Building Restaurants That Matter

What does it take to build restaurants that endure in one of the toughest industries in the world?

In this episode of Civilians: Breaking Boundaries, we sit down with Adam Weisblatt, founder of Last Word Hospitality and author of For the Love of Restaurants, for a candid conversation about the realities of modern hospitality.

Together we explore what it means to build with intention, why great restaurants are about more than great food, and the mindset required to create places people genuinely care about.

Whether you're a restaurant owner, entrepreneur, hospitality professional, or simply someone who loves the craft of creating meaningful experiences, this conversation offers thoughtful insights from one of the industry's most respected voices.

For the Love of Restaurants

https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Adam-Weisblatt/255272630

Victoria Mahoney joins Civilians: Breaking Boundaries for a conversation that goes beyond filmmaking into the tension between identity and authority. What does it mean to lead at the highest level while carrying the weight of representation? How do you hold your voice inside systems that weren’t built with you in mind?

This episode explores pressure, authorship, and the quiet decisions that shape how power is expressed — not just claimed. A deeper look at what it takes to step into authority without losing the core of who you are.

Brenda Equihua shares how observation, culture, and identity shape her approach to design, transforming the familiar into something deeply personal yet widely resonant. From reimagining the iconic San Marcos cobija to exploring what defines something as “classic,” this conversation dives into creativity, trust, and building with intention in a world full of opinions.

Carolina Groppa is an Emmy-nominated producer who rose from an immigrant childhood in São Paulo to producing acclaimed films and documentaries in Hollywood. In this conversation, she reflects on the winding path that shaped her career, being told she was never “Latina enough” for gigs, to carving out space in an industry that didn’t invite her in, and learning that success comes from putting in the reps, embracing the zigzags, and staying true to your values.

Carolina speaks candidly about representation and the importance of support systems in the industry, while sharing why integrity, daily choices, and commitment to the work ultimately define a lasting career.

https://linktr.ee/angleonproducers?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

In this episode, Jairo Alvarado of Redefine Entertainment shares the moment he realized there was a bigger world out there—one that didn’t always reflect who he was. He talks about getting the right guidance, making room for mistakes, and navigating the tension between following your instinct and remembering that it’s still a business. From “horoscope networking” to the commodification of representation, Jairo challenges creators to ask: What do you actually believe in?

He also opens up about success, failure, and staying in the game to what happens after the big win, and how to respond when things fall apart. Sometimes it’s not you, it’s the setup. This conversation is about recalibrating, reframing ideas to fit Hollywood’s risk profile, and building with conviction to move culture forward.

https://www.redefineent.com/

CIVILIAN #5 Leah Chin-Katz - Leading Kitchens with Intention and Kindness

Pastry chef Leah Chin-Katz shares the story of how childhood food memories, early kitchen jobs, and a bold leap into pastry school shaped her path into fine dining. From discovering the world of Michelin kitchens to realizing what she didn’t want out of restaurant culture, Leah reflects on the pivotal moments that clarified her voice and values as a chef.

She opens up about navigating male-dominated spaces, leading with kindness, and building a kitchen culture rooted in intention. The conversation also explores her commitment to local, sustainable ingredients and how she weaves Asian and Jewish flavors into classical French pastry, all while working toward a dream of one day creating something lasting for her daughter.

CIVILIAN #4 Alonso Alvarez

A Mexican walks into a bar… a coffee bar. It sounds like the start of a joke, but it isn’t. When Alonso Alvarez Barreda first walked into Civil, we had no idea we were about to meet an incredible human who has been using his talent as a filmmaker to show the world his love for the work.

In this episode, we talk to Alonso and his journey from Mexico City to Los Angeles in pursuit of his dream of becoming a director. We dive into the challenges, sacrifices, and pivotal moments that shaped his path, and how some of the most powerful stories came to him in the darkest chapters of his life journey.

This episode explores coffee through the lens of Leo and Elisa of Picaresca Barra de Café -- life partners and business partners who have built their cafés into deeply rooted community spaces in Los Angeles. Their approach to coffee is shaped not only by personal taste and thoughtful execution, but by an ongoing dialogue with the people they serve.

In this conversation, Leo and Elisa open up about the personal and professional challenges of building a values-driven business, navigating uncertainty, and operating in a city constantly affected by cultural, economic, and political shifts. Through it all, they share how community, intention, and resilience continue to guide their work, and how they keep rising above the moment while staying rooted in who they are.

https://www.instagram.com/picaresca.cafe/

In this episode, we sit down with Eddie Navarrete to peel back the layers behind one of Los Angeles’ most impactful forces in hospitality. Eddie shares his personal history in the city and how years of navigating its complex bureaucratic landscape gave him a rare, hard-earned understanding of what it truly takes to open restaurants, bars, and creative spaces in Los Angeles.

That lived experience ultimately pulled him beyond project-by-project work and into advocacy. We explore how those challenges led to the founding of the Independent Hospitality Coalition, a new platform through which Eddie is working to make meaningful change at both the local and state level. More than a conversation is about more than policy, it’s about protecting the people and places that give our cities their soul.

The Independent Hospitality Coalition (IHC)

https://www.instagram.com/ihclaorg/

Rompiendo Fronteras explores the stories of everyday people breaking boundaries across culture, art, and industry. The podcast is hosted by Alan and Alex Morales of Civil Coffee, featuring James Lontayao, artist and producer. The show is steeped in candid conversations around craft, identity, risk and the road towards meaningful pursuits in the likes of film, design, music and hospitality.

Each episode spotlights a boundary breaking Civilian discussing challenges, sacrifices, imparting wisdom, persistence and learnings through their breakthroughs. The podcast is recorded in the warmth Civil Coffee's, Highland Park cafe, around cups of Mexican coffee roasted in the city of Los Angeles.

https://civilcoffee.com/