Podcast
Ya Gotta Eat
Hosted by Robert St. John and Drew Wooton · EN
Great food. Unfiltered conversations.
Ya Gotta Eat is a cuisine & culture series hosted by Robert St. John and Drew Wooton, traveling all over to sit down with award-winning chefs, restaurateurs, musicians, artists, and noteworthy guests. Each episode captures stories, traditions, and genuine conversations that celebrate community, culture, and connection around the table. Life moves fast, but no matter your schedule, there should always be time to come together and share a meal.
After all—Ya Gotta Eat.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Kim Howard | Doubling Down at Black Jack Ranch | Ya Gotta Eat #13
2w ago01:20:02Tap to summarizeBefore she raised some of the finest Wagyu beef in the South, Kim Howard was walking the streets of Los Angeles as an LAPD officer — and earning the Medal of Valor to prove it. Now she runs Black Jack Ranch in Wiggins, Mississippi, where her expertise in cattle breeding and harvesting has helped her build something truly rare: a Wagyu operation with the kind of depth and intention that only comes from someone who's spent a lifetime mastering difficult crafts.In Episode 13 of Ya Gotta Eat, Robert St. John and Drew Wooton sit down with Kim at Black Jack Ranch to talk cattle, culture, and what it means to do something the right way. From bloodlines and breeding philosophy to the art of the butcher and yes, the burgers. This episode is a masterclass wrapped in Mississippi hospitality.If you think you know what a burger can be, Kim is about to change your mind.🐄 Black Jack Ranch | Wiggins, Mississippi🍔 American Wagyu beef, straight from the source🎙️ Guest: Kim Howard — rancher, breeder, butcher, LAPD Medal of Valor recipientYa Gotta Eat is a cuisine and culture podcast hosted by Mississippi restaurateur and author Robert St. John and filmmaker Drew Wooton. New episodes wherever you get your podcasts — and right here on YouTube.Subscribe so you never miss a meal.FOLLOW BLACK JACK RANCHhttps://www.instagram.com/blackjackwagyu/https://www.facebook.com/BlackJackWagyuFOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yagottaeatshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yagottaeatshowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yagottaeatshowBusiness Inquiries: yagottaeatshow@gmail.com
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Susan Spicer | Je Suis Lá | Ya Gotta Eat #12
May 1301:19:38Tap to summarizeSusan Spicer helped shape modern New Orleans cuisine without ever chasing the spotlight.Born in Key West and raised in New Orleans after spending part of her childhood in the Netherlands, Susan built a career defined by curiosity, discipline, and fearless creativity. From learning classic French technique at Louis XVI and staging in Paris in the early 1980s to opening legendary restaurants like Bayona, Herbsaint, Mondo, Spice Inc., and Rosedale, she became one of the most respected chefs in America while helping redefine what New Orleans food could be.In Episode 12 of Ya Gotta Eat, Robert St. John and Drew Wooton sit down with Susan over breakfast at Toast in New Orleans to talk about her journey through the restaurant world, opening Bayona in the French Quarter, building restaurants from the ground up, traveling the world through food, and the evolution of New Orleans cuisine. Along the way, they discuss French technique, Indonesian influences, music, work ethic, and why hospitality always comes first.From staging in Paris with no backup plan to becoming one of the most influential chefs in New Orleans history, Susan’s story is one of passion, resilience, and creativity.Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.As always: if we eat there, go eat there. Tip big. Support the places we visit.Pull up a chair — Episode 12 starts now. Because… Ya Gotta Eat!New episodes drop every four weeks.Subscribe and join us at the table.FOLLOW SUSAN SPICERhttps://www.instagram.com/spicer.susan/https://www.facebook.com/ChefSusanSpicer/FOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yagottaeatshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yagottaeatshowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yagottaeatshowBusiness Inquiries: yagottaeatshow@gmail.comLINKS▶️ Last Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukx1EOBPg7A🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vyLYdyS0Q4omwaNcqVCrI🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ya-gotta-eat/id1856003639❤️ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ya-gotta-eat-315833688CHAPTERS0:00 – Intro3:42 – Why Susan Chose Toast6:28 – Growing Up Between Key West, Holland & New Orleans10:15 – Falling in Love with New Orleans Music & Food15:02 – Learning to Cook from Her Mother19:40 – Discovering French Cuisine24:18 – Cooking in Paris & Taking the Leap31:08 – Opening Savoir Faire & Bistro at Maison de Ville36:22 – Bayona, Recognition & Early Success42:15 – Traveling the World Through Food47:08 – The Story Behind Rosedale52:10 – Mentorship, Leadership & Restaurant Culture56:45 – Favorite New Orleans Restaurants1:01:34 – Music, The Warehouse & New Orleans Culture1:07:22 – The Dish That Reminds Her of Home1:10:05 – Outro#neworleans #foodculture #podcast
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Vasti Jackson | This Is Your Heartbeat | Ya Gotta Eat #11
Apr 1501:17:11Tap to summarizeVasti Jackson isn’t just a musician. He’s a storyteller, a cultural bridge, and one of the living voices of the blues.Born and raised in McComb, Mississippi, Vasti grew up surrounded by music, gospel, country, soul, and blues, long before he ever stepped on a stage. That foundation led to a career spanning decades, working with legends, performing around the world, and helping carry forward a sound that is deeply rooted in history.In Episode 11 of Ya Gotta Eat, Robert St. John and Drew Wooton sit down with Vasti at Eastside Soul Food in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to talk about music, heritage, and the journey that shaped his life. From early days playing in juke joints to recording at Malaco Records and touring internationally, Vasti shares what it means to dedicate your life to your craft.But this episode isn’t just about music. It’s about passion, discipline, faith, and the idea that if you stay true to what you love, the rest will follow.Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.As always: if we eat there, go eat there. Tip big. Support the places we visit.Pull up a chair — Episode 11 starts now. Because… Ya Gotta Eat!New episodes drop every other Wednesday.Subscribe and join us at the table.FOLLOW VASTI JACKSONhttps://www.vastijackson.com/FOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yagottaeatshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yagottaeatshowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yagottaeatshowBusiness Inquiries: yagottaeatshow@gmail.comLINKS▶️ Last Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPQMhB7a_no🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vyLYdyS0Q4omwaNcqVCrI🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ya-gotta-eat/id1856003639❤️ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ya-gotta-eat-315833688CHAPTERS0:00 – Intro2:30 – Why East Side Soul Food6:15 – Growing Up in McComb12:40 – Music in the Household18:05 – Learning to Play & Early Gigs25:10 – Recording at Malaco32:20 – Working with Blues Legends40:15 – Touring the World48:30 – The Evolution of Music & AI55:20 – Passion, Purpose, and Longevity1:02:10 – Last Thing You Listened To1:05:00 – The 12-Year-Old Birthday Dinner Question1:08:30 – Outro#mississippi #blues #podcast
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Dario Cecchini | The Butcher of Panzano | Ya Gotta Eat #10
Apr 101:00:16Tap to summarizeDario Cecchini isn't just a butcher. He’s a philosopher of food, a steward of tradition, and the heart of a small town in Tuscany.Known around the world as The Butcher of Panzano, Dario has spent more than 50 years working in the same family butcher shop, carrying on an eight-generation tradition. Along the way, he built not just a business, but a community — a place where people from all over the world come to sit at long tables, share meals, and experience what he believes food is really about: bringing people together.In Episode 10 of Ya Gotta Eat, Robert St. John and Drew Wooton sit down with Dario to talk about meat, tradition, family, hard work, and the philosophy that guides his life and work. Once called the greatest butcher in the world by Anthony Bourdain, Dario explains why success didn’t happen overnight — it happened over decades of passion, discipline, and showing up every day.Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.As always: if we eat there, go eat there. Tip big. Support the places we visit.Pull up a chair — Episode 10 starts now. Because… Ya Gotta Eat!New episodes drop every other Wednesday.Subscribe and join us at the table.FOLLOW DARIOhttps://www.dariocecchini.com/en/FOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yagottaeatshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yagottaeatshowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yagottaeatshowBusiness Inquiries: yagottaeatshow@gmail.comLINKS▶️ Last Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W_mtqOzxMs🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vyLYdyS0Q4omwaNcqVCrI🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ya-gotta-eat/id1856003639❤️ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ya-gotta-eat-315833688
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Mark Landis | I Like to Stay Busy | Ya Gotta Eat #9
Mar 1801:11:15Tap to summarizeMark Landis is one of the most unusual guests we’ve ever had at the table.Known as one of America’s most prolific art forgers, Landis spent years donating recreated works to museums across the country, never asking for money and often taking on elaborate personas along the way. His story was later captured in the documentary Art and Craft.In Episode 9 of Ya Gotta Eat, Robert St. John and Drew Wooton sit down with Mark at Tabella in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, one of Robert’s restaurants, to talk about art, identity, validation, and the strange path that made Landis a folk legend.This episode isn’t just about forgery. It’s about talent, loneliness, self-esteem, reinvention, and the need to be seen. Mark opens up about his process, his motivations, his love of classic films, and what life looks like now as he creates original work and commissions in Mississippi.Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.As always: if we eat there, go eat there. Tip big. Support the places we visit.Pull up a chair — Episode 9 starts now. Because… Ya Gotta Eat!New episodes drop every other Wednesday.Subscribe and join us at the table.FOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yagottaeatshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yagottaeatshowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yagottaeatshowBusiness Inquiries: yagottaeatshow@gmail.comLINKS▶️ Last Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86MXwy49rPU🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vyLYdyS0Q4omwaNcqVCrI🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ya-gotta-eat/id1856003639❤️ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ya-gotta-eat-315833688CHAPTERS#artandcraft #restaurant #podcast
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Charles Morgan | Built by the Docks | Ya Gotta Eat #8
Mar 401:44:29Tap to summarizeCharles Morgan helped define the Gulf Coast restaurant scene.In 1979, he turned a small repurposed house on the Destin Harbor into Harbor Docks — a waterfront seafood landmark built on fresh Gulf fish, 400 feet of dock space, and a true “Gulf to Table” philosophy. What started as a dockside seafood house became an institution.But this episode isn’t just about seafood. It’s about legacy.In Episode 8 of Ya Gotta Eat, Charles sits down with Robert St. John and Drew Wooton to talk about building Harbor Docks from the ground up, sourcing directly from the Gulf, and creating a culture that has lasted more than four decades.For Robert, this conversation is personal. Harbor Docks is where his restaurant career began. This is a full-circle moment — mentor and mentee at the same table.They discuss risk, leadership, family ownership, expansion through Chuck’s Fish, and what it really takes to build something that stands the test of time.From boat captain to restaurateur.From a small house on the harbor to a multi-city brand.This is a conversation about grit, stewardship, and staying true to your roots.Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.As always: if we eat there, go eat there. Tip big. Support the places we visit.Pull up a chair — Episode 8 starts now. Because… Ya Gotta Eat!New episodes drop every other Wednesday.Subscribe and join us at the table.FOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yagottaeatshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yagottaeatshowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yagottaeatshowBusiness Inquiries: yagottaeatshow@gmail.comLINKS▶️ Last Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PB1RSW_7vo🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vyLYdyS0Q4omwaNcqVCrI🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ya-gotta-eat/id1856003639❤️ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ya-gotta-eat-315833688CHAPTERS#destinflorida #restaurantlife #seafood
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Kevin Boehm | The Bottomless Cup | Ya Gotta Eat #7
Feb 1801:31:31Tap to summarizeKevin Boehm has built one of the most respected restaurant groups in America.As co-founder of Boka Restaurant Group, he and his business partner Rob Katz operate more than 35 restaurants across Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and beyond. In 2018, they won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur in America.But this episode isn’t just about success. It’s about what it costs.In Episode 7 of Ya Gotta Eat, Kevin opens up about the story behind his new memoir, The Bottomless Cup: A Memoir of Secrets, Restaurants, and Forgiveness — and the truths that shaped his life long before the headlines. From sleeping in his car as a young man to building a restaurant empire, Kevin shares what ambition can give you… and what it can take.Robert St. John and Drew Wooton sit down with Kevin to talk about scaling restaurants, fighting for independent operators during the pandemic, and the pressure that comes with leadership. The conversation moves beyond hospitality into mental health, therapy, and the childhood secret about his biological father that reshaped his life.This is an honest, vulnerable conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the work of forgiveness.Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.As always: if we eat there, go eat there. Tip big. Support the places we visit.Pull up a chair — Episode 7 starts now. Because… Ya Gotta Eat!
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Frank Brigtsen | Ya Gotta Eat #6
Feb 401:47:22Tap to summarizeIn Episode 6 of Ya Gotta Eat, Robert St. John and Drew Wooton sit down with Chef Frank Brigtsen — one of the true gentlemen of New Orleans cooking — for a meal at Susan Spicer’s Rosedale Restaurant in New Orleans.Frank’s story sits at the heart of a defining moment in American food. He got his start at Commander’s Palace, worked side-by-side with Chef Paul Prudhomme, and was there for the early days that reshaped how the country thought about Cajun and Creole cuisine. From the first bite of blackened redfish to the “whatever it takes” hustle that builds a career, Frank shares the lessons, the people, and the moments that matter.We talk mentorship, work ethic, and the craft of doing the same dish thousands of times — and why, at the end of the day, the restaurant business is still about one thing: making people happy.Ya Gotta Eat is built on one idea:Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.As always: if we eat there, go eat there. Tip big. Support the places we visit.Pull up a chair and enjoy Episode 6 — because… Ya Gotta Eat!FOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yagottaeatshowFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/yagottaeatshowTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yagottaeatshowBusiness Inquiries: yagottaeatshow@gmail.comLINKS▶️ Last Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcW4Y50LkJs🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3vyLYdyS0Q4omwaNcqVCrI🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ya-gotta-eat/id1856003639❤️ iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-ya-gotta-eat-31583368
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Oli Petit | Ya Gotta Eat #5
Jan 2101:29:51Tap to summarizeOli Petit — Belgian-born restaurateur, drummer, and the heart behind The Red Bar in Downtown Grayton Beach — joins Robert St. John and Drew Wooton for Episode 5 of Ya Gotta Eat.The Red Bar isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a landmark. A funky, unforgettable room filled with live music, red walls, and the kind of energy you can’t fake. In this episode, Oli talks about building that magic from the ground up, what it means to be a true hospitalitarian, and why simple, well-executed food can create a place people will gladly wait hours to experience.We also get into the story every Red Bar fan remembers: the 2019 fire — and the incredible rebuilding effort that brought it back to life with the same soul and spirit that made it iconic in the first place.From restaurant culture to music memories, this one is full of heart, history, and the kind of conversation that reminds you why these places matter.Ya Gotta Eat! is built on one idea:Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.Pull up a chair and enjoy Episode 5 — because… Ya Gotta Eat!FOLLOW USInstagram: www.instagram.com/yagottaeatshowFacebook: www.facebook.com/yagottaeatshowTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@yagottaeatshowBusiness Inquiries: yagottaeatshow@gmail.com
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Mason Hereford | Ya Gotta Eat #4
Jan 701:25:23Tap to summarizeMason Hereford — chef, author, and owner of Turkey and the Wolf — joins Robert St. John and Drew Wooton at the High Hat Cafe for Episode 4 of Ya Gotta Eat.Mason is one of the most original voices in American food today. His counter-service sandwich shop, Turkey and the Wolf, has been named one of the most important restaurants of the decade by Food & Wine and Esquire, and was crowned Bon Appétit’s Best New Restaurant in America. He’s also a New York Times bestselling cookbook author — but titles only tell part of the story.In this episode, the conversation goes far beyond the kitchen. We talk about the realities of running restaurants, personal responsibility, and how culture, place, and work ethic shape the way we live and eat. From quirky gas stations and unexpected food finds to bigger ideas about America, creativity, and timing — this is a thoughtful, honest conversation with someone who sees the world a little differently.Ya Gotta Eat is built on one idea:Food brings people together. Stories keep us together.Watch or listen to Episode 4 — because… Ya Gotta Eat!
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