Conversations with Shelina Elyse

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelina Elyse

Hi Shelina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a child performing in home movies for my family to completing a BFA in theatre stage management, I’ve loved creating and sharing that joy with others. I’m grateful that my parents encouraged me to follow my dreams.

My family shows love by cooking together and sharing food. My dad went to college later in life, so we moved to Family Student Housing on the Mississippi State University campus when I was 11. It was an apartment community overseen by the university for students with families. In the middle of the complex was a field with a large, covered pavilion with several picnic tables, a couple soccer goals, and a playground. Every Friday night, the Resident Advisors would set up speakers to play music and each family would bring a dish to share in a community wide potluck party. The families were ethnically diverse, people from all different countries and backgrounds. These potlucks are some of my favorite memories of people connecting and sharing their cultures through food, so many conversations about the recipes and the cooks themselves. I’m pretty sure this is when my love for learning about other cultures truly began.

I’ve always liked to cook, made my staple meals well, and I loved trying new food. But I didn’t try making a lot of new things at home. Around 2018, I started to focus on expanding my food knowledge. I prioritized trying new recipes, ingredients, and techniques. I was also 4 years into building a successful corporate career away from theatre. Practicing cooking became therapeutic and my creative expression at home.

In 2023, I moved to Phoenix and found an opportunity to pursue a career in non-profit theatre, this time supporting patron services. After a nearly ten-year corporate career, I was excited to return to the arts again. I was also fortunate to travel to different parts of the world and experience different cultures. I’ve always had a gift of connecting with people. Being surrounded by the production process and travelling inspired me to take my cooking to a new level. Why not make a show and share it with other people? I wanted to create a show that incorporated food, culture, and my own journey, mistakes included, while encouraging connection to all of it. I had grand ideas of what it would be but needed an idea that realistically fit what I could do right now. I decided the show would be me practicing cooking and learning about food to make anything new feel accessible and achievable for all audiences.

I pitched the idea to my boyfriend, Adam Berardi, who is a professional one-man-show (cinematographer, editor, actor, bartender, etc.). He loved the concept! We met with his business partner, Clay Moffatt, and we all agreed my show would become part of their production company YouTube channel, Overnight Pictures. I wrote out the season with a couple tactics to give me a foundation and attract followers. “Cultural Dishcovery” was born! It started off exploring celebrity cookbooks to catch people’s attention. They seemed to enjoy those episodes enough to keep watching when I introduced episodes of my own recipes. My first, personal recipe episode was based on my favorite Filipino dish, Chicken Tinola. I was surprised and honored it hit 2,000 views and continues to grow. It’s been a great learning experience so far and, honestly, just so much fun. I produce, host, and do social media. Adam does all of the production elements. Clay is the YouTube mastermind. Together, we’ve had a pretty amazing first season.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall, it’s been a decent road because of the support and resources available to me. My greatest struggle, really, is with imposter syndrome. You know, all those intrusive thoughts, “Will I actually be able to make this dish?” “Why would anyone want to watch my show?” “Does this matter?” I have to remind myself that, in the end, this is a project for me. At the core, what do I want from this? I want to have fun cooking and learning how to do new things. I want to share this experience with people. Then, eat the food! Yes, I want people to like what I’m doing. I hope it brings joy to their day or inspires them to try something new. Knowing that there’s the potential for someone to have a giggle or see a part of themselves in me keeps me motivated.

Of course, a possible struggle for the caliber of show we’re creating is equipment and staff. I’m continuously reminded how fortunate I am to have an expertly skilled creative partner in Adam. While we film everything in our home kitchen, he establishes a professional set. It’s not only through his equipment set up, but he is sincerely dedicated to producing a quality product. There are points during filming that I direct the show, especially since I’m not speaking from a script, but the editing is all Adam. He’s taken my vision and finely tuned it to craft each episode in a way that’s better than I could’ve imagined.

Partnering with Overnight Pictures is also a gift. Their focus is horror and paranormal content, but “Cultural Dishcovery” has been an active contributor to the YouTube channel. We’re building a subscriber base and watch hours which has proven mutually beneficial. While I look forward to my own YouTube channel one day, there will always be a strong tie to them.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I host and produce a YouTube cooking show called “Cultural Dishcovery” where I practice cooking and explore cultures through food. The first season showcases both recipes from celebrity cookbooks and my own recipes, new and old.

I’m most proud of taking the leap to make the show. Sometimes, I get too in my head about things needing to be perfect. I have a grand vision for the show, but I don’t have the resources yet to do everything to the fullest extent. I’m glad that I’ve found joy and value in starting at the current level and the journey of evolving to my final vision. I’m also proud that my parents love the show so much, and not just because I’m their daughter.

I think my authenticity and genuine interest in sharing with and learning from others sets me apart. I think it helps create a safe space for people to make mistakes, learn, and become better. I truly want to help others feel accepted and know they have a place in my kitchen.

Any big plans?
We closed out season one of the show in November 2024 and hope to premiere season two in January 2025. I plan to focus more on my own recipes while providing a little more information about technique and origins. I might have a few guests in my kitchen. I want to connect with local home chefs and/or small business to learn about them and their food. I’m contemplating incorporating episodes about my travels and the food I’ve tried there. One day, I hope to visit restaurants to interview their chefs, maybe cook a dish alongside them. “Cultural Dishcovery” may move to its own YouTube channel. We’re also looking into the possibility of getting the episodes of my personal recipes onto a streaming service. In the meantime, I hope people continue to find and enjoy the show!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturaldishcovery/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHWPoniz-9wISTWr_m-Nbz6YWx4lsVMXz

Image Credits
Adam Berardi