How Did I Get Here? With Ryan Poli
Chef Ryan Poli dives into the restaurant industry alongside a multitude of guests, from importers of rare products to highly-esteemed chefs, with the overarching question, "how did I get here?" We'll take deep dives into the lives and stories of some of your favorite farmers, restauranteurs, and--of course--chefs.
Episodes
39 episodes
Season 2, Episode 15 - Kevin Fink of Emmer & Rye
Kevin Fink is an extraordinary chef and restauranteur who, as owner of Emmer & Rye hospitality, has opened a myriad of acclaimed restaurants in Austin, TX (Emmer & Rye, Hestia, Canje, Nicosi, and Kalimotxo just to name a few). With a st...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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1:02:40
Season 2, Episode 14 - Amanda Rockman of Rockman ATX
In this Austin-edition of the Ryan Poli Podcast, Ryan chats with Amanda Rockman, veteran pastry-chef and recipient of multiple Jean Banchet Awards + James Beard semi-finalist. The two personalities chat about the perils of opening a new space, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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1:19:17
Season 2, Episode 13 - Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Emmer Hospitality
In this week's episode, Ryan has a particularly philosophical chat with Tavel Bristol-Joseph. Bristol-Joseph is the Director of Hospitality, co-owner, and pastry chef for Emmer Hospitality. He recently launched his dessert-bar concept, Nicosi, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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1:07:35
Season 2, Episode 12 - Matthew Odam of Austin American-Statesman
This week's episode is a doozy. Ryan chats with esteemed Austin restaurant critic Matthew Odam about city development, memes, AI, and pretty much everything in between. Oh, there may be some discussion about food in there, as well. Please enjoy...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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1:21:10
Season 2, Episode 11 - Khalil Arnold of Arnold's Country Kitchen
Our next guest needs little introduction. Arnold's Country Kitchen has been a Tennessee mainstay since its opening in 1982 by Jack and Rose Arnold. The classic meat and three serves up some of the best, heartiest meals in the Southeast, with a ...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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1:10:53
Season 2, Episode 10 - Brad Daniels of Tresini
Ryan has a borderline-unhinged chat with chef Brian Daniel, owner and head chef of Tresini, a celebrated Italian "bar and cucina" in the Philadelphian suburbs (Ambler, PA). They touch on many topics, from old school kitchen rhetoric to the stra...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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1:22:55
Season 2, Episode 09 - Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue
In this episode, chef Ryan takes the podcast all the way to Austin, TX to chat with legendary pit-master, author, recipient of James Beard's "Best Chef" award, and recognized member of the American Royal Barbecue Hall of Fame, Aaron Franklin.&n...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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1:07:51
Season 2, Episode 08 - Michael Hanna of St. Vito Focacciaria
In this episode, Ryan chats with chef/owner of St. Vito Foccaciaria Michael Hanna about guerrilla tactics in finding investors, opening a restaurant, and how the journey from fast-casual fry-cook to owner and head chef of a celebrated Italian r...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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1:05:33
Season 2, Episode 07 - Greg Kuzia-Carmel of Canteen, Camper
Today's episode tackles some big, albeit heady, ideas. Is AI going to change the restaurant industry? How about the way we interact with each other as a whole? Will Ryan's prophetical musings on Gen-Z come true? Listen in to find out what this ...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:54:51
Season 2, Episode 06 - Joe Frillman of Daisies Chicago
It's been a hot minute since we've had an episode pop up on the podcasting airwaves, but we're back at it with esteemed guest Joe Frillman from Daisies (Chicago, IL). Frillman utilizes seasonal, hyper-local ingredients for his restaurant concep...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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1:38:22
Season 2, Episode 05 - Andres Lara, Pastry Chef
Ryan goes deep with pastry chef extraordinaire Andres Lara. The two share a conversation about cooking, working with people above their paygrade while they were getting started, and the memorable, tangible moments that made lasting impressions ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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1:51:26
Season 2, Episode 04 - Jim Myers of Elliston Place Soda Shop
Longtime food columnist of the Tennessean Jim Myers left the food critic world to become a restaurant proprietor. His latest venture seats him comfortably in a General Management role at Nashville's historic Elliston Place Soda Shop. Originally...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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1:07:06
Season 2, Episode 03 - Colby Rasavong of Bad Idea
Chef Colby Rasavong sits down with Ryan to chat about his new restaurant concept, Bad Idea. A native of Alabama, Rasavong calls upon his Laotian heritage to infuse his food with Southeast-Asian flavors. Working under esteemed chef Sean Brock at...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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1:14:02
Season 2, Episode 02 - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones of Eater Magazine
Nashville-via-Miami food journalist Jackie Gutierrez-Jones is editor of, and longstanding contributor to, the Nashville branch of Eater magazine. Contrary to what one may think, her culinary musings and professional journalistic approach to foo...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:18:45
Season 2 Premiere | Episode 01 - Tim Hollingsworth of Otium
Ryan sits down with award-winning chef and restaurateur Tim Hollingsworth. The guys reminisce about their days at the French Laundry, finding balance between the industry and personal life, and Hollingsworth's "elevated fast food" pop up, Chain...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:24:58
Episode 25 - Nicholas Romero
Chef Nicholas Romero stopped through town to help out in the kitchen at Ryan's new Nashville restaurant venture, Iggy's. During the episode, Ryan and Nick discuss the chef's many successful fine-dining ventures, reminisce on old times, and that...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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58:07
Episode 23 - Tony Mantuano of Yolan
James Beard award winner and Michelin-starred chef Tony Mantuano has a deep history of fine-dining, from opening Chicago's Spiaggia to his current home at the Joseph Hotel in Nashville, he has never compromised on quality food and an elevated s...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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1:20:11
Episode 22 - Philip Krajeck of Rolf & Daughters, Folk
In the 22nd episode, chef Ryan Poli talks with Philip Krajeck, chef of both Rolf & Daughters and Folk restaurants in Nashville, TN. Serving up some of the best pastas and pizzas in town, respectively, Rolf and Folk have become hotspots of t...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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1:11:36
Episode 21 - Ernie Vales, Graffiti Artist
In the mid-80s, Ernie Vales began spray painting trains with his friends. Eventually, a thrilling hobby turned into a lifelong career, as he pioneered the popular 3D-style known today, collaborated with massive brands (Pepsi, Google), and made ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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1:17:14
Episode 20 - LeeAnn Cherry of Bear Creek Farms
LeeAnn Cherry, co-founder of Bear Creek Farm in Leipers Fork, Tennessee, raises some of the best beef in America. With a strong emphasis on home-grown feed, sustainability, and pasture-raised cattle and hogs, their product has become a kitchen ...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:11:06
Episode 19 - Rachel Lehman of Crema Coffee Roasters
On the 19th episode, chef Ryan Poli goes deep into all things coffee with Rachel Lehman, owner and proprietor of one of Nashville's best coffee spots, Crema. With a massive focus on quality and ethical sourcing, Crema Coffee Roasters go above a...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:11:17
Episode 18 - Kris Esqueda & Ryan Costanza
In this week's episode, Ryan does something rather unorthodox by sitting down with two of his friends to talk horror stories starting out in the restaurant industry and to share their knowledge and experience traveling the globe. Kris Esqueda, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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2:00:40
Episode 17 - Leina Horii and Brian Lea of Kisser
Husband and wife duo Leina Horii and Brian Lea are both no strangers to the culinary arts. Having both worked extensively at a number of high-profile restaurants, including Husk, Bastion, Le Sel, and Catbird Seat, the pair launched their own ho...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:16:38
Episode 16 - Chad Koeplinger of Adventure Tattoo
Chad Koeplinger is a tattoo artist and lover-of-all-things-food based in Nashville, TN. In this episode, Ryan and Chad discuss the golden moment that first interested Koeplinger in food, how his culinary experiences have affected his perspectiv...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:54:57
Episode 15 - Mark Bolton of Rolf & Daughters
Nashville-via-Chicago chef Mark Bolton joins Chef Poli in episode 15 of the podcast. Originally hailing from Kentucky, Bolton cut his teeth in the Chicago culinary world in such esteemed establishments as Boka, Tru, and The Loyalist. Since movi...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:07:37