Christina Nguyen: Discovering Identity, Culture & Building Success

Christina Nguyen: Discovering Identity, Culture & Building Success

James Beard Award-winning chef Christina Nguyen — co-owner of Minneapolis restaurants Hai Hai and Hola Arepa — joins Taste Music Hear Food to talk identity, immigration, and entrepreneurship. From food truck beginnings to national recognition, she opens up about Vietnamese-American identity, food as storytelling, and what authenticity really means. Taste Music Hear Food explores how food, music, and culture shape who we become. 🎙️ Join the TMHF Patreon for exclusive bonus content and early access: www.patreon.com/tmhfpodcastshow [http://www.patreon.com/tmhfpodcastshow] #ChristinaNguyen #JamesBeardAward #HaiHai #HolaArepa #TasteMusicHearFood #FoodCulture #VietnameseAmerican #FoodPodcast #Entrepreneurship #FoodStorytelling

Kay Gee of Naughty By Nature: Hip-Hop Legacy & The Secret Behind Timeless Hits

Grammy Award-winning producer, DJ, and Naughty By Nature founding member Kay Gee joins TMHF for one of the most revealing conversations of his career — from East Orange roots to building a hip-hop dynasty. Inside this episode: the origins of Naughty By Nature, producing timeless classics, working across hip-hop and R&B, why ownership matters more than charts, and building a legacy that lasts. Plus, Kay Gee's viral "Cold Truths" and a Lightning Round you won't hear anywhere else. Taste Music Hear Food explores how food, music, and culture shape who we become. 🎙️ Join the TMHF Patreon for exclusive bonus content and early access: www.patreon.com/tmhfpodcastshow [http://www.patreon.com/tmhfpodcastshow] #KayGee #NaughtyByNature #HipHop #MusicProducer #MusicBusiness #TasteMusicHearFood #HipHopPodcast #GrammyWinner #90sHipHop #Legacy

Lance McWhorter: Rhythm, Fire & Redemption

From battlefields to back kitchens, Chef Lance McWhorter has lived a life forged by fire, rhythm, and relentless reinvention. An Army and Navy veteran turned award-winning chef, Lance has transformed East Texas dining with Heritage East and The Plaid Rabbit  blending global flavor with Southern soul. In this episode of TMHF, we dive deep into grit, gastronomy, and groove exploring how identity, experience, and rhythm shape the plate. But this conversation doesn’t shy away from the tough topics: we unpack systemic racism, cultural appropriation, and how this generation must come to terms with the past discretions woven through America’s food history and culture. It’s raw, reflective, and redemptive a conversation about healing through honesty, heritage, and the shared language of food and music. 🎧 Listen as we talk legacy, flavor, and finding your beat when the world goes silent.

Mike Phillips: The Recipe of Sound

In this episode of TMHF, we sit down with world-renowned saxophonist Mike Phillips, the first musician ever signed to Jordan Brand, and the only artist to have performed with Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. Together, we explore the intersection of sound, culture, and flavor, diving into how identity and artistry can feed the soul like a perfectly seasoned dish. From his Mount Vernon roots to founding Keep It Moving Music and mentoring the next generation of jazz innovators, Mike opens up about the mindset, discipline, and humanity behind his music. We chop it up about sneakers, soul food, and sax solos — proving that legacy isn’t just played… it’s cooked, served, and felt.

Hawaii Mike: High Vibes, Higher Purpose — Culture, Cannabis & Community

In this elevated episode of TMHF, we sit down with cultural curator and cannabis pioneer Hawaii Mike Salman- the visionary behind Chef For Higher, Fly Private Social, and the deeply introspective Mask Off Podcast. From managing hip-hop legends like Mobb Deep to hosting intimate infused supper clubs that blend food, music, and plant medicine, Hawaii Mike breaks down how he turned a lifestyle into a movement. We explore the healing power of community, the sacred rituals of consumption, and why taking your mask off—figuratively and literally—is the highest form of freedom. Whether you're here for the flavor, the vibes, or the wisdom, this episode is a masterclass in intention, authenticity, and cultural elevation.