Faking It

Katie, Vaughn and Doug talk a classic for Bourbon and Rye this week - Woodford Reserve. They touch on history, the Masters' Collection and discuss why Woodford is a classic name in Bourbon. Cheers!

Katie, Vaughn and Doug discuss Japanese whiskey for Irish and International week. They cover a brief history of Japanese whiskey, it's relationship to scotch and how wildly popular it has become in its short lifetime. They taste and discuss Kaiyo's Mizunara Oak blended whiskey. Cheers!

Katie, Vaughn and Doug go north to talk about Canadian Whiskey for this North American day. The three discuss what makes Canadian whiskey Canadian whiskey, different names by which Canadian whiskey is known and what Canadian whiskeys are available at Seven Saints. This week's tasting whiskey is Forty Creek. Cheers!

In this fun episode, Katie and Jess find themselves talking to Katie's sister and Jess's best friend, Jamie! Jamie lets us in on the COVID situation over in Virginia, talks a little about the switch from dining out to cooking at home and reveals a surprise fun fact about herself that involves our favorite podcast host - Jess. Check it out!

Katie, Vaughn and Doug are back to talk their favorite type of whiskey - Scotch. More importantly, this week they are discussing their collective favorite region when it comes to Scotch - Islay. They cover how and why the Islay region is particularly distinctive, the products they carry from the most popular islay distilleries and some history of those distilleries. Plus they taste and examine Ardbeg's Wee Beastie. It's a big one. Cheers!

In this edition of Bourbon and Rye week Katie, Vaughn and Doug are talking Journeyman Distillery! They touch on the distillery's history, what makes a rye a rye and all the Journeyman products we have to offer here at Seven Saints. This week, they are tasting the Journeyman Last Feather Rye. Cheers!

This week at Preshift Katie, Vaughn and Doug cover Irish whiskey for Irish and International week. The three talk about what characteristics are common in Irish whiskey, what can make an Irish whiskey stand out and the plight of Irish whiskey (that which gives it a shorter history than other regions, like scotch). This week the three taste and discuss the Knappogue Castle 12 year.

In their first pod of 2021, Katie and Jess find themselves talking to one of their long-time friends, Madi (short for Madison) Perington. Madi, having moved during 2020, talks about her experiences dining out in two different states during an international pandemic. Plus the three catch up and laugh a lot. Join them!

In their last episode of the year, Katie and Jess find themselves talking to Kayla - a friend and former coworker of Katie's. The three discuss her time in the service industry, how it prepared her for her current job (and also just life in general), and have a lengthy discussion about movies, tv shows and conspiracy theories. Enjoy!

This week finds Katie, Vaughn and Doug discussing North American whiskey again - specifically the St. George single malt. The trio touch on St. George's history as a distillery, how much Vaughn loves Costco and, of course, their tasting notes. Cheers!

This week's episode finds Katie and Jess interviewing Chloe Gerard - the recent (and ever so talented) photographer for Two Week Media and a former coworker of Katie's at Seven Saints. The three chat about Chloe's experience not coming back to restaurants during the pandemic, what she has been up to in the past few months and, of course, Animal Crossing. Check it out!

It's Scotch week! Katie, Vaughn and Doug spend this week talking about Glenallachie - a lesser known Speyside scotch. They talk about how different regions can affect the character and flavor of scotches, how there is, in fact, a scotch for everyone - not just you Ron Swanson types - and they even touch on each of their own gateway scotches. Check it out!

This week Katie and Jess get to revisit one of their favorite guests of all time - Anne Clark Skuse - GM of Seven Saints and a true Wonder Woman. The three discuss the creative new ways Seven Saints is using social media to engage with guests since they have been limited on that engagement by COVID regulations. Additionally they cover what it's like to have a much smaller staff, Anne's incredible and well-known interview skills and all three of their favorite Christmas songs. Check it out!

Katie, Vaughn and Doug come together on bourbon and rye week to discuss the 2019 Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Chocolate Malted Rye and what exactly distinguishes a bourbon from a rye. Cheers!

This week at Seven Saints, Irish and International whiskey was on feature. This category, covering such a wide range of options was difficult to narrow down but Katie, Vaughn and Doug chose to go in the direction of Europe - specifically Wales and the only distillery the small, wild country, Penderyn. Enjoy!

In association with Seven Saint's, Faking It has the unique opportunity to let our listeners in on what exactly it is like to prep for a shift on the bar's famous Whisky Wednesdays! This fun new project finds Katie and coworkers Vaughn Kimberley and Doug Roberts discussing a North American feature - the FEW Immortal Rye - in addition to starting us all off with a basic discussion of what exactly makes whisky...whisky.

Fellow Two Week Media podcast host, Tommy Tracy, joins Katie this week to talk all things COVID mitigations - including heated tents, phone calls about indoor dining and face masks. Plus the two check in with one another mentally and talk about just exactly what it's like to be working in the service industry during a worldwide pandemic.

Katie and Jess talk about the recent mitigations in the state of Illinois and how they are affecting their local restaurants. The two touch on closures, heated tents and even how some restaurants are trying to stay connected to the community despite being physically far away.

This week, Katie and Jess talk to Katie's friend, Laura, about how things have been going for her since the start of COVID restrictions over seven months ago. The three touch on the current mitigation's happening in their home state of Illinois, weddings in the time of COVID, Laura's time volunteering as an election judge [Speaking of which, if you haven't already voted, make sure you do so! Your voice matters!] and so much more. Check it out!

In episode thirty-one, Katie and Jess sit down with Katie's friend and former roommate, Judi Knight. Judi and Katie have history in the service industry, however, Judi's studies have taken her to massage which she discussed in today's episode. She also touches on how the service industry has prepared her for where she is now. Check it out!

In honor of Faking It's 30th episode, our first ever guest, Dominique Styles, returns to flip the script! He takes the mic this week to conduct a thoughtful and heartfelt interview in which he helps our listeners learn a little more about everyone's favorite podcast hosts - Katie and Jess.

This week, the Faking It gals get to sit down with the creator of our theme song “Have a Good Time,” HumblyG! We talked with him about how quarantine has gone for him, about how much his life has changed outside of restaurants and what sorts of ventures he is working towards now. Check it out!

In their final Back to School episode, Katie and Jess speak to Katie's new friend Mary Kate about what it's like to be a student and a teacher simultaneously when being forced to utilize new methods of learning and teaching. They trio touch on such topics as roller skating, nutrition and even Harry Potter book release parties. Plus, Katie and Jess get a couple surprise check-ins from previous guests on the pod about how their back to school experience is going as well!

In Jess's absence, Katie conducts the entirety of episode twenty-seven with special guest, Kane McClellan. The two discuss not only his time in restaurants, but also his present venture into law school, the death of RBG and the true depths to which 2020 will sink before destroying us all.

This week, Katie and Jess talk with Katie's friend and coworker, Ethan, about balancing a full work schedule with his new class schedule. Join the trio as they talk to Ethan about not only learning to plan ahead for his assignments, but also his experiences as a server (truly the craziest things happen to this kid) and about how much being a server makes you appreciate a good restaurant experience.

This week, Katie and Jess speak with Katie's friend, Harrison Mitry, about his experiences getting back to school and working in the service industry this fall.

Katie and Jess recap their summer interviewing servers/managers/bartenders from all over town to see how reopening is going and look forward to what this new season (FALL) brings - besides PSLs and Curtis Orchard...

This week on Faking It, Katie and Jess talk with Katie's friend and coworker, Skye Galardy, about how reopening is going at Quality in downtown Champaign. Skye and Katie touch on how these unprecedented times have brought with them customer interactions they never expected to have. Plus, the two touch on the stressful times they are going through at Saint's.

Another week of summer finds Katie and Jess interviewing Katie's friend, Fernando Rocha, whose employers include some familiar stomping grounds for the team (I.e. Maize and Punch) but also some uncharted territory (Green Street Cafe). Fernando talks openly about how opening has been at all three of his jobs. Plus he shares how difficult quarantine was for him. Shoutout Marshall in Peoria for all your help! Check it out!

In this week's episode, Katie and Jess find themselves speaking to Whitney Braddock a brewer at Triptych Brewing. This particular interview takes them not only to a different part of town (i.e. Savoy), but also to a slightly different but related industry. Tune in to hear the crew discuss everything from beer, chicken wings and supporting local to local events, books and the future of the bar and restaurant industry.

In this week's episode, Katie and Jess find themselves interviewing Ariel Kelly, a friend of Katie's who works at Texas Roadhouse in town. Ariel speaks openly and honestly not only about working at Roadhouse since they have reopened their doors for dine-in but also about working there for carry-out during quarantine. The restaurant, which is consistently one of the busiest in town, barely slowed down during quarantine. Thus, the conversation, though on familiar takes on a slightly different tone than some of Katie and Jess's other summer interviews. Check it out!

This week, Katie and Jess find themselves interviewing fellow Mahometan/Mahomasean/Mahometite/Whatever, Nick Jukes. If you know anything about Nick, you know he is working...all the time. Nick always has more than one job and that is just as true during COVID times as it has been in the past. Nick's plan to come on and talk about Pour Bros Champaign's reopening process morphs itself into more of a discussion of practices across downtown Champaign. Listen to find out why.

In episode seventeen, Katie and Jess speak to Jake, a manager at Collective Pour in Champaign. Jake speaks not only on how reopening is affecting the bar so far, but also about the importance of wearing a mask to protect each other and to protect our collective futures as we move forward during this time. He also shares a special announcement with our listeners! Be sure to tune in to check it out!

In episode sixteen, Katie and Jess continue their efforts to see how reopening is going for restaurants and bars around Champaign-Urbana. This week, they are joined by David Hunter, Mike Lovejoy and Curtis Crowell, the management team at Punch Bar in downtown Champaign where they gab all things reopening, quarantine and just exactly what it is that sets them apart.

This week on Faking It, Katie and Jess speak with Michael “Figgy” Newton about how reopening is going at the Esquire and Jupiter's downtown. Figgy speaks passionately about how he views the future of the industry as Illinois enters Phase Four of their reopening plan and finally allows patrons back into restaurants. Their conversation leads them to discuss many of life's big questions, including the ever-debated question: where are the best wings in the Champaign-Urbana area sold?

In episode fourteen, Katie and Jess speak to one of their Two Week Media co-founders and manager of Big Grove Tavern, Tommy Tracey, about how reopening is going for them. Tommy speaks candidly about how widely the experience has varied guest to guest in the restaurant. Plus he shares his experience getting tested for COVID-19 and talks a little about how he spent his extra time in quarantine! Speaking of which, be sure to catch his podcast Phenomenal Flicks - another Two Week Media production.

Episode thirteen begins Katie and Jess's summer project! They will be touching base with a different restaurant in town each week to see how reopening is treating the service industry. And where better to start than right at Katie's home base - Seven Saint's?! The two speak with Anne Clark Skuse, Seven Saint's general manager, who speaks openly and honestly about reopening and the new procedures that make up a strange “new normal” for both staff and guests.

In episode twelve, Katie and Jess focus on closures in their community as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They speak with former executive chef of DESTIHL Champaign, Chris Alwes, who shares some great perspective on what the future of restaurants might look like as we all move into the unknown. Despite some technical issues, the trio are able to candidly discuss not only the closing of DESTIHL, but also unemployment and a number of other issues affecting restaurants as they attempt to reopen.

The last episode in our Call Around the World miniseries finds Katie and Jess speaking to Katie's friends Jen and Tom, who are living up north in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The conversation is a candid and unapologetic look at the difficulties our bartenders and servers are facing at this time. The group speaks about how reopening is going both here at home as well as in Grand Rapids and explores all the questions that are a result of not really knowing what the future holds.

This week in our Call Around the World Series, Katie and Jess find themselves speaking to Jess's friend Ashley, who is living in Indianapolis. Currently a news producer, Ashley is able to speak candidly with our hosts about how the pandemic is affecting our neighbors in Indiana and reflect on the parallels that have come to fruition as Illinois approaches its own reopening strategies.

Episode three of our Call Around the World Series finds Katie and Jess talking to Katie's friend and former coworker, Matt. Now an accountant, Matt is experiencing the pandemic from a slightly different perspective than some of our guests. However his awareness of how vastly different things are going to be, not only for our service industry friends but for every single one of us going forward, is on full display as the team talk working from home, closures and especially the indefinite extension of the shelter-in-place orders in California.

In the second episode of our Call Around the World miniseries, Katie and Jess talk to Mason, a fellow Mahometan and former coworker of Katie's. Having moved to Alabama right at the beginning of the current pandemic, Mason shares an interesting perspective on how different the management of COVID-19 has been down south and how she is coping at her current job at a grocery store.

In the first episode of our podcast miniseries titled Call Around the World, Katie and Jess speak to Katie's friend and former coworker, Jordan, who moved to Kauai, Hawaii almost a year ago. Jordan spoke about how social distancing and sheltering in place has been going on the island and how she is managing being both mentally and geographically isolated from so many of her friends and family.

In episode six, two of Katie's coworkers join Katie and Jess to talk about the affect of the restaurant closures on their dual-income household turned no-income household. Jenny and Vaughn talk a little about how they are managing both financially and mentally as they learn how to navigate isolation together.

April is Childhood Abuse Prevention Month and, if anything, being sheltered in place has made this a more difficult time for those who are victims of abusive families or relationships. In episode five, Katie and Jess got to sit down with a former coworker of Katie's who is now working right at the heart of some of these issues. Dana had some valuable insight into how working in restaurants contributed to her decision to go into social work. Plus she spoke openly and honestly about how difficult it can be to notice abusive situations when public interaction is taken out of the picture.

In episode four, Katie and Jess get to speak with Adam Lopez, operational director for Maize Mexican Grill, about choosing to stay open for carry out and delivery during a time when a lot of other restaurants chose to close and about their incredible work putting together and maintaining a school lunch program for the community.

In episode three we got the amazing opportunity to take a trip to Mars (this is what Jess is calling our visit with my friend and coworker, Mary and her charming 8-year-old son, Lars) where we discussed Mary's personal experiences with pandemics in the past and how that has affected her management of what is going on in the world around her. Plus we got to hear how much Lars is missing second grade and what he is doing to keep busy.

In episode two we sit down with Katie's best friend, Elizabeth Tomita, who is not only a nurse but a fellow server and discuss how to navigate the current state of our world through these two view points.

In our first episode, we take the time to sit down with Katie's fellow server Dominique Styles to discuss how the closures of Illinois restaurants and bars due to COVID-19 are impacting our fellow food service industry employees.