Industry Night is the long-talk format radio show and podcast that brings you up close and personal with the trends and trendsetters across today’s diverse food, wine, spirits, brews and hospitality landscape. For in-depth insights and insider tips, join your host, Nycci Nellis, cohost of Foodie and the Beast, the DC area’s one and only food and wine variety show, and all the locally, nationally and globally renowned chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, mixologists, somms, distillers, brewmasters, pit-masters and more that you’ll hear from on Industry Night.
All content for Industry Night with Nycci Nellis is the property of Nycci Nellis and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Industry Night is the long-talk format radio show and podcast that brings you up close and personal with the trends and trendsetters across today’s diverse food, wine, spirits, brews and hospitality landscape. For in-depth insights and insider tips, join your host, Nycci Nellis, cohost of Foodie and the Beast, the DC area’s one and only food and wine variety show, and all the locally, nationally and globally renowned chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, mixologists, somms, distillers, brewmasters, pit-masters and more that you’ll hear from on Industry Night.
On this episode of Industry Night, I’m back at the serious art-flecked Jackie in the Navy Yard. And, I am sitting down with two dynamic women who are making waves in the hospitality and food space — Nina Oduro and Ehime Eigbe.
Nina Oduro is the co-founder of Dine Diaspora and Black Women in Food, organizations dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the voices of Black women in the food industry. Through curated experiences, storytelling, and community-building, Nina has been instrumental in connecting culinary talent with opportunities for growth and recognition.
Ehime Eigbe is the founder and CEO of Sweetkiwi, a health-conscious frozen yogurt brand that combines rich flavors with clean ingredients. Born in Nigeria and inspired by her own health journey, Ehime created Sweetkiwi to provide better-for-you desserts that are as delicious as they are nourishing.
Both Nina and Ehime are passionate entrepreneurs whose work is redefining the intersection of food, culture, and community. Today, we’ll dive into their journeys, the impact of their work, and how they continue to elevate the food and hospitality industry.
Once again I’ve got the Anacostia River on one side of me and Nationals Stadium on the other —Dmitri Chekaldin is my generous host and you may remember, Jackie has a new chef — none other than Chef Domenico Cornacchia and later in the show, I will be back in the kitchen with him — I see something delicious in my future.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:43 - Dine Diaspora: Connecting Through African Cuisine
05:20 - "Empowering Black Women in Food"
08:40 - Inclusive Community Empowerment Journey
10:40 - Nutrition and Hydration Focus
15:38 - From Catering to Pop-Ups
18:47 - Shared Funding Struggles and Support
20:11 - Navigating Business Through Male Gaze
23:16 - Innovative Growth Without Compromise
28:32 - Pepsi-Sponsored Pitch & Networking Event
31:29 - "Mutual Allyship in Action"
34:28 - "Chef Dominica's Culinary Journey"
36:24 - Globally Influenced Culinary Creations
40:24 - Follow & Connect with NYC Cinellis
41:08 - Outro
Key Takeaways:
Culinary Connections Overcoming Barriers Black Women In Food: Celebrating and Elevating Empowerment Through Dine Diaspora Ehime Eigbe's Sweet Success Journey Overcoming Entrepreneurial Challenges Building an Inclusive Ecosystem Wellness and Innovation as Pillars Breaking Bread, Building Bridges
Quotes:
"Creating a community is about fostering connections and uplifting each other."- Nycci Nellis
"Inclusivity drives us to uplift our community and create paths for everyone to thrive."- Nina Oduro
"Without funding, I’ve innovated and overcome challenges, building something unforgettable."- Ehime Eigbe
Industry Night is the long-talk format radio show and podcast that brings you up close and personal with the trends and trendsetters across today’s diverse food, wine, spirits, brews and hospitality landscape. For in-depth insights and insider tips, join your host, Nycci Nellis, cohost of Foodie and the Beast, the DC area’s one and only food and wine variety show, and all the locally, nationally and globally renowned chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, mixologists, somms, distillers, brewmasters, pit-masters and more that you’ll hear from on Industry Night.
