Cooking Your Way Through Life

In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, we’re talking about Adaptability — in the kitchen and in life. I break down four key lessons adaptability has taught me through cooking: learning to adjust to your surroundings and the things you can’t control, why waiting for the “perfect time” only holds you back, how perseverance matters more than perfection, and why the ability to adapt is essential for growth and survival. I also share a real-life story from my time as a personal chef — including a moment when a client and I didn’t see eye to eye because I didn’t adapt the way they wanted. It’s an honest look at how flexibility, communication, and humility play just as big a role as skill. To wrap things up, I give you a simple challenge: try a new recipe this week or substitute an ingredient you normally wouldn’t. Growth starts when you’re willing to adjust. Because whether it’s food or life — if you can’t adapt, you don’t move forward.

Friendships aren’t always easy — but the ones that last are always worth it. In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, I’m joined by my longtime friend Ayla. We’ve been friends since first grade, and this conversation reflects what it truly looks like to grow with someone over time. Life changes, priorities shift, and friendships evolve — but real bonds adapt instead of breaking. We talk openly about vulnerability, growth, and maintaining meaningful friendships through different seasons of life. This episode is a reminder that time doesn’t weaken genuine friendships — it strengthens them. On the food side, we dive into potluck culture — the do’s and don’ts of bringing food to a potluck. We break down the four most common potluck dishes and how to improve them so you’re not stuck bringing the item nobody wants to touch. This episode is equal parts heart, laughter, and real-life connection. Guest: Ayla CT / Nuclear Medicine Technologist Mom of two Night-shift warrior with a soft heart and a strong mind Follow Ayla: Twitter: https://twitter.com/MAGIXRX06 Instagram: https://instagram.com/COUNTRYKANE88 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@SUGARBAKER

Setbacks happen — in life, in business, and even in the kitchen. In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, I talk honestly about navigating setbacks when things don’t go as planned. Whether a setback is personal, professional, or financial, we all eventually face the same decision: adapt, pivot, or let go and move forward. I share real-life perspective on how setbacks can cost more than effort — they often cost time — and why knowing when to restart instead of forcing a fix can save you from deeper frustration. On the culinary side, we explore setbacks in the kitchen. Some recipes can be saved, while others simply can’t — and learning when to start over is just as important as knowing how to fix a mistake. From broken sauces to recipes that go too far, the kitchen offers constant lessons on resilience and decision-making. This episode is about reframing setbacks not as failures, but as moments that teach us how to adjust and keep going.

Patience isn’t passive — it’s intentional, active, and often tested when progress feels slow. In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, I’m joined by OG for a grounded conversation about patience in both life and the kitchen. We talk about how patience shows up when you’re building something meaningful and why comparing your journey to someone else’s only creates unnecessary pressure. On the culinary side, we focus on risotto — a dish that demands attention, restraint, and trust in the process. I break down my four pillars of making great risotto, and how each one directly connects to patience. You can’t rush it, you can’t skip steps, and you can’t force results — the dish tells you when it’s ready. We also dive into the idea that your journey is yours alone. Timing looks different for everyone, and being patient with your own path is just as important as putting in the work. This episode is for anyone who feels like they’re behind, waiting, or questioning their pace — a reminder that patience isn’t wasted time, and growth doesn’t happen on anyone else’s schedule Guest: OG Music producer and world-traveling professional musician who has worked with artists including Bryson Tiller, Elhae, Masego, Xavier Omar, T.I., John Legend, Trippie Redd, and more. Follow OG: Instagram: https://instagram.com/OGTha3 Facebook: Oliver Grose III  

Happy New Year — and welcome to the first episode of 2026. In this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, I’m taking a moment to acknowledge something important: we made it another year. With that comes reflection, intention, and the opportunity to start fresh. We talk about New Year’s resolutions — how to make them realistic, obtainable, and sustainable, and why consistency and effort matter more than big declarations. Resolutions only work if we’re willing to put the work in. On the food side, I share practical tips around meal prep — ways to make it easier to stick to if you’re doing it yourself, and an honest look at using meal prep services or personal chefs when it makes sense. Realistically, it’s often not much more expensive than the drive-through these days. This year is about consistency for me, and new episodes will be dropping every Thursday. Thank you for being here, and here’s to showing up for ourselves in 2026.

This is a special bonus holiday episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life. This Christmas, I had the chance to spend time with friends I hadn’t seen in over five years — Mollie and Ger — and it reminded me just how powerful chosen friendships can be. We’re born into family, but we choose our friends, and that choice creates a bond that can last years, even across distance and time apart. In this episode, I reflect on gratitude, friendship, and the beauty of reconnecting — and how meaningful it is when those bonds pick up exactly where they left off. And if you’re lucky enough to have family members who are also your friends, it really does feel like lightning striking twice. On the culinary side, I still wanted to leave you with something delicious, so I share a quick and easy homemade eggnog recipe that packs a punch and is perfect for the holidays. Thank you for listening, and make sure to check out new episodes weekly on YouTube and wherever you enjoy podcasts. Happy holidays from my kitchen — and my heart — to yours.

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Drake Robertson (aka Chef Hollywood) is joined by Jamal and Lexi for an honest and thoughtful conversation about impulse — the thoughts and actions we make in the moment, often without slowing down to examine why. We dive into impulsive decision-making and ask the bigger questions: Are our impulses driven by gut instinct, emotion, or habit? And how do those split-second choices shape our lives, relationships, and routines? On the food side, we connect impulse to something everyone can relate to — fast food. I share tips on how to make four easy “fast food–style” items at home, because sometimes the drive-through feels like the quick answer, when cooking at home can be just as fast and even more satisfying. 🎧 New episodes every week — where food meets life lessons, and every ingredient tells a story. 🌐 Website – chculinarycreations.com 🔗 All Links – linkinbio.com/chefhollywood 👥 Guests: Jamal & Lexi Lexi and Jamal are a married couple based in Atlanta, GA. Lexi is a freelance graphic designer, and Jamal is a soccer coach. Together, they share a love for travel, creativity, and making meaningful memories. 📸 Instagram – @jbyeldell 📸 Instagram – @lexiwandesigns 📸 Instagram – @lexisrisuwanyeldell

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Drake Robertson (aka Chef Hollywood) sits down with his friend Warren Mullins — a former cruise director turned tattoo artist — for a real and reflective conversation about growth, both personal and professional. We talk about how growth doesn’t always look the way we expect, how sometimes we don’t even recognize our own progress, and how it often takes seeing growth in others to realize how far we’ve come ourselves. Throughout the conversation, Warren and I point out the ways we’ve each evolved over the years and how perspective plays a huge role in understanding growth. In the kitchen, I break down Pickling 101, teaching you how to pickle just about anything and how to adjust the process to fit your own flavor profile. I also share a quick and easy kimchi-style recipe, offering my personal take while being mindful and respectful of kimchi’s cultural roots, and encouraging listeners to explore its history and significance further. 🎧 New episodes every week — where food meets life lessons, and every ingredient tells a story. 🍴 Stay Connected 🌐 Website – chculinarycreations.com 🔗 All Links – linkinbio.com/chefhollywood 👤 Guest: Warren Mullins 📸 Instagram – @ininkwetrust 🎵 TikTok – @ininkwetrust 🌐 Website – ininkwetrust.co.uk 💭 Join the Conversation What’s one way you’ve grown recently — even if you didn’t notice it at first? Drop it in the comments and let’s talk.

Connection shows up in our lives in more ways than we realize — through the people we love, the friendships we build, the cultures we explore, and the food that brings us together. Today’s episode dives into what connection truly means and how it shapes who we are. We start by exploring the difference between a deep personal connection — the kind where you feel vulnerable, valued, and fully seen — and the powerful connections we form with close friends and family through shared experiences and trust. From there, we move into the culinary side of connection. I share two stories from my childhood: Sundays spent outside cooking with my grandfathers and uncles, and Sundays inside learning to bake with my grandmother. These early moments sparked my love for food and taught me how cooking naturally creates connection, long before I ever stepped foot in a professional kitchen. I also touch on what connection looks like as a chef and traveler — how food allows us to communicate across cultures, and how gastronomy has shaped my view of the world. And in today’s digital age, we also look at online connection and whether it’s truly connection if we don’t nurture it the same way we do in person. Whether it’s around a holiday table, a Sunday dinner, or a simple shared meal, food connects us all. Let’s explore what that means, and how we can reconnect with ourselves and others through presence, intention, and flavor. New episodes every Thursday — subscribe so you never miss a moment.

Change can be scary, exciting, uncomfortable, or transformational — sometimes all at once. In today’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, I sit down with Spencer Jason, who grew up on the waters of Long Island and never expected that the ocean would become his workplace. Spencer began his journey as a Chef at Sea, but his curiosity and love for the salty air, breathtaking views, and constant exploration led him to make a bold career shift into the deck department. Together, we dive into the real meaning of change: • When do you embrace it? • When do you push back? • And how do you know which one you truly need? We also break down a versatile seasonal soup base that you can adapt all year long — just like life, your cooking changes with the seasons. Follow Spencer: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theschmerz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSchmerz/ Tune in and cook your way through change with us.

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Hollywood slows things down for the holiday and dives into the art of being present. Thanksgiving often gets overshadowed by the rush of Christmas, social expectations, and constant comparison — but this episode is all about grounding yourself in what’s right in front of you. We talk about how reflection during the holidays helps us appreciate what we already have, instead of focusing on what we think we’re missing. In life, in love, in careers — sometimes we’re chasing so much that we overlook the blessings and people sitting right in front of us. For the food portion of this episode, Chef Hollywood shares the two dishes he genuinely looks forward to every Thanksgiving and asks the big question: Are you still making the same traditional holiday foods, or do you experiment each year? This episode is warm, real, and all about slowing down, showing up, and savoring the moment — in and out of the kitchen. 📘 Grab my cookbook: https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4 🌐 chculinarycreations.com 🔗 bio.chculinarycreations.com

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Hollywood sits down with Grant Martin — a comedian, creator, and close friend who calls himself the Mindful Comedian for the way he blends growth, humor, and reflection. 🌱😂 Together, we unpack the idea of failure — the personal missteps, career setbacks, and unexpected moments that taught us more than our successes ever did. From lessons learned on cruise ships to the wild story of how we ended up at a pajama party with Oprah, this episode is all about growing through what didn’t go as planned. This week’s culinary theme dives into the top four things home cooks and chefs fail at the most: scrambled eggs, pasta, breads, and chicken. Chef Hollywood breaks down why these mistakes happen and how to fix them so your kitchen failures can turn into flavor-filled wins. 👨🏽‍🍳🔥 🎙️ Guest: Grant Martin — The Mindful Comedian 📸 Instagram: @itsgrantmartin 📘 Facebook: @itsgrantmartin 🎵 TikTok: @itsgrantmartin ▶️ YouTube: @itsgrantmartin 📘 Grab my cookbook: https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4 🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: Cooking Your Way Through Life 🌐 chculinarycreations.com 🔗 bio.chculinarycreations.com

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Hollywood sits down with Brittany, owner and pastry chef of the Low country’s first mobile bakery — Declan’s Delights Co., a Best of Bluffton nominee. 🍰 Together, we dive into the idea of risk — the big leaps and small daily decisions that shape both our careers and our lives. From following passion projects to walking away from comfort zones, we share what it really means to bet on yourself and grow through uncertainty. This episode also explores the art of cooking without a recipe — learning to trust your instincts, rely on core techniques, and let creativity take the lead in the kitchen. 👨🏽‍🍳 🎙️ Guest: Brittany, Owner & Pastry Chef of Declan’s Delights Co. 📸 Instagram: @declansdelightsco 📘 Facebook: Declans Delights Co. 🌐 Website: www.declansdelights.com 📘 Grab my cookbook: https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4 🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: Cooking Your Way Through Life 🌐 chculinarycreations.com 🔗 bio.chculinarycreations.com

n this episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, we’re talking about gratitude — not just saying “thank you,” but truly shifting your mindset from glass half empty to glass half full. 🌿 Chef Hollywood dives into how practicing gratitude can change the way you cook, live, and appreciate the small things. We’ll also explore this week’s techniques: slow cooking and braising — two comforting, flavorful methods that remind us good things take time. 🎥 Watch me bring these techniques to life on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3x1qheWvuQ8 📘 Grab my cookbook: https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4 🎙 Listen to more episodes of “Cooking Your Way Through Life” on all major platforms 🌐 chculinarycreations.com 🔗 bio.chculinarycreations.com

In this week’s episode of Cooking Your Way Through Life, Chef Drake Robertson (aka Chef Hollywood) sits down with Warren Mullins — a former cruise director turned tattoo artist with more opinions than facts — for a fun and fearless conversation about real fears vs. irrational fears, and how both can hold us back more than we realize. Together, we open up about facing fear, trusting change, and learning to laugh through life’s challenges — all while making Black Magic Margaritas and Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites to keep things deliciously spooky. 🎧 New episodes every week — where food meets life lessons, and every ingredient tells a story. 🍴 Stay Connected 🌐 Website – chculinarycreations.com 🔗 All Links – linkinbio.com/chefhollywood 👤 Guest: Warren Mullins 📸 Instagram – @ininkwetrust 🎵 TikTok – @ininkwetrust 🌐 Website – ininkwetrust.co.uk 💭 Join the Conversation What’s one irrational fear that’s been holding you back — and how are you cooking your way through it? Drop it in the comments below.

This week, we’re switching things up and having some fun. In this special episode, Chef Hollywood brings together every co-host from this quarter for a game of “Cooking Your Way Through Telephone.” Each co-host asks another co-host a question — no one knows what’s coming next — creating a fun, honest, and behind-the-scenes look at the people who help bring this podcast to life. Featuring: Warren, Brittany, Grant, Spencer, Jamal & Lexi, OG, Ayla, Tinesha, Chef Patrick, Matt, Paul, and Shaconna — it’s a quick, cool way to get to know the voices you’ll be hearing throughout the season. 👉🏾 Follow for more recipes, episodes, and chef tips: bio.chculinarycreations.com

Discipline isn’t about being perfect — it’s about showing up, even when you don’t feel like it. In this episode, Chef Hollywood explores how building discipline in the kitchen mirrors building it in life. From learning French to hitting the gym or reading more, every habit starts with small, intentional steps — just like measuring every ingredient with care. Through the art of baking, Chef breaks down how structure creates freedom, how patience shapes results, and how consistency turns goals into growth. 🍰 Because just like a good recipe, success is all about timing, precision, and showing up every single day. 🎙️ Listen, learn, and cook your way through life. 👉🏾 Follow for more recipes, episodes, and chef tips: bio.chculinarycreations.com

I just wanted to share some information about the upcoming changes to the podcast and next week I'll drop the trailer for the new episodes that are on the way!

Today's episode is really fitting for the final episode of season 5. What is closure and do we need it every time or sometimes do we just need to move on? That is one of the things we talk about today and also having the ability to think clearly before making a decision. Today's recipe is a take on a crab boil, but done in the oven with loads of flavor.

Today's episode touches on the idea that we sometimes hold ourselves back because of fear when it comes to taking a leap of faith. There are different kinds of leaps that we can take with personal, professional and so on and they are all different. Today's recipe is Irish seafood chowder and it is so versatile but also packs a punch of flavor too.