He turned a New York brewery into the best restaurant in the world, but the real story is how 'unreasonable hospitality' can change your life and happiness.
Will Guidara is a renowned restaurateur, bestselling author, and Emmy-winning producer of The Bear, whose philosophy of giving people more than they expect can be applied to any aspect of life - including happiness.
This week, Will joins Mercedes and Anastasia for an inspiring conversation on happiness, intention, creativity, and what it really means to make others feel seen. From childhood lessons with his father, to the journals he kept as a kid, to running Eleven Madison Park at the highest level, Will shares both behind-the-scenes stories and practical wisdom you can use in your everyday life.
In this episode:
How Will turned a passion for hospitality into the world’s best restaurant.
Perfection vs authenticity.
Why making others feel seen is the greatest gift you can give.
Lessons from restaurants and hotels you can apply to your own life.
Will’s best tips for communication, leadership, and teamwork.
Tips for being more intentional
Behind-the-scenes stories from producing The Bear.
Hacks to staying creative and energized, even in a competitive industry.
The small gestures of hospitality that can change everything.
Whether you’re a teen dreaming big, a leader trying to inspire others, or simply someone who wants to find more meaning in the everyday, Will’s story proves that being 'unreasonably hospitable; might just be the secret.
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Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with professor and psychiatrist, Dr. Kelli Harding. In this episode, Dr. Harding shares why kindness brings us happiness, actionable ways to be kinder daily, and some of the incredible science behind kindness: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gSvEhSCdKqchh9BQ4uTXq?si=MIElx7G2T9a4cVtp6YzDLg
(00:00) Welcome, Will!
(01:44) What Shaped Will?
(04:43) The BIGGEST Thing Will Learned From His Dad
(07:27) How Can I Be More Intentional?
(11:25) Being Intentional In Relationships
(12:22) Why Will Journaled As A Child
(16:44) Perfection vs Authenticity
(20:34) Storytime: A Time When Unreasonable Hospitality = A Small Bit of Happiness
(25:49) How Can I Be Unreasonably Hospitable In ANY Area of Life?
(26:27) A Lesson/Philosophy From The Restaurant Industry That Applies To Daily Life
(28:51) Top Tips For Strong Communication
(32:11) How Comfortable Are Teens/Gen-Z With In-Person Communication?
(35:16) Hacks To Find Something You're Excited For (& the CAVEAT to this!)
(39:54) A REFRAME To How You View Criticism
(45:32) Funny & Cool Stories From BTS of The Bear
(48:31) What Is Will's Driving Vision?
(51:17) A Night In The Kitchen of The # 1 Restaurant In The World
(54:14) Want To Become A Restaurateur? Here's Your FIRST Step!
(54:57) If Will Could Have Dinner With ONE Person, It Would Be...
(56:25) Will To His Teenage Self
(57:43) What Brings Will A Small Bit of Happiness?
(59:03) Will's Motivational Quote
(1:00:22) Find Will Here
(1:01:25) Key Takeaways