I am Consciously Curious

Our next guest is coincidentally Justine's cousin, but we met prior to me meeting Justine. When Justine introduced me to the cousins, Josh accurately guessed what I drove. He's taken care of me on several occasions when I would bring the car in for service. Just another example of how small the world can feel sometimes. Josh recently popped up at Side Practice Coffee to showcase his snea...

Our next guest shares how she forged her identity and purpose as a creator. She’s the definition of “leaving no stone unturned.” She’s authored a cookbook, been a finalist on Food Network’s Supermarket Stakeout, and is currently releasing her dumpling-making kit. She’s been trying to recreate experiences where people come together over good food and good conversation. Every one of her previous exp...

Our next guest is a physician, deacon, family man, farmer, and he’s currently running for Senate in Illinois. He’s created a 100% free allergy and asthma clinic through his foundation, Strength to Love. He has a knack for identifying root causes of an issue, coming up with a potential solution, and scaling these methods to reach a larger group of people. Two issues that he’s been successful with r...

Our next guest stops by all the way from Canada. She's cultivated a passion for writing and has recently stepped away from being a course editor for a university to freelance full time. She also shares a bit about what life was like living with a parent who was dealing with mental health issues. She's the host of the Finding Fifty Podcast and reflects on the life lessons and experiences...

Tom returns to share what's been going on in his life one year after our last recording. We touch on his transition from property management to risk response at a restoration company and finally striking a work life balance. We revisit his journey of loss with his dad and the importance of family. And we explore what goes into preparing to be the band at our wedding. This episode was filmed t...

Our next guest has become one of Chicago’s favorite urban historians. This man is a walking encyclopedia. He shares how he expanded his curiosity of the city through his time as a lifeguard for the Chicago beaches as well as being a meter maid for ComEd. We also discuss some possible solutions to the uptick in crimes committed by our youth as well as some possible solutions to the issues around th...

Our next guest shares his passion for creating an inclusive space for people with disabilities. He wants to show that, when given an opportunity, people with disabilities can do anything. Growing up with Auditory Processing disorder and ADHD, he cultivated a passion for this niche. He works with Keshet as a Recreation Program Manager, a group that provides support and encouragement at after school...

Our next guest shares his journey of pursuing his dream of baking pastries. From his first time in a commercial kitchen in high school with After School Matters to sharpening his skills at Lost Larson to even running his own pastry program at Big Jones. He now shares his pastries through his bakery Del Sur Bakery and you can find them at Side Practice Coffee [5139 N Damen ave]. It was truly a plea...

Our next guest is a best-selling author, TedX speaker, and strategic consultant to corporate executives, business students, and entrepreneurial leaders. Anyone that’s spent time with her can tell that she’s figured something out and her gift is sharing it with others. Her presence is palpable through the level of attention she gives you through each interaction. What I took away from our conversat...

Our next guest is the creator of the intimate dining experience, family meal. Cambodian culture and cuisine were decimated during the Khmer Rouge. Ethan is on a journey to share Cambodian cuisine with Chicago and explore what it could have looked like had the genocide didn’t happen. Although his path isn’t a linear one, it seems like his curiosity never led him astray in and out of the hospitality...

Our next guests joined forces during the pandemic and started a virtual restaurant delivering elevated midwestern comfort food to peoples' doorsteps. Eve Studnička was curating an underground dinner series in her apartment called "dinner at the grotto" and Alexis Thomas-Rice had a catering company called Black Cat Kitchen. Together, they're striving to cultivate a relaxed ethos...

Our next guest came on the podcast three years ago. Since then, he’s had successful partnerships with Hermosa, Full Shilling in Wrigleyville, Maplewood Brewery, and a ghost kitchen in Humboldt Park. He is now partnering with Atomic hospitality on their West Loop rooftop, Tetto. We talk about the niche that he’s cultivated with stand-up comedians and specifically with how he started to work with JB...

Our next guest is a ceramic artist who makes dinnerware for almost thirty restaurants in Chicago! I initially stumbled upon him from Thomas Oh and Andy Lim on their En Process Podcast. I then saw him again in the "No Place Like Kasama" documentary by Kerri Pang. We explore his journey of becoming a maker, getting discovered by Chef Michael Carlson, and the philosophy on his process. Plea...

Our next guest is on a mission to increase access to narcan in Chicago. He witnessed an overdose on the train and unfortunately did not have narcan on him or near him. As a nurse practitioner, we explore his journey into nursing as well as the current state of the industry. It’s experiencing shortages from burnout and the exodus of baby boomer nurses. We explore creating a culture of safety and ho...

Our next guest shares his journey to becoming a neurosurgeon. We explore how to create and navigate opportunities around you to deepen your interest in medicine. He emphasizes the importance of integrity when applying to medical schools, because if you’re willing to lie on this, what else are you willing to lie about? He recalls how work was life as a resident, but it was necessary. When times get...

Our next guest is the director behind two local documentaries, Shot in the Dark and Cambodian Futures. Shot in the Dark explored the lives of high school basketball students on the west side of Chicago whereas Cambodian Futures explored what Cambodian cuisine might have looked like had the Cambodian genocide not happen through the lens of Chef Ethan Lim. We explore his process from planning, obtai...

Our next guest is the Illinois Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. At 30 years old, he began to notice weakness and muscle deterioration in his legs. Years go by until he receives a diagnosis of a rare and incurable disease called limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. He has since found joy and community within the food and hospitality scene. He’s collaborated with Paulie Gee’s Logan Squa...

Our next guest is a professional boxer representing Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. He’s currently training with the legendary Buddy McGirt. I admired his ability to balance his personal life, time with his family, as well as his commitment to training. Boxing is just a vessel. A platform. His legacy will truly come from his time outside of the ring. Please enjoy my conversation with Ziyad Almaay...

Our next guest had a very tumultuous upbringing and was forced to grow up very quickly. From the moment I met him, I was curious about his ability to bounce from one job to another effortlessly. In this episode, he shares his complicated relationship with his mom as well as where he gets his sense of fulfillment from. Please enjoy my conversation with Genesis Mallari. https://www.instagram.com/ran...

Our next guest is about to open a highly anticipated Ramen restaurant. He's cultivated a deep love for all things Ramen. He’s hosted over 50 pop ups in various cities, and he’s a testament to the importance of iterations. His mastery has also led to a free ebook called “The Book of Ramen” where he dissects the nuances of ramen so meticulously that anyone that wanted to give it a try at home w...

Our next guests created chili oil in the middle of the pandemic. After gifting a few small jars of their homemade chili oil, they received some encouragement to start selling this chili oil. It was fascinating to hear about the cottage food license in Illinois as well as the steps to scale. Things like creating a logo, making labels, and finding a commercial kitchen. ChiLee Oil has come a long way...

Stumbled on this passage by Shiv Sengupta. He hosts a wonderful facebook group for spiritual addicts, "advaitaholics anonymous" He also has three books out that can be found on amazon. Advaitaholics   Anonymous  : Sobering Insights for Spiritual Addicts Enjoy. 

Our next guest is a local Illustrator and Art Director. He was the first to graduate with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Digital Illustration from the American Academy of Art. Although he has partnered with brands such as bleacher report, the NBA, or the Chicago Bulls, he made it clear he continues to do the work simply for the joy of the process rather than accumulating awards or prestige. He shares...

Filmmakers Janell and Malik stop by on their tour of their documentary, Love Conquers All, to share their personal experiences of mental health and why it is much needed to talk about specifically in the black community. They also share their journeys of being first time filmmakers. You can learn more about their comic and documentary by reaching out to Janell @nellynell1027 on instagram https://w...

Our next guest has been involved in two separate shooting incidents. He’s become the poster child for USCCA. Our paths crossed when our mutual friend David McDermott was speaking about the importance of having a plan in case you’re involved in a shooting incident. Our conversation starts with his intro into the firearms industry and gunsmithing. We talk about his experience of having a Federal Fir...