAnn Renfrow understands the importance of preserving the nature that guests and […]

One of our main goals here at Feeding Tampa Bay is to tell the stories of the people we serve each day, and we couldn’t make that happen without the […]

For the past 7 years Brian Auld has been president of the Tampa Bay Rays, and during that time he has helped foster a culture of community involvement that sports […]

Math and science aren’t the only things kids should be learning in school, as today’s guest on the show will tell you. A food pantry orchestrated by neighborhood schools is […]

In a year full of change-ups we’ve altered the formula of our annual Epic Chef event to be a pack even more excitement into a shorter run of shows. If […]

On a special edition of Stick a Fork in It, Congresswoman Kathy Castor is interviewed by her daughter Chrissy Lewis, who just completed a multi-department internship with our organization learning […]

What if you could grow 3 whole acres of food in a box in your back yard? Well, Brick Street Farms has developed a way to do just that, using […]

General Mills is the company that produces many of your most favorite, most iconic cereals — but they’re also responsible for TONS of other beloved breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods […]

The University of South Florida stands with Feeding Tampa Bay not only to feed struggling youth in our community, but to understand why they’re struggling, and how best to help […]

It may take a village to raise a barn, but Rob Rozmeski, founder of construction contracting outfit the Zackary Group, did much more than that with far fewer people. Rob […]

You may know Tyson as “the chicken company” but they provide much more than just delicious wings and nuggets to your local grocery store — they also provide thousands of […]

The people we serve come from all walks of life, and an array of cultures. We respect how important it is to meet them in their world — providing foods […]

Fans of the Tampa radio station Hot 101.5 have probably listened to the Miguel and Holly Show on their way to work. But for those who are out of range, […]

Tampa Bay experienced another first this year with Wrestlemania37! WWE Superstar Big E made an impressive, surprise entrance rocking our brand from head to toe! On this episode we find […]

Few people understand the importance of showing up as well as players on a sports team. And Peter Masone, General Manager of the Tampa Bay Cannons, has been showing up […]

YMCA’s across the nation serve as community hubs where members can exercise, learn new skills, gather with fellow members of their faith, swim, dance, and more. And as CEO of […]

It may come as a surprise to many that food banks exist in some of the more affluent areas around Tampa, let alone that residents actually visit it. But the […]

The Covid pandemic has created lots of unlikely allies, like a food bank and an alcohol distillery, for example. When the city’s hand-sanitizer supply dried up, the savvy engineers at […]

For the past 16 years Ross Anderson has been raising the young men of Tampa Bay out of difficult circumstances and into leaders, thinkers, and achievers. His Men of Vision […]

A truly great man in both character and physical stature, local wrestling celebrity Thaddeus Bullard joins us on the show to talk hometown philanthropy. Not only has he established a […]

We did it, Tampa! The Bucs are going to the Superbowl, and we’re taking the opportunity to share some behind-the-scenes info about all of the phenomenal work the NFL is […]

Through a new partnership with our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, we’re helping to give our neighbors two of the most basic needs on Earth – food and shelter. Our […]

On this final (for now) episode of “Humans of the Food Bank” we learn all about our annual tradition of naming one employee as Food Banker of the Year. We […]

The crew returns to share the stories of more of our incredible fellow food bankers — from frontline warriors to behind the scenes miracle makers, the humans of FTB are […]

A food banker can look like anyone, come from anywhere. But no matter the difference in our age, nationality, or job status, we are all connected by our intense drive […]

Fighting through poverty, cancer, and the loss of a dear friend, Colleen Chappell (co-founder of the ChappellRoberts Branding & Advertising Agency) has maintained her fiery spirit, and worked her way […]

Feeding Tampa Bay is just one small part of a vast network of food banks feeding struggling American families. And we couldn’t do it without the help of people like […]

Imagine if instead of shaming you for your diet, your doctor sent you home with bags of delicious, healthy food. Well that’s the reality at Tampa Family Health Centers, where […]

Keri is an entrepreneur with a heart of gold, who for the past 11 years has been helping companies around Tampa Bay create an environment that their employees can feel […]

Some people find a mission in life, and rather than waiting until everything falls into place, they start placing everything that’s needed on their own. For years our guest and […]

As Summer becomes Fall, we’re also moving into a new season on Stick A Fork In It! We’re thrilled with the repertoire of exciting guests we’ve had on the show […]

We’re so lucky to have amazing partners like Florida Blue, with wonderful folks like Rick Bennett who sit on our board. Rick joins us on this episode to discuss the […]

On this week’s episode we welcome Chief Dan Slaughter of the Clearwater Police Department to the warehouse. We talk about all the ways that law enforcement helps us run our […]

What is a power couple? One that changes the lives of millions of people side by side with Feeding Tampa Bay. On today’s episode we introduce you to board member […]

The unsung heroes amidst the pandemic are our healthcare workers, many behind the scenes. Joining us is VP of Government and Community Relations for BayCare, Keri Eisenbeis, discussing Covid from […]

Let’s start with Rule #7 because it’s that time of year and EVERYbody’s favorite meteorologist, Denis Phillips is here to talk hurricane season. With the country still struggling under the […]

One of our local faves and we know yours too, JJ Burton of ABC Action News joins us safely via Zoom to discuss reporting in a time of pandemic and […]

With Florida Senator Jeff Brandes philanthropy is a family affair. Not only has he brought his kids to volunteer at our Pinellas mega pantry over the few past months but […]

Can somebody explain where all the TP went? We have the guy. Brian West and Publix has been an avid supporter of Feeding Tampa Bay and the food banks in […]

After a short break we are back with our hosts Matt Spence and Shannon Hannon-Oliviero, filling you in on the exciting news and updates coming out of Feeding Tampa Bay. […]

If you don’t know Sean Daly, where have you been? Listen in and enjoy the lovefest because we’re not sure who appreciates who more. You’ll shed a tear or two, […]

Founded by military veterans, Team Rubicon began working in disaster relief in 2010, and has been growing as an elite response team ever since. In the wake of the Covid-19 […]

Cindy Stuart, the HCSB Member for District 3, fills us in on how students and families are handling the new virtual schooling program, and how schools are continuing to feed […]

In this time of crisis sports teams are on the bench but they are knocking it out of the park to help the community! We are thrilled to introduce you […]

Life has changed for all of us, especially those working in the hospitality industry. One hard working and innovative thought leader came to mind, our friend Chef Rachel Bennett of […]

Crisis has hit Tampa Bay, our country and world. On this special edition our President and CEO, Thomas Mantz, joins us to explain how we’re continuing to serve our community. […]

Watching someone succeed is inspiring and motivating for many, and Roberto Torres is the man to watch in Tampa Bay. An entrepreneur with a passion for giving his time, talent […]

Ernest Hooper, formerly a reporter and columnist for the Tampa Bay Times for 27 years, now sits at the communications helm for the American Cancer Society. “Hoop” is a name […]

At just 30 years old Chef Rachel Bennett has already held the position of Executive Chef at multiple high-end restaurants here in Tampa Bay, and received a coveted nomination for […]

The true “Flavor of Tampa Bay” radio host, deejay, social influencer, father of three and expert foodie, Ian Beckles began making our area his home by playing 7 seasons with […]

Stick A Fork In It is a show about the incredible work being done in Tampa Bay and its surrounding counties to help residents who struggle with food and financial […]