Ep 377 - Cesar Garcia: Back to the Land
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Cesar Garcia grew up in mezcal country. He was surrounded by the culture, the land, and the drink itself. However, the realities of alcohol consumption sometimes eclipse the romanticized category. After decades in corporate life, Cesar experienced a life changing event that forever changed the trajectory of his life and coincidentally brought him back to the world of Mezcal. The resulting project Spirits, spotlights various regions of Mexico and brings Cesar back to the land. We chat diagrams, family, childhood, and more.
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Ep 376 - Cristina Allen: The Heart of Rock and Roll is Still Drinking
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Cristina Allen co-founder of learned that the craft and beauty of tequila is always attainable but only with the right processes in place. Cristina studied music production and has always had a knack for creativity. Seeing the dawn of the digital era sunset on those bygone days of analog, perhaps is the bridge between the past and the future. A truly analog spirit. We sit and chat on a windy Sunday afternoon to discuss Alice In Chains, making sure younger generations listen to proper music, and more.
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Ep 375 - John Melvin: Come Together, Right Now
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
co-founder John Melvin has delved in finances, drumming, winemaking, and now fatherhood. His brand, , is a promise ring to his French wife and their love of all things flavor. This beautiful French meets Jalisco project produced at Cascahuin was just the first step. Now, John brings one of the most lauded tasting events, , to Austin Texas on November 8 (2025). What's in store for attendees and how does John's distinct version of hospitality enhance the experience? We chat art, family meal, jam bands, and more.
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Ep 374 - Sebastian Cajas: Never Met A Stranger
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Austin's Sebas Cajas has had an interesting journey through the jungle, basketball courts, and mezcalerias of Ecuador. After a fateful gap in gigs, and motherly advice, he left Quito to start a new chapter in Austin. Here he has found love, friends, and most recently of all a deeper love of agave. After many years working behind the global spirits specialty restaurant/bar , Sebas now takes on his biggest challenge yet with , an intimate mecaleria style cocktail bar with lovely ambience and intimacy. We chat NBA GOAT, Nike's, feeling part of a community, and more.
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Ep 373- Diana Pinzón: This is Zinacantan Mezcal
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Diana Pinzón has a lust for life, nature, exploration, and protecting natural resources. Her forrest studies led her to Puebla, where the beginnings of were born. Now years later and at the helm of Mezcal truth-telling, Diana, via , brings these beautiful spirits into Texas. We talk about bats, dancing, travel, and more.
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Ep 372 - Naomi Michial Ayala: Behind the Scenes
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Naomi Michial Ayala has achieved profound things in the hospitality industry and somehow has never been thrown into the spotlight. With almost 20 years in the business, Naomi has bartended, educated, led the Dallas USBG, and continues to be a consummate professional and role model to others. Her latest chapter with , brings her back to the world of Scotch whisky and with more horsepower than ever. We chat health, gardening, performative questions, and more.
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Ep 371 - Aidan Marengo: Oh The Places We'll Go
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Aidan Marengo is a staple in the San Francisco hospitality scene. His reputation as a nice guy has opened countless doors for his career. And, one fateful evening in Oaxaca caused a new and exciting door to open. Aidan has made the move from SF to Oaxaca to lend a hand for the team at Looking for love in all the right places, we chat about rom coms, music, humor and more.
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Ep 370 - Katie Black: Spirits in the Material World
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Katie Black has distilled, fermented, bartended, event coordinated, traveled Europe, and so much more. It's hard to guess where she'll turn up next, but one thing is clear: her love of people and hospitality will keep guiding her. Her curiosity drives her, and with every move she practices the art of "intention". And as we post this chat today, she announces the next big chapter of her career and a move to Houston. We chat dating, produce, sharing, and more.
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Ep 369 - Guillermo Erickson Sauza: Live at the Fortaleza Cave
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Almost 10 years into this podcasting journey, new interview opportunities and some legends finally make it to the mic. As part of Dia de Los Muertos last year, I had the privilege to sit down and chat with founder Guillermo Sauza. With such a successful career inside and outside of Tequila, where does he find solace in these later chapters of his life? We sip Fortaleza, chat life, and prepared for a big party in the cave.
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Ep 368 - Ted Genoways: The Pen, The Process, Tequila Wars
Show de Vie Podcast w/Mike G
Deeply lauded writer Ted Genoways has been a philosopher and storyteller for almost his whole life. His journalistic endeavors have led to authoring 6 books, earning countless awards, and now into an exposé on Mexico's most viable of spirits, Tequila. His new book examines the founding families of this industry and sheds light on documents/events that have previously been lost in history. We chat peril, dinner time stories, and more.
info_outlineLuis Loya grew up on cattle ranch in Chihuahua Mexico. His rebellious nature, and gift for drawing transformed into an insatiable need to explore later in life. He is the purveyor of some of the finest distillates in the world, and more specifically Mexico, with his brand La Mata Spirits. With beautiful spirits from Durango, Oaxaca, Nuevo León, and more, Luis illuminates the undiscovered processes found in more distant areas of Mexico. The rare and coveted bottles contain some the most unique and compelling spirits found anywhere in the world. We talk about architecture, skateboarding, passion, and more.