Hospitality from Within

Kim Lerner
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Hospitality from Within

Welcome to Hospitality from Within Podcast! Kim Lerner is a leadership coach and professor for the hospitality industry. She spent almost 2 decades leading teams through restaurant openings with a strong emphasizes on creating safe spaces for each team member to be themselves and feel a part of the team. This space was created for leaders to learn how to build their confidence within their voice, gain insights and hear stories from other like-minded leaders that are paving the way to a more sustainable hospitality industry. For ways to work with Kim, visit www.onlyyummyalways.com. And for resources, workshops and community, visit theschool.www.onlyyummyalways.com. Thank you for being here and remember to keep it only yummy, always.

  1. FEB 26

    Ep 50 What energizes you and makes you happy is what you should be doing with your life with Matt Hunnel

    Ep 50 What energizes you and makes you happy is what you should be doing with your life with Matt Hunnel Matt’s energy and care for the people he gets the opportunity to work with is unique and unlike most leaders you may cross paths with. His dedication and commitment to himself and the teams he works with is powerful and obvious. Matt shares his path that was always paved with the desire to learn more, be more respectful to his peers, and advance his career forward. He is now an owner / operator of TRUCE in Chicago - almost one year to celebrate with so much to recognize and what he is most proud of is the team he gets to work with and the leader and human he has evolved into today.  About Matt Matt Hunnel is a Chicago-based bar owner and hospitality veteran. His roots in this industry stem from Lincoln, Nebraska, beginning a lifelong career of infusing midwestern hospitality and a selfless sense of community in each shake, stir, and pre-shift led. In the past ten years, Matt has led cocktail programs at iconic Chicago catalysts like 2-Michelin starred restaurant, L2O, and Jimmy at the James Hotel, as well as been a hospitality leader in larger-than-life staples like Cindy's Rooftop and RH, having the opportunity to lead hundreds of emerging hospitality professionals in service, wine, and the art of opening new businesses. Over the past two years, Matt has been working alongside his business partners at Good Company Hospitality Group to open TRUCE, one of Chicago's top new bars, offering coffee and cocktails, and that deeply intentional midwestern hospitality that started it all. In his rare-but-free time, Matt can be found doing leg workouts at the gym, watching reruns of Rupaul's Drag Race with his fiancé David, or daydreaming about what the next hospitality space he and his team will open next. For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within. As a part of the community, use the discount code : COMMUNITY20 for 20% off the Lead with Confidence Membership that unlocks access to leadership courses, videos, worksheets, guidebooks and more!

    45 min

  2. FEB 19

    Ep 49 - It’s ok to go in and out of working for yourself with Daisy Zeijlon

    Ep 49 - It’s ok to go in and out of working for yourself with Daisy Zeijlon Daisy is an inspiration to anyone that crosses her path. She is on a mission to open the communication lines and visibility into what it means to be a woman solopreneur and to help us all level the playing field. In this conversation she shares her journey and how passionate she is about educating all so all boats rise together. She’s all about transparency and also self-reflection to understand when it’s time for her to pivot both as a business owner and as a mother and partner. We have so much to learn from Daisy’s story!   About Daisy She’s a brand and communications consultant and founder of In The Wings based in Copenhagen. She holds 10+ years of experience working with leading companies across industries, including celebrity chefs, global restaurant groups and consumer products. She holds a postgraduate degree in Food Studies from New York University, where her research explored the intersections of food and gender. Her earliest foray into hospitality took place in 2000 when she hosted a themed dinner party for a handful of close friends and family.  I was 8.   For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within. As a part of the community, use discount code : COMMUNITY20 for 20% off the Lead with Confidence Membership that unlocks access to leadership courses, videos, worksheets, guidebooks and more! If you sign up before the end of this month, you will get a free 1:1 hour coaching session with Kim Lerner for you to schedule before the end of the year.

    34 min

  3. FEB 5

    Ep 48 Being back in a learning role with Darcy Spence

    Ep 48 Being back in a learning role with Darcy Spence This conversation is the definition of leading oneself and trusting intuition. Darcy’s journey is far from linear and each corner that she was curious to explore led her to her next chapter. Darcy shares everything she learnt each part of the way. It wasn’t always full of joy and she found herself burn out more than she would’ve hoped but even those moments brought her to her next opportunity. More importantly, her last burn out taught her how to lead herself, how to put on her own oxygen mask first and to be brave and set boundaries. This is a very raw and vulnerable conversation with so many impactful lessons that we can all benefit from! And thank you Darcy for giving a shout out to all of your mentors and collaborators who were a part of your journey! About Darcy Darcy grew up as a picky eater with a sweet tooth in Massachusetts. While studying architecture at UC Berkeley, she fell in love with California produce. Through meals with friends and many many books, she began to explore ingredients (especially fruit) and cooking. After graduating college in 2016, Darcy moved to New York City, where she landed her first kitchen job between architecture internships. She got swept up into cooking professionally, mostly on the pastry side, and contributed to menus at places including Superiority Burger, Yellow Rose, Leo, Saraghina, and numerous popups. In spring of 2024 she moved to Martha’s Vineyard to help open the new Beetlebung Farm bakery and to try out life a little closer to the beach. Darcy has a Substack called BUSTUB where she shares her favorite recipes and adaptations, as well as the ingredients, tools, books, and people that have shaped her as a cook.   For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within. As a part of the community, use discount code : COMMUNITY20 for 20% off the Lead with Confidence Membership that unlocks access to leadership courses, videos, worksheets, guidebooks and more!

    1h 1m

  4. JAN 22

    Ep 47 - Done is better than perfect with Natalie Black

    Ep 47 - Done is better than perfect with Natalie Black Natalie took a leap and followed her gut that has led her to be one of the most trusted photography and videographers for chefs and restauranteurs in NYC. Her story is not linear and she shares it with us so openly. Natalie shares how she partners with her clients and how important it is to her to listen to them and create the space where they feel safe to be seen and build their brand identity with her support. She’s carved out a niche spot for herself in the hospitality community and we are so glad she’s here!   About Natalie With 12+ years of experience as a photographer and digital media professional, Natalie sets herself apart by using data to create high-performing content and to position new brands competitively. She's managed brand strategy for 20th Century FOX, Fandango, The CW, and more recently led the visual creative direction and digital media footprint for the Michelin star restaurants, Crown Shy and SAGA, and the World’s 50 Best Bar #34, Overstory. Currently she supports restaurants and chefs around New York City offering short form storytelling through video, and digital media services.  Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Eater, New York Magazine, Michelin Guide, 50 Best, New Yorker, Grub Street, Vogue, Time Out, and The Today Show. For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within. As a part of the community, use discount code : COMMUNITY20 for 20% off the Lead with Confidence Membership that unlocks access to leadership courses, videos, worksheets, guidebooks and more!

    27 min

  5. JAN 8

    Ep 46 - Moving with integrity with D Rooney

    Ep 46 Moving with integrity with D Rooney D speaks honestly and openly about her journey of being a co-founder of Rock Steady Farm. Intuition, activism and community are all at the core of who D is and how they lead themselves each day. This conversation is a look inside how passionate, caring and compassionate the farming community is. D prides themselves in being a steward of the land and that’s how they teach others to think about the soil and all of those that came before us.    About D Since 2012, D (all pronouns) has dedicated their life, spirit, and energy to the radical dreams and actions of being in collaboration with many to create spaces of belonging and upliftment as a farmer, teacher, and organizer within food systems work. At that time, D became a student and member of the Farm School NYC community and credits it with providing them with the lens to see a world that requires collective change and the conditions and opportunities to discover their own power and voice. Since then, D has gone on to be a co-founder, worker-owner, and Director of Farm Operations at Rock Steady Farm, where for the last nine years D has worked incredibly hard to create a project that demonstrates strong values and commitment to their rich communities. D’s work pursues the cultivation of collective liberation through acts of empowerment, growing nourishing food for many with a reverence for nature and with deep relational care of each other and all of our ecosystems.For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within. As a part of the community, use discount code : COMMUNITY20 for 20% off the Lead with Confidence Membership that unlocks access to leadership courses, videos, worksheets, guidebooks and more!

    34 min

  6. JAN 1

    Ep 45 - Celebrating the trust fall with Shawndra McCrorey

    Ep 45 - Celebrating the trust fall with Shawndra McCrorey Shawndra has been following her intuition for as long as I’ve known her. Her commitment to connecting with community is at the core of who she is, and has led her down a really interesting and beautiful career path. Shawndra shares her journey while connecting her dots backwards. It’s inspiring to learn how the process of trusting the path has opened so many doors for her. We also share a teaser on an exciting venture and Shawndra and I have decided to join forces and become business partners. More to come on that soon!    About Shawndra Shawndra is a key creative and strategic partner in business concept development and building teams with multifaceted tools for operational success. She works with businesses to architect dynamic experiences around food, wine and hospitality that truly engage patrons, connecting them to the vision of the place.  She takes a dynamic approach to developing relationships to understand the heartbeat of team and its leaders - this allows her to create collaborative and sustainable models for training and business growth. She helps leaders breathe life into ideas coming from within their own culture, offering tools and pathways to collective success. Her approach is always catered to the unique culture of a team and operation. For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within.

    36 min

  7. 12/18/2024

    Ep 44 - Learning the power of no and prioritizing because there’s only so much one person can do with Carli Gordon

    Ep 44 - Learning the power of no and prioritizing because there’s only so much one person can do with Carli Gordon Carli is an ultimate community builder that has led her to found The Libi Project. Carli shares with honesty the transition from a full time job to starting her business that is her heart’s calling. There have been a lot of learning opportunities for her along the way, continuously working towards the power of no as well as pausing and being present.  About Carli Carli’s career sits at the intersection of food and community. A Chicago native, she earned a business degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison before moving to Italy to pursue a master’s in World Food Cultures & Mobility from The University of Gastronomic Sciences. There, she deepened her understanding of the cultural, political, and social intersections shaping our food systems—insights that continue to guide and inspire her work today. In 2021, Carli returned to New York City to advance her career in the city’s vibrant food and beverage industry. After gaining experience in brand, operations, and events at leading organizations such as Eataly, BentoBox, Hot Bread Kitchen, and Resident Hospitality, she set out to carve her own path. This led to the creation of The Libi Project, a mission-driven production and creative studio dedicated to uplifting early-stage food and beverage entrepreneurs, farmers, producers and programming. Through initiatives like Culinary Industry Nights, The Libi Project celebrates innovative, mission-driven work in the diverse F&B world, fostering meaningful connections, collaboration, and partnerships. To further this mission, Carli supports early-stage entrepreneurs through First Course, a comprehensive starter pack that combines strategic insights, branding, and photography to empower culinary creatives and build strong brand foundations that reflect the passion and creativity they bring to their craft. From photography to branding support, it’s all about helping these entrepreneurs thrive in this beautiful, passion-driven (yet often challenging) industry.   For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within.

    36 min

  8. 12/11/2024

    Ep 43 - You have to recognize that what happens to you can also happen to others with Mitch Cynamon

    Ep 43 - You have to recognize that what happens to you can also happen to others with Mitch Cynamon Mitch founded his business 19 years ago and has a lot to celebrate and share with us! Mitch’s growth story was far from linear but the common thread was that he asked questions, he connected with his clients and community and he listened. He may not have always taken the guidance that was offered to him, but he always listened before taking his next actionable step. Mitch celebrates today employees 5th year anniversary with Initiate Care which is a beautiful milestone! We all have a lot to learn from Mitch, both in restaurant safety and CPR and how to stay humble when building and growing a business.  About Mitch Mitch Cynamon is the founder of Initiate Care. He created it in 2006 for two reasons: First, because of all of the first-aid work I was asked to do my first few years in the hospitality industry. Second, it made no sense to me that people I was literally bleeding with were scared to ask for a bandaid. First-aid kits shouldn’t be an adversarial battleground. For many hospitality groups, because we speak the same language, we were the partner to not only expand their safety materials program but also to bring them CPR and first-aid training opportunities. Safety Saints, a nonprofit focused on providing easier access to CPR/First-aid training as well as first-aid materials for overlooked communities was started in 2021. Mitch held positions both in the BOH and FOH at some of the most reputable restaurants in NYC including: Union Square Hospitality Group (Eleven Madison Park, Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Tabla, Union Square Events) Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges, Craft and The Standard Highline, before starting Initiate Care.  For more resources on leadership and eliminating the sticky energy from team culture, visit The School of Hospitality from Within.

    34 min
See All (50)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Hospitality from Within Podcast! Kim Lerner is a leadership coach and professor for the hospitality industry. She spent almost 2 decades leading teams through restaurant openings with a strong emphasizes on creating safe spaces for each team member to be themselves and feel a part of the team. This space was created for leaders to learn how to build their confidence within their voice, gain insights and hear stories from other like-minded leaders that are paving the way to a more sustainable hospitality industry. For ways to work with Kim, visit www.onlyyummyalways.com. And for resources, workshops and community, visit theschool.www.onlyyummyalways.com. Thank you for being here and remember to keep it only yummy, always.

Information

  • Creator
    Kim Lerner
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The School of Hospitality from Within
  • Show Website
    Hospitality from Within

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