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ITALIAN, FOR SURE | Italian Culture Guide via Conversations with Italians in Italy
Unlocking the real world of elite Italian drinking culture requires moving past the "lighter fluid" stereotypes to explore the rigorous science, hidden history, and strict family dynamics behind crafting authentic, single-varietal grappa - and don't forget about the lethal production testing required to keep consumers alive.* Join the ITALIAN, FOR SURE Trip to Italy! https://italianforsurepodcast.beehiiv.com *Francesca Nonino, sixth generation of the Nonino family, and host Catrin Skaperdas have an entertaining and informative conversation about Italian culture inclusive of:What is grappaWhat makes grappa authenticHow grappa was discoveredCatrin's first experience with grappaWhat grappa not to drinkThe test that grappa producers need to do in order to ensure it won't kill youHow Grappa fits into Italian cultureWhy you need to read the label when you buy/drink grappaThe process of making grappaHow the first single variety grappa was bornRunning a woman-run business ItalyBeing a woman in the grappa industry in ItalyPros and cons of running a family owned business in ItalyFrancesca Nonino's journey and passion for her family and her companyThe Nonino family storyThe story of the first female master distiller in ItalyHistory of grappa Drinking culture in the U.S. vs ItalyThe biggest mistake you can make when drinking grappaFrancesca's thoughts on Made in ItalyChapters2:15 Intro4:20 What is Grappa6:54 Catrin's first experience with Grappa9:41 How Grappa is part of Italian culture12:15 Why it's important to read the Grappa label16:40 The process of making grappa21:44 Francesca Nonino's memory with her Nonno23:24 The birth of the single variety grappa26:38 Running a woman-run business in Italy29:29 The story of the first female master distiller in Italy31:10 Dynamics of running a family run business in Italy38:08 Marketing Grappa in the United States44:18 Drinking culture in the Us and Italy47:18 The biggest mistake you can make when drinking grappa49:21 The truth about made in Italy51:37 OutroMore about Francesca Nonino:Francesca Bardelli Nonino, sixth generation of the Nonino family, is Head of Web Communication and co-responsible for the U.S. market alongside her aunt Elisabetta at Nonino Distillatori.After earning a Master's degree in Economics and Business Management — enriched by a semester at Yonsei University in Seoul and an internship at illycaffè — she joined the company as a Brand Ambassador. Alongside her professional role, she further developed her expertise through two master's programs in Social Media Communication and User Experience, a certified bartender course, the AIS sommelier certification, and the WSET Level 3 qualification.In February 2021, she was selected by LinkedIn to officially join its global LinkedIn Influencer program, a network of leading entrepreneurs, academics, and managers. In May of the same year, she was recognized as “The Grappa Influencer.”In 2022, she received the America Award for promoting an iconic Made in Italy product overseas. In June 2023, she won the “Digital Night – Talents Transforming the Digital World” award for modernizing the communication of a historic product, followed in October by the “Impact Marketing Award.”In August 2024, she was included in Wine Enthusiast's global “Future 40” list, highlighting professionals shaping the future of the beverage industry, and was also named among the Top 100 communicators by Forbes Italia. In 2025, she received the Italy Ambassador Award in the Food & Beverage category, dedicated to content creators who promote Italy in the digital world. In 2026, she was awarded the Dominae Prize, recognizing women who represent Made in Italy globally.Her next goal is to learn the art of artisanal distillation from her mother and grandfather and become a Master Distiller.Connect with Francesca on Instagram: www.instagram.com/francesca.noninoThis interview is available to watch on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, and available to listen-only everywhere else you can get podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Welcome aboard, groomers and pet professionals! In this episode of the Traveling Groomers Podcast, Chris Anthony and Mary Oquendo dive into the realities of brand ambassadorship and sponsorship in the grooming industry. Fresh off a bustling trade show, the hosts discuss how and why to become a brand ambassador, the importance of aligning your values with the companies you represent, and the potential pitfalls when things go wrong. They share personal experiences, practical advice on approaching companies you admire, and emphasize doing your homework before jumping into any partnerships. The episode also tackles work-life balance and mental health, with candid discussion about knowing when it's time to pivot, take breaks, or embrace new life chapters, including the emotional announcement that the Traveling Groomers Podcast will be winding down later this year. Expect honest insights, relatable stories, and even a few mouth-watering detours about their favorite hole-in-the-wall eateries discovered on the road. Grab your travel mug, settle in, and join Chris and Mary as they roll through another engaging episode for grooming professionals everywhere.
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
Wie werden aus Mitarbeitenden Markenbotschafter:innen auf LinkedIn? In dieser Folge von „Das kommt aus Bielefeld“ sprechen Jörg Rosenberger, Daphne Lehde und Marvin Zurheide von Goldbeck über Employer Branding und Personal Branding. Die beiden geben spannende Einblicke in das Brand-Ambassador-Programm von Goldbeck: Wie werden Mitarbeitende ausgewählt? Warum ist intrinsische Motivation wichtig? Und welche konkreten Erfolge entstehen daraus – von neuen Bewerbungen bis hin zu echten Business-Kontakten? Außerdem geht es um die Zukunft von Social Media im Unternehmenskontext, den Einfluss von KI auf Plattformen wie LinkedIn und die Frage, warum persönliche Begegnungen trotz digitaler Sichtbarkeit wichtiger denn je bleiben.
This week the Golden Crew assembles to pay tribute to a legend: after nearly 40 years with Carnival, John Heald is stepping back from full-time Facebook duty, and we are Very Emotionally Normal about it. We honor the man the only way we know how — by spending 45 minutes on summer camp, a cult tangent, the new Carnival loyalty cards (now in portrait mode, truly groundbreaking), and a SpeakPipe from Jesse, who listened to us, started his own podcast, and is now openly plotting to steal Jenn for a spin-off. The betrayal. The drama.Also aboard: a genuinely wild brawl at the Nassau port, cruise director musical chairs, the eternal horror of Lido iced tea, and Trevor flexing his Faster to the Fun purchase like an absolute elitist. It's basically a Seinfeld episode about cruising. Sorry, John — you deserved better, but we love you, and yes, we left a square open for you right here.Leave us a SpeakPipe: speakpipe.com/carnivalcruisingpodcastawaysJoin the cruise cult over on Facebook: The Podcastaways100 days to FRGC4. Anything that happens on the ship stays on YouTube.
Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com This special episode is brought to you by our dear friends at Blood Cancer United. An organization very near and dear to me. I'm here to remind you to give to causes that make a difference. You want to help, but you don't know where to start? Blood Cancer United is at the top of my list. They are the global leader in helping patients and families with blood cancer, and your dollars fund research, patient support, and advocacy. Please give today here: Thank you for supporting this important mission. Learn more and donate here: https://pages.lls.org/voy/nyc/nyclls26/aposner Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tracey Parsons 04:26 The Reality of Work: Jobs vs. Careers 09:08 The Gig Economy: A Shift in Work Dynamics 12:06 The Evolution of Job Discovery 13:08 Behavioral Change in Recruitment 15:32 The Return to Analog: Networking in a Digital Age 17:26 The Creator Economy: Merging Two Worlds 20:46 The Birth of Flockity: A New Vision 21:55 The Art of Presentation and Communication 23:09 Influencer Marketing for Jobs 24:29 Introducing Flokety: A New Approach to Recruitment 25:02 Empowering Employees as Brand Ambassadors 26:20 The Shift Towards Authentic Marketing 27:23 The Staples Baddie Phenomenon 29:33 Control vs. Authenticity in Employer Branding 30:04 Letting Go of Control in Branding 31:50 The Importance of Accountability 35:24 The Future of Recruitment in a Creator Economy 41:50 Meeting Candidates Where They Are 43:28 Defining Success in Personal and Professional Life
NYU IHIF 2026 was full of insights and thought leadership from some of the best and brightest hospitality professionals in the industry. In this episode of the Suite Spot, you will get to hear from some of the most influential and biggest names in hospitality in the exclusive interviews we were able to cover at the event. NYU IHIF is the epicentre of hospitality brands, capital, and fast-paced dealmaking – opportunity moves fast, and so should you. This is where the rebound takes shape, where leaders uncover what's next, and where relationships turn into real transactions. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of the Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree and VP of Marketing here at Travel Media Group. Cassady Quintana: And I’m Cassady Quintana, Brand Ambassador here at TMG. Ryan Embree: And today we are fresh back from NYU IHIF 2026. My second time in attending this incredible event. Cassady, your first, what were your thoughts? Cassady Quintana: Yeah, I thought overall was a great event. A lot of optimism, especially as we’re heading into the summer season. So I thought, you know, the conversations that we heard on the panels and the ones that we were having with people were awesome, and a lot of you know, good things coming out of that. I feel like the biggest topics that I heard, there were three major takeaways I took from a lot of the panels and people we were talking to, but one being that K-shape economy that we’ve heard a lot about, right? We know that luxury is still outperforming while economy segments are feeling a little bit more of that pressure especially as we head into this summer season and looking at some of those trends. And then I think one of the biggest topics we have been talking about since the beginning of this year is the World Cup and how international travel we thought was gonna be booming. We were expecting a lot of busy hotels, but it’s kind of been on the softer side, and we’ve actually seen international travel dip a bit. So I think right now we’re kind of in that wait and see period of maybe you know people are waiting to see if their teams make it out of the group stages and then they’ll plan on booking a hotel. So keeping an eye on kind of that last minute travel. But the biggest topic that we were talking about a little bit last year, but the biggest one this year is AI and how hotels are using that within their systems. You know, there’s a lot of trends around using that for more personalization and being able to use it to look at your, you know, revenue optimization and how you’re performing online. So finding ways that we can use AI that doesn’t take the hospitality out of hospitality and doesn’t replace that human element. But that kind of went with that overarching theme of the entire event, which was sharpening the edge. So the thing I took from that is that the hotels that are really gonna win are the ones that are understanding their guests and using AI to further that, to further get to know their guests, to make that experience a little bit better. Ryan Embree: You know, and we had some incredible conversations and interviews with some professionals that we’re gonna share here in a second. But just to kind of jump on what Cassidy’s saying, we’re at a really cool inflection point in our industry right now as we go gear towards the busy travel season. So it’ll be interesting to see, you know, we had the opportunity to meet with development person from Minor hotels who’s looking to bring their brand into US and Canada, which will be very interesting. We know how they have a huge global footprint, a lot of interest early on in getting into the Americas. Uh, we then visited with AHLA and Kevin Carey and his team doing such wonderful work over there advocacy for our industry and some really cool initiatives that we were able to sit down with Kevin for a few minutes and chat about, uh, Jan Freitag from STR our hotel Data North Star and compass. They just released a revised forecast for the hospitality industry. So we went over some major points of that revised forecast and finally we got the opportunity to sit down with president and CEO Best Western Larry Cuculic. What a wonderful conversation about the best Western brand and how they are implementing, um, some of that AI and technology into their brand, and capitalizing on not only the World Cup, but also America 250. So wonderful insights that you’re only gonna find here on the sweet spot. Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoy these exclusive interviews from NYU IHIF 2026. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Sweet Spot. We are live on location at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Genna, the VP of US and Canada Development for Minor Hotels. Genna, thank you so much for taking the time to stop and the busy big apple and talk with us today. Genna Panagopoulos: Thanks for having me. Ryan Embree: Excited about, this show. A lot of energy, a lot of buzz. You know, when you come to an NYU talking to ownerships, a lot of capital here, what are the conversation kind of stem around, and what does a successful NYU show look like as you head back to your home base? Sure. Genna Panagopoulos: Successful NYU would really be finding some deals, perpetuating some deals. So hopefully advancing some opportunities and it’s really all about for right now because we’re relatively new into the region. Educating our owners and the, the broader development community. So, you know, some of, some of the players do already know us, but in the luxury space, but there’s a lot of people we gotta get out in front of and introduce Minor hotels to. Ryan Embree: And this is a great place and, obviously a great city to do that in. What has been kind of the feedback? I mean, you’ve been tasked with this enormous job. We have such a great brand, worldwide, you’re bringing it here to us, Canada, and North America. What have been some of those initial conversations and hearing that and initial interest and feedback from owners? Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah, we’ve had a lot of feedback and interest on Anantara. So some of our, you know, established luxury brands that are pretty well known when you know the luxury hotel space in a global environment. Sure. So those owners have actually come to us saying, we’re really excited about the opportunities here. So that’s one piece. Of course we have NH Hotels, NH collection, and NH, which are very well known brands, especially in Mediterranean, Europe. Yeah. And, Central and South America. So there’s excitement around that too. Ryan Embree: Does it help, I mean, having such an international brand, we got the World Cup here, right? In a couple months. You kind of using that as maybe some momentum as you kind of come into, and introduce this brand into the Americas. Genna Panagopoulos: Absolutely. There’s a lot of, you know, I’m also educating Minor of the markets we wanna be in and so that’s definitely helping as well and putting some places on the map. Ryan Embree: And let’s talk about that because there’s been some announced projects already right here actually in New York. Talk about that project a little bit. Genna Panagopoulos: Yes. Thanks for asking too. We have a Worsely Hotel that’s opening, here next year. It’s gonna be super exciting because Worsely is a restaurant brand that we are taking into the hotel space. So it’s the first of its kind and nowhere better than to start in New York comes from London. So there’s a lot of correlation between the two markets. Ryan Embree: One of a kind hospitality venue and a one of a kind city, so. Exactly. But another project we’re really excited about just ’cause we’re home based, obviously in Orlando right down the road, a bright line away in Miami. Talk to us a little bit about that project and how that’s different. Yeah, Genna Panagopoulos: It’s a high rise building built in Miami. Hasn’t started construction yet, but it’ll open in 2030. It’ll be an Anantara hotel with branded residences, both private branded residences and, um, ones that will be able to be rented to hotel guests as well. Super wellness oriented. There’s gonna be a really extensive spa. Right. Very experiential. Wonderful for the residents that are gonna be buying, the residence. Ryan Embree: It’s incredible. It sounds like you guys are really taking care of all of the kind of popular travel trends right now. Right. FMB has really had this resurgence in hospitality with the project here. Wellness, obviously a huge piece of what hospitality is leaning into and what travelers are looking forward to. So having that flexibility between the brands too, I’m sure is a definitely a fun place to be when having these conversations with owners. But you talked about another project in Turks and Caicos. Genna Panagopoulos: Turks and Caicos. So we have an Anantara in Turks and Caicos that I believe will open in 2029. So in order we’ll have one in New York next year, and then 29 on Ontario trips and Caicos 2030, Miami. Ryan Embree: So no shortage of news on the Minor Hotel side. Congratulations to you and your team. Thank you. As you wrap up, I mean, what’s your vision? What’s your goal? As you bring Minor Hotels into the North American region? Genna Panagopoulos: Yeah. Well, if I think about next year at NYU, I hope people, more people are coming towards us. Excited about us being a different brand a different mindset. So we offer, we think of ourselves a little bit differently from the parent brands that are already established here because we have, you know, ownership still of most of our portfolio or we lease most of our portfolio. Um, so I hope there’s more inbound traffic coming towards my way. I hope people generally just walking down the street know us a little bit more. Certainly. You know, white Lotus helped us with Anantara, so there’s a lot of people who Oh, yes, are are diehard Anantara fans because of that. But that’s what I’m hoping for. And eventually we’d love to have an office here. So as long as we do our, our, our work, right, we, we get a strong pipeline, we’ll be able to have an office, a regional office in, in North America. Ryan Embree: Incredible. Well, super exciting. Can’t wait to catch up on all the exciting projects that you have at Minor Hotels. This is the first of a couple collaborations we’ll be doing with Minor hotels, so make sure you stay tuned. Congratulations again, Genna. And thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Genna Panagopoulos: Thanks for having me. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. We are live on location, New York City at NYU IHIF. I’m here with Kevin Carey, President and CEO of the AHLA Foundation and COO of AHLA. Kevin, not your first time on the Suite Spot. Appreciate you taking some time and joining me here today. Kevin Carey: It’s lways a pleasure to spend time with you. Ryan Embree: Yeah, it’s fun.Incredible event so far. NYU obviously AHLA, AHLA Foundation Forward has a huge presence here. What does, you know, when you come to the event like this, we always talk in hospitality, these events are always going to exist no matter what. Technology comes down the pike because hospitality, we’re people, right. We like connecting. What is a successful NYU IHIF look like for you and your team? Kevin Carey: Well, It’s always an important period of time in the year at, as we approach midyear to check in with our members, to have that conversation about the advocacy issues we’re leading on behalf of the industry to hear how the business performance is tracking as well. And just to build enthusiasm and engagement for the events and the initiatives that we’re leading, not only in the association, but with the foundation as well. Ryan Embree: And none more important than the No Room for Trafficking initiative that you and your team have done some fabulous work on. I mean, we have all sorts of brands up on stage, sometimes with differing opinions here and there, but one cause that everyone in our industry has really gotten behind, and it’s the work of you and your team, is this No Room for Rrafficking? We always like to spread awareness of this. Talk to us a little about, about on that front and the progress you’re seeing and making. Kevin Carey: Well, this is a longstanding commitment that the industry has to human trafficking prevention and awareness. It started in 2019 with the development of the No Room For Trafficking Initiative and its focus on training and expanded in 2022 to include the Survivor Fund. So this is an area where AHLA and the foundation specifically serves as a convening entity to bring the industry together to rally around this important issue to work, to build awareness that’ll drive prevention of human trafficking, and also to gather funds to help support survivors. So this is a commitment not only on a longstanding basis, but also on a going forward basis as well. Ryan Embree: And such inspiring stories that you’ve told over the years. And people, you know, hoteliers and other people listening to this can really get behind and encourage people to kinda look at that initiative. Another kind of initiative that you’ve done in these events that, when we’re talking about these events is forward. We had a record breaking attendance a couple months ago in the spring. Talk to us about how that is. And you actually have some of those the forward initiatives here at NYU. Kevin Carey: We do within the foundation, our mission is to advance the workforce of the industry. And we do that through a focus not only on the current workforce, those over 2 million associates and colleagues who deliver hospitality day to day, but also how do we attract the future workforce to the industry. I talked about being a convening entity. The foundation brings together the industry across all segments. And there’s two areas where we believe we can make a difference. One is around human trafficking that we just spoke about, but also around the forward initiative which is geared towards, and its purposes to advance women in the hospitality industry and in leadership roles in the hospitality industry. So we were delighted to host our most recent forward conference in Atlanta, back in April. And the results were outstanding but really the momentum and the impact that that forward is having is really, which has us so enthusiastic and committed to this initiative moving forward. Ryan Embree: Yeah, that’s gotta be so cool to see industry leaders in hospitality raise their hands and want to be a part of this movement and really see the results from that. Kevin Carey: Well, it’s grown from just being a conference, that started in 2018 and had about 150 people at the first event to now over 1100 attendees. But as it as it has expanded from a conference to a leadership development curriculum. And you mentioned the forward exchange, which took place, here in New York earlier today, where it brought together over a hundred early and mid stage career and professionals of women and some men who are participating along with their peers to focus on networking and building those relationships so they can be well suited and take on roles, over time in the industry. Ryan Embree: Really cool to see. And again, probably some incredible stories coming from that over the years as the as the initiative matures. One thing that, that hospitality in general, really looking forward to, we got big summer, right? We’re usually really excited about summer is just ’cause of the travel season, kids being outta school. But this summer in particular, we’ve been looking forward to for a couple years. We got World Cup on the horizon, finally. We played just a couple miles from here and in America 250. What are you kind of hearing from hoteliers and how are AHLA really, gearing up for these big events, showcasing our industry? Kevin Carey: Well, these are really defining opportunities, for the industry to support those guests to welcome that demand, to drive the hospitality infrastructure over time. So there’s a lot of enthusiasm around the potential that that represents and as we’ve seen on stage already today the results in the first part of the year for the industry have been positive. a number of the outlooks are increasing the Revpar and ADR and other industry metrics, here with the these large events we are still waiting to see some of the demand materialize and we’re in a critical period of time right now, about 10 days out before the games to see that hopefully what’ll be a late surge in bookings, then translate into further business success for the industry. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Hopefully, and hopefully see that international travel continue to come back to North America, you know, a lot of hoteliers, hoping for that. Zooming in a little bit on a AHLA summertime, also time for interns, right. Come in and we’ve talked about this before. I mean, internships, mentorship in hospitality. So critical. I mean, throughout the years we’ve had these staffing shortages and we’ve talked about getting creative, our industry, getting creative on ways to fill those roles, internships being one of them. Talk about a little bit about the AHLA internship program and what these interns are are ready for this summer. Kevin Carey: Well, it’s not new. We’ve had a well established program from a number of years now. And, and we’re excited annually to bring a number of interns into our team across each function. we’ll have an interns in the government affairs team, in marketing, in the foundation. it’s so refreshing to engage them in our work to see their enthusiasm about their future to see them pick up valuable skills and experience of being in an office environment, learning more. And you know what? They, they have a real impact. They have some fun along the way as well and we have a wonderful session at the end where they get to present the results of some of the work in the initiatives that they’ve been working on. So it’s an annual opportunity that we look very forward to. And they’ll be starting just in about a week’s time. so it’ll be a great another repeatevent for us. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Love to see it. You know, again, any way that we can have more exposure to all sides of hospitality. Beause as we know, it’s not just, you know, the front desk. There’s so many elements to it and there’s none more demonstrated by how big our hospitality industry is than by the hospitality show that you put on. And this year is gonna be right in our backyard. In Miami, Florida. Get us a little bit excited about what we can expect at this year’s fourth annual. This is our fourth Hospitality Show, correct? Kevin Carey: So we started in Vegas, went to San Antonio, we’re in Denver last year. A lot of enthusiasm coming out of Denver for the content. And then what’s unique about the hospitality show is it’s really the only conference in the industry with a focus on operations and how operations is driving profitability. So there’s a terrific enthusiasm and people are looking forward to being in Miami, coming together in Q4, all segments of the industry represented. So we’ll have the brands we’ll have management companies, owners, service providers, suppliers, independent hotels also play an important role in the industry. So we’re about to open registration and that’ll really kickstart, the focus on November 2-4 in Miami. Ryan Embree: Well we’re looking forward to it. We’re hoping to go 4/4 on covering the hospitality show. Especially with it being right there in our backyard. Kevin, we know you’re busy. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today on some of these important initiatives. And hopefully we’ll see you in Miami in just a few months. Kevin Carey: Hopefully I have something else on. Ryan Embree: Alright. Appreciate it. Thanks. Kevin Carey: Thank you so much. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Ryan Embree. here live at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Jan the National Director of Hospitality Analytics at CoStar. Jan, you were just on a panel. Thanks for taking the time to jump off and speak with us. Jan Freitag: Absolutely. Ryan Embree: State of the state, love the name obviously you’re the north star of hospitality data out there. Jan, revised forecasts just came out. Talk to us a little bit about those points that you were sharing with the audience today. Jan Freitag: So we’re suggesting that RevPAR this year is gonna grow 2.8%, which is very different from the way we looked at the world at the ALIS Hotel Investment Conference. First quarter performance was much more stronger than we had expected than the public traded companies had expected the brands or the …. And a lot of them have revised their year end forecast up. So, you know, we followed suit. Now they, most of them just revised their forecast by the outperformance of Q1. But we’re suggesting No, no, there’s momentum. So we actually took our forecast up by a lot more to 2.8%, 2% driven by ADR and 0.8 by occupancy, which is really good to see. ’cause it implies that demand is outpacing supply. You know, so we get occupancy gains and then some pricing power. Ryan Embree: Love to see that. I mean we were here a year ago with Amanda who is talking about trying to decipher through the noise, a lot of noise right now. But great to see the momentum with those revisions and so important to have those revisions because the landscape can change ever so rapidly as you know. But talking about the supply, talk to us a little bit, go into a little bit more in depth and then obviously every market is different. What markets right now are running a little bit hot on supply? Jan Freitag: Yeah, so fational forecast for Supply goes to 0.4%, not a whole lot. Right. The long run average is 1.6, so we’re well below that. The number of rooms in construction used to be between, we know, 150,000 – 160,000. It’s now 140,000. So it’s sort of staying there. It’s just so expensive to get anything done. And interest rates are still high and could go higher. Who knows, we’re not making interest rate forecast. But you know, there’s definitely no longer this idea of how we should cut, you know, interest rates twice this year or so. I think those days are gone, you know, and so now the question is, okay, so where are people getting things done? And you can look at it by markets. So a couple of them are usual suspects. So Nashville, very strong, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Phoenix. So those are markets sort of in the smile states, sort of in the Sunbelt that still get a lot of people moving there. And you know, migration determines the economic performance. And so we’re seeing a lot more room supply growth there, but there’re just a lot of markets where it’s very, very hard to get anything done because of that higher cost of construction and of the higher interest rate. So I would single out those markets, but overall the picture is rather muted. On the supply side. So what that means then, for existing owners is the time to renovate is right now percent. Because you want to be the new kid on the block with the new hotel, there’s not a lot of new competition coming. This is time to renovate and really put your best foot forward. Ryan Embree: A hundred percent. And you know, one of the other topics we talked about, or you talked about rather on stage was segments right now luxury, doing very, very well leading the way. Obviously a lot of bifurcation, that K-shaped economy. What are you seeing across the segments right now? Jan Freitag: Yeah, I mean there are no wrong answers in luxury, right? I mean, luxury last year was the winner. This year is the winner. We’re projecting, very healthy RevPAR growth double of what we’re saying for the nation. We think the luxury class can materialize. And then what’s really nice to see is that for upscale upper midscale midscale, there’s also RevPAR growth there, which we hadn’t seen last year. And to me that speaks to the strength really of the American economy. But it sort of permeates toward all income classes. Now the exception is was and unfortunately will be likely the economy sector now even there we’re suggesting RevPAR’s growing, but it’s just, you know, 0.8% call that flat for all intent and purposes. Ryan Embree: International travel too, obviously World Cup on the heels of this. What are you see any interesting data points there you wanna share just right ahead of the America 250 and World Cup? Jan Freitag: There are two very different vibes coming from the panel that I was on. Adam Sacks prior to US presenting was talking about, oh wow, international inbound is really still quite a bit lower than it was in 2019. But the gentleman from the NTTO, the National Travel Tourism Organization was like, no, we’re projecting rock and roll, really strong growth of international inbound. The truth is probably gonna somewhere in the tween this year. World Cup is gonna drive a lot of international travelers. What I’m wondering about though is are some of those travelers basically stealing from 2025 and from 2027 and now they’re saying, oh, let’s not go in 25, let’s go in 26. And then when next year comes around, they’re like, we just went to the us you know, and not go in 27 either. So I just hope that the more positive spin from the government comes true and this and, and not that we’re just sort of packing everything into this year and then international inbound is gonna deteriorate. Ryan Embree: So many interesting data points. Anyone in particular you have your eyes on where, you know, obviously we love a nice rosy outlook and try to look for opportunities through all of the data that’s out there, but anyone’s that are like unexpected data points or something that you’re at least keeping an eye on right now? Jan Freitag: Yeah, so there are a couple, but the one that I’m really focused on is consumer price index. Everything is getting more expensive and so that means that hotels will see their cost increase. And the big question then is how much of that cost increase can they pass on to the customer? And I just told you that our ADR forecast for this year is 2% and inflation is gonna be what, 3.5 or something? I mean, it’s gonna be much more than that outpacing that. So that’s really the crux and I think that’s what we here at NYU, to talk to owners and investors and management companies have figure out, okay, so how can we keep our margins expanding even maybe how do you do that in this environment where top line growth may be not keeping pace with with inflation. So the CPI number is really something I’m keeping an eye on. Ryan Embree: Yeah, pretty challenging time right now. when it comes to margins and hospitality that we, again, trying to suss out and figure out here, what are those maybe opportunistic data points that you’re seeing that you’re saying this, this is really good, maybe unexpected on the other end of the spectrum? Jan Freitag: Yeah, I think the Americans are wealthier than they ever have been. And Adam Sachs has this fascinating data point where he shows at the emerge that the middle class in America is shrinking, but part of it is because a lot more people are rich. So people are moving up the income chain and that allows ’em then to spend more money on experiences, very clear that people favor experiences over goods. And we are right in that Suite Spot. Ryan Embree: That continues to be the experience over stuff. We love to see that. And then you’re kind of here celebrating an anniversary/birthday of your podcast, is it? You know you’re, you’re usually, typically used to be in the host, not so much the guests, so thank you. Tell us a little bit more and maybe where our hotel audience can find the insights that you provide. Jan Freitag: Yeah, and thank you for having me. So we have our own podcast. My colleague Isaac Collazo from STR and myself get together once a month. It’s called Tell Me More, A Hospitality Data podcast. And three years ago at juniors across the street over cheesecake, we sort of hatched the idea. And so now we’re, I don’t know, like, you know, almost 30 episodes into it. And we get together once a month and we just sort of riff on the data and hopefully you can join us. Ryan Embree: I love it. That’s awesome. Well, Jan, thank you so much. Very busy time. Appreciate you stopping by and talking to us. Jan Freitag: My pleasure. Thank you so much. Ryan Embree: Alright. Hello everyone. Ryan Embree here with the Suite Spot. We are live at NYU IHIF 2026 here with Larry Cuculic, President and CEO of BWH Hotels. Larry, thank you so much for taking time outta your busy schedule to join us here on the Suite Spot. Larry Cuculic: It’s my absolute pleasure. Thank you for the invitation and for allowing me to share some thoughts with regard to the success and BWH hotels. Ryan Embree: Yeah. We’ve got a lot to cover cause you’ve got a lot going on right now. But let’s start with this event, right? NYU IHIF, lot of major brands here what does a successful NYU look like for you and your team? Larry Cuculic: To us, a successful NYU is interacting with developers and investors such that they’re aware of what BWH has become. We’re now 18 brands, over 4,000 hotels in over a hundred countries and territories from premium economy up to luxury hotels. We acquired world hotels about six years ago. And so it really is continuing to educate about the possibilities of their associating with BWH hotels because we would be singularly focused on their success if they partner with us. And you’re also in a powerhouse panel tomorrow, the Executive Exchange Hospitality Performance Strategies for Success give our audience a little bit a sneak peek of what you’re gonna be talking about on stage. Larry Cuculic: Well, we’re gonna be talking about of course, the economy near term as well as long term projections for what that looks like. we’ll be talking about the importance of loyalty programs. We’ll be talking about the impact of really the economy and things like labor insurance and how we as brands need to focus on the success of our hotels by offering them programs to really offset that impact on net RevPAR. Ryan Embree: And I’m sure one of the subjects and topics that we brought up on your panel, certainly something we talk about these hospitality events is, AI and technology. And we had the privilege of having SVP and your CTO Bill Ryan on at the Hospitality Show a couple months in October, gave us a little bit of lay of the land when it came to AI and technology. How do you feel personally that this technology is really changing the way that travelers choose hotels, but also how they have their hotel experience, their guest experience? Larry Cuculic: Sure. So the first thing we’re doing is we’re reinvesting in our .com as well as our app. And we want them to be easy to use intuitive, but we also wanna make sure they have content that convinces guests when they’re shopping that our hotels will provide them kind of that customization and personalization. ’cause it’s not about a commodity, a hotel room, it’s about all those things that we can offer. By way of example we’re partnering with an AI agency to kind of harvest content with regard to where our hotels are located in those communities. At the same time, we’ll take that harvested content and we’ll filter it through our hoteliers who live in those communities and create the content that will be the AI answer when somebody’s looking for a place to stay. And they’ll know that we want them to have the best possible time while we’re in that community, not just staying with us as a hotel, that we recognize that people don’t want just to stay, they want really a journey. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Something that we aspire in hospitality to provide that not just a hotel stay, but an experience. And we talked to Joelle Park about the power of storytelling and how that can play a component in one of the best stories, obviously that you just had a really exciting announcement with is America 250 and the story of this great nation. So talk to us a little bit about that partnership and what BWH Hotels is doing with America 250. Larry Cuculic: Well, we are a sponsor of America 250, and we’re encouraging our hoteliers to embrace the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation. And part of that is not just USA 250, we also have the 100th anniversary of Route 66. We have hotels that have been with us, believe it or not, we have a hotel that’s been with us 75 years. And it speaks to the heritage of our brand. So we’ll be leaning into the history of this great country. At the same time we’ll be leaning into the history of our great brand and encouraging people to travel and see the United States and all that it has to offer no matter where you go. And the beauty of our hotels we have 2200 of them in North America and wherever they’re going to go, we want them to know that we have a hotel that will meet their travel leads such that they can experience really the 250th anniversary of USA. Ryan Embree: Yeah. It’s a really exciting partnership right in at an inflection point with the World Cup as well. So introducing maybe some international travel also to the brand and the nation. You know, you’re a great following on LinkedIn. I encourage our audience, if you haven’t, make sure you follow Larry, but one of the things you’re reflecting on your North American regional conferences that you’ve done up to this point in 2026 and you quoted to say that you want BWH hotels to become the most welcoming brand in the world. What does that mean to you and how is your team working to achieve that? Larry Cuculic: Well, welcoming means that we’re gracious hosts, but it also means that we’re, I’ll call it easy to do business with understanding, being flexible and recognizing that we are somebody you’d want to be partners with. Whenever anyone walks into a hotel we should tell them, you know, welcome, we’re glad you’re here by way of example. But I used to think of it that way in terms of being gracious host and everything that happens at the hotel, but when I think of welcoming, I also want to think about our new.com and app. Again, it’s that ease of use and personalization so that when you go there, we know it’s you and we want to help you make good decisions with regard to travel. So welcoming is about ease of.com, the app we’re redoing our loyalty program. I think Joel probably talked to you about that. And we want the loyalty program to be welcoming as well. Well, what does that mean? Well, that means that when you interact with us, you’ll know how many points you have. You’ll know they never expire. You’ll know that you can use them to buy down the price of a room at any point. That you don’t have to, to have as many points for a full stay to leverage those points. It’s a value of the program. And of course welcoming. I always lean into the importance of being not just a gracious host, but somebody that appreciates our guests. To me, that’s welcoming because you have to recognize that people, they’re traveling with their families, it’s something that you wanna leave a terrific impression on them and their family. And you also want them to know that we appreciate that they’ve spent their hard-earned money staying with us. To me, that’s being appreciative gracious hosts. And that’s part of the welcoming. It’s not, the welcoming doesn’t just happen when they enter. Welcoming has to be entire stay. Ryan Embree: So key. And the brands that kind of make that connection with their travelers, especially in a time where, I mean, we just talked about in this interview AI technology, there’s way more places become disconnected, to find that connection, that human to human connection. Very important right now. So as we wrap up the interview, obviously at these events we’re always, whether it’s the hospitality data we’re looking into, whether it’s a conversation, we’re always trying to take a glimpse into the future, trying to predict that future. Larry what do you see, what’s your vision for the future of BWH Hotels. Larry Cuculic: People will always wanna travel. And for us, if we can become that welcoming brand that appreciates our guests, we will build that loyalty. When we build that loyalty, that program will grow. Our revenue delivery brand direct will grow which is the lowest cost for us in terms of that reservation for our hoteliers but what I think I would also offer to you is we’re also very focused on thoughtful growth. And what that means is if you grow your loyalty program, you also wanna make sure you have hotels that are in locations where guests want to go. Be it London, be it Rome, be it Frankfurt, be it Bangkok, no matter where it is around the world. And so, you know, we have a, a focus goal of 5,000 hotels, which means we will grow thoughtfully, but with our guests in mind. And because when we have a hotel join us, our sole focus is the success of that hotel as well as having a quality hotel where guests want to go. Ryan Embree: That’s awesome. Well, we wish you nothing but success. Hopefully maybe can join the Suite Spot when that 5,000 hotel opens and we can celebrate that together. But in the meantime, thank you, Larry, for taking the time out of your day to join us here on the Suite spot. Larry Cuculic: Well, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. Very much appreciate it. Speaker 2: To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five star reading on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.
In today's conversation on The LoCo Experience, I was joined by Matt Ackerman, a Co-Founder of and Brand Ambassador for Meadkrieger Meadery in downtown Loveland, Colorado. Matt developed a taste for mead while exploring his passion for music, and was a semi-professional touring musician for several years before taking on a new challenge - imagining and creating a production meadery and tasting room experience fit for a king - or for a Viking! Matt shared some interesting stories from his metal-band days, and more interesting was the exploration of the tradition and process of making mead - honey-wine, basically, most popular in the times and lands of the Vikings. Mead is an open palette in many ways, and Matt is continuing to develop his skills by studying Chemical Engineering at CSU. And - you can't just make the mead, you gotta move it - and so we explored distribution channels, production timelines and staffing, and how to draw people into community after so many patterns were changed by the Covid response. Also, make sure to stay for Matt's sampling of our “Crazy Ginger” hot sauce - nordic genes don't react well to habanero and ghost pepper. It's a fun time with an interesting guy, so please enjoy my conversation with Matt Ackerman.
Clyde May's Conecuh Ridge Distillery (Troy, AL) WF091 It's time to visit with L.C. May, Brand Ambassador and grandson of the brand's namesake Clyde May. L.C. will reveal the story of who Clyde was, how he went from World War II to becoming a local moonshiner, the laws that held back legal distilling for the brand, the new 78-acre facility in Troy, and what to expect from a visit.
If you have a brand ambassador, today's episode is for you! And if you don't–why the heck not? Today, Rich is going to talk about 5 ways to make your Brand Ambassador even MORE effective… get even MORE results… and therefore, be even MORE profitable.
Được biết đến rộng rãi với vai trò nghệ sĩ hài độc thoại, nhưng phía sau sân khấu, Phương Nam còn là một trong những co-founder đầu tiên của Saigon Tếu và hiện là Brand Ambassador của VPW (Vietnam Pro Wrestling) – công ty đấu vật biểu diễn đầu tiên tại Việt Nam.Trò chuyện cùng host Từ Ân trong tập 115 của Vietnam Innovators (tiếng Việt), Phương Nam mang đến góc nhìn thực tế về bài toán kinh doanh trong ngành biểu diễn: làm sao để tạo ra những trải nghiệm đủ khác biệt khiến khán giả sẵn sàng trả tiền, trong bối cảnh thói quen tiêu thụ nội dung miễn phí trên mạng xã hội ngày càng phổ biến tại Việt Nam.—Đừng quên có thể xem bản video của podcast này tại: YouTubeVà đọc những bài viết thú vị tại: https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovatorNếu có bất cứ góp ý, phản hồi hay mong muốn hợp tác, bạn có thể gửi email về địa chỉ hello@vni-digest.com
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
Lenny Howlett is the Brand Ambassador and Head of VIP Sales at Urban Automotive, a company that is famous for modifying popular performance SUVs, including the Land Rover Defender, Range Rover Sport and Rolls-Royce Cullinan (to name just a few).For the past 10 years, Lenny has been at the forefront of the brand's public image, whilst helping to facilitate customer sales and VIP consignments. In this week's podcast episode, John Marcar sits down with Lenny to catch up on 13 years of friendship and hear about how Urban has shaped his life after years of working a very different day job and gaining some social media fame as the character 'Lenny The Geeza'._______________________________________________The Driven Podcast brings you motoring-focused discussions, observations from the automotive world, and interviews exploring our guests' careers, exploits, and anything else worth discussing.We will also keep you up to speed with the latest automotive news stories and insights into the cars and motorcycles we're reviewing at Driven. Find more content on our website, YouTube channel, and social feeds, all readily available to explore via the links below.The Driven Podcast is a Paramex Digital Production hosted by Motoring journalist, producer, and presenter John Marcar, Legendary Photographer and Classic Car restorer Amy Heynes, Professional Racing and Precision Driver Miles Lacey, Journalist and presenter Alex Goy and Journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden, PLUS the occasional special guest host.Website: driven.siteYouTube: @driven.videosInstagram: @driven.siteSeries Executive Producer - John MarcarTitle Music - Tom Kent MusicTo find out more about Driven and The Driven Podcast, please visit driven.site and find us on social media by the same name: @driven.siteTo contact the show, email us via podcast@driven.site© 2024-2026. All rights reserved. Driven and the Driven logo are registered trademarks of Paramex Digital Limited. Other brands or product names featured within this podcast or associated media are the trademarks of their owners, respectively. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
**Jeep Talk Show Interview: Justin Dugan (Turn 5 / Extreme Terrain) – 15 Years of Building, Racing & Go Topless Day!** Hidy ho boys and girls — it's time for another Jeep Talk Show interview episode! In this episode, Tony sits down with Justin Dugan — video host, brand ambassador, and automotive legend at Turn 5's family of brands (Extreme Terrain, American Trucks, American Muscle, and more). With 15 years at the company, Justin has built countless vehicles, shot thousands of videos, and even won the 4,500 class at the Ultra4 Nationals co-driving with Vaughn Gittin Jr. in 2017. We dive deep into: - Justin's journey from Mustang guy to loving everything with wheels (and good noises) - What's changed at Turn 5 over the past 15 years (from ~50 employees to over 600!) - Go Topless Day 2026 details — how to join, charity impact, and why it's so much more than just taking the tops off - Truck builds, off-roading full-size trucks vs. Jeeps, skids, lockers, and why mechanical is still king - SEMA stories, being "the talent," and the universal language of car guys Whether you're into Jeeps, full-size trucks, Mustangs, or just love the culture — this one's packed with stories, laughs, and real talk. **Timestamps:** 00:00 Opening Banter 00:31 Justin Dugan's Career Overview 01:16 Passion for Jeep Culture 01:40 Video Production Background 02:13 Talent Nickname Discussion 03:04 Brand Ambassadors and Guest Spotlight 05:18 Modding Facility Access 06:24 Company Growth Over 15 Years 07:37 Go Topless Day Legacy 08:53 Event Concerns and Brand Issues 10:38 State Event Planning and Matching 13:27 Donation Matching and Event Targets 14:31 Swag, Ducks, and Venue Ideas 16:47 Promoting Simple Local Events 17:26 Rig Mod Projects and New Brands 18:51 Turn Five Reach and Insider Access 24:25 American Trucks Talk and EV Prospects 27:55 Nostalgic Muscle Car Stories 32:31 Freedom of Open‑Top Driving 33:23 Truck Off‑Road Performance 33:53 Jeep vs Truck Off‑Road Comparison 36:23 XT Build Philosophy 38:08 Raptor Training and 4WD Issues 39:43 Vacuum 4WD and Pump Hack 40:51 Mechanical vs Electronic Debate 42:20 Skids and Freebies Discussion 44:06 Gender Disparity in Free Parts 44:47 Social Media Links and Farewell **Links:** - Extreme Terrain / Go Topless Day: https://www.extremeterrain.com/go-topless-day - Find or Register an Event: https://www.extremeterrain.com/go-topless-day - Follow Justin & Extreme Terrain: @ExtremeTerrain (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) Drop a comment: What's your dream build — Jeep, truck, or Mustang? And are you hitting Go Topless Day this year? If you enjoyed the conversation, hit LIKE, subscribe, and ring the bell so you never miss an episode! **#JeepTalkShow #GoToplessDay #ExtremeTerrain #JeepLife #TruckBuilds #OffRoad #JustinDugan #Turn5 #AmericanTrucks #JeepNation** Thanks for watching — now go make your rig cooler, louder, faster, and more capable!
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
Season 6 of Deep Cuts Live continues with a conversation centered on one of the most recognizable names in premium cigars. Host Antoine Reid sits down with Alex Weghorn, Brand Ambassador for Davidoff Cigars, to explore the evolving role of brand storytelling, consumer experience, and innovation in today's cigar industry. In this episode, Alex shares his journey from retail tobacconist to representing one of the industry's most established brands, offering insight into what it means to educate, engage, and connect with consumers in a more experience-driven marketplace. This interview covers: • The role of social media in shaping the modern cigar industry • Why “time beautifully filled” still defines the Davidoff philosophy • The importance of consistency, balance, and intentional smoking • How experiences—not promotions—build lasting brand loyalty • What it means to represent Davidoff as a brand ambassador The episode also takes a closer look at Davidoff's newest release, Puro Dominicana, a Dominican puro that highlights the brand's continued focus on innovation while staying rooted in its core identity. Whether you're a seasoned cigar enthusiast or new to the category, this conversation offers a deeper understanding of how premium cigar brands are adapting to a new generation of consumers—while preserving the craftsmanship that defines the industry. ============================================= Subscribe to Deep Cuts Live for more conversations with the people shaping the premium cigar industry. Visit deepcutslive.com for more episodes and updates. ============================================= Website: deepcutslive.com YouTube: youtube.com/deepcutslive Instagram: instagram.com/deep_cuts_live Facebook: facebook.com/deepcutslive
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
This week we bring back one of our most popular episodes with Walmart Executive, Tony Waller. Tony is constantly asked for money given his corporate role. On this episode he breaks down how entrepreneurs and fundraisers can differentiate themselves to secure corporate sponsorships.We also get into his experience as an LGBTQ+ Afro -Latino being forced to choose a side, mental health, and how the Black and Latino community can embrace Afro-Latinos without bias.
What does Venice smell like?In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with Joan Giacomin, Brand Ambassador for The Merchant of Venice, for a journey into the fragrant history of Venice. Together they explore how the city became a crossroads for rare ingredients, refined beauty, and perfume culture, and how scent offers a unique way to understand Venice beyond what we see.This conversation moves through history, trade, daily life, and memory, showing how perfume was woven into the story of the Serenissima and how that legacy still lives on today.Show key notesMeet Joan Giacomin of The Merchant of VeniceVenice and its historic role in the world of perfumeThe trade routes, spices, and precious raw materials that passed through the cityRare ingredients, trade, and the global reach of the SerenissimaFragrance in Venetian beauty, ritual, and daily lifeThe scents that best capture historic VeniceThe Merchant of Venice and perfume heritage todayWhy scent is such a powerful storytellerCall to action
It's time for group chat, a chance for Culture 101's Perlina Lau, Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson and Jesse to talk about the stories that won't make the news headlines but might be clogging up your social media feed.
Send us Fan MailWe're celebrating our 10th anniversary with a banger of an episode! We try to get to the bottom of intense 90s nostalgia, ponder jobs vs. careers and joy vs. happiness, Nate's new role as a Brand Ambassador, a bizarre encounter Dustin had at Planet Fitness, the quadruple amputee professional cornhole playing murderer, who's actually to blame for kids who develop social media addiction, the new Selective Service rule people are freaking out about that doesn't really change anything, women in the draft, and more!Use promo code NATEROBLES for discounted golf apparel at Fig Tree Golf!
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
Victoria Jenn welcomes Carmen Ortiz-McGhee, the COO of the National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC), where she oversees programs, partnerships, and a vast membership managing over $260 billion in capital.Together they dig into the essence of leadership, authenticity, and the power of vulnerability. Plus, Carmen candidly discusses her perspectives on mindset intimacy, its complexities, and how it ties into both personal and professional growth.Tune in to immerse yourself in a candid and empowering conversation that navigates the intricacies of Latino entrepreneurship, vulnerability, and being your authentic self in every space you enter.---Follow Carmen Ortiz-McGhee:••linkedin.com/in/carmen-ortiz-mcghee-7ba9121/✨ If you enjoyed today's episode, please leave us a review with your feedback. We love to hear from our communityFollow Victoria Jenn:
Join me as I chat with Gary Mills, the Award-winning Brand Ambassador and Visitor's Experience Manager for Loch Lomond Distillery - a whisky that is making its way across the U.S. thanks to the Foley Family's distribution. We'll dive into the unique history of the distillery, the stills that set it apart from the rest of Scotland, and I'll ask about how the Scotch Whisky Association put the breaks on how they labeled one of their whiskies. We'll also learn the origins of the Lomond still and find out what the difference is between that and the unique column still at Loch Lomond distillery. We'll finish with a tasting of the 12 year and 18 year expressions and chat about the uniqueness of having a cooperage on site.
Episode ini bakal ngobrolin gimana cara Chef Devina bangun trust dan personal branding di channel YouTube-nya sampai ngebawa dia dipercaya jadi Brand Ambassador dari 5 brand. Kita juga ngulik sumber penghasilan Kreator YouTube dari AdSense, YouTube Shopping Affiliate, sampai fitur-fitur breakthrough lainnya. Timestamp00:00 Opening02:11 Dari 0 Sampai 4.17M Subscribers07:10 Rahasia Resep Devina ...15:23 YouTube Creator Penghasilan Terbesar Dari Mana? AdSense? 20:35 Credibility = Kunci Jadi BA Brand Besar32:14 Proses Di Balik Kolaborasi Mie Sedaap 36:57 Menanggapi Komen Negatif ala Chef Devina
Send us Fan MailVegas can make a normal business model look impossible, and that's why we wanted this conversation. We're joined by Ed “Pizza” Pizzarello, a longtime Five Guys franchise owner and operator who went from four-diamond hospitality and consulting to helping open the third Five Guys franchise store back in 2002. He tells us what it felt like to bet on a small “cult burger” brand before it had the systems and scale it's known for today, and what changes when a franchise grows into a global name.Then we go full Las Vegas. Ed breaks down the thinking behind a true flagship Five Guys on the Strip near the Venetian, including what it takes to build a 10,000-square-foot destination with a bar, late-night energy, and menu ideas you won't find back home. We talk boozy milkshakes, how alcohol changes shake texture, and why seasonal R&D matters when your brand promise is “fresh.” If you're curious about restaurant tech, you'll love the details on ordering kiosks loaded with 35 languages for international guests, plus the “Brand Ambassador” role that keeps service human and helps customers order the right amount.We also get real about restaurant ownership: construction costs in Las Vegas, why an $8 million build can happen fast, and how a rare 50-50 joint venture with the Five Guys founding family changes the usual franchise fee structure. Along the way, Ed shares leadership lessons on culture, loyalty, and staying steady through lumpy demand tied to travel and big events. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves business stories, and leave a review with your biggest question about franchising or building a brand in Las Vegas.
In this episode of the Bourbon Lens, we sit down with Will Woodington, Director of Brand Engagement for Chicken Cock Whiskey, to celebrate a massive milestone: 170 years of "The Famous Old Brand."We dive deep into the brand's resurgence, starting with their striking new bottle design and the highly anticipated release of their Wheated Bourbon. Will takes us through a guided tasting, explaining how the wheat profile changes the game for Chicken Cock's lineup. We also discuss the evolving role of a Brand Ambassador in today's whiskey landscape and get a sneak peek at the exclusive releases planned for their 170th-anniversary celebrations. Whether you are a fan of pre-prohibition history or modern craft blending, this conversation is packed with "spirited" insights.Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Heritage of Chicken Cock12:07 The Deep Dive: Tasting the New Wheated Bourbon22:19 Behind the Scenes: The Role of a Brand Ambassador28:05 170th Anniversary: Upcoming Releases & Celebrations
What does it look like to be a friend of God? This weekend we continued Just Camping with an impactful message from Pastor John on how you are an ambassador for Christ. Listen on the Heights app now to learn how your life is a representation of your relational harmony with God. What version of Jesus do you portray to the world?
James Fury is an intense individual that is about to go on his revenge tour. A force to be reckoned with here in the states for places like my friends at Fantastic League of Wrestling he's preparing to venture across the pond over to the UK. A great chat with an intense but very intelligent individual.Be sure to follow him on social media at..Facebook: James FuryInstagram: jamesfuryy TikTok: jamesfurryYouTube: james furyX(Twitter): jamesfurryBe sure to follow Drinkin at MO's on our social media accounts to stay up to date on the show..X(Twitter): Big_Mo83Instagram: drinkinatmosFacebook: Drinkin at MO's Threads: drinkinatmos Be sure to subscribe to the channel here on YouTube and all audio platforms…YouTube: https://youtube.com/@drinkinatmos338Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PqYhq9pQF21c5Hu01b23j?si=X8XLCOFZS_-qGBBzdYoD7AApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drinkin-at-mos/id1617536259IHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-drinkin-at-mos-112523315?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=trueAmazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5af99e6b-2c35-4f31-b8e4-5d8183216231/drinkin-at-mo%E2%80%99s?ref=dm_sh_pMALI1SeXwefTlaUdVRC9VIohSpotify for Podcasters: https://anchor.fm/drinkinatmosThank you to Prince Nana Coffee for sponsoring the podcast. Use the referral link below to order yourself some amazing premium coffee.Referral: https://princenanacoffee.com/?ref=BigMoThank you to Reaper Apparel for having Drinkin At MO's as a Brand Ambassador… be sure to use the code below for 10% off your order..https://www.reaperapparelco.com/discount/Drinkin?ref=ApFLTTMUPromo code:Drinkinatmos #prowrestling #independentwrestling #wwe #aew #ringofhonor #TNAwrestling #gcw #czw #ecw #letsfngo #drinkinatmos #njpw #nwa #flophousewrestling #socalprowrestling #luchaunderground #luchaundergroundtemple #pwrevolver #warriorwrestling #fantasticleagueofwrestling
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
Let's keep St. Patrick's Day rolling. This week it's a conversation Guinness Brewery Ambassador Colm O'Connor.Host: John HollGuest: Colm O'ConnorSponsors: All About BeerTags: Guinness, Stout, New YorkPhoto: by Andy Crouch
https://rabbiefremgoldberg.org/living-with-emunah-part-380-brand-ambassadors-of-hashem Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:59:25 +0000 7286 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Living with Emunah - podcast no
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
Excited to share that I'm officially a Brand Ambassador for #Diversitech2026 presented by Tribaja.co happening March 19–21 in Philadelphia.Diversitech is one of the most dynamic tech and culture conferences in the country — bringing together leaders, founders, creatives, and professionals focused on AI, automation, career mobility, and community impact.This year is bigger than ever (title sponsored by Zillow), and I'm proud to help expand access. If you're looking to level up your skills or pivot your career in 2026, purchase your discounted ticket here: https://diversitech2026.eventify.io/t2/tickets?promo=BasilisoM26Happy Social Work Month!! Thank you to all the social workers who do amazing work every day.This weeks' podcast discusses:1. School social work week2. Personal Current Caregiving struggles3. 6 years anniversary since Covid 19 was declared a pandemic4. War in Iran5. Social workers giving themselves grace in uncertain times.6. Celebrating wins in a post covid world.Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesocialworkrantspodcast
To Finish up or Ode to Ireland. Today we have Brand Ambassador and Whiskey Educator Andrew Healy, and lets just say he know's his way around a dram. We talked everything from the resurgence of Irish whisky, to the flexing market shifts. This is the conversation that I love to go deep into. And I hope you do as well. Enjoy.Two Stacks & Killowen US Advocate & Educator - Andrew HealyTwo Stacks Website - https://twostackswhiskey.com/Two Stacks on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twostackswhiskey/Killowen Website - https://www.killowendistillery.com/Killowen on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/killowendistilleryPangur Poitín on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pangur_irish_poitinTwo Stacks & Killowen US Sales site where people can buy both Two Stacks & Killowen for shipping to 48 states - https://www.twostackswhiskeyus.com/shop/Two Stacks & Killowen US Availability - https://irishwhiskeylad.com/blog/two-stacks-killowen-availability-in-the-usa/Two Stacks Irish Cream & Killowen Pangur Poitín Recipe Inspiration - https://irishwhiskeylad.com/two-stacks-irish-cream-killowen-pangur-poitn-recipesFoley Family Wines & Spirits (US Importer) - https://ffws.com/spirits/Badmotivatorbarrels.com/shop/?aff=3https://www.instagram.com/zsmithwhiskeyandmixology?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Patreon.com/offtopicwhiskeyTWO STACKS IS PART OF A NEW AND ADVENTUROUS CHAPTER IN IRISH WHISKEY, AND WE WANT YOU TO HELP US TELL ITS TALE!IRELAND ONCE HAD A RICH HISTORY OF CASK BONDING. A KEY LIFEBLOOD TO THE INDUSTRY, WHERE MANY TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAD FAMILY RAN BUSINESSES, BIG AND SMALL OPERATING AS BONDERS, GROCERS AND MERCHANTS. PURCHASING DIRECTLY FROM ESTABLISHED DISTILLERIES, THE CASKS WERE LEFT TO MATURE BEFORE ITS SUBSEQUENT BOTTLING UNDER THE RESPECTIVE OWNER'S OWN LABEL.WITH THE DEMISE OF THE IRISH WHISKEY INDUSTRY IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, ONLY A HANDFUL OF THESE GREAT BRANDS HAVE SURVIVED TO THIS DAY, AND WITH IT, THE LIGHT THAT SHINES ON THIS TRADITION WAS NEARLY EXTINGUISHED FOR GOOD.HOW IT STARTEDFounded in 2020 by Shane McCarthy, Liam Brogan & Donal McLynn with fresh knowledge and experience in the globalised world of spirits.Two Stacks was inspired by the traditions of old and contemporary brands of new. Opening one of Ireland's only independent bonding & blending facilities in 2022, with the ambition to combine these worlds together.Our unique approach to working with some of Irelands leading distilleries; selecting the finest spirit distilled across the Island allows us to create incredible expressions of whiskey never crafted nor tasted before. We continue to build our reputation on top of three key fundamentals and to help shape the future in Irish whiskeyTRANSPARENCY | CREATIVITY | INNOVATIONTwo Stacks is part of a new and adventurous chapter in Irish whiskey, and we want you to help us tell its tale!— SLÁINTEPROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TEAM AT IRELAND CRAFT BEVERAGESHaving spent the last 10+ years playing the roles of importer and distributor for some of the most well known Irish drinks around the world we decided the time was right to launch our own brand of Irish whiskey with the goal of selling something that we've had a hand in producing.About KillowenThe most authentic of distilleries, Killowen Distillery is seated in the heart of the Mournes in County Down where horizons are framed by sweeping hills that slope gently into the sea. It is a place where old traditions and the finest natural resources have been blended to produce world class craft spirits.Founded by distiller Brendan Carty, Killowen's team brings together a rogues gallery of whiskey experts and enthusiasts, all driven by one thing; bringing back the character and tradition of real Irish whiskey.Brendan is active and influential in the Irish distilling world, and is obsessed with the revival of forgotten styles of native distilling.
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
This week Victoria Jenn welcomes Samantha Ortiz-Young to the pod. New York's #1 trainer, entrepreneur, Nike coach, and proud Latina. In this episode, Samantha opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, navigating identity, setting boundaries, and prioritizing health and wellness, especially as a new mom.She shares practical tips for fitness, discipline, and self-care that anyone can use to stay committed. If you've ever felt pressure to compromise your identity (or just need motivation for your next workout), this conversation is for YOU.Don't forget to follow Samantha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/so_manti/ ✨ If you enjoyed today's episode, please leave us a review with your feedback. We love to hear from our communityFollow our Host on Social:
Excited to share that I'm officially a Brand Ambassador for #Diversitech2026 presented by Tribaja.co happening March 19–21 in Philadelphia.Diversitech is one of the most dynamic tech and culture conferences in the country — bringing together leaders, founders, creatives, and professionals focused on AI, automation, career mobility, and community impact.This year is bigger than ever (title sponsored by Zillow), and I'm proud to help expand access.If you're looking to level up your skills or pivot your career in 2026, let's connect. Go to diversitech.tribaja.co to learn more. In this episode of the Social Work Rants Podcast, host Bas Moreno discusses the proposed SAVE Act and its implications for social workers and their clients. The conversation highlights the challenges posed by the Act, particularly regarding ID requirements for voting, and how these changes disproportionately affect marginalized communities, especially women and those without stable housing. Moreno emphasizes the need for social workers to understand these challenges and advocate for their clients' rights.TAKEAWAYS:1. The SAVE Act proposes stricter ID requirements for voting.2. Many Americans lack the necessary IDs to vote.3. Women who have changed their last names may face voting challenges.4. The Act could disenfranchise millions of voters, especially marginalized groups.5. Obtaining necessary documents like birth certificates can be difficult for clients.6. Social workers must be aware of these challenges to assist their clients effectively.7. The political landscape is increasingly making it harder for people of color to vote.8. Community support and advocacy are crucial in navigating these changes.9. The conversation around voting rights is often overshadowed by other political issues.10. Social workers should help clients understand their voting rights and options.
In this episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I'm so excited to sit down with Laverne Amara, founder of NVLX Labs, an eco-lux clean haircare brand created specifically for the loc community.Laverne is a certified loctician and trichology analyst whose work focuses on scalp health, buildup prevention, and education in the natural hair space. In our conversation, she shares how her journey evolved from providing services behind the chair to launching her own product line, and what it really takes to bring a beauty brand to life from scratch.We talk about the realities of product formulation, why her shampoo took about a year to perfect, and the science behind creating formulas specifically for locs versus loose natural hair. Laverne also opens up about entrepreneurship later in life, balancing multiple identities, and why slow, sustainable growth matters more than chasing viral moments.She also shares her experience serving in the military for over two decades, how hair regulations have evolved over the years, and why representation, inclusion, and education are so important in both beauty and professional spaces.If you're building a brand, thinking about launching products, or simply want real insight into what it takes to grow something meaningful from the ground up, this episode is for you.
So you might be asking yourself… this Level 10 podcast is pretty good, but does all this stuff Rich talks about actually work? Well I'm glad you asked! On Thursday's podcast, Rich interviews Level 10 Contractor client Shawn Clemens, owner of Clemens Home Solutions in Muncie, Indiana. Holy cow–you're gonna want to pay attention to this one! They first had Level 10 build their new website, which went live about a year ago. Since then, they've had Level 10 handling their SEO, radio, and paid facebook advertising… and we've also helped them with direct mail, and their brand ambassador program. How's that going? In a word: Spectacularly! Here's a preview of what you're going to hear: Issued leads from their website are up 15,400% January to August of this year versus last year, with their old website. Radio is working, Brand Ambassador is working, and Facebook is generating consistent high quality leads for cheap.
The inaugural episode of the Suite Spot: Social Success Series is here! Join first time host and Brand Ambassador at Travel Media Group, Cassady Quintana as she sits down with special guest, Aislynn Roberts, the TMG Enterprise Client Success Manager, as they discuss the latest and greatest social media trends and landscape for hotels. This first installment of the series is the beginning of a new age for the podcast and we hope you enjoy the discussion between two social media gurus on how hotels and property management groups can not only optimize their social media presence but also how they can see the greatest return on their social media investment. Cassady Quintana: Hello everyone and welcome to our very first episode of the Social Success Podcast, A Suite Spot podcast powered by Travel Media Group. I'm your host, Cassady Quintana, Brand Ambassador here at Travel Media Group. Super excited to finally kick off this podcast. You know, the reason we decided to start this was because of the success of our social success webinar series that we did last year and we're still doing to this day. But I was hearing a lot of feedback from people that were watching and there's a lot of opinions and hot takes about hotel, social media, but not nearly enough conversations with people that are actually in the thick of it working in hotel social media. So I thought, what better way to have Aislynn Roberts, our Enterprise Client Success Manager here at Travel Media Group as our first guest, she is working with partners and talking about these topics every day. So Aislynn thank you for joining me. Aislynn Roberts: Thank you for having me. Cassady Quintana: So kind of before we get into social media, I want people to know what your role is like. So just walk us through kind of what your day-to-day looks like. Aislynn Roberts: Yeah, of course. So as the enterprise Client Success Manager, I have a unique opportunity to work not only with individual property owners, but I also work with brand team execs and the C-Suite for hotel management groups as well. So it's a very interesting role in which you are talking to these executive teams a lot around overall portfolio trends. What you're seeing across the board industry, news updates, especially if you consider meta, how many times they're updating. Making sure that they're in the know of what's happening, but also giving them trend analysis for their portfolio. What's working well, the performance, what we're seeing across the board versus when you're talking to individual properties, it's very much focused, right? What their individual goals are, what they're trying to achieve, and, and really honing in on what works well for them. And social media content wise. The conversation becomes very much focused into their amenities, what their guests are, what type of audience they're looking for, versus what the C-suite and brand. It's overarching, right? Like how can you continue to capitalize this across the board? Cassady Quintana: Yeah, I totally agree. And so when you're having these conversations, what are some of the biggest concerns or reservations that you're hearing the most from these people you're speaking with? Aislynn Roberts: Yeah, it can differ across the board. Most of the time it really depends on each individual's comfort level, which surprisingly matches throughout the executive team. So whether you're individual property level as you go up, dependent on your personal use, your personal comfort with social media, your conversations could be the same or it could be vastly different. If you're talking to a director of marketing or VP of marketing who's eats lives and breathes social media. So, those conversations shape a little bit different, but there is a lot of fear of not knowing what to do, right? Not understanding how it works, fear of doing something wrong, or needing to be a hundred percent professional and completely photogenic and ph...
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
Secure your spot for the Centered CEO Mastermind Retreat here: https://www.victoriajenn.com/retreatIn this heartfelt solo episode, host Victoria Jenn Rodriguez dives deep into her personal journey of evolution, spiritual self-discovery, and embracing a new identity. From transformative retreats in Costa Rica and Bali, to becoming a caregiver for her father, and stepping into new leadership roles, Victoria Jenn shares the messy, raw moments that led her to launch the Centered CEO Mastermind Retreat—a safe space for women navigating their own crossroads.Discover insights about vulnerability, paying attention to life's signs, and letting go of hustle culture in favor of intention, healing, and authentic growth. The episode is packed with real talk, powerful ahas, and an invitation for listeners who are ready to step into their next chapter.✨ If you enjoyed today's episode, please leave us a review with your feedback. We love to hear from our communityFollow our Host on Social:
Taboo to Truth: Unapologetic Conversations About Sexuality in Midlife
In part two of my conversation with Venus O'Hara, we go beyond toys and into power. Venus shares the beginner anal toy she designed for absolute first-timers and the triple-motor toy created for layered external pleasure without pressure to penetrate. We talk about new tech in sex toys, from thrusting and tapping to air stimulation, and what actually feels different versus what is hype.Then we shift into something deeper. Venus explains orgasmic manifestation and how she used sexual energy to transform her life. We unpack sex magic, intention setting, affirmations during arousal, and why sexuality is powerful rather than shameful. We close with my signature questions, including her definition of sex, her most impactful orgasm, and the fantasy she still wants to experience.This episode is about agency, curiosity, and using your pleasure as power.Timestamps: 0:00 Why we had to go deeper 1:05 Beginner anal design and safety basics 3:15 The triple-motor toy and layered stimulation 5:40 New tech beyond vibration 7:30 AI and the future of sex tech 9:05 The three levels of sexuality 11:20 Discovering sex transmutation 13:30 How orgasmic manifestation works 16:00 Intention setting and affirmations during arousal 18:20 Definition of sex and sacred energy exchange 19:45 Her most impactful orgasm 21:00 Fantasy still to be explored 22:10 Where to find Venus and final thoughtsKaren Bigman, a Sexual Health Alliance Certified Sex Educator, Life, and Menopause Coach, tackles the often-taboo subject of sexuality with a straightforward and candid approach. We explore the intricacies of sex during perimenopause, post-menopause, and andropause, offering insights and support for all those experiencing these transformative phases.This podcast is not intended to give medical advice. Karen Bigman is not a medical professional. For any medical questions or issues, please visit your licensed medical provider.Looking for some fresh perspective on sex in midlife? You can find me here:Email: karen@taboototruth.comWebsite: https://www.taboototruth.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taboototruthYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@taboototruthpodcastAbout Venus O'Hara:Raising orgasmic awareness. Author. British expat in Spain. Sex toy tester & designer. Brand Ambassador for Satisfyer. YouTuber. Fetishist. Feminist. Vegan. Yogini. Zen. Creator of The Orgasmic Lifestyle Podcast.Connect with Venus O'Hara:Website: https://www.venusohara.org/about-venus-oharaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/venusohara/Book:
The 2026 Georgia Food + Wine Festival is officially the epicenter of Southern culinary innovation, and no one captures its essence better than Chef Jernard Wells. As the festival's Brand Ambassador and the celebrated "Family Chef," Wells recently joined The Ash Said It show to break down the flavor, culture, and "New Soul" philosophy defining this year's massive celebration at Jim R. Miller Park. The combination of talent perfectly mirrors the festival's balance of grit, hospitality, and bold evolution. Even when discussing his legendary Georgia Peach Hot Chicken Sandwich, Wells emphasized that pushing boundaries isn't about discarding tradition; it's about using "New Soul" techniques to elevate classic Georgia ingredients, ensuring every bite tells a story of both heritage and high-concept culinary art. For families attending the Sunday/Funday events, Wells identified the Gourmet Mac & Cheese Bar as the ultimate cross-generational experience. It serves as a culinary bridge where a child's comfort food meets a connoisseur's palate through artisanal cheeses and smoked brisket toppings. This focus on family is at the heart of Wells' mission, transforming a simple meal into a core memory for the thousands of attendees flocking to Marietta. The conversation heated up when discussing the "Fired-Up" live-fire cooking event. Wells argued that Georgia barbecue is the state's most profound historical narrator. Unlike other methods, live-fire cooking requires a community to gather around the flame, representing a history of resilience and shared connection. This year, that energy moves from the screen to the stage with the debut of the Chef's Table Experience. Wells noted that while his CLEO TV audience is vast, the "culinary theater" of a live, five-course seated audience in Marietta provides an electric, visceral energy that only immediate feedback and shared atmosphere can provide. Ultimately, Chef Jernard Wells views the 2026 Georgia Food + Wine Festival as more than just a tasting event; it is a platform for culture, connection, and purpose. As visitors depart Jim R. Miller Park, Wells hopes they carry home a story of Georgia's culinary future—one where food isn't just sustenance, but a powerful tool for bridging divides and fostering a more inclusive, flavorful community.
Banking on Cultura: Where Latino Culture and Entrepreneurship Collide
Secure your spot for the Centered CEO Mastermind Retreat here: https://www.victoriajenn.com/retreatWelcome back to Banking On Cultura. Season 7 is HERE
Tim Cates talks with Dave Mason, Brand Ambassador for Bet Online Sports, about Super Bowl LX betting lines and all the great Prop Bets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this Episode of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Matt and Mark spend some time in The Bourbon Life Studios with April Catron, Brand Ambassador, and Junior Cecil, Co-Founder/Owner, of Southern Kentucky Distillery. The guys talk with April and Junior about their respective backgrounds and how they each ended up in the Bourbon industry, the story of how Southern Kentucky Distillery was created from a passion for making moonshine and their unique process that involves Cherrywood, and the success that this relatively young distillery has already had with its releases and its inclusion on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the Kentucky Moonshine Trail. They also taste and review quite a few expressions from Kentucky Southern Distillery including their Turby's Kentucky Cherrywood Wheated Bourbon at 90 Proof and 106 Cask Strength, their soon to be released Turby's Kentucky Cherrywood Rye Mashbill Bourbon at 90 Proof and 108.2 Cask Strength, and their only sourced product, Long Ridge High Rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon. There may have also been some moonshine and other goodies poured up in between too. This Episode is sponsored by District 7 and The Kitchen Table at the James B. Beam Distilling Co.
In this episode of the Friends in Beauty Podcast, I'm breaking down a realistic and strategic way beauty pros can potentially get into Ulta Beauty World without purchasing a ticket.After the chaos surrounding Ulta Beauty World ticket sales, I wanted to share another perspective and an alternative path that many people may not be thinking about. While this is not guaranteed, I walk you through what I would personally do if I wanted to get in the building and make the most of the opportunity.I share how volunteering with beauty brands has played a huge role in my career, from working with brands like Danessa Myricks and AJ Crimson to building long-term relationships that still benefit me today. I explain how offering value, supporting brands on-site, and showing up professionally can open doors that simply buying a ticket never could.In this episode, I break down how to identify the right brands, how to pitch yourself confidently, what roles you can offer, and how to follow up in a way that builds real relationships. If you are a makeup artist, beauty professional, or aspiring industry creative who wants access, experience, and connections, this episode is for you.If you missed out on Ulta Beauty World tickets or you are looking for smarter ways to grow in the beauty industry, this conversation will shift how you think about access and opportunity.
Join us for a captivating journey through the fields and distilleries of Mexico with Francisco Terrazas, Executive Director of the Tequila Interchange Project and co-founder of Paranubes Oaxacan Rum. We follow his path from the craft cocktail bars of Tucson, Arizona, to the heart of the agave world as the former General Manager of Houston's renowned mezcalería, The Pastry War. Francisco shares his deep dive into advocacy and production, from his time as Brand Ambassador for Mezcal Vago to co-founding one of Mexico's pioneering craft rum brands. He reveals the story behind Paranubes—a groundbreaking project that honors Oaxacan terroir and traditional methods outside the world of agave. This conversation goes beyond the bottle to explore his critical work with the Tequila Interchange Project, promoting sustainability and ethical practices in the spirits industry. Learn More: https://www.tequilainterchangeproject.org/funding Import Project: phttps://www.raicesimports.com Paranubes Rum: https://www.paranubes.com/about ____________________________________ Join us every Monday as acclaimed bartender, Erick Castro, interviews some of the bar industry's top talents from around the world, including bartenders, distillers & authors. If you love cocktails & spirits then this award-winning podcast is just for you. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Get early access to episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, special content and more: https://www.patreon.com/BartenderAtLarge WATCH OUR VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/bartenderatlarge FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Erick Castro: www.instagram.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.instagram.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: Erick Castro: https://www.tiktok.com/@hungrybartender?_t=ZT-8uBekAKOGwU&_r=1 Bartender at Large: www.tiktok.com/BartenderAtLarge FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: Erick Castro: www.twitter.com/HungryBartender Bartender at Large: www.twitter.com/BartendAtLarge
We all like to think we're experts after a few pours at the bar, but what does it actually take to be a certified Master of Bourbon? Today we're joined by two guys who didn't just stop at being enthusiasts; they went all the way to the top of the credential ladder. We are thrilled to welcome Will Breeden, co-owner of Indiana Small Batch, and Chase Henry, Brand Ambassador for New Riff, to talk about the true grind behind the glass. Will and Chase share their personal journeys, from following family legacies to turning a passion for American whiskey into a full-blown career. But the real meat of this episode is talking about the Master of Bourbon certification through the Council of Whiskey Masters. This isn't just some weekend course; it's a rigorous, high-stakes process that demands a staggering depth of knowledge. We talk about the educational hurdles, the career doors it opens, and why this prestigious title is becoming a gold standard in the industry. Ryan and I also put our guests in the hot seat and had them answer some oral exam questions to see how they'd handle the pressure, and let's just say things got real when the tables were turned they asked us the questions. So whether you're looking to make the jump from enthusiast to professional or you just want to level up your own whiskey IQ, this may set you down the path to becomg the next Master of Bourbon. Show Notes: Introducing Will Breeden and Chase Henry, their backgrounds, and paths into bourbon In-depth discussion on the Master of Bourbon certification and its significance Will's unique career transition from nuclear medicine to bourbon Chase's evolution from Scotch lover to bourbon ambassador Breakdown of the examination process, including theory and sensory evaluation Personal experiences and unexpected challenges during their certification journey Engaging exchanges with sample oral exam questions Practical tips for those looking to start their bourbon education Recommended resources for further exploration of bourbon certification Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices