New drop with Casey Doody and we are feeling quite empowered and refreshed. Hailing from Naperville, IL - Casey takes us through her eclectic journey from an interest in fashion design, to her on camera audition series for The Dallas Cowboys, Valrhona, landing an executive pastry chef position, her journey through the New York City culinary scene and landing back in Chicago. This conversation is wildly enriching and reminds us how just powerful the energy you put out into the universe can...

We're just too happy here. New drop for us and being in the presence of Chef Max Musto of Herbivore has us feeling all types of ways as we talk about escapism, minimization, self care and overall agency of physical health through their culinary philosophy. Conscious, confident, dedicated and impactful are a few words that come to mind but that really just scratches the surface. We are beyond thankful for this dialogue and Chef Max for painting a vivid image in regards to struggle,...

WE ARE BACK - season 3, can you even believe it? This has been such a beautiful journey and we simply couldn't have gotten here without the overwhelming support of the community, our sponsors and guests. With that being said, we are beyond thrilled to welcome Hassel Aviles of Not 9 to 5, coming to us in person from Toronto. Hassel is a powerhouse on her own but has dedicated her expertise, time and resources to be a crucial asset to not only her community back in Canada but to the...

Season Finale BB!! We have the absolutely I N C R E D I B L E  Alisha Norris Jones of Immortal Milk with us for our finale and to say that we are inspired would be a massive understatement.  We will just say it - Alisha is an absolute badass and her background is such a journey.  Hailing from Boston, Alisha walks us through her background in the study of religion to how she became apart of the industry here in Chicago and how they landed within the specialty food industry.  Speaking...

Equitable business ethics is a cornerstone of what we are about and having Ursula Siker of Jeff & Judes on this drop speaks to the core of who we are and what we believe. Ursula realizes that being a leader within her passionate space can and 'has' lead to a bit of ego death.  Standard to innovation - we discuss the preachment of autonomy, micro management, and what is truly the equity move.  Laughs, accountability, and jokes - we uncover the unfiltered dialogue of a restauranteur that...

New episode for the masses with Dan Mason where we dive into overall restaurant management strategy, providing agency for your staff - no matter their identity or role, and leading with integrity even when it's difficult. We listen to Dan as he talks about his background amongst the industry, how he got started and why he has dedicated his life to this work. The realities of race relations keep arising through these conversations and we want to thank Dan for his transparency in regards to...

NEW DROP  with Jeremy Pyrzynski AKA Jeremy Dreads diving into more diverse facets of the industry. We dive heavy into topics of industry gatekeeping, race relations, the origin of the kitchen system aka the brigade system and just about everything else. We also get into how entering spaces with empathy and curiosity may seemingly be for the best, but exclusion and minimization happens in all spaces and to hear this from a white point of view was unique to say the least. This was too...

[TW] suicide x alcoholism x drug use We're all about mental health yet we also understand that the idea and achievement of physical health isn't always a focal point of overall bodily 'health'. That's where our next guests come in. We're with Hannah Burke of Self Care & The City  and Dr. Sam Pare of Lakeside Spine & Wellness discussing the manifestation of mental turmoil and the physical implications that we simply ignore as a 'cost' to the overall wellness of our bodies. Our...

[TW] suicide x alcoholism x drug use We're all about mental health yet we also understand that the idea and achievement of physical health isn't always a focal point of overall bodily 'health'. That's where our next guests come in. We're with Hannah Burke of Self Care & The City  and Dr. Sam Pare of Lakeside Spine & Wellness discussing the manifestation of mental turmoil and the physical implications that we simply ignore as a 'cost' to the overall wellness of our bodies. Our...

Next drop here with Nic x 'Papi' of  Northwestern Cutlery and we couldn't be more excited. This time around, we are talking about the history of the West Loop, gentrification,  we chip away at the idea of 'celebrity chef' culture, and dive into how Northwestern Cutlery is so much more than meets the eye. We talk a lot about different facets of the industry, but we feel as if the artistry of the craft that is integral in the hospitality experience is often overlooked. Sitting down with...

Ayo - we're trippin on this field trip! First drop of #WomensHistoryMonth and we couldn't be happier doing it with Marta Jean Evans. We talk about her history throughout her experience in the cannabis industry, hospitality background and getting back to the 'dark side' of the industry. 'Dark side' being a woman in the industry while doing their own thing - whether it's 'gigs', curation and survival tactics. Marta is a strong and skilled industry worker that believes in creating...

We wanted to do something a bit different here at T o S for Black History Month AKA Black Futures Month. We're here with Kenyatta Forbes of Trading Races - a card game that is one part party game, one part educational and 100 percent thought provoking. Race is a sensitive topic within any arena and we are excited to use Trading Races as a vehicle for empathy, conscious dialogue and factual conversations as it pertains to the realities of the hospitality industry. Things get a bit heated...

AND ANOTHER ONE. Wildly fortunate to be here with THE Liz Pearce of Fighting 69th Whiskey and here we are talking about her humble beginnings in Fargo, SD to media acclaim, navigating male dominated spaces, mentorship and specifically the late Joseph Fiely. We also talk about how industry elevations  are an obstacle and sadly not an asset to the overall labor force. Oddly enough we explore the discourse of Zoom meetings, the 'ponderosa' that affects the most silent of the hospitality...

Next up is Zak McMahon & Jeremy Barrett formerly of Billy Sunday talking to us about their background hailing from St. Louis through their experience through Soho House Chicago and the now shuttered Green River. They also speak quite extensively about their passion through the artistry of bartending and how that craft is a point of fulfillment and enrichment not only personally but intrinsically. Join us as they share their stories, point of views, and how they are formulating an...

First episode of the New Year! We're here with Steve Newman of Regalis Foods discussing the impact of the supplier point of review within the hospitality industry.  We also discuss his journey from back of house here in Chicago to Nashville and back to Chicago once again - while navigating his own happiness in the industry.  Getting a bit deeper, we discuss how they pivoted to be a resource to the community and their restaurant clients as well.  When we think of significant supply, its...

Happy New Year Everyone! We wish you the best in the new year and we wish US a Happy Birthday as we're now a YEAR old! This episode is a bit of a year end review allowing us to take stock, accountability and acknowledgement of the past year. We've been getting our feet wet this past year but it hasn't been without the community of YOU. Join Nariba Shepherd x Justin E. Arnett - Graham as they go over the past year while making a few [terrible] jokes, speaking truth as reality and...

Aye! Great to see you again - we hope you've been well. With this newest drop; we are highlighting deeper identity with the industry as it pertains to so much more than the topical aspect of the industry. Get to know a bit below. We're with Ambrosia Borowski of cider operations for Northman Cider Co and beverage director of the Commonwealth Venture Group in Chicago. They founded Chicago Cider Week and is the former general manager of both The Northman Cider Pub and The Northman Beer...

Yo, yo! It's good to see you. This episode hits a bit different for us as it's coming to you from the community because we're with a listener this time around! We always talk about how this platform is for you by us and we have Shawn Clendening with us as we explore the topic of bad behavior within the industry.  As always, we put our spin on this heavy topic but it's so important for us to shed light on the mechanics of bad behavior, where it comes from, how it can manifest and how we...

We're still riding high on these new season 2 vibes - and for episode 2;  we're with Angela Diaz of her brand - You're a Cookie! We start with her background in the industry and navigating how she has paved her own way within hospitality when the status quo isn't simply good enough or fulfilling. From her beginnings to business owner, we talk about the realities of working as a woman not only in a kitchen but building a brand as well. This conversation touches upon mental health issues,...

Happy  Season Two!! Can you even believe how much we've missed you? Yes, YOU. We're baaack and we are just soooo grateful, humbled, and ready. Let's get into it. On our SEASON TWO debut episode, we are starting with wage inequity and how the perception of others dictates your value to them and affects your overall financial wellbeing. We aren't with a guest per se this go around but we invite our producer Max Zuckert [@zuckertalert] to join the conversation. You aren't a commodity...

As we wrap up season one - we are with Chef Lisa Shaw of Lisa's Boutique Catering discussing her background as a Chef in New York City, navigating her experience balancing having a family and chasing her culinary dreams.  Now in Chicago, Lisa sheds light on mentorship and sisterhood that reminds us of why we attempt to stay committed to this work in the first damn place.  As we wrap up season 1 - we truly thank Lisa for bringing all of these conversations full circle and you all take care...

Well damn - this one is legit some chicken soup for the soul. We're with Nyabweza Itaagi and Mecca Bey of Sistas in the Village discussing their work through their farm on the south side of Chicago, intergenerational stewardship, and the importance of being felt and seen within your environments.  This one has us a bit emotional for [reasons] so we'll just leave it there.  Drink up, rest up - see you out there. ✨ Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tospodcast)

Coming at you LIVE this time around with our friends Kisira Hill x  David Mor of Anthropological and Spill Magazine. Broadcasting straight from the barbershop within Blind Barber Chicago, we dive into the relevant topics highlighting the state of the industry.  Looking at realties that keep us tethered to the industry, why it matters to us, and what we would like to see to make it more equitable for all.  We also talk about brand input, wage struggles and what it actually means to be a...

Its almost summer and we are feeling a bit bright but that's not always the case. Knowing this, we sat down with THE Laura Louise Green of Healthy Pour to talk about all things mental health and how broad of a topic it can be.  Laura talks to us about her days in a band and how her experience within hospitality evolved into the work she is doing now.  As we discovered, there are multiple nuanced moments within a career in hospitality that can shift your feelings of self worth, personal...

[Ayo] We have a bite sized snack[ette] (?) for you. We wanted to check in with the crew and also with you - yes, you. We've had a bevy of guests, we've learned quite a bit, we've talked a ton of truth and this also  had us to process our journey thus far. This is also a reminder that this platform is yours. Hit us up at [email protected] to submit your thoughts and lets get into it; together. Let's go.  Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tospodcast)