Milton Hershey was not always a chocolate man. But he was, for most of his adult life (and his teens) a candy man. And in his journey from confectioner to chocolatier, Milton had his fair share of oopsies. (By our count, at least three failed business ventures and one mental breakdown.) But thankfully, for those of us in the present who enjoy his chocolate (and his theme park!) Milton Hershey also had some really clutch women in his corner who helped him keep going. Join Nicole and Julia in this exploration of Milton Hershey's early life and the founding of Hershey's Chocolate. We'll also take a brief step into the conching room (iykyk) to see how chocolate is made and put some respect on the names of the women that made Hershey what it is today.

Our theme song is "Red Onions" by Louie Zong, off of his album Vegetable Soul: https://louiezong.bandcamp.com/album/vegetable-soul

We're on Instagram @girlslunchpod. Nicole's website is nicolehylton.com. Have an episode suggestion or question? You can email us at girlslunchpodcast@gmail.com and we will add it to our chaotic list of future episode subjects.

Links to Sources:

• The Hershey Story Museum, Hershey, PA

• The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars, by Joël Glenn Brenner

• Hershey, by Michael D'Antonio

• "Hershey and Dandelion Media to Unwrap Founder's Story in Upcoming Major Motion Picture "HERSHEY," Set for 2026 Release" Press Release

• The Dispenser's Formulary, Soda Fountain Publications: New York, 1925