Beyond Data Management Podcast - Cameron Garrison

Latest Episodes:

EH Nation on the Road: Conference Season Stories, AI in Food Safety & the World’s Greatest Mustache Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

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.

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Why food companies are racing to adopt this AI - Ep39 Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

🎙️ 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.

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A First Look at Wiley: AFDO's New AI - Ep38 Jason Brill Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

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

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Steve Mandernach previews AFDO 26 and discusses AI, FDA Collaboration, and the Future of Food Safety Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

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

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Traumatic Insemination: Bed Bugs Are Even Grosser Than You Imagined Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

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

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"I Just Remembered I Have to Take This Call" — Smart De-Escalation Tricks for Regulators Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

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

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You Were JUST Here! Real Food Inspector Stories from the Field | Episode 34 Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

Episode 34 of Beyond Data Management is here, and this week Cameron Garrison is joined by Melissa Rogerson for another Ask the Inspector-style conversation powered by questions from across EH Nation.
In this episode
We dig into the real-world challenges food inspectors and environmental health professionals face every day — from difficult operators and illegal food vendors to training new inspectors, handling deception in the field, and helping people break into food safety careers.
Melissa Rogerson brings frontline environmental health experience and practical insight to a wide range of audience-submitted questions, including:
-what inspectors hear when operators say “you were just here”
-how to handle illegal or unpermitted food vendors
-whether operators use small talk to distract inspectors
-the mental toll of difficult inspections and dishonest interactions
-what training works for new inspectors
-how to coach staff who miss violations
-strange but memorable things seen in kitchens
Featured Guest
Melissa Rogerson
HS GovTech
Former El Paso County Environmental Health Department, Colorado
About Beyond Data Management
Beyond Data Management, powered by HS GovTech, explores environmental health, public health, inspections, compliance, data systems, and the real-world work happening across agencies and communities.
Connect with us
Have a question, story idea, or want to be featured on the show?
Email: beyond@hscloudsuite.com
Comment below:
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen in a kitchen that wasn’t technically a violation?
#FoodSafety #HealthInspector #EnvironmentalHealth #PublicHealth #FoodInspection #RestaurantInspections #FoodSafetyCareer #EHNation #HSGovTech #BeyondDataManagement

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Ask the Inspector: Food Truck Violations, Fake Complaints & Food Safety Myths | Season 2 Premiere Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

Season 2 of Beyond Data Management is here — and we’re kicking things off with a special Ask the Inspector episode.
Host Cameron Garrison welcomes back Kristin Geary of HS GovTech to answer real questions from across EH Nation about food safety, health inspections, food trucks, fake complaints, rodents, date marking, code interpretation, and what inspectors really deal with in the field.
This episode dives into some of the most common — and most frustrating — issues facing environmental health professionals and food safety inspectors today, including:
food truck commissary problems
illegal and unpermitted vending
fake or retaliatory complaints from former employees
whether restaurants get tipped off before inspections
rodent and mouse infestations in food establishments
single-use cups and lids stored in bathrooms
date marking rules for pickled and brined foods
borderline hot and cold holding temperatures
how inspection reports spread on social media
whether TV and movies unfairly portray health inspectors
If you work in environmental health, food safety, public health, or operate a restaurant, grocery store, food truck, or retail food business, this episode is packed with practical insight.
In this episode:
Why food trucks are one of the hardest areas to regulate
The real challenge with commissary agreements
How inspectors deal with bogus complaints
What happens when employees report hidden food safety issues
When date marking rules do — and do not — apply
Why rodent complaints matter so much
How much discretion inspectors actually have
Why inspectors are often misunderstood in pop culture
Featured Guest
Kristin Geary
HS GovTech

AI For The Public Good Symposium: As mentioned in this episode Cameron is speaking at this event at Bowling Green State University on April 2nd. Details can be found at: https://events.bgsu.edu/event/public-allied-health-symposium
About Beyond Data Management
Beyond Data Management is the podcast powered by HS GovTech, exploring environmental health, public health, government technology, regulatory challenges, and the future of inspection and compliance work.
Connect with us
Got a question, topic idea, or want to be featured on the show?
Email: beyond@hscloudsuite.com
Comment below with your thoughts:
What’s the biggest food safety issue inspectors face today?
#FoodSafety #HealthInspector #EnvironmentalHealth #PublicHealth #FoodTrucks #RestaurantInspections #FoodCode #EHNation #HSGovTech #BeyondDataManagement

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Season Finale: Rats, Sewage, Mouse Baked in Bread, Bribery Stings & Holiday Violations | Ep. 32 Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

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.

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Why Inspectors Pour Bleach on Food (and Other Wild EH Stories) | Idaho’s Bonnie Waldemarson - Ep 31 Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

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

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