The meez Podcast
Josh Sharkey (Entrepreneur, professional chef, and founder/CEO of meez, the culinaryOS for food professionals) interviews world class entrepreneurs in the food space that are shifting the paradigm of how we innovate and operate in our industry.
The meez Podcast
Acclaimed actress, Tony award winner and Iron Chef judge Julie White chopping it up with Josh on all things food TV and the best food movies
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#134
Josh sits down with Tony Award-winning actress Julie White for a wildly entertaining deep dive into the evolution of food television, from the chaotic brilliance of Iron Chef Japan to Chef’s Table, Top Chef, and the modern reality-TV era of cooking competitions. Julie shares behind-the-scenes stories from judging Iron Chef America, competing on Chopped, auditioning to play Julia Child, and her obsession with Great British Baking Show. Along the way, the two unpack why chefs became celebrities, how food media shifted from education to entertainment, and why Anthony Bourdain changed the entire genre forever.
The conversation spirals into hilarious territory as they debate food movies like Big Night and The Menu, reminisce about Martha Stewart, Jamie Oliver, and Bobby Flay, and brainstorm a future travel-and-food series involving bourbon trails, crab feasts, and roadside American food pilgrimages. It’s a funny, nostalgic, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation about cooking, culture, competition, television, and the strange magic that happens when food becomes entertainment.
Links and resources 📌
Visit meez: https://www.getmeez.com
Follow meez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmeez
Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshlsharkey/?hl=en
Follow Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-sharkey-406965b/
Follow Julie White on IMDb: http://imdb.com/name/nm0925033/
Watch Iron Chef America: https://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/iron-chef-america
Watch Somebody Feed Phil: https://www.netflix.com/title/80146601
Timestamps
1:26 Julie’s Iron Chef Backstory
8:44 How Food TV Became Entertainment
14:09 Julia Child, Jacques Pépin & Great British Bake Off
20:09 Julie Competes On Chopped
28:48 Anthony Bourdain & The Rise Of Food Travel Shows
34:44 Martha Stewart, Ina Garten & Lifestyle Food TV
40:48 Celebrity Chefs, Top Chef & David Chang
49:13 Favorite Food Movies & Chef Culture On Screen
57:53 Food As Entertainment & The Future Of Cooking Shows
1:27:24 Talking Crabs, Cooking Shows & What Comes Next