Cooking Your Way Through Life | Podcast Guru

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Cooking Your Way Through Life with Chef Hollywood

Life’s a lot like cooking — sometimes you’ve got the perfect recipe, and other times, you’re improvising with what you’ve got. Each episode, Chef Hollywood breaks down real-life lessons through the lens of food — from building discipline and finding balance, to celebrating wins and learning from the burnt dishes along the way.

Whether he’s in the kitchen or on the mic, Chef Hollywood brings humor, heart, and a dash of spice to every topic. Come for the recipes, stay for the stories, and discover how to cook your way through life one meal (and one moment) at a time.

👉🏾 Listen, learn, and laugh — and follow along at bio.chculinarycreations.com for recipes, YouTube episodes, merch, and more.

Recent Episodes

Cooking Your Way Through "Connections"

DEC 11, 2025

Cooking Your Way Through "Connections"

<p>Connection shows up in our lives in more ways than we realize — through the people we love, the friendships we build, the cultures we explore, and the food that brings us together. Today’s episode dives into what connection truly means and how it shapes who we are.</p><p>We start by exploring the difference between a deep personal connection — the kind where you feel vulnerable, valued, and fully seen — and the powerful connections we form with close friends and family through shared experiences and trust.</p><p>From there, we move into the culinary side of connection. I share two stories from my childhood: Sundays spent outside cooking with my grandfathers and uncles, and Sundays inside learning to bake with my grandmother. These early moments sparked my love for food and taught me how cooking naturally creates connection, long before I ever stepped foot in a professional kitchen.</p><p>I also touch on what connection looks like as a chef and traveler — how food allows us to communicate across cultures, and how gastronomy has shaped my view of the world. And in today’s digital age, we also look at online connection and whether it’s truly connection if we don’t nurture it the same way we do in person.</p><p>Whether it’s around a holiday table, a Sunday dinner, or a simple shared meal, food connects us all. Let’s explore what that means, and how we can reconnect with ourselves and others through presence, intention, and flavor.</p><p><strong>New episodes every Thursday — subscribe so you never miss a moment.</strong></p>

37 MIN

Cooking Your Way Through "Change" with Spencer Jason

DEC 4, 2025

Cooking Your Way Through "Change" with Spencer Jason

<p>Change can be scary, exciting, uncomfortable, or transformational — sometimes all at once. In today’s episode of <em>Cooking Your Way Through Life</em>, I sit down with <strong>Spencer Jason</strong>, who grew up on the waters of Long Island and never expected that the ocean would become his workplace. Spencer began his journey as a Chef at Sea, but his curiosity and love for the salty air, breathtaking views, and constant exploration led him to make a bold career shift into the deck department.</p><p>Together, we dive into the real meaning of change: • When do you embrace it? • When do you push back? • And how do you know which one you truly need?</p><p>We also break down a versatile <strong>seasonal soup base</strong> that you can adapt all year long — just like life, your cooking changes with the seasons.</p><p>Follow Spencer: Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/theschmerz">https://www.instagram.com/theschmerz</a> Facebook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSchmerz/">https://www.facebook.com/TheSchmerz/</a></p><p>Tune in and cook your way through <em>change</em> with us.</p>

65 MIN

Cooking Your Way Through “Being Present” — Thanksgiving Edition

NOV 27, 2025

Cooking Your Way Through “Being Present” — Thanksgiving Edition

<p>In this week’s episode of <em>Cooking Your Way Through Life</em>, Chef Hollywood slows things down for the holiday and dives into the art of <strong>being present</strong>. Thanksgiving often gets overshadowed by the rush of Christmas, social expectations, and constant comparison — but this episode is all about grounding yourself in what’s right in front of you.</p><p>We talk about how reflection during the holidays helps us appreciate what we already have, instead of focusing on what we think we’re missing. In life, in love, in careers — sometimes we’re chasing so much that we overlook the blessings and people sitting right in front of us.</p><p>For the food portion of this episode, Chef Hollywood shares the two dishes he genuinely looks forward to every Thanksgiving and asks the big question: <strong>Are you still making the same traditional holiday foods, or do you experiment each year?</strong></p><p>This episode is warm, real, and all about slowing down, showing up, and savoring the moment — in and out of the kitchen.</p><p>📘 Grab my cookbook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4">https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4</a> 🌐 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://chculinarycreations.com">chculinarycreations.com</a> 🔗 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://bio.chculinarycreations.com">bio.chculinarycreations.com</a></p>

28 MIN

Cooking Your Way Through "Failure" with Grant Martin

NOV 20, 2025

Cooking Your Way Through "Failure" with Grant Martin

<p>In this week’s episode of <strong>Cooking Your Way Through Life</strong>, Chef Hollywood sits down with Grant Martin — a comedian, creator, and close friend who calls himself <em>the Mindful Comedian</em> for the way he blends growth, humor, and reflection. 🌱😂</p><p>Together, we unpack the idea of <strong>failure</strong> — the personal missteps, career setbacks, and unexpected moments that taught us more than our successes ever did. From lessons learned on cruise ships to the wild story of how we ended up at a <strong>pajama party with Oprah</strong>, this episode is all about growing through what didn’t go as planned.</p><p>This week’s culinary theme dives into the <strong>top four things home cooks and chefs fail at the most</strong>: <strong>scrambled eggs, pasta, breads, and chicken.</strong> Chef Hollywood breaks down why these mistakes happen and how to fix them so your kitchen failures can turn into flavor-filled wins. 👨🏽‍🍳🔥</p><p>🎙️ <strong>Guest:</strong> Grant Martin — The Mindful Comedian 📸 Instagram: <strong>@itsgrantmartin</strong> 📘 Facebook: <strong>@itsgrantmartin</strong> 🎵 TikTok: <strong>@itsgrantmartin</strong> ▶️ YouTube: <strong>@itsgrantmartin</strong></p><p>📘 Grab my cookbook: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4">https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4</a> 🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube: Cooking Your Way Through Life 🌐 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://chculinarycreations.com">chculinarycreations.com</a> 🔗 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://bio.chculinarycreations.com">bio.chculinarycreations.com</a></p>

64 MIN

Cooking Your Way Through "Risk" with Brittany of Declan’s Delights Co.

NOV 13, 2025

Cooking Your Way Through "Risk" with Brittany of Declan’s Delights Co.

<p>In this week’s episode of <em>Cooking Your Way Through Life</em>, Chef Hollywood sits down with <strong>Brittany</strong>, owner and pastry chef of the Low country’s first mobile bakery — <strong>Declan’s Delights Co.</strong>, a <em>Best of Bluffton</em> nominee. 🍰</p><p>Together, we dive into the idea of <strong>risk</strong> — the big leaps and small daily decisions that shape both our careers and our lives. From following passion projects to walking away from comfort zones, we share what it really means to bet on yourself and grow through uncertainty.</p><p>This episode also explores the <strong>art of cooking without a recipe</strong> — learning to trust your instincts, rely on core techniques, and let creativity take the lead in the kitchen. 👨🏽‍🍳</p><p>🎙️ <strong>Guest:</strong> Brittany, Owner & Pastry Chef of Declan’s Delights Co. 📸 Instagram: <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://www.instagram.com/declansdelightsco">@declansdelightsco</a> 📘 Facebook: <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/DeclansDelightsCo">Declans Delights Co.</a> 🌐 Website: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.declansdelights.com">www.declansdelights.com</a></p><p>📘 <em>Grab my cookbook:</em> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4">https://a.co/d/0iVMs4H4</a> 🎥 <em>Watch the full video on YouTube:</em> <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChefHollywood">Cooking Your Way Through Life</a> 🌐 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://chculinarycreations.com">chculinarycreations.com</a> 🔗 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://bio.chculinarycreations.com">bio.chculinarycreations.com</a></p>

45 MIN