The Fresh Bunch

Jet Fresh Flowers
  • 5.0 (10)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Fresh Bunch (formerly '2 Fat Guys Talking Flowers') is your all-access pass into the wild and wonderful world of flowers. Hosted by Michael Black, Mimi Pacheco, Ryan Black, and producer, Joel, keeping us sounding fresh—we bring you unfiltered conversations about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the floral industry’s trends, challenges, and characters. From flower fails to petal-powered success stories, each episode blends laughs, insights, and special guests from all corners of the flower world. It’s part podcast, part therapy, and all fresh—welcome to The Fresh Bunch - a Jet Fresh Flowers podcast.

  1. 5D AGO

    Ep. 215 - From DC to Doral: Policy, Presentations, and Motivational Monologues

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Fresh Bunch, we’re covering ground from Washington, D.C. to Doral.  We discuss a few events that happened in the floral industry in April.  But first, we get some motivation from Head Coach Mike, who breaks down big floral holidays the best way he knows how—through sports analogies and classic movie-style monologues. It’s how his sales team stays focused when the pressure’s on. Jimi heads to D.C. for his first SAF Congressional Action Days, representing the flower industry and sharing what really goes on in those meetings—plus a side conversation on the “bearded presidents” you didn’t know you needed. Back in Miami, Mimi recaps the 6th Annual Doral Art & Flower Festival in the “City of Flowers.” From large-scale floral art to an AIFD educational day focused on Miami and Latino designers, the event brought together a strong mix of creativity and community. With AIFD President Renee Tucci, Alejandro Figueira Fernandes, and a lineup of designers—including our own Olga Ramirez—it was a meaningful moment for education and representation in the industry.

    45 min

  2. APR 24

    Ep. 214 - Gathering Wisdom with Jessica Rauls of Gather Flower Studio

    Send us Fan Mail Sweet ears of the podcast realm—this week on The Fresh Bunch, we’re casting with the incredibly talented Jessica Rauls, founder of Gather Flower Studio and curator of beautiful floral varieties. Full of giggles, stories, and floral stardom, this episode blooms from Jessica’s “florally viral” Powder Puff Rose reel that first connected her with Mike. Mimi had to challenge Powder Puff with her all-time favorite, Crystal Fairy Rose—and the rest is instant floral connection.    Jessica shares her journey as a floral studio owner, content creator, and artist whose love for flowers, words, and people feels like a much-needed hug. From floral classes and brewery pop-ups to running her dreamy flower shop filled with arrangements, events, and fine art prints, Jessica talks about building trust with her customers and listening when the universe speaks. Her passion for floristry and genuine connection shine through in every word—and yes, you’ll hear it live in action. After this episode, don’t be surprised if you find yourself heading straight to social media to hit that follow button. Like a fine art masterpiece, this floral energy is rare and must be admired.   Follow Gather Flower Studio: https://www.instagram.com/gatherflowerstudio

    1h 19m

  3. APR 17

    Ep. 213 - Serving Up Style: Rebecca Merritt, The Racquet Queen of Events

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Fresh Bunch, we’re joined by Rebecca Merritt, Founder & CEO of Beyond Merritt Events. Rebecca’s firm delivers creative direction, strategy, interior design, branding, room planning, and extraordinary florals for corporate, agency, and private clients across the country. Ryan first met Rebecca at the Orchid Dinner at the New York Botanical Garden, where the two instantly connected over design and event production. In this episode, they revisit that moment and dive into Rebecca’s unique path in the industry. Often referred to as the “Racquet Queen” (even though she insists she’s not exactly sporty), Rebecca has carved out an impressive niche producing events in the worlds of racquet sports (Padel, pickleball, tennis) and culinary clients. She shares stories from working in TV floral production, discusses how to transform practical production challenges into something magical, and offers insight into executing high-profile events from New York City to Miami. From orchids and arenas to television sets and unforgettable dining experiences, Rebecca explains how thoughtful design and strategic production can turn any event into something extraordinary.

    1h 2m

  4. APR 10

    Ep. 212 - The Floral Wizard: David Kaplan on Peonies, Catkins & Global Flower Trends

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Fresh Bunch, we’re joined by the one and only Floral Wizard, David Kaplan of Above All Flowers. With decades of experience and a global network of growers, David truly has his finger on the pulse of the floral industry. David shares what’s happening across the world’s growing regions—from wrapping up the Catkins (pussywillow) season to the highly anticipated start of Peony season. After shipping more than 2.3 million peony stems last year, he dives into what makes great peonies, the importance of soil and growers, and the varieties he loves most. We also explore the emerging future of Ethiopian flower production and how new regions are shaping the global flower market. Beyond flowers, David’s true specialty is connecting people across the industry. Through his consulting work, marketing partnerships, and a newsletter reaching 25,000 readers worldwide, he helps bring together growers, suppliers, and floral professionals from every corner of the business. And of course, it wouldn’t be The Fresh Bunch without a few laughs and some good conversation about food along the way. To subscribe to Above all Flowers newsletter email: flowerwizard@aboveallflowers.net

    1 hr

  5. APR 3

    Ep. 211 - Flower Care, love & Logistics: Valentina & Kyle Armellini

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Fresh Bunch, we welcome two very special guests — Valentina Armellini, the new Marketing Manager at Chrysal USA, and Kyle Armellini, Terminal Manager at Atlanta Armellini. The married couple shares the story of how they met and how they each navigate the unique challenges of today’s floral industry from two different sides of the business. From logistics and transportation to floral spray colors and flower care, we dive into what keeps the floral supply chain blooming. Along the way, we play a fun Newlywed Game, talk about what’s ahead for both Chrysal and Armellini, and Mimi even crowns Kyle and Armellini as the NEXTGEN Prom King & Queen. It’s a lighthearted episode filled with laughs, insight, and plenty of flower care talk. A true legacy in bloom — from two powerful floral brands.  https://www.instagram.com/chrysalusa/  https://www.instagram.com/armellinilogistics/

    1h 1m

  6. MAR 27

    Ep. 210 - The Flower Buddies - Tony & Paul Guerrie.

    Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode of The Fresh Bunch, we’re joined by Paul and Tony Guerrie, cofounders of Flower Buddy. The two brothers share how they went from working in tech to building a business together in the floral industry. The conversation goes beyond flowers and into what it really looks like to start and grow something from the ground up—especially when you’re doing it with family and bringing an outsider’s perspective into a traditional space. At a time when AI is rapidly changing how every industry operates, the brothers break down how they stay adaptable and continue evolving alongside it. From practical use cases to bigger-picture ideas, this episode explores how AI isn’t just a trend—it’s a shift that’s reshaping businesses and raising customer expectations in real time. https://www.instagram.com/flowerbuddyapp/ flowerbuddy.co

    58 min

  7. MAR 20

    Ep. 209 - Rooted: Stories, Blooms & Bites from the Philadelphia Flower Show

    Send us Fan Mail This week, The Fresh Bunch hits the road for one of the most iconic events in horticulture—the Philadelphia Flower Show, “Rooted.” 2026 Joined by Freshie Christine Guenther of Wild Flower MD, Mike and Mimi share highlights from their unforgettable trip, diving into the creativity, passion, and stories behind the nation’s largest and longest-running indoor flower and garden show. We toured the show with Bill Schaffer and Kris Kratt of Schaffer Designs, whose breathtaking installation tells a deeply personal story of love, history, and their long-standing connection to the show. Mike & Mimi were so happy and proud to see the amazing floral art which was partly sponsored by Jet Fresh. We also chat with Taylor from Robertson’s, whose exhibit beautifully recreates their centennial shop (this year) with stunning window displays through the decades. The different eras of their Chestnut Hill store, and discover how floristry has evolved from the refined, formal bouquets of the early 20th century to the dramatic and free-flowing styles of today. Of course, no Philly trip is complete without food—Chris Drummond leads us to one of the city’s most unforgettable cheesesteaks, and we wrap things up with a true Dutch dream during a visit to an innovative tulip farm in New Jersey. Plus, stick around for laughs with special guest comedian Caya Guenther joining us for Jimi’s Jokes! From flowers to food to fun, this episode is fully Rooted in inspiration. To see a full video on the Schaffer Design watch on our Youtube:  https://www.instagram.com/schafferdesigns/  https://www.instagram.com/p/DVRX-zZCWYL/

    59 min

  8. MAR 13

    Ep. 208 - Capitalism Doesn’t Care About Your Creativity — Maurice Harris Does

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Fresh Bunch, we sit down with visual interdisciplinary artist Maurice Harris of Bloom & Plume. Maurice Harris is a Los Angeles–based artist. Recognized from his TV projects “Centerpiece” and “Full Bloom”on HBO Max, he pushes boundaries beyond his floral art.   His photography transports viewers through vibrant color and bold composition, while his popular social series—Capitalism Doesn’t Care About Your Creativity and When’s the Last Time You Got Flowers?—have captured thousands of likes and shares while reminding consumers of the magic behind both receiving and giving flowers. Maurice was also the keynote speaker at our Fresh Fest in June 2025, and you can watch his full talk now on our YouTube channel. In this episode, we talk about humility, cultivating creativity, and understanding the real cost of building a business in a creative field. We also dive into the importance of pushing back against an overly individualistic society and how community and collaboration can take us further—both in business and in life. From natural opulence to the romantic movement of flowers, this episode will stir your creative juices faster than a KitchenAid mixer. For more from Maurice:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomandplume Watch the Fresh Fest keynote: https://youtu.be/QG61R2sW4_A?si=1WrbrblezXt0jJ09

    1h 31m
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5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The Fresh Bunch (formerly '2 Fat Guys Talking Flowers') is your all-access pass into the wild and wonderful world of flowers. Hosted by Michael Black, Mimi Pacheco, Ryan Black, and producer, Joel, keeping us sounding fresh—we bring you unfiltered conversations about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the floral industry’s trends, challenges, and characters. From flower fails to petal-powered success stories, each episode blends laughs, insights, and special guests from all corners of the flower world. It’s part podcast, part therapy, and all fresh—welcome to The Fresh Bunch - a Jet Fresh Flowers podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Jet Fresh Flowers
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    216
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Fresh Bunch
  • Show Website
    The Fresh Bunch

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