Best Stephen Kimball Podcasts (2025)

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 76: Michael Valarelli 1:08:33

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2d ago1:08:33

1:08:33

My guest this episode is Michael Valarelli. He was born in Florida, but raised in Westchester, New York. He was a punk rock kid who played in bands into his 30s. Now he is in the food world and is the creator of Seeking Heat, a hot sauce inspired brand and home of Speaking Heat Live, his talk show. We explore the transformative journey of sobriety …

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Portland Chef Cathy Whims on the secrets to cooking in Italy, being tutored by the legendary Marcella Hazan, and helping turn Portland, Oregon into a culinary force 39:43

6d ago39:43

39:43

Chef Cathy Whims was at the forefront of the culinary revolution in Portland, Oregon and decades later she retains that position there. Her Nostrana Italian restaurant continues to dish up the kind of regional cooking truly enjoyed in the small towns and villages of Italy, bolstered by great Oregon ingredients, and her pizza is listed among America…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 75: Ryan Gallagher 37:29

12d ago37:29

37:29

My guest this episode is Ryan Gallagher. He's a sober dad, a firefighter, and a runner who's about to take on 21 marathons in 21 days. In this conversation, Ryan Gallagher shares his inspiring journey of sobriety, the impact of his father's death on his life, and how he rediscovered fitness through running. He discusses the importance of mental hea…

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2025 James Beard Best Chef-Texas Thomas Bille on creating great food through the lens of a first generation Mexican American, risking everything on a dream, and rebuilding after losing it all 37:29

13d ago37:29

37:29

Chef Thomas Bille describes his cooking at his suburban Houston restaurant Belly of the Beast as driven by “a love for food that warms your soul and speaks to our ancestors.” A child of Mexican immigrants, Bille grew up with great food – his father was a professional chef and his mother a fabulous home cook – and as a self-described latchkey kid he…

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Bonus Episode - A visit to Brennan's for the art and theatre of Banana's Foster 21:57

17d ago21:57

21:57

This special bonus episode comes from the folks at Gravy, a production of the Southern Foodways Alliance. Gravy shares stories of the changingAmerican South, and in this episode, producer Eve Troeh takes us to Brennan’s, an iconic restaurant in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, where spectacle and tradition come together over a flambé pan. …

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 74: Brodey Mann 46:08

17d ago46:08

46:08

My guest this episode is Brodey Mann, founder of Elevated Conduct, a clothing company dedicated to those embracing sobriety and the journey of recovery. In this conversation, Brody shares his journey of sobriety, the challenges of parenting, and the mission behind his clothing company, Elevated Conduct. He emphasizes the importance of community in …

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Pitmaster Ali Clem on winning a Michelin star for her barbecue restaurant, and her remarkable rise from selling her barbecue from a trailer 36:00

20d ago36:00

36:00

Ali Clem says she was shocked when her La Barbecue restaurant in Austin, TX was recently awarded a Michelin star. She was mentored by members of a legendary Texas barbecue family, the Muellers of Louis Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, Texas and married founder Louis Mueller’s granddaughter, LeAnn Mueller. They worked together until Mueller’suntimely dea…

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2025 James Beard Award winner Nando Chang on Peruvian-Japanese cuisine, the threat to immigrants in the food world, and how hip-hop changed his life 40:55

27d ago40:55

40:55

The Chang siblings, born in Peru, emigrated to the U.S. as children, and now living in Miami, have locked up the James Beard award for Best Chef South for two straight years. Valerie won last year for her cooking at her Peruvian restaurant, Maty’s. Her older brother and co-owner Nando just won the 2025 award for what he does at his restaurant withi…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 73: Mikey Livid 1:11:24

27d ago1:11:24

1:11:24

My guest this episode is Mikey Livid. He's the co-host of the Punks on Hope podcast, co-director and guiding teacher at the Wild Heart Meditation Center in Nashville. He's got a master's degree in counseling psychology and is a member of the band the Rip Tailors. We discuss themes of authenticity, the punk rock community, mental health, and his jou…

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Chef and restaurateur Nicholas Fanucci on his career at legendary Michelin-starred restaurants and his journey from the top to a food truck to a restaurant of his own 39:56

30d ago39:56

39:56

Born in Cannes, France, and raised in a food-centric French-Italian family, Nicholas Fanucci has run some of the greatest and best-known restaurants in America, including the French Laundry, Bouchon, Le Cirque, Le Bec-Fin, and more. Previously, he worked in Europe at legendary establishments including Alain Ducasse’s Louis XV. The restaurants he ha…

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Chef Yotaka “Sunny” Martin and her partner/husband on bringing her Thai cuisine to America and, with no restaurant experience, winning the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest 42:21

1M ago42:21

42:21

Chef Yotaka Martin had never heard of the James Beard awards until she was nominated for the 2024 competition. She grew up in a small village in the north of Thailand and has only been in the U.S a few years. But she is well aware now. She didn’t win last year but she was just named the 2025 James Beard Best Chef Southwest for her cooking at the Ph…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 72: Sarah Laurel 38:53

1M ago38:53

38:53

My guest this episode is Sarah Laurel, founder and executive director of Savage Sisters. In this conversation, Sarah shares her personal journey from substance use to recovery and the establishment of her organization, which provides trauma-informed resources for those recovering from substance use disorder. The discussion covers the importance of …

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Chef and restaurateur Tyler Akin on re-opening his family’s favorite restaurant from his childhood and cooking a world of cuisines 39:15

1M ago39:15

39:15

Acclaimed Philadelphia restaurateur Tyler Akin recreated his childhood memories by re-opening the restaurant where his family celebrated big occasions—the Green Room, in the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington,Delaware. He grew up watching his southern grandmother in the kitchen. He went to law school (his father was a lawyer and later a judge) but dropped …

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Two Michelin star winning chef Suzette Gresham on battling restaurant world misogyny and finding the soul of a cuisine 51:49

2M ago51:49

51:49

Chef Suzette Gresham has been a pioneer in fighting for the place of women in the long-male-dominated world of high-end cooking for forty years. And she’s also one of the greatest chefs working today. She holds two Michelin stars at her San Francisco restaurant Acquerello, where her seasonal tasing menus sparkle with the freshest, often unusual, di…

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Tirrell Hellyer Kimball - July 13, 1940 - July 14, 2025 4:09

2M ago4:09

4:09

My mother died on Monday, July 14th, one day after her 85th birthday. Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share Sober Dad Crew with folks. Sober Dad Crew is an independent, DIY production created by Stephen Kimball, who writes, records, and produces the podcast. To learn more, please visit soberdadcrew.com. Copyright 2025.…

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Third generation Seattle restaurant owner Mark Canlis, on keeping the highest standards while remaining fresh after 75 years 38:35

2M ago38:35

38:35

On Food and Wine’s list of America’s top restaurants for 2025, Canlis came in at number two. That, after decades as a Seattle landmark and a nationally known pinnacle of fine dining. It is also a time of great challenge for Canlis – a new Executive Chef; the departure of Mark’s brother, who had been his business partner for twenty years; and the to…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 71: Louise Barnett 48:47

2M ago48:47

48:47

My guest this episode is Louise Barnett. She's the host of the podcast Unmasking Sobriety and Mental Health and the author of the forthcoming book, Tainted Love, A Bipolar Memoir. Her work is focused on shattering mental health and addiction stigmas. And I first learned of her by seeing a Father's Day post where she talked about her husband's adopt…

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Michelin award winning chef Julia Momosé on creating the tastes she grew up with in Japan at her Chicago restaurant Kumiko, and the mixology that just won her a James Beard award 41:41

2M ago41:41

41:41

Born and raised in Japan, Chef Julia Momosé developed a respect and love for hospitality watching her mother entertain at home. Her motivation for entering the culinary world was a visit she made to a bar in Kyoto watching the bartender hand making ice spheres for use in drinks. She pursued that newfound passion while attending college in the U.S.,…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 70: Joe Conzo, Jr. 1:00:57

2M ago1:00:57

1:00:57

My guest this episode is sober dad and photographer Joe Conzo Jr., who captured the birth of hip-hop through his images. And much of his work is captured in his book Born in the Bronx. In this episode, Joe shares his journey of sobriety, family dynamics, and the impact of technology on parenting. He reflects on his experiences with addiction, the i…

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Classically trained boundary-shattering chef Jordan Kahn on simultaneously holding Michelin stars at two different restaurants, and his singular approach to storytelling through food 53:47

2M ago53:47

53:47

Pioneering chef Jordan Kahn holds Michelin stars at two different Los Angeles area restaurants— two stars at Vespertine, and one star at Meteora. Appropriately, the Michelin Guide calls his rise in the food world “meteoric.” Kahn worked under legendary chefs Thomas Keller and Grant Achatz before striking out on his own, He is known for crafting not…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 69: Chris Clemens 49:51

3M ago49:51

49:51

My guest this episode is Chris Clemens, AKA the nonROCaholic, who explores NA beverages in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. In this conversation, Chris Clemens shares his journey of sobriety, his exploration of non-alcoholic beverages, and discusses the challenges and benefits of living sober, the evolving landscape of non-alcoholic optio…

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Chef Anita Jaisinghani on creating a wildly successful Indian diner in Houston, Texas 34:41

3M ago34:41

34:41

Chef Anita Jaisinghani grew up in India and, while she loved food, she didn’t make it a career at first. She became a microbiologist, worked in that field when she and her husband moved to Canada, and only decided to enter the restaurant business when they moved to Houston. There, she opened what she describes as an Indian diner, Pondicheri, and in…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 68: Jay Rodriguez 56:21

3M ago56:21

56:21

My guest this episode is Jay Rodriguez, a woodwind player who has performed with artists such as Prince, Elvis Costello, Wu-Tang Clan, and The Roots, to name a few. In this episode, Jay shares his journey through music, parenting, and sobriety. He reflects on his experiences with addiction, the challenges of being a parent, and the importance of co…

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Michelin star winning chef Laurent Tourondel on his restaurant blowing up on Tik Tok 30:32

3M ago30:32

30:32

Laurent Tourondel is a Michelin star winning French chef who opened an affordable New York steakhouse, Skirt Steak, that became a Tik Tok sensation. Born in Auvergne, France, he has worked all over the world in astoried 40-year career (and even says his time in Moscow was a great culinary learning experience). He has earned a Michelin star, three s…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 67: Derek English 56:56

3M ago56:56

56:56

My guest this episode is Derek English. Derek is a sober dad and Executive Director of the Ithaca Free Clinic, which provides access to health care based on need, not on ability to pay. Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share Sober Dad Crew with folks. Sober Dad Crew is an independent, DIY production created by Stephen Kimball, who writes, …

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Chef Marisa Baggett on shattering expectations as a female, Black, Jewish sushi chef, and redefining sushi her way 38:06

3M ago38:06

38:06

Marisa Baggett had never seen sushi, never tasted sushi, when a customer asked for it at her Starkville Mississippi café. And that launched her quest to master the age old Japanese culinary tradition, graduating from the California Sushi Academy, and championing creativity that remains true to the fresh and local soul of sushi, such as her southern…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 66: Gene Bowen 53:25

3M ago53:25

53:25

My guest this episode is Gene Bowen, founder of Road Recovery. Road Recovery is a music industry-driven non-profit dedicated to helping young people as they battle addiction and other adversities in their lives. Road Recovery Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share Sober Dad Crew with folks. Sober Dad Crew is an independent, DIY production …

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Chef Eric Levine on turning Brooklyn favorites like hot dogs and knishes into elevated culinary masterpieces— and on achieving celebrity and success while repeatedly battling cancer 39:15

3M ago39:15

39:15

Chef Eric LeVine was so taken by cooking that before he even attended culinary school, he wrote a letter to groundbreaking chef David Burke at the legendary River Café in New York – and got hired. He credits Chef Burke with setting him on the path to culinary achievement and, after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Chef LeVine cook…

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Owner Amy Mills on secrets behind the iconic barbecue restaurant founded by her father, a barbecue legend 43:58

3M ago43:58

43:58

Amy Mills grew up surrounded by barbecue. Her father Mike Mills owned 17th St. Barbecue in Murphysboro, Illinois and was the first pitmaster ever named Grand Champion three times at the “super bowl of swine,” the Memphis in May barbecue competition. Her father passed away a few years back and Amy now runs the growing operation which includes two re…

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James Beard award winning chef Alon Shaya on making a splash in new Orleans—not with Cajun or Creole cooking, but with Israeli food—and on becoming a sweet-tea-loving southerner 37:43

4M ago37:43

37:43

James Beard Award winning chef Alon Shaya, born in Israel and raised in Philadelphia, was cooking for his family at the age of seven. When he began getting into trouble as a teen, his high school home economics teacher intervened, getting him his first fine-dining cooking job when he was just 16. He says she saved his life. He went on the Culinary …

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 65: Kevin Sellers 1:04:16

4M ago1:04:16

1:04:16

My guest this episode is Kevin Sellers. We talk about parenting, divorce, single parenting, and the role Straight Edge Punk can play in recovery. Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share Sober Dad Crew with folks. Sober Dad Crew is an independent, DIY production created by Stephen Kimball, who writes, records, and produces the podcast. To le…

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Chef Alycia Wahn Martindale on Michelin recognizing her new Toronto restaurant; cooking Creole, Caribbean, and Latin American flavors north of the border; and why she’s scratch-making her own butter and ... 34:20

4M ago34:20

34:20

Chef Alycia Wahn Martindale is cooking up southern flavors north of the border at Conejo Negro (Black Rabbit in Spanish), the massively popular Toronto restaurant she owns with her husband and their good friend. The menu is a combination of Creole, Caribbean, and Latin American cooking. And she is making everything possible from scratch— bacon, but…

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Katz’s Deli owner Jake Dell with the inside story of the 137 year-old American institution and having Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal back to re-do their famous movie scene 37:47

4M ago37:47

37:47

Often cited as America’s best deli, Katz’s has been a lower East Side institution in New York for more than 137 years this month. Owner Jake Dell’s father and uncle bought the deli from the original Katz family in 1988. Jake joined in 2009. He refuses to change anything about the customer experience there—from the ancient decor to the scratch made …

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 64: Greg Benoit 1:18:24

4M ago1:18:24

1:18:24

My guest this episode is Greg Benoit. He's a dad, librarian, drummer for World Purge, and fellow Upstate New Yorker. And he's also the co-host of the podcast, Common Threads. Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share Sober Dad Crew with folks. Sober Dad Crew is an independent, DIY production created by Stephen Kimball, who writes, records, an…

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Small town chef and restaurant owner Cara Tobin on her nomination as America’s best restaurateur in the upcoming James beard awards 37:14

4M ago37:14

37:14

Cara Tobin got her first restaurant job at the age of 17 by lying about her cooking experience in the job interview—she had none at all. In the years that followed she went to culinary school, graduating number one in her class, then worked her way up the cooking ladder at several restaurants before falling in love with Eastern Mediterranean cuisin…

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Executive Chef André Bienvenu on his quarter century at the legendary Joe’s Stone Crab and his unexpected second chapter as a restaurant owner 34:48

5M ago34:48

34:48

Chef André Bienvenu spent more than a quarter-century as executive chef at America’s highest grossing independent restaurant, Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami Beach. He considered that the pinnacle of his long career and was looking ahead to retirement, but those plans changed dramatically. Given an unexpected opportunity to partner on a new restaurant, h…

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Food & Wine Best New Chef Karyn Tomlinson on her invention of “Grandma Chic” cuisine 40:20

5M ago40:20

40:20

Named a Food & Wine Best New Chef for 2024, Karyn Tomlinson has won raves for her restaurant Myriel in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her menu, combining elements of French, Nordic, and Midwestern cuisines has been dubbed “Grandma Chic.” A major advocate of local, seasonal cooking, she sources all her ingredients from local farms, which she visits every week…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 63: Bryan Lee 1:09:25

5M ago1:09:25

1:09:25

My guest this episode is Bryan Lee, bass player for The Jack Knives. We discuss sobriety, recovery, the punk scene, and of course his band. Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share Sober Dad Crew with folks. Sober Dad Crew is an independent, DIY production created by Stephen Kimball, who writes, records, and produces the podcast. To learn mo…

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Chief Diego Sanchez on marrying fine dining and the classic American diner and the Peruvian food he grew up with 39:52

5M ago39:52

39:52

After coming to the United States from Peru in his teens, Diego Sanchez found a sense of belonging in restaurant kitchens. He cooked under some of the world’s greatest chefs before striking out on his own and now owns his own restaurant on the Jersey shore, 39 Degrees North in Manahawkin, NJ—a diner he has reimagined his way, adding items like hand…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 62: Barney Whiter 1:05:17

5M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

My guest this episode is Barney Whiter, a financial counselor who manages The Escape Artist blog. We discuss sobriety, recovery, and how to navigate complex financial matters, such as getting out of debt. Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share Sober Dad Crew with folks. Sober Dad Crew is an independent, DIY production created by Stephen Ki…

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CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED – MARY NGUYEN – EP 36 30:49

5M ago30:49

30:49

Chef Mary Nguyen grew up in a Vietnamese immigrant household in Denver, went on to work as an investment banker, then decided to make a major career change—into the world of food. She began by working three culinary jobs at once, and becoming one of America’s first female sushi chefs, before opening the first of several restaurants in her hometown,…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 61: Samuel Freiberg 1:05:36

6M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

My guest this episode is Samuel Freiberg, who works in the renewable energy industry. Sam and I connected via LinkedIn and much of our conversation revolved around being publicly sober at work and in your professional networks. Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, and share Sober Dad Crew with folks. Sober Dad Crew is an independent, DIY productio…

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CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED - JOHN FRASER – EP 35 43:25

6M ago43:25

43:25

Michelin star winning chef John Fraser worked for Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Thomas Keller, and in some of the most storied restaurants in France, before opening a restaurant of his own and then continuing to build a culinary empire. He has won Michelin stars at two different restaurants, including the vegetarian Nix in New York city. His restau…

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CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED – SHEILA AND DUFFY WITMER– EP 34 36:14

6M ago36:14

36:14

Sheila and Duffy Witmer bought the Pioneer Saloon in Ketchum, Idaho nearly half a century ago. And they’ve kept it a jam-packed favorite ever since, with scores of repeat customers including Clint Eastwood, Sandy Koufax, and Ernest Hemingway’s grandchildren. The menu is beef-heavy, featuring steaks and their legendary prime rib. And scraps from pre…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 60: Bradley Baer 54:54

6M ago54:54

54:54

My guest this episode is Bradley Baer. He’s a certified peer recovery counselor and the director of Family and Children’s Association’s Sherpa Program. This program manages a team of Certified Recovery Peer Advocates who are trained to meet with individuals and families within hospitals and the community who are struggling with Substance Use Disord…

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CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED –CARLOS GAYTÁN – EP 33 30:46

6M ago30:46

30:46

Carlos Gaytán has earned a Michelin star (the first Mexican-born chef ever to receive one) at two different restaurants. He is noted for combining regional Mexican cooking with classic French techniques. After working his way up from dishwasher in a hotel kitchen, he now owns restaurants in Chicago, Mexico, and recently opened several in the Downto…

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CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED – ADRIAN MILLER - EP 32 40:02

6M ago40:02

40:02

Called the Soul Food Scholar, Adrian Miller is renowned for his knowledge of African American and southern cooking. Author of multiple books, he won James Beard awards for two of them: Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time, and Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue. Yet culinary histo…

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CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED - KATIE BUTTON - EP 31 47:13

7M ago47:13

47:13

Chef Katie Button is a James Beard winner for her Asheville, North Carolina Spanish restaurant Cúrate, which is the flagship of her restaurant group. Button discovered her deep love for food when she was living in Paris, studying for a master’s degree in biomedical engineering. The awakening was so profound that she changed careers, worked for two …

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CULINARY CHARACTERS UNLOCKED - CHEFS MELISSA REAGAN AND STEPHEN GONZALEZ - EP 30 43:56

7M ago43:56

43:56

Melissa Reagan and Stephen Gonzalez met at Culinary School in Austin, Texas two decades ago, then followed their own culinary journeys through a variety of restaurants. Today she’s cooking at an upscale restaurant in North Carolina (but by contract she can’t name it) and with supermarkets challenging many restaurants by offering meals cooked on sit…

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Sober Dad Crew Episode 59: Merrit Hartblay 54:21

7M ago54:21

54:21

My guest this episode is Merrit Hartblay. He has a Master of Social Work degree and is a chemical dependency counselor trained and certified in suicide prevention and intervention. We discuss how to rebuild your relationship with your kids once you're sober, as well as the impact of alcohol on the workplace. Be sure to subscribe, leave a rating, an…