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Joiners

Joiners
Chicago
Hospitality Industry
Hospitality
One Off Hospitality
Restaurant Industry
Cocktails
Schneider Deli
Jewish Delis
The Bear
Blackbird
Publican Quality Meats
Pizza
Hurricane Katrina
Michelin
Elske
Restaurant Management
Culinary School
Pickling
Culinary Awards
P&L Statement

In Joiners, hosts Tim Tierney and Danny Shapiro take a casual stroll through the world of hospitality by chatting with its most colorful characters.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes204Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Joiners

Latest Episodes

This week's guest is Rodrick Marcus -- international sourcer of mystery, master tea blender, and founder of Rare Tea Cellar. If it exists somewhere in the world and it's extraordinary, he's probably already found it. It all started with a trip to Lon... more

Doug Phillips studied architecture, which -- if you've ever watched him build a program -- actually makes a lot of sense. He came up through some of Logan Square's most beloved spots -- Boiler Room, Scofflaw, Heavy Feather, The Whistler -- developing... more

This week’s guest didn’t grow up dreaming of restaurant kitchens -- but after finding her way into culinary school and landing an internship at Blackbird, she's become a true mainstay. Under the mentorship of friend-of-the-pod Chef David Posey at Bla... more

We round out our pair of episodes at the Friends of James Beard Chef Invitational at Sand Valley with Amanda Rockman. After helping shape Chicago’s pastry scene in restaurants and hotels, opening teams across the city, Rockman is now back in Austin, ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Doug Phillips
Beverage pro; opened and led programs at Boiler Room, Scofflaw, Heavy Feather, The Whistler, and Trivoli
Trivoli Tavern / Hogsalt group
Episode: Episode #198 - Doug Phillips of Trivoli
Tayler Ploshehanski
Chef, head of Creepies kitchen; formerly with Elske and Blackbird
Creepies, Elske, Blackbird
Episode: Episode #197 - Tayler Ploshehanski of Creepies
Amanda Rockman
Pastry chef and founder of Rockman Coffee
Rockman Coffee
Episode: Episode #196 - Amanda Rockman of Rockman Coffee and Ripe Fruit
Damarr Brown
Chef, Virtue Restaurant
Virtue Restaurant
Episode: Episode #195 - Damarr Brown of Virtue Restaurant
Danny Espinoza
Chef and entrepreneur; founder of Santa Masa Tamaleria; corporate chef at OFI
Santa Masa Tamaleria; OFI
Episode: Episode #194 - Danny Espinoza of Santa Masa Tamaleria and ofi
Gabino Sotelino
Renowned chef and restaurateur; pivotal in introducing tapas to Chicago
Chef, Restaurateur
Episode: Midweek Special - Chef Gabino Sotelino
Mark Sotelino
Son of Gabino; interviewer in this Midweek Special
Host/Interviewer
Episode: Midweek Special - Chef Gabino Sotelino
Debbie Sharpe
Owner of Goddess and the Grocer and Goddess Rocks
Goddess and the Grocer
Episode: Episode #192 - Debbie Sharpe of The Goddess & Grocer
Dan Smith
Cocktail expert and bartender at Queen Mary
Queen Mary
Episode: Episode #191 - Dan Smith of Queen Mary

Hosts

Tim Tierney
Co-host of Joiners; guides conversations with industry figures
Danny Shapiro
Co-host of Joiners; participates in dialogue

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 192 ratings
  • Love the pod

    I’ve never really left a heartfelt review for anything, so this feels a bit unnatural. But I stumbled across my first episode of Joiners about a year ago while researching a trip to NYC, and it completely pulled me in. As a former (and, at that point, somewhat longing) hospitality worker, I found your interview genuinely engaging. You both have a sharp, witty way with words and asked the exact questions I want to hear answered.

    Fast forward a year or so, and I’m back in the hospitality world, c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sorcha-M
    United Kingdom19 days ago
  • Awesome Pod!

    As a fellow member of the Chicago service industry, I can’t say enough good things about The Joiner’s Podcast. It’s awesome to hear the stories of the colorful people in our world and to make a little game out of spotting them in real life, shaking their hands, and saying, “Loved you on the Joiner’s pod!” It’s also been such a great way to discover some of Chicago’s hidden gems - though my wallet wishes I’d stop going to Shaw’s so often. Love the pod, keep it going!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Al Shifrin
    United States7 months ago
  • A weekly highlight

    A must-listen if you like Chicago, Food, Talking, or Friendship

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Seanpierce
    United States7 months ago
  • The Gold Standard of Industry Podcasts

    Sincerely the most fun and supreme honor to be invited.

    You two have a great dynamic and made me very comfortable being in my own skin on camera/mic.

    One might even call it… exceptional hospitality.

    Genuinely the best insight into the hospitality industry projected through its varied professionals, Tim Tierney and Danny Shapiro masterfully offer the most entertaining and down to Earth glimpse into Food/Beverage and Hospitality through an unfiltered lens…and microphone.

    Most of all, it was immens... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wifi Beater
    United Statesa year ago
  • Joe Flamm Segment

    Great segment with Joe Flamm. As a fellow southsiiiiiiider and from a family with 8 brothers and sisters, it really hit home. Keep up the fine work! Peace out. Jim Moriarty

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    James P. Boots
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show lands highly for authentic Chicago hospitality storytelling and candid guest conversations.
Listeners praise the hosts' chemistry and approachable interview style.
Guests repeatedly highlight a balance of fun banter and serious business insights.
Fans appreciate deep industry context and practical takeaways for running or joining hospitality ventures.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode #194 - Danny Espinoza of Santa Masa Tamaleria and ofi
Q: What role did mentorship play in your career path, especially in high-pressure kitchens?
Mentors like the Carmichael's chef pushed him hard but also taught him the value of precision, teamwork, and experimenting within rigorous standards, which he carries into OFI and Santa Masa.
Episode #194 - Danny Espinoza of Santa Masa Tamaleria and ofi
Q: How did your early experiences shape your approach to food and work-life balance?
Growing up with a strong work ethic and multiple jobs, Danny emphasizes persistence, learning from tough mentors, and translating that grit into both serious corporate food development and passionate small-business projects.
Episode #192 - Debbie Sharpe of The Goddess & Grocer
Q: Craziest thing you've seen at a concert?
Kid Creole pointed to the coconuts, and they took off their tops on stage as a revolt against a hooker he picked up.
Episode #192 - Debbie Sharpe of The Goddess & Grocer
Q: What's your favorite cocktail?
Moscow Mule. A really good one though, like really ginger-y.
Episode #192 - Debbie Sharpe of The Goddess & Grocer
Q: Favorite hidden gem restaurant in Chicago?
Old Jerusalem on Wells, and an Indian Nepalese place on Deficient near Wells, which is really good.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Joiners

What is Joiners about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively exploration of hospitality through conversations with Chicago-area professionals who shape restaurants, bars, and food culture. Guests range from chefs and restaurateurs to bartenders, designers, and industry operators, with many episodes focusing on entrepreneurship, mentorship, and evolving trends in food and service. The show often centers on origin stories, hands-on craft, and the human side of building hospitality brands, offering practical anecdotes for peers and aspiring guests alike. Noteworthy moments include behind-the-scenes insights into kitchen culture, bar programs, and restaurant operations, along with candid reflections on resilience and community impact in Chicago's dining scene.

Where can I find podcast stats for Joiners?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Joiners. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Joiners and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Joiners get?

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What are the audience demographics for Joiners?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Joiners, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Joiners have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Joiners has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Joiners?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Joiners:

1. The Dave Chang Show
2. City Cast Chicago
3. Curious City
4. Fresh Air
5. The Wirecutter Show

How many episodes of Joiners are there?

Joiners launched 4 years ago and published 204 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Joiners?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Joiners?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Joiners from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Joiners?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Joiners. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Joiners?

Recent guests on Joiners include:

1. Doug Phillips
2. Tayler Ploshehanski
3. Amanda Rockman
4. Damarr Brown
5. Danny Espinoza
6. Gabino Sotelino
7. Mark Sotelino
8. Debbie Sharpe

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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