> ## 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. # The 25th Anniversary Celebrations Begin! | #PSC 206 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/the-25th-anniversary-celebrations-begin-psc-206/ - Published: 2026-06-01T19:20:52.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-17T22:22:53.000Z - Description: OVERVIEW: Episode 206 of #PodSaveChocolate is the first in a series of posts this June that look back at the past 25 years and chart a path forward for TheChocolateLife community and me, personally. - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream πŸ—“οΈ Episode 206 streamed on Tuesday, June 2nd, 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/isjEHnxSP08?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. [Participate/Watch on YouTube ](https://youtube.com/live/isjEHnxSP08?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/LinkedInLogo.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/claygordon?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Due to a scheduling error, this episode is not available on LinkedIn. [Participate/Watch on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/claygordon?ref=thechocolatelife.com) This ****FACEBOOK** link is shareable [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/FacebookLogo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bw5Q9SSms/) 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. [Participate/Watch on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bw5Q9SSms/) --- ## **Episode 206 Overview** In the beginning: [About TheChocolateLifeWhether you are new to TheChocolateLife or a long-time member, this post contains the official, abbreviated history of the site. \[ Updated May 15, 2026 \]![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-33119fe1fb097326f9743fa5a69a04cd090b0347544f7bcf07039114067f6a81.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/tyler-lastovich-lmpuKSf2uQE-1920x1080jpg-d8a6058c7a97f85939a7ad1ad8465cbcec9cfbfae7d5f654b66b9d0e015eb73e.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/welcome-readme/) The first site snapshot by the Archive.org Wayback Machine was on June 2nd, 25 years ago. **Prologue** πŸ“† What the heck **is* TheChocolateLife, anyway? ***Before*** the beginning: Everything I have done since 1996 has led, not necessarily in a straight line, to where I am today. While June 2nd, 2001, is the oldest evidence of my debut as a professional chocolate critic, my chocolate journey began in the south of France in February 1994\. That is when I accidentally discovered Bonnat single-origin chocolate. (Coincidentally, that was ten years after Maison Bonnat introduced their original single-origin bar line for the 100th anniversary of their beginning to manufacture chocolate. The family history in pastry, cocoa, and more stretches back to the 1750s.) About a month later, I had an entrepreneurial epiphany: I realized that while there were professional critics for just about everything you can think of, there were no *professional* critics whose focus was on chocolate. So I decided to become the first. I had no idea what I needed to learn, who I could learn it from, where I could go to learn, I didn’t even know what it meant to be a professional chocolate critic. But I trusted my intuition, based on experience, that I had five to ten years to figure it out before the market caught up with my insight. πŸ“† A short detour to discuss some highlights of my journey between 1983 and 2001. – Joining my first high-tech startup (1983) – Writing for trade journals (1984 – present) – Attending TED 2 – Consulting clients (IBM, Agfa, Time Warner, Silicon Graphics ...) – Working for the first HD video company in the US (1991-1992) – Co-founder of Enfish Technologies (1993) – MILIA (1994-1998) – My first book ... on HD video production (1995-96) – My first copy of **The True History of Chocolate* – Scharffen Berger launches – Traveling to Voiron to meet StΓ©phane Bonnat (1998) – Being introduced to Cluizel Nuanciers (1998) – Working with Pierrick Chouard (1999 – 2003) The first time I stepped out in public as a chocolate critic was at the 2001 Summer Fancy Food Show. There, I met Gary Guittard, who listened to my thoughts about where the market was going, encouraging me to continue. I also met Freddy Schilling, one of the co-founders of Dagoba Chocolate. These meetings, and others, gave me the confidence to continue. πŸ“† Key experiences between 2001 and 2005: – My last high-tech startup and full-time job (9/2001-6/2002). – Establishing continuity with Guittard and others. – Writing for Chocolatier Magazine – Working the World Pastry Forum and Team Championships – Trips to Ecuador in 2003 and 2005 πŸ“† The importance of writing and publishing **Discover Chocolate,* not understanding that it was **not* the book that specialty chocolate needed. **Status check:** All of the above, and countless other experiences, set the foundation for what I want to do – with your help – over the next decade. (That’s right, I have set myself a goal for 2035, and am actively working to make it happen.) --- 25th Anniversary Lifetime Membership offer [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2026/05/brewtubeAvatar512x.png)](https://thechocolatelife.com/25th-anniversary-lifetime-membership-offer/) To help me celebrate my 25th anniversary, I hope you will consider becoming a ***Lifetime** Member! ****This offer is** ***only** **available May 25 – June 30, 2026.** [Learn More About Lifetime Membership! ](https://thechocolatelife.com/25th-anniversary-lifetime-membership-offer/) **Looking to the future:** πŸ’‘ Taking care of old business, **my own 9th step.* πŸ’‘ My 25th Anniversary Celebration Tasting Event Save the date: Thursday, November 5th Coincides with the Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival Featuring Craft Chocolat Challenge winners πŸ’‘ Writing the book I ***should** have written back in 2006/2007 but didn’t understand its importance, relative to craft beer, specialty chocolate, cheese, related fermented foods and beverages. πŸ’‘ Accelerating the data collection projects to make it possible to grasp a better understanding of the economic and social impact that specialty chocolate and cocoa have made – **and will continue to make.* πŸ’‘ Establishing an NGO **designed from the ground up to address the key structural and governance issues that make it impossible* for FCIA, World Cocoa Foundation, ICI, CFI, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, VOICE Network, et al, to deliver meaningful, lasting change in the worlds of chocolate and cocoa: The Specialty Chocolate and Cocoa Alliance International (SCCAI – pronounced β€œsky”). --- ### **Future PodSaveChocolate Episodes** Most of the episodes in June will explore key moments in my journey and how they have influenced the future directions I want to take. I encourage everyone to join me for the June News/AMA episode on Tuesday, June 9th with questions for me to answer LIVE! πŸ—“οΈ Tuesday, June 9th June News & AMA (about chocolate or cocoa) --- ### **#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. --- ### **Episode Hashtags** #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife