Min Kim - Dear Leon

Min Kim is the kind of human who turns a simple croissant into an act of care. In this deeply moving conversation, Min shares the long, winding road that led him from immigrating to the United States, to sleeping in his car as a teenager, to building one of Baltimore's most beloved hospitality spaces. We explore the heart behind Café Dear Leon—the small but mighty café that has become a cornerstone of community—and the philosophy that fuels it: presence, intention, and honoring the time people choose to spend together. From mentorship and marriage to fatherhood, failure, and the discipline of showing up, Min reflects on what it means to live with intention and build something meaningful through service. This episode is about choosing presence over distraction, people over ego, and remembering that when work is rooted in care, even the smallest spaces can become something larger than yourself.