Radio Cherry Bombe

Today’s guest is Lois Freedman, one of the most powerful women in the restaurant industry. Lois is co-CEO of the Jean-Georges restaurant group, the company led by world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten that includes more than 50 restaurants in 12 countries and more than 1,000 employees. This year marks Lois’s 40th anniversary of working with Jean-Georges. 

Amazingly, this is Lois’s very first podcast. She’s been very low-key throughout her career, but fortunately for us, agreed to come on the show and talk about her remarkable career. 

She and host Kerry Diamond discuss Lois’ time as a chef, her move to front-of-house and what that unlocked, her love of to-do lists, why Jean-Georges calls her Madame No, plus advice for opening restaurants and keeping them open. You will learn a lot from Lois, whether you work in hospitality or another industry. 

This episode was recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center. 

Click here for the 2026 Cherry Bombe Power List 

Thank you to American Express and Resy for supporting our show. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy – and do not constitute professional advice.

Thank you to Veuve Clicquot for supporting our show.

Thank you to S. Pellegrino for supporting our show. Learn more and follow the 2026–2027 competition at sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com. 

Click here to order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine.

Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Lois: LinkedIn, Jean-Georges restaurants

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

For today’s show, we’re airing our first joint episode with She’s My Cherry Pie, Cherry Bombe’s baking podcast hosted by Jessie Sheehan. Today’s guests are Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, the founders of Levain Bakery, the beloved New York bakery known for its signature thick cookies. Levain started as a small bread shop on the Upper West Side in 1995, and has since grown into one of the most recognizable bakeries in the country, with more than 20 locations and fans lined up for their famous chocolate chip walnut cookies.

Connie and Pam join host Jessie Sheehan to talk about how they met while training for triathlons, how their bread business began with the support of Anthony Bourdain, and how a call from then-New York Times columnist Amanda Hesser helped put their now-iconic cookie on the map.

Connie and Pam also talk about their memoir, “Levain Bakery: A Story of Friendship, Community, and Cookies,” and why community has always been at the heart of Levain.

Thank you to Nonino & Fisher & Paykel for supporting our show.

Thank you to S. Pellegrino for supporting our show. Learn more and follow the 2026–2027 competition at sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com. 

Click here to order The Game Changers Issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine.

Sign up for our free She’s My Cherry Pie & Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Levain: Instagram, website, "Levain Bakery" book

More on Jessie: Instagram, “Salty, Cheesy, Herby, Crispy Snackable Bakes” cookbook

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Today’s guest is Rachel Karten, the social media strategist, writer, and creator of the must-read Substack newsletter Link in Bio. Rachel, a Bon Appétit alum and Cherry Bombe 2026 Power List honoree, is one of the smartest people thinking about social media today.

Rachel joins host Kerry Diamond to talk about what’s happening on Instagram right now, why follower counts don’t mean what they used to, and why short-form video matters so much for brands, restaurants, and media companies. She breaks down how social platforms have changed, and how doing less—but doing it with intention—can be a smarter way forward.

Plus, Rachel shares her thoughts on Substack, Facebook’s possible comeback, the pressure to be everywhere, and some of the brands and restaurants doing social media right today.

Click here for the 2026 Cherry Bombe Power List 

Thank you to American Express and Resy for supporting our show. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy – and do not constitute professional advice.

Thank you to Whole Foods Market for supporting our show. Click here to sign up for the Supper Club Series waitlist in Miami on June 23rd.  

Click here to order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine.

Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Rachel: Instagram, Link in Bio

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Today’s guests are Ligaya Mishan and Tejal Rao, the co-chief restaurant critics at The New York Times. Ligaya is based in New York City, while Tejal is based in Los Angeles, and together they’re bringing a fresh perspective to one of the most influential roles in the food world. Ligaya and Tejal are also featured on Cherry Bombe’s 2026 Power List.

Ligaya and Tejal join host Kerry Diamond to talk about their childhoods, the foods that shaped them, and how they each found their way to writing and restaurant criticism. They share how they’re approaching this new era of criticism—one that takes into account emerging audiences and cuisines, the end of anonymity, and the physical and emotional realities of eating for a living.

They also discuss The New York Times’ 100 Best Restaurants in New York City list, why it’s always a conversation starter, and what it means to think about a list as a portrait of a city. Plus, Ligaya and Tejal talk about the Los Angeles restaurant scene, menu storytelling, the cities they’re excited about right now, and why restaurants still matter as spaces of hospitality, connection, and community.

Click here for the 2026 Cherry Bombe Power List 

Thank you to Whole Foods Market for supporting our show. Click here to sign up for the Supper Club Series waitlist in Miami on June 23rd.  

Click here to pre-order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine.

Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Ligaya: Instagram, NYT profile

More on Tejal: Instagram, NYT profile

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series

Today’s guests are Ligaya Mishan and Tejal Rao, the co-chief restaurant critics at The New York Times. Ligaya is based in New York City, while Tejal is based in Los Angeles, and together they’re bringing a fresh perspective to one of the most influential roles in the food world. Ligaya and Tejal are also featured on Cherry Bombe’s 2026 Power List.

Ligaya and Tejal join host Kerry Diamond to talk about their childhoods, the foods that shaped them, and how they each found their way to writing and restaurant criticism. They share how they’re approaching this new era of criticism—one that takes into account emerging audiences and cuisines, the end of anonymity, and the physical and emotional realities of eating for a living.

They also discuss The New York Times’ 100 Best Restaurants in New York City list, why it’s always a conversation starter, and what it means to think about a list as a portrait of a city. Plus, Ligaya and Tejal talk about the Los Angeles restaurant scene, menu storytelling, the cities they’re excited about right now, and why restaurants still matter as spaces of hospitality, connection, and community.

Click here for the 2026 Cherry Bombe Power List 

Thank you to American Express and Resy for supporting our show. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers – not of Resy – and do not constitute professional advice.

Thank you to Whole Foods Market for supporting our show. Click here to sign up for the Supper Club Series waitlist in Miami on June 23rd.  

Click here to pre-order The Game Changers issue of Cherry Bombe magazine.

Sign up for our free Radio Cherry Bombe newsletters at cherrybombe.substack.com

More on Ligaya: Instagram, NYT profile

More on Tejal: Instagram, NYT profile

More on Kerry: Instagram, “So You Want To Open A Restaurant” Substack series