Episode 23

full
Published on:

2nd Feb 2025

Talking Community and Culture with Leah Stacy of City Magazine

In this episode of Shelling Peas, Chef Ryan Jennings chats with Leah Stacy, Editor-in-Chief of City Magazine, formerly known as Rochester City Newspaper. Leah shares her background in hospitality, her journey in journalism, and her passion for the Rochester Cocktail Revival, where she serves as a producer. The conversation delves into the evolving media landscape, the balance of work and personal life, and Leah's vision for the future of City Magazine and its impact on local journalism and community engagement.

Mentioned in this episode:

Pauly Guglielmo Show

Pauly Guglielmo is a former radio guy turned food business entrepreneur. While running a manufacturing facility is his day job, he likes to dust off his broadcasting skills once a week on this podcast and talk to entrepreneurs and other influencers.

Food About Town

Food About Town hosted by Chris Lindstrom, focusing on restaurants, food and drink of all kinds, and whatever topics I want to cover! https://foodabouttown.captivate.fm/

Joe Bean Roasters

Joe Bean Coffee - Coffee that lifts everyone. Use promo code Lunchador for 15% off your order! https://shop.joebeanroasters.com

Transcript
Ryan:

All right.

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Uh, good morning.

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Good evening.

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Good afternoon.

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This is Chef Ryan Jennings of Sweet Pea

Plant Based Kitchen, and you are listening

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to this week's episode of Shelling Peas,

where I have the distinct pleasure of

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speaking to somebody for the first time.

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Uh, today's guest is Leah Stacey, she's

editor in chief of the Rochester City

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Newspaper, uh, a publication that, man, I

feel like I've just seen just every single

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one of them for, since I got back here.

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And, um.

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Leah: Love

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Ryan: that.

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Yeah.

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Thank

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Leah: you so

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Ryan: much for being here.

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Leah: Of course, I'm happy to be here.

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Um, I do have to shout out our rebrand

because now we're city magazine.

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See, I screwed it up already.

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No, it's I feel like I'm, I'm still

telling people that even because it

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was city newspaper since 1971 and

it's only been city magazine since.

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Roughly post pandemic.

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So not not much longer

than I've been there,

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Ryan: right?

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Leah: Um, which I'm

coming upon two years in

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Ryan: April, which congratulations.

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Thank you so much.

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How's it going so far?

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I mean, when I was thinking about

talking today, I was like, this is the

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first time I've ever spoken to somebody

who's got a position kind of like yours.

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I mean, I talked to people who run

businesses or in different industries

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or something like that, but to be

running this sort of like Institution

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of journalism here in Rochester.

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Leah: Yeah.

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Uh,

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Ryan: what's your day like?

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Leah: Oh, um, no day is the same.

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Yeah.

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Which I'm sure that's the case for you

as well, . Um, that's exactly right.

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And, and another thing that I think

maybe not everyone realizes about city,

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um, I know you know this 'cause we

talked about it, but WXXI bought it Yes.

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In 2019 and or 2018, the end of 2018.

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And since.

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They've owned it.

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It's gone from weekly to monthly print.

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Yeah.

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Part of that was, uh, also due

to just the budget changes during

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the pandemic advertising budgets.

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Um, and it rebranded as a

magazine and our focus has

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shifted more to arts and culture.

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Not that we won't do news, but it

usually, if we're going after news, we

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have to think about that month timeline.

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Ryan: Sure.

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Leah: And then it tends to

be arts and culture focused.

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So we have our, um, February

issues coming out and we did

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a big piece on the Hungerford.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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And

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Leah: it's really investigative.

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Um, Gino finale reported

it and actually shot it.

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And so that's kind of an example

of how we stay on the newsier side,

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but we tend to be like a little bit

softer journalism at this point.

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And I say softer in the way that it's

like, we get to do the fun stuff.

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We get to tell the fun stories.

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Um, and I'm coming from, I would say

I'm hospitality adjacent, which I think

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is how we kind of know who we're like

on each other's radar because of that.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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When, uh, our mutual friend,

uh, Chuck connected us, I told

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you, you know, I've admired your

work from afar for a long time.

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Leah: That's so nice.

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Ryan: Thank you.

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You know, whether it be the

cocktail revival or fringe festival

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or all these different things

that you've been involved in.

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So to see you in this position

now is wonderful and to

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learn more about it, I think.

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I'm so excited to have you here.

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Leah: Thank you.

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So nice.

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Yeah, it really is the culmination

of a lot of things I've been

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able to do in Rochester.

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Yeah.

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Um, and I am still working with

Rochester Cocktail Revival.

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I've been the producer of that since 2017.

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So we're in year 12 this year.

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We just, sponsorships just went on sale

and we're kinda like talking to the team.

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We have a really small core team

that does the planning and creative.

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And we were like, Oh my God,

it's time to do this again.

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Already.

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Yeah.

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That's crazy.

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Barely took a break, but it's great.

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The fact that people want it to come

back for year 12 is like, I love that.

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Cause let's give everybody

something fun to do.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Well, I mean, it's just

morphed and shifted.

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I don't get to go to as many of the events

and things as I would like ever because

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I don't get to do much of anything.

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So, um,

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but yeah, I, in 12 years, what do

you think the biggest change has been

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about the cocktail revival or has

it just been sort of gradual build?

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Leah: No, I think there

have been some big changes.

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Um, RCO is really good at pivoting,

not only our team, but the bar

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partners and just, we sort of

always keep an eye on like what the

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city wants, if that makes sense.

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Um, and, and try to shift it every year,

not only the city, but the industry, like

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I was having a conversation, conversation

at Jack's extra fancy the other night.

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And I was asking them, like, what kind

of seminars do you guys want to go to?

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Sure.

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Because the Monday and Tuesday of RCR,

we try to do, try to bring in speakers,

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whether they're local or national,

um, once in a while international and

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have them talk about subjects that the

industry, like the bartenders, the bar

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owners, anybody who's sort of involved

in the cocktail world wants to hear.

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Um, So that's been a big focus

of mine has been education.

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You know, I, my previous background with

conferences was upstate social sessions,

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which was a social media conference I

founded with Danielle Remo who owns the

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Brainery and also works at George Eastman.

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And she and I ran that conference

for five years and it was really fun.

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Um, but it was also like, it taught

us so much about event planning.

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I feel like I've brought

a lot of that to RCR.

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So the, the education part, but also.

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Um, just how to market to a mid

sized city that is filled with

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people who really want to do things.

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Some have more flexible

income than others.

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Some have more flexible

schedules than others.

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We're really a family city.

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So we always try to, you know,

make sure there's events that like

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you could get a babysitter for get

dressed up, go out, but also that like

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continued education of like what the

food and beverage industry does here.

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And that's.

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You know, in my role at Citi, I'm

really, I've really tried to ramp up

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our food and beverage coverage because

I have a deep belief in and love

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for the food and beverage industry.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Leah: Where does that

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Ryan: come from?

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Where'd you catch the bug?

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Leah: That's a good question.

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It is a bug, isn't it?

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Yeah.

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Um, I, my first hospitality

job was at the Red Osier.

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Oh, wow.

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Yeah.

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I know kind of a legendary fixture.

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It's still open.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Leah: I haven't been there in years.

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I don't know if you have.

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Ryan: Uh, that's funny you bring

it up because I know, uh, my,

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uh, podcast, uh, network mate,

Pauly Guglielmo makes their sauce.

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Leah: Oh, he does?

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Bottles

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Ryan: it.

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Yeah.

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Leah: What?

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Ryan: At the

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Leah: Cannery.

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Ryan: That's right.

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Leah: Which is in my hometown.

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Ryan: A virgin?

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Yeah.

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Wow.

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You know, there's all these threads.

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Yeah, yeah, yeah.

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Um, but, and then, uh, the agency

that we used to work with for

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marketing before we brought it in

house, uh, did there's marketing too.

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Leah: Oh, cool.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Leah: Yeah.

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That was my

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Ryan: connections.

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Yeah.

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Leah: Right.

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But it was my early college job.

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So I went to, I obviously

I'm from Genesee County.

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And there's not a lot of

places you can work out there.

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Yeah.

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And I was at GCC for at

the time for theater.

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And so I needed a job that kind of

worked around my rehearsal schedule.

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But also in theater, you sort of get

pushed to waiting tables, hosting.

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Um, I also have a cosmetology degree.

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So on the weekends, a lot of times during

the day, I was doing hair for weddings.

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Um, and just kind of grew up with this.

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Like appreciation for service.

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Um, I'm from a very blue collar,

but also, um, evangelical family.

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And so grew up, like work ethic was

very strong, grew up in the church,

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you know, volunteering, teaching

Sunday school, all this stuff that.

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Uh, you would never have asked probably,

um, it's stuck in the way that I have

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a very deep faith system, but I don't

have a deep belief in the church as, as

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a piece of, uh, our society right now.

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I, yes, I have some questions.

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Um, I have a, a different, I

believe that we should treat all

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people with decency and kindness,

and I don't want to see that.

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Coming from some of the, uh,

the surroundings I grew up in.

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So I've departed that, but I do, um,

still have a very, very deep faith myself.

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Yeah.

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Also something I don't talk about a lot.

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Sure.

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Uh, just because I think.

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You should show that to people

and, and not tell them, no,

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Ryan: I, I know I definitely had

friends growing up who were raised

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in a similar way and, and had that.

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And there's so much good that can come.

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I mean, everybody needs

faith in something.

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We want to believe

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Leah: in something.

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Ryan: I mean, we're,

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Leah: we're one day off of the,

uh, the bills losing, but it

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was funny, like yesterday, not,

not funny that they lost, but.

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Yesterday, I was sitting at Radio

Social at the bar and I was working

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and I was watching all these

people pour in for brunch and

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everybody was wearing Bill's gear,

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Ryan: even

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Leah: if it was just like hat or scarf.

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And I was like, I actually said this

to one of my friends, I was like,

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man, everybody wants something to

like, just believe in and like have

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hope in and especially right now.

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And I think that's the best part of.

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Faith.

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Um, but it's just like this

human, uh, desire that we have.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Leah: Like you said, we all want that.

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Ryan: Do you think that being

in that environment kind of led

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you to the love of like theater?

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Leah: Oh yeah, because I grew up

playing instruments and writing

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like church plays and stuff.

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Um, I'm also a firstborn in a

type a personality, so I think

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I have like all these siblings.

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I have four younger siblings,

so I would like, yeah, same too.

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You understand.

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So you're doing a podcast on

the side while running this

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massive business behind us.

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Yeah.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Oh my God.

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Yeah.

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Yeah.

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What am I thinking?

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Leah: Yeah.

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I think I have this theory that,

um, there's something about.

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People who are drawn to theater,

hospitality, um, even like faith based

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careers, it's very non traditional.

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Your schedule is non traditional.

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Even media is kind of the same.

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Ryan: Sure.

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Leah: Um,

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Ryan: and I imagine even more so as

the, you know, days, weeks, months

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and years go by, it's over evolving.

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Leah: Yeah.

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It's a little bit of a performance,

but arts and culture coverage,

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especially like I have a degree

in arts journalism specifically.

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I went to school because I

wanted to be a theater critic.

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Um, that's funny because I, that doesn't

really exist anymore, but I did get

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to do that here for a little while.

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Um, and I think it's like the local

journalism, let's be sort of make a

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difference in those things that I care

about, whether that's theater or food

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and Bev, but, um, my capstone during

that program is really what pushed me

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into hospitality because we partnered

with the Post and Courier down in

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Charleston, South Carolina to cover this.

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It's kind of like fringe, but on a bigger

level, it's called Spoleto Festival

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in Charleston hosts this every year.

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And all of these people from really

all over the world performers and

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people who book these sorts of

performances come to kind of like

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test out different performances.

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And so it's a festival that's

open to the public in Charleston.

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And we as students went down to

cover it instead of like writing a

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dissertation or a master's thesis.

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Yeah.

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And then we got our work published in

the paper, which is kind of amazing.

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Sure.

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Um, so I, I went to Syracuse and they

have this program in place and, um,

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I was not supposed to go on the trip.

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I was supposed to go to the West Bank to

do video journalism work because I had

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gotten really into shooting video and I'd

gotten accepted on this like 10 student

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trip where we were going to go do this

big storytelling project in the West Bank.

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I know.

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And, um, this was 2012, so

a little bit different time.

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And the, the professor who was leading

our trip had a, a health emergency.

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So I got thrown back into the Charleston

trip and all of the assignments were gone.

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Like everybody had their beat, right?

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And so they're like, Oh, well, the food

editor said she would work with you.

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She like feels bad that you

don't have an assignment.

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And again, like nobody wanted the

food and drink beat back then.

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It like, wasn't as cool.

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Sure.

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Yeah.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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But

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Leah: husk was like.

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Becoming a big thing in Charleston and

farm to table was becoming this phrase

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that like everybody was tossing around.

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Yeah,

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Ryan: thankfully that one mostly died.

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Leah: Um, yep, that, that one is

right up there with foodie for me.

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Foodie.

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Yeah.

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Artisanal.

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Oh, we could go on with

these words for a while.

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I just strike them from copy sometimes.

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Um, yeah, so that's,

that's how I got into it.

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I had my first like stuffed

squash blossom down there.

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I, um, was writing about

seafood, which, you know, didn't

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really get to write about here.

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And I, I saw like the theater of it all.

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And that really appealed to me.

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I was like, oh, it's not that

different than what I've spent

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a lot of time writing about.

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This is a performance.

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These are performers.

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Um, these are people who have an art.

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That they are showing off to the diners,

but it also went back to service,

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which I was just like so familiar with.

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It was like ingrained in me.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Leah: Um, so yeah, it kind

of just went from there.

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I ended up coming back to Rochester

and becoming the editor of 585

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magazine for a couple of years.

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And it tumbled down to teaching

at Nazareth full time for a couple

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of years, running my own company,

which I did all the marketing for

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hospitality groups like Chuck's.

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Chuck Dan and Mike's good luck

group, and then the Swan family

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helped start Radio Social Bar Bantam

became part of Cocktail Revival.

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I call it like the patchwork quilt of

a career because It's sort of the thing

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where like, if someone pitches me an idea,

I, and I feel like the door is opening.

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I just walk through it.

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I'm like, let's try to make this work.

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This seems cool.

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I want to do it.

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Right.

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Um, and yeah, two years ago I got a

call from someone who was working at

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WXXI and they said, I think you're a

really good fit for this job at Citi.

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Um, and I'd been freelancing

for them for a long time.

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And they're like, we're not

sure what you're doing, but

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we're opening up applications.

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We really want you to apply.

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I was

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Ryan: going to ask you about

that because I know you, you, you

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wrote for them for a long time.

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Freelancing.

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Yeah.

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Like, I mean, outside looking in,

not knowing you or not knowing your

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background, you look at that and you're

like, Oh, that's a pretty big bump,

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Leah: right?

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Freelancer to like, Oh,

now you are in charge.

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Um, yeah.

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Well, and again, like

that's kind of a loose term.

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It's funny.

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Like the way the newsroom is structured.

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Um, I kind of have like, uh,

we internally, we refer to

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ourselves as mom and dad.

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Um, but Ryan Williamson, who is the

director of strategy and operations

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has been with city since the days it

was on, um, Goodman and since the days

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that Bill and Mariana Tolar owned it.

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And I think he's coming up on nine years.

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This year, I'm pretty sure he

just said that in me in a meeting.

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And so he,

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Ryan: I miss bill

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Leah: and yeah, he's still around.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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I mean, he still comes

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Leah: out to events.

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Sometimes I saw him at fringe

festival, cook for him a million times.

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Oh, that's sweet.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Weird business.

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Leah: Well, it's a great

business though, because.

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Like, is there any better way to

network than getting to do what

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you love, getting paid for it, and

then meeting a bunch of people?

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Ryan: Oh, yeah, no.

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I mean, that's the whole, that was

the conceit of this podcast, really.

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Yeah.

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You know, if you're in the kitchen and

you're looking out at the dining room,

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which I haven't done in over a decade, by

the way, but when I, when I did, you look

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in the dining room, maybe there's like,

Two, four, six, eight people, depending

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on the size of the room that are in the

hospitality business that are in there

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on their night off, but everybody else is

some like cool person in some different

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business who's got a story to tell.

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Like, it's just kind of amazing

with these, you know, gathering,

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gathering places that we found

ourselves working in, but there's just

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so many different stories to tell.

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So.

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Yeah, I mean, when I started it and

speaking of networking, I just pulled

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out my phone and like texted anybody

that I texted in like the past two

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years that like, that's amazing, uh,

who I thought would be fun or still

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talking to me, um, for the most part

they were, um, I was so surprised how

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many people like, like, yeah, great.

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Leah: What are you doing

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Ryan: tomorrow?

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Leah: Well, it's kind of like that.

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Everybody wants to write

a book someday, right?

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Like everybody wants to tell their story,

even if they say they don't, I don't like

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to talk about myself, but then they do,

everybody has something good to say, I

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have found that to be very often the case

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Ryan: for sure.

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Doing this, like it's.

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Just completely eye opening because I get

to talk to people like, you know, if it

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wasn't for this, we probably wouldn't be

sitting here talking for an hour, might've

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run into each other at some other thing.

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Unless

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Leah: the tables were turned and

we were doing a story on you.

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It could be.

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Ryan: Yeah.

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Leah: But I might not be

404

:

Ryan: the one writing it.

405

:

Right.

406

:

Yeah.

407

:

It's just, it's such a great opportunity.

408

:

And even like people that I know really

well or have worked with, there's

409

:

something, um, one in particular comes

to Maureen Bellatory that has agency 29.

410

:

Um, you know, we worked with, with.

411

:

Uh, the agency back during grow

New York, they helped us with

412

:

the pitch deck and helped us

eventually get like funding there.

413

:

And then they just did all of

our rebrand stuff and all that.

414

:

So we like talk and go to these events

and everything, but then, you know,

415

:

I go over there, record a podcast

with her and sit in there for like

416

:

an hour and a half talking to her.

417

:

I was like, this never would have

happened unless we scheduled it.

418

:

And it's too bad because it's amazing

to spend that time with people, but

419

:

Leah: it's a great outlet.

420

:

Yeah.

421

:

Yeah.

422

:

Ryan: But.

423

:

You took this kind of like patchwork

of interests and turned it into a

424

:

patchwork of a career and then, well,

I mean, that in the best possible

425

:

way, like all of these really

426

:

Leah: what it's really

what it is, you had all

427

:

Ryan: these different interests,

like going back to, to what you've

428

:

already shared, like you had all

these different interests, whether

429

:

it be journalism, whether it be

theater, um, you had the opportunity

430

:

to explore all those different things.

431

:

Then you kind of got bit

by the hospitality bug.

432

:

So you'd like wanted to

do all of these things.

433

:

And it sounds like you were in the

perfect position now where you get to

434

:

focus on the best parts of, of all of it.

435

:

And then also, you know, promote

the city that you live in and

436

:

love through the work at city.

437

:

I mean, I, uh, for the longest time,

it was the only place where somebody

438

:

would like review a restaurant where

it wasn't just like window dressing.

439

:

Yes.

440

:

And, um, yeah, I remember every

single review I ever, ever got.

441

:

Leah: So we phased out reviews.

442

:

It's interesting that you bring this up

because I actually feel like we don't have

443

:

anyone qualified to write them right now.

444

:

And I'm always looking for that person.

445

:

So, you know, if you think of anyone

or anybody who's listening to this,

446

:

I feel like it really needs to be

somebody who has a little bit of

447

:

experience within the field itself.

448

:

I mean, my theater critic, my

dance critic, they both are still

449

:

practicing as well, which sometimes,

you know, we have to pull them back

450

:

from a certain assignment if they're

like involved with The troop at

451

:

the time, or if they're, you know,

directing or writing something there.

452

:

Um, but I really am looking

for that person if we start

453

:

to review restaurants again.

454

:

Ryan: I know.

455

:

I mean, the, uh, why do you think

it got phased out in general?

456

:

Because it's not just city.

457

:

It's all over the, I mean, there's

a big change in the media and

458

:

smaller papers are going away and

there's consolidation and local.

459

:

Stuff, you know, Sinclair

owns everything, but

460

:

Leah: yeah, um, I mean,

a couple of reasons.

461

:

I think it's pretty expensive

to review restaurants.

462

:

You know, you want to really

send somebody a couple of times.

463

:

I always look at the New York times

reviews and I see they usually go like

464

:

three times and they'll list the bill.

465

:

You know, and I don't know if you

looked at, I think I was looking

466

:

at one of Priyanka's more recent

ones, and the bill was like 900

467

:

for all three visits combined.

468

:

And I was like, yeah, we couldn't do that.

469

:

Um, not that it would probably

rack up to that much here, but

470

:

it might if you sent somebody to

like a steakhouse or something.

471

:

Um, I also think it, it's again,

like what I said, we don't have

472

:

someone who is qualified right

now on our roster of writers.

473

:

Um, and I think part of the

reason it got phased out at

474

:

city specifically was because.

475

:

There were a couple of, um,

instances where that became very

476

:

clear and I think city needed to

sort of wipe, wipe the palette and

477

:

refresh the palette, I should say.

478

:

Sure.

479

:

Sure.

480

:

Um, and so, yeah, we, we phased out and.

481

:

I've been asked a couple of times

since I took over, like, will you

482

:

bring restaurant reviews back?

483

:

And, um, no, not until I find that person.

484

:

Yeah, I just, I just want us to be, I

want us to do this really responsibly.

485

:

I think, I think that we owe that

service to the hospitality industry,

486

:

just like we would expect good

service going into a restaurant and

487

:

just, you know, having a drink or a

488

:

Ryan: meal.

489

:

Yeah.

490

:

I know it's tough in like the way

that everything's changed and like.

491

:

Google reviews and Yelp and

like everybody's their own,

492

:

Leah: the citizen

493

:

Ryan: of the world.

494

:

Yeah.

495

:

And I think it makes it even more

important than ever to have true

496

:

criticism, whether it be restaurant

criticism or cultural criticism.

497

:

Yeah.

498

:

Got our culture produce.

499

:

Leah: Yeah.

500

:

I have some criticism for our culture.

501

:

Yeah.

502

:

Yeah.

503

:

Yeah.

504

:

Right.

505

:

Ryan: It's growing.

506

:

Yeah.

507

:

But, um, So, I mean, you've been

at Citi now for, for two years,

508

:

what, um, almost two years.

509

:

Yeah.

510

:

Um, what do you, what have you seen

change over the course of that time?

511

:

Uh, and what do you see about,

you know, kind of in terms

512

:

of your leadership, right?

513

:

Like, um, it's, you've.

514

:

Had these different positions

where you're kind of in charge of

515

:

this thing, but I imagine this is

probably the biggest job you've had.

516

:

Leah: Yeah.

517

:

I mean, I would, I had a lot

less experience when I was

518

:

editor of five, eight, five.

519

:

I feel like I learned a lot in that

job, but it was very different.

520

:

It was a bi monthly magazine.

521

:

It was a little bit more, um,

like a luxury publication.

522

:

I feel like this is

really more, more locally.

523

:

Um, it's more local

journalism and also just.

524

:

It has a different reputation in general.

525

:

Um, and the timing really

does change what we can cover.

526

:

So, not having to publish every two

months and having a website that's

527

:

active, it's, it all, it's a game changer.

528

:

Plus we're collaborating with TV,

we're collaborating with radio.

529

:

We have all those opportunities

because they're all housed

530

:

within WXXI, which is lovely.

531

:

Um, and we have a bunch of amazing

coworkers that, while they're

532

:

not city specific team members,

they work on things with us.

533

:

So the biggest thing that I've

really, um, pushed to develop within

534

:

city is more digital, more video.

535

:

Um, and we've had a couple of

staff changes since I came on.

536

:

So Jeff Spivak retired.

537

:

Ryan: Yeah.

538

:

Leah: Um, I did get the chance to

work with him for a little while.

539

:

Um, an institution that

guy, he is an institution.

540

:

Yes.

541

:

Um, he's a who honestly,

I think sometimes.

542

:

It, it was like a blip of us working

together, but it's when I first got there,

543

:

I had to remind him that we had worked

together at the Democratic Chronicle

544

:

for like four months because I was part

of like the, the 300 person layoffs.

545

:

They pretty much laid off everyone

under 30 when I was there.

546

:

Yeah.

547

:

It was okay.

548

:

Cause that's what spurred

me to go to grad school.

549

:

Exactly.

550

:

So, but when I was there, he used

to sit like two desks away from me.

551

:

And my biggest memory from that

time regarding him was like, he

552

:

didn't want to talk and he always

was like eating a Slim Jim.

553

:

And I just like, that's what

I was carrying from Jeff.

554

:

Like obviously I'd been reading

all of his stuff and everything,

555

:

but I reminded him of that.

556

:

And he's like, I don't remember that.

557

:

I'm like, well, I do.

558

:

But yeah, so he retired and then, um,

Rebecca Rafferty, uh, took a job at

559

:

writers and books, um, has freelanced

a couple of times for us since leaving.

560

:

And then Daniel Kushner just

left us in October, September,

561

:

um, right after fringe fest.

562

:

And so the, the two of them had been

writing for city for a long time.

563

:

Um, Jeff came to us from the DNC via WXXI.

564

:

And so when I got there, it was.

565

:

It's very much like they were

still figuring out the strategy

566

:

of city and I was really brought

on to like, help figure that out.

567

:

Um, and so since the three of them

left, we hired a writer named Patrick

568

:

Hoskin who worked at MTV news for a

long time, but it's from North Chile.

569

:

Ryan: And

570

:

Leah: so when MTV News closed

after he survived many layoffs,

571

:

um, he was job hunting here.

572

:

He was actually at WBFO, which is

the Buffalo and Pierre affiliate.

573

:

So we kind of stole him, but

he doesn't have to do the hour

574

:

commute on the three way anymore.

575

:

Um, he is a wonderful writer and.

576

:

I think he's really enjoyed the

chance to plug back into his hometown.

577

:

He moved back with his wife and

daughter during the pandemic.

578

:

And, um, they bought a house in Brighton

and he's really like dug back into,

579

:

you know, as we saw a lot of people

do during the pandemic, like move back

580

:

from bigger cities and realize like,

oh wait, this city kind of rocks.

581

:

Um, and then we just recently

in, at the end of October, Um,

582

:

Roberto Laguerre started as our

first, uh, multimedia reporter.

583

:

Which, you know, city has had

great social media over the years.

584

:

Um, Rene Henninger was there for a long

time and she really built the Instagram.

585

:

And then, um, there was, uh, a couple

people who would do like really

586

:

great videos, different staffers.

587

:

They would like collaborate and then, you

know, Rene would promote this on social

588

:

and kind of had this great energy going.

589

:

But it's never been like

a specific person's job.

590

:

Ryan: Right.

591

:

Leah: And so.

592

:

I always think like, where are

people spending their time,

593

:

where are they consuming media?

594

:

It's so often our phones, right?

595

:

So if we can sort of channel that

and make that another platform

596

:

approach, you know, YouTube is only

going to keep growing tech talk.

597

:

We won't even get into, um, but

you know, we have a heavy Instagram

598

:

presence and so Roberto has been

excellent to work with so far.

599

:

He has great ideas.

600

:

Um, he collaborates really well with

the rest of the team, but he has grown

601

:

our video presence so much already.

602

:

Yeah.

603

:

So it's, it's just been cool to

see, like, I also have an all male,

604

:

like the city core team, like we're

obviously part of a 200 person company.

605

:

Sure.

606

:

Um, but we, it's all boys.

607

:

Yeah.

608

:

In me.

609

:

And right now we have our intern, Alyssa.

610

:

So she is helping bring the, uh,

Bring the ratio up, but, um, it's fine

611

:

because I grew up with three brothers.

612

:

Ryan: Oh, okay.

613

:

Leah: It's like not in the entire

RCR core team is also boys.

614

:

Oh, of course.

615

:

Yeah.

616

:

I just feel like it's my lot in life.

617

:

If I have kids, they'll probably be boys.

618

:

It's just, I think it's just what I am.

619

:

Yeah.

620

:

But also like male dominated

fields pretty heavily.

621

:

Yeah.

622

:

Ryan: Well, yeah, it's fine.

623

:

As far as I can at the Op Ed experience

here, up until very recently, there

624

:

was only one, one guy here and it

was all, all, all the rest of the

625

:

members of the team were, were ladies.

626

:

Yeah.

627

:

Um, cause for first four years or

so we had a, uh, team of dieticians

628

:

on staff to work with clients

in addition to the meal service.

629

:

But then last year when we

decided to move away from that.

630

:

We also had kind of another turnover

in staff just because of timing and

631

:

then it was really just, now it's about

half and half, which is everything,

632

:

but I can tell you just from, I'll keep

the names out of it, but we started,

633

:

we got it, we got into co packing and

co manufacturing in the past year.

634

:

It started with, um, our, uh, nutrition

bar company, Junibar, um, but then

635

:

we started taking on some other

clients as we realized that we had the

636

:

capability here and we could help out.

637

:

Um, you know, early stage companies

who are trying to either come to

638

:

market or have been doing it themselves

and want to grow a little bit and

639

:

need, um, help with co manufacturing.

640

:

And we had two different clients.

641

:

One, I'm very happy to talk

about called scene nutrition.

642

:

Uh, two ladies at a ethic in New

York who make, uh, date juice

643

:

with calcium and vitamin D in it.

644

:

Uh, one of the founders, Jenny had, uh,

was diagnosed with osteoporosis at 29.

645

:

Oh, and you know, had to like, kind of.

646

:

Figure out what to do with all of that.

647

:

Yeah.

648

:

They came up with this, uh, one's a PhD,

one's a pharma D and they came up with

649

:

this, this, this product, I mean, that I'm

through in New York and they just could

650

:

not be any more wonderful to work with.

651

:

Like wonderful communication.

652

:

Like everybody's just very

straightforward, kind to each other.

653

:

If either side needs some flexibility,

talk about it and everything's fine.

654

:

And then there was this other

company and it was, you know,

655

:

just a bunch of dudes and it just.

656

:

Couldn't have done a worse experience

or, or, and, but, uh, you know, we, uh,

657

:

Leah: I'm happy to say my

experiences have not been like,

658

:

well, I'm glad there's, there's

659

:

Ryan: a few of us out there who aren't

660

:

Leah: so

661

:

Ryan: bad, but, uh, you know, so now, I

mean, you're, I imagine you're pretty well

662

:

settled in there and you're starting to

see the change or not starting, but you're

663

:

seeing the changes that come to life

that you put into place over this time.

664

:

Leah: Yeah,

665

:

Ryan: is that fair to

666

:

Leah: I think we're, I think we're very

much still in change mode and I'll tell

667

:

you why, because, um, are the CEO of WXXI.

668

:

Norm Silverstein retired after 20 years

last fall, and we did a search, right?

669

:

Yeah.

670

:

He's still, he's still there.

671

:

Um, still hanging out with us for a little

while longer, but, uh, we have a new CEO,

672

:

Chris Hastings, and he came out of W,

uh, GBH, which is Boston's NPR affiliate.

673

:

And so a much, a much larger

operation came to us from their

674

:

documentary channel world.

675

:

And so we are undergoing a lot of

changes as a company right now.

676

:

Um, his strategy and direction, I

think will look a lot different.

677

:

And I think that there are some changes

that need to be made, you know, just.

678

:

In terms of, uh, what do WXXI audiences

need and want, and how can we best

679

:

serve the community in that way?

680

:

So, we're very much having

those conversations right now.

681

:

Um, I don't know yet how that will affect

Citi's coverage or what Citi looks like.

682

:

WXSI also owns the Little Theater, so

it's kind of a monster of a company,

683

:

like there's so many moving parts,

but it's also again, really great

684

:

because we get to collaborate with all

these different, um, aspects of it.

685

:

Ryan: Yeah, I was so encouraged when

I, when those things kind of started.

686

:

Happening with WXEC and

expanding its reach.

687

:

And

688

:

Leah: that was Norm.

689

:

Ryan: Yeah.

690

:

Those were his initiatives that he pushed.

691

:

I just thought it was so smart because

like you see it in business all time

692

:

and it's not always a good thing.

693

:

Right.

694

:

Like consolidation tends to lead to like.

695

:

Collapse.

696

:

Well, the collapse of like the little guy.

697

:

Right.

698

:

But you know, and then like

homogenization happens there and then

699

:

you lose choice, you lose quality

and all those different things.

700

:

Yeah.

701

:

This was specific and different.

702

:

Um, because I think it really like

secured arts and culture in Rochester

703

:

by having this, the backing of,

of WXXI, which was a little bit

704

:

bigger than city and little theater.

705

:

Leah: Yeah.

706

:

And again, like a, you know, a

longstanding media company in town.

707

:

Yes.

708

:

I mean, dates, pre dates city for sure,

and never had a print publication.

709

:

So that was interesting.

710

:

Yeah.

711

:

Um, and the little, you know, the building

as been there since the early:

712

:

the little theater as a institution

is celebrating 95 years.

713

:

I mean, yeah, it's just crazy.

714

:

Ryan: I, yeah, another place I

don't get to go nearly, nearly,

715

:

Leah: well, it's Oscar season,

so I know they can, they'll

716

:

be playing a lot of stuff for

717

:

Ryan: the next

718

:

Leah: couple of

719

:

Ryan: months.

720

:

Um, yeah, I'm, I'm barely keeping

my head above this microphone.

721

:

I hear that.

722

:

Water.

723

:

Yeah.

724

:

It's a.

725

:

Yeah.

726

:

How's, uh, how's the work

life balance for you?

727

:

Leah: Um, pretty bad.

728

:

I mean, I, I, that's to no

fault of anyone, but my myself.

729

:

Ryan: Yeah.

730

:

Leah: Um,

731

:

Ryan: do you feel like you are addicted?

732

:

It's like the wrong word, but like

workaholicky, like it just, you don't know

733

:

what to do with yourself other than that.

734

:

Leah: No, I definitely do

know what to do with myself.

735

:

I tend to, if I get a chunk of free

time or, you know, Set it aside.

736

:

I tend to travel.

737

:

Oh, great.

738

:

Yeah.

739

:

So last weekend, you know, I knew we

had Monday off because we have like a

740

:

Handful of these sort of like holidays.

741

:

You might not expect to have off at a

media company Um, but we had Monday off

742

:

and, you know, it felt like a really

good time to leave the country briefly.

743

:

Um, no comment further, but I went to

Toronto just overnight and, uh, went

744

:

with a friend and I've been trying to try

to get through Jen Ag's restaurants up

745

:

there, but also, uh, Maddie Matheson's.

746

:

So I went to Bar Clams and I

went to Jen Ag's cocktail bar.

747

:

Yeah.

748

:

That was the best cocktail

I've had, um, in a while.

749

:

Yeah.

750

:

Ryan: I, uh, I haven't been, I

haven't been to Toronto since, oh God,

751

:

it's like, it's over 10 years now.

752

:

I went to It's so close.

753

:

I know.

754

:

Um, I, I got a salaried

restaurant job when I was 22.

755

:

Okay.

756

:

My daughter was born when I was 24.

757

:

Okay.

758

:

I haven't been anywhere, done anything,

I went to Vietnam and, um, for a

759

:

week and a half, months beyond that.

760

:

For fun.

761

:

Cool.

762

:

Yeah.

763

:

I bet that was really neat.

764

:

It was amazing.

765

:

Did you ever see the episode of

No Parts Unknown where Bourdain

766

:

goes to Vietnam in the interviews?

767

:

Yeah.

768

:

Then president, uh, Barack Obama.

769

:

Yeah.

770

:

Yeah.

771

:

That episode is basically my trip.

772

:

Leah: That's so cool.

773

:

Like on purpose, you like,

774

:

Ryan: no, no, no.

775

:

We went before that.

776

:

Oh, it just happened to be.

777

:

Oh my God.

778

:

So when the episode came out, you were

779

:

Leah: like, no way.

780

:

Ryan: Yeah.

781

:

So like that place where they're

sitting, having one shot.

782

:

Leah: Yeah,

783

:

Ryan: that was, I sat there

and had one shot right there.

784

:

Um,

785

:

Leah: and did you just find that like.

786

:

serendipitously when you were there?

787

:

Ryan: Uh, so I, uh, my, uh, my best

friend, Jugg Carlo, um, is, I met him when

788

:

he was a sushi chef at California Rollin.

789

:

Okay.

790

:

But since then he's become

an emergency physician.

791

:

Leah: Okay.

792

:

Ryan: Uh.

793

:

Leah: What a pivot.

794

:

Ryan: There's a story there.

795

:

Yeah.

796

:

Well, you know what?

797

:

It's actually not that much of a story.

798

:

He, he went to U of R,

he had a psych degree.

799

:

And he, I mean, it just started working

in California when, when he was like 17

800

:

and just kept working there because he

liked making sushi and they made a ton of

801

:

money because you get, you get tips and,

uh, he just kept, kept working there and

802

:

he was, you know, trying to figure out

what he was going to do with his life.

803

:

He just, he does this for everything.

804

:

He has the worst handwriting, but

he just writes these little pros

805

:

and cons lists of everything.

806

:

And it's just so practical.

807

:

I do

808

:

Leah: that.

809

:

Ryan: And yeah.

810

:

And so his dad.

811

:

Was a substitute teacher in the city

school district and a firefighter.

812

:

So he was like, all right, I can be

a fireman or I could be a doctor.

813

:

And he just like wrote down the list and

then he kind of like charted out like,

814

:

all right, well, I'm going to have all

this debt from going to medical school.

815

:

I won't have any debt from the

being a firefighter, but there's

816

:

a, uh, there's a ceiling, right?

817

:

How much you'll make fighting

fires in the city of Rochester.

818

:

For sure.

819

:

And, um, he.

820

:

Uh, yeah, he's like, all right,

well, if I like go to SUNY school

821

:

and do this, that's going to be that.

822

:

And then I'll make X amount.

823

:

And then at this point I'll be out

of debt and then I'm out of debt.

824

:

So he went back and did his poached

bachelor's stuff at U of R and then

825

:

went and got his medical degree.

826

:

Good for him.

827

:

But, um, anyway, as part of getting that

medical degree, he had the opportunity to

828

:

travel and went to Vietnam a few times.

829

:

And um, The time that I went with

him, he'd been in the country for like

830

:

three or four weeks ahead of time.

831

:

And he was also in Kerala and in

India, uh, like fulfilling some

832

:

requirement of that education.

833

:

And, uh, yeah, I just got

out of a long relationship.

834

:

He was like, you need to go to Vietnam.

835

:

Leah: Yeah.

836

:

Travel is a good fix for that.

837

:

And,

838

:

Ryan: um, yes, I mean, it happened.

839

:

It was, it was amazing.

840

:

You know, he was like,

travel was terrible.

841

:

It was like 36 hours, Newark to Shanghai.

842

:

Uh, uh, Ho Chi Minh City and then up

to Hanoi, but like everything that

843

:

happened in that episode, like going

up to Ha Long Bay and going on a boat.

844

:

That's

845

:

Leah: crazy.

846

:

Ryan: You know, going to Hoi An.

847

:

He starts one of those episodes with

the grand green quote, like, um,

848

:

Vietnam holds you like a smell does.

849

:

And it just, I, that was a

hundred percent my experience.

850

:

If it wasn't for my daughter,

I never would have come back.

851

:

Leah: Wow.

852

:

Ryan: There's all these expats

that like live there and have

853

:

done the same kind of thing.

854

:

A lot of Australians too,

because it's like a straight

855

:

flight from Australia up there.

856

:

Yeah, it was, uh, couldn't

have been more amazing.

857

:

Until I crashed the motorbike the

last day and required, uh, stitches.

858

:

Uh oh.

859

:

But thankfully I was with

an emergency physician.

860

:

Leah: I couldn't have planned that better.

861

:

Wow.

862

:

Ryan: Yeah.

863

:

What, uh, Which if I only have one trip,

so I only get to pick one is my favorite

864

:

in your travels any that really stand out.

865

:

Leah: Um, you know, I, I've been

to Ireland twice, once Northern

866

:

Ireland when I was in college.

867

:

And, uh, after I came back from that

trip, I swore I was going to go back.

868

:

And, um, I kept saying that for

the next, uh, roughly 17 years.

869

:

And I finally went back, um, in 2023.

870

:

So I went with my sister, Joanna, I

only have one sister and the three

871

:

brothers and her husband, Eli.

872

:

And who is also Irish

in five kids, five kids.

873

:

I know.

874

:

God bless.

875

:

My parents are crazy.

876

:

Yeah.

877

:

Yeah.

878

:

Um, but also amazing

because they raised us all.

879

:

We were also homeschooled.

880

:

Yeah.

881

:

That's like a whole other

882

:

Ryan: thing.

883

:

Um, that's interesting though.

884

:

I, uh, well, I, uh, the company that, uh,

Did the Red Ogier marketing, one of the

885

:

guys that worked for them was one of 10.

886

:

Oh,

887

:

Leah: yeah.

888

:

That's, uh, that's a different level.

889

:

Ryan: You just start raising

each other at a certain point.

890

:

Leah: Oh yeah, for sure.

891

:

I mean, that happened

with us at certain times.

892

:

Yeah.

893

:

You just like, as the oldest,

I like help, you know?

894

:

What's the difference

between you and the youngest?

895

:

They had five kids in eight years.

896

:

Wow.

897

:

Yeah.

898

:

Awesome.

899

:

And all before my mom was 30.

900

:

Wow.

901

:

I mean, my dad was only 32.

902

:

Right.

903

:

Yeah.

904

:

Amazing.

905

:

Yeah.

906

:

They got married pretty young.

907

:

Yeah.

908

:

Yeah.

909

:

Holy moly.

910

:

Ryan: Well, it makes my,

911

:

uh, it's my daughter's 17.

912

:

She's graduating from high school.

913

:

Leah: Oh, big year.

914

:

Ryan: Yeah.

915

:

And my wife's pregnant.

916

:

Leah: Oh, big year.

917

:

I love that for you though.

918

:

I mean, well, you're

essentially starting over.

919

:

Ryan: Yeah.

920

:

One in dorm room, one in diapers.

921

:

Wow.

922

:

Kind of like our, uh,

our friend Chuck there.

923

:

I think he had a little list.

924

:

Leah: That's true.

925

:

Yeah.

926

:

Yeah, it's, it's similar, isn't it?

927

:

Okay.

928

:

So you guys probably had

some things to talk about.

929

:

Yeah,

930

:

Ryan: we did.

931

:

I mean, actually, yeah, we talked, we

talked a fair bit about, you know, just

932

:

family in this business and being young

dads who didn't want to screw it up and,

933

:

you know, really wanting to make sure that

the kids like it, you know, neither one

934

:

of us would characterize anything as, as

a mistake, certainly, but I think that

935

:

both of us were doing it probably a little

earlier than we'd planned on it for sure.

936

:

And you just don't want

the kids to feel that ever.

937

:

And, uh,

938

:

Leah: no.

939

:

And, and once they're here, it's like the

best thing ever based on what I've heard.

940

:

I don't have children, but I've,

I watched a lot of my friends, you

941

:

know, go through this experience, um,

and, and have known Chuck since rain

942

:

and Sophie were elementary school.

943

:

Um, and so I, yeah, I, I think there's

something really beautiful that

944

:

happens when you become a young parent.

945

:

And again, like growing up with young

parents, myself, my, I now actually feel

946

:

like so close in age to them, even though,

you know, they're still 20 years older

947

:

than me, but I feel like we're peers now.

948

:

And so that's kind of like, we're friends.

949

:

Um, but even, you know, growing up

with them, it was so fun to have

950

:

the younger parents, um, and they,

they were also just like really fun,

951

:

like they had a ton of energy and

952

:

Ryan: like, no, I mean, it was a lot

953

:

Leah: of fun.

954

:

That's

955

:

Ryan: all.

956

:

I just remember being at like.

957

:

Every like school function when my

daughter was a little bit younger

958

:

and like everybody, you know,

I was like 28, everybody else

959

:

is like 45, you know, but, um,

960

:

Leah: Yeah, I have a

very opposite experience.

961

:

I think one of the, the reasons you were

asking earlier, like, am I a workaholic?

962

:

I actually think I just have so much

time to invest in a lot of these things

963

:

because I don't have children and

that's, um, I'm, you know, fortunate

964

:

to have the time to travel or to, to

work on side projects because, I don't

965

:

have a little person or persons who's

like needing some of that energy.

966

:

Yeah.

967

:

So I just want to refocus it.

968

:

No, it's,

969

:

Ryan: God, I could use a

little, that's a refocus.

970

:

I think I'm going to have exactly three

days in between like a graduation party.

971

:

Wow.

972

:

Babies sleep a lot, kind of, some of them.

973

:

Not at the beginning, they don't.

974

:

Yeah.

975

:

Okay.

976

:

That's um.

977

:

Well, no, they do.

978

:

They sleep, uh, like.

979

:

18 to 20 hours a day in two hours spurts.

980

:

For six months or so, but I, I, I love it.

981

:

I don't care.

982

:

I'm not sleep.

983

:

Anyway, I'm, I was joking with my

wife the other day, but because I

984

:

was like, you know, coming to bed

at like four o'clock in the morning.

985

:

So I was like, I'm training myself here.

986

:

Leah: Yeah,

987

:

Ryan: it's coming.

988

:

You don't, you won't have to sign

989

:

Leah: up to get up in

the middle of the night.

990

:

Ryan: Oh yeah, 100%.

991

:

She's got to carry the baby.

992

:

It's the least I can do.

993

:

Leah: Good.

994

:

That's uh, love to hear it.

995

:

Ryan: Yeah, that's crazy.

996

:

No, I mean, yeah,

997

:

it's, it's something's in the air.

998

:

Pauly and his wife just had another baby.

999

:

I know.

:

00:44:04,553 --> 00:44:05,203

Little Georgie.

:

00:44:05,203 --> 00:44:05,268

Yeah.

:

00:44:05,698 --> 00:44:06,358

Leah: So cute.

:

00:44:06,368 --> 00:44:06,618

Yeah.

:

00:44:06,628 --> 00:44:08,018

He's really happy for them.

:

00:44:08,028 --> 00:44:08,268

Yeah.

:

00:44:10,198 --> 00:44:10,868

Ryan: They are.

:

00:44:10,868 --> 00:44:11,968

And his wife is insane.

:

00:44:12,018 --> 00:44:17,218

I think Ryan Guglielmo might be the nicest

person I've ever come into contact with.

:

00:44:17,408 --> 00:44:17,908

Yeah.

:

00:44:17,908 --> 00:44:23,448

She's, she's a dream, but I feel like

every time I record one of these things,

:

00:44:23,448 --> 00:44:24,788

I'm always just talking about Polly.

:

00:44:26,248 --> 00:44:26,938

Leah: You're a big fan.

:

00:44:27,338 --> 00:44:27,808

I have a

:

00:44:27,858 --> 00:44:28,698

Ryan: number one fan.

:

00:44:28,758 --> 00:44:31,138

I am a big fan of Polly

and we're connected.

:

00:44:31,468 --> 00:44:34,088

We're connected for life through New York.

:

00:44:34,693 --> 00:44:40,113

We get that every time I walk into a craft

cannery, I'm right there on the wall.

:

00:44:40,423 --> 00:44:42,523

We run the cover of the energy.

:

00:44:42,523 --> 00:44:43,313

Leah: That's really cool.

:

00:44:43,513 --> 00:44:43,863

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:44:43,863 --> 00:44:47,963

But, uh, we didn't come here

to talk about Polly Guglielmo.

:

00:44:48,113 --> 00:44:48,943

Leah: I mean, we can

:

00:44:49,913 --> 00:44:50,793

Ryan: talk about Polly.

:

00:44:52,053 --> 00:44:56,563

What do you, uh, what do you

see as like the next year?

:

00:44:56,913 --> 00:44:59,113

You know, you're coming up

on two, what's two to three

:

00:44:59,113 --> 00:45:00,743

look like for you at, at city.

:

00:45:01,663 --> 00:45:03,833

Leah: I think a lot of it's

going to depend on some of the

:

00:45:03,833 --> 00:45:07,923

conversations we're having right

now, just about restructuring things.

:

00:45:07,983 --> 00:45:15,383

Um, redirecting some of the,

uh, budget and strategy.

:

00:45:16,383 --> 00:45:20,413

It's been, we've had a lot of meetings

recently, so I think there will be some

:

00:45:20,413 --> 00:45:26,013

changes rolling out from city, from WXXI,

from the little, um, and we're very.

:

00:45:26,323 --> 00:45:27,583

In it right now.

:

00:45:27,843 --> 00:45:29,363

So I don't know what

that's going to look like.

:

00:45:29,593 --> 00:45:31,803

Honestly, I think our

digital is going to be

:

00:45:31,803 --> 00:45:32,723

Ryan: great for Taipei.

:

00:45:33,023 --> 00:45:35,223

Leah: Yeah, I sleep really well.

:

00:45:35,693 --> 00:45:42,713

Um, no, it's I, I am typing, but I'm also

like, that's very, I've, I keep saying

:

00:45:42,723 --> 00:45:46,343

the phrase case there, Rob, because this

is how I feel about a lot of things right

:

00:45:46,343 --> 00:45:53,353

now, like there's so much going on in

the world and, and, and locally, uh, you

:

00:45:53,353 --> 00:45:57,453

know, we all have personal lives, we all,

and then our professional lives and it's.

:

00:45:58,313 --> 00:46:02,723

I, I have learned in these

businesses that change so rapidly

:

00:46:02,723 --> 00:46:04,543

and are really not that stable.

:

00:46:04,963 --> 00:46:05,223

Ryan: I mean,

:

00:46:05,223 --> 00:46:08,093

Leah: media and hospitality, like, no,

it's part of the reason we love them.

:

00:46:08,093 --> 00:46:09,153

We love the adrenaline.

:

00:46:09,203 --> 00:46:09,583

Ryan: Sure.

:

00:46:09,863 --> 00:46:15,033

Leah: But, um, I've just learned that

you have to just sort of take your hands

:

00:46:15,033 --> 00:46:19,693

off the wheel once in a while and, and

just trust that you're going to land

:

00:46:19,693 --> 00:46:21,043

on your feet if something happens.

:

00:46:21,043 --> 00:46:26,413

And I always have, um, I, I've always

really been fortunate enough to, to

:

00:46:26,443 --> 00:46:34,038

pivot no matter Where my career or a

project goes, and, um, I think there's

:

00:46:34,038 --> 00:46:37,188

a lot of like, you have to a lot of

trust in yourself when you work in

:

00:46:37,188 --> 00:46:41,258

these fields, like you have to, you have

to really hype yourself a little bit.

:

00:46:41,388 --> 00:46:41,908

Sure.

:

00:46:42,258 --> 00:46:47,138

Um, but also I really trust the people

that I work on all these things with

:

00:46:47,138 --> 00:46:51,758

from city to RCR to, you know, anything

else that I choose to get involved with.

:

00:46:52,788 --> 00:46:55,158

One of the big things we've

done with RCR the last.

:

00:46:55,748 --> 00:46:58,568

Year is we brought in a theater partner.

:

00:46:58,628 --> 00:47:01,658

Mm-hmm . So I, I've gotten to go back

to my roots with that a little bit.

:

00:47:01,748 --> 00:47:01,988

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:47:02,378 --> 00:47:06,178

Leah: And you know, anytime you

bring on like this new aspect to

:

00:47:06,178 --> 00:47:09,378

something, you, you are working on

it, you put yourself in the line.

:

00:47:09,928 --> 00:47:10,888

There's gotta be trust there,

:

00:47:11,128 --> 00:47:11,428

Ryan: right?

:

00:47:11,818 --> 00:47:12,058

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:47:12,268 --> 00:47:16,868

And I, I really am strong about

trusting my gut too with things.

:

00:47:17,048 --> 00:47:19,358

It, it rarely steer steers me wrong.

:

00:47:19,478 --> 00:47:24,248

Ryan: No, you're, I think

you're right in that I can say.

:

00:47:25,753 --> 00:47:30,993

I'm very similar in that and

learning to do it more because

:

00:47:31,763 --> 00:47:35,463

it's definitely gotten burned a

few times for not listening to it.

:

00:47:35,613 --> 00:47:38,173

Leah: Yeah, it's tough, especially

in a city of this size, right?

:

00:47:38,193 --> 00:47:43,143

Like you have a friend who has a friend

and they're like, Oh, you guys be great.

:

00:47:43,153 --> 00:47:44,053

Like you hit it off.

:

00:47:44,053 --> 00:47:44,553

You work together.

:

00:47:44,603 --> 00:47:45,793

Well, you know how it goes.

:

00:47:45,973 --> 00:47:46,233

Yeah.

:

00:47:46,743 --> 00:47:47,943

And it's not always the right fit.

:

00:47:48,013 --> 00:47:49,443

Ryan: It's always just like that day.

:

00:47:49,443 --> 00:47:50,623

Like once you get those.

:

00:47:51,033 --> 00:47:55,103

Those initial like chemicals wear

off where you're not like, you

:

00:47:55,103 --> 00:47:58,293

know, now, now you gotta, now you

gotta live with them and then you're

:

00:47:58,293 --> 00:48:01,763

like, oh, all right, wait, hold on,

maybe this wasn't such a great idea.

:

00:48:02,398 --> 00:48:02,988

Leah: Yeah,

:

00:48:03,058 --> 00:48:06,008

Ryan: and that stuff happens in

business all the time and startups and

:

00:48:06,068 --> 00:48:06,608

Leah: yes,

:

00:48:06,688 --> 00:48:06,938

Ryan: and

:

00:48:07,808 --> 00:48:10,348

Leah: yeah, and it's okay

to walk away from things.

:

00:48:10,398 --> 00:48:11,768

That's another thing I've learned.

:

00:48:12,008 --> 00:48:16,518

Um, there, sometimes things

have an expiration date.

:

00:48:16,618 --> 00:48:17,108

I mean, you know,

:

00:48:17,108 --> 00:48:17,918

Ryan: that's working with food.

:

00:48:17,998 --> 00:48:19,308

Oh, that's right.

:

00:48:20,558 --> 00:48:21,138

No, I'm sorry.

:

00:48:21,138 --> 00:48:25,258

I just, I have a very recent

one that I'm yeah, I think,

:

00:48:25,538 --> 00:48:27,078

yeah, you walked in and saw.

:

00:48:27,593 --> 00:48:28,443

That's fixing it, but

:

00:48:29,863 --> 00:48:31,943

Leah: I didn't even know I

didn't pick up on anything.

:

00:48:31,943 --> 00:48:35,413

Ryan: I'll tell you afterward, but off

:

00:48:35,413 --> 00:48:35,833

Leah: the record.

:

00:48:35,943 --> 00:48:36,313

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:48:36,773 --> 00:48:43,673

But, um, yes, what do you, so once

these kind of structures are in place,

:

00:48:43,673 --> 00:48:47,983

do you, does this kind of seem like

something that you want to do for.

:

00:48:48,698 --> 00:48:49,098

Forever.

:

00:48:49,098 --> 00:48:51,728

I mean, forever or for a long time.

:

00:48:51,728 --> 00:48:53,538

Like, do you see, do you feel set?

:

00:48:53,578 --> 00:48:55,198

I, I should phrase it differently.

:

00:48:55,498 --> 00:48:59,728

Do you feel like settled in this

thing that, you know, you took these

:

00:48:59,768 --> 00:49:04,858

patchwork of interests and career

options and education and your background

:

00:49:05,148 --> 00:49:08,948

and you're all in, you're able to

utilize all of that in your role here.

:

00:49:08,948 --> 00:49:13,138

Does it seem like you've kind of

landed in your dream job of sorts?

:

00:49:13,803 --> 00:49:15,263

Leah: Yeah, it does.

:

00:49:15,293 --> 00:49:19,613

Um, I also just really love the team

that I get to work with every day.

:

00:49:19,743 --> 00:49:22,153

Um, but I, it's funny.

:

00:49:22,153 --> 00:49:26,633

My sister, um, has always

referred to me as an outdoor cat.

:

00:49:27,393 --> 00:49:32,283

And I think maybe I said that about

myself first, because when we say that,

:

00:49:32,283 --> 00:49:34,523

we mean like kind of come and you get it.

:

00:49:34,633 --> 00:49:35,343

This is why you're laughing.

:

00:49:35,693 --> 00:49:38,413

Ryan: Well, I, uh, grown up, I had cats.

:

00:49:38,453 --> 00:49:38,773

Leah: Yep.

:

00:49:38,873 --> 00:49:39,983

So you totally get it.

:

00:49:40,233 --> 00:49:40,813

Ryan: Well, yeah.

:

00:49:40,813 --> 00:49:42,233

Our first cat, Kitty.

:

00:49:42,748 --> 00:49:50,188

Um, we lived in Brooklyn then and, uh,

yeah, just, uh, walked, it was outside,

:

00:49:50,308 --> 00:49:54,438

you know, making all sorts of noise,

door opened, ran in, hit herself.

:

00:49:54,598 --> 00:49:55,008

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:49:55,058 --> 00:50:01,938

Ryan: And, uh, yeah, and, uh, we had her,

she ran away before we moved to Rochester.

:

00:50:02,888 --> 00:50:07,748

My uncle shipped her up here

pregnant, nine kittens and then yeah,

:

00:50:08,198 --> 00:50:11,548

Leah: that that's probably where the

similarities between me and that cat,

:

00:50:11,828 --> 00:50:18,938

but, um, but I, I, she, she was saying

like, uh, I hit like a year of issues

:

00:50:18,978 --> 00:50:22,908

and she's a graphic designer and she made

me this really sweet print of like all

:

00:50:22,918 --> 00:50:25,158

the covers of really good my first year.

:

00:50:25,388 --> 00:50:26,018

Ryan: Oh, so

:

00:50:26,018 --> 00:50:26,338

Leah: nice.

:

00:50:26,868 --> 00:50:31,448

And she, she goes, yeah, I'm kind

of surprised you're still there.

:

00:50:31,458 --> 00:50:31,468

I

:

00:50:31,478 --> 00:50:33,278

Ryan: had a year of like hardships.

:

00:50:33,318 --> 00:50:33,978

No, no, no, no.

:

00:50:33,978 --> 00:50:34,898

I had a year of issues.

:

00:50:35,098 --> 00:50:36,198

Leah: No, no, no.

:

00:50:36,198 --> 00:50:36,768

She was cheering me up.

:

00:50:36,808 --> 00:50:39,418

That was probably, that

was probably like:

:

00:50:39,908 --> 00:50:42,198

But, um, didn't we all?

:

00:50:42,428 --> 00:50:43,208

Yeah, yeah.

:

00:50:43,408 --> 00:50:46,368

But yeah, no, she was like, oh,

I'm kind of surprised that you're.

:

00:50:46,703 --> 00:50:50,093

You're like still, still that city

and you're loving it because I

:

00:50:50,093 --> 00:50:53,343

just, I was like, well, I haven't

really job hopped because I've like

:

00:50:53,413 --> 00:50:57,063

chosen to always, it's kind of the

nature of like the things I do.

:

00:50:57,573 --> 00:51:01,723

And again, like when I feel

something is coming to a natural end.

:

00:51:02,323 --> 00:51:04,003

I exit, right?

:

00:51:04,333 --> 00:51:05,233

I go stage left.

:

00:51:05,233 --> 00:51:06,643

Like that's, that's what I do.

:

00:51:06,643 --> 00:51:06,853

Takes time.

:

00:51:07,213 --> 00:51:09,343

It's the end of the script for that thing.

:

00:51:09,823 --> 00:51:12,163

Um, but I've always just

kind of followed that.

:

00:51:12,163 --> 00:51:15,343

But sometimes you do get pushed out of

the story before you think it's over.

:

00:51:15,343 --> 00:51:15,733

Ryan: Sure.

:

00:51:15,943 --> 00:51:18,183

Leah: Um, and that's been the case.

:

00:51:18,548 --> 00:51:24,028

As well, I, I think with this job, I

just really, it hits so many things

:

00:51:24,108 --> 00:51:27,348

that I love, like you mentioned,

and that I care deeply about.

:

00:51:27,768 --> 00:51:30,788

And I am the kind of person who

has to work a job that I believe

:

00:51:30,788 --> 00:51:33,388

in, um, for better or worse.

:

00:51:33,388 --> 00:51:36,758

And, you know, when we can get paid to do

things we believe in, that's pretty great.

:

00:51:36,958 --> 00:51:37,388

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:51:37,578 --> 00:51:37,688

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:51:39,118 --> 00:51:42,768

Ryan: No, no fantasies about starting

your own, uh, starting your own business.

:

00:51:43,968 --> 00:51:46,018

Leah: I mean, I still have the LLC.

:

00:51:46,018 --> 00:51:47,938

I still do consulting once in a while.

:

00:51:48,418 --> 00:51:50,678

Um, I really did love that.

:

00:51:50,688 --> 00:51:54,458

It was so unfortunately

timed with the pandemic.

:

00:51:55,108 --> 00:52:01,998

Um, but you know, I worked with the swans

past the pandemic and I left the swans to

:

00:52:01,998 --> 00:52:07,228

go to city and that was actually really

tough because I mean, I'll still go back

:

00:52:07,228 --> 00:52:10,588

to one of the restaurants and then, you

know, I know so many of the staff I name

:

00:52:10,588 --> 00:52:11,808

and they're like, Oh my God, we miss you.

:

00:52:11,808 --> 00:52:15,048

But my friend Abby Quatro is

over there and she's doing a

:

00:52:15,048 --> 00:52:16,978

fabulous job with all of their.

:

00:52:17,413 --> 00:52:18,673

Marketing and visuals.

:

00:52:18,703 --> 00:52:22,633

And she's working with Joe Morrell,

who was my intern last year.

:

00:52:22,653 --> 00:52:24,868

And they are like, Such a kick ass team.

:

00:52:24,868 --> 00:52:27,368

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:52:27,368 --> 00:52:28,708

John, John was on here.

:

00:52:29,368 --> 00:52:34,738

Um, and, uh, Pauline, uh, and Ashley

cooked my wedding in my house.

:

00:52:34,928 --> 00:52:35,818

Leah: Oh, that's really sweet.

:

00:52:36,258 --> 00:52:36,518

Yeah.

:

00:52:36,798 --> 00:52:37,748

I'm sure that was fabulous.

:

00:52:37,998 --> 00:52:38,698

Ryan: Oh yeah.

:

00:52:38,698 --> 00:52:40,258

It was, it was so nice.

:

00:52:40,278 --> 00:52:41,168

Leah: They're amazing chefs.

:

00:52:41,298 --> 00:52:41,718

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:52:41,778 --> 00:52:43,528

No, I, Ashley and I went to the same.

:

00:52:44,568 --> 00:52:45,168

Leah: Okay.

:

00:52:45,678 --> 00:52:46,268

Not, not at

:

00:52:46,268 --> 00:52:46,988

Ryan: the same time.

:

00:52:47,508 --> 00:52:49,208

And I'd love to talk to her about it.

:

00:52:49,218 --> 00:52:52,068

Hopefully I get to,

but I have this memory.

:

00:52:52,078 --> 00:52:52,158

She has some

:

00:52:52,158 --> 00:52:52,768

Leah: good stories.

:

00:52:52,783 --> 00:53:00,183

Ryan: I have this memory of, uh,

her and Robin coming through FCI to

:

00:53:00,183 --> 00:53:02,153

like see it maybe when I was there.

:

00:53:02,153 --> 00:53:03,313

I don't know if I just made it up.

:

00:53:03,743 --> 00:53:09,793

In my head, you know, years of whatever,

but, um, I, I do have that, that memory

:

00:53:09,793 --> 00:53:13,213

because when I got back here, I worked

at the Rio Bamba and I worked at max.

:

00:53:13,503 --> 00:53:15,913

Then we had this restaurant in

Pittsburgh, Coppergrass Bistro.

:

00:53:15,913 --> 00:53:21,023

And I remember Robin and Ashley coming

for lunch and, um, uh, whoever was

:

00:53:21,023 --> 00:53:24,253

taking care of them came back and said,

there's all those people in restaurant

:

00:53:24,253 --> 00:53:26,243

business and went to FCI, which is nice.

:

00:53:26,633 --> 00:53:32,143

Yeah, but, um, no, I can't say,

can't say I talk about the swans

:

00:53:32,143 --> 00:53:33,553

on here, but as much as I do is.

:

00:53:33,908 --> 00:53:34,258

Polly.

:

00:53:34,258 --> 00:53:36,068

Yeah.

:

00:53:36,068 --> 00:53:38,398

Leah: That was, that was a fun two

years of my life working with them.

:

00:53:38,558 --> 00:53:39,188

It was really great.

:

00:53:39,648 --> 00:53:40,168

Crazy.

:

00:53:40,168 --> 00:53:41,978

They have so many spots, but yeah.

:

00:53:42,098 --> 00:53:43,848

Um, same with the good luck guys.

:

00:53:43,888 --> 00:53:47,718

I had a really, that was, I was

the person during most of the

:

00:53:47,718 --> 00:53:50,738

pandemic messaging the takeout and

:

00:53:51,128 --> 00:53:51,258

Ryan: that

:

00:53:51,258 --> 00:53:51,878

Leah: was a lot of work.

:

00:53:51,878 --> 00:53:54,468

There were like 10 of us that

stayed on payroll through that

:

00:53:54,468 --> 00:53:55,908

time and I will never forget it.

:

00:53:55,968 --> 00:53:56,418

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:53:56,678 --> 00:54:00,338

This is like the longest it's taken

for the pandemic to really like

:

00:54:00,338 --> 00:54:01,668

come up in one of these episodes.

:

00:54:01,668 --> 00:54:03,768

It's one of the things

I've been so surprised.

:

00:54:04,343 --> 00:54:07,973

About having these conversations,

because, you know, if we were talking

:

00:54:08,363 --> 00:54:11,553

some, I'd sell you at a bar somewhere

and we were just having a chat, probably

:

00:54:11,553 --> 00:54:12,953

wouldn't talk about the pandemic at all,

:

00:54:14,303 --> 00:54:17,623

Leah: but it was really, yeah, it

was really formative in my career,

:

00:54:17,623 --> 00:54:19,343

at least getting me to where I

:

00:54:19,353 --> 00:54:19,583

Ryan: could,

:

00:54:19,593 --> 00:54:19,613

Leah: you

:

00:54:20,443 --> 00:54:24,113

Ryan: know, for like people are like

before you're like really secure

:

00:54:24,113 --> 00:54:29,633

and everything, you know, even

working in some, yeah, it's hard.

:

00:54:30,938 --> 00:54:33,228

Yeah, we had such a

weird experience with it.

:

00:54:34,118 --> 00:54:42,168

Um, because we, we, we launched this

in March of:

:

00:54:42,168 --> 00:54:50,928

that nobody really knew us yet, but our

core demographic, I mean, 70 percent

:

00:54:50,928 --> 00:54:57,408

of our customers are women and 80

percent of those women are over 50 and.

:

00:54:58,218 --> 00:55:00,278

Those were the people who

were at home watching TV.

:

00:55:00,278 --> 00:55:03,478

So we ran TV ads and we're

able to do pretty well.

:

00:55:03,478 --> 00:55:06,868

And just the nature of our model,

we didn't have to close ever.

:

00:55:06,988 --> 00:55:08,768

I mean, I worked every

day during the pandemic.

:

00:55:08,818 --> 00:55:08,998

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:55:08,998 --> 00:55:10,988

You had the ideal model for that.

:

00:55:11,468 --> 00:55:14,598

Ryan: Not knowing, just trying to

have an efficient one, you know, like,

:

00:55:14,598 --> 00:55:18,333

you know, what you need to prepare

and all that kind of stuff, but.

:

00:55:19,423 --> 00:55:19,663

Yeah.

:

00:55:19,663 --> 00:55:23,263

So I'll have to say like we grew,

albeit slowly throughout that time,

:

00:55:23,263 --> 00:55:26,303

but at the same time, like all my

friends were just getting pummeled.

:

00:55:26,463 --> 00:55:26,853

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:55:26,923 --> 00:55:30,363

Ryan: It was, there was weird, like

morale was not high survivor's guilt.

:

00:55:30,603 --> 00:55:31,103

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:55:31,753 --> 00:55:36,273

Ryan: Paulie and I talked about it a

lot actually, because he started a shelf

:

00:55:36,273 --> 00:55:41,540

stable business during that time while

everybody's like killing grocery stores.

:

00:55:41,540 --> 00:55:42,303

He, yeah.

:

00:55:42,993 --> 00:55:48,233

So, so weird, but, uh, yeah, well,

hopefully with all the changes in the

:

00:55:48,233 --> 00:55:52,193

American political system, we don't

get the next one like right away.

:

00:55:54,643 --> 00:55:57,193

Leah: I'm crossing both

sets of fingers here.

:

00:55:57,563 --> 00:55:58,033

All of them.

:

00:55:58,623 --> 00:55:59,313

Ryan: Yeah, well.

:

00:55:59,913 --> 00:56:01,093

We all just drink our bleach.

:

00:56:01,093 --> 00:56:01,613

We'll be fine.

:

00:56:02,093 --> 00:56:02,363

But,

:

00:56:06,423 --> 00:56:09,903

oh, well, thank you so

much for doing this.

:

00:56:09,923 --> 00:56:12,593

It's been wonderful to meet you

and get to know a little better.

:

00:56:12,633 --> 00:56:13,233

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:56:13,243 --> 00:56:13,263

We

:

00:56:13,323 --> 00:56:14,103

Ryan: covered everything.

:

00:56:14,523 --> 00:56:16,073

Is there anything you're

really excited about?

:

00:56:16,083 --> 00:56:18,053

Can you ever promote everything?

:

00:56:18,343 --> 00:56:18,933

Um,

:

00:56:19,283 --> 00:56:19,713

Leah: Hmm.

:

00:56:20,318 --> 00:56:21,638

That's a good question.

:

00:56:22,098 --> 00:56:24,898

Well, I think right now I'm

like really heavy in RCR mode.

:

00:56:25,518 --> 00:56:26,998

So that's coming up in June.

:

00:56:27,048 --> 00:56:28,418

I'm sure Chuck talked about it too.

:

00:56:28,818 --> 00:56:31,788

Um, well, I'll eventually

listen to his episode.

:

00:56:31,878 --> 00:56:32,138

Yeah,

:

00:56:33,608 --> 00:56:34,888

Ryan: it was actually, it was recorded.

:

00:56:36,498 --> 00:56:37,648

It was one of the first ones I did.

:

00:56:37,648 --> 00:56:39,548

So I started recording these in September.

:

00:56:39,668 --> 00:56:40,098

Leah: Okay.

:

00:56:40,128 --> 00:56:41,668

So we, we weren't really in planning.

:

00:56:41,678 --> 00:56:44,568

We were at the end of the last

one probably in doing like

:

00:56:45,178 --> 00:56:45,728

Ryan: fall events.

:

00:56:46,038 --> 00:56:46,418

Yeah.

:

00:56:46,428 --> 00:56:46,688

Yep.

:

00:56:46,828 --> 00:56:51,508

So it was, yeah, I really

top loaded this thing to get.

:

00:56:51,523 --> 00:56:57,353

You're, you're the first, yeah,

you're the first person I've recorded

:

00:56:57,353 --> 00:56:59,203

with since like this December.

:

00:56:59,463 --> 00:56:59,743

Leah: Okay.

:

00:57:00,163 --> 00:57:00,583

Yeah.

:

00:57:01,183 --> 00:57:03,523

Ryan: Got, got way ahead cause

I knew January was going to be.

:

00:57:03,633 --> 00:57:04,193

Leah: That was smart.

:

00:57:04,353 --> 00:57:04,633

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:57:04,673 --> 00:57:05,503

Crazy for us.

:

00:57:06,203 --> 00:57:06,583

Leah: Well, yeah.

:

00:57:06,583 --> 00:57:09,753

RCR 12 is coming up June

2nd through 8th this year.

:

00:57:10,323 --> 00:57:13,183

Um, we're adding a new event

that I'm pretty excited about.

:

00:57:13,193 --> 00:57:14,113

It's a high falls.

:

00:57:14,113 --> 00:57:14,623

Happy hour.

:

00:57:14,623 --> 00:57:18,553

We're going to do it on the Ponser

end because that reopened and I've

:

00:57:18,553 --> 00:57:21,353

been wanting to bring like an earlier

event that you could like bring your

:

00:57:21,353 --> 00:57:26,183

kids to, um, you know, we get, like I

was saying, we get a lot of feedback

:

00:57:26,183 --> 00:57:28,453

from people who used to come to our

Sierra and now they have little kids

:

00:57:28,453 --> 00:57:32,053

and they're like, ah, so I want, I was

like, Oh, what if we did a happy hour?

:

00:57:32,053 --> 00:57:33,903

Like you could, you know,

bring your stroller.

:

00:57:34,203 --> 00:57:38,003

Go across and I want to get New

York state vendors there too.

:

00:57:38,003 --> 00:57:39,833

So we want to make it like

New York state specific.

:

00:57:39,833 --> 00:57:41,523

I mean, you've got Jenny

brew house on one side.

:

00:57:41,553 --> 00:57:41,863

Sure.

:

00:57:41,973 --> 00:57:45,783

Um, the red wings will have an away game

that night, which is a bummer that we

:

00:57:45,783 --> 00:57:47,763

can't, you know, collab with them, but.

:

00:57:48,663 --> 00:57:53,723

I just think that we're with cocktails,

you know, we'll get asked by other

:

00:57:53,723 --> 00:57:57,313

vendors, whether it's wine or beer

or something like Ithaca hummus.

:

00:57:57,333 --> 00:57:59,523

They're like, how do I get involved?

:

00:57:59,633 --> 00:58:02,723

And so I've really been wanting

to brainstorm an event like

:

00:58:02,723 --> 00:58:04,223

this where we could have like a.

:

00:58:04,663 --> 00:58:06,493

Localized sort of happy hour.

:

00:58:06,493 --> 00:58:10,453

So, um, yeah, we're, so we're

looking for New York state

:

00:58:10,453 --> 00:58:11,893

vendors of all kinds for that.

:

00:58:12,323 --> 00:58:13,113

And

:

00:58:13,343 --> 00:58:14,193

Ryan: I just know if we can.

:

00:58:14,503 --> 00:58:14,773

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:58:14,823 --> 00:58:15,883

Oh, I'm sure you can.

:

00:58:15,963 --> 00:58:16,953

We'll, we'll talk after this.

:

00:58:17,473 --> 00:58:18,863

But, um, yeah.

:

00:58:18,863 --> 00:58:20,803

And then we have our, you

know, our barroom battle,

:

00:58:20,803 --> 00:58:21,893

which always closes it out.

:

00:58:21,903 --> 00:58:22,403

We have.

:

00:58:22,988 --> 00:58:26,228

Um, our gardening party Eastman

and I kind of work on all those big

:

00:58:26,348 --> 00:58:28,138

feature events to produce those.

:

00:58:28,138 --> 00:58:33,048

And, um, then all we have more

than 30 bars partnering with us

:

00:58:33,068 --> 00:58:37,678

again, and the sponsors usually

number that or outnumber it.

:

00:58:37,698 --> 00:58:43,008

So in, in terms of our liquor

sponsors, so, um, really excited

:

00:58:43,068 --> 00:58:44,598

building the education out right now.

:

00:58:44,638 --> 00:58:47,138

So I don't know what that's all

going to look like, but got some

:

00:58:47,138 --> 00:58:50,978

really great recommendations from

folks and we've got some feelers out.

:

00:58:50,978 --> 00:58:51,258

So.

:

00:58:51,808 --> 00:58:52,148

Yeah.

:

00:58:52,178 --> 00:58:53,788

It's going to be fun again.

:

00:58:53,838 --> 00:58:54,578

It's always fun.

:

00:58:54,818 --> 00:58:58,658

And like, I just always hope

that the weather is also fun.

:

00:59:00,228 --> 00:59:02,878

So especially with that

outdoor happy hour, but,

:

00:59:02,928 --> 00:59:05,668

Ryan: um, I always tell people, I

was like, Rochester has got like

:

00:59:05,668 --> 00:59:09,588

the best weather for like two and

a half weeks a year and the rest

:

00:59:09,588 --> 00:59:10,948

of it's kind of a crap shoot.

:

00:59:11,418 --> 00:59:11,778

Leah: Yeah.

:

00:59:11,778 --> 00:59:13,448

It really is all over the place.

:

00:59:13,548 --> 00:59:15,798

I mean, this is our first real winter and

:

00:59:15,908 --> 00:59:17,398

Ryan: yeah, this one's been

a little more gnarly Yeah.

:

00:59:18,338 --> 00:59:19,638

Leah: It reminds me of when we were kids.

:

00:59:19,748 --> 00:59:20,038

Ryan: Yeah.

:

00:59:21,978 --> 00:59:26,138

Leah: Yeah, but, um, come out to RCR,

Rochester Cocktail Revival, keep an eye

:

00:59:26,138 --> 00:59:31,508

on Citi, um, and yeah, all good stuff.

:

00:59:31,508 --> 00:59:35,718

I feel like our, our city, the

city of Rochester in general is

:

00:59:36,668 --> 00:59:38,278

in such a cool place right now.

:

00:59:38,278 --> 00:59:44,628

We're like really, we're focusing on a

lot of things that we saw pre pandemic.

:

00:59:45,168 --> 00:59:46,958

Things are coming back

really strong, whether that's

:

00:59:46,968 --> 00:59:48,868

hospitality or arts and culture.

:

00:59:49,253 --> 00:59:52,963

Um, you know, more people moving

here all the time, which the

:

00:59:53,173 --> 00:59:56,633

housing market's a mess, but

okay, well, let's bring people in.

:

00:59:57,023 --> 00:59:57,703

Um, yeah.

:

00:59:57,963 --> 00:59:58,203

Yeah.

:

00:59:58,373 --> 01:00:00,693

And yeah, I'm just,

I'm excited to be here.

:

01:00:01,243 --> 01:00:01,763

I'm happy.

:

01:00:01,763 --> 01:00:03,293

I made the decision to be here.

:

01:00:03,293 --> 01:00:08,253

Um, and that is something I've

been able to say genuinely

:

01:00:08,323 --> 01:00:09,693

for the last couple of years.

:

01:00:09,703 --> 01:00:10,033

So Thank you.

:

01:00:10,993 --> 01:00:11,333

Yeah.

:

01:00:11,343 --> 01:00:11,363

If

:

01:00:11,623 --> 01:00:13,313

Ryan: you weren't in

Rochester, where would you be?

:

01:00:14,443 --> 01:00:15,393

Leah: Probably New York City.

:

01:00:15,423 --> 01:00:15,703

Ryan: Yeah.

:

01:00:16,073 --> 01:00:16,893

Leah: Or Charleston.

:

01:00:17,613 --> 01:00:21,413

Really, that, that city really, I

get to teach there still every year.

:

01:00:21,413 --> 01:00:21,603

Yeah.

:

01:00:21,603 --> 01:00:24,833

And um, live there for like a week

and a half and I just love it there.

:

01:00:25,273 --> 01:00:29,123

Ryan: Yeah, that's, we took a little

trip to Charleston a couple years ago.

:

01:00:29,763 --> 01:00:30,643

It was wonderful.

:

01:00:30,683 --> 01:00:32,863

But yeah, I'm from New York,

so I'd totally be back.

:

01:00:33,013 --> 01:00:33,573

Yeah.

:

01:00:33,913 --> 01:00:35,083

It's so expensive.

:

01:00:35,343 --> 01:00:35,983

I know.

:

01:00:36,073 --> 01:00:39,963

I, um, I had the cooking show too.

:

01:00:40,473 --> 01:00:47,273

Mm-hmm . And, um, we filmed it down

there and so I had to go back and

:

01:00:47,273 --> 01:00:51,293

forth like a, you know, a few different

times, a, a quarter to film it.

:

01:00:51,353 --> 01:00:55,493

And I just, uh, I fell so in love

with New York all over again.

:

01:00:55,583 --> 01:00:55,883

Yeah.

:

01:00:56,183 --> 01:00:57,503

Because I fell out of love with it.

:

01:00:57,503 --> 01:00:59,243

It was really such a strange thing.

:

01:00:59,243 --> 01:01:02,873

Like, and I was going to school,

which is what, 20 or 20 years ago.

:

01:01:03,223 --> 01:01:04,183

I loved being back there.

:

01:01:04,183 --> 01:01:10,023

Mm-hmm . And then, uh, I worked at

the Rio Baba for a few years and.

:

01:01:10,738 --> 01:01:12,958

My friend and I were going

to move down there together.

:

01:01:12,998 --> 01:01:13,768

He did.

:

01:01:13,818 --> 01:01:16,618

I, there was a girl I didn't

want to leave, whatever.

:

01:01:16,618 --> 01:01:16,898

That's why

:

01:01:16,898 --> 01:01:17,348

Leah: I'm here.

:

01:01:18,108 --> 01:01:18,418

Yeah.

:

01:01:18,798 --> 01:01:19,278

Love.

:

01:01:19,448 --> 01:01:19,738

Yeah.

:

01:01:20,098 --> 01:01:20,898

We chose love.

:

01:01:20,968 --> 01:01:21,338

Ryan: Yeah.

:

01:01:21,488 --> 01:01:22,368

Leah: That didn't pan out.

:

01:01:22,368 --> 01:01:23,018

Ryan: But it didn't pan out.

:

01:01:23,118 --> 01:01:23,438

Yeah.

:

01:01:23,668 --> 01:01:25,308

Um, eventually it did.

:

01:01:25,488 --> 01:01:25,758

Leah: Good.

:

01:01:25,778 --> 01:01:27,218

Ryan: Because, um, anyway.

:

01:01:27,738 --> 01:01:28,818

Leah: Manifest that for me.

:

01:01:29,278 --> 01:01:29,708

Ryan: What's that?

:

01:01:29,728 --> 01:01:30,798

Leah: Manifest that for me.

:

01:01:30,908 --> 01:01:31,238

Ryan: Oh.

:

01:01:31,268 --> 01:01:31,668

Yeah.

:

01:01:32,228 --> 01:01:33,628

Finding, finding true love.

:

01:01:33,688 --> 01:01:33,968

Leah: Yeah.

:

01:01:35,138 --> 01:01:36,768

That's, that's next on my bucket list

:

01:01:39,068 --> 01:01:39,848

after traveling.

:

01:01:40,098 --> 01:01:40,368

Yeah,

:

01:01:41,848 --> 01:01:47,708

Ryan: well, it sneaks up on you, but

then, you know, yeah, I remember he,

:

01:01:47,738 --> 01:01:51,558

he got a rest, a job at a restaurant

called Arrhenia and he was like, it

:

01:01:51,558 --> 01:01:57,758

was, um, a David Boulay protégé and.

:

01:01:58,818 --> 01:02:00,688

I, uh, helped move him down there.

:

01:02:00,688 --> 01:02:03,368

He got the job and like, had to

move, go quickly and whatever.

:

01:02:03,428 --> 01:02:09,778

So I went down there and I remember,

uh, I had, you know, like the day to

:

01:02:09,778 --> 01:02:14,538

kill and I was just walking around,

went to see a movie and I was just like

:

01:02:14,538 --> 01:02:17,268

walking down the street and I was like,

this doesn't feel like home anymore.

:

01:02:17,658 --> 01:02:19,118

Leah: Oh, isn't that funny?

:

01:02:19,738 --> 01:02:21,238

That hits you sometimes.

:

01:02:21,268 --> 01:02:21,688

Yeah.

:

01:02:21,748 --> 01:02:22,088

Yeah.

:

01:02:22,098 --> 01:02:22,208

It's so

:

01:02:22,208 --> 01:02:22,778

Ryan: strange.

:

01:02:23,243 --> 01:02:26,203

And so in that moment, I was just

justifying my, you know, cause

:

01:02:26,203 --> 01:02:28,493

I'd already, we'd already broken

up with the girl at this point.

:

01:02:28,493 --> 01:02:36,703

So yeah, changed everything, but then,

um, yeah, but then when I was back.

:

01:02:37,468 --> 01:02:39,178

Uh, yeah.

:

01:02:39,308 --> 01:02:40,448

A few times last year.

:

01:02:40,918 --> 01:02:42,318

God, I love it here.

:

01:02:42,518 --> 01:02:44,248

Leah: Mm hmm.

:

01:02:44,328 --> 01:02:45,578

It's also on a real upswing

:

01:02:45,738 --> 01:02:46,038

Ryan: right now.

:

01:02:46,068 --> 01:02:46,448

Yeah.

:

01:02:46,638 --> 01:02:46,948

Yeah.

:

01:02:47,048 --> 01:02:48,398

Oh, so many cool restaurants.

:

01:02:48,408 --> 01:02:48,708

You know what?

:

01:02:48,848 --> 01:02:49,688

Leah: It's so close.

:

01:02:49,858 --> 01:02:50,598

It's an hour flight.

:

01:02:50,998 --> 01:02:51,488

Ryan: I know.

:

01:02:51,528 --> 01:02:54,818

Leah: You can get there, have a

little weekend away, get re energized.

:

01:02:54,818 --> 01:02:55,408

That's what I do.

:

01:02:55,518 --> 01:02:57,418

Um, I'm going to go down for a show soon.

:

01:02:57,428 --> 01:03:00,518

My favorite Irish playwright

is opening a show at St.

:

01:03:00,518 --> 01:03:02,138

Anne's, my favorite theater.

:

01:03:02,408 --> 01:03:04,908

And I'm going to go down

just for a couple of days.

:

01:03:05,018 --> 01:03:05,288

Ryan: Yeah.

:

01:03:05,468 --> 01:03:07,018

Leah: It is some good

places that I've been to.

:

01:03:07,248 --> 01:03:07,968

How do my list?

:

01:03:07,968 --> 01:03:12,488

And I'll come back with energy

and a little inspiration.

:

01:03:12,848 --> 01:03:18,628

Oh, I, so I'm, I make like, I have a

master, like Google map for different

:

01:03:18,628 --> 01:03:22,848

cities and I'll just like push

things to the top for my next trip.

:

01:03:23,868 --> 01:03:29,058

Um, I want to go to heroes, which

is the new spot from Ariel ours,

:

01:03:29,358 --> 01:03:32,298

who was, um, Tokyo record bar.

:

01:03:32,528 --> 01:03:35,553

And she also has like, Revamped that.

:

01:03:35,623 --> 01:03:39,283

And, um, I, I like the

stuff that she does.

:

01:03:39,323 --> 01:03:40,443

I think it's really fun.

:

01:03:41,083 --> 01:03:43,763

Um, and usually has like good energy.

:

01:03:43,763 --> 01:03:47,933

And I've met some of the staff through

different, um, industry folks that I know.

:

01:03:48,493 --> 01:03:50,333

So I want to go there and see how that is.

:

01:03:50,623 --> 01:03:53,623

It's a very different, um,

it's heroes in the pro box.

:

01:03:53,623 --> 01:03:55,673

She's got like a multi level concept.

:

01:03:56,408 --> 01:03:58,678

So curious to see how that is going

:

01:03:58,818 --> 01:03:59,268

Ryan: cool.

:

01:03:59,358 --> 01:04:02,238

Leah: And then I have like my

favorites that I go back to for

:

01:04:02,238 --> 01:04:04,178

horsemen always if I can get in.

:

01:04:05,238 --> 01:04:10,928

Um, and I usually try to stay at the

Hoxton because then, you know, the

:

01:04:10,928 --> 01:04:12,678

food's going to be good in there.

:

01:04:13,508 --> 01:04:17,708

And yeah, I just sometimes I

just like to walk around and.

:

01:04:18,363 --> 01:04:21,303

Find stuff to like, just

let it happen to me.

:

01:04:21,763 --> 01:04:22,983

I feel like it's one of those cities.

:

01:04:22,983 --> 01:04:24,353

That's so great with that.

:

01:04:25,313 --> 01:04:26,233

Ryan: Around every corner.

:

01:04:26,863 --> 01:04:33,913

I, uh, yeah, the past couple of

times I went, I went to Claude and,

:

01:04:33,913 --> 01:04:38,313

uh, they have the new seafood thing

right next door counter penny.

:

01:04:38,793 --> 01:04:40,243

That was a delight.

:

01:04:40,658 --> 01:04:41,398

And, um,

:

01:04:43,848 --> 01:04:45,188

Fox face natural.

:

01:04:45,368 --> 01:04:46,828

Leah: Oh, I just bookmarked that.

:

01:04:47,038 --> 01:04:47,588

Oh,

:

01:04:47,588 --> 01:04:48,448

Ryan: it's amazing.

:

01:04:48,508 --> 01:04:48,948

Okay.

:

01:04:49,288 --> 01:04:50,018

Oh, man.

:

01:04:51,078 --> 01:04:52,488

It was so, it was so good.

:

01:04:53,268 --> 01:04:58,578

But the night before and I, I won't

name the place, but I, it was someplace

:

01:04:58,578 --> 01:05:00,168

that had been on my list forever.

:

01:05:00,728 --> 01:05:02,628

And, uh, so I went out to broke.

:

01:05:02,678 --> 01:05:02,868

I'm like.

:

01:05:03,363 --> 01:05:07,763

I went out to Brooklyn to go and this was

the last time I did it, but I was staying

:

01:05:07,763 --> 01:05:09,663

on Long Island where the shoot was.

:

01:05:10,483 --> 01:05:14,543

So I'm like driving into the

city to go to this meal, driving

:

01:05:14,563 --> 01:05:15,803

back to Long Island, everything.

:

01:05:15,813 --> 01:05:18,053

And just, it just couldn't

have been any worse.

:

01:05:18,403 --> 01:05:24,353

Like this place had one of the best, uh,

back patios, like in, in all of Brooklyn,

:

01:05:24,653 --> 01:05:26,103

there was nobody in the restaurant.

:

01:05:26,573 --> 01:05:28,253

I had like made her reservation.

:

01:05:28,253 --> 01:05:33,893

They stuck me at the bar, like in

front of like the, the, the bar fruit.

:

01:05:34,753 --> 01:05:35,433

It's hot.

:

01:05:35,473 --> 01:05:38,463

Like, there's like flies,

it's an open kitchen.

:

01:05:38,463 --> 01:05:41,863

Like I was watching, like it was the

chef's night off and she was like

:

01:05:41,953 --> 01:05:44,843

walking out of the place and they're

training some new person there.

:

01:05:44,843 --> 01:05:47,413

And it was like, can I sit out there?

:

01:05:47,703 --> 01:05:48,373

Not ideal.

:

01:05:48,383 --> 01:05:48,963

Oh my God.

:

01:05:48,963 --> 01:05:49,523

It was so bad.

:

01:05:49,523 --> 01:05:51,273

So I was so frustrated by that.

:

01:05:51,913 --> 01:05:58,243

And then, um, yeah, the next night I just

like barely got into Fox face natural.

:

01:05:58,483 --> 01:05:58,993

I just showed up.

:

01:05:59,458 --> 01:06:01,648

And they like moved everything around.

:

01:06:01,658 --> 01:06:03,618

Everybody there I think is like Quebecois.

:

01:06:03,618 --> 01:06:07,958

So everybody's like speaking

French a little bit to me.

:

01:06:08,228 --> 01:06:11,168

And like all the fish comes,

you know, mostly from like

:

01:06:11,178 --> 01:06:13,008

Montauk and like pretty lovely.

:

01:06:13,468 --> 01:06:16,568

Um, it, uh, it was just so.

:

01:06:17,753 --> 01:06:19,593

So like the hospitality was wonderful.

:

01:06:19,593 --> 01:06:22,823

Like everybody stopped by the table to

just, cause it was a single diner and

:

01:06:23,003 --> 01:06:23,463

Leah: yeah.

:

01:06:24,353 --> 01:06:24,683

Yeah.

:

01:06:24,753 --> 01:06:24,953

Just

:

01:06:25,213 --> 01:06:25,983

Ryan: couldn't have been better.

:

01:06:26,053 --> 01:06:28,913

But like, yeah, it was, it was incredible.

:

01:06:29,353 --> 01:06:33,793

But yeah, I can share more with these

and you know, you're busy, busy lady.

:

01:06:34,188 --> 01:06:37,008

Run all these things, but thank

you so much for being here.

:

01:06:37,038 --> 01:06:38,268

Thank you so much for having me.

:

01:06:38,268 --> 01:06:39,138

This was delightful.

:

01:06:39,628 --> 01:06:40,088

Yeah.

:

01:06:40,138 --> 01:06:46,168

And, uh, thank you all for listening

and you can catch us next week, uh,

:

01:06:46,198 --> 01:06:47,968

on the Lunchadore podcast network.

:

01:06:48,008 --> 01:06:51,598

I'm Chef Ryan Jennings, and you have

been listening to Shelling Peas.

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About the Podcast

Shelling Peas
A plant-powered podcast with Chef Ryan Jennings of Sweet Pea Plant-Based Kitchen
Join Chef Ryan Jennings as he delves into the dynamic intersections of food, entrepreneurship, and the compelling stories behind his guests’ journeys. Each episode offers an inspiring blend of culinary insights, business wisdom, and personal narratives that highlight the passion and drive shaping the world of food and beyond.

About your host

Profile picture for Ryan Jennings

Ryan Jennings

Ryan Jennings is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sweet Pea Plant-Based Kitchen, a chef-prepared, plant-based meal delivery and co-packing company based in Rochester, NY.
Ryan is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, where he honed his culinary expertise before returning to Rochester to lead several esteemed dining establishments, including Rio Bamba and Max Rochester. At Sweet Pea, he champions innovative and efficient food production, with a strong emphasis on sourcing locally within New York State. As the winner of the 2022 Grow-NY Competition, Ryan and his team are focused on regional expansion, working to make whole-food, plant-based lifestyles accessible to everyone.

Shelling Peas began with the simple idea that when a chef peers beyond the kitchen into the dining room, they are given the rare opportunity to touch the lives of a diverse cross-section of their community. In his weekly podcast, Ryan delves into his guests’ past, present, and future, exploring shared experiences and building new connections that deepen their relationships and introduce them to broader audiences.

In addition to Shelling Peas, Ryan hosts Plant Powered, a cooking show on the Eat This TV Network. Watch Season 1 here:
https://youtu.be/mFUFlkBC_Ic?si=k_26oURHPkMZgrv2