Beyond Data Management Podcast

Cameron Garrison

The definitive podcast for government data management and stories from the field - with a special focus on Environment Health professionals.

  1. 6d ago

    The Device That Lights Up Contaminated Hands — Path Spot Founder Christine Schindler

    What if a device mounted next to a handwashing sink could instantly scan for E. coli, Salmonella, Norovirus, Listeria and other invisible threats — then coach teams in real time and feed the data straight to management? In this episode of Beyond Data Management (powered by HS GovTech), host Cameron Garrison sits down with Christine Schindler, Founder & CEO of Path Spot, for a deep dive into one of the most innovative hardware + AI platforms in food safety. Christine shares: • The wild origin story — soldering prototypes in her apartment (and the occasional electrocution) • How spectral imaging + AI turns handwashing from “hope and a sign” into measurable, coachable behavior • Scaling to 10,000+ locations and what the data actually shows about frequency + quality of handwashes • Expanding from hygiene into temperature monitoring, expiration control, digital checklists… and now AI-powered continuous auditing that could replace performative third-party audits • Her journey from Duke biomedical engineering + Girls Engineering Change to building real hardware that lives in the chaos of commercial kitchens • Why the pandemic was a tailwind, the loneliness of the founder journey, and what’s next as AI finally makes continuous food-safety culture possible This is the conversation every regulator, operator, and food-safety professional needs to hear. Path Spot isn’t just another tech gadget — it’s changing the daily reality of kitchens and the future of how we measure and improve food safety culture. If you work in environmental health, restaurant operations, grocery, hospitality, or food manufacturing… this one’s for you. 🔗 Learn more about Path Spot and the tech discussed in the episode pathspottech.com Check out AFDO's new AI for regulatory professionals - Wiley afdo.com/askwiley #FoodSafety #PathSpot #HandHygiene #AIinFoodSafety #BeyondDataManagement #HSGovTech #RestaurantTech #PublicHealth #ChristineSchindler Send us Fan Mail Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

  2. Jul 14

    We Need a New Playbook for Public Health | Dr. David Dyjack on Trust, AI & Emerging Threats

    Environmental health is entering a new era—and the old regulatory playbook may no longer be enough. In this episode of the Beyond Data Management Podcast, Cameron Garrison welcomes back Dr. David Dyjack, CEO of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of environmental and public health. Dr. Dyjack explains why technical expertise alone is not enough to protect communities. Environmental health professionals must also build trust, communicate uncertainty honestly, understand body language, demonstrate empathy, and establish relationships before the next public-health crisis arrives. The conversation explores: • Why environmental health needs a completely new playbook • How public-health professionals can rebuild trust with the public • The importance of saying “I don’t know” when the science is uncertain • Why communication, humility, and emotional intelligence matter • Emerging threats including New World screwworm, Chagas disease, dengue, tickborne illnesses, and changing vector patterns • How climate change is reshaping environmental-health responsibilities • Cybersecurity threats facing drinking-water and public infrastructure systems • Food safety challenges created by e-commerce and interstate shipping • Why government leaders must create room for experimentation and “honorable failure” • The expanding responsibilities of environmental-health professionals in Guam, American Samoa, and other island communities • Why inspectors are much more than regulators—they are often the public face of public health Dr. Dyjack also previews the upcoming NEHA Annual Educational Conference in Kansas City, including sessions on infectious disease, wildfire smoke, World Cup food safety, vector control, cybersecurity, and the growing food-freedom movement. This is a thoughtful and often surprising conversation about leadership, service, risk communication, innovation, and what environmental health professionals must do to prepare for the challenges coming around the corner. Register for the NEHA Annual Educational Conference: https://www.neha.org/aec-register NEHA conference guide App: NEHA.conferenceguide.ai Subscribe to Beyond Data Management for conversations about environmental health, public health technology, artificial intelligence, food safety, regulatory innovation, and the people shaping the future of the profession. #EnvironmentalHealth #PublicHealth #NEHA #FoodSafety #HealthInspection #RiskCommunication #Cybersecurity #ClimateChange #ArtificialIntelligence #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

    We Need a New Playbook for Public Health | Dr. David Dyjack on Trust, AI & Emerging Threats

  3. Jul 11

    NEHA 2026 AEC Conference Just Got WAY Easier: Exclusive HS GovTech Navigator App Demo

    🚀 Special Episode! We're giving you an exclusive first look at the brand new **HS GovTech Conference Navigator App** built specifically for the NEHA 2026 AEC in Kansas City. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to navigate dozens of sessions, conflicting schedules, credit hours, and everything Kansas City has to offer — this app is for you. In this demo, host Cameron Garrison and Adam Smith walk through the powerful features including: ✅ **Smart Scheduling** – Browse sessions by day, add to your personal agenda, track credit hours   ✅ **AI Recommendations** – Private AI (trained only on conference data) suggests sessions based on your role (food inspector, septic, etc.)   ✅ **Conflict Detection** – Never double-book yourself again   ✅ **Private Notes & Presenter Decks** – Take notes and access slides after sessions   ✅ **Built-in Trivia Games** – Test your food safety & environmental health knowledge, compete on the leaderboard, and win prizes at the HS GovTech booth!   ✅ **Kansas City Local Guide** – Walking-distance restaurants, stores, coffee, BBQ, nightlife + rideshare integration with safety alerts   ✅ **Community Feed** – "Reddit for the Conference" – share photos, violations, stories, and connect with other attendees   ✅ **Digital Drink Ticket** – Claim your free drink QR code in the app   Whether you're attending NEHA in Kansas City or just want to see the future of conference apps, this is a must-watch. **Download the app now and start planning:** ➡️ https://neha.conferenceguide.ai First 25 people to set up the app get a special prize at the HS GovTech booth! **Timestamps:** 00:00 - Intro & Why We Built This 01:30 - App Overview & Onboarding 03:15 - Session Scheduling & Credits 06:45 - AI-Powered Recommendations 09:20 - Private Notes & Presenter Decks 11:10 - Conflict Detection 13:00 - Email Your Agenda 14:40 - Trivia Games & Leaderboard 19:30 - Kansas City Local Guide & Navigation 23:45 - Community Feed ("Conference Reddit") 26:10 - Digital Drink Tickets & Prizes 28:00 - EDH Appreciation Lounge & Live Podcast Recordings Powered by HS GovTech | Beyond Data Management Podcast #NEHA2026 #EnvironmentalHealth #ConferenceApp #GovTech #AI #KansasCity Send us Fan Mail Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com

  4. Jun 30

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

    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

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

  5. Jun 23

    Why food companies are racing to adopt this AI - Ep39

    🎙️ 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

    Why food companies are racing to adopt this AI - Ep39

  6. Jun 16

    A First Look at Wiley: AFDO's New AI - Ep38 Jason Brill

    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

    A First Look at Wiley: AFDO's New AI - Ep38 Jason Brill

  7. Jun 1

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

    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

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

  8. Apr 21

    Traumatic Insemination: Bed Bugs Are Even Grosser Than You Imagined

    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

    Traumatic Insemination: Bed Bugs Are Even Grosser Than You Imagined
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The definitive podcast for government data management and stories from the field - with a special focus on Environment Health professionals.

Information

  • Creator
    Cameron Garrison
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beyond Data Management Podcast
  • Show Website
    Beyond Data Management Podcast