A CFO's Fearless Route to Fulfillment: Lina O'Connor

Marketing Visionary: Christina Grdovic: Host Dana Cowin's first guest on Speaking Broadly is Christina Grdovic, a brilliant strategist and marketer who has brokered TV deals (calling all Top Chef fans), restaurant deals, and a partnership deal including the launch of FWx. An extraordinary innovator & leader, Grdovic shares her lessons from her rock-star career. by Speaking Broadly

42 min listen

The Champagne Champion: Jen Pelka: One of the best Champagne bars in the country, The Riddler in San Francisco, is the brainchild of a fearless optimist who'd never opened a restaurant before. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, host Dana Cowin interviews owner Jen Pelka and gets to the root of her success, which includes raising money from more than two dozen women. Plus, Tina Ujlaki reveals the one all-purpose condiment you need. And Cowin reviews the clubby NYC meat den, 4 Charles Prime Rib. by Speaking Broadly

49 min listen

Restaurants' Legal Eagle: Jasmine Moy: Host Dana Cowin draws you into her week of incredible eating--single original chocolate glazed doughnuts from Fany Gerson's Dough and super decadent Eggslut sandwiches from Alvin Cailan--before embarking on her interview with restaurant lawyer, Jasmine Moy. Moy's story will inspire anyone hoping to move out of an unfulfilling corporate job into a stimulating and fulfilling one. Bonus: Culinary expert Tina Ujlaki reveals the one condiment you need to buy right now. by Speaking Broadly

49 min listen

TechTable Co-Founder: Camilla Marcus: Angel investor and co-founder of TechTable, Camilla Marcus has had an intriguingly varied career in the restaurant industry including being the head of business development for the Union Square Hospitality Group. Marcus shares why she thinks it's important to go with your gut, to take risks, and to learn the love language of your friends and colleagues. by Speaking Broadly

49 min listen

The Ice Cream Dreamer: Jeni Britton Bauer: This episode of Speaking Broadly features the founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, a passionate advocate for the local food movement, an flavor innovator extraordinaire, and a leader who conquered challenges from the FDA and reinvented her business in the process. Hers is a moving story of the intersection of artistry and entrepreneurship. by Speaking Broadly

40 min listen

Bitten: Naz Riahi: Naz Riahi is equal parts marketer and provocateur. After a decade in advertising and marketing for a variety of clients from fashion to entertainment, she set her sights on the food world and created Bitten, a conference that highlights the vibrant diversity of the culinary landscape. The conference is now held in NY, LA and Boston. Through highlighting a cross-section of visionary leaders in technology, design, products, Riahi hopes to reveal--and even shape-- the future. Listen to this episode to hear one woman's view of how she got here, and where we're going. by Speaking Broadly

51 min listen

The Sustainable Kitchen: Andrew Carmellini: This week host Dana Cowin talks to chef Andrew Carmellini about her meal at his newly opened Rec Pier in Baltimore and encourages Eater Editor in Chief Amanda Kludt to rant about unpaid restaurant jobs. Speaking Broadly's Woman of the Week is Elizabeth Meltz. As Director of Environmental Health at the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, Meltz has been at the forefront of creating a sustainable restaurant kitchen. Everything from plastic straws to paper towels to Meatless Mondays come under her purview. Hear about Meltz's trajectory from CIA grad to keeper of the environmental flame as well as suggestions on how to apply these lessons at home. by Speaking Broadly

45 min listen

Indulgent, Decadent, Primal: The World According to Angie Mar: Chef Angie Mar of the Beatrice Inn in NYC's West Village doesn't care about trends. And although she owns one of the hottest restaurants in the city, she doesn't eat out at buzzy new restaurants herself for fear of being inadvertently influenced by the food of other chefs. Instead she is true to her vision of big cuts of glorious beef, magnificently prepared, inspired by dinners made with her Chinese American father. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, Mar talks about the challenges of being a perfectionist in the kitchen but wanting to work on new projects, as well as what she learned about cows from the butchers of France and the UK. by Speaking Broadly

42 min listen

Salad For President: Julia Sherman: Julia Sherman is a feminist Tony Bourdain who explores the world through art, writing and cooking. An obsessively creative person, Sherman has charted a unique path from an MFA at Columbia University to a super popular blog Salad For President. Her first book, Salad For President: A Cookbook Inspired by Artists, will be published this spring. Tune in to hear about maintaining artistic integrity while growing a passionate following. by Speaking Broadly

55 min listen

Mindful Management: Emily Hyland: Emily Hyland and her husband Matt met in college and bonded over a series of pizza dinners. Their combined love of pie foreshadowed their first restaurant together, Emily in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn as well as their second Emmy Squared in Williamsburg, both of which have become beloved neighborhood insititutions and instagram darlings . While Matt is the hit-making chef, Emily is the COO. She brings an unusual set of experiences to this position: She was a public school teacher and a yoga instructor. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, Emily reveals the lessons of mindful management. by Speaking Broadly

48 min listen

Making a Book Deal: Andy McNicol: On today's episode of "Speaking Broadly," Andy McNicol gives us an inside look at the life of a book agent. A partner in the literary department at William Morris Endeavor, McNicol puts together deals for some of the biggest cookbook authors around such as Alex Guarnaschelli, and more recently, Chrissy Teigen. She describes her job as that of a train conductor, always heading in a clear direction at maximum velocity. For more lessons on getting an agent, a deal, or simply ahead in a fast paced world, tune in. by Speaking Broadly

55 min listen

Innovative New Foods: Jordan Gaspar: This episode, host Dana Cowin takes on trends and triumphs in new consumer products. Cowin interviews Jordan Gaspar, Managing Partner of AccelFoods is an investor in innovative and disruptive food and beverage companies. She describes how she chooses between the thousands of products she and her team review every year to find the winners, and why her first investment was in a cricket bar. Gaspar also talks honestly about the challenges of balancing travel, work and young kids. Plus, Army vet turned entrepreneur Kim Jung explains the mission behind Rumi Spice, a company with works with women farmers in Afghanistan: bring peace through saffron. And product expert Tina Ujlaki tells us what to look for in new products on the market. by Speaking Broadly

55 min listen

Actor & Artistic Director: Amy Virginia Buchanan: Amy Virginia Buchanan's faith in herself and the energy of New York changed her life. She jumped from a job at HousingWorks to pursue acting, singing and perhaps most surprisingly a creative partnership called Spring Street Social Society. As artistic director, she helps plot one-of-kind events with musical entertainment in unconventional settings for the group's members. On today's podcast, Buchanan reveals a vulnerable brilliance and uncompromising approach that are essential to her success. by Speaking Broadly

35 min listen

Detroit's Food Diplomacy: Julie Egan: After years as a Senior Policy Advisor to the US Department of State, Julie Egan has a new diplomatic mission. Based in Detroit, she is bringing together diverse groups of individuals to have conscious conversations while eating a fantastic meal together. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, host Dana Cowin talks to Egan about her start up company called Salonniere, and also introduces listeners to two great Detroit chefs with new restaurants, Thomas Lents of The Apparatus Room and Kate Williams of Lady of the House. by Speaking Broadly

47 min listen

Baker Bon Vivant: Allison Robicelli: Allison Robicelli is best known for the insanely decadent desserts that she developed with her husband Matt for their Brooklyn bakery, Robicelli's. Their cupcakes like the Nutella Lasagna became viral hits and their book, Robicelli's: A Love Story with Cupcakes was on a zillion best-seller lists. In the last year, though, the couple closed their shop, moved to Baltimore, and hit the pause button. Allison shares stories of near super-human resilience: thriving after the financial crisis squelched her business, tending to Matt through repeated hospital stays, finding an outlet for anguish and joy through writing. by Speaking Broadly

54 min listen

Marketing for a Better (RED) World: Deb Dugan: Deb Dugan, CEO of (RED), the organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver to fight AIDS in Africa, has overseen some of the most original and powerful charity marketing campaigns from the brand new Eat (RED) Film Fest to turning restaurants "red" for a month. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, Dugan talks about inspirations from her trips to Africa as well as her past jobs in music and publishing. Also on this episode, author Emily Kaiser Thelin describes the memorable journey of working on Unforgettable, the biography of culinary adventurer and Alzheimer's advocate Paula Wolfert. by Speaking Broadly

42 min listen

Mixologist + Co-Founder of Speed Rack: Lynnette Marrero: Lynnette Marrero is a leader in the cocktail world--star mixologist, now at the Llama Inn in Brooklyn, consultant, co-founder of Speed Rack, a national all-female cocktail competition now in 11 cities. As a leader in a male dominated industry, she has stayed true to herself and thrived. In today's podcast, hear how Marrero found her voice and has helped countless others find theirs. And as a bonus, a round up of the best cocktail cities in the world. by Speaking Broadly

62 min listen

My Business Saved Me: The Story of Ali Cayne: At a very difficult moment in her life, just as this mother of 5 was getting divorced, Ali Cayne poured her energy into creating an beautiful alternate universe that consisted of a cafe, cooking school and event space in New York City. She called it Haven's Kitchen, a haven for her and the community she nurtures. And she says her business saved her. Listen to this episode of Speaking Broadly to hear Ali's story of going from an impromptu entrepreneur to a bad ass babe boss. Also on the show, a conversation with Denise Cerreta, the founder of One World, Everybody Eats. Cerreta was named James Beard Foundation's Humanitarian of the Year in 2016 for pioneering work that addresses food insecurity by helping people replicate a pay-as-you-go cafe model. by Speaking Broadly

53 min listen

Confessions of a Party Planning Ninja: Natasha McIrvin: Two of the greatest parties in the country owe at least part of their fun and fabulosity to one woman who works hard behind the scenes. Natasha McIrvin, Director of Creative Projects at Eleven Madison Park, NoMad and Made Nice, talks about the making of the epic Kentucky Derby Party and the hotel-wide Masquerade Ball on Halloween at NoMad, as well as about the empowering philosophy of owners Will Guidara and Daniel Humm. Also on this episode of Speaking Broadly, Anita Lo discusses the legacy of her restaurant Annisa, which serves its last meal this week. And Lindsay Jang of Yardbird in Hong Kong reveals the secrets behind her cult brand and how she works her with both her ex-husband and current boyfriend in an immensely productive partnership. Next up for this team? Launching a new project in Los Angeles. Tune in to hear inspiring stories of stretching, growing, changing in your life and career. by Speaking Broadly

58 min listen

How Bob's Big Boy and Ralph Lauren Set the Path for a Successful Entrepreneur: Vicki Freeman: Vicki Freeman is the force behind some of New York City's most enduring and beloved farm-focused restaurants. With her husband chef Marc Meyer she owns Hundred Acres, Vic's and Cookshop. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, Freeman reveals the unlikely roots of her achievements: waitressing at Bob's Big Boy, catering for Ralph Lauren, opening a restaurant with no fear or experience. Listen in for her delightful stories of groovy New York restaurant days, unexpected star visits, unfortunate closings and ultimate triumph. Plus, Doug Quint tells host Dana Cowin about the launch of cult Big Gay Ice Cream and their latest foray into grocery stores. by Speaking Broadly

54 min listen

The Future of Food Is Personal: Danielle Gould: Danielle Gould is a food futurist and the founder of Food + Tech Connect. To help us understand what lies ahead, and to accelerate the good food movement, she culls information from the excitingly diverse and intersecting worlds of food, tech, data science, entrepreneurship. On today's episode of Speaking Broadly, Gould shares her thoughts about individualized nutrition, biomes, urban farms and more. Plus she speaks candidly about some of the personal risks of launching a business. by Speaking Broadly

50 min listen

Writer & Breakfast Evangelist: Kat Kinsman: This week, Kat Kinsman, Senior Food and Drink Editor at Extra Crispy, former Editor at Tasting Table, and founding editor of CNN’s Eatocracy, discusses her book, Hi, Anxiety, which attempts to eliminate the stigma around mental health issues among members of the food industry. Kat explains how from a young age she offered to feed people in order to combat her loneliness. She discusses her own anxiety as well as her commitment to providing helpful resources and facilitating conversations about mental health within the food community. Kat has been a professional food writer for ten years, and recently, because of her job at Extra Crispy, has become one of the foremost experts on breakfast foods. In this episode she discusses her love for the perfect egg and piece of toast. She also mentions some of her favorite breakfast spots around the country, which range from restaurants to drive-throughs to 24-hour diners. Kat’s advice to budding food wri by Speaking Broadly

62 min listen

A CFO's Fearless Route to Fulfillment: Lina O'Connor: The Chief Financial Officer of the beloved California-based fast-casual brand, Tender Greens, Lina O'Connor is fiercely focused on growth, both in her personal life and in her career. A math geek born to Russian émigrés and a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, she tenaciously pursued increasingly complex jobs, starting first as an Assistant Controller at Wolfgang Puck's Spago. Recently, she took on a personal challenge--becoming a bat mitzvah--which required a substantial commitment, including learning Hebrew. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, O'Connor shares her strategies for constantly pushing forward to combat stagnation, find satisfaction and deeper meaning. by Speaking Broadly

39 min listen

Becca Parrish on "Elegant" PR: Host Dana Cowin catches up with chef Alex Stupak to discuss her favorite dishes at his newly opened Mexican restaurant Empellon Midtown. Next, Becca Parrish, the founder of Becca PR, explains why some of the best PR is invisible; how she keeps clients like Eric Ripert and April Bloomfield happy and how she only pitches stories that she knows editors want to say yes to. Bonus: Daniel Gritzer of Serious Eats shares the key to perfect fondue. by Speaking Broadly

50 min listen

How Everyone Can Drink Great Cheap Champagne According to Ariel Arce: "Trusting your gut in business is very underrated," says restaurateur Ariel Arce on this episode of Speaking Broadly. Arce admits to muting her instincts when she first launched Air's Champagne Parlor, but has fully come into her own with the super successful, personal Tokyo Record Bar, an omakase with choose-your-own vinyl on the sound system. Listen to talk about her struggles to find her voice and to figure out the balance between believing everything happens for a reason and knowing "the hard work is out there, waiting for you." by Speaking Broadly

50 min listen

Farmer Without Borders: Farah Masani: Farah Masani is a visionary farmer who has broadened her impact beyond the boundaries of her own land. Born in Bombay, Masani worked on a sheep farm in the Himalayas, came to the U.S. to study social work and behavioral therapy before connecting with farmers. She now owns Farah’s Farm in Wilton, CT, and is also the Director of Culinary Purchasing for Barteca Restaurant Group, based out of Norwalk, Connecticut. She provides the group with goods from her own garden and farm, and works with purveyors around the world to supply Barteca's 20+ restaurants with top quality ingredients. Continuing her social justice practice, Masani runs a therapy program on her farm for autistic children. Also on this episode of Speaking Broadly, author Clarissa Wei brings to light some of her favorite Asian specialties that are ignored by mainstream journalists. And host Dana Cowin talks about her best meal from a recent trip to Chicago. by Speaking Broadly

45 min listen

One of America's Best Beverage Directors: June Rodil: The woman behind some of America's best wine lists is the featured guest on this week's Speaking Broadly. Host Dana Cowin interviews June Rodil of McGuire Moorman in Austin, Texas and learns the secret to great service--and generally being a great human being. Lesson number 1: remember that you are not the center of the universe. Rodil shares her favorite wines and regions, some of which are stellar and sell for around $16. Plus, star chef-restaurateur and author of the recently published memoir, Out of Line, Barbara Lynch tells stories of growing up poor in the Boston housing projects and how that set her up for success. by Speaking Broadly

56 min listen

Founder of Hedley & Bennett: Ellen Bennett: Apron entrepreneur Ellen Bennett knows how to make things happen. Ever since she figured out how to pay for culinary school in Mexico (sell canola oil, become a radio announcer, model) she has pursued her dreams with an ebullient intensity. Bennett's first customer was ready to buy aprons before she even had a prototype. She just knew that she could improve both the utility and beauty of kitchen workwear. Ellen's energy is electric. After listening to this episode, listeners will be ready to tackle any project. by Speaking Broadly

51 min listen

Going Home with Top Chef Judge, Gail Simmons: For 15 seasons on Top Chef, viewers have watched Gail Simmons critique cheftestants' food. Simmons has now cast herself in a new role: cookbook author. Combining lessons learned on the set, her experiences cooking in professional kitchens and extensive notes from her travel journals, she has written Bringing It Home, a cookbook filled with fun, approachable recipes. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, Simmons shares how she has overcome uncertainty about everything from writing this book to voicing her opinions on TV to what's next. by Speaking Broadly

54 min listen

Wine Wonders of the World: Helen Johannesen: Helen Johannesen is the Director of Operations of several spectacular Los Angeles restaurants (Animal, Son of a Gun, Petit Trois, Trois Familia & Trois Mec). In April 2015, she partnered with Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo to open Jon & Vinny’s where, at the back of the space, she has a retail wine store called Helen’s. Though it is likely the smallest wine shop in the world, it has an outsized impact. In her wine cube, Helen holds classes, fulfills club membership and even delivery orders. On this episode of Speaking Broadly, Helen expounds on what she learned on her journey to the center of the wine world, what her wine selection says about her, and what to buy now. Also on this episode, journalist Megan Krigbaum shares her new favorites in Old World regions as well as perfect wines for July 4. by Speaking Broadly

48 min listen

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A CFO's Fearless Route to Fulfillment: Lina O'Connor

A CFO's Fearless Route to Fulfillment: Lina O'Connor

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