Shows
The Sauce Talk Podcast#32 - Chef Mike CarrinoChef 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...2025-07-253h 55
The Sauce Talk Podcast#31 - Sean StrussSean 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...2025-06-272h 08
The Sauce Talk Podcast#30 - Mike Puzzo (NECA Toys)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...2025-05-233h 15
The Sauce Talk Podcast#29 - Nick WizNick 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...2025-04-252h 19
The Sauce Talk Podcast#28 - Chef Bill SandersBill 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 mi...2025-03-213h 17
The Sauce Talk Podcast#27 - Ewok One (5MH, IMOK)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...2025-02-143h 29
The Sauce Talk Podcast#26 - Argos Fragrances (Christian Petrovich)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...2025-01-102h 42
The Sauce Talk Podcast#25 - Rajni JacquesRajni 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...2024-12-063h 16
The Sauce Talk Podcast#24 - Officer Justin NielsenOfficer 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...2024-11-111h 58
The Sauce Talk Podcast#23 - Ari Saal FormanAri 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...2024-10-254h 19
The Sauce Talk Podcast#22 - Daniel Espinal (Def Dom)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...2024-10-043h 25
The Sauce Talk Podcast#21 - CJ TuiteCJ 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...2024-09-132h 36
The Sauce Talk Podcast#20 - Mike Cosenza (Mikes Pasta & Sandwich Shoppe)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...2024-08-302h 59
The Sauce Talk Podcast#19 - Corey Donohue (Panther Printing Co.)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...2024-08-163h 59
The Sauce Talk Podcast#18 - Sean StrussSean 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...2024-07-263h 07
The Sauce Talk Podcast#17 - Joey HonoJoey 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...2024-07-123h 23
The Sauce Talk Podcast#16 - Rose TalocciRose 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...2024-06-282h 38
The Sauce Talk Podcast#15 - Ari Kafadar (Ari The Jeweler)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...2024-06-141h 52
The Sauce Talk Podcast#14 - GDP (Matt Miller)Finally you all get to hear the long awaited, highly anticipated, long lost GDP Episode! This in depth interview is jam packed with world premiere information and is purely for the fans. GDP is a hip-hop artist hailing from West Orange, NJ and, in my opinion, he carried the North Jersey underground Hip Hop scene on his back during his reign and changed its landscape forever. He constantly evolves himself creatively, as well as spiritually, leaving no stone unturned while elevating everybody surrounding him selflessly. We have known each other for many years way before he even started recording...2024-05-312h 43
The Sauce Talk Podcast#13 - Sal Pace & Mario CoronaSal and Mario were an important part of my life, growing up during my teenage years around 1999-2004. Although I grew up in Verona during those years, I essentially lived a second life within the Caldwells. If you're around our age bracket in your late 30s, and you hung out in that area, anyone who's anyone have heard the names "Sal and Mario" before. Absolute local legends backed by urban influence and when we met in 8th grade we clicked immediately. I haven't seen these gentlemen in what is over 15 years, so I was very excited to live through...2024-05-172h 33
The Sauce Talk Podcast#12 - Tom ColabraroTombo Colabraro is a well accomplished filmmaker originating out of Chatham, NJ. He developed his film chops starting out early filming skate videos on a local level which, with hard work and dedication, morphed into filming on a professional level for the 5 Boro skate team and the rest is history. Moving onto bigger and better things, he is presently known for directing The Fabulous Chi Ali documentary from 2019 and for being producer on the new Choice Is Yours Paramount + Documentary which follows one half of the 90's hip hop duo Black Sheep's very own Dres and the complicated story...2024-04-263h 42
The Sauce Talk Podcast#11 - Thomas JohnstonThomas Johnston and I met at my monthly Grid events little over a year and an half ago and we hit it off instantly. What initially intrigued me about him was his fond enjoyment of partaking in the recreational use of hallucinogenics, but I soon realized we actually have lots of the same obscure interests. Anywhere from video games to gangster rap to our mutual admiration of the macabre. I enjoy having conversations with him so I invited him on the pod to chop it up and have a couple drinks for the world to lend an ear to!2024-04-122h 38
The Sauce Talk Podcast#10 - Jay Baam (Jason Baamonde)Jason Baamonde aka Jay Baam, is one of the biggest retro video game influencers across all social media! Jay has been collecting retro video games since the early age of 20 and, due to his early social media postings featuring his acquisitions in local urban environments, his social media presence began to skyrocket. He even used to set up alongside his work vehicle after hours a generator powering a tube TV and a retro console, inviting the public to play retro games into the wee hours of the night on the streets of NYC! He's also a longtime elevator mechanic...2024-03-222h 22
The Sauce Talk Podcast#9 - Bobby FiletBobby Filet is an enigma in every sense of the word. If you listened to my first episode with Giavonni, you may remember a story we touched on involving someone selling Percocet's out of an ice-cream truck. Well, Bobby is that individual! Bobby Filet is not his real name, and most of us don't even know his real age. In the present era, his day-to-day financial gig consists of competitive poker. Ever since I met Bobby, he's been this mysterious figure in the lives of my friends and I, a local legend that has many talents. He even wore...2024-03-013h 02
The Sauce Talk Podcast#8 - Vincent Iannelli (Iannelli's Bakery)Vincent Ianelli is the owner of the legendary Iannelli's Bakery in East Passyunk, Philadelphia! Vincent's family started the bakery in 1910 when they came over here from the old country, making their bakery the first to ever bring the 'tomato pie' into Philadelphia. Over 100 years of history and Vincent, once he took over the family business, continues to push the family legacy in any way that he can into the modern era while still maintaining that mom-and-pop sensibility. It's a treat when you are able to obtain the goods as they are only open 15 days a year and absolutely NOTHING...2024-02-091h 34
The Sauce Talk Podcast#7 - Jaime Rivera Jr.Jaime Rivera Jr. is a barber/stylist at Substance Salon in Rutherford, NJ, as well as a member of a couple of different cover bands where he plays guitar and sings lead. While all is well post the year 2016 in Jaime's world, prior to said period is where it gets hairy. Jaime is an ex-Jehovah's Witness survivor who he was a member of from the young age of 3 years old up until the year 2016 (around 20 years of age). In this podcast he bares everything and shares all he's been through since his infancy in the faith. We hope to...2024-01-262h 38
The Sauce Talk Podcast#6 - Quan HargroveQuan Hargrove is a Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinator & Case Expeditor for the Passaic County's Department of Human Services. In layman's terms, he helps juveniles or troubled youth that have been processed through the justice system get back on their feet, so to speak. He's a noble man with a tremendous heart who's always trying to give back to the community and help the youth in any way he can. He unfortunately lost someone very dear to him last March by the name of Najee Seabrooks due to police brutality. In this podcast, during the first hour, you get to meet...2024-01-053h 08
The Sauce Talk Podcast#5 - Vinny MoschettaVinny Moschetta is a distant relative of the host, Al Sauce. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ community, happily married to his husband Stephen, who they have been together well over 20 years, and he's also employed by the Karpel Group, which is an LGBTQ marketing agency, and he's been with them for 18 years and counting! Growing up in the 1990s as a homosexual male was not an easy task in comparison to present day when it's more widely accepted. In this episode, a heterosexual male sits down with a homosexual male engaging in healthy discourse. We get...2023-12-223h 01
The Sauce Talk Podcast#4 - Scott LupiaScott Lupia is an ex-architect, a train enthusiast, model train builder and customizer, an ex-train conductor, ex-locomotive engineer, and the owner of KV Models among many other things. A man in whom the words "give up" do not exist in his vocabulary. An incredibly resilient man with the heart of a lion who has overcome so much, merely a tenth of what he has been through would break a considerably strong individual down. He's beaten brain cancer, survived numerous head traumas, and he still deals with health complications to this very day, all while being a loving and caring...2023-12-012h 02
The Sauce Talk Podcast#3 - David Dowd (Division East)David Dowd was the owner of the now defunct legendary Northern NJ skate-shop "Division East Board Sports". The importance of this skate shop far exceeds any words I could verbally express. In this episode we sit down with Dave and reminisce on the inception and life of Division East throughout the years. Division East had a strong impact on all of our lives and we can't wait to take you all on this nostalgic journey as we remember it in its entirety from birth to final exit!
*Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )
**Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )
2023-11-102h 18
The Sauce Talk Podcast#2 - PGKNOWSPaul Givelekian aka PGKNOWS is a purveyor of rare collectible sneakers and is a well known sneaker reseller. He is known for the Nike Air Force 1 as he is considered among the Top 5 Air Force 1 historians and collectors on the planet. Paul is good friends with the host as he has known Al Sauce for over 15 years and counting. In this episode, he discusses his passion for sneakers along with sharing the adversities he overcame with his long-gone opioid addiction. Enjoy the show!
*Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @carson.kopp )
**Intro Music by N3str0 ( @n3str0 )
2023-10-202h 32
The Sauce Talk Podcast#1 - Giavonni EscamillaGiavonni Escamilla is a longtime friend of our host Al Sauce. They have had an interesting journey together, as they both were early victims of substance abuse involving the opioid crisis in its infancy stages. In this introductory episode, they both become vulnerable and share their experiences in hopes to inspire others that are currently dealing with or in the past have fallen victim to drug abuse. This episode is an emotional rollercoaster as there are laughs as well as cries to go along with this ride. Enjoy the show!
*Mixed & Mastered by Carson Kopp ( @c...2023-10-022h 56