Discovering Hospitality

Today you will meet Brad Bartko; we met through hospitality but in a different way than you may think. Brad came to us as he owns Disability: Accessible by Design, a company whose mission is to create a more accessible world for people with disabilities.The experiences Brad has had in his life will change the way you see the world. When he was born, he came out fighting. He was born premature and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at age 2, setting him and his family on the path of figuring out life with a disability. Today Brad is a disability consultant who has lived experience. He is changing the way business owners and communities are building and renovating their spaces, but even more than that, he is connecting with their hearts and helping people who have not yet experienced disability in their life genuinely understand how they can create a space where everyone can feel like they belong.I suggest you follow Brad on IG @Bradinspires and his business on Facebook at Disability: Accessible by Design. He is helping people become more empathetic and find a new way of doing business that is more inclusive for all. Thank you, Brad, for your time and for sharing your heart with the listeners today. I am grateful for you and what you do.

There are people whom you come across that change the way you see the world, and Tyler is one of them. When I met him, it was a bit of a lucky circumstance, and I know now that we were meant to meet each other. Tyler has an interesting story; he went to school to become a teacher and, once there, realized it wasn't for him. He has been in and out of this industry, and you will hear from this conversation that he is a true expert in hospitality. He is so driven to bring unforgettable moments to the guests he serves and to share his knowledge and experience with others who do the same – this, not surprisingly, relates to the teacher in him. Tyler is authentic, genuine, and real. He is a great hospitality person to learn from! Join us as we discuss the positive vibe that a yes brings (I love this so much, by the way), what it means to take care of people, and the challenges of the hospitality industry.

I was looking forward to this conversation with Sylvia as she is a remarkable woman.  Her background is in marketing and advertising, but she has always been a hospitality gal. She has long been interested in hospitality, and it has come naturally to her. Deep down, she knew this was the long game for her and after having her daughter, she and her husband sat down and started thinking about what they wanted to bring to this industry.  At that time, their rustic French Canadian restaurant was born - Chartier. This restaurant is amazing. If you have not been yet, take this as your sign. You need to go! Chartier boasts hand-made sourdough, baking that will make your mouth water, menus that will take your taste buds on a journey, and the room - if you love the creativity and design that goes into restaurants, this room is so fun to discover.Sylvia is also on the board of In The Weeds, a not-for-profit that exists to help create a healthy and safe working environment for all members of the Edmonton food and beverage community, providing the tools to support and educate hospitality leaders. While also connecting with those in need within the broader hospitality community, offering resources and assistance to seek the help they may need.Join us as we discuss the nature of hospitality, share our early experiences in the industry, and talk about what it means to care for others and lead with heart. 

Today you will meet Ellen Elton. Ellen and I have worked together and have been friends for a long time. This woman has been in Hospitality since she was 19 and truly knows how to create an experience for a guest in a room.  From her early start at the Brooks Hotel to Whitecourt Alberta and now the Manager of Barbacoa in Spruce Grove, she has had many diverse experiences in restaurants.  During her time in Whitecourt, she was able to move a struggling location to a thriving, vibrant store, with a strong team culture. Ellen has so many interesting stories to tell. In 2018 she and her husband decided to "sell it all" and travel the continent. She spent a lot of time in the southern United States hiking and living a different life. This is a really cool part of her story as well, in this time she was able to disconnect, go inward, take care of herself and enjoy time in a totally different way. I have always looked up to the way Ellen takes on challenges in her life and really tries to live her life to the fullest.  Oh, and her People Make The World Beautiful story... guaranteed to touch your heart. I know you will love this podcast and be inspired by it.

Meet Liza De Viliers! Born in Johannesburg, she lived most of her life in Cape Town, South Africa and is now living in Edmonton, Alberta. This was such a fun conversation hearing about her early years growing up in South Africa, and what food was like in her family. I loved that food was celebrated in her youth, with African-style BBQs called "Brie". Liza worked for G Adventures in South Africa and now works for them here in YEG! I can't even imagine the wealth of knowledge she has to share with Canadian travellers booking with G Adventures! In South Africa, she ran Overlander Tours; the stories she shares about this experience are so beautiful, she will inspire you to get over to Africa as soon as you can!Liza came to Edmonton to be with her now-wife Heather, who coincidentally is a good friend of mine. It has been so heartwarming to see these two find each other and find happiness. I couldn't be happier for both of them. I hope you enjoy this episode and I hope Liza inspires you to get out and see the beauty this world has to offer. 

This week on Discovering Hospitality meet Mariana Sanchez! I've known Mariana for a long time, she has recently come to work with our group here in Alberta.  She started with St Albert Original Joe's, moved over to British Columbia,  and is now back in Spruce Grove running the State and Main out there with her husband Alex. Her story of coming from Mexico to Canada is pretty neat. She was able to come with her husband and get to build a life here with him.  She has also been able to work with her partner both in Mexico and Canada (which I can totally relate to!) and I always think this is such a cool thing to hear about. I often hear a lot of people saying "I would never work with my partner" and in a way I get it, but there is something special about working with your partner if you can make it work. Mariana's story is a great example of how it can work and be a great thing.Join us as we talk about work ethic, travel, the power of community, and of course food! This is an episode you won't want to miss! Thank you Mariana for being my guest.

Meet Shawn Campbell! This was such an interesting conversation, I love speaking with people who have been in the industry for a long time, they always have so much insight and share stories that are so impactful, this convo with Shawn does that for sure. Shawn has done quite a few things (besides hospitality) such as being a poker player, which blew my mind! His roots have always been in hospitality though, and throughout that journey, he has found himself in a leadership role more often than not. He is now the head chef at Barbacoa, a new(er) restaurant in Spruce Grove opened by Tyler Sorochan. They are doing very cool things with food there, cooked over an open flame, locally sourced and so creative if you haven't tried it this is my recommendation that you give it a try. One of the things that Shawn spoke about in our conversation was looking to the left and to the right as a leader (or a team member). We so often feel inclined to look up and down, looking for the next rung on the ladder, looking to where we move up to rather than looking to the left and the right of us. Looking to the left and the right is about seeing who's out there with you and finding ways to connect each other to support everyone involved for the higher good of all. Love it! I know you'll love this conversation. 

You might remember Jordy from Episode #18 back in  August of 2020. He was one of the people in the early days who put his trust in me and this podcast and has supported it to no end. I wanted to bring him back on for two reasons; one - because I love this guy he's amazing as you'll soon hear and two- because he has been on an incredible journey since his last cast. He opened the Beaumont Original Joe's in the midst of the pandemic. The day after the soft open in that location, all restaurants were shut down once again, and the way Jordy handled this was nothing sort of remarkable. He has led through some of the most trying times that I have personally seen in this industry, and Jordy has shown up again and again for his people. This to me is true leadership. Together we discuss team culture, mental health, community, and how getting creative as a leader changes lives. I know you'll love this conversation!!

This week on Discovering Hospitality, you will meet Edie Couture. Edie is currently working at the Original Joe's in Whitecourt, Alberta. I wanted to have her on this podcast as I knew she had a cool story. She grew up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and was adopted as a young child. She has four siblings, all of whom were adopted. That part of her story alone is heartwarming, and her parents clearly are very special people. In this conversation, we discuss what creates success in the hospitality industry, how health and fitness have impacted her life, and stress and its effects on the hospitality team and the guests that come in to dine. Edie's People Make the World Beautiful story highlights the importance of mental health and the support that is still needed in this world. Thank you Edie for being my guest and thank you for sharing your heart with me on the podcast!

This week on Discovering Hospitality, you will meet Morgan Ringland. For the past eight months, she has been a part of a leadership development program that I have been facilitating called Lead & Inspire, and in that time, I have come to know her quite well, and let me tell you, she is an amazing woman.Morgan is the General Manager of the Lloydminster Original Joe's in Alberta. She is a lover of nature, plants, ferrets, and life. In this podcast, we talk about how her connections in the industry have opened her eyes to what is possible in her career and her life. We discuss her passion for hospitality and the importance of how she chooses to spend her minutes with her team and the guests that come into her restaurant. Here is the link to the video we mentioned in the podcast regarding how we spend our time:https://youtu.be/BOksW_NabEkShe also shares a very cool what I would call “coming home to herself” story. Last year she spent two months traveling alone, taking time to reconnect with herself so she could show up in the way she wanted. It's so beautiful. I know this conversation will touch your heart. 

What is the most valuable currency in the world? While we may have different perspectives on this answer, for Chris Stone, it has been time. This week Chris and I share an enlightening conversation about what we both feel is one of the most valuable non-renewable currencies that we all have. We never know how much of it we have left and once it's spent, we can't get it back. So, choosing to spend our minutes in meaningful ways is a powerful way to show up in our careers and lives. We hope you enjoy this conversation, and it gives you something to think about this week. 

Meet Julia Dachyshyn  From her job serving to the Northern Alberta head office team, she has had quite the journey within Hospitality and with our Restaurant group. In this podcast, Julia and I discuss so many things from the amazing friends we make in this industry to the different kinds of experiences that we have both had in Hospitality. We connected over human psychology and how becoming curious about the way the human mind works helps us move through the traumas we have experienced in our lives and in turn makes us better with the people we take care of. This is a very enlightening and heartwarming conversation, oh and you're not going to want to miss her People Make the World Beautiful story, left my heart feeling so full as I know it will do for you. 

Today you will meet Maricel. She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Her heart and soul shine through in this podcast in such an incredible way. Maricel's story is incredible, she has been on quite the journey in her life. From her life beginning  in the Philippines, on to Dubai and over here to Canada. We all make sacrifices in our lives and we all have our own stories, Maricel's is one of a mother's love and what a mother will do to provide for her child. If you are a parent, this conversation will touch your heart without a doubt. It will remind you of the beauty of life and that when you choose to commit your life to a better way it can be done if you have the heart to go achieve it. Thank you Maricel for touching my heart and sharing your beautiful story with me and the world. 

This was a fun conversation. I always find it so cool to hear stories about how people get into this industry. Today you will meet Richard Fyk, Co-Founder of SYC Brewing in Edmonton, Alberta.  Richard did not start out in Hospitality, and I think that's what makes this such a cool story because he loves it, he gets it, and SYC is doing some really amazing things and creating some awesome beers. A part of this conversation that I loved so much was when we spoke about a regular guest of SYC whose daughter was diagnosed with cancer, for him, and the Stollery, they created a beer called Mana Ohana (meaning family strength in Hawaiian), it's such a heartwarming story. I hope you enjoy this conversation and if you haven't had the chance to try SYC Brewing yet maybe this is your call to do just that and support an amazing local brewery. 

Today you will meet Tania Vazquez. She is such a beautiful person and while she has found other paths in her life she lives and breathes hospitality to me, she was the perfect fit for a conversation on the podcast. She came to Canada 13 years ago from Mexico City, worked with us at Original Joe's for close to a decade. You can now find her teaching amazing classes at Prana Yoga Studio in YEG as well as serving at Dutchess Bake Shop on 124 St. When she left Joe's she decided to take a break from hospitality, she went on a journey to find herself. This is where her story gets really cool, Tania teaches us that we can open our hearts to the experience of life, the world opens up around us, it shows us what we are here to do. This is a conversation you are not going to want to miss. 

Part two of Allison Lang! This is Discovering Hospitality's first two-part conversation and for good reason. Allison is an advocate for persons with disabilities. She is an amputee herself; she was born without the lower half of her leg and shares her journey of that in her life. She is now a Speaker, Model, World Traveller, a Team Canada Athlete, and of course a Hospitality Gal. Join us as we round out the second half of our conversation. Her story will take you on a beautiful ride. In Allie's young life she has already had a lifetime of experiences and she shares them in this cast. There are moments in our conversation you will feel the emotion, moments you will laugh, and moments you will be reminded of the meaning of life. Thank you Allison for being my guest and sharing your heart on this podcast.

Meet Allison Lang! This is Discovering Hospitality's first two-part conversation and for good reason. Allison is an advocate for persons with disabilities. She is an amputee herself; she was born without the lower half of her leg and shares her journey of that in her life. She is now a Speaker, Model, World Traveller, Team Canada Athlete, and of course a Hospitality Gal. Her story will take you on a beautiful ride. In her young life, she has had a lifetime of experiences and she shares them in this cast. There are moments in our conversation you will tear up, moments you will laugh, and moments you will be reminded of the meaning of life. Join us for the first half of the conversation I know you're going to love it and be inspired.

I love chefs I find them so inspiring. I love how they hone their craft in ways that are unique to them. It speaks to their style and their roots. Liv Krushell is an AMAZING chef. I had the privilege of attending a private dinner of hers with three other wonderful women and I'll tell you I was blown away. Liv created the most stunning, 5-course meal, from start to finish the meal was made with love, from scratch, and with a depth of flavor that was wonderful!In this podcast, Liv and I talk about her passion for food, how she makes all her food from scratch. We talk about her family heritage and how food has always been part of her life, how food has connected her with others and brought family and friends together around a big table with delicious food. The only way to know Liv's food is to experience it! Liv is taking bookings for private dinners on Instagram @LivaLittle.Creations - Book your dinner today, I promise you won't be disappointed!

I am so excited to share with you Courtney Campbell's story today! He is a true pro. Starting in his early days at the Old Spaghetti Factory and on to many other prominent concepts, he has been very successful in his career as a Hospitality Leader. Courtney brings a unique energy to his work. If you know him, have been led by him, or worked with him on any level you are not likely to forget your experience. He touches lives and cares about people in the ways that truly matter. In our conversation, Courtney shares his thoughts on the industry and what it takes to be a great leader. One of the cool things he shares with us is that introverts can embrace hospitality along with extroverts. How does he know? Because he's one of them. I love this as it's often thought that introverts may not be as connected to the industry, that the quieter personality type may struggle in the busy, loud industry. And yet, he is proof that this industry can work well for both types of people and both can be successful in it. We have dedicated this episode to Courtney's Mom, who lost her battle to cancer a few years ago. Courtney's advice is to call your Mom and tell her you love her, we never know how much time we have, so share love and kindness with those you love today.Thank you for being my guest. I loved our conversation. It was so great to spend this time with you. 

Well, this was so much fun! I love Steph, I had the pleasure of working with her at the Terwillegar Original Joe's way back in the day! Today you'll meet Steph Bradshaw and hear the story of her journey through hospitality. She's a lot of fun as you'll see, I love her happy personality. Steph knows how to take care of people in our industry, she's one of those people, that when you are taken care of by her you know, you will remember the experience with her always. Even though she has taken some time away from the industry she is still in love with it. Now living in Calgary and working back at the Original Joe's on Macleod Trail, you can visit Step any time you're in the area and see for yourself.She is also now the owner of Olive and Mango Candle Company.  Through which Steph creates beautiful, soy, wood wicked, and nontoxic candles that you and your family and pets can enjoy all day without the risk of traditional candles. She has over 45 scents and these candles are simply the best, plus I always support local makers, the love that is put into the products is always evident and it's so true with Stephs Olive and Mango Candles.Thank you Steph for being my guest and for connecting with me. It was an honor.

Meet Jordyn Scharle! I love this gal! Every time I get to speak with Jordyn or spend time with her I'm always inspired by everything she's involved in. She has had some interesting experiences in the hospitality industry starting at the State and Main on Jasper Ave in a high revenue high profile location, then moving on to the Hollick Kenyon Original Joe's and becoming part of the leadership team there. She's super passionate about hospitality and the industry and really loves taking care of people. She was the first runner-up in the Original Joe's Sokil Scholarship application this January. The criteria for the application was to submit a “People Make the World Beautiful” story and Jordyn did not disappoint. She shared the story of her Mom and her involvement with The CAWS, an animal welfare organization. When I learned more about what they do I was so impressed because it's not just an animal shelter. The CAWS helps pet owners have a place to surrender their pets while they deal with the challenges that they are facing in life and have the ability to get them back when they are on more stable ground. I think this is an incredibly beautiful thing. Jordyn volunteers with her Mom and The CAWS and they are currently building a facility to help more animals and owners in our communities. Love it!Jordyn is also a singer/songwriter who is working on her first album. She has at this time released two singles Worthy, and Lethal. She is extremely talented and has a beautiful voice, I strongly suggest you check out these two singles.If you're interested in learning more about The CAWS you can visit this site: https://www.cawsab.org/And to hear Jordyn's singles you can visit Jordyn Rayne Music here: https://jordynraynemusic.com/Thank you Jordyn, for being my guest and for sharing your stories with me on the podcast it was such a pleasure to get to spend this time with you!

This is a very inspiring episode, if you have ever struggled with an eating disorder this will be the listen for you. Teihannah is so genuine and honest in her story and her journey in recovery from Anorexia.She was the winner of our Sokil Scholarship, an internal program within Original Joe's and State and Main, that provides finical support to students that work with us. The challenge this semester was to share a People Make The World Beautiful story. So of course, I was very excited about this as it's the heart of this podcast! In her application, Teihannah shares her story of battling Anorexia and how her Dad has been the hero in her life, making her world more beautiful every day, standing by her side through her journey. How she describes her Dad's love and care for her will no doubt leave your heart feeling so full.  Now, because of the experience, she has had in her life with Anorexia she has decided to commit her learning and her future career to helping those with eating disorders.  I am so grateful to get to hear all of these beautiful stories and Teihannah's is one I will not soon forget. Thank you Teihannah for sharing your heart with the world. I hope you know you make the world beautiful yourself.  

Meet Angie Zamora. This woman is full of love! She's one of those women who brings joy and happiness to everything she does, I mean who wouldn't love that?! Angie had quite the adventure before coming to Canada to work.  From Aspen, Colorado to, Paris, France, and cooking for patients in need of healing food, Angie has a heart of gold and has had a lot of different experiences when it comes to hospitality. She is now the Assistant Kitchen Manager of Stony Plain Original Joe's. In this podcast we discuss her passion for food and her team. She talks about how patience is key in building a great career and also key to being a great leader. Kindness is simply part of her DNA, but I especially love her take on being kind to ourselves, this is such an important part of each of our own personal growth journeys.  Last year Angie attended a six-month masterclass I facilitated on Authentic Leadership where we spent a lot of time together and got to connect in a deeper way, I am so grateful for that time. We discuss the concept of "always be learning" which is something you will find at the core of any great team and leader. Listening to her talk about this in relation to her team is very inspiring and Angies desire to keep learning is commendable.Thank you Angie for being my guest! It was an honor to learn more of your story and swap stories with you!

From an early start in competitive Taekwondo Cara Manning learned to face the challenges of this world head-on. She was blessed to have a teacher who taught her some of the most valuable lessons in life that she has carried with her, and as you'll hear, have carried her through her more recent challenges in life. Cara worked with us at Hollick Kenyon Original Joe's and in the time she was there the way I saw her connect with team and guests was astounding. Cara has an uncanny ability to make everyone around her feel welcome and comfortable, she makes everyone she interacts with feel at home and it's the most beautiful thing to be in the presence of. In this cast, Cara and I have a deep conversation about grief, loss, and depression. We discuss how life can throw curve balls at us that take us off track. Cara shares her own story of depression and mental health struggles in her life, and the kindness that was bestowed upon her as a result of moving through her struggle. Your heart will be touched by this conversation.If you are struggling with mental health issues or depression in your life please talk to someone, share your thoughts and your feelings if you can, as Cara has highlighted it can help so much. If you know someone who struggles, please reach out, let them know you love them and offer an ear, a safe space to share.  Let's love one another and support each other on this life journey that we are all on. Thank you Cara I am blessed to know you and honored that you shared your story, I know it will be deeply meaningful to many people. 

I've known Sandra for many years. In fact, when Sandra came to Canada from Mexico City, I was the one who picked her up at the airport! We have been through a lot together from the early days of Terwillegar Original Joe's to working together on the Oj's HEART Cart we have done it all. At this point in time, Sandra is not in hospitality but I felt it fitting to bring her on to share her story with all of us. She is a wonderful, amazing woman who has taken her life and made it what she wanted. And let me tell you it's an inspiring story. I hope you enjoy and Sandra thank you so much for being my guest! 

Nathan Brass is the General Manager of Blowers and Grafton on Whyte Ave here in Edmonton. The concept is a cool pub-style atmosphere with a twist - Halifax street food. This was the first conversation I had with Nathan about hospitality in which we talked about his journey in the industry, what inspires him, and his perspective of leading through COVID. Nathan is also a musician which I loved talking about. Music can really change a lot about how we see the world.  I  truly believe that hobbies and things we find to keep our hearts happy are life-changing.

Meet Chelsea Glubish! Starting in hospitality at 14 years old, Chelsea immediately saw the value to her growth in our industry. She started out in the back of the house, moving on to the front, and now has transitioned to an online health and wellness coach for women and is killing it! Join us as we discuss her journey from hospitality to her new career and all of the emotion involved in that change for her. Chelsea opens her heart to me in this conversation and shares in a really vulnerable way what all of this change has been like for her. It's an inspiring conversation for anyone looking to hear a story of transformational change. If you are interested in meeting Chelsea and learning more about what she does you can find her here:Instagram ChelseaglubishFacebook ChelsEffect Coaching

This is Adria Dube and she's amazing. I love this gal. She is a part of the Original Joe's crew currently working as the Assistant General Manager at Original Joe's in Terwillegar.  She has had a longer tenure with the company coming from Hollick on the northside previously so has been a part of the growth of the company over the last few years. This was such a great conversation as Adria is one of those leaders who is really connected with her heart (and you know I love that!). In this episode, we dive into vulnerability, mental health, COVId-19 and hospitality and so much more!A cast you won't want to miss!

You may remember Clint Schmidt from the early days of Discovering Hospitality. He was my 4th interview and was kind enough to join me on this journey when I really did not know where it was going and what I was doing. He trusted me and for that, I am so grateful.  Clint is one of those people who is living  his life to the fullest, and not leaving anything on the table. In his first podcast, we spoke a lot about mental toughness and 75 hard and what it takes to achieve your goals. Since then he has not stopped, Clint has continued to evolve and deepen his discipline in all areas of his life even going as far as to complete David Goggins 4x4x48. He now authors a blog called A Resonate Man in which he shares his learnings and his philosophies on life. In our conversation, we discuss patience, evolution, discipline, and how to love the life we live. This is a jam-packed episode full of great conversation and wisdom.  If you'd like to learn more about Clint and what he's up to you can follow him on Instagram at clint_schmidt06 or his blog (linked above)

Meet Meagan Keelaghan! I was so excited to have her on Discovering Hospitality. I love this woman, we have had great times together and she has done some amazing things so I knew this was going to be a great chat. She is currently the Area Manager DunnEnzies Pizza Co in Kelowna, British Columbia, and loves it. This is a cool local concept that not only servers great food, but also takes care of their community in truly meaningful ways. Meagan is one of those leaders who people are naturally drawn to, if you know her, you know what I am talking about, this is a special trait that only a few leaders in this world are blessed with. In this cast we chat about vulnerability, leading from the heart, taking care of people, People Make The World Beautiful, and of course a cameo appearance from her dog Gema!. This was a wonderful conversation that you are going to love about our industry and why it matters. 

This was a fun impromptu episode we were inspired to record at the iconic Rundle Bar in the Banff Springs Hotel in the heart of the beautiful rocky mountains in Alberta.  Chris and I discuss our own personal hotel experiences from bare-bones, entry-level hotels to ultimate luxury resorts. We have been blessed to be able to travel so much of the world together and have had the most incredible experiences together. I hope you enjoy this conversation as we recall some of our favorite and not so favorite memories of hospitality. 

Meet Mel Mascorro, this was such a fun conversation as you'll hear in her laughter and the heartfelt way in which she joins me in this cast, and this truly is Mel, shes a beautiful person in every way. Over the summer she joined Arturo Ramirez on the El Santo food truck journey, she shares her experience with that adventure and what it was like for her working in a mobile restaurant all summer.  Her culinary career began in Mexico City, bringing her to the USA and then eventually over here to Canada, where she has settled in Edmonton, to call her home. Mel's culinary passion lies in baking and pastries, and if you know her you know this is her calling. She makes world-class cakes that are to die for. Miel by Mel is her cake company and she is expanding so she can offer more wonderful cakes to the world because we all need delicious cake in our lives right? Yes, that's right.  You can find her on Instagram @Miel_byMel Facebook Miel by MelReach out to her and get your cake today! You won't be disappointed!!!   

Meet Mark Speranza he is a true hospitality pro, starting his early career in restaurants and moving over to the hotel industry as he progressed and is currently working at the Dylan Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. He has built a career in the heart of New York City, and it has been a crazy ride for him, with over 30 years going through New York's blackouts, 911, and a country at war. Over the years Mark has grown a deep love of the hotel industry, for its fast-paced, ever-changing atmosphere from celebrity guests (yes that is Emeril Lagasse in his cover photo on the podcast!) to American Idol auditions being held at his hotel, there is never a dull moment for him. Join us as we discuss what it takes to be great in hospitality, how generosity of spirit is key to truly being of service to others, and how building a career in the hospitality industry is abound with opportunity if you look for it and truly want it for yourself. We discuss mentors, failure, culture alignment, values and so much more! This is an episode you won't want to miss!Thank you Mark for being my guest and sharing your time and heart with me on the show, it was such a pleasure to get to know you. 

Calli Smith is a beautiful soul, one of those people that you will meet in your life that you will never forget. Her heart is hospitality, loves people, and loves taking care of others. In this episode, we discuss the obstacles we are currently facing in  our industry and how culture, values, and belief in our people are what will guide us through this challenging time. Empathy by far is one of the biggest contributors to leading this way for Calli as you will hear in the heartwarming stories she shares.Thank you Calli for being my guest, it was an honor to speak with you and hear your thoughts on hospitality and life. 

Mike Saunders somewhat stumbled upon hospitality as a career for himself as you'll hear in this podcast. He attained a bachelor's in Physical Education and pursued a career in that area for a few years, but as life would have it (as for many of us), Mike found himself drawn back to the amazing industry of hospitality. The experience of leaving and coming back to the industry really solidifies the magic that is created when we are a part of an amazing team and how impactful that can be in our lives.  You'll hear this in Mikes's experiences and stories. I also really enjoyed hearing about his early days in goalie camps and how those experiences shaped how he leads now.  This is an episode you are not going to want to miss!

Edmonton's food community is incredible these days and there's a new contender on the scene…El Santo Taqueria Food Truck is now on the streets of YEG and filling our bellies with amazing food! Arturo Ramirez who you may remember from episode 16 is the mastermind behind this incredible venture. It has long been his dream to have his own food truck and it fills my heart so full to see him bring his dream to life. El Santo serves authentic Mexican tacos made fresh daily, all made from scratch and food made with love and care. It has also been voted by Edmonton Community Votes as #1 for Latin American and #1 Food Truck!! Woah for the new guy on the scene this is so impressive! Not only is he rocking people's worlds with the tastiest tacos ever he is also creating beautiful initiatives to give back to the community. If you want to find El Santo on the street follow them on IG @elsantotacotruck or Facebook @ElSantoTacoTruck, or of course on their website SantoFoodTruck.com. Get out there and try these tacos, let me know what you love. 

Meet Jeffrey Sacchet! This was a great and enlightening conversation. Jeffrey recently wrote a book called Barbarians and Beautiful Souls,  which he so kindly shared with me so I could read and it was amazing! The book is chock-full of real-life stories of people taking care of people, what can transpire when we are a part of a great team, also what can transpire when we are part of a weak team, and how leaders have the ability to affect it all.  Jeffrey shares his stories from all vantage points and in the end, leaves your heart feeling full and connected to humanity.I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!You can purchase Barbarians and Beautiful Souls on Amazon, a read I definitely recommend! 

Meet Challa. This woman is a boss! In our conversation, she shares the beautiful story of her life and her son as well as her journey to take her life into her own hands. I found myself thinking a lot about our chat, and there were two things Challa said to me that really stayed with me:1. "Be kind." We never know what someone else is going through. I love this so much, it makes my heart feel full and hopeful for humanity2. "Today is the first day of the rest of my life." This is a mantra she used to change her life and boy, did she ever suceed!She is now the founder of Soulful Nutrition helping others achieve health and happiness, she is also a fitness ambassador for Zyia. You can find her on Instagram@challa.marie Thank you Challa for sharing your heart, you are an inspiration!

Joan is an incredible human being, momma of Jessie, who had Cystic Fibrosis, and now a CF trailblazer who tirelessly fundraises for the cause. Through all of this, she has changed the way our community sees this devastating disease .I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to have a child with CF and the journey that Joan and her family have been on. Somehow, she has found the strength to be a bright light for parents who are navigating the challenges of caring for a child who is chronically ill. Run For The Lung has been held at our Original Joe's Terwillegar in honor of her daughter, Jessie, for the past 15 years. I am so blessed to know Joan, to have known Rob Sokil, and to have been a part of this life-changing event.Tune in to hear her incredible story.Join us this year at the Run For The Lung on Sunday, August 29th, 2021 for its 15th year!Click HERE to register or find out more.

Meet Patrick Ellis! This was a great conversation. Patrick founded Bluenote Sake 25 years ago and has been the main pioneer who brought premium sake to Canada. He has always had a passion for Japan and its culture even going so far as to study over in Tokyo. We talk about Sake and food of course, but we also dive much deeper into Japanese culture and his love of the country. A few years ago Patrick was awarded the esteemed distinction of Sake Samurai by the Japanese Brewers Association. Only a handful of non-Japanese have ever been considered for this award, it a true testament to his dedication to his craft and love of people.If after listening you would like to try some premium sake for yourself here are some wonderful options to get you started. Dassai '45' - Asahi Shuzo - Junmai Dai Ginjo - Most Iconic Name in Saké WorldSaika - Nakano - Dai Ginjo -  Fine Saké Award 4x in RowAdatara - Oku no Matsu - Ginjo - Grand Champion Saké (IWC)Pearl Momokawa - Saké One - Junmai Ginjo Nigori - Creamy, cloudy, less filteredGassan Izumo - Yoshida - Junmai Ginjo - Elegantly rich, using the softest water in JapanEnjoy! 

Meet Azarel, Az for short as you'll hear me say. She is a totally amazing woman and I am so grateful to have her on the podcast. Not only is she an incredible chef, but she's also a beautiful human, hearing her story and her journey through hospitality and life was so heartwarming.  She is now on the path of leadership as she is now the Kitchen Manager of the Original Joes in Beaumont and totally rocking it! (listen to Greyson Scorah from last week if you want to get an idea of the kind of team she has).Thank you Az for this inspiring conversation, I am so honored you would be a part of the podcast series with me!

I had so much fun with Greyson on the podcast this past week. From Cadets to Hospitality, his life experiences are beyond his years. He shares his heart in such a vulnerable way with me in our conversation and it really made my day to hear his stories and perspective. Make sure to listen right to the end for his People Make the World Beautiful story… its incredible. 

This week on the podcast we hear from the beautiful and amazing Hayley Ferland. You may remember her husband Jamie from episode 27. These two are now partners at the Original Joe's in Oxford Park.  In this episode, we discuss hospitality (of course!) and so much more. Hayley is all heart and shares it fully, expect to have some laughs and leave with some inspiring insights on life and taking care of people.    

Meet Dillon, Kitchen Manager at The Grange Original Joe's and such a fun guy!Our conversation covers a lot of ground so get ready! First of all, we had lots of laughs, so that's always fun,  We talked about growing up with a mom who owned her own restaurant, to his journey through different industries. Dillon has a very inspiring story about how he has changed his life for the better. He is constantly working to improve himself and the results show! I hope you enjoy this week's podcast.

Hospitality is all about connection and connection is so important to our livelihood and social lives. Emma and I talk about how social anxiety and hospitality came face to face for her and how doing so brought her a whole new confidence in her relationships and her life. For so many of us, this industry has created life-long friends and memories. The life lessons learned, and moments shared, have set Emma on the path she is on today. Join us as we laugh, reminisce and share great stories.

We are trying something new! In this episode, my lovely, wonderful, amazing sister Gillian Verhey agreed to have a casual coffee chat with me about the industry. This is a really laidback, reminiscent conversation about Ultimate Hospitality and what that term means to us. Gillian has been in the industry almost as long as I  have and we have shared many experiences together, so this was such a fun episode to record. I hope you enjoy and are inspired by this idea and moved to create Ultimate Hospitality in your role wherever you are. 

 I have been waiting for this episode for a while!!!Tom came into our lives and changed the way we saw the world. In our conversation Tom shares so much wisdom.   From an Emergency Services Manager to a Wine Expert, to an Original Joe's “Bus Boy” and now the Senior Incident Command System Lead Trainer for Canada. But even more importantly he's a dog lover, eternally curious about things, and a lover of life. Tom is always looking at ways to be the best version of himself, and he highlights how he does the over and over in this conversation, it's very inspiring. Thank you, Tom, for sharing your time and your heart with me. It was the best getting to spend this time with you!

Meet Jeff Tetz! He's the CEO of Results Canada and the host of Unleashed, a YouTube show all about leadership and development.  Jeff and I have been friends for 10 years and in that time we have done a lot together. Through his company  Results, they helped us to calirfy our  organizations values and create great habits that set us up for future success. We have also collaborated on some pretty cool community initiatives together that we discuss in this podcast. While Jeff is not a direct hospitality guy, he exudes hospitality from the core of who he is and cares deeply about leaving the world a better place in his lifetime and that to me makes him a great guest for the cast. I hope you enjoy this conversation!

In this podcast, Shannon and I discuss how she came into hospitality in a bit of a roundabout way. Regardless of how she came to the industry don't kid yourself, she's amazing!I always say Shannon is the glue that holds us together, she truly knows how to care for people and brings her amazing heart to our organization. She's a role model to me, she cares for her own well-being, and has created a quality of life for herself that is truly remarkable. Her story around this part of her life will leave you inspired to look at your own self-care.❤️Join us as we discuss culture, the organization we are a part of with Original Joe's and State and Main, working with family and so much more. 

Now if you know Yianni you already know...If you don't, well you are in for a treat. If you are in the hospitality industry you are going to want to know this man. If you like dining out and having amazing experiences, you are also going to want to know this man!  Any way you chalk it up it's a win-win to know Yianni. Yianni and his family now run two locations one in Palm Desert and one in Cathedral City, California. He was my favourite place to visit in my city Edmonton, Alberta for many many years. I have trusted Yianni to care for our teams, to care for us, to be a part of so many moments in our lives. This was such a great conversation, from Cyprus (Greece) to Canada, now on to the US, Yiannia leaves a beautiful wake of hospitality everywhere he goes.You can find his restaurants in California here:https://www.facebook.com/yiannitavernacathedralcity/  

This was a cool conversation! Laura Rembowski is brand new to the hospitality industry. She is just over 4 weeks into her tenure as a new server at the Original Joe's in Beaumont, Alberta. To be able to have a conversation from this perspective and be reminded of all the reasons I also fell in love with the industry years ago was so heartwarming. Join us as we discuss everything from the misconceptions of the industry to what makes it so beautiful.