The Fine Line Podcast: Balancing Hedonism & Health
By Lisabeth Danneels & Emily Gold
The Fine Line Podcast: Balancing Hedonism & HealthFeb 09, 2022
Episode 32 - Emily Gold & Liz Willette Danneels
We have interviewed many people these last two years, but today we turn the mics on each other, in what is possibly our last episode of The Fine Line Podcast! In our continual journey to find balance, we have decided to take a hiatus from the podcast that we love dearly to focus on (paying) work and family. We interview each other about our careers in the wine industry, and how we both find balance in their daily lives. We also talk about what its like to start a business with a dear friend, and how we worked through the hurdles of having very different work methods.
Liz Willette Danneels first developed a love of wine while working for the luxury travel company, Butterfield & Robinson. After a year in Burgundy and five years in Italy, she taught herself about wine mainly by buying the best bottles she could afford, studying them, and, naturally, drinking them.
After running a wine bar in the Dolomites at La Rosa Alpina, she moved to New York City to work for David Bouley, and then for importer/distributor Michael Skurnik. In 2004, she struck out on her own with a small importer, Willette Wines. In 2011, she merged with Grand Cru Selections. Together they grew the company until Liz left in 2017 to move to Colorado with her family. Craving a life outside of Manhattan, she moved to Boulder, where she works with Natural Wine Company.
Emily Gold grew up cooking and drinking wine with her family, always relishing the time together as well as the education. In 2012, Emily eagerly accepted a job with Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant in their office located in Beaune, France. There, she was able to meet winemakers, learn about regions around France and Italy, and become versed on the ins and outs of importing some of the most respected icons in the industry.
In 2014, Emily returned to Boulder to open a restaurant and wine bar called PMG, which offered organic and locally-sourced food, dishes inspired by France and Italy, and organic and biodynamic wines from small family domaines. After six years of being a solo small business owner, Emily sold her business in 2020.
A HUGE THANKS to our sponsors and our producer, Matthew Polis, listed below!!
Best Of: Intuitive Dana Childs
This was one of our favorite interviews on the podcast. We were honored to speak with Dana Childs in Season 3 about how intuition and healing play roles in the restaurant and beverage industry. Dana is an intuitive energy healer, author, and teacher. She delivers grounded spirituality with heart, humor, and unabashed truth. In this episode, she talks about why we repeat old patterns throughout our lives and how we can heal them. We discuss how the food and wine industry isn’t given enough credit for how intuitively they work, and how one can manage emotions and cope with the stresses of service. She also believes that everyone should be honest with how they really want to live their lives, and that we are all healers.
As we enter a New Year, we thought it was a perfect time to revisit this conversation, and hear about her new book, titled Chakras, Food, and You: Tap Your Individual Energy System for Health, Healing, and Harmonious Weight.
Show Notes:
Best Of: Dana Rodriguez
We interviewed Dana Rodriguez at Steamboat Food & Wine Festival in September, and it was one of our favorite interviews yet. With F-bombs flowing in front of a live audience, Dana lived up to her reputation as a passionate, loving, and incredibly hardworking restauranteur who came from nothing to create her empire. With the opening of her new Denver taco & tequila bar, Cantina Loca, this month, we thought it would be a great time to relaunch this episode with one of our real life heroes.
Dana has had an almost unbelievable trajectory, from Mexican immigrant and single mom of three, who started dishwashing at Panzano in Denver, and worked her way up to prep cook and then eventually restaurant mogul through her hard work, passion, drive, and incredible intelligence.
At Panzano, Dana met Jennifer Jasinski and her partner, Beth Gruitch. They helped mold her skills, which enabled Dana to become a sous chef at Rioja and Chef de Cuisine at Bistro Vendome. In late 2012, Dana’s path crossed with Tony Maclag, and Work and Class was born. They then went on to open Super Mega Bien together as well. Most recently, Dana created an organic tequila and mezcal brand, Dona Loca, where the focus is to give back to the workers who make the tequila possible in Mexico.
Today we hear Dana’s inspiring story, and how important it has been for her to build a restaurant group that is truly there to support their employees, in part by limiting people’s work days each week so they are rested but still able to meet their financial needs. We learn how she has found her own balance in being a working mom, friend, and business owner. We also discuss why she started Dona Loca – to teach people that what you drink is just as important to what food you put in your body.
Best Of: Carlton McCoy
As we take December to spend some time with our families and plan 2022, we wanted to re-release a few of our favorite episodes. Carlton McCoy's was incredibly inspiring, and if you are looking for worthy causes to support, The Roots Fund is right up there on our list.
Carlton earned the title of Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old. He was one of the youngest people, and the second African American, to earn this prestigious title. Carlton worked in revered institutions such as Thomas Keller’s Per Se and Tom Colicchio's Craft Steak in New York before becoming the Wine Director at The Little Nell in Aspen before being named President and CEO of Heitz Cellar in December 2018. In 2020, Carlton was named Managing Partner of Lawrence Wine Estates, overseeing the purchase of Burgess Cellars, Stony Hill Vineyards, the Haynes Vineyard, and the historical Wildwood Vineyard Carlton is also a co-founder of The Roots Fund, a non-profit that focuses on creating educational and employment opportunities for our BIPOC community.
Today we speak to Carlton about what it has been like to be a person of color in the wine business, and how he finds balance with all he does. We also discuss his new business venture, as well as his foundation helping people of color gain access to the very exclusive world of wine.
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
CIA - Culinary Institute of America
Episode 31 - Summer Wolff and Carolyn Agee
We can’t imagine a better way to wrap up this year than by talking to Summer Wolff and Carolyn Agee from Hootananny Wines. They met as students at CU Boulder, and after college both moved back to NYC. Carolyn got certified in and taught the The Pilates Method, while Summer worked in restaurants and fell in love with wine. Eventually, Carolyn married, had three kids, and moved to Connecticut, where she worked for a wine importer, while Summer fell in love with winemaker Fabrizio Iuli, and move to Italy to help Fabrizio run Cascina Iuli and start an wine import company called Indie Wineries.
Summer took a break from the wine business to raise her two sons, but the wine business kept calling, and in 2019, Summer and Carolyn started their own import company. Hootenanny now has relationships with over 20 producers in Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and France.
Today, we talk about how they balance full time jobs (and a few part time jobs as well) with raising kids and taking care of their physical and mental health. We discuss having female partners in a business dominated by men, and why working with friends can be the best of all worlds!
Sponsored Promotions:
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 30 - Astrologer Daniella Giancarli
Astrology is interesting - some people love it and follow it, while others think it's a lot of hooey (hint: we fall staunchly into the first camp!). Since we started the podcast, we have been on a quest to find the right person to give us a reading, and today we are joined by Daniella Giancarli to do just that. Daniella uses astrology to help people with self awareness, nodal coaching, and synastry readings. By using Degree Theory and other important methods, she is able to take the abstract concepts of astrology and transform them into practical tools for use in everyday life situations.
Today, Daniella breaks down why Emily and I work well as partners, as well as where we might find challenges, by overlapping our charts in a synastry reading. She also touches on Human Design, and how that can tell an even deeper story of who we are and why we work well together. Daniella also shares her struggles as a Division 1 Soccer player, and how that led her to where she is today.
Sponsored Promotions:
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of s
ponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 29 - Diana Snowden Seysses
Do you feel overwhelmed when you think about climate change and what we can do to help? Or despair, or denial? Today, we talk to Diana Snowden Seysses about how we in the wine business (as well as those not in our business) can do our part. Diana was born and raised in the Napa Valley. She graduated from the viticulture and enology program at UC Davis in 2001, and has worked in both California and French cellars with Robert Mondavi Winery, the Araujo Estate, Domaine Leflaive, and Ramey Wine Cellars. In 2003, Diana became the enologist at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, and consultant at Domaine de Triennes in Provence. In 2005, she became winemaker at her family’s winery, Snowden Vineyards, in Napa Valley.. She is a recognized authority on climate change as it relates to wine and holds a seat on Porto Protoco’sl global steering committee.
We also discuss Diana’s own emotional journey about the climate change issue, and how she has coped with those various stages. We also hear about the very innovative ways in which winemakers are dealing with the issue, and what gives her hope in a moment that seems, well, quite hopeless at times.
Sponsored Promotions:
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Diana's Article in Sevenfifty on Carbon Capture During Fermentation
Episode 28 - Heather Lilleston
Have you ever admired a teacher and wished you could spend an hour going deep with them? That is what we got to do today with yoga teacher and psychology student, Heather Lilleston. Heather is currently in a doctoral program working towards her PhD in Clinical Psychology, and has taught yoga since 2003. In 2012, she co-founded Yoga For Bad People, a company focused on leading yoga retreats worldwide. Heather has been certified by such esteemed studios as Jivamukti Yoga with Sharon Gannon and David Life and Yoga Shanti with Colleen Saidman Yee and Rodney Yee, where she later assisted as a mentor, and taught as a lead teacher. She was recognized by Yoga Journal as one of the “50 Innovators Changing the Game of the Wellness Industry”, and held their cover for the January/February 2017 issue. She is also a senior teacher of The Class founded by Taryn Toomey.
Today we discuss how Heather's psychology studies will enrich her yoga teachings, and the benefits and costs of wellness becoming a commodity. We also talk about the gifts that came out of a forced retreat during the pandemic. Lastly, we discuss heartbreaks, and her advice for getting through them.
Sponsored Promotions:
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 27 - Neal Rosenthal
Neal Rosenthal is the founder of Rosenthal Wine Merchant and The Neal Rosenthal Group. Under Neal’s stewardship and pioneering vision, Rosenthal Wine Merchant has established itself as one of the country’s most respected importers of European fine wine. Neal is also the author of Reflections of a Wine Merchant, published in 2008, and is featured prominently in the documentary film Mondovino, that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004. An avid runner, Neal was ahead of his time at staying fit while also fully embracing great wine and food.
Today, we talk to Neal about what running has meant to him through his life, how his diet has changed over the years, and what the future of Rosenthal Wine Merchant looks like with the addition of private equity investors into what has been, until now, a family business.
Sponsored Promotions:
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
SFWF BONUS #5: Andrew Wason & Philip Mundt of Brush Creek Distillery
Brush Creek Ranch is a working cattle ranch in the North Platte River Valley of south-central Wyoming, originally settled in 1884. Today, it encompasses over 30,000 acres of land surrounded by breathtaking views of the Sierra Madre mountains and Medicine Bow National Forest. Purchased in 2008 by Bruce and Beth White, it is now a stunning luxury resort. The family’s vision strikes a perfect balance between active outdoor recreation, shared experiences, personal renewal, and economic sustainability. They aim to enrich their cattle ranch legacy through the preservation of their unique ecosystem. They endeavor to enhance the environment, while preserving the authentic spirit of the west by educating our guests about sustainable ranch management and the historical stories of the land. Their goal is to have a closed-loop environmental ranch.
Their latest project, Brush Creek Distillery, is an extension of that vision. We spoke to their managing director, Andrew Wason, and their head distiller and production manager, Philip Mundt, about the many collaborations they have with the on-sight talent and resources on Brush Creek Ranch, and what makes their products so unique. We also heard about the ups and downs of living in an isolated, small town, and how they personally have found balance.
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
SFWF BONUS #6: Chef Dana Rodriguez
Dana Rodriguez has had an almost unbelievable trajectory, from Mexican immigrant and single mom of three, who started dishwashing at Panzano in Denver, and worked her way up to prep cook and then eventually restaurant mogul through her hard work, passion, drive, and incredible intelligence.
At Panzano, Dana met Jennifer Jasinski and her partner, Beth Gruitch. They helped mold her skills, which enabled Dana to become a sous chef at Rioja and Chef de Cuisine at Bistro Vendome. In late 2012, Dana’s path crossed with Tony Maclag, and Work and Class was born. They then went on to open Super Mega Bien together as well. Most recently, Dana created an organic tequila and mezcal brand, Dona Loca, where the focus is to give back to the workers who make the tequila possible in Mexico.
Today we hear Dana’s inspiring story, and how important it has been for her to build a restaurant group that is truly there to support their employees, in part by limiting people’s work days each week so they are rested but still able to meet their financial needs. We learn how she has found her own balance in being a working mom, friend, and business owner. We also discuss why she started Dona Loca – to teach people that what you drink is just as important to what food you put in your body.
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
SFWF BONUS #4: Chef Alex Seidel
Born in Wisconsin, Alex Seidel began his culinary career at 14, and worked his way up to sous chef at Racine’s by age 20. Today, Alex is the chef-owner of Fruition Restaurant, Mercantile Dining & Provision, Füdmill and Chook. Seidel has been the recipient of many accolades, including Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chef in 2010, as well as Chef of the Year from local media including Denver Magazine and 5280. Seidel was awarded the 2018 James Beard Foundation Best Chef: South West. Alex is a champion of such causes as food advocacy, and mindfulness when it comes to eating habits and waste.
Today we discussed how hard it was for him to transition from cooking every day to instead leading his entire team and many projects so that he was not constantly spread so thin. We talked about how being food insecure as a child led him to open Chook as a Certified B Corp, so that he could also directly give back to the community, and allow his team the chance at partnership in the restaurant. We discussed how he has learned to take care of his body after many years of neglect, and about how owning restaurants, in the end, is just about constant problem solving.
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
SFWF BONUS #3: Jon Schlegel of Attimo Wines and Snooze Eatery
Jon Schlegel is the visionary of Attimo Winery, and has had passion for hospitality since he can remember. Jon is the founder of Snooze an A.M. Eatery. Opening this concept by the age of 30 was his first dream, but having the chance to live abroad was his dream by age 40. When Jon turned 38 and opened San Diego Snooze, he began working towards the next goal of moving to Italy. He chose Piedmont for his wine project, because the mountains felt like home to him and his family. Attimo completes the circle by sharing the best moments of his time in Italy with his native home of Denver.
We spoke to Jon about why the restaurant business had his heart from age 14, and why he chose to open a breakfast-only restaurant. We discussed how hard it was to transition from being an avid runner, to a yogi who now meditates daily, and walks instead of runs. We talked about the zen he finds in fly fishing, and what rituals he has at work daily to create intention and focus. Lastly, we chatted about how he has gotten his staff through the trauma of the pandemic, and how important it is for all of them to care for their mental and physical health. He also gives us a hack for not waiting in line at Snooze!
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
SFWF BONUS #2: Adonna Allen & Michele Meyer
Adonna Allen, a 4th generation cattle rancher, is also the President of Alpine Bank in Steamboat Springs. She is heavily involved in her community, including working many years with the Community Agriculture Alliance (CAA).
Michele has worked at the CAA since 2010 and assumed the Executive Director role in 2018. She is also a personal trainer, yoga and fitness instructor, and a part time ski instructor.
Today we speak to these two amazing women about how their two jobs intersect to support the CAA, and the many reasons why they love their Steamboat community and work to preserve it. We hear about Adonna's life on the ranch, and how Alpine Bank supports environmental and philanthropic causes. We also talk about how vital the CAA was to the Steamboat community during the pandemic, why eating local is so important in their valley, chronic calendar-filling syndrome (a made up term we all struggle with), and how having wellness goals is the new black!
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
SFWF BONUS #1: Julie Kunen of Oatly Oat Milk
In our first interview for the Steamboat Food & Wine Festival, we talk to Dr. Julie Kunen, Director of Sustainability at Oatly, the world’s original and largest oat drink company. Julie Kunen’s passion for sustainability studies began with her PhD studies in archaeology, where she focused on agricultural practices of the ancient Maya. She then served as the forestry and natural resources advisor for Latin America at the USAID, and then as Vice President for the Wildlife Conservation Society, where she led efforts to promote conservation through cuisine. She joins us to dig deep on what sustainability means at Oatly, why we should drink plant based milks over dairy, and how and why they are sponsoring the Steamboat Festival.
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 26 - Christopher Russell
Christopher Russell joins us today, first as a psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City, but also as a 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry. Christopher started by serving tables at Gramercy Tavern in NYC, and went on to become the General Manager and Wine Director at Union Square Cafe, as well as both Mets (The Metropolitan Opera and The Metropolitan Museum of Art). In addition to his practice, Christopher is a host on the podcast New Books in Psychoanalysis.
Today we talk with Christopher about why he thinks so many restaurant workers are not returning to the profession, and how he used his love of psychoanalysis in his restaurant jobs. We also take a deep look into grief - what it is, how it manifests, and how we can get through it.
Sponsored Promotions:
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 25 - Anthony Lynch
What is it like to grow up half the year in Berkley, CA, and half the year in the south of France, with Domaine Tempier's Lucien and Lulu Peyraud as neighbors and surrogate grandparents? Or to have the 'grandfather' of the boutique wine importing business, Kermit Lynch, as your father, and then decide to go into the family business? Anthony chats with us today about those subjects, as well as how he manages his time on the road in search of traditionally-produced wines from the great terroirs of France and Italy. When he is not overseas tasting, selecting, and blending cuvées for the KLWM portfolio, he can be found promoting his wines throughout the U.S. or writing about them from the company's Berkeley headquarters.
Sponsored Promotions:
10% off tickets to Steamboat Food & Wine Festival with the code FINELINE10
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
BONUS: Co-Interview with John Coyle of Drinking On the Job Podcast
John Coyle has twenty five plus years of experience traveling the world discovering wine, most of it working for T. Edward Wines, in NYC, where he is the Director of Sales. His podcast, Drinking on The Job, is a toast to the culture of food, wine and all things fermented.
Today we chat with John about the heart condition that almost killed him, and how cycling has saved his life. We also banter about the NYC wine world then and now, Viagra and Big Pharma, and why natural wine does finally have a place at the table.
Episode 24 - Dr. Todd Dorfman
Today we welcome back Dr. Todd Dorfman to the show, to discuss something he calls “Dogma vs. Data”. Beginning with vaccines and variants, we discuss the various theories and rumors that abound versus the medical data that either support or debunk them. We then move onto supplements, nutrition and sleep aids under the same theme. We absolutely love having him on, and could have talked for hours! Don’t miss this one.
Dr. Dorfman is the Founder, CEO, and Medical Director of Cedalion Health, which he opened in 2002 in Boulder, Colorado, balancing a private practice with his role as an emergency room doctor. Before that, he was the Medical Director of the Boulder Community Hospital Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and is currently in charge of Boulder County’s Covid-19 response. In addition, Dr. Dorfman consults for legal practices, biotech companies, and TV shows.
Sponsored Promotions:
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Dogma Vs.Data Slide Presentation
Episode 23 - Julia Harding
What is it like to work next to Jancis Robinson on a book people consider the ‘wine bible’? Today, MW Julia Harding tells us about how she got into wine from publishing, what it’s like to have a two year deadline hanging over oneself, and how she stays fit and sane with travel, pandemics, and working from home.
Julia passed the Master of Wine exams at the first attempt in 2004 and was top student in her year. She has now happily combined her first life in publishing with her second life in wine. She has collaborated with Jancis Robinson for over 15 years, editing and writing for JancisRobinson.com, and on several major wine reference books. Julia is co-author of Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, including their Origins and Flavours and map editor of the The World Atlas of Wine . She was co-editor with Jancis of the fourth edition of The World Atlas of Wine, and has taken on the role of lead editor for the fifth edition (2023). Julia lives in London, tastes and travels as widely as she can, and keeps fit and sane thanks to bootcamp in the park, rain or shine, and yoga.
FREE shipping on SUPERBIRD Palomas using the code FINELINE.
10% off tickets to Steamboat Food & Wine Festival with the code FINELINE10
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 22 - Jaycee Gossett
It’s so ironic that, as women, we try most of our lives not to get pregnant, only to find out that it's often incredibly challenging to do so once we want to. Today, Jaycee Gossett shares her career trajectory, as well as her emotional journey trying to conceive a child, with us. Jaycee is one of the founding teachers of The Class. Before joining The Class, Jaycee traveled around the world doing competitive dance and working in television and film where she hosted and produced series on The Travel Channel, Z Living TV, and Amazon Prime. For The Class, she hosts their podcast and is the VP of Teacher Training. Jaycee has been a friend and inspiration to Liz for many years, and we are so grateful for her openness and vulnerability during our conversation today.
FREE shipping on SUPERBIRD Palomas using the code FINELINE.
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 21 - Ted & Christy Mahon
If you have long dreamt of leaving it all behind to move to the mountains to pursue an outdoor lifestyle, this episode might make you finally do just that! Ted and Christy Mahon have made outdoor adventures their lives.
Christy, born and raised in Colorado, grew up skiing and playing in the Rockies. After moving to Aspen in 1998, she began her love of ski mountaineering, trail running, and traveling to visit the world’s most iconic peaks. After starting her career in the art world, she now works for ACES - Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. Ted moved from New York to Aspen in 1994 to ski “for a season” and never looked back. He finished climbing all the 14ers in 2001 (he has 396 14er summits under his belt, to be exact!), the Centennials in 2006, and became the third person to ski the 14ers in 2008.
They are unique in that they are not only mountaineering partners, but also life partners, and we discuss that dynamic - both the advantages and disadvantages (hint: very few). We discuss how fitness has changed for them as they age, how Ted got through a debilitating hip issue to come out stronger, and hear great stories about their many adventures.
FREE shipping on SUPERBIRD Palomas using the code FINELINE.
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 20- Gina Giugni
How does biodynamics actually work, and why does it matters? Today, we chat with Gina Giugni, a second generation biodynamic farmer and winemaker, who breaks it down for us. Gina started Lady of the Sunshine in 2017, which focuses on regenerative, organic, and biodynamic farming in pursuit of making natural wines that reflect the purity of the place from which they come. Gina also farms the 6.5 acre Chene Vineyard, located in the Edna Valley appellation. Since her takeover in 2018, the vineyard is now a Demeter certified biodynamic vineyard. Gina and her husband, Mikey, run Scar of the Sea and Lady of the Sunshine together out of their winery in San Luis Obispo, CA.
We also discuss how to find balance while working with your spouse, and the best antidotes to sitting on a tractor all day!
Sponsored Promotions:
FREE shipping on SUPERBIRD Palomas using the code FINELINE.
10% off tickets to Steamboat Food & Wine Festival with the code FINELINE10
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Biodynamic Calendar by Maria Thum
Monte Waldon Biodynamic Wine Book
Episode 19 - David Willette
After inventing the process to bind Styrofoam pellets into sheet form at 25 years old, David Willette went on to become a curious and successful entrepreneur. He is now the CEO and founder of Allied Vaughn, a digital publishing service which streams film and TV content and manufactures DVD and BluRay discs, serving film collectors and the 157 million US consumers who have inadequate internet service for streaming.
His most important role is father to his three enterprising daughters – including our very own Liz Willette Danneels, who is his youngest. He has six grandchildren, who teach him continuously about the fast changing world. Staying active thru competitive sailing, golf, walking, and lots of home projects, and an unwavering positive attitude has allowed him to thrive thru pancreatic cancer, business downturns, and aging.
This is a great conversation about building a business, pivoting when circumstances dictate, retaining a team who feels valued, and why stress can be beneficial.
Sponsored Promotions:
FREE shipping on SUPERBIRD Palomas using the code FINELINE.
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
BONUS: Co-Interview with Alex Jump and Lauren Paylor from Focus On Health Podcast
Today we chat with Lauren Paylor and Alex Jump from Focus on Health, a health and wellness resource and podcast for the hospitality industry. We talk about how and why we each started our respective podcasts, what it’s been like for us as women in the drinks business, dressing for success, the importance of doing your homework, and what we are excited about right now. It's a fun conversation!
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Episode 18 - Carlton McCoy
Some people are destined for success, and Carlton McCoy Jr.’s is no exception! Carlton earned the title of Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old. He was one of the youngest people, and the second African American, to earn this prestigious title. Carlton worked in revered institutions such as Thomas Keller’s Per Se in New York before becoming the Wine Director at The Little Nell in Aspen. He then was named President and CEO of Heitz Cellar in December 2018. In 2020, Carlton was named Managing Partner of Lawrence Wine Estates, overseeing the purchase of Burgess Cellars, Stony Hill Vineyards, the Haynes Vineyard, and the historical Wildwood Vineyard Carlton is also a co-founder of The Roots Fund, a non-profit that focuses on creating educational and employment opportunities for the BIPOC community. Today we speak to Carlton about what it is like to be a person of color in the wine business, and his road to balance. We also discuss his new business venture, as well as his foundation which helps people of color gain access to the very exclusive world of wine.
Sponsored Promotions: FREE shipping on SUPERBIRD Palomas using the code FINELINE.
CIA - Culinary Institute of America
Bonus: Chef Hosea & Lauren Rosenberg
What is it like to win a reality show? Hosea Rosenberg first leapt onto the scene after winning Season 5 of Bravo's Top Chef. He soon took his esteemed catering business and food truck into a brick and mortar business with the launch of Blackbelly Market and Blackbelly Butcher. He then went back to his Taos, NM, roots with the opening of Santo Boulder. He met his wife, food publicist Lauren Feder Rosenberg at Aspen Food & Wine, and they went on to have their daughter, Sophie. When Sophie was 4, Hosea and Lauren discovered that she had a rare genetic disorder called MCTO (Multicentric Carpotarsal Osteolysis), which afflicts only thirty children worldwide. They started their foundation, Sophie's Neighborhood, to raise money and awareness to fight this rare disorder, and to save their daughter's life.
Today we hear about what it was actually like to be on Top Chef, the unique and very humane way they run their restaurants, and their journey to fight for Sophie’s survival. Please donate to Sophie's cause via the link above.
Sponsored Promotions:
10% off tickets to Steamboat Food & Wine Festival with the code FINELINE10
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
BONUS: Co-Interview with MJ Towler from The Black Wine Guy Experience
Today we had the pleasure of a dual podcast interview with the one and only MJ Towler from The Black Wine Guy Experience Podcast. We find out how MJ got his start in the wine business and navigated his career trajectory. We also talk about our hacks to stay fit and healthy. This was a super fun conversation with someone we truly admire, and we can’t wait to chat with him again!
Episode 17 - Dana Childs
How do intuition and healing play roles in the restaurant and beverage industry? Dana Childs is an intuitive energy healer, author, and teacher. She delivers grounded spirituality with heart, humor, and unabashed truth. Today, she talks about why we repeat old patterns through our lives and how we can heal those, as well as her own health journey. She also discusses how the food and wine industry isn’t given enough credit for how intuitively they work, and how one can manage emotions and cope with the stresses of service. She also believes that everyone should be honest with how they really want to live their lives, and that we are all healers.
Her book, co-authored with Cyndi Dale, titled Chakras, Food, and You: Tap Your Individual Energy System for Health, Healing, and Harmonious Weight will be released August of 2021.
Sponsored Promotions:
FREE shipping on SUPERBIRD Palomas using the code FINELINE.
Check out Hootananny Wines for delicious organic and biodynamic wines
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 16 - Erin Cannon Chave
What is it liked to be hand-picked by Kermit Lynch himself from a small wine retail store in St. Louis and sent to live in Beaune, France to run his French office? Then to marry into one of the world’s most iconic winemaking families and live in Tain L’Hermitage? Today we speak with Erin Cannon Chave about that journey. We also discuss the cultural differences between living in France and the US, the importance of moving our bodies, and the experience of being a woman in the wine business for over 20 years. We chat about homeopathic care for her family and for the vines, as well how she tackles grief amidst an inordinate amount of personal loss in her life. Erin is also Liz’s BFF from when they lived together in Beaune in the 90s, and we get to hear some of their happy and hilarious memories.
Sponsored Promotions:
15 % off at checkout on Superjames Bars using the code FINELINE15
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 15 - Eric Asimov
How does one break into the elusive world of wine writing? Today, Eric Asimov, who we have both long admired both professionally and personally, joins us on the podcast. Eric is the chief wine critic of The New York Times. Asimov created the ‘$25 and Under’ restaurant reviews in 1992, which was pivotal to exposing and celebrating the cultural richness of NYC in the boroughs outside of Manhattan. He has reviewed takeout food for The Times in his ‘To Go’ column and has offered commentary on food and wine since 1999.
He is also the author of "How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto" and "Wine With Food: Pairing Notes and Recipes From The New York Times" written with recipes by Florence Fabricant. His weekly column appears in the Food section of The New York Times. A collection of his columns is included in "The New York Times Book of Wine".
Today we talk to Eric his career trajectory, as well as wine journalism's inherent barrier of entry. We dive into his secret weapon for staying fit in a job prone to excess, and why wine, besides just it’s inherent deliciousness, is so important.
Tejal Rao Article on Covid and Losing Smell
Episode 14 - Keiko Niccolini
Keiko Niccolini, CMO and General Manager at r.Cup, is a marketing guru and re-use leader fighting plastic pollution through industry-changing product innovations. Her experience with entrepreneurial and more established brands - including govino, Rishi Tea, ILLY CAFFE and Flowers Vineyards - makes her a key driver of r.Cup’s continued growth plans, like the recent spearheading of the brand’s extension with r.Ware reusable serveware for the hospitality industry. Growing up in the world of restaurants, legend has it that Keiko could filet a Dover sole and saber a bottle of champagne before she could ride a bike. Today, as a lover of the outdoors, yogi, mom, and kitchen adventurer, Keiko finds balance very important in all aspects and ages of life - especially when helping soon-to-be moms as a DONA certified labor doula and prenatal yoga instructor.
Sponsored Promotions:
-15% off at Boulder Wine Merchant or in store (303) 443-6761 with code FINELINE15
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
BONUS: Co-Interview with Alexi Cashen from The Alexi Cashen Podcast
Alexi Cashen is the co-founder and partner at Elenteny Imports, and the host of the Alexi Cashen Podcast. Today we did a co-interview, where we ask each other about our journey through the wine business, the illusion of “having it all”, hacks for hangovers and overall balance, her new project, and what we are excited about in our industry right now.
Interested in sponsoring us? Visit our Patreon page to see the levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 13 - Bobby Stuckey
Can you imagine what it has been like for restaurants during the pandemic? Today we speak to hospitality giant Bobby Stuckey about his personal experience, and about his work for the IRC (Independent Restaurant Coalition), as they fight for the places that are the backbone of our social lives. Besides being a Master Sommelier, Bobby is the Co-Owner of the Frasca Hospitality Group, which includes Frasca Food and Wine, Sunday Vinyl, Tavernetta and Pizzeria Locale Boulder as well as Scarpetta Wines.
Bobby began his distinguished career in restaurants in his home state of Arizona, working his way from dishwasher to management. In 1995, he joined The Little Nell restaurant in Aspen as a sommelier. In 2000, Stuckey moved west to work with world-renowned chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in Yountville, California. It was here that Bobby met his future business partner, chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson. With the vision of opening a neighborhood restaurant reminiscent of the Italian frascas they had visited in Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, Stuckey and Mackinnon-Patterson opened their first restaurant, Frasca Food and Wine, in August 2004, in Boulder, CO.
Sponsored Promotions:
-15 % off at checkout on Suerte Tequila using the code FINELINE15
-Sponsor Us! Visit our Patreon page to see the various levels of sponsorship or donate here.
Show Notes:
Episode 12 - James Turner
What is the deal with CBD? It seems to be in everything right now, but does it work? Also, why is the beauty industry dominated by men even though it is supposedly for women? Today we speak with Jamie Turner, an esthetician and make-up artist, and co-founder of Sacred Ace Skin Care and Reign Rituals, her home base for services and educational workshops in Denver. Classically trained in fine arts as well as beauty, Jamie incorporates her formal art training in every beauty service and is always working to continue her education and educate others. In this episode, we talk to her about staying healthy, mentally and physically, as a business owner, why CBD works, and the CBD certification program she is creating. We also discuss her revolutionary approach to changing the beauty industry for the better, and why feeling good in your own skin is so important for you and everyone around you.
Sponsored Promotions:
-15% off at Boulder Wine Merchant or in store (303) 443-6761 with code FINELINE15
-Sponsor Us! Visit our Patreon page to see the various levels of sponsorship!
Show Notes:
Episode 11 - Maryam Ahmed
Do you ever worry that you aren’t doing enough to help institute the BLM movement and environmentalism into our business, or feel confused about which association is doing what and who to align yourself with for these causes? We do too, so we caught up today with Maryam Ahmed, founder of Maryam+Company, who, with her new business, is bringing together the various organizations who are taking a stand to make a difference. We talk about her transition out of her role as the director of public programs at the Culinary Institute of America and into her new role as a business owner. We discuss the challenges and importance of fitting in time for oneself every day, as well as her perspective on being a woman of color in the wine industry.
Show Notes:
The Culinary Institute of America - Wikipedia
Hospitality | Cornell SC Johnson
Enology and Viticulture - Walla Walla Community College
Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI)
The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood …
Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum
A Call to Action for the Wine Industry: Diversity ... - VinePair
Black Wine Professionals Demand to Be Seen - The New York …
CIA Summit for Sommeliers and Beverage Professionals | The …
Napa Green – Caring for Nature Elevates Quality & Experience
Maryam Ahmed (@goodfriendsgoodfood)
Sponsored Promotions:
15 % off at checkout on Suerte Tequila using the code FINELINE15
Episode 10 - Larry Gold
Larry Gold is the founder and former CEO of SomaLogic, a company which aims to revolutionize healthcare by measuring protein biomarkers, allowing for breakthroughs in personalized medicine and the early detection of diseases and risk factors.
He first moved to Boulder to be a professor of molecular biology at the University of Colorado in 1971. Larry founded his first company, Synergen, in 1981. Then, in 1989, he and his PhD student, Craig Tuerk, created SELEX, which launched Larry into the biotech world, founding NeXstar in 1992 and SomaLogic in 2000. In 2010, he created the Gold Lab Symposium, an annual event that tackles big questions on healthcare in a human way.
Larry is also Emily’s father! We talk about his life as a scientist and entrepreneur, the future of personalized medicine, and what books he’s reading right now. Larry also discusses alcohol intake, moderation, and how to stay fit while traveling for work.
- Todd Dorfman
- Tom Cech
- SELEX
- Jax
- Massimo Catalani
- Mesa Trail
- De West Yoga
- Gold Lab Symposium
- Craig Mundie
- 23andMe
- Ancestry.com
- The Book of Joy
- Doing Nothing
- Jill Blakeway Interview
- Energy Medicine: The Science and Mystery of Healing
Sponsored Promotions:
15 % off at checkout at Haven using the code FINELINE15
Episode 9 - Brett Zimmerman
Today we talk to Master Sommelier Brett Zimmerman about the injury that crushed his dreams of skiing professionally, and the mental and physical hurdles of getting through that time. We discuss what the Court of Master Sommeliers is doing to fix issues around a recent cheating scandal, their lack of diversity, and a deep history of sexual harassment. We also talk about his favorite methods for staying fit and for cooking healthy, delicious meals for his family, and his latest business venture, Sustainable Somm.
Show Notes:
The Steadman Clinic - Official Site | Sports Medicine and ...
Trainer Erin Carson Rally Sport
Sponsored Promotions:
15 % off at checkout on Suerte Tequila using the code FINELINE15
Episode 8 - Jill Blakeway
Dr. Jill Blakeway is a doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and a clinical herbalist. She started her acupuncture clinic, the Yinova Center, in 1999 in NYC. As a practitioner, Jill is known for her intuitive approach to Chinese Medicine and particularly her skill as an energy healer and as a fertility expert. She is also the author of three books, Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility, Sex Again, Recharging Your Libido and Energy Medicine, The Science and Mystery of Healing.
We talk with Jill today about what she has learned about herself through healing others. We discuss her own health journey, and she learned to have professional boundaries while still empathizing with and healing others. We also discuss the writing of her third book, Energy Medicine, The Science and Mystery of Healing. and what she learned along the way about this science-based approach to alternative medicine.
Show Notes:
-Mitsumasa Kawakami
-Be Here Now: Dass, Ram: 8601404531828: Amazon.com ...
-Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator | Netflix Official Site
-'John of God,' Brazilian faith healer, surrenders to police on ...
Sponsored Promotions:
15% off ECFit Strength with code FINELINE15
Episode 7 - Carlin Karr
Carlin Karr is an Advanced Sommelier and the Wine Director at Frasca, Tavernetta, Sunday Vinyl, and Pizzeria Locale. Carlin has been recognized in Forbes’ “30 Under 30”, Wine Enthusiast’s “40 Under 40”, and was named Food and Wine Magazine’s “Sommelier of the Year” in 2018.
Today we talk to Carlin about staying healthy in the restaurant business, her diagnosis of an extremely rare disease, and how much she loves wine. We also tackle some big questions about restaurants in the COVID era, and how we can use this massive challenge to better an industry we care so much about. This was a such an intimate side of Carlin, and we were so honored for her to share her story with us.
SHOW NOTES:
-Sons and Daughters Restaurant
- Wine Enthusiast “40 Under 40”
- Food and Wine Magazine “Sommelier of the Year” 2018
Sponsored Promotions:
15% off ECFit Strength with code FINELINE15
Episode 6 - Darcy Piceu
Darcy is a mom, professional ultra runner, and psychologist who lives and trains in Boulder, Colorado. She has been running for over 19 years and racing ultras for most of that time. Of the over 100 races she has run, Darcy has finished most of them in the top three.
In this podcast, Darcy talks about her journey into ultra running and the things she does now to balance her love of this extreme sport. She describes why she chose to be a vegetarian and how she manages training without giving up on eating and drinking. We talk about the role of meditation in her life, and how both running and meditation have helped reduce her anxiety. She also talks about being a psychologist in the Boulder Valley Public School system and how that has enriched her life while helping many students navigate theirs.
Show Notes:
Sponsored Promotions:
-15% off at Boulder Wine Merchant (303) 443-6761 with code FINELINE15
Episode 5 - Rajat Parr
Raj Parr is a sommelier turned winemaker, who oversaw the wine program of the Michael Mina restaurant group in San Francisco before starting his own wineries. He now has three projects - Evening Land Vineyards in Oregon, and Sandhi and Domaine de la Côte in Santa Barbara with his business partner, Sashi Moorman. He produces mainly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, grown biodynamically and organically.
We talk to Raj about growing up in Calcutta and how his upbringing formed how he eats and approaches food today. We hear about his journey to move to America to learn to cook, and then his meteoric rise as one of the world’s top sommeliers and wine professionals. Raj discusses his own health journey, and how an injury forced him to reassess his diet and go back to his roots. We also talk about organic and biodynamic viticulture and how that approach has changed how he drinks, as well as how he makes his own wines.
Raj has also written two groundbreaking books - Secrets of the Sommeliers: How to Think and Drink Like the World's Top Wine Professionals and The Sommelier's Atlas of Taste: A Field Guide to the Great Wines of Europe.
Show Notes:
-Secrets of the Sommeliers: How to Think and Drink Like the World's Top Wine Professionals
-The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste
Sponsored Promotions:
15% off ECFit Strength with code FINELINE15
Episode 4 - Erin Carson
Erin Carson is co-owner of Rally Sport Boulder, a Boulder, Colorado training facility and health club. Erin is the strength coach for many current and former world championship athletes including Mirinda Carfrae – 3x Ironman World Championships and Timothy O’Donnell – Long Course Triathlon World Champion. She also trains some of our favorite people in the wine business. Erin has also found success as a triathlete herself, and has most recently created an online workout program called ECFIT Strength, which we also do and love.
Today we will talk to Erin about how she got into training some of the world’s best athletes. We also discuss what it is like to run a business with her spouse, Melissa Lindamood, and what makes their relationship work. We cover training and eating through the various stages of life, as well as Erin’s journey of finding her birth mother and what that has meant to her sense of self.
An Elegant Defense - Matt Richtel
Sponsored Promotions:
-15% off at Boulder Wine Merchant (303) 443-6761 with code FINELINE15
Episode 3 - Ashley Hausman
Ashley Hausman gained the rare title of Master of Wine in 2017, joining a group of fewer than 50 others in the United States and fewer than 400 others worldwide. Formerly a sales representative for two great wine portfolios in Colorado for several years, she then worked as the Education Director at GuildSomm. Now, Ashley is plunging into a future of entrepreneurial endeavors and winemaking.
Show Notes:
@hauswine82
Sponsored Promotions:
-15% off at Boulder Wine Merchant (303) 443-6761 with code FINELINE15
Episode 2 - Dr. Todd Dorfman
Dr. Dorfman is the Founder, CEO, and Medical Director of Cedalion Health, which he opened in 2002 in Boulder, Colorado, balancing a private practice with his role as an emergency room doctor. From 2001 to 2019, he was the Medical Director of the Boulder Community Hospital Emergency Medical Service (EMS), and is currently in charge of Boulder County’s Covid-19 response. In addition, Dr. Dorfman consults for legal practices, biotech companies, and TV shows.
Today we talk about Dr. Dorfman’s role as a concierge doctor, as well as how he manages the Boulder County COVID-19 response. We also discuss gut health, alternative medicine, and his personal approach to diet and exercise. Dr. Dorfman is an avid reader of the latest studies in the medical world, and sheds some light on topics that are often surrounded by hype and marketing, such as intermittent fasting and the keto diet.
Sponsored Promotions:
15% off ECFit Strength with code FINELINE15
Episode 1 - Richard Betts
Richard Betts is a winemaker, entrepreneur, author, and former Master Sommelier. Richard is one of a handful of people to ever pass the Master Sommelier exam on his first attempt. He also has created many wine and alcohol brands we know and love - including Betts & Scholl, Scarpetta, My Essential Red and Rose, Sucette Grenache and Sombra Mezcal. He is the New York Times best-selling author of “The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert”, “The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All” and “The Ultimate Scratch & Sniff Guide To Loving Cannabis” (soon to be released).
Today we talk about Richard’s almost super-human ability to balance extreme fun with intense fitness, and how his practices have evolved as he has gotten older and wiser. We also talk about how he maintains a balanced diet and his sanity during his travels and downtime, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed his outlook on his once very rigorous travel schedule. Lastly, we discuss the rise of the sommelier and how the Black Lives Matter movement led to his decision to renounce his Master Sommelier pin and title.
Show Notes:
- The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert
- The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Whiskey Know-It-All
- Casa Komos Beverage Group (CKBG)
Sponsored Promotions:
-15% off at Boulder Wine Merchant (303) 443-6761 with code FINELINE15
Hi! We're Liz and Emily.
Liz and Emily chat for a couple minutes about what inspired them to start The Fine Line: Balancing Hedonism and Health.