An Inspired Chat with Eric Walters

Eric Walters shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Eric, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I used to chase the unknown—constantly trying to find the “thing” I was meant to do. I wanted to prove that I was different, creative, and capable of building something unique.
Now, I’m chasing the best version of myself. I’ve realized that if I focus on becoming the strongest, healthiest, and most authentic version of me, the right opportunities and moments will find me.
If I stopped chasing that growth, that would be failure to me. True failure isn’t falling short on a goal—it’s giving up on becoming who you’re capable of being.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Eric Walters, co-founder of a taste of az, a food and beverage media company that shines a spotlight on Arizona’s incredible culinary scene. We produce a quarterly magazine, a podcast, signature food and drink events, and beautiful coffee table books like The Arizona Beer Book (now sold out) and Must Visit Restaurants, Bars & More in Arizona.
My journey started in 2007 when I left Ohio to chase a life that felt more like “me.” After a decade in a steady but unfulfilling corporate job, I took the leap into entrepreneurship. Since then, I’ve built a life around storytelling, community, and food—the things I’ve loved all along.
Beyond a taste of az, I also host the Local Chef Series with SFE, a project that takes me around the country interviewing chefs and creating recipes that end up in K–12 school lunch programs. It’s a little bit like our own version of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives—but with a mission to inspire and feed the next generation.
At the heart of it all, I’m a storyteller who loves food, family, and the freedom to build a life that reflects who I am.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My grandmother was the first person to see something special in me. She made me believe it, even when I doubted myself.
But the person who has seen me most clearly—who truly holds me accountable—is my wife. She’s the one who reminds me to take care of myself, to keep pushing, and to never settle for less than my best. She knows that my potential is tied to my health, my mindset, and my willingness to grow so she never lets me slack on those.
She’s also the one who helped me understand that what people connect with isn’t just the work I do—it’s me. Whether it’s a podcast, an event, or a new project, she’s always reminded me: people follow because of who I am, not just what I’m doing. That perspective has been a guiding light in my journey.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has been one of my greatest teachers. In my early life, I felt like I was always pushing against struggle—sometimes real, sometimes self-imposed. It taught me to appreciate everything and to get stronger by doing the hard things I didn’t want to do but had to do.
Success can make you blind to your weaknesses. When you win, it’s easy to believe you did everything right. But when you struggle—or lose—you reflect, you adjust, and you grow.
I’ve also learned a lot from other people’s suffering, especially my dad. When he was 18, he lost both arms in a work accident. Watching him navigate life without self-pity—doing laundry, cooking, and handling everyday challenges—showed me resilience in its purest form. My grandmother, who raised him to be tough and independent, taught me that real strength comes from struggle.
Suffering forces you to confront yourself. It builds gratitude and grit in a way that success alone never could.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Anyone who really knows me would tell you that my wife and my two daughters are everything to me. They’re not just the reason I work hard—they’re the reason I want freedom. My ultimate “why” is to have the freedom to do what I want, when I want, with the people I love most. That means building a life where I can create incredible experiences with my family, not just for them.
Friends have told me they admire my drive to carve my own path and my dedication to personal growth—but they also notice how committed I am to being a present husband and dad. That balance—family first, growth always—is what really matters to me.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’ve always felt like I was born to do something special—not just in a vague, “everyone’s special” way, but in a way that people around me recognized, too. My grandmother especially saw it in me. She was an entrepreneur—a realtor, a restaurant owner, an art studio founder. In a small, blue-collar town where the expectation was to get a job, stay in the box, and become part of the machine, she was different. And she always told me I was meant for something different, too.
For most of my life, I was chasing that “special thing,” not knowing exactly what it was. I went through phases—architecture, photography, video game design, elementary education, countless ideas for what my career might be. It’s taken a lot of exploration and risk to realize that the thing I was meant to do wasn’t a single job title—it was to follow my heart, and to show others that you can step outside the script and create your own path.
Moving 2,000 miles from home with $700 and a Dodge Stratus, quitting my corporate job, starting an entrepreneurial journey that scared the hell out of me—that’s when I started doing what I was born to do. I’ve learned that the more I follow my gut and my vision instead of “what I’m supposed to do,” the more authentic and successful I become. For me, the purpose isn’t a destination. It’s the journey of growing, taking risks, and becoming a little better every day. That’s what I was born to do.
Also, I have a really hard time faking it, of doing what people tell me to do if I don’t believe that it’s the right thing for me. I’ve struggled at things that on paper I should do very well at. To me I’ve always looked at that as the universe’s way of telling me I shouldn’t be there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://atasteofaz.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ATasteOfAZ/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericwaltersazfood/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ATasteOfAZ/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfW96fHIrq3cna-qpKxK3ZQ

Image Credits
Luke Irvin
Clayton Duhamell