Cat & Cloud Podcast

Marc with a C – Helping our partners do what's right for them

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a wide-ranging conversation about how coffee businesses support people at different stages, from new partners to experienced teams. Ma...

Serving the Room – Hospitality in high-traffic environments

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week is a classic “how did we get here?” episode — starting with the pain of losing a recording, then jumping into what’s been happening ...

Care Over Perfection – The balance between craft and hospitality

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode explores how company culture is shaped by the balance between craft and hospitality. We talk about what happens when standards exist with...

Culture in Practice – The everyday actions that make things happen

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s episode is all about culture — what it is, why it matters, and how it actually shows up in the day-to-day. We talk about how culture i...

Forward Thinking – Making the future easy to manage

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we talk about what it really looks like to think ahead in a business. Instead of getting stuck reacting to today’s problems, we look at ho...

The People Puzzle – Understanding your team in a new way

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we dig into The Predictive Index and how tools like it can help leaders better understand the people on their team. Instead of guessing at s...

Defining Your Identity – branding in specialty coffee

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re doing something special: sharing an episode from Good Folks Doing Good Work that dives deep into branding, clarity, and the heart be...

Passionate Experience – How obsession and passion shape creative work

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s conversation starts with a late-night rabbit hole on legendary chef Marco Pierre White and turns into a deeper reflection on obsession, ...

Core Value – What is at the heart of your decision

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we dive into how defining your personal and professional values can simplify the choices you make every day. From career goals to family pr...

Substance over style – the hierarchy of branding in a cafe

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we tackle a listener question about how important brand identity is before opening your first shop. The conversation breaks down what “br...

Reap what you sow – Investing in your team is never a money loss

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we reflect on what it really means to invest in your team—beyond payroll, bonuses, or budgets. From traveling for competitions to origin t...

Craft & Automation – Mahlkönig’s tools that empower baristas and not replace them

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Grant, Head of Sales for the Americas at Hemro Group — the company behind Mahlkönig, Ditting, Anfim, and Hey ...

Nine Years Down – keeping things interesting after years of growth

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we look back on nine years of Cat & Cloud. From our earliest days roasting out of borrowed spaces to opening our first café on Portola, we ...

Crafting A Class – Working to take our coffee education to the next level

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting A Class – Working to take our coffee education to the next level by Cat & Cloud

Bevel Coffee - Connections and community

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re hanging out with Kevin and Dulce, owners of Bevel Coffee. We get into their journey of owning a coffee company. How it came from a n...

Price of Fame – Do famous coffees help the rest of the industry

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we talk about fame—how it shapes perception in both pop culture and coffee. From the awkwardness of Will Smith trying to rap again to Haci...

PM the Show – How maintaining your space improves everything

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we talk about the idea of “plussing the show.” The practice of constantly reinvesting in your space so it feels alive, intentional, and ...

Pressure Makes Diamonds – Nick Terzulli's journey into making incredible things

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Terzulli, VP of R&D at Fellow. Nick shares how his curiosity and persistence pulled him deeper into coffee cult...

Shoulders of Giants – How learning from others helps you grow

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we dive into why learning from others is one of the fastest ways to grow. From drawing lessons out of brands like Disney to observing how p...

Philz Venture Cap – What happens when money takes over

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Chuck and I dig into the recent Philz Coffee sale. We break down how venture capital and private equity deals actually work, why common sto...

A Monday Morning – Just chatting in the office

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We cover a lot of ground in this episode — from mentorship and leadership growth to why having a group around you can be so helpful for personal and...

The Sweetness Spectrum – Tasting coffee is complex

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode’s more like a stream of consciousness as we go through all the open tabs in our brain than a polished takeaway. We talk about experimen...

Do As You Say – Making the promise match the experience

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is a full-on field trip as we recap our visit to the Big Face Coffee pop-up in San Francisco. The coffee was solid, the energy was high, ...

COE Auction Extravaganza – Bidding, Bets, and a busy morning in the roastery

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Come along with us on a ride in this episode as we experience the world of Cup of Excellence coffee auctions for the first time. We were chasing a spe...

What Is It Good For – When is a certification required or just extra.

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week we talk about the shifting landscape of coffee certifications — particularly the recent changes to the Q grader system. With the program m...

Guest Who – Chatting with Benjamin Richardson

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we hang out with Ben Richardson of Sydney’s Made of Many roastery and Brighter cafe, and get into what it really means to build culture i...

Just Say No – Telling guests what they don't want to hear

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just Say No – Telling guests what they don't want to hear by Cat & Cloud

Questions Quick Fire – So much info in not a lot of time

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions Quick Fire – So much info in not a lot of time by Cat & Cloud

Identifying What You Want – Growing your beliefs as your company grows

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Identifying What You Want – Growing your beliefs as your company grows by Cat & Cloud

Source – Audience Q&A from 2025 SCA Expo

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast is part 2 of the event we hosted with Cafe Imports at the 2025 Specialty Coffee Association Expo. In this episode the audien...

Source – A green buying panel from 2025 SCA Expo

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, we’re sharing the event we hosted with Cafe Imports at the 2025 Specialty Coffee Association Expo. The event brought toge...

Road to Owner – Chucks journey to help start Cat & Cloud

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Road to Owner – Chucks journey to help start Cat & Cloud by Cat & Cloud

What to Sell When You're Selling – How to think about wholesale

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What to Sell When You're Selling – How to think about wholesale by Cat & Cloud

Spaces Make Places – Chatting about how a space looks and why it draws people in

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Spaces Make Places – Chatting about how a space looks and why it draws people in by Cat & Cloud

Eyes On the Prize – How showing up today helps you tomorrow

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Eyes On the Prize – How showing up today helps you tomorrow by Cat & Cloud

It's Not So Black and White – Big money in small business

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's Not So Black and White – Big money in small business by Cat & Cloud

The Guests That Arn't Your Guest – Showing hospitality to everyone you encounter

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Guests That Arn't Your Guest – Showing hospitality to everyone you encounter by Cat & Cloud

It's not you, It's Me – How changing consumer habits will save the economy

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The week we follow up with everyone’s favorite new topic, Tariffs. Specifically how this impact is similar to the record high of the C-Market from a...

Automation of Craft – How much automation is too much

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RSVP to the Source: A Green Buying Panel happening at SCA in Huston Texas. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-a-green-buying-panel-tickets-1284924396...

In the Business of Experiences – A legacy can be anything as long as it’s memorable.

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RSVP to the Source: A Green Buying Panel happening at SCA in Huston Texas. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-a-green-buying-panel-tickets-1284924396...

Do Unto Others – Giving amazing service based on your own experience

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do Unto Others – Giving amazing service based on your own experience by Cat & Cloud

Attention to Intention – Putting your focus on where it matters most

15 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Attention to Intention – Putting your focus on where it matters most by Cat & Cloud

The Biggest Financial Impacts – Tips for having a business model that works

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to another installment of Chats with Chuck. Chris and Chuck are taking over the Cat & Cloud Podcast this week to discuss all things finan...

Do it Now – When is the right time to start your own thing

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week Chris and Jared are channeling that name brand “DO IT” energy, to answer one of our listener qu...

Training to Taste - Giving the tools to experience coffee

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week Chris and Jared are answering one of your burning questions - how do we align and develop our teams...

The C Market – Where coffee prices come from

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Podcast Chris and Chuck talk about what the C Market is, why coffee prices are at an all time high, and chuck shares his thoughts on ...

Do Then Tell – How actions are more important than promises

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week Chris is sitting down with the rest of the Cat & Cloud Marketing Department to discuss the implic...

Questions About Culture

08 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Questions About Culture by Cat & Cloud

The Seven Steps - Ushering guests into the rest of their day

26 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Seven Steps - Ushering guests into the rest of their day by Cat & Cloud

Hierarchy of Competency – Knowing that you don't know

18 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! We’re throwing it back to early 2021 when Covid was still in full swing and the Cat & Cloud podcast was fir...

Pour Overs – A helpful overview

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast and Happy New Year y’all! Have y’all ever struggled to get your pour over coffee juuuust right? Well not a...

Cafe Finances – Tips for running a business that has healthy growth.

04 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! We are starting off the year with a series of Episodes that we think are helpful, and this weeks episode is a...

Finding the Fire – Keeping the spark going when your role changes as things grow

28 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first ever Central Coast Four Podcast! We have some exciting new voices on the Cat & Cloud podcast today. Three owners of our favorit...

Jorge Madrigal | Origin and expertise

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week we are back with the other half of our most recent origin trip to Colombia. This week Chris is sitt...

Foundational Knowledge – A great place to start when starting something new

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Foundational Knowledge – A great place to start when starting something new by Cat & Cloud

Dulce Venancio | Green Coffee Team Lead

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dulce Venancio | Green Coffee Team Lead by Cat & Cloud

Keeping the Outcome Front of Mind – Helping you do your work no matter how removed you are

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Keeping the Outcome Front of Mind – Helping you do your work no matter how removed you are by Cat & Cloud

The Best for the Guest – What goes into the experiences you create

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast! This week the guys are discussing all things GCC (guest-coffee-cafe) and how to prioritize and create a stell...

Business or Pleasure - How personal goals mix with your business

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast! This week we have all three owners back on the mic to take a wide look at how your personal goals can help gu...

Do It for the Passion - Your work is more than the money

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast! The case study series continues! This week on the pod Chris and Charles are covering another episode of the A...

Show It - Doing what you believe not just being flashy

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast! This week Chris and Charles are back to finish their discussion about Howard Schultz’s interview with the A...

Learning From Others - Insights from industry history

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Learning From Others - Insights from industry history by Cat & Cloud

Control the Environment - Setting your business apart and being intentional from end to end

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week Chris, Jared and Charles are sitting down to take the timeline of Cat & Cloud to Z. A couple weeks ...

Make Your Dreams Come True - Seizing the opportunities you have to create something special

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week Chris and Jared are sitting down at the mic to talk through what it would look like to perfectly mi...

History & Impact - Where Cat & Cloud came from and the impact it has had

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We just turned 8 years old! September 30th marked the 8th year since the Portola Cafe first opened it’s doors. In honor of Cat & Cloud making it one...

The Best Friends Club - Coffee doing good

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Cat & Cloud podcast is back and we’re bringing y’all some big news! If y’all have been following us a while then you’ve at least heard of ...

What Drives Your Team - Things that inspire and drive people with every day actions

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week Chris, Chuck, and Jared are sitting down to discuss how we find the drive and inspiration to operat...

Having the Courage to Do - How anyone can make an extraordinary experience

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shorty, but a goodie. This week Jared and Chris Discuss what it takes to make an idea come to life. How it's truly something anyone can to, because ...

Cafes Impacting a Community - How a small space can make a big impact

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Chris asks Jared about a recent trip he went on to southern Californian, and what sort of coffee experiences he had while he was outside of ...

Hospitality Refresher Part 2 - The small things make a big difference

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to Part Two of the Hospitality Refresher! On this weeks episode Chris and Jared are talking about all the little things. Everything from...

Hospitality Refresher Part 1 - Reviewing the fundamentals of caring for your guest

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Cat & Cloud Podcast we are rerunning a two-part episode on Hospitality. Hospitality is a fundamental value in everything we do as a c...

Competition Influence - How competing has impacted specialty coffee

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Cat & Cloud Podcast the guys are reviewing the history of Barista Competitions, and what their ideal competition would look like toda...

Business Cents - Thinking about the finances of your business

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast! This week Chris and Jared are getting a full class on Cafe Finance hosted by our very own Charles Jack. Liste...

Lessons Learned - The importance of company culture as you grow

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week the guys are sitting down and taking a look back over the last 8 years of being Cat & Cloud, what we’ve learned and what has changed from ...

Charles Babinski - The perspective from nine years ago

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week we are busting out the throwback of all throwbacks with our very first interview. In this episode C...

Learning From Others - How outside industries give your perspective and help your growth

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week Chris and Jared are hopping in to share some thoughts on learning and growth. Are you limited by yo...

Giving Ownership - How empowering team members can make everything improve

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Giving Ownership - How empowering team members can make everything improve by Cat & Cloud

How Do You Rank - Comparing your work with others in the industry.

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What if we talked about cafes the same way people talk about basketball teams? Looked at the movement of baristas from one cafe to another, and their ...

You Are More Than Your Work - Having hobbies gives perspective

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You Are More Than Your Work - Having hobbies gives perspective by Cat & Cloud

Communicating Your Needs - How expressing your desires leads to growth

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Cat & Cloud Podcast we are throwing it back to an early conversation Chris and Jared had about the importance of communicating needs ...

Roasting Development - How much flavor is from roasting the coffee

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Cat & Cloud Podcast Chris and Jared hop on the mic to discuss the complex process of roasting development. There are so many factors ...

Managing vs. Leading - Fostering creative thinking in your team

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why is it important for your company's mission to match the intention behind your training programs? How do you empower your team members to be leader...

Cat & Cloud x Valor Coffee - Burn Out, Human Dignity, Tacos & Dunking

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Cat & Cloud x Valor Coffee - Burn Out, Human Dignity, Tacos & Dunking by Cat & Cloud

Cost and Value - What goes into what you pay

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode we discuss transparency in prices. How to give your team members the same coverage and care while also communicating to the Guest wher...

Conversation with Beeline

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This recording comes from January of this year, when Chris and Nick from Beeline sat down to talk through some of the challenges that come from runnin...

Making an Impact - How your guest are left feeling

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do you build in a curated experience to your business? Is greeting people when they come in, and helping them land enough? This week the guys are ...

Mail Bag

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ooooh the mail’s here! Cue the Blue’s Clues mail song! Welcome back to the second half of the Cat & Cloud Podcast, After Hours 👀 We’re back i...

SCA Retrospective - The Hot Goss'

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast, After Hours 😎 This episode is dedicated to Andre. As promised. This week Chris, Jared, and Charles are ...

Progressing Your Career - The mindset for how to move forward

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week y’all are getting a blast from the past, we’re revisiting a previous episode where Chris and Ja...

Importance of communication - Clearly expressing yourself in order to do things better

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast! This week we’re back with Chris and Jared as they discuss how important common language is within an organi...

Coffee Processing - Are exotic processing methods good or hype

15 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast and to White Ivy, Jared's long-lost email address! On this weeks podcast the guys are tackling a pretty huge q...

Conversation with Kent Bakke

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast! A couple of months ago Chris and our Marketing Team Leader Michael took a trip out to Seattle to hang out wit...

Connecting the Dots - How experience and practice come together

01 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud podcast! This week Chris, Jared, and Charles are covering a whole host of topics from prepping for SCA, the creativity...

Learning by Doing - Allowing yourself the room to grow

25 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’re throwing it all the way back to 2021 for this weeks episode. This week we are revisiting a freshly quarantined Chris and Jared as they discuss...

Hopes and Dreams

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Cat & Cloud podcast is connecting to the source. In this week's episode, Jared goes full Neo, talking about his experience test roasting for SCA, ...

Doing The Right Thing - Being true to yourself for your guests and producers

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the very first Cat & Cloud After-Hours Podcast 😎 Chris, Charles, and Jared are staying late tonight to chat about all the different fac...

Gaining Perspective - How getting away can help you see things differently

04 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Cat & Cloud Podcast! This week Chris and Jared have each returned from some pretty spectacular visits with our coffee partners, an...

Fostering Leadership - Giving your team what they need to grow

26 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast is a Rerun from 2021 where Chris Jared and Charles Talk about ways to grow leaders in your company, how hands off or hands on...

Investing In Your Growth - How community and mentorship help you achieve goals.

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mr. Miyagi, Yoda, Jaime Escalante - all great mentors that helped those around them improve and become better. On this weeks episode of the podcast Ch...

Your Work Matters - The Importance of Confidence

12 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Well, Chuck didn’t come back this week…. But maybe next week! We’ll hold the space for him. This week on the podcast Jared gives us his full l...