Sherwood co-hosts bring The Chocolate Pod podcast to Texas, California

SHERWOOD, Ore. — Two local Sherwoodians host a podcast all about craft chocolate makers and chocolatiers from Oregon and beyond.

High school sweethearts Zack and Darlene Gallinger-Long are the co-hosts and founders. Darlene grew up near Hershey, Pennsylvania, so chocolate has always been a part of her story.

Since launching in January 2026, the podcast has partnered with regional festivals, served as emcees, and hosted guided tastings focused on local makers and the bean-to-bar process.

It all started when the couple attended a craft chocolate festival in 2025.

“After attending our first chocolate festival in 2025 as enthusiastic consumers, we realized just how many incredible small businesses exist in the craft chocolate world. As we continued attending more festivals, we were struck by the depth and quality of the stories behind each company,” Zack said. “We saw an opportunity to help bring those stories forward and introduce more people to craft chocolate.”

He said before 2025, the couple’s chocolate knowledge was fairly limited — they just knew they enjoyed it, and wanted to learn more. That curiosity became the foundation for the podcast, Zack said.

“We discovered how different craft chocolate is from mass-produced candy,” Zack said. “That experience gave us a deep appreciation for the quality, process, and craftsmanship behind it.”

Now, the team continues to travel to festivals and interview chocolate makers across the country. Upcoming episodes will feature trips to California and Texas.

In the past, Zack already had experience in content creation from his time working at Gartner, where he led a team of international researchers developing content and insights for C-suite executives. Now, he works as a management consultant, still using storytelling every day to help his clients understand their businesses. 

“One thing I learned in that role is that storytelling is what makes information stick. It helps people connect ideas to real-world impact,” Zack said. “On the podcasting side, I have been a long-time listener of other educational podcasts and have always appreciated the format as a way to share stories in a more personal and engaging way. It felt like a natural medium for highlighting the people and stories behind craft chocolate.”

The couple moved to Sherwood in 2015, and plans to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this summer. Zack said living in Sherwood grew and shaped the couple’s appreciation for small businesses, a passion that carries directly into the Chocolate Pod. 

“After raising two children together and navigating life’s ups and downs, we have developed a strong partnership and work well together,” Zack said. “I handle most of the recording and editing, and Darlene provides initial reviews and feedback before episodes are published. When we are in the studio, I tend to take the lead. When we are at festivals, especially in costume, Darlene is the star of the show.”

Next, the couple plans to expand its presence at live events. They attended the Oregon Chocolate Festival in Ashland in March, and hosted educational sessions including a Chocolate 101 tasting as well as a live podcast about women in the chocolate business.

“We're excited to continue building experiences like this at other chocolate festivals in 2026,” Zack said. “We're already confirmed to attend The Northwest Chocolate Festival in October, and the California Chocolate Expo in November, and we'd love to hear from even more festivals!”