We recently had the chance to connect with Megan Vaughan and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Megan, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of the shop, I’m thrilled to have recently stepped into a new role as a contributing author in the best-selling leadership book WeLead Volume 3. My chapter, “Radical Genuine Hospitality,” dives into how we can transform everyday interactions—whether in business or beyond—through intentional kindness, authenticity, and care. It’s about creating spaces where people feel truly seen and valued, not just served. The ideas in that chapter come straight from the heart of how we do things at Vaughan Cheese, and it’s been such a joy to explore how those same values of warmth and connection ripple outward into leadership and community.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Megan Vaughan, owner of Vaughan Cheese, a cut-to-order cheese shop & wine cafe in North Beach, Maryland. At Vaughan Cheese, we celebrate American artisan cheesemakers by connecting their craft to our local community through thoughtful pairings, classes, and experiences that make good cheese feel welcoming—not intimidating. What makes us special is our focus on storytelling and hospitality: every wheel has a maker, a place, and a purpose, and we love sharing that with our guests. Right now, we’re leaning into the busy holiday season, curating cheese boxes and events that highlight small producers, deepen connection, and make gathering over great food easy and joyful.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people, I think, is disconnection—the moments when we forget to see one another as human. It happens when speed, efficiency, or ego take the place of care, when we move through the world protecting our own corners instead of reaching across them. What restores those bonds is presence. It’s slowing down long enough to listen, to share food, to make someone feel welcome exactly as they are. That’s what we practice every day at Vaughan Cheese: radical genuine hospitality. A perfect bite of cheese can open a door, but it’s the warmth behind the counter—the invitation to belong—that truly brings people back together.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Life is long, and I’ve learned not to cling too tightly to any one version of it. The beauty of building a business, raising a family, or even growing into yourself is realizing that change isn’t something to fear—it’s the only way to stay true. When something stops feeling right, I’ve learned to shift, rebuild, or reinvent without apology. Nothing is too precious to evolve. You have to change to stay the same. It’s through those pivots—big and small—that I stay aligned with my values, my joy, and the kind of life and work that feel most genuine.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the cheese world tells itself is that expertise has to come wrapped in exclusivity—that you need to talk a certain way, taste a certain way, or have the “right” words or taste buds to belong and enjoy cheese. I think that mindset keeps too many people out of what should be one of life’s simplest joys: sharing good food with good company. Cheese doesn’t need gatekeeping; it needs generosity. At Vaughan Cheese, we believe knowledge should invite, not intimidate. You don’t have to memorize the aging process of a clothbound cheddar to fall in love with it—you just have to take a bite, smile, and feel welcome at the table.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I was genuine—that I showed up as myself, even when it wasn’t the easy thing to do. That I built things with heart, welcomed people fully, and made them feel seen. I hope my kids remember a mom who loved them fiercely, chased big ideas, and showed them that you can build a life that’s both creative and kind. I want people to say I didn’t just talk about connection—I lived it. Whether through cheese, community, or conversation, I hope the story they tell is that I made things a little warmer, a little more human, just by being myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vaughancheese.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaughan_cheese/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VaughanCheese/
Image Credits
Maureen Porto
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