Heard Mentality

About Heard Mentality

Heard Mentality got its name because “Heard.” is the request and response call in kitchens worldwide and ‘Mentality’ is what we are changing in kitchens everywhere – in restaurants, schools and homes. Heard Mentality has recorded its first season with some of the area’s top culinary talent sharing stories about kitchen inspiration, mental health breakdowns and breakthroughs we need to create a healthier workforce and family food systems.

Publisher

Ali Kaufman, Blake Malatesta

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Mar 2025

Latest episode

19 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

23 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Mar 2026

   #023 - Michael Mayo

   In this episode of Heard Mentality, we sit down with Mike Mayo, co-founder of the Facebook group “Let’s Eat, South Florida” and host of Mike Mayo’s Lunchbox. Known for highlighting the best of the South Florida food scene, Mike brings a deeper, more personal perspective to the table in this conversation. Drawing from his time as a columnist for the Sun Sentinel, Mike shares his long-standing connection to mental health advocacy, including his work exposing the gaps in resources and disparities in treatment for those facing mental illness and addiction. He also opens up about the personal experiences that shaped his perspective, losing his brother to schizophrenia after years of institutionalization, and witnessing the toll that addiction and mental health struggles have taken on the hospitality industry and the people in it. This episode goes beyond food; It’s about community, awareness, and the often-unspoken realities behind the scenes.

2. 

   5 Mar 2026

   #022 - Michael Salmon

   Michael Salmon's journey as a chef is rooted in a deep respect for simple, seasonal food. After studying at the Culinary Institute of America, he honed his skills at top spots like the 21 Club and Arcadia in New York, where he embraced the farm-to-table philosophy. He’s cooked for icons like Jackie O and Uma Thurman, and was even a guest chef at the James Beard House. He was season 3 finalist on Next Food Network Star and Food Network Restaurant Challenge.

3. 

   24 Feb 2026

   #021 - Joe Durkin

   Joe Durkin is a South Florida–based hospitality and experiential events leader known for creating large-scale lifestyle festivals at the intersection of beverage, culture, and community. With a background in brand partnerships, growth strategy, and guest experience, he specializes in building immersive events that deliver high-energy, thoughtfully curated experiences. He is the co-founder of The Tequila Festival, a signature spirits event blending premium tequila and mezcal, live music, and culinary activations, and co-founder of AltBev Expo, a next-generation trade and consumer show spotlighting functional, alternative, and non-alcoholic beverages. He is also involved with Terp Basel, a culture-forward event during Miami Art Week that fuses art, cannabis, music, and immersive brand activations. Beyond events, Durkin served as Head Distiller and Chief Operations Officer of South Florida Distillers Inc., leading production, product development, and operations for the craft distillery. He was also affiliated with Harpke’s Farms, supporting agricultural initiatives that extend his work into the farm-to-glass space. Across his ventures, Durkin develops experiential platforms that elevate emerging beverage categories while fostering meaningful industry and community connections.

Who has been a guest on Heard Mentality

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Max Lennon
• Zach Pecoraro
• Joe Colucci
• Eric Lamb
• Robert Bellini

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

67

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact Heard Mentality

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.