Word & Mouth Blog
Where food, hospitality, branding, and human behavior all crash into each other. I write about restaurants, wine, placemaking, customer experience, and the small details that make people talk about a business long after they leave.
For even more snarky takes on marketing, pop culture, branding, and the internet, visit my Substack, Burnt Popcorn & Branding: Substack
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A mix of hospitality, branding, customer psychology, hospitality culture, and internet behavior from someone who’s worked behind the scenes in marketing long enough to know what feels authentic and what feels painfully forced.
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Yes. Especially if your marketing currently sounds like ChatGPT wrote it.
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No LinkedIn thought leadership energy here. Just strategy, storytelling, and occasional side-eye toward trends, Chat-GPT written branding advice, and “disruptive” ideas that all look the same.
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People in marketing, hospitality, branding, retail, wine, or anyone who secretly judges restaurants by their menu design before reading the food list.
My Journey Through Early Menopause: What I Wish I’d Known
Early menopause at 38 left me lost and struggling—until I found the truth about hormone therapy. Here’s what every woman needs to know when it comes to Perimenopause and menopause and your body.
Reflecting on Two Years Since My Anal Cancer Diagnosis: Pivoting my Business
I found out I had anal cancer two years ago this week, and my life and business have pivoted to focus on more of the values I hold true.
Tips to Help You Get More Fit After Anal Cancer
Here are simple tips to help you start getting fit after anal cancer treatments. Even if most days feel like no progress has been made, slow & steady exercise can help both your physical and mental self. Moderate exercise can go a long way in helping you to improve your quality of life post anal cancer.
One year Since my Last Day of Anal Cancer Treatments
One year ago I rang the bell at the Kaiser cancer treatment center. One year ago I finished my anal cancer treatments - radiation & oral chemotherapy. And now, one-year post anal cancer treatments —Moving forward, one of my goals in life is to encourage everyone to listen to their body, and go see a doctor, community health center, etc when they feel like something is off.
Bottoms Up! Post-Anal Cancer Life One Year Later
The post-cancer journey is a slow and arduous one. It's hard knowing that I may not return to my pre-cancer "normal" in some ways. But all you or I can do is approach every day in turn—and with diligence, focus, and people by your side, things become a little less tough than they otherwise would be. Sometimes, that's all you need.
Tips I Learned During Anal Cancer Treatment
I will say that no matter how horrible the days were, they went by quickly, and there is a light at the end of this tunnel. My type of stage III anal cancer has a good chance of recovery—even if that recovery means that I still have to have surgery in the future.
Next Steps Post Anal Cancer Treatments
As I move forward with anal cancer treatments, I wanted to answer are some questions I get the most
2020 Is a Literal Pain in My Ass — Finding Out I Have Cancer During a Pandemic Was Not Part of the Plan.
Out of all the places to get cancer, it’s definitely not the most flattering. Speaking up and normalizing things (like talking about anal cancer) can hopefully inspire people to be more proactive in going to see the doctor when they have symptoms so they can get treatment.