"Top Chef" executive producer/showrunner Doneen Arquines joined the “Top Chef” team during its very first season, working as a production assistant. She was promoted to showrunner during the season 12 finale in Mexico and has been leading the show ever since. 

I (host Lindsay Christians) met Doneen a few times while "Top Chef Wisconsin" filmed in the state, and I was thrilled to have her on as my final guest. We talk about what challenges surprised her, how the show has evolved, and why she thinks viewers should cut the chefs from previous seasons a little slack. 

There are no spoilers on this episode, so if you don’t yet know who won, that’s OK — we will not spoil it! The entire Season 21 of "Top Chef" should now be available to stream on Peacock.