Episodes

Finally was able to nail down some time with the very busy, Brad Bodnarchuk. I was on his podcast months ago, and the conversation was enlightening as was this one. Brad takes a very different approach to industry consulting as I do, holistic, emotion driven and focusing on many intangibles that make great venues great. His articulated views on everything from personal health to how the lighting should be in a space, is an amazing insight to the way the industry and the people in it tick. Conver...

As an Australian kid growing up, Naren was one of the guiding lights of the early years of the cocktail scene in Australia. From editor of the tome that many of us learnt from, Australian Bartender Magazine to running the foundation venue, Bayswater Brasserie that spawned a myriad of careers and venues; to reopening and creating such brands as Dante in New York and now Sweet Liberty in Miami, Naren has been at the forefront and influenced the cocktail scene worldwide for decades. I really loved ...

We are highlighting local this week with Tim Siebert from Citrus and Cane; originally from Australia, we go on the journey of where it all started, opening a bar in the pandemic and how he keeps his understated positivity throughout it all. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative st...

If you don't know who this amazing bartender come entrepreneur is, then you have been missing out; check out the interview I did almost 2 1/2 years ago to get her origin story. Kelsey is an absolute tour de force for the hospitality industry for Canada, running uber successful venues, pop ups, and one of the thought leaders in sustainable bartending and the future of the industry. Loved this chat thoroughly. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s to...

This is something I have been lamenting for some time, I will preface all of this with the fact that my upbringing and childhood lead me to use this in the beginning of my career; but I believe that I have changed. Am I hard, yes, have I learnt to lead with empathy, most definitely. The industry is constantly changing, the people in it are evolving and as an "older" generation in the industry we need to be molded as much as we help mold these new recruits. Saying "that's how we've always done it...

I think after the last couple of years, we all need to be reminded how to keep our chins up and be resilient against what has been one of the worst eras for the hospitality industry. I hope that if you are going through something right now, that this helps in a small way. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality f...

Been watching the digital space, NFTs and Crypto for over a year now and trying to figure out how to apply it to the hospitality sector. With the announcement of the first NFT restaurant opening in NYC next year, it has finally arrived. While many believe that the nature of NFTs is mainly for digital art, the applications of it in the industry space is finally starting to evolve. Let's scratch the surface of what's possible. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospital...

It's the start of 2022, let's get it! It's time to build equity in yourself over for someone else, what is your passion, what do you truly want coming out of this pandemic? Push yourself, achieve what you want and be happy this year, make it a mandate. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he ...

I am going to be honest with all of my listeners, the last 3 months has been tough. I know a lot of people have been feeling the grind of the tail end of the pandemic (I hope the tail end) and I have struggled with keeping positive and motivated to do my extra curricular activities including the podcast and BC Spirits. But it's a new year and one to start pushing against the grain again. Thanks for all the support! TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality indust...

This was a cathartic rant about the lockdowns across the country but specifically BC. I understand that we have been in a pandemic for almost two years now but the fundamental misunderstanding from the government about what and who should be closed and have mandates placed on them is something I can't ignore. With packed malls and shops, but the hospitality industry has to yet again rejig their venues and policies. I have been an understanding industry person through all of this, but I am gettin...

This was one of my favorite episodes and the 200th episode of the Post Shift Podcast and I wanted to make it as big as possible, so I had to get the King Cocktail himself; Dale DeGroff. This was an amazing episode, I fanboyed out hard obviously listening to Dale regale on stories of old New York and talking about why almost 20 years later, he decided to update the Craft of the Cocktail. This was an epic episode that could have gone on for hours. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a d...

The epitome of the hospitality entrepreneur is the amazing, Jill Cockson. She is one of the minds behind Swordfish Tom's, Drastic Measures and Chartreuse Saloon and her mentality towards business, the industry and building a culture that we wants to be proud of. One of the best business interviews that I have ever had. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Sool...

I thought going into Christmas and the holidays that I would post some of my favorite episodes and why not start with my 100th episode with Jeffrey Morgenthaler all the way back in January, 2020! A lot has happened over the last 2 years and I think a revisit and catch up on the show is very necessary. Hope you enjoy the next round of episodes. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industr...

Had a phone call from a friend and fellow solopreneur last week, which is when I meant to do this episode but I wanted to get some advice down for the solopreneurs out there that may have doubts in themselves and need some focus. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice,...

This was an amazing, in depth chat with Cedd Moses about opening 25 bars in 15 years, promoting from within (their CEO was a bar back 15 years ago) and how he and his team are striving to have 2030 careers by 2030; helping the people in their organisation realize their dreams of having their own space as well as stability through working conditions and structure. Get a copy of his book here. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: ...

What an amazing opportunity this was for me, having the opportunity to speak with David Wondrich from his humble beginnings as a junior professor to one of the most prolific hospitality history researcher in the world. Apart from the books, he has helped develop multiple award winning spirits with brands, rebirthing long dead spirits and categories. He just released the Oxford Companion of Spirits and Cocktails with Noah Rothbaum, a ten year labor of love that is the modern encyclopedia of every...

Over the years, I have worked hard to become less rigid, less hard and worked heavily on my soft skills. Coming from a military family, the practice was hard and authoritative, which in this day and age doesn't work and shouldn't. I have been known has a hard ass, a tough person to work with and I am still to a degree but I have become more open to talking to the team and finding the best path for everyone instead of just my goals. Leadership through empathy is where I believe where I am now, I ...

Had a great catch up with Micah Dew, the Maker's Mark Diplomat for Western Canada; where he regaled the years flairtending across the world, the infamous Roxy in Vancouver and how he made the transition to brand ambassadorship. Great nuggets of information about customer service, gratitude and inspiration. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, ...

Last week I did the episode about the transition from staff to management, so this week I wanted to delve into the next step of management to ownership. I go deep on this one because I have done this successfully and not so much successfully and wanted to give some insight to anyone who wants to take those next steps in their career. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficiona...

Back after a month, chatting with Nick Nemeth from the Miracle Pop Up and Sipping Santa. We chat the history of Miracle Pop Up and Sipping Santa and how this initiative helps bars and charities the world over and how Nick was brought on to push it forward internationally. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality f...

With the current state of the industry and mass resignations and people leaving the industry altogether, I wanted to tackle the transition from being a hourly staff member to a salaried manager from the staff perspective and the from the owners. It's been a while since I did a shot, so I wanted this to be unabashed about the realities of it. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry ...

Took a couple of weeks off to unwind and recharge, came back to reflect on all the things I have been able to do in the last almost 3 years and look towards the future at what is next. TEXT ME on COMMUNITY - +1 250 999-4182 Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are h...