Show de Vie Podcast

Carlos Mendez Blas never planned to spend his life making mezcal. After leaving Oaxaca to pursue a career as a pilot, family circumstances brought him home, where he transformed a small family palenque into one of the industry's most respected operations. We talk about leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, and the responsibility of carrying on a family legacy while staying true to yourself. It's an honest conversation about purpose, growth, and why the most meaningful journeys are often the ones you never expected to take.

Luis Niño de Rivera, CEO of Mezcal Amaras, joins me for a conversation about leadership, mentorship, and building one of the world's most respected mezcal brands. We explore entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation, and the importance of staying curious, while diving into the diversity of mezcal and the people who bring it to life. It's an engaging discussion about purpose, craftsmanship, and why the best leaders never stop learning.

Francisco "Cisco" Terrazas returns to Show de Vie to reflect on how his journey and the agave industry have evolved over the years. We discuss launching Raíces Imports, his work with the Tequila Interchange Project, and the challenge of balancing entrepreneurship with sustainability, conservation, and fair labor. Along the way, we explore marriage, personal growth, hospitality, and why contributing meaningful ideas matters more than simply adding to the noise. It's an honest conversation about purpose, progress, and staying true to your values.

Meredith Mills-Merritt didn't set out to make just another canned cocktail. Drawing on her background in beauty and brand innovation, she reimagined the RTD category with a family Southside recipe built on cleaner ingredients and transparency. We talk about building an alcohol brand from the ground up, why authenticity matters more than marketing, the future of drinking culture, and how the Clean Alcohol Collective is pushing the industry forward. It's a thoughtful conversation about gin, entrepreneurship, and creating a brand with purpose—not just another product.

Pablo Antinori's journey has taken him from Argentina and Bolivia to Texas, with stops in restaurants, Tuscany, distribution, and ultimately co-founding Socorro Tequila. We talk about adapting to constant change, building friendships across cultures, entrepreneurship, and why optimism has shaped every step of his career. Along the way, we dive into tequila, hospitality, innovation, and what it takes to build a brand with purpose in a crowded market. It's a fun, honest conversation about resilience, opportunity, and making the most of every chapter. And keep your eyes peeled for the new Still Strength version!

Emilio del Conde grew up in Tecate, crossing the U.S.-Mexico border every day for school, an experience that shaped the way he sees people, culture, and opportunity. That drive took him from sales and finance to founding Chupes Finos (importer, distributor, and more) in Carrollton, Texas. In this episode, Emilio shares how a passion for collecting mezcal turned into a partnership with Leo Garcia and Macheé Mezcal, while we dive into border culture, entrepreneurship, community, and the connections that great spirits create. It's an honest, insightful conversation full of great stories—and one that proves Emilio is only getting started.

Alejandro Orendain understands numbers, travel, and agave. What started as a departure from the family business, quickly turned back into a return to the homeland. His roots in Tequila, and the inescapable pull back into the operations of Tequila Arette, bring us to his current chapter. A chapter during which, Alejandro educates many about the familial brand and ensures that his quality tequila can be easily available at everyone's fingertips. We chat about drumming, bar anecdotes, and a whole new brand aesthetic.

I had the lovely privilege to visit Hacienda Patrón and explore their various production sites and methods. Beyond the opulent quarters and beautiful hospitality, I found something more intriguing: the hidden complexity of their tequila. (Which is soon to be released in an entirely new 100 Proof, tahona-crushed, blanco tequila.) Towards the middle of my stay, I had the opportunity to interview Patrón's maestro Tequilero David Rodriguez. We chat about quality, history, learning, and his inherent scientific mind. Recorded live at Copper Bar at Hacienda Patrón.

Santos Serfaty, co-founder of Zancudo Mezcal, has traversed the world while working in many restaurants and bars. This transnational lifestyle has led to him learning many languages, and learning many lessons about life. Nomadic in ways, and tremendously ground in others, Santos has settled in Mexico City to finally find his home. Through his love of food and cocktails, Santos was introduced to mezcal and a direct path to Oaxaca. Afters years of blending, tasting, and exploring, Zancudo Mezcal was finally born. We chat drums, proofing, and design.

Alice Carroll is breaking waves in the whiskey business. Her many chapters as a brand ambassador for the world's most well known whiskies emboldened an ambition: an ambition to create her own brand. The delicious result is Foxes Bow Irish whiskey, an artist, flavor first concoction. But as Alice's passion project breathes live into the market, what kind of challenges and unexpected corners will have to be surmounted? We chat about fashion, the sound of our own voices, and a new 40% missing campaign: a new bottling for International Women's Month that begs the question "where is the representation for Women in this vast whiskey industry?"