Aubrey Shaffner

[Pastry Professional, Educator, and Host]

Host Aubrey dives deep into Emotional Intelligence; explaining where emotions come from, how they affect the brain and body, and impact the decision-making process.

This episode is meant to be a resource to help you better understand why emotions matter to the development of your Emotional Intelligence, affect your mental health, and support your growth as a successful leader.

EPISODE OUTLINE

[00:00:00] What to expect this episode

[00:03:46] How to build a strong and resilient mindset

[00:06:02] Mindset shift suggestion #1

[00:13:15] Mindset shift suggestion #2

[00:18:56] Mindset shift suggestion #3

[00:20:59] Takeaway exercises for real life

RESOURCES

Support the show, check out our Merch

Check out our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram

Thank you for listening to another episode of the Golden Approach Podcast. If you enjoy the show, I would super appreciate it if you would share us with a friend, follow, and leave a review. And if you wanna hang out with us some more, follow on Instagram @goldenapproachpod or check out our website, goldenapproachpodcast.com for more details such as transcripts and reference links.

{Aubrey Shaffner}

Pastry Professional, Educator, and Host [Baltimore, MD]

{EPISODE OUTLINE}

[00:00:00] Where has the show been??

[00:03:00] What to expect going forward…

[00:10:00] How to stay in the know.

{RESOURCES}

Golden Approach Website

Golden Approach Instagram

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Episode 004 Kieffer Morgan: Empathy is Key

Episode 005 Zachary Mills: Everything with Intention

EP 009 feat. Brookie’s Cookie Company

Brooke Kelbaugh [Owner, Cookie Artist]

Baltimore, MD

Cookie artist, Brooke, shares her journey from a general baker to a specialized royal icing expert. She reveals the intense, multi-step process behind her edible art & explains how honesty, boundary-setting, & genuine customer connection built her successful small business & personal confidence.

EPISODE OUTLINE

Mastering the Craft

(00:06:00 - 00:10:05)
Brooke gets practical, sharing the essential tools that elevated her work (projectors, airbrush machines) & the importance of using quality ingredients. She pairs this with her philosophy of managing client expectations through transparent communication from the start.

Why Less is More

(00:15:16 - 00:18:15)
Brooke details the hard lesson of learning to streamline her offerings. She explains how trying to be a "one-stop shop" led to exhaustion & lower quality, & how focusing exclusively on her passion (cookies) led to greater success, profitability, & personal satisfaction.

Human Connection as a Business Strategy

(00:24:11 - 00:32:20)
This section offers actionable tips for marketing a small business. Brooke advocates for strategies that create genuine connection: personal delivery, thank-you notes, free "thank you" cookies, & using product packaging (like stickers) as subtle, effective marketing.

RESOURCES

Gundalow Group website

Gundalow Gourmet & Designs on Instagram

Support the show and the ASPCA* by purchasing this episodes special edition t-shirt and tote!

*A portion of all proceeds from these items will be donated

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a reviewon Apple Podcast

Check out our Merch

WHERE TO FIND US

Brookie’s Cookies website

Brookie’s Cookies on Instagram

Brooke Kelbaugh on Instagram

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram

EP 009 feat. Monica Amtower

[Specialty Food Sales Executive, former Pastry Chef]

Maryland

Monica discusses how her innate nature, combined with life's nurturing forces, shaped her career path. Tracing how her driven, detail-oriented personality—forged by a single mother's high expectations—propelled her to the top of luxury kitchens, & the profound recalibration required to find balance now as a working mom herself.

EPISODE OUTLINE

The Foundation

(00:01:42 - 00:07:30)
Monica details the origins of her drive, connecting her innate need for control to the high standards and work ethic instilled by her mother. This powerful combination fueled her ambition to attend the Culinary Institute of America [CIA] and succeed in demanding, elite kitchens.

The Wake-Up Call

(00:09:33 - 00:22:43)
This section focuses on the pivotal feedback and self-realizations that prompted a shift. Monica discusses learning how her energy affected entire teams and the growing understanding that her intense, detail-oriented approach wasn't sustainable for her new life as a mother.

The New Blueprint

(00:30:02 - 00:36:43)
Monica shares her ongoing journey of applying her core skills in new ways. She talks about leaning on her support system, embracing the "mess" of motherhood, and finding value in her career beyond a leadership title, marking a conscious recalibration of her life and priorities.

RESOURCES

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a reviewon Apple Podcasts

Check out our Merch

WHERE TO FIND US

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram

EP 008 feat. Ryan Shaffner

[Husband, Executive Chef ]

Baltimore, MD

Aubrey, the host of the show, welcomes her husband Ryan Shaffner to discuss the advantages, and difficulties, of working in the same intense industry as your partner. They will be discussing a range of best approaches that have been passed down and tested firsthand. If you are looking for ways to better support others or specific ideas on connecting better with your partner, this episode is perfect for you.

EPISODE OUTLINE

[00:00:00] A musical introduction to the Shaffners'

[00:01:06]What to expect this episode

[00:03:10]How Chef Ryan joined the CIA

[00:10:00] Calling this part a tree because it’s so sappy

[00:13:40] How to support the show

[00:15:00] T-Swift isn’t just with some nobody (a.k.a. The value of finding someone who understands your struggles)

[00:17:29] Communication is the key and miscommunication is pushing a pull door until you hurt something

[00:27:00] If he wanted to he would

[00:36:53] Partnership with Bookshop.org

[00:37:25] Life is like a pack of Pokemon cards, everything is always changing

[00:40:10] Closing

RESOURCES

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Check out our Merch

WHERE TO FIND US

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram

EP 007 feat. Rooted Rotisserie

Joe Burton [Chef, Co-owner]

Baltimore, MD

In this episode, Aubrey continues her conversation with Chef Joseph Burton and they discuss his journey of opening a restaurant, the importance of community, and how he balances being a business owner and a family man. This leads to the conversation of how to find the best balance between work and family life and what that looks like for Chef Joe and his family. He shares insight from his personal life, including what it took for him to achieve these successes while juggling his recent marriage, becoming a father, and working to open his restaurant during the pandemic.  

EPISODE OUTLINE

[00:00:00] Hellos and introductions to the show

[00:02:30] Chef, business owner, new dad, and husband, how on Earth do you balance all of that?

[00:07:04] Carrying on the family legacy one show of support at a time

[00:10:00] Accountability, astrology, and availability. Three pillars of a healthy and happy relationship when you’re partners in life and in business

[00:14:42] Living a simple (read incredibly busy yet equally rewarding) life

[00:18:56] Giving to the community and in turn receiving from the community

[00:23:00] Helping one of us helps all of us in the end

[00:27:23] Rapid-fire Q’s and A’s

[00:33:56] Outro

RESOURCES

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hotel Restaurant Management

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Check out our Merch

WHERE TO FIND US

Rooted Rotisserie

Rooted Rotisserie on Instagram

Joe Burton on Instagram

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram

EP 006 feat. Rooted Rotisserie

Joe Burton [Chef, Co-owner]

Baltimore, MD

Chef Joseph Burton is the proud owner of Rooted Rotisserie, a French restaurant located in Baltimore. His love for cooking and the influential women in his life inspired him to share his passion with his local community. During the pandemic, Chef Joe gained popularity by posting cooking videos on Instagram with the help of his wife. As the videos took off, he decided to offer curated special menus for his followers to try. Eventually, his passion for cooking led him to open his own restaurant to celebrate his achievements and further share his love of cooking with the Baltimore community. Chef Joe's journey has been a lesson in determination and the power of community support when working to achieve one's goals and we can't wait to share it with you!

EPISODE OUTLINE

[00:00:00] Introductions to Chef Joe and the Show

[00:04:39] Personal and Professional Paths to Success

[00:09:38] Bonus Shout-outs and Bonus Business for All

[00:12:33] Brief Pause for a Charitable Cause

[00:17:11] Light at the End of the Tunnel (or in this case outside of the kitchen dungeon)

[00:23:13] From the Pandemic to Paris

[00:29:03] The Rotisserie Moment

[00:33:00] The Beauty of Access within the Community

[00:41:28] Outro

RESOURCES

Fran Gong’s Organic Body Care

Carrie Goultra, Chef

Rodney Scott Barbecue

Rodney Scott on Instagram

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Check out our Merch

WHERE TO FIND US

Rooted Rotisserie

Rooted Rotisserie on Instagram

Joe Burton on Instagram

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram

EP 005 feat. Aubrey Shaffner

[Host, Pastry Professional, Educator]

Baltimore, MD

We're going to prove that having healthy boundaries and running successful ventures, do actually go hand in hand. And in case you haven't yet discovered what really brings joy and peace into your life, this episode is intended to help you. We're going to discover what that may be. Because you have to know what you want to protect in order to know the steps to take next.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00:00]Touching base with where we have been, and where we are headed this season

[00:07:00] Appreciating “Seven Circles, Indigenous Teachings for Living Well” by Chelsea Lugger and Thosh Collins

[00:10:00]How can you use the Seven Teachings to bring more balance to your life

[00:35:00] Teaser of what’s to come

[00:36:00]Outro

RESOURCES

[Episode] How the f*ck did we get here?

[Episode] Jacqueline, Kitsch Hospitality

[Episode] Kieffer Morgan; Chef

[Episode] Zack Mills; True Chesapeake

Charm City Books website

Well for Culture website

Buy “The Seven Circles, Indigenous Teachings for Living Well” here

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Check out our Merch

WHERE TO FIND US

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram

EP 004 feat. Kitsch Hospitality

Jacqueline Mearman [Pastry Chef, Owner]

Baltimore, MD

Jackie takes us on her wild ride through the food world—from making rum in Colorado to running a corporate pastry kitchen— & how it all led to her cozy breakfast spot, Kitsch Cafe. She gets real about ditching the industry's burnout culture to build a place where her team actually wants to show up, & where the main ingredient is joy for everyone who walks in the door.

EPISODE OUTLINE

A Wild Ride

(00:00:13 - 00:02:53)
Jacqueline shares her unexpected career path, from being a rum distiller ("liquid bread") to a corporate pastry chef. She explains how she's come full circle, back to the simple joy of connecting with guests that she first loved in an ice cream shop.

Getting Her Groove Back

(00:05:00 - 00:07:08)
This part gets into Jackie's personal wake-up call. She talks about ditching her old coping mechanisms and finally making time for herself—whether that's a Pilates class, cooking a real meal, or just figuring out what actually makes her happy outside of work.

Being a Human, Not Just a Boss

(00:24:55 - 00:29:04)
Jackie keeps it real about her leadership style. She shares how a teacher from her past inspired her, why she now admits when she messes up, and how something as simple as making eye contact (or a little CBD) helps her be the kind of boss she'd want to work for.

RESOURCES

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a reviewon Apple Podcasts

Check out our Merch

BONUS

Since airing, Kitsch Hospitality has expanded to include The Garage at R. House and Vivian’s.

WHERE TO FIND US

Kitsch Hospitality Website

Kitsch on Instagram

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram

EP 003 feat. Kieffer Morgan

[Chef, Bread Baker]

Baltimore, MD

Chef Kieffer reminds us you never truly know what someone is going through, so empathy is key. We discussed how his life journey as an immigrant influences his leadership approach and how he believes restaurants should grow and support their communities.

EPISODE OUTLINE

[00:00:00] Intro

[00:01:46]Chef Kieffer’s background

[00:24:13]How he approaches leadership

[00:37:45]Chef’s vision for his future

[00:40:52]Outro

[00:42:18]Rapid Fire questions

RESOURCES

the Tillery by Marriott Hotel

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org

Follow/Leave a review on Spotify

Follow/Leave a reviewon Apple Podcasts

Check out our Merch

WHERE TO FIND US

Kieffer Morgan on Instagram

Golden Approach Instagram

Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram