From being a 12-year-old fatherless child, To owning ‘’Here’s how’’, the glamorous bar in downtown Oakland. Jen shares the story of her life with us. She tells about her highs and lows and everything in between. Her childhood, her baby steps t

Matt Grippo, Shirley Brooks, and the famous Venus Rose

Apr 30th, 2018 1h 3m

Matt Grippo is the Bar Manager, bartender, and partner at Blackbird Bar in San Francisco’s Castro District. Matt knows the Bay area well – the people and their tipple picks! He loves experimenting with new flavors and concepts. Matt recently cr

Lauren Fitzgerald on Curating a Cocktail Experience

Apr 16th, 2018 2h 7m

Lauren Fitzgerald, the current Bar Manager at Flores, a San-Francisco-based Mexican restaurant, is a specialist in craft cocktails and Mexican blends. Lauren was born and brought up in Texas and started at Buca Di Beppo. She studied at Californ

Kate Bolton discusses the standards of service & making bartending a career

Mar 29th, 2018 1h 47m

Kate Bolton is the owner of Portland-based Mint & Mirth, a cocktail catering service that organizes impressive custom cocktail parties for corporate events and private parties. An award-winning bartender and cocktail specialist, Kate’s hospit

Mint & Mirth’s Founder Joni Whitworth on Community, Entrepreneurship and Passion

Mar 7th, 2018 1h 22m

recorded in Joni's kitchenette while enjoying Voodoo Doughnuts Can a craft cocktail catering company build relationships with its competitors, use locally sourced products, practice sustainability economically, socially and philosophically and

Shirley Brooks talks raising a family in the service industry

Feb 27th, 2018 1h 30m

Shirley is the Mother Maiden of San Francisco! Everyone knows Venus Rose her lovely daughter that is usually attached at her hip. We start with some Rose and get in the swing of things after a few ching chings. On this episode we dive deep

Episode 1: Justin Goo and the Human Side of Bartending

Feb 20th, 2018 1h 52m

Justin Goo, bartender & GM at San Francisco's Bourbon and Branch, boils down the service industry to it's core in this interview. It's all about the humanity and hospitality. Justin shares his journey behind the bar from dive bar to craft cockt

Justin Goo and the Human Side of Bartending from dive bar to craft cocktails

Feb 20th, 2018 1h 52m

Larry Piaskowy shares his insights on bartending, self-care & service

Feb 18th, 2018 1h 43m

In this interview, Larry Piaskowy, from SF Proper Hotel, chats about his innate capacity for service, taking care of yourself in the service industry, regular customers, being iced, his love for craft, mixology versus bartending, the ebb and fl

Episode 2: Larry Piaskowy - Cocktail Creation

Dec 7th, 2017 16m 36s

Larry discuses his method for cocktail creation.

Episode 2: Larry Piaskowy - Foundation, Creativity, and Flow State

Dec 7th, 2017 9m 58s

Larry touches on Foundation, Creativity, and Flow State

Episode 2: Larry Piaskowy - Hospitality, Love for Craft, and Mixology vs Bartending

Dec 7th, 2017 11m 2s

Larry talks about Hospitality, his Love for Craft, and his thoughts on Mixology vs Bartending

Episode 2: Larry Piaskowy - Regulars and the Best Ice Story

Dec 7th, 2017 11m 9s

Larry Touches on the influence of Regulars and shares one of the Best stories of being Iced ever!

Episode 2: Larry Piaskowy - Capacity for Service and Taking Care of Yourself

Dec 7th, 2017 13m 56s

Larry Touches on where his Capacity for Service comes from and Taking Care of Yourself in the service industry.

Episode 2: Larry Piaskowy

Dec 7th, 2017 22m 52s

I haven’t laughed this much, with someone I don't know, in the longest time. Larry is the consummate bar personality and his energy is infectious. I can see why regulars follow him everywhere he goes because he is the life of the party! We con

An Interview with Ryan Fitzgerald, co-owner of ABV and award winning bartender

Dec 5th, 2017 1h 43m

I’m so excited that we got Ryan on the podcast. You may’ve heard of Ryan, he owns ABV with his two partners Erik Reichborn-Kjennerud and Todd Smith. They each have extensive careers in the industry and together on ABV they have been recognize

Episode 3: Ryan Fitzgerald - Full Conversation

Dec 5th, 2017 1h 43m

Episode 1: Justin Goo - Drinking and the Service Industry

Oct 5th, 2017 7m 47s

Justin touches on how to manage the relationship with alcohol in the service industry.

Episode 1: Justin Goo - Full Conversation

Oct 5th, 2017 2h 2m

This is the long form interview with Justin. We have a wide ranging conversation about his view of the service industry and how to be successful and fulfilled in it.