How Zoë Johnston Makes Space for Magic

The Founder of Spilt Milk Collective on Slowing Down, Making Space for Play, and Building Something That Lasts

I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a bucket list interview. I’ve been quietly following along with Zoë Johnston and her culinary production studio, Spilt Milk Collective, for a few years now. There’s something magnetic about witnessing the worlds she and her team build—part dinner party, part dreamscape, all heart. Zoë blends culinary creativity with emotional storytelling in a way that makes you want to linger. In a time when experiences feel more meaningful than things, Spilt Milk stands out as a brand that’s building something lasting.

I caught up with Zoë to talk inspiration, what’s surprised her about becoming a Founder, and what it means to make space: for creativity, for play, and for yourself.

On the origin story:
“The original seed came from struggling with food in high school, and later, discovering a nutrition school after college where I learned how deeply healing food can be. That opened up a desire to cook and nourish myself and others in ways that truly honor the power of food. Spilt Milk grew out of that—and from a desire to highlight others in the field, which is where the ‘collective’ aspect comes in. I started as a retreat chef almost by accident, and things slowly (and quickly) evolved into what Spilt Milk is today: a culinary production studio working on everything from intimate dinners to 200-person weddings, edible installations, beverage programs, seeding and gifting, event production, and brand activations.”

On inspiration:
“Inspiration usually strikes when I slow down—whether it’s a trip to Maine or just a yoga class. I’ve learned that when I take a real break, things start to tetris into place. I also find a lot of inspiration in local markets, cookbooks, travel, and Pinterest.”

On business surprises:
“I didn’t realize just how much of the job would be operations. I expected some admin, but I had no idea that 50% (if not more) of my time would be spent on logistics, finances, legal, and backend systems. Honestly, I’m grateful I was so naive when I started—had I known what it really entailed, Spilt Milk might not exist.”

On what’s energizing right now:
“I love working on events that are celebrating someone or something—there’s an unmatched sense of purpose. Lately, I’ve been focusing on streamlining Spilt Milk to make room for expansion, which actually means a lot of letting go. Clearing space—physically, mentally, operationally—so I can reconnect with creativity and play.”

On social media and self:
“I never intended for Spilt Milk to be all me, but there’s naturally a lot of overlap. Social media has felt relatively intuitive, though I’m definitely in a season of wanting to audit and reset—which I think will actually allow me to do more. I’ve been having a lot of fun on TikTok; the lack of a following there gives me space to experiment and embrace a ‘done is better than perfect’ mindset. Instagram, on the other hand, can feel a bit more templated. Overall, I’ve been learning to create some distance between myself and the company—treating it like a baby, in the sense of protecting it, but also not taking everything so personally when things don’t go as planned.”

And the line she keeps coming back to:
An email from her Grandpa:
“One life on this earth is all that we get, whether it is enough or not enough, and the obvious conclusion would seem to be that at the very least we are fools if we do not live it as fully and bravely and beautifully as we can.”