Branching Out

Episode 12 - Lynette Marrero

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

EPISODE 12! Lynette Marrero of New York joins Josh to talk about knowing and finding and building your community, understanding when to make the choice to stick with the thing that works best for you and also, musicals. Lynette was sent our way by Kaitlyn Stewart (and also by Kate Chernoff).

Follow Lynette: @drinksat6

Follow Speed Rack: @speed_rack

Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas

Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh Lindley

Written by Josh Lindley

RIP: Nicholas Brendon

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 11 - Erick Castro

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (josh lindley, erick castro) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

EPISODE 11! Erick Castro of San Diego joins Josh to talk about addressing mental health without training, the concept of the "false wait" and how important sharing knowledge really is. Erick was sent our way by Sarah Ruiz who says she loves his podcast (it's cool, I have no feelings left to hurt).

Follow Erick: @bartenderatlarge

Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas

Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted) Host: Josh Lindley Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 10 - Shawn Soole

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (Josh Lindley, shawn soole, bartender atlas) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

EPISODE 10! Shawn Soole, the one and only, of Victoria joins Josh to talk about landscaping, maintaining a successful marriage as an industry vet and a little bit about bartending and mentors. Shawn was sent our way by Brant Porter who came our way via the starting point of one of our trees, Kate Chernoff.

Follow Shawn: @shawnsoole

Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas

Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh Lindley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 9 - Jeff Savage

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (Bartender Atlas) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:53:56 +0000

EPISODE 9! Jeff Savage of Prophecy in Vancouver joins Josh to talk about spirituality, sports, nature and a little bit about bartending and mentors. Plenty of fun insights about what makes Jeff tick. Jeff was sent our way by Callie Draper who came our way via the starting point of one of our trees, Kate Chernoff.

Follow Jeff: @tfatherofcups
Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas
Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)
Host: Josh Lindley
Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 8 - Kevin Diedrich

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (josh lindley, bartender atlas, kevin diedrich) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

EPISODE 8! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Kevin Diedrich of San Francisco, California. Kevin came our way via Sarah Ruiz, who came our way via Kapri Robinson. Kevin tells us about some of the people that have helped him along the way, but also gets into what it is like starting a Cocktail Week.

Follow Kevin @therealdiedrich
Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas
Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh Lindley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 7 - Jenna Hemsworth

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (josh lindley, bartender atlas, jenna hemsworth) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

EPISODE 7! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Jenna Hemsworth of Melbourne (Melbin?) Australia. Jenna is a starting point on another tree on which we will branch out. Jenna tells us about some of the people that have helped her along the way, but also gets into some very reflective ideas about who you work with and how we all show up for each other.

Follow Jenna: @jrhemsworth
Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas
Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 6- Calliope Draper

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (Josh Lindley, Calliope Draper, Bartender Atlas) — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

EPISODE 6! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Calliope Draper of Montreal, Canada. We got to Calliope from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Callie talk about transgender representation in the hospitality community, the importance of staying curious and how being familiar with systems of international political systems can help you in your bar career. Calliope then tells us about her many pillars that have propped her up in her career thus far.

Follow Calliope: @non_barnary
Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas
Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)
Host: Josh Lindley
Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 5- Brant Porter

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (Josh Lindley, Brant Porter, Bartender Atlas) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

EPISODE 5! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Brant Porter of Victoria, Canada. We got to Brant from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Brant talk about choosing between shredding on guitar and shaking drinks, being able to see your younger self for who you were (a nerd) and of course, his big three mentors that have guided him along the way. Follow Brant: @brantarthurporter

Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted) Host: Josh Lindley Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 4 - Kaitlyn Stewart

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (Kaitlyn Stewart, Josh Lindley, Bartender Atlas) — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 01:10:47 +0000

EPISODE 4! On this episode of Branching Out, we speak with Kaitlyn Stewart of Vancouver. We got to Kaitlyn from Episode 3's Kate Chernoff. In this episode Josh and Kaitlyn talk about if job titles even matter, her previous career which trained her well to be behind the bar and of course, her big three mentors that have guided her on her way.

Follow Kaitlyn: @likeablecocktailsFollow

Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas

Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh Lindley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 3 - Kate Chernoff

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (Bartender Atlas, Josh Lindley, Kate Chernoff) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:55:00 +0000

EPISODE 3! We are starting a new tree with Kate Chernoff of Vancouver, Canada. Plus Josh explains to the other half of Bartender Atlas, Jessica Blaine Smith, just what he is doing with Branching Out.

In a relatively short period of time with working behind the bar, Kate has done great things. She talks about being the World Class Canada Bartender of the Year 2025 and the opportunities that have come from that including working at North America's 50 Best Bars. She tells us how her past roles led her to becoming a bartender. And most importantly, she tells us who and what has influenced her along the way.

Follow Kate: @cocktailcowgirl

Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas

Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh Lindley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 2- Sarah Ruiz

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (sarah ruiz, bartender atlas, josh lindley) — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

EPISODE 2!
Kapri Robinson led us to Sarah Ruiz, of BIG Bar in Quito, Ecuador.

Sarah talks about the best ways to build a solid foundation, not just for drinks but for training staff. She talks about how moving to Quito from San Francisco made her re-evaluate how much she loves using local cocktail ingredients. And, for our purposes, most importantly, she points us in the direction of a handful of her favourite people and books. The sort of people and books we honestly, didn't expect to hear about until way deeper into this project.

Follow Sarah: @sarahruiz87

Follow BIG Bar: @BIG.uio

Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas

Follow AXXN Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Episode 1 - Kapri Robinson

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (Kapri Robinson, Bartender Atlas, Josh Lindley) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

It's our first episode of Branching Out and we begin with Kapri Robinson of Allegory in Washington, DC, USA!

We talk about how Friends and Family Nights at new bars can be awkward. We talk about dropping out of school and the importance of having your heroes on speed dial. We talk about having fun while being responsible. We talk about what mentorship really is and who are the people who have inspired and taught Kapri along the way.

Follow Kapri: @kapri.possible
Follow Chocolate City's Best: @Chocolate.Citys.Best
Follow Bartender Atlas: @bartenderatlas
Follow Axxn Pact: @axxnpact

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley

Branching Out Teaser

bartenderatlas@gmail.com (Aaron Verdonk, Jesse Colburn, Josh Lindley) — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 23:31:51 +0000

Host: Josh LIndley
Producer: Aaron Verdonk, Jesse Colburn
Music: Aaron Verdonk
Graphics: Jessica Blaine Smith

Branching Out is produced by AXXN Pact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All music by Aaron Verdonk (unless otherwise noted)

Host: Josh LIndley

Written: Mostly by Josh Lindley