The Industry

This weeks guest is David Hudyma. David has been a bartender in Toronto for the last 6 years. David has primarily worked in Cocktail bars through his career. This includes such places as the following: Project Gigglewater , Famous Last Words and the Cloak Bar as well as a few others. David is a giant spirits nerd which led him to spend 6 months in Scotland in 2018 in order to visit distilleries an...

This weeks guest is Stacey Anderson who currently works at the Elora Mill Hotel and Spa as Lead Bartender. Having grown up in Cambridge, Ontario , Stacey got her start in the industry in her late teenage years, working at the Dallas Beef Parlor. After spending some time behind the bar, and realizing that she could work part time hours, but make full time pay - Stacey realized that working in The I...

This weeks guest is Daphnée Vary Deshaies - co-founder and co-creator of the cocktailroads.com website. Daphnee along with co-founder Roxanne Mailloux, decided to bring together their respective skills and talents in a photo-reportage that would shine the light on the Canadian Cocktail community, all the while allowing people to connect and be creative at a time when most bars & restaurants ac...

GLENFIDDICH’S NATIONAL BRAND AMBASSADOR, Toronto-based Jamie Johnson, is a highly-respected whisky champion and conversationalist. She is widely known for hosting tasting events and masterclasses across Canada, as well as co-hosting the popular whisky podcast,  The Whisky Topic . She has also written extensively about whisky, and whisky culture for publications like Relish & Whisky Magazin...

This week, we are joined by the brother and sister team of Tash and Antosh Samek who founded Clayton’s Cocktails . Based out of Marlow England , Antosh previously worked in the drinks industry at Bacardi and worked as a DJ. He has now owned an award winning bar named Clayton’s Marlow for the last 10 years. Tash has worked in brand and design for many years and is currently a Creative Strategy Dire...

This week, we are joined by Beth Havers - Spirits Specialist. Over the past 20 years, Beth Havers has immersed herself in the spirits business. Today she is recognized as a leader in the whisky world. Beth is a trailblazer for women in the whisky category here in Canada and the around the world. As a winner of Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Ambassador Of The Year, Beth has been given the opport...

This weeks guest is Laura Nielsen - Territory Manager for PMA Canada . Currently living in London, Ontario , Laura originally grew up in St Thomas, Ontario . Laura got her start in The Industry while still in high school when she got a job at a local pizzeria. After a year or so, Laura eventually landed a job as a Sandwich Artist at Subway. It was while at Subway, that Laura moved in to a manageme...

This week’s episode takes a different approach as our intrepid host Kypp Saunders responds to online comments and reviews from Reddit and Google. We also add in a couple of rants about customers and coworkers. We may make this format a short segment for each show in the near future. If you have any rants or comments about customers or coworkers - feel free to reach out to us either by DM @the_indu...

Jon Rennie has spent 20+ years cooking in restaurants in Waterloo Region . As a constant; he has had the pursuit of flavour in mind throughout his life. Always striving to be better; this mentality has taken a drastic switch in focus to mental health (especially in the industry), sustainability beyond food sourcing to his coworkers and their lives, and bettering industry environments wherever he c...

John MacPherson , Scotch Specialist for PMA Canada , represents 12 of the world’s most prestigious brands of Scotch Whisky , including Glenfiddich , The Balvenie , The GlenDronach , Bunnahabhain , Monkey Shoulder and more. A Scotch fan for life, John has immersed himself in the lore, craft and history of this fascinating world. He enjoys nothing more than sharing these stories along with a few dra...

This weeks guest is Julie Mecteau aka ‘Jukie’. Born in Québec City , Jukie was raised in the hospitality industry by restauranteur parents and learned the word “workaholic” at a very young age. After 17 years in the service industry, obtaining 6 wine and spirit certifications and living in Australia, Montreal and NYC, she refocussed her hospitality experience to pursue her career as a Brand Ambass...

This is Part 2 of our 2 Part interview with Kypp Saunders - the host of this podcast! Kypp is currently co-owner of Sugar Run in Kitchener Ontario and the soon to be open Babylon Sisters in Waterloo, Ontario . Growing up in Kingston Ontario , Kypp started working in the Industry while still in high school. After finishing high school, Kypp moved to Waterloo Ontario to attend the University of Wate...

This weeks guest is Kypp Saunders - the host of this podcast! Kypp is currently co-owner of Sugar Run in Kitchener Ontario and the soon to be open Babylon Sisters in Waterloo, Ontario . Growing up in Kingston Ontario , Kypp started working in the Industry while still in high school. After finishing high school, Kypp moved to Waterloo Ontario to attend the University of Waterloo . It was at this ti...

This weeks guest is Aubrey K. Slater - co-owner and Chief Brand Development Queen for Saint Luna Charcoal Filtered Moonshine . This is Part 2 of a 2 part interview. Aubrey is a transwoman and a former First Lieutenant in The United States Marine Corps and a true hospitality professional. Aubrey has achieved a second level sommelier certification and has worked for wineries, cruise ships and fine d...

This weeks guest is Aubrey K. Slater - co-owner and Chief Brand Development Queen for Saint Luna Charcoal Filtered Moonshine . This is Part 1 of a 2 part interview. Aubrey is a transwoman and a former First Lieutenant in The United States Marine Corps and a true hospitality professional. Aubrey has achieved a second level sommelier certification and has worked for wineries, cruise ships and fine d...

This week we are joined by Angela Aiello for a terrific conversation on all things wine. ANGELA AIELLO Wine Expert, Journalist, Educator and On-Air Host Contact information : ask@superwinegirl.com Website : www.superwinegirl.com IG: @SuperWineGirl Who Is Angela Aiello Angela Aiello has been changing the world of wine for the past 20 years. Seeking to make wine endlessly fascinating, she goes by th...

This weeks guest is Elissa Dunn who currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona . Originally born and raised in South Florida , Elissa decided she wanted a change of careers while in her mid 20’s. Elissa left the corporate world for a career in the Hospitality Industry.  Elissa is primarily self taught, and to gain a wealth of experience she decided to take a unique approach by road tripping across the...

This week’s guest is Alexis Tinoco . Currently residing in Chicago Illinois , Alexis has been working at the Aviary for over seven years where the past five have been dedicated to managing and helping to build the bar program. The bar program at Aviary was chef designed and is meant to explore unique techniques and serviceware via cocktails. The Aviary is well known for their culinary approach to...

This week’s guest is Sarah Parniak . Sarah is obsessed with beverages, so she's shaped her entire professional life around all things sippable.  Sarah is a drinks writer whose work has appeared in publications like Toronto Life , enRoute , Foodism , Quench and NOW Magazine , where she wrote the weekly column Drink Up for five years.  In her former life, Sarah spent the better half of a decade behi...

Shawn Soole is this weeks guest on The Industry. What began as a youthful ambition to craft the perfect cocktail, has matured into a proficiency across every aspect of beverage service. Twenty years after being named State Title winner by the Australian Bartenders Guild , Shawn Soole continues to view the service industry as a medium to deliver his unique style of exceptional customer experience....

This week we are joined by Thalita Cacho from Brazil . Camilla Gama also joins the podcast and is the interpreter for the interview. Currently, Thalita lives in Recife-PE but considers herself a Citizen of the World. Thalita is an accomplished Beer Sommelière, and obtained certification in the Master in Styles, Brewing Technique and Beer Expert through the Science of Beer Institute in Brazil. Thal...

Frederique Leblanc joins the show this week from Montreal Quebec . Currently, Frederique is a Brand Ambassador for Diageo's Reserve Portfolio in Montreal.  Frederique had an interest in mixology at an early age. When Frederique was in her early teenage years, she was already having fun making the most extravagant hot chocolate and Shirley Temples filled with quirky garnishes. Frederique’s...

This episode we are joined by Josh Cormier , Founder and Distiller at Pepprell Distilling Company which is located in Moorefield, Ontario . Pepprell Distillery currently produces a vodka from 100% molasses. They also produce a craft gin infused with essential botanicals such as juniper berries, lemon, cardamom, coriander, and a little black pepper.  Originally born and raised in London, Ontario ,...

This week we are joined by Leishla Maldonado from Providence, Rhode Island . Leishla is a mother, award winning bartender, and consultant. Originally from Boston , Leishla began her hospitality career as a sandwich artist at Subway . From there, she moved on to becoming an Award winning hostess at Hard Rock Cafe , to working at one of the more established cocktail bars in Providence to managing a...

This week we are joined by Robert A. Martin from Panama City, Panama . Born in Concord, Massachusetts and  raised in the Republic of Panama – Robert has been fortunate enough to have a very multicultural background which transcends into his work and style. His career in the industry began in the US while working in Atlanta for a short spell. Eventually, Robert moved on to the great city of New Yor...