One meal at Franklin Barbecue lit a fire in Charles Wong that spreadsheets never could. Since then, he's been quietly building something special — Texas-style BBQ layered with Chinese and Vietnamese heritage, served up through pop-ups and residencies that turned first-time customers into loyal community. After a heartbreaking near-miss on a food hall space, Charles regrouped, reflected, and set his sights on what's next: a brick-and-mortar that he hopes will finally give his community — and his team — a place to call home.

https://umamicue.com/
https://www.instagram.com/umamicue/

What if the most powerful thing you could say to someone wasn't advice — it was I believe you?

We sat down with Holley Brandchaft-White, licensed clinical social worker, former Lurie Children's Hospital ED clinician, and co-founder of SHFT Behavioral Health — Chicago's first mental health urgent care center for young people and families. Returning guest Steph Krim of Good Things Vending joins as co-host.

After a decade in the children's ER, Holley saw firsthand that most people in mental health crises didn't need to get that far. SHFT was built on that truth: meet people earlier, before the small things pile up into something unbearable. But it's not just about where you go — it's about what the environment makes possible. The same amount of time with a patient can feel entirely different when there are no monitors beeping, no signatures being rushed, no sense that someone is already halfway out the door. SHFT changes everything.

Whether you've been in therapy for years or never considered it, this one might shift something in you.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you don't have to wait for a crisis to ask for help. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential, 24/7 support for mental health, substance use, or emotional distress. Save it in your phone. 911 is for immediate physical emergencies. 988 is for everything that lives in between.

https://www.shftbh.com/

https://www.instagram.com/holley_shft/

https://www.instagram.com/goodthingsvending

Tony is back for round three! He was on the show five years ago when he was just establishing the professor pizza brand and three years ago when he partnered with the Atomic Hospitality group to provide his pizza on a rooftop in west loop. Since then, he's been approaching two years with the 50/50 hospitality group at their old town location. He just opened a slice shop in west town as well as in Boston. This is an episode about our love for Chicago food, the beauty of collaborations, and future endeavors like bringing frozen pizzas to the market. Please enjoy my conversation with Tony Scardino.

https://professorpizza.com/

https://www.instagram.com/professorpizza/

https://www.instagram.com/professorpizzawesttown/