I was so honored to join Colleen Silk on Hospitality Bites! You can listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Captivate. Read more about our chat below:

In this episode of Hospitality Bites, host Colleen Silk sits down with Sarah Perkins, Cherry Bombe member, founder of Perkins Creative Consulting, and host of The Perfect Bite podcast.

Sarah shares her journey from working as the “phone girl” at a pizzeria to building a career rooted in storytelling, creativity, and entrepreneurship. From being ahead of her time in the fashion swap era as a younger, successful startup founder, navigating the tech space, to now finding happiness and success in sharing conversations with strangers turned friends.

Together, Colleen and Sarah explore the heart of the food and beverage industry: connection, storytelling, and the power of personal journeys.

What We Discussed

• Sarah’s first job in hospitality (and what being a pizzeria “phone girl” taught her).
• How childhood storytelling and writing shaped her career.
• The role of food media and consulting in amplifying voices in hospitality.
• Why human connection is the heartbeat of hospitality.
• Colleen’s own shift from the front-of-house to food media.
• The shared values that make the hospitality industry unique.

Episode Takeaways

• Hospitality is about more than food—it’s about caring for people and creating connection.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool for elevating food and beverage businesses.
• Everyone takes a different path into hospitality, and each story has value.
• Transitioning from hands-on roles to media or consulting can open new creative doors.
• Passion and community fuel the food and beverage industry.

Chapters

1. 01:35 Introduction and Background 
2. 02:12 Early Career and Education
3. 05:40 Founding the Fashion Rental Startup 
4. 08:29 Transition to Food and Beverage 
5. 09:24 Becoming a Marketing Consultant 
6. 13:32 Podcasting and Storytelling 
7. 16:46 Challenges and Lessons Learned 
8. 27:29 Future Goals and Aspirations 

 #HospitalityBitesPodcast #HospitalityEntrepreneur #WomenInHospitality #HospitalityLeadership #FemaleFounders #FoodAndBeverageIndustry #CherryBombe #PerfectBitePodcast #BusinessOfFood #FoodStorytelling  

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

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