The Chocolate Pod

Ever wonder what it really takes to turn cacao beans into incredible chocolate? The Chocolate Pod takes you behind the scenes with the passionate chocolatiers, makers, and innovators who are crafting some of the world's best small-batch chocolate. In every episode, you'll hear the real stories—the aha moments, the expensive mistakes, the late nights perfecting a recipe, and the pure joy of creating something people love. Whether you're a chocolate superfan curious about what makes craft chocolate special, an aspiring maker wondering if you could do this too, or just someone who appreciates a good origin story, you'll walk away inspired, informed, and probably craving chocolate.

I'm Zack Gallinger-Long, and if you've been to a craft chocolate festival, you might know me as "the Golden Ticket guy" (yes, I wear a shiny gold suit while my wife rocks a Chocolate Queen costume). We're not industry insiders—we're enthusiastic fans who fell in love with this community and wanted to share these incredible stories. I bring my background in business consulting and small business ownership to ask research-informed questions that matter: How do you scale? What does "bean-to-bar" actually mean in practice? What factors influence the chocolate industry? This is a show for anyone who believes that the best stories are found in the passion, craft, and people behind what we love.

Contributors

Host

Zack Gallinger-Long

Zack Gallinger-Long is the host of The Chocolate Pod, a podcast exploring the people shaping the world of craft chocolate. With a passion for entrepreneurship and curiosity about how founders overcome challenges, Zack brings thoughtful conversations to life with chocolate makers and chocolatiers worldwide.

By profession, Zack is a Management Consultant specializing in leadership development and organizational effectiveness. This shows up in his interviews as he listens for the turning points, decisions, persistence, and philosophies that shape each entrepreneur’s journey.

As a craft chocolate enthusiast, Zack created The Chocolate Pod to highlight the people behind the industry and help listeners understand chocolate on a deeper level. Through each episode, he invites the audience to slow down, learn from the lessons, and savor the stories behind every bar.

Co-host

Darlene Gallinger-Long

Darlene Gallinger-Long, more commonly known as the “Chocolate Queen,” is a lifelong lover of all things chocolate. Her passion has taken her to festivals across the United States, where she delights in discovering new craft chocolate creations and the people behind them.

Darlene serves as co-host of The Chocolate Pod, a podcast exploring the people shaping the world of craft chocolate. When she is not behind the microphone, you can often find her in her best chocolate-themed attire, happily roaming the rows of the nearest chocolate expo.