If you’ve been following me on social media for the past nine years, you’ve probably noticed my wild obsession with Midway’s last arcade game, The Grid — a title that’s changed my life in more ways than one since I first discovered it upon its release in 2000. I often get asked three main questions about it: “What is The Grid? I’ve never heard of it.” “Where did you get all these machines?” and finally, “Why do you do everything you do for this game?” To celebrate two years of The Sauce Talk Podcast — and to kick off my newly announced solo episode journey — I figured there’s no better way to start than by diving deep into my obsession and answering all the questions you’ve been curious about. My solo episodes will typically be much shorter than this one, but in true Al Sauce fashion, I had to introduce things in the most grandiose way possible. This episode runs a whopping 3 hours and 14 minutes, and I highlyrecommend watching it, as it’s packed with rare, never-before-seen footage and detailed references chronicling my journey — leaving no stone unturned. This episode doubles not only as a podcast installment but also as a documentary capturing a small yet powerful chapter of my life — one deeply intertwined with the lasting impact of The Grid. So buckle up and get ready for an onslaught of stories, memories, and passion in honor of both my life and this game. I proudly present to you: The Grid & Me.   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 ) https://thesaucetalkpodcast.com

Dr. Ryan C. Maher is a Doctor of Dental Medicine with over 25 years of experience in the field. Since graduating from UMDNJ, he has earned numerous certifications and successfully opened multiple dental practices. In 2015, he wrote and published his first book, The Trooth in Dentistry, which focuses on strengthening the patient-dentist relationship through education and building trust and comfort. Dr. Maher's approach to dentistry—especially through his social media presence—brings a refreshing and engaging perspective to the profession. He not only makes dental care more approachable and fun, but also uplifts and motivates every member of his team, fostering a positive and dynamic practice environment. He’s a remarkable professional—and also my personal dentist. Through my experiences with him, I’ve gained valuable insight into the dental industry and had a great time doing it!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 ) https://thesaucetalkpodcast.com

Chef Mike Carrino is a New Jersey-based culinary force with nearly 30 years of experience and a long list of accolades to match. He's a shining example of what happens when grit meets grace in a chef’s coat—blending old-school discipline with rebellious creativity. A proud graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Carrino has opened several acclaimed establishments, including Passionné, Pig & Prince, and his current venture, Mike’s Pasta & Sandwich Shoppe. His talent also earned him a win on Season 1, Episode 13 of Chopped, where he took home the top prize on his very first appearance. I could go on about his achievements, but beyond the titles and recognition, Mike Carrino is quite possibly one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. We sat down for just under four hours to dive into the mind and world of this remarkable chef—a conversation that quickly became one of the most memorable moments of my life. He’s wise. He’s a visionary. He’s a craftsman. And most importantly, he’s my friend. Enjoy this unforgettable journey through the moments that shaped the one and only Chef Michael Carrino.   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 ) https://thesaucetalkpodcast.com  

Sean Struss is a beverage director and mixologist extraordinaire! I started this podcast in October 2023 and for an entire year this podcast was audio only until October 2024. I always planned on bringing back some guests from the "audio-only" era to catch up and give them their due video justice! Episode 18 featured Sean, and it was one of my most emotional episodes. Sean and I both wear our hearts on our sleeves and surely aren't strangers to emotion lol. Shortly after our last episode, his life changed drastically for the better and for the worse, so I figured I'd invite him back onto the show, and we could do a little game of catch-up. This was a therapeutic session for both of us, and it was good to see Sean since I hadn't seen him since the last episode.   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 ) https://thesaucetalkpodcast.com

Mike Puzzo is a figure painter for the world's leading creator and global distributor of top licensed consumer toys: the National Entertainment Collectibles Association, also known as NECA Toys. Known for largely having the responsibility of painting most of the TMNT-related toys, but he can bring life out of any prototype you put in front of him, as he's been responsible for painting some of my favorite horror paint applications to date. I learned a wealth of information about the toy manufacturing world, from the inception of ideas, to the creation of toys, all the way through product distribution, daily backend operations and more importantly how Mike stumbled upon this, at the time, unknown talent of his. This was a fun episode, and it was a pleasure to sit down with Mike and store away some more information in this big noggin of mine!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 ) https://thesaucetalkpodcast.com

Nick Wiz is one of the most underrated hip-hop producers from the golden era, known for his work in the underground scene, particularly his contributions in the 1990s. He's largely remembered for his work with the hip hop duo The Cella Dwellas on the majority of their debut album "Realms 'N Reality" which caused him to leap into stardom with further recognition and notoriety with his production accolades. Since then he's collaborated with some of hip-hops greatest acts including Mad Skillz, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Ran Reed, the late Chino XL, the late DMX, and the God MC himself, Rakim. His impact on the culture is undeniable as his sound continues to be revered by hip-hop purists and producers alike. It was an honor to sit down and learn about his journey on this episode of the podcast.   MUSIC CREDIT PLAYED IN EPISODE: 1. Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard featuring DMX & Ran Reed Murder Mufuccas Ova Nuttin' Nick Wiz Production 1995 HQ. YT Account - Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard Song Link - https://youtu.be/xFSvDzMXzFY?si=2uplYt-i0DQJatDO 2. Royce Da 5'9'' & Cash Brown - Double Homicide. YT Account - HipHop4Life 247 Song Link - https://youtu.be/d2NJdqDCWLQ?si=sj_RKDPs8n_Ey_fK   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 ) https://thesaucetalkpodcast.com

Bill Sanders is a young chef based in New Jersey, who never initially set out to pursue a career in cooking. His journey began at the age of 13, when he started cooking at home out of necessity, as his hard-working single mother was often away. What started as a way to survive soon transformed into a passion as he spent years experimenting with flavors and ingredients. At 16, he landed his first job as a busboy at the now-defunct Pig & Prince, where he worked under the guidance of his mentor, Chef Michael Carrino. Since then, he’s been on a mission to master his craft. The most pivotal moment in his culinary journey came when he joined the 7 Doors Down Ramen team, where the Asian and Japanese-inspired cuisine sparked a deeper connection to the culinary world, much like a tuna caught deep in the sea. From there, he went on to co-found Kinjo with Chef Jamie Knott before launching his own brand, Alma Matters Industries. Through this platform, he offers consultations, private chef services, and runs Alma Izakaya pop-up shops, which have become a staple in the local restaurant scene. We hope you enjoy getting to know Bill and hearing his fascinating story here on The Sauce Talk Podcast!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 ) https://thesaucetalkpodcast.com

Ewok One is a legendary graffiti artist based in New York City who has been sharing his artwork with the world for nearly three decades. With a background in skateboarding and breakdancing, his natural progression within hip-hop culture was a seamless fit. Exceptionally talented across multiple disciplines, he infuses originality and attitude into every piece he creates—whether on the streets, in fine art spaces, or through his collaborations with various clients across different fields. Not only is he one of the greatest artists to ever touch a spray can, but he has also contributed significantly to the culture by designing artwork for some of my favorite hip-hop albums of all time. Additionally, he played a key role in designing content for the iconic graffiti-forward video game Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, released by Marc Ecko in 2006. As someone who has admired his work since my teenage years, it was both an honor and a pleasure to sit down with him and satisfy my curiosities. I'm excited to share our conversation with you all. Please join me in welcoming the absolutely incredible Ewok One!   https://thesaucetalkpodcast.com   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Christian Petrovich is the CEO and founder of Argos Fragrances, a niche luxury fragrance house based out of Dallas, Texas. Argos Fragrances came onto the scene, debuting in 2018, but it wasn't until the following year, 2019, that their all-new scent took fragrance enthusiasts by storm due to the introduction of their infamous "Triumph Of Bacchus" release. The fragrance community was set ablaze as that scent caused a little wave of hype with positive reviews from fragrance influencers and collectors alike across all social media outlets. I became friendly with Christian upon my discovery of TOB and his fragrance house in 2020, and I've been a fan of the man himself as well as his scents ever since. He and I have been in talks about having this conversation for quite some time, and it was a pleasure to finally have him in the studio. There is much more to Christian than his fragrances, as he's got his hand involved with real estate, he's a model, and he's even acted in some small roles in various movies. I had a blast and learned a lot about his passion and drive for the business of scent, and we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we enjoyed recording it!   To purchase any fragrances from Argos use code - SAUCE10 for 10% off your order at checkout! Please visit - https://www.buyargos.com   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Rajni Jacques is a first generation Haitian American and an absolute legend in the Fashion & Beauty space. She is currently the Global Head of Fashion & Beauty over at SNAP Inc. (Snapchat). She's carved her way through the industry over the course of almost 2 decades, starting on the publication side of things. Some of her prior places of employment consist of Honey Magazine, Vibe Magazine, Glamour, Teen Vogue, Allure and the list goes on and on. It was an absolute pleasure and an honor to not only learn about the Fashion & Beauty side of things, but to also get an insight of what it was like climbing the ladder to success starting at the bottom from a confident, intelligent hard workers perspective. Enjoy the podcast, and thanks for viewing/listening as always!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Officer Justin Nielsen and I grew up together in the town of Verona. His early onset passion for law enforcement, the military and emergency services never left him, as during his transition into adulthood, he dragged along all 3 of those with him as a way of life. Upon his exit from High school, he immediately enrolled into the military, throwing himself to the wolves, so to speak, fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Beyond that, he's still an active volunteer firefighter for the town of Cedar Grove, first responder for the Verona Rescue Squad, WAS a police officer for the town of Verona for almost a decade and his current main bread and butter is training K-9 along with normal house dogs across all levels of obedience and skill. He's the owner and founder of Cover K-9 Dog Training and has a star-studded client list. I wanted to give you a different perspective on the world from someone who's fought in a war, someone who is actively in law enforcement, and someone whose eyes have seen a great deal. It's easy to judge from the other side of the fence, especially when it comes to the general view of Police Officers. We had a great conversation that I feel you all will enjoy!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Ari Saal Forman is widely known for releasing one of the most legendary and controversial sneakers of all time, the Ari Menthol 10s. He also created one of the most important Hip-Hop/Graffiti publications in existence called OnTheGo Magazine alongside Steve "Espo" Powers, which down the line years later became OnTheGo Marketing that has a client list most would drool over. I could go on and on regarding his importance to me as well as the culture as a whole, but more importantly, he's a friend and one of the wisest people I've ever come across. There are various short documentary pieces done on him, articles, and he has also participated in many interviews, podcasts etc. regarding his involvement in the sneaker space. However, there is much more to him than sneakers. Ari is very wise and for good reason, as he's lived a long rough life. He has touched on it sparingly in various interviews but never in full depth. I wanted to give the world another side of Ari, the vulnerable, detailed, emotional, and intellectual side. This podcast, although slightly touching on the inevitable sneaker talk, focuses on everything else in between that you have never heard before. The philosophical, spiritual and astral intellect that makes up his very DNA. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I am, as there is 4 hours of knowledge jam packed into this episode!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Daniel Espinal aka Def Dom, is a local underground music producer. Back in 2009 I was getting familiar with the local music scene within my area as I always sought out the newest and greatest unheard sonics and I came across this soulful R&B duo through mutual friends entitled "Pardon The Stranger" consisting of one singer Kendal Good and producer DefDom (my guest). My musical mood changes with the seasons as tides to a shore which at the time was in a soulful pocket. The first song I ever heard from the duo was "Brand New Me" and it immediately made the hair stand up on the back of my neck from the unique angelic vocals spewing out from the depths of Kendal's diaphragm, to the sonic abyss formulated by the mind of DefDom. It plucked the melodic strings of my life at the time and I reached out to DefDom almost immediately expressing my gratitude and the rest is history. From there I gained a friend, a fellow music lover, a spiritually in-tuned entity,  and someone who supports my vision as I equally support his. In this conversation we nerd out over our musical interests, experiences and life as a whole which comes from a real warm place within. This one was a lot of fun!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

CJ Tuite is one of my oldest best friends! I've known CJ since I was in the 5th grade and we've been close ever since. He is truly like a brother to me. It is through CJ that I really got to grasp fully what the term "solidarity" really meant. CJ got dealt a rough deck of cards and his upbringing got extremely dicey throughout the years. To witness what he has become, after all he's been through has been nothing short of incredible, as many moments throughout his journey would've destroyed some of the strongest men I've come to know in life tenfold. I wanted to share his story in hopes that anyone out there that's going through a similar situation would never give up and strive for that light at the end of the tunnel. You can't choose your parents or the early years of your life, but you can change its course for the better. CJ and I sat down for what could've easily been over 10 hours, and just briefly touched on some of the rough moments of his when growing up. We haven't even scratched the surface, but I am thankful for his trust and for opening that door just a tad for the listeners, in hopes of inspiring anyone that went through or is currently going through a similar situation. We hope you enjoy our conversation.   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Michael Cosenza is a well known New Jersey Culinary Chef and the co-owner of Mike's Pasta & Sandwich Shoppe located in Nutley, NJ! Cooking has been in Mike's blood since he was a toddler, sprouting that culinary seed in his family kitchen growing up. Finding his way has been a long journey from deciding to pull out of joining the Marines in the 11th hour, to pursuing his destiny, attending the French Culinary Institute, fine-tuning his craft, laying the very foundation of what's to come. Souring through the restaurant scene taking on many roles in the kitchen, it wasn't until around 5 years ago when he discovered his passion for making homemade pastas. We sat down, and I got to hear all about his story and, more importantly, his love and passion for food. Mike is a fantastic human and we hope you enjoy our conversation!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Corey is the owner of New Jersey's best screen printing and embroidery outfit on the East Coast, Panther Printing Co, which was founded in 2014. Starting out in a small 100 square foot corner of our mutual friends sneaker warehouse, in which he was employed, he then started what would unknowingly become his screen printing empire. I have known Corey since he was 16 years old, so to see him grow not only as a man, but also as a business owner has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had. In this episode you gain knowledge of his childhood growing up in New Jersey along with a rundown of what it was like to start a local business from the ground up! I had a blast chopping it up with my good friend and I learned a ton about the screen printing industry, as so will you after listening to this episode!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Sean is a West Orange native who has had a love and appreciation for the food and beverage industry since a young age. As the current beverage director at the BeefBar in NYC, my guest tells everything from starting out at the very bottom at local pizzerias & restaurants, to working in the most prestigious culinary outfits in the tri-state area. Sean and I are both mutually emotional people and during this episode we both laughed and cried harmoniously, sharing our deepest thoughts and philosophy regarding life as well as the restaurant industry. This is one of the greatest conversations I have ever had in my life and I can't wait for you all to give it a listen!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Joey Hono, for as young as he is, he's lived a hard, long life filled with experiences that you could depict through cinematic expression. Growing up, I've always been drawn to music like minnows to a trout. One genre in particular that I adored was house music, or rather club music as a whole. The type of music that sonically echoed off of the walls in the most legendary underground NYC clubs throughout the 90's and early 2000's. Oddly enough, although my passion for the music was strong, I did not partake personally in the club party scene but instead thoroughly enjoyed to live vicariously through the stories of others. One club in particular that had a large impact on the scene was The Tunnel. It largely became known towards the end of its life cycle for Hip-Hop, but it did not start out that way. My guest was a frequent at the tunnel along many other rave parties in the big apple for many years and was even there when they had the infamous drug raid that ended up contributing to the termination of its existence. Many drug fueled chaotic adventures that would last hours and carve unforgettable memories into the very fabric of his cerebral cortex. Those memories were thankfully shared over the finest Japanese whisky, as we took a detailed stroll down the nostalgic road that made up the very life he continues to lead. From a childhood in which resembles the movie Kids, to the nightlife escapades that are in lines with the film Party Monster and everything in between, his story is an interesting one . After our chat, in which we realized the large amount of mutual friends and interests we have in common, it's  remarkable we have never crossed paths prior to our introduction. Please welcome my guest Joey Honō aka Joey Blaze.   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Rose Talocci aka Rose6,is the first female featured on The Sauce Talk Podcast! Rose and I met at our place of work over a decade ago as we were both hired the exact same day, but belonging to different crafts. Quite possibly one of the sweetest, talented, and most caring women I've ever met in my life. Just like my cousin Vinny from episode 5, Rose also shares what it was like for her growing up in the 90s being a homosexual female not only in normal day-to-day life, but also going into the military, as she was a Sergeant for the Marine Corps where, upon signing on she had to sign the "don't ask don't tell" waiver in order to follow her military aspirations. Upon exiting the military, she had a brief career working in broadcasting, became a locomotive engineer which she's still involved with in the present day, and then, onto pursuing her love for music, in which she adopted the moniker Rose6, performing shows with just a guitar, mic and her bubbly personality to accompany said tools! Please welcome my guest, Rose Talocci!   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )

Ari is an expert jeweler of Armenian descent specializing in custom pieces operating out of NYC. Ari's father has been in the jewelry business for over 30 years and while at first he was not interested in continuing the family business, that all changed once he arrived to his 20's after realizing the retail industry just wasn't for him. Although starting later in life, he quickly learned the craft at an expert level creating some of the most intricate and gorgeous custom pieces for athletes, musicians, even all the way down to your average joe. Ari's claim to fame is that every single piece is made of high quality all under one roof, in house, and with zero outsourcing! We had a wonderful conversation and I gained lots of knowledge regarding the jewelry industry that I did not know of prior.   *Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )                                                                                                         **Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )