Send us Fan Mail In part II this Voice4Chefs conversation, Chef Adi explains how working in international kitchens changed him personally as much as professionally, emphasizing that travel expands perspective beyond career focus and money. He shares an early Dubai experience at Marina Social where a calm, confident senior chef modeled composure and muscle memory under pressure, shaping Adi’s leadership outlook. Adi describes learning to slow down through European culture, contrasting it with ...

Chef Adi’s Michelin-Star Journey: Purpose, Mise en Place, and Global Kitchen Lessons Chef Adi, an Indian chef currently working at Handmade Cafe in Pune India, shares how his passion for purpose-driven cooking and constant community-focused restaurant culture. Joined by host Michael and co-host Chef Steven, Adi recounts realizing cooking as his identity in his early teens, being inspired by TV cooking shows, and developing “muscle memory” by repeatedly watching techniqu...

Send us Fan Mail On The Voice4Chefs podcast, we welcome Michelin-trained co-host Chef Steven and guest Chef Christophe Domergue, a classically trained French chef who worked in Michelin-level kitchens in France and Switzerland, moved to New York’s Le Cirque via Daniel Boulud in 1992, and later became executive chef at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant at Paris Las Vegas. Domergue traces his passion to long family meals in southwest France and his castle-based culinary school, then describes mentorsh...

Send us Fan Mail Voice4Chefs Turns 5: How a Pandemic Idea Became a Global Hospitality Podcast May 2026 marks the five-year anniversary of the Voice4Chefs podcast, founded May 1 2020 during the pandemic when restaurants fell silent and hospitality workers faced uncertainty. The host, a former restaurant professional who transitioned into technology, describes creating the show to honor chefs and the people behind hospitality while battling imposter syndrome and launching with help from Toastm...

In this heartfelt episode, we welcome entrepreneur and restaurateur Tawfik Maudah, founder of Café Yemen in Renton, Washington. Joined by special co-host Carrie Dugan, we explore Tawfik’s journey from a small mountain village in Yemen to building a thriving restaurant rooted in culture, hospitality, and tradition. Tawfik shares vivid memories of growing up surrounded by family, fresh food, and daily rituals that shaped his deep appreciation for authentic cuisine. From milking...

Chef Steven Leung on Resilience, Entrepreneurship, and Redefining Success Beyond the Kitchen Voice4Chefs welcomes chef Steven Leung, who began cooking in his family kitchen in Hong Kong at 12, trained at Le Cordon Bleu LA, and built his career in top Las Vegas kitchens including Mandarin Oriental and the Michelin-starred Guy Savoy, later serving as executive sous chef at the Cosmopolitan. He and host Michael recount meeting during the pandemic on the Clubhouse “Food Is Religion” ...

Chef Checkin Celebrating Filipino Cuisine with Chef Isi Laureano: Offering insights into Filipino hospitality, culinary heritage, and the value of pursuing one’s passion, this conversational check-in interview features Chef Isi Laureano, reflecting on her journey as a chef and entrepreneur in the Philippines. Isi shares experiences from the pandemic, describing how lockdowns impacted her private chef career and led to a shift toward home-based cooking and food delivery. The con...

Send us a text From aspiring medical doctor to celebrated chef and food scientist. Chef Eda discusses her early culinary inspirations, including her pivot from nutrition to food science, and her experiences working in the high-profile Los Angeles culinary scene. Chef Eda also explores the challenges of creating allergen-free menus and the innovative techniques she employs in her cooking. Additionally, she provides insights into her role at Microsoft and her current endeavors with Cocina Caser...

Send us a text This bonus episode of VoiceChefs revisits on of our first episodes and celebrates the indispensable role of volunteers in culinary and community service. Host Michael Dugan welcomes Chef Tracy Calderon, who manages the Atrium Kitchen and Cooking School in Seattle's Pike Place Market. Also running the Nourish Neighborhoods program, Chef Tracy shares how they have fed over 35,000 people during the pandemic with the help of volunteers. She reflects on her childhood, family influen...

Join us for an insightful interview with Greg Gazin, a distinguished Toastmaster and host of both the Toastcaster and The Official Toastmasters Podcast, recently named a Top 25 Higher Education Podcast by AcademicInfluence.com. In 2009, Greg received the Toastmasters International Presidential Citation for his innovative use of technology to benefit the Toastmasters community. This prerecorded session was live from PodMasters Advanced Toastmasters and is hosted by Michael Dugan...

Hosts Michael Dugan and Chef Steven engage with Chef Kristen Watts Schumacher, also known as Chef Shu, the Culinary Director at Carnation Farms in the Snoqualmie Valley, Seattle. Chef Shu shares her inspirational journey from cooking for friends in her teenage years to running the heirloom cookshop and leading farm to table feasts. The conversation delves into her early influences, challenges, and triumphs, highlighting her love for community, re...

Special Invitation Podmasters Open House with Greg Gazin! Join us for an inspiring online Open House featuring Greg Gazin, host of the Official Toastmasters Podcast. In a live interview with Michael Dugan, host of the Voice4Chefs podcast, Greg will share his Toastmasters journey, podcasting insights, and tips for amplifying your voice in today’s digital world. This is a unique opportunity to see how Toastmasters and podcasting work hand-in-hand to build confidence, leadership, ...

Part II of this engaging episode of Voice4Chefs, host Michael welcomes Maricel back for part two of her incredible culinary journey. Maricel shares her fascinating experiences from dazzling appearances on PBS, Hulu, and the Food Channel. She recounts unexpected yet serendipitous connections that led her to star on these platforms, including a humorous story about ignoring a potential PBS opportunity, which turned out to be legitimate. Maricel highlights key moments from cook...

Send us a text In this episode of Voice4Chefs, we welcome Chef Maricel Gentile, a celebrated chef educator, and ambassador of Philippine cuisine. With roots in her grandmother's kitchen in Manila, Chef Maricel's career has spanned top restaurants in New York to founding Maricel’s Kitchen in New Jersey. She has been featured on Hulu, PBS, and the Food Network, sharing the bold flavors and stories of the Philippines. Chef Maricel discusses the influence of her grandmother on her cooking, her ex...

Send us a text In this compelling episode of Voice4Chefs, host Michael is joined by new co-host Chef Steven, a seasoned culinary professional with experience in five-star hotels and Michelin-starred kitchens. Together, they welcome Sena Wheeler, a fifth-generation fisherman and co-founder of Sena Sea, to explore the story behind one of the most trusted names in wild Alaska seafood. 🌊 Discover the Journey of Sena Sea Sena shares how her family’s deep-rooted fishing heritage and passion for sus...

Send us a text In this special 4-year anniversary episode of the Voice4Chefs Podcast, host Michael Dugan sits in the guest chair—interviewed by Arthur J Byrnes from Podmasters Advanced Toastmasters Club. Michael shares his deeply personal journey through Toastmasters, revealing how it helped him conquer imposter syndrome, find his voice, and launch a globally recognized platform that amplifies the stories of chefs and culinary professionals worldwide. This inspiring episode features reflectio...

Send us a text As we conclude the month of May. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Voice4Chefs is proud to rerelease this special episode to spotlight the courageous and inspiring journey of Chef Abbey, whose story sheds light on the challenges—and triumphs—of mental health in the culinary world. As a young lady, chef Abbey Miller thought she wanted to be a crime investigator. Little did she know she would make it all the way to the CIA... but the delicious one: The Culinary Institute...

Send us a text As we conclude the month of May. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Voice4Chefs is proud to rerelease and spotlight the courageous and inspiring journey of Chef Abbey, whose story sheds light on the challenges—and triumphs—of mental health in the culinary world. As a young lady, chef Abbey Miller thought she wanted to be a crime investigator. Little did she know she would make it all the way to the CIA... but the delicious one: The Culinary Institute of America. She was...

Send us a text Part II of Chef Ashley Brown's Culinary Journey: From Competitions to Chopped In the season 4 premiere of Voice4Chefs, we continue diving into Chef Ashley Brown's journey in the culinary world. Ashley shares her experiences from competing in local competitions, working alongside other chefs, to finally participating in the popular TV show Chopped. She details her creative process, the challenges she faced, her emotional moments, and the support she received from her husband an...

Send us a text Kicking Off Season Four: Chef Ashley Brown's Culinary Journey Season Four of Voice4Chefs kicks off with a special Mother's Day episode featuring Chef Ashley Brown from Colorado Springs. A chef and mother she shares her journey from a young culinary enthusiast to a chef de cuisine at Four by Celebrity chef Brother Luck. Ashley discusses her early influences, struggles, and achievements, including her success in culinary competitions and her connection with renowned chef B...

Send us a text Voice4Chefs is celebrating Mapp’s Five Year anniversary at The Women in Hospitality Conference at the Wynn in Las Vegas. We're proud to rerelease this original episode an amazing interview for you. Thanks to JIndia of freespiritpodcast.com for editing and creating a brilliant intro. Welcome to Food is religion. on Clubhouse. Today is an edited recording from the Food Is Religion room called the food talk show hosted by Chef Mimi Lan, who is the creator of Food Is Religion. She int...

Send us a text Welcome back to another Chef Check-In on the Voice4Chefs podcast! Today, we reconnect with Victoria Feldman, founder of Canterbury Baking School in England, to catch up on her journey since our first conversations in Episode 27 and Episode 28. Victoria shares how her school has evolved, the impact of the pandemic on her teaching, and how she embraced the digital world to grow her business. She also opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, the power of showing up authentically ...

Send us a text Special release Happy Valentines! **Guest Bio:** Rasha Younan is the owner and chocolatier of Bon Chocolats, where she crafts exquisite chocolate bonbons and confections using all-natural ingredients. An Architect by profession, Rasha's passion for chocolate led her to become a chocolatier, creating delectable treats that bring joy to many. **Key Discussion Points:** 1. **Rasha's Background and Journey:** - Transition from architect to chocolatier. - The inspiration from chil...

Send us a text In this special episode join Toastmasters District 7 podcast, host Ray Miller as he engages in a captivating conversation with Michael Dugan, the voice behind The Voice4Chefs Podcast. Michael shares his journey from overcoming stage fright to running a successful podcast featuring chefs from around the world. They discuss the significance of 'mise en place' in both cooking and public speaking, and the transformative power of storytelling in podcasting. Michael also talks about his...