On this week's episode, Helene and Joella tackle their biggest pet peeves—or pet hates, depending on which side of the world you're from. They share the sometimes serious, often humorous ways they coach staff to save money, work smarter, and, on occasion, keep all ten fingers intact. Joella also uncovers some fascinating Victorian-era facts from a recent work project, before the pair question just how much history is too much history for a hospitality podcast.

On this week's episode, Helene and Joella take a trip through culinary history as they uncover the origins of the Michelin Guide and how a clever marketing campaign evolved into one of the world's most prestigious restaurant rating systems. They explore what it takes for restaurants to earn the coveted Michelin stars and discuss the dedication, precision, and pressure of working in such a high-standard environment.

With summer well underway, another concert inevitably finds its way into the conversation. And, in true podcast fashion, power outage season arrives just in time to wreak havoc on this week's recording, proving that even the best-laid plans don't always go to plan.

On this week’s episode, Helene and Joella talk listeners through what a day looks like when they’re back at work after time away and trying to find their feet again. They reflect on how their leadership styles differ, while also complementing one another in the day-to-day running of the café.

True to form, the conversation takes a detour into the world of sport, where two self-confessed non-sports people attempt to make sense of New Zealand’s team names. An event packed with cyclists also takes centre stage, proving once again that there’s no shortage of drama in the day-to-day life of a café worker.

On this week's episode, Helene and Joella kick things off with tales from a dinner party, where the sound of clippity-clopping shoes becomes an unexpected source of amusement. Hyacinth pops up at a community event, before the conversation moves on to a more reflective turn as they discuss the sacrifices often made in the hospitality industry.

From exhaustion spilling into precious days off to the unpredictability of shift work and last-minute schedule changes, they explore the realities of a life spent in hospitality. Drawing from their own experiences of growing up in hospitality households, they share how finding quality family time was often a challenge.

Despite the demands of the industry, they also examine what continues to attract people to hospitality—and, perhaps more importantly, what inspires them to stay.

On this week's episode, Helene and Joella explore the role customers can play in creating waste within a business, discussing whether it's something that can be controlled and why the challenges differ between cafés and restaurants.

They also unpack a slightly questionable—but maybe justified—dine-and-dash moment, debate who should foot the bill when mistakes happen, and discover that navigating Canadian culture can be just as challenging as navigating hospitality, especially when it comes to common every day words that are not easy to say with a different accent.

On this week’s episode, Joella returns from 10 days in Italy with plenty of stories to share—from unforgettable meals and memorable experiences to observations on hospitality culture abroad. Together, Helene and Joella explore the slower approach to dining in Italy, where meals are centred around experience rather than fast-paced act of turning over tables.

Of course, some things in hospitality prove to be universal, as Joella also recounts the familiar frustrations of customers sitting where ever they like, stealing tables, and disrupting server flow—no matter where in the world you are, annoying customers are everywhere.

This week, Helene and Joella are bringing plenty of flavour to the conversation—equal parts exhausted, slightly salty, and ready to unpack the many characters that make up hospitality life. From the labels customers unknowingly earn to the pros and cons they bring to a business, this episode blends industry insight with the reminder that no matter how old you get...some things never stop being funny.

On this week’s episode, Helene and Joella share stories from the first concert of the season, question whether “brain food” is really doing its job, and reflect on a week of customer interactions that left them wanting to ask, “Are you alright, love?"

They also explore the delicate balance of saying “no” in hospitality, and how setting boundaries with customers can either risk losing business—or create stronger loyalty in the long run.