The Industry

This weeks guest is the talented Fernanda Cardozo. Fernanda currently lives in Madrid Spain , but was born and raised in Columbia which is were she started her hospitality career. Fernanda has studied international cuisine and is very passionate about asian flavors. Fernanda has also studied molecular gastronomy at the University of Girona. After several years of working in the kitchen, Fernanda f...

This week we are joined by Yelena Anter from Las Vegas Nevada. Yelena is the driving force behind Cocktail Vision - an online platform that guides you through your journey in the cocktail and spirits world with recipes, products and consulting advice. Yelena is a fantastic guest with an incredibly interesting story that originates in a small village in Russia listening to Elvis Presley records tha...

Matt Basile is the founder of the Toronto-based street food brand, Fidel Gastro's , which, within four years, went from an underground sandwich pop-up to an internationally recognized food brand. Now almost a decade later, Matt has a still growing business of food experiences, restaurant consulting and new and exciting foodie-filled projects on the way. Matt always strives to be different...

This week we are joined by Justin Vail who currently lives in Toronto, Ontario. Justin is the co-owner of Sugar Run in Downtown Kitchener . Justin got his start in the industry in his early 20’s while he was in the midst of pursing a musical career. Working in The Industry provided Justin the freedom to have a flexible schedule. One of Justin’s early jobs was working at Wildcraft - one of the many...

This is our 100th Episode of The Industry Podcast. Joining us this week are Matt Hewson who is the Manager at Sugar Run in Downtown Kitchener , and Janine Saunders the Manager of Babylon Sisters in Uptown Waterloo . Matt Hewson is originally from Kingston Ontario and has extensive experience working both back of house and front of house positions in various bars and restaurants in the Kingston are...

This week’s guest is Jonathan Gushue - one of Canada’s finest and most decorated chefs. After training in the Japanese Alps for one year, Jonathan accepted an apprenticeship with the Savoy Group in London. Jonathan later moved on to the Novelli Group and Pied a Terre also in London. Upon returning to Canada, Jonathan made his way across the country and back again working in St. John’s, Toronto and...

This week the only and only Sassy Ray of Sassy Ray Burlesque joins the show. The “Voice That Makes Ya Moist” - Sassy Ray has been bringing burlesque revival to the masses for over 15 years now. Since Sassy’s stage debut, her brand of music, comedy and tease quickly became and remains a crowd favourite. Sassy is the Producer of Top Shelf Burlesque at Sugar Run, a host of The Toronto Burlesque Festi...

This week guest is Heather ‘Foster’ Kjollesdal. Heather is currently the Dressing Room Coordinator for both Metallica and The Rolling Stones . Heather’s job is essentially to take care of the band and ensuring that they have everything they need while on tour. Heather started working in The Industry when she got a summer job while in high school as a dishwasher. Within a few months, Heather was be...

This weeks guest is Dominique jackson . Currently residing in Scottsdale, Arizona , Dominque grew up in Akron, Ohio . While living in Akron, Dominique landed her first job in the Industry bartending at a hookah lounge that had a full service bar. Dominique spent several years working at the hookah lounge and this stint led to her taking a deeper interest in bartending and to learning the craft. As...

This week we are joined by Andrew Daw - Canadian Brand Ambassador for Crystal Head Vodka and Signal Hill Whisky . Andrew was born and grew up in St John’s, NewFoundLand but currently resides in Toronto, Ontario .  Andrew started working in The Industry at the age of 19 when he landed his first job as a bouncer/security at Club Bounce in St John’s. From there, Andrew eventually moved over to the Su...

This weeks guest is Kadrian Possul who joins the show from Norway. Originally born in Tallinn Estonia , Kadrian has been working in the Industry for over a decade. Kadrian got her start in the Industry when she got her first summer job as a restaurant. Realizing that the money was good, Kadrian keep the job all through her high school years.  Once Kadrian had completed high school, she went to wor...

This weeks guest is Elise Sergerie who currently lives in Montreal, Quebec . Elise has worked in the industry for sixteen plus years. Elise has worked pretty much every position in the back of house and front of house. Elise eventually found her fit behind the bar as she likes to be creative every day. Elise also paints as a hobby.  For Elise, bartending is an escape from all of life's worries. Th...

This weeks guest is Lola Lau who currently works at Hope & Sesame in Shenzen , in Guandong Province , China. Lola has been working in The Industry for over 9 years. Lola got her first job in The Industry after graduating school when she landed a job at an Irish Pub. It was around this same time that Lola saw the movie Hey Bartender and this piqued her interest in cocktails and spirits and...

This weeks guest is Tyler Smith. Tyler is an accomplished chef with over two decades of experience in The Industry. Tyler has worked in many difference facets of the food industry since his first job in fast food over 20 years ago. Tyler has worked every position, station, job and title in the kitchen. Everything from porcelain and stainless steel steward (dishwasher for those unfamiliar with the...

This weeks guest is Chivonne Monaghan has over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, both locally and internationally.  Chivonne spent the first 12 years of her career at Jack Astor’s doing everything from hostessing to flair bartending. Next, she worked at a bar in Ireland before coming home to work for Fionn MacCool’s in Kitchener. After that, Chivonne moved to Abu Dhabi to fly...

This weeks we are joined by Abbie Rudson. Abbie is a Toronto -based bartender, currently shaking things up at Mahjong , Juice and The Dime in the city’s west end. Abbie constructed cocktail menus for Mrs. Robinson , won first place in Noble Coyote’s Mezcal Competition 2020 and recently placed as a finalist in the Mionetto Prosecco Cocktail Competition . Abbie has created an original cocktail for a...

This week we are joined by Teddy Martinez who is currently bartending in Long Beach, California . Teddy was born in Manila and moved to the United States when he was 3. Growing up as a half Mexican and half Filipino in such a diverse city as Los Angeles , Teddy was exposed to all types of culture growing up. This multicultural exposure has shaped Teddy’s personality as well as his cocktail style....

Alex Jump originally hails from Chattanooga, TN, where she grew up breathing Southern hospitality. A BAR-5 Day graduate, Alex honed her skills by working behind and running bar programs at multiple James Beard nominated restaurants. She has competed in multiple national competitions including Speed Rack , Lustau Solera Standout , Heaven Hill Bartender of the Year , & Bombay Sapphire Most Imagi...

This weeks guest is Heather Wideman who currently resides in Waterloo Region. The main topic of our conversation with Heather centres on her decision to leave the Industry. Heather has a terrific perspective on life, and this is an interview you definitely need to listen to. Heather got her start in the Industry when she moved to Australia for a year and a half. Heather jumped right in to serving...

This week we are joined by special guests Shake Steady - a terrific soul and funk band based out of Michigan. They like to dig deep in the gold mine of Soul and Funk and bring out the latest get down music for you and yours.  Shake Steady are playing live at Sugar Run in Kitchener on Friday November 19th - doors open at 7:00pm and tickets are $25 at the door. Come on out to the show and get your g...

Kevin Isabelle Ryrie (they/them) is currently working as a server and shift captain at the Elora Mill which is located in Elora, Ontario . Isabelle started working in the industry in 2006 at A&W in Kitchener. A spur of the moment interview led them down a path of restaurants that has lasted more than 15 years. After getting their toes wet doing all roles possible in quick service restauran...

This week we are joined by Bryan SImpson . Bryan has been part of the whisky community for over a decade, in both his native Scotland and his new home of Canada. He is known for his passion about whisky from the history and science aspects but just as important to Bry is the community and friendships in the industry. He is a co-founder of The Hipflask Hiking Club , a keen photographer and has the...

This week we are joined by Liz Furlong . A Canadian based out of Costa Rica , Liz Furlong has become known as one of Central America's most prominent mixologists. Experimenting with local botanicals and ferments, she takes advantage of her fertile surroundings to forage and collect ingredients for her cocktails with a style she likes to call “Jungle Bartending” Since 2012, Liz has spent her time w...

This week’s guest is Jodie Foster. Jodie has had an interesting career in the Industry as she spent over a decade working on Super Yachts catering to the whims of the super rich and celebrities. Jodie has visited 73 countries, and has travelled over 175 000 sea miles. Some of Jodie’s favourite spots visited were Croatia , Alaska , Seychelles , Maldives , NYC , Holland (ShipYard ). Some of the famo...

This weeks guest is Alie Kudoba who is currently the head Bartender at The Bauer Kitchen in Waterloo, Ontario . Born and raised in Kitchener Ontario , Alie got her start in the industry as a barista at Second Cup while still in high school. It was Alie’s first test of a fast paced customer service environment. At that point in time, Alie realized she enjoyed the challenge of making drinks beautifu...