Terms of Service
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© 2025 Terms of Service Podcast
Description
Join industry natives, Nariba Shepherd & Justin Arnett - Graham as they explore dark side of the plate conversations. All glitter's not gold out here but it doesn't mean we can't do something about it. Poised but funny, specific yet inclusive - we aim to shed light on the human costs of the hospitality experience.
Tilting the microphone to those that are often forgotten and overlooked - we commit to not only discussing the realities in the industry, but provide tangible resources to enact a more equitable landscape for all.
Crafted as post shift conversations - listen in as we talk some sh*t, learn a bit, highlight unique perspectives and empower community action together.
After all, this is the industry as it should be heard and its on your terms.
76 Episodes
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Send us a text In this exciting drop we welcome Kelly Rozny, the force behind The Pro Wino, a platform redefining how we think about and experience wine education. Kelly brings years of hospitality expertise into the wine world, bridging the gap between industry professionals and enthusiasts with an approach that is conscious, approachable, and sincere. Together, we dive into her career journey, her pivotal moments in wine, and the mission behind The Pro Wino - making wine education eng...
Send us a text Absolutely honored to sit down with Sam Zeitlin, the founder of Zeitlin’s Delicatessen, a nontraditional yet undeniably cool Jewish deli that’s reshaping how Chicago experiences cultural food traditions. From his early pop-up successes to the much-anticipated opening of his first brick-and-mortar in Lincoln Park, Sam opens up about the tension between honoring legacy and reimagining it for today. For him, building a deli has never been about nostalgia alone; it’s about cr...
Send us a text In this robust drop we sit down with FINO Tequila co-Founders Vikram Kumar, Chief Revenue Officer, and Jana Iyer, the visionary behind FINO’s design and experiential narrative. Together with their fellow partners and co-founders, they’ve built a brand rooted in the ethos that Failure Is Not an Option—the very phrase behind the FINO name. We explore the rich history of FINO Tequila — from its additive-free, 100% Blue Weber Agave production to its bold entry into the ultra-premiu...
Send us a text In this new drop, we sit down with the duo behind Morning Jay’s, led by Justen x Nate that redefines what breakfast can be. What began as a living room project has grown into a pop-up series that blends food, design, and community into one cohesive experience. We explore the brilliance of how their roots anchored in the intimacy of home craft the spirit of Morning Jay’s. From a kitchen table where ideas first sparked, to curated menus and partnerships across the cit...
Send us a text For this surprise drop from us at T o S - we sit down with Jake Tepperman, founder of Chicago Food Rescue, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between food waste and food insecurity. What began as a mission to redirect surplus food away from landfills has grown into a community-driven movement that reshapes food access and reduces climate impact across Chicago. In this conversation, we explore the founding story of Chicago Food Rescue and what inspired Jake to t...
Send us a text Recorded live at Osito’s Tap in Chicago’s Little Village, this special edition of the Terms of Service Podcast brings together voices shaping the future of community, culture, and connection. We sit down with Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva and community leader Mike Moreno, Jr. for a raw, unfiltered conversation about representation, advocacy, and the power of rooted leadership. From the challenges of policymaking to the everyday realities of community organizing, this...
Send us a text In this episode of Terms of Service, we sit down with Jordyn and Oscar Sotelo, the duo behind Diego, RLM Events & Design, the electrifying hospitality pop-up Entre Sueños, and their forthcoming Trino concept. This isn’t a polished playbook on how to “balance it all.” It’s a vulnerable check-in on how business, management, branding and family collide when you’re building a life with the same person you build with professionally. We talk about where in...
Send us a text In this episode of Terms of Service, we sit down with the brilliant culinary duo Heather Bublick and Chef D'Andre Carter of Soul & Smoke — a restaurant that has redefined comfort food in Chicago and beyond. From their early days at the avant-garde kitchen of Moto to creating deeply soulful meals in takeout containers, this conversation explores the layered origins, philosophies, and community ethos that power one of the city’s most beloved concepts. We explore their t...
Send us a text On this fresh drop of Terms of Service, we’re joined by the inimitable Rob Carter — chef, curator, and visionary behind Diaspora Chicago, the celebrated culinary pop-up series that explores food through the lens of cultural lineage and radical intention. In this dynamic episode, we explore - His journey into hospitality and the pivotal moments that reshaped his approach. The origin and ethos of Diaspora—what it means, why it matters, and how it’s built. The tension between auth...
Send us a text In this special recap episode, we unpack the layered impact of UTILITY 2025, a revolutionary trade space (not just a trade show) hosted by Tilit NYC. Recorded from Chicago — a city that cooks, builds, and refines — this episode explores how UTILITY prioritized culture over consumerism, exchange over exhibition, and people over products. Utility 2025 wasn’t about hype — it was about healing. From honoring the emotional weight of labor to centering conversations around sust...
Send us a text Aye! We have been gone for TOO long but we are so excited to be back with Naomi Kubo of Sushi by Scratch here in Chicago. In this fresh drop of T o S, we sit down with Naomi to explore the intricate world of omakase and the unique dining experience at Sushi by Scratch. Naomi shares her journey into the culinary arts, her passion for sushi, and the philosophy behind creating an intimate and immersive omakase experience. We delve into the challenges and r...
Send us a text A double header this week with Lavell Miller as we recap our dynamic conversation surrounding Spearhead Spirits. In this drop of T o S, we sit down with Lavell Miller to explore the dynamic world of Spearhead Spirits and the exciting evolution of African spirits in the global market. Lavell shares his journey into the spirits industry and how his hospitality background shapes Spearhead's approach to brand development and consumer engagement. We delve in...
Send us a text Welcome back to Terms of Service; it's been awhile. In this episode, we sit down with Chef Sarah Stegner and Darren Gest to discuss Chicago Chefs Cook, a community-driven initiative bringing together culinary professionals to support humanitarian causes. Chef Sarah Stegner, a 2X James Beard Award-winning chef and co-founder of Chicago Chefs Cook, shares insights on how the culinary community mobilizes to provide aid, uplift local food systems, and advocate for susta...
Send us a text Fresh drop with Ricky Lee Barnes and it's a true Midwestern gem. Ricky talks to us about how he came to be in Dayton, OH and his journey to Chicago. Speaking in depth about his introduction to the hospitality industry, we examine his trajectory and finding himself amongst queer spaces. This episode speaks in depth about our individual ideologies while discovering commonality amongst our independent experiences. Ricky builds out a beautiful narrative that empowers a real...
Send us a text New episode with Carlos Matias and its chock-full of industry insider information but drives a narrative that is a robust roadmap for consumer expectation and the true ethos of hospitality professionals. Carlos speaks about his diverse background within the industry while unveiling improper practices that he experienced. Given his background and trajectory, Carlos has crafted a unique path of empowerment and accessibility within all spaces that he has been apart of. We ofte...
Send us a text We are a bit late but it's too worth the wait. Happy to announce this episode with Chef Faiz Ally and this DELUXE drop engages multiple facets of the industry experience through necessary gems of child care, leadership, empowerment, leadership etc. We begin with a dynamic overview of Faiz's background and his philosophy within multiple environments. From his Pakistani nationality to upbringing through Tennessee to Washington D.C. - aka Chocolate City to Chicago; we explore...
Send us a text And we're back at it! So excited to be joined by Desi Mullins to share their dynamic perspective from NYC to the Chicago culinary scene. This episode is a heartfelt good time as we explore her respective background and find her within the reality of her authentic hospitality experience. We dive deep in the understanding of understanding ones individual and collective value while contributing to a larger scale ecosystem. This episode is a brilliant reminder that you are ...
Send us a text It's been widely too long but WE ARE BACK - and it's with Daniel Reguiera and Sean Ellis of Chicago Cane Cooperative and it's everything that we've needed. Before you get into it - we've missed our audience [YOU] too much and sometimes life happens and you have to take a moment. You always have to take care of you and we appreciate you too much to not acknowledge real industry shit - from mental health, unfortunate circumstance and ingrained impostor syndrome. Someti...
Send us a text To slide into the conclusion of Black History Month - we are very stoked to welcome Jesse Steward Jr. of Alexander James Whiskey to discuss his heritage specific journey in building out his black owned brand. We begin with his inspiration behind the brand and move into how familial tradition affects the intentionality beyond the bottle. Jesse speaks to his Chicago commitment while also discussing how his diverse roots promote the culture of his brand, vision and commu...
Send us a text Fresh drop with Emily Miller and LeighAnn Hranka of Junior Council and it's a bit different than we have done in the past but oh so fulfilling. We discuss their collective work in supporting Lurie's Children's Hospital through their Snowball Gala at The Drake Hotel Feb. 24th. Emily and LeighAnn discuss their commitment to non profit work, how important it is for brands to come together for the greater good and the brilliant support of their event at The Drake Hotel. ...
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