🌍 Ever wonder in what ways food safety rules differ wildly between the UK and US?

In this eye-opening episode of Beyond Data Management, host Cameron Garrison sits down with Graeme Mitchell, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Health at Liverpool John Moores University, for a transatlantic deep dive.

What You’ll Learn:

Why the US is “50 little countries” when it comes to food codes (and why the UK isn’t)  The UK’s “Primary Authority” secret to consistent inspections nationwide
Covid lessons: trust, hypocrisy, and the Boris Johnson party scandal
From cholera pumps to mouse-in-bread nightmares: Graham’s wildest field stories
Green funerals, AI in inspections, housing inequality, and the future of EH

🎙️ Timestamps:
0:00 Intro & UK vs US Food Law Chaos
5:12 Covid, Brexit & Political Trust
12:40 Graham’s Accidental EH Career
18:22 The Invisible Profession & Zombie Apocalypses
25:10 Mouse in Sliced Bread (Yes, Really)
32:15 AI: Friend or Job-Killer for Inspectors?
40:00 Green Burials & Death Avoidance
48:30 Housing, Life Expectancy & Einstein’s Definition of “Environment”
👉 Watch Next:

“AI in Food Safety Inspections: The Future Is Here”
“Green Funerals: Eco-Friendly or Regulatory Nightmare?”

💬 Comment Below:
Would you rather enforce in the UK’s uniform system or the US’s wild west?
📌 Connect with Graham:
Liverpool John Moores University | Search “Graham Mitchell Environmental Health”
📺 Subscribe for weekly EH deep dives every Tuesday!
Powered by HS GovTech  www.hsgovttech.com 


#EnvironmentalHealth #FoodSafety #PublicHealth #UKvsUSA #Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Happy Halloween! 🎃 In this spooky bonus episode of the Beyond Data Management Podcast (powered by HS GovTech), host Cameron Garrison and producer Christina Miller bring you real-life ghost stories straight from the Reddit health-inspector community — plus a very special guest: Vinny the Skeleton 🦴 (complete with a hot date named Audrey).

Originally pitched in August by Tina (who knew inspectors had creepy tales), we asked the 6,000+ members of the r/EnvironmentalHealth subreddit:

“Tell us your haunted restaurant or facility ghost stories!”

You delivered — and we’re reading the best ones on air.

👻 Featured Chills:

🎃 A 1700s catering kitchen where a shadowy figure in black vanished into a storage room…

🎃 A bar basement with 3 confirmed deaths, a porcelain doll in a wheelchair that turned to face the inspector…

🎃 Utensils flying, cutting boards moving, and Ghost Hunters filming — with zero evidence… until the inspectors saw it themselves.

🎙️ On Set Today:

🦴 Cameron Garrison (Host)
🦴 Christina Miller (Producer & Halloween Mastermind)
🦴 Vinny the Skeleton - (Guest Co-Host, arthritis and all)
🦴 David Styles (Control Room Wizard behind the spooky graphics)

From creaky wooden hatches leading to spider-infested basements to hidden daycare rooms behind fake walls, health inspectors see it all — including things that shouldn’t be there.

“I saw the doll facing me… when I came back around the circle, it was facing me again.” 😱

🎃 Bonus Fun:

Vinny gets a girlfriend (Audrey the carnivorous plant)

Puns, full-size candy bars, and THC jello-shot neighbors

Teaser: Next Tuesday — Graham Mitchell (EH thought leader and frequent BBC contributor) shares his story and brings some great pictures including a mouse baked into a loaf of bread 🐭🍞

Please remember to help us out and like, comment your own ghost story, and subscribe for weekly episodes every Tuesday!  Tag a health inspector who’s seen something spooky. 👇



#HealthInspector #GhostStories #HauntedRestaurant #HalloweenPodcast #EnvironmentalHealth #PublicHealthHeroes #BeyondDataManagement

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this Spotlight segment from the Beyond Data Management Podcast we talk about a health inspector viewer submission of a video of the nastiest thing they came across in a restaurant - McDonald's"  kitchen during a health inspection.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this segment from the full episode.  We discuss a side bet between two health inspectors as to whether observing an employee in a restaurant kitchen using a pocket knife to cut potato's is a health code violations.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Today's episode features a panel of EH professionals, and former health inspectors, answering viewer questions about health inspection scenario's including:

"I observed someone in restaurant kitchen cutting a potato with a pocket knife - is it a violation?" 

Also, check out the video at the end - of a violation an inspector ranks as one of the top 3 nastiest all time violations they've seen.

The panel includes:
Caitlin Gappa the founding director of the Douglas County Colorado Environmental Health Department.  You can reach Caitlin at caitlin.gappa@hscloudsuite.com 

Melissa Rogerson, former supervisor at the El Paso County Colorado Environmental Health Department.  You can reach Melissa at melissa.rogerson@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

On this episode, Cameron chats with HS's very own Kristen Geary about her life as an environmental health professional and restaurant inspector.

A former Environmental Health Inspector and supervisor for Jackson County, Missouri, and still currently the manager of the State of Missouri Environmental Health Association.  Kristen dives into her story of working at the county office as an admin, she took a leap of faith and tells us more about how she fell in love with EH even after the Field Training, Inspections, Science, and so much more! 

Kristen also shares some of the unbelievable stories of situations she's encountered as a health inspector.

The BEST PART?! Kristen, is one of HSGT's Senior Project Managers, using her real work EH experience, including implementing HS as a client at her FORMER agency client, Kristen is paying it forward helping EH agencies around the country take their agency and data BEYOND! As not just a Vendor, we are a Partner!

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this special segment, live from NEHA AEC 2025 in Phoenix, we chat with Shelly Wallingford the Director of Food Safety at Sprouts Farmers Market, a supermarket chain with 443 locations in 24 states.  Shelly has enjoyed a long career in environmental health, working for years with agencies on the regulatory side - as an inspector - before going to the private sector.

Shelly shares her journey and discusses the criticality of industry and regulators working as partners in the interest of public health and safety.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this special live segment from Phoenix, we chat with Randall Barnes the director of the Ashtabula County Ohio Environmental Health Department about his EH journey and his thoughts on the 2025 AEC.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this special segment of the Beyond Data Management Podcast LIVE from NEHA AEC 2025 in Phoenix we visit with Toni Ousley from Pueblo County Colorado Environmental Health Department.  Toni discusses the never ending adventure of being an EH professional and also talks about the importance of properly managing your agency's data.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this segment live from Phoenix we talk to NEHA's own Evan Suttell - Entreprenurial Zone Assistant with NEHA.  We discuss ab exciting new self assessment tool NEHA released for agencies at the 2025 AEC.  We also talk about his experience as a Jeopardy champion, earning $20,200, and he gives us a fascinating peak behind the scenes on how the process of being on Jeopardy works .  Evan is a real asset to the EH community and we enjoyed chatting with him in the exhibit hall.

You can see Evan's Jeopardy stats, including the questions board for each episode at:
https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=9003
https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=9004

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this special segment live from the NEHA AEC 2025 conference in Phoenix, NEHA CEO Dr. David Dyjack sits down with us to discuss the importance of the AEC and the pressing issues facing the EH community that/ NEHA is helping the community deal with.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this episode we have a fascinating conversation with Jorge Hernandez from Wendy's, Eric Martin from Texas Roadhouse, and HS GovTech's own Chirag Bhatt about the critical role, and partnership with regulatory EH agencies, in food safety and safety culture.

Jorge with Wendy's (7,242 locations in 30 countries), and Eric with Texas Roadhouse (792 locations in 11 countries) have vast experience in the food safety and regulatory field and have been doing exciting things in their large complex organizations that make a profound difference for food safety and food safety culture.  Chirag, currently the Director of Regulatory Affairs with HS GovTech, also has a tremendous amount of experience on the industry side, including with Bloomin Brands (Outback), and Bucee's.

Thanks to Eric, Jorge, and Chirag for taking the time to have a candid conversation, and for sharing their knowledge and experience with the broader EH community.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Join host Cameron Garrison for a riveting return visit with HS GovTech's Chirag Bhatt, former Bureau Chief of the City of Houston's Environmental Health Department. 

In this storytelling-packed episode of the Beyond Data Management Podcast we take an unfiltered dive into the chaotic underbelly of public health regulation, Chirag shares jaw-dropping anecdotes from his 40+ years on the front lines, including:

Bribery gone wrong: From low-key "free dinners for the family" offers to a full-blown sting operation where Chirag channeled his inner Chris Hansen, wiring up with Houston PD to bust a shady operator—flipping the script on a scandalous news cycle.

Internal drama: The overtime fraud saga that sparked a rogue employee group called "Concerned Sanitarians for Change," complete with media smears, OIG investigations, and accusations of favoritism (cricket games included?).

Extreme encounters: An inspector literally locked in a walk-in freezer by a belligerent seafood wholesaler—and why firing "bad apples" in government is a bureaucratic nightmare.

High-stakes VIP duty: Chirag's surreal gig as the food safety "Secret Service agent" for a VP George H.W. Bush luncheon with India's Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, complete with sealed trays, canine sweeps, and non-stop monitoring.

Timeless wisdom: Gaps in EH education (no classes on media or conflict?), the power of data-driven inspections via HSCloud Suite, AI's game-changing role in smarter regulation, budget battles vs. fire departments, and building media alliances for transparency.

Whether you're an EH pro, policymaker, or just love true-crime vibes in public service, this episode uncovers why EH is equal parts science, drama, and detective work. Laugh, cringe, and learn how to navigate the madness.

Watch/listen now and subscribe for more stories from the field! 

Reach Chirag at:
chirag.bhatt@hscloudsuite.com 
or email us at:
beyond@hscloudsuite.com with your thoughts.





#EnvironmentalHealth #FoodSafety #PublicHealth #Podcast #HSGovTech #HSCloudSuite

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this short clip from the full episode - real health inspectors discuss footwear choices and how some restaurants are so gross they can literally ruin your shoes.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this short clip from our full episode discussing real life stories from health inspectors - Kristen Geary recounts the time a restaurant owner tried to convince her mouse droppings were sesame seeds.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this short clip from our extended conversation with Dr. David Dyjack - CEO and Director of NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) - shares the creepiest thing he experienced in an inspection, and he also introduces us to the Mole Cricket

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this segment from our full conversation with Dr. David Dyjack - CEO and Director of NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) - he discusses concerning new public health threats that are here in the US now, but are not getting media attention or headlines.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In Episode 12 we have a fun conversation with 4 former health inspectors and discuss some of the most memorable things they have experienced first hand in the field performing health inspections.

You can reach us here at the Beyond Data Management Podcast in the comments or by email Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this wide ranging conversation, we talk with the CEO and Director of NEHA (National Environmental Health Association), and he offers a fascinating glimpse into his career and work worldwide and discusses the core mission and principals of EH including:

-EH is intimate and local

-The importance of working in the field and how it serves you when in leadership

-Current state of federal leadership, budgets and navigating uncertainty

-Eye opening conversation of some of the emerging public health threats that are real but not in the news

-Preview of what's coming up at the 2025 NEHA AEC in Phoenix (July 14-17) 

-Shares stories from his time - literally around the world - in the field (stay tuned for the truly chilling rat story)

You can reach Dr. Dyjack at ddyjack@neha.org and NEHA's website is:  www.Neha.org

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this spotlight segment from our full conversation with Sarah Jensen - Director of Environmental Health Franklin County Ohio - she discusses the data proving that requiring a certified food safety manager at restaurants leads to measurable improvements in inspection outcomes.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this Episode we have an in depth conversation with Dr. David McSwane the Executive Director of the Conference for Food Protection (CFP)

We discuss how the CFP works, and how the food code is updated and changed over time.  He also discusses the need to attract more professionals to the Environmental Health profession, and gives his input on managing in uncertain budget times.


About Dr. McSwane:
Dr. David McSwane, is the Executive Director of the Conference for Food Protection. He is also Professor Emeritus in Environmental Health Sciences at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University.

Prior to joining the faculty at Indiana University, Dr. McSwane was Administrator of the Monroe County Health Department in Bloomington, Indiana and a Public Health Sanitarian with the Indiana State Department of Health. He is Past-President of the Indiana Environmental Health Association and the Indiana Public Health Association.

He teaches courses in environmental health, food science and sanitation, epidemiology, environmental health policy, and environmental science. His research is of an applied nature and involves such diverse issues as food safety, drinking water safety, cancer prevention and control, asbestos abatement, and the health effects of homelessness.

Dr. McSwane has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals in the fields of environmental health, food protection, and public health. He is co-author of Essentials of Food Safety and Sanitation and the SuperSafeMark Retail Best Practices and Guide to Food Safety and Sanitation training series. These textbooks and their supplemental training materials are rapidly becoming the preferred tools for training retail food establishment managers about food safety and sanitation. Dr. McSwane also created a drinking water handbook for public officials that explains the fundamentals of water treatment and distribution and emphasizes the importance of proper operation, maintenance and administration of public drinking water systems. This publication has been widely disseminated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

You can reach Dr. McSwane at dmcswane.cfp@gmail.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this segment from the full interview with Sarah Jensen, the Director of the Franklin County Environmental Health Department, she discusses some of the craziest things she's seen inspecting restaurants in Ohio.

From cook peeing in the floor drain in the kitchen, to fornication on prep surfaces, to goats being slaughtered on-site, restaurant inspectors see a LOT.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this episode we talk with Sarah Jensen - Director and Assistant Health Commissioner of the Franklin County Ohio Environmental Health Department - and discuss many interesting topics including:

-The future new hire gap in environmental health
-Study of inspection data results showing predictable seasonality of violations and highlighting the need for situation based resource allocation in inspections
-Study showing a definitive improvement in outcomes when a food safety manager rule is applied to restaurants
-Some of the crazier things she's observed on inspections in her time in environmental health 

You can reach Sarah at SarahJensen@franklincountyohio.gov - we will also - in "posts" - post a link to the material from the studies discussed in this episode.

Please remember to like and subscribe - and send us feedback in the comments or to Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Environmental Health is prevention—and prevention is hard to see. It's why they local news doesn't lead with "Another plane took off safely - details at 11"

In this episode of Beyond Data Management, host Cameron Garrison sits down with Larry Ramden, current President of NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) and longtime Massachusetts EH leader. Larry shares his journey from mosquito control technician in the Caribbean to state and local EH leadership in the U.S., why uniform adoption of the FDA Food Code matters, how to tell prevention’s story to the public, and a simple pizza-sauce fix that saved a restaurant money and improved food quality.

If you care about food safety, vector control, public communication, and the next generation of EH pros—this one’s packed.

What You’ll Learn:

How hands-on training (yes, even slaughterhouse work) builds better inspectors

Vector control in the Caribbean vs. the U.S.—and what still works today

Why Massachusetts’ structure (351 local boards) is unique—and what that means for consistency

The case for uniform Food Code adoption across jurisdictions

Tactics to fight burnout and the “hidden profession” problem by marketing EH to the public

Mentorship: creating value beyond the checklist and building the next generation

A real-world allergen/labeling miss that triggered a multi-state recall—what to watch for

Pool chemistry 101 order of operations (alkalinity → pH → chlorine) you can share with operators

Diversity, tech modernization, and why Larry’s optimistic about EH’s future

Chapters

00:00 Intro & guest welcome
02:15 Larry’s path: Caribbean training, biology, and early vector work
08:54 Meat inspection lessons & why process knowledge matters
13:40 Vector control at home visits, water storage, and tree holes
18:48 Moving to the U.S., education hurdles, and breaking into public health
25:30 Massachusetts model: local boards, home rule, and statewide consistency
31:10 Food safety focus: from state wholesale to local retail
38:05 “The hidden profession”: telling prevention’s story to the public
44:10 Marketing EH: open houses, NEHA storytelling, and community education
49:22 Case study: allergen mislabeling and a multi-state recall
55:40 Pool chemistry order that actually works (and how to teach it)
1:00:35 Uniform Food Code adoption—why it matters for operators & chains
1:06:10 Mentorship, imposter syndrome, and accelerating new inspectors
1:13:00 Diversity, technology, and recruiting the next generation
1:18:20 A pizza-sauce process fix that cut waste & improved quality
1:23:10 Closing thoughts: realism, optimism, and the future of EH

About Larry:

Larry Ramden is the President of NEHA and a veteran EH practitioner with decades across state and local roles, quality control in food manufacturing, and national training. His focus areas include food safety, mentorship, and elevating public understanding of EH’s impact.

Join EH Nation 👇

Subscribe for weekly episodes on Environmental Health, data, and modernizing municipal services.

Comment your biggest EH communication win or challenge—we might feature it in a future episode.

Share this with a colleague who mentors new inspectors.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this Spotlight segment from our full converation with Chirag Bhatt, he discuss how he got into public health and became a health inspector.  He discusses the progression of his journey from new inspector to Bureau Chief in the City of Houston before going into industry leading the food safety team for Outback Steakhouse (Bloomin Brands) and Buc-ees.

You can reach Chirag at Chirag.Bhatt@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this episode we have a fascinating conversation with HS GovTech's own Chirag Bhatt to discuss his 40+ years of service to public health.

Chirag started as an inspector, before rising to Bureau Chief in the City of Houston EH Department before ultimately working in leadership at Bloomin Brands (Outback Steakhouse) and Buc-ees, ultimately finding himself working with EH departments all over that nation as the Director of Regulatory Affairs for HS GovTech.

Chirag discuses numerous topics including:
-How inspections today are different from 40 years ago 
-Political battles with powerful interests and elected leaders over transparency to the public
-The impact of social media on departments and on industry
-How the food code is made and modified (overview of the Conference for Food Protection)
-The time he - while the bureau chief with the health department had a fingernail clipping in his iced tea.
-Managing budgets in uncertain times

There is something for everyone in any position in this hour long conversation.

You can reach Chirag at Chirag.Bhatt@hscloudsuite.com and can reach us here at the Beyond Data Management Podcast with feedback, ideas, or whatever is on your mind at Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Today we have a wide ranging conversation with Steve Mandernach - the Executive Director of AFDO (Association of Food and Drug Officials).  Steve takes us through the many pressing issues facing health departments today.  Including:

-Daily cuts and rumors of cuts and how your agency can built capacity and resilience in spite of what the federal picture may be
-Reframing the relationship between regulating agencies and industry in service of public health
-Candid conversation about the current public health framework around cannabis, including discussing where federal leadership has failed
-Explanation of what happened to SAFHER project
-Data and AI and the new world it brings to Environmental and Public Health
-Some of the best, real world, advice on finding your passion and how it changes everything
-As one of the most experienced people in the Iowa primaries, Steve reflects on his relationship with several presidents and discusses what he's learned from them about leadership and durable relationships.

We want to thank Steve for taking the time to have this impactful conversation.  You can reach him at  smandernach@afdo.org and you can reach us here at the Beyond Podcast at Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this episode we have a conversation with Chris Lewis the COO of COREBT.  A former professional football player who has spent the last 20 years on a personal mission to change the way governments collect payments from constituents, and in the process change the efficiency of their operations while providing a far better experience to the citizens they serve.

Chris talks about the journey from cash and checks - which are still all too common - to the emerging modern agency of the future that interacts with constituents in the same one-click method as modern e-commerce giants like Amazon.

Regardless of where your agency is in their payment modernization journey today's conversation has information you can use.

You can reach Chris at clewis@corebt.com, and as always you can reach us here at the Beyond Data Management Podcast at Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

An estimated 48 million Americans are hit by food borne illness cases every year, many of which go unreported.  When it comes to preventing food borne illness more information is important, and environmental health departments play a pivotal role.  

Today's conversation is with Patrick Quade founder and CEO of Dine Safe www.iwaspoisoned.com.  Patrick has spent the last 15+ years helping departments get more information on illness outbreaks, along with tools to help departments manage this important responsibility more thoroughly and easily.  You can reach Patrick at patrick@dinesafe.org 

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Food trucks have become a big part of our modern food culture.  However, from a regulatory perspective, they present unique challenges for environmental health departments.  From the rate of un-permitted vendors, to keeping up with trucks and being able to find them quickly when you need to inspect them, the need for better communication, tools, and cooperation with this growing part of the food service industry has never been more pressing.

In this episode we talk to Matt Gellar; founder of the national food truck association, Best Food Truck and Revolution Carts.

Matt's passion for food trucks has led him to partner with health departments to make safe, legal, permitted, mobile vending more broadly available.  We also discuss his new tools that helps health departments find where food trucks are quickly and easily when it's time for inspection.

You can reach Matt at: matt@bestfoodtrucks.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Today we chat with Caitlin Gappa about the challenges of starting up a new environmental health department, with the added complexity of doing so during the pandemic.  

You can reach Caitlin at caitlin.gappa@hscloudsuite.com

If you have any questions, comments, feedback, or you have an idea for an episode topic or guest, we would love to hear from you:  Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Van is the director of the Marion County Ohio Environmental Health Department.  Until 8 years ago Van was completely in the private sector, running his family winery - Shamrock Vineyards - in Ohio.  https://shamrockvineyard.com.  

Van has taken a passion for public service combined with his experience building and running a business to bring a new energy and perspective to his department.

You can reach Van at vcreasap@marionpublichealth.org

If you have comments, suggestions, or ideas for future episode topics, guests etc we'd love to hear from you: Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

The first episode of the new Beyond Data Management Podcast.  Today we chat with CEO of HS GovTech Silas Garrison about innovating for Environmental Health public servants.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Ever heard of the Nasal Ranger or odor school? In this episode of Beyond Data Management, host Cameron Garrison sits down with Melissa Rogerson, former Program Manager at the El Paso County, Colorado Health Department and now Senior Project Manager at HS GovTech.

Melissa takes us on a fascinating journey from her early days studying math and optometry at Colorado State University, to discovering her passion for Environmental Health (EH) and building a career that spanned food inspections, childcare programs, body art, air quality, waste tires, emergency response, and more.

We discuss:

How Melissa “accidentally” fell in love with environmental health and turned it into an 11-year career

What it was like responding to wildfires, floods, and other disasters as an EH professional

The hidden world of waste tire programs and why they matter for air, water, and vector control

The bizarre but true world of odor investigations and her certification through “odor school” using the Nasal Ranger

A jaw-dropping story about a childcare facility with a fake wall hiding kids — and how EH data systems played a role in investigations

Why Melissa left local government after more than a decade to join HS GovTech and now helps agencies nationwide modernize with the HS Cloud Suite

This episode blends career insights, emergency response lessons, and unbelievable field stories that highlight just how vital (and unpredictable) environmental health work can be.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories and thought leadership from the Environmental Health Nation.

#EnvironmentalHealth #HSGovTech #PublicHealth #NasalRanger #OdorSchool #GovTech #BeyondDataManagement #FoodSafety

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Ashley Miller has had a remarkably diverse career in environmental health.  From a local inspector, to some of the largest company's in the country, she has worked in environmental health her entire career.  

Ashley joins us for a wide ranging conversation about her years working with , and shares with us the exciting work that she is now doing at NEHA.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Meet Mahek Zaveri, one of the bright new faces shaping the future of Environmental Health.

By the time most teenagers in the U.S. were just getting their driver’s license, Mahek was already a fully trained dentist, performing advanced procedures like root canals. After moving to the United States to pursue her Master’s in Public Health, she discovered her true passion: Environmental Health.

Mahek recently completed NEHA’s internship program this summer and will graduate this December, with plans to begin her career in a local Environmental Health Department.

In this inspiring conversation, Mahek shares her journey from dentistry to public health, offering insight into:

Why she transitioned from dentistry to environmental health

Her experience as part of NEHA’s Environmental Health internship program

How the next generation is stepping up to meet the challenges in public health and safety

Why young professionals are critical to the future of Environmental Health

With many thought leaders calling for a new generation to carry the field forward, Mahek proves there is a smart, passionate, and motivated group of future leaders ready to make an impact.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories from the people shaping the future of Environmental Health and Public Health.

#EnvironmentalHealth #NEHA #PublicHealth #FutureLeaders #EHCommunity #EnvironmentalHealthPodcast

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

🏗️ In this episode of Beyond Data Management, we sit down with Christine Brakefield, former building official, to explore how municipal building and code departments are transforming the way plan design reviews are done.

Discover how the DigePlan platform is helping local governments bring the plan review process online, using AI-enabled technology to make building departments more contractor-friendly, builder-friendly, and efficient than ever before.

Christine shares her unique insights on:

The shift from paper-based to digital plan review

How AI is streamlining municipal code compliance

Why DigePlan is a game-changer for builders, contractors, and code officials

The future of building inspections and permit approvals in a digital world

If you’re a contractor, builder, code enforcement official, or public sector leader, this episode will give you a first look at how GovTech innovation is reshaping the construction and permitting industry.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on technology shaping environmental health, public safety, and code enforcement.

#DigePlan #BuildingCode #AI #GovTech #ConstructionTech #DigitalPlanReview #CodeEnforcement

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this episode of Beyond Data Management, we dive into the exciting growth and big changes happening at HS GovTech, the leading provider of digital solutions for the Environmental Health community.

Join the conversation with our new CEO, Eric Thomas, and Co-founder, CTO & Head of Product, Silas Garrison, as they share insights on:

HS GovTech’s vision for the future of environmental health technology

How new leadership will impact innovation and growth

Upcoming product developments designed to better serve public health departments and environmental health professionals

Whether you’re part of the environmental health community, a public health leader, or simply interested in how GovTech innovation is shaping the future, this conversation offers valuable insights you won’t want to miss.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes featuring leaders shaping the future of public health and environmental health technology.

#HSGovTech #EnvironmentalHealth #PublicHealth #GovTech #Podcast #Leadership

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

What if a tiny parasite could destroy the U.S. livestock industry?
In this episode of the Beyond Data Podcast, we talk with Dr. David Dyjack (who called this threat out back in May as being real but not in the news - during a conversation on this podcast.) and he breaks down the shocking threat posed by the New World Screwworm—a flesh-eating parasite making a dangerous comeback. Discover how it spreads, why it’s so deadly to cattle, and what’s being done to stop it.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:15 What is the New World Screwworm?
04:30 Why It’s a Threat to U.S. Livestock
08:10 Historical Outbreaks & Eradication Efforts
12:20 Current Status & Prevention Measures
18:00 The Big Question: Are We Ready?

👉 Subscribe for more science, tech, and data-driven insights!

#NewWorldScrewworm #Livestock #Agriculture #BeyondDataPodcast #FleshEatingParasite #AnimalHealth #ScienceExplained

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Happy holidays EH Nation! 🎄 It’s our Season 1 finale and year-end holiday extravaganza. We launched this show and channel in April with a simple goal: spotlight the “hidden profession” of Environmental Health (EH) with real stories, teachable moments, and some truly unforgettable clips. Eight months later, we’ve crossed 1,000,000+ views across all platforms — and it's all due to each of you.  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support in season one!

Today’s holiday year end wrap up highlights show features some of the most memorable moments of our first 32 episodes:

 🎄Early-warning signals that predicted the Chipotle outbreak before it happened: Patrick Quade (DineSafe / iwaspoisoned.com) on brand risk signals years before headlines

 🎄NEHA AEC (Phoenix) on tour + Evan Satel, actual Jeopardy champion

 🎄Dr. David Dyjack (NEHA) calling the screw worm resurgence (then it arrives), plus his crawl-space wall of rats story 😳

 🎄Chirag Bhatt (Houston) runs a bribery sting with HPD & the 6pm news

 🎄Graham Mitchell (UK): a mouse baked into a sliced loaf… and the guy who wanted a crocodile in his bathtub

 🎄Van Craesap (OH): a basement sewage flood… hiding over 600 tires

 🎄Steve Mandernach (AFDO): why indecision in government creates chaos (and the 25-year petition problem)

 🎄Bob Custard: EH as problem-solvers first (the church, the privy, and real community fixes)

 🎄Viral viewer clip: a McDonald’s fry hopper turned bio-brick (yikes)

Holiday fun: name the “violations” in the movie scene game (A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone 2)

Bonus: Behind-the-scenes at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s synchronized holiday light show
👉 Send your photos/videos or questions (EH pros & public welcome): beyond@hscloudsuite.com
👉 Shorts, reels & polls weekly — subscribe so you don’t miss 2026’s new formats, on-the-road episodes, and deep dives.
🎄You can get more information on the Speedway Lights, including get tickets at:  https://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/events/speedway-christmas/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23277708479&gbraid=0AAAAA-nPOtWjzjgLs4hUSN8sKSxGZ0fJN&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo4TKBhDRARIsAGW29be2bEmYqPXe_grgOQE4d1Rgr82mJQ4rKahith-1f-vCcYAUk14YFTIaAqCkEALw_wcB

From all of us at the Beyond Data Management Show and HS GovTech we wish you and yours the best holiday season and a happy 2026 - we look forward to more exciting conversations every Tuesday right here in the new year!

Chapters
00:00 Cold open & holiday set reveal
02:00 Why we launched + 1M+ views milestone
05:30 Clip: Patrick Quade — Chipotle early warnings & brand risk
09:40 Clip: NEHA AEC live + Jeopardy champ Evan Satel
12:40 Clip: Screw worms prediction → reality (Dr. David Dyjack)
17:20 Clip: Dyjack’s crawl-space rats moment
19:55 Clip: Cherag Bhatt HPD sting (cash, cuffs, 6pm news)
23:10 Clip: Mouse baked in bread (Graham Mitchell, UK)
26:05 Clip: Viewer video — bleach on food & when product is destroyed
29:00 Clip: Basement sewage flood + 600 tires (Van Christup)
32:30 Clip: Government indecision & food chemicals (Steve Mandernach)
36:15 Clip: Problem-solver not just a regulator (Bob Custard)
40:10 Clip: Viral fry hopper bio-brick at McD’s
42:40 Holiday movie safety violations game
47:30 Speedway Christmas lights preview & sign-off

Have a story, mystery photo, or temp-event head-scratcher?
📩 beyond@hscloudsuite.com
 — say if you want to come on to discuss your picture or to remain anonymous.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Happy Tuesday, EH Nation! Today we head to the Pacific Northwest with Bonnie Waldemarson (Senior Environmental Specialist, Idaho North Central District). We dig into rural, multi-program Environmental Health: food safety, onsite septic, drinking water, and what happens when a caterer “cans” centerpieces (hello, botulism risk). We also break down that viral clip of an inspector pouring bleach on food—when and why that happens.

You’ll hear about:

How Idaho’s district model covers 5+ counties with tiny teams

Wednesday coliform result sprints & rapid operator outreach

Canning at a catering gig (and the rules operators miss)

Mobile food trucks culture shift in rural towns

Working across state lines (WA/ID) and tribal jurisdiction (Nez Perce)

Childcare licensing changes and what parents should ask

“Education first” enforcement—and the rare times product gets destroyed

Boat-access inspections in Hells Canyon (yes, seriously)

👀 Have photos or videos for us to analyze on-air?
Email: beyond@hscloudsuite.com
 — note if you’d like to come on to tell the story.

⏭ Next week: our Season 1 highlight reel (final episode of the year). Subscribe now and make sure to not miss it!

Chapters below ⬇️

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 Cold open & holiday setup
00:40 Guest intro: Bonnie Waltmarson (Idaho North Central District)
02:05 Idaho’s district structure & small-team reality
04:10 On-call drinking water: lab pickups, coliform timelines
07:05 Rural distances, courier vs. long drives to labs
09:10 Multi-program life: food, septic, land division, solid waste
11:30 The “rustic wedding” canning jars story (botulism talk)
16:05 Why inspectors sometimes bleach and discard food at events
19:25 Temporary events: temperature control & realistic volumes
22:00 Mobile food trucks: culture shift and compliance
24:45 Border & tribal jurisdiction: WA/ID & Nez Perce Nation
28:10 What the public should ask vendors & daycares
31:00 Childcare licensing changes & media/PIO lessons
34:20 Photo contests, using pics for training & reports
37:15 Septic mis-installs, when photos beat words
39:30 Field perks: boat-in inspections in Hells Canyon
41:20 Wrap + how to submit your pics/videos to the show

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

Fresh off the holiday break, we’re back with a field-level masterclass. Cameron sits down with Zach Barr (Registered Sanitarian, Toledo-Lucas County, OH) — a next-gen EH generalist who inspects pools, beaches, body art studios, housing, campgrounds, solid waste and more. Zach walks us through his NEHA photo contest shocker: a so-called “clean room” in a piercing studio with visible growth in the sink and the wrong autoclave for hollow instruments — and exactly how a clean room should look (hint: hospital-esque).

What you’ll learn

-Body art safety: pre-enzymatic cleaning vs. scrubbing, autoclave basics (why a drying cycle matters for hollow instruments), records, and consumer tips (how to find inspection reports or use FOIA).

-Pools without the spin: automatic chemical controllers (clean probes → replace probes → calibrate), combined chlorine, and the correct UV → filtration → chlorination order of operations.

-Ventilation or chemistry experiment? Why poor pump-room ventilation + acid + chlorine = corrosive salt “snow” and potential chlorine gas hazards.

-Beaches & rain: how total coliform sampling, rainfall timing, and advisories actually work.

-Restaurant reality check: we review a viewer’s fry-station photo (open drink, glove misuse, grease build-up, uncovered food) and discuss what inspectors look for.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome back, EH Nation
02:00 Zach’s path: exercise science → QC micro → EH generalist
08:30 Pool literacy: salt vs. chlorine, UV, controllers & maintenance
17:10 Pump-room ventilation & “crystalized” equipment (don’t gas your building)
24:00 Beach monitoring, rainfall windows & advisories
28:40 NEHA photo winner: the not-so-clean “clean room” (what right looks like)
39:10 Autoclaves for hollow instruments & documentation that matters
46:00 How the public can check inspection reports (and FOIA if needed)
51:30 Viewer photo: line-cook red flags & quick fixes
58:00 Takeaways + how to submit your photos

Guest
Zach Barr — Registered Sanitarian, Toledo-Lucas County (OH)

Got a wild field photo or question?
📬 beyond@hscloudsuite.com
— tell us if you want to come on and explain the story behind it.


Programming note
We’re sprinting to the end of the season, then quick holiday break. Back on Tuesdays!

Hashtags
#EnvironmentalHealth #BodyArtSafety #Autoclave #PoolInspection #Chlorine #UVDisinfection #BeachWater #FOIA #FoodSafety #EHNation #HSGovTech

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

If “death by PowerPoint” training isn’t changing behavior, you’ll love this one. Cameron sits down with Bob Custard (past NEHA President; Environmental Health Leadership Partners) — a globe-trotting EH trainer who’s worked on everything from MLB clubhouse food safety to global water & sanitation projects, and even won NEHA’s photo contest with a shot of a 1st-century AD public toilet in Ephesus (hello, ancient graywater reuse!).

We cover:

Why hands-on, scenario-based training beats lecturing — and the “Andy Griffith vs. Barney Fife” approach to compliance

Building local Food Safety Advisory Councils that actually help (industry + schools + hospitals + consumers)

Time as a Public Health Control (TPHC) in the wild (farmers markets & rib promos) and how to make it work responsibly

The MLB clubhouse story: virtual inspections, performance nutrition, and preventing team-wide outbreaks

Karst groundwater reality: mapping private well contamination with free lab & rainfall data (what spikes 2–3 days after heavy rain)

Low-cost global wins: biosand filters, color-coded buckets, and teaching WASH where it matters most

The Ephesus latrine: marble seats, running water, vinegar sponges… and what today’s EH can learn from it

Bigger vision, bigger impact: moving beyond “permits & inspections” to problem-solving and partnership

Chapters (add timestamps after upload)
00:00 Cold open & intro
02:00 Bob’s path: geology → restaurants → EH → trainer/consultant
09:30 MLB clubhouse food safety & virtual walk-throughs
15:30 Training that sticks: hands-on, risk-factor focus, people skills
21:30 Advisory councils that actually collaborate (not another meeting)
27:30 Global work: low-tech WASH solutions that save lives
34:00 NEHA photo winner: the Ephesus public toilet & graywater reuse
40:00 Private wells & karst: using free data to map contamination
48:00 Viewer Q: ribs at room temp, TPHC the right way
56:00 Wild stories (colon hydrotherapy next to smoothies?!)
1:03:00 Takeaways, links & how to reach Bob

Guest

Bob Custard — Environmental Health Leadership Partners • Past President, NEHA • AFDO instructor • Global Environmental Health Partnership founder

Contact: [Insert Bob’s preferred email/URL here]

Callouts & Links (add final URLs)

NEHA Environmental Health Leadership Academy

AFDO Retail Program Standards resources

TPHC guidance (holding, logs, discard times)

Private well testing & rainfall timing one-pager

Photos from the Field: submit your inspection pics for a future episode → [submission link]

Housekeeping

Keep Summer Stevens’ father, Bobby, and family in your thoughts. 💙

Thanksgiving break next week — back in two Tuesdays!

Subscribe & share
If you care about environmental health, food safety, retail standards, WASH, or just great stories with practical lessons, hit Subscribe and drop your biggest training win (or fail) in the comments.

Hashtags
#EnvironmentalHealth #FoodSafety #NEHA #AFDO #RetailProgramStandards #TPHC #PublicHealth #PrivateWells #Karst #WASH #EHNation #HSGovTech

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

A handwashing sink…used as a shelf?!  In this episode of Beyond Data Management - powered by HS GovTech, Cameron Garrison sits down with Marlene Johnson (City of Burlington, MA) - a NEHA Photo Contest winner and 20+ year Environmental Health pro.

They unpack the viral photo, why handwashing still breaks systems, how Boston’s training pipeline launched her career, the unique “351 boards of health” reality in Massachusetts, and practical wins around CFPMs, food trucks, complaints, and consistent FDA Food Code adoption.

What you’ll learn:

-The photo: a blocked hand sink and the cascade of violations it revealed

-Teacher not a cop: inspection philosophy that actually changes behavior

-Massachusetts’ local Boards of Health model—benefits and headaches

-CFPM coverage expectations, fines, and fair-but-firm enforcement

-Mobile food pitfalls: hand sinks, hot water, hot/cold holding in motion

-Complaint triage, FBDO follow-up (why 72-hour histories matter)

-Training that sticks: 5 risk factors, multilingual materials, photo-based drills

-Consistency gaps across jurisdictions & why operators get whiplash

Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:05 Marlene’s path: restaurant manager → inspector
06:30 “Teacher not cop” & North End lessons
11:35 Programs beyond restaurants: pools, body art, animals
15:10 MA structure: 351 local boards & local regs
19:00 CFPM coverage, fines & compliance
24:45 Code enforcement cadence & frequent flyers
29:10 Foodborne illness complaints: last-meal bias & callbacks
33:00 Food trucks: sinks, temps, hot water reality
37:10 Training that works: the 5 risk factors
41:15 The hand sink as shelf photo - what went wrong & fixes
47:50 More field stories (Crown Royal tea bag, missing sinks)
53:40 Consistency & the Food Code adoption lag
58:10 Optimism vs. worries for EH’s future
1:02:00 Wrap & call for “Photos from the Field”

Please Remember to Like and Subscribe:
Subscribe for weekly EH stories + practical tech & training wins.
Drop your wildest “What’s wrong with this picture?” in the comments - and send us photos for the upcoming Photos from the Field episode.

--

Cameron Garrison | Executive Director of Growth and Operations
Check out The Beyond Data Management Podcast
Office:  704-317-2403
Mobile:  980-309-1749
Cameron@hscloudsuite.com
hsgovtech.com
Beyond Data Management

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this special Fourth of July week episode of the Beyond Data Management Podcast, Cameron Garrison is joined by HS GovTech’s own Adam Smith for a fun, behind-the-scenes look at spring environmental health conference season.

From Idaho to California, Montana, West Virginia, North Dakota, and AFDO in Columbus, this episode takes EH Nation on the road for a recap of the conferences, conversations, travel chaos, red-eye flights, strange airport food, client meetups, AI discussions, and unforgettable moments that happened along the way.

Cameron and Adam talk about environmental health conferences across the country, the importance of showing up in person, what HS GovTech is seeing from agencies nationwide, the upcoming NEHA conference, the AFDO AI workshop series, live podcast recordings from the road, and why public health communication, trust, and technology are becoming more important than ever.

And yes — we also discuss the legend of Adam’s mustache, a White Castle vending machine disaster, a surprisingly luxurious airport bathroom, rubber duck souvenirs, blackjack in North Dakota, and what happens when conference season pushes sleep deprivation to the limit.

Topics covered include:

Environmental health conference season
HS GovTech on the road
NEHA, AFDO, CUPA, SEHA, Montana, Idaho, West Virginia, North Dakota and more
AI in food safety and public health
Public health communication and trust
Live podcast recordings from upcoming conferences
Behind-the-scenes stories from the Beyond Data Management Podcast
Travel chaos, red-eye flights, road stories, and EH Nation community moments

If you work in environmental health, public health, food safety, regulatory programs, or government technology, this episode is a lighter but meaningful look at the people, places, and conversations shaping the EH community across the country.

Powered by HS GovTech.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

🎙️ Beyond Data Management Podcast — Powered by HS GovTech
What if your food safety and quality systems could answer any question in real time, in any language, tailored to your role — while predicting problems before they happen?

In this powerful episode, Cameron Garrison interviews Dr. Vera Dickinson, Founder & CEO of Nova Q. Vera brings decades of hands-on expertise from the front lines of food safety: PhD research on pathogens, quality leadership at Disney (under Frank Yiannas), Mars Wrigley, Danone, Sargento, and more.
They discuss:

Why the food manufacturing industry remains conservative despite razor-thin margins and high-stakes risks
The human and financial cost of manual processes and slow recalls
How exposure to ChatGPT sparked Vera’s vision for purpose-built AI (no generic hallucinations)

Nova Q’s innovative tools: unified regulatory knowledge center, real-time analytics, root cause analysis, forecasting, and organization-wide visibility
Leadership lessons on culture change, hiring smarter teammates, and fearless decision-making

Lessons from major mergers, industry consolidation, and high-profile failures like Chipotle and Peanut Corporation of America

Vera emphasizes the need for validated, future-proof AI tools that support both internal compliance and upcoming regulatory requirements.
Whether you work in food manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, or government oversight — this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiration for anyone passionate about modernization and protecting public health.

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In our June 1st episode AFDO Executive Director Steve Mandernach gave us a teaser that a new AI for food safety and health regulators was going to be debuted at the upcoming AFDO conference in Columbus Ohio.

The unveiling has happened, and Wiley is smart.  Jason Brill from AFDO joins us to give us an exclusive deep dive into this powerful new tool.

You can ask Wiley yourself at https://afdo.org/askwiley and you can reach Jason at jbrill@afdo.org

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this episode of Beyond Data Management, Cameron Garrison welcomes back Steve Mandernach, Executive Director of AFDO, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of food safety regulation, inspections, training, and technology.

Steve previews the upcoming AFDO conference in Columbus, including major sessions on AI in food safety, the 15th anniversary of the Food Safety Modernization Act, food safety culture, inspector safety, de-escalation, and the launch of AFDO’s new AI-powered website assistant, Wiley.

The conversation also covers FDA-state collaboration, the “FDA bridge project,” federal information-sharing challenges, food chemical regulation, training modernization, and why AI may create one of the biggest shifts the inspection world has seen in decades.

Whether you work in regulatory food safety, public health, industry compliance, inspections, or government technology, this episode offers a look at where the field is heading next.

Links and Resources Discussed:

AFDO & 2026 Annual Conference
• AFDO Official Website: https://www.afdo.org/
• 130th AFDO Annual Educational Conference (Columbus, OH – June 5-9, 2026): https://www.afdo.org/event/aec-130/
• AFDO Training Courses & Webinars (free): https://www.afdo.org/training/


Dr. Harvey Wiley & The Poison Squad
• PBS American Experience Documentary "The Poison Squad": https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/poison-squad/
• Book: "The Poison Squad" by Deborah Blum: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/312067/the-poison-squad-by-deborah-blum/
FSMA 15th Anniversary & Policy
• FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Overview: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma
• The BRIDGE Project (FDA state inspection transition): https://www.fda.gov/food/integrated-food-safety-system-ifss/bridge-project
• Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act of 2026 (H.R. 8430): https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8430

Cost of indecision clip from Steve's first appearance on the podcast:
https://youtu.be/L6XpjQWb0kk

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this episode of Beyond Data Management, powered by HS GovTech, Cameron Garrison talks with Dr. Aaron Ashbrook, Assistant Professor of Urban & Peri-Urban Entomology at the LSU AgCenter.

Dr. Ashbrook breaks down the science (and horror) of bed bugs: their resurgence tied to spring travel in the Southern U.S., how much blood they drink, why they’re so hard to kill, and the bizarre reality of traumatic insemination. He also shares practical advice for travelers, hotel inspections, and what environmental health professionals should tell operators when bed bugs show up.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:
• The gross truth about bed bug mating (traumatic insemination) and how much blood they actually consume
• Why bed bugs are surging again in 2026 — especially in the South due to travel
• Heat treatments: What temperature and time actually kills them (and why resistance to heat is limited)
• Hotel room inspection checklist every traveler should use
• Why bed bugs are NOT a “dirty house” problem — they love clean, high-traffic places
• IPM strategies: Vacuuming, mattress encasements, silica dust, biocontrol, and when to combine with insecticides
• Real lab insights from Dr. Ashbrook’s heat + humidity and insecticide research

Whether you’re in environmental health, pest control, or just someone who travels and doesn’t want unwanted guests, this episode gives you the facts without the hype.

Dr. Ashbrook’s work focuses on bed bugs, German cockroaches, and other urban pests in the humid Gulf Coast environment. He’s also heavily involved in extension and training for pest control operators and public health professionals.

📌 Resources Mentioned:
- LSU AgCenter Urban Entomology
- Bed Bugs Uncovered webinar / presentations by Dr. Ashbrook
- Recent heat exposure studies on bed bugs

Drop your biggest bed bug horror story (or hotel inspection tip) in the comments!

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders in environmental health, entomology, and government innovation.

#BedBugs #EnvironmentalHealth #LSU #Entomology #PestControl #HotelSafety #TravelTips #PublicHealth

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com 

In this episode of Beyond Data Management, powered by HS GovTech, Cameron Garrison sits down with Alicia Love, Bureau Chief of the Meat, Milk & Egg Inspection Bureau at the Montana Department of Livestock.

Alicia shares her unexpected journey from wildlife management dreams → vector control → becoming a food safety leader in one of the most unique state agencies in the country. She also delivers practical, biology-based strategies for one of the toughest parts of regulatory work: de-escalating conflict with angry operators, restaurant owners, and meat plant workers.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:
• How the amygdala hijack affects inspectors and operators — and why stepping away is often the smartest move
• Practical phrases and excuses to reset heated situations without losing authority
• Body language tips (why standing in doorways makes things worse)
• Recognizing when a situation has crossed from "unpleasant" to "unsafe"
• Dealing with lies, complaints, and burnout in food safety inspections
• What makes Montana’s Department of Livestock different from typical ag or public health departments
• Real field stories — from cockroach surprises to being asked to write up a violation on purpose

Whether you're a food safety inspector, environmental health professional, or anyone who deals with regulated industries, this episode gives you tools to stay calm, protect your mental health, and build better relationships in the field.

Alicia’s popular de-escalation training (recently presented for NEHA and others) is designed specifically for inspectors — not law enforcement — and focuses on real-world regulatory interactions.

📌 Resources & Links:
• Alicia’s recent NEHA Conflict De-Escalation Webinar [add link if available]
• Montana Department of Livestock Meat, Milk & Egg Inspection
• NEHA Pre-Conference Training with Alicia Love (August 2026)

If you're in regulatory work, drop your biggest inspection conflict story in the comments — we read them all!

👉 Subscribe for more real conversations with leaders in environmental health, food safety, and data management in government.

#FoodSafety #EnvironmentalHealth #DeEscalation #FoodInspection #RegulatoryTraining #PublicHealth

Send us Fan Mail

Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com