Episodes
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Friend of the Podcast, superchef, and media sensation Yia Vang is back with your guys on LFE, and not a moment too soon, as he and his team at Vinai approach the final stretch of preparations for their massively anticipated restaurant opening.
When Yia last joined the program, he detailed the many challenges he faced in embarking on this long journey, making this chapter of the story even more worth celebrating. He tells Charles & Ben more about how his love for his parents inspired all that Vinai represents, the attention to detail of all the various design and furnishing choices in the new space, details about the forthcoming menu (including a hidden SECRET MENU that can be found IN the restaurant), and a heck of a lot more about what's going on in his life right now, in addition to these six topics (+six shots) of the week:
💭 Name a meal you used to be able to have that you can’t anymore, and you really really miss it.
🌡️ Would you rather never eat a hot meal again -or- never have a cold drink again?
⛱️ What is your favorite (non food or drink related) thing to do on a gorgeous day?
🐓 What is your favorite part of a chicken?
🗺️ What destination is your top I-want-to-go-but-I-haven’t-booked-anything yet?
🥰 What is the simplest thing in life right now that brings you joy and laughter?
Pull your seat up to the table, and join the conversation! LFE starts now.
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Suntory Global Spirits:
Maker's Mark 101 High Proof BourbonFIND US
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Chris Montana has a full plate this summer. The co-founder of Du Nord Social Spirits, living near New Orleans, is working on a multitude of new projects for Du Nord, while Shanelle Montana is reimagining the Du Nord Cocktail Room and opening New Orleans style restaurant Lagniappe-- both located at the newly renovated, historic Coliseum.
He hops on this edition of LFE to tell Quam & Charles all about how these projects came together, how the spirit of NOLA fits into the Twin Cities dining scene, and the inventive new program at the cocktail room, while tipping back six shots in combinations with these six topics of the week:
🧉 What, in the beverage world, have you wanted to catch on, but hasn’t?
🗯️ Is there a mantra or a piece of advice or a line from a book or a movie that you’ve leaned on as you’ve grown your business?
🍮 What’s something you love to order that’s from a restaurant or type of restaurant that wouldn’t traditionally be known for it?
📷 Do you have a random moment in the distant past that you have a really vivid memory of? Could be a mundane thing that you recall perfectly for no good reason, or a snapshot of a memorable time long ago.
🍛 What is the food item that you couldn’t live without?
🤗 What’s an activity that is non-work related that brings you immense joy?
Laissez le bon temps rouler! Let's do this.
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight BourbonFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Episodes manquant?
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All time great Clemson Tigers and Minnesota Vikings football player Ed McDaniel rarely does interviews, but the concept of sipping spirits and smoking cigars with Quam and Charles was enough to entice him to saddle up, head to Minneapolis, and sit down in front of mic for an afternoon of chopping it up on Libations for Everyone.
Here are your topics of the week:
🌶️ Do you remember the hot sauce that first made you fall in love?
👶 Name something you hated when you were a kid that you love now.
🏈 Why do we love sports so much? What does it for you?
🥃 What’s a beverage you drink that makes you feel a little fancy, when the occasion calls for it?
🥵 Name a food that you like to eat spicy that might surprise some people.
🛬 After so much travel in your life-- do you find commuting easier now, or have you grown to dislike it?
Blitz that play button and let's get winning!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Tres Generaciones Añejo TequilaFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Time for another Chicago guest on Libations for Everyone! Derrick Tung is the owner/operator of the spectacular Paulie Gee's Pizza (Charles' fav pizza in Chicago). He joins LFE to detail future plans for more Paulie Gee's locales, a brewery food service collab, a new bar concept, smashburgers, traveling to a Shaolin monastery in Hunan province to study kung fu (SRSLY), and a heck of a lot more, in addition to these six topics of the week:
🍝 What’s your favorite thing to serve someone that’s vegan?
🎷 What new-to-you genre of music have you explored more fully recently?
🎗️ Where does your drive to do good come from?
🧭 Name somewhere that you have traveled, that you absolutely adore, that you are well overdue to visit again.
🍕 When it comes to creating and eating pizza-- is anything off the table for you?
🏙️ What is your favorite thing about living in such a vibrant city?
Grab yourself a slice of LFE!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight BourbonFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Jessi Pollak is one of the most apropos individuals to join Ben & Charles in their pursuit of sometimes-inspiring, oft-weird, libations-laden, bar-style conversations, as a one-time World Class US Bartender of the Year, Speed Rack national finalist, and the commander of all of the wonderful things you lift to your lips and sip for Soigné Hospitality (they, of the heralded Spoon & Stable, Demi, Mara, et al).
Quam whipped up a lovely, light, neutral sherry based cocktail, which was shared alongside neat cordials of gin, and homogenized within a chat containing these six topics of conversation:
🧊 Name a bartender that had a lasting impact on your life.
👂 What is a sound that will make you smile no matter what mood you’re in?
🍸 Name a classic cocktail that’s being modified a lot these days, that you believe is perhaps better left alone.
🪞 What is your favorite room or space in or around your home?
🍄🟫 What is an ingredient that you adore, and want to make more people love?
🛏️ Name the steps you take to make your bed.
Let's shake things up!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Sipsmith London Dry GinFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Friend of the Podcast, Gustavo Romero, returns to Libations for Everyone, and not a moment too soon, as his absolutely spectacular restaurant Oro was recently named a finalist for James Beard's Best New Restaurant in the US.
The fellas talk about culinary accolades, the bizarre phenomena of leaving the last piece, weird things that beets and asparagus do to your body, the continuing evolution of Nixta and Oro, the versatility of peanut butter, and these six topics of the week:
🌶️ Name an odd or surprising staple in your pantry.
🎁 What is a tradition that many people celebrate that you would like to see done away with?
⏱️ Name a place that you’ve been where you can go to feel like you’ve traveled back in time.
📺 What TV show cancellation are you still mad about?
🔥 What's your go-to beverage on a hot day when you're sweating behind the stove or a grill?
🗺️ You've just been awarded a James Beard award. You can go anywhere in the world to celebrate. Where do you go?
Let's dig in!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Tres Generaciones Tequila ReposadoFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Vivaaaaaaaa Wrestlemania! Viva Knievel singer extraordinaire Jake Quam, and our very-own resident Chaz, are both newly returned from having the times of their lives in Philly for all of the many festivities of Wrestlemania week.
These two wrasslin dorks chat up the OTHER Quam about their adventures at the pro-grape equivalent of Disneyland, and Jake tells all about what's cooking this spring for Viva Knievel-- beginning with their annual "hot szn kickoff" spectacular for the legendary Art-a-Whirl festival in Minneapolis on May 17th at Bauhaus Brew Labs.
All that, and more, in addition to your six topics of the week:
🧇 Name a food that’s better somewhere other than where it was originally created.
📀 What was the first music that you remember being YOUR music?
⚾️ What is the greatest sports moment you’ve ever witnessed live?
☢️ What’s the first creature comfort you’d miss in a post-apocalypse?
☀️ What's your unofficial summer food of 2024?
💪🏽 How do you describe pro wrestling to people that don't understand it?
PLUS: a lil teaser for a production that Jake and Charles are working on together.
Hit that play button like a Stone Cold Stunner 💀
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Knob Creek 9 Year Straight Kentucky WhiskeyFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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It's due time for another tag-team edition of the pod! What once was a convenient fill-in for cancellations or open dates, has become an alternative episode type unto itself, and is becoming more and more difficult to find a space for in the never-ending avalanche of spectacular guests on LFE.
The boys discuss Charles' recent Japan adventures, SURPRISE MAYONNAISE, Memaw's Cheese Tiddies (yes, they are a real snack food), and all of the following topics:
🔥 What outdoor cooking technique do you really want to GIT GÜD at this year?
🍖 Name a food that you pretty much avoid eating except for at a very specific place.
🚍 What's the worst thing about traveling with others?
🤝🏽 Name a memorable “single serving friend” you made on an adventure.
💭 You can only eat one of the following for the rest of your days: pizza, burgers or tacos. CHOOSE WISELY.
🌍 Name a food that’s surprisingly popular in a foreign location you've visited.
We're tagging you in!! Let's start the show.
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Maker's Mark Private Select: American Oak StaveFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Amanda Jacobson from the delightful, hilarious, spoopy Wine & Crime podcast, and the steamy, titillating, BONKBUSTERY Passages pod, is the LFE third-host o' the week! Seldom do Charles & Quam have the chance to clink glasses on-air with such a kindred spirit-- as fellow "drinking a lot while laughing hysterically into a mic" enthusiasts.
Talking about pod life is just one small part of this G&T sesh, in addition to an infinite number of terrible puns, stories about broken bones on vacation, frozen pizza history 101, and these six topics:
🍟 New fast food creations have become a lot dumber throughout the decades. Invent a new fast food creations that would absolutely kill it today.
❄️ Winter is ending in some parts of the world, and soon to begin in others. What is a favorite "I'm not going outside" meal of yours?
✅ Describe a time you said YES to something that you considered passing on, and you were really happy you did.
🍷 How has your taste in wine changed over the years, and what wine are you really into right now?
🐇 Loving dark, macabre, brooding stuff rules. But what type of floofy, lighthearted or comedic fare cleanses your palate?
🚲 Being a good traveler is complex. Name a time you were a part of, or witness to, good OR bad tourism.
PLUS: Charles won't STFU about Japan, having just returned a couple days ago,
These three really like to talk, so buckle up. LFE time is here again!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Roku Gin & TonicsFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Friend o the Pod, som, hospitality maestro, and 3.5x LFE guest Paul Hennessy pulls into the lead for all-time appearances on this edition of the show. "Paulie Three Point Five Times" doesn't really have a ring to it, so we'll just call him DOCTOR IRISH.
Paul gives Charles n Ben the scoop on life at Porzana after receiving a James Beard nom, and chats about hospitality (as ever), shoeys, and all of THIS:
🇮🇪 Name a humorous trait from your heritage that bleeds into your every day life.
🍳 Name a food or beverage you are happy to prepare the "wrong way".
🙅🏽♂️ What is something you simply won't do while traveling, regardless of what the group says?
🧠 If they could upload your consciousness into a computer, or there were an equivalent of heaven, would it be satisfying to have whatever you want instantly, or would that be LESS satisfying than truly earning it?
💔 Name a time you had an epic fail with a crush or date.
👌🏼 Name a perfect bite you’ve had in 2024.
There's a seat at the table for you. Get comfy!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Sipsmith London Dry GinFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Club Carraway founder Derek Reed makes his second turn on the Libations for Everyone runway, with some thrilling news about the future of his true-custom clothing business. Enjoying some whiskey in The Semple Mansion after a long day is a comfortable feeling for Derek, given that the "recording studio" for LFE is where he plies his craft as an expert clothier and stylist. Only this time, he can kick back as a guest.
The gentlemen talk about new comedy, timeless fashion, traveling to the same places, forthcoming adventures around the world, and more, along with these six topics:
👖 What was the original piece of clothing that made you beam with pride when you rocked it?
🎭 Who is a favorite new, or underexposed, comic of yours right now?
🍗 What food do you wish more people associated with sports get-togethers?
✂️ What region of the world is a big fashion inspiration for you in 2024? Is it a modern style, or harkening back to another time?
🍸 Patio season is lurking. What’s your official unofficial patio drink for 2024?
💭 Recount a great travel memory with someone in the room.
It's time to cut it up like fine Italian fabric. LFE time is here.
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured beverage, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Makers Mark Cask Strength French OakedFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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You'd be hard pressed to find a finer dinner party host, chef, hospitalitarian (yes that's a real word!) and devoted Francophile than Brooke Faudree. Look no further than the fact that she brought a beautiful sourdough and some excellent butter to share with Quam and Charles on this edition of Libations for Everyone.
Breaking bread and sipping negronis are just the starters. Brooke recants stories from her various visits to France, including a particularly memorable lunch she had with some elderly legionnaires, after which she was given a really special gift. Here are your six topics:
🥄 What is your favorite thing about dining in one's home, as opposed to out at a restaurant?
🗿 Infrathin is the "aura of something that was". Name a time you saw something that made you wonder how it became to be as it is now, not knowing the true story of it.
🐟 Name a dish you like to prepare that has changed, evolved or improved as you’ve learned more over the years.
🗺️ How do you and your partner travel differently, and how did you learn to navigate together?
🇫🇷 Name a moment, meal or experience that you would use to entice or advise someone traveling to France for the first time.
😖 Tell us about your last kitchen fail.
Vive Libations! Raise your glass.
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured beverage, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Negronis featuring Sipsmith London Dry GinFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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When Sông Cái founder Daniel Nguyen was previously in the Twin Cities, showcasing their dazzling portfolio of wildly unique distillations and fermentations, Quam and Charles insisted to him that he appear on Libations for Everyone the next time he's in town.
WELL, next-time is now-time. Daniel rolled into the LFE mansion recording studio with Sông Cái's entire catalogue in tow. This heady convo spans subjects like human dopamine response, designing bitter amaro alongside a Vietnamese medicine woman, transforming cocktails in black garlic machines, regenerative farming, and these topics of the week:
🤫 Name a secret hideaway, anywhere in the world, and whether you'd like to share it with more people, or keep it to yourself.
🥙 What is your favorite food or beverage fusion of international cultures?
🍹What is your favorite gin cocktail of the moment?
🍃 Spotlight a spice or herb that you believe deserves more recognition.
🧳 Give an inexperienced or worrisome traveler some advice on traveling more comfortably.
🥪 Build us your perfect sandwich.
PLUS: Ben and Charles provide more details on their forthcoming pro-wrestling party with Friend of the Podcast Nur-D. Let's Libate!!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Toki Japanese WhiskyAnd the entire catalogue of spirits and fermentations from:
Sông Cái DistilleryFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Friend of the Podcast, Robb Jones, hasn't been on LFE since 2020. A great deal has changed since then, including having his wonderful bar, Meteor, receive a richly-deserved nomination for an effing James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar. Not to bury the lede-- but they also got a hot dog roller, and he's a dad! Rolling on all fronts.
Robb tells the boys about processing the feels from receiving such an impactful nom, spills about HOT HOT DOG THEORY (like the titular Wizard Fingers) and dad life, and speaks on these topics of the week:
🍸 If you could transplant a bar, located anywhere in the world, from where it stands, and drop it in your neighborhood-- what bar would you choose?
🚭 If you could make one illegal thing suddenly legal, what would it be?
🍷 LIQUID LUNCH. What's your go-to libation when you've made the age-old mistake of not eating before imbibing?
📺 Name your favorite trash TV or movie that always instantly brightens your mood.
🏅 Beard noms aside: is there an award or accolade that you would love to receive someday?
🚃 If you could travel anywhere, geographically, to the source of something you love, where are you going?
PLUS: Charles announces some exciting travel news, and LFE unveils a forthcoming livestream event. You ready? Let's mine this Meteor together! ☄️
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
On The Rocks Hornitos MargaritaFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Boveda's Nathan Beck is a dear friend of the podcast, and LFE's newest THREE TIME guest, joining a very distinct group. He was so excited to reach three-peat status, that he Incredible Hulk'd his mic arm in half to mark the occasion. The aftermath is pictured in the thumbnail. 🤣
Nate is newly returned from the TPE Vegas tobacco expo, and offers up loads of stories from the road, about emerging cigar trends, tales from his days slinging dogs, stories about devouring an impressive number of them, fond memories of drinking Naughty Philips' with Charles (it's a real cocktail-- trust), and so much more, along with these topics:
💨 Name one of your favorite cigar lounges-- anywhere in the world.
🤨 What's a memorable meal or cocktail you've made for others that seemed like it wouldn't work, but was a huge hit?
🛣️ Do you enjoy taking roadtrips? What do you enjoy most about them?
📖 What are your book reading habits-- hard cover, soft cover, ebooks, audiobooks, dog ears or bookmarks, etc.
🧘♂️ Some say life is a journey without a goal. What pursuit in your life would you say the same thing about?
🍕 Where do you get your favorite version of a dish that most people know?
Smoke em if you got em! LFE tiiiiiiiime!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Sipsmith Lemon Drizzle GinFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Co-host of the insanely popular Knowledge Fight podcast, and former standup comic, Jordan Holmes, joins Libations for Everyone for a total departure from what he pods about on the day-to-day (Knowledge Fight is currently almost 900 episodes running!).
Drinking and quipping about Obama's beige suit, cabeza tacos and non-biological lactose intolerance are just the start. Here are your six topics of the week:
👃 Name a weird smell you like.
💿 What album release or concert are you most excited about in 2024?
🏙️ What's new-ish in the fine city of Chicago that the people need to check out?
🥗 Name an overlooked restaurant menu item that deserves more love.
🤭 What's the best heckle you've ever heard or received?
🌭 What is your actual favorite Chicago-specific food item?
Pod is LFE! Let's do this.
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Knob Creek 9 Year Old Kentucky Straight BourbonFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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After nearly 100 eps since his last appearance on the program, friend of the pod Justin Sutherland is back in the hot seat on Libations for Everyone!
What's changed since then? Not much-- he just almost died, published a beautiful new cookbook, featured on a ton of TV productions, opened a bunch of new restaurants, and uhhhh WON A DAMN EMMY.
Emmy Award Winning Justin Sutherland talks to Quam & Charles about all that, in addition to these topics (alongside a bunch of shots of tequila!):
💰 What's one of the wildest things you've been paid to do?
🛩️ After all of the travel you have done-- what's the one dream destination that you have yet to visit?
🫨 What sound or texture sends shivers up your spine-- good or bad?
💺 Do you travel first class: sometimes, always or none of the time?
💐 How are you, at this stage in your life, at accepting accolades aka "receiving your flowers"?
🥐 What food is really hot right now that you do not care for?
Play along by answering the Qs for yourself. LFE baybeeeeeee!
Beverages of Choice
This week's featured spirit, courtesy of our sponsors at Beam Suntory:
Tres Generaciones® Triple Distilled Tequila AÑEJOFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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Chef Gerard Klass is riding high on a wave of momentum. Soul Bowl is kicking out beautiful, hip-hop inspired soul food at multiple locations in MPLS (including Target Center!), The Camden Social and C.R.E.A.M. Cafe are full-steam ahead, and Klassics Kitchen + Cocktails is soon to join the fray.
Gerard found some time amidst all that activity to sit down, fireside, with the Libations for Everyone duo, for some bourbon, laughter, introspection and prognostication. Six shots, accompanied by these six topics:
🕶️ You can bring ONE item to a summer BBQ. What is it?
💟 People don't always say "I love you". What's something that someone can say (or do) that means the same thing?
🍲 Food halls and indoor recreational spaces are finally having their moment. How meaningful are these spaces, and why are they hitting their stride?
🎹 Dream up a new dish, and tie it to a musician, album or song.
🏠 If you were stuck at home forever, with no internet, how long would you be entertained with the amenities you have available in your house?
🌏 Soul food is getting increasingly spotlighted in the media and public. Shine a light on a culinary scene that deserves more attention.
You ready? Let's get after it!
Beverages of Choice
This week's feature spirit, courtesy of Beam Suntory:
Jim Beam Black Extra AgedFIND US
Instagram | Facebook
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You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the hospitality scene doing something more ground-breaking in 2024 than what Jillian Hiscock and co are doing right now with A Bar of Their Own. This first-of-its-type sports bar outside of the PNW, targeting a March open, is all about women's sports-- which they'll exclusively air in-house.
Jillian drinks with Quam & Charles and talks about the road that brought her to this remarkable endeavor, the trials and tribulations of bringing it to life, where the hell the term "devils on horseback" came from, Sisqó's fudgery, and ridiculous things to say in various accents, in addition to these six topics (in accordance with six toasts):
🛏️ What's the most awkward sleeping arrangement you've had on a trip?
🥨 What is your ultimate sports bar food, and what is your ideal version of it?
🏃♀️ Name an all-time favorite moment in women's sports history.
🥂 What do you toast to celebrate a milestone in your life or career?
🗓️ What are you fully committing to this year-- resolution or otherwise?
🕊️ Reflect on some changes you've seen that give you hope for a better tomorrow.
You know what to do! Grab a beverage and play along. LETSAGOOOOOOO
Beverages of Choice
The hosts drank this beverage, courtesy of Beam Suntory:
On The Rocks: White Negroni, featuring Sipsmith GinFIND US
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The Ice Man, Erik Eastman, is back as Libation for Everyone's first three-peat guest. More like Erik THREESTMAN, amirite? Easy is a longtime listener favorite. His appearances on the program are never short on insightfulness, deep dives, or hot quotes ("it's your mouth" is perhaps LFE's most frequently referenced guest quote), and this convo is no exception.
Erik shared highballs with the boys, featuring several select Beam Suntory whiskeys, and tells all about what's icy this winter, including new info on the world's largest ice bar in Minneapolis, and a heck of a lot more, including these topics:
🤤 Name a food that you totally lack self control around.
↕️ It's 2024! Name one thing that's "in" and one thing that's "out" this year.
🧊 How do you chill or find peace after a chaotic day?
👀 What's something you've developed a taste or interest for that would be surprising to you or those close to you in prior years?
👩🏫 Name a thankless job that deserves higher pay and greater recognition.
🍹 What's an underrated cocktail mixer or ingredient?
High balls, higher frequencies. Tune in!
Beverages of Choice
The hosts and their guest drank whiskey highballs containing these whiskeys, courtesy of Beam Suntory:
Suntory Whisky TokiBaker's Single Barrel Kentucky Straight 7 Year BourbonMaker's Mark Private Select - Minnesota Timberwolves Barrel SelectionFIND US
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