Hospitality Bites
Hospitality Bites
Podcast Description
Hospitality Bites is hosted by Colleen Silk—founder of Hospitality Bites Media (HBM)—a platform built to spotlight the human side of hospitality. From mental well-being and inclusive leadership to building more sustainable workplaces, Colleen brings thoughtful conversations to the forefront of an industry known for its hustle, pressure, and perfectionism.
This podcast dives deep into real stories from across the hospitality spectrum—celebrating everyday wins, challenging outdated norms, and offering fresh perspectives on what it truly means to build a thriving career in hospitality. Whether you’re front of house, back of house, or anywhere in between, these episodes are designed to educate, destigmatize, and inspire.
Hospitality Bites is proudly produced under the Walk-In Talk Media (WITM) network—home of the #1 food podcast in the country and a leading creator of food industry storytelling through film, photography, and podcasting.
🎙️ Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📲 Follow @walkintalkshow and @hospitalitybitesmedia on Instagram
🌐 www.thewalkintalk.com for studio info and media opportunities
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast addresses topics such as mental well-being, inclusive leadership, and sustainability within hospitality. Episodes feature discussions on everyday success stories, challenges to outdated industry norms, and the importance of community support, exemplified in conversations like the one with Carl Fiadini about planning and execution in hospitality.
Hospitality Bites is hosted by Colleen Silk—founder of Hospitality Bites Media (HBM)—a platform built to spotlight the human side of hospitality. From mental well-being and inclusive leadership to building more sustainable workplaces, Colleen brings thoughtful conversations to the forefront of an industry known for its hustle, pressure, and perfectionism.
This podcast dives deep into real stories from across the hospitality spectrum—celebrating everyday wins, challenging outdated norms, and offering fresh perspectives on what it truly means to build a thriving career in hospitality. Whether you’re front of house, back of house, or anywhere in between, these episodes are designed to educate, destigmatize, and inspire.
Hospitality Bites is proudly produced under the Walk-In Talk Media (WITM) network—home of the #1 food podcast in the country and a leading creator of food industry storytelling through film, photography, and podcasting.
🎙️ Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📲 Follow @walkintalkshow and @hospitalitybitesmedia on Instagram
🌐 www.thewalkintalk.com for studio info and media opportunities
Episode Summary
In this episode of Hospitality Bites, host Colleen Silk interviews Kastle Sorensen—mompreneur, Cupcake Wars Champion, and founder of Kastle’s Kreations. From teacher hopeful to baking sensation, Kastle turned her passion into a career that continues to evolve in unexpected ways.
She opens up about balancing single motherhood with business ownership, her innovative creation of lactation cookies for nursing mothers, and how collaboration with other bakers fueled her brand growth. Beyond the kitchen, Kastle expanded into CPG cheesecakes and co-founded Anchorage’s only country bar, Pink Cadillac, creating a space for bootscootin’, community connection, and nonprofit support.
What We Discussed
- Kastle’s struggles with breastfeeding and how that sparked her Milkin’ Munchies.
- How Cupcake Wars inspired her career change and eventually led to her being cast on the show
- The importance of teaching her kids about entrepreneurship.
- Growing her CPG Cheesecake Grocery sales throughout the state of Alaska
- Creating inclusive spaces for food, dance, and connection.
- Using business as a tool for community impact.
Takeaways
- Kastle turned a teaching setback into a thriving baking career.
- Winning Cupcake Wars gave her brand a huge boost.
- She navigated the challenges of being a single mom in business.
- Lactation cookies became a major innovation for her community.
- Her cheesecakes grew from local favorites to grocery store shelves.
- Pink Cadillac bar fosters community and supports local nonprofits.
- Her journey shows the power of belief, resilience, and collaboration.
📖 Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Hospitality Bites and Guest Introduction
01:25 – Kastle’s Journey into the Food Industry
04:16 – The Impact of Cupcake Wars on Kastle’s Career
07:27 – Navigating Motherhood and Business Challenges
10:13 – Creating Lactation Cookies for Nursing Mothers
13:44 – Collaboration and Innovation in Cookie Creation
16:06 – Expanding into Cheesecakes and Wholesale Markets
20:10 – Transitioning to Grocery Store Sales and Success
22:56 – Balancing Multiple Business Ventures and New Projects
23:25 – The Power of Sharing Your Journey
24:21 – Navigating New Opportunities in Business
26:00 – Investing in Dreams: Family Support and Growth
27:44 – From Cupcakes to Country Bars: A Unique Transition
29:35 – Building Community Through Dance and Connection
31:46 – Learning the Ropes of Bar Ownership
33:09 – Creating a Fun and Inclusive Atmosphere
35:16 – Catering to Diverse Communities
38:56 – Future Aspirations: Growth and Community Impact
#HospitalityBites #CupcakeWars #Mompreneur #FoodEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #BakingBusiness #LactationCookies #CommunityMatters #SupportLocal #InspiringStories #ExploreAlaska
🌐Website: kastles-kreations.square.site
📸Facebook: @AKastleskreations
📸Instagram: @pinkcadillacak
About Hospitality Bites:
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
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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