This weeks guest is Carolyn Sandler who joins us from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Carolyn is a born and bred Torontonian with a passion for all things dessert related. Carolyn’s been freelancing in Film and TV with a strong focus on logistics and culinary for the last 15 years. In addition to set work, Carolyn has taught food media, tourism and culinary theory at a local Toronto College and loves working alongside her international students to discover the best of Toronto’s food landscape. Carolyn has also managed catering and events for some of Toronto’s biggest chefs including Fidel Gastro’s ..read more

This weeks guest is Marcela Hernandez Gonzalez who joins us from Toronto. Known for orchestrating record-breaking "Pop-Up" events, Marcela embodies the essence of a consummate host, curating unique experiences that weave an atmosphere of warmth and conviviality, compelling patrons to return time and again. From immersive celebrations like "Dia de Muertos," paying homage to her Mexican heritage, to lively summer bashes channeling Cuban vibes. Hailing from Mexico, Marcela's journey into the hospitality industry began upon her relocation to Toronto several years ago. Starting in the back-of-house ..read more

This weeks guest is Chef James Frangos who joins us for an in person interview. James made his first appearance on Episode number 3 of our podcast and makes his triumphant return for episode 188. In this episode we catch up with James and talk about his experience opening a restaurant two weeks prior to covid being declared a pandemic in March 2020, we talk with James about getting away from the hospitality industry for a couple of short years to recharge and how he got back in the industry as he is now the driving force behind the menu and food offerings at Babylon Sisters in uptown Waterloo ..read more

Livio Lauro is a Drink expert and a Cocktail historian. He started his hospitality career 30 years ago in Southern Italy on the Amalfi Coast. Livio is widely recognized as one of the most instrumental figures in the resurgence of the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) and served as National President from 2004 to 2010. Since 2001, Livio has been employed by Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits (SGWS). In his role at SGWS he works alongside the foremost distillers and hospitality groups helping them put together successful brands activations. Livio owns some 1400 vintage and modern books on m ..read more

This weeks guest is Cassandra Brownrigg who currently resides in Kitchener, Ontario. Cassandra is currently the head chef at The Rich Uncle Tavern. Cassandra was born in Kitchener but while still very young, she moved to Central New York with her family. While in high school Cassandra worked at a grocery store which piqued her interest in cooking. At 18 she moved out of her parents house and got her own place where she taught herself how to cook. Cassandra would host BBQs and get togethers with friends. At 21 I decided Cassandra moved back to Canada to be with family and go to school. Cassandr ..read more

Elissa 'HellQueen' Dunn returns to the show. Joining us from Phoenix, Arizona, Elissa discusses rebranding from The BadassBartender to HellQueen Cocktails. Elissa discusses Arizona Cocktail Weekend, the bar scene in Phoenix and surrounding areas plus a host of other topics. You can find Elissa's on Instagram @hellqueencocktails Links @hellqueencocktails @sugarrunbar @babylonsistersbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club Podcast Artwork by Zak Hannah zakhannah.co ..read more

This weeks guest is Ray White who joins us from Tel Aviv, Israel. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia Ray relocated to Tel Aviv over a decade ago. Over the years, Ray has become recognized as one of the top female bartenders in Tel Aviv. Ray's journey began in her late teens in an Irish pub, where she cultivated her bartending skills. Starting with whiskey and beer, Ray immersed herself in Italian restaurants to explore wine, cigars, and chef cuisine. In her early 20s, Ray's passion for cocktails led her to own a small beach bar for a summer season. Fast forward to 23, and Ray relocated to ..read more

This weeks guest is Melanie Paradin who joins us from New York City. Melanie is the North American brand ambassador for Antique Pelinkovac. With over 10 years of experience in the service industry, Melanie's journey from self-taught bartender to creating her own menus showcases her dedication and passion to the industry. Melanie began her career at hotel bars like The Roxy and Ace Hotel, and has also played a pivotal role in opening projects such as The Little Shop in South Street Seaport, a speakeasy that has garnered recognition in publications such as Vogue and Forbes for its curated flavor ..read more

This weeks guest is Anastasia Artamonova who is a creative entrepreneur and public speaker based in Milano, Italy. Also known as Nastia, she is the founder and creative director of Nice and Nasty – a bar without a bar and an edutainment platform that connects mind, body, and spirits. Sharing wisdom from behind and beyond the bar for people to heal, grow, and have fun, Nastia's main focus in the industry is the art of human connections: the power of vulnerability, deeper conversations with others and with yourself, growth and self-care, and overall happiness and well-being. Links @nastialavista ..read more

This week we are joined by the returning Ty Miners who joins us for an in person interview. Ty got her start in the industry close to a decade ago when she landed a job at Jack Astors as a server. Ty stayed there for about a year and a half before moving on to Chucks Roadhouse to help open the first location in Kitchener. Ty worked there for about a year when she had a desire to move into a more structured environment where she could really engage with guests, tighten up her dialogue and learn more about casual fine dining. Since then, Ty has moved on to work in supervisory and management role ..read more