Branching Out

EPISODE 14! James Grant of Toronto (but kinda Edmonton) joins Josh to talk about setting fire to previous versions of yourself, how being a bartender will make you a better communicator (ideally) and how stupid garnish will crash your service. James was sent our way by both Calliope Draper and Jeff Savage.  Follow James: @oldgrayrabbit Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact   Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk Host: Josh Lindley Written by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 13! Sean Baxter of Never Never Distilling Co in Adelaide, Australia joins Josh to talk about advice from mom, the positive impacts of working in night clubs before learning about cocktails and the infamous but ever-popular Club 86. Sean was sent our way by Jenna Hemsworth. Follow Sean: @seanofthenevernever Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk Host: Josh Lindley Written by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 12! Lynette Marrero of New York joins Josh to talk about knowing and finding and building your community, understanding when to make the choice to stick with the thing that works best for you and also, musicals. Lynette was sent our way by Kaitlyn Stewart (and also by Kate Chernoff).  Follow Lynette: @drinksat6 Follow Speed Rack: @speed_rack   Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact   Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted) Host: Josh Lindley Written by Josh Lindley RIP: Nicholas Brendon Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 11! Erick Castro of San Diego joins Josh to talk about addressing mental health without training, the concept of the "false wait" and how important sharing knowledge really is. Erick was sent our way by Sarah Ruiz who says she loves his podcast (it's cool, I have no feelings left to hurt).  Follow Erick: @bartenderatlarge  Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact  Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted) Host: Josh Lindley Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 10! Shawn Soole, the one and only, of Victoria joins Josh to talk about landscaping, maintaining a successful marriage as an industry vet and a little bit about bartending and mentors. Shawn was sent our way by Brant Porter who came our way via the starting point of one of our trees, Kate Chernoff.  Follow Shawn: @shawnsoole   Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas   Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact    Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)  Host: Josh Lindley  Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 9! Jeff Savage of Prophecy in Vancouver joins Josh to talk about spirituality, sports, nature and a little bit about bartending and mentors. Plenty of fun insights about what makes Jeff tick. Jeff was sent our way by Callie Draper who came our way via the starting point of one of our trees, Kate Chernoff. Follow Jeff: @tfatherofcups  Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted) Host: Josh Lindley Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 8! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Kevin Diedrich of San Francisco, California. Kevin came our way via Sarah Ruiz, who came our way via Kapri Robinson. Kevin tells us about some of the people that have helped him along the way, but also gets into what it is like starting a Cocktail Week.  Follow Kevin @therealdiedrich  Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact  Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)  Host: Josh Lindley  Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 7! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Jenna Hemsworth of Melbourne (Melbin?) Australia. Jenna is a starting point on another tree on which we will branch out. Jenna tells us about some of the people that have helped her along the way, but also gets into some very reflective ideas about who you work with and how we all show up for each other.  Follow Jenna: @jrhemsworth Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact  Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 6! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Calliope Draper of Montreal, Canada. We got to Calliope from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Callie talk about transgender representation in the hospitality community, the importance of staying curious and how being familiar with systems of international political systems can help you in your bar career.  Calliope then tells us about her many pillars that have propped her up in her career thus far.  Follow Calliope: @non_barnary  Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas  Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact  Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)  Host: Josh Lindley  Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 5! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Brant Porter of Victoria, Canada. We got to Brant from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Brant talk about choosing between shredding on guitar and shaking drinks, being able to see your younger self for who you were (a nerd) and of course, his big three mentors that have guided him along the way. Follow Brant: @brantarthurporter Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted) Host: Josh Lindley Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 4! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Kaitlyn Stewart of Vancouver. We got to Kaitlyn from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Kaitlyn talk about if job titles even matter, her previous career which trained her well to be behind the bar and of course, her big three mentors that have guided her on her way. Follow Kaitlyn: @likeablecocktailsFollowBartender Atlas: @bartenderatlasFollow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LindleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 3! We are starting a new tree with Kate Chernoff of Vancouver, Canada. Plus Josh explains to the other half of Bartender Atlas, Jessica Blaine Smith, just what he is doing with Branching Out.In a relatively short period of time with working behind the bar, Kate has done great things. She talks about being the World Class Canada Bartender of the Year 2025 and the opportunities that have come from that including working at North America's 50 Best Bars. She tells us how her past roles led her to becoming a bartender. And most importantly, she tells us who and what has influenced her along the way.Follow Kate: @cocktailcowgirlFollow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlasFollow AXXN Pact: @axxnpactBranching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LindleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

EPISODE 2!Kapri Robinson led us to Sarah Ruiz, of BIG Bar in Quito, Ecuador.Sarah talks about the best ways to build a solid foundation, not just for drinks but for training staff. She talks about how moving to Quito from San Francisco made her re-evaluate how much she loves using local cocktail ingredients. And, for our purposes, most importantly, she points us in the direction of a handful of her favourite people and books. The sort of people and books we honestly, didn't expect to hear about until way deeper into this project.Follow Sarah: @sarahruiz87Follow BIG Bar: @BIG.uioFollow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlasFollow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

It's our first episode of Branching Out and we begin with Kapri Robinson of Allegory in Washington, DC, USA!We talk about how Friends and Family Nights at new bars can be awkward. We talk about dropping out of school and the importance of having your heroes on speed dial. We talk about having fun while being responsible. We talk about what mentorship really is and who are the people who have inspired and taught Kapri along the way.Follow Kapri:  @kapri.possibleFollow Chocolate City's Best: @Chocolate.Citys.BestFollow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlasFollow Axxn Pact: @axxnpact  Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Host: Josh LIndleyProducer: Aaron Verdonk, Jesse ColburnMusic: Aaron VerdonkGraphics: Jessica Blaine Smith Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)Host: Josh LIndleyWritten: Mostly by Josh Lindley