The best advice usually comes from someone who learned it by living it. On Five Rules for the Good Life, I sit down with my favorite people from the culinary community and ask them to share five rules on something they know inside and out. Each episode gets straight to the good stuff: the habits, opinions, and little revelations that come from years of doing the work. Short conversations with plenty to chew on, and something you can bring into your own life at the dinner table and beyond.
The Guests
Chefs, restaurateurs, writers, bakers, artists, and the people who make food culture worth caring about. Some you already love; others you’ll be very happy to meet. All have a perspective worth learning from.
Liz Alpern’s Five Rules for Nourishing A Crowd With Soup
October 5, 2026
“I started Queer Soup Night because the things I knew how to do were make a lot of food and throw a party.” - Liz Alpern
Liz Alpern knows how to feed people and give them a reason to come together. The creator of Queer Soup Night joins me to share her Five Rules for Nourishing a Crowd with Soup, from thinking through where people will eat to ...
Julia Sherman’s Five Rules for Making a Better Salad
September 28, 2026
“Touch everything when you’re at the market. It’s OK if you look weird sticking your nose in bunches of this or that. You’ll look like a pro to anybody who knows what they’re doing.” - Julia Sherman
Julia Sherman, artist, author, and creative force behind Salad for President, joins me to share her Five Rules for Making a Better Salad. We ...
“It starts with finding the best and then figuring out how to do it consistently.” - Dale Talde
Dale Talde, co-founder and executive chef of Food Crush Hospitality, stops by to share his Five Rules for Staying in the Game. We talk about knowing what you do best, hiring talented people without giving away your equity, and why your next ...
Dave Beran’s Five Rules for Finding Your Culinary Voice
September 14, 2026
"Great risk, great reward, great failure, but great reward." - Dave Beran
James Beard Award–winning chef Dave Beran, the chef and owner of pasjoli and Seline in Santa Monica, joins me to share his Five Rules for Finding Your Culinary Voice. We talk about the importance of self-awareness, learning how to accept the hard truth, and ...
Vanya, Marc-Olivier & Jessica’s Five Rules for Hosting Like a Montrealer
September 7, 2026
"If your vibe is you got there at five, but at midnight you’re still there because you just can’t get enough, we’re definitely not gonna kick you out. We’re gonna find a way to make it all work, and that’s where the sidewalk tables get created. Always leave room for excess is something we swear by." - Vanya Filipovic
Vanya Filipovic, ...
"All of it is inviting participation. Participation in the magic around us.” - Evan Marks
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Evan Marks
Evan Marks, founder and executive director of The Ecology Center, joins me to share his Five Rules for an ...
Justin Pichetrungsi’s Five (Easy) Rules for Taking Over Your Parents’ Restaurant
August 24, 2026
Justin Pichetrungsi, chef and owner of Anajak Thai Cuisine, joins me to share his Five (Easy) Rules for Taking Over Your Parents’ Restaurant. We talk about burning yourself out—and knowing when not to—along with the importance of arguing with your parents, listening to them, and recognizing that old things are often cooler than new ones. ...
Carter Hiyama’s Five Rules for Restaurant Food Photography
August 17, 2026
Restaurant photographer Carter Hiyama, whose book On Service, Volume One is out now, joins me to share his Five Rules for Restaurant Food Photography. We talk about why light is everything, the importance of removing distractions from the table, and why making sure your lens is clean is a must. He also explains how his background shooting ...
