Branching Out

Another one of our Summer Special Menu - Bird Of Pray is one of the outstanding cocktails from the Campari Stir Crazy Project and we have Abbie Rudson, the creator of the drink here to talk about it. We hit on the importance of replicability and how being able to communicate with your guests is THE MOST important. Recorded and produced by AXXN Pact Studios in Toronto Branching Out is produced by A...

We dig back into some of Josh's notebooks to talk about "One Hour Photo" a cocktail made by Robin Goodfellow 12 or 14 or 28 years ago. Listen to find out a little about what Toronto was like in the early 2010s and how important being whimsical can be. Recorded live at AXXN Pact Studios in Toronto. Production by Jess Colburn and Aaron Verdonk. Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Onta...

EPISODE 19! For this LDA episode of Branching Out, we start a new thing. Josh's own thing. Throughout his whole career, Charlotte Voisey has been one of Josh's guiding lights in the world of beverage alcohol and really just how to carry yourself while working. This interview is unlike any other in Branching Out's brief history. This also signifies a kind of summer break for us. We'll be back in Se...

EPISODE 18! Julie Reiner joins Josh to talk about all the things that our previous guests have wanted to ask her. It's the easiest interview we've done yet!  Follow Lauren: @mixtressnyc Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk Host: Josh Lindley Written by Josh Lindley Branchin...

BRANCHING OUT EPISODE 17! From the very first episode we told you that we would treat this podcast like the opening of a bar. We know what we planned going into it but we aren't afraid to try out something different. Like late-night programming, or brunch.   This week's Branching Out (brunching out?) brings us into Josh's pile of notebooks. You get a peak into three different cocktails that have b...

EPISODE 16! Lauren Mote, Global Director of On Trade Excellence with Patron joins Josh to talk about all the things you learn you can do when you run your own business, how the people in the room are sometimes the most inspirational people around and how when you are offered a chance to do something, you should do it! Lauren came up on the Jeff Savage episode. Follow Lauren: @laurenmote Follow Bar...

EPISODE 15!  Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Portland joins Josh to talk about feeling accepted at work can make the difference, how playing computers never gets boring and some pros and cons of batching your cocktails. Jeffrey was sent our way by both Brant Porter and Shawn Soole.  Follow Jeffrey: @jeffmorgen  Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact  Branching Out is produced...

EPISODE 14! James Grant of Toronto (but kinda Edmonton) joins Josh to talk about setting fire to previous versions of yourself, how being a bartender will make you a better communicator (ideally) and how stupid garnish will crash your service. James was sent our way by both Calliope Draper and Jeff Savage.  Follow James: @oldgrayrabbit Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow AXXN Pact: @axx...

EPISODE 13! Sean Baxter of Never Never Distilling Co in Adelaide, Australia joins Josh to talk about advice from mom, the positive impacts of working in night clubs before learning about cocktails and the infamous but ever-popular Club 86. Sean was sent our way by Jenna Hemsworth. Follow Sean: @seanofthenevernever Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact Branching Out is...

EPISODE 12! Lynette Marrero of New York joins Josh to talk about knowing and finding and building your community, understanding when to make the choice to stick with the thing that works best for you and also, musicals. Lynette was sent our way by Kaitlyn Stewart (and also by Kate Chernoff).  Follow Lynette: @drinksat6 Follow Speed Rack: @speed_rack   Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow...

EPISODE 11! Erick Castro of San Diego joins Josh to talk about addressing mental health without training, the concept of the "false wait" and how important sharing knowledge really is. Erick was sent our way by Sarah Ruiz who says she loves his podcast (it's cool, I have no feelings left to hurt).  Follow Erick: @bartenderatlarge  Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpac...

EPISODE 10! Shawn Soole, the one and only, of Victoria joins Josh to talk about landscaping, maintaining a successful marriage as an industry vet and a little bit about bartending and mentors. Shawn was sent our way by Brant Porter who came our way via the starting point of one of our trees, Kate Chernoff.  Follow Shawn: @shawnsoole   Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas   Follow AXXN Pact: @ax...

EPISODE 9! Jeff Savage of Prophecy in Vancouver joins Josh to talk about spirituality, sports, nature and a little bit about bartending and mentors. Plenty of fun insights about what makes Jeff tick. Jeff was sent our way by Callie Draper who came our way via the starting point of one of our trees, Kate Chernoff. Follow Jeff: @tfatherofcups  Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pac...

EPISODE 8! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Kevin Diedrich of San Francisco, California. Kevin came our way via Sarah Ruiz, who came our way via Kapri Robinson. Kevin tells us about some of the people that have helped him along the way, but also gets into what it is like starting a Cocktail Week.  Follow Kevin @therealdiedrich  Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pa...

EPISODE 7! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Jenna Hemsworth of Melbourne (Melbin?) Australia. Jenna is a starting point on another tree on which we will branch out. Jenna tells us about some of the people that have helped her along the way, but also gets into some very reflective ideas about who you work with and how we all show up for each other.  Follow Jenna: @jrhemsworth Follow...

EPISODE 6! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Calliope Draper of Montreal, Canada. We got to Calliope from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Callie talk about transgender representation in the hospitality community, the importance of staying curious and how being familiar with systems of international political systems can help you in your bar career.  Calliope then...

EPISODE 5! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Brant Porter of Victoria, Canada. We got to Brant from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Brant talk about choosing between shredding on guitar and shaking drinks, being able to see your younger self for who you were (a nerd) and of course, his big three mentors that have guided him along the way. Follow Brant: @brantarthu...

EPISODE 4! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Kaitlyn Stewart of Vancouver. We got to Kaitlyn from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Kaitlyn talk about if job titles even matter, her previous career which trained her well to be behind the bar and of course, her big three mentors that have guided her on her way.   Follow Kaitlyn: @likeablecocktailsFollow Bartender Atl...

EPISODE 3! We are starting a new tree with Kate Chernoff of Vancouver, Canada. Plus Josh explains to the other half of Bartender Atlas, Jessica Blaine Smith, just what he is doing with Branching Out . In a relatively short period of time with working behind the bar, Kate has done great things. She talks about being the World Class Canada Bartender of the Year 2025 and the opportunities that have c...

EPISODE 2! Kapri Robinson led us to Sarah Ruiz, of BIG Bar in Quito, Ecuador. Sarah talks about the best ways to build a solid foundation, not just for drinks but for training staff. She talks about how moving to Quito from San Francisco made her re-evaluate how much she loves using local cocktail ingredients. And, for our purposes, most importantly, she points us in the direction of a handful of...

It's our first episode of Branching Out and we begin with Kapri Robinson of Allegory in Washington, DC, USA! We talk about how Friends and Family Nights at new bars can be awkward. We talk about dropping out of school and the importance of having your heroes on speed dial. We talk about having fun while being responsible. We talk about what mentorship really is and who are the people who have insp...

Host: Josh LIndley Producer: Aaron Verdonk, Jesse Colburn Music: Aaron Verdonk Graphics: Jessica Blaine Smith Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted) Host: Josh LIndley Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley