Five Rules for the Good Life Podcast

Darin sits down with winemaker, designer, and storyteller André Hueston Mack to talk about his Five Rules for Building a Life You Don’t Want to Escape From. From walking away from the corporate grind to finding unexpected inspiration in reruns of Frasier, André shares how betting on himself, mastering his craft, and embracing contradiction have shaped his path. They talk wine, family dinners, legacy, and why telling your story—your way—matters. It's honest, funny, and packed with wisdom for anyone ready to take that first leap. Pour a glass of Maison Noir and press play.

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Darin is joined by Katherine Lewin, founder and CEO of Big Night, one of his favorite shops—and one of his biggest sources of dinner party inspiration. She shares her five rules for opening a shop, building community, and creating a brand with purpose. They talk about what it takes to open a physical store, why starting small matters, how storytelling can transform a retail experience, and why the best decisions often come from trusting your gut. If you've ever dreamed of starting your own business or want to host better dinner parties, this one’s for you.

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In this special episode, Darin welcomes Brittney Valles, founding member of the Independent Hospitality Coalition (IHC), for a timely and urgent conversation. With ICE activity increasing in Los Angeles and the National Guard deployed, Brittney outlines the rights every hospitality worker should know during an immigration raid.

From how to assert your right to remain silent to using the ILRC Red Card as a tool of protection, this episode is a vital listen for anyone in the industry—or anyone who cares about it. For more resources or to connect with IHC directly, visit their official site or...

Photo by Andre Baranowski

Darin sits down with writer, journalist, and Esquire editor Jeff Gordinier to talk about the blues—how to face them, move through them, and maybe, just maybe, how to feel a little better by week’s end. Jeff shares five deeply personal practices that have helped him stay grounded through life’s ups and downs—from long walks and deep sleep to seeing friends IRL and reading poetry like prayer. If you’re feeling a little off lately, this episode is your gentle reminder to slow down, pay attention, and take care.

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Darin sits down with Lien Ta—restaurateur, organizer, and one of the guiding lights of L.A.’s hospitality community. From Here’s Looking At You to Regarding Her, Lien shares her five essential rules for building community with intention, generosity, and just a little bit of magic. It’s a heartfelt, honest conversation about showing up, paying attention, and creating space for connection—both inside a restaurant and far beyond its walls. If you've ever wondered how to turn a dining room into a neighborhood, this one’s for you.

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This week on Five Rules for the Good Life, Michelin-starred Chef Cheng Lin of Shota Omakase, talks about his journey from summer job to sushi master, which is a lesson in patience, precision, and passion. He shares the hard-earned rules behind his craft: self-taught knife skills, years of research, and the quiet power of knowing where your fish comes from. It’s less about flash and more about focus. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to dedicate your life to one thing and still love it decades later, these rules are for you.

[00:00:00] Darin Welcome to F...

Darin hits the farmers’ market with the ultimate expert, Sam Rogers. Bridging the gap between some of California’s top chefs and the state’s finest growers for over fifteen years, she sits down to share her five rules for shopping like a chef. Whether you’re a farmers’ market rookie or you’ve been selecting heirloom tomatoes since the ‘90s, Sam’s rules will turn your weekly produce run into a culinary adventure.

[00:00:00] Darin Hello and welcome to Five Rules for the Good Life. I'm your host, Darin Bresnitz. Today, I am joined by farmers market expert, Sam Roge...

Darin sits down with Thomas McNaughton and Ryan Pollnow, the pasta-obsessed legends behind San Francisco’s Flour + Water Hospitality Group. They share their five rules for cooking pasta like a pro, including why your water needs way more salt than you think, why bronze dies matter, and how not to mess up fresh noodles (spoiler: it includes drying them a little). It’s part masterclass, part love letter to carbs, and all delicious. If your pantry has a box of pasta in it (and let’s be honest, it does), this one’s for you.

Transcript

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Welcome to the first episode of Five Rules for the Good Life Podcast—the audio companion to the newsletter. In each episode, a guest joins me to share one topic—how they eat, host, travel, create, or just move through the world with a little more intention (with good snacks)—and the five rules they live by. It’s less self-help, more lived-in advice from people who know what they’re doing and have made it their business to do so. These will roll out alongside the essays, whenever the timing’s right, so please enjoy the debut episode with Peter S...