In The Service

Eliza Kingsbury joins us and talks about entering the service industry as a coat check, transitioning to a cocktail server and eventually working as a bartender in an immersive theater experience! She's served everyone from Madonna to Bill Nye (though honestly, we are more excited by Bill Nye) and always tells the truth when she messes up an order, even if that order is for Gerard Butler! When she's not behind the bar, she's front row center bringing the sketch comedy on one of the longest running teams in NYC, Bridge and Tunnel! Find her on Instagram and Twitter @edewlittle !

Chef Pat Hague discusses keeping ingredients simple while amplifying their elegance, walking in 28 inches of snow to make a super service possible and why cross training staff creates a stronger and more collaborative environment

Are people really as mean as we think they are before they have coffee? Is working in Times Square as brutal as we would expect? Would you ever give tours as a Pirate again? Listen as we chat with Patrick Reidy about his entrance into service via a green apron, working in a chain in Times Square and what shows you can catch him in on stages across NYC!

Mel Stachs has been in the industry longer than she hasn't. Her work ethic and no bullshit attitude helped her become a talented and lucrative asset in the sales department. Despite all her achievements, after being in the industry for 23 years, she wanted out. Mel chats about what it's like feeling the burnout, solely going through the motions and why she decided to leave service behind once and for all.

Justin McManus shares what it's like being part of the legacy of NYC's McManus, his early start and passion for the industry and the time when he toured with the New York Yankees!

Working in cabarets, clubs and coffee shops, Carly Hoogendyk has seen it all. She tells us what it was like to be part of the party as a shot girl and the other end of the spectrum - working in a coffee shop with few customers. She shares her celebrity stories and her new role working as a producer at the new comedy club, Caveat in NYC!

After having spent over a decade working in nightclubs in NYC, Sydnee Washington joins Kath & Jan to tell them how she got her start. We talk about champagne bottles that cost more than our rent and the art of the hustle. Check out Sydnee's podcast, The Unofficial Expert on iTunes too!

From social work to fine dining, AB changed gears and decided to follow her passion for pastry. She shares why she left New York City to pursue educating future pastry chefs.

Ben Randall, host of In The Weeds podcast joins Kath & Jan for their 30th episode! They chat about what happens behind the scenes in a kitchen, why you need to fake it til you make it and how Chefs are able to have lives outside the kitchen!

Alina Konon joins Kath & Jan and discusses how she got her first bartending job in NYC with no experience, why working at an after hours club is maybe not such a good idea and her creative career outside of bartending!

What do Anna Roisman, Kath & Jan all have in common? They were hostesses in Boston! Anna shares her introduction to the industry in Beantown and how she became a maître'd extraordinaire eventually working in LA and NYC. Listen as Anna shares the highs and the lows of being the first face you see in the restaurant when you walk in and then watch her show, The Unemployed Show on Facebook Live!

Kath & Jan are joined by Katharine Heller who admits that she would rather be hosting the party rather than attending it. Katharine, the creator and host of the hit storytelling podcast, Tell The Bartender has seen and heard it all. She chats about bartending in the nineties pre online dating, what it was like working right after 9/11 and why it's important to know what a Wet Martini is!

Doritos are not dinner! Joanna Shaw Flamm joins Kath & Jan to talk about how to prioritize taking care of yourself when you work in the industry. Since many of us are used to putting guests first, we often forget about our own needs - eating (real) food, drinking (water - not vodka) and having a full night rest. Listen to these tips and tricks to get you ready for the busy season!

Kath & Jan leave the studio to host a live show of In The Service taped at the PIT Loft on September 30, 2017. Crystal Beth joins us right after working a double at work where she wore many hats! Then we chat with Jay Neal and Nico Russell about life in the industry, balancing passion and productivity and Oxalis, Nico's amazing and delicious pop up restaurant!

Eddie, a veteran of the service industry tells Kath & Jan the secrets of being a manager (ie keeping the staff AND guests happy) and how mistakes have influenced his now success.

Kath & Jan welcome former colleague, Chuck on the show who discusses his costumed entry into the industry, costume parties and the return of the curse of the double redbreast: Midtown edition! 

Being extremely close to fire in the kitchen ignited Emma's passion to become a Jill of all trades in freelance, cooking, food writing and making chocolate! Listen as Kath & Jan talk to Emma Kobolackis and try to find out how she does it all!

Kath & Jan speak to their former co-worker and server of the century, Jose about what it takes to stay calm in the face of a storm, the Department of Health and what happens when you find a surprise in your food ...

Kath & Jan welcome Matt DeCaro, the writer and creator of the theme song for, In The Service! Matt talks about being an ex service employee, how he currently works with celebrity chefs and how he used to be so f***n skinny

Kath & Jan get behind the bar and chat why service bar is the best place to work as a bartender and the worst place to order a drink as a guest. They welcome Elsa DeTripp, a staple behind many bars in NYC who talks about co-founding High Spirits, a pop up bar experience!

Kath & Jan welcome Frankie the Chin to chat about leading a restaurant team, preshift chants and the curse of the double redbreast

Kath & Jan step off the service floor and onto the stage to bring you their first ever LIVE podcast recording. They welcome special guests, Zahra Tangorra (High Five Girl), Jay Neal (Riviera Catering), Tyler Lyne (Riviera Catering) and Keith Malley (Keith and the Girl). Featuring LIVE music from Matt DeCaro (the creator of our theme song).

Andrew Kimler talks to Kath & Jan about working in restaurants, why he moved to catering (hint: he spilled wine on a baby), and about his podcast, Applying It Liberally!

Most of us have dined in a chain restaurant, but have you ever worked in one? Kath & Jan welcome Brian Russo to share his experience working at a popular chain restaurant in upstate New York, chain restaurants in cities and being an apologetic guest.

Kath & Jan discuss what really keeps the show running- the support staff. Listen as special guest, John Zachary Townsend discusses his experience being a runner, busser, barista, and more! We also talk management (good and bad), fudging your service resumes (everyone's done it), and how to keep it all together on a busy night (yes, we have hot tips)!

Did I ever leave work??? Kath & Jan discuss the haunting effect of server nightmares, in real life and in their dreams with special guest, Izze Gibson!

'I decided the best thing to do would be to open a restaurant without any experience' we chat with Zahra Tangorra, about the Highs and lows of opening and running a restaurant, her new site High Five Girl which she co-founded and spaghetti. Oh so much spaghetti!

This week, we go on the other side of the pass to find out what it's like to be a Chef. Hint: there's a lot more that goes into your plate than you might think!

Kath & Jan welcome Jorja Hudson to discuss what happens when you have drunk guests! We chat how to wrangle, get guests out safely and if we've ever been the drunk guest. Warning: do not listen to this episode while eating!

How do you avoid running into hot pans, heavy plates, sharp knives and delicate drinks? Navigating your way through service at a restaurant is not just an art, it's a necessity. Want to learn, 'how to walk'? Follow us!

How much should you tip? We of course think the answer should almost always be 20% but that's certainly not the case for everyone. Listen as we discuss tipping culture and how it varies with our special guest and producer, Ian Griffin Adams!

Why are restaurants so incestuous? Kath & Jan discuss that and more in their steamiest episode yet - dating privately or not so privately in the workplace!

What's it like gaining experience at a restaurant to being the experienced one? We chat with Chris Burns about his experience as a server, being promoted to restaurant manager and how he manages that and his comedy career.

Despite the fact that it's 2017, Bey is queen and the #FutureIsFemale, there is still a lot of gender inequality in the workplace - especially in the service industry. In celebration of Women's History Month, Kath & Jan discuss their experiences as women in the industry and how there is still a big difference in how guests treat, tip and act towards female servers, bartenders and sommeliers versus their behavior towards men in the industry. Kath & Jan are joined by guest, Charlie, a sommelier in midtown manhattan who shares her experience. 

Everyone thinks that they're a restaurant critic and reviewer on Yelp and Open Table. Kath and Jan discuss how they think these public reviews have affected the restaurant industry and their jobs as servers. Yelp is also the reason that they'll never use their real names during service. Here to chat is special guest, Jen Neal about her experience in the industry pre and post Yelp!

Restaurants can be kind of like high school - you have your friend groups, cliques and cool kids. Kath and Jan discuss restaurant subculture but more importantly the camaraderie that you build with your fellow servers while you're in the weeds and out for tequila after shift. Here to share her experience about subculture with us is special guest, Audrey Stanfield

Kath and Jan discuss their experience in the service industry and how working in restaurants has helped them hone serving and life skills. This episode features special guest, Ursula who discusses what it was like serving in New York as someone who had never had serving experience before.

Welcome to In The Service, a podcast about the Service Industry from the front of house perspective. Meet your hosts, "Kath" and "Jan" who are two rad chicks living and serving in New York City. They'll tell you everything, except their real names.