WACWA Is Pushing For Workers Rights [063]
WACWA details the forming of their union, and initiatives they plan to pursue.
Nov 15, 2018•41 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Boss Barista
Ashley Rodriguez talks to folks about gender, race, sex, and other important issues in coffee. We invite people from all realms of the coffee world to share stories and engage in discussion - we want to hear from you! Contact us at bossbaristapodcast@gmail.com
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Andrea Pacas on Tech in the Coffee Industry [062]
Coffee and tech are the hot topics in this episode of Boss Barista with Andrea Pacas, CEO of Coffunity.
Nov 08, 2018•40 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Kat Melheim of Coffee People Zine Does it All [061]
Kat Melheim of Coffee People Zine gets shit done. An idea struck her during a latte art competition—why don’t I collect stories, art, and creative works from coffee folks and put them into a magazine? Five months later you have Coffee People Zine, a quarterly publication celebrating the creative pursuits of folks in the coffee world. She’s expanded the magazine, put on a film festival, thrown countless parties to promote the magazine and still has a ton more to share. We talk to Kat about pursui...
Nov 03, 2018•47 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Gabe Boscana On Identity And Trust in Green Buying [060]
Gabe Boscana of Maquina Coffee Roasters faces a daily conundrum - how do we buy coffee responsibly? In this episode he talks about the ethics of buying coffee at all, what it means to be Latinx during a sourcing trip, and if you haven’t heard it on here yet, we bring it up again: we discuss how and if anyone ever needs to go to a coffee-producing country to source coffee. Photo by Lindsey Shea.
Oct 25, 2018•47 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Jen Apodaca, Part Two [059]
In part two of our interview with Jen Apodaca, Director of Roasting for Royal Coffee, Jen talks about being a leader and what that entails. We learn about her work with the Zapatistas in Mexico, her union roots, and how that influenced the way she approaches leadership. SPOILER ALERT there's some real talk about HR and management, but you probably needed to hear it anyway.
Oct 11, 2018•32 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Jen Apodaca Is Making Coffee Roasting Accessible [058]
There are few people in the coffee industry that are as easy to talk with as Jen Apodaca. Catching Jen at a party can often lead from a casual hello to a two hour conversation about family, growth, life, and, well coffee. Today we’re thrilled to have part one of a two-parter breaking down Jen’s experience roasting coffee and eventually her role in helping develop the #shestheroaster campaign. Part one covers Jen’s background, but part two delves into the future. Stay tuned!
Oct 05, 2018•30 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Brittney Balestra Celebrates Womxn in Colorado Springs [057]
The Colorado Springs Independent, a local newspaper, released a poll asking its readers to vote for their favorite baristas in the area. The list failed to include any womxn in a community overflowing with amazing womxn coffee professionals. Brittney Balestra of Third Space Coffee noticed, and decided to do something about it. Today we talk with Brittney about exclusion in your community, what defines a great barista, and how she single handedly challenged her city’s local newspaper. To vote for...
Sep 27, 2018•25 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Soleil Ho On The Flaws of the Service Industry [056]
What does it mean to consume a $5 burger? How do we rectify the need to provide people with affordable food and create viable food and service jobs? Soleil Ho is an accomplished writer and host of The Racist Sandwich and Popanganda podcasts, and she joins us today to talk about the flaws of service - we unpack a lack of diversity in ownership, why restaurants aimed at providing affordable food like Locol shut down, and we nerd out - one podcaster to another.
Sep 21, 2018•49 min•Season 3Ep. 12
The Abortion Series - Jennifer [055]
We continue with the abortion series, a storytelling project normalizing abortion amongst coffee professionals. Today, Jennifer tells her story of tumultuous relationships and finding ways to communicate with her coworkers and superiors. Jennifer's story shines a light on the sometimes destructive way we force employees to separate their personal lives from their work lives, and will force you to consider opening your ears and eyes to the stories of others. And for those of you who feel the need...
Sep 13, 2018•33 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Boss Barista Presents Filter Stories [054]
On this episode of Boss Barista, we present Filter Stories, a new coffee podcast focused on longform storytelling. In this episode, host James Harper interviews the folks involved with the Waking Life scandal in Asheville, North Carolina. Negging, red pill theories, and a story about community action are all in this episode. Check out Filter Stories on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or filterstories.org
Sep 07, 2018•32 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Alice Wong Says #suckitableism [053]
Alice Wong joins us today to talk about the straw ban, ableism in public spaces, and performative activism in a capitalist society. Alice is the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, and is an disabled-rights activist based in San Francisco. Alice talks about the rhetoric of the straw ban, how disabled voices are often erased, and how she fell into activism and storytelling. If you have any questions, thoughts, or are confused as to how the straw ban hurts and erases the sto...
Aug 23, 2018•53 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Nyambura Njee On Race and Wage Disparities [052]
On August 6th, 2018, Nya Njee shared her story of racism and wage disparities. She was the only black female at a coffeeshop in Ann Arbor, and was repeatedly promised, then denied, wage increases. She was told conflicting things about her work ethic, dealt with defensive business owners, and finally discovered that she was being paid less than her white coworkers, many of whom had not been working at the cafe for as long as she had. On this episode, Nya shares her story. If you're a business own...
Aug 16, 2018•56 min•Season 3Ep. 8
The Abortion Series - Katie [051]
Boss Barista is proud to present The Abortion Series, a collection of stories about abortion while working in coffee. Today, we meet Katie, a barista in the midwest who talks about scheduling her abortion around her work schedule, keeping quiet about liberal ideas in a conservative space, and ponders if she's told her mom yet. We hope to launch a mini-series and collection of stories around abortion in an attempt to normalize it. These stories are both unique and unremarkable and we hope they re...
Aug 09, 2018•32 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Vava Angwenyi on Decolonizing Empowerment [050]
We continue to explore the colonialist systems that are interwoven in the coffee industry by asking what does it mean to truly empower a group of people? Vava Angwenyi, founder of Vava Coffee and cofounder and director at Gente Del Futuro, talks to us about how colonization has affected the way we view empowerment and created systems of dependency that farmers are unable to get out of (and frankly most companies want them to stay in). If you've ever wondered why coffee prices are stagnant or how...
Jul 27, 2018•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Becca Woodard Is A Champion Of The People [049]
TWO COFFEE CHAMPIONS IN A ROW! Becca Woodard is the 2018 United States Brewers Cup Champion, and she generously sat down with us TWICE (the first episode was scrapped due to audio issues and frankly, we're lucky because this one is wayyyyy better!). Becca dishes on representation in competition, what it means to compete on behalf of her company, and real talk on gaining privilege and prestige after winning a national title. She's amazing—put this episode in your ears now.
Jul 19, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 5
My Barista Champion, Andrea Allen [048]
IT'S ANDREA ALLEN! If you haven't seen a barista competition routine by Andrea, stop what you're doing and go watch—Andrea manages to evoke feelings, create trust with her audience and judges, and just make you fucking bawl every time she takes the stage. In this interview, we go beyond the barista competition stage, and learn more about what inspires and motivates Andrea to pursue excellence in coffee. And she also tells a few funny stories. :p
Jul 05, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Bani Amor is Decolonizing Travel Culture [047]
Have you ever been told, "you just HAVE to go to origin?" Do pictures of farmers and children in coffeeshops really bug you? Do the words "hardworking" or "humble" or "exotic" belong anywhere on a bag of coffee? Coffee is built on colonial structures, and its bled into the way we view the way we travel and talk about coffee. In this episode, travel writer Bani Amor talks about what it means to decolonize travel culture, and to create space for all identities. They talk about migration as travel,...
Jun 28, 2018•50 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Mayra Hernandez, Part Two [046]
In this episode, we sit down with Mayra Hernandez and talk about hiring, being in the spotlight, and what happens when you open a business (hint - you get REALLY busy). Mayra gives advice on mentorship, and insights on building community in neighborhoods. Listen to this episode. You will come away with some new ideas.
Jun 21, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Mayra Hernandez of Back of the Yards Coffee [045]
Mayra Hernandez opened a cafe in her childhood neighborhood in Chicago called Back of the Yards Coffee Co, and we sit and chat at her cafe in part one of a two part series. We talk about returning to your neighborhood, what building community looks like, and ponder why local artists' works and neighborhood flyers have disappeared from modern coffee shops. This is the first episode of Boss Barista produced in partnership with Good Beer Hunting (www.goodbeerhunting.com) and is sponsored by Juniors...
May 05, 2018•45 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Jasper's Last Episode [043]
Jasper and Ashley started Boss Barista almost two years ago, and now Jasper says goodbye to the podcast (and coffee!) in this episode. Jasper and Ashley talk about their highs and lows, and Ashley conducts an exit interview with Jasper. THIS IS NOT THE END OF BOSS BARISTA. More Boss Barista will be coming to you—and we talk at the end about the future of the show.
Apr 19, 2018•38 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Samantha Mason & Korbin Richards on the Gimme Coffee Union [043]
In February 2018, baristas at the four upstate New York Gimme Coffee locations voted to unionize, becoming the first group of baristas to form a union. Two of the organizers, Samantha Mason and Korbin Richards join us and talk about how they formed the union, what protections can baristas work towards, and the power of collective action. Hear from members of Workers United Local 2833!
Apr 11, 2018•53 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Meghan McCarron on Power and Economic Responsibility [042]
Meghan McCarron is a staff writer for Eater.com, and wrote an article about sexual misconduct in the hospitality industry called "Dear Bad Man: Divest From Your Restaurants Already." We talk power, economic loss and gain, and the responsibility of restaurants and coffeeshops when they are the subject of sexual misconduct allegations. Read the article here: https://www.eater.com/2018/1/25/16932246/dear-bad-men-divest-from-your-restaurants-already
Mar 28, 2018•42 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Running a Podcast Isn't Cheap... [041]
Ok folx. We're not gonna lie - we need your help to keep this project going. We tell a story about sponsorship, talk sad feels, explore proper plant care, and do our VERY FIRST SEGMENT: #thoucrushshoutout! Please consider donating to our patreon - it really keeps us going: www.patreon.com/bossbarista
Feb 26, 2018•44 min•Season 2Ep. 22
It's Not Over—An Unofficial Four Barrel Wrap Up [040]
It's been almost six weeks since Jeremy Tooker and Four Barrel were accused of sexual misconduct. We talk about what's next and put out an open call for current owners, Jodi Geren and Tal Mor, to get in touch with us.
Feb 15, 2018•39 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Umeko Motoyoshi and Gaslighting 101 [039]
Umeko Motoyoshi of Sudden Coffee talks about her role as the main organizer in the Four Barrel lawsuit, and dishes on finding a lawyer, feeling validation, and we also do a 101 intro on gaslighting. #startdrama #talkshit Photo by Jenn Chen.
Feb 05, 2018•38 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Molly Flynn is Starting Drama and Talking Shit [038]
Molly Flynn was fed up listening to the stories of harassment and assault her friends experienced in the coffee industry—so she organized. Molly is the founder of #coffeetoo, a grassroots organization dedicated to ending harassment in the coffee industry. We get real, we get personal, and we talk shit. CHECK OUT #COFFEETOO GOFUNDME www.gofundme.com/startdrama
Jan 25, 2018•44 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Update on the Four Barrel Lawsuit [037]
Last week, Jeremy Tooker and Four Barrel settled the lawsuit brought against them by eight former employees. But there's still work to do. Jodi and Tal promised to divest—they haven't yet. Instead, they fired the majority of their production team. So we have a big ask of you: reach out to the cafes you know continuing to serve Four Barrel and ask them to DEMAND DIVESTMENT BY FEBRUARY 15TH. Demand transparency, demand that shares of the company be given to employees (not sold), and demand a timel...
Jan 19, 2018•36 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Four Barrel and Jeremy Tooker Accused of Sexual Misconduct [036]
ONGOING STORY/CONTENT WARNING: Sexual assault. . . . On January 5th, 2018, the SF Chronicle broke the story that eight former and current employees of Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco, Calif., are coming forward, accusing owner Jeremy Tooker of sexual harassment and assault. The suit alleges that other owners of Four Barrel were well aware of these behaviors and propagated a culture that protected Jeremy and allowed sexual misconduct to run rampant. Listen as we read aloud the allegations fro...
Jan 06, 2018•29 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Reggie Elliott Is Up With Coffee [035]
A few weeks ago, we got in a Twitter debate with Reggie, and we all came together to discuss cultural appropriation (spoiler alert: he's right we were wrong), the responsibility of leaders in the coffee industry, and what's so special about the D.C. coffee scene. Reggie is the Coffee Director at A Rake's Progress and The Cup We All Race 4, and he talks about Sweden, his beginnings at Murky Coffee, and the importance of representation through DMV Coffee. We also laugh a little and talk about astr...
Jan 03, 2018•41 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Emily Ordendoff's Statement at Reno Coffeechamps [034]
Lots of amazing folks competed at the Reno Coffeechamps earlier this month, and used their platform to call out the SCA and speak up for their community. In this mini-episode, Jasper talks about activism and airs a statement from Emily Orendorff of Boxcar Coffee Roasters in Denver. Thank you to Emily for letting us air her statement, and Lucas Haladki for noticing this and tagging us on Twitter!
Dec 16, 2017•12 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Hosted on Spotify for Creators (Anchor)
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android