The Industry

Inside the remote desert resort redefining hospitality, one cocktail at a time Guest Bio Raised between Brazil and New York, Marina Ferreira developed a deep appreciation for how food, drink, and hospitality bring people together. With more than 12 years in the industry, she's built a career rooted in creativity, connection, and guest experience — growing from host to beverage director along the w...

In this episode of The Industry Podcast, we sit down with Emmanuel "Manny" Hernandez , lead bartender at Stokes Adobe in Monterey, California, and a 2024 Punch Magazine Top 10 honoree. Manny shares his journey from dishwasher to one of the most respected bartenders in the Monterey Bay area — including the bar-back humility that shaped his career, the physicality and "choreog...

What happens when a lifelong actor ends up behind a bar — and realizes the two aren't all that different? That's the story of Matthew "Matty" Rangel , a born-and-raised Wisconsin bartender who stumbled into social media content creation at 5:00 AM in a pub basement, and now has nearly half a million followers across platforms. In this episode, we sit down with Matty for a candid...

In this episode, we sit down with Karolina Sliwinska — bartender, mixologist, bar program consultant, and founder of Elite Bartender — to talk about what it really takes to build a career in hospitality. From Toronto nightclubs to luxury Marriott and Hyatt properties across Canada, Karolina's path is a masterclass in versatility and knowing your craft inside and out. **From Poland to the KW bar sc...

In our latest episode we sit down with Dan Angus, co-owner of Terroir Bakery in Cambridge, Ontario — an artisan bakery built around a simple but demanding philosophy: only local ingredients, sourced from Ontario farmers. Dan spent years working his way through some of Canada's top fine dining kitchens, including a long stint at the acclaimed Langdon Hall , before an unexpected detour into baking d...

In Episode 267 of The Industry Podcast, we sit down with Jess Long, bartender at the acclaimed Atwater Cocktail Club in Montreal, to trace her journey from hostessing at a busy Toronto restaurant, to pulling shots at Starbucks, to bartending her way through Australia and Southeast Asia — and ultimately landing in one of Canada's most celebrated cocktail scenes. Jess opens up about how Starbucks se...

What does it take to build a global career in hospitality—and fix what’s broken along the way? In this episode, we sit down with Audrey Hands , whose journey spans from London kitchens at 15 to Global Brand Ambassador for Havana Club—and now a consultant focused on improving team culture in hospitality. Audrey is a Franco-British hospitality entrepreneur and consultant based in Mexico City, with o...

In this episode of The Industry Podcast , we’re joined by Toronto-based hospitality professional Dylan Nowo , whose path into bartending and the cocktail world is anything but typical. After starting on the brand side in beer, cider and spirits sales and events, Dylan is now making the transition behind the bar — offering a unique perspective on the hospitality industry, cocktail culture, and what...

This weeks guest is Geoffrey Toffetti , who joins us from Orlando, Florida . Geoffrey is the CEO of Frontline Performance Group , a global company that helps hotels and hospitality brands unlock revenue growth by empowering their frontline teams. With more than two decades of experience across hospitality, operations, and technology, Geoffrey specializes in helping organizations transform everyday...

This week, we sit down with Jeremiah Tomas , General Manager at The Pine in Creemore, Ontario where Jeremiah works alongside an incredibly talented team focused on building one of Canada’s most thoughtful and ambitious dining experiences — currently holding 1 Michelin Star.  Jeremiah’s been working in hospitality since his teenage years, and over the years he’s had the privilege of learning in exc...

This weeks guest is Alex Black , Director of Bars at Our House Hospitality Company . With over 20 years immersed in the world of bars, Alex has refined his craft and passion for hospitality to a high level. Originally from Winnipeg , Alex had the privilege of working in some of Canada’s most esteemed establishments. In 2011, he began calling Vancouver home, significantly contributing to the city’s...

This weeks guest is Paul Lachowich - Director of Operations & Head Distiller, Elora Distilling Company . As the first employee hired by Elora Distilling Company, Paul has been instrumental in shaping the company’s operations and product offerings.  Paul’s career highlights include the following:  Head Distiller:  Recipient of 2 Gold Medals and 2 Silver Medals at the Canadian Artisan Spirit Awa...

This weeks guest is Nadia Hrkać , a Toronto based Luxury Food Importer who works closely with farms and producers in Europe - mainly Italy, to create custom recipes, and private labels. She will introduce you to the highest quality artisanal products from around the world. Nadia has been importing Fresh Truffles particularly from Italy, Croatia, Spain, France and Australia for many years and suppl...

This weeks guest is Vanessa Gouachi who joins us for in person interview. With over two decades in the industry, Vanessa has enjoyed a long and storied career. Initially starting as a dishwasher, Vanessa moved to numerous roles in the family business from back of house, to front of house and eventually bartending. Eventually Vanessa moved to Toronto for school and continued in the Industry by work...

This weeks guest is Chef Franck Desplechin , author of the new book Relentless Growth: Cultivating a Chef’s Mindset for Professional Fulfillment . Chef Franck is not just another chef with battle scars from the kitchen. He has a remarkable journey: entering kitchens at 15, dedicating over 25 years to leading Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels, and now helping professionals unlock deepe...

This weeks guest is Jasmyne Colín who joins us from Denver, Colorado. Jasmyne aka “ Malort Mami ” is a self-proclaimed “bar-activist”. She has competed in many competitions such as Speed Rack and won the Malort competition Denver. While Jasmyn loves bartending and the freedom it gives her to be creative, her passion lies in activism. Jasmyne received her degree in Political Science and Ethnic Stud...

On this weeks episode of The Industry podcast, Garrett Stewart joins us for an in-person interview. Gary has been bartending for 4 years at an “upscale casual” restaurant that focuses on local, sustainable and ethical products. Over the course of his career, Gary has taught kindergarten, worked in youth shelters, was employed as a carpenter, a tree planter, and a cherry picker, but he  always some...

This weeks guest is Blake Canning who joins us from Toronto, Ontario. Blake is the National Canadian Brand Ambassador for Bearface Whisky . In his role as a Brand Ambassador, Blake has travelled across this great country educating on all that his brand and Canada have to offer. From unique cask blends to the patented Elemental Aging Process , Blake always attempts to share what makes Bearface and...

This weeks guest is Angelo Solimando who joins us from Costa Rica. Currently, Angelo is the Bar Manager at the brand new 2 Michelin Keys Resort Nekajui , a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. With Italian roots and a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel & Hospitality Management, Angelo has over 20 years in the industry, nine of which have been with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company . He has held key roles at prestigious...

This weeks guest is Brenton Mowforth who joins us from Toronto, Ontario . Since creating Cheers to Happy Hour in 2017, and Wander Thirsty in 2021, Brenton Mowforth has become the authority on where to drink and how to drink. His mission is to influence people to share in his passion for 'drinking better, not more' by taking a more thoughtful approach to what we consume. Celebrating flavour and sav...

This weeks guest is Shawn Flanagan. Shawn is a Kitchener native and hospitality professional with over 20 years experience working throughout the region. Starting as a dishwasher at thirteen, then assisting with prep, he’s worked near every position in the restaurant industry; from line cook to kitchen manager; from serving and bartending to management. Shawn’s been involved in the successful star...

This weeks guest is Amanda Jones , who joins us from Austin, Texas . Amanda is a 19-year veteran of the bar and restaurant industry and the 5 year GM of Nickel City , one of the country’s most beloved neighborhood bars. A 2025 Spirited Awards Top 10 U.S. Bartender nominee, Amanda is known for her leadership, hospitality expertise, and dedication to creating welcoming, community-driven spaces. @jui...

This weeks guest is Am anda Colomb who is a whiskey educator and content creator with nearly 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Amanda has spent a good portion of her career helping people discover new spirits and enjoy memorable experiences. She uses that background to make whiskey approachable, fun and a little bit cheeky. Her goal is to take intimidation out of whiskey and repl...

This weeks guest is Arianna Hone who joins us from Park City, Utah . Arianna is currently the Head Bartender at High West Saloon in Park City. Arianna has competed multiple times in Speedrack a speed bartending competition for femmes/women and was a top 5 national finalist in 2021. She is a Tales of The Cocktail CAP alumni and has worked in their program multiple times. Arianna is also a BAR 5 day...

This weeks guest is Calliope Draper who joins us from Montreal, Quebec . Calliope has dedicated herself to building a brighter and more inclusive hospitality sector. Her vision to provide unfailingly warm hospitality to LGBTQ+ folks, and her passion for educating those both in front of and behind the bar is baked into everything she does. In 2024, Callie founded Places You are Welcome , a spirited...