I am Consciously Curious

What does it actually take to make Chicago more affordable, safer, and functional? Joe Holberg — political outsider, former teacher, Google alum, and tech entrepreneur — is running for mayor with a platform built around housing supply, fiscal discipline, and a friendlier environment for businesses of every size. In this episode, Joe digs into the CTA safety crisis, Chicago's permitting proble...

In this episode, I pass the mic to Charles Wong of Umamicue and Episode 182. He hosts Shawn Smith of Heffer BBQ along with brothers Sam and Stephen Lee of K-TEX BBQ. They share their individual journeys into BBQ and where they’re currently at. They share notes on what has and hasn’t worked, manifesting a brick and mortar, and reflect on what Chicago BBQ can be. It was truly a pleasure to take a ba...

John Carruthers didn't set out to raise $100,000 for Chicago nonprofits. He just wanted to do something that felt useful when the world stopped making sense. When the pandemic hit, John — a writer and lifelong pizza obsessive — felt the helplessness that most of us did. What started as a weekly family ritual became something stranger and more beautiful — a secret alley pop-up, where strangers...

Yuta Katsuyama moved to Chicago to study design and business — and quickly noticed something missing: onigiri. What started as a personal craving became a brand now stocked on over 60 shelves across Chicagoland. Yuta talks about bridging Japanese food culture and American entrepreneurship, and what it means to build something from pure necessity. https://www.onigirikororin.com/ https://www.instagr...

One meal at Franklin Barbecue lit a fire in Charles Wong that spreadsheets never could. Since then, he's been quietly building something special — Texas-style BBQ layered with Chinese and Vietnamese heritage, served up through pop-ups and residencies that turned first-time customers into loyal community. After a heartbreaking near-miss on a food hall space, Charles regrouped, reflected, and s...

What if the most powerful thing you could say to someone wasn't advice — it was I believe you ? We sat down with Holley Brandchaft-White, licensed clinical social worker, former Lurie Children's Hospital ED clinician, and co-founder of SHFT Behavioral Health — Chicago's first mental health urgent care center for young people and families. Returning guest Steph Krim of Good Things Ve...

Tony is back for round three! He was on the show five years ago when he was just establishing the professor pizza brand and three years ago when he partnered with the Atomic Hospitality group to provide his pizza on a rooftop in west loop. Since then, he's been approaching two years with the 50/50 hospitality group at their old town location. He just opened a slice shop in west town as well a...

Our next guests are the dynamic duo behind AB Law. Despite being located on the north side of the city, they are helping individuals experiencing a variety of hardship obtain legal status across the country. Their friendship was formed while working together at a restaurant and blossomed into a partnership after working at two law firms previously. We reflect on their personal ties to immigration...

Our next guests are riding the wave of aloha washing over the chicagoland area. They are the yin to each other’s yang. We reflect on the various iterations these lunch plates have taken from pop up tents and food trucks to their first brick and mortar in Highwood, IL. Today, they’re opening their second location in South Loop near the Sears Tower. Congrats friends. Please enjoy my conversation wit...

Our next guest is the owner of Ragadan and A Pizza Pie in Uptown. He reflects on his family’s journey to Oklahoma City from Amman, Jordan. It’s not too often you find a joint that serves great burgers and falafel. Despite the fast casual nature of his restaurants, he’d like to find a way to bring more traditional Jordanian dishes like mansaf to the community. The question is what it’s going to cos...

Our next guests are two college friends that host album listening parties around the city. What started as a way to stay in touch with their group of friends has expanded into a third space for like-minded individuals. Whether it’s your hundredth or first time listening to an album, all are welcome. Please enjoy my conversation with Grant and Kalium of The Heavy Rotation. https://www.instagram.com...

Our next guest has worked in cafes and 1 star restaurants throughout the country. Through helping others start their own projects, the path towards establishing a jewish deli in Chicago became visible. Tune in to hear Sam reflect on his journey of baking bagels during the pandemic, creating a community through farmers markets, and ending up next to the legendary Pequods Pizza on Clybourn in Lincol...

Our next guest is Christine Cikowski, Co-Founder and Chef of Honey Butter Fried Chicken. She's also a part of Sunday Dinner Club, TriBecca's Sandwich Shop, and Honey Butter Beach Club inside SPF Pickleball. We reflect on how HBFC was conceived, the many iterations it's gone through, and how they've maintained longevity through radical transparency and support of their team&apos...

Our next guest is the Founder of a plant workshop here in Chicago. He goes by @uncommonplantguy. Despite the simple idea for a date night, there is so much more to experience through the lens of creating and caring for a kokedama plant. We reflect on his 13 year journey through stage theater, the lessons he’s learned through almost 10 years of therapy, as well as some themes around the human condi...

Our next guests are preparing to open a highly anticipated burger restaurant in Park Ridge in partnership with The Emerald Isle in Edison Park. They met at the highly coveted Bavettes in Chicago and went through many iterations of what life could look like during and after the pandemic. They both were seeking stability and it wasn’t until several pop ups when Phil from Super Goode stopped by and l...

Our next guests are Ryan Catolico and Enrique Huizar of Novel Pizza. I’ve been following their journey since the very beginning. I believe this was the second entry into the Almedaverse. Ryan reflects on how he and Francis tried to replicate some of their favorite pizzas and eventually called for help from Enrique aka Gremski who has grown up in the pizza industry. They’ve had many iterations thro...

Carmilla K is back on the pod. She recently completed a half marathon in Iceland, another Hyrox event, and moved over to Studio Three from Corepower. We yap about themes of discipline, being present, and reframing why we do what we do. She’s entered her fifth decade of life and she continues to be unapologetically herself. I honestly did not think we would catch up for 3 hours but the time flew by...

Our next guest provides a down to earth approach to wine education and she’s coming out with a book on how to read a wine label. She has channeled her love of hospitality as a nurse and a sommelier at a 1 Star Michelin restaurant. We reflect on her non linear journey through healthcare and hospitality with themes of pragmatism, authenticity, and finding balance. Please enjoy my conversation with M...

Our next guest is a designer and multidisciplinary artist. She’s worked with brands like Good Things Vending [Shoutout Steph Krim], The Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, and Fire, The Chicago Marathon, and most recently Babe’s Sports Bar. We reflect on how she has found herself at the intersection of multiple interests and how she has found joy in soccer again. She leads a well-balanced, thoughtful life...

Our next guest is passionate on all things animals. She is an ER Vet Nurse as well as the author for her blog, Faraway Kitchen, where she shares vegan recipes from around the world. She was recently a contestant on Season 15 of MasterChef. We dive into her adventurous beginnings where she leaves no stone unturned in her travels across the country as well as to Southeast Asia. We reflect on what it...

Our next guest is riding the high of Eeeeeatscon this last weekend. He’s been consistently selling out of his weekly preorders despite increasing available quantities. The bagels have a nice “knock knock” crust to them and upon ripping them apart, were dense enough to dip through schmear but not excessively chewy. The everything bagel hit all the right notes. We go into how it all started only a y...

Our next guest is the Chef and Founder of Về lại which is currently a Vietnamese and Lao pop-up filled with themes of nostalgia and homestyle cooking. Coming from hard-working blue collar immigrants, Alvis had a strong work ethic, and despite falling in love with food and cooking at an early age, he didn’t immediately venture into the culinary arts. Microbiology, food science, and time spent at th...

Our next guest is the co-owner and Chef behind Boonie’s. Joe reflects on his Filipino-American upbringing, finding the culinary path, and eventually leaning into the Filipino culinary world. We chat about working on yourself, following your intuition, and making time to just live. If you haven’t been to Boonie’s, put it on your list. Joe’s partner, Joyce, sets a wonderful vibe that reminds you of...

Our next guest is one half of Tilly Bagel Shop in the South Loop and now in the West Loop. Hannah comes on to share how the bagel shop came to be. From a love of blueberry bagels her dad would bring on Sundays to staying busy during the pandemic by sharing bagels with friends and family. What started as a passion project at farmer’s markets has now emerged as a go-to for many Chicagoans. Her culin...

Our next guest has been hand painting signs since 1970. I can’t help but think about him every time I drive west on the Kennedy expressway and peer over to the roof of the Salt Shed. He did that! Join us as we reflect on how he took a leap of faith on art school and immigrated to Chicago from Newfoundland, Canada. A lot of us are striving for peace from mind and he reminds us that it’s simpler tha...