Case Study: Meet Your Maker – A Food and Travel Show
Meet Your Maker is a food and travel show that allowed me to channel my lifelong admiration for Anthony Bourdain’s approach to storytelling. As the producer, director, and editor, I embarked on an ambitious journey to capture the stories of craft makers along the California coast, exploring everything from olive oil production to nightlife. This project became a labor of love, full of personal milestones, unforgettable experiences, and meaningful collaborations. It even earned a Silver Telly Award for its Santa Barbara episode—a moment of pride in a series that’s as much about people and places as it is about food.
"You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together."
The Vision
The journey of Meet Your Maker began when a longtime client and friend transitioned from a career in property restoration to one centered on promoting craft makers. Fueled by a vision to create a new marketplace for small businesses in a world dominated by macro production—and inspired by a passion for food and travel—the idea to turn this vision into compelling content was inevitable. When he approached me with the concept, I knew immediately it was the project I had been waiting for my entire career.
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The Inspiration
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As a lifelong admirer of Anthony Bourdain, I’ve always been captivated by his ability to bridge cultures, break down barriers, and uncover the beauty of the human experience—all through the universal language of food. Bourdain’s work was never just about the meal; it was about the stories behind it—the people, traditions, and history that shape what we eat and how we connect. To me, his shows weren’t simply entertainment; they were essential viewing for anyone who sought to understand the world with curiosity, empathy, and openness.
When Meet Your Maker came to life, it felt like the closest I’d ever come to following in his footsteps. It became my opportunity to channel the same spirit of exploration and storytelling—to spotlight the makers, flavors, and places that define our shared experiences. This wasn’t just about showcasing great food or destinations; it was about celebrating the craftsmanship, care, and community that go into creating something truly special.
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Season One: Challenges and Triumphs
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With a shoestring budget and an ambitious plan, I took on the roles of producer, director, senior camera operator, and even audio technician to bring Meet Your Maker to life. Initially, my collaborator and I had agreed to split the directing workload for season one, but just 24 hours before shooting began, he had to step down. This unexpected change left me as the sole director, doubling my responsibilities overnight.
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Despite the challenges, I embraced the opportunity, determined to make the project a success. The first season saw us driving down the California coast, stopping in iconic locations like Napa, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and Orange County. I managed every aspect of production, from ensuring audio ran smoothly to coordinating the crew—all while operating on minimal sleep. One particularly memorable stretch had me awake for 40 hours straight, and when travel arrangements fell through, I even slept in a bathtub so my team could have beds.
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The result? A full season of a food and travel show that celebrated the makers, flavors, and communities that make California unique. Meet Your Maker season one was a labor of love, and I couldn’t have been prouder of what we achieved against all odds.
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“Plans should be ephemeral, so be prepared to move away from them.”
Season Two: Growth, Milestones, and Reflection
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Season two began with renewed energy, a better budget, and a sense of purpose to elevate everything we had built in season one. With trusted collaborators and close friends by my side, we set out to create something truly special. Our first episode took us to Santa Barbara, a city brimming with stories to tell. We spent our days meeting passionate brewers, learning how olive oil and olive leaf tea are made, indulging in incredible pizza, and diving into the vibrant nightlife.
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But this trip wasn’t just about the work—it was about the people. The clients had become my friends, my crew was made up of some of my closest collaborators in the industry, and the makeup artist on set was my now-wife. These weren’t just coworkers—they were my favorite people in the world. Together, we shared laughs, late nights, and creative breakthroughs that made this experience unforgettable. On the way home from filming, I proposed to my wife, turning this journey into a personal milestone that still fills me with joy every time I think about it.
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The Santa Barbara episode went on to win a Silver Telly Award, a validation of all the passion and hard work we poured into the project. But shortly after, the world came to a halt as the Covid-19 pandemic began. The company behind Meet Your Maker ceased operations, and like so many others, we were forced into isolation.
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As the world grew quieter, I found solace in the footage from this journey. It wasn’t just about the meals we shared or the stories we told—it was about the moments in between. The long drives down the coast, the laughter on set, and the camaraderie of working alongside people I love and admire. For those strange, isolated years, this footage became a window back to a time of connection, creativity, and joy. It reminded me of what we had built together and kept the spirit of Meet Your Maker alive in my heart.
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The Spirit of the Show
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Meet Your Maker is about more than food and travel. It’s about the care and craftsmanship that go into the little things we eat, the joy of exploring new places, and the friendships we build along the way. It’s about creating something meaningful with people who inspire you and finding the extraordinary in the everyday.
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Though the company behind the show ceased operations, I don’t consider this the end—just a pause. The spirit of Meet Your Maker lives on, and I remain hopeful that one day, we’ll pick up where we left off and continue telling these stories together. Myself and the hosts text about it regularly exchanging ideas for that eventual someday when we get the band back together.
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For now, I invite you to watch what remains the current final episode of Meet Your Maker below. It’s more than just a piece of media—it’s a celebration of friendship, creativity, and the moments that make life extraordinary.