Show de Vie Podcast

Wild Turkey's Benny Hurwitz has no problem working any gig on the totem pole. For him, mastering even the smallest of things, leads to a much better and well-rounded life. After realizing the suit and tie lifestyle wasn't for this skateboarding Maryland native, he entered the freeing world of hospitality. This land of little structure, no lectures, and a lot of creative freedom set his career on a...

Christopher Stevens of Craft Distillers INC flies under the radar. He doesn't have much in the way of social media presence and his humility directly mirrors that of the producers for which he works. Once a psychology student focused on going into practice, his connection with hospitality and initially, fine wine, set his path on a whole new direction. Now as a regional sales manager for Craft Dis...

Dalla's Amy Flores started down the straight and accepted path of college and a "real" job. For some this is a fine and regular endeavor, but as Amy's mind grew more creative and sought out more diverse experiences, a desk job just wasn't enough. Enter Hospitality stage left, and then a connection between people, spirits, and stories enrich Amy's life forever. After years behind the bar, time in d...

The man of many talents, Mr. Nico Martini has traversed numerous aspects of the marketing and academia industries, but his largest passion has stemmed from the modern cocktail movement. As the founder of marketing company Hypeworthy , and a co-founder of large event/mobile draught system technology Bar Draught , Nico has had many irons in the fire. However, his latest effort turned writer, Texas C...

Portland native Clayton Szczech leveraged writing, music, and civil service to the help the community around him. But as many stories twist and turn, (add disappointment with bureaucracy and a need for new horizons into the mix) Clayton found a new sense of purpose in agave spirits. Now the founder of such great curated tours like Experience Mezcal , and Experience Tequila , he is able to help inv...

There are few more established and respected individuals in the hospitality industry than Jim Meehan. He has influenced a generation of bartenders with his cocktail havens PDT and Prairie School. His straight forward attitude and brilliant attention to detail make him one of the foremost cocktail experts in the industry. Now after an already successful career, he takes to writing his second book M...

Nicola Olianas eats and breathes hospitality. As an Italian native, his surroundings were always rooted in food and community. The lifestyle of learning, fostering communication, and appreciating nature were at the foundation of his journey. But as it can sometimes feel limiting, his insular Italian neighborhood couldn't satisfy Nicola's cultural and travel inspired appetite. After studying abroad...

  The legendary Al Young has shared the beauty of Four Roses Bourbon for over 50 years. He's traveled the world, seen consumer tastes change, and now still stands at the forefront of Bourbon discussion as it returns to favor. Starting as a man of the stage, Al fully intended on studying drama, but love and commitment drove him to find a 9-5 day job. Starting with Seagrams in 1964, the impressive j...

Employee's Only's Dev Johnson is a LA native who's drift away from acting led to a massive dedication to hospitality. As many actor's find work far and few between, they seek out hospitality jobs to cover their expenses. Sometimes this empowers the career, and sometimes it creates a career change. Dev Johnson found that bartending became the perfect intersection of people skills and learning. Now...

  Esteban Morales Garibi revitalized craft cocktails, coffee, and culinary innovation in Guadalajara. His commitment to transparency, new projects, and sharing beautiful spirits with the world is a page out of an adventure novel. His introduction of La Venenosa introduced the world to Raicilla, a seemingly lost spirit that highlights the flavors of Jalisco. Likewise, his latest project Mezcales De...

The world of mezcal is growing in a very rapid way. The divide between bottle pricing creates many questions for consumers and bartenders alike. With all the market opportunities, what does a burgeoning brand do to captivate the market and consumers alike. Fausto Zapata, the creator and CEO of El Silencio Mezcal , used his interest in people, real estate, and culture to bring a cost-effective spir...

The road to Scotch was a much larger one than you might think for Beam-Suntory's Johnnie Mundell. As a traveler, and semi-aspiring film maker, his creative roots were moving in many directions. But as life and love ultimately shaped the journey, Johnnie connected with his homeland and perspective on teaching as he became a whisky brand ambassador. Through a few other brands, Johnnie ultimately fou...

Download   The fashion-forward and hospitality focused Nathan Reffell has helped shape the Houston hospitality scene. As an ambassador for the gin and rum categories previously, his newly formed role with Grey Goose Vodka pairs his love of spirts with fashion. A student of the small Rowlett, Texas created larger aspirations for travel and in a way, customer service. Nate studied fashion design whi...

Download   Whether you say lee-sure or leh-sure, Austin's Derek Posner sets a great example on how to create balance in one's life. Developing a brilliant work ethic at the early age of 16, Derek found his social calling and talent prosper in the hospitality industry. And after a short-lived stint in baseball, the decks aligned and proved that he was going to be a long term player in this massive...

Download   Dr. Ivan Saldana is a thinker, a scientist, an influencer, and a crazy inventor. As a safe keeper of mezcal, and plant lover, his early career may have taken him in a different direction. However, the studies abroad at Sussex full enveloped Ivan into his romantic relationship with agave. Years later, the entrepreneurial spirit took over and he helped developed the beautiful Ancho Reyes...

Download James Wallace Brown is a business savvy gent that swore by his rum and coke until a greater love came along. The Scottish-Mexican citizen appreciates people, honesty, and nature. So when the beautiful collection of Mezcal Amores met him on a fateful day, all of his passions were rolled into one reality. Coming from a deeply entrepreneurial upbringing, his family traversed many parts of th...

Download Both creative and highly analytical, Compass Box's Kerrin Egalka made the enviable shift into the hospitality world. As a computer science and art history "nerd", Kerrin tired of the day to day humdrum corporate life. With an articulate ambition and unrivaled ability to understand highly complex things, she entered the cocktail industry. She has represented some exceptional spirits, but n...

Download Tyler Tadej and Jonny Thompson creators and admins of the brilliant Mezcalreviews.com met each other in an interesting way and found Mezcal in an equally interesting way. Through their passion for the Mexican spirit, they have created the largest repository of Mezcal information for consumers yet. The dynamic duo has a keen eye for design and flavor of which their site shares every elemen...

Download Brand ambassador for Hendrick's Gin , Mattias Horseman found his perfect calling at the intersection of psychology and hospitality. Haling from Dorset, UK, and the son of 2 well traveled parents, Mattias embraces the many cultures of life while appreciating the human condition. His passions led him to study Psychology at the University of Chester. Here is where his work truly brought the...

Download Francisco Quijano, master distiller for Lunazul, has dedicated much of his life to the world of Tequila. He served as the President of the National Tequila Chamber of Producers where he worked tirelessly to promote and protect authentic Tequila values around the world. He succeeded in designating the Tequila fields of Jalisco a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizat...

Download Carl Nolet Jr is the 11th generation son of one of the biggest spirits dynasties in the world, the Nolet's. Having crafted quality spirits for centuries, their flagship Ketel One Vodka and Nolet's Silver Gin have now emerged into yet another delicious category with Ketel One Botanical . A spirit which embraces elements of Gin and Vodka, the 3 expression represent lessons learned in flavor...

Download With an accounting degree in his pocket, and a guitar strapped to his back, Ilegal Mezcal's Eric Fry trekked to Antigua without knowing exactly how it would impact his life. As an aspiring drummer in Athens, Alabama, he completed an accounting degree without exactly knowing why. But as the band fizzled out and wanderlust started to take root, Eric set off into the sunset. This journey led...

Download   Bryan Masamitsu Parsons lives a triple life. He's part engineer, part spirits educator/enthusiast, and part creator. His culmination of text books smarts and guttural passion for Japanese spirits pay homage to his rich heritage. From Florida to Austin, TX, Bryan did not expect to become one of the leading educators for Sake, but now 3 years later he's making the most of it. As the lead...

California native Veronica A Flores followed the expected path like many of us, but after deep reflection and introspection, went of course; a more focused and enjoyable one. With a love of people and learning, Veronica found her calling in the hospitality industry. She is now regularly accompanied by 80's movie backdrops and amazing video games behind the bar at Coin Op- Gaslamp . This is the beg...

A traditional Irish upbringing involves great dairy, lots of rain, and a deep connection to whiskey. For Teeling Whiskey's Niamh Cluskey, moving to Austin to share these beautiful marks was a dream come true. Studying journalism (and even having some experience with radio/interviewing herself) expanded into a deeper interest in people and places. Irish Whiskey perfectly bridged these 2 worlds of t...