Summary

In the first ever unedited episode since episode 1, join us for the finale of Season Four. Tracy Rashid and Timothy R. Andrews reflect on the amazing journey they've had recording the season.

They express their gratitude to the guests and listeners who have supported them. The hosts discuss the filming of Zest Quest Asia and the evolution of the podcast, from online interviews to future Vox Pox formats.

They also share their favourite episodes and highlight the impact the podcast has had on them as hosts, but also to listeners who have shared their stories.

The episode concludes with a teaser for Season Five and the announcement of a short break.

Unedited. Unabridged. Warts n All. Wrapped in a theme tune.

Takeaways

• Express gratitude to guests and listeners for their support.
• Reflect on the evolution of the podcast and the filming of special episodes.
• Highlight favorite episodes and the impact the podcast has had on listeners.
• Tease Season Five and announce a short break.

Chapters

00:00 Season Four Wrap-Up

01:34 Filming ZestQuest Asia

03:53 Appreciation for Guests and Listeners

06:20 Every Voice Can Shape the Future

08:45 Favourite Episodes

09:21 Future Growth and Audience Input

10:21 Impact of the Podcast

10:50 Taking a Short Break

11:20 Season Five Teaser

Welcome to the finale of... This is unedited too. It is. Welcome to the finale of season four of Talking Hospitality.

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I am Tracy Rashid. I'm Timothy R. Andrees. So today we thought we'd do a wrap up of our amazing, it's just been an amazing season. The stuff that we've done has been absolutely incredible and I think one of the best things as you can probably see or not see if you're listening to audio is we have branded hoodies. We have branded hoodies everybody. Yeah we stand out like an eyesore but in a good way, in a good way and...

Yeah, I almost can't articulate how much fun I've had recording this season with you, Tim. The people we've met, it's just been continuously improving, getting better, getting slicker, and just, yeah, just awesome. Honestly, like, when we look back on the season, so just so you know, this is our final episode, and we decided we're not going to edit it. So we are going to have it, what's in all, bloopers and all, all here for you, and knowing...

both Tracy and My Track Record, there'll probably be something coming up shortly. We are here recording at the lovely Hilton Wembley as we have been filming ZestQuest Asia, where we've been filming the contestants and judges. An amazing competition. We'll put a link in on our website. Absolutely. Thank you for those that have provided financial support and bought the tickets. It's going to be an amazing event. I don't know how people do this. Honestly, the recording all day. We're used to one hour.

two hours in out. So doing the whole day, actually it's half a day, it's not even a whole day, it's half a day. It's tiring, but you learn so much about people and I think everyone's passion has really been transferring over to us for the day people's going. It's been lovely like that. And I think it's just, for me, it feels like an extension of our podcast in terms of the people that we meet in the podcast. And when I say season four, I kind of...

also view season three as part of season four. I feel like they kind of blend quite a lot. And for me, like meeting the young people today has inspired me again. So we meet people that are really active in our industry right now as guests, but now we'll also, when we see some of the young talent coming through, it's really exciting. Cause some of them are just really professional and really passionate. And I feel like if these are our future, then our future is looking great as an industry. Yeah.

Yeah, and it's nice to see that they're excited, their horizons are open, and they really want to explore and find out more. But what you were saying about season three and four kind of blending in, it's part of the journey. This is what we're doing today. It feels like it's part of that journey and how we've evolved from just interviewing people online and then sitting in a room with a group of people. And now it's like Vox Pods kind of vibe. And it's just changing.

Yeah, it's just been, it's been, you know, like, if you think about some of the people that have helped us on the way, we've had people like Paul Cook has helped us with our storytelling. We've had the team today, like Daxia Mystery, who some of you will know from the guest, but also as a judge on MasterChef, we've had Vivica Gore has come in kindly to help us. We've got another team helping us tomorrow. It's just been a really exciting process and to have people helping us like this has been immense. And, you know, and our listeners that every week listen to us and...

follow us, like us. Whether you're on LinkedIn or TikTok, we are on TikTok now. Instagram as well, some of those have gone a little bit viral. All those that have followed the reels, we really appreciate it because some of our guests are really important to make a difference and by your supporting us and supporting them, you're also making a difference. So I think it's really important. So thank you. Timothy.

What has been your favourite episode? Can you even say what your one favourite episode has been from season four? I think for me, it's the number of guests in terms of the round tables, the ones which we call round tables where you've got maybe more than a couple of guests on. I feel that there's so much still to be done in hospitality and by having these experts come in, not always agreeing either, where they...

they share a lot more and a lot more open and there's a lot more debate and for me I feel like that is the future of our podcast in many ways. We're not going to get rid of the one -to -ones because they are important and I think we get a lot more story out of them, we can go in a lot more depth but hearing these different views but yet everybody wanting to achieve the same goal has really

really expanded my horizons. You know, like the Women Leadership podcast. I mean, that was just incredible. I mean, I don't think a recording can capture the energy of this. But yeah, it's all there and there's a lot of information. And then the Men's Mental Health, that was standout as well. I mean, there was a lot of standout, even the ones we've had some incredible guests. And it's just, I don't know if there's one that I could say. Obviously,

saying farewell to Sarah was a little bit... It was a moosh. It was a little bit difficult. It was a moosh. It really was. I've not known her for that long and it was emotional for me so I can only imagine how you felt. Yeah, well I felt proud of her really. We did this in lockdown and well you guys can listen to the episode and then you can find out the rest of it. So I think there's a number of different things and I think for me the overall arching thing of season four has been...

being the growth. Like we've grown together more, we're creatively very different, we're rethinking our product, we've got a website, we didn't have a website before, we're on, we've got a text a slogan. Read it out, let me read it out. So we have, and this is an introduction, we have got every voice can shape the future. And that's all, that represents every one of our guests that come on and also anybody that's in the future, that's how I see it. Yeah, absolutely.

everyone that we have on our show has been a game changer really or talking about game changing. And so they've had something to offer, haven't they? They've had something to offer, something that despite our listeners, we're like, oh my gosh, really? Like we didn't, there's so much we've learned, like so much we've learned. Like, I know honestly, I'm going to be listening to it again because there's, every time I listen to Sony episodes, I'm picking something else up. And I feel like there's a lot still to be unpicked and unlearned. You know, the things that we've got planned for the...

the website as well for the future. We've got brand partner, our first brand partner, Graphic Kitchen of course, and they're gonna help us with our new website, but the current website that we're on, you know, do check it out because we are gonna start adding a lot more, there's gonna be special offers. Our newsletter will start coming out shortly. More support. Yeah, the courses will go on there. There's a lot, so, but we can't do it without listeners and your support and our great guests.

Great host. So it helps. So back to you. What was your favorite episode of the season? I'm a bit like you, it's so hard. But I have to say when we've got a group of people in a room talking about a topic that's in the industry that we absolutely love, hospitality, and one person's journey is, you know, A to Z, one's is D to...

and everyone's different, but everyone brings in such insights, such passion, such advice for our listeners and for us as well, and each other. They've learned from each other as well. But I would say, like you said, really, the men's mental health, women's leadership, I think because it was focused on men and women, it just really brought out a different vibe.

And I learned, and the research we have to do, we have to do research to understand our topics and what I learned in those two areas. I kind of think, you know, in my age, I should kind of know these things already, but you don't. Unless it's spoken about, which is exactly why we're doing what we're doing. Unless it's spoken about, you just don't know. So I love the fact that we're not just getting people on, but we're sharing stats, we're sharing information about what's going on in the world that is kind of swept under the rug quite a lot. So for me, you know, having those masses, you know,

The Drag Queens. I mean, it's too risky. I had a faux pas and I can't remember what it was now, but I kept saying something very wrong over and over again. I did so many takes and that was funny. But yeah, I think when we've got a group of people, and MasterChef, because everyone knows Fangirl. Yeah, MasterChef is another little girl. It was just very, very exceptional.

season and there's a lot more to grow and we realize there's more to go and we do want new listeners to start going to us and telling us what you want. What subjects would you like us to talk about? Because we know there are issues in our industry but what questions would you like to ask? We've answered, you know, what's it like to get on television? What's it like to be a drag queen? Because that's relevant. And actually sustainability. There's a lot and we've barely touched the surface on half of it, to be honest, or more than half of it.

So tell us what you want to go to talkinghospitality .com. Tell us, tell us what you want. Yeah. Email us. I did love that one guy, I think he was on LinkedIn. And he said he was looking for some information online and he came across talking hospitality, specifically the men in mental health episode. And he was literally like, thank you. Like, I didn't know this was out here. This is exactly what I've been looking for. And that's why we do what we do. Yes. Because there's people out there, they don't know.

what platform to go to, or they don't always want to ask somebody or have to admit there's an issue. But when you know you can kind of go online and, you know, personally do something and find a solution. I mean, I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it. That for me was like the top of the mountain for this season, for sure. So, yes. So thank you very much, Tracy. You've been a really great host. I mean, we've obviously got a lot.

Yes we do, we can't tell you everything. We are taking a short break and the reason why we're taking a short break is we'll become very evident shortly. Yes. So, but please do, if you're not following us on YouTube, please do follow us because there's a reason that you might want to follow us. And there's not might, you do. You do. You do. So Tracey, thank you very much, thank you for being a superstar. Oh Tim, I love you. I love you seriously, I wouldn't do this with anybody else. Thank you. Give us a hug.

And to our listeners, thank you so much for following us again for another season. Yes. We forward to seeing you in season five. And yeah. That's a wrap. And it's a wrap. We might even add some music on the end, but we are unedited. We'll see how it goes. Bye.

(theme tune)