Episode 41
From New York Test Kitchens to a Dallas Restaurant Empire | Katie Bolner
June 29, 2026
Episode 41
June 29, 2026
In this episode, we sit down with powerhouse entrepreneur and owner Katie Bolner to talk about food, hospitality, and building a multi-brand restaurant empire. From childhood cupcake dreams and Manhattan culinary school to navigating the high-stakes worlds of restaurant marketing and raw Wagyu beef sales, Katie has truly done it all from scratch.
We dive deep into her family brand, Ascension Coffee, which is bridging the gap between premium specialty coffee and world-class brunch. Katie shares the inspiring local and global mission behind Ascension—spearheaded by female leadership to disrupt the industry by ensuring global female coffee farmers are paid a true living wage.
We also talk about the messy, raw reality of being a working mom, balancing career ambition with deep community roots, and what it really takes to make people feel seen and valued through the power of true hospitality.