Hospitality Bites

About Hospitality Bites

*Special New Season Coming Fall 2026* Hospitality Bites is a podcast hosted by Colleen Silk — mompreneur, hospitality hustler, storyteller, and founder of Hospitality Bites Media (HBM). Through honest, empathetic, and unfiltered conversations, the show shines a light on the human side of hospitality while amplifying the voices of the people who make this industry what it is. Hospitality Bites Media was created to help promote healthier, more sustainable, and more inclusive workplaces across hospitality. Through podcasting, consulting, events, workshops, digital resources, and storytelling, HBM encourages the industry to prioritize mental well-being, support its people, and challenge the culture of perfectionism that has long defined the space. The hospitality industry is built on high standards, long hours, constant pressure, and the expectation to always be "on." Behind the plates, pours, and service, however, are real people navigating burnout, mental health struggles, career pivots, creativity, leadership challenges, parenthood, identity, and the realities of life both inside and outside of work. For too long, many of these conversations were hidden or ignored. Hospitality Bites exists to help change that. From chefs, beverage directors, restaurateurs, and educators to advocates, creators, and industry disruptors — from lesser-known voices to celebrity guests — each episode offers candid conversations designed to destigmatize, enlighten, inspire, and normalize a more realistic expectation of what hospitality truly looks like today. Some episodes are educational. Some are emotional. Some are chaotic, funny, and deeply relatable. But all of them are rooted in connection, community, and creating space for more honest conversations within the industry we love. Hosted by Colleen Silk. Produced by Hospitality Bites Media. Interested in collaborating with HBM or being a guest on the show? Connect with Colleen Silk on LinkedIn or reach out through Hospitality Bites Media.

Publisher

Colleen Silk

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

22 Feb 2023

Latest episode

4 Feb 2025

Latest episodes

33 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Feb 2025

   Hospitality Bites-Chef Justin Sutherland

   EDIT TO EPISODE: I incorrectly refer to Serena, Justin's longtime girlfriend, as his fiance; they are not engaged. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A note from me, Colleen Silk, the host and founder of HBM. Please be aware that while this conversation does not explicitly talk of Justin's arrest and the issue of domestic abuse, we do talk about the repercussions of his actions. I do not condone his actions or any allegations of domestic abuse in general. I do, however, support his journey to be a better person, learn from his mistakes, and live by example in both sobriety and discussing mental health, as well as rehabilitation. If you or someone you know is in danger or a victim of domestic abuse, please text BEGIN to 88788, OR if you are in a mental health crisis, please text HOME to 741741. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On today's episode of Hospitality Bites, Chef Justin Sutherland joins me. He shares his journey from culinary school to competing in cooking competitions and becoming a celebrity chef, as well as the recent struggles that have led him to sobriety and prompted him to address his mental health. Justin shares his experiences working in various kitchens and the challenges of managing multiple restaurants before and after the pandemic. He also explores the competitive world of cooking shows like Iron Chef and Top Chef and navigates how those shows propelled into the entertainment sector of food media. Throughout the conversation, Justin reveals the hospitality industry's unspoken "underbelly" of toxic work environments and how that influenced his perspective on what a normal chef's life is or was. We discuss his boating accident, not only focusing on his physical trauma but also the toll it took on his mental health and his unprecedented swift physical recovery. We then dive into the after-effects of his unexpected "fall from chef-celebrity grace" following his arrest and share how those external expectations have impacted him. We end our conversation by discussing the importance of reclaiming his narrative, the journey toward sobriety, and Justin's aspirations for the future, which include his initiatives to support mental health in the hospitality industry and a rehabilitation program for nonviolent offenders upon their release from jail.

2. 

   17 Jan 2025

   Hospitality Bites--Nesha Abarno-Powerhouse in Hospitality

   Welcome back to Hospitality Bites, hosted by Colleen Silk. On today's episode, I am joined by Nesha Abarno, a seasoned hospitality professional with an incredible background in the industry. We discuss her journey within the hospitality space, from growing up in a family-run golf course to managing high-end dining experiences in New York City to now being a key team member of the incredible Maverick Theory. We also examine the importance of creating safe spaces for future generations, addressing misogyny, standing up against inappropriate behavior, and the challenges many women encounter in the hospitality industry. These challenges include sexism, the necessity of establishing boundaries, the significance of having the right people in leadership positions, and the journey toward entrepreneurship. If you want to learn more about Nesha Abarno and the entire team at Maverick Theory, please visit www.mavericktheory.com and follow them on social!

3. 

   19 Nov 2024

   Hospitality Bites--Christin Marvin, The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap

   Welcome back to Hospitality Bites! In today's episode, I am joined by Christin Marvin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christin-marvin/), a seasoned hospitality professional, podcast host of "No Hesitations," and author of "The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap. (https://www.solutionsbychristin.me/book)" We discuss Christin's extensive career journey in the restaurant industry, her personal challenges with burnout and lifestyle changes, and her transition into coaching and consulting. Christin shares her experiences of hitting rock bottom and emphasizes the importance of building genuine relationships within the hospitality community. She offers valuable insights on empowering business owners in the hospitality sector, the necessity of setting boundaries, and her journey of writing a book. We also highlight the need for community support and collaboration among industry professionals, as well as the significance of mental health resources for those in the hospitality sector, including CHOW, where Christin actively serves on the Board.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

614,745,588

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100

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

Quality

75

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

0

Contact Hospitality Bites

Guest appearances

Books guests

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