In this episode of Hospitality Bites, host Colleen Silk sits down with Carolyn Grillo, a seasoned culinary professional whose career spans from the precision of baking to the storytelling world of food media. Carolyn opens up about the science behind baking, the importance of continuous learning, and her personal journey with sobriety in an industry often centered around alcohol.

Together, they explore how hospitality is evolving—becoming more human, more intentional, and more supportive. From balancing family life to building community through MAJC.AI as the Content Director, Carolyn reminds us that no one wakes up successful—it’s a process of showing up, learning, and finding purpose through every challenge.

 What We Discussed

• The journey from pastry chef to food media and community building
• Continuous learning and experimentation in the kitchen
• Sobriety, mental health, and reshaping hospitality culture
• Balancing motherhood and career growth
• The rise of MAJC.AI and how it’s supporting restaurant operators
• Redefining what “success” really looks like in hospitality

Key Takeaways

• Baking is as much about structure as it is about soul.
• Curiosity and education keep culinary careers thriving.
• Sobriety is powerful in an industry that often normalizes excess.
• Work-life balance is an ongoing journey, not a destination.
• Hospitality is evolving—more empathy, more flexibility, more real talk.
• Building and sharing community is the foundation of sustainable success.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 — Introduction to Carolyn Grillo

02:08 — The Science of Baking

04:53 — From Baking to Food Media

08:11 — Recipe Development & Collaboration at ATK

12:06 — Why Continuous Learning Matters

15:57 — Transitioning to MAJC.AI: New Challenges

19:49 — Sobriety & Mental Health in Hospitality

25:29 — Navigating Motherhood and Career

30:02 — Shifting Workplace Culture

31:00 — The Birth of MAJC.AI: Community in Action

35:37 — Support Systems in the Industry

39:20 — Redefining Success in the Culinary World

42:49 — Embracing Vulnerability & Learning from Mistakes

Learn More

Discover how MAJC.AI is helping restaurant owners and operators simplify operations, build community, and find balance in hospitality. Visit MAJC.AI to learn more.

Tune In

Hosted by Colleen Silk, Hospitality Bites is an honest and restorative space for voices within the hospitality industry.

More than just a podcast, it serves as a storytelling platform for changemakers, risk-takers, and hospitality professionals who are approaching their work in innovative ways. Each episode features guests ranging from chefs to advocates and media personalities, focusing on mental and physical health, personal experiences, and the realities of thriving in the hospitality industry and beyond.

New episodes of Hospitality Bites drop every Monday, now proudly under the Walk-In Talk Media umbrella.

Watch the full episode on YouTube the following week.

 Want to get involved or learn more? Visit HospitalityBites.com