> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 20th Anniversary Interview with Shawn Askinosie | #PSC 194 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/20th-anniversary-interview-with-shawn-askinosie-psc-194/ - Published: 2026-04-08T15:35:29.000Z - Updated: 2026-04-11T15:49:46.000Z - Description: Episode 194 of #PodSaveChocolate features an interview with Shawn Askinosie, founder of Askinosie Chocolate, about the lessons learned and roads not taken over the past two decades of working in the worlds of craft/bean-to-bar/specialty chocolate and cocoa. [updated to add two books] - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream 🗓️ Episode 194 streamed on Friday, April 10th, 2026\. Click a link below to view the archived episode. This ****YOUTUBE** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/11/ytlogo256x256.png)](https://youtube.com/live/ZzQ7omEW1TU?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode! Subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community. [Watch this episode on YouTube ](https://youtube.com/live/ZzQ7omEW1TU?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/LinkedInLogo.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7447664012248674307-CEFB?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn. Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other. [Watch this episode on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fpodsavechocolate-lavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-activity-7447664012248674307-CEFB?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) This ****FACEBOOK** link is shareable [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/FacebookLogo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/share/1CeMwfnTSw/) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on ****TheChocolateLife page** on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube). Follow [TheChocolateLife on Facebook ](https://fb.me/thechocolatelife?ref=thechocolatelife.com)to receive notifications and catch up on other content. [Watch this episode on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/1CeMwfnTSw/) --- ## **Episode 194 Overview** I first met Shawn virtually in the late spring to early summer of 2005\. Shawn was exploring getting into craft chocolate and was interested in joining a University of Chocolate (organized by Pierrick Chouard of Vintage Chocolate) trip to Ecuador scheduled for early October that year. [Inspirations: Shawn AskinosieAs you can learn from the video he’d been looking to change careers, looking to swap success as a criminal defense attorney for something else. And when Shawn contacted me he still was not convinced that chocolate was the path he was going to follow. Shawn found me through![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-437.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/57a5c12e-614e-4964-aa52-22d76edb4e5a.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/inspirations-shawn-askinosie/) There’s a more complete explanation of our meeting and our traveling together to Mexico and Venezuela six months later in this post. In this episode of #PodSaveChocolate, Shawn and I will share memories of that first trip to Ecuador and the first bean-buying trip to Mexico and Venezuela, our work together before Askinosie Chocolate sold its first bar, and how craft/bean-to-bar/specialty chocolate have evolved over the past two decades. [Askinosie Chocolate | Bean to Bar Chocolate Gifts - Craft ChocolateDiscover award-winning, ethically sourced, small batch craft chocolate made by hand in the USA. Find the perfect gift for any chocolate lover. Shop now!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-23.png)Askinosie Chocolate![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Chocolate-Molding_Banner_32b95e67-0432-4c26-9a6d-78bdd4b1ce27.jpg)](https://askinosie.com/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/meaningfulWorkCover_Small.jpg) #### ****Meaningful Work:** **A Quest to Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul* In this inspiring guide to discovering a vocation that feeds your heart and soul, Askinosie describes his quest to discover more meaningful work – a search that led him to volunteering in the palliative care wing of a hospital, to a Trappist monastery where he became inspired by the monks focus on “being” rather than “doing,” and eventually traipsing through jungles across the globe in search of excellent cocoa bean farmers to make award winning chocolate. [Buy (Amazon affiliate link)](https://amzn.to/4mk18gL?ref=thechocolatelife.com) ### **Other books mentioned in this episode** 1. [***Things Fall Apart***](https://amzn.to/4swCI4V?ref=thechocolatelife.com)(«Amazon affiliate link). Other books by [Chinua Achebe](https://www.amazon.com/stores/Chinua-Achebe/author/B0045671ES?shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs%5Fid=e3904d7b-e024-4913-a9a5-b84ad6e9b7d3&ref=thechocolatelife.com). 2. [**A Stake in the Outcome:* Building a Culture of Ownership for the Long-Term Success of Your Business*](https://amzn.to/4sr22cy?ref=thechocolatelife.com) («Amazon affiliate link). Other books by [Jack Stack](https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jack-Stack/author/B00BYDTWK6?shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs%5Fid=b0ba5962-72f9-4aec-8c2a-97174acdd5a6&ref=thechocolatelife.com). --- ### **More on TheChocolateLife** [TheChocolateLife :: LIVE – w/ Shawn AskinosieStreaming LIVE on Tue Feb 15 from 12pm EST![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-436.png)The Chocolate LifeTheChocolateWire![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/LIVE_AskinosieFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-shawn-askinosie/) [Venezuela PhotoblogInspired by a recent Clubhouse room featuring special guests Claudia Franceschi, Corina Gimenez, and Mariana de la Rosa.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-438.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/laRutaFeaturedImage.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/venezuela-photoblog/) There are many photographs from my trip to Venezuela with Shawn in this post. --- ### **Ecuador 2005** ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/e_P1000071-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/e_P1000227-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/e_P1000124-Large.jpeg) ### **Mexico 2006** ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/m_P1010462-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/m_P1010313-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/m_P1010346-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/m_P1010692-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/m_P1010431-Large.jpeg) ### **Venezuela 2006** ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/v_P1010520-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/v_P1010607-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/v_P1010631-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/v_P1010675-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/v_P1010682-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/v_P1010537-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/04/v_P1010708-Large.jpeg) \\ --- ### **Future Episodes** 🗓️ Tuesday, April 14th – Save the Date! ****Craft Chocolat Challenge Season 5 Awards Show** All the awards will be presented, and some winners may be present. --- ### **Episode Hashtags and Social Media Links** #Askinosie #AskinosieChocolate #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) ⁉️ After a year-long+ experiment, the audio-only versions of PodSaveChocolate episodes have been taken down after an end-of-year review. There were not enough listens to continue uploading episodes and paying for hosting. ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life – Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for ****Free** to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Premium subscriptions available. ---