A Swiss Bartender's Global Journey to Bacardi's Agave Expert, Sam Willy's Path in NYC

A Swiss Bartender's Global Journey to Bacardi's Agave Expert, Sam Willy's Path in NYC

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/fan_mail/new] What does it take to leave your home behind and build a name for yourself in the most competitive hospitality city in the world? In this episode of Bar Talking Talking Bar, we uncover the incredible personal story of Sam Willy, a man whose journey is as finely crafted as his cocktails. We start in Switzerland and travel with Sam across the globe—from the vibrant scenes of South Africa and London to the demanding, high-profile bars of New York City. Long before he became a recognized industry leader, Sam was honing his craft, absorbing culture, and building a reputation for excellence at iconic NYC venues like Westlight and Gabriel Kreuther. This is the story of the person behind the title. We explore the ambition that drove him to become a National Finalist in the prestigious Bacardí Legacy competition and the passion that ultimately led him to his current role as an Agave Advocacy Manager for Bacardí. This episode is a tribute to the journey itself—a must-watch for anyone who believes in chasing a dream, no matter how far from home it takes you. 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into the people who make the hospitality world move. 💬 Comment below: What city has inspired your career the most? Follow Sam's journey: Instagram: @willyoubemyguest Follow Our Podcast 👇🏽 IG @bartalkingtalkingbarnyc TikTok @bttbnycpodcast 🌎 https://bartalkingtalkingbarnyc.com WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/XcoII0QKA2s [https://youtu.be/XcoII0QKA2s] 🚨 SUBSCRIBE TO HELP US GROW🚨 LIKE & SHARE & COMMENT  to boost engagement, increase reach, and build community! 🎧 🔊 📻 Listen to the full  episode,We're on every platform. Seriously. SUPPORT  THE  SHOW  🫶🏼 DONATIONS 💳💰 👇🏽 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support] https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc [https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc] Every donation makes a difference and keeps this project thriving. Inquiries please reach out to Nury Robles at: 📧 bartalkingtalkingbar@gmail.com This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support] This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits.   You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p [https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p] IG https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/ [https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/] Follow, Like, Share, Comment and Subscribe

Erin Birmingham: Fashion Roots Fuel Craft Cocktail Passion & Hospitality Leadership

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/fan_mail/new] In this episode of BAR TALKING TALKING BAR, we sit down with Erin Gabriella Birmingham, the multi-talented General Manager and Beverage Director of Thyme Bar, one of NYC's speakeasies. Join us as we explore Erin's incredible journey from an art-focused upbringing in Ohio to becoming a recognized leader in the New York hospitality scene. Discover how her background in Fashion & Textile Technology and Studio Art provides the foundation for her creative process and management style. This isn't just a story about cocktails; it's a deep dive into how a passion for design, a strong work ethic, and a meandering career path through fashion and modeling can build a powerhouse in the beverage industry. Whether you're a hospitality professional, a creative, or simply love a story about passion and dedication, this conversation with Erin Birmingham is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for more stories from the people shaping the beverage world. 👍 Like this video if you believe in following a unique career path. 💬 Comment below: How has another industry influenced your career? 🚨 SUBSCRIBE TO HELP US GROW🚨 COMMENT  to boost engagement, increase reach, and build community! WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/gcMmL3psV24 [https://youtu.be/gcMmL3psV24] Explore ERIN's world: Instagram: @ERIN.GABRIELLA @THYMEBAR_NYC Follow Our Podcast 👇🏽 IG @bartalkingtalkingbarnyc TikTok @bttbnycpodcast 🌎 https://bartalkingtalkingbarnyc.com [https://bartalkingtalkingbarnyc.com] 🎧 🔊 📻 Listen to the full  episode,We're on every platform. Seriously. SUPPORT  THE  SHOW  🫶🏼 DONATIONS 💳💰 👇🏽 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/su... [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/su...] https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingta... [https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingta...] Every donation makes a difference and keeps this project thriving. Inquiries please reach out to Nury Robles at: 📧 bartalkingtalkingbar@gmail.com This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support] This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits.   You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p [https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p] IG https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/ [https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/] Follow, Like, Share, Comment and Subscribe

Hospitality Sales & Photography with Alejandro Olivas-Castillo

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/fan_mail/new] Welcome back to Bar Talking Talking Bar! In this episode, we sit down with Alejandro Olivas-Castillo—Brand Lead at Edrington (producers of The Macallan & more)—to dive into the world of hospitality sales, brand ambassadorship, and community storytelling through photography. You will learn about Alejandro’s journey from Chihuahua to Kansas City—and how Criminal Justice, Sociology and a passion for photography led him to Edrington. Inside the life of a lead team: driving sales, building relationships, and representing the Edrington’s company. On his personal passion, photography, Alejando has been working on “A Great Day in Ñiu Yor” (AGDÑY): a 2026 photography community project & exhibition. Celebrating Latine & Indigenous creatives in NYC. This project is part of Photoville Festival, Brooklyn Bridge Park, May 16–30, 2026, curated by Alejandro (@mexicojuice) & Monica Patten (@lemonmonn). This is to show why cultural heritage & creative side projects matter in hospitality Learn more about AGDÑY and view the portraits: https://agdny.org/ If you’re into hospitality industry insights, beverage sales, brand ambassador strategies, or community-driven art, this episode is for you! 🎧 🔊 📻 Listen to the full, uncensored episode wherever you get your podcasts. We're on every platform. Seriously. FOLLOW OUR GUEST: Instagram: @MEXICOJUICE @AGDNY.PROJECT WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/fMgTsRv_xIc [https://youtu.be/fMgTsRv_xIc] 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with the people shaping our industry.  📱 Follow us on Instagram: @bartalkingtalkingbar  TikTok @bttbnycpodcast 🌎 https://bartalkingtalkingbarnyc.com SUPPORT  THE  SHOW  🫶🏼 DONATIONS 💳💰 👇🏽 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc Every donation makes a difference and keeps this project thriving. Inquiries please reach out to Nury Robles at: 📧 bartalkingtalkingbar@gmail.com This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support] This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits.   You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p [https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p] IG https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/ [https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/] Follow, Like, Share, Comment and Subscribe

Gerardo “G” Bustamante — From Mexico City to Harlem: Identity & Bartending Hustle

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/fan_mail/new] Gerardo Bustamante — born in Mexico City, raised in Harlem, and shaped by summers in Miahuatlán, Oaxaca where his family produces mezcal. In this episode of Bar Talking Talking Bar, Gerardo, or "G" as many know him ins this industry,  opens up about identity, belonging, and how an Xbox and a packed schedule at home pushed him into hospitality. From washing dishes at 16 to mastering speed and volume behind the bar. This episode is honest and packed with lessons for anyone building a life in hospitality. Hear the stories that forged his voice: identity between two worlds, the grind behind Milly’s and Monkey Thief, and the pop-ups he runs to lift the Latino community. G has built a career that blends craft, community, and cultural pride. 🚨SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT AND SHARE  if you’re all about craft, culture, and the grind.🍸🚨 FOLLOW OUR GUEST ON IG: @GEE.ANDTHETINS @MILLYSONGREEN @MONKEYTHIEFBAR FOLLOW US: IG @bartalkingtalkingbarnyc TikTok @bttbnycpodcast 🌎 https://bartalkingtalkingbarnyc.com WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/sytitzR0v8I 🔊 📻 Listen to the full, uncensored episode wherever you get your podcasts. We're on every platform. Seriously. SUPPORT  THE  SHOW AND DONATE 🫶🏼👇🏽 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc Every donation makes a difference and keeps this project thriving. Inquiries please reach out to Nury Robles at: 📧 bartalkingtalkingbar@gmail.com This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support] This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits.   You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p [https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p] IG https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/ [https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/] Follow, Like, Share, Comment and Subscribe

Ryan Foley | Driving the BARTENDER Magazine Legacy Forward

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/fan_mail/new] Ryan Foley, publisher of BARTENDER® Magazine, joins Bar Talking Talking Bar for a deeply personal episode about legacy, hospitality, and the duty of carrying a family brand forward. Hear Ryan reflect on childhood memories as the son of Ray Foley (creator of the magazine and author of Bartending for Dummies) and Jaclyn Wilson Foley (publisher, editor, and co-founder). From early NYC cocktail culture to modern industry challenges, Ryan shares why preserving the magazine’s voice matters to bartenders, bar owners, and hospitality pros worldwide. BARTENDER® Magazine, founded in 1979 by Ray and Jaclyn Foley, is one of the hospitality industry’s longest-standing trade publications. Based in the New York area, it has chronicled cocktail trends, bartender careers, competitions, and bar culture for decades—serving as an essential resource and voice for professionals. Its historical coverage and continued spotlight on bartenders have made it a cornerstone for education, networking, and preserving the craft’s heritage. FOLLOW OUR GUEST: Instagram: @BARTENDERMAGAZINE WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/PBSCgw899wM [https://youtu.be/PBSCgw899wM] FOLLOW Our Podcast IG @bartalkingtalkingbarnyc TikTok @bttbnycpodcast 🌎 https://bartalkingtalkingbarnyc.com 🚨 SUBSCRIBE to get more episodes spotlighting the people who shape the bar world 🚨 👉 LIKE 👉 SHARE with friend who cares about legacy and craft. 👉 Watch the full episode for insights and inspiration 🗣️✍🏼 COMMENT: What do you think of Bar Talking Talking Bar? Any Ideas? Who would you like to see in the show? 🔊 📻 Listen to the full, uncensored episode wherever you get your podcasts. We're on every platform. Seriously. SUPPORT  THE  SHOW  🫶🏼  💳💰 👇🏽 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support https://buymeacoffee.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc] Every donation makes a difference and keeps this project thriving. Inquiries please reach out to Nury Robles at: 📧 bartalkingtalkingbar@gmail.com This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526003/support] This podcast is designed for listeners aged 21 and over, or where the legal drinking age permits.   You Tube https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p [https://www.youtube.com/@BarTalkingTalkingBar-z8p] IG https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/ [https://www.instagram.com/bartalkingtalkingbarnyc/] Follow, Like, Share, Comment and Subscribe