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Guys, come on.
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3 seconds
Yeah. I mean, Iโ€™ve never seen anyone like blank out on simple questions like that.
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Y know, it takes a special track to do this.
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Iโ€™m just fluid. Itโ€™s a chef. Iโ€™m here to remind yโ€™all Iโ€™m sick with it. My name is ubiquitous, meaning itโ€™s one and the
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same. Simple and plain. Iโ€™m all about my paper. The bacon chitter and pain. I got these lanes running for the border. The talented Mr. Porter keep it flowing like itโ€™s water. Here we go. There we go.
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37 seconds
Creeping to a low speed. Is it him and his friend sitting in the nose playing it cool? He ainโ€™t special just cuz heโ€™s on TV. Everybodyโ€™s hands up acting like they know.
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51 seconds
Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of the Taste Music Food podcast show. the destination for all things
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1 minute
food, music, and culture and how they all connect. Today we have an amazing
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1 minute, 7 seconds
amazing guest that um weโ€™ve become super duper fast friends. Um and Iโ€™m just
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1 minute, 14 seconds
excited to have her on today. So before we even get into who did I have to do this right and give you the proper intro
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1 minute, 24 seconds
that you donโ€™t that you just deserve. So without further ado, todayโ€™s guest stitched a revolution thread by thread.
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1 minute, 34 seconds
What started as a motherโ€™s gesture of love turned into a movement that now outfits the culinary world in armor built for artistry. Sheโ€™s the founder of
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1 minute, 42 seconds
Craftmade Aprons, a brand born in the heartbeat of the kitchen and raised by the rhythm of hustle. Her aprons donโ€™t just protect chefs, they represent them.
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1 minute, 53 seconds
Theyโ€™re as much a statement as they are a shield. Sheโ€™s woven resilience into every seam, spotlighted service workers through her help the house foundation,
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and redefined what it means to serve on and off the line. From design from from design tables in Minneapolis to kitchens
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2 minutes, 10 seconds
across the globe, sheโ€™s become the unsung hero behind the heroes. Apron queen, industry champion, cultural co
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2 minutes, 17 seconds
curator. Give it up for the one and only Miss Kate Meyer.
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2 minutes, 22 seconds
Thatโ€™s powerful. It is. Iโ€™m keeping that. You can have this. Listen, listen.
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2 minutes, 26 seconds
I I I spend probably a exorbitant amount of time writing the intros for first
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2 minutes, 34 seconds
off, I cherry pick all my guests. So, thereโ€™s nobody that Iโ€™m talking to that I wouldnโ€™t want to have a drink with somewhere. Thereโ€™s a thereโ€™s a no
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2 minutes, 43 seconds
[ __ ] sign on that door. And and we donโ€™t allow anyone past the threshold. Yeah. Sorry. I I I donโ€™t
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2 minutes, 52 seconds
have to and I wonโ€™t. And so because of that, yeah, I have enough reverence for anybody that sits in this chair to do
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3 minutes
due diligence to pay people their flowers. I know enough people donโ€™t hear it enough really honestly how they
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3 minutes, 7 seconds
affect others. And so I I wanted to really let you soak that in. I know it was hard for No, I I
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3 minutes, 14 seconds
I really feel something from that. It was really profound. And I think when youโ€™re head down doing the work, you
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3 minutes, 22 seconds
donโ€™t always realize that youโ€™re impacting or doing much of anything.
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3 minutes, 26 seconds
Right. Right. Youโ€™re just doing just doing. Youโ€™re just doing. Youโ€™re just doing. But when you hear it from someone that you respect Yeah. I mean, that
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3 minutes, 33 seconds
means a it means a ton. Really does. So, first off, thank you so much for for being here. Um thereโ€™s thereโ€™s so much
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3 minutes, 42 seconds
to to cover. So, letโ€™s talk about you, Kate, and your journey from just being a mom. Just doing what a mom does best.
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3 minutes, 53 seconds
Just doing what a mom does best and to make something for their for their kid to protect them and and thereโ€™s something that he asked for, right? So,
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4 minutes, 2 seconds
take take me through the the steps from that one moment to trying to please your
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4 minutes, 9 seconds
child then to the revolution that it is today. Yeah. So that um really happened so innocently. Um and I think it also
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4 minutes, 17 seconds
was like started by a little brotherly like older brother looking after younger brother is like he just spent $120 on
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4 minutes, 25 seconds
this canvas with strings and it got ruined the first day with beet juice, you know. Um can you help us make
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4 minutes, 32 seconds
better? Weโ€™ve all been Yeah. And it just happens and youโ€™re like thatโ€™s what you get an apron for those to protect you and to you know give you that um
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4 minutes, 40 seconds
durability and comfort. So when they asked, I just kind of thought it was funny because Iโ€™m like an apron thatโ€™s like really thatโ€™s what you need and
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4 minutes, 48 seconds
theyโ€™re like youโ€™d have no idea. This is really important to us. Um and hearing that it was important that made it then that much more important to me. So I
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4 minutes, 57 seconds
just wanted to be that vessel and you tell me what works for you and what you might like. And so that was really uh motivated, pushed and started with them.
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5 minutes, 9 seconds
So fabric, the texture, the feel. I went through so many different fabrics of what might work for an apron because
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5 minutes, 16 seconds
when youโ€™re starting out just completely blank. Yeah. And youโ€™re like, โ€œWhat would work?โ€ And letโ€™s think about it differently. Um I would test fabrics,
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5 minutes, 26 seconds
especially if theyโ€™re cotton. Iโ€™d soak them in oil. Iโ€™d scrub the very bottom of my dirty oven where all that cuz I
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5 minutes, 33 seconds
had teenage boys come home late at night and make those pizza rolls, right?
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5 minutes, 37 seconds
Somethingโ€™s in there. Absolutely. That burnt cheese down there, right? Thatโ€™s black now and itโ€™s going to help me,
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5 minutes, 45 seconds
right? So, I scrub that and then th toss that in a wash. How does that come out?
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5 minutes, 50 seconds
And so, I I learned that there were some fabrics that were 100% cotton that would take that. And when I started to learn that that was a good path and I have,
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5 minutes, 59 seconds
you know, access to some of these fabrics that were kind of really unique um so they could have their own cool different style. Yeah. It went from like
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6 minutes, 7 seconds
that me just doing something for them and there was no way I had any interest in a no there no none of what Iโ€™m doing
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6 minutes, 15 seconds
there was no plan for this actually I was recovering a second back surgery major back surgery so I was just just dipping in a little bit doing something
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6 minutes, 24 seconds
for them and over a yearโ€™s time I was just developing more and more like what did they need what do they want how does
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6 minutes, 32 seconds
it fit give me feedback hereโ€™s one where to work yeah you had an R&D session. I did like in real time. Yes. And I toss them on each kid. Different kid for
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6 minutes, 40 seconds
different reasons. I got one thatโ€™s really picky about the fit and the feel and the pockets. I have another one that treats it like [ __ ] And you know itโ€™s durability. I know what youโ€™re Yes.
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6 minutes, 52 seconds
Fabric test that one. Yeah. So, it was a whole process of that and it was slow. I thought that I was just sneaking a few
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on them, but it just changed immediately when my oldest gifted one to one of his friends. And it was in that was
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December. And then by January, I was meeting chefs in the back of a kitchen. And I was just making five at a time.
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And I thought this was such a big deal and crazy. I couldnโ€™t even blew my mind.
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7 minutes, 21 seconds
I was like, โ€œOkay, this is really like wild that this means that much.โ€ Yeah.
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7 minutes, 26 seconds
and then them saying, โ€œHey, could you start an Instagram so we can see what youโ€™re gonna have next week?โ€ And I was like, โ€œWow, so
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7 minutes, 34 seconds
weird. Okay.โ€ So, I did that. I would take photos of each apron and thatโ€™s kind of how everything started. Yeah.
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Because now I just Iโ€™m laying flat, take a photo, thought it was so cool. Took me like four hours. Itโ€™s so great, you
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know. Um, and it was just this love kind of. It was um my kids were proud of it
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7 minutes, 57 seconds
because it was kind of cool and theyโ€™re gifting their friends and it it took off as soon as I did that Instagram. Now I
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8 minutes, 5 seconds
have DMs coming in because thereโ€™s this apron and it has the state of Minnesota on it and that is something I havenโ€™t seen before. So yeah. So here we go.
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Yeah, that was it. Thatโ€™s I Iโ€™ll be honest. The the first time I I purchased an apron was because it had the the the
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8 minutes, 21 seconds
Minnesota outline on it. I was like, โ€œOkay, I I want to support.โ€ And and it was way cooler than a lot of other aprons. And Iโ€™ve Iโ€™ve gone through
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plenty. Iโ€™ve Iโ€™m not saying my age. Iโ€™ve been in the business a long time. And so I uh good aprons are hard to find. Few
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8 minutes, 38 seconds
and far and few in between. And then one that have a story is a whole different thing. Yeah. Itโ€™s a next level. Um, so
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8 minutes, 46 seconds
because of this love and what an apron represents or represented that actually
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just carried through like to this day the same mission the same mission is applicable. You just have a lot more sons now. Thatโ€™s right. Thatโ€™s it.
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Thatโ€™s it. The family grew. Yes.
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9 minutes, 5 seconds
Exponentially. You know, the interesting part for me too is like um when we do full restaurants and you get to meet and
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9 minutes, 13 seconds
know the restaurant owners, even if itโ€™s over email in a whole another state, maybe you hop on a call at one point, but you get invested in them. Yeah. And I see so much excitement and enthusiasm.
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9 minutes, 25 seconds
And I didnโ€™t realize how awesome it was for the whole team to have their matching uniform. And you think of
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9 minutes, 32 seconds
sports, right? You took away everybodyโ€™s uniform and they were just whatevers.
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9 minutes, 38 seconds
Like itโ€™s you got that you feel part of something bigger and itโ€™s really special. Iโ€™ve had people tell me how
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much they saw like a a cook or prep cook or someone just come right like into their own because they felt really
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9 minutes, 52 seconds
unified now. Yeah. And you for me when I was first starting out hearing those stories my mind was blown because I just
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10 minutes
didnโ€™t I didnโ€™t understand the depth of that. Yeah. So in this in this business itโ€™s a little different than how it is now but when when I came into the
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10 minutes, 9 seconds
industry what you before you you didnโ€™t get it just get a chef coat those were those were reserved for chefs right and
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so you had a utility jacket which was the what the dishwashers wear. Um and in an apron though did get an apron and
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10 minutes, 24 seconds
that apron was was your that was your team uniform. That was the one thing that bonded you to everyone else in the
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10 minutes, 32 seconds
building and it was not only a source of protection, but it was also a badge of
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10 minutes, 39 seconds
honor. Yep. And that was the first line of defense.
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Yeah, it is. Itโ€™s the first Itโ€™s the first line of defense um for you and you at least I did. I I I cared for all of
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10 minutes, 52 seconds
my things with the highest regard because I know what it took me to get to have that apron. Yes. And so Yes. And so
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um like the day I remember the day I got an actual chef coat was a big deal.
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Yeah. And um Yeah. So I I totally and we had this conversation about the importance. cuz I know like you you
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probably donโ€™t didnโ€™t understand at the time, but itโ€™s a big deal. Itโ€™s itโ€™s a really big deal. And then because of the reasons why you made it and how you made
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11 minutes, 21 seconds
it and all the the the natural R&D you did just because you wanted to make it right. If Iโ€™m going to do this, Iโ€™m going to make it right. Thatโ€™s why Thatโ€™s right. Thatโ€™s why people love
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11 minutes, 30 seconds
what you do. And that for me, I started everything with the loop neck, the standard neck thing. Um, and then I was
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11 minutes, 38 seconds
wearing one because I thought, how could I maybe make some suggestions and I wore it and I would tell you almost
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11 minutes, 46 seconds
immediately I started hunching my shoulders and I felt just uncomfortable and it gave me even that much more
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11 minutes, 54 seconds
appreciation for my kids and those within the industry and how they have to perform and function daily. And then when you have all the things in your p itโ€™s just stuff you donโ€™t think about.
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Yeah. You donโ€™t think about those little details. So when I felt that, I I worked to create and design my own crossback
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12 minutes, 11 seconds
that would stay and fit. And you have to find the right webbing thatโ€™s going to hold up to that. And I really do feel
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12 minutes, 19 seconds
pride when people bring me one theyโ€™ve had for eight years and itโ€™s still most of those pieces are still well intact after a ton of use. Um, but it it was
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12 minutes, 28 seconds
that idea of like, how do I relieve some of this pain a little bit for my kids, you know, and then you think of that for
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12 minutes, 37 seconds
others and youโ€™re like, how? So, you go from like I need to relieve a little pain so your day is better and then you
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12 minutes, 44 seconds
take it one step further into doing a nonprofit. And thatโ€™s where it is like um if realizing the actual physical pain
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12 minutes, 53 seconds
and toll and then stepping into like these are the people that I want to help, right? You know, thatโ€™s amazing.
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13 minutes, 1 second
Itโ€™s amazing. All right, weโ€™re going to take a pivot. Weโ€™re going to go into something that I call deep cuts. And so,
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13 minutes, 8 seconds
weโ€™re going to dig a little deeper into three topics. Thereโ€™s going to be a food cuts, thereโ€™s going to be a music
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13 minutes, 17 seconds
cuts, and then thereโ€™s going to be culture cuts. So, Iโ€™m going to ask you three questions in each category. Um, and you just answer to your the best ability. Donโ€™t think too hard. Okay.
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13 minutes, 28 seconds
I told you when I So, listen. This this should just this should just roll off your tongue then.
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13 minutes, 35 seconds
Okay. All right. So, first food. Whatโ€™s your go-to comfort meal?
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13 minutes, 40 seconds
And donโ€™t say Cheetos. No. No. I make a really good chicken curry and that if I have time to cook, thatโ€™s what I love to do. And to be honest, thatโ€™s something
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13 minutes, 48 seconds
that um my kids ask me to cook when they come home. Thatโ€™s what we do. Iโ€™m expecting chicken curry. Thatโ€™s good.
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13 minutes, 55 seconds
You should never Iโ€™m expecting chicken curry now. So So Yep. Itโ€™s a good one.
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13 minutes, 59 seconds
Okay. All right. Favorite kitchen tool you cannot live without? Kitchen tool.
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14 minutes, 5 seconds
Tongs. Yeah, thatโ€™s a good one. Itโ€™s a good one. Most memorable dish you ever tasted. Whatโ€™s the most memorable dish
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that youโ€™ve ever tasted whether you made it or not?
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14 minutes, 21 seconds
I mean, if I go like really like my mom used to make me these this rice with
14:28
14 minutes, 28 seconds
pork chops on top. Okay. I can immediately applesauce. No, no, with that mushroom soup. All right. Okay. All
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14 minutes, 36 seconds
right. Okay. But it was something about that. It was special. She she I donโ€™t know if I ever told her I liked it, but
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14 minutes, 43 seconds
it was mine. And when youโ€™re the youngest and you have that thatโ€™s your that was your dish. Okay. Iโ€™m making your favorite and youโ€™re like, โ€œWhat is
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14 minutes, 52 seconds
it?โ€ But itโ€™s Yes, that would be very memorable. Um Iโ€™ve had so many
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14 minutes, 59 seconds
incredible um food experiences just because of who I get to be, which is amazing. Um, I
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15 minutes, 8 seconds
donโ€™t know if I could choose just one, but thereโ€™s thereโ€™s thereโ€™s some. And if I started telling, thatโ€™s not fair.
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15 minutes, 13 seconds
Donโ€™t make anybody donโ€™t make anybody else. Itโ€™s not fair. Yeah.
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15 minutes, 18 seconds
Okay. Weโ€™ll move favorites. Weโ€™ll move to music then. But boy, I could tell you later to save phrase. Yeah, weโ€™ll weโ€™ll move you later. Okay. Song that best represents your brand.
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15 minutes, 29 seconds
Oh, wow. I would have a hard time with this.
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15 minutes, 37 seconds
Okay, pick a genre then. Donโ€™t pick a song, just pick a genre, you know. I donโ€™t know because I think
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15 minutes, 44 seconds
weโ€™re really action. I think thereโ€™s a lot of action. I think thereโ€™s a lot of I know that music is an important thing to you guys cuz you dramdy. Okay, thatโ€™s that is not a genre of music. I know.
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15 minutes, 56 seconds
Are we creating new genres of music?
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16 minutes
Dramdy. Well, I was trying. So, Iโ€™ve been listening to BC Boys a lot lately working because it just gives you Yeah.
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16 minutes, 9 seconds
So, I was like, you know, I just named an apron Intergalactic. I really like that song. Why? Why? I love the Beasty Boys. Theyโ€™re good. I Iโ€™m a New Yorker.
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16 minutes, 19 seconds
Itโ€™s just theyโ€™re in my DNA. Yeah. Yeah.
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16 minutes, 21 seconds
Yeah. I love the Beasty Boys. Okay. So, weโ€™ll just say the Beasties. Cool. All right. Um, first concert you ever
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16 minutes, 28 seconds
attended? Uh that was um the violent fee and a little college thing. It was Yeah, it was cool.
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16 minutes, 40 seconds
I think you Okay. It was really good. Pretty good.
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16 minutes, 45 seconds
Really cool. Okay. Artist you would love to collaborate with on a design.
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16 minutes, 54 seconds
Present company I included. I mean h musicwise. No, just an artist.
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Oh, thatโ€™s so itโ€™s vast now. Yeah. I donโ€™t know what you just did to me here.
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17 minutes, 9 seconds
Okay, just pick a musician then. That narrows it down.
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17 minutes, 16 seconds
No, I donโ€™t think we can. I donโ€™t think we can play that game. I donโ€™t know. Dead or alive?
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17 minutes, 24 seconds
Um I donโ€™t know. Thatโ€™s just really tough. Thatโ€™s really hard because I feel like there there are so many different
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17 minutes, 32 seconds
artists that bring so much to that and Iโ€™m just too I think Iโ€™m too random and wide and open as a person. Then just grab one then.
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17 minutes, 42 seconds
I donโ€™t know. Okay. Okay. Okay. Pass.
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17 minutes, 46 seconds
Well, well, weโ€™ll let Iโ€™ll let you slide pass. I was going to do pass. Okay. But Iโ€™m like Well, Iโ€™m like thereโ€™s What about What about Warhole?
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17 minutes, 54 seconds
Oh, yeah. I mean, yeah. See, but thatโ€™s real big. Thatโ€™s Well, no. I said any Itโ€™s Itโ€™s your
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18 minutes, 1 second
dream. Sheโ€™s dream big. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah. No. Now I feel real dumb.
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18 minutes, 14 seconds
Bos Matise, anybody. Any anybody? The guy that invented the double bubble gum wrapper. Whatever it is. Itโ€™s your
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18 minutes, 22 seconds
dream. Okay. I didnโ€™t have this. Thatโ€™s a dream. Yeah, there is a local though. Thereโ€™s a local
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18 minutes, 30 seconds
artist that does a lot of spray paint stuff and heโ€™s really really incredible and he and I have been talking about it. So that is something thatโ€™s awesome.
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18 minutes, 36 seconds
Thatโ€™s an actual real. And then you know that Bangsy I donโ€™t know if youโ€™re familiar with Bangsy. He just revealed so heโ€™s been Yes. Yeah. He had to cuz he lost his phone in the pub. Thatโ€™s what
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18 minutes, 43 seconds
you get. Thatโ€™s right. Thatโ€™s right. He had to reveal who he is. Okay. Weโ€™ll go to culture cuts now. Okay. A cultural tradition that inspires your work.
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18 minutes, 52 seconds
Cultural tradition.
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18 minutes, 57 seconds
Um, wow. I think I donโ€™t know. Itโ€™s like the hospitality part falls into a lot of
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19 minutes, 5 seconds
different cultures and I think that just thatโ€™s a culture in its own. So, hospitality is a culture in itself. Just a giving. Yes. Yep. Thatโ€™s it. Thatโ€™s a great Thatโ€™s it. Okay. Favorite local
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19 minutes, 14 seconds
spot in Minneapolis. Now, this is going to get you in trouble. So, Iโ€™m sorry.
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19 minutes, 22 seconds
Wow. got to pick one. Um, well, I have a new one that I recently, but thatโ€™s You see, as this is going to be bad, but Black Duck Mhm.
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19 minutes, 33 seconds
blew my mind.
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19 minutes, 36 seconds
Blew my mind. But I think I could go to probably five different places around here and they would theyโ€™re my favorites. Yeah. I mean, but um I would say Ola Raipa. Thatโ€™s an also favorite.
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19 minutes, 46 seconds
Thatโ€™s a thatโ€™s a real mom thing to say, by the way. It is. It is. It is. Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah.
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19 minutes, 56 seconds
And finally, a book or film that deeply influenced you. What kind of film?
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20 minutes, 6 seconds
Um youโ€™re expecting me to say something like Eat Pray Love or something. Iโ€™m Iโ€™m not I mean that wouldnโ€™t be far off the you know off the beat. No Goonies. Okay.
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20 minutes, 16 seconds
Well, you know what? I really there is a I like films with fighting. Iโ€™m a green
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20 minutes, 23 seconds
belt in this. I know. I like the sparring. My dad was a Golden Gloss boxer. I love that sort of thing. Um, I
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20 minutes, 30 seconds
think that when I watch films that, um, thereโ€™s some strength and power. Okay.
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20 minutes, 36 seconds
And I always like to root for the underdog, but then thereโ€™s also a badassory film like you got Blood and Bone and there youโ€™re watching that,
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20 minutes, 43 seconds
youโ€™re like, โ€œOkay, I get it.โ€ I mean, not that I want to beat people up secretly, but Sounds like
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20 minutes, 50 seconds
it sounds like sound like youโ€™re just waiting. Just wait. Youโ€™re just waiting for the opportunity. Use that green belt. I was Listen, I was that kid.
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20 minutes, 58 seconds
Look, look, when when Kung Fu Theater was on on Saturdays when I was a kid, you went outside and you you found your closest friend and kicked his ass.
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21 minutes, 7 seconds
Thatโ€™s just what it was. So, thatโ€™s what we did. I I I donโ€™t know about anybody else. Thatโ€™s what we did. Oh, god. Iโ€™m trying this roundhouse out on somebody.
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21 minutes, 16 seconds
Brother, so Iโ€™m trying this roundhouse out on somebody. I got my ass kicked all the time. Yes. And thatโ€™s why youโ€™re doing now.
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21 minutes, 25 seconds
See? Yeah. Look at that. Not again. Nope.
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21 minutes, 30 seconds
Okay. Okay. Great answers. Great answers. Yeah. All right. So, I donโ€™t even know if you got any real answers, but I know I talked. I mean, I got some
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21 minutes, 38 seconds
words. Thereโ€™s answers in there. I promise you thereโ€™s answers in there. You We sort around.
21:44
21 minutes, 44 seconds
There are answers in there with Cheeto dust all over them.
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21 minutes, 49 seconds
So, uh, how do you see the intersections of, and you talked about this a little bit, but the intersection of the the
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21 minutes, 55 seconds
culinary arts world, how have you interjected a lot of what youโ€™ve seen
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22 minutes, 2 seconds
and learned into your designs seamlessly? So, I know that like you talked about the net. So, like the average weโ€™ll we would appreciate that
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22 minutes, 11 seconds
from wearing it, but we wouldnโ€™t, you know, we donโ€™t get into the technical into that. But other than those things, like what else? And of course style
22:19
22 minutes, 19 seconds
obviously, but yeah, how how has that marriage? How has that been? Yeah, I still stay very open to listening if
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22 minutes, 28 seconds
people have ideas or interests or challenges or things theyโ€™d like to see.
22:33
22 minutes, 33 seconds
Um I I donโ€™t get people that want to change much of anything anymore, which is kind of also a little bit weird to me.
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22 minutes, 41 seconds
Thereโ€™s a um the only the only recent change weโ€™ve made is I have a noodle shop in um Maine that weโ€™re doing a
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22 minutes, 50 seconds
ramen one and weโ€™re making aprons that are 53 in in length. Okay. Theyโ€™re thatโ€™s pretty wild. It is um long. But
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22 minutes, 57 seconds
that makes sense. But other than that, I donโ€™t make too many changes anymore, but I do Iโ€™m always on the lookout for better fabrics. And I think my most
23:04
23 minutes, 4 seconds
successful ones that I love the most were the Kevlar Nomx ones. Yeah. That I cannot get anymore. I mean, you know,
23:15
23 minutes, 15 seconds
that was thatโ€™s a thatโ€™s a this cool apron and and the fact that itโ€™s itโ€™s for the durability. Itโ€™s super light, too. Itโ€™s a itโ€™s a I have I have one the
23:24
23 minutes, 24 seconds
fire resistant, water resistant, like itโ€™s the best. Yeah. And I canโ€™t get that fabric anymore. And damn it, I want that.
23:32
23 minutes, 32 seconds
Yep. Thatโ€™s a good one. I know. Thatโ€™s a really good one. How how have just dealing with the multitude of
23:42
23 minutes, 42 seconds
different types of chefs and and their personalities, how have you infused, and I know you have just because just who
23:50
23 minutes, 50 seconds
the type of person you are. How have you infused some of the the the things that there that is near and dear to them into
23:57
23 minutes, 57 seconds
not even the design but just the way you go about dealing with others in in the
24:04
24 minutes, 4 seconds
industry because this is such a itโ€™s such a personal people driven industry and thatโ€™s why youโ€™ve
24:12
24 minutes, 12 seconds
done as well as you have thatโ€™s why it exploded the way it did because itโ€™s rooted in people and I think thatโ€™s where
24:20
24 minutes, 20 seconds
um people that are not in the industry or donโ€™t have a a reverence for industry folk. Yeah. We sense that. We know like itโ€™s just a itโ€™s a transaction. Yeah.
24:31
24 minutes, 31 seconds
And and maybe we will, maybe we wonโ€™t, but when you have a deep rooted interest
24:38
24 minutes, 38 seconds
in the people. Yeah. Thatโ€™s I think thatโ€™s the magic. Well, and I think it also comes from a little bit of just Iโ€™m
24:46
24 minutes, 46 seconds
already at a place of understanding what your day is like or what youโ€™re doing with your time or life. So, youโ€™re not coming to a place where you feel like
24:54
24 minutes, 54 seconds
thereโ€™s any judgment. Um, I found that people are generally really um excited to share ideas and thoughts about an
25:02
25 minutes, 2 seconds
apron thing or fabrics or whatever those details. Um, they feel safe and confident in doing that without judgment. But thereโ€™s also youโ€™re
25:10
25 minutes, 10 seconds
stepping in to a space that already understands you and you feel there I just this happened almost immediately
25:18
25 minutes, 18 seconds
where people um they wanted to share that maybe your head down all day. Mhm.
25:24
25 minutes, 24 seconds
Maybe youโ€™ve done this now for a week and a half or whatever youโ€™re at and you donโ€™t really youโ€™re not really inter as much as youโ€™re working with someone
25:33
25 minutes, 33 seconds
Yeah. a team. Youโ€™re not really interacting with them. No. So, youโ€™re seeing even though youโ€™re around people all day and your job is hospitality, youโ€™re extremely isolated. So, youโ€™re
25:42
25 minutes, 42 seconds
going to go home late at night, youโ€™re going to have those Cheetos or whatever youโ€™re doing. Um, sleep a few hours and get up and go back and do it again. I
25:49
25 minutes, 49 seconds
know the routine and I know what theyโ€™re doing, but youโ€™re super isolated. Not everybody has a significant other at any means. I mean, um, and maybe your
25:58
25 minutes, 58 seconds
familyโ€™s already said, โ€œFuck you. Youโ€™re never going to do anything with your life. Iโ€™m not talking to you anymore until you get a real job.โ€ Mhm. to if youโ€™re facing that and thatโ€™s in your
26:06
26 minutes, 6 seconds
life and Iโ€™ve met far too many people along the way who see that um canโ€™t you
26:13
26 minutes, 13 seconds
see me? Mhm. And I thought that was so weird to have someone say that to me in the beginning. I was like seriously what? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Itโ€™s an amazing
26:22
26 minutes, 22 seconds
thing. It really is because and so much of this industry is not normal, right?
26:29
26 minutes, 29 seconds
So itโ€™s youโ€™re an alien. Yeah. youโ€™re, you know, youโ€™re youโ€™re alien amongst regular people and nobody gets it or and
26:38
26 minutes, 38 seconds
donโ€™t understand it. and they donโ€™t want to understand it and youโ€™re talking a foreign language to people who are numb to it or just completely, you know,
26:47
26 minutes, 47 seconds
dismissive about the things that you that youโ€™re complaining about or and hereโ€™s itโ€™s not even complaining because you donโ€™t I donโ€™t believe in my travels
26:56
26 minutes, 56 seconds
I I donโ€™t see a lot of industry folk complain about things. They donโ€™t and they donโ€™t share. We donโ€™t share. And
27:03
27 minutes, 3 seconds
thatโ€™s the thing because because we get ridiculed. Yeah. And so I will say to it made me feel incredible with the fact
27:11
27 minutes, 11 seconds
that people were willing to reach out to help the house and trust trust us that weโ€™d be there for them, not to judge and that they could ask for support when needed. And gaining that trust was huge.
27:24
27 minutes, 24 seconds
That was huge. Thatโ€™s uh so and we touched on this a little bit before uh about you wearing the badge proudly with
27:32
27 minutes, 32 seconds
you know utilizing the the outline of the state of Minnesota. How has your Midwest heritage played a factor in how
27:41
27 minutes, 41 seconds
you deal with and in and just approach this this community? And weโ€™re not talking about just in Minnesota. So,
27:48
27 minutes, 48 seconds
this is weโ€™re talking about globally really, but how how have you injected that that sense of community into everything that you do?
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28 minutes
I think I find it really interesting when you have those out there that um I donโ€™t I would say my boundaries
28:09
28 minutes, 9 seconds
arenโ€™t that great, letโ€™s say, in a good way. Yeah. And Iโ€™m very unique and Iโ€™m curious and
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28 minutes, 17 seconds
inquisitive and um I treat everyone always the same. Itโ€™s just what I do.
28:21
28 minutes, 21 seconds
And itโ€™s like, um, Iโ€™m curious and I want to know more about you, what you what youโ€™re doing, who you are, and I donโ€™t care where Iโ€™m
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28 minutes, 30 seconds
at. Iโ€™m going to be that same way. And thatโ€™s just who Iโ€™ve always been. Um, but when Iโ€™m working with people within this industry, and to to be just what
28:39
28 minutes, 39 seconds
they call the mom person, Iโ€™m okay with that. Thatโ€™s fine. And in the beginning, I felt a little bit, damn, youโ€™re like my age.
28:51
28 minutes, 51 seconds
But I mean itโ€™s okay because I I I want thatโ€™s a badge of honor by the way. I want to feel and thatโ€™s a thatโ€™s a itโ€™s a high reverence. Itโ€™s humble. I feel very humbled. Okay. And it feels great.
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29 minutes, 2 seconds
I mean um you trust your mom. You love your mom and you feel safe and confident
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29 minutes, 8 seconds
to share and that it maybe itโ€™s going to come with some words you donโ€™t want to hear either like you know some harsh truths. Yeah.
29:18
29 minutes, 18 seconds
Absolutely. Yeah. We had a conversation when I when I first met you and we were talking about just like at his base like
29:26
29 minutes, 26 seconds
okay what an apron represents and and I was talking about you know like within every stitch thereโ€™s a
29:34
29 minutes, 34 seconds
sense of community and being that goes into this seemingly meaningless garment right
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29 minutes, 41 seconds
but what it represents is so much more to so many people. Yeah.
29:47
29 minutes, 47 seconds
and th that process of of of those things and that community that that youโ€™ve youโ€™ve woven yourself into like
29:57
29 minutes, 57 seconds
literally y is is the magic. Thatโ€™s the secret sauce. Thatโ€™s it. It really is the secret sauce and which spilled over into the foundation. And so itโ€™s why
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30 minutes, 6 seconds
itโ€™s been a big important piece for me when I do an event. Iโ€™m going to have an event. I want that kitchen open. Yeah.
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30 minutes, 14 seconds
And I want itโ€™s not the mystery behind there. We donโ€™t need to see them and weโ€™re just going to have food come to you. Itโ€™s like I want to bring it all
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30 minutes, 22 seconds
in. I love the idea of open kitchens. Um but I also say like having something thatโ€™s more upscale and the people that
30:29
30 minutes, 29 seconds
donโ€™t often experience this. I think itโ€™s important and thatโ€™s it. Letโ€™s bring it. Letโ€™s bring it to you, right?
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30 minutes, 36 seconds
You know, see whatโ€™s going on. See, you donโ€™t But itโ€™s that other part though too. I feel a sense of um responsibility
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30 minutes, 45 seconds
to share also verbally the extent of time and hours and energy that goes into
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30 minutes, 51 seconds
one night planning the menu, the food gathering, the prep, all of the pieces
30:59
30 minutes, 59 seconds
that go into that and the people that are helping to serve it. Like thereโ€™s itโ€™s a whole itโ€™s itโ€™s an orchestra,
31:06
31 minutes, 6 seconds
right? Itโ€™s a itโ€™s a it is it is very much an orchestra. Itโ€™s very much a a a a curated symphony and there so many
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31 minutes, 16 seconds
moving parts to make it happen. And the reason why again to go back to that point, the reason why the natural
31:22
31 minutes, 22 seconds
progression for you is the help the house foundation is because you have such a reverence for the people and you
31:29
31 minutes, 29 seconds
see their pain points firsthand like you had to do something like there was you had to do something. It wasnโ€™t something that and again Iโ€™m sure that this was
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31 minutes, 37 seconds
never on the radar either you know just something but you seen a need and thereโ€™s definitely a need I can I can attest to that and
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31 minutes, 45 seconds
thatโ€™s the ending result like okay how do we how do we help how do we make a difference for me it was hard to consider myself a business owner and
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31 minutes, 53 seconds
taking from this community even though Iโ€™m giving them a product right making it here is still expensive I mean theyโ€™re all manufactured here itโ€™s we
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32 minutes, 2 seconds
have to charge a certain amount just to keep the lights on, you know, but with that theyโ€™re still that theyโ€™re giving
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32 minutes, 10 seconds
funds that I know they worked hard for, right? So, um, I couldnโ€™t take and not give back and not be thoughtful in how
32:18
32 minutes, 18 seconds
Iโ€™m giving back. and hearing those stories and every time someone would let their guard down and share with me. I didnโ€™t realize that that whole time I
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32 minutes, 26 seconds
was just gaining intel for like what we would do with our future and how all of that richness that Iโ€™ve learned in a very non-judgmental space and to hear
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32 minutes, 35 seconds
about peopleโ€™s lives and why theyโ€™re in the kitchen, what this family is their only family and that they have that
32:43
32 minutes, 43 seconds
um to me if you donโ€™t look at that depth and find a way to make help make them stronger. I mean that I have no business
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32 minutes, 52 seconds
being in this business. Then I shouldnโ€™t be doing it. If Iโ€™m not going to be creative and thoughtful and mindful about protecting those that are going
33:01
33 minutes, 1 second
out of their way to build this brand, theyโ€™re doing it with me. I donโ€™t have marketing. Itโ€™s like the team is doing this and they take so damn much pride in
33:10
33 minutes, 10 seconds
that, too. I canโ€™t even tell you when they see stuff on TV or they see stuff on Instagram on someone, theyโ€™re like, โ€œHoly [ __ ] did you see that?โ€ Yeah. No.
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33 minutes, 18 seconds
So excited. Theyโ€™re so excited. Well, they theyโ€™ve been in the know before before everybody else knew. So, itโ€™s itโ€™s itโ€™s something to be said for when
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33 minutes, 26 seconds
you see itโ€™s like, โ€œAh, look at thereโ€™s our team.โ€ Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.
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33 minutes, 30 seconds
Absolutely. Thatโ€™s a thatโ€™s a great way to think about it, too. Yeah. Thatโ€™s a thatโ€™s so great. So great. Itโ€™s how I feel when I travel abroad. I go, you know, Iโ€™m a people that know Iโ€™m a
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33 minutes, 39 seconds
diehard Yankee fan. So, itโ€™s probably the most recognizable symbol on the planet. So, I I can go anywhere and see a Yankee hat. I like go Yankees. Okay.
33:51
33 minutes, 51 seconds
Um, letโ€™s talk about and I know you donโ€™t do this. You didnโ€™t do this for this, but it it it just goes comes with the
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33 minutes, 58 seconds
territory. Itโ€™s itโ€™s a byproduct of doing good work. So, Craftmade Aprons has have graced a
34:08
34 minutes, 8 seconds
numerous amount of television appearances right now. You see them all over uh all over Food Network right now with the Tournament of the Champions and
34:16
34 minutes, 16 seconds
and and everywhere. I Iโ€™ve Iโ€™ve Iโ€™ve did photo shoots and in Craft Made aprons um along with a slew of other people
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34 minutes, 26 seconds
and the amount of praise that you are getting for just being a solid
34:33
34 minutes, 33 seconds
individual and making a quality product that that that we love. you know, and itโ€™s itโ€™s sort of like the itโ€™s been
34:41
34 minutes, 41 seconds
adopted as our own, right? And so thatโ€™s right. And thatโ€™s thatโ€™s that level is you canโ€™t buy your way into that. I
34:51
34 minutes, 51 seconds
would say for me when I went to Philly was the time that blew my mind the most because I had from the beginning I was
34:57
34 minutes, 57 seconds
just doing that little state. I hand drew each one and I was doing it just because I thought it was cool to my kids. Iโ€™m like a so cool. And my main
35:07
35 minutes, 7 seconds
name is Bourbon. And I know put a B, an A, BA, bourbon apron. Look at this thing is so cool. So I did that. And when I
35:15
35 minutes, 15 seconds
Okay, really quick, letโ€™s not glaze over that because I know a lot of people were probably wondering what the BNA stands for. So So itโ€™s your name. Bourbon.
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35 minutes, 22 seconds
Yeah. Bourbon apron. That was it. And no intention of a business. I was just very cool for them, right? Um and when they
35:30
35 minutes, 30 seconds
would wear that, people would, you know, my son, one of them was saying he was doing this corporate event and they were like, โ€œOh, thatโ€™s cool.โ€ But theyโ€™ll
35:38
35 minutes, 38 seconds
never go anywhere because thatโ€™s so suggestive with that BA. And I was he told me that I was like, โ€œWhat?โ€ So funny. But, you know, I
35:47
35 minutes, 47 seconds
wasnโ€™t intending to do that anyway. But when I went to Philly and we did a little popup there several years ago, um there was a wait there were people
35:55
35 minutes, 55 seconds
waiting. There were people waiting for that for us to show up and we sold out with the product we brought almost immediately. And I was like, โ€œThis is
36:04
36 minutes, 4 seconds
Philly. Theyโ€™re tough. they love you or hate you, Iโ€™m glad they love you. One or the other, one or the other. Itโ€™s like the state is there and theyโ€™re okay with
36:11
36 minutes, 11 seconds
that. Theyโ€™re okay with um itโ€™s itโ€™s become not a symbol of like itโ€™s Minnesota only. Itโ€™s like this is a we
36:20
36 minutes, 20 seconds
thing and this represents us as a community. We built a brand and thatโ€™s what I think has happened. Itโ€™s not I
36:26
36 minutes, 26 seconds
donโ€™t itโ€™s itโ€™s been a we built a brand thing. Last uh yesterday was my sevenyear anniversary from when I actually started a business.
36:36
36 minutes, 36 seconds
Congratulations. Seven years though.
36:38
36 minutes, 38 seconds
Itโ€™s the last happened in seven years. I was still sitting at my dining room table seven years ago. Wow. And look at
36:45
36 minutes, 45 seconds
it. Look at the explosion, right? And this just so happens to be thatโ€™s the So thereโ€™s a thereโ€™s a thin line
36:54
36 minutes, 54 seconds
between time and space. So like leaps and bounds. Seven years is to most not a lot
37:03
37 minutes, 3 seconds
of time, right? To for especially for a business, right? Yeah. And so many businesses donโ€™t make it to the two-year, three year mark. Yeah. To go
37:13
37 minutes, 13 seconds
from your dining room table, as you said, seven years ago, seven years ago to where you are now and and being such
37:21
37 minutes, 21 seconds
a global force. What was it? What was the feeling like when you first saw your aprons in prominent kitchens? Like what did that what did that feel like?
37:30
37 minutes, 30 seconds
Because I know and Iโ€™m probably sure that your son like wait really wild. I mean itโ€™s itโ€™s still I still feel that
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37 minutes, 37 seconds
way. I still like will take a picture of my TV. Um I still do stuff like that.
37:42
37 minutes, 42 seconds
But I think the first time I was just like it was weird to think that you could do something that was good enough that someone would wear to something
37:51
37 minutes, 51 seconds
that was important to them, right? And for them to like honor that. Yeah. Yeah.
37:57
37 minutes, 57 seconds
Wow. Itโ€™s like thatโ€™s crazy. So then it almost became addictive. And when people would reach out and be like, โ€œHey, Iโ€™ve got this cool special appearance.โ€ Like, โ€œOh my god, I want to be part of that.
38:08
38 minutes, 8 seconds
What are we making?โ€ Right? It was fun.
38:11
38 minutes, 11 seconds
Right. Itโ€™s always been fun like that. I still have that sense of excitement.
38:15
38 minutes, 15 seconds
Itโ€™s Yeah, itโ€™s really amazing. Thatโ€™s amazing. Okay, so letโ€™s talk about the segue. Letโ€™s talk about the help the
38:23
38 minutes, 23 seconds
house foundation about how well we know how it came about because of of all the the discrepancies
38:32
38 minutes, 32 seconds
in in the industry but just talk to me about how you landed on you know going forward with and doing
38:41
38 minutes, 41 seconds
it in the manner in which it is and and itโ€™s a work in progress because itโ€™s growing because itโ€™s itโ€™s such a big mountain to climb. So talk to me about
38:49
38 minutes, 49 seconds
the help the house foundation. Yeah. So with help the house I wanted to curate a team two teams like thereโ€™s an executive
38:56
38 minutes, 56 seconds
team that just wants to do the you know this stuff and then thereโ€™s a team of um
39:05
39 minutes, 5 seconds
adviserss that are within this industry and each has a particular like strength.
39:10
39 minutes, 10 seconds
Um but really getting the word out there was the big piece right now. Getting that out there and I would say that happened faster than I could have ever
39:18
39 minutes, 18 seconds
anticipated. Um, but thereโ€™s so much heart, depth, and soul into what this is
39:25
39 minutes, 25 seconds
and how we want to help. Um, when you hear those stories that almost immediately, um, all my focus turned to
39:34
39 minutes, 34 seconds
is how do we raise more funds? Um, because the demand is there and the demand is is strong. Um, and theyโ€™re
39:42
39 minutes, 42 seconds
asking theyโ€™re doing the right things, which is asking for help. Um, so it became this community effort of like we got to get funds together. So we started
39:51
39 minutes, 51 seconds
those popups started happening immediately. These chefs are taking it on themselves to have um what theyโ€™re calling house parties which is very cool. We had a taco Tuesday house party.
40:00
40 minutes
Weโ€™re having a hot dog popup. Um and that itโ€™s just amazing the way that theyโ€™re taking it making it their own, making it tangible, making it a space.
40:10
40 minutes, 10 seconds
Even those popups are spaces where people that canโ€™t necessarily afford a ton can come kind of be part of a thing.
40:17
40 minutes, 17 seconds
Um the stories when you read the ones that weโ€™ve helped already, itโ€™s itโ€™s a pretty emotional thing.
40:25
40 minutes, 25 seconds
Um someone that has a uh like a stage four cancer in another state and theyโ€™ve exhausted all their resources. Theyโ€™ve
40:34
40 minutes, 34 seconds
even sold a car just to try to get by and they donโ€™t know whatโ€™s next. Of course, you donโ€™t youโ€™re not now youโ€™re
40:41
40 minutes, 41 seconds
completely at thereโ€™s no insurance you itโ€™s really scary times right and Iโ€™ve learned that maybe we donโ€™t have a lot
40:50
40 minutes, 50 seconds
to help you with right now but we have this and it came from our community and it the way it affects those that are
41:00
41 minutes
reaching out even if itโ€™s not going to take care of all the things but just that much is coming in a different itโ€™s coming from a different place, right?
41:08
41 minutes, 8 seconds
And the support. Yes. And the support.
41:10
41 minutes, 10 seconds
It comes in a nonjudgment. It comes with community. It comes with community. Itโ€™s not like Iโ€™m writing you a check to help
41:18
41 minutes, 18 seconds
take away. Itโ€™s itโ€™s a community and they know how hard the community worked to raise that. Um and it has a really
41:25
41 minutes, 25 seconds
thatโ€™s an impact in itself of of I donโ€™t know. Itโ€™s just youโ€™re not alone. Right. Right. Strength number
41:33
41 minutes, 33 seconds
strength numbers. Yeah. So thatโ€™s thatโ€™s and of people that understand and get it. Yeah. And we know like everybody in this industry, no matter where theyโ€™re
41:42
41 minutes, 42 seconds
at and what level theyโ€™re at currently, knows what it feels like to be down on their life. Everybodyโ€™s gone.
41:50
41 minutes, 50 seconds
Thereโ€™s not a soul who has it. Yeah. And uh maybe to not some certain degrees, but um itโ€™s, you know, helping a fellow
42:00
42 minutes
a fellow person that is in need is the right thing to do, right? I think itโ€™s also us recognizing that
42:08
42 minutes, 8 seconds
weโ€™ve had those dark days and that um weโ€™ve gotten through them. Not everybody um is that fortunate. Absolutely.
42:16
42 minutes, 16 seconds
Absolutely. Not everybody um believes that thereโ€™s light. I have had people reach out to me though and say just the
42:24
42 minutes, 24 seconds
fact that there is a safety net I can go to work okay and I know that if I get in a really dark place thereโ€™s an opportunity for some help or some support or what we need. Those are already those are those are my gifts.
42:35
42 minutes, 35 seconds
Those are the things that that come to me that Iโ€™ll never forget. And I know the cool part is is the more this grows,
42:43
42 minutes, 43 seconds
the more people get involved, the more they get to experience that those feelings because Iโ€™m telling you there is nothing more humbling than having that sort of sense of gratitude is like
42:51
42 minutes, 51 seconds
we worked on something and others are willing to come to the well. Theyโ€™re coming. Theyโ€™re coming. And then when
43:00
43 minutes
you experience that giving part, itโ€™s itโ€™s something you just canโ€™t explain what that feels like, right? The cool
43:08
43 minutes, 8 seconds
part is is someone nominates someone and they help each other. Thatโ€™s so cool.
43:12
43 minutes, 12 seconds
Yeah. Yeah. They theyโ€™re doing and they basically theyโ€™re an ambassador. Yes.
43:17
43 minutes, 17 seconds
And and a le liaison helping them through the process. the fact that that you just have a a sounding board like
43:25
43 minutes, 25 seconds
because I I so you know I left I left my home so I left New York to come to Minneapolis in 98 to open up Aquav and I
43:35
43 minutes, 35 seconds
was a kid. I was 21 and I I I did come here with a few people that I worked with back in New York but that was it.
43:42
43 minutes, 42 seconds
And in a a foreign place, you know, living the work. Yep. You know what? I doubt it. You just And thatโ€™s just what it was. And thereโ€™s there was nobody.
43:53
43 minutes, 53 seconds
And you didnโ€™t complain to to your co-workers because you didnโ€™t want to show a sign of weakness. You donโ€™t want to be weak and theyโ€™re all doing the same thing as everybodyโ€™s Yeah. Youโ€™re not Nobody wants to hear bad for you.
44:02
44 minutes, 2 seconds
Yeah. Nobody wants to hear too bad.
44:05
44 minutes, 5 seconds
Exactly. And so there was thereโ€™s just a a sense of
44:13
44 minutes, 13 seconds
uh to know that today exists a situation to where people that understand are
44:21
44 minutes, 21 seconds
willing to listen and to help talk through work through and and
44:28
44 minutes, 28 seconds
possibly help on a fiscal level with some things is an amazing is amazing.
44:33
44 minutes, 33 seconds
which is why when I I kind of like I have to I have to be a part. Itโ€™s itโ€™s minds that are willing to that are already thinking outside the box to join
44:42
44 minutes, 42 seconds
the team and help navigate and grow because thatโ€™s what you want is growth and structure. You want to grow it and
44:48
44 minutes, 48 seconds
have it do bigger things. Um I just think that when we consider the possibility of like big change, right?
44:58
44 minutes, 58 seconds
big change and and bigger help and finding ways to be more preventative, too. And I think itโ€™s always that idea
45:06
45 minutes, 6 seconds
of kind of watch each otherโ€™s backs because you and I could be standing on the line together and Iโ€™m going to know everything that youโ€™re going through,
45:12
45 minutes, 12 seconds
but maybe our boss isnโ€™t and maybe youโ€™re in a place of like, Iโ€™m [ __ ] going to go home and this is the last day. Sorry. if youโ€™re sharing that with
45:22
45 minutes, 22 seconds
me and I hear that and I know that I could maybe reach out to someone or if I tell you hang on just a little bit longer because maybe your challenges
45:30
45 minutes, 30 seconds
that are too hard to face but weโ€™re like I got a place to reach out to right and Iโ€™m going to do this on behalf of you because I know youโ€™re maybe youโ€™re just
45:37
45 minutes, 37 seconds
not in that place right now, right? Iโ€™m going to do this for you because I love you, right? That sense of that power.
45:44
45 minutes, 44 seconds
Um, and then Iโ€™ve always said weโ€™ve got to have that youโ€™re the one thatโ€™s going to know. Youโ€™re the one thatโ€™s going to
45:51
45 minutes, 51 seconds
know, you know. Very true. Yeah. Very true. The the person standing next to you would know knows more than probably more than you know sometimes. Thatโ€™s right. Because they can see it. Yeah.
46:01
46 minutes, 1 second
Right. Where do you see the foundation growing? And how do you see
46:08
46 minutes, 8 seconds
it growing to benefit this this community? Because again this is itโ€™s not a state not a state thing. This is a
46:16
46 minutes, 16 seconds
global thing. This is a this is a huge a huge undertaking because itโ€™s a huge issue and itโ€™s
46:24
46 minutes, 24 seconds
also thereโ€™s strength in numbers and thereโ€™s a lot thereโ€™s a lot more people who understand the need for this and who
46:31
46 minutes, 31 seconds
are willing to donate time space resources and energy yeah to see this through. H what does
46:39
46 minutes, 39 seconds
the future look like in your eyes? How can we help to spread this word and spread this message and make sure that
46:47
46 minutes, 47 seconds
this gets out there to the people that need it? And I I think right now it is just that of like sharing them sharing that itโ€™s here that itโ€™s a resource,
46:56
46 minutes, 56 seconds
getting a poster in the back of of all the kitchens. Get something in there. Um fundraising. So thereโ€™s multiple layers,
47:03
47 minutes, 3 seconds
right? Youโ€™ve got to do the fundraising which happens and it happens in a fun way. Thereโ€™s great fun ways to do it.
47:10
47 minutes, 10 seconds
Um, but also the acknowledgement, the awareness that itโ€™s there. Um, creating
47:16
47 minutes, 16 seconds
a if I could have my real like big dreams, I would love to have like say we have those restaurants that we know that are doing it right and theyโ€™ve had
47:25
47 minutes, 25 seconds
success in multiple years of doing it right. Sort of like lay out a list of what what do we do in a restaurant as
47:33
47 minutes, 33 seconds
owners? Yeah. Best case to create that healthy environment because you want your staff there. Everybody wants their staff there. I donโ€™t care what place youโ€™re at. You want your staff there.
47:42
47 minutes, 42 seconds
You want them to be happy. You want them to feeling good. You want them to feel respected and valued. Absolutely. And I think if we could set a tone for what that could be and people want to come
47:51
47 minutes, 51 seconds
into the kitchen, they donโ€™t want to have someone yelling at them. They donโ€™t want to have a shitty time. They donโ€™t want to go home depressed every night.
47:57
47 minutes, 57 seconds
if we could create that environment of of like excitement and joy and wins together. Iโ€™ve seen Iโ€™ve watched it and
48:05
48 minutes, 5 seconds
witnessed it and itโ€™s like I know itโ€™s doable. So, I would love to have like a place where like we work together as a team, build a plan. How does that look?
48:14
48 minutes, 14 seconds
Iโ€™d love to have wellness centers in all states. Iโ€™d love to have wellness centers just for industry people. Thatโ€™s been something Iโ€™ve wished for since
48:22
48 minutes, 22 seconds
like the day I started making uh progress as having a business. Um, if we could have a space where people can go and and take care of themselves. Thatโ€™s
48:30
48 minutes, 30 seconds
not a bar, right? Because thatโ€™s usually where No, thatโ€™s usually where thatโ€™s usually where the safety meetings. Yes. But what if we had a space? Right.
48:38
48 minutes, 38 seconds
Thatโ€™s true. That is true. I I Itโ€™s true. Um, if we had a space where you could be creative in it, also have like
48:47
48 minutes, 47 seconds
a a commissary kitchen or something that we could use like maybe for a side hustle, whateverโ€™s going on. A gym. And
48:54
48 minutes, 54 seconds
also I want to have therapy. I want people to be able to come in and do that. I would love to have a space where
49:02
49 minutes, 2 seconds
we have maybe a um massage therapist that wants to donate two days a week and theyโ€™re there on Tuesdays and youโ€™ve got
49:10
49 minutes, 10 seconds
neck problems. Go. Yeah, that would be my dream. And in the way in the process of all that, I want to also now have
49:19
49 minutes, 19 seconds
attorneys at donate time. Weโ€™ve already been talking about that and I have people that are interested in that.
49:23
49 minutes, 23 seconds
donate their time to help read over contracts, help negotiate or whatever is necessary on a legal aspect so they can give free legal guidance because that would be a game changer. Game changer.
49:34
49 minutes, 34 seconds
For sure. Right. For sure. Yeah. For sure. Awesome. Awesome. Okay. So, before I let you go, we got to go to the
49:43
49 minutes, 43 seconds
lightning round. So, pretty much more dumb. More dumb Kate. Hey, listen.
49:53
49 minutes, 53 seconds
Thereโ€™s no thereโ€™s no dumping. Thatโ€™s right.
49:56
49 minutes, 56 seconds
Itโ€™s not an act. I promise you. Iโ€™m charming. I donโ€™t know. Sometimes thereโ€™s Thatโ€™s not rocks.
50:05
50 minutes, 5 seconds
Thatโ€™s hilarious. Okay. So, I excel in a lot of areas. Not some of you.
50:13
50 minutes, 13 seconds
Thatโ€™s okay. Letโ€™s see what happens. Iโ€™m gonna ask you questions. Iโ€™m gonna ask you a series of questions that youโ€™re just
50:21
50 minutes, 21 seconds
gonna say the first thing that pops into your head and um is not an answer. Okay. Okay.
50:28
50 minutes, 28 seconds
All right. Okay. This is a apron color or design that best matches your personality.
50:35
50 minutes, 35 seconds
Black. The metal. I got one black with like looks like metal studs on it.
50:40
50 minutes, 40 seconds
Thatโ€™s that one I did for me. Okay. And what what color is the metal? Is it this? Itโ€™s gunmetal. Is it Is it nickel
50:47
50 minutes, 47 seconds
and silver? Silver. Okay. Okay. You know, I used to make studded booier for myself back in the Ah, I when I had my
50:54
50 minutes, 54 seconds
fashion show first half, that was my jam. I made I did some really cool things. Okay. So, I made See, I wish I had a picture of one of those. Oh, it
51:02
51 minutes, 2 seconds
was it was it I had the whole fashion show right on the It was wild. Thatโ€™s so cool. Okay. Yeah. I got to see those.
51:10
51 minutes, 10 seconds
All right. Dream huge hair and everything. The the whole nine. Okay.
51:17
51 minutes, 17 seconds
Dream dinner guest, past or present?
51:21
51 minutes, 21 seconds
Oh boy. Well, I mean, okay. I think just because thereโ€™s so much curiosity in my
51:29
51 minutes, 29 seconds
mind about Anthony Bourdain, that would probably be it because everybody within this industry holds him in such a high regard. Yeah. I
51:37
51 minutes, 37 seconds
think that would be a really interesting, you know, conversation.
51:42
51 minutes, 42 seconds
Absolutely. Tony was a good dude. He was a good dude. One word to describe your design philosophy.
51:54
51 minutes, 54 seconds
Um unhinged. Um Iโ€™m very uh open. One word. Open.
52:03
52 minutes, 3 seconds
Open. Open. Yeah, thatโ€™s it.
52:08
52 minutes, 8 seconds
Open is the word. Okay, we we call curious is good. Curious. Thatโ€™s a good one. Yeah, thatโ€™s a good one. Itโ€™s a good one. Okay. Favorite late night snack after a long day.
52:23
52 minutes, 23 seconds
Um, well, this is probably gonna be this. Yeah, itโ€™s dumb. Itโ€™s real dumb.
52:30
52 minutes, 30 seconds
Um, I got thereโ€™s a particular type of potato chip that I love. Okay. Fresh bag of that ketchup dip. What? Okay. Whatโ€™s
52:39
52 minutes, 39 seconds
the particular Whatโ€™s the particular brand? And whatโ€™s the potato chip? Itโ€™s um Lays natural sea salt. Okay. Ketchup.
52:48
52 minutes, 48 seconds
Ketchup.
52:51
52 minutes, 51 seconds
Ketchup. Just awful. Is it? Itโ€™s just awful. And just regular. Have you ever had the all dressed? No. Ruffles? No.
53:01
53 minutes, 1 second
See, I am. And itโ€™s I donโ€™t know. It took me years to gain this level of shitty food eating. Youโ€™re sufficient.
53:09
53 minutes, 9 seconds
Or or if Iโ€™m in a real hurry and I donโ€™t want to. That took That took time. Took
53:18
53 minutes, 18 seconds
time. You throw those pizza rolls on a plate and you put them in the microwave.
53:22
53 minutes, 22 seconds
The microwave. The nuke them. You got to eat those. You got to eat them in 30 seconds though. Cuz if you donโ€™t, theyโ€™re bricks. Thatโ€™s true. I never
53:31
53 minutes, 31 seconds
used to treat myself this way. And I donโ€™t know what happened. I donโ€™t I donโ€™t I used to run every day. Welcome to the industry. I used to run every
53:39
53 minutes, 39 seconds
day. I used to do yoga. I used to have protein shakes and food and I cooked.
53:44
53 minutes, 44 seconds
You went from You went from making aprons for chefs to eat. You eat like a You eat like a a chef. Terrible. Yeah.
53:50
53 minutes, 50 seconds
Itโ€™s really bad. Itโ€™s insane. Uh if you werenโ€™t designing aprons or smashing chips with ketchup. Thatโ€™s right.
54:01
54 minutes, 1 second
What would you I will be making a video of that, too. What would you be doing?
54:04
54 minutes, 4 seconds
Yeah, please do. Thatโ€™s so well before I started apron stuff, I was I had an kickass garden. Really, really amazing.
54:12
54 minutes, 12 seconds
Koi ponds, a lot of stuff. And I just hung out there with my dogs and it was really like a really peaceful experience. It sounds amazing. It was
54:21
54 minutes, 21 seconds
amazing. I loved it. Yep. I donโ€™t know that Iโ€™d do that again, though. Now, God, I donโ€™t know what Iโ€™d be doing now.
54:32
54 minutes, 32 seconds
The worldโ€™s a potato chip. Traveling food. Traveling food is is always a good thing. Yeah, itโ€™s always a good thing.
54:39
54 minutes, 39 seconds
Isnโ€™t it amazing how no matter how great or how the heights of eating the best food in the world is, how we go
54:48
54 minutes, 48 seconds
back to eating shitty [ __ ] And thatโ€™s just the itโ€™s just the itโ€™s the thing that you lean on most. Like I I donโ€™t
54:54
54 minutes, 54 seconds
care how and Iโ€™ve Iโ€™ve eaten all over the world at some of the best restaurants, but the thing that I go to
55:02
55 minutes, 2 seconds
is a [ __ ] I know I shouldnโ€™t be putting in my body. I And I donโ€™t even know when this happened either. And now itโ€™s like
55:09
55 minutes, 9 seconds
my happy little feels like heโ€™s doing me a favor by loading this [ __ ] ass food in my house that I will eat because it
55:17
55 minutes, 17 seconds
makes me feel better mentally. You know what I had for my birthday for dinner? And everybodyโ€™s like, โ€œOh god, everybody makes you the
55:25
55 minutes, 25 seconds
best things.โ€ Iโ€™m sure itโ€™s like on the silver platter. All this great food. I had a Marie Calendarโ€™s pot pie, chicken pot
55:34
55 minutes, 34 seconds
pie. It took seven minutes in the microwave. Thatโ€™s what I did to myself for my birthday.
55:45
55 minutes, 45 seconds
Embarrassing. So So be it. Itโ€™s embarrassing. Iโ€™m trying Iโ€™m still trying to figure out when did the potato chips have to ever come in contact with
55:54
55 minutes, 54 seconds
the ketchup. Like so like itโ€™s like sort of like how fish is terrible. Like I I told this to my social media gal cuz sheโ€™s like, โ€œWhat do you do? What are
56:02
56 minutes, 2 seconds
you going to do with dinner?โ€ And Iโ€™m like, โ€œChips, ketchup. Thatโ€™s it.โ€ She goes, โ€œYouโ€™ve got to make a video of this.โ€ And I said, โ€œReally? You think
56:10
56 minutes, 10 seconds
that that would really make people happy? They want to see this?โ€ And she goes, โ€œI think they would. open the bag of chips and you take your I take a
56:17
56 minutes, 17 seconds
plate. Ketchup. Ketchup. Itโ€™s real. Itโ€™s a lot. Itโ€™s terrible. Itโ€™s embarrassing.
56:24
56 minutes, 24 seconds
I said it. I hope you have nobody that listens to this. Oh, no. No. This is This is out there that this Thereโ€™s going to be a side by side. Have you
56:32
56 minutes, 32 seconds
tried this? What Iโ€™m talking about? Itโ€™s like French fries. also never just put a bunch of relish on on on cake before,
56:41
56 minutes, 41 seconds
but Iโ€™m sure Iโ€™m sure thereโ€™s some things I donโ€™t need to try.
56:47
56 minutes, 47 seconds
So, but it does. So, the reason why I ask you if have you ever had all dressed because all dressed potato chips,
56:55
56 minutes, 55 seconds
correct me if Iโ€™m wrong, I believe it is ketchup and malt vinegar. Yum. Um, itโ€™s a Canadian thing. And Iโ€™ve had them Iโ€™ve
57:02
57 minutes, 2 seconds
had them in in in Montreal. And I just had at that Black Duck and all dressed.
57:08
57 minutes, 8 seconds
No, he took a soft a perfectly cooked egg at a certain temperature egg and he dropped it in the bag of freshmade chips and he shook it up. That sounds
57:17
57 minutes, 17 seconds
delicious. It blew my mind. It sounds That sounds You have to have it. I I do now. Thereโ€™s no ketchup involved, right?
57:24
57 minutes, 24 seconds
Thereโ€™s no ketchup. Okay. I love ketchup. Do you? I I do. I do. I donโ€™t even know if I really like it that much.
57:30
57 minutes, 30 seconds
It just goes really nice with these chips. Okay. All right. I donโ€™t know why Iโ€™m doing it. I listen. Everybody has a thing. Um God, I used to cook so well.
57:39
57 minutes, 39 seconds
Damn it. Listen, thank you so much for being here. Like your your story is powerful for many reasons. um your
57:48
57 minutes, 48 seconds
reason why uh and and and the level in which you connect with people which I think is your magic gift which is why
57:56
57 minutes, 56 seconds
youโ€™ve been bestowed the title of of mom and thatโ€™s itโ€™s such an honor. So donโ€™t donโ€™t ever take that for being
58:03
58 minutes, 3 seconds
anything other than that. It has been an honor to have you on and to talk about all the things. Kate, we we still got
58:11
58 minutes, 11 seconds
thereโ€™s a couple loose ends here, so we might have to to to revisit them, but tell the people where they can find you, follow you, and all the things. Yeah.
58:21
58 minutes, 21 seconds
Well, really truly, thank you. And thank you for being someone of such integrity and class and like interest in doing
58:29
58 minutes, 29 seconds
better. And that really I mean, we need more of that. We need more of that and we need more teamwork. Yeah. You know,
58:37
58 minutes, 37 seconds
um so I feel really honored to be able to be here. Um yeah, so I am terrible at social media, but Iโ€™m supposed to be
58:45
58 minutes, 45 seconds
getting better. So personally, Iโ€™m mother of aprons on Instagram and thatโ€™s kind of fun. Um but uh Craftmade Aprons and Help
58:54
58 minutes, 54 seconds
the House are the two things that are really I I mean it just means everything to me. Itโ€™s just um itโ€™s really cool to
59:03
59 minutes, 3 seconds
feel like for me I didnโ€™t even graduate high school. Iโ€™m a high school dropout.
59:10
59 minutes, 10 seconds
Iโ€™ve worked really hard for everything that Iโ€™ve done and I put myself fully into anything that I do. And I think that that is just another part at some
59:19
59 minutes, 19 seconds
point, you know, when I get to a place of sharing my health challenges and all those details of me, people think that Iโ€™ve got my [ __ ] together even though,
59:26
59 minutes, 26 seconds
you know, right here you learned I donโ€™t.
59:30
59 minutes, 30 seconds
But I think if you have a real honest like sense of something that you can do
59:38
59 minutes, 38 seconds
it, if thereโ€™s just that little bit in your gut telling you that you can like go dive in. Just dive in and try it. Try
59:47
59 minutes, 47 seconds
it. For me, I went so boldly into this because I was doing it for someone else, right? And I had a love about it. I
59:54
59 minutes, 54 seconds
think thereโ€™s that just I encourage people to I donโ€™t care how old you are.
1:00:01
1 hour, 1 second
Um I donโ€™t care how educated you are.
1:00:04
1 hour, 4 seconds
There is I think we all have a certain sense about us of what to do. Yeah. We just donโ€™t listen to it. Fear is a big
1:00:11
1 hour, 11 seconds
thing. Yep. Fear is a big thing. Thatโ€™s why sometimes you got to bust that bag of chips up and put that ketchup on. Chips up fuels you. Go. Absolutely.
1:00:21
1 hour, 21 seconds
Absolutely. Well, thank you. No, thank you. Thank you so much. All right, this has been another episode of the Taste
1:00:29
1 hour, 29 seconds
Music Hear Food podcast, the destination for all things food, music, and culture.
1:00:34
1 hour, 34 seconds
I am your host, Ed Porter. If you have enjoyed this conversation, please like, follow, and subscribe. Itโ€™s how we get
1:00:43
1 hour, 43 seconds
things done here, and weโ€™ll bring you more stories like such on the next episode. Till then, peace.

ย 

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