Movers and Shakers with April Wachtel
Movers and Shakers is the podcast about people and ideas that are changing the beverage landscape. Hosted by mixologist and Swig + Swallow Founder, April Wachtel, this podcast examines stories from innovators and thought leaders throughout the beverage ecosystem.
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 49 minutes
- Episodes
- 57
- Years Active
- 2017 - 2023
Happy Holidays
On this Christmas Eve, instead of a regular show, I wanted to do something a little different, and share a few things I'm personally grateful for from this year.
Effie Panagopoulos from Kleos Mastiha on naming and trademarking your brand, raising capital, and turning off the internal gremlins
Effie Panagopoulos is a 15 year veteran of the alcoholic beverage industry, and is founder of Kleos, the super premium Mastiha spirit.
Effie earned her stripes as a bartender and brand ambassador in …
Shilen Patel from Distill Ventures on what DV is looking for in potential investments, the future of the non-alch movement, and challenges facing food & beverage entrepreneurs
Shilen Patel is co-founder and non-alch lead for Distill Ventures, the world’s first accelerator for the spirits industry.
Shilen started in drinks by leading a team at Guinness that turned around o…
Jeffrey Morgenthaler from Clyde Common and Pepe Le Moko on why the craft cocktail movement is due for change, why everyone should strive to contribute, and why bartenders should stay behind the bar
Jeffrey Morgenthaler is an award-winning bartender working since 1996 in everything from neighborhood taverns and college nightclubs to fine restaurants and upscale lounges.
Jeffrey has been writing …
Nick Papanicolaou from Pernod Ricard on why large companies struggle with innovation, relationship building with investors, the importance of timing in growing your business, and so much more
Nick Papanicolaou is a former investment banker and MBA graduate turned entrepreneur, who launched his own spirits brand which eventually brought him to Pernod Ricard. He led the M&A and Strategy tea…
Robert Simonson from the New York Times on the role of instinct in creative work, the evolution of the celebrity bartender, and the book someone should write on hospitality
Robert Simonson writes about bars, bartenders, cocktails, spirits and travel for The New York Times.
His work has also appeared in Imbibe, Food & Wine, Saveur, Bon Appetit, Punch and many other publi…
Charlie O'Donnell from Brooklyn Bridge Ventures on misconceptions about angel investment versus VC, reasons to avoid raising money from friends and family, and who should pitch him for investment
Charlie O’Donnell has been an active member of the NY startup community for over 15 years, with a reputation of being the most accessible early stage investor in New York. His fund, Brooklyn Bridge V…
Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr. Lyan, on rethinking sustainability, creativity and growth, and challenging the status quo
Ben Branson from Seedlip on Seedlip's evolution from a kitchen project to global brand, culture creation, wellness as hygiene, and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs
Claire Warner from Aecorn Aperitifs on the importance of knowing yourself, risk in the startup world, and coaching and mentorship
I’m so excited to present today’s interview with Claire Warner. Claire has worked in the drinks industry for over 20 years, starting her career as a bartender and moving into brand advocacy and educa…
Giuseppe Gallo from Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto on his journey to launching Italicus, the history of the Rosolio category, challenges and crucibles of launching a premium beverage brand as a start up, and why big companies struggle with innovation.
I'm so excited to present my interview today with Giuseppe Gallo. Giuseppe is a twenty year veteran of the beverage and hospitality industries, and founder of ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto, a liquor…
Ming-Tai Huh from Toast on hospitality as a differentiator in technology, Toast features, and how technology can bring your restaurant to the next level
I'm so excited to present my interview today with Ming-Tai Huh, Head of Partnerships at Toast, & Proprietor at Puritan & Company
As many of us know, restauranteurs are struggling with rising labor co…
Steve Luttman from Tortoise & Volt Marketing & Ventures on founding Leblon Cachaça, how Cannabis will affect the alcoholic beverage industry, and what brands have to do to persevere in today's world
Ryan Magarian from Ryan Magarian Concepts and Hospitality on the evolution of his career, mentorship/relationship building in hospitality, and advice for enterpreneurs starting out
I'm so excited to present my interview today with Ryan Magarian. Ryan is president of Ryan Magarian Concepts and Hospitality, he is co-founder of Oven and Shaker, and co-founder of Aviation American …
Kerry Preston from Growtality on reverse engineering your dreams, getting started on your next chapter, and building your own personal board of directors
Kerry Preston is an executive coach and founder of Growtality, where she works with clients to optimize individual and organizational performance, growth, and vitality through research based methodol…
Simon Ford from Ford's Gin on new products, moving from the non-profit sector to founding his own company, brand building, and mistakes made along the way
Simon Ford is a legend in the cocktail and spirits worlds and is a co-founder and president of the Ford's Gin Company, formally the 86 Company. While he started his career working in wine, he's proba…
Episode 19- Elliott Clark from Apartment Bartender on building a brand, getting started on your own passion project, diversifying among social media channels, and the importance of consistency
Elliott Clark is the founder and creative director of Apartment Bartender. Apartment Bartender is a private digital content agency that specializes in the drink and lifestyle category. Elliott is als…
Episode 18 - Billy Melnyk from Soto Sake
I'm so thrilled to have Billy Melnyk on the show with me today. Billy and I go way back- from when he was Director of Influential Accounts at Bacardi, and I was the New York based Brand Ambassador fo…
Movers and Shakers is Back [plus instagram giveaway!]
Hey y'all- So sorry for the long absence, and a belated happy new year! Here's a quick update to let you know what's in store for Movers and Shakers in 2018, plus an opportunity to participate in Swi…
Episode 16 - Noah Rothbaum
We are super excited to welcome Noah Rothbaum on this episode of Movers & Shakers. Noah is the drink and food editor of the Half Full section at the Daily Beast. He's the author of "The Art of Americ…