Podcasts about culture map

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sofia Ortega of H-Town Restaurant Group. H-Town Restaurant Group is the company behind Backstreet, Hugo's, Xochi, Caracol, Urbe, and Zaranda. The family speak with Eric about their new concept Zaranda, why now was the right time for the concept, the inspiration behind Zaranda, integrating different flavors from other cuisines into Zaranda's dishes, Sofia's role, menu development, the signature dessert, how things have been since opening, and more. Plus, Tracy and Hugo share how they first met, their memories of opening Hugo's, their reaction when Hugo's first took off, what Sunday brunch at Hugo's represents, revamping Backstreet, their thoughts on not being included in the Michelin Guide, and Sofia's put to the Lightning Round test.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Historic Houston Burger Joint Serves Up New Woodlands Location Street Food-Inspired Houston Restaurant Swaps Counter Service for Servers River Oaks Italian Spot Claims Shuttered Woodlands Steakhouse for New Location Houston Restaurant Veteran Fires Up Pizzas and Steaks in Garden Oaks Food-Focused Houston Nonprofit Rounds Up Top Chefs for Sunday Supper

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer and Montrose Grocer and the duo react to the Houston Chronicle's Top 100 Restaurant's list, did the Chronicle get it right? Is Aga's the best in Houston? Is Milton's Top 25? Kata Robata isn't on the list?! The pair explore those questions and more regarding this year's list. Plus, Eric and Mary discuss Bari Ristorante claiming the former Tris space in The Woodlands, Brian Doke's new concept called Lazy Lane, and then how things are going at Heights/Montrose Grocers. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Maison Chinoise is featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: River Oaks Italian Spot Claims Shuttered Woodlands Steakhouse for New Location Houston Restaurant Veteran Fires Up Pizzas and Steaks in Garden Oaks Street Food-Inspired Houston Restaurant Swaps Counter Service for Servers Food-Focused Houston Nonprofit Rounds Up Top Chefs for Sunday Supper Health-Conscious Houston Sports Bar Sets Woodlands Opening Date

Justin Timberlake BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Justin Timberlake has been making headlines this week not for music, but for his next big play in nightlife and hospitality as construction plans have emerged for a brand-new $30 million music venue and dining destination in downtown Austin. According to Forbes and multiple local Austin outlets, Timberlake is partnering once again with restaurateur Sam Fox to transform a historic post office at 210 West Sixth Street into the sprawling four-level Twelve Thirty Club, their second after the Nashville flagship. The ambitious project will feature a supper club with daily live performances, a secretive speakeasy with late-night DJs, a private members lounge overlooking the action, and a skyline event space for up to 120, making it the type of mega-attraction poised to reshape the city's social circuit when it opens late 2027 after construction launches in early 2026. Timberlake spoke directly about his enthusiasm for the project, noting to Forbes that restoring the soul of such an iconic building in a live music haven like Austin has been a longtime dream. Design firm Avroko, acclaimed for amplifying sound and mood, has been tapped, promising a sensory, musical experience as much as a culinary one. This announcement was cited by nearly every major Austin and industry journal, with Forbes, CultureMap, MySanAntonio.com and Restaurant News each running with the news and direct Timberlake quotes, instantly elevating the club's profile and stoking speculation over its eventual musical acts.On the public performance front, Timberlake continues his globe-spanning Forget Tomorrow World Tour, though the road has been anything but smooth lately. The TBS News and Timberlake's official social media confirm he was forced to cancel a third show due to a back injury, specifically axing his December 2 performance in Oklahoma City after doctors urged additional rest. He previously postponed several dates for bronchitis and laryngitis this fall, announcing most news directly to fans on Instagram Stories, where he thanked them for the continued outpouring of support. According to his official website, ticketholders are being refunded for these affected shows, with rescheduled performances set for 2025. His next tour stop is slated for Houston's Toyota Center if he is cleared to return. Rumors have swirled on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), with fans wishing him a speedy recovery but there has been no verified suggestion of the tour's wider cancellation as of now.On the business side, Timberlake is still celebrated as a multi-industry influencer. Socially Powerful, a top marketing site, highlights his ongoing partnerships with Levi's, Air Jordan, Givenchy, MasterCard, and his co-owned William Rast denim label, underlining how his personal brand continues to bridge entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle sectors.Timberlake has mostly stayed out of splashy public appearances or viral memes the last few days, besides official news about the club and his health—no surprise performances or new music have dropped during this window, and his focus appears squarely on business ventures and tour commitments. There's ongoing speculation about collaborators for Austin's club opening, but nothing confirmed yet. As of this week, the biggest Justin Timberlake headline remains his bold new bet on bringing Nashville nightlife energy to Austin—with his health recovery and tour future close behind.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

On today's edition of the podcast, Eric is joined by Michael Sambrooks of Sambrooks Hospitality which is behind Candente and The Pit Room. Michael speaks with Eric about the big news that Candente's opening 2nd location will open in Bellaire, how the location popped up on their radar, why Bellaire was the right choice, what they need to do to change the former Mandito's space into Candente, bringing the same Candente experience to the new location, the expected opening date for the new location, what it's been like for both Candente and The Pit Room since they were included in the Michelin Guide, the expansion of The Pit Room's menu options at the 2nd location, the possibility of expanding both concepts, and more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Food-Focused Houston Nonprofit Rounds Up Top Chefs for Sunday Supper Health-Conscious Houston Sports Bar Sets Woodlands Opening Date Austin Burger Favorite Will Finally Open First Inside the Loop Location Luxurious Downtown Hotel Elevates with New Rooftop Restaurant Houston's New Retro-Styled Jazz Supper Club Sets Opening Date

Local Houston celebrity Felice Sloan, aka the Swanky Maven, takes time from her busy autograph schedule to join Eric on today's show. The pair discuss some of the latest news including the upcoming opening of Doc's Houston and how things went at the first ever Bites & Beyond Festival this past weekend. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Murray's Pizza & Wine and 93' Til are featured.    Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston's New Retro-Styled Jazz Supper Club Sets Opening Date New Houston Food Festival Reveals Stacked Lineup of Restaurants and Music Running List of Veteran's Day 2025 Food and Drinks Deals in Houston Austin Burger Favorite Will Finally Open First Inside the Loop Location Luxurious Downtown Hotel Elevates with New Rooftop Restaurant

Justin Timberlake BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Justin Timberlake has been making headlines in the past several days, reclaiming his status as a major player in music, hospitality, and business. The biggest story out of Texas is Timberlake's upcoming expansion of The Twelve Thirty Club, his luxury Nashville venue, into Downtown Austin. Austin's CultureMap broke the news that Timberlake, in partnership with Sam Fox, will renovate a historic 100-year-old post office for the $30 million, four-level project—a move described as one of the most significant hospitality investments in recent Austin history. Timberlake announced his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting Austin's deep connection to live music and promising a venue where music and dining blend seamlessly. This club will feature a main Supper Club floor with live performances and dining, a late-night Speakeasy lounge for DJs, a private members club that overlooks shows, and an intimate private event space. ATXtoday and FSR Magazine also covered the announcement, emphasizing Timberlake's intent to create an original experience for Austin while preserving the building's history. Local buzz predicts this development will solidify Timberlake's influence far beyond music, turning him into a Texas hospitality mogul.In his music career, Timberlake is still in high demand internationally. Recent ticket sales and news from timberlake-baku.com confirmed a major appearance at Baku Crystal Hall in 2025 as part of his Forget Tomorrow tour, a concert hyped as a top music event for Europe that year. Fans and media are watching closely for setlists and possible surprise collaborations, signaling that Timberlake retains formidable draw on the live stage.Business news continues to swirl around Timberlake's music rights and catalog deals in the complex world of publishing. Wikipedia and recent business reporting detailed the creation of Recognition Music Group, a merger and rebrand following Blackstone's acquisition of Hipgnosis Songs Fund, which previously purchased Timberlake's song catalog outright in 2022. Now, Sony Music Publishing has acquired the US publishing and administration business that includes Timberlake's catalog as part of Recognition's latest strategic moves. These deals secure Timberlake's legacy, with his works generating long-term cash flows and solidifying his relevance for decades.On the health and personal front, AOL reports Timberlake is taking a temporary break to focus on recovery, citing ongoing health concerns—but specifics remain private. Social media chatter is mostly supportive, with fans expressing sympathy and encouragement, though no official posts from Timberlake himself have appeared in recent days.No controversy, legal drama, or unexpected scandals have broken regarding Timberlake's business or personal life this week. The focus remains squarely on his entrepreneurial ventures and sustained musical influence. If successful, Austin's Twelve Thirty Club launch might rival his Nashville flagship, shaping both his biography and Austin's cultural landscape. For now, the timeline, major investments, and Timberlake's level of involvement are what industry insiders and fans alike are watching most closely.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Deets Hoffman of Murray's Pizza & Wine and Leaf & Grain. Deets speaks with Eric about why pizza was the route he wanted to go following the success of Leaf & Grain, why they wanted to go more adult date night forward with Murray's, the wine offerings, his wife's reaction to picking her name for the concept, why they went with sourdough as their choice for pizza crust, their topping options, the small plates they offer, how things have gone in the first few weeks of since Murray's opened, being able to showcase more than they have before, ideas for future concepts, the best way to reheat a pizza, the state of Leaf & Grain, and more!   Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston's New Retro-Styled Jazz Supper Club Sets Opening Date CultureMap Editor's 11 Favorite Dishes at Houston Restaurants in October Billionaire Tilman Fertitta Saddles Up for New Rodeo Houston Steakhouse Growing Houston Street-Style Taqueria Rolls into Montrose This Week Prestigious Michelin Guide Selects 44 Houston Restaurants for 2025 Edition

On the show today, Eric is joined by Houston BBQ Festival co-founder Michael Fulmer. Eric and Michael go through some of the latest news from the Houston culinary scene including the surprising closure of Paulie's and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's fine dining change coming in 2026. Plus, the guys discuss a bit more about the Michelin Guide's announcement from last week focusing on the Houston restaurants that were added this year. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Charm Taphouse & BBQ and Truluck's are featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Beloved Houston Italian Restaurant Will Close After 27 Years in Montrose Prestigious Michelin Guide Selects 44 Houston Restaurants for 2025 Edition Billionaire Tilman Fertitta Saddles Up for New Rodeo Houston Steakhouse CultureMap Editor's 11 Favorite Dishes at Houston Restaurants in October Growing Houston Street-Style Taqueria Rolls into Montrose This Week

Today on the show, Eric is joined by Otto Othman and Adrian Sanchez of PINCHO. The duo speak with Eric about their culinary careers, what got them interested in the culinary scene, where the idea for PINCHO came from, what the name means, developing a family recipe for pincho into a commercial success, the evolution of the burger menu, entering food competitions, having fun with flavors, what people can expect from PINCHO's burger options, the weirdest combination of burger flavors they tried that didn't work, working with Savory Fund, why franchising wasn't the right lane for PINCHO long term, why they decided to come to Houston, how things have gone in Houston so far, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Prestigious Michelin Guide Selects 44 Houston Restaurants for 2025 Edition Growing Houston Street-Style Taqueria Rolls into Montrose This Week Beloved Houston Italian Restaurant Will Close After 27 Years in Montrose 'Greatest Neighborhood Restaurant' to Open First Houston Location Comforting Houston Seafood Restaurant Sets Rice Village Opening Date

As our world becomes increasingly connected, we work with teams spanning continents, cultures, and contexts. What works brilliantly in one culture can completely miss the mark in another. For example, silence in a meeting might mean respect, not disengagement. Humility might be mistaken for a lack of leadership potential, and direct communication styles can either build trust or create distance, depending on who's listening. If you're ready to stop making assumptions and get curious about the people you lead and coach, this episode is for you. Join us!Dr. Ling Hua is an ICF-certified executive leadership coach and former global biotech executive. In today's episode, she discusses the critical importance of cultural awareness in leadership and shares helpful tips and techniques we can put into practice. Dr. Ling has become an expert in something the world needs more of: leading with cultural respect. Drawing on her experience working across three continents, she explores how leaders and coaches can navigate high- and low-context communication styles, avoid cultural assumptions, and create inclusive environments for diverse teams. Show Highlights:Understanding what it means to lead with cultural respect High-context vs. low-context communication styles: reading non-verbal cuesFactoring cultural differences into performance reviewsMistakes in cross-cultural relationships happen when we don't understand humility vs. assertiveness.Dr. Ling's tips for cultural awareness in different types of organizationsThe impact of coaching and a coaching mindset on diversity within organizations and individualsDr. Ling's observations about the evolution of company culture and overall cultural awareness in organizationsDr. Ling's key takeaways about cultural respect in leadership:Don't assume, ask questions.Adapt your approach.Look beneath the surface.Meet people where they are.Remember, our differences make us stronger, not weaker. Don't miss our Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint 5-Day Challenge! It's free, and we begin on November 10.Resources:Connect with Dr. Ling HuaLinkedInEmailRecommended resources for leaders to raise their cultural awareness:The Culture Map by Erin Meyer and a Harvard Business Review article“Develop Cultural Intelligence to Lead Global Teams,” by Dr. David Livermore (May 2025)Connect with MegStruggling to enroll more clients? Sign up today for our Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint 5-Day Challenge! It's free, and we begin on November 10. Get clarity that makes enrolling clients feel natural, not pushy! Get Meg's FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match:

It's year 2 of the Michelin Guide being in Texas and during a special ceremony in Houston on Tuesday night the guide announced the newest recipients of stars, recommendations, and more in Texas. So for this edition of the podcast Eric, alongside June Rodil of Goodnight Hospitality, CultureMap contributor Brianna McClane, and Misha Govshteyn a.k.a. the Michelin Inspector Inspector, react to this years selections. In a roundtable discussion, the group cover what we've learned so far in regards to Michelin's thoughts of Texas in the 2 years they've been here, who the big winners were, the camaraderie displayed during the ceremony, what the Michelin formula seems to be, whether the service experienced is considered during the selection process, when could we expect to see a 2 or 3 star Michelin restaurant in Texas, the fake out 2 star announcement made last week about a Houston restaurant, whether they're surprised that Houston didn't have a new starred restaurant selected, the most surprising omissions, the Houston restaurants added to the guide, and more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Prestigious Michelin Guide Selects 44 Houston Restaurants for 2025 Edition Beloved Houston Italian Restaurant Will Close After 27 Years in Montrose 'Greatest Neighborhood Restaurant' to Open First Houston Location Comforting Houston Seafood Restaurant Sets Rice Village Opening Date Stylish New Cocktail Bar Requests Houstonians Dress Up For Drinks 

On today's show Eric is joined by Peter Skountzos and Manuel E. Guzmán-López of Doc's Houston. The duo speak with Eric about their careers leading up to Doc's, the story behind the name, why Houston was the right fit for the expansion of Jazz, TX, what was appealing about the Tower Theater space, the entertainment that patrons can expect, the food offerings at Doc's, the most important aspect of a restaurant, when Houstonians can expect for Doc's to open, and much more!  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Stylish New Cocktail Bar Requests Houstonians Dress Up For Drinks Growing Houston Group Spins Up a Memorial Pizzeria with Date Night Vibes Pat Green's Massive Restaurant and Live Music Venue Reveals New Houston Home Intimate New Wine Shop and Grocer Coming to Montrose with 4,000 Records New Houston Food Festival Reveals Stacked Lineup of Restaurants and Music

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer. The pair speak about some of the latest restaurant/bar news from the Houston scene including Mary's own news that Heights Grocer is expanding into Montrose. Mary shares what they'll be able to do with the larger space in Montrose, what she's learned in her first year with Heights Grocer, and the wide selection of products they offer. Mary and Eric also discuss Clare Smith taking over the Menil Collection's campus restaurant space with a new concept called chrôma and the newest concept coming from Hugo Ortega and his wife Tracy Vought called Zaranda. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Late August is featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Intimate New Wine Shop and Grocer Coming to Montrose with 4,000 Records Veteran Houston Chef Claims Menil Restaurant for New All-Day Cafe  Beard Award-Winning Houston Chef is California Dreaming at New Restaurant Pat Green's Massive Restaurant and Live Music Venue Reveals New Houston Home New Houston Food Festival Reveals Stacked Lineup of Restaurants and Music

On today's edition of the podcast Eric is joined by Ryan Lachaine and Bobby Matos of State of Grace. The pair speak with Eric about why Ryan was a fit for State of Grace, why they want to push to be more like the old State of Grace, doing their chefs table dinners, the food forward regulars at State of Grace, what they've added to the menu (mmmm butter burgers), why State of Grace's french fries are the best in Houston (as picked by Eric), the prices of oysters, and much more! Plus, Ryan shares why he decided to close Riel after 10 years, what the last month was like there, being able to focus on being just a chef, and what his go to dishes are at a restaurant. Bobby also discusses the refreshes made at Superica, and Little Rey finding it's audience.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Exclusive: New Pub Flies into Familiar Montrose Space with NY-Style Pizza Tex-Mex and Craft Coffee Coming to Historic Heights Development Longtime Houston Kolache Bakery Opens New Memorial Location Veteran Houston Chef Claims Menil Restaurant for New All-Day Cafe I-45 Freeway Project Prompts Houston Vietnamese Restaurant to Close in EaDo

On episode 503 of What's Eric Eating, Eric Sandler was joined by former food critic, and current Director of Events & Catering at Local Foods Group, Chelsea Thomas! They discussed... The unfortunate closing down of Kim Son, and the continued stress put on all businesses around the I-45 expansion The opening of Maison Chinoise A San Antonio based coffee chain opening up a couple locations in Houston Restaurant of the Week - Vida Mariscos A trip out to Connie's Frozen Custard in Cypress for dessert Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Exclusive: New pub flies into familiar Montrose space with NY-style pizza San Antonio-based coffee shop brews up 2 Houston locations for 2026 Houston boutique hotel is only Texas property added to Michelin Key list Dynamic Houston Duo Opening New Neighborhood Restaurant in Montrose Riel Chef Ryan Lachaine Finds New Home at River Oaks Restaurant

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Armando DiMeo of Coastline Pizzeria. Armando speaks with Eric about how he first decided to become a chef, working in the family business, when he knew that pizza was his passion, why decided to focus on Neapolitan pizza, Houston's struggles with Neapolitan pizza, where grilled pizza came from, the creative freedoms of grilled style, the upcoming seasonal menu, how things have gone in the first 2 years, cultivating a strong team culture via listening, the menu development incentive program, the bar program, the possibility of expansion, and more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Dynamic Houston Duo Opening New Neighborhood Restaurant in Montrose Riel Chef Ryan Lachaine Finds New Home at River Oaks Restaurant Houston's Rising Star Chefs Shine in National Magazine's 2025 Awards Hit Cooking Competition Show MasterChef Brings Live Tour to Houston Houston Restaurant Group Flies into Upper Kirby with Fried Chicken Pop-Up

In celebration of 500 episodes, Eric is doing something never done before in podcasting ok well at least never been done on this podcast before. For the first time Eric, joined by CultureMap's Home & Design Contributor Emily Cotton, gets out the What's Eric Eating mailbag to answer listener submitted questions. What was Eric's most star struck moment? What's been some of his top, all time favorite meals since he started the podcast? What are the iconic dishes of Houston? He answers those questions and many more on this very special edition of What's Eric Eating. If you enjoyed this episode and what to hear Eric do more of these What's Eric Eating mailbag episodes let him know on Instagram Instagram @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com like: Chris Shepherd's Biggest Food Festival Yet Raises $1.7 Million California-Based Mexican Eatery Returns to Houston with New Humble Spot Houston's Mail-Order Halal Barbecue Company Fires Up First Restaurant Post Houston Hotel Serves Up Italian Twist on Afternoon Tea Service James Beard Award-Winning Taco Master Pops Up in Houston This Weekend

Eric's doing things a little different today for this 500th edition of the podcast (yep 500!). Today Eric is being joined by not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, but 6 of Houston's Rising Stars selected by StarChefs for 2025. Eric visits with Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu of JŪN, Lucas McKinney of Josephine's, Maham Qureshi of Shakkar, Adrian Torres of Maximo, and Kristine Nguyen of Bludorn. Hear their excitement on being selected, what they're up to as of late, and much more on this special edition of What's Eric Eating.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Dynamic Houston Duo Opening New Neighborhood Restaurant in Montrose Riel Chef Ryan Lachaine Finds New Home at River Oaks Restaurant Houston's Rising Star Chefs Shine in National Magazine's 2025 Awards Hit Cooking Competition Show MasterChef Brings Live Tour to Houston Houston Restaurant Group Flies into Upper Kirby with Fried Chicken Pop-Up

On today's podcast Eric is joined by one of StarChef's Rising Stars of 2025, Craft Pita's own Raffi Nasr!. Raffi and Eric talk about some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Justin Yu and Bobby Heugel's newest concept coming to Montrose, Ryan Lachaine's new gig, and the StarChefs Rising Stars Houston Class of 2025. In the Restaurants of the Week portion North China is featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Dynamic Houston Duo Opening New Neighborhood Restaurant in Montrose Riel Chef Ryan Lachaine Finds New Home at River Oaks Restaurant Houston's Rising Star Chefs Shine in National Magazine's 2025 Awards Hit Cooking Competition Show MasterChef Brings Live Tour to Houston Houston Restaurant Group Flies into Upper Kirby with Fried Chicken Pop-Up

Today on the show Eric has in depth conversation with Houston hospitality veteran Jonathan Horowitz. The pair discuss Jonathan's leaving from the Houston Hospitality Alliance, how he found his way into commercial real estate, the ramifications of the pandemic on the restaurant industry, the difficulties that are now present within the industry post pandemic, the changes in customer behavior/demand, the "winning the neighborhood" strategy, the desire to stay within your area to eat, how technology has changed tipping culture, the possibility of others stepping in to save a concept that is struggling, the underestimating of the capitalization needed for starting a restaurant, and much more.    Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Riel Chef Ryan Lachaine Finds New Home at River Oaks Restaurant Dynamic Houston Duo Opening New Neighborhood Restaurant in Montrose Houston's Rising Star Chefs Shine in National Magazine's 2025 Awards 20 New Restaurants and Bars Opening in Houston this Fall and Beyond Pioneering Houston Mexican Restaurant Extends Closing Until Next Year

CultureMap contributor Brianna McClane is back on What's Eric Eating. Eric and Brianna discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including Candente claiming the space formerly occupied by Mandito's for it's 2nd location, Tacos A Go Go's 2 new locations opening with cocktails by Bobby Heugel, and the fall restaurant openings they're most looking forward to. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Local Public Eatery is featured. Plus, Eric and Brianna do a quick comparison of Musaafer and Le Jardinier, 2 of Houston's 5 fine dining restaurants that hold One Michelin Star.    Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston's Only Michelin-Recognized Tex-Mex Joint Fires Up New Bellaire Store Houston Taqueria's 2 New Locations will Serve Cocktails by Anvil Owner 20 New Restaurants and Bars Opening in Houston this Fall and Beyond Houston's Rising Star Chefs Shine in National Magazine's 2025 Awards Pioneering Houston Mexican Restaurant Extends Closing Until Next Year

BONUS: Jochen Issing on Building High-Performing Engineering Teams In this BONUS episode, we explore the fascinating journey of Jochen Issing, an engineering leader who brings unique insights from his background as a handball player and band member to building exceptional software development teams. From sports courts and music stages to engineering leadership, Jochen shares practical wisdom on psychological safety, team dynamics, and creating cultures where the best ideas win. From Sports and Music to Software Leadership "As soon as you complain about each other, you are starting to lose." Jochen's unconventional background as a handball player and band member has profoundly shaped his approach to engineering leadership. Drawing from team sports, he discovered that frustration leads to losing in both athletics and technology work. Great players in great teams optimize for the team's results, not individual glory. This translates directly to software development where great engineers slow down to make the team faster, recognizing that collective success trumps individual achievement. The lesson from the handball court is clear: when team members start blaming each other, they create a losing mindset that becomes self-fulfilling. Breaking the 10X Engineer Myth "It's not your success that makes our success, it's our success that makes your success." The mythology of the 10X engineer remains pervasive in software development, but Jochen challenges this with insights from team dynamics. The "hero culture" in companies often emerges when systems are already broken, requiring someone to step in and save the day. While we celebrate these heroes, we forget to ask the crucial question: how did we end up needing a hero in the first place? True high-performing teams don't require heroic individual efforts because they've built sustainable systems and shared knowledge. The goal isn't to eliminate talented individuals but to ensure that even the most skilled engineers can take time off without the organization grinding to a halt. Creating Psychological Safety Through Vulnerability "When psychological safety is missing, I try to ask ignorant questions - expose myself as being the least experienced person in the room." Building psychological safety requires intentional strategies that go beyond good intentions. Jochen employs a counterintuitive approach: when he senses team members hesitating to speak up, he deliberately asks "ignorant" questions to position himself as the least knowledgeable person in the room. This modeling behavior demonstrates that it's safe to admit uncertainty and ask questions. He also builds a culture of "challenging ourselves" by implementing ritualized dissent - assigning someone the specific job of finding flaws in proposed solutions. This prevents the dangerous harmony that can emerge when teams agree too quickly without proper scrutiny. The Power of the Expectation Sheet "I want people to share with me what might even drive them away from the company." Trust forms the foundation of effective team relationships, but building it requires explicit frameworks. Jochen uses an "expectation sheet" (See a prototype here Google Doc)- a document that formalizes mutual expectations between him and his team members. This tool establishes that he wants open, honest communication about everything, including situations that might drive someone to leave the company. The key principle is that he will never share confidential information or use personal disclosures against team members. This creates a relationship where he serves as both a representative of the company when necessary and a personal advocate for his team members when they need support navigating organizational challenges. Team-Centric Productivity and Collaboration "The team is the unit of productivity and delivery, not the individual." Effective engineering leadership requires balancing individual desires with team outcomes. Jochen emphasizes that while people naturally want to say "I did this," the focus must remain on team impact. This involves creating shared understanding of collective goals while still addressing individual needs and growth aspirations. Practical strategies include using on-call rotations to identify knowledge silos, implementing pair programming and mob programming to reinforce collaborative work patterns, and designing tasks that allow individuals to take ownership while remaining embedded in team efforts. The analogy to band dynamics is apt - when someone brings a song idea to the band, it evolves through collaboration into something different and usually better than the original vision. Building Sustainable High Performance "Great engineers slow down to make the team faster - which is how we get better teams." Sustainable high performance emerges when senior engineers invest in lifting the entire team rather than maximizing their individual output. This means senior staff level engineers focus less on their personal contributions and more on forming "tribes" across teams, coaching junior engineers, and building organizational capability. The measure of success shifts from individual heroics to collective achievement - if problems consistently require the same person to fix them, the team hasn't truly succeeded in building sustainable systems and shared knowledge. Recommended Resources for Further Reading Jochen recommends several foundational books for understanding team dynamics and engineering leadership. "The Culture Code" by Daniel Coyle explores the structure of high-performing teams and debunks myths about command-and-control leadership. "Product Development Flow" by Reinertsen provides the scientific foundation behind agile methodologies and explains what teams are really trying to solve. "The Culture Map" by Erin Meyer offers insights on working with diverse cultures and backgrounds to bring out the best in each team member. "Coaching Agile Teams" by Lyssa Adkins serves as a practical guide for developing coaching skills in technical environments. And our very own Scrum Master Toolbox podcast provides ongoing insights and real-world experiences from practitioners in the field. About Jochen Issing Jochen is an engineering leader who's all about building great teams and better developer experiences. From audio tech and cloud platforms to monorepos and feedback culture, he's done it all. A former bandmate and handball player, Jochen brings heart, trust, and collaboration into everything he builds with his teams. You can connect with Jochen Issing on LinkedIn and connect with Jochen Issing on Twitter.

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Tristen Epps of Buboy. Tristen speaks with Eric about how scrambled eggs and Japanese TV set him on a path towards being a chef, his initial stint in Houston, why he decided on Houston for his big city experience, meeting/working with Marcus Samuelsson, pushing the idea of what really is fine dining cuisine, winning Top Chef: Destination Canada, why now was the right time for him to go on Top Chef, how the show has evolved to showcasing your food within the parameters of the different challenges, why the cooking is the easy part of Top Chef, his goals entering the show, finding out that his father passed during the show, wanting to tell truths with his food during the final challenge, what life has been like since he won the show, whether 2026 is the year for Buboy's opening, why the size of the space is extremely important, the possibility of casual hot dog food at Buboy, and more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston's Only Michelin-Recognized Tex-Mex Joint Fires Up New Bellaire Store Houston Taqueria's 2 New Locations will Serve Cocktails by Anvil Owner Pioneering Houston Mexican Restaurant Extends Closing Until Next Year More Than 30 Houston Bars are Selling $7.13 Drinks for Texas Cocktail Week Bon Appetit Showers Praise on Aaron Bludorn's Bistro in Houston Hotel

On today's podcast Eric is joined by the Swanky Maven herself Felice Sloan! Eric and Felice discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the closure of Bosscat Kitchen & Libations' in River Oaks, ChòpnBlọk being named to the New York Times' 50 Best Restaurants in America list, and chef Kate McClean's departure from Tony's Restaurant. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Butter Funk Kitchen and Southern Jerks are featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Whiskey-Obsessed Houston Restaurant will Shutter River Oaks Location New York Times Names Houston West African Restaurant to 50 Best List Houston Fine Dining Restaurant Parts Ways with Longtime Chef More Than 30 Houston Bars are Selling $7.13 Drinks for Texas Cocktail Week Bon Appetit Showers Praise on Aaron Bludorn's Bistro in Houston Hotel

Learn to work in a Chinese environment. What does it take?Which value is the Chinese company looking for?How can you influence and change the Chinese team?What is low and high context culture?Read the book: "Culture Map" from Erin Meyer to learn more about low and high context culture. Contact Jeanne de Gayffier: Find her on LinkedIn or wechat: j_fengshuFind Francis on wechat: Flexpat2020 or Linkedin (Francis Kremer)

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Jacques Varon and Evan McCarley of Baso. The pair speak with Eric about how they first got connected, the evolution of Baso since it first opened, the addition of Sarah Dowling to the team, the incredible wine list, what they've learned from their customers, what it's meant to be part of the Michelin Guide, the growth of Baso's popularity, current goals, and more! Plus, Evan shares about her culinary history, how she first got involved with Baso, and the duo talk about getting chairs. Chairs are kind of a key thing.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Whiskey-Obsessed Houston Restaurant will Shutter River Oaks Location Here's What 12 Houston Chefs will Serve at James Beard Fall Food Event New York Times Names Houston West African Restaurant to 50 Best List Houston Fine Dining Restaurant Parts Ways with Longtime Chef New, Mexico-Inspired Bar Shakes Up Montrose with 'Cocktail Omakase'

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Monica Danna to discuss some the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The pair speak about Ostia shuttering this week, chefs Austin Simmons and Aaron Bludorn opening new spots in The Woodlands, and Terrence Gallivan's new restaurant set to open in Hotel Daphne. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Mayahuel is featured.    Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston Italian Restaurant will Shutter After 5 Years in Montrose Ex-Tris Chef and Aaron Bludorn Opening New Eateries in The Woodlands Austin Simmons' New Woodlands Restaurant Will Showcase Beef from His Ranch Exclusive: Top Houston Chef Will Lead New Heights Hotel's Italian Eatery Houston Fine Dining Restaurant Parts Ways with Longtime Chef New, Mexico-Inspired Bar Shakes Up Montrose with 'Cocktail Omakase'

Today on the podcast, Eric is joined by Shawn Singh a.k.a. Shawn the Food Sheep! Shawn speaks with Eric about how he first got started down the influencer path, why the first 3 seconds of a video are so important, wanting to showcase his personality, building a good community, finding under the radar spots, staying positive with his content, coming around on sushi, older places around Houston that he'd like to try, his quest to try every Houston area restaurant in the Michelin Guide, what restaurants could be included in this year's Michelin Guide, some of his top recommendations, the qualities of a good coffee shop, possibly going down a bar/cocktail review route, and much more! Follow Shawn on Instagram & TikTok. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Exclusive: Top Houston Chef Will Lead New Heights Hotel's Italian Eatery James Harden's Houston Restaurant Locked Out Over $2.2 Million in Unpaid Rent Houston Bagel Shop with Freshly-Baked Fare Sprints into Clear Lake Houston Italian Restaurant will Shutter After 5 Years in Montrose Hustling Houston Vietnamese Restaurant Signs 24 Unit Franchise Deal Meet the Ex-Killen's Employees Opening a New Barbecue Joint in EaDo

Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast returns to the podcast after 5 long years and a James Beard Award win. Thomas shares with Eric why he decided to put a pause on the initial version of Belly of the Beast, what he took away from his experience of Chivos, why Spring was the right place for the new version of Belly of the Beast, looking at spaces in Houston initially, the vision for the new iteration, how it all came together, the menu this time around, taking time to get into a rhythm, what being included in the Michelin Guide did for the restaurant, being part of the new modern version of Mexican food movement in the city, what it was like hearing his name for the James Beard award, the amount of flowers he's gotten since winning (it's a lot), how serious a Belly of the Beast 3.0 with a live fire grill is, details of his upcoming pop-up, what life has been like since the James Beard awards, and much more!      Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: 16 Houston Restaurants Compete in CultureMap's Top Taco Tournament Houston Restaurant Known for American Fare Finds New Location in River Oaks First Look at Modern Houston Ice House's New Location Near the Heights Ex-Tris Chef and Aaron Bludorn Opening New Eateries in The Woodlands Michelin-Starred Houston Restaurant Opens Location in New York City

Eric is back again with another edition of the podcast. For this week's news and restaurants of the week, he is joined by Michael Fulmer, a co-founder of the Houston BBQ Festival. In the news, Eric and Michael discuss CASAEMA being named to Bon Appétit's best new breakfast spots list, a 3rd location of Handies Douzo coming to Spring Branch, and the opening of a new Memorial City location of Katz's. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Yiayia's Greek Kitchen is featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Bon Appetit Names Michelin-Recognized Houston Cafe to Best Breakfast List Casual Houston Sushi Restaurant Unrolls Third Location in Spring Branch Houston's 24-Hour New York Deli Sets Opening Date for Memorial Location Aggie-Loved Chicken Fingers Spot Sets Spring-Area Opening Date Houston Bakery Rises with a New Name, Bigger Menu, and Matcha

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by chef Luis Robledo Richards of Mayahuel. Luis speaks with Eric about how his career got started, where his career has taken him, what drove him to pursue learning about being a pastry chef, working at Le Cirque, the creation of Tout Chocolat, how Tout Chocolat was unlike any other, being named the best pastry chef in Latin America, what brought him to Houston, restaurants he first visited in the city, Houston still being an underrated food destination, what went wrong with Comalíto Taqueria, why was a better fit Mayahuel for Houston, why finding the perfect partner in Houston was extremely important for Mayahuel, how the restaurant fits in Houston, the core principles of the concept, what went into developing their top tier cocktail program, bringing in experts, the staff, some of the standout dishes, customer feedback so far, whether he would bring any other concepts to the city, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Bon Appetit Names Michelin-Recognized Houston Cafe to Best Breakfast List Gourmet Grocer Blasts Off with New Co-Working Space in Houston's Westchase Booming Texas Sports Bar Bounds into Katy with a Covered Patio and 48 TV's Casual Houston Sushi Restaurant Unrolls Third Location in Spring Branch New Heights Cafe Serves Coffee in the Morning and Wine at Night

Dominik Angerer is the CEO and co-founder of Storyblok, a leading headless CMS platform used by major brands like Tesla, Netflix, Adidas, and Pizza Hut.    He started coding at 15, worked as a freelance developer across Europe, and by 19 was leading teams focused on e-commerce.   In 2017, he co-founded Storyblok to solve real content challenges faced by businesses. Since then, the company has grown into a global, fully remote organization with over 230 employees and more than 200,000 users in 130 countries.   He discusses the importance of focus, recalling how early on, they spread themselves too thin trying to build multiple tools until a mentor advised them to solve just one problem exceptionally well.   Dominik highlights their commitment to user experience, including scientific studies proving Storyblok's joyfulness for content teams, and shares productivity tips like speed reading and the importance of cross-cultural communication — recommending The Culture Map.    Dominik's role centers on accountability and clarity, ensuring that everyone on his fully remote team understands how their work supports the company's broader mission.   Website: Stroyblok  LinkedIn: Dominik Angerer   Check out our CEO Hack Buzz Newsletter–our premium newsletter with hacks and nuggets to level up your organization. Sign up HERE.  I AM CEO Handbook Volume 3 is HERE and it's FREE. Get your copy here: http://cbnation.co/iamceo3. Get the 100+ things that you can learn from 1600 business podcasts we recorded. Hear Gresh's story, learn the 16 business pillars from the podcast, find out about CBNation Architects and why you might be one and so much more. Did we mention it was FREE? Download it today!

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The duo discuss the Michelin Guide's incoming announcement of Texas' second class of establishments selected for the guide and the 2nd location of The Woodlands area high profile restaurant The Audrey coming to the Galleria area. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Flora Mexican Kitchen, MAD, and Riel are featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Michelin Guide Will Name Second Texas Class at Invite-Only Houston Ceremony River Oaks Theatre Owner's Movie-Themed Eatery Coming to Galleria High-Rise Booming Texas Sports Bar Bounds into Katy with a Covered Patio and 48 TV's Casual Houston Sushi Restaurant Unrolls Third Location in Spring Branch New Heights Cafe Serves Coffee in the Morning and Wine at Night

On today's episode, Eric is joined by Chris Cusack of Betelgeuse Betelgeuse. Chris speaks with Eric about creating the first Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, their style of pizza, how they were able to open a 2nd location so quickly, why the Montrose area was appealing, how things are going with Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, how Soluna came together (and went), why restaurants are like rock bands, how the initial idea for Endless Bummer came about, entering the world of Tiki, working with artist Brian Dibala, how the customers have responded to Endless Summer so far, restaurant theories, thoughts on expansion, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Michelin Guide Will Name Second Texas Class at Invite-Only Houston Ceremony River Oaks Theatre Owner's Movie-Themed Eatery Coming to Galleria High-Rise Keith Lee-Loved Houston Sandwich Shop Rolls into New Cypress Store Nobie's Dynamic Duo Shakes Up Montrose with Speakeasy-Style Tiki Bar Massive Tax Debt Brings Abrupt End to Houston's Beloved Canadian Pub

Enjoy your summer with this “BEST OF 97% EFFECTIVE” EPISODE! Tune in this fall for new episodes and more great content.Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comSHOW NOTES:Chris Fenning is a highly-sought after trainer and the award winning author of The First Minute: How to Start Conversations That Get Results. We walk through before-after examples, showing how to structure your business communication for maximum impact. The hard truth is that poor communication is one of the top reasons people don't get promoted.Concise communication matters, but what most training courses fail to doWhy Chris left a fantastic career to help people with business communicationFactoid: Chris did this feat at 17…Chris critiques -- and improves –Michael's 15 second introWhy the first minute is key.Before vs after example: Context-Intent-Key Message framework in actionHow to build the concise communication habitDon't bury the lede!Tips when sending emails and meeting invitesBeing Concise vs Being BluntUsing “GPS” in your first minute, with an example that boils 20 minutes into 3 linesOvercoming “the curse of knowledge”More tips on how to quickly make the framework a habitHow things differ cross-culturallyWill these techniques reverse poor first impressions you may have already created?3 ways you can tell boss they are a bad communicator … without getting in hot water BIO AND LINKS:Chris Fenning is on a mission to help Technical and Business teams communicate clearly and remove the pain they experience so often. His 4x award winning book, The First Minute, shows you the HOW to be concise, step by step, drawing from 20,000 conversations, decades of work leading technical and business teams across the world, and training individuals and teams from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies.Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/Chris's Website & His Book www.chrisfenning.comChris's Best Giveaway (Free First Minute Workbook, $30 value): https://chrisfenning.com/get-the-first-minute-workbook-free/Erin Myer's Book, The Culture Map: https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/Michael's Award-winning Book, Get Promoted: https://a.co/d/2oRmqF4 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A new cohost has entered the chat, as chef Raffi Nasr of Craft Pita joins Eric to go through some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene. Raffi and Eric discuss the closure of Picos, the reopening of Savoir under new leadership, and chef Ryan Hildebrand's return to Houston. Plus, Raffi catches us up on the latest happenings with Craft Pita. In the Restaurants of the Week Agnes and Sherman is featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Pioneering Houston Mexican Restaurant Will Shutter After 44 Years French-Trained Houston Chef Revives Shuttered Heights Restaurant Veteran Chef Returns to Houston with a Purpose, Help Ronnie Get a Star Keith Lee-Loved Houston Sandwich Shop Rolls into New Cypress Store Nobie's Dynamic Duo Shakes Up Montrose with Speakeasy-Style Tiki Bar

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Joseph Boudreaux of Boo's Burgers. Joseph speaks with Eric about how he got into the culinary industry, why he decided to transition away from the corporate world, where his culinary journey took him before Boo's Burgers, what he learned from Jason Vaughn, starting Tipping Point Coffee, when word starting getting out about Boo's Burgers, why he decided to grind his own patties, how the burgers have evolved, doing things different with their toppings, why the time was finally right for a brick + mortar, how things are going so far a week into opening, why keeping the momentum is always on his mind, why he decided to do an oyster/mushroom sandwich as a companion to the beef burger, possible expansions to the menu, whether he'd ever want to have a 2nd location, and more!        Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Patriotic Houston Seafood Restaurant Picks Rice Village for New Spot French-Trained Houston Chef Revives Shuttered Heights Restaurant Pioneering Houston Mexican Restaurant Will Shutter After 44 Years Mexico City-Inspired Taqueria Rolls Into Massive Fifth Ward Development Top-Rated Houston Restaurant will Close After 8 Years in Montrose

On today's episode Eric is joined by a newcomer to the podcast, as he's joined by CulutureMap contributor Brianna McClane. Brianna shares a bit about her background, then the pair dive into some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the closure of Riel and Shipley Do-Nuts being acquired by a California based private equity firm. Plus, the duo give some picks for restaurants to check out during Houston Restaurants Weeks. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Kitchen Rumors and Alora are featured.    Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: 10 Eateries Participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks for the First Time Top-Rated Houston Restaurant will Close After 8 Years in Montrose Favorite Houston Doughnut Shop Swaps One Private Equity Owner for Another Mexico City-Inspired Taqueria Rolls into Massive Fifth Ward Development National Ice Cream Shop Scooping More Than 140 Flavors Opens in Garden Oaks South African Grilled Chicken Chain Opens New Houston Location in Montrose

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Nilesh Ranchod and Rajen Giga of 2 Phat Bastard Pies. Nilesh and Rajen speak with Eric about how they first became friends, coming to Houston from Zimbabwe, moving from environmental company work to the food industry, their fusion approach with their savory pies, how they're pies are different, flavors that were inspired by Houston, transitioning from catering to an everyday business model, opening inside The Post, the spicy options they offer, dishes they're developing, and more!   Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Houston Trattoria and BBQ Joint Team Up for Hill Country Flood Relief Houston Greek Restaurant Reboots with Fresh Location and Refined Style Favorite Houston Doughnut Shop Swaps One Private Equity Owner for Another Top Houston Barbecue Joint Fires Up a New Location at Hobby Airport Convivial Canadian Sports Bar Sets Opening Date for New Woodlands Pub

The Swanky Maven Felice Sloan makes triumphant return to the podcast! Eric and Felice discuss some of the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the opening of the new permanent location of the cult-favorite burger concept Boo's Burgers, the debut of a new limited time pop-up cocktail bar Navi's at The Post Oak Hotel, and the reopening of the Colorado Club. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Latuli is featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Cult-Favorite Houston Burger Pop-Up Sets Opening Date for Permanent Location Tilman Fertitta's Posh Hotel Crafts a Limited Time Cocktail Speakeasy Premier Houston Nightclub Group Reopening Iconic Strip Club This Month Favorite Houston Doughnut Shop Swaps One Private Equity Owner for Another Top Houston Barbecue Joint Fires Up a New Location at Hobby Airport

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Randy Hines and Michael Horne of Kolache Shoppe. The pair catch Eric up on what's been happening with the brand over the past few years, getting ready to open the new Memorial location, how the new location compares to the others, why Memorial was the right area, Randy's experience with franchising the concept, lessons learned from the Kingwood store closure, how Michael got started with the Kolache Shoppe, doing collaborations, future plans, and much more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Cult-Favorite Houston Burger Pop-Up Sets Opening Date for Permanent Location CityCentre Uncorks a Chic New Wine Bar Serving Steak and Charcuterie Star Houston Pitmaster Flames Out On Food Network Barbecue Competition Austin Burger Favorite P. Terry's Sets Opening Date For Third Houston Store Self-Taught Chef Slices Into Houston with High-Quality Sushi To Go

In this episode of the Agilists: Aspire and Achieve podcast, host Renae Craven and guest Nidhya Palaniappan explore Nidhya's journey from South Asia to Canada, including how she found her agile role in her new location. About the Featured Guest Nidhya Palaniappan is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, specializing in Agile practices. With a strong background in software engineering, Nidhya has dedicated over 9 years in various agile roles across geographies. Currently as an RTE at TD Bank Canada, Nidhya is at the forefront of driving Agile transformations and delivering successful products. Follow Nidhya on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nidhyapalaniappan/) Reference(s) The Culture Map by Erin Meyer The Women in Agile community champions inclusion and diversity of thought, regardless of gender, and this podcast is a platform to share new voices and stories with the Agile community and the business world, because we believe that everyone is better off when more, diverse ideas are shared. Podcast Library: www.womeninagile.org/podcast Women in Agile Org Website: www.womeninagile.org  Connect with us on social media! LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/womeninagile/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/womeninagile/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/womeninagileorg  Please take a moment to rate and review the Women in Agile podcast on your favorite podcasting platform. This is the best way to help us amplify the voices and wisdom of the talent women and allies in our community! Be sure to take a screenshot of your rating and review and post it on social media with the hashtag #womeninagile to help spread the word and continue to elevate Women in Agile.   About our Host Renae Craven has been coaching individuals, teams and organizations for over 14 years and has spent a lot of time investing in and formalizing her professional coaching skills in recent years. Renae's passion is leading and coaching organizations and as a Certified Team Coach with Scrum Alliance, she helps teams to find their rhythm and pace that balances learning with delivery. Renae established her own company NaeCrave Pty Ltd (www.naecrave.com.au) in 2020 and keeps herself busy with coaching and training delivery. Renae is also a certified BASI Pilates instructor and runs her own pilates studio in Brisbane, Australia. She has a YouTube channel called ‘Pilates for the Office Worker' which features short 5 minute guided sessions that anyone can incorporate into their day, especially those of us who have been sitting down for extended periods. Subscribe to her channel Crave Pilates. Renae has been organizing the Women in Agile group in Brisbane since 2018. You can follow Renae on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/renaecraven/).

Monica Danna is back! She joins Eric to discuss some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including FM Kitchen + Bar being folded into PKL Social and the new ghost kitchen concept Kaisen Sushi Houston making a big splash. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, Succulent Fine Dining is featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Inner Loop Pickleball Bar Expands Into Neighboring Burger Joint Self-Taught Chef Slices Into Houston with High-Quality Sushi To Go Star Houston Pitmaster Flames Out On Food Network Barbecue Competition Austin Burger Favorite P. Terry's Sets Opening Date For Third Houston Store 10 Eateries Participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks for the First Time

In this episode of Learning for Good, we explore how nonprofit leaders can navigate the complexities of global teams with guest Dr. Lori Beyar, Global VP of Strategy & Organizational Development at Cru. If your nonprofit is scaling across borders, or even just managing diverse teams, you'll want to hear this conversation on nonprofit leadership development, building trust, and creating high-performing multicultural teams.We dive deep into how to build a foundation for consistent performance across teams by cultivating awareness, acceptance, and appreciation. ▶️ Leading Across Borders? How to Build High-Performing Nonprofit Teams Anywhere in the World ▶️ Key Points:01:20 Miscommunication at work often starts with mismatched expectations03:18 Meet Dr. Lori Beyar and her global leadership development work05:52 Lori's unexpected path to executive coaching08:35 Key principles for building trust across cultures12:30 The 3 A's: Awareness, Acceptance, Appreciation21:08  Identifying the difference between the result and the path to result26:05 Advice for nonprofit leaders working across culturesResources from this episode:The Culture Map by Erin MeyerJoin the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collectiveWas this episode helpful? If you're listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review!

Time to announce the winner of The Ultimate Houston Dessert Draft, who's picking the winner you ask? Michelle Wallace of b'tween Sandwich Co.! Michelle joins Eric on the podcast today to not only pick the winner of the draft but also let us know how things are going at b'tween Sandwich Co., the advice she gave to Greg Gatlin before he began competing on Food Network's BBQ Brawl, and whether a brick + mortar of b'tween Sandwich Co. is in the works. Plus, Michelle shares her thoughts on how the drafters did, their selections, why she selected [redacted] as the winner, and more! Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: 10 Eateries Participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks for the First Time Two Week Dining Event Celebrates Houston's Latin-Owned Restaurants Award-Winning NYC Chefs Join Houston Rising Star for Pop-Up Dinner Veteran Houston Bartender Shakes Up the Heights with New Tropical Bar Exclusive: New Cocktail Bar from Houston Hospitality Stars Coming to the Heights

On today's episode of the podcast, you're in for something a lot sweeter than normal... because well it's The Ultimate Houston Dessert Draft! Listen as Eric, alongside Local Foods Group's Chelsea Thomas, the Hangry Houstonian Danielle Dubois, Fluff Bake Bar's Becky Masson, Underground Creamery's Josh Deleon, and Heights Grocer's Mary Clarkson attempt to craft the best dessert lineup. The drafters will be selecting a lineup of 6 desserts in total withe each drafter making one selection in each of the following categories: cookies, cake, frozen, pastries, tableside, and a wild card. For the tableside category, drafters may select any dessert that is either prepared or finished at the table. That means lit on fire, sauced, scooped, sliced, etc. For the frozen category, all forms of ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, bingsu, kakigori, shaved ice, sno balls, etc. are available. The wild card category is any additional dessert that hasn't already been selected. The Draft Rules Rule 1: No drafter may select the same restaurant/bakery twice. For example, if a drafter selects Fluff Bake Bar for cookies they may not also select it for their frozen or cake categories.  Rule 2: Once a restaurant/bakery has been selected for a specific category, no other drafter may select it in that same category. For example, only one drafter will get to select Underground Creamery for the frozen category or Fluff Bake Bar for the cookies category.  Rule 3: Drafters may select menu items served at any restaurant, bakery, bar, or food truck in the Greater Houston area. Which is roughly defined as being within the bounds of the Grand Parkway.    Rule 4: Snake draft format. The draft order will go one through six in round 1 then go backwards six through one in round 2. Rule 5: Categories may be selected in any order. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Two Week Dining Event Celebrates Houston's Latin-Owned Restaurants Award-Winning NYC Chefs Join Houston Rising Star for Pop-Up Dinner Veteran Houston Bartender Shakes Up the Heights with New Tropical Bar Netflix Chef's Modern Mexican Restaurant Opens in Houston this Month Exclusive: New Cocktail Bar from Houston Hospitality Stars Coming to the Heights

Season 4 of The Bear premiered on Hulu a couple of weeks ago so it's time to get our into our now yearly discussion with the Ultimate Date Night Draft winner himself, Justin Yu. Eric and Justin dive into a full spoiler conversation all about season 4 including the financial challenges that the restaurant faced this season, the difficulty of changing the menu so much, how that frequency can also speak to a level of selfishness (looking at you Carmy), how tough it is for a restaurant to find the right puzzle pieces to make the concept run smoothly, how those puzzle pieces were reflected in this season, Sydney's big decision this season, the work/life balance of everything, Carmy's journey, restaurants that live on stodges, and much more! Plus, Justin shares with Eric what restaurants he's excited about, what's new at Theodore Rex, and the best wings in Houston. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Veteran Houston Bartender Shakes Up the Heights with New Tropical Bar Netflix Chef's Modern Mexican Restaurant Opens in Houston this Month Shaquille O'Neal Leaves $1,000 Tip at Houston Tex-Mex Institution Growing Burger Chain Slides into First Houston Location Exclusive: New Cocktail Bar from Houston Hospitality Stars Coming to the Heights

On today's podcast Eric is joined by Michael Fulmer to discuss Bobby Heugel and Jackie Stromm uniting for a new cocktail bar concept and Michael's beef with an overused word in food media. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Good God, Nadine's and Ichijiku Neighborhood Sushi are featured. Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Exclusive: New Cocktail Bar from Houston Hospitality Stars Coming to the Heights Growing Burger Chain Slides into First Houston Location Country Star Koe Wetzel Opens New Location of his Lively Bar in Houston Houston Restaurant Served Beyoncé a Southern Feast for her First Meal in H-Town Houston's Best New Restaurant Shows Off at CultureMap Tasting Table Dinner

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Bryan Caswell and Allison Knight of Latuli. The pair discuss with Eric why the Memorial area was the right place for Latuli, the scale of it, developing the menu, the nods to previous concepts of Bryan's, the staff, what the opening process has been like for Allison, the unusual design of Latuli, making it kid friendly, how things are going so far, adding lunch service, the vision for the concept, and more. Plus, Allison shares about her background and what led her to wanting to open a restaurant. Also, Bryan speaks about his time away from the spotlight and what changed for him to want to go from consulting to a more permanent position.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Exclusive: New Cocktail Bar from Houston Hospitality Stars Coming to the Heights Country Star Koe Wetzel Opens New Location of his Lively Bar in Houston Houston Restaurant Served Beyoncé a Southern Feast for her First Meal in H-Town Houston's Best New Restaurant Shows Off at CultureMap Tasting Table Dinner Immersive, Speakeasy-Style Tiki Bar Brings the Underworld to Montrose

Eric's back! Today he's joined by Chelsea Thomas to go through the latest happenings in the Houston restaurant and bar scene. The duo discuss chef Thomas Bille winning Best Chef Texas at this year's James Beard Awards, Tristen Epps winning Top Chef, and Austin based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group coming to Houston after claiming a space in Autry Park. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, King Steak is featured.  Follow Eric on Instagram/Threads @ericsandler. You can also reach Eric by emailing him at eric@culturemap.com. Check out some of his latest articles at Culturemap.com: Innovative Houston Chef is the City's Newest James Beard Award Winner Houston Chef Tristen Epps Dishes on his Top Chef Victory and What's Next Michelin-Recognized Austin Restaurant Group Reveals First Houston Project Houston Restaurant Served Beyoncé a Southern Feast for her First Meal in H-Town Immersive, Speakeasy-Style Tiki Bar Brings the Underworld to Montrose