Cooking Your Way Through Life

Things we pretend to like, a few confessions, and why you should never trust a single bite. This episode almost did not make it. I lost about 70% of the content I filmed in Atlanta, and this conversation with Jamal was part of it. So while I was in Athens, Greece, Jamal and Lexi hopped on with me online and we recorded it all over again. I am so glad we did. We get into all kinds of things we pret...

Overrated vs underrated hot takes on all kinds of things, and a guest who is not shy about sharing his opinions. This week I am joined by Asher, and for an episode called Overrated and Underrated I knew he was going to have plenty to say lol. Asher has a deep background in food and beverage as a former bar owner, general manager, and F&B professional, and today he works in Destinations and Ope...

Things I learned way too late and why I am not calling it regret because that is not what this is. There is a real difference between regretting something and wishing you had a piece of knowledge earlier. Today is a solo episode and it is fully in that second space. If you know better you do better and I stand on that completely. The frustration is not that I eventually learned these things. It is...

What are you cheap about and where do you think the more expensive option is actually worth every penny? Today I am joined by Kathleen, also known as Chef Leen, and this one was a long time coming. Me and Kathleen first met in Boston when we were both training to work for America's Test Kitchen with Holland America Cruise Lines and a lot has changed since then. She now has two beautiful little gir...

Things I will never do again, lessons I only needed once, and a petty rapid fire list of never-agains that I think you are going to relate to more than you expect. This is a solo episode and I want to say upfront that this is not a regret episode. Regretting something and being glad you did it while knowing you are never doing it again are two completely different things. The older you get the lon...

Unpopular opinions, real talk, and two people who are not afraid to say what they actually think. Me and Warren sat down in Athens, Greece for this one and covered everything from Dubai Chocolate and Brunch to Nepotism, Garlic Powder, Steak Sauce, and a whole lot more in between. Warren flew in from London to hang out in Greece with me and getting to record this episode here made it one of my favo...

This one was too fun not to share as a bonus episode. When I film batches of podcast episodes I like to ask everyone the same question and this time around I gave everyone one million dollars. The only catch was that they had to spend every single dollar within 7 days. No savings accounts. No Roth IRAs. No hiding it anywhere safe. You have to spend it and you have 7 days to figure it out. We all s...

Me and Chef Louis go back to 2011 and my very first cruise ship contract out in Hawaii. From that moment we built something that has lasted and today he is the Chef and Owner of The Canterbury Kitchen in Americus, Georgia with his amazing wife Sumner. Watching him build that has been one of the most genuinely inspiring things I have seen from someone I have known this long. Today we are talking ab...

Before I step back for a little while I wanted to leave something meaningful in your ears. This is a solo episode and I recorded it in Athens, Greece because I am in the middle of a lot of personal change right now and this topic would not leave me alone. If you do not adjust you do not survive. I believe that with everything I have and I think it is true for every part of life and every career wi...

Some conversations hit differently when you come back to them later and this is one of those. TJ is someone I have to properly introduce to anyone who is new here because without him none of this exists. He is the reason I started this podcast. That led to my cookbook. That led to this YouTube channel. That led to everything I am building right now. So when me and TJ sit down together it is never...

I have not done a solo episode in a while but this topic came back around for me recently and I felt like it needed its own conversation. Eating alone carries so much stigma that people will genuinely stay in relationships with people they do not even like just to avoid sitting at a table by themselves. I have seen it. I have lived parts of it. And today I want to talk about why we need to stop tr...

Transitions are unavoidable but most of us never actually talk about what they do to us until we are already deep in one. This week I am sitting down with Mr. Asher, someone I have known for years, and I have to be honest with you, he still surprised me in this episode. He shared things I did not know about him and it reminded me of exactly why I love doing this show. Real conversations with real...

Starting over sounds like a big physical move but if you have ever tried it you know the hardest part is what happens in your mind before anything else changes. This week I am joined by Ayla, a CT and Nuclear Medicine Technologist, mom of two, and one of the most real people I know. Anytime we get together the laughs are non-stop but we also stay dropping gems and this episode is no different. We...

Are you the person who plans everything or the one who just goes along with whatever everyone else decides? In this episode I sit down with Warren, a tattoo artist based in London, and we get real about planning ahead. What does it actually feel like to be the planner in your life? What about the person who just follows along? And are any of us actually making real plans or just reacting as life c...

Be honest: do you actually have a budget or are you just hoping it works out? In this episode I sit down with Alyssa Garrett and we go all the way in on budgeting and finances, covering everything from the discipline it takes to the habits that actually help and what it really looks like when you are just winging it with your money. On the culinary side I talk about using the same protein multiple...

Routines keep us grounded. But do they also keep us from growing? In this episode I sit down with Jamal and Lexi, an Atlanta based married couple who bring a soccer coach's discipline and a graphic designer's creative eye to one of the most honest conversations we have had on this show. We dig into how routines support your mental health and structure your life, but also ask the harder question: a...

No guest today. Just me and a conversation I think a lot of us need to have. Stress is something we all carry but the Black community in particular has a long history of pushing through without ever really addressing it. In this solo episode I get honest about what causes me stress, what I actually do to manage it, and why I think understanding your stress is one of the most powerful things you ca...

Control is something we all wrestle with, and in this episode I sit back down with my longtime friend Spencer Jason to really dig into it. Spencer is a Bosun for Uncruise Adventures out of Alaska and this is his first time joining me since the podcast went visual on YouTube. We talk about the difference between giving up control and recognizing when you actually have it, and why understanding that...

Your tastes are supposed to change, and that includes more than just food. In this episode, Chef Hollywood explores how our preferences evolve over time: the careers we outgrow, the hobbies that no longer fit, the people we find ourselves drawn to now versus years ago. Change is not a crisis, it is a signal. And on the culinary side? There is actual science behind it. Your taste buds physically ch...

Some conversations need to be had in the kitchen — and this is one of them. Chef Hollywood sits down with Chef Patrick (@dahangrychef) to tackle one of the most nuanced topics in the culinary world: the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, and everything that lives in between. As two chefs of color, they bring a perspective that is rarely heard at the table — honest...

What does it mean to be THE host — and who takes care of you while you're taking care of everyone else? In this episode, Chef Hollywood sits down with longtime friend Warren Mullins to dig into the real world of hosting: the pressure, the joy, the grind, and the moments nobody talks about. Whether you're hosting a party, a show, or just holding it together for the room — this conversation is going...

In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life: 'Traveling,' I'm diving into something I'm genuinely passionate about—the joy of travel. But here's the thing: I also want to talk about something we don't discuss enough. The Pressure to Travel: For way too long, we've condemned people for not traveling. We've made it seem like if you're not constantly exploring the world, you're missing out on li...

Welcome to a special birthday week episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life!   This week, I'm reflecting on another year, celebrating with all of you, and sharing some exciting news about the podcast.   A Big Announcement: Starting last week, we launched a brand new format for Cooking Your Way Through Life—all episodes are now fully visual on YouTube! You can watch the podcast with video on YouTub...

Have you ever felt the weight of expectations—from your family, your community, or yourself? In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life: 'Pressure,' I'm sitting down with my Uncle, Command Sergeant Major Donald Robertson, to have a real, honest conversation about one of life's most challenging experiences. We're talking about what it means to be successful while carrying the silent expectati...

In this special episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life with Chef Hollywood, we’re stepping into a new era. The podcast is officially going visual. Starting next week, every episode will be available on YouTube in full video—while still streaming on all your favorite platforms. Chef Hollywood breaks down the new weekly schedule, what’s coming next, and how you can stay connected as the brand cont...