Beats Vines and Life

On this episode of Beats Vines & Life, host MJ Towler sits down with Peter Yeung—a strategic wine business leader, author of Luxury Wine Marketing, and co-host of the Ex-Château podcast. From his roots in Orange County to the boardrooms of McKinsey to the vineyards of Wente Family Estates, Peter shares his unique journey through immigrant hustle, Silicon Valley innovation, and high-stakes wine...

On this episode of Beats Vines & Life, MJ Towler welcomes celebrated wine journalist and editor Ray Isle for a deep, wide-ranging conversation that flows from Houston childhood memories to the heart of global wine culture. As the executive wine editor for Food & Wine magazine and author of The World in a Wine Glass, Ray Isle shares stories of unexpected career pivots, working the vineyard...

Welcome to Beats, Vines & Life, where Gen X culture, music, and the philosophy of coming together over good wine take center stage. In this episode, MJ sits down with Mark Pascal and Francis Schott—the legendary Restaurant Guys—whose roots in the hospitality world run deep. Before launching one of the world’s first food podcasts back in 2005, Francis and his partner Mark Pascal were trailblaze...

Welcome to another episode of Beats Vines & Life, where we blend the soundtrack of Gen X culture with stories from the heart of American wine country. This time, the conversation focused on the Great American Wine Tour—a journey crisscrossing Napa, Willamette, the Finger Lakes, Texas Hill Country, Virginia, and beyond to uncover the most remarkable wines made right here in the USA. One concept...

On this episode of Beats, Vines & Life, we’re diving deep into the rhythms of Gen X culture, Italian style, and the art of coastal winemaking with Elia Pellegrini, fourth-generation owner and vintner at Aia Vecchia—an estate rooted in the heart of Tuscany’s vibrant wine scene. Raised among vineyards and steeped in classic traditions, Elia brings a fresh, modern vision to his family’s legacy, w...

Welcome to another episode of Beats, Vines & Life! Today, host MJ Towler sits down with award-winning filmmaker, storyteller, and founder of Nomadic Bear Productions, Christopher McGilvray. Based out of Santa Cruz, Chris’s journey takes us from his upbringing at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains through the heyday of Silicon Valley’s rise, to his creative evolution at USC, global travels, a...

On this episode of Beats, Vines & Life , host MJ Towler sits down with Vincent Morrow—“Vinny” to his friends—a master sommelier, educator, and hospitality executive whose journey from a college soccer player in Arizona to overseeing beverage programs for Union Square Hospitality Group is nothing short of inspiring. Vinny shares how his early experiences in iconic California wineries like Ridge...

On this special bonus episode of Beats Vines & Life, host MJ Towler sits down with the legendary Andre Mack, award-winning sommelier, creative force behind Maison Noir wines, and branding maverick.  Together, they dive into Andre Mack's newest project, "Thirst Trap"—a bold, genre-bending live show that fuses wine education with the energy of music, humor, and authentic storytelling. Forge...

In this episode of Beats Vines & Life , host MJ Towler welcomes Giancarlo Altamura, assistant winemaker and next-generation voice of Napa Valley. Hailing from a family with roots in Napa since the mid-1800s, Giancarlo Altamura grew up immersed in the rhythms of farming, winemaking, and tight-knit community life. He shares stories of hands-on vineyard work, navigating family dynamics, and the e...

Welcome to another life-focused edition of Beats, Vines & Life. Today, MJ Towler sits down with renowned entrepreneur, teacher, and bestselling author Seth Godin. Known for his game-changing books like Purple Cow , Tribes , and This Is Marketing , Seth Godin has shaped the thinking of marketers, creators, and leaders around the world.  In this episode, the conversation explores the inters...

Welcome to "Beats, Vines & Life," where we blend conversations on music, culture, and the real moments that shape our lives. In today’s episode, sits down with Angela Nissel—bestselling author, television writer, and co-founder of the legendary Okay Player community. From her early days chronicling the realities of broke college life online to breaking new ground as a Black woman in both music...

Welcome to another episode of Beats Vines & Life! Today’s conversation focused on the fight to preserve independent winemaking, family legacy, and the spirit of Napa Valley in the face of legal and regulatory challenges. This episode dives into the story of Hoopes Vineyard—a multi-generational, regenerative wine business—and the high-stakes legal battle with Napa County that puts both land and...

Welcome to another episode of Beats Vines & Life! Today, we're diving deep into music, wine, and lifestyle with a special guest who embodies the spirit of innovation and tradition in Napa Valley: Elton Slone, President, CEO, and Managing Partner at Robert Craig Winery. From his humble roots in small-town Indiana to helming one of Napa's premier mountain Cabernet producers, Elton brings not jus...

Welcome back to Beats Vines & Life . In this special episode, MJ Towler sits down with Wright Lassiter and his wife, Cathy Lassiter—a dynamic couple whose journey blends music, culture, and the art of living well. Wright Lassiter, one of the nation's top healthcare leaders, and Cathy, a lifelong community advocate and self-described CEO of the family, share how their passions for travel, cultu...

Welcome to another episode of Beats, Vines & Life! Today, MJ sits down with Dave Wanek, a multifaceted leader whose journey winds from a small Nebraska town to the heart of Silicon Valley and, eventually, the vineyards of Walla Walla. As the co-founder of Cimento and a principal at Walla Walla Land Company, Dave brings decades of experience in technology investment and an unwavering commitment...

Welcome back to Beats, Vines & Life! In today’s episode, host Speaker A sits down with Brian Lau—entrepreneur, lifelong collector, and founder of One More Time Watches. Brian’s passion for luxury watches has evolved into a booming business rooted in transparency and education, shaped by his expertise in both cybersecurity and high-stakes business development. But this conversation is more than...

Welcome to another episode of Beats, Vines & Life! In this episode, host MJ sits down with David Garrett, co-founder of dVin, a trailblazer at the crossroads of music, lifestyle, technology, and fine wine. With over 25 years of experience spanning tech, finance, and the luxury wine industry, David is leading a movement to revolutionize wine ownership through blockchain and tokenization, making...

Welcome back to another episode of Beats, Vines & Life! This time, host MJ Towler heads to the heart of Napa Valley for a refreshing and thoughtful conversation with Jack Bittner, the managing partner of Accendo Estate. With a rich background in business, global investment, and a deep-rooted love for fine wine, Jack B brings an owner’s mindset and a collector’s palate to every decision at Acce...

Welcome to Beats, Vines & Life. In today’s episode, host MJ Towler is joined by Victor and Chloe Schwartz – wine importers who just became victorious plaintiffs in a groundbreaking Supreme Court case: VOS Elections versus Donald Trump. Together, they’re uncorking more than just their favorite bottles (including a Domaine de Banneret 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape); they’re sharing the inside story o...

Welcome to a special edition of Beats, Vines & Life, where music, wine, and authentic stories always take center stage. In today’s episode, host MJ Towler dives deep into the soulful landscape of California’s Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, joined by an incredible lineup of winemakers and growers: Gary Francioni, a true multi-generational farmer; Moret Brealynn, whose expressive Pinot Noirs and sta...

Welcome to another episode of Beats, Vines & Life! In today’s episode, “Gemello Audio,” host MJ Towler sits down with Bay Area writer, wine historian, and longevity researcher Kevin Ferguson. Growing up surrounded by the orchards of Mountain View, California, Kevin Ferguson comes from a family with deep roots in winemaking—his grandfather, Mario Gemello, ran the historic Gemello Winery for nea...

Welcome to Beats Vines & Life, where we dive into the intersection of wine, business, and modern living. In this episode, host MJ Towler sits down with Ben Salisbury, renowned consultant, coach, and creator of the Wine Sales Stimulator training program. With over four decades of experience in the wine and spirits industry, Ben has worked with major players like Constellation Brands and St. Mic...

Welcome back to Beats Vines & Life! In this special bonus episode, host MJ Towler reunites with the dynamic and trailblazing winemaker Brenae Royal for part two of their powerful conversation. After the overwhelming response to her first appearance, Brenae Royal returns to dive deeper into her incredible journey—sharing how she’s navigated the challenging world of wine, achieved rapid success...

Welcome back to Beats Vines & Life! In this episode, hosts MJ Towler and Rob S introduce us to the vibrant world of Schermeister Audio, featuring the dynamic winemaking duo Laura S and Rob S. Get ready for an unfiltered and wildly entertaining conversation that blurs the lines between wine, music, and living life to the fullest. From tales of Idaho roots to tattoo regrets, bold love stories, a...

Welcome back to Beats Vines & Life, where music, wine, and stories of resilience intersect! In this episode, host MJ Towler sits down with Brene Royal—the trailblazing founder of Violet’s Paradise and Violet’s Paradise Scholarship. As a respected leader in Sonoma viticulture and a former vineyard manager at the iconic Monte Rosso Vineyard, Brene Royale shares her journey from humble beginnings...