Hot Gossip

In this episode of Hot Gossip , we sit down with Justin Gurland , founder of The Maze NYC, for a conversation that moves far beyond business strategy into the deeper territory of purpose, redemption, and what it truly means to create space for human connection. Justin's story begins in the darkness of addiction at 25, when his sister's intervention became the catalyst for a complete life t...

In this episode of Hot Gossip, we sit down with Roya Shanks, Maitre D' at The Odeon in Tribeca. The Odeon has been at one of New York City's most iconic restaurants since 2001. But Roya's story is far more than longevity, it's a masterclass in what it looks like to build a genuinely values-driven life inside an industry that rarely gets credit for it. A Yale graduate who walked awa...

What does it take to build a restaurant brand that feels both effortlessly casual and meticulously crafted? Charles Bililies, founder and CEO of Souvla, shares the remarkable origin story that began with a whole lamb roast in his San Francisco backyard and evolved into a beloved six-location restaurant group. Charles reveals how his Greek heritage, fine dining background, and commitment to quality...

In this episode of Hot Gossip , we’re joined by Sara Deseran , longtime food writer, Editor at The San Francisco Standard , and former restaurateur behind the beloved Tacolicious group, for a conversation that sits at the tender intersection of food, storytelling, and staying power. We explore what it means to devote yourself to an industry that is as beautiful as it is brutal, and the tension bet...

Justin Cogley (two-Michelin-starred chef of Aubergine at L'Auberge Carmel) reveals how an unconventional journey from competitive figure skating to Disney on Ice to the highest echelons of fine dining shaped his revolutionary approach to leadership and hospitality. Justin opens up about his early obsession with food despite growing up on fast food, his formative years traveling Asia with Disne...

Jen Pelka has built her career around one principle: always work with the best. From staging at Danielle restaurant with a single Crate & Barrel knife to founding The Riddler champagne bars and creating Une Femme wines, her trajectory reflects audacious vision paired with operational discipline. In this conversation, Jen discusses the period when COVID forced her to close The Riddler, her hous...

Josh Harris has maintained Trick Dog's position among the world's top bars for over a decade through a simple principle: never compromise what makes it essential. When COVID threatened to force every hospitality concept into survival mode, Josh made a different choice entirely. This conversation examines the intentionality behind Trick Dog's biannual reinvention, the spatial and operat...

Hot Gossip. is a storytelling-driven podcast exploring the intersection of hospitality, design, and human connection. Hosted by Hannah Collins Tate , founder of ROY Hospitality Design Group, and Jacob Cross , creative strategist and media storyteller, this show uncovers the intentionality behind the world’s most compelling hospitality spaces. Through raw, emotional, and inspiring conversations wit...