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 invite people into the rich culture of Mexico. And to top it off he has also founded one of the only Tequila tasting bars in Jalisco, La Cata. We chat liberty, punk rock, agave sustainability, and more.
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Ep 251 – Jim Meehan: Writing the Manual on Success
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 Meehan’s Bartender Manual and offers an in depth look at everything bartending. We chat watches, Smashing Pumpkins, relationship, and ore.
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Ep 250 – Nicola Olianas: Making the Bitter so Sweet
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 and rooting his passion for hospitality with some academic feats, the greatest handshake yet occurred: forging his relationship with the Fratelli Branca family. We all know and love Fernet, but let’s dig a little deeper. We chat fatherhood, health, hosting, and more.
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Ep 248 – Dev Johnson: Stay patient, Stay Humble
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 years later, and one of the longest serving bartenders at Employee’s Only, what does patience, dedication, and humility do for your career? Bonus: we chat Monkey Shoulder with Vance Henderson.
